The Signal Vol. 87 No. 1

INVESTIGATING GILEE STUDENT MUSICIANS

LUNCH WITH FANS

RECIPES

PAGE 13

A collection of GILEE’s history, funding, protests and a Signal investigation.

This couple recounts their perfect game attendance and their love for GSU.

HOROSCOPE

PAGE 13

COMICS

PAGE 14

NEWS

PAGE 2

Beat-creating students share their experiences going from summer to school.

ARTS & LIVING

PAGE 12

SPORTS PAGE 18

VOL. 87 | NO. 1

AUG. 27 - SEPT. 3, 2019

understanding

GILEE The rumors, politics and controversy surrounding Georgia State’s highly secretive international law enforcement exchange program.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DEMETRI BURKE PAGE DESIGN BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

@gsusignal

georgiastatesignal.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

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Georgia State University students stand in protest against the GILEE program in 1996.

PHOTO FROM SIGNAL ARCHIVES

Why students are protesting this award-winning program Answering the unanswered: why GILEE matters to you EDITORIAL

Signal News Staff

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he Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, or GILEE, has seen the last decade of its history marked by student opposition culminating last semester with SGA pushback — the details of

Recent events and student opposition DANIELLA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

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he Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange program, or GILEE, was founded by Robert Friedmann and partners with police departments across the state and nation, including the Atlanta Police Department to help expand and improve safety in the Atlanta area.

GILEE’s essential function is to facilitate training exchanges between Georgia police departments and international police forces.

Since 1996, GILEE has continued to exchange safety tactics for gatherings of law enforcement officials with 25 different countries, one of these being Israel.

Though its supporters believe there is good that could come from the GILEE program, it is controversial to some because of who it partners with. In a published letter, then Student Government Association Senators

which are outlined in the introductory story below.

If you continue into the next two pages, you’ll find the product of months of investigation, with both a corroboration of claims and evidence against the program and the widespread and far-reaching support and awards it has received.

What once had been rumor is now proven true — or completely baseless. Did the Georgia General Assembly make a law that limits GILEE open records? Does the program really work that closely with Israel and why do supporters care so much? Who supports GILEE and if donor records are protected, why?

Some information about the “behind-the-

scenes” movement of the SGA resolution and outside actors’ roles have never been made public and reveal the deeper importance of the story to students, activists and representatives of GILEE and the university.

But we suggest you don’t stop there. The next page explains how GILEE came to be, a history on its establishing cause for the ‘96 Olympics and the terrorist attack that ensued and praises from law enforcement agencies across the state.

The Georgia State University Foundation had been rumored to fund GILEE — read the spread for this bit — but besides that, what is it?

GILEE continues to be a hot topic for debate on campus and is expected to be a continued

point of emphasis leading into the 90th SGA administration.

We believe it was important to dispel some hearsay, provide some context and bring to light the story that’s been the talk of campus for many to those who may have never known the program existed.

We also suggest you read this package front to back — editorial to foundation — to get the full story and to appreciate the product as we intended it.

After months of investigation, this is the best look available today into Georgia State’s controversial law enforcement exchange program.

Jazmin Mejia and Hamza Rahman stated their opposition to GILEE because of its collaboration with human rights violators and its history of bigotry.

Mejia and Rahman introduced a universitywide opinion resolution, 89-UWSR-05, this past spring semester, which ultimately did not pass. It called for three things: to encourage Georgia State University to withdraw its police department from GILEE, redirect Georgia State University Police Department funding to appropriate police training activities and to end the program’s presence at Georgia State.

SGA established an ad hoc committee to investigate the legislation. They found that the connection between GILEE and GSUPD was simply baseless.

Prior to joining Georgia State, Chief of GSUPD Joseph Spillane went on a delegation to Israel during his time serving as deputy chief of the APD. Spillane confirmed that, since he assumed the position of chief of police in late November 2016, zero dollars from the GSUPD’s budget have been spent on GILEE and zero GSUPD officers have attended the program.

“GSUPD is not connected to the GILEE program beyond my previous participation,” Spillane said. “I do not have any current plans to send any officers to GILEE, and I have not

budgeted any training funding to send anyone from GSUPD in the FY2020 Budget.”

Reactions to GILEE coming to the spotlight have been mixed by students and outside forces. Founder Friedmann encouraged people to put their political and personal values aside and evaluate the safety of the community around them. Friedmann ensured students in a previous article by The Signal that the Israeli police officers are not training Georgia officers to be “bullies” or to “torture detainees.”

