The Signal Vol. 86 No. 14

NOV. 27, 2018 - JAN. 15, 2019

VOL. 86 | NO. 14

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the end.

SPORTS | PAGE 15 A crippling loss to an in-state rival and a departure by Penny Hart mark the end of an era.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

WIELD YOUR POWER

NEW COLLEGE, NEW YOU

I’M NOT FROM HERE

The Equitable Building is paving the way for Downtown Atlanta to resemble the iconic Times Square.

A tutorial on how and why to submit public records requests.

Failing school a long way from home isn’t the end of the road for international students.

Georgia State’s many international students experienced Thanksgiving for the first time this year.

NEWS | PAGE 6 GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

OPINIONS PAGE 8

News 3

ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 13

OPINIONs 7

Arts & Living 9

SPORTS | PAGE 17

Sports 15

NEWS

2

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

BLOTTER NOV. 15

A place to recharge

A Georgia State student was reported for simple battery against another student at 3:42 a.m. at the University Lofts.

Prank calls are getting out of hand...

A Georgia State student reported that they received terroristic threats and harassment off campus at 1:29 p.m.

This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for your stuff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Varitek

editor@georgiastatesignal.com executive editor (atlanta) Vacant executive editor (perimeter) Vacant

A Georgia State student reported a theft of $1,500 or less at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at 2:15 p.m.

Editorial NEWS EDITOR Will Solomons

news@georgiastatesignal.com

Kickboxing classes cost extra

ASSociate NEWS EDITOR Vacant

news2@georgiastatesignal.com OPINIONS EDITOR Vacant opinions@georgiastatesignal.com associate oPINIONS EDITOR Vacant opinions2@georgiastatesignal.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Sydney Bloeme

A Georgia State student reported they were the victim of an aggravated battery at the Student Recreation Center at 7:01 a.m.

living@georgiastatesignal.com

Remember to rerack those weights!

ASSociate ARTS & Living EDITOr Samuel Puckett living2@georgiastatesignal.com SPORTS EDITOR Jerell Rushin sports@georgiastatesignal.com ASSociate SPORTS EDITOR Vacant sports2@georgiastatesignal.com copy editor Vacant copy@georgiastatesignal.com

A Georgia State student reported lost or mislaid property at the Student Recreation Center at 1:29 p.m.

Production production editor Devin Phillips

productions@georgiastatesignal.com Associate production editor Vacant production2@georgiastatesignal.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Dan Ellington, quarterback for the Georgia State football team, playing in the last game of the season against rival school Georgia Southern on Nov. 24, 2018.

PHOTOGRAPHY photo EDITOr (atlanta) Vanessa Johnson

photo@georgiastatesignal.com photo EDITOr (perimeter) Vacant photo2@georgiastatesignal.com Associate Photo editor Unique Rodriguez

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THE SIGNAL BUREAUS BUREAU CHIEF (CLARKSTON) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (ALPHARETTA) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (NEWTON) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (DUNWOODY) Vacant BUREAU CHIEF (DECATUR) Vacant advertising ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Vacant

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PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

NURSING SCHOOL GETS $1 MILLION EXPANSION LOUD NOISES SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION BENEATH STUDENT CENTER WEST WILL SOLOMONS Staff Reporter

A

s the semester wraps up, as does Georgia State’s final fall construction project in Student Center West. What once was the College of Law library in Urban Life and SCW will soon become the new home of the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions.

The expansion has generated plenty of unwelcome noise, with the sounds of drills and hammers vibrating through the walls of student media offices regularly. WRAS 88.5 FM, Georgia State’s student-run radio station, has been particularly affected by the noise, as they broadcast live every day.

Kenleigh Watkins, Album 88’s general manager, said she had hoped the construction wouldn’t last as long as it has.

“The construction has been a nightmare.

We thought that it was over when the bridge was finished. Now they are doing construction beneath us. It seems like it’s been nonstop for a semester. It gets so loud [sometimes] and it can be heard [through] the microphones while we are on air,” she said.

GSTV, the student-run broadcast organization, is also located in SCW. GSTV’s Panther Report News Assistant News Director Kevin Sanchez said they’ve also heard the noise

but it hasn’t really affected their work.

“We can hear it sometimes when we’re shooting [on] Friday but it hasn’t affected the sound quality at all,” he said.

The construction project will cost $1 million, according to the Director of Facilities Design and Construction Services Todd Cook.

“The project will be complete and open for the beginning of the Spring Semester,” Cook said. “University funds are being used to fund the Project.”

The project is being constructed in two phases, with the first being further divided based on task and cost, according to Richard Frey, the superintendent representing DPR construction, a California-based construction firm that has previously worked with other universities.

“They’ve actually got three separate contracts to do this,” Frey said. “We need to be done with this thing end of November, middle of December.”

The other two contractors are E. Escher, the firm responsible for plumbing and electrical systems, and John F. Pennebaker Co, Inc., which builds the fire alarm system and air conditioning and heating. HOK is the architecture firm designing the project.

“We are working as a team … The three of us sit down and we work as a single team. We don’t have one contractor in charge of everything that organizes everything. We do that in a collaboration which is a little unusual,” Frey said.

“We have meetings every week with Georgia

State, the architect and the whole team down here that works.”

The first phase is primarily focused on installing plumbing, drywall and flooring. The second phase is set to furnish the space and complete the expansion with more drywall and lighting.

“There’s so much redo in this place it’s unbelievable,” Frey said.

The expansion features new classrooms as well as new labs.

“The Project is an interior renovation for the [Byrdine] F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions. The renovated space is approximately 20,000 square feet and includes labs and classrooms,” Cook said.

One of the new labs being constructed is a gait lab, which will be used for sports medicine and physical therapy classes to track athletes’ gaits.

“We had to put stuff in the floor for them so it’ll be ready. This will be finished out but for right now they’re working on design,” Frey said.

The new nursing school expansion will also have a handicap bathroom and a handicapaccessible entrance. The main entrance for the school will be on the same level as the entrance to Chick-fil-A underneath the Courtland Street Bridge.

The expansion comes in time for the overall renovation of Library Plaza, which is scheduled for sometime in the next year. With the plaza set to be lowered to street level, it’s expected to flow into SCW and the College of Nursing.

CURRENT AND PLANNED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Courtland Street Bridge: Began over summer 2018, finished middle of fall semester 2018 Nursing School Expansion: Began fall semester 2018, to be finished before spring semester 2019 Kell Hall Demolition: Geosciences department moved out, slated to be demolished late spring semester Library Plaza Renovation and Green Way Construction: Lowered down to street level and to be completed following Kell Hall Demolition Student Center East and West Consolidation: Construction and expansion to begin within the next four to five years

PHASE I

PAGE DESIGN BY DIANA TAVERA | THE SIGNAL

PHASE II

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Georgia midterm recap – sans governor squabble Republicans win big in statewide offices ADA WOOD Staff Reporter

G

eorgia will likely see the same political scene it has for several years, following this year’s midterm election.

Republican leadership will prevail across the state in offices such as lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Additionally, 13 of the 14 districts for federal offices in Georgia saw no party change. Incumbents across the board swept up a returning term.

GEORGIA STATEWIDE OFFICES

Winning every single race they entered, the Republican party dominated the field in their bid for statewide offices. Voters will see many of the same faces, given that incumbents took five of the eight positions available, excluding the governorship.

As incumbent Casey Cagle stepped down from the position of Lieutenant Governor, Geoff Duncan rose to the position in victory. Duncan had previously served in the State House since 2012.

Duncan has prioritized three main focuses in his campaign.

He first intends to improve Georgia’s economy by cutting back on government spending. His campaign strategy outlined that Duncan “would have churches, charities, corporations, and citizens as the front line of defense against challenges in our state, not another government program.”

Duncan has taken an interest in improving education by empowering parents and teachers and rolling back on state and federal government interaction. As a pro-life advocate, he has promised to fight against Planned Parenthood.

For the position of attorney general, Georgia voters chose Chris Carr to retain the position. Carr was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to fill a vacancy in 2016.

“I’m proud to have earned Georgians’ support to continue to serve as attorney general,” Carr said. “I look forward to building upon what we’ve accomplished in these last two years at the Law Department as we head into the next four.”

Both Carr and his opponent promised the prevention of gang violence and human trafficking if elected. Carr also took a stance on protecting both constitutional and state powers and combating opioid abuse as attorney general.

“All of these actions affect [Georgia State] students. Perhaps one that touches students the most is the issue of opioid abuse,” he said. “We have and will continue to engage students in the fight against opioid misuse by equipping them with the knowledge they need to avoid potentially dangerous, life-altering situations and help their peers do the same.”

The closest statewide race was that of the secretary of state, which resulted in a 0.61 percent standoff between Republican Brad Raffensperger and Democrat John Barrow. This position was set to be filled by a new candidate, as the previous representative, Brian Kemp, vyed for governor instead.

Despite Raffensperger taking the lead, neither candidate received 50 percent of the vote, triggering a runoff election.

Libertarian candidate Smythe Duval received 2.23 percent of the vote on top of an already close race.

Georgia must wait until Tuesday, Dec. 4 to vote again for the new head of election and voting processes.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Across the nation, all 435 House of Representatives positions were open for reelection. In Georgia, two of these found themselves in the spotlight.

Georgia’s sixth district consists of the northeast suburbs and much of the Atlanta metropolitan area, comprised of parts of Cobb, Fulton, Dunwoody and Dekalb county.

The district gained national attention for its 2017 special election, as it became the most expensive House race in U.S. history. Between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff, Handel ultimately took the win after a runoff.

Handel ran again as the incumbent on Nov. 6, facing off against Democrat Lucy McBath. McBath positioned herself as a strong gun safety advocate, following the 2012 murder of her son, Jordan Russell Davis.

With a motivation for justice and 50.46 of the vote, McBath narrowly defeated Handel, who later conceded the election.

In Georgia’s seventh district, comprised of portions of Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, Republican Rob Woodall ran as the incumbent. Woodall had held the position for seven years and never dipped below 60 percent of the vote in the general election.

Opposing him was democratic candidate Carolyn Bourdeaux,

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

who is a Georgia State professor in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. She taught public management and policy with a focus on budgets and tax policy before taking a leave of absence for the 2018 school year.

The race was decided by just 0.14 percent, with Woodall squeaking out a 419-vote win.

Despite this, Bourdeaux refused to concede due to outstanding ballots that were not yet counted, according to Jake Best, communications director for her campaign. “[The day after the election] there remained 14 U.S. House races that remained too close to call and of those this was the closest race in the nation,” Best said.

The first point of contention for the campaign was the 2,400 provisional ballots that had not been counted in Gwinnett county, although an unknown amount were directly associated with the seventh district.

“Let’s say you go to vote on Tuesday, but you vote in the wrong precinct, then they make you vote on a provisional ballot,” Best said. “When they can’t immediately fix the problem, they make you vote on this temporary ballot.”

The second discussion the campaign sparked was the rejection of absentee ballots, in which there is an envelope the ballot is inserted with lines for the address, date of birth and signature of the voter.

