AUGUST 28
2018
Vol. 52 Issue 4 | Since 1966
THE SENTINEL Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel
STUDENTS PROTEST IN 2017
What do you think will happen at Thursday’s game?
KSU student arrested after foot touching Peyton Elliott | Staff Writer
“Wouldn’t be surprised if KSU Cheer made it apart of their contract for everyone to stand” -anonymous
“Maybe the one they did not cut will kneel or she may not out of fear from KSU.” -Demilya Jordan
“I’m pretty sure the athletic department has put pressure on the lady’s so they’ll stand.” -anonymous
“No kneel. Don’t want to bring attention to themselves.” -Christopher Drummond
www.ksusentinel.com
One of the cheerleaders who was kicked off the team last year, believes the university’s reasons were not based on her cheerleading skills.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Basden
CHEERLEADER DOES NOT BELIEVE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT’S DECISION WAS “SKILLS-BASED” Sabrina Kerns | News Editor One of the Kennesaw State cheerleaders who knelt in protest before a football game last year said she does not believe the athletic department’s decision to keep her off of the cheerleading team this year was “skills-based.” Former cheerleaders Tommia Dean, Taylor McIver, Kennedy Town and Michaelyn Wright — four protestors who took a knee during the anthem last year — were “disappointed” after they did not make it back onto KSU’s cheerleading team after tryouts in May. Dean’s brother Davante Lewis and the five cheerleaders’ spokesperson said that, “in that disappointment, there were some questions.” “While she knows she’s not cheerleader supreme, she knows the skills she has versus some of the other girls who have made the team,” Lewis said. “And so it is a question because she just doesn’t buy into the argument that this was an entire skills-based decision.” KSU’s athletics department released a statement on Monday, Aug. 20, saying that seven of the cheerleaders on last year’s team did not make it back onto the team this year because the number of applications for the team increased from 61 in 2017 to 95
in 2018. “Similar to all KSU sports teams, multiyear spots on rosters are not guaranteed and all student-athletes must earn their position on a team,” it said in the statement. Lewis said that some of the new applicants this year came from the cheer coach’s private cheer team, which he said he recruited to apply for the competition team. The athletic department attributed the increase in applicants to the cheer team’s recent success in the 2018 NCA Collegiate Nationals. Out of the 47 members in last year’s team, seven did not make it back onto the team, and approximately 57 percent of the students taken off the team account for the cheerleaders who protested last year. “I saw it as a great PR coverup,” Lewis said. “The facts just don’t match up. I think it would have been hard press for them to have all five be cut, and I think their story would be more believable if they kept one and dropped some others.” Lewis said that, while the five cheerleaders are still talking, they are no longer speaking or acting as a collective voice, meaning that any actions being taken by any of the five cheerleaders are based on their own individual choices.
The only one of the five cheerleaders who protested last year that made it back onto the team is Shlondra Young — the only senior amongst the five. Lewis also said that he does not know if the cheerleaders had any plans in continuing protests before they were cut from the team. None of the five cheerleaders have responded to requests for comment. Dean has already moved on from cheerleading, Lewis said. “Of course we want the real conversation to be about some of the issues pushing Kennesaw and Cobb County and Georgia and really focus on the more serious issues on police brutality, racial inequality and social justice,” Lewis said. “And hopefully that message in this upcoming election and new environment be lifted up more. “At the end of the day, that is why she did it. To lift up those stories and those messages, and her plan is to just hope that those stories actually get talked about more than her action because her action was just to raise awareness of those stories, not to take those stories out of the conversation,” Lewis continued.
Kennesaw State police arrested a student on the Kennesaw campus on Tuesday, Aug. 21, on two charges of simple battery. Campus police arrested Eric Riera and launched an investigation after KSU student Keyondra Harris reported that Reira touched her foot inappropriately with his own foot while they were sitting in the library late Tuesday night. Harris said in a post on Twitter that she was doing her homework in the library on Aug.17 between the hours of 11 p.m. and midnight when Riera sat down next to her. Harris said in the post that Riera removed his shoes and began moving his foot closer to her own foot. After he sat down next to her at a computer, Harris noticed that Riera had been looking down at her feet. She said that she felt uncomfortable but remained focused on her homework until she looked down and saw that Riera had his shoes off. Harris recorded Riera discretely as he began to move his feet closer to her. After Reira touched her foot, she said she took two more pictures before walking away to contact the KSU police. Harris shared the videos and photographs of the incident on her Twitter. Harris remained inside the library until police arrived. Riera had left when an officer arrived on the scene, but the KSU police department posted one of the photos that Harris took in the library on its Facebook page shortly after the incident, asking students, faculty and staff to help identify the man depicted in Harris’ Twitter post. When a KSU officer arrived, Harris explained the situation as the officer said, “well I guess getting all your stuff and moving to another computer would’ve been too much of a hassle.” University Spokeswoman Tammy Demel said the investigation has revealed that Riera may have committed similar acts on campus previously. According to Reira’s arrest report, he was arrested on two charges of simple battery. Reira was released on bond on Wednesday, Aug. 22 — the day after he was arrested. Reira’s case is part of an ongoing investigation. KSU police asked that if anyone has any additional information that could help with the case to contact them at 470-578-6206 or police@kennesaw.edu. Students, faculty or staff can also contact the KSU police through the LiveSafe app.
