The Signal Vol. 87 No. 16

SCHOLARSHIPS

QUEER INCLUSIVE

CHRIS CLERKLEY

BLOTTER

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The College of Arts and Sciences has the most students but not the most scholarships.

Delta Lambda Phi creates a safe space for all men at Georgia State.

Now a college graduate, the four-year basketball player is ready for the next step in life.

SUDOKU

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COMIC

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NEWS

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ARTS & LIVING

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SPORTS

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VOL. 87 | NO. 16

JAN. 21 - JAN. 28, 2020

The John Lewis Legacy

Georgia State student leaders share words of encouragement as their representative John Lewis continues to fight for civil rights along with a new battle: cancer.

PHOTO BY ADA WOOD AND PAGE DESIGN BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON

@gsusignal

georgiastatesignal.com

THE SIGNAL

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

BLOTTER JAN. 10

Criminal trespass on Clarkston campus

The new semester is scary enough

JAN. 12

Holiday gifts have come and gone

A non-Georgia State offender was exceptionally cleared for criminal trespass at 11:20 a.m. in Building A on the Clarkston Campus.

We were just going for a walk...

A Georgia State student was the victim of intimidation at 8:54 a.m. at 121 Edgewood Ave. JAN. 16

A Georgia State student was the victim of larceny at 7:09 p.m. in Building B on the Dunwoody Campus. The case is still active.

At 9:20 p.m., two non-Georgia State offenders were cleared for criminal trespass in G Deck.

JAN. 14

Let’s get this bread

A non-Georgia State offender was arrested for criminal trespass in the Highland Bakery at 25 Park Place at 8:23 a.m.

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1/6/20

ILLUSTRATION BY JACY SHEPARD | THE SIGNAL

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STUDENT CENTER Learn more about what the Student Center has to offer and how offices can help students be successful!

TUESDAY

Visit offices in Student Center East and West between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Visit the student organization fair in the ballroom and resource tables located on the first floor of Student Center East between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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Get a stamp from each table or office on your passport and you could win a prize!

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Tuesday

January 28 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Student Center East and West

Potential prizes include discount coupons at Panther's Club, an OZZI reusable to-go container, and five GSU Prize Packages each valued over $100.

JANUARY 28 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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Many offices will also be offering refreshments and additional prize opportunities!

1:40 PM

Student Org Fair

OPEN HOUSE

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For a full list of organizations on campus:

PIN.GSU.EDU

STUDENT CENTER

Student Center East, Suite 310 404-413-1864

studentcenter.gsu.edu

To request disability accommodations at this event, please contact the Access and Accommodations Center (Formerly Office of Disability Services), 404-413-1560: access@gsu.edu.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Student Center West, Suite 475 404-413-1582

studentorganizations.gsu.edu

To request disability accommodations at this event, please contact the Access and Accommodations Center (Formerly Office of Disability Services), 404-413-1560: access@gsu.edu.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Student enrollment-toscholarship ratio isn’t balanced

The largest college doesn’t receive the most scholarships MARY BRASSFIELD Staff Reporter

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he school offering the most scholarships is the J. Mack Robinson College of Business — but they are the second largest school at Georgia State based on student enrollment for last semester.

Since the spring of 2017, the College of Arts and Sciences has seen the largest number of students enrolled but has never offered the largest numbers of scholarships on the official Georgia State scholarship list.

“A higher amount of scholarships [should] be given out to those of all pathways [and] majors. Especially if the major is not as popular as others with multiple scholarship opportunities,” student Gary Johnson said.

Johnson, who is a philosophy major, feels there are not many scholarship opportunities for people with arts majors, and the scholarships that are offered are not specific.

“The scholarships that are offered are fair but maybe a little too general,” he said.

“Certain [questions] felt like they could easily be answered the same by different applicants.”

Georgia State offers scholarships based on both financial need and academic merit.

University-wide awards are also available for currently enrolled students who may apply for departmental scholarships that are major-related.

Scholarships vary, but preference is often given based on financial need determined by a student’s FAFSA. If a student receives federal aid, they are likely to qualify for other scholarships.

“I feel like more emphasis should be put on [scholarships], and they should be in places were they know students would take notice,” student Deonte Louissant said.

Louissant is an arts major and feels that not enough attention goes to publicizing Georgia State scholarships for non-STEM majors, making them harder to find.

The ratio of students to scholarships does not match when it comes to the Georgia State scholarship list.

While the College of Arts and Sciences may lead in enrollment numbers, they do not lead in the amount of grants offered.

On the spring 2020 scholarship list, the department only selected 79 scholarships for the students to apply for.

This does not mean that all of the 13,017 students enrolled in this college will get a chance to apply for those 79 scholarships.

Of that list several scholarships are divided by major, GPA, academic standing or a student’s class level.

There are 1,874 psychology majors in the Arts and Sciences department, but only six scholarships are applicable for them to apply out of the list.

Out of the 105 scholarships offered by Robinson College, the majority of the grants are open to all business majors to apply for them. While there are stipulations like GPA and class level, most students attending the college have permission to apply for the grant, regardless of major, unlike other colleges.

Students like Johnson feel this contributes to the reason many students do not receive scholarships.

“All I will say is that those scholarships really helped me find my education,” student Evan Malbrough said.

Malbrough said he applied for four scholarships and received all except one.

He said the other three helped him pay for school and he was happy he had many options to choose from.

Many of the scholarships he applied for were online and only required an essay and his post-graduation plans.

Malbrough, a public policy major, asked his advisors to edit and read his essays which he felt made his applications process very easy.

The Andrew Young School of Public Policy has a small number of scholarships relative to the enrollment numbers of its students.

There are 1,891 students enrolled in the Andrew Young School and 30 grants available to those students.

The School of Education and Human Development has 23 scholarships for which their 2,766 students can apply.

Students also have the option to speak to their college administration or Student Government Association to ask questions

about the scholarship list and to inquire about more grants being added to it.

Many students already pre-qualify to apply for university-wide scholarships by receiving financial aid.

Admitted students to Georgia State just need to search the scholarship list and see if they meet all the department qualifications — they can apply for as many scholarships as they want as long as they qualify.

While there may not be a lot of scholarships from the department, students still have other options to choose from when looking to apply for aid.

Students can receive financial aid, the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships and grants. The student financial management center does monitor the amount of aid a student receives and works not to overcompensate students.

The deadline for university-wide scholarships is in February and students are notified in the middle of May on decisions. Departmental scholarship deadlines vary.

Finalists for university scholarships are reviewed by a committee and will be notified via email. If a student is selected, the student will receive a notification email that will include instructions on completing the necessary paperwork to receive the award.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS FOR EVERY ONE SCHOLARSHIP, ORDERED FROM SMALLEST TO LARGEST COLLEGES BY SPRING 2020 ENROLLMENT NUMBERS 1. College of Arts and Sciences 164.77 2. J. Mack Robinson College of Business 66.07 3. College of Education & Human Development 119.78 4. The College of Arts 57.84 5. Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions 127.05 6. Andrew Young School of Policy Studies 62.46 7. School of Public Health 194 8. College of Law 27.375 9. Institute for Biomedical Sciences (21 students, no scholarships)

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

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The scholarship that gives you hope

A recent history of HOPE and how it has changed at Georgia State BROOKLYN VALERA Staff Reporter

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etween the years of 2015 and 2018, the HOPE Scholarship helped 48,490 in-state students at Georgia State to go to school virtually for free — when combined with other grants and scholarships — or with very little debt upon graduation.

Since the 2012-13 school year, Georgia State’s tuition has increased by 6.92%, but this increase doesn’t impact the coverage of HOPE. HOPE coverage is determined by a percentage rather than a fixed amount.

Therefore, when tuition costs increase, the amount of financial aid awarded by the HOPE Scholarship program increases automatically as well.

Omer Deeb, a Georgia State student, was awarded the HOPE Scholarship directly out of high school.

“HOPE has impacted my college career in indescribable ways,” Deeb said. “Aside from the fact that the scholarship covers basically 75% of my tuition, it helps me set a bar.”

Deeb has managed to keep the HOPE Scholarship every semester he’s been enrolled at Georgia State.

“Having to maintain a 3.0 GPA motivates me to try harder and makes me want to succeed to get more scholarships,” he said.

“It is a blessing in numerous ways, and I never take it for granted.”

In 2018, the Georgia Lottery, the institution that funds HOPE, announced that it reached $20 billion in funding for education.

According to the Georgia Lottery, “more than 1.8 million students have benefited from HOPE programs, which include the HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Scholarship, Zell Miller Grant, HOPE GED Grant and HOPE Career Grant.”

According to the University System of Georgia, 71% of full-time freshmen in the fall of 2017 retained the HOPE Scholarship entering the fall of 2018.

Out of the 39,066 in-state students enrolled at Georgia State in 2018, 13,844 received funding from the HOPE Scholarship program. Out of these 13,844 students, 4,988 were freshmen.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports “about half the scholarship students [in Georgia] lose [the HOPE Scholarship] after freshman year.”

Luckily, the HOPE Scholarship program allows students to earn the scholarship back again after losing it.

Paul Calixte transferred to Georgia State from Valdosta State for the spring of 2018.

He is still currently enrolled at Georgia State.

“When I went to Valdosta, I had HOPE, and it really benefited me with my financial aid. But I boldly made the decision to leave and transfer second semester to Georgia State,” Calixte said.

Calixte had issues with financial aid during the spring and fall semesters of 2018, causing him to be forcefully removed from classes.

“That [removal] caused issues with my records and landed me with a low GPA and withdraws on my records, which then caused me to lose HOPE,” he said. “I am currently on the path of redemption and trying tirelessly to get my GPA back up to

get HOPE again.”