“What a lot of people were accustomed to, and ended up doing, was put the current date next to a signature, instead of date of birth,” he said.

Because of this, ballots were rejected and not counted in Gwinnett County. One in ten absentee ballots are rejected in Gwinnett County, the highest rate of rejection in Georgia.

Best said Gwinnett County argues that these were rejected due to a lack of proof of identity, however he argues that this is done when applying for the ballot and the voter would not have received the ballot in the first place if this were the case.

Bourdeaux’s campaign then filed a emergency motion in federal court, which the U.S. District Judge denied on Thursday.

On the following morning, Bourdeaux said she would request a recount after the state certified election results that evening, since the difference between the candidates was less than one percent.

“The current standing is Woodall has a 901 vote lead,” Best said a week after the election.

Since the year 2000, Democratic representation from Georgia in the U.S. House has hovered at 25 percent, as Republicans represented the majority of the state.

In this midterm election, aside from the sixth, every district

in Georgia saw the incumbent as a victor, resulting in no party changes. Georgia will be represented by nine Republicans and five Democrats following the election.

BALLOT MEASURES Amendment 1 Creates the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and parks.

82.87 percent voted “Yes” Amendment 2 Creates a statewide business court to lower costs, enhance efficiency, and promote predictable judicial outcomes.

68.98 percent voted “Yes” Amendment 3 Encourages the conservation, sustainability, and longevity of Georgia’s working forests through tax subclassification and grants.

62.16 percent voted “Yes” Amendment 4 Provides rights for victims of crime in the judicial process.

80.90 percent voted “Yes” Amendment 5 Authorizes fair allocation of sales tax proceeds to county and city school districts.

71.21 percent voted “Yes” Referendum A Provides for a homestead exemption for residents of certain municipal corporations.

57.08 percent voted “Yes” Referendum B Provides a tax exemption for certain homes for the mentally disabled.

76.90 percent voted “Yes”

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

NEWS

5

GSU professor concedes election

Carolyn Bourdeaux loses to Republican Rob Woodwall by 0.14% DANIEL VARITEK & WILL SOLOMONS Editor-in-Chief & Staff Reporter

C

arolyn Bourdeaux, Democratic candidate and Georgia State professor, conceded to Republican incumbent Rob Woodall on Nov. 21 following a neck-and-neck battle for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District.

Bourdeaux lost by just 0.14 percent of nearly 300,000 votes.

Days after the Tuesday, Nov. 6 election, the race was still too close to call. The race came to a close after a recount was issued at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, following the announcement of a difference of only 419 votes between the two candidates.

According to a Georgia secretary of stateaffiliated website, Rob Woodall netted 50.07

percent of the vote, though that amount is slightly higher now due to him picking up 13 votes in the Forsyth County and Gwinnett County recounts.

“I am grateful to every person who supported me along this journey. While we didn’t get the outcome we had hoped for in this election, we achieved an incredible amount,” Bourdeaux said in her official concession speech.

For a first-time candidate, Bourdeaux came incredibly close to unseating Woodall. In his four previous congressional races, Woodall never dipped below 60.38 percent of the vote.

Bourdeaux also received significantly more votes than any other Democratic opponent to Woodall in the past four elections.

Perhaps Bourdeaux’s success can be partially attributed to several high-profile endorsements, including former President Barack Obama, Georgia Congressman John Lewis and former

gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Woodall now returns to his position as the 7th district’s representative, entering his fifth term.

When the recount was called, Woodall’s campaign issued a response regarding their expectations of the recount.

“The process provides a recount option for races within a 1% margin and the Woodall campaign always expected that Mrs. Bourdeaux would request a recount, so this next phase does not come as a surprise and certainly is not alarming,” the release stated. “As for now however, Rob Woodall has been certified the winner and he is back to work, serving the 7th district.”

Bourdeaux took a leave of absence from Georgia State to campaign against Woodall, though it’s unclear if and when she will return to teaching.

Gathering support on the sidewalks The Atlanta Human Rights Campaign is on the move ZACH SALLING Staff Reporter

M

embers of the Human Rights Campaign dot Georgia State’s sidewalks day in and day out to spread awareness of their organization.

“Do you have a moment to support LGBTQ rights?” they may ask as you shuffle by them to class.

The HRC sports 3 million members and supporters nationwide, boasting itself as the largest national LGBTQ civil rights campaign.

HRC remains one of the more prominent LGBTQ advocacy groups in the South. Leading up to the recent Nov. 6 election, HRC president Chad Griffin endorsed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams in a press release: “Leader Abrams has been a tireless ally for LGBTQ Georgians in the state legislature, and she will be a vital voice for the LGBTQ community and all Georgians in the Governor’s Mansion. After a legislative session that featured threats of anti-LGBTQ legislation, it is more important than ever to have a pro-equality governor who will stand up to legislative extremists and protect all Georgians equally.”

In addition to HRC’s involvement in Georgia’s recent election, they just hosted their 13th annual black LGBTQ leadership summit on Nov. 8 in Atlanta, which was the first time participants assembled away from their usual summit at the HRC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Nearly 50 LGBTQ students from historically black colleges and universities participated in a four-day program preparing students for leadership roles. The event hosted workshops and leadership development opportunities, in addition to networking opportunities with other LGBTQ figures. “[The summit is] an incredible weekend where HBCU students are empowered to become thought leaders and create change on their campuses and in their communities,” HRC tweeted.

HRC states these summits provide yearround support and lead proficiently at intersections of race religion, gender identity, class and sexual orientation.

“Leadership is not just about one position,

one election or one campaign,” said Leslie Hall, associate director of HRC’s HBCU Program.

“There are a variety of ways and opportunities for our students to become leaders. Our work is to prepare them not just to make change on their campuses, but also in their communities and after college.”

Hall said they planned the summit in Atlanta to expand their reach and connection to the broader context of the civil rights movement.

The Coca-Cola Foundation hosted the summit at HRC’s Atlanta headquarters.

After the 13th summit, the HBCU program now plans to initiate an LGBTQ HBCU alumni network.

“Having a network of alumni in place will help us to provide tools, facilitate connections with other LGBTQ HBCU alums and address issues more quickly when they arise,” Hall said.

“We want to empower our young people to fight for equality — not just when they’re in college, but long after, building a footprint of HBCU students in the nonprofit sector.”

On Nov. 8, HRC and HBCU Buzz, the primary news site covering historically black colleges and universities, announced a partnership to bridge the LGBTQ HBCU Alumni Network.

“Atlanta has a strong record of inclusiveness. It is one of the prized attributes of our city, and it is a trait that we will continue to build upon each and every day” — KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS Atlanta Mayor “We’re excited to launch this groundbreaking partnership with HBCU Buzz, giving us the unique opportunity to connect LGBTQ HBCU alums across the country,” Hall said.

“At a time when marginalized communities are under constant attack by anti-equality politicians, it has never been more important to build welcoming spaces that give LGBTQ

people of color the opportunity to share their experiences and support one another.”

The HRC and HBCU Buzz partnership will provide a biweekly HBCU HRC column, containing HRC opportunities for both students and alumni.

“In 1837 the first HBCU was founded.

It has taken 181 years to pivot towards the inclusionary visions of community that HBCU founders envisioned and we are honored to blaze this trail with HRC,” said Brittany Ireland, HBCU Buzz President.

Earlier this year, HRC hosted their 31st Atlanta Gala Dinner and Auction, which has grown into the largest fundraiser in the country for HRC. Nearly 1,300 people joined inside the Hyatt Regency Atlanta to address the current administration and the LGBQT presence in Atlanta.

Numerous elected officials and candidates such as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. John Lewis attended. Stacey Abrams, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and City Councilmembers Amir Forkhi and Matt Westmoreland also occupied seats.

“Atlanta has a strong record of inclusiveness.

It is one of the prized attributes of our city, and it is a trait that we will continue to build upon each and every day,” Bottoms said to the crowd.

Bottoms also acknowledged her appointment of the city’s first full-time LGBTQ liaison, HRC Board of Governors member Malik Brown, in addition to the creation of a 32-member LGBTQ Advisory Board.

“I am proud to welcome Malik Brown as the City’s LGBTQ Affairs Liaison, and I am equally proud to welcome this distinguished group of community advocates and leaders, who have volunteered to serve on the City’s inaugural Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board,” Bottoms said in a news release.

HRC also scored Atlanta a 100 on their Municipal Equality Index, which examines the inclusiveness of municipal laws, policies and services for LGBTQ people who live and work in Atlanta.

Despite the HRC’s stated struggle, they’ve enacted legislative change in 2018 through their tireless campaign and the 3 million who support it.

SGA’S DHAKAL LANDS LIBRARY HOURS EXTENSION

BY WILL SOLOMONS After push from students, Georgia State’s Dunwoody campus expanded library hours just in time for finals week. Student Government Association Dunwoody Executive Vice President Atush Dhakal spearheaded the effort after hearing students’ concerns about the library’s limited schedule.

“I immediately prioritized this issue and began discussing and planning with my advisers, executive members and senators about possible solutions,” Dhakal said.

SGA worked with library personnel, including Perimeter Library Services department head Tamika Barnes, over several weeks to expand the library’s closing time from 10 p.m. to midnight.

“The library administration agreed, with the flexibility of the current staff to extend the hours during the days that have historically been the busiest leading up to finals week,” Barnes said. “I am excited that we were able to work collaboratively with SGA and Campus Police to bring forth a service that was student driven.”

While the expanded hours are only for the week beginning Nov. 26, SGA “will be using this as a pilot program to evaluate the possibility of extending the hours throughout the semester,” Dhakal said.

One student said she was worried the later hours may pose more of a safety risk to students.

“I think the new hours will be great for part-time students, but I am concerned with safety during those late hours,” Dunwoody student Mariella Ramos said.

In response to these concerns, SGA has worked jointly with the Office of Public Safety to ensure officers are in the library during the extended hours.

THE NEW HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Nov. 26: 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Nov. 27: 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Nov. 28: 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Nov. 29: 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Dec. 03: 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Astronomy professors blast off into new research Space project extends research alongside GSU students JACELL BLAND Staff Reporter

R

afal Angryk, professor of computer science at Georgia State, along with astronomy professors Piet Martens and Stuart Jefferies, is working to build an interdisciplinary astroinformatics team to study space weather and space climate.

The project itself is funded by Georgia State’s Next Generation Program, which strengthens core and emerging research with an overall goal to improve Georgia State’s physics and astronomy department through astroinformatics. Astroinformatics is the overall field of study that involves an in-depth research among astronomy, data science, and information and communications technologies.

According to Martens, one of their first goals is to progress their further understanding of solar storms. They also want to eventually discover opportunities to predict the mechanisms behind solar storms, which are eruptions of mass and energy from the sun’s surface.

Georgia State astronomy professor Todd Henry and his astronomy team have been compiling a grand, threedimensional map of all of the stars located near the sun, which has focused on 6,000 stellar systems. Some of the research the team has provided thus far includes the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory Parallax Investigation.

The Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory Parallax is an investigation lead by astronomers to discover nearby red, white and brown dwarf stars that lurk unidentified in the solar system. The current goal of Georgia State’s local scientists is to discover at least 300 new southern star systems.

Jefferies has done research in the past that included using instruments for remote sensing. Remote sensing is used to record radiation in the sun’s atmosphere. The instruments used for remote sensing work as a vast date file compiling research data for astronomers to decipher. One of the instruments used in remote sensing is the MOTH II instrument suite.

Over the past thirty years, Jefferies has traveled to the South Pole several times to examine the sun’s inner atmospheric layers, such as the Core, Radiative Zone and Convection Zone.

ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN STAMPS | THE SIGNAL

“The primary purpose of the MOTH II instrument suite is to provide multi-height observations for helioseismic probing of the Sun’s interior and atmosphere via studies of the omnipresent magneto-acoustic-gravity waves in the solar atmosphere,” he said. “However, the data also have relevance to Space Weather studies.”

Jefferies, Martens and Angryk aim to interpret the techniques behind solar storms. Without relying on old approaches from the past, they want to use their current data with the help of other astronomers to design algorithms

to grasp the complex data they receive in their daily research.

“Many Georgia State undergraduate students are currently working alongside Angryk, Jefferies, and myself to further the research we have so far,” Martens said.

He added that they have been doing rather well on diversity, which is one of their goals, too. Martens has arranged his effort with students from various backgrounds who have an interest in astronomy. The team includes graduate and undergraduate students in astronomy and physics at Georgia State.

Equitable Building to get its own digital billboard Will Downtown begin to look more like Times Square?

BEN COLETTA Staff Reporter

T

he high-rise formerly known as the Equitable Building has been an Atlanta landmark since its completion in 1968. But in the last few weeks, the building has lost its glowing “Equitable” nameplate that deemed it iconic to the Atlanta community. Instead, the building will soon don a large digital sign that bears the logo of Georgia’s Own Credit Union, along with other paid advertisements.

The change in design is a result of a new ordinance voted on by the Atlanta City Council in July 2017. The ordinance loosens restrictions on advertising and light projection, creating availability for new signs and murals. The council passed the new ordinance after the idea was pitched by Central Atlanta Progress.

CAP is a private organization focused on expanding Atlanta’s financial and artistic potential. The new ordinance created the Atlanta Arts and Entertainment District, which occupies almost 100 blocks between Mitchell Street, Piedmont Avenue, Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard

and Northside Drive.

Before the new ordinance, previous regulation required that all murals be certified as not distracting or hazardous to drivers, not primarily conveying any advertisement and not inconsistent to the values of the city. Effectively, this ordinance — put on the books in 1982 — prevented elaborate murals by artists as well as most large scale advertisements in the Downtown area.

Now that the council has voted to pass the new ordinance, it’s widely agreed upon that the digital sign being constructed on the Equitable Building will not be the only sign for long. In fact, Central Atlanta Progress revealed the first 13 sites that will have new signage. Many of these locations are set to receive signage before or right after the Super Bowl comes to Atlanta in February.

Many Atlanta residents are divided about the coming reality of Atlanta’s new Arts and Entertainment District.

According to Curbed Atlanta, policy makers, residents and even some urban planners have spoken out against the new district.

When asked about the possible implications of a digital sign district, Dr. Jean-Paul Addie, assistant professor in the Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State, said the creation of the district could falsely represent an energetic nightlife,

even if the atmosphere doesn’t actually change.

“Downtown Atlanta, more or less, shuts down at 5 o’clock and, on one hand, these lights can provide an aesthetic in the city that, at least, can provide a visual appearance to signify that there are things going on downtown — even if that does not correlate to the presence of bars and restaurants and the type of activities that would associate with a night time economy,” Addie said.

Addie also brought up the observable changes in atmosphere that come with the creation of public spaces similar to Times Square.

“If you go and you experience these places there’s a slight disjuncture, if you will, between the appearance of the lights, glamor, and excitement of the city and what can actually be often times quite sterile places that are overly policed.”

Addie also noted that the addition of an “Atlanta Times Square” could also impact the social dynamic of the Woodruff Park area. “[Places like Times Square] tend to be only quasi-public in that they are overseen by private security companies rather than being actual functioning public spaces in which the activities of a democratic polis take place, whether that public speaking or homeless people being permitted to lie down and close their eyes in the center of the city,” Addie said.

OPINIONS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

ICE: good idea, shady politics

The federal agency is no longer working as intended, and it’s time for change

T

SHARI CELESTINE Staff Reporter

Shari is a third-year Creative Writing major with an interest in diversity in publishing. In her spare time, she works on her Urban Fantasy manuscript.

Tweet shari!

@shari_celestine

Do you have an opinIon on this or any other topic?

Send an email to: editor@georgiastatesignal.com

he Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not working as intended. On its website, ICE states that they “enforce federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration to promote homeland security and public safety.” ICE was created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It reminds me of a biblical quote about roads paved with good intentions — I’m sure you know the one.

For some years, ICE was doing just that, but recently, under the Trump administration, ICE has opened a new chapter for themselves in American history books.

A movement is coming. It wants to abolish ICE and it’s gaining national attention. This movement gained a lot of traction after then-Congressional primary newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, now U.S. Representative-elect for New York’s 14th Congressional District, promised to open a path to citizenship for immigrants who enter the United States both legally and illegally.

In an interview with Splinter News, OcasioCortez said, “It’s basically a product of the Bush-era Patriot Act suite of legislation. An enforcement agency that takes on more of a paramilitary tone every single day.”

When ICE was created in 2003, it was formed under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies protected and monitored ports of entry while Immigration Services handled visas. It was ICE’s job to manage detentions and the removal of people who have already been arrested for immigration violations.

Somewhere along the way things have changed.

At its roots, ICE was created as a response to 9/11, to make Americans feel safer about their borders.

But now it’s creating even more problems.

ICE agents were generally assigned to issues

along the lines of human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber crime and border control.

For example, in June of this year, ICE discovered over 50 illegal aliens inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas, or when a Colorado man was sentenced to 20 years for child pornography. In June, $23.6 million in drugs, weapons and illicit goods were confiscated because of ICE in a New York operation.

For all the good ICE does, it’s egregiously overshadowed by all the negative acts committed under the guise of “law enforcement.”

In Fort Worth, Texas, police arrested a man who made threats to burn down his girlfriend’s apartment. That should have been the end of it — boyfriend arrested, apartment and girlfriend safe, case closed — but two men from Mexico were also taken into custody because police thought they might have entered the country illegally. ICE was called.

Under previous administrations, ICE wasn’t used this way. They handled serious threats to our borders, not men stumbled upon during routine arrests. President Donald Trump has dialed the aggressive immigration tactics up to 11. ICE arrests have skyrocketed, and the public’s views on the agency have changed from indifference to outrage.

ICE reported to Congress that its average daily population in detention is 44,631 people. In comparison, Customs and Border patrol arrested 28,112 people in October. That’s about 16,000 more people sitting in detention cells that are maintained by tax dollars. About $100 million was taken out of areas like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and funneled into the detention centers so ICE could continue to detain the so-called dangerous people, the killers and the rapists Trump says are crossing the borders in the U.S. Most of the people who are in these detention cells were living quite normal lives just trying to get through another day before ICE arrested them for being in the U.S. illegally.

The California campfire has broken records for the number of people killed and acres of land decimated by fire; hurricanes are sweeping across the country causing massive damage to homes on the east coast in North and South Carolina and Texas in the south. People are dying all across the country, and yet FEMA funds are being funneled into ICE to keep people in cells while the president of the United States stands in front of a podium and rants about a caravan that’s thousands of miles away.

What’s the real danger here?

Under Trump’s administration, the congressional appropriations committees gave ICE $7.1 billion dollars, $4.1 billion of which was put aside for immigrant removal and detention operations. That is where our tax dollars are being spent: on private prisons 2.0. Trump has weaponized ICE into his anti-immigration squad that exceeds the agency’s original vision.

Raúl Manuel Grijalva, the U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District, told The Daily Beast, “With little accountability and oversight—and a long track record of abuse—I’m concerned that the vast majority of those in ICE custody include many innocent people who’ve done nothing wrong.”

This past summer, stories of migrant children being separated from their families have sparked a new wave of protests to abolish ICE once and for all. Under Trump’s leadership, ICE has fallen from its core mission of public safety, focusing instead on targeting helpless families.

Moving forward, things need to change; ICE can no longer be considered credible or humane looking back at their history. It’s time to either abolish the agency or reform it from the ground up. As it exists right now, it’s not doing a very good job. Do we need immigration reform? Yes. But ICE, in its capacity today, is not the right agency for the job — it’s far too corrupt.

ILLUSTRATION BY AMBER KIRLEW | THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

8

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

letter from the editor How and why to request public records A step-by-step guide for the average student Dear reader, Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of the semester.

Typically, The Signal’s editor would write a column here reflecting on the successes of the past semester, and deliver a promise for continued improvement next year. If I were to do so, I might write about how amazing my staff is, and how grateful I am for their dedication. I might tease our upcoming projects, like the Sex, Technology and Student Government issues (those are all separate, by the way). And, I might even suggest you apply to join The Signal to reap the rewards of ethical journalism, invaluable networking and realworld experience.

But not today. The concept for this column was borne out of the many conversations I’ve had with my peers this semester — conversations with people who are frustrated by a seemingly bureaucratic university, by being “kept in the dark” by major university changes (Library Plaza’s demolition, anyone?), and so on.

Of course, our job at The Signal is to chase this information. We are a voice for the people, and daily we leverage the strength of public records to keep you informed like no other news outlet does.

But I’d like to invite you into our world for a moment and show how you, too, can leverage this information so you can be a more informed and empowered student.

For his insight and experience, I spoke with John McCosh, an alumnus of The Signal and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and now a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

WHAT ARE PUBLIC RECORDS?

“The list of things that are not public — it’s easier to list those than things that are public records,” McCosh said.

Public records are documents maintained by public agencies or governments that are owned by the public.

Public records are often kept as physical files, and most things — meeting minutes, aggregate student data, financial records, communications to and from public officials — are available to you.

“I’ve asked real estate agents how much a property costs and they tell me that’s private information,” McCosh said. “No it’s not, and I’ll get it myself then.”

Georgia State is a public university, and it is bound to the same laws as the governor’s office or the Atlanta City Council. However, not everything is fair game.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 prevents public agencies from divulging student education records. FERPA does not apply to aggregate student data nor does it apply to campus organizations’ data, as long as no single student’s education records become identifiable in the process of fulfilling your request. (It is possible for Georgia State to redact private information from your request, though you may incur a fee.)

FERPA is the primary law to keep in mind at Georgia State, but there are a few narrow conditions in which records are exempt from inspection.

Information about those specific exemptions can be found online by searching O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.

WHY DO PUBLIC RECORDS MATTER?

In short, because an informed student is an empowered student. We at The Signal will often be your first source for campus-wide news. But what about staying informed on an issue specific to your personal experience at Georgia State? Enter: public records requests.

