The Signal Vol. 85 No. 17

JAN. 23 - JAN. 30, 2018

VOL. 85 | NO. 17

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NO FLY ZONE PantherDining addresses concerns of flies found in students’ food, and creates new channels of communication with the student body.

NEWS PAGE 3

PHOTO ILUSTRATION BY VANESSA JOHNSON & COVER DESIGN BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL

A LOCAL MATTER

INSTA-WORTHY ART

NEVER IN AGREEMENT

STATE POUNCES SOUTHERN

A new bill may give states the authority to remove Confederate monuments.

The top spots around Atlanta to help make your Instagram profile top-notch.

Republicans and Democrats shut the government down but the issue is larger than funding.

71-56 women’s win makes it four in a row against Southern.

NEWS | PAGE 5 WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 8-9

News 3

OPINION PAGE 12

Arts & Living 7

SPORTS | PAGE 15

OPINION 11

Sports 13

NEWS

2

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

BLOTTER JAN. 16

Run Forrest Run!

A student on the Dunwoody Campus has been arrested for a hit-and-run accident in a parking deck.

Hey, that’s mine!

of being harassed on the university’s campus around 1 p.m. The Georgia State police department is looking into the incident.

Not too artsy?

JAN. 18

A Georgia State student complained of having his property tampered with and damaged within Classroom South.

GSUPD is investigating the case.

GSUPD issued a warning at Landmark Diner to a non-Georgia State affiliated trespasser.

JAN. 19

Feeling uneasy..

A Georgia State student complained

editor@georgiastatesignal.com

executive editor (atlanta) Open executive editor (perimeter) Open

JAN. 21

A Georgia State student had their belongings taken from Aderhold Learning Center. GSUPD is still investigating.

Get outta there!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Christina Maxouris

Editorial NEWS EDITOR Open

news@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate NEWS EDITOR Samuel Puckett news2@georgiastatesignal.com OPINIONS EDITOR Open opinions@georgiastatesignal.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Open living@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate ARTS & Living EDITOr Open living2@georgiastatesignal.com SPORTS EDITOR Jerell Rushin sports@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate SPORTS EDITOR D’Mitri Chin sports2@georgiastatesignal.com copy editors Alaa Elassar, Sydnie Cobb copy@georgiastatesignal.com

A non-Georgia State individual was arrested inside the Arts & Humanities building for suspicious behaviour.

He went North!

Nothing in common...

Georgia State students were victims of harassment and threatening inside University Commons. The case is still active.

Production production design editor Khoa Tran production@georgiastatesignal.com

Associate production design editor Salinna Phon

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIK REID | THE SIGNAL

production2@georgiastatesignal.com

PHOTOGRAPHY photo EDITOr (atlanta) Vanessa Johnson photo@georgiastatesignal.com photo EDITOr (perimeter) Open photo2@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate photo editor Julian Pineda signalphotoatl@gmail.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Digital online EDITOR Danny Varitek

A MARTA bus on ice on Northside Drive, Jan. 17, 2018.

digital@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate Online Editor Open PODCAST EDITORS Caleb P. Smith, Charles Wright

Marketing Marketing MANAGER Open

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signaladvertisingco@gmail.com STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu business coordinator Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOr (perimeter) Alice Murray amurray25@gsu.edu

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The Signal Student Center West, Suite 250 P.O. Box 3968 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-413-1620 Fax: 404-413-1622 Web: www.georgiastatesignal.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

PantherDining recently received heat from students after failing to catch an infestation of flies in their kitchen and food.

Buggin’ out

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ & ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILIPS | THE SIGNAL

After finding flies, student raises questions about PantherDining CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Editor-in-Chief

P

eter Tilly was less than impressed when he found flies in his fried rice in Piedmont North the first day of class.

“I only got about two or three scoops of fried rice and found maybe eight or ten flies in the rice,” Tilly said.

He said he tried going back to Piedmont Central to eat something more, but had to leave after beginning to feel nauseous.

But what frustrated the student the most was the way his complaints were received. Tilly spoke to the Piedmont North manager, who took his plate back to the kitchen and came outside saying the flies were sesame seeds that they put in the rice.

“I disagreed, showing the wings, legs, and mouth tendrils of these so-called ‘sesame seeds,’ and he took my plate back again,” he said. The problem was more than just the rice.

“I put my other dishes away and found some live flies on the walls, and got the manager and showed that to him too.”

Nicole Galonczyk, public relations specialist for PantherDining, confirmed for The Signal that the facility was facing an infestation problem that came as a result of the dining halls being shut down for two weeks over winter break.

“With general pest control and pipe maintenance, we have seldom had issues of this nature in the past,” Galonczyk said.

“However, we believe that there was an infestation that worked its way into the pipes over the winter holiday as our dining halls were closed and this occurred upon returning from winter break.”

THE GONE-WRONG

Galonczyk said that often times, flies are drawn to the fresh food used for PantherDining dishes and “their presence can be exacerbated through staff and patrons constantly coming through the doorways.”

To prevent this, the facilities have a contract

with a pest control service which service the locations regularly.

“Our pest control company utilizes enzymes to kill the bacteria found in our drain pipes,” she said. “This is more sustainable than a pesticide and safer around food. We had the

“I only got about two or three scoops of fried rice and found maybe eight or ten flies in the rice.”

— PETER TILLY, Georgia State student pipes cleaned out and sprayed with enzymes before leaving for the break. Unfortunately, over the two week-period, we were closed, flies managed to get into the pipes, which are multi-use.”

Galonczyk told The Signal the pipes and equipment were all sanitized and cleaned after Tilly brought the incident to their attention, but some students are hesitant.

In an anonymous Georgia State reddit thread, another student posted two pictures of his morning vegetables with flies. The user going by the pseudonym of “orangebunn” said in the reddit, “This has been going on for too long and it’s making me (literally) sick.”

The user said she met with the manager of PantherDining and was hoping for a change.

Tilly said he noticed the post, which was posted a week after his incident, and was taken aback, as he was hoping the issue was resolved.

“I assumed that the problem was properly being fixed and taken care of, but this signaled to me that it was not,” Tilly said. “I think this is a really big issue. When we pay [$2,000] a semester for a dining plan, it is because we will be using the dining halls for all of our meals.”

He said he’s upset because Georgia State isn’t offering any alternatives to his meal plans, even after situations like this, and despite the fly-infested food, students “cannot change where or what we will be eating.”

“Running three massive dinings halls is by no means an easy task, but with the money that we pay as students, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be very upset when we are given infested food,” he said.

MANAGERS’ COMMUNICATION

Tilly went through a maze of managers trying to confirm that the issue was being properly addressed. He told The Signal he talked to the manager of Piedmont North and also of Piedmont Central, Huston Freeman.

Freeman informed Tilly they were working on the issue and that it was something “that just happens,” and mentioned it might have been the pipes.

“This was a really disconcerting thing to hear from the dining hall manager,” Tilly said. After traveling up the chain of managers with his e-mails, he said he got in touch with Lenor Musick, PantherDining director, who told the student her greatest concerns were the incident and the way it was handled by the managers.

The lack of clear communication between the managers and students has become one of PantherDining’s greatest priorities, Galonczyk told The Signal.

“After speaking with all individuals who were involved and watching the video, we confirmed there was a fly. It was and never is our intention to misinform students-- we want students to feel comfortable approaching us about incidents so that we can continue providing a safe, clean dining atmosphere,” she said.

She said the department apologizes on the manager’s mistake on misidentifying the fly as a sesame seed, but understand how he could make the mistake as incidents like this are so rare.

She said the team has met with many students since and held safety training sessions for cooks, chefs and managers, as well as their pest control team. They are also in the process of implementing a new program which would give students the opportunity to meet managers and chefs one-on-one.

“We strive to have open lines of

communication between our department and students,” she said. “We will be adding contact information along with headshots of the management team at each location’s ‘napkin board’ so that situations can be addressed in a more timely manner.”

DID YOU KNOW? • New research from Pennsylvania State University shows that flies carry hundreds of different species of bacteria harmful to humans, often playing a big role in disease transmission.