The University System of Georgia followed first-time freshmen in the fall of 2013 until the spring of 2019 by checking in every 30 credit hours they had earned to see if the students were able to keep the HOPE Scholarship over time.

For the 2013-14 school year, 2,874 Georgia State students received HOPE. After the first 30-hour update, this number decreased to 2,282.

The 60-hour update indicated the number decreased to 1,711. The 90-hour check contained 1,443 Georgia State students who still had HOPE. Of those 1,443 students, 1,281 students graduated.

This shows that in 2019, 1,281 Georgia State students graduated between 2013 and 2019 while keeping the HOPE Scholarship their entire college career — less than half of those initial freshmen who had entered with HOPE. These numbers don’t include students who lost HOPE and earned it back between 2013 and 2019.

According to numbers provided by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the percentage of tuition that the HOPE Scholarship covers decreased from 84.435% to 81.677% between 2012 and 2017, while Georgia State tuition increased by 4.92% over the same period.

In 2013, HOPE covered 84.02% of Georgia State tuition, amounting to $218.46 of the $260 for each credit hour. In 2017, HOPE covered 81.677% of Georgia State tuition — $233 of the $285.27 for each credit hour.

For the 2019-20 school year, HOPE has increased its percentage from 81.677% to 85.828% coverage of Georgia State tuition.

The amount of coverage each student receives from HOPE is calculated by the percentage they set for that school year until they reach 15 credit hours. Now, HOPE doesn’t give coverage beyond 15 credits. If a student is enrolled in 17 credit hours, they will receive the percentage of money off their first 15 hours, but the remaining two credits will be at full cost.

This is because the maximum number of credit hours that HOPE would assist in paying for was lowered to preserve funding for the program in 2004.

But students must also maintain a minimum of six hours registered to remain eligible.

Due to the 15-hour credit cap, the maximum amount of HOPE funding a Georgia State student can receive during the 2019-20 school year is $3,840 towards the $4,474 for the 15 credit hours per semester.

There are also time and total credit limits to the use of HOPE over a student’s college career.

According to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the HOPE Scholarship program can be applied up to a limit of 127 credit hours before they deem a student ineligible to receive further funding from the program.

As of summer 2019, the seven-year limit placed on eligibility during the 2011-12 school year has now expanded to a ten-year eligibility limit, allowing students to take more time in earning their degree before losing the chance to use the scholarship.

HOPE was established in 1993, awarded to two-year technical college students with a maximum household income of $66,000. A year later, the household income maximum increased drastically to $100,000 and the program expanded

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

from only at two-year schools to four-year schools as well. And in another year, 1995, the household income limit was discarded entirely.

Now that the award is independent of household income, it is categorized as a merit-based program — dependent entirely on academic success. According to the University System of Georgia, in 1993, out of the 993 first-time, in-state freshmen at Georgia State, 257 were given the HOPE Scholarship.

The most recent research done by the University System of Georgia has shown that in 2017, out of 5,970 firsttime, in-state freshmen at Georgia State 3,221 received funding from the HOPE Scholarship program.

In 2017, 4,354 in-state, not first-time freshmen received funding from the HOPE Scholarship program and in 2018, 3,873 instate sophomores received funding.

The decrease from 2017 to 2018 reflects both students that have transferred in and out of Georgia State and the students that lost or gained back HOPE. The HOPE Scholarship grants flexibility to students by allowing transfer-students going from one HOPE-eligible institution to another HOPE-eligible institution to continue receiving funding from the program.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, “the HOPE Scholarship, raised the college attendance rate of 18- to 19-year-olds by 7 to 8 percentage points.”

In order to remain eligible for the HOPE Scholarship’s awards, Georgia State students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their college career. Once a student falls under the GPA minimum, the HOPE Scholarship allows that student the chance to pull their GPA back up to a 3.0.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

NEWS

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Students highlight John Lewis’ legacy The representative takes on a new battle against cancer DANIELLA JOHNSON

LOCAL Amazon brings jobs to metro Atlanta

Staff Reporter

On Saturday, Amazon announced that they will be opening a one-millionsquare-foot warehouse in the metro Atlanta area, according to WSB-TV. The new facility will create more than 500 new jobs. This is Amazon’s second, large project in Georgia after they announced a new facility in Gwinnett County in July. The Gwinnett County project will produce over 1,000 new jobs.

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ast month, John Lewis, representative of Georgia’s 5th congressional district, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer but his ongoing legacy as a politician and activist continues to inspire several Georgia State student leaders and likely will for decades to come.

“I am terribly sad John Lewis is fighting pancreatic cancer, but I know he can continue making an impact regardless of his health,” Jazmin Meija, university-wide president of the Student Government Association, said. “If anything, it’ll be even more meaningful that he continues to fight injustice when he himself is fighting something so ill.”

In addition to being a politician, John Lewis is widely known as a civil rights leader who protested in the civil rights movement alongside many other important figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. According to NPR, Lewis is considered one of the six most impactful leaders in the civil rights movement.

“Lewis was recognized as one of the ‘Big Six’ leaders of the Civil Rights movement — the other Big Six leaders were Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins,” NPR states.

“At just 23 years old, Lewis was one of the planners and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.”

Lewis was a Freedom Rider who, in addition to speaking at the March on Washington, led “Bloody Sunday.” On March 7, 1965, Lewis, along with a large cohort of other civil rights leaders and activists, marched out of Selma and straight into the path of state and local enforcement. They were driven back into Selma after being attacked with clubs and tear gas.

The result? The 1965 Voting Rights Act. “He serves as a symbol that we [the United States] have a long way to go to create a truly equal world for everyone,” Meija said. “For us John Lewis poses for a photograph during Georgia State’s to still be walking side by side with civil rights Homecoming parade last semester. leaders means the injustices are still being felt through grandparents, parents and youth heart of Atlanta, which encompasses schools today, and we must strive to continue fighting that include Georgia State, Morehouse, injustice.”

Lewis is also well known for his involvement Spelman and Clark Atlanta University.

John Lewis works for the students in this in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating school, both directly and indirectly. When Committee, as he studied and practiced leaders like Lewis eventually step down from nonviolent sit-ins in the 1960s. their roles, today’s youth, many of whom who The SNCC was founded in North Carolina may be student leaders now, will have to step in the 1960s to advocate a nonviolent up to the plate. approach to civil rights through organizing “In the future of Atlanta politics, I hope freedom rides and marches throughout the to see more representation, as well as civil rights era. improvement with specific policies like public “John Lewis is an incredible and important transportation, teaching financial literacy actor within the civil rights movement in in schools, better urban development [and] Atlanta and the South,” Meija said. “He planning, among other things,” David Howell, represents standing up for what you believe in vice president of the Black Student Alliance, and making sure young students cause ‘good said. trouble’ when injustice is evident.”

According to Georgia State, John Lewis was In addition to his civil rights legacy this year’s keynote speaker at Georgia State’s John Lewis also has a political history as Convocation and the author of the 2019 First well. According to The Atlanta JournalYear’s Book, but this is not the first time he Constitution, John Lewis was the second African American representative from Georgia has come to inspire the students of Georgia State. since the Reconstruction era and has been “I feel that the students of Georgia State reelected 10 times. should look at John Lewis’s life as inspiration “Lewis was present on the stage during the that you can do anything regardless of inauguration of Barack Obama, as the only background, and you can be the change you living speaker from the rally at the March on want to see,” Howell said.

Washington,” the AJC states. “Obama signed Back in 2014, John Lewis was also the a commemorative photograph for Lewis with keynote speaker for the Convocation of the the words, ‘Because of you, John. Barack upcoming class of 2018.

Obama.’”

The 5th congressional district comprises the In a 2014 article by The Signal, it is stated

NEWS BRIEFS

NATIONAL Plane dumps jet fuel on elementary schools in LA, affecting 60 people

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

that Lewis offered words of power and encouragement for students that would soon become a part of the city’s future.

“In his challenge, Lewis strongly suggested that the freshmen class use their education to reconstruct model communities and to reconcile individual differences with love and respect, not hate,” the article states.

Lewis also offered students advice about being disappointed in life.

“Lewis warned the first-year college students not to be lost in a sea of despair and not to be bitter from disappointments that surely would come,” the article states.

Lewis’ political, historical and cultural impact on students will extend far beyond his life, even for some who do not even know who he is.

“He has always been known as a fighter, and I’m sure he will continue that legacy with this fight,” Howell said. “I also acknowledge that this is the end of an era, and I look forward to the next leaders who will make a change in our city, state and country.”

As Lewis continues to fight, the voice of the student body calls for his legacy to be cemented in Georgia State’s history.

“A building or statue on the Atlanta campus commemorating the impact John Lewis is leaving would be a great way to continue his legacy,” Meija said. “Also, a scholarship in his name for activists would be great.”

On Jan. 14, a plane dumped jet fuel while returning to the Los Angeles International Airport.

The fuel landed on five elementary schools and one high school, according to CNN. There were 60 people treated on the ground, with the greatest impact at Park Avenue Elementary in Cudahy, where 20 children and 11 adults reported minor injuries. After experiencing an engine issue, the plane needed to make a quick return to the airport. Fuel is typically dumped at high altitudes in unpopulated areas in order to balance the weight of the plane before landing.

GLOBAL Fires spread and devastate Australian homes and habitats

After months of severe drought and recordbreaking high temperatures, a series of massive bushfires erupted across Australia has turned into an outbreak that the nation is still struggling to get a grip on. According to the BBC, 28 people and more than a billion animals have been killed so far, and 15.6 million acres of forest and parks have burned.

