The Signal Vol. 88 No. 2

VOL. 88 | NO. 02

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In a lofty state of mind

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At 9:36 a.m., a Georgia State student was a complainant at the University Lofts for a drug law violation. There was a judicial referral.

At 5:26 p.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was arrested for criminal damage to property on Luckie St. AUG. 26

AUG. 21

“Hey, Alexa! Play Little Big Town’s ‘Day Drinking’”

At Luckie St. and Broad St., a non-Georgia State offender was arrested at 12:39 p.m. for a liquor law violation.

AUG. 27

“Roll down your window so that I can rob you!”

At 2:47 p.m., a nonGeorgia State offender was arrested for an attempted theft from a vehicle at Edgewood Avenue.

No need for a parking permit

A non-Georgia State offender criminally trespassed the A Parking Deck at 3:19 p.m. The case was exceptionally cleared.

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NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ada Wood signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Brooklyn Valera signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Franky Huang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

AUG. 25

Tuesday’s tarnish

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Nearly 40 children rescued in Georgia sex trafficking bust

A Kenosha protest for Jacob Blake turns violent

The country of Lebanon risks collapse

On Aug. 27, the U.S. Marshals Service announced its rescue of nearly 40 missing children in a two-week operation called “Operation Not Forgotten”. The children, ranging from ages 3 to 17, have been missing and at risk of child sex trafficking, exploitation and abuse. Nine people were arrested on charges of sex trafficking and other related crimes. Children were found in 20 counties around Atlanta.

On Aug. 23 in Kenosha, WI Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha’s white police officers. Blake became the latest in the long list of victims of police brutality. On the night of Aug. 25, protests in Kenosha for Blake turned violent when 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot and killed two people and injured another. Rittenhouse was taken into custody Aug. 26 where he awaits his extradition hearing. President Trump is to travel to Kenosha on Sept. 1 to meet with law enforcement.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

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GEORGIA STATE HAS GRASS NOW. THE GREENSPACE REPLACING KELL HALL FINALLY COMES TO LIFE.

Following the Aug 4 Beirut explosion, Lebanon risks collapsing entirely. The cabinet of Lebanon resigned on Aug. 10 after angry citizens proposed multiple accusations of corruption, conspiracy and negligence. Amid the political unrest, there is an economic and financial crisis consisting of hyperinflation and a currency crash. “This country is on the brink,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves LeDrian said on the French commercial radio network, RTL.

NEWS

September 1, 2020

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

Organizations call for relocation of GSUPD funding

One of several demands in three letters from ADSAC, COE and SGA to administration SAMARIA CLAIR Staff Reporter

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n Aug. 12, the College of Education, the African Diaspora Student Advocacy Coalition and the Student Government Association sent three letters to Georgia State University President Mark Becker, Provost Wendy Hensel and the Georgia State administration. Each letter states how the university should announce their standing with the Black community.

College of Education Letter

Noah Nelson and Jai Mills, Georgia State students who signed the letter, briefly explained their reasons for writing the letter in regards to making changes that pertain to the Black community.

They provided a list of requests to Georgia State. This list demands a meeting with Paul Alberto, the dean of the College of Education, to elaborate on the importance of the Black community.

“It is imperative that we have this discussion to not only offer solutions but to further elaborate on the importance of this moment and [the] impact it is having on our community,” the letter states.

The list goes on to demand mandatory orientations for students who are in graduate school programs. They are asking for town hall meetings, an increase in Crime Center Support, changes in the Advocacy organization and more.

They also ask to disarm the Georgia State University Police Department to increase the safety of Black students.

They feel that “policing” the university is not safe for Black students because they are an easy target and policing is now a “potential act of violence” towards Black people.

The students also demand that Georgia State hire more Black professors trained in critical pedagogy, also known as critical teaching.

They express how, although Georgia State is a diverse university, there isn’t much diversity shown in the faculty department. They also request that all professors be required to take culturally responsive courses twice a year.

“We need our faculty to provide high-level learning without blissful ignorance of race, gender, sexuality, religion and more,” the letter states. “The perpetuation of this allows for injustices and [racism] to exist. This will replace the implicit bias training

that has proven to be ineffective over time.”

The letter elaborates more on promoting diversity, with a particular focus on the liberatory potential of education, a major goal of critical pedagogy.

“This is a crucial time and it is important that we act soundly.

Injustice has never rested, and neither should we in our quest for equity and liberation,” the letter states. “It is critical in this time that actions are taken and we must continue to fight in our quest for liberation.”

Equity and Justice Letter from ADSAC

The African Diaspora Student Advocacy Coalition is an organization at Georgia State that focuses on empowering people of African descent.

ADSAC sent the letter asking for reassurance that Georgia State is fully on board with the Black community, despite the institution’s history with racism.

ADSAC urged Becker and Hensel to address the following: • Make a public apology and promise that the university will no longer play a part in social injustice • Become and remain an equitable university • Include racial justice as a primary goal of the Task Force for Racial Equity.

• Provide adequate assistance, resources and remuneration for the task force.

• Similar to the concerns of COE, ADSAC also wants to revise policing and security.

• End Georgia State’s partnership with GILEE • Reallocate GSUPD funding to social services programs, safety curriculum and security infrastructures • Improve curriculum, culture and systems designed to prevent and end harassment and racial violence.

ADSAC asked university officials to respond back with answers to their calls of action by Friday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m.

SGA Letter to Administration

SGA University-Wide President Kaelen Thomas declares SGA’s solidarity with ADSAC and their mission to take a stand with the Black community in the letter.

“We recognize the various challenges that trouble our

institution and the many changes needed at [Georgia State] and therefore support the coalition advocating for itself rather than solely through SGA,” Kaelen said in the letter on behalf of himself and SGA. “SGA will operate as a liaison if needed and report on the coalition’s behalf.”

They recommend the administration reach out to ADSAC to correspond with their plans for equity of African Americans at Georgia State.

On Aug. 18, SGA held a special session where the three letters were briefly mentioned. Like ADSAC, SGA awaits a response from Georgia State’s administration.

As ADSAC waits for a response from President Becker and the administration, the coalition encourages students to share their support on the presented calls to action.

ADSAC believes that emailing President Becker and Provost Hensel with the subject stating, “I support ADSAC” will incline the Georgia State administration to respond to the coalition sooner. The sooner the response, the sooner ADSAC can help guide the institution in change for the Black community at Georgia State.

“

It is critical in this time that actions are taken and we must continue to fight in our quest for liberation.

”

— AFRICAN DIASPORA STUDENT ADVOCACY COALITION

4

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

PRN reporter uncovers 107 COVID-19 cases

Kevin Sanchez-Farez investigates COVID-19 at Georgia State NIDA MERCHANT Staff Reporter

Fall 2020 is less than ‘ideal’ for IDEAL

Program for students with developmental disabilities moves OLIVIA NASH News Editor

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s Georgia State and other universities across the country prepare for the fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IDEAL Program plans to operate in ways that contradict the name.

According to its website, the Inclusive Digital Expression and Literacy (IDEAL) Program is a post-secondary program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

IDEAL provides students with the opportunity to learn media production, storytelling and communication skills.

The pandemic has resulted in virtual learning and a class setting that is less than “ideal” for the program, but as Georgia State worked to shift fall courses to online over the summer, IDEAL Directors Spenser Norris and Cara Davis began the process early last semester.

“In March, Cara and I moved the entire program to a virtual setting,” Norris said. “Through [the] spring and summer semesters, we

operated using Zoom, meeting for classes, individual support for students, career learning groups and holding events over Zoom.”

“

We will remain supporting students through virtual classes, individual virtual meetings, group virtual meetings and support.