STEP 1: KNOW WHAT FILE(S) YOU WANT TO REQUEST It sounds like common sense, but this can be more

difficult than you may think. Some requests are simpler than others. For example, requesting a report on the amount of student fees paid to Athletics in 2018 is a fairly easy request to fulfill, McCosh said.

But if you’re not entirely certain what you want to request, or how to clearly phrase your request, conducting your own research and building rapport with whoever may maintain that record can help provide direction.

Without clear direction, your request could receive any number of responses: 1. Your request is denied.

2. Your request is fulfilled, but you didn’t get what you wanted.

3. Your request is fulfilled, but you get more than what you wanted.

That last one is especially worrying, because the more time and effort it takes for an agency to fulfill your request, the more expensive it can become for you (don’t fret, more on that later).

Do your best to be concise with your request. For example, “I’d like any emails between [person and person] that pertain to [topic] within the past [# of months].”

However, it’s worth noting that you don’t want to be too specific. In that case, your request may come up empty, or you may miss out on other relevant records that were just outside your date range. Be specific, but not limiting.

STEP 2: REQUEST THE FILE(S)

It’s always best to begin casually — a simple email to the department in which you believe the files are maintained will suffice.

“If you can start with a friendly conversation of telling the public official … what you want, then you can save a lot of time,” McCosh said. “Especially in a place like Georgia State where they’ve got a well-staffed communications department, they’ve got a legal staff that knows what they have to comply with.”

Consider the below example: “Dear sir/madam, Could you please email me a copy of [file]?

Your help is greatly appreciated, Daniel” If a file for what you’re requesting already exists and it does not fall within any public records exemptions, you should receive it quickly. Georgia State isn’t obligated to create new files just to satisfy a specific request, though it never hurts to ask.

You may also request public records in person, especially if they’re in your line of sight.

“If I walk into a public agency and I can see some pieces of paper or a document I want, then they have to give it to me right away,” McCosh said.

WHAT IF MY REQUEST IS DENIED?

Hopefully your request is fulfilled with no questions asked. But if not, you may want to escalate your request and respond by citing the Georgia code that states you are entitled to the information you’re requesting. For example: “Dear sir/madam, Pursuant to the state open records law Ga. Code Ann. Secs. 50-18-70 to 50-18-77, I write to request access to and a copy of [file].

As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within three (3) business days. See Ga. Code Ann. Sec. 50-18-70(f).

Your help is greatly appreciated, Daniel” There are two important concepts in play here.

Firstly, notice the last paragraph that states “within

three (3) business days.” By law, Georgia State must reply to your request within three business days stating whether they can accommodate it or not. After that, Georgia State must provide you with a timeline for when they will deliver you the records.

Secondly, by citing the code, you make it known that you’re aware of your rights, and that if Georgia State denies your request again, they must provide a specific reason for not fulfilling it.

The Georgia code states that “the agency shall notify the requester of the specific legal authority exempting the requested record or records from disclosure by Code section, subsection, and paragraph …”

If you’re certain your request is valid and it’s still being denied, it’s time to request outside support.

Submit an assistance request to the GFAF online and they will provide you advice at no cost.

And — of course, I have to say it — submit a tip to The Signal. We’d be happy to investigate your claims.

WILL THIS COST ANY MONEY?

Let’s cut to the chase: there can be a fee involved.

Now, 95 percent of public records requests you make will likely not incur a fee. But if you’re requesting files that require personal information to be redacted, or if a great deal of effort is required to recover the files you’re requesting, Georgia State can charge you a fee per hour of work required.

Georgia law states that any fee greater than $25 must be described to you before any work is conducted to retrieve the files. It’s then up to you to abandon your request, refine it or accept the fee.

As with anything, it doesn’t hurt to ask Georgia State to waive that fee. And it might even be cheaper to ask to personally review the original file rather than have Georgia State make copies for you.

“In my requests, I always asked to review [the original] as opposed to asking for copies, because a lot of times you get enormous amounts of paper in response to requests sometimes, and the things you actually need copies of are four pages,” McCosh said.

WHAT IF I’M ASKED WHY I’M REQUESTING THESE?

“The short answer is you don’t have to say,” McCosh said.

If you’re ever asked why you’re requesting records, it’s entirely up to you to respond. It’s worth noting that detailing your reason may help that university department find exactly what you need.

“If it doesn’t matter that they know, then it’s fine …

But there are fine reasons to say, ‘I would prefer not to say why I want these records,’” McCosh said.

This column focuses on public records through the lens of public education and Georgia State specifically.

But you can apply these principles and mechanics to any public agency in Georgia or your local government. And whenever you face roadbumps, you can always lean on the GFAF to provide you educated advice.

And if you’ve made it to the bottom of this quite lengthy column and all of this still interests you, there’s no better place for you at Georgia State than The Signal.

Until next semester, Daniel Varitek Editor-in-Chief

ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

Your parents’ gifts for under $10 Gift giving season doesn’t brake for college students

SYDNEY BLOEME Arts & Living Editor

W

hen it comes to holiday gifts, “You don’t have to get me anything, sweety,” is a mom’s favorite way of saying “figure it out, and make it good.”

We wish we could give our parents something nice that they would absolutely love, be it a new Roomba or a new TV, but your FAFSA has other plans. This year, ditch the coupon book and get more creative.

GO IN ON SOMETHING BIG WITH YOUR SIBLINGS Sydney Hambacker was able to get her parents a $100+ plane ride over the city, for only about $20.

“I usually split it with my siblings. Because I’m one of five. So we just split one big gift that we know they want,” Hambacker said.

Share the cost with your siblings of whatever newest gadget or experience your parents have been eyeing. Whether it’s the newest Dyson or smart thermostat, you can finally be thankful for being the middle child.

GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT TRENDS Mom and Dad are always excited about the “newest big thing.” Buy them something trendy and inexpensive and tell them about how “everyone has one.” You’d be surprised how something simple like a pop socket can make them feel just as hip and trendy as they say they were in the ‘80s.

SIGN THEM UP FOR A FREE MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION Who else loves holding a physical publication? We at The Signal sure do! Find deals for free subscriptions for most magazines online. Some require surveys, but do some extra digging and you can find some with no strings attached. Be weary of anything requesting your credit card information.

Check around online and you can find everything from Cooking Light to Cosmopolitan for free after completing surveys.

NO ONE HAS TO KNOW IT’S BOOTLEG Buying for the brand is nothing to be ashamed of. Ditch the designer prices by buying through a second-hand seller.

Find everything from designer bags and shoes to perfume for discounted prices.

Zubair Hirani said this year he’s getting his dad an expensive cologne. Luckily, while this cologne is nice, it doesn’t break the bank.

“I know a guy who gets it.

That’s the only reason,” Hirani said.

Knowing “the right guy” can help you find their favorite brand name items discounted. Maybe leave out the fact that they aren’t real Gucci flip-flops.

They’ll be none the wiser.

T.J. MAXX, ROSS AND MARSHALLS, OH MY! You can find just about anything from cooking supplies to power tools discounted. Moms love lotions and candles about as much as they love you. Get the best discounted beauty products, technology, cooking supplies, pet toys, work out equipment, fragrances, iPhone accessories, desserts, treats and just about anything else from stores like Ross, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Impress the chef of the family with the newest cooking tool or get Dad a new wallet. The possibilities are endless.

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES GALORE Many subscription services and boxes include the first month free and many others offer a initial discount. Most of these require a credit card at first but will wait to charge you until the next month. Try something new without consequences and you may even find a new favorite.

Get a free razor with extra blades for $1 from Dollar Shave Club with promo code “FREEMONTH” at checkout. Be sure to cancel an entire month before your next box ships to avoid the next month’s fee.

READING IS SO LAST MILLENNIUM Parents love audiobooks! Sign up for Audible and get your first audio book for free. There are also dozens of other free audiobook websites. If you’re really good, you can find some online to download for free. Remember the days of YouTube to MP3?

Yeah, just like that.

SPEAKING OF YOUTUBE TO MP3…

Make a nice mixtape of your parents’ favorite songs they can listen to in the car. They most likely grew up without technology like the infamous iCloud, so they’ll love a physical copy like a CD. WHO DOESN’T LOVE LOTTERY TICKETS? Spice up the night with something original while supporting your fellow students’ studies through the Georgia Lottery.

Meriam Sium said that while it may seem silly, her brother bought everyone in the family lottery tickets.

“It was fun. It’s a good gift idea,” Sium said. “It gets everyone involved.”

PLAN A NIGHT IN Schedule a night with the family.

Offer to make dinner, play board games and all watch a movie like the old days. They always want to hang out with you and would love if someone else did the cooking. Make sure you wash all the dishes for extra brownie points.

THE THRIFT STORE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! The thrift store can have the best stuff — you just have to spend some time looking. Find nearly new technology and countless DVDs and books. You can always make a basket out of little things if you don’t score something big. Find Mom a nice new scarf or a new cookbook.

THE NOTORIOUS COUPON BOOK Okay, let’s face it, we had to put this in here. It’s an oldie but definitely a goodie. Long gone are the days of the chore chart and free labor is hard to come by. Offer to watch your younger siblings, wash their car, cook dinner or honestly anything else of substance. The possibilities are endless and your parents are always looking for extra help.

PICTURE FRAME OF MEMORIES Your parents love you more than anything. Give them a framed picture of you and your siblings. You could even dig up an old picture with old memories for bonus points.

Because “you always did look so cute in that jacket.”

FOR EXPERIENCED PLANT LOVERS Plants are expensive! Grow a new plant from seeds (like herbs!) or propagate one of your friend’s pre-existing plants to save money. This might seem a little weird if your aren’t very knowledgeable about plants, but most times plants can be completely regrown by as little as their leaves. Look up the type of plant for different strategies ranging from planting in soil to simply soaking in water. This could even be something fun to do together.

Make something homemade out of what you already have in your pantry Side note: Remember, it’s all about the presentation. Find a cute tin or jar from the thrift store and use your best handwriting and ribbons.

Make Chex Mix out of your leftover cereals.

• Combine whatever dregs of cereal you have left including chex, flakes, cherrios, etc on a baking sheet • Add extras like nuts, pretzels or other leftover chips • Sprinkle with oil and salt • Toast it in the oven for one hour on 250 degrees and stir every 15 minutes Make granola out of extra oats • Combine oats and nuts on a baking sheet • Sprinkle with the sweetener and oil of your choice • Bake for one hour on 250 degrees and stir every 15 minutes.

Avoid microbeads with your own DIY homemade body scrub • Combine sugar with your favorite body oil • Play around with different spices, essential oils, and even teas/coffee Make homemade bath bombs • Combine baking soda, cornstarch, epsom salt, citric acid, essential oils and body oil.

• Add food coloring and mix in glitter • Shape with cookie cutters and call it Lush ILLUSTRATIONS BY DEMETRI BURKE | THE SIGNAL

Your December Even

A day-by-day calendar for the month of fam

written by samuel puckett staff reporter

SUNDAY DECEMBER

02

SOUTHERN ART CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY BRUNCH

The Southern Art and Bourbon Bar is showing their softer side by inviting families and children to a transformative and eclectic mix of traditional and adventurous brunch fair. Picky eaters, vegetarians and bacon lovers all will leave happy and full.