Alisa Seripap | The Sentinel
NEWS
OPINION
FIELD TRIP FRIDAYS COMES TO KSU
ARTS AND LIVING
DEMOCRACY WALL FAILS STUDENTS
pg. 2
SPORTS
KSU DICUSSION AIMS SOCCER SPLITS TO EMPOWER WOMEN GAMES IN ALABAMA
pg. 5
pg. 3
pg. 8
Page 2 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 28, 2018
NEWS
KENNESAW ESPORTS TO PARTNER WITH TWITCH PROGRAM
OUTSIDE THE NEST 10-year-old boy survives grizzly bear attack Sasha Avchukov | Staff Writer
What Happened?
Sabrina Kerns | News Editor
Twitch said it is interested in bringing the student program to the southeast.
Representatives from Twitch spoke with Kennesaw eSports in August about bringing their student program to the southeast region of the U.S. and to KSU. Norman Reid, a junior computer science major and Kennesaw eSports coordinator, said that Twitch, the live streaming video platform, is using their student program to help students around the world find jobs in the gaming industry. The Twitch Student Program strives to help students by providing resources for them to create their own self-sustaining communities and giving them room to represent their universities on Twitch. Twitch has already helped students and universities in the northwest region of the U.S. where they are based. The program helped the University of Utah create accredited courses in esports that cover topics such as content creation, esports history, market analysis and more. Twitch representatives said they are interested in bringing the program to the southeast region, and spoke with students from KSU and other universities in metro Atlanta. Reid said that there are several steps that organizations need to take to partner with the Twitch Student Program, and Kennesaw eSports will be
working toward partnering with them during the fall 2018 semester. “The three pillars we strive to uphold are inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration,” it states on the Twitch website. “Twitch Student’s goal is to educate, empower and give students’ confidence to have their voices heard in the gaming and esports industry. “We see the future leaders of our industry in the students of today as they’ve shown great promise in their amazing accomplishments, both academically and within the gaming community,” it continues. Universities or student organizations that want to get involved with the program first have to get in contact with Twitch through twitchstudent@ twitch.tv. According to the Twitch website, after a student club or organization has successfully broadcast at nine hours of content per week for at least one month, they can become an official Twitch partner. Official Twitch partners will have access to ad revenue and Twitch swag to hand out and promote at club events. They will also be able to add a subscribe button and emoticons to their team’s page. Reid said KSU has been fully supportive of Kennesaw eSports and will continue to support the club while they work with the Twitch Student Program to try to provide more opportunities for the students at KSU.
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
Professor earns column excellence award
A grizzly bear attacked a 10-year-old boy who was hiking with his family at Yellowstone National Park on Thursday, Aug. 23. The boy, who was on a family trip from Washington state, ran away after the female bear emerged from the woods. After the bear
The Latest The family took the boy to a ranger station at Old Faithful. He was sent to a clinic and then transferred to a hospital for treatment, Fox News reported. “This incident could have been more serious.
Gillis said. “Hopefully the recognition the award brings will make more people aware of the articles and they will want to read it. My goal in writing anything is to get as many people as possible to read and act or react to what I write.” Gillis said that his interest in young adult literature developed while he was obtaining his Ph.D. in English Education at Arizona State in 2007. “It was there that several of my mentors showed me how to use young adult literature in classrooms to enhance student learning. This has been my focus ever since,” Gillis said. Gillis said working with ALAN has been “the ultimate source for collaboration” as he also teaches several teacher preparation courses. “ALAN provides terrific resources and allows me to collaborate with others in the field of young adult literature,” Gillis said. The ALAN Review is an academic, peer-reviewed journal associated with the ALAN organization, which is a subgroup of the National Council of Teachers of English and focuses specifically on young adult literature. The journal is published three times per academic year, and it focuses on producing high-quality articles and professional materials that support the readers wanting to know more about young adult literature. The award will be granted to Gillis at the ALAN annual breakfast during the national convention in Houston on November 15.
