October 13, 2015 KSU Sentinel by Kennesaw State University Student Media

OCT. 13 2015

SNEAK PEEK

THE SENTINEL

VOL. 49 ISSUE 8 | SINCE 1966

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL

BACK JUGGLING NEW COLLEGE WITH SAFETY IN WIN LIFE APP COLUMN Story Starts On Page 5

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Students are viewed as equivalent to the amount of money they can give schools and the economy.

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Matt Boggs | The Sentinel

REPORT PUSHES IN-STATE TUITION FOR IMMIGRANTS Remi Merhi Staff Writer The Georgia Budget and Policy Institution released a policy report Sept. 29 making the case that undocumented immigrants protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy should receive in-state tuition to public colleges and universities in Georgia. The policy, written by Melissa Johnson is entitled “Georgia’s Workforce Development, Economy Damaged by Barriers to Higher Education for Undocumented Students.” Johnson states that allowing instate tuition to undocumented students will create a diverse workforce in Georgia. She also says it will increase the amount of college graduates. “We run the risk, a very strong

risk, of having less diverse, less skilled workers by not putting this policy in effect,” Johnson said. DACA allows undocumented immigrants access to education and jobs without fear of being deported for a period of two years if the individual was brought to America before the age of 16 and has no criminal records. It can then be renewed after this period. If the undocumented immigrants receive in-state tuition in Georgia, it could also mean bringing diversity into colleges as well as the workforce. “They have different cultures, and a lot of the time they are still holdfast to their cultures,” Michelle Miller, the Exchange Coordinator at KSU, said. “I think

that would bring diversity into the classrooms.” Miller also noted that the exchange students that come to KSU from other countries receive in-state tuition when they come using a J-1 visa, while Georgia does not offer undocumented immigrants any federal financial aid. The report also states that Georgia will be more likely to reach their goal of having 250,000 additional college graduates by 2020 if this policy is installed. This goal was created by Gov. Nathan Deal who believes we need more graduates to fulfill the workforce need. By having more college graduates, Georgia will not only have an increased workforce, but also more educated resi-

dents. Nancy Seifried, a senior biology major, believes that for this reason, allowing undocumented immigrants in-state tuition may be beneficial to Kennesaw. “It’s been proven time and time again that those societies that have a higher educated populous have a safer populus,” Seifried said. “So why wouldn’t you want everyone in your society educated?” As of now, college is out of reach for the majority of undocumented immigrants, because 66 percent of the undocumented immigrants are low-income families. This makes it extremely difficult for them Budget Report continued on pg. 2

WE ASKED STUDENTS THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Do you think undocumented students who meet certain requirements should have access to in-state tuition?

IN FAVOR

70%

NOT IN FAVOR

30%

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

NEWS

Budget Report continued from pg. 1

to afford out-of-state tuition. Out-of-state tuition can be up to three times more expensive than in-state tuition. The support and predictions of how in-state tuition given to undocumented immigrants could affect Kennesaw State University seems to be the same among faculty members and students of KSU. They believe the enrollment rates and population will increase, a situation KSU will hopefully be able to accommodate. They also believe that the demographics will change, creating a more diverse atmosphere at KSU. As for tuition prices, they are set by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia who have declined to comment on this issue. Johnson states, however, that the cost to universities and the state of Georgia is not something to be worried about. “The cost is pretty minimal. You’re talking about adding some more students to the roll.” Johnson said. “What they’re bringing to the table is the

validity to pay in-state tuition in some cases and the ability to pay more into our tax system through high earnings once they graduate.” Despite this support, some oppose in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants because they believe that Georgia should not reward the undocumented immigrants who have arrived and reside here illegally. Even Julio Espana, the Director of Global Admissions, has a hard time choosing sides on this matter. As a first generation immigrant and legal citizen, he is able to understand both perspectives. “It’s hard to take a side. I believe in education and we should be supportive of everyone,” Espana said. “But, having said that, I think they should go by the law, follow the rules and then be able to have in-state tuition.” Johnson points out that it should not be approached in this manner. “The DACA students are students who were brought here by no fault of their own,” Johnson said. “They are not lawbreakers in that sense.”

Photo Courtesy of The Georgia Budget and Policy Institution

CONSOLIDATION CONSEQUENCES FINANCIAL AID FRENZY

Consolidation Consequences is an ongoing investigation. Check back next week for part three of our look at the inconveniences students face with split campuses. If there are any issues you face that you would like us to cover, contact eic@ksusentinel.com.

Kayla Dungee Staff Writer Financial aid is the one thing that makes college possible for several students. When refunds were disbursed September 4, 2015 to Higher One cards, several students were relieved while others remained confused about the status of their refund or where it was. Since many students use their refunds to purchase textbooks, pay rent, and cover the cost of tuition and an assortment of other university fees, several students at the Marietta campus were left panicking. However, at the Kennesaw campus, there was much less commotion. It wasn’t spotless on either end, but former SPSU

students seemed to be the most confused. “I initially was confused because I was expecting a $2000 refund, which would help me cover all the charges that I owed. When I got my refund, I only received $1000. I am a student at the Marietta campus and I didn’t hear of anything like this happening before.” said Ellie Jarnes, a junior apparel and textiles major. “I never received the Higher One Card in the first place. Maybe it was because I’m a former SPSU student. Perhaps it was just an oversight,” said Kevin Gotta, a junior engineering major. The Office of Financial Aid

and The Bursar’s Office work hand-in-hand to award aid. It is a collaborative approach where the awarding of aid is released to the Bursar’s Office to address educational costs. If a credit balance exists, refunds are generated and distributed by the Bursar’s Office. “When merging two schools, processes and procedures must also be combined,” Director of Student Financial Aid Ron Day said. “This also involves the setup necessities for systems related to technological needs, i.e. Banner. Often this is a challenge.” Despite the circumstance surrounding the dispersion of refunds and other forms

of financial aid, a large scale problem is believed to have been avoided. “I was very pleased with how financial aid was handled during the consolidation and students that meet the financial aid deadlines received their aid,” Director of Enrollment Services Gary Bush said. “With the proactive and collaborative nature of the Consolidation Working Groups, much of this was mitigated and many anticipated issues were resolved well prior to fall startup. The merging of the two schools and the dedication of the staff of the Financial Aid Office, no eligible student was harmed in any way. This is

true of all aid types – whether federal, state, private, or institutional,” Day said. Overall, the technical issues seemed to have smoothed over, whether they worked themselves out or the students had to take control. “We are very excited to say we disbursed to 25,193 students approximately $128 million for the Fall 2015 semester,” Day said. Next semesters distribution of refunds on January 25, 2016 will ultimately determine whether this is a large scale problem that needs further addressing.