• The legs and wings showed the highest microbial diversity, proving that flies, as one professor called them were “airborn shuttles” for the bacteria.

• That’s why, the researchers said eating food after its been touched by a fly may not be a good idea!

FULL DISCLOSURE: Peter Tilly was a former opinion writer for The Signal. He approached the student newspaper about this story after having already resigned.

To view the pictures and reddit thread, find the digital story on georgiastatesignal.com

NEWS

4

Georgia State’s M deck supports Atlanta’s renewable energy initiative by including charging stations for electric cars.

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

PHOTO BY AZAM LALANI | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State and Atlanta’s Green Initiatives What are officials doing about impending climate change?

SARA ABDULLA & RACHEL ANDERSON Staff Reporters

D

espite the freezing temperatures these past two weeks, 2017 was still in the top three hottest years on record. The vast majority of scientists maintain that a significant proportion of this change from past decades and centuries is due to human activity. However, as evident by some of the President’s notorious tweets, dissolving of the federal advisory committee for the National Climate Assessment and deciding to leave the Paris climate accord, the issue is not a priority to the administration.

Locally, Atlanta and Georgia State have both stepped up with new initiatives to combat the changing climate and bring residents into a renewable energy age.

AN ASPIRING GREEN CITY

While Atlanta ranks 84th in the nation for environmental health, it was lauded in 2016 for recognizing a need to address climate change. The local government, in addition to retrofitting old buildings with energy-efficient lighting, now requires that new buildings are Silver-LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

Transportation is the leading cause of emissions in the city, according to John Seydel, director of sustainability for the Atlanta Office of Resilience. The city wants and has started to promote alternative transportation options to residents and commuters, like MARTA, express buses and teleworking.

Additionally, the city hopes to encourage walking and a reprieve from the concrete jungle with initiatives like the Beltline.

“The city of Atlanta is actually supposed to double in population over the next 10 to 15 years. There’s going to be a lot less traveling by car,” Seydel said.

Additionally, legislation passed late last year that requires all new buildings to have EV-stations to incentivize driving electric cars, which are believed to cause fewer emissions than traditional cars.

Atlanta made headlines in May 2017 by claiming it will be 100 percent powered by renewable energy by 2035, being the first city in Georgia and the largest southern city to make that commitment.

The Georgia chapter of the the Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization dedicated to making the world a more sustainable place, issued a statement regarding this plan: “There is still more work to do to re-power all of Atlanta with renewable energy. This commitment represents just the starting

point for the community. As we move away from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean energy, we must ensure that those most threatened by dirty fuels are first in line to see the benefits that come with this transition,” said Director of the Sierra Club’s Georgia chapter Ted Terry.

“We look forward to working with our partners and city leaders to realize this vision of an Atlanta powered by 100 percent clean, renewable energy,” Terry said.

So how is Atlanta holding up its promise?

Georgia in recent years has made numerous strides to commit to primarily renewable energy sources, according to the Sierra Club’s website. The Sierra Club persuaded Georgia Power to implement new renewable energy initiatives, such as producing 1,600 megawatts of solar and wind energy by the year 2021.

PUBLIC INVESTMENT

In September 2017, Georgia Power introduced a new program, Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI), in which Georgia Power will obtain 1,200 megawatts of renewable power for its large commercial and industry customers.

The program offers Renewable Energy Credits (REC) matching production. An REC is a commodity that serves as proof of a 100 megawatt-hour of electricity that was generated from an alternative source, such as wind or solar power.

Through the REDI, the more energy a company produces, the more REC’s it will get.

“This new program will provide a new renewable energy option for larger customers, while also benefiting all of our customers through further diversification of our state’s generation mix,” said Georgia Power’s Director of Renewable Development Wilson Mallard in a statement issued in September.

Environment Georgia, an environmental advocacy group based in Atlanta, is also taking action in getting Atlanta towards its goal.

“It is absolutely possible-- the bigger question is what it will look like and how do we get there,” said Environment Georgia Director Jennette Gayer.

Another major initiative the city is taking is Solarize Atlanta, a program that is designed to make solar panels more accessible for businesses and individuals. While REDI is focused more on large corporations, Solarize Atlanta is more geared toward the smaller population.

This program is a way to jumpstart Atlanta to becoming 100 percent renewable by 2035.

“Downtown Atlanta needs it the most. You don’t normally see solar panels in the city,” Gayer said. “We have to start somewhere-- Solarize Atlanta will help start that.”

A SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY

Georgia State has implemented initiatives of their own to mitigate and remedy the damage inflicted on the environment.

Jenni Asman, the manager of the Sustainability Program at Georgia State, spoke to The Signal about what the university is doing to help protect the environment. Georgia State is only installing energy-efficient lighting in new buildings, and adjusting the lighting in some older buildings, like T-Deck, to use less energy and thus leave less of a carbon footprint and save money. “[Georgia State] is also working to install technology to better monitor energy and water consumption in all buildings, making it easier to see trends and issues as well as better make recommendations for improvements,” Asman said.

Georgia State also offers shuttles to and from student housing to reduce emissions from single-user cars and to provide accessibility for students who don’t drive.

When asked what’s in the way of more widespread environmentally healthy policies, Asman said that the biggest obstacle for living “green” is adjusting our habits and traditional ways of thinking. Once we adjust our mindset and begin thinking of different environmental systems as interconnected, we can effect positive change.

GEORGIA STATE’S INITIATIVES: Georgia State has hosted two annual recycling drives since 2013.

Georgia State diverted 170 tons of waste recycling in 2016, 12 percent more than in 2015.

Piedmont Central’s introduction in 2016 increased composting 81 percent increase from 2015, bringing the dining commons total compost to 230 tons.

GSU dining at Patton and Piedmont North received three out of four stars from the Green restaurant association.

Georgia State received a $320,680 Grant to Green award to renovate the light in T-Deck.

Renovations scheduled to T-Deck will reduce energy consumption by 52 percent.

T-Deck’s energy consumption was assesed by the Southface Energy Institute, the same firm helping the city meet their 2035 goals.

According to sustainability.gsu.edu

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

NEWS

5

Addressing confederate monuments Fate of statues would be at hands of local governments SAMUEL PUCKETT Associate News Editor

NATIONAL Confederate monument at Oakland Cemetery surrounded by 3,000 unknown Confederate soldiers.

of their research, the AHC contended most Confederate monuments are symbols of white superiority erected during the Jim Crow era in response to the Civil Rights movement.

This same sentiment is expressed not only in their publications but by Sheffield Hale, AHC CEO and president, while he served on a mayoral advisory committee on Atlanta’s Civil War memorials. There he said, while making a final decision is above the authority of the committee, their goal was to listen to the public.

Their final recommendation was not to remove the monuments, but to frame them in historical context and explain they were built to glorify white supremacy.

Former state representative LaDawn Jones was brought into the spotlight on this issue in August

PHOTO BY JULIAN PINEDA | THE SIGNAL

when her colleague in the Georgia legislature, Jason Spencer, threatened her on Facebook for her support on Confederate monument removal.

She said she is in support of the bill and believes the emphasis on local control is central to the issue.

“I just think this is a good time for them to have some courage, for them to have some real dialogue on this issue,” Jones said.

The Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans have hired a lobbyist for the 2018 session, but Jones is not sure that will affect the bill’s chances.

“If people speak up, no matter if those people are lobbyists or citizens, you know whomever seems to have the most support is oftentimes the group that is listened to,” she said.

Great expansion, great responsibility

Atlanta’s booming over the year leaves residents with different concerns RACHEL ANDERSON Staff Reporter

O

ver the past decade, Atlanta has undergone rapid and significant change.

Once desolate of offices and business, the city is now a hub for several major companies, including CNN, The Weather Channel, Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola.

This change has provided areas of the city with massive growth and expansion, in particular Midtown and Buckhead, which have seen a booming population in recent years.

Bill Torpy, a journalist for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution and a resident of Atlanta for 27 years, told The Signal he believes that the city’s upswing has brought about some change in affordability as well.

“Little Five Points used to be affordable and now it’s not at all. Working class people have a harder time living in a lot of the neighborhoods that used to be affordable,” he said.