We applaud the family for traveling in a group, carrying bear spray and knowing how to effectively use it,” Yellowstone National Park Deputy Superintendent Pat Kenney said.
What’s Next Park officials said they believe the bear attacked in defense of her cub, according to BBC.
Since the incident was a surprise encounter, rangers do not intend to search for the bear, according to USA Today.
THE SENTINEL
Megan Butler | Staff Writer
KSU English Professor Bryan Gillis was named the recipient of the 2018 Assembly on Literature for Adolescents Review editor’s award for column excellence on Aug. 9. Gillis was selected amongst two other columnists. Three candidates are chosen each year to write an article for the ALAN review about each of the three issues for the year. “I was thrilled to be selected to write the three columns, as the pool of people who applied was large and only three columnists were selected,” Gillis said. “My goal was to write three articles that practicing teachers could read and incorporate into their classrooms.” The articles Gillis submitted are titled, “Understanding and Connecting Our Ways of Being in the World,” “Looking Beyond the Classroom: Accessing Our Student’s Funds of Knowledge through Young Adult Literature” and “A Vocabulary of Intimacy: Building and Nurturing Healthy Adolescent Relationship Skills.” Editors of the ALAN review journal and its columnists from last year described Gillis’ column as the year’s “most impressively demonstrating excellence in writing and making a significant contribution to the field of [young adult] literature,” according to the ALAN Review Facebook page. “I am incredibly honored and humbled that others who have expertise in the field of young adult literature appreciate what I am writing about,”
chased and knocked him over, the boy’s parents fought off the bear using pepper spray, according to BBC News. According to the US National Park Service statement, the boy “suffered an injured wrist, puncture wounds to the back and wounds around the buttocks.”
The Sentinel is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. Information presented in this newspaper and its website is in no way controlled by the KSU Administration, faculty or staff.
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staff information EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marquis Holmes
The first Field Trip Friday event is set to take place Sept. 7 at the Civil Rights Museum.
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
Field Trip Fridays aim to strengthen student civic engagement Sasha Avchukov | Staff Writer KSU’s Department of Student Leadership and Service started a new program called Field Trip Fridays to help students learn about how they can be more civically engaged. Program leaders from the Department of Student Leadership and Service started the new initiative because they wanted to introduce a fun, hands-on way to inform students about civic duties, such as voting and volunteering. The monthly field trips will allow students to go on tours of various sites around Atlanta to learn about civic involvement. “By doing this, we are exposing them to different places they can go to learn about the voting process, city counsels, state
representatives, the mayor and all these state constituents that make up our civic environment being U.S. citizens,” said Semline Delva, program coordinator for Leadership and Civic Engagement. The first trip is set to take place Friday, Sept. 7. Students will visit and tour the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and the people that were involved in it. Another field trip will take students to the Georgia Capitol where they plan to tour various rooms, get an inside look at the daily functions and learn more about the building’s history. Delva said that, during these trips, students
will have the opportunity to get involved in an organization or initiative they may be interested in. “If we want to start an initiative, we can see if those exist,” Delva said. “For example, getting involved with ‘Keep Cobb Beautiful’, which works on keeping our environment beautiful and keeping trash off the streets.” Field Trip Fridays are free for students. Each trip has 22 spots, and transportation is included. To register for a Field Trip Friday, students can sign up on the Owl Life page for the Department of Student Leadership and Service.
eic@ksusentinel.com MANAGING EDITOR Abi Marmurowicz managingeditor@ksusentinel.com NEWS EDITOR Sabrina Kerns newseditor@ksusentinel.com OPINION EDITOR Elizabeth Nouryeh opinioneditor@ksusentinel.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Luke Gardner artseditor@ksusentinel.com SPORTS EDITOR Rio White sportseditor@ksusentinel.com PHOTO EDITOR Kevin Barrett photoeditor@ksusentinel.com
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Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 28, 2018 | Page 3
ACROSS
Katie Spare | The Sentinel
KSU THEATRE STUDENTS HOST 24-HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL Sarah Childers | Staff Writer
Students at KSU created and performed their own plays over a period of 24 hours. Kennesaw State’s Theatre and Performance Studies program put on a unique performance, the 24-Hour Play Festival, Saturday, Aug. 25. The performance consisted of five small plays, each one containing around three to eight actors. Each play was written and produced entirely by Theatre and Performance Studies students less than 24 hours before they were performed. “The event is a spectacular opportunity for our students to create art and tell new stories in an exciting environment,” said Amanda Morgan, coordinator of the festival. “They come together at 6 p.m. on a Friday and by 8 p.m. the next night, they have pieces of theatre to present to the public, rehearsed and all.” On the day before the performance, all students involved met for a three-hour play-and-devising period. Here, the students played improvisational games and decided on what they wished for the theme to be. The director and writer teams were then instructed to draw names from a hat to assemble their casts. When the meeting was over, the writers left to write their new stories overnight. Morgan described the writing process as “quite grueling, but also very fun.”
