VOL. 49 ISSUE 15 | SINCE 1966 | JAN. 19 2016
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL
OBAMA’S FINAL ADDRESS TO THE UNION Remi Merhi Staff Writer Kennesaw State University’s American Democracy Project and a few other organizations came together Tuesday night to watch President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union Address. The American Democracy Project has been at KSU for 10 years and is hosted by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The group strives to motivate civic engagement among students by providing free copies of the New York Times, bringing in speakers and holding events such as this viewing party. Michael Sanseviro, the associate vice president for student affairs and the dean of students, hosted the event
this year in hopes that students would get involved in the political discussion. “The goal is to get students to think about the importance of politics,” Sanseviro said. “Students need to understand that there’s a whole lot of decisions being made that impact them and their lives that often they don’t have a voice in.” Aside from the students, Sanseviro himself was excited to watch President Obama’s last State of the Union Address. “This was an opportunity for us to hear our president talk about issues in a candid manner without necessarily being bridled by the politics of how it would impact his election,” Sanseviro said.
STUDENT TURNOUT The turnout, however, did not reflect such enthusiasm. Tony James, a graduate student, was the only one who attended the KSU American Democracy Project event. Overall, she said she enjoyed the speech. “He made great points,” James said. “I enjoyed the fact that he didn’t take sides, democratic or republican, and his sole purpose was to join the two and to make peace.” James said although she enjoyed watching the president’s address, she was hoping there would be a bigger turnout in order to discuss some of the points being made. Sanseviro was disappointed as well, but he remained
hopeful that students were still politically engaged. “Even though we might not have had a huge turnout on the campuses in physical body, I hope that students are watching the address, they’re tweeting about it and they’re doing the citizen polls,” Sanseviro said. However, in a survey of over 200 random KSU students, only 12 percent reported that they watched the president’s last State of the Union Address. WHAT HE ADDRESSED Obama kept the address short and optimistic as he reassured people about the ISIL situation, discussed the positive progress of our nation and urged the republicans and democrats to
put aside their differences and come together to improve the country as a whole.
BANNED ON CAMPUS Turn to page 4 to find out why
THE SENTINEL
PAGE 2
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
NEWS State of the Union continued from pg.1
He claimed that the United States has the strongest economy in the world, the national deficit has been cut by 75 percent, and 14.1 million jobs have been created. In regards to his famous Affordable Care Act, he noted that 18 million people have gained access to healthcare and, for 90 percent of those, it is the first time in their life that they have been able to do so. In the midst of an environmental crisis, Obama announced that the foreign oil imports have been cut by nearly 60 percent, and carbon pollution has been decreased more than any other country.
He also reassured the nation that military efforts are not weak. He claimed that the United States has been depleting the resources of ISIL, is successfully preventing some parts of the terrorist organization from spreading, and that the country spends more on its military than the next eight nations combined. Obama did not spend the entire speech complimenting his own efforts, however. Though there was no direct mention of any of the presidential candidates, he made a comment that many listeners believe was a subtle jab at the politics of Donald Trump. “When politicians insult
Muslims, whether abroad or our fellow citizens, when a mosque is vandalized, it doesn’t make us safer,” Obama said in his speech. “That’s why we need to reject any politics, any politics that target people based on race or religion.” HEARING FROM THE OTHER SIDE The Republican response to the president’s address was not quite as optimistic. Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, delivered the response and challenged many of Obama’s statements. “Many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels,” Haley said. “We’re feeling a crushing national debt, a
OF THE STATE CITY
Brooke Doss Staff Writer
The newly sworn-in Kennesaw mayor, Derek Easterling, gave his first State of the City address January 12, 2016 at a Kennesaw Business Association luncheon in the KSU Center. Easterling called the address “Building Connections, Creating Value.” Speaking to a packed audience, he made a connection between his future plans for Kennesaw and his time serving as a submariner in the United States Navy. He stated that steering the city is much like steering a submarine in that everyone has to work together to improve the city and keep moving forward in the right direction, even if the destination cannot yet be seen. “It takes everyone doing their job, everyone participating in our future, in our dreams,” he said. “I need your support. We need your support. The city of Kennesaw deserves your support. And I want to give you every bit of effort that I can to be successful.” He expressed his desire to focus on four key areas both in his speech and during his time as Kennesaw mayor: maintaining financial stability, growing the economy and encouraging
development, ensuring that property values increase and protecting the public safety. “Doing our jobs in these areas is the foundation of creating value for our community,” Easterling said. He praised the job growth that Kennesaw has already experienced in the past few years, in addition to the city’s dedication to public safety. He also mentioned his successor, former Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews, and the progress that the city made under his leadership. He pointed specifically to Revival on Main as an example of this. The mixed-use residential and commercial development in downtown Kennesaw, located just a few minutes from Kennesaw State University, was awarded the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative Achievement Award. This award recognizes projects that exemplify a cutting-edge, livable design and enhance the surrounding community. In regard to KSU students specifically, there are two SPLOSTfunded transportation projects designed to improve the flow of traffic around the university. They include the Cherokee
Street Improvement and the Ben King Road Improvement plans. Primarily, these plans will improve roads from Cherokee Street to McCollum Parkway. They will extend the four-lane road from McCollum about a quarter of a mile past Ben King Road to include a center median, realigning Ben King with Twelve Oaks subdivision and putting a multi-use trail on one side of the road and a sidewalk on the other. Pam Davis, communications director for the city of Kennesaw, says that the city enjoys “tremendous” advantages from the proximity of KSU. “The university is a huge economic driver for housing and retail in the area,” Davis said. “It is also an important contributor to the labor market, both in terms of students and grads. "Perhaps most importantly of all, the strength of KSU’s brand due to its size and scope gives broader visibility to Kennesaw in the metro, state, and region.” Easterling closed his address with an optimistic message. “I look forward to earning your trust and confidence in the days ahead and being part of a winning team.”