The reason for this, Torpy said, is residents’

LOCAL Women’s March Power to the Polls attracts thousands Thousands of women rallied on Saturday, on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration, at The Bakery in Atlanta.

The event, Power to the Polls, encouraged more political involvement from women since the election of Trump. The hope is to bring more positive change in the new year.

W

eeks after Confederate monuments were debated in local and national news, the issue might see new rules in Georgia with a set of bills in the state legislature this session. Versions of the bill appear in both the House and the Senate, sponsored by representatives Mary Margaret Oliver and Elena Parent respectively.

Previously, it was Georgia law that local governments could not remove or conceal monuments on state land. Since most offending monuments are on state courthouses or other state buildings, that left those wanting them removed at a loss.

The Dekalb County Commission voted in October to remove an 105-year-old monument from Decatur Square. There was speculation at the time over how this would be done, given the laws. Dekalb County attorney Overtis Brantley released a comment in late November, and said the monument is owned by Dekalb County, not the state, and can be moved.

According to the state representative for the district, Mary Oliver, it was local pressure on the issue that ignited the bill.

“The impetus came from my constituency,” she said.

Oliver said she was struck by the response from residents after she introduced the legislation. She admits she was never personally affected by the monuments but respects the violent history they represent for her constituents.

“I gave a speech to your typical rotary club in December, preview of the session, preview of prefiled legislation,” Oliver told The Signal. “A black citizen I didn’t know stood up and said, ‘I want to personally thank you. Every time I walk by those monuments, I have a response.’”

However, she told that rotary club she doubts the bill will see a vote this session.

Oliver took inspiration and support from the Atlanta History Center (AHC), who has been adamant about the monuments being altered to place them in a historical context. As a result

NEWS BRIEFS

growing need to live closer to the city, instead of out in the suburbs.

“People got tired of fighting traffic to get out to the suburbs, so they decided to stay in the city,” Torpy said.

ThreadATL is an Atlanta volunteer group whose main goal is to advocate for the practices and designs other cities have adopted that are not as prevalent in Atlanta.

The Signal spoke with Darin Givens, cofounder of ThreadATL, about what the group envisions as Atlanta continues to grow.

“The city is designed to accommodate cars rather than public transit,” Givens said. “For example, there was a plan to build a parking deck right next to a MARTA station. That discourages use of the MARTA.” Givens also said he feels the streetcar can be better utilized. The Atlanta Streetcar runs on a 2.7 mile loop throughout downtown, stopping at 12 locations from Centennial Olympic Park to Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Site.

Givens argued that the flaw with the streetcar isn’t the streetcar itself; it’s the properties along the streetcar that are. The properties lining the

streetcar are empty buildings, parking decks, and blank walls.

“There should never be 2.7 miles in a major city that can be described as ‘nowhere,’” Givens said.

But why can downtown Atlanta, an area home to several universities and countless offices and business, be described as nowhere?

Atlanta is still very much recovering from “white flight,” a phenomenon that occurred after the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. The downtown part of the city was emptied after white people moved out of the cities to the suburbs, a result of racial discrimination.

But despite a seeming boom, compared to other major cities, Atlanta’s regrowth has been slower.

“In Los Angeles, they had a mayor who took initiative to make downtown a safer, better place to live,” said Givens. “We have lacked that kind of leadership in Atlanta.”

The one neighborhood that Givens said has changed entirely and flourished is Midtown.

“Midtown is almost unrecognizable. Ten years ago you could walk down Peachtree Street and not see anyone. Now it’s elbow to elbow with people.

There’s so much more vibrancy,” said Givens.

Fixing the US government shutdown After the United States government shutdown on Jan. 20, officials are scrambling to find a solution. As of Sunday, there was little progress made. The best potential breakthrough came from a group of 20 moderators who attempted to fix issues on both sides. Lawmakers are trying to re-open the government, otherwise thousands of federal employees will have furlough days.

GLOBAL Eighteen dead after gunman siege in Kabul Gunmen raged an Afghan hotel, killing 18 people. Of those 18 people, 14 were foreign nationals and four were Afghans. The gunmen attacked the hotel at around 11:30 am on Sun. after a 12-hour standoff with security.

Around 153 people were rescued from the hotel during the attack. The attackers were affiliated with the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, according to the Interior Ministry.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

GENDER INCLUSIVITY: PRONOUN POLITICS How to navigate pronouns on our inclusive campus VICTOR SLEDGE Staff Reporter

Students in between classes at Library Plaza.

S

he, he, and they. How can you be mindful of her, him, or them by using her, his, or their correct pronouns?

On our campus, more professors and students are starting to mind pronouns. Some professors are making it a point to encourage students to establish what pronouns they’d like to use in class in their syllabus or during icebreakers. Students are also asking what pronouns their classmates would prefer during first-time introductions. This invites students to share their preferences with classmates and professors as opposed to assuming that there are only two genders in the class, which might discourage them from speaking up.

As our campus and city continue to push forward for equality on all fronts, gender equality and representation are areas that have received some push back and remained unexplored by many. So here’s a quick crash course on navigating gender inclusivity.

GENDER, SEX, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

First of all, we can’t have the gender conversation without identifying the right terms. The first is gender. Contrary to what (still) may be popular belief, gender is no longer a binary construct. People are assigned their sex at birth based on their anatomy between male and female, but the term “gender” has a deeper meaning once people grow to be able to articulate and discover themselves and what best represents who they are.

Gender identity describes an individual’s inner feelings about their gender, which they decide to identify as externally. It starts from within and each individual decides for themselves how they’d like to be identified and referred to by other people. Individual gender expression can also be different.

Genderspectrum.org says, “Expectations around expression are taught to us from the moment we are born, and communicated through every aspect of our lives.”

Despite this fact, gender can’t be pinned

PHOTO BY JULIAN PINEDA | THE SIGNAL

by someone’s outward expression. Gender identity also does not necessarily coincide with any fixed notion of masculinity or femininity.

A person who identifies as a boy may like to dress in what society has labeled feminine clothes.

A girl who dresses in feminine clothes may not identify as boy or girl but as a non-binary.

Whatever the case, cisgender, non-binary, agender, transgender and more, gender is a spectrum of identities. It cannot be simplified to a binary system.

Now sex is the assignment given to us at birth based on our genitals. Although this also is usually the first gender we are identified with, that assignment is (like discussed before) is in no way concrete. While gender is something we can decide or feel for ourselves as something we identify with, sex is just what anatomy we were born with. Sex and gender also do not determine sexual orientation.

Sexual orientation is who we are attracted to either physically, emotionally, or in any romantic sense. Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual-- the list of sexual orientations goes on. An important idea that is not always explained in sexual orientation is that for many people, it is fluid. While someone may identify as bisexual one day, they may have an experience that could cause them to identify as anything else another day.

Similarly, they could revert right back to being bisexual at any time.

What’s important here is that sexual orientation is often a journey of self-discovery similar to gender. Both identifications are up to individual discretion and is not necessarily a permanent piece of their identity.

PRONOUN POLITICS

Knowing the difference between those terms is just the basics of being mindful of how we delegate pronouns. The real application comes from keeping those ideas in mind in everyday life.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) offers some helpful tips about pronouns for transgender people that can

also be helpful to any other gender identification.

They affirm again that someone’s gender can’t be determined by their looks. With that in mind, it’s better not to assume their pronouns upfront.

GLAAD suggests, “If you don’t know what pronouns to use, listen first.”

Often times people who have known the person longer will know what pronouns to use, so listening to how other people address them can be insightful. Even then, there’s a possibility someone close to them is not addressing them correctly. An upfront but polite way to ask is to introduce yourself and the pronouns you use, and then ask them for the same. This way you hear straight from the horse’s mouth how they identify.

GLAAD also suggests respecting the terminology (such as pronouns) a person uses to identify themselves. There are quite a few gender identifications, not all of which you may understand, but it’s important not to question someone’s identification of choice.

You should also make it a point to match the pronoun with their gender identification. Even if someone was going by she/her pronouns when you met them, if they now identify as they/them, address them as such.

To that effect once again, gender is something that can be explored before it becomes settled. As gender identification changes, preferred pronouns can change as well.