SUNDAY DECEMBER

09

CHRISTMAS WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Christmas Production began years ago by music director Robert Shaw.

The performance will feature the full ensemble, orchestra and choir as well as guests Gwinnett Young Singers and the Morehouse College Glee Club.

Performances run Dec. 8 - 9.

SUNDAY DECEMBER

16

MONDAY DECEMBER

03

CHAMPAGNE AND NUTCRACKER AT CALLANWOLDE Beginning at 6 p.m., enjoy a tour of a Tudor-revival mansion at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Throughout the tour, there will be a dance performance selected from “The Nutcracker” by the Callanwolde School of Dance and complementary glasses of champagne.

MONDAY DECEMBER

10

SNOW TUBING AT STONE MOUNTAIN

We’re as surprised as you, but they’ve managed to build a 400-foot-long snow tubing hill. The attraction has snow tubes of all sizes, big enough for families, couples or solo runs. And don’t worry about getting back up — there’s a moving sidewalk to take you back to the top so you can ride until your fingers freeze.

MONDAY DECEMBER

17

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

23

LEGOLAND CHRISTMAS

Legoland in Phipps Plaza is holding a Christmas extravaganza. The event includes holiday-themed building challenges as well as a scavenger hunt through the park. Don’t forget to snap some photos with the elaborate Christmas decorations — they built them brick by brick!

SUNDAY DECEMBER

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04

HOLIDAY MODEL TRAIN SHOW

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens will show off “G-scale” trains trudging through delicate models of rolling hills, miniature towns and train depots covered in an icing of faux snow. The feature runs through normal park hours as well as during the Garden Lights exhibit.

TUESDAY DECEMBER

11

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Shakespeare Tavern has performed “A Christmas Carol” as a holiday tradition for 20 years now, and this year will be one for the books. The Tavern pulls from local Atlanta talent in a production directed by J. Tony Brown.

TUESDAY DECEMBER

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER

BOTANICAL GAR

The Atlanta Botanica outing or date spot ye only gets more excitin The expansive garden decorated with Chris this year including a W Tunnel of Light and M Christmas lights run

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER IT’S BEGINNING LIKE MURDER!

Agatha’s Mystery Din perform a holiday spe mystery to discover th the missing sleigh pu Red-Nosed Reindeer characters will band t mystery.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER

PRICILLA THE PINK PIG

Once a mainstay of the Atlanta Christmas, Priscilla was reintroduced to Atlanta in 2003. The ride begins at the upper-level parking deck at Lenox Square Mall, by the Macy’s. The ride takes delighted passengers through a curated show of historical Atlanta Christmas events as well as tours above the mall itself.

The Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts will host a production of the classic holiday special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, adapted by Jon Ludwig and directed by Tim Sweeney. This faithful rendition makes misfits of us all and will leave you with no end of holiday cheer and dreams of dentistry.

SUNDAY DECEMBER

TUESDAY DECEMBER

MONDAY DECEMBER

24

SANTA’S FANTASTICAL 12 WHIMSICAL WORLDS

This is a performance art exhibit, showcasing 12 unique Christmas scenes.

Live performances of dancing and singing combine with interactive digital exhibits to bring engaging family fun for the holidays.

Make sure to take a lot of pictures of this one-of-a-kind show.

MONDAY DECEMBER KWANZAA AT APEX

31

The APEX Museum on Auburn Avenue will host its annual Kwanzaa celebration from 1-3 p.m. Planned is a day to enjoy the creativity of guest performers, from poetry and dance to an artist market. The APEX Museum’s goal is to celebrate stories from across the African diaspora.

TUESDAY DECEMBER

25

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER

nts Guide

mily and holidays

Y R

05

RDEN LIGHTS

al Gardens are a fun ear-round, and it ng for the holidays. ns are fabulously stmas lights, with Walk of Flames and Model Trains. The through Jan. 6.

Y R

12

THURSDAY DECEMBER

06

MENORAH PARADE

Chabad Intown will hold a Menorah Car parade, meeting at Chabad on the BeltLine at 6:30 p.m. Chabad focuses on teaching the values of the Jewish faith and uplifting Jewish scholarship and life. They have a fun program planned for the night of riding around with their menorahs lit.

THURSDAY DECEMBER

13

TO LOOK A LOT

Y R

19

F R I D A Y DECEMBER BLACK NATIVITY

07

Written by poet Langston Hughes, the Black Nativity transposes the nativity scene across the black church to an Africanized Jerusalem. It shows the elegant power of the Christmas story as told through the African-American perspective. Performances will be at the Georgia Tech Ferst Center.

F R I D A Y DECEMBER

14

JINGLE BALL BY CAPITAL ONE

Atlanta’s pop radio station Power 96.1 will host a Christmas concert at State Farm Arena. The show welcomes stars like Shawn Mendes, G-Eazy and Alessia Cara.

A portion of ticket sales will go towards the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit founded to educate and connect children in need with the entertainment industry.

nner Theater will ecial: a murder he cause behind ullers. Rudolph the and other holiday together to solve the

Y R

T

here is so much to do in Atlanta over the holidays, we’ve curated a list of some of the most exciting attractions to visit. Stay safe and respectful as you navigate the long lines and crying kids, remember to stop and smell the hot cider.

THURSDAY DECEMBER

20

F R I D A Y DECEMBER

F R I D A Y DECEMBER

SATURDAY DECEMBER

01

CHILDREN’S PARADE

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Peachtree and 16th streets, this is one of Atlanta’s longest lived and loved traditions.

Featuring marching bands, dance troupes and spectacular balloons, this is a show worth seeing. Arrive early and scope out a seat in a parking deck nearby for an aerial view. Or, take MARTA to the Midtown or Arts Center stations on the parade route.

SATURDAY DECEMBER

08

SPEEDO RUN

Atlanta Speedo Run organized a charitable running event to benefit Bert’s Big Adventure, a charity which sends children with chronic illnesses to Disney World. There is a twist, though it’s obvious from the name: you run this race in a speedo. Registration is $25 and the race begins at Hudson’s Grill Midtown.

SATURDAY DECEMBER

15

SANTA AT THE SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM

Santa will arrive during his world tour to Duluth beginning on Nov. 17. He will be welcomed by the The Duluth Historical Society in their festival of trees. Events will include a craft sale, wagon ride and a train ride with Santa. Both breakfast and lunch tickets are $18.

21

SATURDAY DECEMBER

22

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SATURDAY DECEMBER

29

CANDLELIGHT NIGHTS

The Atlanta History Center has curated a holiday exhibit, inviting you to tour the manicured grounds and connect with Christmases of the past. The main exhibit consists of replica houses showcasing southern Christmases from the pioneer days, the Civil War era all the way to the 1930s. There is a local crafts market featuring vendors from around the state.

26

THURSDAY DECEMBER

27

CHRISTMAS CAROL AT DAD’S GARAGE

Atlanta’s premiere Improv comedy troupe will perform the classic Christmas Carol — of course with their own holiday twist. The show will mix scripted drama and moments of improv, introducing new characters on the fly and generally Dickens around for onstage highjinx.

FERNBANK WINTER WONDERLAND

The Fernbank Museum aims to enlighten families and friends with glittering displays of holiday festivals from around the world. This multicultural event drapes trees in lights across the expansive grounds for your viewing pleasure.

HOLIDAYS IN THE PARK AT SIX FLAGS

Six Flags will host their fifth annual Holidays in the Park attraction, bringing holiday performances from acting to choir shows. Attending will be the Bad Bob Humbug slapstick comedy show. Enjoy Looney Toons characters bedazzled with Christmas fun as well as a North Pole Express ride through the park.

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com PAGE DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

12

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

How to manage a rotating wardrobe Switching out your closet as the weather changes SAM PUCKETT Staff Reporter

C

hanging weather means changing wardrobes. As your clothing needs variation from season to season, it can be helpful to reorganize your closet every so often (every six months is good). Having a dedicated system for your winter and summer closets will improve your organization and available space.

SORTING

Organizing your closet should be a careful process. Each season is a chance to till the mulch of your fashion garden by moving clothes in and out of storage and donating what you don’t wear.

First thing: get rid of stuff you don’t wear. Though this is not the primary function of your reorganizing mission, it is a good opportunity to do something you really should be doing anyway. It is important to go through your closet every so often and sort out what is stained, torn or plain uncomfortable.

You should then sort out the seasonal items. Get out your wintry scarves, heavy sweaters, coats and boots. Sweaters can be hung when they’re being worn, but hanging year-round will stretch and damage the fabric. Scarves can be hung from shower curtain hooks or folded in a basket. Sort away the summer clothes like tank tops and shorts. You probably won’t need your sundresses or rompers for the next few months either.

Remember that not all items are seasonal. Keep T-shirts, camis and anything else you can layer with. A good collection should include items which are valuable across each season, “the basics” we rely on in most conditions.

After this process, you will appreciate the clothes that remain that much more.

DONATING

Some clothes don’t get worn as often as you previously thought and some are frivolous mistakes. If you have only worn something twice and feel like it is taking space from more deserving items in your collection, donate it. Goodwill will take (almost) everything.

If the clothes aren’t too bad, you can exchange them at clothing exchanges like Rag-O-Rama, Buffalo Exchange and Plato’s Closet. They exchange donated clothes for store credit in a convenient and affordable way to change up your wardrobe.

The danger here is exchanging off-season clothes; they’ll be less likely to accept the items for fear it would sit on shelves. Try not to throw clothes away if you can help it.

While sorting, if you find an item you only wear a few times a year, but are excited at each wear, you may decide it’s earned its spot and can stay. A nice coat, fancy dress, skimpy top or business suit are good things to have when you need them, if not every day. These items make dressing fun.

Only keep the best, and learn to identify inferior products.

This skill often doesn’t require special training, though knowledge of clothes can help. What is necessary is an intuitive sense of how you use each item. T-shirts should be soft, dress shirts should be smooth and sweaters warm. If it doesn’t live up then why is it there?

A good place to start examining clothes is at the seams, where items receive the most stress. Check for rips or stray threads and mend them if you can. Check that all buttons are attached and secure and that pockets are without holes. Old coats are especially vulnerable to tattered pockets as the lining fabric is more delicate. Once you have seperated what you will keep, you can move on to storing the rest.

There are many ways to manage the moisture of a storage space. DampRid is a popular commercial solution, which is a bucket of pellets that collect moisture. Set it on a shelf in your closet and remember to empty it of collected water and refill the pellets every so often. You can make your own moisture control by filling a delicates bag with activated carbon, which can be purchased at any pet store. Place the bag in your storage container and empty and refill it once or twice a year.

Natural solutions exist for repelling bugs from clothing storage. Muslin bags filled with herbs, usually lavender, are a popular country pest repellent in the more rural areas of Europe. Balls or blocks of cedar wood are used to similar effect in the American South. Both release essential oils that clothing pests like moths avoid.