healthcare plan that has made insurance less affordable and doctors less available.” She also claimed that Obama appears either unwilling or unable to deal with the terrorist organization, ISIL. WHY STUDENTS SHOULD CARE One of the topics discussed that could potentially impact students was the cost of college. Obama stated that his administration worked hard to lower interest rates and make student loans more manageable. However, the cost of tuition has yet to be tackled. “We have to make college affordable for every American,” Obama said in his speech. “Providing two years of com-
munity college at no cost for every responsible student is one of the best ways to do that, and I'm going to keep fighting to get that started this year.” “I think sometimes it’s too much for students,” James said after the event in regards to tuition. “When you go to college, you want to educate yourself, but then you think ‘oh my gosh, I’m going to have $50,000 in student loans, what if I don’t get a job within six months, how will I pay for this?’” According to Sanseviro, this is one of the reasons he urges students to get involved and share their voice in order to make a political impact.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM GOV. NATHAN DEAL’S
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Bailey Thompson Contributor PRAISING GEORGIA'S RESPONSE TO THE RECESSION – Cutting taxes – Removing regulatory burdens on businesses – Directing resources to university programs – Criminal justice reform, including education and addiction treatment – Allowing high school computer science courses to count toward a science or foreign language requirement in college
DEAL'S GOALS FOR EDUCATION
– $358 million for Pre-K, including $26.2 million for salary increases and $7.9 million for a 3 percent merit pay increase. – $300 million for K-12 education, which is more than is re quired to give teachers a 3 percent pay raise – Giving local school districts the flexibility to decide how to spend additional funds and to evaluate testing requirements.
WHAT'S IN DEAL'S PROPOSED BUDGET
– State employees will receive a 3 percent pay raise – Funding for the State Health Benefit Plan and Medicaid as healthcare costs rise – $2.1 million for required Affordable Care Act paperwork reporting state compliance in fiscal year 2017 – Approximately 60 percent of the user fees from HB 170, the Transportation Funding Act, will be used to repair and maintain existing infrastructure. – The other 40 percent will be used for new infrastructure investments
PAGE 3
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
20
Wednesday
• Cooking Demo 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Siegel Student Rec & Activ Cnt SS1220 (22) Cooking and Wellness Education Room
21
Thursday
• Dean’s Lecture Series: Dr. Simon 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Social Sciences Bldg SO5074 (30) History Research Center • Stories for a Winter Night 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. J.M.Wilson Bldg. WB130 (316) Stillwell Theater • Men’s Basketball vs. Florida Gulf Coast 7:00 p.m. Convocation Center
22
POLICE BEAT Dallas Satterfield Staff Writer Police Beat is compiled weekly from Kennesaw State University’s Safe and Sound Police public records. Names are removed for privacy.
KENNESAW CAMPUS It’s Not Me, It’s My Car
Nice Until Proven Naughty
December 18, 2015
December 24, 2015
At 7:51 p.m. an officer saw a black car make an illegal left turn at the round about next to Jolley Lodge and pulled the car over. The driver said that he and his passenger were performers for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and had just completed a performance. The officer noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the car and asked if they had any marijuana. The driver said no and claimed that his timing belt was going bad on his car and that they smell like marijuana when they go bad.
At 9:07 p.m. Christmas Eve , two officers were patrolling Chastain Road when they saw two cars parked in a turning lane blocking access to Busbee Drive. The officers stopped behind the vehicles and met two women. One woman said that they were in an accident and exchanging information. The vehicles were not visibly damaged and the two women decided not to file an accident report. The woman with her vehicle in front said that she was stopped in traffic when the other woman tried to stop, but slid into her vehicle’s rear end. The woman was given her license back and released from the scene. One officer went to speak to the other woman. When he opened the driver’s side door to speak to her, he could smell alcohol. Her speech was slow, and she admitted to drinking two shots of vodka at Taco Mac, slurring her words. She was asked to step out of the vehicle and take some field sobriety evaluations. After a failed ‘walk and turn test’ and a positive return from her breath sample, she was placed in handcuffs. A search of her car led to the discovery of 21 empty or unopened alcoholic beverages.
THE DRIVER
SAID HIS CAR’S TIMING BELT WAS GOING BAD
AND THAT THEY SMELL LIKE
Friday
• Stories for a Winter Night 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. J.M.Wilson Bldg. WB130 (316) Stillwell Theater
23
NEWS
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
Saturday
• Women’s Basketball vs. Stetson 2:00 p.m. Convocation Center. • Men’s Basketball vs. Stetson 2:00 p.m. Convocation Center.