The states of New South Wales and Victoria have been worst affected, with more than 2,000 homes destroyed. In the state of South Australia, 25,000 koalas were killed in the flames. According to CBS, NASA said on Jan. 14 that the smoke from the fires had circled the entire word.

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Can you pitch a thesis in two minutes?

How students take on this Honors College competition NIDA MERCHANT Staff Reporter

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n Dec. 5, 11 students competed to make their mark in an academic competition that not only sets them apart from their peers in the classroom but comes with a cash prize. What student wouldn’t want to give it a try? Here’s the catch: They have to present a thesis in two minutes.

The Honors College has introduced an initiative for students to present high academic caliber and enhance their marketability to future employers. The Honors Thesis Pitch allows students to research the topic of their choice, then compete in an opportunity that offers scholarships and professional interaction with Georgia State faculty members.

There were three awards presented at this year’s event in Centennial Hall. First place included a monetary award of $150, second place at $75 and the People’s Choice Award funded by the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) had an award of $50.

For the fall 2019 competition, senior Jonassie Zamor, an undergraduate biology student, won first place with her project on

“Brain mechanisms that influence the ability of morphine to reduce pain in the elderly.”

More than 60% of the elderly population experiences some level of chronic pain that can be caused by the lack of morphine receptors in their body, which can ease the pain. Zamor’s research led her to explore the mu-opioid receptor — a receptor that morphine can bind to — in the elderly experiencing body pain.

Zamor’s grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, and for almost a year, Zamor had been researching morphine’s effects on the elderly.

She learned about the reaction of high morphine levels in 18-month-old rats by checking their mu-opioid density. Realizing their reactions towards the drug is similar to that of an aged human with the use of advanced chemical techniques, Zamor began to draw her conclusion.

Her faculty sponsor and mentor, Anne Murphy, an associate professor in the Neuroscience Institute at the College of Arts and Sciences, commented on her student’s dedication and passion towards her field of study. In fact, she was one of the first students to be recruited into her lab program.

“I noticed just how special Jonassie was after I saw her work ethic in one of my honors

courses,” Murphy said. “She had this curiosity and fascination towards what she does and it enabled me to recommend her to my lab program.”

Zamor noted just how important her professor’s role played in the process.

“Dr. Murphy gave me so much freedom to fully immerse myself in my research and encouraged me to look at the topic from different perspectives to have a more comprehensive view,” Zamor said.

In the Honors College, the Honors Thesis Pitch is a well known competition. The awardwinning student gave some advice for those who are interested in participating in the future.

“Start early and practice,” she said. “I practiced in front of the members of my lab as well as my family members. I also recited the pitch whenever I could — while walking to class, in the bathroom mirror, etc.”

The runner-up award for the thesis pitch was awarded to Savannah Renee Setter.

Her project titled, “I wear makeup for me: Interpreting and internalizing feminist makeup narratives,” focused on the reason why women choose to wear makeup.

It emphasized the history of makeup, its nuanced intersections, its play on femininity as well as modern-day interpretations concerned

with women’s empowerment.

Setter chose this specific topic to highlight the cultural phenomenon of the beauty trend and its implications on empowerment and liberation. As something she encounters on a day to day basis, the student decided to blend the topic with her anthropology major and discuss its societal implications.

The People’s Choice Award-winning thesis was presented to Bianca Taylor Robinson.

Her thesis, titled “You’re stressing me out.

Measuring the stress response in convict cichlid fish,” discussed the stress response of the animal using an unconventional tool: a windshield wiper.

This novel idea came from her endocrinology lab with her professor Ed Rodger where she researched how stress can affect social behavior. The windshield wiper technique would put a normal amount of pressure onto the fish to provide data on effective strategies on stress.

In order for students to get involved with the competition in the future, the Honors College recommends a review of the thesis guidelines, requirements and deadlines as well as finding a mentor for the program to qualify for the project.

2019 HONORS THESIS PITCH PRESENTERS

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Senior biology student Jonassie Zamor wins the Honors Thesis Pitch.

PHOTO BY SYLVESTER SILVER III | THE SIGNAL

Connor McMillan, political science: “Edible ecology: Greenspace social networks as a tool for community building” Lena Lear, nutrition science: “Can phytochemicals from raspberries reduce kidney cell damage?”

Haley Dourron, psychology: “Mapping the mind: Understanding the differences between schizophrenia & psychedelic states” Kali Malham, neuroscience: “Effect of time of day on drug action and social behavior” Bianca Robinson, biology: “You’re stressing me out. Measuring the stress response in convict cichlid fish” Gautum Ajay, psychology: “The relationship between schizotypal personality style and fear-inducing stimuli” Foster Lewis, media entrepreneurship: “Music and humans: Who is in charge?”

Jacob Holmes, neuroscience: “What mouse brains can tell us about detecting changes in our environment” Jonassie Zamor, biology: “Brain mechanisms that influence the ability of morphine to reduce pain in the elderly” Gillian Gilbert-Wason, environmental science: “Monitoring storm resilience in elkhorn coral in the U.S. Virgin Islands” Savannah Setter, anthropology: “‘I wear makeup for me: Interpreting and internalizing feminist makeup narratives”

TUESDAY, TUESDAY, JANUARY JANUARY 21, 15, 2020 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Street preaching is an outdated practice An active hindrance to the student body population BRONSON THARPE Staff Columnist

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man stands on a prominent rock outcropping near the Acropolis in ancient Athens. Hundreds of years before him, Aristotle wrote in his “Athenian Constitution” of the “trials for deliberate murder and wounding” that was held on the Areopagus or “Ares Rock.”

This man, however, is not on trial — far from it: He is about to deliver one of the most rousing public sermons ever recorded in history. He is Paul, a recent follower of the late Jesus of Nazareth, and he will set an example of how Christian proselytization will be conducted for centuries to come.

Walking the campus of Georgia State, one can’t help but gawk at the religious demonstrators relegated to universitymandated “free speech zones” and make conjectures about whether they view themselves as carrying Paul’s torch.

Proselytizers, street preachers, propagandists — whatever you want to call them, they are the basest pawns in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

Casuistry is their occupation, contempt their fuel and conversion their game. Watch closely as pedestrian traffic moves past: Their dogmatic cries are mostly ignored, but inevitably, some students engage.

One particularly green-looking scholar slinks up to a man holding a whiteboard marked with the question “Does Darwinian evolution allow for objective morals?” and carefully places a tic in the “Yes” column before being drawn back into the tide of students proceeding to the next class.

Another young woman expertly ignores an outstretched palm offering her an apricot-colored New Testament. A different passerby passively dismisses an abbreviated sales pitch of the Messiah with an aloof wave of his hand.

On campus, while demonstrators are at least confined to the “free speech zones” upheld by SB 339, many students have no recourse but to be subjected to aggressive and unwanted Biblical attention. Far worse than panhandling (which can periodically result in wholesome interaction), the combination of chauvinistic political demonstrations and zealous religious picketers breeds an assault on the senses that can leave someone wishing they had simply skipped class and stayed home.

Perhaps part of the problem is the density of demonstrators that results from their being packed to the brim in designated zones. The intent of SB 339 was undoubtedly to circumvent this

ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON ZHAN | THE SIGNAL

issue by making it more difficult for public universities to create new zones, but it refused to address the natural concentration of protesters that already exists.

By attempting to cluster activists away from dorms and classrooms, the zones unintentionally fostered the formation of opaque masses of neon green “Jesus *hearts* You” T-shirts in common areas that students still need unimpeded access to.

It’s more than a mere hindrance — and a topic that should be hastily addressed by future gubernatorial candidates.

Standing on the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus is said to have

addressed thousands with perfect clarity. Perhaps his most famous lecture at this location, often called the Sermon on the Mount, is considered to have contained many of the foundational elements for modern Christianity.

Legend has it that people overcame large distances just to hear this revolutionary religious reformer speak a few words.

They came of their own volition, unprompted and with eager ears.

Street preachers could learn a thing or two from their ancient predecessors.

Georgia State’s meal plans only benefit some I can’t afford to eat here, so I might as well eat at home KENNETH LOCKETT III Associate Opinions Editor

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ne of the unique aspects of Georgia State is that we are a commuter-centric school. The vast majority of students travel to their respective campuses, whether it’s through their personal vehicles, MARTA, GRTA or other transportation methods.

With that comes a multitude of unique challenges. One dear to students’ hearts is food. Despite downtown Atlanta being a food desert, as The Signal covered last semester, there are plenty of restaurants around the Downtown campus that students have come to enjoy.

Many of these shops offer student discounts, understanding that students are often working on a budget, trying to pass by waiting for their next paycheck or loan refund.

One institution that seems to completely miss this simple

concept is the university itself. The university offers two standard dining hall meal plans. The 7-day meal plan costs $3,868 and the 5-day meal plan costs $3,666, both being yearlong plans.

That amounts to a little under $2,000 per semester, which is a lot, but it’s even worse when you realize it only works at the housing dining halls. These plans are geared towards housing students, so it’s not surprising that the “Request a Plan” tab on the Panther Dining site doesn’t work.

So, what about the restaurants on campus or commuter students? Panther Dining recommends that students use PantherCash. Using this, students can receive 20% off at the dining halls and 10% off at all other campus eateries. Well, besides Panda Express.

Sounds like a sweet deal, right? What if you don’t use PantherCash, or even worse, you lost your PantherCard and don’t have the money to replace it? Well, there’s nothing for you.

While the University pushes the use of PantherCash, namely through these discounts, the vast majority of students don’t use it. These students, much like myself, are forced to pay full downtown Atlanta prices for food. This can rack up extremely

quickly, a $10 meal a day is $50 a week or $200 a month.