Women’s Resource Center launches Empower Hour Zack Hill | Staff Writer The Women’s Resource Center’s new program aims to build a more informed and supportive community for students at KSU with its new Empower Hour program. Empower Hour is an openforum discussion open to all Kennesaw State students and is hosted every other Wednesday. The next Empower Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29, and the following discussion occurring on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Topics to be discussed will involve discussions on addressing stereotypes, financial responsibility, women in business, building relationships, conflict management and more. The base function for the program is to “connect students to resources and provide actual skill-based learning,” said Shameka Wells, Women’s Resource Center director and organizer of the Empower Hour.
Writers were encouraged to equally distribute lines and incorporate more physical storytelling to cut-down on the number of lines the actor had to memorize. Everyone then met back up at 8 a.m. the next day where writers, directors, actors and stage managers worked together right up to show time to create the performances. Students would take breaks in between rehearsal to search for props and costume pieces in their homes and local thrift stores. Students who participated in the festival were seen as gaining the ability to efficiently collaborate under immense pressure. “Their creative juices are flowing fast and they learn how to make decisions quickly while respecting each other and making things work together,” Morgan said The 24-Hour Play Festival has been going on for many years now According to Morgan, “It was created in the spirit of our departmental mission to foster scholar-artists and artists who create Theatre and new work. The devising nature of it is one of the many exciting things we do” Students who are interested in getting involved with the Theatre and Performance Studies program or wish to know more about their upcoming season can visit their main office in the Wilson Building or their website.
The Women’s Resource Center aims to create a more informed community through a variety of discussions.
Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel
By attending Empower Hour, the goal is for students to walk away with skill-sets gained from each session, preparing attendees for both life at KSU and for future opportunities like graduate school or internships. The hope for the future of Empower Hour is to turn it into a women’s leadership program. “Students who have been involved with Empower Hour can sign up to become peer mentors to women on campus and use what they learn from the workshops and take a leadership role within the program,” said Wells. The Women’s Resource Center has an array of events, workshops and interactive activities that aim to help the campus community. From providing information on issues ranging from dealing with interpersonal violence to salary negotiations in the workplace, the Women’s Resource Center has several programs designed to both
help educate students at KSU and foster a supportive community. Workshops hosted by the center aim to give students opportunities to participate in skill-based, co-curricular and leadership development activities where students will gain learning skills that they can demonstrate after coming to the sessions. This program is just one of many events and workshops hosted by the Women’s Resource Center. Other events include “In Her Shoes” which is an interactive domestic violence presentation, and “Blurred Lines” which is a collaboration with student organization ZERO in Five, dealing with the effect of interpersonal violence on college students. More information regarding The Women’s Resource Center and Empower Hour can be found on its Owl Life page.
1. Hunk 5. Cough syrup amt. 8. “Scene one, ____ one” 12. Grand theft target 13. Broflovski of “South Park” 14. Polished surface of gem 15. Simpleton 16. A in A = b x h 17. Tarzan’s swing rope 18. *Dream football destination 20. Medley 21. Olden-day Celts 22. *Mo. of NFL preseason games 23. Confine a river 26. Khufu’s resting place 30. ____ Tsu 31. First little piggy 34. List of chores 35. *First black head coach to win Super Bowl 37. Computer network acronym 38. Rank 39. “... happily ____ after” 40. *Team conference 42. Dress like Ancient Greeks 43. What’s left 45. *NFL teams play at least 8 games here 47. Slow-witted 48. Like Cinderella’s ball gown 50. Blade in Litchfield 52. *Worth 6 56. “Madama Butterfly,” e.g. 57. Mythological hominid 58. Annette Castellano on “The Mindy Project” 59. Evil one 60. ____ gum on a list of ingredients 61. Pains 62. Site of original sin 63. Operations 64. Fountain order
Aug. 28 SOLUTION
CROSSWORD:
Football
DOWN 1. Cul de ____, pl. 2. Lululemon on NASDAQ 3. At the apex 4. Hispanic grocery and wine shop 5. Innsbruck’s province 6. Lots and lots 7. Sound of thunder 8. *What fans do before the game 9. ____ bowl, Brazilian dish 10. Bingo-like game 11. 7th letter of Greek alphabet 13. Japanese theater 14. Miller’s product 19. Went past 22. Sailor’s “yes” 23. Village V.I.P. 24. Shade of violet 25. Fox crime drama, 2005-2017 26. “On Golden ____,” movie 27. *”Go Pack Go” to Green Bay Packers? 28. “Pulling my leg,” e.g. 29. Evade a ball 32. It binds 33. Little bit 36. *Playing field 38. “Bring back!” to Fido 40. Refrigerator sound 41. Jousting match participant 44. Parlor piece 46. Monster with nine heads, pl. 48. Get overcast 49. Saintly glows 50. Hightailed it 51. Blood component 52. Pizza for home, e.g. 53. *Home to Bengals 54. Join by heating 55. U.S. space agency 56. Schiller’s poem
SUDOKU
The KSU Theater program hosted its 24-Hour Play Festival where they performed five different plays throughout the day.