MARIJUANA WHEN THEY GO BAD The officer asked both occupants to step out of the car because he was going to search it on suspicion that they had marijuana. He asked if they had any one more time and the driver admitted there was marijuana in the backseat. The officer found a glass pipe containing fresh marijuana, a metal grinder and a glass jar with three grams of marijuana. The driver claimed ownership of the marijuana and was arrested.
THE SENTINEL
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 WEB SITE IS IN NO WAY CONTROLLED BY THE KSU ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY OR STAFF.
CONTACT US ADDRESS:
The Sentinel Student Center, RM 277 BLDG 5 395 Cobb Ave NW Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
PHONE
470-578-6470
sentinel@ksumedia.com
WEBSITE
ksusentinel.com
$
ADVERTISING ksuads.com
THE SENTINEL SPRING 2016 staff information EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MICHAEL STRONG
eic@ksusentinel.com NEWS EDITOR SIERRA HUBBARD newseditor@ksusentinel.com OPINION EDITOR KAITLYN LEWIS opinioneditor@ksusentinel.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR IMOGEN FARRIS artseditor@ksusentinel.com SPORTS EDITOR TYLER DUKE sportseditor@ksusentinel.com CHEIF COPY EDITOR THOMAS HARTWELL copyeditor@ksusentinel.com THE SENTINEL CONSULTANT TRICIA GRINDEL
STAFF PRODUCTION MANAGER KELLY ROSE
production@ksusentinel.com PRODUCTION TEAM PAIGE DOBOS, CHELSEA WILSON, TYLER COCHRAN, SHELBY SWAN VIDEO EDITOR MATTHEW BOGGS videoeditor@ksusentinel.com PHOTO EDITOR CORY HANCOCK photoeditor@ksusentinel.com
KSU STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS ED BONZA, AMI MOWREY adviser@ksumedia.com
KSU STUDENT MEDIA ADVERTISING advertising@ksumedia.com
FOLLOW US FACEBOOK.COM/ KSUSENTINEL
@KSU_SENTINEL
@KSUSENTINEL
OWLLIFE.KENNESAW.EDU/ ORGANIZATON/SENTINEL
JOIN US
BECOME A PART OF OUR TEAM. APPLY TODAY @: KENNESAW.EDU/KSUMEDIA EDITORIAL | DESIGN | PHOTOGRAPHY | MARKETING © 2014, THE SENTINEL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NEWS
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
The use of hoverboards and all similar devices is now banned on KSU property.
Sierra Hubbard News Editor Officials at Kennesaw State University announced Tuesday, January 16 that hoverboards and all similar devices are banned on both campuses, effective immediately. According to the email sent to staff and faculty Tuesday, the ban covers "the use, possession and/or storage of hoverboards (self-balancing scooters, battery-operated scooters, hands-free Segways and other similar equipment)." These devices are no longer permitted on any university-owned property, including all buildings on both campuses, the Sports and Entertainment Park, and Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The email encourages everyone to report any violations of this ban by calling campus public safety, using the LiveSafe app, or going to KSU's concern website. "Violators will be subject to conduct action," KSU Chief of Police Roger Stearns said in the email.
PAGE 4
Cory Hancock | The Sentinel
'HOVER' NO MORE "Please do not bring these items onto the KSU campuses," Stearns said in the email. "Thank you for your cooperation." Michael Sanseviro, the associate vice president for Student Affairs and the dean of students, explained that many university officials were involved in the discussions about the devices. "Ultimately, life safety is paramount," Sanseviro said, "and the recommendation of the Fire Marshall as presented to the vice president of operations is what guided the decision." He noted that, as far as he knows, there have not been any reports of incidents or injuries on campus related to these devices. KSU is by no means the first university to take this step. The University of North Georgia issued a ban on these devices effective January 4, 2016. The notice was emailed to all students, faculty, and staff as well as posted on the school's official Facebook page.
According to UNG Chief of Police Justin Gaines, it was "the numerous fire hazard of the devices that have been reported" that triggered the decision to ban them. He also notes, however, that no incidents involving selfbalancing scooters had been reported on campus. Georgia State University was the next to ban the devices. A notice was posted on the school's official Facebook page January 8, 2016, telling everyone to "please leave your hoverboards at home." Both GSU and UNG included in their notices that residential students should no longer bring these devices to campus. As of press time, KSU had made no such provision. The fire hazards referred to by each of the universities have been occurring across the country as early as November. In Louisiana, a boy charged his hoverboard after one day of use, and the device burst into flames and destroyed
their home. In early December, a mall in Washington state was evacuated after someone's scooter exploded and started a fire. An Alabama man was riding his hoverboard on the sidewalk when it caught fire beneath his feet. He jumped off and had to bring cups of water to extinguish the fire. According to reports on these cases, it is difficult to obtain a refund in these instances from the manufacturers. Reports say the scooters' lithium-ion batteries are to blame for the explosions. These are the same batteries used in smartphones and tablets. When made properly, they run a low risk of anything happening. Some companies, though, are trying to cut corners, and the cheaper hoverboards are made with low-quality batteries that have a tendency to explode and catch fire at random. Though KSU's ban on hoverboards when into effect
January 14, there was no announcement on the school's Facebook page, and the email was mistakenly sent to staff and faculty only, not to students. The Twitter account for KSU did make an announcement, but it did not link to an explanation of the ban or its full extent. "It was absolutely the intent of the chief of police for every student to receive it via email," Sanseviro said. There has been plenty of debate over the name of these devices. They have been called self-balancing scooters, hands-free Segways, personal transporters and more. The name that has been the most popular, however, is also the most inaccurate. The public and the media refer to them most often as 'hoverboards' despite the fact that they have wheels and do not hover above the ground.