These domestic tips will help you to transition through the seasons with good housekeeping. Seasons change, and Earth’s spring/summer ready-to-wear turns to an autumn’s haute couture, fall/winter 2018.

STORING

WINTER ESSENTIALS

While you’re sorting and purging clothes, think about storing out-of-season clothing away. Doing this will help you find clothes faster while getting dressed. It also will prevent overstuffing, which can lead to deep wrinkles and moisture buildup.

Well planned storage avoids damage to clothes from wrinkles, moisture, mold and mildew. Good storage allows for the moderate airflow that your clothes need.

You have a lot of storage options available. Many people love the plastic storage boxes, which pack clothes conveniently under the bed or in an attic. For a more sustainable option, you can use canvas bags. Burlap coffee bags are a beautiful rustic choice your friends will roll their eyes at. There are also vacuum bags, if you’re into the hassle. Don’t store clothes in garbage bags or cardboard boxes, as both will cause the collection of moisture, which could cause mold.

If you’re feeling adventurous, antique suitcases work just as well as plastic boxes, and they’re prettier. Fill and stack a couple next to your bed for an impromptu practical nightstand or coffee table.

This should go without saying, but wash and dry your clothes before storing them. You don’t want any remaining water left in storage for months ruining your favorite shorts.

Winter is coming, and it’s important to pull out those hefty jackets and properly store your tank tops.

While you’re going through your closet, don’t get caught without these cold weather necessities.

Rain shoes: They don’t have to be Hunter boots but make sure you have something waterproof. Combat boots are a great choice, but the Nike Lunar Force 1 Duckboot is a strong casual option.

Gloves: Talk about better to have it and not need it, because to need gloves and not having them can hurt. Look for the kind with touch screen compatibility, and try them on in the store.

Heavy coat: For when you’ve layered all you can, the heavy coat is your last defense against the biting wind and freezing air. Classic overcoats are always cool, and puffer coats get more trendy each year.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY UNIQUE RODRIQUEZ | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

ARTS & LIVING

13

Getting older can be hard, and college can make it harder. Sometime you make mistakes and that’s okay.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

New college, same old mistakes

Adjusting to your first semester at Georgia State JOSH WINSTON Staff Reporter

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ollege is hard. And it can be even harder when you find yourself thousands of miles away from everything you’ve ever known after going to college in a foreign country, being transferred to a new school or having just graduated high school. The stress of class deadlines and social obligations can already be overwhelming enough without the additional pressure of finding yourself in an alien environment.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Classes get harder, homework begins to pile up and the monotony of it all starts to take its toll. Sometimes we fail, and we fail hard. Exchange students, transient students and students going to college for the first time are especially susceptible to becoming overwhelmed by a learning environment they’re not used to yet. If you find yourself in a new place and are having trouble meeting the demands of a foreign college setting, this one’s for you.

ADJUSTING TO YOUR NEW LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Finding balance between education and personal life can become even harder for students when they’re far from home.

British exchange student Megan Royle agrees the workload is definitely more challenging abroad.

“Here it’s constant, its constant testing, constant quizzes, constant exams and I’m not used to that so I feel like I have to be on top of everything all the time, otherwise I miss something,” she said.

It’s easy to make mistakes early on, when you haven’t had the time to learn the rhythms and nuances of a new setting.

When adjusting to a new place, a common mistake new college students make is underestimating the workload or not properly preparing for it. British exchange student Paris Spencer initially made that mistake.

“I expected the work to be different, but I just didn’t expect the workload to be so intense,” she said.

Spencer finds Georgia State to feel “a lot more like highschool,” and unlike her British classes, “the environment is very different,” she said.

It takes time to adjust and involves some trial and error.

Becoming better acquainted with your academic surroundings

is a large part of successfully assimilating into college. Failed tests, poor attendance and low grades can have rippling effects on not only your academic performance but also your mental well-being.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP

Another mistake new students often make is not asking for help. They either feel embarrassed for having to reach out to someone else for assistance or they are simply unaware of the resources available to them. With this in mind, it’s important to be aware of all the resources a school offers and be in a position to take advantage of them as needed.

At Georgia State, there are plenty of offices and organizations more than willing to give assistance. Check out Black Student Achievement, the Office of Academic Assistance, the University Advisement Center and the Counselling and Testing Center.

These offices exist solely to make sure students have all the resources they need to succeed. And besides, if you’re paying tuition, you’re paying for these services anyway. You might as well use them.

Sometimes before we can break down our own egos to ask for help, things have to get worse before they get better.

Sometimes hitting rock bottom is a necessary calamity that jolts us into a mindset more capable of making the necessary changes in order to start performing better in school.

It might get worse before it gets better Georgia State senior and english major Makeda Phillips found this out during her first semester abroad when after doing poorly on her first university essay, she discovered she had to re-evaluate her approach to writing.

“Understanding the system takes a lot of time too. I have always been one of the best writers in my class. So when I got a C on my first paper. I was very humbled!” she said, “It took me all of fall semester to adjust.”

But she did eventually adjust and improve her academic performance. It just took time, patience and effort.

“Allow yourself to be uncomfortable for a little bit. I kept questioning why I wasn’t adjusting so well. And while yes, because of so many personal things in my life I was a huge mess, I needed to give myself time,” she said. “Everything can feel overwhelming, but just know it gets better.”

FAILURE IS AN OPTION

While it’s true that it can always get better, be prepared to accept that it might not. Sometimes students fail to pull up

on the controls to pull themselves out of their nosedives into impending failure. They habitually underperform in classes, overlook deadlines, skip one too many lectures or generally do poorly over extended periods of time. Before we know it, the semester ends, and with it, so do any chances of salvaging a passing grade from the class.

When Georgia State transfer student Brittany Washington failed a class during her senior year, she simply retook it.

“I did a Maymester so I could just get it out of the way in three weeks and not miss out on my summer,” she said.

Failure in college is rarely an insurmountable phenomenon. It happens to everyone, and in our increasingly cushioned college environment, there are plenty of ways to reconcile. The modern college environment is well designed to give students room to experiment and fail. It also allows students to make mistakes and learn from them rather than be destroyed by them. But they can only do this if they put in the time and effort to learn and grow, rather than let their mistakes define them.

COLLEGE STATS Average percentage of students who graduate in 4 years: 19 percent Average freshman retention rate: 81 percent Average percentage of students who drop out after freshman year: 28 percent Average percentage of Americans who complete college: 46 percent

DROPOUT RATES BY RACE/ETHNICITY Caucasians: 38 percent Asians: 36 percent African Americans: 62 percent Hispanics: 54.8 percent Highest reason for dropping out: not being able to find a work/school balance (54 percent) Source: National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

ARTS & LIVING

14

games

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

coloring page

! s y a d i l o H y pp Ha l a n g i S e h T m fro

ILLUSTRATION BY DAO NGUYEN | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS TUESDAY, NOVMEBER 27, 2018

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

State’s 3-game win streak over Southern snapped with 35-14 loss Panthers end season 2-10; Hart to enter NFL Draft Georgia State’s football team lining up against Georgia Southern in a rival game that ended with a score of 34-14.

JERELL RUSHIN Sports Editor

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eorgia State (2-10, 1-7) and Georgia Southern (9-3, 6-2) moved their rivalry onto Georgia State’s campus for the first time on Nov. 24. The game went much like the first ever meeting between the two teams; the Georgia Southern Eagles powered over the Panthers, but this time by a score of 35-14.

Georgia Southern broke the three-game win streak the Panthers held over them. Georgia State now leads the all-time series 3-2.

The Georgia State defense initially played strong as they held Georgia Southern, a team that averages 31.1 points per game, scoreless in the first quarter. The Panthers surrendered 13 points in second quarter, and that was closest they’d get to Eagles. Their 2-10 final record is the program’s worst since it went 2-10 in 2014.

Wide receiver Penny Hart announced that he will forgo his senior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. He had one reception on three targets in his final game as a Panther. Hart finishes second in Georgia State history with 202 receptions and 19 receiving touchdowns and third in receiving yards with 2,950. “[I’m feeling] anger, happiness,” Hart said. “It’s a lot of different emotions for the sole fact that we didn’t come out with the win, but I’m happy with everything that I’ve done here at this university. I have no regrets. [I] love every single one of those guys that’s in that locker room.”

This season-ending loss was nothing like the previous two games Hart played in against Georgia Southern. Hart was exceptional in the 2015 matchup when he caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. In 2017, he hauled in the game-winning catch with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter. His final statline was eight receptions, 191 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Georgia Southern only outgained Georgia State in total yards 381-264 in the regular season finale.. It was the big running plays that separated the teams. Georgia Southern amassed 276 rushing yards, nearly triple the 94 yards Georgia State accumulated.

2018 was Georgia State’s best rushing season ever with program highs of 2,057 yards and 21 touchdowns. Head coach

Shawn Elliott said Tra Barnett, the team’s leading rusher, was injured in practice during the days leading up to the game and was unable to play. The offensive line injuries that the team dealt with all season also mounted up for the Panthers.

“Georgia Southern played well defensively. They kind of kept us at bay running the football,” Elliott said. “We felt like we could run the football on them. But [it’s tough] when you lose your right tackle, you lose your starting running back and you’ve got to put your left guard at right tackle, your right guard starting at left guard and bring back in your redshirt freshman right there [at right guard]. The offensive line, you can’t just mix and mingle.”

Wesley Fields led the Eagles in rushing with 151 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. He scored a 63-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter to put Georgia Southern up 35-7. The Eagles’ passing was also sharper than Georgia State’s, although they attempted 22 fewer passes.

Shai Werts, who is more known for his running abilities, has passed well this season, but the Panther defense didn’t give much safety help to its cornerbacks. He connected with receivers for long touchdown throws of 38 and 58 yards down the middle of the field.

The turnover margin didn’t result in any points scored, but Georgia Southern, the FBS’s best in with a +22 differential, won it just like it did for the majority of the season, and Georgia State lost it per usual.

The Eagles intercepted Dan Ellington in the second quarter and went 3-and-out on the ensuing drive. Georgia State finished the regular season tied in 112th with a -8 turnover margin. But the punt helped the Eagles flip the field position; the Panthers begin their drive on their on 7-yard line.

Georgia State went 3-and-out, and Georgia Southern began its next drive a yard shy of midfield at its own 49. Werts threw a well-placed 38-yard touchdown pass to Darion Anderson to put Georgia Southern up 10-0 with 2:40 remaining in the half.

The turning point of the game took place in a few minutes.

Georgia State had a chance to score before halftime after Ellington quickly led a drive into Georgia Southern territory. On 3rd-and 2 at the Georgia Southern 25-yard line, Ellington was sacked, and punter and placekicker Brandon Wright went out to attempt a 47-yard field goal.

Rashad Byrd broke through the offensive line to block the kick, and Monquavion Brinson returned the ball to Georgia

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIQUEZ | THE SIGNAL

State’s 27-yard line. Eagles’ placekicker Tyler Bass made a 49-yard field goal time in the first half expired. Georgia Southern fans, which were the majority of the crowd at Georgia State Stadium, made their presence felt.