”

— SPENSER NORRIS

IDEAL Director

On May 19, the IDEAL Program held a graduation ceremony with the GAIPSEC program via Zoom.

Though not in-person, IDEAL wanted to honor the students of the spring 2020 graduating class.

This semester, Norris and Davis plan to continue virtual learning.

“We will remain supporting students through virtual classes, individual virtual meetings, group virtual meetings and support,” Norris said. “We have also added a virtual apprenticeship element to our program since many students will not be able to access in-person internships. We will still be doing all the things IDEAL does, just virtually.”

The IDEAL Program holds many events where students and staff would meet in-person, such as career panels, basketball games and clubs. Norris and the IDEAL team are looking to find similar virtual opportunities.

Students within IDEAL are not on the Georgia State campus unless given the opportunity to go for two class meetings at most.

Virtual learning can sometimes stifle students, but according to Norris, most pupils in the program seem to be attentive during the virtual meetups. Even so, some students do not learn well in remote settings, causing applicants to not join the program this semester.

Because there is no in-person instruction, Norris offered students the option to defer enrollment and postpone their admission until a later date. “[This] has affected our numbers slightly. We are also coming to the end of our grant funding cycle, so we are working hard to create and find sustainable funding resources,” she said. “We see a high need for access to technology in this virtual space, so we are raising funds to provide those things to students in need.”

Almost half of the IDEAL staff graduated in spring 2020.

With fewer staff members, the near-end of funding and onlineonly instruction, Norris and the IDEAL Program plan to have an

ILLUSTRATION BY MONIQUE ROJAS | THE SIGNAL

A

ccording to Panther Report News, Georgia State had identified 107 COVID-19 cases between Mar. 19 and Aug. 14. That figure is nearly six times larger than the 18 cases reported by The New York Times on July 28.

What went wrong with the two data points, and how did Georgia State contribute to this misinformation?

PRN Reporter Kevin Sanchez-Farez broke the news about the inconsistencies in the number of COVID-19 cases reported on Aug. 19.

He shared his experience in obtaining the open record files that led to his discovery. Journalists typically have no issue obtaining these records, but this was not the case for Sanchez-Farez.

“I remember seeing The New York Times survey back in July and thinking that there is no possible way that the number of COVID-19 cases could be 18,” he said.

The information collected by The Times was only from studentathletes, who represent a small fraction of the overall student and staff population at Georgia State.

After an extensive back-and-forth with the Georgia State Office of Legal Affairs to obtain the records, SanchezFarez heard back with a response.

“The information provided by individuals who voluntarily report their status to the university is not maintained in a deidentified manner and therefore cannot be provided,” according to the Office of Legal Affairs.

Sanchez-Ferez understood that either Georgia State may have had the information he was asking for and refused to provide it or they believed he was trying to uncover the anonymity of the students who participated in the article

with The Times.

After a dead end in contacting Georgia State, the reporter contacted the Student Press Law Center for the information on positive testings. The department was able to eventually share the required information but could not distinguish the cases between students and staff and the dates on which each individual was diagnosed.

As students prepare for an unpredictable semester ahead, a few weighed in on the matter and how they planned to attend classes this semester.

Students such as Ryan Reischer, a freshman at Georgia State, feel optimistic about the upcoming semester. As a commuter student from Gwinnett County, he understands the responsibility that students have in maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.

“Georgia State has done a good job in preparing for the semester with COVID-19 because it has outlined a plan … to respond correctly for students who are concerned about the risk,” Reischer said.

Thomas Wilson, a sophomore at Georgia State, was much more skeptical, recognizing the problem starting with opening student housing.

Thomas, who originally used to commute to campus, decided to transfer solely online to not risk exposing his family to COVID-19.

Though he wishes to have a normal college experience, he noted the inability to do that this semester.

“I see people my age partying and living like we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic, being irresponsible for their own safety and putting the [Georgia State] community at large in danger,” he said.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

5

THE SIGNAL

Workers continue construction at Library Plaza.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Paving the way to the Greenway

Georgia State makes progress on a delayed project despite COVID-19 J.P. IRIE Staff Reporter

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onstruction crews finally furnished the site of Georgia State’s long-awaited Greenway project, that is being transformed from the demolished Kell Hall into a grassland with a concrete pathway. While it’s only a ground zero for what’s to come, it’s also a sign that COVID-19 has not stalled this project.

According to a construction update by Associate Vice President for Public Relations and Marketing Andrea Jones, the construction crew began building two new staircases in February.

“One [would] connect the Courtland Street bridge to a revamped ground-level entrance to Sparks Hall, and the other [would] link Langdale Plaza (the remaining section of Library Plaza behind Langdale Hall) to the greenway down below,” she said. “In late March, crews should begin landscaping the communal greenspace itself.”

This was in February. What’s next for the Greenway?

Library North will get a glass front as stairs run from its top to the park below it. Stairs would connect the park to Langdale Plaza.

“Future phases will call for extensive modifications to

“

This central social space is the first phase of the university’s greenway.

[It will] transform entire blocks of major downtown streets.

— MARK BECKER Georgia State University President

”

Library Plaza as well as Arts & Humanities, Langdale Hall, Library North and Sparks Hall,” Georgia State University President Mark Becker stated in a letter published in the Spring 2018 issue of Georgia State University Magazine.

Becker alluded to a greenspace project in the fall of 2013.

But it wasn’t until six years later in the summer of 2019, Becker announced that the new project would begin.

“Once Kell and this section of the plaza are cleared, we will replace them with a communal greenspace on the ground level,” Becker said in a letter featured in the Summer 2019 issue of Georgia State University Magazine. “This central social space is the first phase of the university’s greenway. [It will] transform entire blocks of major downtown streets.”

Many responded positively to the idea.

“That’ll be good,” said a Reddit user on a thread discussing Kell Hall’s demolition. “I don’t even go there anymore but Kell Hall needs to go.”

The positive opinions of the project tend to become muted with the uncertainty of the project’s timeline. Georgia State officials consistently and incorrectly predict the completion of the project.

In a previous article by The Signal, Georgia State’s Vice President of the Facilities Management Services Division Ramesh Vakamudi said he believed the project would be finished

by January 2020.

Senior Director of the Facilities Design and Construction Services Kimberly Bauer first predicted that the project would be finished in March 2020 but ended up changing it to April.

According to Jones, the university hoped the portions of the greenway project would be finished and opened in May 2020. As of Aug. 27, the walkway is still fenced off with blue fabric-covered link fences.

When the state closed due to COVID-19 and the school switched most classes to online-only, it proposed an obstacle to the construction. The park isn’t considered critical infrastructure, so construction on it wouldn’t be considered an essential service.

On Apr. 20, Gov. Brian Kemp announced his plans to “incrementally — and safely — reopen sectors of our economy.”

“I am confident that together, we will emerge victorious from this war,” Kemp said. With your help and God’s grace, we will build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state for our families and generations to come. Thank you, and God Bless.”

Restrictions on travel and work lessened since then, albeit businesses have noted that the timing of the reopening was impromptu. Businesses found it difficult to comply with the new “21 guidelines”— a list of protocols which every business must follow before being allowed to open — in a timely fashion.

Pond & Company is the construction company tasked with designing the new addition to Georgia State. Founded in 1965, the firm designs architecture for a variety of functions: education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc. It is Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Southeast Design Firm of the Year, and has worked on a multitude of similar projects. For example, the company designed the West End Trail in the Atlanta BeltLine, Vine City Park and the trail on St. Simon’s Island. The company even renovated Sparks Hall in the past.

On Mar. 18, Pond & Company published a letter to their clients, assuring them they were taking every precaution necessary during the pandemic.