ARTS AND LIVING
Aug. 28 SOLUTION
Listen to Owl Radio! Check them out on the RadioFX app and online at ksuradio.com!
Get involved with The Peak! Apply online at studentmedia.kennesaw.edu!
Page 4 | Kennesaw State University | The Sentinel | August 28, 2018
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OPINION
WAR METAPHORS CAN ISOLATE CANCER PATIENTS
Abi Marmurowicz | Managing Editor
T
he use of war language surrounding the conversation of cancer — using words like battle, combat, enemy, lose and win — may influence the understanding of cancer and how a patient responds to it. In July 2017, I was diagnosed with stage IA, grade II, ovarian cancer. I was just shy of my 21st birthday and amongst what felt like endless procedures and treatments to come. After I told my family and friends back in Wisconsin the news via Facebook, I thought it was beautiful to see all the well-wishers commenting with their support. However, I recognized that most of the language surrounding this diagnosis had revolved around battle rhetoric. “You’ll beat this” “Cancer isn’t as tough as you” But in war, we are taught there are winners and losers. Does war, a conflict with the sole objective to destroy the enemy’s ability to fight, accurately accomplish what we are trying to say? I know my friends and family meant well. Like them, I grew up hearing cancer described as a combat, something you “beat” if you have enough “fight” in you. Military metaphors were always familiar, but they stopped making sense when the war was my own physiology. Was I the soldier or the prisoner? When cancer, a disease with no cure for it, has spread and shut down other organs leading to death, have we as “fighters” failed? It makes me wonder what my cells are going to do when I’m not paying attention. While I do recognize that these violent words may help others during their experience with cancer, it can breed further isolation for a young adult with a rare disease — one comprising less than 0.5 percent of all ovarian cancers. In my experience, having cancer was not a fight but rather a concurrence where I was forced to live with this diagnosis day in and day out. After all, cancer has arisen from within my body, and to fight it would be waging war on myself. Cells must divide inside of us every day to remain alive, to grow, and to
repair our bodies. Sometimes this process goes wrong and results in cancer. I understand why this combat language has penetrated the media and everyday life as it is meant to evoke positivity during an unimaginably difficult time. However, I believe it can have opposite effects on survivors as they potentially face death, so we need to challenge the perception and break away from how we have been conditioned to approach the language surrounding cancer. Even for those who are said to “conquer” the disease, it will remain with them for the rest of their lives. They may be left disfigured by treatment and have to live with the constant paranoia of recurrence. As a survivor, my whole existence post-treatment has revolved around starting the conversation too many are scared to have, and not judging what others have to contribute. I know it is often difficult to find the words to say when you hear a cancer diagnosis, and ultimately people find what works best for themselves. For me, battle metaphors have isolated me even more and so I would only hope that going forward people would spread a message of love instead of the pressure of a death sentence. Our Managing Editor calls into question the rhetoric surrounding cancer Kevin Barrett | The Sentinel I didn’t win or lose, my chemotherapy worked. I survivors. do not feel comfortable saying I beat it because it had less to do with me and more to do with my cell death will be because they did not battle hard enough — no one wants to be type. It’s a success, not a win. Even for someone who is dying, they can still remembered as a loser. be successful. Those interested in learning more about my story should visit my blog, With the battle metaphors used as they are today, I do not want to feel allthingsab.blogspot.com. a failure about something beyond my control. I refuse to believe anyone’s
Student democracy wall must go Civil discourse imperative to higher education Jonanthan Phelps | Staff Writer
K
ennesaw State’s Democracy Wall has failed to advance proactive change, dignity or democracy among students. The exchange of well-reasoned, wellresearched ideas is a critical part of the collegiate experiment, where a failure to communicate is a failure to educate. Hoping to foster civil communication between peers with differing ideas, KSU installed a public forum in the fall of 2016 called the Democracy Wall. Located outside the Horace W. Sturgis Library, the Democracy Wall is a set of two chalkboards with a set of posters explaining its mission and rules. According to the rule board adjacent to the wall, students are to use the wall for “discussing civic issues, encouraging thoughtful reflection . . . and demonstrating democratic values . . . for proactive change.” The rules instruct students to use words that “reflect dignity” and “fair play” in order to be respectful and to abstain from hate speech. On the blackboard is an assortment of drawings, scribbles and text scrawled in white and yellow chalk. The few messages of kind intent are surrounded by a sea of deprecating speech, drowned in an unruly mess of chalk. The conversations are brief, unarticulated and often hostile. There are numerous illustrations on the wall that are the kind of things you would expect to see in a high school locker room — a medley of slurs and language unfit for print. While it is tempting to believe that the volume of such language must be exaggerated, the truth is that hateful speech is overwhelmingly common on the Democracy Wall. “I’ve passed by that board after class for a year now. There is always a slur of some kind,” said Emmanuel Castillo, a senior studying English at KSU.