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OWL Sierra Hubbard News Editor Don’t miss any OWL Events! Check back each week for a new calendar of KSU’s upcoming events. Don’t see your event? We want to know! Please send event information to newseditor@ ksusentinel.com

Wednesday

• Robert Henry, piano 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bailey Performance Center PH100 (624) Morgan Concert Hall

Thursday

• Women’s Choral Day 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bailey Performance Center PH115 (100) Brooker Rehearsal Hall

Friday

• Women’s Soccer vs North Florida 2 p.m. Fifth Third Bank Stadium • Open Audition for KSU Artists Rock The Mic Benefit Concert 2 p.m. Joe Mac Student Center, Marietta campus • Phi Mu Halloween 5K 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Perch TP002 Walk Jog Trail Marietta campus • Felipe Coelho, guitar with KSU Symphony Orchestra and Faculty Artists 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bailey Performance Center PH100 (624) Morgan Concert Hall

NEWS

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

Sunday

• Women’s Soccer vs Jacksonville 3 p.m. Fifth Third Bank Stadium

POLICE BEAT Dallas Satterfield Contributor Police Beat is compiled from Kennesaw State University’s Safe and Sound Police public records. Names are removed for privacy.

KENNESAW CAMPUS ROOM MATE FROM HELL Sept. 24, 2015

A resident of University Village reported that his roommate assaulted him and threatened to kill him. An officer met the resident who called in the complaint and the Residential Director (RD). According to the resident, he and his roommate got into an argument and the roommate threatened him, which had happened before. The resident said in the argument, “You always say you will beat people up, but you never do anything.” The roommate, according to the report, yelled, “Are you testing me? Are you testing me right now?” The resident walked away and sat down on the couch to watch T.V. The roommate walked up to the resident and grabbed him by the neck and threw the resident on the ground. The two men fought for minutes before stopping. When the resident told him he could be charged with assault, the roommate said that he would kill him before he made it there. The officer noticed two small scratches on the resident’s neck, and he had photos of more injuries as well. The roommate had left and could not be questioned at the time. The RD said that he would be moving the residents involved as soon as possible.

DRIVING HIGH... STRAIGHT TO JAIL Sept. 28, 2015 Officers pulled over a woman for a broken brake light and arrested her after finding marijuana in her possession. Officers patrolling Chastain Road were stopped when white Dodge Charger pulled up on the right side of their vehicle. They noticed the woman driving the car had both hands on the wheel and was looking forward intensely and nowhere else. As the cars passed Kennesaw State University Road, the officers noticed a broken brake light. When the woman was asked for her license, she gave the officer a Georgia Identification Card. The woman said she only had a valid Florida license. As the officer spoke to the woman, he smelled marijuana. When asked if she had any marijuana in the vehicle, the woman admitted to having some in her sun visor. The woman said she had purchased the marijuana in Atlanta. She had smoked some while driving from Marietta to Kennesaw. After police searched her car, they found 4.5 grams of marijuana. The officers placed the woman under arrest for possession of marijuana less than one ounce, operating a vehicle while unlicensed and brake light requirements. She was transported to Cobb Adult Detention Center.

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NEWS

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

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CONTROVERSY IN THE COMMONS Noelle Lashley Staff Writer The leadership structure of Kennesaw State University's Department of Culinary and Hospitality Services was shaken up by the resignation of award-winning executive director Gary Coltek Sept. 22. Coltek resigned from his duties after a Fox 5 report triggered an investigation of his business practices by KSU officials. His resignation will be effective Nov. 6, 2015. According to the report by Fox 5 I-Team Reporter Randy Travis, in Jan. 2013, Dr. Randy C. Hinds, Vice President for Operations, reprimanded Coltek for multiple instances of misconduct. The infractions listed included using a KSU employee to handle Coltek’s personal matters dur-

ing business hours, using The Commons for personal business gains, suggestions of nepotism, and falsifying a tax document. In addition to listing the violations committed by Coltek, the reprimand included a memo to Coltek written by Hinds. Hinds said, “It must be noted that these findings match an ongoing pattern of personal job conduct infractions, less than satisfactory job performance, and generally poor judgment related to the operation of the KSU Commons that has marked nearly your entire employment history at KSU.” Hinds then stated, “Unless it is demonstrated to my satisfaction that measures to ensure immediate, significant, and sustained improvement are un-

derway, action will be initiated to terminate your employment with KSU.” Travis’ report continued on to reveal that, in Oct. 2013, “one of Coltek’s many private companies began billing a major vendor Coltek was also supposed to be supervising.” Travis cited an invoice issued by Coltek’s private company, Foodgenuity, to Sodexo, a company whose website identifies it as “a leading provider of food and facilities management services in North America.” The invoice showed that Sodexo was charged for a retainer of $20,000 and a monthly fee of $3,500 by Coltek’s private business. Travis’ report noted that the invoice was issued when So

Coltek is the top chef at The Commons. Sodexo was in a multi-million dollar business deal with KSU. In an official press release issued by KSU on Oct. 6, officials stated they "are currently conducting an administrative review into the allegations cited on the Oct. 5 Fox 5 news report, involving Gary Coltek.” The bulletin continued on

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

to say, “Any potential overlaps between Mr. Coltek’s work with outside companies and his role and tenure at the University are included within the scope of that review.” The findings of the review will be made available to the public once the investigation is completed.