Even then, a meal isn’t always $10; it’s often $12 or $15 for a single meal. To ease the burden on students, the university should reconsider a commuter meal plan much as they did in 2016.

An ideal system would be similar to Middle Georgia State University’s commuter meal plan. They offer a range of plans from a “dining dollars” plan, which students can use at university eateries giving them a few extra dollars compared to what they pay. They also offer a plan where students get dining dollars and “blocks” where students can enter university-run dining halls.

While this sounds almost exactly like PantherCash, the difference is that MGA has students in mind when they created this system. PantherCash acts as a debit card of sorts. There’s an application, and you have to deposit a minimum of $5 to enroll in the system. But MGA allows you to and encourages you to use your financial aid to purchase the commuter meal plans.

Georgia State already has the system in place to, at the very least, allow us to turn our refunds into PantherCash for Bookstore advances. Why not extend this ability toward food as well?

OPINIONS

8

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

You don’t have an anxiety disorder

Anxiety is not a joke and should be taken seriously executive president & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Varitek editor@georgiastatesignal.com creative director Vacant managing editor Will Solomons

YASMINA AL-ABOUDY Staff Columnist

director of business operations Vacant Editorial NEWS EDITOR Ada Wood

A

nxiety disorder is not a cute disease. It is not preferring the company of books to people, it is not getting nervous before a presentation, and it certainly isn’t something that can be solved with blanket forts and Netflix.

No one suffering from anxiety wants to broadcast it on a T-shirt. The trend of capitalizing on merchandise branded with slogans like “Anxiety Queen” or “My anxieties have anxieties” is a gross fetishization of an illness that 18% of the population has to battle every day.

In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America cites anxiety disorder as the most common mental illness in the U.S., “affecting 40 million adults … age 18 and older.”

The Tumblr philosophy that “sad is quirky” fosters an environment that keeps people from wanting to get better. The culture of connecting your mental illness to your personality is detrimental to your mental health. It is telling people (more often than not, impressionable teenagers) that having depression or anxiety disorder is somehow “attractive” and that seeking treatment will turn you into a less interesting person.

Jessie Yu of the National Alliance on Mental Illness addressed this trend, writing that “images of self-harm might encourage others to view mental illness as something that is ‘tragically beautiful.’”

Additionally, sensationalism can lead people to believe that mental illness is just a part of who they are, and that therapy is a “sham.”

For example, memes that started out as a way to call people out for being dismissive of mental illness have evolved into a way for people to excuse their own behavior and even scoff at the notion of seeking help.

The countless “anxiety and depression” meme accounts all over social media are turning mental illness into a joke. While it is funny to laugh at relatable content, it is normalizing traits that should be raising flags, not gaining popularity.

Alyson Zetta Williams puts this best a Vice

news@georgiastatesignal.com

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ILLUSTRATION BY MARCUS JEFFERSON | THE SIGNAL

magazine article: “While the internet offers the opportunity for people to build a community around shared mental struggles like never before, these romanticized depictions seem alarmingly more dedicated to ‘flexing’ one’s internal turmoil through likes and follows than seeding said community.”

We need to create an open space for discussion surrounding mental health. Removing the negative connotations associated with mental illness is necessary to expand treatment and healing. But claiming that everyday nervous tics are symptoms of anxiety disorder minimizes the experiences of those who actually suffer from that disorder.

While we are taking steps in the right direction, reducing the seriousness of these diseases is doing more harm than good. The highest percentage of people suffering from suicidal thoughts are college-aged teens, the same individuals who are most commonly seen following and absorbing the harmful messages social media propagate.

Anxiety disorder and depression are not fun character traits or interesting facts to announce during syllabus week. They are serious illnesses that hurt real individuals. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from a mental illness, please reach out for help through the Georgia State Counseling and Testing Center.

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Is there a true cost to gentrification?

Atlanta natives are victims of displacement ARIA JOHNSON Staff Columnist

W

ould it surprise you to learn that Atlanta ranks fourth in the fastestgrowing gentrification of cities in the U.S.? Atlanta has been called “black Hollywood” because of the population and opportunities for black people across the country. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to live in the city but because so many of us do, the costs are rising, in particular, the housing fees.

It’s reported that 46% of neighborhoods in Atlanta have been gentrified and continue to be gentrified since the 2000s. There are always pros and cons that come with the process of gentrification.

Let’s begin with the pros: increased public safety, more attractive neighborhoods and opportunities for more jobs, retail and housing. While these benefits make it tempting to dismiss it entirely, the

cons to gentrification are much more profound.

Gentrification can make communities poorer, takes away from cultural appreciation, increases the cost of rent, hence, displacing longstanding residents and reduces access to public transportation, all of it coordinated by the private sector. As the price of everything around us increases, wages do not.

It is ironic that one of the alleged benefits of gentrification is that it brings in new jobs to gentrified areas, eliding the reality of the situation: The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer.

When people have no other choice but to move out of the city, they still have to find a way to get to their jobs, which is most likely in Atlanta.

MARTA has been around since 1971 and serves over 400,000 passengers a day. However, its rail services are only available in Fulton and Dekalb County. This is a major problem for people who rely on using the train. Gwinnett and Cobb County still, to this day, refuse to allow MARTA to expand in their communities.

“I am an Atlanta local and I heard that

counties like Cobb don’t want MARTA in their communities because they don’t want criminals coming in, aka black people,” Jonathan Washington, a 2017 political science graduate student, said.

Although these counties are becoming more diverse, there is still strong opposition to allowing mass transportation to expand.

MARTA is the only transportation system that is funded by the state. Even though MARTA provides transportation for thousands of hard-working Americans, the gentrification of Atlanta has had its impact on this privilege.

Black people are the ones who are pushed out of Atlanta and end up living in places like Clayton, Gwinnett and Cobb County. Hindering access to public transportation is an act of oppression and contributes to the poverty many black people face.

Gentrification may look pretty on the outside, but the inside is another story. It’s crucial that we keep in mind the true costs gentrification has on Atlantans. At this point, the cons outweigh the pros and action must be taken at the voting polls.

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ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

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Jenny Pham, Georgia State’s first Rhodes finalist Honors student selected to compete for coveted scholarship HANNA WEILAND Staff Reporter

“S

he is one of our top students, if not the top,” Honors College Dean Larry Berman said of his research associate Jenny Pham, who was named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in the fall.

Annually, 32 American undergraduates are selected as a Rhodes scholar. Past winners include former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Cory Booker. The finalists, coming from 16 districts across the nation, receive a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oxford.

To become a finalist, students are chosen not only for academic achievement, but for character and the commitment to others and the common good.

Pham discovered the scholarship her sophomore year while researching for new classes.

“I was selecting my classes, and I looked up one of my professors for an honors class — Authoritarianism in Global Age. I looked up Dr. Repnikova, who is a very, very important mentor to me, and I found out she was a Rhodes scholar,” Pham said.

Pham began to research the program and its distinguished history. The reputation of the scholarship enticed Pham into considering the possibility of applying.

“I kind of went down into the rabbit hole of what a Rhodes scholar was, who were former Rhodes scholars, what does it entail,” she said, “and I thought it would be such an honor to join an amazing cohort of individuals who are doing incredible things for society, for the environment, the planet!”

From there, Pham decided to build her resume to become an applicant who is honorary enough to be a Rhodes scholar.

To start the application, Pham needed a nomination from Georgia State. Pham brought the idea to her mentor and boss, Berman. Pham was first influenced by Berman after winning the Presidential Scholarship.

“I was immediately taken [back] by how smart and engaging she was and her personality, and I thought she’d be an absolutely great Presidential Scholar,” said Berman said.

Berman and Pham share a profound interest in the Vietnam War: Pham was born in Vietnam and moved to the U.S. when she was 6 years old; Berman is an internationally recognized expert on the Vietnam War. Pham notes the fact that most high school curriculums speed through the topic of the war in Vietnam and do not examine it in as much depth as the other wars in which the U.S. has been involved.

When Pham and Berman met, the mentorship gave Pham a significant motivation to become a world-changing scholar.

Since 2017, Pham has worked as a research associate for Berman.

Pham spends her time with Berman researching and analyzing scientific and legal debates related to Agent Orange, a cancer-causing herbicide used by the U.S. military as part of the chemical warfare in the Vietnam War.

“I was immediately taken [aback] by how smart and engaging she was and her personality, and I thought she’d be an absolutely great Presidential Scholar.”

— LARRY BERMAN Dean of Honors College To get her application started, Pham met with Dr. Jacob English, the director of National Scholarships and Fellowships, to discuss the plan for becoming a finalist. English was interested to see how Pham would approach him about the scholarship. Evidently, Pham came well prepared with notes and a list of questions, which impressed English.

“I quickly transitioned from being a critic to her number one fan,” said English. “Jenny is poised under pressure, intelligent and extremely knowledgeable in her field. She is the type of effective leader that we need in government affairs.”

Jenny Pham, a presidential scholar, embarked on the new challenge of becoming a Rhodes finalist this fall.

Together, Pham and English developed a resume of essays, multiple letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Pham became a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship around the same time she was also preparing an application for the Marshall Scholarship, another prestigious scholarship that offers students a full-ride scholarship to study at any university in the U.K. Pham, Berman and a team of professors, including two Rhodes Scholars, Dr. Repnikova and Dr. Marilynn Richtarik practiced interviews in an intense process to help Pham become acquainted with a rigorous environment.

“The professors and I were able to talk broadly about some of the major events in my life that really ties into this narrative that I want to portray or let the Rhodes committee know about,” said Pham.