Although it may not always be the case, many people will identify as pronouns according to their gender. For example, most trans-women use she/her pronouns. Most non-binaries use they/them pronouns. These examples are tentative, but just a way to start associating identification with pronouns.

HOW TO BE AN ALLY

Gender inclusivity in general is making progress in our society. You can help that progression in some simple ways with pronouns.

For example, in a group meeting, stay away from addressing the crowd as “ladies and gentlemen.” It is more respectful to use gender

neutral terms such as “everyone” or “team.”

Instead of addressing a stranger as “the girl over there,” maybe say, “the one with the scarf and glasses.” Small changes like this can make a world of difference for someone discovering their own gender identity.

GLAAD and other groups agree that “it is better to admit you don’t know something than to make assumptions or say something that may be incorrect or hurtful.”

The best thing to do is to ask and listen.

Even then, if people aren’t open, don’t force them. Avoiding gender specific terms can be a good way to respect someone who maybe is still not sure or don’t want to disclose what they want to identify as.

Even with this information, no one is perfect.

So, if you make a mistake, just apologize wholeheartedly and make the correction.

Nevertheless, having these conversations is a healthy way to ensure that we all feel accepted, no matter what we identify as.

HOW TO HELP? ASK! Remember, it’s almost always easier to ask upfront than to apologize for using the wrong pronouns later. Don’t assume anyone’s preferences by first glance, and don’t judge what they’d like to be addressed as.

Here are a few introductions that might help you get in the habit of asking pronouns when you first meet someone: 1. My name is ________. I use ______ pronouns, what about you?

2. Nice to meet you, _______. What pronouns should I use for you?

3. Hi, _______. I heard someone address you with ______ pronouns, are those the ones you prefer?

PAGE DESIGN BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL

Local backdrops to make your Instagram pop right around the corner

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AUTUMN BOEKELOO Staff Reporter

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rtists, sculptures, and designers — famous and unknown — spend countless hours to create eyecatching works of art in the heart of Atlanta. Behind each piece is an artist’s muse, and with every design, their feelings are expressed to create a masterpiece. These photoworthy spots stand as a landmark for local Atlantans, and have become the backdrop of several Instagram feeds. To up your own Insta-game, check out these locations with the most acclaimed backdrops in the city.

PAINT DRIPPING ON THE BELTLINE 985 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

By: HENSE Why you should go: This abstract wall on the Beltline was painted

by Atlanta native Alex Brewer, who is widely known in the art community as HENSE. Notorious for his colorful abstract paintings, HENSE turned a drab wall turn into a photography hub from iPhone to Canon users alike. Not to mention, this statement wall is the perfect shot for foodie enthusiasts. Sweet treats will look even tastier in front of this pink and blue pastel backdrop.

Photo idea: With a delicious ice cream cone in hand, make the focus of your photo a decadent strawberry treat in front of this dripping pastel wall to sweeten up your feed. For an extra touch of color to accent the wall, add on some rainbow sprinkles on top.

KEEP GOING WALL ART

2 THE BOULEVARD TUNNEL Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

By: MOMO Why you should go: While Living Walls and MOMO have created a colorful masterpiece, the paint does not mask the struggles within the community the Boulevard Tunnel sits between. While the tunnel sits so close to the thriving city, it is a clear representation that not everything in the city is new and flourishing. Fortunately, the Cabbagetown community has made several efforts to improve the tunnel, and it has since become a safer place for photographers and walkers.

Photo idea: For LGBTQ Atlantans, the long-strokes of rainbow paint entering the tunnel is a staple for exerting your pride. Standing in the middle of the two painted walls (be mindful of passing cars) with your back facing the camera and arms open will express your freedom on your Instagram feed.

675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 Why you should go: To the naked eye, it may seem like a simple direction sign; however, for survivors of depression and anxiety, this painting symbolizes strength. This wall is a reminder to persist, and look to the future for change.

Photo idea: For the survivors and those who have battled, take a photo walking in the way of the arrow to showcase your strength.

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4 VERTICAL RECTANGLES

The Beltline, Eastside Trail at Angier Springs

By: Tim Frank This untitled sculpture created by Tim Frank was selected by the Schrager Family Foundation with an uncommon set of rules. The foundation requested the sculpture be viewable from 100 yards away. So luckily, if you’re bike riding or taking an afternoon stroll on the Beltline, this spot will be hard to miss. This spot is ideal for a unique shot between the various vertical rectangular strips.

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KROG STREET TUNNEL 1 Krog St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

By: Various artists Why you should go: Located between Inman Park and Cabbagetown, Krog Street Tunnel displays the talent of various underground Atlanta artists. Locals tell their stories and express their creativity on the graffiti-covered walls, free on display for any passerby. This tunnel is ideal for taking photos with unique angles and experimenting with natural lighting.

Photo idea: To put major focus on an object or a person in your photo, use the natural light peaking through the cracks of the tunnel to dignify its importance. (Ex: A Yeezy would be ideal for sneakerhead Instagram accounts.)

10 THE CUPCAKE ATM

3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326 Located in the shopping center of Lenox Square, Sprinkles Cupcakes has an unordinary way of delivering cupcakes to their customers. The Cupcake ATM actually dispenses your cupcake of choice through an in-wall ATM. If you’re looking to spice up your feed with a Boomerang, this spot is for you. Have a friend or passerby take a Boomerang of you in awe as the ATM dispenses a cupcake. This is a cute and fun pastel edition to any drab Instagram account.

NEON SIGN AT SWITCHYARDS DOWNTOWN CLUB 151 Ted Turner Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Why you should go: While Switchyards serves cold drinks and spirits, it also serves as a glowing Instagram backdrop. In the window at the bar is a “Made with soul in ATL” neon sign. The neon sign trend is dominating the Insta-scene right now, so this spot will definitely light up your feed.

Photo idea: Stand inside Switchyards Downtown Club gazing out the window (not looking directly at the camera) below the neon sign. The glow of the sign will accentuate your facial features and make for a classy “night out on the town” snap.

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11 TINY DOORS ATL

Located at random spots in Atlanta like: Inman Bark and Ponce City Market

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By: Karen Anderson Want to take photos like a giant? Tiny Doors ATL is a small-scale artistry business with a surprise factor.

Photographers, you will love these tiny doors scattered around the city for an unusual angled photo. With 11 total tiny doors hidden around the city, photographers have a wide variety of colors and themes to choose from for their feed.

ATLANTA SIGN AT PHILIPS ARENA 1 Philips Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303

After watching a Hawks game or jamming out at a concert, be sure to take a picture in front of this Atlanta sign at Philips Arena. It’s subtle, but with a sleek look. You will need to stand quite far away to fit the entire sign in the shot. For Canon and Nikon users, this location is ideal for experimenting with a wide-angle lense. iPhone users can also purchase a clip-on lense for an inexpensive price on Amazon.

“PURSUIT IS HAPPINESS”

675 Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite NW 208, Atlanta, GA 30308

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By: Sean Metcaft Why you should go: The painting at Ponce City Market is the best edition to a black and white Instagram feed. With a bright white calligraphy on top of a black wall, this design is a cheerful reminder to pursue your aspirations for overall happiness in the end. This spot is the best location for the quickest snap ever.

Photo idea: If you are superior in writing, a sport, or dancing, this wall will showcase it with character. For instance, for basketball players, spin the basketball on your finger in front of this painting to show you are pursuing your love of the game.

ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY WALL Howell Mill and 10th Street

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A FINAL NOTE Visiting and taking pictures of these works of art will boost your feed, and promote the artists. However, as a safety precaution, and to experience the full effect of the artwork, The Signal recommends viewing the artwork during the day. With a never-ending canvas, these Insta-worthy works of art are subject to change, so hurry to each location to ensure your feed is popping with the colors of Atlanta.

THE MUSIC ROOM

Who loves animals? Better yet-- who loves pictures with their favorite pup? I know I do! This Atlanta mural outside the Humane Society is chic and slick-- perfect for a black-and-white themed Instagram.

TAG US @GSUSIGNAL DURING YOUR TOUR!

327 Edgewood Ave Downstairs, Atlanta, GA 30312 Located in the heart of Sweet Auburn, and only steps away from Georgia State, sits The Music Room. The front of the underground concert hall is decked out from wall to wall as an old-school boombox.