“It’s our belief that safeguarding people’s health and maintaining a seamless level of service are not mutually exclusive,” Tony Parker, CEO of Pond & Company, said in an official press release. “We’re adhering to local and national public health guidelines and have temporarily restricted all business air travel to minimize the exposure of our teams.”

In the summer of 2020, while Pond & Company was working on the Greenway — and in the midst of a pandemic — the firm was working on another project to keep government buildings safe from COVID–19, fixturing transparent walls at security desks and in courtrooms. “Implementing protective measures into office spaces is crucial to the health and well-being of returning workers and guests,” Pond & Company stated in a blog post. “Navigating these changes require careful assessment and planning.”

Pond & Company has not responded to media inquiries by The Signal.

Becker holds that the project will be finished by the end of 2020.

“Kell Hall, a utilitarian building that served the university in so many eclectic ways, is once again the center of attention on our campus,” he said. “But this time, it’s the site of a redevelopment project that will transform the university for years to come.”

With the ground level down, there will likely be more to come in the next months.

OPINIONS

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

September 1, 2020

Kanye’s campaign is a dangerous distraction The struggle with the Black vote and where it’s going KELVIN COLLINS Staff Columnist

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The location for registering for virtual advisement during fall 2020 semester.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA NASH | THE SIGNAL

New semester, new advisors, new problems

The consequences of poor academic advisement JENELLE RYAN Staff Columnist

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ike many Georgia State students, I have fought with our University Advisement Center my entire college career. The system is flawed top to bottom. Georgia State advisement is in desperate need of rebuilding.

My freshman year advisor told me that I needed to add chemistry to my course schedule, a class for which I had already earned credits through the corresponding AP courses and was not required for my major. After a whole month of arguing and having my emails ignored, I had to contact the dean to resolve my issue.

When I needed to change my major during my sophomore year, my new advisor did not assign my credits properly; this caused me to take three classes unnecessarily, pushed my graduation back by a semester and damaged my GPA. Currently, I’m trying to move my graduation forward one semester, and having very little luck. My previous advisor told me to wait until the last two weeks of last semester, and when I attempted to contact her, she ignored my emails for weeks. I’ve since been assigned a new advisor, and she has told me to wait until after the end of this semester.

Unfortunately, my troubling

experiences with Georgia State advisors are not unique. On the official Georgia State subreddit, turtleneck9 said that they’ve been trying to contact their advisor for over a week and “she hasn’t responded to a single email.”

Alanna Adkisson transferred to Georgia State in 2018 and said she’s had around six advisors so far. Adkisson has also had the unfortunate experience of advisors being condescending and unprofessional.

“I’ve made appointments with advisors weeks in advance only to arrive at the advisement office the day of the meeting and told that they won’t be able to attend,” she said. “I know they have more on their plates than we know, especially since the pandemic, but I can’t help but feel that most of the advisors don’t really care.”

It isn’t difficult to see how, from a student’s perspective, the advisement system as it stands simply doesn’t work.

We see the effects of poor advisement. To remedy this issue, our university should consider using a method that is proven to lead to student success.

The National Academic Advising Association has developed the Academic Advisement Core Competencies Model, which states that successful academic advisors must be fluent in three areas

of expertise: conceptual, relational and informational.

An advisor’s conceptual knowledge must include various strategies for advisement and expected outcomes.

Their relational knowledge must include building relationships and rapport with their students, engaging in ongoing assessment of their students academic goals and promoting student understanding of their path and curriculum.

Finally, an advisor’s informational knowledge must include degree programs, curriculum and all academic requirements and options.

Since Georgia State’s advisors are assigned to new students every semester, they have little investment in each individual’s college path and are more likely to make mistakes.

Miscounting credits would pose as more of a concern to an advisor had they gotten to know the student and invested in their success. Each advisor must be knowledgeable of most major pathways within their college instead of specializing in a handful of them, making those mistakes more common.

For the well-being of our student body, Georgia State needs a change. Stop giving us new advisors every semester.

he Kanye West campaign is simply an attempt to take votes from Joe Biden. A vote for him will utterly diminish your voice and give Trump an advantage.

In his exclusive interview with Forbes, Kanye West allocated the outcome to the presidential race as the sole responsibility of God. He also perceived Trump’s current position as God’s work, ignoring all of the president’s offensive and lethal actions during his presidency. West’s support of Trump supposedly ended, but he continued to call Trump “special.”

Kanye has made evident his contempt for Democrats and how they have manipulated Black Americans in particular for decades. It’s clear that West wishes for a type of voter awakening among his people.

Now, West dives into the middle of a contest between two deeply flawed political pillars. Over the last five months, there has been anger surrounding Trump’s deadly COVID-19 inaction and his antagonizing comments toward the Black Lives Matter movement, which he has described as a “symbol of hate” in early June. Calls for police reform have been handled with little care, and defunding the police under his watch is absolutely out of the question.

Biden’s promise of winning the 2020 election is a bogus “return to normalcy.” He claimed voters weren’t Black if they did not vote for him.

His staunch support of the war on drugs and the 1994 crime bill, should raise eyebrows as it led to the mass incarceration of primarily Black people and other people of color.

Though Kanye will not be on every state ballot, he predicted he would steal Black votes to hurt Biden’s campaign in the Forbes

interview. Reports say he is pulling in 2%’s worth of support from Black voters, which is 2% too many.

In 2018, he said American slavery was a choice that Black people made. He even undermined the legacy of Harriet Tubman during his campaign rally rant this year, making the “woefully uninformed” claim that she “never actually freed the slaves.”

Whether West wants to admit it or not, his presence in the race is merely an attempt to divert votes, specifically the Black vote, from Biden and reap whatever benefits he can while having the country’s attention. This may be obvious to voters, but influential celebrities have endorsed his candidacy.

They and many others see West as the “pure” candidate.

Both Biden and Trump have documented accusations of sexual assault and a history of racism spanning several decades.

Currently, West is not facing any rape allegations or accusations of being seriously racist despite troubling comments on the Black community and is immensely influential in the world of music and fashion.

Still, not being an alleged rapist or a racist should be the bare minimum of criteria needed to become president.

People have suffered under Trump, and they will continue to suffer to varying degrees if Biden is victorious as he is no savior. But championing Kanye West is simply amplifying the game he is playing with the media.

Again, the Kanye West campaign is simply an attempt to take votes from Joe Biden. Make the wiser choice in the presidential election.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

OPINIONS

7

WAP is all about owning your sexuality Party culture Why songs like Cardi and Megan’s empower women shouldn’t cost human lives ASHLAR BYLECKIE Staff Columnist

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ne of the few good things to emerge from 2020 is Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s latest hit, “WAP.” Released on August 6, the track went gold in under a week, and platinum two days after that. Quickly after, it became apparent that men felt grossly objectified by the song, the same way women have been for decades.

The song’s success is well earned, as Cardi and Meg are some of the biggest names in the female rap game. Both artists have built their empires by expressing their sexual desires in ways that are typically done by male artists. “WAP” is all about being confident and owning your sexuality. It’s no surprise that it made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 so quickly.

The structure of this anthem is great. Cardi’s opening verse is slow because she is laying the foundation for Megan’s punchline in the second verse.

When Megan starts, the pacing almost triples. Her fast pace and brainy lyrics such as “switch up my wig, make him feel like he’s cheating” show how this Houston Hottie is putting her college

education to good use.

She and Cardi continue to juxtapose one another through the remainder of the song. Their differences in style play off of each other well and create a catchy sound.

Cardi and Megan use clever lyricism to objectify men the same way women have been objectified in rap for decades.

In their next verses, Cardi and Megan continue to explicitly describe the ideal bodies of their dream men.

While such statements sound shallow to a male audience, it is no different than the standards that male artists have set for their sexual partners.

Cardi and Megan have taken a lot of heat from the press for this song.