“It’s a tough ball-game,” Elliott said. “Any time you come and play your rival [and lose] and it’s the end of the year, it’s something that hurts because we understand what’s all at stake, and it’s not a good feeling.”

Georgia Southern is a good third quarter team, and performed well in it again. The Eagles scored 15 points on two scores in the period to take a 28-0 lead over Georgia State.

Georgia State attempted an onside kick to begin the half but Georgia Southern recovered. Werts ran in an 18-yard touchdown less than 5 minutes into the third quarter and the Eagles took a 21-0 lead. He tossed his second touchdown of the game when he found Colby Ransom for 58 yards.

Georgia State avoided the shutout when Devn Gentry caught a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Ellington, who finished passing 20-of-32 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, threw his second touchdown to Tamir Jones late in the quarter.

The Panthers should improve next season because of the depth they return. Returning are their starting quarterback, three leading rushers and all defensive starters except seniors DeAndre Applin, who missed most of the season, Michael Shaw, Marterious Allen and Chase Middleton. Every key contributor on offense will be back besides Hart and center Jamal Paxton.

Quarterback Aaron Winchester is leaving the program to use his final year of eligibility elsewhere.

“I really get excited when I see the future of our football program [and] when I see our teams… Huge strides [were] made with our offensive line,” Elliott said. “Huge strides [were] made in our running game. I think our quarterback is very solid. You’ve got true freshmen coming back and multiple receivers that have had great experience.”

Wright, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s best punter, will play his senior season in 2019. He set a new Sun Belt Conference record with a 48.2 yards per punt average.

Final recruiting efforts for the class of 2019 will intensify as the early signing period ends on Dec. 21. Elliott said in the postgame press conference that the offseason, specifically from January through March., will be heavy on physical and mental development for the team.

SPORTS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

How athletes manage their social media image Athletes must learn to navigate with constant media attention DANIEL RICHARDSON Staff Reporter

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t was NBA All-Star Vince Carter’s 20th media day this October with the Atlanta Hawks as he listed all of the differences from his first media day to his most recent. In 1998 when Carter was drafted into the league, there was no Twitter, Instagram or cell phones as we have them today. The only individuals with cameras were media professionals who were being paid to film and record athletes.

The internet, much like Carter’s career at the time, was in its infancy. Now in 2018, one would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have access to cameras or the internet.

The advent of social media apps and technology has changed the way society interacts with itself, including among athletes.

Athletes at one point were portrayed as larger than life figures who could run and jump faster than previously thought possible.

Their athletic prowess made them untouchable superheroes, separated from the common man.

Sometimes it wasn’t their athletic feats that made them into role models – sometimes it was their personalities. Lou Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Jim Brown and Muhammed Ali all used their stature to bring attention to issues and societal problems that otherwise would have been largely ignored.

Janessa Murphy, a senior guard on the Georgia State women’s basketball team, said she feels that modern athletes like LeBron James and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees have best demonstrated how to appropriately and efficiently adapt to the social media era.

“Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Candace Parker and Drew Brees [are] great representations of model citizens in the athlete world,” Murphy said. “They do things on and off the floor that make them leaders and role models. They understand what it takes to represent their team and who they are as a person.”

Being great prior to the internet age allowed athletes to solely exist in every home, sports bar and radio station. Who they were

as people was largely irrelevant, but the feelings they inspired in fans was palpable.

But what happens when athletes become more accessible and visible?

Allison Johnson, senior forward for the Georgia State women’s basketball, learned early on how to navigate the life of an athlete on social media and all the extra attention that comes with.

“A lot of people know who I am even in away games and after any game I get a lot of new followers or posts on other people’s pages,” Johnson said. “I’d say all is positive attention, nothing bad at all. People just show love more than usual. People offer me products and stuff in exchange of posts and publicity, but as NCAA athletes we aren’t able to accept them.”

Johnson has over 39,000 followers on Instagram and over 1,000 on Twitter. Her following prompted the 22-year-old to become more deliberate about her online persona.

“I am always aware of what I post,” Johnson said. “I know I have a big follower base so I am careful with my page. I don’t really reevaluate my posts because I think so much before I even post them the first time.”

Social media has closed the gap between the once mythical athletes and the people who praised them from afar. The newer generation of sports fans has almost unfettered access to their favorite athlete’s personal life more than ever before.

It is up to the athlete to navigate this new era. Athletes are steadily learning that social media can work in their favor in the way of getting their message out to the masses much quicker.

Others, like Johnson, have learned that the best way to cultivate their own image is through social media, allowing the fan to only catch a glimpse of who they are without giving away too much.

As recently as early 2018, the Georgia State women’s soccer team garnered national attention after a member of the team used the N-word on a social media platform.

Georgia State Athletics was subsequently tossed into a public relations frenzy. The use of such language by a college student on social media – whether acceptable or not – is not uncommon.

The use of such offensive language by an athlete – who are often charged with binding communities – was jarring and

Allison Johnson, a player on the Georgia State women’s basketball team, has a booming social media presence with 39,000 Instagram followers.

caused a split in the Georgia State community. The power and reach of social media were on full display.

“I feel like as a student athlete you have to understand that everyone is watching you even when you don’t think someone is,” Murphy said. “So, that being said it is best to always be on your best behavior and if you have to second guess it, don’t do it.”

An athlete’s behavior in or away from the arena of play can dictate how that athlete is perceived in the public.

Some athletes have mastered the art of surviving the 24-hour news cycle and the nonstop media attention that comes with it.

Others have succumbed to the pressures of trying to walk the line of person and athlete.

Journalists are now able to report the words and actions of athletes in real time as they happen.

“Honestly, most times I feel like I have to be more aware than anybody else,” Johnson said. “Everyone that see my posts on social media know I play for GSU [women’s basketball] and that puts a lot of ‘pressure’ on my decisions and actions.”

The NCCA has a rule that allows athletes to have a “cool down” period after competition so that the athletes have the time to gather their emotions before addressing the media. This time period, according to one Georgia State media relations professional, gives the athlete and sports information directors a few minutes to assess the athlete’s ability to answer questions without creating an unfavorable situation for themselves and the university.

Athletes have a profound platform that comes with the responsibility of managing the power of that attention. There is no expectation to be a flawless person, but there is an expectation to be aware of what it is they represent.

Social media adds an extra level of responsibility that the modern athlete must be able to handle. The megaphone that comes with being an athlete is amplified by the sometimes millions of eyes and ears of fans as they follow their every move.

“You are on a platform where you are always being watched,” Murphy said. “[S]o you have to be careful about what you do or say. People respect who you are around campus and you meet a lot of people who support you.”

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

SPORTS

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Thanks, but no Thanksgiving

What international student-athletes think about American Thanksgiving JOSHUA FIFE Staff Reporter

T

hanksgiving is a classic American tradition and a staple to the holiday season, but to students who come from outside of the U.S., our turkey-obsessed day of feasting is a foreign concept.

Georgia State has several athletes that were recruited from overseas, and for some, this year will be their first Thanksgiving in America.

Several countries have some sort of harvest celebration where they demonstrate gratitude for the year’s fortune.

Some were inspired by the American holiday, while others predate the meal on Plymouth Rock by thousands of years.

Diego Padilha is a freshman men’s tennis player from Brazil. He has never seen an American Thanksgiving before.

Brazil’s rendition of Thanksgiving, Dia de Ação de Graças, was inspired by a Brazilian ambassador who suggested the national holiday to then-president Eurico Gaspar Dutra in 1949 after living in Washington, D.C. and witnessing how Americans celebrated.

“Brazilians celebrate this day by thanking God for the good things (good harvest) that happened during the year,” Padilha said. “[It usually] is celebrated the fourth Friday of November, where people give thanks by getting reunited with the family and praying.”

Some international students learn about Thanksgiving as a part of the “Holidays” chapter in their English class.

Many don’t fully understand the importance of the holiday and how much it means to American families until they arrive.

“I learned about Thanksgiving in my English class in high school so I already knew some facts about this holiday before coming to the United States,” Lotte Meyberg, a junior cross country runner from Germany, said. “Our teacher explained to us that the pilgrims celebrated the first successful harvest with the Native Americans.

After two Thanksgivings in the states, Meyberg has gained more of an understanding of what it means to Americans.

“I have a different view on the holiday now,” Meyberg said. “Thanksgiving is a much more popular holiday for American families than I expected it to be. The preparation in the weeks before seem to be just as important as the ones for Christmas, if not even more important. Now, I view Thanksgiving as a holiday that focuses on family gatherings, spending time with people we care about, and enjoying the typical Thanksgiving dinner.”

The most comparable holiday in Germany would be their fall harvest festival Erntedankfest. Some historians trace its celebration back thousands of years, long before pilgrims landed in America. However, it is not a “German Thanksgiving” and there are stark differences between the two.

“The ‘Erntedankfest’ in Germany is a religious celebration,” she said. “Christians express their gratefulness for the food that God has provided for them. There is the same component of being thankful as for the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., but it is celebrated earlier in the fall and only by members of the church.”

LOTTE MEYBERG - GERMAN CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER The Signal: Have you tried traditional Thanksgiving foods?

Meyberg: “No, I actually have not. Last year was my first Thanksgiving that I spent in the U.S, and some teammates and I visited Chicago. Since we did not really plan ahead to eat traditional foods, we ended up in the only open restaurant: a small local diner. I remember I had the best omelette with sweet-potato hashbrowns of my life that day. And since I could eat omelette any time of the day, every day, I was really happy with our not so traditional Thanksgiving dining experience.”

The Signal: How are you going to spend Thanksgiving this year?

Meyberg: “Last year I visited Chicago with two of my teammates and we had a great time exploring the city on

Lotte Meyberg ran in the Georgia Bulldog Invitational on Sep. 8, 2018.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

the holiday. We signed up for the turkey trot and ran the 5km race together which was an awesome experience.

A lot of people were dressed up as turkeys or something else funny and the winners received pies as a price gift.

This year, although not traveling, I will be running a 5km race again, this time in Atlanta. I don’t think that I will be cooking turkey this year either, but if I feel like eating omelette again, that might do it.”

a game so she came over and cooked us all food, lovely food, and we watched some football. And then I took a nap because I was so full. That’s part of it too.

The Signal: What are you most thankful for?

Meyberg: “That’s a tough question! There are a lot of things in my life that make me very happy and that I cannot imagine to live without. I think I am the most thankful for the love and support that I receive from my family and friends. I would not be pursuing my dreams and believe in myself they way I do now if it was not for the people that encourage me to do so.”

OLIVER HOLDENSON - AUSTRALIAN PUNTER FOR GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL The Signal: Did you know about Thanksgiving before you came to the US? Holdenson: “Yeah I knew about it, just based mostly off television and movies and stuff. I didn’t really know what it was about. I just knew that they would get together and eat a lot of food, which is always good. I still don’t know too much about it, but I know it’s a long time tradition about pagans and the indians maybe? And people just get together and celebrate family, friends, what their thankful for. And football. Football’s a big part of it.”

The Signal: How did you celebrate last year?