PHOTOS BY VANESSA JOHNSON, JULIAN PINEDA AND AUTUMN BOEKELOO & PHOTO COURTESY OF KHOA TRAN & PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

College-student livin’

events not to miss

Enjoying downtime without hurting your wallet

If you like performance art collectives, join the Brockhampton band for their Love Your Parents Tour at the Buckhead Theater at 8 pm.

There is a restaurant and bar on the balcony level.

Staff Reporter

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thursday, jan. 25 Antiques show!

If you’re an old soul and looking for some reminiscing, the Cathedral of Saint Philip is holding an antique show and a home show (Jan. 28) with over a dozen dealers with furniture, jewelry and art!

After classes students are able to walk to the Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park.

attire without spending money- you’re broke, you know?). If you don’t want to be tempted by the clothing and knick knacks, Georgia State has a movie theatre of their own called Cinefest that not only screens blockbuster films, but also independent films made by Georgia State students.

4. Just…Hang Out: Some of life’s best memories are made by spending time with friends. Meeting up and interacting with other people is better for your physical and mental health. We’re not talking about blogging or scrolling through Instagram and Snapchat. Face to face interactions create a chemistry between people that simply cannot be felt on a cellular device. It’s advantageous for your personal life, as well as your professional life.

PHOTO BYJULIAN PINEDA | THE SIGNAL

We’ve all heard, “it’s who you know”. Paired with our Georgia State degrees and “what we know”, socializing is a great way to relax and plan for the future These are just a few basic ideas of things that you can do and not break the bank. Surely, you’ve reminisced with older family members or friends who told you about the days when they were in college and they were so broke that they improvised to the extremes to enjoy themselves. If they did it, why can’t we? One of these days you’ll look back on your college life, how you were so low on dough that your nightly dinners consisted of microwave burritos and spoiled milk, and smile because those were the good old days.

Saturation III is anything but saturated

California’s Brockhampton separates themselves with a great group effort JALEN JENKINS Staff Reporter

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usical groups of young people have the power to shift cultures.

NWA came together and shed light upon the issue of police brutality through hard hitting, honest hip-hop. Odd Future brought a raw collection of talent completely by themselves, giving creative powerhouses like Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean the recognition they deserve. Youthful expression is almost unparalleled in its ability to decide what’s cool and in its ability to inspire.

Brockhampton, a California based hip-hop group, has been steadily putting out albums since their first mixtape released March 2016, and is a great example of youthful expression coming strong for the new year. Their latest release, Saturation III, is the third and final release of the Saturation series that started with their official debut album, and this American boy band is on a hot streak.

Not comparing Brockhampton to their California colleagues Odd Future is difficult.

Both groups have a diverse lineup of styles within their members and emotional delivery from each one of those members. A big difference is that, while Odd Future was creative, its members were immature, but Brockhampton seems to be completely in touch with their emotions. Most songs talk about the difficulty of being young, relationships, and just

Wednesday, jan. 24 Brockhampton in Buckhead

STEFAN DE LA GUARDIA

e get it. College is expensive and money doesn’t grow on trees. We can’t go to a sit-down every week after a nice day of shopping and order ourselves a sirloin steak with a sparkling water. With constant attention to dedication and studies, there is little downtime.

And things around campus are so expensive (given it is Downtown Atlanta), you usually end up breaking the bank. Fortunately, I have some basic ideas that will help you not only enjoy your downtime more, but also keep your wallet from flying out of your hands.

1. Take a Walk: One of the most basic, yet most effective ways to enjoy downtime. Walking not only relieves stress, but also gives your body a bit of healthy physical activity. Atlanta is full of mystery streets and attractions; you never know what you may run into. Some places to walk include Centennial Olympic Park, The Beltline, and Piedmont Park.

2. Sleep: This is pretty simple, and free! School causes many to lose tons of sleep (I know- college is difficult). There are so many benefits to recharging your batteries and getting back on a sleep schedule.

Studies have shown that sleep can help prevent depression, lower stress, improve memory, reduce inflammation, and assist with weight management.

So go ahead, have a little snooze.

3. Go to the Movies: Movies are a fundamental tradition of what to do in your downtime. Whether it’s a date night, or a night out with the lads, going to the movies never disappoints. Many theatres are pairing with shopping malls. Atlantic Station, for example, offers a multitude of spots for you to walk around and “window shop” (looking at

jan. 24 - jan. 30

generally questioning what everything means in the world they are living.

Saturation III clocks in at 15 tracks, stylized with the songs all capitalized on Spotify. Their own label Question Everything, Inc. is listed as the label they are on. These 15 tracks do a great job showcasing two different things: the production and their influences. Boogie knocks the door down with sound as soon as the play button is hit, with a big horn melody in front of a siren. The hook and the production are very reminiscent of N.E.R.D., but as soon as that ends, “ZIPPER” begins, which gives huge vibes of early “Marshall Mathers LP”-era Eminem.

Each song also shows a different Brockhampton strength. The group has a knack for catchy hooks, like in “STUPID” and “JOHNNY,” which has a few of those emotional youth lines in there like, “I’m a shithead son, and I’m bad at growing up” followed immediately by “My life hasn’t been the same since my dog died, since my girl left” and a disdain for feelings in general. Seems like a bummer, but in the tone of lines such as these is a sense of hope only young musicians would be able draw upon. It’s an understanding that life has sucked and maybe sucks now, but things are looking up even in the slightest way.

A real high point in the album is from the song “BLEACH.” This song comes in like a wave in slow motion. It hits the brain in such a lush way, with great falsetto singing parts and instrumental work. Verses vibe perfectly with the hook and is at a perfect head bobbing tempo.

FRIDAY, jan. 26 Camping & RV Show Get ready for a wild road trip this summer with a brand new RV at this Atlanta Camping & RV show.

Dealers with wheels, campers and travel retails will be selling their merchandise at the Atlanta Exposition Center South.

saturday, jan. 27 Get your Gras on!

For the 21+ students, Virginia Highlands will be home to the Mardi Gras bar crawl this year with beads, food and drink specials for all to enjoy across different bars each within walking distance!

sunday, jan. 28 Volunteer with the Teardown Join Food Not Bombs at the Teardown at 80 Mayson Ave at 11 a.m. to help with food prep, or rendezvous with them at Woodruff Park at 2 p.m. to serve food to the hungry in the park.

monday, jan. 29 The Lion King Live It is always a good look to see a show at the Fox Theatre, and what better way than to revisit this childhood classic. Sit back and enjoy the brilliant costumes and score with amazingly talented performers!

GRADE

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VERDICT Brockhampton is doing an original thing even with their influences showing like they are. The rapping and singing are done well and brings different vibes to the table. The album does not overstay its welcome and puts Brockhampton in a great place for their future.

tuesday, jan. 30 Jewish Film Festival The 18th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is hosting film screenings in theaters across Atlanta, at the Perimeter Pointe, Atlantic Station and Hollywood 24. Find your tickets at ajff.org.

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

ILLUSTRATION BY PHILIP DURAL | THE SIGNAL

Have no fear, Trump is here!

Trump’s tweets to North Korea shouldn’t scare you

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JAMES FOX Staff Reporter

James is a journalism major on the Downtown campus. He likes MMA and being outdoors.

When he can’t get outside he spends his free time reading and writing. He grew up in East Atlanta and loves his city.

Tweet JAMES!

@KingJames21usa

he recent false alarm in Hawaii has everybody spooked about a possible nuclear attack from North Korea. While the governor of Hawaii David Ige claimed somebody just “pushed the wrong button,” panicstricken Hawaiian residents fled their homes in fear of a non-existent threat. President Donald Trump released a statement on the situation saying that “Clearly, government agencies are not prepared” and that there is a “lack the capacity to deal with emergency situations.” Just a few days later, there was another false alarm in Japan from its national public broadcaster the NHK, but this was corrected in just five minutes. Hawaii has since changed its emergency protocols as the national Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said, “[Everybody] can trust government systems, we test them every day. This was a very unfortunate mistake.”