During the weekend of Nov. 22, the Rhodes committee of District 6 held a welcome reception for the finalists. Naturally, Pham was nervous due to a different environment and meeting distinguished individuals. The head chair of the Rhodes committee is Jason Carter, former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson and chairman of the Carter Center. Once the conversation started flowing, the environment became more relaxed and enjoyable.

“Not only did the finalists want to know about each other and share the passion that we have for whatever field of research we were doing, but also the interviewers themselves were really interested and you can see them wanting to talk to every single finalist and that

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNY PHAM

interest was very genuine,” said Pham.

One of the interviewers specifically asked Pham about her research on Agent Orange, which displayed the devoted and meticulous process the committee used to select Pham out of the vast number of applicants. Pham still keeps in contact with the other finalists.

“I made a WhatsApp group for all of the finalists, and we follow each other on Instagram,” Pham said. “They were all so nice, such genuine people. It was amazing.”

The weekend ended with the two available scholarships awarded to Gabriella M. Deich from Duke University and Ananya A. Malhotra from Princeton University.

Pham has been awarded the GSU 2020 Outstanding Student Award. She is currently applying to Georgetown University and New York University for graduate school. Using her experience and knowledge gained from her mentors at Georgia State, Pham plans on becoming an advocate for the United Nations.

“I am so grateful for Dr. Repnikova, Dr. English, Dr. Richtarik and Dean Berman for taking the time to challenge me,” said Pham, who strongly encourages every student to contact the office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. “If anyone is looking to apply for one of these scholarships, apply early. It is a competitive and long process and not something that comes overnight or in a month. You have to work and it really is about your character development.”

ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL

Atlanta’s melting pot of political beliefs Georgia State community talks current events WRITTEN BY HANNAH JONES | STAFF REPORTER

T

he years following the 2016 presidential election have revealed underlying divisions in some parts of the country and brought prosperity in others. The beginning of the decade started with increased tensions, most notably, in the Capitol Building.

With a noticeable strain between Trump and Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, Trump tweeted that “Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart…”

Life in Atlanta, a powerhouse of the South, has inspired political engagement among Georgia State students. Atlanta is famously known as the political black sheep of the South, sticking out as a blue dot in a primarily red state.

According to the Pew Research Center, 45% of adults in the metro Atlanta area identify as Democrat and 38% as Republican.

Members of College Republicans at Georgia State University are active on campus, and the executive board supports Trump and his administration.

Sophomore Peter Minetos served as the organization’s state chairman in 2019. Minetos is a life-long member of the Republican Party, which he calls the “party of opportunity.”

“When you get involved with the Republican Party, you’re able to be successful, you’re able to get a job, engage with the workplace and be a contributing member of society,” Minetos said.

Minetos is an avid Trump supporter, adding that he’s “one of the most conservative presidents we’ve had.”

Minetos cites Trump’s economic policies, including tax cuts and low unemployment rates, as some of his greatest accomplishments.

Back in 2017, Trump signed a $1.5 trillion GOP tax cut into law. Due to this policy, corporate tax rates went from 35% to 21%, according to CNBC. The cuts raised the economy by 2.8% in 2018 but ultimately resulted in the largest loss of tax revenue amongst developed nations.

Dr. Dennise Turner is a Georgia State professor and co-advisor of the Dunwoody History and Politics club. Turner believes that while the economy is doing well in some aspects, the benefits are primarily for the wealthy.

“Those that are doing well are still the very top percentage of Americans in this economy,” Turner said. “[The country has] a large segment of Americans whose wages or pay are not increasing, who do not feel secure in their jobs and those who feel that the economy is not responding to their daily needs. The wealthy are getting wealthier, and the poor are getting poorer.”

The unemployment rate hovers around 3.6%, which is a record low of the past 50 years, according to The Washington Post. Additionally, the average American’s pay is growing more than 3% a year, a rate not seen since the Great Recession throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Last July, Trump tweeted, “Under the Trump Administration, African American unemployment is the lowest (best) in the history of the United States. No President has come close to doing this before!”

A point of contention, though, is who deserves the praise. According to The Washington Post, the unemployment rate has decreased, but this trend began in 2011 and has not accelerated

during Trump’s presidency.

Minetos believes that Trump deserves recognition for this economic win.

“So many people have been able to get jobs, are able to put more money in their pockets, and have a more successful lifestyle,” Minetos said.

“That’s been positive to see.”

Gabby Koval is the new chairwoman of College Republicans at Georgia State University. Like Minetos, Koval has been Republican her whole life, and added that “since college, especially this year, I’ll continue to be conservative, and I’ve made my own decision on that.”

Koval largely appreciates the administration’s pro-life stance. She notes Trump’s conservative view on abortion, throughout his presidency he’s authorized the shut-down of over 900 clinics during his three years of presidency.

Koval said that she supports the defunding of Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides reproductive healthcare, adding that “[Trump] has down an incredible job protecting the sanctity of life.”

Last August, Planned Parenthood tweeted, “Today, the Trump admin is forcing us out of the Title X program — our nation’s program focused on family planning, of which we serve 40% of patients. This is a *direct attack* on Planned Parenthood and on our health and rights, and we will not stand for it. #StandWithPP #ProtectX.” According to CNBC, the Trump administration implemented a “gag rule,” which prohibits the use of Title X money “to perform, promote, refer for or support abortion as a method of family planning.”

These days, though, the headlines and front pages are dominated by the impeachment hearings and increased tensions with Iran, two of the most pressing issues for the U.S..

Last month, Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This marks the third impeachment of a president in U.S. history.

Despite the impeachment, Trump will not be removed from office without the support of the Republican-dominated Senate.

Turner believes this impeachment process stands out from the others, with an almost certain outcome from the Senate.

“The current White House has defamed, ridiculed and practically ignored longtime government and policy experts in federal agencies,” Turner said. “The current White House has criticized journalists, news publications and agencies and foreign government leaders for questioning the policies and actions of this administration. There has always been a certain level of critique between the press and the White House but nothing like it is currently.”

On the other hand, Minetos believes the process to be “the most partisan impeachment in U.S. history.” He sees these claims as a ploy to keep Trump from re-election in 2020.

“In our view, we don’t really see the President do anything wrong,” Minetos said. “His job is to seek and expose corruption, no matter where it is, no matter who it is. The impeachment farce is just another continuation of the coordinated takedown of the President.”

Amidst the impeachment trials, tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate.

Early January, Trump ordered the killing of

Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed 56% of Americans disapprove of how Donald Trump is handling the situation with Iran, and 52% believe the U.S. airstrike that killed Soliemani made the United States less safe.

Koval firmly supports Trump’s decision and attention to the nation’s safety, adding that “[we should] just say thank you for having a president like this.”

“President Trump is protecting our country, that’s one of the promises he made, and that’s why we’re voting for him in 2020,” Koval said.

“I wouldn’t want to live in a country where our President doesn’t care about our safety, doesn’t care about our borders, doesn’t care about attacks. I think it’s crazy that there’s any sort of debate about the President taking down a terrorist.”

Turner, with her background in history, assesses that Trump has certain strengths as a leader. She said that he is adept “rallying the troops,” by continuously reinforcing his policies and positions.

On the other hand, Turner believes that Trump does a poor job of increasing his supporter base.

“Most presidents have been able to increase support once they’re in office, but he has not been able to do that,” Turner said. “He has not been able to increase his support amongst women, amongst minorities… Since he’s been in office, he’s not done a good job of really presenting policies that would garner the support of those groups.”

Koval and Minetos appreciate the President’s transparency and Twitter account. Koval feels that his tweets, and the personality within them, is “something that was much needed in the U.S., and I think will carry through for his 2020 election.”

Minetos agrees, adding that his account and online broadcasts will be a Trump “legacy of a different way to communicate.”

“It’s so important that he’s able to tweet his message and what he thinks on his mind, rather than going through the traditional norms of American media,” Minetos said. “The mainstream media has been totally corrupted and has been exposed with their left-wing bias… The President’s Twitter is a big reason the supporters are always able to be on the same page as the President.”

On both sides of the political spectrum, excitement and anticipation are gathering for the upcoming election.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, in 2016, Georgia had a 76.53% voter turnout, which is substantially higher than the national average of 55%.

Turner said she’s seen a record turnout at the Dunwoody History and Politics Club and added that “our students are really engaged in this political process… [they] are really actively anticipating this election cycle.”

Ultimately, Turner urges all students to inform themselves and vote in the 2020 election.

“We need our students, we need our young people, we need everyone,” Turner said. “It doesn’t matter who you vote for. You just need to go out and vote.”

The Signal was unable to reach the officers of Young Democrats of Georgia State University.

ARTS & LIVING

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Actor’s Express brings graphic memoir to life onstage ‘Fun Home’ brings audiences to laughter and tears MAYA TORRES Staff Reporter

“F

un Home,” Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s 2015 Tony Awardwinning musical, brings the wildly bittersweet stories of openly lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel to life.

The musical, adapted from Bechdel’s popular graphic memoir of the same name, shares stories from her childhood all the way to the age of 43. As the character Small Alison struggles to meet her father’s (Jeff McKerley) strict expectations and Medium Alison begins to discover her new identity as a lesbian, Alison reflects on her dysfunctional family through drawing out the scenes that come to life around her.

“Although it’s really specific, it’s still universal to a lot of people’s experiences in trying to come to terms with your relationship with your parents and your understanding of who they are separate of just being your parents,” Marcia Cunning, the actress currently playing Medium Alison in “Fun Home” at Actor’s Express, said. “I think those dynamics and those relationships are something I was really excited about and really able to dig into and to connect back to my life.”

Actor’s Express opened “Fun Home” on January 8. Freddie Ashley, artistic director at the venue and director of “Fun Home,” has wanted to bring the musical to life at the theater since he first encountered it.