When asked about the wall’s content, Emmanuel expressed concern over tolerating such behavior. “Everyone does it so it must be fine — that’s how we justify it, but it’s not fine.” Despite efforts by students to wash away crude language and keep the board civil, bad behavior continues to emerge. In an anonymous environment with no supervision, it is only a matter of waiting until the next instance of gross misbehavior. The Democracy Wall proves that sincere dialogue is not achieved without effort. Without proper oversight, the wall has devolved into bullying, trolling and hate speech. Anonymity has become an excuse for inappropriate and immature behavior free of repercussions. There are no social consequences for even the most heinous speech. Instead, it has succumbed to toxic speech that has infected our public dialogue. It is a critical failure in the quest to mend our trust in public expression. The Democracy Wall has fallen gravely short of its mission while showing a complete inability to enforce its own rules, and therefore, it must go. Let me reiterate that I believe in the sanctity of free speech. The wall, however, is an unsuitable medium for that speech. The board has woefully limited space. Participants cannot really converse due to extreme clutter and a lack of time. How can we “discuss civic issues” faithfully in such a space? The answer, as evident by the state of the wall, is that we cannot. KSU wants a public forum, and we should have one, but one where students talk to each other in person — one where good dialogue flourishes and hate speech is not tolerated. We can start by taking down the Democracy Wall, denying hateful rhetoric a foothold in the public consciousness and paving the way for a better forum.
Nicolas Fricia | Staff Writer
C
ivil discourse should be a chief priority for Kennesaw State students who are willing to elevate themselves through knowledge. Independent thought is essential to creative thinking, new ideas and unique perspectives on the opinions of our day. Without an education fostering such concepts, people, on the whole, will be subject to mass mediocrity. Engaging in debates or discussions can happen through writings, arranging meetings, listening to debates, podcasts, reading books and more. There is a tremendous amount of tools available for both introverts and extroverts to use in order to engage in civil discussions. As John Stuart Mill stated in his book “On Liberty,” “the general or prevailing opinion in any subject is rarely or never the whole truth; it is only by the collision of adverse opinions that the remainder of the truth has any chance of being supplied.” However, engaging in such an idea has its risks especially on controversial topics. Too often do people wish to avoid, ignore or silence opposing beliefs and perspectives. This is something we now deal with on a daily basis as the political climate worsens and social divisions among citizens deepen. We are left with ourselves tucked away in our dark filtered corners from these enlightening, and often difficult, yet
rewarding, conversations. The Association of American Colleges and Universities published an important report called A Crucible Moment: College Learning and Democracy’s Future. This report outlines the crucial role colleges and universities have to help educate students on civil discourse. When we are not taught how to respectfully contradict, take contradictions and respect other peoples’ thoughts, the very foundation of our education becomes terribly flawed. Not only is this a terrible flaw that needs to be addressed in the education of an individual, but the effects of this flaw on others is tremendous. Andrea Leskes published an article called A Plea for Civil Discourse: Needed, the Academy’s Leadership published in the AACU that outlines the challenges civic learning has and how the priority to promote this should not be limited to students. “A world-class academic community depends on an open society to thrive; it also models an ideal culture of discourse,” Leskes states. “Questioning and argument, weighing evidence and analyzing alternative interpretations — such values are at the core of teaching and scholarship.” Every lesson and discussion of ideas carries with it profound impacts on our entire community. Like a ripple effect from the source, it carries on across any given body of water. Civil discourse must be at the foundation of undergraduate learning. It should not be limited to only social science majors. Instead, all majors and curriculums need to incorporate this concept since this is an issue that affects every basis of learning.
“Every lesson and discussion of ideas carries with it profound impacts on our entire community.”