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OPINION

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

STURGIS LIBRARY Kaitlyn Lewis Opinion Editor The Sturgis Library offers plenty of help and resources for students, but it is sometimes difficult to find a quiet place to study inside. I believe part of this frustration may be because of the renovations that began at the end of the 2015 spring semester. KSU used $38.7 million to renovate the Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center, but only $4.4 million is being used to

renovate the Sturgis Library. The $4.4 million was given in bonds to KSU in 2013 by the Georgia General Assembly, according an article published in the Marietta Daily Journal. In the same article, President Daniel Papp told the MDJ that the library needs more space. I’m content with $4.4 million going towards our library, and I’m glad that Dr. Papp said we needed more space in our library. I hope he still thinks the same today. The fact that it took almost

NEEDS MORE SPACE

two years to complete the new recreational center makes me wonder if I will be able to fully experience the new library before I graduate in about a year. A decent and spacious library is important for students, especially for those who live off campus and are not able to retreat to their apartments in between classes. I just hope KSU will use the money in the best way possible. Right now, the library feels cramped. Only one floor is

available to students. One day I asked if there were any desks I could work at with my laptop so I didn’t have to use any of the university computers, and the library staff told me I could go to the second floor. So I went up the stairs, and when I arrived on the second floor, I noticed that it was still under construction. If I truly wanted to find a quiet space, I would need to reserve a study room with at least one other student in advance. It takes too long to walk in and find a perfectly quiet space to

study for a quiz I will have to take during my next class. When class groups meet in the main computer areas, it makes it difficult for those trying to study alone. For this reason, I think we should create more secluded computer areas with tables, couches, chairs, computers and plenty of outlets for students who bring their own laptops. I think it is important that the construction is finished soon so that more studying space is available for students.

STRIVING FOR SELFLESSNESS Adelson Militao Contributor College students share their time with school, work, friends, hobbies, families, charity, and leisure. While some students are successful with time management, we all still deal with a lot of stress. Sometimes I feel like a clown because I’m juggling all my responsibilities and activities week after week. I would assume that many other students also feel like clowns juggling school, jobs, hobbies, friends and family. Although I am only 22 years old, I have just celebrated my fourth year of marriage. I am in the Army National Guard and I participate in KSU’s Army ROTC program. I also work at the Office of Student Life, I’m involved with two churches and I volunteer at Camp Gideon

in Acworth from time to time. In my limited free time I play music, I go hiking Kennesaw Mountain or I may go mountain biking at Blankets Creek in Canton. On top of everything else, we also are expecting a little baby girl in December. Actually, I sometimes feel like a clown who is juggling chainsaws and riding a unicycle on a tightrope above a fiery pit blindfolded. My life can be very stressful, but I know I am not alone on campus. Plenty of other KSU students may feel the same way I do. I don’t intend to showcase how crazy I am with all my commitments, but to shed some light on how crazy college can be for some. KSU’s population consists of mothers, fathers, veterans, artists, athletes, activists and an array of other people that are

juggling life as best they can. It takes humility and faith in order to juggle it all with joy. When I stop to think about how I have gotten through college so far, I can’t help but think about two things that have had a great impact on my life: the relationships that I have developed through my commitments and my faith in Jesus, which helps me endure the chaos. It is easy to feel depressed when you are juggling so many commitments and activities, but I have learned that it is best to become selfless and serve those around me. Thinking of others is a good way to face my stress with joy. When your life seems to be falling apart, take a step back and think of someone else’s. Easier said than done,

right? But, take a moment and think about the last time someone was selfless and served you. Maybe they just sat and listened? Maybe they went out of their way to help you, or maybe they just gave a sincere smile and genuinely wished you a good day. Imagine the impact you can have on your own life by making those around yours better. Sounds like a fluffy fairytale of rainbows, right? It also sounds like a selfish selflessness. But, maybe if everyone were selfless, there would be no need to be selfish? I believe dealing with the stress would then become a lighter burden. Secondly, my faith in Jesus has carried me when I couldn’t drive myself to endure the stressor to be a positive influence to others. Faith is

what keeps us in the race, even though the finish line is far from sight. Everybody hopes in something, but we may need to be reminded that we at least have hope. Reflect on what you put your faith in, and use it as a daily reminder to keep trucking along. I am by no means a guru of all solutions, but my hope is that you consider the juggling you face each day as a student and look to the left and to the right to see you’re not alone. Take my experience and use it however you see fit. If it fits well, then I challenge you to consciously make somebody’s day better today. Start by telling the next person you see that they are awesome and give them the most epic, excited high-five someone could ever receive.

OPINION

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

DON’T BE AFRAID

PAGE 6

THE SENTINEL

TO VACCINATE

Sharonjeet Kaur Staff Writer One day during the end of September, my sister came from student teaching to share the details of her day. She explained that some of her students were coughing during class and she was afraid that they may be getting sick. That’s when it happened. “Achoo!” It was the first sign of the 2015 flu season. Brace yourselves. Get ready for fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache. Mix that with a tightly packed college community during midterms and finals and you have a toxic mess waiting to blow over. There is an antidote: an annual flu vaccination. In order to first actually get vaccinated to build a healthier community, I understand that patients must be informed as to what exactly they are being given with their vaccine and what the vaccine is for. There has recently been a lot of information circulating that vaccinations do not work

and cause other health issues. This is actually a common misconception among KSU students, as I found out from running a health fair at Marietta Campus. Earlier in this semester, I was doing a myth-buster approach to sharing knowledge about the truth about the flu vaccine on the Marietta campus, and one of the questions at my table was asking whether or not flu vaccines are helpful. Many of the students who believed that flu vaccines are dangerous explained that flu vaccines must be dangerous because that contain the influenza virus within the vaccine. Yes, the flu vaccine does contain a part of different strains of the influenza virus. However, as I have learned through taking biology and genetics courses as part of my pre-med major concentration, the virus is engineered and deactivated so that it can help the body build antibodies to

help fight against that specific form of the virus without letting the virus be active and harm the body. Thus, the vaccine provides active acquired immunity from popular strains of the flu. The flu vaccine is a method of prevention rather than you getting the flu and dealing with the symptoms and stress later on. Other students at the Marietta campus explained to me that they do not believe in the flu shot because they received the shot and then got the flu anyway. The reason behind this is that the flu shot can only prevent the most common strains of influenza, not all strains. If you get vaccinated today but go to your dorm to find that your roommate has a different strain of the flu and they do not practice healthy habits such as washing their hands frequently, there is a chance that you will get the flu. Again, it is important that you have healthy habits to

prevent this situation. It is not fair that you get vaccinated, and your roommate still gets you sick from his or her poor health habits. In order to get a stronger and healthier community, especially on a college campus where we have other health issues to deal with such as stress and nutrition, I think it is best that everyone get vaccinated. There will always be that person who coughs into their hands, doesn’t wash their hands or just simply brings their germs into your bubble. Your family can get vaccinated and your roommates can get vaccinated, but only you have the ability to do what your body needs to keep itself strong in the face of illness and disease. Getting vaccinated not only protects you but also those around you and in your community who have also been vaccinated.

v “Petition to make John Cena the official fight song.”

OWL YAKS

“I’m broke but still need retail therapy.” “One jar or Nutella a day keeps the doctor away.”