When “Fun Home” became available for licensing in 2018, Ashley began the tedious process of obtaining the rights to the show.

His hard work paid off: Actor’s Express performed to sold-out audiences during every performance of their opening weekend.

Rhyn McLemore Saver leads the cast in the role of Alison, who serves as the narrator of the show.

“I saw it on Broadway, soon after it came out, and I fell instantly in love with it, and I knew I was going to play this role,” Saver said. “I feel like [Alison is] telling so many people’s story, whether you have had marital problems or have had problems with your parents. A lot of people think this is just a play about being gay and struggling with that. It’s about family problems. It’s about coming into your sexuality and owning it. There’s so many layers in this play that I feel everyone can identify with something.”

While Saver identifies as hetersexual and is happily married to a man, she still has ties to LGBTQ+ culture, particularly in the South.

“I grew up in south Georgia,” she said.

“A lot of my friends came out back in the late 90s right before LGBTQ [people] really started becoming as accepted as [they are] now versus then. I saw a lot of my friends coming out and being disowned by their parents. I went on that journey with all of them, so it’s such an honor to tell their stories.”

Acting alongside a cast of mostly adults are 11-year-olds Eden Mew and Vinny Montague as Small Alison and John, respectively, and 10th grader Alex Newberg as Christian.

“I just feel really honored to be a part of such an amazing show,” Mew said. “I think we all can attach to that really unusual

‘Fun Home’ at Actor’s Express brings Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir to life.

family dynamic.”

Mew brought the audience to a roaring applause in arguably the most well-known and show-stopping number, “Ring of Keys.”

“Ring of Keys” depicts the first time Small Alison encounters a “butch” lesbian, described to have short hair and wear stereotypically masculine clothing. It may be representative of the first time Bechdel experienced gay thoughts as a child.

Alongside the older and younger depictions of Alison is Medium Alison, a freshman at Oberlin College who is entering her first relationship with her peer, Joan (Michelle Pokopac), and discovering love for the first time.

Cunning is currently an intern at Actor’s Express and was surprised to see her name in the principal cast as a leading character. “[In addition to auditioning as an actor,] I was also a reader in the room, so I got to see some other people audition and totally did not feel like I was the right fit or like I was nearly in the league of all the other women I was seeing,” she said.

“I didn’t even tell my parents [about the

casting] until it was in writing. I was like, ‘I’m going to wake up. This is a dream. It’s not happening.’ This is my Atlanta theater debut and only the second professional show that I’ve done.”

Cunning graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in May with a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in theater performance. She has been involved with performing arts since she was 7 years old. “[Acting has] something I always did and always loved,” she said. “I danced, I played instruments, I tried sports, but everything else fell away, and performing was the one thing that always stuck. There was never a time where I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’ It was always something I had to do. Around 16, I decided this would be my career.”

Cunning, like Saver, is not LGBTQ+ but has grown up around friends and family who are.

“When I realized other people had issues with [homosexuality], it didn’t make sense to me that it was ever not normal in some people’s eyes,” she said.

Although she may not be a sexual

PHOTO COURTESY OF CASEY GARDNER

minority, Cunning is a racial minority in some senses of the word. “[My identity as a minority] is something I go back and forth on, because I am halfMexican, and it was a huge part of my upbringing,” she said. “But I understand I’m white-passing, and I have a huge amount of white privilege. I identify as white, but know what it’s like to walk through the world as a minority and be treated differently, just because I see my family members be treated that way. I myself haven’t really. So I myself don’t try to audition for roles or take roles away from people who do not have the amount of white privilege that I do.”

Cunning, along with Mew and Saver, tells the story of Alison Bechdel with empathy and depth. Together, the three actresses portray Alison not as a tomboy or as a lesbian but as a person just like themselves. Bechdel’s tale is not one to be soon forgotten.

“Fun Home” is playing at Actor’s Express through February 16th. Show details and ticket availability can be found online.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

ARTS & LIVING

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‘Pushing radical love and radical compassion’

Panthers for Black Feminism seek to change the way students think BRIA SUGGS

Arts & Living Editor

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here’s a relatively new student organization on campus, and they’re all about pushing the envelope and focusing on what their president calls “radical love and compassion.” Panthers for Black Feminism is an organization that uses a black queer feminist lens to analyze political and social issues.

Their official purpose is to “raise the level of cultural competency on Georgia State’s campus via a Black queer feminist lens,” and their mission is to “bridge the gap between ‘Atlanta’ issues and ‘student’ issues in order to reduce harm engendered by capitalism.”

According to organization president and co-founder Toni Moore, Panthers for Black Feminism “focus on trans, gender non-conforming, and LGBQ people. Our purpose is to get students to think critically about the information they’re receiving in these college classes, and figure out ways to use that knowledge outside of just, like, getting a job.”

The Panthers for Black Feminism challenge the norm and encourage different ways of thought. Moore mentioned that at a panel, a member said “capitalism stunts our imagination.”

“A lot of people are spending so much time trying to survive that we never have any time to think of how [our] lives can be different, or maybe they can think of how, but they don’t have the time to organize and actually fix those problems,” Moore said. “People can’t always imagine new ways of living and existing because they’re busy working, like, 40-plus hour work weeks and taking care of kids. And then after that, they have to try and care for their own mental health while being exhausted and living in poverty. So, maybe our organization’s purpose is to imagine s---. And then find tangible ways to make our wildest dreams come true.”

Moore’s first year as a member was also the first year of operation for the organization, which is why they’re credited as a co-founder. In a short amount of time, the organization has been working hard to help students with harm reduction programs.

“Last semester, we passed out Plan-B adjacent emergency contraceptives for the freeski … We also had a panel with Faces of Feminism for Trans Day of Remembrance about how the prison system [treats] trans people, how we can work against that, and just a general abolition conversation,” Moore said. “We had someone from Freedom Overground come, which is an organization that focuses on supporting incarcerated trans people … Right now, we’re working with

President and co-founder Toni Moore is a part of Panthers for Black Feminism, an organization that uses a black queer feminist lens to analyze political and social issues.

a member of SGA to start some sort of campaign against sexual violence. We’re [also] participating in Trans Week on campus.”

Those who are interested in Panthers for Black Feminism can join on the Panther Involvement Network. However, they also accept honorary members for those who aren’t students or have already graduated.

Members stay connected via GroupMe and there are no member dues. Future members are accepted continuously,

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

and there is no deadline to apply to join. According to Moore, “almost anyone” can join at any time.

“I say ‘almost’ because, I mean, clearly, we have a notolerance policy for blatant malice and hatred,” Moore said.

“But, like, you don’t have to be a feminist already, you don’t have to be black, you don’t have to be a woman or femme or a queer person. You just have to acknowledge that this is a space that at times will center those voices and narratives, and in everything we do, we will be looking through that lens.”

Inside Georgia State’s queer-inclusive fraternity Delta Lambda Phi creates a safe space for all men on campus RO PARKER Staff Reporter

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ccording to USA Today, 52% of the United States’ population lives in areas lacking anti-discrimination laws in the workplace for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity at Georgia State, is hoping to combat this disparity by creating a safe space where “queer guys” can develop professionally and create connections with other like-minded individuals regarding academia and the workforce.

“In society, we don’t really get the opportunity to develop professionally like heterosexual people do,” Shecory’n Porter, vice president and treasurer of Delta Lambda Phi’s Gamma Epsilon chapter, said. “We want the LGBTQ+ community to find a safe space [here].”

Porter noted that one objective of the fraternity is to erase stereotypes surrounding queer individuals.

“A lot of people assume, ‘Oh my God, [they’re] gonna have orgies,’ but we’re trying to get rid of stigmas like that,”

Porter said. “We want queer people to be looked at in a more professional light.”

Members do not have to identify as LGBTQ+ in order to join, although they do need to be accepting as the organization does not tolerate “ignorance or bigotry.”

Although the organization was initially founded by and for gay-identified cisgender men in 1986 in Washington, D.C., the Georgia State organization is transgender- and nonbinaryinclusive.

Porter stressed the importance of giving a voice to those with different stories, stating that all members have different experiences and backgrounds, which ultimately brings the members closer.

“I’ve met the best people in my life who have continued to be in my life and will be in my life after [college],” said Porter.

With six current and active members, the organization is hoping for future expansion, offering a home to queer students who may “get mixed up with the wrong people or don’t really know where to go.”

“One thing I hope for is more good members who want to build something like a family, ,” Porter said. “Some of our backgrounds are very tough and not a lot of love is spread around so we’ve got to show it.”

Porter did not think that he would be in a fraternity upon arrival at Georgia State, though with the push from a friend, he joined Delta Lambda Phi his freshman year and now a third-year computer science major, the organization has taught him professional development, especially communication skills.

The fraternity has conferences, conventions, discussionoriented meetings and retreats to prep members for their academic ventures as well as participate in secret rituals.

Porter is also a member of oSTEM, which stands for Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, a student organization specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals who are passionate about the science and mathematics fields.

These professional spaces specialized for queer individuals create representation in the workforce as well as provide an area for students to achieve their goals while supported for who they are.

Post-graduation, a similar Atlanta resource for LGBTQ+ professionals is the Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals, offering free networking events, speaker series and discussions.

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JoJo Toppins: The Brooklyn-raised baller

The former Georgia Bulldog sophomore now calls GSU “home” AVERY WIGGINS Staff Reporter

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e spent his days playing on New York’s iconic blacktops and has memories of those late-nights at Rucker and Diamonds Parks. He went to the University of Georgia for one year, playing sparingly. He transferred to Georgia State and is sitting out this year.