Hip-hop has taken an emotional turn Marquis Holmes | Editor in Chief
H
Hip-hop has shifted from glorifying drugs, weapons, sex and money; to a more heartfelt subject matter.
Jessi Lestelle | The Sentinel
ip-hop, a fairly recent genre of music compared to others, has taken numerous turns in terms of composition and lyrical content. What first started out as more of a familyorientated expression aiming for patrons of the urban community in the 1980s has evolved into more of an expression that vividly paints the harsh reality of life in poverty — glorifying drugs, weapons, sex and money. However, only within the past year, hip-hop has begun to rebrand itself once again, following an alternative but familiar narrative with saddening and emotional dialogue that can arguably be compared to that of punk rock greats like Nirvana and Green Day. Lyrics that glorify suicide, anxiety, drug
addiction and heartbreak can be heard across everyone’s playlists today. Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams” has peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the late XXXTentacion’s “SAD!” has reached No. 1 posthumously. It is also not too late to forget Lil Uzi Vert’s 2017 anthem “XO Tour Llif3,” in which his pessimistic description peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100. Dark and emotional content among the previously masculine hip-hop genre is not necessarily a new approach. In fact, it can infamously be traced back to Lil’ Wayne’s 2010 song “Rebirth.” Although it was considered his worst effort upon release, it can arguably be considered his most influential album to this day, according to Charles Holmes of Complex. “Rebirth” was one of the first hip-hop compositions to add compassion and self-loathing themes to its content, something that everyone can relate to even in the smallest extent. Since the rising of this new-era hip-hop, “Rebirth” has been cited several times as the influence.
This is only second to Kanye West’s 2008 album “808s and Heartbreak,” in which West delivered an innovative performance in reaction to the death of his mother, the late Dr. Donda West. “808’s and Heartbreak” is also considered one of the pioneering pieces in the modern state of hip-hop. Only a decade later has hip-hop become more of a psychological therapy for the younger generation of hip-hop artists. The radio in recent months tends to sound like more of a haunting novel of agony than that of a captivating hip-hop outlet. A competition of who could produce the wittiest punchline now comes down to who can touch as many hearts as possible. Ironically, it can still be beneficial for the community because it promotes normality. It is almost safe to say that these emotions will continue to influence the hip-hop community until the next big concept comes around. But until then, why not enjoy a moment in which the stereotypical emo kid of the early 2000s is in all of us?
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SPORTS
OWLS READY FOR PANTHERS AFTER RIGOROUS PRACTICES Tyhi Conley | Staff Writer The football team is preparing for the first game of the year at Georgia State, where they seek to continue its success from last season. Last year, the Owls won the Big South Conference title and reached the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. This year will be a test of the team’s desire to achieve even greater heights. Despite the impressive 12-2 record last season, there were some inconsistencies that have transferred to this season. Following a practice week of poor performances early on, the team’s focus is beginning to reshape. “These last three days have been positive — they’ve had more energy about them, more focus,” Bohannon said. “Collectively, [I’ve] really been encouraged by the attitude.” The general consensus for the opening game against the Panthers is that the Owls are underdogs because they’re facing a Football Bowl Subdivision school. That won’t stop the Owls from pulling out all stops to show their dynamic rushing attack. Before facing the Panthers, the Owls may need to finish flourishing internally. This off-season, the competition to earn time on the field has been no secret. On the first day of training camp, Bohannon said that several positions were not solidified because of the loss of certain seniors. While he hasn’t officially announced all starters, adjustments have been made. “Obviously, as we get closer to game time, I think everybody starts to dial in a little bit more,” Bohannon said. “[They’re] excited about playing the game and hitting somebody else.” Recently, the Owls decided that Dorian Walker, transfer defensive back
from Georgia Tech, will be moved from corner to safety. “I think the transition was good,” Walker said. “When I first got here, I told the team that I was willing to do whatever that they needed from me, so wherever they move me I’m happy as long as it’s helping the team.” Bohannon says the decision appertained to putting the best 11 players on the field. “Dorian has been a lot more dialed into what he’s doing,” Bohannon said. “He can always go back to corner in a pinch, but we feel like we can best use his abilities playing safety.” The defensive changes may be fitting, but it’s not the same story for the offensive line. Bohannon was transparent with the progress of the unit, who had been crucial in allowing the Owls to have the top rushing attack in the nation last season. “We’re not there yet,” Bohannon said. “I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know that we’ll be there for the first game, but we’ll find out when we play the game exactly where we are. It may even take us a couple weeks before we know exactly where we are.” For people rooting for the Owls, Bohannon has a message. “Let’s make it a home game,” he said. “Let’s make it more black and gold than blue and white. It’s right down the road. Having a great student fan base there is going to make a huge difference in our kids and having a chance to win the game.” The Owls begin their fourth season on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m., playing at Georgia State’s stadium, formerly known as Turner Field. KSU students can access $5 tickets with a valid student email and must enter KSUSTU as the access code.