Many platforms have criticized the message being sent to young women, saying it is inappropriate. Neither artist owes anyone a censored version of their art.

Labeling them responsible for protecting children is pushing the misogynistic idea that women should always be setting a motherly example.

“Not once in my life have I heard that Migos or Jay-Z or NBA

Youngboy needed to change their lyrics because they’re parents,” Georgia State junior Chaylen Wilson said. “It’s hypocritical.”

For comparison, Kanye West and Lil Pump released a song in 2018 called “I Love It,” where Kanye repeatedly drops the f-bomb. No media outlets publicly shamed them, even though those lyrics are perverted compared to Megan’s.

Neither were ever asked what kind of example they were setting for young men. The double standard in rap is alive and well.

Few complaints on the internet are coming from women. In fact, many find it empowering. “[‘WAP’ is] sexually liberating and can make any listener feel like they’re ready to conquer the world,” Wilson said.

Rap was a male dominated genre for long enough; we allowed male artists to describe women as sexual objects for their bidding. For men, it was about confidence. For women, it’s about being self obsessed and nasty.

Yes, women are self-obsessed.

Yes, women are nasty. Women are proud of themselves, proud of their sexuality and proud to have WAP.

Students went without a stimulus check President Becker should change that SUSANA DURAN Staff Columnist

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he stimulus checks came and went, but for many students, they never saw a penny of this

relief.

Thousands of college students were excluded from the stimulus check, leaving them financially vulnerable.

Georgia State University Georgia State University President Mark Becker and the institution he leads are more than capable of rectifying this issue; they need to allocate funds and provide every student with a Georgia State sponsored check.

Under the CARES Act, Americans would receive up to $1,200 in COVID19-related relief unless they made too much money, are legally their parents’ dependents, did not file taxes in the last 1 to 2 years or are an immigrant or married to one.

Roughly 53,00 students started school this fall, many not qualifying for the stimulus check, including Allen Anderson, an incoming freshman who had to sell his company and ETF stocks to cover tuition. He did not qualify because of his dependent status.

According to Senior Vice President for Student Success Timothy M. Renick, 60% of students’ families fall below the federal poverty line.

Georgia State knows that many of its students are struggling and need

financial relief during this pandemic.

To aid students, Georgia State received over $45 million in CARES Act funding, half of which will go to student relief via grants.

Grants were automatically disbursed to students who met certain requirements.

As of July, over 34,000 grants were awarded, just north of $21 million in total.

“I gave all the money I got to my mom,” Allison Henao, a third year political science and philosophy major, said. “It really didn’t do much. [But] $500 is better than nothing.”

Although ineligible for the stimulus check as a dependent, she received two $500 grants from Georgia State’s CARES Act fund.

“I think it is ridiculous at this time to have restrictions on who qualifies for federal aid,” Kimmy Rae Fisher, a second year PhD student, said.

Fisher received the stimulus check and two grants from Georgia State’s CARES fund.

There are a number of students who need financial relief and are left out.

With so many students’ families living in poverty, Georgia State must do more than give grants to certain students.

Georgia State should give every single student a $1,200 check, unconditionally.

Georgia State has a budget of over

$1 billion. Surely, $64 million can be mustered from the coffers.

It may sound like a lot, but $64 million pales in comparison to $1 billion.

Students are struggling and need help now.

Becker can leverage his relationships with major donors and fundraise, and Georgia State can reduce salaries and cut bonuses for its highest-paid administrators, which includes himself, who received $1 million in compensation, half of which came as a bonus.

Surely half a million can be spared here and there; maybe the Georgia State alumni can pitch in a few pennies. If sports are cancelled for the year, a few dollars from the athletics piggy bank can be set aside. We would not even notice the difference during the pandemic.

“I qualified [for the stimulus check] and still didn’t get my payment yet, so I understand full well what those folks are going through. I know it’s even tougher knowing no one is gonna come down with a ladder,” Dontay Wimberly, a postgraduate political science student, said.

Becker, come down with a ladder.

President Becker, give us a Panther Stimulus Check!

Getting drunk with your friends is not worth it YASMINA AL-ABOUDY Associate Opinions Editor

E

verything Georgia, a Georgia-centered news site, recently shared a video on Twitter of a massive party being hosted at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega in the middle of the pandemic. As the video went viral and more universities opened their doors, it became worrisome that this could be Georgia State’s fate as well.

At the moment, Georgia is third in the nation for new cases of COVID-19, and some of the highest concentrations of the virus can be seen on college campuses. Last month, the University of Georgia alone had the third highest case count in the nation.

Unsurprisingly, many students are upset to hear that their peers are partying, knowing that their room and board deposit are being put at risk of a university shutdown because of COVID-19 cases.

After viewing the original video of the University of North Georgia’s “welcome back celebration,” I couldn’t believe that so many people had suddenly forgotten that the pandemic was still ongoing. Did they simply not care enough about the threats and host a party, their health and safety be damned?

I was furious that the university would have allowed such a gathering.

I wondered how I would react in such a scenario, where not only my deposit but my life is put at risk because my peers valued cheap beer and loud music over other human lives.

Nhu Vu, a sophomore studying psychology here at Georgia State, said that she could not respect students who chose to party right now.”

“I always assume that college students are the most woke about the [state] of the world since they are in a constant

state of learning, but for them to put themselves and others at risk by going to a large social gathering is irresponsible,” Vu said.

We may be somewhat luckier than other University System of Georgia students, as Georgia State is still predominantly a commuter school, with 79% of students commuting to campus.

Unfortunately, not all students are that lucky.

Vishal Parmar, a sophomore at the University of Georgia studying economics and international affairs, has seen firsthand how campus party culture is causing a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Greek life is still partying, and the bars are packed,” he said.

“I feel like UGA is not taking COVID seriously.

There’s little transparency.

They don’t even publish daily COVID cases, only weekly, and they only test up to 300 people per day when our public health professor said that we need to test up to 6,000 a day.”

Parmar believes that the USG was unprepared to have students return to campus at all.

“They should have required all of us to be tested, like the University of Alabama,” he said, referring to that university’s testing policy.

There are tons of ways to have fun with your friends without risking other people’s lives.

Students can easily drink on a Zoom call or just while watching a movie.

You can socially distance at a park with friends and set up a conversation circle with masks if you need face-to-face contact.

But don’t risk everyone because you selfishly put your own wants over the needs of the many.

At this point, if you are still going to parties and vacations, then you are more than just part of the problem. You are the problem.

This Week’s Spread: ARTS & LIVIN WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

What’s the risk of exploring Atlanta during th JADA JONES Staff Reporter

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he only surefire way to not contract COVID-19 is to isolate completely. The CDC and World Health Organization still recommend staying at home as much as possible. But for those who are considering an activity-filled day in Atlanta, here are the potential risks.

The CDC ranks an activity’s risk level into four broad categories: low risk, more risk, higher risk and highest risk.

Low-risk activities are gatherings that are held entirely online. More risk activities are described as “smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings” where people who do not live together social distance, wear masks and avoid shared objects.

Higher risk activities include any “medium-sized” inperson event where attendees can consistently maintain six feet of distance. Highest risk activities are large inperson events where attendees cannot always preserve social distance and interact with people from outside the local area.

Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor

events, as air ventilation is lower indoors, and there is evidence suggesting the virus that causes COVID-19 can linger in the air.

Activities outside of one’s residing community are more dangerous than ones they live in. If a tourist from a virus hotspot visits an area with low community spread, they could contribute to asymptomatic spread and infect those around them.

The riskiest activities are where mask-wearing and social distancing cannot always be maintained, as those two precautions are the most basic safety measures the CDC recommends.