While this alert was fake, the threat of a nuclear attack is a real and present danger. In his New Year’s address on January 2, 2018, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un stated, “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, and a nuclear button is always on my desk.” President Trump responded by saying, “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” But contrary to what many in the media will tell you, Trump’s tweets are not putting Americans at risk. They actually ensure our security.

The response to Trump’s tweet was absolute hysteria. In an interview on MSNBC, former Vice President Joe Biden said he thought it reflected negatively on the president. “I think it shows poor judgment for the president to perform as he does, particularly with tweets…words matter. The only war that’s worse than one intended is one that’s unintended.” But the fatal flaw with Biden’s assessment of Trump’s tweet is that he assumes Trump does not intend to go to war. Trump will initiate war without hesitation, but only if it’s absolutely necessary. By taking this position, I think President Trump is intelligently fulfilling the role of Commander-in-Chief.

The Oxford Dictionary definition of nuclear deterrence is “the military doctrine according to

which the possibility that a country will use the nuclear weapons it possesses in retaliation will deter an enemy from attacking.” According to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the Cold War led to “the United States and the Soviet Union each [building] a stockpile of nuclear weapons. Soviet policy rested on the conviction that a nuclear war could be fought and won.” So while the Soviets built nuclear weapons to initiate war, the US stockpiled weapons to prevent war.

The Soviet nuclear policies during the Cold War had a major influence on Kim Jong Un’s own nuclear strategy, but the North Korean dictator takes it even further. In a 2009 Atlantic article entitled “North Korea, the Next Iraq?” by Robert Kaplan, the author writes, “Nuclear tests and missile launches are his own warped way of trying to get the attention of the new Obama administration. He needs to be enough of a problem that Washington will have no choice but to deal with him directly.” North Korea has its missiles to keep us out. Kim Jong Il’s strategy was to use them as a deterrent to prevent foreign powers from meddling with his regime. If this were still the case, we probably wouldn’t have a problem allowing the regime to continue constructing and improving nuclear technology.

But while Kim Jong Il was willing to negotiate with foreign powers, his son Kim Jong Un continues to push the international community by threatening North Korea’s neighbors, testing nuclear missiles, and expanding its nuclear program.

Trump’s response to Kim Jong Un’s veiled threat to the US was in faithful practice of nuclear deterrence.

Trump is letting the North Korean dictator know that a nuclear war with the United States is not a game—if Korea were to make the first strike, we are going to shoot that missile out of the

sky and respond in full force. While this may sound like an excessive show of force, we have to realize that any nuclear strike on the US or our allies would be devastating. According to a study

by Princeton University, the smallest nuclear bomb, at 20 kilotons, would kill 98 percent of the population in an urban area 1.2 miles in diameter.

And that’s an understatement of the real damage it would cause. Outside of that area, there would still be destruction and intense radiation. Any threat of such an attack should be taken seriously.

Many people want to believe we can resolve this conflict with negotiations or sanctions or by forcing North Korea to give up its nuclear program. But prospects in this direction look bleak. We can just look at the negotiations to save the life of Otto Warmbier as proof that North Korea is unwilling to work with the US on anything. Otto Warmbier was an American student who was imprisoned by the North Korean government for stealing a poster. After being tortured and abused in prison, he was sent back to the US in a coma covered in sores where he died after just six weeks. Ri Yong-pil, a senior Foreign Ministry official from North Korea, claims the US let Warmbier die to “stir up antiCommunist hatred.”

By letting Kim Jong Un know that, if North Korea were to try such an attack they will have their country leveled, I believe Trump is playing his cards right. Even a crazed, narcissistic dictator of a backwoods Communist hellhole can understand self-preservation. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of the “fire and fury” of a nuclear attack by the United States. Trump’s tweets shouldn’t frighten anybody here in America. He does that to let us know we’re safe, and to let them know not to mess with us or our allies.

EDITORIAL

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

editorial Everything you need to know about the government shutdown

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inally, the time has come, as we all expected, when Democrats and Republicans could no longer physically stand being in the same room. Unless you’ve been living in a nuclear fallout shelter for the past few days, you know the US government has shut down. This year’s shutdown, which landed coincidentally on Donald Trump’s one-year anniversary of being in office, was a result of House and Senate members being unable to renew a government funding bill. But how did that cause a shutdown? And why was Congress incapable of reaching an agreement?

The funding bill is pretty fundamental. Each year, Congress needs to renew the bill in order for all government-funded agencies to receive the funding they need to continue functioning and sending out paychecks to their employees. So, while on a government shutdown, all employees are placed on ‘furlough,’ a kind of ‘leave-of-absence’ and contrary to popular concerns, their paychecks are only being withheld during the shutdown. Once the government gears on again, employees will receive

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their payment.

But for some departments, furlough isn’t acceptable. The most noticeable result of the government shutdown was the immediate halt of payment for U.S. armed services and death benefits.

Active United States military around the world voiced their anger over the shutdown, propelling military funding to the top priority within shutdown discussions. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri proposed a bipartisan effort to restore military funding before addressing DACA concerns.

“I remember in 2013 we did this right off the bat,” McCaskill said of her goal to immediately restore military funding. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to McCaskill’s proposal, saying, “My hope is that we can restore funding for the entire government before this becomes necessary.”

McConnell’s remarks prompted even more outrage over the shutdown, and exposed McConnell as using the military as a political pawn to coerce the Democrats to pass a bipartisan appropriations bill without DACA funding.

But in the middle of the fuss of the government shut-down, and much like every fight or argument we have in our lives (ever), it is important to look at the roots of the problem. Why wasn’t Congress able to get the funding bill signed anyway? The shutdown is a way for Democrats to force Republicans into signing a bill which would allow DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) individuals to remain in the US without getting deported by the new administration (a regulation which Trump has flip-flopped on multiple times). In an effort to express their disconcertion, the Democrats refused to give the Senate the 60 member majority it required to pass the funding bill. To anyone who had been following the fight for DACA within Congress in the past week, this was no surprise.

DACA students and supporters had nested within both chambers and chanted alongside Democrat Congress members for the passing of a bill allowing them to stay.

Proving once again, stubbornness gets the work done (or shuts down governments).

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

Georgia State basketball teams watch their favorite players for entertainment and to add to their skill sets.

PHOTOS BY JULIAN PINEDA | THE SIGNAL

FANS OF THE GAME FIRST

Panther basketball teams are full-time students of the game JERELL RUSHIN Sports Editor

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asketball is a simple sport. Watch a game for 30 seconds and the objective is clear as day—put the ball in the basket. More newbees gravitate to basketball in comparison to other sports due to ease of learning it. It’s also why veterans stick around.

“You can never get enough of basketball,” Malik Benlevi of the men’s basketball said as he cracked a smile.

As if they don’t spend plenty of time on the court, Benlevi, Devin Mitchell, Jeff Thomas and D’Marcus Simonds all engulf themselves with basketball during free time.

D’MARCUS SIMONDS

“That’s pretty much all I do everyday,” Simonds said. “I come here [GSU Sports Arena], practice, do film and then after that I just go back and watch some old games or anything on TV about ball. You know, that’s what I love.”

Old games for Simonds include games the Panthers played this season and Hardwood Classics, a series of the NBA’s greatest games. One of the best games he saw on the series is when Michael Jordan threw down 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That does not influence his opinion that Lebron james is the best player to ever pick up a basketball. Simonds studies James’ highlights twice a week. Russell Westbrook holds the title of Simonds favorite player, citing his aggression.

He’s a homer when it comes to his top team, the Atlanta Hawks.

DEVIN MITCHELL

Mitchell says he watches basketball on WatchESPN pretty much 24/7 if he isn’t playing.

Accompanying him is usually Thomas and big

man Jordan Sessions. He catches his brother Jalen play in person at nearby Clark Atlanta and his cousin Jordan Goldwire on TV at Duke.

Devin Mitchell has worn No. 24 on his jersey since the seventh grade in honor of the recently retired Kobe Bryant. Mitchell began wearing 24 in a golden time for Bryant fans, as the Los Angeles Lakers began a streak of two straight NBA championships.

“Since he’s left the league, I’d have to say Bradley Beal is my favorite player. I feel like we play alike. We’re kind of the same size, so he’s somebody I watch and try to emulate my game after a little bit,” Mitchell said at 6’4” and 195 lbs.