Quarterback Tommy Bryant practices snaps for the upcoming Georgia State game on Aug. 30.
Richard Blyth | The Sentinel
The Owls prepare for the game on Thursday, Aug. 30, against GSU.
Richard Blyth | The Sentinel
Soccer team secures 3-1 record over weekend Teddy Teshome & Perry Turnipseed | Staff Writers The Kennesaw State women’s soccer together a string of clever passes team visited Troy University on in the midfield and the ball came Friday, Aug. 24, winning with a 3-1 to Sophomore Forward Kameron victory and extending their winning Downs. She found space to shoot streak to three games. from the left wing and rifled a Two early goals before the nineshot at the goalie. The shot took minute mark helped propel the a deflection and floated over the Owls into the lead and establish goalkeeper to give the Owls a momentum. The win marks the first definitive 3-1 lead in the time the Owls started a season with 71st minute. three consecutive victories since “Tonight was a very tough win becoming a Division I team in 2005. for our ladies,” head coach Benji Sophomore Forward Erin Harris Walton said. “It was a huge help to helped create the first goal. After get two early goals that allowed us receiving the ball around midfield, to calm things down a bit and play she proceeded to run up the wing composed. I am extremely proud of of the pitch and blazed past two the team as a whole.” defenders. She then spotted Kendall Next, the Owls traveled to Higgs and played a cross into the Tuscaloosa and experienced their box for a tap-in at the first loss of the season, losing 6-0 to six-minute mark. the Crimson Tide on Sunday night. Three minutes later, Harris was Alabama scored in the ninth on the prowl again, this time taking advantage of a costly defensive mistake by the Trojans. Harris noticed an errant pass within the opposition’s penalty box and pounced after the ball, slotting it into the bottom corner to put the Owls up 2-0. The Trojans were in no mood to give up, as they responded with a goal of their own five minutes later. From there on, the momentum of the game changed and the pressure was high for both sides. At some points, it was difficult for either team to string a couple of passes together. After controlling possession for most of the Kendall Baker takes the offensive in a game against second half, the Owls put Furman in Sept. 2017.
minute of the game and two more towards the end of the first half to make the score 3-0 going into halftime. The Tide would score three more, one eight minutes after the start of the second half and the other two in the 68th and 78th minutes of play. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao reached a seasonhigh of eight saves as she faced a barrage of shots from Alabama. They dominated the game in terms of chances, out-shooting the Owls 30-6 in total shots and 14-1 in shotson-target. The Owls go back on the road next weekend to take on Furman in Greenville, SC. on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. and then heads west to play Morehead State in Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Liesl Engelbrecht holds the new school block record after surpassing 250 career blocks during the game against Samford on Aug. 25.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess
Engelbrecht breaks volleyball block record as Owls win three Lynn Sharp | Staff Writer
Andrew Blaylock | The Sentinel
The Kennesaw State volleyball team returned to the court over the weekend to begin their season, facing off against three teams over two days in Birmingham, Ala. On Friday, Aug. 24, the Owls took to the court winning games against both Loyola Chicago and McNeese State. The Owls shut out both teams, immediately establishing their talent during 3-0 victories. The Owls started off strong against Loyola, winning the first set 25-18. Fighting hard in the second set, the Ramblers tied the game at 26 points each before the Owls forced two errors to win. The third set was a tight 25-22 bout that confirmed the first sweep of the year for the Owls.
Three players tied for a game-high ten kills while Lexi Broadwater led the way with 42 assists. After a short break, they returned to the court to face McNeese State. They won each set by more than five points as Broadwater continued to provide a plethora of assists. “I’m proud of our team for a nice start today,” Head Coach Keith Schunzel said. “But our team also knows we have a lot of areas we want and need to improve on. This team is a long way away from reaching our ceiling, which is a good thing.” On Saturday, the Owls faced off against Samford in a thrilling five-set tilt. Liesl Engelbrecht
highlighted the match as she became the all-time block leader in school history. After falling behind in the first two sets, the Owls rallied to win the match 3-2. “That was a tale of two completely different Kennesaw State teams,” Schunzel said. “The first two sets was a team that got pushed around, was reactive to everything, and was getting blasted. Games three, four and five was the Kennesaw State team that I know.” At the start of what hopes to be another winning season, the Owls will be back on the court this week. The first home game of the season will be on Thursday, Aug. 30, against High Point while they host Presbyterian the next day.