In an attempt to recreate the social atmosphere that once existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants, hotels and some of Atlanta’s famous tourist attractions are open to the public.

Every aspect of Atlanta’s once nonstop tourism looks very different during a pandemic. Almost all facilities have introduced new hours, enforced CDC guidelines to their best ability and new ways to experience the tourism

industry in Atlanta.

High Museum o • • • • •

Six Flags Over G • • • • • • •

Georgia Aquar • • • • •

NG

World of Coke

he pandemic?

of Art 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 General Admission price: $14.50 Low to more risk Masks required Social distancing encouraged

Amusement parks are the epitome of summertime fun, and due to COVID-19, like most other things, the experience of amusement parks has drastically changed. Six Flags and other amusement parks are outdoors, decreasing the certainty that masks will be worn at all times.

The CDC labels amusement parks as a “more risk” activity, but only if the strictest precautions are enforced. If these precautions are disregarded, Six Flags could be a “higher risk” activity.

Precautions include patrons and employees maintaining social distance and wearing a mask at all times and frequently sanitizing high touchpoints. The Six Flags water parks are open, but guests are not required to wear masks. It is imperative to remain six feet away from other people in and out of the water.

Six Flags also created designated “mask break zones” for guests. With these policies, guests must rely heavily on social distancing to decrease their risk of spreading or contracting the virus.

Despite the risks and the possibility that all COVID-19 guidelines may not be strictly enforced by park management, GSU Spotlight plans to host Georgia State night at Six Flags on September 18.

Amusement parks are the epitome of summertime fun, and due to COVID-19, like most other things, the experience of amusement parks has drastically changed. Six Flags and other amusement parks are outdoors, decreasing the certainty that masks will be worn at all times.

The CDC labels amusement parks as a “more risk” activity, but only if the strictest precautions are enforced. If these precautions are disregarded, Six Flags could be a “higher risk” activity.

Precautions include patrons and employees maintaining social distance and wearing a mask at all times and frequently sanitizing high touchpoints. The Six Flags water parks are open, but guests are not required to wear masks.

It is imperative to remain six feet away from other people in and out of the water.

Six Flags also created designated “mask break zones” for guests. With these policies, guests must rely heavily on social distancing to decrease their risk of spreading or contracting the virus.

Despite the risks and the possibility that all COVID-19 guidelines may not be strictly enforced by park management, GSU Spotlight plans to host Georgia State night at Six Flags on September 18.

rium 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta GA 30313 General Admission price: $32.95 Low to more risk Masks and temperature check required Social distancing encouraged

The World of Coca-Cola, better known as the World of Coke, is one of Atlanta’s most well known tourist attractions, being the home of one of the world’s largest corporations. World of Coke has made some modifications to the experience of the attraction to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guests are required to wear a mask at all times, buy tickets online and visit World of Coke during their assigned ticket time to keep building capacity low.

Other modifications include the closure of the Coca-Cola Theater, where a Coca-Cola film was once played for hundreds of audience members. Visitors can only take pictures with the CocaCola Polar Bear with their own camera.

World of Coke’s most famous feature, the Taste It! room, where Coke products from all over the globe were available for patrons to try, has been modified. Guests can visit the room during their visiting time in groups of six or fewer, and a Coca-Cola Ambassador will bring guests the drinks to try.

The risk of visiting the World of Coke is similar to the risk of visiting any other indoor museum. Social distancing, maskwearing and decreased ventilation are factors for guests to consider.

• Higher to highest risk • Masks required except when eating or drinking • Social distancing encouraged

Concerts have not returned just yet, but the Coca-Cola Roxy plans on hosting live events in the near future, having recently announced its “Clean Concert Experience” to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic in future shows.

Stipulations of the experience include a broad statement of “following CDC and local health guidelines,” contactless payment, staff clad in masks and gloves, social distancing and thorough sanitizing of the event space. The Coca-Cola Roxy will mandate face coverings for guests except while they are eating or drinking.

It is not clear when the Roxy will allow concerts to make a comeback, but they are actively preparing for future events.

This may be a tricky feat to execute for the Roxy, as eating and drinking are allowed and will permit guests to remove their masks while being indoors with other people.

Concerts

Georgia 275 Riverside Pkwy, Austell, GA 30168 General Admission price: $34.99 Park operations on weekends only More to higher risk Masks required except at waterpark Temperature checks at door Social distancing encouraged

• 121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 • Low to more risk • Masks required • Social distancing encouraged • Temperature checks at door

Dining • More risk to higher Many restaurants have reopened their dining rooms to guests.

Luckily, there is little to no evidence that proves virus transmission risk via food exists.

• Mask required Most restaurants follow some CDC guidelines by limiting except when eating building capacity and closing off tables that are within six feet of or drinking each other. Most patrons will not be wearing a mask while eating • Social distancing or drinking. But if one dines at a restaurant, it is important to choose to eat at a restaurant that enforces other CDC guidelines encouraged besides socially distanced tables.

Restaurants can minimize the risk of virus transmission by not using reusable items such as menus, condiments and silverware, implementing touchless payment options and disinfecting the restaurant often. When inside at a restaurant, observe the staff and their adherence to CDC guidelines. Staff should be wearing a mask and gloves at all times, especially when handling food.

Lowest risk dining options include takeout, drive-thru and curbside pickup from local restaurants.

Lodging The Georgia Aquarium reopened in June and debuted several COVID-19 safety measures.

Precautions employed by the aquarium include exclusively online ticket purchases, mandatory temperature checks, reduced building capacity and masks required for the entirety of the visit. If a guest does not have a mask, one will be given to them.

The aquarium designates guests to enter through a particular entrance of the building, depending on their ticket time to abide by social distancing rules. The risk of contracting or spreading the virus at Georgia Aquarium is similar to the risk of visiting the High Museum.

• More risk • Mask required in shared areas • Social distancing encouraged

The level of risk associated with staying overnight at a hotel depends entirely on the company’s policies regarding the virus.

Guests should wear a mask in common areas and call ahead and inquire what precautions are enforced. Total compliance with CDC guidelines would include mobile keys, online check-in and removal or constant disinfecting of frequently touched items.

It is also essential to consider that overnight lodging means entering a community that may have higher transmission rates and being in close contact with other people who come from other cities. CDC guidelines also include social distancing and mask-wearing in elevators and other shared spaces within the establishment.

ILLUSTRATION BY MONIQUE ROJAS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

September 1, 2020

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

Riding Panther Express just got more complicated Concerns of riding Georgia State’s shuttles during the pandemic DEENA KAYYALI Staff Reporter

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or students who don’t have cars on campus, the Panther Express is a crucial part of their daily lives. But today, with Georgia’s COVID-19 cases skyrocketing, many students are hesitant about stepping onto the university’s buses.

Before the pandemic, after hours in the library or a day filled with classes, students would line the roads and sidewalks of campus waiting to be picked up. As they wrapped up their day of work, many were eager to make the journey back home.

Once the bus came around the corner and to a halt, the door flew open and students would climb off and squeeze past the crowd of peers. Once empty, all hell broke loose. People would flood the doors and rush to claim a spot. Getting on the bus was only the first step. The lucky ones would grab a seat, and the others would be left to stand and hold the handrails.

This fall, that scene is a distant memory. As the pandemic moves many classes online, Downtown’s campus streets are vacant.

According to a U.S. News and World Report, 79% of Georgia State students live off-campus. As the university is dominated by commuters, local transportation like MARTA, the Atlanta Streetcar and university shuttles are essential for navigating downtown and campus.

Many students are understandably wary of public transportation, particularly cramming onto the Panther Express.

The idea of crowding into a shared space, one used by hundreds of people a day, was already stressful enough. Throw in a global pandemic, and it becomes absurd.