Mitchell singled out Tookie Brown of Georgia Southern and Wesley Person from Troy as a few standouts in the Sun Belt Conference.

LeBron James fan. Whatever team James plays for, Malik roots for them. Benlevi’s father bought him a blue James jersey when he was a kid and he wore it all the time.

“He knows every spot, point guard through center for each play that they have. I took that from him. So every play that we run, I know all five positions,” Benlevi said.

This unusual versatility and knowledge pays off. Benlevi ranks either first or second on the team in six major categories. Kevin Durant is also a favorite because of his unrivaled shooting ability.

“In high school I used to watch his [basketball] mixtape with ‘All of the Above’, the T-Pain song.

I used watch that like every day on the bus,” Benlevi reminisced.

Miami Heat.

“He’s my favorite player. 3 is my favorite number. That’s why I got 3 because of Dwayne Wade. I look up to him. I love his game.

Everybody says how he’s so old, but I think he’s still good. He’s actually doing really well right now.”

Wade’s leadership and ability to play point guard, shooting guard and small forward stand out to Murphy. Murphy even mimics her layups after the two-time NBA champion. The San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich is by far her favorite coach. Murphy loves his ‘spicy side’ in her own words and how focused he is on his team during in-game interviews.

JEFF THOMAS

FRANCESCA MINALI

When Madison Newby, the 2016 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year watches basketball, she looks at how other point guards hold command over their teams.

“People look to you to know where to go because point guard has to know all of the plays,” Newby said. “So you have to tell people where to go sometimes if they’re not sure. That’s just the role of being a point guard.”

Newby liked Morgan William’s leadership of Mississippi State during their early season matchup. Nonetheless, her favorites stay inhouse.

“My favorite women’s basketball player is my sister, Autumn Newby who goes to Vanderbilt and also Kierra [Henry]. Kierra is really good. I look up to her and she’s my best friend.”

Gravitating to a particular player comes for two reasons: in some way you can relate to the player or you subconsciously relate to the player.

Thomas’ guy is Kevin Durant, the tall and silky smooth small forward.

“I liked Kevin Durant ever since he came into the league. I used to be tall and people used to underestimate my shooting and he can shoot like the top. I feel like it’s one of my best features.”

Klay Thompson may be even more impressive to Thomas because of his legendary quick releasing jumpshot. Yet another Golden State Warrior lands on Thomas’ list of players he admires. His name is Stephen Curry.

“When I was younger and Steph Curry just came in [the NBA]. The shot with a very high arch and every time it just goes: Scoop! Scoop,” Thomas exclaimed. “I watched that and studied it a little bit. Now I feel like my jump shot has he same arch as him because every time it has a better chance of going in.”

MALIK BENLEVI

Mr. Versatility, Malik Benlevi is a big time

Francesca Minali, forward on the women’s basketball from Stezzano, Italy has a vastly different sports spectrum. Catching the NBA was difficult because they don’t usually tipoff until 1:00 a.m. in Italy. Instead, she grew up watching much more soccer which she says is a must back home. Familia Schio is the best basketball team in Italy according to Minali.

“They play in the EuroLeague. They have a lot of players who play on the National team in Italy.

So if you want to see good games [in Italy] watch their games,” Minali said.

NCAA games were not even an option because they were not broadcasted on Sky Sport, who Minali compared to ESPN. Now, Minali’s favorite women’s basketball programs to watch are Georgia Tech and Wake Forest because of the Italian connection. Georgia Tech has three Italians on their roster and Wake Forest has one.

JANESSA MURPHY

Janessa Murphy watches the Cleveland Cavaliers a lot, but her fandom for Dwayne Wade dates back to his championship days with the

MADISON NEWBY

KIERRA HENRY

While the leading scorer for the Panthers doesn’t watch basketball during her down time, she is as attentive as they come during her games.

She looks at who goes hard to the basket for rebounds and how opponents play offensively and defensively so she doesn’t get exposed.

SPORTS

14

Hunter Gaddis pitching during a baseball game against Minnesota on Sunday, Feb.18, 2017.

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Taking another swing at Sun Belt title

Men’s baseball need to start the season good and end it off great TAJ STRICKLAND Staff Reporter

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t is that time of the year for Georgia State’s men’s baseball. The season will start with the Atlanta Challenge on Friday, Feb. 16th, and the regular season starting Tuesday, Feb. 20th. The Panthers look to bounce back from last year’s season, which ended with a 21-4 loss in the Sun Belt championships to their rival, Arkansas State.

Baseball finished the 2017 season with a 22-33 overall record, 6-17 road record and a 14-13 record when they were playing at home.

Georgia State was winners against Minnesota and 14th ranked Ole Miss on the road.

Catching up with head coach Greg Frady, we conversed about the Panthers season last year, including their loss to Arkansas State in the first game of the Sun Belt Championship. Coach Frady is ready to move on from it and get to this season.

“Last year is last year and I’m ready to move on,” said Coach Frady, putting an emphasis on health, which the Panthers struggled with last year mildly. “The most important thing to have during the season is healthy players,” said Coach Frady.

The Signal asked what the team’s biggest motivation was for this upcoming season and he commented, “To be the best, to win the Sun Belt Championship and to reach the NCAA Baseball Tournament.”

Coach Frady also accredited the returning

seniors and their experience, but also added, “It does not matter whether it is a freshman or senior, they need to play good.” With players from Georgia State getting drafted into the MLB, Frady is very excited for the season and has said that he wants nothing but for his players to have a career year and to succeed.

No one cares more about his players and their health than Coach Frady and would find a lot of joy in his players’ success and watching them play the game they love. Frady also gave credit to teams he has faced and will face this upcoming season.

“We have a really good team, but so does everybody else...We have to just stay healthy and compete,” said Frady.

Not only does he care about his players, but he has the utmost confidence in his team being Sun Belt champs and going further than that.

The Panthers have a lot to look forward to this season with a healthy, strong squad and some new transfers coming in. One of them is Jake Corso, a junior infielder from Orlando, Florida. He attended Northwest Florida State College prior to transferring to Georgia State.

At Northwest Florida State, Corso had a batting average of .326 with four home runs and 31 RBIs as a sophomore. He also finished his sophomore campaign with a .444 on-base percentage.

Another junior transfer, Enrique Ferrer, is another exciting addition to the Panther family.

A transfer from Florida Southwestern, Ferrer averaged a .295 batting average as a sophomore with three home runs, two triples, six doubles

and 20 RBIs. Ferrer also cashed in 33 runs in his sophomore year.

Hopefully for the Panthers, Coach Frady’s confidence in his young, experienced team will pay off throughout the season. Frady also talked about the Georgia Southern-Georgia State rivalry and how important it is to him.

He was adamant about how every game is important. However, he was fully aware of the rivalry, calling it competitive and mentioning how they are 5-5 in the past 10 games against Georgia Southern. Last season, the Georgia State Panthers were 2-1 against the Eagles with the first win against Georgia Southern ending in a grand slam by Ryan Blanton.

The Panthers will also have to improve on winning against teams in the Sun Belt Conference. Last season, the Panthers had a record of 10-20 against teams in their conference. It is going to be a long season for Georgia State men’s baseball, but if they stay healthy, remain consistent and find comfort on the road, everyone could quite possibly see them in the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

The way Coach Frady backs up his players should not only be inspirational, but rewarded solely on how he wants the best for this Panthers team and how he wishes them a career year.

The Georgia State Panthers will begin their journey for greatness on Feb. 16 at the GSU Baseball Complex against the Bradley Braves during the Atlanta Challenge. After they cap the challenge off against the Connecticut Huskies and Minnesota Gophers, the Panthers face the Auburn Tigers on Feb. 20.