Holdenson: Last year, Barry Brown, the kicker, his mom came over. We couldn’t really go home because we had

The Signal: What did you think about the Thanksgiving food?

Holdenson: I liked it, it’s a good range of food. I’ve never had pumpkin pie, it kind of looks gross. It looks gross, but I’m willing to try it. But the turkey is good, all that stuff, the stuffing, the mac and cheese.

The Signal: So what’s your favorite part?

Holdenson: Probably the turkey. I’m a big meat guy, so.

But everything is good. Everyone brings something to the table and it all tastes good.

The Signal: Is there any similar holiday in Australia?

Holdenson: Not really at all, to be honest. The way I see it is that when Thanksgiving happens you know that Christmas is about to be around the corner, but we don’t even have that so Christmas just comes. There’s no warm up. There’s no warm up with Thanksgiving to Christmas.

The Signal: How will you celebrate this year?

Holdenson: Same as last year, Barry’s mom is coming over to the house, she’s cooking. We’re going to help out a little bit. And a bunch of teammates will be there that are from out of state and also my family will be here so they’ll be coming by. They’ll be here on Thursday and they’ll get to meet everyone. And then we’ll beat Southern, that’ll be the second part of Thanksgiving.

The Signal: What are you most thankful for?

Holdenson: I’m most Thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been given here, all the people I’ve met, the networking that I’ve made. I just love it all.

SPORTS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Panthers finish third in Cayman Islands Classic

Men’s basketball beats St. Bonaventure, dominates Georgia 91-67 TAJ STRICKLAND Staff Reporter

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he Georgia State Panthers placed third place in the Cayman Islands Classic after beating the Georgia Bulldogs, 91-67. Georgia State (4-2) were locked in from deep, shooting 56 percent on 3-pointers and 55.7 percent from the field.

Malik Benlevi, who had 24 points, was a huge reason for the Panthers’ success from three, making eight of his 11 attempts. Jeff Thomas and Damon Wilson chipped in as well, shooting a combined 6-of-13 from three in the game. They played with a lot of energy, and head coach Ron Hunter knew it.

“I thought our guys were absolutely incredible defensively,” Hunter said. “After that [Creighton] loss, I thought our guys could have came back and played at midnight. We wanted to come out and make a statement and there is no doubt that they did.”

This is the third time since 2000 that the Panthers have beaten the Bulldogs. They also handed the Bulldogs their worst non-conference loss since the Bulldogs were defeated

by Illinois, 76-42, in 2008.

The Panthers finished this tournament 2-1 after beating the Bulldogs. Their first win came against St. Bonaventure 75-65.

In the win against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, the Panthers forced 18 turnovers and scored 23 points off of them. They also dominated in the paint, where they scored 44 of their 75 points. Freshman guard, Nelson Phillips, came off the bench and produced well, scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

“To force 18 turnovers against a very good A-10 team shows how good we can be,” Hunter said. “I’m equally impressed with the continued improvement of Nelson Phillips. He has the ability to be a very special player and showed it tonight.”

After winning convincingly against the Bonnies, the Panthers faced off against the Creighton Bluejays the next night.

The game against Creighton was the opposite of Monday’s game against St. Bonaventure for Georgia State. The Panthers started very slow and shot the ball poorly. In the first half, Georgia State shot a dismal 29.6 percent from the field and missed all 10 of their 3-point attempts. Despite the rhythm they found in the second half, the Panthers would fall short to Creighton and its 43.8 shooting percentage from three.

Georgia State played against Georgia in the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 21, 2018.

“We got off to a slow start and we were not able to ever get in our rhythm,” Hunter said. “We will regroup and look to come out and finish the tournament strong tomorrow.”

Creighton marked the third team that the Panthers have played so far this season that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament last season. The other two teams are Montana and St. Bonaventure, who are the Panthers’ only two losses on the season. The Panthers’ 1-2 record against 2018 NCAA

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Tournament teams will change on Dec. 4 when they face Alabama, who was led to the tournament by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Colin Sexton.

The Panthers’ schedule gets more challenging after the tournament, as they will go on a three-game road trip with games at Tulane, Liberty and Alabama. Georgia State’s next home game will be against Chattanooga on Dec. 12 at the GSU Sports Arena.

Women’s soccer seniors leave program on high note Four veterans helped the Panthers turn the season and program around JOSHUA FIFE Staff Reporter

B

efore the 2018 season began, there was hope among the Georgia State women’s soccer program that this would be the year things changed. This was year three of head coach Ed Joyce’s tenure, and Georgia State had a 12-17-9 record under him.

Joyce brought in his first recruiting class this season, and the team returned seven starters and had four seniors. Two of those seniors, Caitlyn Ray, and Moe Hundley, have stuck with the program through those disappointing losing seasons. Hudley was named to the All-Sun Belt second team at the end of the season. And Ray was named to the All-tournament team after the conference tournament.

Halfway through the season, things seemed to be the same when the Panthers got off to a 2-9-1 start. Senior Brooke Smith’s game-winning goal against Troy was the beginning of the Panthers’ fortunes changing.

That was Smith’s only goal this season, but it was a big one.

That goal helped to turn the team’s fortunes around.

“My performance this year changed drastically from my first year, I actually got fit and gained confidence through playing so I thought this year I did pretty well,” Smith said.

The Panthers went on to defeat Troy 3-2 and afterward won four straight matches.

“I feel as if the biggest difference was that everything was finally coming together,” Ray said. “From the beginning of the season everyone has bought into what we wanted to do as a team but during the second half of the season is when it started to show in terms of results.”

The Panthers finished the regular season on a 6-1-1 streak. The win streak led them to the Sun Belt Conference tournament where they upset No. 3 Coastal Carolina before falling to Little Rock in the semifinals. Ray, Hundley, Smith and Madi Card were the four seniors who helped turn the season and the program around.

Card, who transferred from Butler, spent one season with the Panthers. The goalkeeper made her presence known this season and was awarded for it with an All-Sun Belt Second Team

selection.

“This one season at GSU was more than I could have hoped for,” Card said. “The girls were all so welcoming and created such a fun environment. I think what I will remember the most was the openness I received from the girls and just being back on the field again playing the sport I love.”

Card played in 12 games this season, going 7-2-1, and giving up 12 goals. She also made 48 saves and recorded two shutouts.

“I feel so thankful for having the opportunity to utilize my medical redshirt to play my 5th year and receive my Master’s Degree,” Card said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way the season went and I am very happy with my performance and the performance of the team.”

The Panthers will return 28 of the 32 players from this year’s team next season, but the leadership and skills that are leaving with the four seniors will be hard to replace.

“Being a soccer player at Georgia State will be one of the best memories of my life,” Ray said. “Georgia State is a place where I have created so many great memories and met so many lifelong friends. I am truly blessed to have gotten the opportunity to be a part of this program.”

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

SPORTS BRIEFS men’s basketball • • • •

• •

Now 4-2 after winning three of the four previous games Fought off a comeback to defeat in-state Mercer 62-60 Won third place in the Cayman Islands Classic Won 75-65 over St. Bonaventure behind 25 points from D’Marcus Simonds on the first day of the tournament Lost their second game of the tournament 93-68 to Creighton Finished the tournament with a 91-67 domination over Georgia in the teams’ first meeting since 2005

SPORTS CALENDAR BASKETBALL NOV. 28 TULANE

1 P.M.

DEC. 1 LIBERTY

• • • •

•

Lost 3-0 in penalty kicks to Charlotte in the first round of the NCAA Tournament The score at the end of regulation was 2-2 Aris Briggs and Alex Summerfield scored Georgia State’s goals Charlotte was a man down late, and Georgia State took advantage to tie the game in the 86th minute The Panthers end the 2018 season at 11-6-3

women’s basketball • • • •

•

•

Have a 3-1 record Lost their perfect record because of a 66-49 loss to the Rice Owls Allowed Rice to have 13-1 runs in both the first and second quarters Jada Lewis led Georgia State in points and steals with 14 and four respectively Walnatia Wright logged a 10 point and 11 rebound double-double in just 10 minutes Allison Johnson, who scored 10 points, made the Panthers’ lone 3-pointer

football • • •

• • • • •

Finished the season 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the Sun Belt Conference Lost 45-17 at Appalachian State on Nov. 17 Dan Ellington returned from injury to throw 10-of21 for 132 yards and one touchdown Penny Hart caught his 200th career reception Lost to Georgia Southern 35-14 The loss was the first to Georgia Southern since 2014 Junior wide receiver Penny Hart announced he will enter the 2019 NFL Draft Quarterback Aaron Winchester is leaving the program and has one more year of eligibility

ALABAMA

6 P.M.

8 P.M.

7 P.M.

men’s basketball GSU Sports Arena

1 P.M.

8 P.M.

JAN. 5 GSU Sports Arena

7 P.M.

JAN. 10 LOUISIANA

7 P.M.

JAN. 12 GSU Sports Arena

1 P.M.

women’s basketball

women’s basketball 1 P.M.

LOUISIANA

Lafayette, Louisiana

DEC. 21

JAN. 12

women’s basketball

women’s basketball 3 P.M.

ULM

Monroe, Louisiana

2 P.M.

5:30 P.M.

1 P.M.

NFL PLAYOFF SEEDING PREDICTIONS

1. LOS ANGELES (RAMS)

4. WASHINGTON

6. ATLANTA

1. KANSAS CITY

3. PITTSBURGH

5. LOS ANGELES (CHARGERS)

women’s basketball MIDDLE TENNESSEE

JAN. 10

4. HOUSTON

NOV. 29 Murfreesboro, Tennessee

DEC. 20

2. NEW ENGLAND

men’s basketball ULM

TEXAS STATE

GSU Sports Arena

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

men’s basketball GSU Sports Arena

TBA

5. CAROLINA

men’s basketball TEXAS STATE

women’s basketball

3. CHICAGO

men’s basketball UT ARLINGTON

women’s basketball

2. NEW ORLEANS

JAN. 3 Arlington, Texas

JAN. 5

6 P.M.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

DEC. 29 MIDDLE GEORGIA

UT ARLINGTON

GSU Sports Arena

2 P.M.

8 P.M.

men’s basketball UNCW

6 P.M.

DEC. 15

BETHUNE-COOKMAN

DEC. 19 GSU Sports Arena

women’s basketball

GSU Sports Arena

men’s basketball Manhattan, Kansas

women’s basketball

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

DEC. 15 KANSAS STATE

JAN. 3

GSU Sports Arena

7 P.M.

FLORIDA STATE

Tallahassee. Florida

DEC. 13

JACKSONVILLE STATE

men’s basketball GSU Sports Arena

2 P.M.

Jacksonville, Alabama

DEC. 12 CHATTANOOGA

women’s basketball

KENNESAW STATE

DEC. 4 Tuscaloosa, Alabama

women’s basketball

GSU Sports Arena

men’s basketball Lynchburg, Virginia

DEC. 29

GEORGIA TECH

men’s basketball New Orleans, Louisiana

DEC. 2 GSU Sports Arena

men’s basketball

men’s soccer

19

12 P.M.

6. TENNESSEE