Many students won’t even consider the possibility of getting on a bus if it was anything like the previous semesters.

Junior Aamna Murshedi lives off-campus in one of the many apartment complexes surrounding the school. Without a car on campus, the wrestling matches over a seat on one of the buses were her only way to get to and from classes.

“You really had to fight to get a seat, and sometimes, you had to wait two or three times before you could get a spot,” Murshedi said. “With everything that’s going on, there is no way I’m gonna be [riding the bus]. I would rather walk the mile and a half than risk my chances.”

Previously, each bus could be entered through two doors, one next to the driver’s seat and another closer to the rear of the bus.

Now, however, drivers tend to only open the rear.

With fewer students attending classes in-person, the risks for spreading the virus are lessened but still remain possible. To ensure the safety of students and faculty, Panthers will have to abide by new rules to step onto the bus.

Drivers are surrounded by a large, plastic separation wall that divides them from riders. Masks are also mandatory for entry; those who don’t have one will not be permitted to ride.

The Panther Express has added more stops along with shifting routes in order to prevent overcrowded and jammed stations. In the past there were three main routes available to students: Blue, Purple and Green. Today only Blue and Purple are running.

Students can catch the bus from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. Panthers can also download Passio Go!, an app with live schedule updates.

Stickers are placed on bus seats to measure six feet and encourage students to maintain social distancing.

Junior Zooey Gage lives off-campus and heavily relies on the buses to get to where she needs to go. She recently rode the bus with all the new implications and changes for the first time.

“Anything open for public use nowadays I usually avoid, but riding the bus is something that I need to do,” Gage said. “I was very impressed with everything that the university had done to try and make it as safe as possible. The partition was a great idea; there were fewer students getting picked up at each stop, and the stickers gave everyone the space that they needed.”

From speaking to students and observing the changes made, many have come to the same conclusion: if there is anything that can be done to help keep students safe when riding buses, the university has done it.

When comparing the old system of routes and the number of students allowed on a single vehicle before the pandemic, the difference is shocking.

Junior Kanar Rashid notices these differences and is very appreciative of the university’s efforts. In fact, she thinks the new system is an improvement from the pre-pandemic bus service.

“I think this way is way more effective than the old ways,” Rashid said. “The separation between the driver and students is a great way to ensure their safety as well as ours. With the disease being so spreadable, it’s very important that we take as many

safety measures as possible.”

Like many other hygienic changes that have been implemented during the pandemic, efficiency and cleanliness have been increased. The new routes and pick up areas have made life easier for students. The changes have also alleviated

“

With everything that’s going on, there is no way I’m gonna be [riding the bus]. I would rather walk the mile and a half than risk my chances.

— AAMNA MURSHEDI Junior at Georgia State

”

student’s fears and mental health as well.

Not only do the new ways of running operations around campus reduce the risk of outbreaks and infections, but they also allow students to feel safer when returning to campus.

Many see the alterations to the system as a way of finally being able to relax and having one less thing to worry about.

For those reasons, students like Rashid are thankful for the chance to feel safer on campus.

“If I get exposed to the virus, there’s a strong chance that my family would be exposed as well,” she said. “The efforts being done shows that the university really cares about students, especially with the higher stops and the mask mandates. With cases going up, it makes me feel safer to go to school.”

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

The art of being together while apart Student social life during a pandemic ISA CORDANA Staff Reporter

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or Georgia State students entering or returning to classes this fall, student life will be different.

This semester, classes will be either online, blended or face-to-face, and students will walk around in masks and sit several feet apart from friends and classmates. These scenes used to resemble a sci-fi movie, but today, these measures are used to decrease the spread of COVID-19.

With campuses and businesses opening back up, the college experience and its social aspects have been adjusted in order to follow safety precautions.

Maintaining a social life while taking proper CDC-approved preventative measures means physically distancing, wearing a mask and finding alternative ways to interact with friends and family.

The CDC says virtual interactions yield the lowest chances of COVID-19 infection, but that doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Fun activities such as Zoom game nights, group painting sessions, virtual dance parties, gaming and interactive video servers like Twitch and Discord are great ways to interact with others safely.

Sophomore Alejandro Gorricho has been catching up on shows and enjoys

watching TV through screen share with friends.

“We’ve almost finished an entire show together,” Gorricho said. “It gets us excited to watch when we’ve been watching the whole show together at the same time without any spoilers.”

Concerts and nightlife were once an important part of many students’ lives, and it looks like it will be awhile before it’s safe to mosh and crowdsurf again.

While venues and clubs remain closed, many performances from BTS, Megan Thee Stallion and Yungblud, to symphonies and theatre productions have made the switch to virtual concerts and live streams in order to entertain fans from their couches at home.

Small groups of close friends and family can enjoy each other’s company while following preventive measures and maintaining small groups in “social bubbles.”

A social bubble is a group of people with whom you have close physical contact. The idea was first introduced in New Zealand, and the concept works with the bubble’s agreement to interact only with that small group and practice social distancing with everyone else.

This works best if you limit your

interactions to only people within that small group, wear a mask whenever you’re outside and avoid places that are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection.

Many students have found ways to safely socialize in the city and on campus via socially distanced picnics or tea parties, visiting parks and going to drivein movies.

Sophomore Hadassah Jones has been keeping very active and safe during this pandemic.

“I’ve been walking around and exploring my city with a mask on, like going to parks, little downtown squares and different things like that,” Jones said.

Students can enjoy local Atlanta spots around Little Five Points, Piedmont Park, Krog Street Market, The Starlight Drive-in and local eateries with takeout or delivery.

One can venture outside the city with activities like the drive-through zoo at the Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

College will look different for students across the country, from home or on campus, but there are still plenty of ways to stay active and in touch with loved ones, all while still minimizing the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.

Students cancel housing contracts

University fails to alert students before payment deadline HANNAH JONES Associate Arts & Living Editor

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mall dorm rooms, roommate drama and crowded residence hall parties are classic images of the average college experience.

This year, that is all in the past as students must navigate the murky waters of university housing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sophomore Jalen Freeman considers his freshman year on-campus to have been “a great experience.”

For him, life in Piedmont North brought many new friends and memorable experiences. In March, Freeman was quick to re-apply for housing, and he planned to move into another unit with his roommate.

As the campus closed and Freeman moved back home, he waited for housing updates from the university. Several months passed, and Freeman became apprehensive about his future living situation.

According to Freeman, housing prices were released around late June or early July, and they were shockingly high.

“Now, it’s fall, so we’re like, ‘What’s the plan, [Georgia State]?” he said. “We didn’t know about the pricing of housing until [recently], and then we learned the price of housing was double.”

The university also released new COVID-19 policies for on-campus housing. The dorms are arranged to maintain social distancing, parties are not permitted and guests are not allowed inside.

According to Georgia State, the residence halls are kept at around 75%

occupancy. To achieve reduced numbers, shared rooms are limited to Piedmont North, and two students are allowed to

“

[Georgia State] also kept the tuition pricing the same, but most of your classes are going to still be online, so it’s like, what’s the point of dorming at all?

—JALEN FREEMAN

”

Sophomore at Georgia State

share a bathroom and four occupants are allowed per apartment.

Ultimately, Freeman decided to terminate his contract with University Housing. He cites the university’s lack of communication and new COVID-19 stipulations as the main influencers of his decision.

Without much room for socializing and only one in-person class, the high cost of housing doesn’t seem worth it to Freeman. “[Georgia State] also kept the tuition pricing the same, but most of your classes

are going to be online, so it’s like, what’s the point of dorming at all?” Freeman said.

Cynthia Simpkins, an incoming freshman, agrees with his sentiment.

She applied for housing in March and planned to live in a single room in Piedmont Central.