— Went 3-0 in the Atlanta Challenge to begin last season — 10-20 in conference — 12-13 in nonconference games — Won series against Northern Kentucky, Army, Troy, LouisianaMonroe, Texas State and Georgia Southern — Threw the most walks in the Sun Belt with 334

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

SPORTS

15

Panthers pounce on the Eagles

panther of the week

Easy work made of Georgia Southern last Saturday D’MITRI CHIN

Associate Sports Editor

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here was no love to be found in the GSU Sports Arena, as the Georgia State Panthers (14-6, 5-2) faced off against Georgia Southern (14-6, 5-2) in what was an exhilarating game from start to finish. Although the Panthers clawed the Eagles 83-66 on Saturday, this sold-out affair was nothing short of amazing. In fact, the 3,584 fans in attendance had such an impact on this game that head coach Ron Hunter pleaded for the Georgia State faithful to continue to support the Panthers as the season continues.

“What a great game and a great environment,” Hunter said. “Our fans gave us some incredible energy in the second half. We needed that. It picked our guys up to play some of the best defense I have seen all season.”

Georgia Southern’s most coveted player, Tookie Brown, was inactive against the Panthers as he suffered a concussion and was not yet cleared to play. Nonetheless, the Panthers played quality basketball on both ends of the floor.

If you happened to miss this electrifying game, here were the keys to victory for the Panthers:

THE PANTHERS’ OFFENSE TOO MUCH TO HANDLE

D’Marcus Simonds was apparently enthusiastic about playing against the Eagles because he was just short of a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Simonds was aggressive throughout the game, and that led to other Panthers getting involved offensively. Jeff Thomas (15), Isaiah Williams (16) and Malik Benlevi (11) were the beneficiaries of Simonds driving to the basket and kicking it out to the open man. Georgia Southern was unable to cover the many shooters that Hunter possesses on this team, and that led to the Panthers shooting 48 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the floor for the game.

THE PANTHERS GO HARD IN THE PAINT

Georgia State had 30 points in the painted area against Southern, which is somewhat a surprise

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Francesca Minali

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

D’Marcus Simonds shoots a free throw during the game against Georgia Southern on Jan. 20.

given the Panthers’ identity is shooting the three ball. Along with Simonds’ ability to drive the lane with aggression and finesse, big men Jordan Session and Jordan Tyson were very active in the paint totaling 11 points.

ISAIAH WILLIAMS SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT

Williams is one of the two seniors on this year’s Panthers team, and as of lately, he’s been playing like it. Against Southern, Williams was inserted into the game when Simonds found himself in early foul trouble and contributed in a major way. In fact, Hunter says that Williams will be a pivotal piece for this team moving forward.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

“My seniors are playing like seniors that want to win a championship,” Hunter said. “[Isaiah]’s relaxed. Before, the crowd would get on him when he wouldn’t take those shots, and now he’s taking those shots. He just relaxed a little bit.”

“Whenever you play in a season, there are your ups and downs; it’s how you handle the downs when things get that way, so he handled that very well. And every player kinda goes through it. But you’re starting to see right now as he’s peaking, our team is starting to peak right now.”

With a huge win against the Eagles, the Panthers are now looking ahead to their next match against UT Arlington (13-7, 4-3) on Thursday. The Jan. 25 game will tip off at 7:15 p.m. inside the GSU Sports Arena.

Panthers dominate Eagles from start to finish Georgia State finally got its first conference win of the season CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

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hen it comes to the Georgia State and Georgia Southern rivalry—like with any rivalry-- nothing’s for sure. But if recent history is any indicator, the Panthers will likely reign supreme.

Both teams entered today’s game winless in conference play (0-6) and riding losing streaks.

One team was guaranteed a conference win to end their dreaded losing steaks.

On this day, it would be the Panthers who came out victorious, after a dominating 71-56 over the Eagles or “That Team Down South” as some people like to call them. It is now the Panthers fourth straight win over the Eagles.

“I was really proud of our basketball team,” Coach Sharon Baldwin said. “I thought we played really hard; I thought we competed. Obviously, we got on the glass, and really wanted to come out and get a win and start to get this thing turned the other way.”

Georgia Southern was able to jump out to an early lead in the first quarter thanks to a couple of three-pointers from guard Alexis Brown. Georgia State would respond in the quarter thanks to a few steals from Janessa Murphy and two big threepointers from Kierra Henry, one of which beat the clock at the end of the quarter and would give the Panthers the 14-11 lead.

The Panthers would not look back after that shot as they continued to pour it on. They ended the second quarter with an 8-0 run, aided by threepoint baskets from Shay Fluker and K.K. Williams.

The Panthers would take a 40-25 lead into the break.

The second half was more of the same for the Panthers as they would push their lead to as many as 17 in the third quarter. Things did get a bit sloppy for Georgia State as they committed eight turnovers in the 2nd half. They also allowed the Eagles to trim the lead back down to nine points due in part to breakdowns in coverage leading to open three-pointers, but that’s the closest Georgia Southern would get.

However, the most significant story in this game though, is the rebounding of forward Francesca

Minali. Minali finished the game with 18 rebounds, and until the fourth quarter, she had more rebounds than Georgia Southern did as a team.

“I try to concentrate on rebounding,” Minali said.

“I know that my teammates can score, so I just try to be ready.”

Eighteen rebounds in a game is a new careerhigh for Minali, who continues to improve her game.

“I thought she did a great job. I think every week that goes along, she gets a little bit better in there, and she gets a little bit more confidence,” Baldwin said of Minali. “She’s not super athletic, the quickest or the fastest, but she plays very good position defense.”

Three players scored in double figures today.

Henry led the way with 18, while Fluker and Murphy added 13 and 11 respectively. Madison Newby dished out eight assists today and was 5-6 from the free throw line.

Georgia State returns to action this Thursday against UT-Arlington. The game will be at 5:00 p.m. and on ESPN3.

The redshirt junior got got her first taste of Modern Day Hate, the nickname given to Georgia State and Georgia Southern’s rivalry. Minali had a monstrous game on the glass, grabbing a season-high 18 rebounds. 11 rebounds was her previous high. 18 rebounds triples the Eagles’ leading rebounder.

As she imposed her will against the smaller Georgia Southern frontcourt, Minali was single-handedly out rebounding Southern’s entire team until the fourth quarter.

Minali put up seven points on 2-5 shooting from the floor and 3-4 from the free throw line. The 29 minutes she played was a season-high as well, nearly doubling her average. Should Minali have grabbed another offensive rebound, she would have had the same amount as Georgia Southern.

SPORTS BRIEFS Women’s Tennis — Fell 4-0 in season opener to No. 14 Auburn on Friday afternoon. Oklahoma downed Panthers 4-1. Georgia State defeated Louisiana-Monroe 4-1. Kirsten Reese won a singles and doubles on Saturday.

Men’s Tennis — Moved to 3-2 after a split on the weekend. Came up short 4-0 to Oregon, No. 26 in the nation. Won a 4-3 nailbiter on Saturday against Portland. Quentin Coulaud clinched his second match of the young season.

SPORTS CALENDAR BASKETBALL men’s tennis 5 P.M.

12 P.M.

JAN. 28

men’s basketball UT ARLINGTON

ITA KICK-OFF WEEKEND, CAL POLY

College Station, Texas

JAN. 25 GSU Sports Arena

school

JAN. 27

women’s basketball GSU Sports Arena

SUN BELT MEN’S BASKETBALL

TENNIS

JAN. 25 UT ARLINGTON

STANDINGS

7:15 P.M.

Conference Overall streak

LOUISIANA

6-0

16-3

W6

TEXAS STATE

6-2

13-8

L1

GEORGIA SOUTHERN

5-2

14-6

L1

GEORGIA STATE

5-2

14-6

W5

TEXAS-ARLINGTON

4-3

13-7

W2

SOUTH ALABAMA

4-3

11-9

W2

APPALACHIAN STATE

3-4

8-12

L3

TROY

2-4

8-11

L1

ARKANSAS STATE

2-5

7-13

W1

LITTLE ROCK

2-5

5-15

L2

COASTAL CAROLINA

2-6

8-13

W1

LOUISIANA-MONROE

1-5

7-11

L4

men’s tennis ITA KICK-OFF WEEKEND, TEXAS A&M/LSU

TBA

College Station, Texas

JAN. 27 WOmen’s basketball TEXAS STATE

GSU Sports Arena

12 P.M.

JAN. 27 men’s basketball TEXAS STATE

GSU Sports Arena

2:15 P.M.