PAGE 5
OPINION OWL Taking OVER YAKS
KSU
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
Matt Coutu Staff Writer As witnessed by outsiders, Kennesaw is considered to be an exceptional area to spend the college experience. Yet some have been lucky enough to call it home for a bit longer than just the required four years spent in school. Colleges like the University of Georgia are predominantly the centerpieces of their surrounding areas, while others like Georgia State are only a small slice of what the city has to offer. Kennesaw is a unique city in the sense that it doesn’t feel primarily like a college town. Abel Betances, a sophomore Business major has called the Kennesaw/Marietta area home for as long as he can remember. A graduate of Carl Harrison High School, Betances has taken advantage of everything the city has to offer- especially the university. “When one thinks of a college town, the obvious example of Athens comes to mind. Kennesaw is now becoming a college town, but it is still maintaining the roots that drew people to it in the first place,” says Betances. In addition to breathtaking scenery, safety, and proximity to Atlanta, the vast amount of degree options and luxurious facilities are both reasons why Kennesaw State is finally a feasible option to those who
would like to enjoy a prosperous university setting without the costs associated with a private school. Likewise, the growth of the school has provided a plethora of employment opportunities to the residents as well as a vast amount of consumers to local businesses. Yet, with all the growth, you could be asking how it has impacted the lives of those who are not affiliated with the university. The influx of apartment homes, congestion of traffic, and overwhelming amount of college students could be considered somewhat of a negative factor to those looking to relocate outside of the perimeter. “It hasn’t impacted the way of life for anyone here,” Betances claims. “If anything, the university has made the town a better place to live as a whole.” Because of the rising population, the amount of consumers has grown exponentially, thus increasing rent prices for local store owners. While it may not be preferable, it further demonstrates how desirable the area is to set up shop, and additionally increases the quality of stores opened as a whole. Natural selection has taken its toll and only the best establishments have survived this shift in demographics.
READ MORE ONLINE AT
According to the US Census, the tract of land stretching between Town Center Mall, along I-75 to the Kennesaw campus will grow from offering 7,383 employment opportunities in 1990 to over 44,000 by the year 2020. The city of Kennesaw's website claims the area grew by an outstanding 8.8 percent between the years of 2000 and 2010, making it the ninth largest town in the metropolitan Atlanta area. While this is not solely reliant on the growth of the university, it certainly could be considered a factor. With the purchase of land at a rapid pace in the Kennesaw area, the university is quickly becoming one of the largest in the country. Already one of the top 50 largest public universities in the nation, there's really no sign of slowing down for Kennesaw State. Perspective students are drawn to the suburban atmosphere of the town, and the vast diversity of age groups in Kennesaw could be considered appealing to those who are not interested in a mainly homogenous atmosphere like Athens, where residents are primarily of college age. The state of Georgia has over seventy options for higher level education, but the truth is, there really is no place like Kennesaw.
KSUSENTINEL.COM
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!)
“The Marietta Campus will still always be called SPSU.”
“IMike met myOpinion girlfriend Foster Editor on Yik Yak, guys. It’s possible.”
“Tinder does not work.” “So the Commons is open today, right?”
“Is the Commons open?”
MARIETTA CAMPUS YAKS “My biggest insecurity is that I can’t cartwheel. What do I do when I’m filled with glee? Just stand there. Haunts we every day.”
“Someone’s car alarm has been going off and off for the past three hours. Please get your life together.”
“I just want someone to love me like people love the pink starburst.”
OPINION
Wrong State of Mind KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
The Kaitlyn Lewis Opinion Editor In his final State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama boasted that the United States is the most powerful nation with the strongest economy in the world. He said, "the United States of America has the strongest, most durable economy in the world," but if you feel anxious about the economy, it may be because "the economy has been changing in profound ways." More and more, Americans are becoming open to the idea of free community college and raising the minimum wage to at least $9 an hour. The president has pushed for these changes throughout his terms, and raising minimum wage has been a major topic in all his State of the Union speeches. For years Republicans and Democrats have been strongly divided over the issue of whether to increase or decrease social welfare and handouts in the United States, a conflict that has revealed itself recently during the establishment of the Affordable Care Act. "As long as you work hard, you should get a shot," Obama said in his speech Jan. 12. If you have that mindset, I think you might not be working as hard as you say. In my opinion, the right attitude to have is to expect nothing.