“Adults were right when they would say, ‘Life will go by faster than you will think. Enjoy your childhood.’”

“You know you’re in college when you’re asking for Microsoft Word for Christmas.” “As a college freshman, the only workout I get is running out of money.”

Owl Yak is a compilation of The Sentinel’s favorite student comments from the anonymous Yik Yak app. Check each week to see if you made it (Just don’t tell anyone!)

“You can’t spell student loans without crippling depression.”

“Do math majors graduate with degrees or radians?”

“One time when the fire alarm went off and woke me, I was so disoriented that I thought it was my alarm clock and that the whole building was gonna be mad at me.”

CONTACT US WANT TO SUBMIT AN OPINION ARTICLE? EMAIL: OPINIONEDITOR@ KSUSENTINEL.COM MUST BE IN AP STYLE & INCLUDE HEADSHOT. LETTER POLICY 1.) The Sentinel will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200 words long. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the editors. We reserve the right to edit all letters submitted for brevity, content and clarity. 2.) The writer must include full name, year and major if a student, professional title if a KSU employee, and city if a Georgia resident. 3.) For verification purposes, students must also supply the last four digits of their student ID number and a phone number. This information will not be published. E-mail addresses are included with letters published in the web edition. 4.) Contributors are limited to one letter every 30 days. Letters thanking individuals or organizations for personal services rendered cannot be accepted. We do not publish individual consumer complaints about specific businesses. 5.) If it is determined that a letter writer’s political or professional capacity or position has a bearing on the topic addressed, then that capacity or position will be identified at the editor’s discretion. 6.) While we do not publish letters from groups endorsing political candidates, The Sentinel will carry letters discussing candidates and campaign issues. 7.) All letters become property of The Sentinel. 8.) All comments and opinions in signed columns are those of the author and not necessarily of The Sentinel staff, its advisers or KSU and do not reflect the views of the faculty, staff, student body, the Student Media or the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Columns are opinions of only the columnist. They do not reflect the views of The Sentinel, but instead offer a differing viewpoint. The Sentinel is the student newspaper of Kennesaw State University, and recieves no student activity fees. The Sentinel is published weekly (Tuesdays) during the school year. First three copies are free; additional copies are $1.00. No part of The Sentinel may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Editor in Chief. © 2015, THE SENTINEL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

AND

ARTS LIVING

ICONA POP:

INAUGURAL SEASON

HOMECOMING CONCERT

Icona Pop performing at Ksu’s homecoming game.

Kenyatta Kinloch Contributor A few weeks prior to the homecoming concert, a variety of sentiments swirled throughout both campuses regarding the announcement of Top-40 duo Icona Pop as the 2015 KSU Homecoming headliners. Some expressed feelings of disappointment while others were surprised, yet open to the “I Love It” songstresses’ presence on our campus, but a controversy was created nonetheless. Talks of the homecoming committee sending out a poll

to Kennesaw State students to determine this year’s homecoming performers began to spring up once less than desirable comments about the concert began circulating. “I was never faced with any kind of survey, but I would have loved to do one,” Julianne Pham, a senior and Communication major said. “I heard after the fact that there were some artists I think a majority would have really liked to see here for homecoming.” Soon after the show announcement, it was further

disclosed that Night Owl Productions would be taking on facilitating the event to be held at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Box Office and Marketing Manager Maggie Gendernalik cited feelings of excitement when it came to being able to take on the challenge, “We are more than willing and capable to help out any entity of Kennesaw State University in any way!” Gendernalik said. “We pride ourselves in being a part of homecoming and I know this team strives to cater to the students and make the best of

everything we are lucky enough to be a part of.” In the days leading up to the concert, the efforts of the Night Owl team were seen around both Kennesaw and Marietta campuses with bottles of bubbles showcasing a foam party addition to the concert. On the day of, the foam flowed and a crowd of excited Icona Pop fans filled the Fifth Third Bank Stadium track and field lot adjoining Radow Way. Show openers, and KSU students KZ and Brittnee Camelle primed the stage for

Photo Courtesy of Garrett Odom

Icona Pop to come out and do an amazing, interactive, and quite personal set. Despite mixed feelings and rumors of low-ticket sales the event ended up being everything a good show should, a matter to be anticipated with a satisfying result for all in attendance. A certain amount of gratitude is to be given to the KSU 2015 Homecoming Committee, and Night Owl productions for putting on a show fit for the inaugural football season.

RALLYING UP THE SPIRIT Gia Fore Contributor Before history was made at KSU on Oct. 10 with the university’s first ever homecoming football game, a pep rally was essential for keeping spirits high before the big day. Hosted by Kennesaw Activities Board (KAB), a pep rally was held on Oct. 9 at the Austin Residence Complex’s amphitheater, located on the Kennesaw Campus. The event had a phenomenal turnout. The amphitheater was packed with students from Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, who were decked out from head to toe in black and yellow.

Athletics Director, Vaughn Williams went on stage to inform the crowd about the upcoming athletic events taking place during the fall semester and encouraged students “to continue supporting KSU and KSU athletics.” KAB pumped up the crowd by throwing free T-Shirts and yellow foam footballs into the crowd. Head coach of KSU’s football team, Brian Bohannon, joined the stage with a handful of members from the football team. Bohannon revved up the crowd and shared his appreciation for the tremendous amount of support

KSU students have given this year. “As we get ready to make history with the first homecoming football game, I want to say thank you to all the students who made everything possible to play this great game of football at Kennesaw State University,” Bohannon said. Quarterback Trey White acknowledged the amount of support from students and said that KSU has “the best student section in the nation” when it comes to football. After Bohannon and members of the football team exited the stage, KSU soccer member Britney Reed spoke on the behalf of the

soccer team to also thank KSU students for showing their support. During the pep rally, KAB gave away tickets to two students to the KSU Concert featuring Icona Pop. Winners of the homecoming parade float contest, which took place earlier that day, were announced. The Student Government Association (SGA) won the title for the small float category, while Greek Life’s Alpha Omicron Pi took home the win for the large float competition. A dance battle occurred on stage between students and KSU’s mascot, Scrappy the Owl.

The participants danced to popular songs like “Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)” by Silentó, as well as the widely known song of the year 2007 “Crank That” by Soulja Boy. Students were in good spirits all throughout the pep rally. “I’m not sure about everyone else, but I enjoyed myself. Can’t wait for the next homecoming pep rally next fall!” KSU student Trevor Brownlee said. The KSU homecoming pep rally was the perfect way to uplift spirits for tomorrow’s football game as KSU plays against Point University.