This is JoJo Toppins, and this is his story.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, in the Bushwood neighborhood, he first fell in love with basketball at a young age and rooted for the Nets franchise.

But his sophomore year of high school would bring the first of a few changes in his life and his basketball career.

He moved to Norcross, Georgia, for his sophomore year of high school and began to attend Norcross High School, where he was coached by Jesse McMillan. Toppins credits McMillan with really helping him to grow as a player and a person.

During training camp in the summer of 2016, Toppins met the then-head coach at the University of Tennessee.

He was the first college coach to compliment the young man on his game and saw the potential Toppin had to offer.

“We knew the skillset and the type of young man JoJo was and that he fit the mold of the type of student-athletes we were looking to recruit to Tennessee,” Lanier said.

That was was only the beginning of his journey to playing college basketball. Toppin, who stands at 6’5, has a great support group here at Georgia State. It is no coincidence that he is now back with coach Lanier, the one who gave him the recognition he deserved.

During his time at Norcross, Toppins was ranked as the No. 14 prospect in Georgia and No. 326 nationally by 247Sports. He led Norcross to a 54-10 record in his junior and senior seasons, which included appearances in the Class 7A state tournament championship game.

His junior season, he put up 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals per game, leading the Blue Devils to a 26-6 record. In his senior season, he averaged 10.8 points and 5 rebounds per game and led Norcross to a 28-4 record.

His impact on the court is not always shown in his numbers, but rather in his instincts.

Toppins considers the strongest part of the game to be his IQ and his ability to slow the game down. Good players can put up stats, but great ones are able to do well on the court while making those around them better.

Like all players, however, this high-flyer has his flaws. He feels most weak when the game gets sped up, sometimes unable to keep up with his teammates and matchup in transition.

Toppins spent freshman year away from home and in Athens, attending UGA and playing for head coach Tom Crean. It was the first year from both of them at the school.

“Learning and watching, it’s kind of like having the cheat code [to a video game] or the cheat sheet to the test. I look at next year as the test; I’m basically being given all the answers to the test in practice.”

— JOJO TOPPINS Forward, GSU Football Team.

During the 2018-19 season, he appeared in 18 games, averaging 1.4 points and 0.7 rebounds per game in 5.5 minutes for a Georgia team that did not have an identity most of the season.

Sit down with JoJo Toppin, the Norcross High School alum who is showcasing his talents back home in Atlanta.

Despite the lack of playtime for himself, the true freshman was not frustrated by his lack of playing time as a Bulldog. With so many coaching changes going on in Athens, he saw it as a valuable learning experience.

“That only allowed me to be happier for my teammates, and the minutes that I did get allowed me to cherish those moments and make an impact within those minutes,” Toppins said. “I look at minutes more valuable now, being that that was the first time I was in a situation like that.”

The most minutes played by him that season was 15 minutes against — what are the odds? — Georgia State in the third-place game of the Cayman Islands Classic.

Little did he know that he would be joining that Panthers team on the other bench.

Toppins transferred to Georgia State for his sophomore year. The reason that he transferred to GSU was because of his prior relationship with Coach Lanier.

Despite being frustrated at having to sit out a year, he considers it a benefit to be able to learn and watch from the other players.

“He handles himself in an incredibly mature manner, and I look forward to having him around for many years to

PHOTO BY ANNA GORICKI | THE SIGNAL

come,” Lanier said.

While he possesses that uber athleticism, he is also doing so much more to improve his game and be the best player possible in the Fall. Between the drills and daily practices, he knows that he will get better with time. He is also doing a lot of drills and preps and watching team film from the games they played this season.

“Learning and watching, it’s kind of like having the cheat code [to a video game] or the cheat sheet to the test,” Toppins said. “I look at next year as the test; I’m basically being given all the answers to the test in practice.”

With so much basketball going on in his life, Toppins is up to a lot in his year off the court.

After being undecided on a major, he chose theater this semester. Whether he will take it with him after school is uncertain, but he will work at it.

Hard work is who he is.

Basketball is a lifestyle, but it is not what defines JoJo Toppin. Next Fall will bring in new players--freshman, transfers and more redshirt players. For Toppin, his time is coming, and he will soon showcase his talents and truly electrify the GSU Sports.

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Midseason Sun Belt basketball rankings

Do the Panthers have enough time to overtake the top team?

JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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ooking at conference standings, it is obvious how competitive basketball has been this season. Two-thirds of the way into the season, we have a threeway tie for the top spot, with the Little Rock Trojans, Georgia Southern Eagles and defending conference champion Georgia State Panthers all eyeing the crown.

Let us dive into those three and the rest of the Sun Belt as we rank each team based on strengths and weaknesses.

Little Rock Trojans (Overall record: 13-7; Conference: 7-2) The Trojans get the top spot as they have had the biggest turnaround from last season.

Those familiar with the conference know that they have risen from the bottom feeders of the conference to first in the conference.

As a team, the Trojans are a proficient shooting squad. They are shooting 47% from the field this season, second to the South Alabama Jaguars. Joshua Carroll, the Trojans radio announcer, credits rookie head coach Darrell Walker for the turnaround.

“He has really turned around the culture and [has] the whole school hope about a tournament appearance,” Carroll said.

The Achilles heel for the Trojans will be their inexperience. Much like the Panthers, this is a young group of men. The Trojans are relying on much of their underclassmen to spur the resurgence of the program. The Trojans will also need the bye more than other teams to keep the young players rested for the tournament.

Another issue for the team: scoring: they average less than 70 points per game. This could lead to tough games against teams

like Georgia State and the Eagles, two of the conference’s best at putting the ball in the hoop.

Georgia State Panthers (13-7) (6-3) As we mentioned, this team is coming off of back-to-back conference championships — how were they ranked so low in the preseason? The Panthers, while losing talent, were gravely underestimated heading into the 2019 season.

The Panthers were predicted to finish near the bottom of the conference but find themselves still at the drivers’ seat.

Ben Moore of 247Sports praised Rob Lanier for building off the culture former head coach Ron Hunter set at his alma mater.

“Credit goes to Rob Lanier in building off the winning culture created by Ron Hunter and continuing a golden age of basketball,” Moore said.

The Panthers are first place thanks to playmakers like guard Kane Williams, who is second in the conference in assists, averaging nearly five assists a game. Coach Lanier was very clear about his focus for this team: defense. The Panthers have the ability to make stops in the stretch but have been inconsistent at best this season.

The team listened, especially the new players. Redshirt sophomore guard Justin Roberts is averaging nearly two steals a game while shooting the three-ball better than anyone else on the team.

Perimeter shooting and defense have allowed this young team to thrive.

And that is the thing: They are young.

Simply put, Rob Lanier is depending on underclassmen to carry much of the load.

With so many minutes consumed by freshman and redshirt players, the lack of experience is sometimes apparent. We can point to their 4-7 road record for this, which

Take an in-depth look at the ranking of the Sun Belt Conference 20 games in.

includes conference losses against Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State and a baffling loss against Troy.

Georgia Southern Eagles (12-8) (6-3) Head coach Mark Byington has led the resurgence of the Eagles’ basketball program since coming in prior to the 2013 season.

The team has a lethal offense, led by senior stars Isaiah Crawley and junior Quan Jackson.

As a whole, this is a well-balanced Eagles team on both ends of the floor. Georgia Southern leads the conference in blocks, averaging nearly five per game.

To that end, they will need every bit of those blocks as they face a tough schedule ahead. But they have played well down the stretch, evident by their win over the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.

The biggest weakness for the Eagles is their poor play on the road so far in the season, where they are an underwhelming 3-6. While they are able to earn points on the board, they struggle to do it efficiently: They are shooting a mediocre 42% from the field this season.

With this in mind, they come in third as there are simply too many flags to overtake the top two right now.

Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-7) (5-4) Strength: Caleb Fields and Marquis Eaton — two very consistent and talented offensive players Weakness: Rebounding and defense have been a crutch for the Red Wolves. The team ranks last in rebounding, averaging under 33 rebounds per game.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (11-8) (4-4) Strength: Shooting — they are shooting just under 50% from the field.

Weakness: Inconsistent against top conference rivals, having won against Georgia State, but then losing to Georgia

Southern).

Texas State Bobcats (11-8) (4-4) Strength: The best free-throw shooting team in the conference, shooting nearly 80%.

Weakness: One of the worst teams on the road, currently 3-8.

South Alabama Jaguars (11-8) (3-3) Strength: All-around solid defense. They are a top in the conference in both blocks and steals.

Weakness: The Jaguars’ play away from home has been inconsistent (3-3), as well as failure to meet pre-season expectations.

Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-10) (4-5) Strength: Rebounding and defense.

Weakness: Lack of consistency so far in the season.

Troy Trojans (8-12) (4-5) Strength: Junior guard Darian Adams is having another solid season, averaging 13.3 points per game.

Weakness: Inconsistent against quality Sun Belt opponents, with wins against Texas State and Georgia State, but bad losses against teams like Louisiana-Monroe and Lafayette.

UT Arlington (7-12) (3-5) Strength: Sophomore guard David Azore is having a breakout season, averaging 15.8 points per game on 48% shooting from the field.

Weakness: Struggles for wins against top teams.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (7-12) (2-6) Strength: Forward Jalen Robinson, who is averaging 14.8 points on shooting 43% from the field.

Weakness: Lackluster defense and an inconsistent offense.

PHOTO BY SYLVESTER SILVER III | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

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Chris Clerkley becomes first graduate in his family

The forward reflects on undergrad, looks forward to the next phase in life ERIK INDRISANO Staff Reporter

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hen it comes to college sports, most viewers tend to forget about the most important aspect of being a student-athlete — the student part. For many athletes, they might be the first in their family ever to attend college or the first to get a degree.