Like Freeman, Simpkins feels that the university’s communication regarding the fall semester plan was inadequate.

As the university declined to share much information, Simpkins turned to the University System of Georgia for news regarding COVID-19 policies.

She was especially frustrated because she feels “[Georgia State] knew that they were [going to] have to do this.”

Simpkins is sympathetic to the difficult situation and understands that the Georgia State Board is ultimately trying their best under challenging circumstances.

“I knew they weren’t going to be able to tell us exactly what the plan would be because they couldn’t predict the number of cases at [the] time,” Simpkins said.

“But we were just left in the dark, you know?”

The uncertainty of housing ultimately led to Simpkins’ decision to drop from Georgia State housing. Instead, she’s living in an off-campus apartment and will commute for her blended classes.

Simpkins hopes her in-person classes will allow her to participate in a piece of the average college experience.

Freeman and Simpkins both hope to find ways to enjoy the semester, even

11

Ending food deserts one fridge at a time FREE99 Fridge provides food resources across Atlanta KRISTY RIVERA Staff Reporter

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ll across America, children and adults in lower-income communities struggle to find meals due to lack of affordable supermarkets, community food banks and fresh food shops.

In fact, in Georgia alone 1 in 6 children are currently facing food insecurity, according to Feeding America.

This becomes alarming when put into perspective: Atlanta faces a food insecurity rate of 18.5% compared to the national average of 12.5%, according to Atlanta Studies.

Food deserts are an issue that affects many people across the U.S. due to a lack of adequate resources and support for underprivileged communities.

Metro Atlanta is one area that is greatly affected by the inaccessibility of fresh produce. As a result, organizations such as FREE99Fridge have taken it upon themselves to facilitate food resources through community fridges and sponsors’ help.

Community fridges are free food resources that are restocked by residents of the community or local sponsors.

Founded by Latisha Springer, FREE99 aims to provide food and foster a greater sense of community by providing a space for people in need to have nearby food at no cost.

“Free99Fridge is the result of a simple idea,” Springer said. “Eating healthy [and] daily meals shouldn’t be a privilege.

This is not charity, but rather a mutual aid initiative.”

The organization aims to establish seven community fridges, stretching through Metro Atlanta. Last week, FREE99 hosted a launch party to unveil its first community fridge, located in the West End. The fridges partially rely on the community for upkeep and maintenance.

Residents are encouraged to help create, clean and stock the fridges

because, according to their Instagram page, “community fridges can’t exist without community.”

Community members can donate fresh produce, breads, pre-packaged meals, non perishables and sealed dairy products.

Donors should refrain from leaving raw meat, alcohol, leftovers and “anything you wouldn’t feed to your family.”

The efforts of volunteers and sponsors also play a role in making sure they stay restocked and fully functional.

“Our community fridges are stocked and maintained by volunteers, growers and local businesses who see value in supporting their community,” Springer said.

The local support has aided in the success of this program, and the location has played a crucial role in deciding what communities need resources.

Although not all the fridges have been officially established, the communities have been instrumental in providing feedback and backing the initiative.

“The community has been very accepting and encouraging of our project,” Springer said. “It seems that Atlanta has wanted this for our city, so we’re happy to be a small part of making it happen.”

The public support has provided motivation and created a sense of anticipation in this growing movement to end food deserts.

As this movement prepares to launch fully, they rely on donations, volunteer work and online engagement to get their message across.

“We are a solutionoriented collective aiming to build up a community and end food disparities in Atlanta, one fridge at a time,” Springer said.

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September 1, 2020

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How the Rec Center is battling COVID-19

Student Rec Center will look much different, how the director plans to react JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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he Georgia State Student Recreation Center is arguably the heart and soul of the Atlanta campus, with hundreds coming through every week. Students from different universities in the city spend time in the building just to play on the basketball court or work out in the weight room, among other things.

But this will not be the case for the foreseeable future.

When Georgia State canceled classes back in March, the once loud and lively rec center became a ghost town. The rec center will operate at 25% capacity for the fall semester.

Not working at full capacity will be a hindrance to the school, especially for its student employees.

Timber Hines, the director of Recreational Services at Georgia State, has been at the forefront of the challenges caused by the pandemic. A significant pressing matter of hers has been the ability to open up safely when students returned in the fall.

Like many other gyms, the virus has dealt a huge blow to the system and procedures to the rec center. No longer will students be able to use their thumbprints to enjoy the amenities, such as the game room or aforementioned open gym.

Instead, they will have to swipe their card for

access, similar to the library’s new method.

Routine interactions with students and the staff, such as signing out a basketball with a PantherCard, will no longer be in place for the foreseeable future. Courts will only be available for individual use, and students are “strongly encouraged to bring their own equipment,” according to Hines.

Staff are also being more careful than ever, with new screens installed to protect them from germs.

“We have increased the frequency of cleaning throughout operating hours,” Hines said. “We have enhanced our first aid kits and are following new American Red Cross guidelines for COVID-19 response.”

Even with cases in Georgia declining overall, gyms are potential hotspots for transmission, and Hines cannot take any chances. “[We’ve] had to rethink each of our entire processes and procedures,” Hines said. “We removed the biometric finger scanning at the Student Recreation Center, so all students will need to bring their PantherCards.”

In addition to maintaining the Atlanta facility,

Hines looks after the ones on the Perimeter campuses as well. The constant uncertainty of the University System of Georgia fully committing to keep its students on campus and the blended learning for the entire fall semester also does not help reduce the pressure for Hines.

If the USG were to suddenly put all students into virtual learning, it could spell bad news for the staff at any of the campus’s facilities.

Even bringing in new staff has become more difficult as training on-site is more difficult due to social guidelines by the Georgia Department of Health and CDC. “It’s been difficult,” Hines said.

“We’ve had to adjust to a new way of doing things … and conduct virtual interviews and training.”

With the gyms operating at such a low capacity, the use of some staff is no longer needed and they have been cut to save cost. The harsh realities of what the rec center has been enduring is inductive of many gyms around the country.

A student playing basketball during the opening week of fall classes.

What went wrong for the Hawks in 2020?

How the team failed to succeed this year

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How the Hawks can flip the script in 2021 A young core will provide success for Atlanta NAJEH WILLIAMS Staff Reporter

NAJEH WILLIAMS Staff Reporter

ell, where do we begin on this one?

After a meager 20 wins in the 2020-21 NBA season, Atlanta Hawks underachieved, failing to be one of the 22 teams to qualify for the Orlando Bubble.

Atlanta already holds a leg up over the other eight absent from the Bubble. They earned big wins over top title contenders such as the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Trae Young is the engine that drives the team. As the unquestioned leader, the Hawks fly wherever the sharpshooter goes. At just 21 years old, Young followed last year’s highlights with another stellar season, finishing fourth in scoring and second in assists.

The Hawks already have their franchise player locked up, but in order for the team to continue to grow and have success, the team needs to be built around Young’s strengths.

They have an underrated big man in

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

John Collins, who can not only shoot but run the pick and roll action with ease. The former Wake Forest product averaged career highs in points (21.6 per game) and rebounds (10.1 per game) in addition to improved defense.

Teammate Dewayne Dedmon raved about Collins’ improved defense before the NBA season came to a pause in March.

“He’s definitely improving on the defensive end … It’s good to see, and I hope he keeps excelling at it,” Dedmon said.

Although the credit never seems to be enough, continuing to involve Collins more in the offense bodes well going forward.

Toward the end of the season, the team started to come together. There was a big difference, and they began to win close games. This is a sign Atlanta is going in the right direction. In the NBA, you need time, patience and growth in order to be successful.

I

n the NBA, most teams are built in one of two ways. Type A is built to win now, with seasoned veterans and championship pedigree experience in the playoffs.