ARTS AND LIVING

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

ARTS AND LIVING

Marisa Wilkins Contributor For the first time, the annual Lip Sync competition was held at the Marietta campus on Oct. 8. The Lip Sync competition helped kick off the weekend of homecoming events. Though it is an annual event, the setting changed by being held at the Marietta Campus. The crowd filled the Marietta Campus amphitheater, overflowing with people standing on the sides. Contestants were on fire at this years lip sync as students gathered around the stage and represented the different Greek organizations. Various groups, small and large, came on stage performing popular hits. Some did tributes to singers like Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé while other performances centered around the good ol’ black and gold theme. Each year, the teams try to go bigger and better than the

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

SYNCING IN TO HOMECOMING WEEK year before. One highlight of the night was having “left shark” come on stage while the Kappa Deltas, AKA, and Pike performed to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”. While the competition focuses on lip-syncing, the real show was about the dancing. The competition took a quick pause to announce Kappa Sigma as the winner of the window decorating contest. Later, a moment was taken to bring out the homecoming court to give them a chance to introduce themselves and why they should be crowned king or queen. The 10 candidates discussed their interests, majors, and involvements on campus. Every group brought their best. For best performance from a small group “Straight Outta KSU” dominated. The ZTA and Delta Phi Epsilon performances seemed to be the crowd pleasers. At the end of the night

it was the Kappa Deltas, who collaborated with AKA for their performance that took home the win for large group. A couple of students gave their input on Thursday’s event. “I loved it! It’s interesting to watch and I didn’t really know what to expect at first.” Edith Addy, a junior at KSU and attendee of the event, said. Addy, who is primarily at the Kennesaw campus, added “It was totally worth the drive over here.” “I liked it a lot. I can’t complain, dancing is great; it’s always a good thing.” Justin Morris, a KSU senior said. Morris, being a former SPSU student, expanded by saying he liked that the event was held at the Marietta campus and hopes they keep holding events there. After an amazing 2015 Lip Sync competition, a new tradition was born- the first

PAGE 10

Kappa Delta, Pike, and AKA performing. Photo Courtesy of Marisa Wilkins ever KSU bonfire. Food trucks were parked along the field and students who stayed around after the show were able to enjoy music, receive free swag, and get food vouchers for the food trucks. With this year being KSU’s inaugural football season and first homecoming since the merger, the event seemed to be a great way to incorporate

both campuses in celebrating homecoming week. Students showed their school pride by attending the event and getting pumped about this year’s homecoming and Saturday’s homecoming game. Overall, the night was full of singing, dancing, school spirit, and celebration for this year’s homecoming and inaugural season.

film in the 2008 and the remake in 2014. Big names including Karl Urban, James Marsden and Eric Stonestreet give hope to the film. While their acting at times was convincing, the script occasionally seemed forced and unrealistic. As much as the actors try, their characters aren’t likable in any way. They’re cheating on their wives or doing drugs, but never have to face any real consequences for their actions. Even the women in this

film are unlikable. The beginning of the film was definitely a great start with intense cinematography and action from the opening scenes. About halfway through, the film slows down and falls into a lull. However, the film ends with multiple twists that satisfy and help tie off loose ends. Overall, this film is not by any means a murder mystery film, but it is a classic “whodunit” with a twist.

interactions between the five roommates and their wives. Although the film starts by suggesting that one of the five roommates committed the murder, about half-way through the movie they throw out this narrative and turn this from a somewhat interesting “whodone-it” film into just a cheap twist for the sake of having a twist film. The acting was decent and although there was

little character development, the five roommates were distinct enough. The film promised a lot and delivered little, but I still enjoyed it for the most part. I wouldn’t give the film any awards and I don’t think you will see it in your film class anytime soon, but it could be a fun flick for a casual night in.

Imogen Farris Arts & Living Editor

THE

LOFT

With a promising plot, strong leading actors and intriguing camera work, “The Loft” had all the makings of a successful film, but fell short due to the overall sleazy feel of the film. “The Loft” centers around five married men sharing an apartment in the city to carry out affairs without suspicion from their wives. The film is a 2014 remake of a Belgium film with the same title. Director Erik Van Looy directed the original

Matt Boggs Photo Editor

DUAL REVIEW CHECK IN NEXT WEEK FOR REVIEWS ON “STONEHEARST ASYLUM”

“The Loft”, staring Karl Urban and James Marsden, is an interesting, modern take on the traditional murdermystery genre, but with a cheap twist ending. The film is about five roommates who find a dead girl in the secret loft that they share. The story of the film very slowly unfolds through flashforwards to police interrogation rooms and flash-backs to social

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

TECHNOLOGY

FORMULA SAE TEAM CONTINUES TO THRIVE Shannon Mira Mayembe Staff Writer How many schools can brag about having a motorsports team? KSU does, and not only do they race the cars, but they build them as well. Started by a group of Southern Polytechnic students when they were no longer allowed to race bathtub cars in the 1990’s. In 1992, the first car was built and was entered in competitions in 1993 and hasn’t stopped since. Recently, the team recruited over 40 new students including five female members. The goal of the team is to build, design and race an open-wheeled formula car. They have won numerous awards like third

in Acceleration, sixth in Cost Report/Budget and 16th in Endurance. Formula SAE holds races across five continents and attends events such as Petit Le Mans. On Oct. 3, the team attended Petit Le Mans, a sports car endurance race held annually in Braselton, Ga. Formula SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, is made up of students and staff from all majors across the now combined campuses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be a registered member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. It takes a year to design, build, test and compete

their car. The frame, chassis, and suspension are built in less than three months. Students use the summer to design and build the car so it is ready to be finished completely and able to be raced in the fall. The team was supposed to race in FSAE Brazil, but due to customs issues they were unable to compete. The team hopes to compete in the next year, but for now they continue to show off their car that they let their drivers test. In June 2014, Kennesaw competed in Lincoln, Neb. where the team placed 17th nationally. In September, Formula SAE invited

approximately 50 students from the SAE School in Mableton, Ga. to learn more about the program and how to apply STEM to their soapbox car project. Formula SAE recently received 3D mice for their computers from 3Dconnexion, a provider of 3D mice for design and visualization professionals. They started putting the mice to good use by using them to design the Carbon Fiber Wheel. The team, who’s budget is $20,000, says that it isn’t about the amount of money that they have in order to build a great car, but it’s really about

the engineering, cost and design experience and the work that goes into it. Placing third in acceleration among schools with half a million dollar budgets is more than impressive for such a small program. KSU Motorsports will be racing at Michigan International Speedway in May 2016. Meetings are held every Monday night at 8 p.m. in building Q on the Marietta campus. Check out the team’s Facebook page under “KSU Motorsports — Formula SAE” for updates.