There will always be some sort of injustice or unfairness in the economy, and we should stand up for ourselves when
PAGE 6
THE SENTINEL
CONTACT US WANT TO SUBMIT AN OPINION ARTICLE? EMAIL: OPINIONEDITOR@ KSUSENTINEL.COM MUST BE IN AP STYLE & INCLUDE HEADSHOT. LETTER POLICY
State of the Union, Nate Beeler we are being mistreated and get help from other authorities. However, experience tells us that our hard work does not always pay off in the way we think it should. Therefore, "hard work" does not equate to "equal opportunities." If you watched the State of the Union on whitehouse.gov, you could have been watching the speech with side bars filled with facts and statistics that complimented Obama's speech. The facts showed
that 14.1 million jobs were created in the past six years and the unemployment rate has decreased to five percent,
according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The clip goes on to boast that the national deficit has steadily decreased since Obama took office in 2009. Could it just be that 2016 is merely another high point in a seven-year economic cycle? Even with all this purported success, America's optimism appears to have gently decreased. According to a 2009 Gallup poll, 63 percent of Americans were happily looking forward to 2010, while 34 percent were not. However, a 2014 Lifeway Research poll indicates that 54 percent of Americans were optimistic about the future of the United States and 40 percent were not. A 2015 Pew Research Center report showed that 40 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with the economy and 56 percent were satisfied. Obama even mentioned that Americans do feel anxious about the economy in his speech. These statistics show that a significant amount of Americans feel both happy and unhappy about the future and the economy, even with Obama's increase in welfare
spending. Optimism is still alive, but pessimism spreads easily. Unfortunately, the government is not in control the resources of our economy; and therefore, they can not promise us equal opportunities. Although they can influence the events in our economy to an extent, Congress cannot ensure that every person gets a fair shot. Almost every person may think that his or her work is worth is more that the wages he or she receives, and so we are all driven by a desire for more and more. Knowing that this cycle will never end and that we will never be satisfied through our greed, we should stop expecting. If we base our happiness on what the government can do for us, we will never be satisfied. This is not the way that Obama would prefer to end his State of the Union pep talk. He wants us to trust him, and we should respect his authority. However, I doubt that his promises of equal opportunities will ever come true, so it is time to embrace a different mindset.
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.
PAGE 7
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
AND
ARTS LIVING
AUTHOR RICK YANCEY REFLECTS ON
“THE 5TH WAVE”
Amanda Brendel Staff Writer New York Times BestSelling Author, Rick Yancey is excited about the release of the adaptation of his book, “The 5th Wave.” Author of a memoir, adult, and young adult novels, “The 5th Wave” was Yanceys’ journey into science fiction as a writer. A long-time fan of science fiction, Yancey cites authors such as Robert Heinlan and Arthur C. Clark as being an influence on his love of writing and an early introduction into the genre of science fiction. “There was no young adult category when I was growing up,” Yancey said. “Clarke and Heinlan wrote in an accessible way for young people.” Actor Tobey Maguire once referred to Yancey’s style of writing as “cinematic.” In response to this, Yancey cited his love of film and theater as being responsible for his writing having these elements. “I did some screen writing and acting in college. I had always been fascinated by film and media artists…so when I write
prose, it tends to be very visual,” Yancey said. When asked what he felt was a strong influence or inspiration for writing “The 5th Wave,” Yancey said that world events and his love of sci-fi were the initial influences. “The story was probably planted around 2008 when the financial markets nearly collapsed worldwide. It could have been totally an accident, but there are few things that are by accident in the art world,” he said. Another thing Yancey drew influence from was the nature of childhood itself. “I’ve been writing books for young adults for quite some time and by nature a child’s life is apocalyptic,” Yancey said. “I can’t think of a more dystopian environment than high school. One day, life is one way, and the next, life is completely changed. One of the reasons this genre is so popular I think is because young people really relate to that. One of the major themes of the book is being forced to grow up.”
When asked if he had a specific message in “The 5th Wave” Yancey said, “It’s very difficult to eradicate humanity out of humans. Just like bias, hatred, and prejudice exist, so do love and sacrifice, which is remarkable.” Yancey was there for some of the filming of “The 5th Wave,” and said that the “filmmakers worked very hard to catch the essence of the story. I was very lucky because the rights to the film were picked up before I even finished the book.” Though there were some changes to the film version of the story, Yancey said that this is a normal process. “Film makers make changes when they adapt [a book to a movie]. Sometimes they have to make tough decisions on how to use a particular element of the story. Movies are a whole different art form. Movies aren’t books and books aren’t movies, so it’s cool to see how a whole different piece of art can be made out of an adaptation.” When asked about what it took to be a writer and
Moretz in the adaptation of Yancey’s book. Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
of the writing process itself, Yancey said his first goal is to “never bore people.” Having wanted to be a writer since middle school, he found that he enjoyed writing a short story in class. “[Learning to write and becoming a writer was] one of the easiest things I’ve ever done and one of the hardest,” Yancey said. “It was like falling in love— I fell I love with writing.”
Yancey added that it was important to read as much as you can. “Keep in mind that we learn to be writers in the same way that we learn how to speak and walk. We all learn these things in our own way and through trial and error. Don’t worry about copying [the style of ] a writer you like. That is how you learn. Eventually, you will find your own voice and your writing will be unique.”