Type B contains teams still looking to find an identity. They are young, have much to learn and usually have one or two older guys on the team for locker room presence.

When you have a team as young as head coach Lloyd Pierce’s (average age of 24.6 years old), it is important to properly rebuild the roster. The Hawks fit the Type B description now, but Type A is not far away.

Atlanta may lack a little defensively but they have great emerging defensive stars who can pick up the slack.

The continued development of Cam Reddish is pivotal as well. Throughout his 2019-20 season, the rookie gave fans flashes of a potentially great two-way player.

Whenever the Hawks played marquee matchups, Reddish guarded the best perimeter player for the opposing team. It showed the level of trust head coach Lloyd

Pierce has in him to get it done on the defensive end.

“He’s been playing outstanding once he gets that swagger, that juice going like I know he has; he’s going to be a great player in this league,” Young said about Reddish.

The great thing about this Atlanta team is that they are young and, with many being on rookie deals, quite the bargain. There is not an ego in sight on the team and nobody who is too concerned with money, at least until their rookie contracts expire.

The road will not be easy for Atlanta, especially with the top-tier teams in the east continuing to see their talent thrive.

The Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics are all win-now teams. The dropoff from three to four in the Eastern Conference is, well, drastic.

Atlanta has something special brewing and will continue to get better. All that is needed is the continued growth of players around Young and a great draft selection come October.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

SPORTS

13

Stadium guidelines for football season

What fans can see at home games this year during COVID-19 ANDREW FREEDMAN & ERIK INDRISANO

Sports Editor & Associate Sports Editor

B

Rob Lanier poses alongside his family during team photos at Georgia State.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GSU ATHLETICS

Lots of changes are coming to the Georgia State Sports Arena this fall Don’t plan on being in a group during basketball games AVERY WIGGINS Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State will allow fans into its stadiums, but certain conditions will have to be met first.

“

Fans are going to be required to sit in their designated area … we will not do any general seating this year.

”

— MIKE HOLMES

Associate Athletic Director

“At any event we have, whether it’s the fall volleyball or soccer [games], we’ll be able to have the fans,” Associate Athletic Director Mike Holmes said.

All the stadiums will adopt the

“checkerboard pattern,” where fans will have to sit six feet apart in blocks of two-to-six adhering to social distancing standards.

“If we have four seats being used on row seven, on one side of row seven, there would be nobody in front of them on row six and there would be nobody behind them on row eight,” Holmes said.

Additionally, fans will be required to wear masks and face coverings and fans not feeling well will be required to stay home. Whether it be a cough or something worse, it is imperative that all fans take responsibility by looking out for one another and not risk anything.

Many students often wander around or hang out with friends at each other’s seats. This year, they will not have as much leeway.

“Fans are going to be required to sit in their designated area … we will not do any general seating this year,” Holmes said. “You’ll have a seat that’ll be allocated to you … we’re going to ask and request that people stay in those seats.”

Also, certain things in the stadium are going to change. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided to those who do not have it. Concessions stand lines will require people to stand six feet apart.

In the men’s bathrooms, the urinals are placed six feet apart.

Many other social distancing efforts have been implemented as well.

“It’s kind of part of the whole stadium atmosphere of really trying to make it safe, and we will have it completely safe, as safe as can be, for all our fans to come,” Holmes said.

Of course, no home game can be complete without the Panther Band. They will be up in the stands, continuing to perform and cheer on the teams. However, they will not be allowed on the field, an area designated solely for studentathletes and coaches.

“They’ll be able to perform in the stands, but they will not be on the field for anything pregame or anything at halftime,” Holmes said.

And following games, press conferences will no longer be in person. The traditional format will be eschewed in favor of Zoom calls, just like professional sports are doing now.

Correspondingly, interviews with student-athletes for any story will also be done over Zoom.

“Anything that relates to basketball or the spring sports, it’s way too early for us to be discussing or even thinking about those matters,” Holmes said.

arring any setbacks, the Georgia State Panthers football team will kick off from Center Parc Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19 against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

Last year, the Panthers opened up their season at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville against the Tennessee Volunteers in front of 100,000 people in bright orange.

This season will be a bit different. For one, no home game will sell out.

“Georgia State plans to allow [Center Parc Stadium] to reach a maximum of 50% capacity during the 2020 season,” the university said in a July press release on GeorgiaStateSports.com.

For those in attendance, Georgia State has issued a long list of criteria put in place to ensure everyone stays safe while enjoying the 2020 football season.

For starters, face masks are required and to be worn for the entirety of the game. With lots of debates about what constitutes a “mask,” Georgia State has taken the liberty to describe their requirements for a face mask.

“Approved face coverings must 1) be made with at least two layers of breathable material, 2) fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin, 3) fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face and 4) be secured to allow the guest to not have to keep the covering in place with his/her hands,” per the press release.

Once in the stadium, fans will immediately notice a change in the seating. To limit contact with other fans, Georgia State has set up a strategic plan to maximize the number of fans in the stadium, while keeping a safe distance.

“Using a checkerboard pattern, fans will be arranged in the stadium in a max block of eight seats together with no one in front or behind them.

Rows that border the field or a walkway will also not be used to ensure safety for those in the stands or on the sidelines,” according to the

press release.

Of course, fans will need to get food and drinks to watch their team win. The concession stands will still be open but with social distancing being practiced.

Each in-stadium concession stand will also have plastic shields separating the staff from those in their beloved Panther blue.

“

Georgia State plans to allow [Center Parc Stadium] to reach a maximum of 50% capacity during the 2020 season.

”

— GEORGIA STATE PRESS RELEASE

Thinking about that first tailgate back? Keep thinking.

Georgia State will not permit any tailgating in the plaza around Center Parc Stadium or in the parking lots. In addition, social distancing will be enforced, with what the press release described as “guidelines [applying] to all Georgia State-controlled parking areas around the stadium.”

Lastly, who can we expect to see in the stands?

According to the press release, 2020 season ticket holders who opted in for the season will receive the highest priority of tickets, while supplies last, followed

by Georgia State students and the visiting team’s affiliated personnel, such as friends, family and colleagues.

With these strict guidelines in place, Georgia State is confident that they will be able to compete in the 2020 season in a safe and entertaining way for fans.

September 1, 2020

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

Beach Volleyball begins COVID-19 testing following return to practice

Atlanta United takes a stand against racial inequlity

Could Leo Messi be New York-bound?

In response to the tragic death of Jacob Blake, the MLS postponed its games. One of the teams who participated in the movement was Atlanta United.

“We stand in solidarity with the Black community, with our players, our city and our fans in the fight against injustice,” the team said in a press release. “We must use our voices to be the change.”

The Five Stripes were scheduled to play Inter Miami on last Wednesday, but the new date for the game will now be this Wednesday.

Last week, all-time great soccer player Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona shocked the soccer world by announcing his deep intentions to leave. While a new home for the Argentine-born striker may take some time to find, one potential deal could see him locking in a retirement deal with MLS club, New York City Football Club. NYCFC’s parent club in England, Manchester City, have made it apparent they are interested and will include NYCFC in the negotiations.

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en

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ud St

Student STATEments Ariana Munoz, Panther Family Enthusiast

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E S I GNA

en

As students and athletes return to campus, teams are staying on top of COVID-19 and beginning physicals.

This week, Georgia State’s Beach Volleyball team went through physicals, making sure they are healthy for a return to practice and competition. The process is one that now involves social distancing, masks and heavy safety protocols.

-T

THREE BIGTHINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

t statem

Welcome back Panther Family!

Fellow students, know these unusual times will not persist forever. Have faith that your normal life will return! New students, know that college is what you make of it. Even through our setbacks you can still create meaningful moments and memories that will last a lifetime!

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