LIVESAFE APP PUTS STUDENTS IN CONTROL OF THEIR SAFETY Beth Ward Contributor Kennesaw State University unveiled its new app Monday, Oct. 12, LiveSafe, available free for download on all iPhone and Android devices for students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. The user-friendly app, developed by a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy and purchased by KSU, puts safety at students’ fingertips, making it easy for users to communicate directly - and anonymously, if they choose - with KSU police dispatch via text, picture, phone call, audio or video recording. LiveSafe’s easy-to-navigate interface allows users to quickly and discreetly issue reports or tips on a variety of concerns, including car accidents, noise disturbances, suspicious activity, theft, sexual assault and violence, all with just a few taps on their smartphones. The alerts are immediately sent to the Department of Public Safety’s

Communication Center, where users can communicate in real time with campus officers and dispatchers. The app can also be used to access important campus resources such as emergency response procedures and victim services for sexual assault and misconduct. The LiveSafe app is slated to be another resource in KSU’s growing efforts to foster a culture of reporting on campus. “We want victims of crimes to feel supported and encouraged to come forward, so we can get them the help and resources they need,” KSU Chief of Police Roger Stearns said. The app may also help to keep users safe in the event of a violent crime. “Say you’re in a violent situation,” Stearns said. “You’re in your residence and you’ve got a situation where you’re hiding or behind a locked door. You don’t want the intruder to know

you’re on your phone, so you can’t really talk to us. But now, [because of this app], you can text us.” “And if you’re out there and you see something suspicious, you can take a picture of it or you can video it,” he said, pointing out that it removes the danger of having to engage in a potentially violent or dangerous situation. LiveSafe also features SafeWalk, a tool that allows users to have a friend or family member virtually “walk” them home in real-time, using a map with GPS-enabled tracking. SafeWalk can be used both on campus and out in the community, allowing users to text with the person who’s “walking” with them throughout their journey, to help make sure someone knows if and when they’ve made it safely to their destination. The launch of the LiveSafe app demonstrates KSU’s

commitment not only to student safety, but also to student engagement and communication. Oftentimes, lack of convenience and discretion prevent bystanders and victims from reporting crimes. With LiveSafe’s option to remain anonymous and the simplicity of the app’s interface, however, the community now has a more valuable and effective tool in their arsenal of crime prevention. Students and other users of the app will need to provide their first and last names and email addresses, information that helps when dispatching public safety personnel to the scene of an incident. If they prefer to report anonymously, a user’s personal identifying information is replaced by ‘Anonymous’ in the data field, keeping it protected by both the third-party vendor supplying the app and the U.S Constitution’s

Fourth Amendment. “There’s lots of different ways for the public to talk to us, either as witnesses or as victims,” Stearns said. “What I like about putting this app out there for the community is that it gives us a resource, a tool, that really changes the way we communicate with the communities we serve.” To download the app, community members can search for LiveSafe in the app store on their device. Once it’s downloaded, go to settings, select Kennesaw State University, and you’ll be instantly connected to KSU’s Department of Public Safety.

Photo Courtesy Livesafemobile.com

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

PUZZLES

Theme: Halloween ACROSS 1. Medieval fiddle 6. College assessment test 9. Outgoing tide action 13. Allergic reaction to bee sting 14. ____ chi 15. Thresh about, as in arms 16. Oddball’s attempt? 17. Pro baseball’s “Master Melvin” 18. Starbucks’ serving 19. Status of being a star 21. *Inhabited by apparitions 23. Actor Stallone 24. Lord’s servant 25. Busy flyer 28. *Like a Halloween sensation 30. Wipe out 35. St. Louis team 37. Hair product manufacturer 39. Red Sea nation 40. Black and white treat 41. Frame job 43. Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and ____” 44. Bread spreads 46. Kind of jerk 47. “The Sun ____ Rises” 48. ____ Beach, SC 50. Verdant 52. Even, to a poet 53. *Give me a treat, or ____! 55. Excessively 57. *”Guess who?” garb 61. *Spell-caster 65. Before editing 66. As opposed to amateur 68. Bioweapon 69. Money under mattress, e.g. 70. Black and white sea bird 71. Rounded like an egg 72. Politician’s barrelful 73. “To Kill a Mockingbird” author 74. Stitch again

Secure your freedom from college debt Serve part-time in the Guard, and you’ll be eligible for at least four financial benefits to help pay for school. (We’re talking thousands of dollars.) Plus, join the ROTC program, and you’re eligible for even more benefits, and you’ll graduate as an officer with officer-level pay ($$$). Full-time school. Part-time service. And a future without loads of debt.

Programs and Benefits Subject to Change

13BWNG-02_5.9x6.5.indd 1

9/23/15 9:30 AM

DOWN 1. Whistle blowers 2. Make changes 3. Between Phi and Kappa 4. Middle Eastern V.I.P.s 5. *Placed in a pumpkin 6. Nucleus plus electrons 7. *Witch’s sidekick 8. 10 percent to charity, e.g. 9. Panache 10. Pieces of fabric used for stuffing 11. *Vampire’s action 12. Iditarod ride 15. Hagrid’s dog in “Harry Potter” series 20. Deed hearings 22. “We ____ Young” by Fun 24. Opposite of diastole 25. *Wicked ride 26. This bird gets the worm 27. One of #4 Down, alternate spelling 29. Paris streets 31. Greek salad staple 32. Any detergent plant 33. Cut it out 34. “____ ____ a high note” 36. Coal residue 38. Spiral-horned African antelope 42. Traditional Italian fare 45. Nancy Drew, e.g. 49. *Freddy’s street 51. *Halloween movie genre 54. Part of a flower 56. Peace-meaning branch 57. Point of a crescent moon 58. On top of 59. *Stitched make-up 60. Poacher’s trophy 61. Made awake 62. South American tubers 63. Make a reference 64. “The Man Who ____ Too Much” 67. Singular of #29 Down

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

SPORTS

Jae Bowen stiff-arms a defender on his way to a 49-yard touchdown run.