“THE 5TH WAVE” COMES TO THEATERS THIS FRIDAY, JAN. 22
ARTS AND LIVING
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
PAGE 8
PAGE 9
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
ARTS AND LIVING
w
ARTS AND LIVING
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET PULLED OVER FOR DUI AND/OR POSESSION: Never take any test before arrest including: Following finger with your eyes Standing on one foot Blowing into a portable breath tester Walk and stops on line
If the officer requests, ask if it is required (it is not)
If you are over 21, you can admit to drinking a small amount of alcohol. DO:
Be quiet No chit-chat Don’t volunteer any information You must give your name and I.D. Follow all orders such as get out of the car Keep your hands where they can be seen
Remember you have the right to remain silent Remember you are being recorded If you are in need of legal assistance, contact:
JEFF BANKS
Attorney 1301 Shiloh Rd., Ste. 1610 Kennesaw, GA 30144 678-797-6364
PAGE 10
PAGE 11
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
ARTS AND LIVING
“GAME ON” “TWINSTERS”
A CLEVER AND ENGAGING PERFORMANCE BY KSU’S MUSICAL ENSEMBLES
DUAL REVIEW “DUAL REVIEW SHOWCASES TWO PERSPECTIVES ON ONE FILM EACH WEEK THAT CAN BE STREAMED ON NETFLIX.”
CHECK IN NEXT WEEK FOR REVIEWS ON Twins Anaïs and Samantha in “Twinsters.” Photo Courtesy of Small Package Films
“SERENA”
Amanda Brendel Staff Writer In 2013, actress/director Samantha Futerman films a documentary about her experience learning that she has an identical twin sister. In the documentary, she learns from a friend that there is someone on Facebook who has been trying to contact her. After making contact with someone who looks just like her, Sam and Anaïs come across a series of details that connect them even though they live
thousands of miles apart. The information age, and the use of things like Skype, Facebook, and cellphones have made connecting with people much easier. This movie expresses the importance of those mediums in the ability for us to make contact with people we might have otherwise never known about or met. Sam and Anaïs are very energetic, happy girls. This is a heartfelt, often bubbly
documentary that is great for a night when you need an emotional pick-me-up. It is hard not to smile when watching this movie. “Twinsters” also brings up adoption experiences, as well as the search for family and origins. We are taken from the United States, Europe and Korea in this search, seeing various aspects of culture and other social experiences.
through Facebook. “Twinsters,” a 2015 documentary written by Samantha shows the journey she and Anaïs went through to confirm they are in fact identical twins. The documentary is heartwarming and has a light feel as the girls meet and travel around the world together in search of their birth mother in Seoul, Korea. I enjoyed the emotions that were portrayed in this documentary and the
relationship that the twin sisters were able to form through the use of social media and Skype. Without the use of YouTube and social media websites, these girls may not have ever met and may not know that they share a special bond with another person. Overall, “Twinsters” is definitely at the top of my favorite documentaries and I would suggest it to anyone that enjoys a good laugh and a happy ending.
Imogen Farris Arts & Living Editor While studying in the UK, Anaïs Bordier received shocking but exciting news when she saw a YouTube video of an American girl that looked identical to her. Actor Samantha Futerman has been in such films as “Going the Distance” and “21 & Over” and had no idea her life was about to change. After Anaïs learned more about her doppelgänger and more similarities arose, she decided to reach out to her
Tabi Lawson Staff Writer Modern video games have taken on a whole new level of game play. Characters and story plots can range in complexity from a bird flapping up and down on a screen to entire universes of creatures and adventures spanning centuries. The graphic art that goes into these games is celebrated the world over, but what about the music? Incredible soundtracks accompany video games of all varieties, and much of the music is composed specifically for the type of game play. In their concert titled “Game On: Live Video Game Music,” The Kennesaw State University orchestra brought these unique musical scores to life in an outstanding performance Friday night. Accompanied by members of the wind ensemble, choir, a bass guitar, harpist, and pianist, the orchestra showcased the music from video games like Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and even Tetris, as well as many others. The performance, which was only paused momentarily to recognize Chris Rickwood, the composer of the score to Smite, ran just about two hours, including a ten minute intermission. To connect the music with their various video games, a large projector centered above the stage displayed images from the games. Each was introduced with a title scene, followed by live action sequences set in sync with the rhythm of the music. To add to the fanfare of an otherwise overwhelmingly loud and energetic performance, the auditorium lights were cued to move and change with each score, making the concert hall seem more like a rock show. The overall affect was a level
of excitement that made the performance both seem like forever and only a few minutes. Compositions like the one for Call of Duty incorporated vocals that were haunting and beautiful. At one point the choir blended so well with the orchestration that it was difficult to distinguish the human voices from the string instruments. The highlight of the event, by far, was the second movement from World of Warcraft. Percussionists showed out with drummers wailing, each on their own set of snare drums. The rhythm filling and surrounding the Morgan Concert Hall, rocked by the perfect synchrony of the five percussionists accompanied by strings, and brass harmonizing the rhythm, was an intense musical experience. Not all of the works were serious and awe inspiring though. After the lights went down to a cool blue following the intense reds, oranges and growling bass harmonies of Bioshock, a blank screen accompanied a plucky violin intro. As the music brightened, the laughable and lovwable Angry Birds appeared on the projector. Like Tetris, the score to Angry Birds was surprisingly complex in its orchestration. Rounding out the performance was Legend of Zelda, a name familiar to generations of gamers. The theme, which has been around for over 25 years, incorporated all the ensembles: orchestra, winds, and choir. It was also a nice capstone piece for the evening, accompanied by a nostalgic video compilation that demonstrated the dynamic progress of video game graphics over four decades of game play.