For Georgia State senior Chris Clerkley, it’s both. One of two seniors on the Panthers basketball team, the softspoken forward is much more than just a number on his jersey. Clerkley entered Georgia State in 2016, as a threestar recruit out of Perry, Georgia. The 6’8 forward knew the importance of basketball, but more importantly, he knew the value of a good education and took full advantage of that.

Clerkley recently was awarded his degree in communications when he graduated this past December of 2019. But for him, it was more than just a degree — it was a first for his family.

“It meant a lot,” he said. “I’m the first person in my family to graduate and kind of set the foundation for my siblings to see that it’s possible… where I come from, it is possible to leave there and do something positive.”

As any student knows, when you are in college, time flies by fast. For athletes, it’s the same; it certainly wasn’t any different for Clerkley. “[The four years] went by really really fast,” he said.

Clerkley isn’t quite done yet with his education. For the first time in his college career, Clerkley will not be playing a sport, as he will look to expand on his education and receive his master’s degree in communication.

“Entering grad school, it’s definitely something new, it’s different,” he said. “It’s stricter, but lenient at the same time.

It’s a lot of work, but you work independently, and I like it better than undergrad school.”

As many people know, student-athletes often have to strike a delicate balance between school and athletics. But for the Georgia State graduate student, the decrease in workload outside of the classroom will benefit himself and the team as a whole this season.

“It may help me with basketball. I won’t be so tied up focusing on my school work like I have been in the past; I can focus more on basketball and helping my team,” Clerkley said.

Entering the brunt of conference play, the team has seen its fair share of unforgettable moments already. For Clerkley, he has been enjoying every second of his senior season.

“I’m enjoying it, loving it, really. Loving my role on the team, loving my teammates, seeing us have success on

Learn about Chris Clerkley and his experience with adapting to academics and student life at Georgia State.

and off the court. Just enjoying being here and continuing hopefully to have a great season and make a run for the [Sun Belt] championship, and a run in March Madness,” Clerkley said.

While the senior forward has not pinpointed what he

PHOTO BY ANNA GORICKI | THE SIGNAL

wants to do quite yet, Clerkley has a lot of options lined up for when his time at Georgia State concludes.

“Hopefully, I can give it a shot to go overseas and compete, if not, I’m kind of considering going to the Air Force, and if that doesn’t work out, maybe teaching.”

Checking in on John Collins and the Hawks’ Season Since reinstated from his suspension, Collins has thrived ANDREW FREEDMAN Sports Editor

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t’s just after 6:50 pm on a rainy Tuesday in downtown Atlanta, and John Collins has just gone through his individual pregame warmup prior to facing Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns.

Collins, the third-year big man for the Atlanta Hawks, is drenched in sweat as he jolts to the locker room after finishing his shootaround with a remarkable dunk. But not before he thanks those who helped him and performs a signature handshake with Greg Foster, a former NBA player who is in his second year on the Atlanta Hawks’ coaching staff.

It is who Collins is, and it’s what makes him a special person, both on and off the court.

When the team announced that their third-year forward would be suspended for 25 games, it was a gut blow for the franchise. They were doing well early, holding a 3-2 record

going into their game on Nov. 5.

At 9-32, Atlanta holds the NBA’s worst record. But the experience for the young players is what matters most, especially for Collins and future All-Star Trae Young.

Posting per-game averages of 14.9 points, 8.5 rebounds through the first 149 games of his career, Collins has provided a constant spark for Atlanta since he was drafted in 2017. In those two and a half seasons, there have been ups and downs.

For Collins, it’s all about the team.

“Always good to come together and get a nice team win,” he said after the Hawks 123-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns. “To have some of our young core pieces get going like we did tonight, seeing everybody flowing, everybody in the flow of the offense. It’s just coming a little bit and hopefully, we can build on this.”

Collins is selfless, constantly praising his teammates.

As a member of that “young core”, he himself has been a bright spot in the Hawks season and rebuild. Despite his suspension, Collins is rolling and becoming a better shooter as well.

But his teammates praise him too. Hawks’ rookie guard

Cam Reddish recognized that Collins is a big key for the team.

“Him being there helps a lot,” Reddish said. “I mean, him, simply just communication changed our team. Him being back is big for us.”

Through the game against the Suns, Young, Collins and guard Kevin Heurter have only played 123 minutes together.

“Game by game, we’re trying [to settle in together],” Heurter said.

Moving forward, Collins will play a huge role for the team this season, as he did last year.

On the year, he’s currently averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. But people knew he could score and get boards.

What has changed most is his comfortability shooting threepointers.

Since his return on Dec. 7, Collins has made at least one three in seven of nine games. On the season, he’s shooting career bests from three, connecting on 1.4 per game in 4.1 attempts.

The Hawks struggled this season, but their young core has arrived, and John Collins is riding first class on the train to success.

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Traditions of the women’s basketball team How the team prepares to enter battle KRISTY RIVERA Staff Reporter

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ituals and traditions are often thought to be silly, superstitious practices without value, but for some athletes, these routines represent much more than what is assumed or seen by outsiders.

This sentiment rings true among the Georgia State women’s basketball team and its players, who view pre-game rituals and traditions as ways to enhance both personal and team gameplay in non-conventional ways.

While the Panthers have underwhelmed this season (currently 9th in the Sun Belt Conference), they have bonded as a team.

Ashley Foster has been learning behind her peers on the court. The sophomore expanded on this by explaining her rituals and how they help her be relaxed and ready to play ahead of game time.

“I start my rituals the night before the game by meditating and then playing music the next morning and basing the genre on my mood to get me in my zone,” the sophomore guard said.

“And if I need extra energy or am about to play a big game, I make sure to eat Skittles but only the red bag.”

Player rituals such as Foster’s are unique to each individual and catered towards meeting personal needs and fitting into each player’s routine.

Freshmen Tehya Lyons also knows a thing or two about this. Lyons prefers pre-game routines that are simple and focused on staying relaxed and keeping positive energy from her previous successful performances.

She broke down her routine step by step for me.

“My rituals consist of me getting a nap in, then eating Reese’s 30 minutes before and, lastly, taking a quick bathroom break before heading out,” Lyons said. “All of my rituals developed subconsciously, especially certain parts like the Reese’s, because it worked for me in a previous good game so now it’s just apart of my daily routine.”

These rituals have become essential to gamedays and often stem from prior game experiences or moments from past seasons that changed the player’s views on basketball.

Foster explained this by recalling when her rituals became serious to her and, as a result, were added to her routine permanently. She remembers beginning to use them at a young age, as she was maturing on the court.

“ I started to follow a pre-game routine in high school when I got serious about basketball and began to get looks and offers.”

— ASHLEY FOSTER Guard, Women’s Basketball team “I started to follow a pre-game routine in high school when I got serious about basketball and began to get looks and offers,” she said.

Although some players use personal experience to craft their routines others choose to take an alternate approach by instead

HAWKS TRADE CRABBE FOR TEAGUE AND GRAHAM Jeff Teague is back where his NBA journey began in Atlanta

By ANDREW FREEDMAN

Rituals and traditions enhance personal and team gameplay for women’s basketball.

seeking out to incorporate rituals that their role models practice Junior Jada Lewis explains this by stating “ I like to get out early and shoot around and get used to the rim, I look a lot at what the greats do and Kobe Bryant was my inspiration to start getting out there early to get shots up.”

Individual players’ routines are important to how they prepare for games, but there is still a culture among the team that emphasizes bonding through traditions and shifts focus on the collective rather than the individual.

This tradition allows players to form bonds and increase communication with teammates via pre-game meals, shootarounds, prayers and team naps.

Small traditions like these may seem minuscule, but in reality, they allow for greater connections among players and better team environments that motivate players, emphasizing teamwork both on the court and off.

The importance of these traditions was

PHOTO BY SHEL LEVY | THE SIGNAL

expressed by Lewis, who views them as essential to the players and the team as a whole both on and off the court.

“I would say team rituals affect us as a team because they bring us closer together,” the redshirt junior said. “[The rituals] help with game aspects such as communication on court through traditions like pre-game meals, where everyone is already talking to each other, and in general, I think spending more time with teammates is also a good thing.”

Foster shared a similar sentiment in regards to the effect of these team rituals by stating “I feel like as a team we need that focus as a family to make sure that we continue to do things together on the court because it shows when we play together as a team.”

For Georgia State’s women’s basketball team, it has been a tough season so far. But learning more about each other and finding peace within themselves has allowed them to stay focused and continue grinding until the clock hits triple zero.

The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade guard Allen Crabbe to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guards Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Teague, one of the most respectable and wellrecognized Hawks players in recent memory, currently ranks in the franchise’s top-10 in assists, steals, and three-pointers made. He is best known for being a member of the Hawks team that won 60 games en route to the Eastern Conference’s top seed in the 2014-15 NBA playoffs.

Teague, 31, is averaging 12 points and six rebounds this season. His explosiveness will provide a spark off the bench that Atlanta has long searched for. His debut on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons was solid. He scored 15 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 7 assists in 25 minutes off the bench, giving the league a reminder of his talent.

Graham, 26, is averaging five points and three rebounds this season.

Atlanta acquired Crabbe and the 17th overall pick in the NBA Draft last June from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Taurean Prince. He will be going to a Minnesota team that has been desperately seeking perimeter shooting.

In 28 games this season, Crabbe is averaging 5.1 points and is a career 39% shooter from threepointers.

Both Teague and Crabbe are under contracts that will expire at the end of this season.

The trade comes just a few weeks before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, and could potentially get the ball rolling for other teams as well.

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