Matt Boggs | The Sentinel

OWLS SOAR IN FIRST HOMECOMING GAME Chris Raimondi Sports Editor Kennesaw State amassed 699 yards of total offense and claimed a 56-17 win over Point University in the first homecoming game in school history. Chaston Bennett had a career day with three total touchdowns as he accounted for 160 yards of KSU’s offense, 70 rushing and 90 receiving. The offense rarely slowed down as quarterback Trey White piloted the Owls, completing nine passes for 239 yards with three touchdowns and rushing for 55 yards. “I thought we came out to play,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said. “I thought we

came out with a business-like approach of getting some work done.” KSU (4-1) got to work quickly, forcing Point to punt on the game’s opening drive and then assembling an eight-play, 84-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead when Darnell Holland took a 43-yard touchdown pass to the house six minutes into the game. The Skyhawks kept things close early, but the Owls broke the game wide open in the second quarter where they scored on all four of their drives. White followed up his first touchdown pass with two more, a 69-yard toss to Bennett and a

19-yard throw to Justin Sumpter on consecutive drives, which made it 21-0. The typically runheavy KSU offense totaled 304 yards after Sumpter’s catch, 199 passing and 105 rushing. KSU scored its first rushing touchdown of the day on a 49-yard dash from Jae Bowen to make it a 28-0 game. On the ensuing possession, Point answered with an 86-yard touchdown pass from Charles Fortis to Connor Reed on the first play of the drive. Each team added another score before the half, KSU a 14-yard TD run from Bennett and Point a 43-yard field goal which struck the crossbar, went

straight in the air and narrowly fell on the opposite side to set the halftime score at 35-10. Bennett ran for his third touchdown of the day in the third quarter which made it a 42-10 game and ended most of the starters’ day. Jake McKenzie replaced White at quarterback and ran for a 14-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Backup running back CheDarious Robinson also scored a late touchdown, a 3-yard run which was the Owls’ final score of the day. The Owls finished with 308 passing yards, 239 coming from White, his career high. The three touchdown passes from White

was also the most KSU has had in a single game all season. “Every game you want to build,” White said. “That’s been our attitude all season. Each game you have to get better, and that relates to the passing game as well. Anytime you can be successful in the passing game, especially in a game, it definitely helps your confidence.” KSU hosts Gardner-Webb Saturday, Oct. 17 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. for the Owls’ first Big South Conference game. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are coming off of a big win over No. 15 Liberty.

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

AERIAL ATTACK LEADS OFFENSE IN BLOWOUT WIN Chris Raimondi Sports Editor Strong running teams typically yield explosive plays in the passing game. So was the case Saturday in Kennesaw State’s 56-17 rout of Point University. The Owls entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 324 yards per game. KSU rushed for more than 230 yards in every contest up to Saturday’s homecoming game, and the team reached the 300 yard mark in three of its four outings. Nothing changed in the run game against Point, as KSU posted 391 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns on

the ground. Amidst all of the scoring, however, quarterback Trey White still found time to flex his arm. The first three touchdowns of the game were all scored through the air, and the Owls jumped out to a 21-0 lead with 8:31 to go in the second quarter. KSU went into the half with 208 passing yards, which was more than the Owls posted in any single game. “We know it’s something we have to be able to do,” KSU head coach Brian Bohannon said of his team’s passing attack. “With our team, the way it is right

now, it’s an asset. We have to be able to use it, but we have to be smart how we do it.” The Owls established a trend of taking long shots down the field early through the first three games. Wide receiver Justin Sumpter typically served as the target in those situations, once scoring on KSU’s first play of the game against Edward Waters. Saturday, however, White took aim at his A-backs. Darnell Holland and Chaston Bennett hauled in touchdown passes of 43 and 69 yards, respectively, coming out of the backfield. “Any time you can be

successful in the passing game, especially in a game, it definitely helps your confidence,” White said. “I don’t think I really lack confidence much of the time. We have great players and I have to keep getting the ball in their hands.” White finished 9-of-14 for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Bennett and Holland each entered the game with just one reception all season. They combined for five catches and 174 yards against the Skyhawks. Sumpter caught his first pass since going for 121 yards against Shorter Sept. 19 when he picked a 19-yard throw out

of the air for a touchdown in the second quarter. He finished with two receptions for 24 yards. “We know we have some talented guys in the passing game,” Bohannon said. “We threw for 308 yards. It doesn’t get much better than that for a running football team.” KSU hosts its first Big South Conference game against Gardner-Webb Saturday Oct. 17. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are ranked 15th in passing yards allowed with 167 per game and 34th in rushing defense, allowing 136 yards per game.

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

HEAD TO HEAD Who is the better coach, Mark Richt or Paul Johnson?

PAUL JOHNSON

KEY STATS

Tyler Duke Staff Writer With the recent struggles of both head coaches of the two largest college football programs in the state of Georgia, it’s no guarantee that either coach has much time left with their programs. There is one guarantee: Paul Johnson is a better head football coach than Mark Richt. Richt has one of the coziest jobs in all of college football. He has one of the richest contracts. He has one of the largest fan bases. He gets some of the best talent. Despite all of that, Richt has delivered mediocre seasons nearly every year in Athens without much of the blame falling on him. For years, Bulldog fans found other scapegoats for the program. For the longest time, the blame was put upon defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. He was fired two years ago, and there’s nothing to suggest it would change the team into a championship contender. The next scapegoat was offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. Fans seemed to think Bobo made obvious play calls. Now without his services, the Georgia offense looks even more predictable than it used to be. Through all of the years, the only constant has been Mark Richt. He has a nice overall record of 140-50 at UGA. The problem – Richt hasn’t won anything. In fact, Richt hasn’t even led the Bulldogs to a major bowl game since 2007. According to ESPN.com, since 2006, Georgia has had a top 10 recruiting class every year except one. Georgia Tech has had just one top 25 class in that timeframe. Johnson has led the Yellow Jackets to two major bowl games since Georgia has been

MARK RICHT Julien Benjamin Staff Writer

to one. Johnson has managed two 11-win seasons since 2009, while Richt has led UGA to just one. Paul Johnson’s resume speaks for itself – he does more with less. He won two FCS National Championships with Georgia Southern. He led Navy to four consecutive 8-win seasons, including a 10-win season in 2004 that saw the Midshipmen ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 1963. He’s now led Georgia Tech to two Orange Bowl appearances and two top-10 rankings with one of the most prolific offenses in the nation most seasons. In fact, Johnson’s 2014 offense was ranked as the best in the nation according to almost all advanced metrics. In terms of importance to the team, Johnson is assuredly on top. He handles all playcalling duties offensively, and he basically handpicks players in the recruiting process. On the other side, Richt has no influence on play calling, and he has one of the deepest recruiting staffs in the nation behind him to bring in ultratalented classes every season. All of the numbers and records back up that Paul Johnson has managed success at multiple levels despite being behind the 8-ball in talent. If roles were reversed, Johnson could be extremely dangerous with some of the best athletes in the nation that Georgia possesses every year. Richt, on the other hand, has been unable to do anything significant with one of the best teams in the nation every year. How do you think he’d do with one of the strictest academic guidelines in the country and a team that can’t win 8 games a year based on sheer talent with little help from coaching?