ARTS AND LIVING
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
PAGE 12
ZAYA: GOOD FOOD,
HIGH PRICES
Kayla Dungee Staff Writer The Student Center was undoubtedly missing an important piece of world cuisine before Zaya, a new eatery serving Mediterranean food, officially opened at the beginning of spring semester. After eating there for the first time, I am still left with one big question – was it worth the nearly $10 that it cost me? To start off, customers are given the choice between four bases, including a wrap, Greek salad, bowl, or platter. They can then pick their own toppings, side, and sauce. I played it safe and ordered a chicken bowl with olives, tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, hummus, with pita bread. The food itself was great. The pita bread was among the best I have ever tasted. The bowl was fresh and light enough that I did not feel sluggish or very bloated afterwards. That also could be credited to the portion size, though. For nearly $10, I was expecting a very large bowl of food, similar to the size of a burrito bowl at Chipotle. Instead, it was served in a relatively small and shallow carryout box. “In general, I think that the prices could definitely be brought down,” freshman and nursing major, Caitlyn Alpi said. “However, they’re just as pricey as Burrito Bowl, but with better quality food. So it’s worth it. I’d probably eat it more often if it was a little more affordable,” One of the upsides of this eatery is that it is inclusive of everyone’s needs. Zaya offers vegetarian substitutes for meat, such as falafel, a patty made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, or roasted veggies. Sarah Struckman, a junior
biology major appreciates the vegetarian options. “It’s nice going somewhere to eat where the needs of vegetarians were planned in advance and aren’t just an afterthought,” Struckman said. “So far, the falafel is my favorite.” For anyone that is just craving a small bite of food, there is a section of the menu called “Not Too Hungry,” with a few options for snacks on the go. I hope as the time progresses more menu options are added to this section because there aren’t many to choose from. I highly recommend going with the baba ghanouj if you aren’t too hungry. It’s a roasted eggplant dip or spread. While that may not sound appealing to some, it is actually quite good served with pita bread or vegetables such as carrots. The employees are exceptional as well. They are well versed in the food and offer explanation as to what each unfamiliar item is. Not everyone is familiar with spanakopita or tzatziki sauce, but the employees are more than willing to explain. They also move quickly, so there isn’t really much of a wait. My cashier was so upbeat and kind, I actually felt sincerity when she wished me a great day. Overall, I highly recommend Zaya to even the pickiest of eaters. You are guaranteed to find something on the menu that you truly enjoy. I would come with at least $10. You will not find an entree on the menu that will not fall within that price, especially if you order a drink as well. Personally, Zaya will only be an occasional treat for me. As good as it is, the price is a little off-putting.
Zaya Mediterranean grill is now open in the Student Center.
Cory Hancock | The Sentinel
PAGE 13
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
SPORTS
OWLS FALL TO JACKSONVILLE, NORTH FLORIDA
Mason Wittner Staff Writer
The Kennesaw State men’s basketball team dropped both games in its road trip to Florida. Kennesaw State is still seeking its first road victory of the season as the Owls lost their first two Atlantic Sun Conference road games to Jacksonville and North Florida respectively, falling to 0-11 away from home. “We have to execute better than what we did if we want to win on the road,” Kennesaw State head coach Al Skinner said. “You have to defend well, you have to execute well. We did that the first 20 minutes [against North Florida], but because of our foul situation we didn’t stay as aggressive as we needed to.” The Owls (5-14) lost 83-70 to the Dolphins on Thursday and were unable to hold on to an early lead on Saturday as they were defeated by the Ospreys, 93-78. Redshirt junior Kendrick Ray led the Owls offensively in both games, scoring 25 points against Jacksonville and 21 points against North Florida. Senior Yonel Brown contributed 16 points Thursday and added another 17 points against the Ospreys. The Owls led early and often in the opening half against North Florida on Saturday. With the score knotted up at 5-5 fewer than two minutes into the game, KSU outscored the Ospreys 20-6 to take a 25-11 lead with 13:15 left in the first half. KSU possessed all of the momentum for the majority of the first half. The Owls and Ospreys continued to match blows for the next nine minutes of game play and the gap remained 14 points with KSU