140-50 RECORD TWO ORANGE BOWL APPEARANCES

80-35 SEC RECORD BEST OFFENSE IN 2014

Imagine a football head coach who has a career 14050 record. In nine of his 14-full seasons, he has lead his team to double digit wins and has a chance to do so yet again this season. Over his tenure, the program he runs has had only one year with a record near or under 500. He’s done this job while playing an average top five schedule every year, consistently beating the school’s major rivals, and running a respectable and honest program. His football team is 9-5 in post-season action. Despite the fact that almost every major university would be lucky to have him as their head coach, the fans of this program seem ungrateful and consistently want to kick him out of the door after every loss. UGA’s Mark Richt is arguably the second best coach in the SEC, behind Nick Saban, but the best coach in the state of Georgia. While many argue that winning championships are all that really matter, more important is being consistently good enough to be in a position to win. As shown in most major sports, especially baseball, postseason play is strictly a crap shoot. The best team doesn’t always win, and some times a team just gets lucky enough to win. Unfortunately for Richt and the Bulldogs, they have been yet to get lucky. UGA has only won two SEC championships, with the last title coming over a decade ago. However, Richt’s Bulldogs have been in contention for the SEC crown three times since then. Even last season, with a pretty average quarterback, Richt was just one win short of making the conference’s title game.

After taking the reins of a program that hadn’t won a title in over 20 years, Richt is easily the best thing that has happened to the school. No other UGA football coach has recorded a higher winning percentage than his 74 percent mark. Historically, Coach Richt shares some pretty elite company as well; he’s one of four coaches to record over 132 wins in their first 14 seasons alongside names like Bob Stoops and Gary Patterson. Georgia’s football teams are always very talented, as Richt and his staff consistently recruit top ten classes every year. Fans argue that these players end up under-achieving at UGA and that the staff is failing at coaching these players to play SEC football. Yet, Richt’s 80-35 SEC record is third best by win percentage, and he currently leads the conference in overall wins at one program. To date, Mark Richt’s only big failure is losing an SEC championship by four points in 2012, and can you really fault him for that? In the state of Georgia itself, Richt is king. After taking over for Jim Donnan, who lost three straight games to the Yellow Jackets, Richt has gone 12-2 against Tech, with the two losses by a combined nine points. Think about that, Georgia fans. Despite his perceived shortcomings, Coach Mark Richt is the best coach in the state of Georgia. Could he be better? Yes, but it could also be worse for UGA fans. You might have Paul Johnson as your coach.

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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | OCT. 13 2015

USMNT FALLS FLAT TO MEXICO

PAGE 16

Jonathan Hicks Staff Writer

The United States Men’s National Team hosted Mexico Saturday at the Rose Bowl in a one off playoff match to decide who will represent CONCACAF in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. As one of the most intense rivalries in the world was set to begin, fans geared up to watch the two giants clash in Pasadena. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann was tasked with preparing a U.S. team that has fizzled out since performances in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They failed to answer the bell yet again, falling to their bitter rivals to the south, 3-2 in extra time. The U.S. team during Klinsmann’s era has been plagued with something I like to call phantom wins or phantom performances. When one looks at the 3-2 score line in this

instance, they would think that the game was closer than it was. But the reality is that the U.S. was outplayed in every aspect. This U.S. team has had a tendency in recent months to be absent for large portions of the game, only to turn up for one defining moment and then to fizzle out again as the game goes on. American fans saw this in the Gold Cup over the summer when the U.S. team hosted Jamaica in the semifinals of that competition. That’s what happened to them, and that’s exactly what happened last night against Mexico. The hype leading up to this game spelled for an exciting match with two juggernauts coming at each other for 90 minutes. Instead what we got was a U.S. team that stayed back and absorbed pressure, seeking to catch Mexico on the counter attack.

A tactic often implemented by teams that are playing away from home, or have less attacking prowess than the opposition, neither of which applied to the American team Saturday. Mexico dominated possession, created the most chances and outplayed the U.S. the entire night. And despite goals from Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron and Union Berlin’s Bobby Wood, the USMNT fell to Mexico in the Rose Bowl. Not even considering the implications of what I had just seen, the sight of watching that Mexican team lift the trophy and celebrate on American soil brought up feelings reminiscent of the 5-0 loss in the Gold Cup final under Bob Bradley in 2011. That game cost then-coach Bob Bradley his job. One of the major talking points coming into this match was the languid performances

coming from Klinsmann’s side over the past few months. Despite victories in Germany and the Netherlands in friendlies over the summer, the U.S. team couldn’t get wins when it counted. This reality put Klinsmann’s four-year reign as USMNT coach under intense scrutiny. American soccer star Landon Donovan stated before the game some pressing remarks about the implications of the upcoming match on Klinsmann’s job. Donovan said in an interview with the ESPN FC Boot Room, “Around the world, if a player plays poorly and a player has a bad string of results, they get dropped from the team. Jurgen said many times he wants our players to feel pressure -- Well, the same holds true for the coach, and so we had a very poor summer with bad results in the Gold

Cup. The last game against Brazil was probably the worst game I’ve seen them play under Jurgen. The reality is that now, anywhere else in the world, if this coach had those results, and they lose this game against Mexico, they’d be fired. I think if Jurgen wants to hold all the players to that standard, then he has to be held to that standard too.” A sentiment that is no doubt being echoed by fans and pundits alike. The reality is that the U.S. needed its big players to step up against Mexico, and they just flat-out didn’t. Absent performances from Clint Dempsey and captain Michael Bradley lended to a loathsome performance from the U.S., and with the USMNT playing a dangerous Costa Rica team on Tuesday, fans will be hoping it isn’t just more of the same.