leading 45-31 with 4:52 left in the half. The Ospreys began cutting into the lead, however, ending the first half on an 11-2 run to leave the Owls clinging to a 4742 lead heading into the locker room. “The fact of the matter is that we were in tremendous foul trouble,” Skinner said. “And because of that, our guys became really passive and weren’t able to continue to exert themselves in the second half. That’s really the difference in the ballgame. We only shot one free throw the whole second half and we thought there was as much contact on our end of the floor as there was on the other end.” Four players – Brown, Pruitt, Bernard Morena, and Jordan Jones – compiled four personal fouls apiece over the course of the game. Kennesaw State led by seven with 18:55 left in the game, but North Florida continued to claw its way back into the game. The Ospreys outscored the Owls 16-2 over the next five minutes, taking a 60-53 lead with 14:04 to go in the second half. After a Brown three cut the Owls’ deficit to 66-63, North Florida scored 7 unanswered points to extend its lead to 7363 with 7:27 left to play. Jacksonville set the tone with its first possession of the game on Thursday. Following a missed shot from Nick Masterson, the Dolphins grabbed the defensive rebound and advanced the ball down the court. Jacksonville proceeded to miss back-to-back field goals, grabbing the offensive board after each, before Darius Dawkins connected on a threepoint shot to give the Dolphins a 3-0 lead with 18:45 remaining
KSU guard Kendrick Ray goes up for a tough layup. in the opening half. Jacksonville would not trail at any point in the game and the Dolphins out-rebounded the Owls 52-35. The Dolphins extended their lead to 21-13 with 10:33 left to play in the first half. KSU strung together three consecutive three pointers – Pruitt, Brown, and Pruitt again – to pull within
26-25 with 7:18 to go. Ray tied the game at 30-apiece with a three point shot of his own at the 3:54 mark. Jacksonville outscored the Owls 13-7 to close out the half with a 43-37 lead. The Dolphins opened up with second half with a 14-6 run, opening up their lead to 57-43 with 14:29 left in the
Matt Boggs | The Sentinel game. Jacksonville managed to keep the Owls in check for the remainder of the game, never seeing its lead dilute to single digits. The Owls will return home, where they boast a 5-3 record, to face Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday Jan. 16 at 7 p.m..
SPORTS
PAGE 14
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
OWLS USE HOT START TO BEAT NORTH FLORIDA
KSU forward Aareon Smith tied her career high with 23 points against North Florida.
Matt Boggs | The Sentinel
Isaac Goodwin Contributor The Kennesaw State women’s basketball team knocked off North Florida to open conference play 2-0. After a thrilling conferenceopening win against Lipscomb, the Kennesaw State women’s basketball team continued its winning ways on Saturday with a convincing win over North Florida. The Owls were hot from the start in Jacksonville, hitting six three-pointers and outscoring the Ospreys of North Florida 24-6 in the first quarter. Kelly Dulkoski and Aareon Smith paced the Owls early scoring 25 first-half points and were a combined 8-10 from beyond the arc. “Well, of course I loved it,”
Kennesaw State head coach Nitra Perry said about the Owls’ hot shooting. “I know they won’t hit every time, but I trust them because they are such good shooters and they get it in the gym.” KSU (7-10, 2-0) also played great team defense holding the Ospreys to 29 percent shooting from the field and forcing five turnovers in the first half on its way to a 70-55 victory. “I thought that we had extremely good focus,” Perry said. “Defense is something that we have been putting a lot more energy into and it was just very impressive to see our teams effort at the beginning of the game.” The hot shooting continued
in the third quarter, as the Owls outscored North Florida 18-16. It was a big turn around for a team that had been struggling significantly in third quarters this season. KSU had been outscored by 53 points in third quarters going into Saturday’s game. The Owls failed to shoot a single free throw until the fourth quarter, but it didn’t matter as they made 10 threes in the game and shot 52 percent from the field overall. The final three quarters were played pretty evenly due to the Owls struggles to take care of the ball. They had 18 turnovers but played scrappy transition defense and limited the Ospreys offensive stars, Claire Loannidis
and Sierra Shepherd, to 10-35 shooting from the field combined. “We knew from film that most teams went under, but we went over the top of screens and switched it up,” Perry said. “We wanted to give them a lot of different looks every time down the court. Clara Young did a excellent job on Sierra Shepherd sticking with the game plan and putting pressure on her.” Junior forward Aareon Smith finished the game tying her career high with 23 points, which led all players. Senior Jasmine McAllister led all players with a game-high 12 rebounds and redshirt sophomore Clara Young had a
game-high six assists to help KSU pick up the big conference victory. It was the Owls’ first road win of the season and third consecutive win versus North Florida. They now lead the all time series 24-15 versus the Ospreys. “I just talked to them about enjoying it because I feel like they really earned that win,” Perry said. “They worked extra hard and stuck with the game plan, so we’re going to enjoy it and get back to work tomorrow.” The win puts the Owls at 7-10 overall on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
PAGE 15
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
SPORTS
SPORTS
PAGE 16
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | THE SENTINEL | JAN. 19 2016
NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS THE SENTINEL SPORTS STAFF PREDICTS THE TWO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS THIS WEEKEND. prediction w/l record
MASON (1-3)
PANTHERS VS. CARDINALS
PATRIOTS VS. BRONCOS
Panthers 35 Cardinals 24
Patriots 27 Broncos 24
Panthers 24 Cardinals 20
Patriots 27 Broncos 24
TYLER (4-0)
Panthers 24 Cardinals 31
Patriots 27 Broncos 17
PETER (N/a)
Panthers 20 Cardinals 24
Patriots 24 Broncos 28
JULIEN (N/A)
Panthers 20 Cardinals 27
Patriots 34 Broncos 17
ISAAC (3-1)