But the pushback against GILEE didn’t just begin last semester. Kathryn Hamoudah, a coordination member for the Movement to End Israeli Apartheid - Georgia (MEIA-G), fueled the beginning of a protest in 2010 with a press release. Hamoudah begins by stating the initial function of GILEE, facilitating training exchanges between Israeli and Georgia police officers.

Hamoudah said Georgia State University President Mark Becker cannot afford to be affiliated with a program such as GILEE because she believed it implies that Georgia police officers will apply the same dangerous tactics used in Israel.

According to Hamoudah, Becker has an “opportunity to stand for human rights.” In an effort to get Becker to discuss the end of Georgia State’s affiliation with GILEE,

Hamoudah petitioned with more than 900 signatures. According to the release, Becker agreed to meet but never fulfilled his promise.

The controversy arising within Georgia State about its affiliation with GILEE has found its way into several student groups — often for the program’s support of Israel, which many in turn view as inherently anti-Palestinian.

Hagar Baruch, president of Hillel, Georgia State’s Jewish student union, wanted to provide a different view for her peers by trying to present a more personal perspective, as she is from Israel. She agreed GILEE and APD don’t have enough “common concerns” but Baruch isn’t opposed to strategies that improve safety.

The Progressive Student Alliance has worked to investigate and oppose GILEE for years because they believe the Israeli police system works to enforce apartheid against the Palestinian people.

But GILEE discussion won’t end here. On August 10, during the university-wide SGA meeting, Senator Walton reintroduced the idea of forming an ad hoc GILEE committee, which will be chaired by Senator DeHart, and the bill passed with 17 votes. The next step for SGA is to decide which senators will serve on the committee.

NEWS

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Investigating the program ADA WOOD News Editor

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program designed to train American law enforcement alongside international partners across the globe sounds like something that would find a home within a government agency. Yet the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) finds its home within Georgia State.

Since its establishment by founding director Robert Friedmann, it has received high praise and accolades from educational, political and law enforcement leaders. It also has seen protests, petitions and resolutions knocking at its door.

And despite students’ best attempts, records are heavily restricted and funding information is largely hidden.

GILEE’s influence extends beyond the campus, reaching far into the city, state and international levels. But what exactly connects Georgia State to GILEE? The program’s office is located in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies building. Georgia State’s spokesperson, Andrea Jones, cited both the “internationally recognized program” and its founder’s prominence in the field of criminal justice as reasoning for how GILEE benefits Georgia State.

GILEE, which is funded through the Georgia State University Foundation entirely by private, mostly unnamed donors, received over $26 million in the past five years. No financial contributions were made by the university, according to Jones.

Friedmann, who declined an in-person interview but eventually responded via email, has come to recent campus attention for harboring what several activists and Student Government Association representatives believe is an antiMuslim bias that they say reflects in the program.

Jones declined to comment on Georgia State’s behalf regarding those concerns.

STUDENTS PROTEST AND LAWMAKERS RESIST

Two months after students gathered in Unity Plaza in 2010 to protest GILEE and present a 900-signature petition against the program, Robert Friedmann, GILEE’s founding director and a retired professor of criminal justice, responded in an essay notably titled “Academic Boycotts: Terrorism by Other Means.”

“The boycotting students demanded to meet with the university president, and Dr. Mark Becker met with them recently and rejected their demand to shut GILEE down,” Friedmann wrote.

“It is therefore most encouraging that in this round a university president provided a cogent demonstration of how to act against academic boycotts.”

Seven months later, the Progressive Student Alliance at Georgia State submitted an open

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

records request, asking for the names of officers who participated in GILEE and what their training involved.

Then State Attorney General Sam Olens told WSB-TV that the information requested was sensitive and could aid or be leaked to terrorists.

Olens further said that because GILEE program intel is sensitive, if exposed it could create a major — and even deadly — security threat.

OPEN RECORDS RESTRICTED

House Bill 261, which passed in 2011, was lawmakers’ effort to prevent that type of dangerous exposure.

“What this is, is a very narrowly defined bill to protect records, blueprints and plants from sabotage or terrorist attack or criminal mischief,” State Rep. Tom Taylor told WSB-TV regarding GILEE. The law provided a special exemption for public officials to withhold records that could “compromise security against sabotage or criminal or terrorist acts.” This language was then ultimately included in a comprehensive rewrite of Georgia’s Open Meetings and Open Records Acts a year later.

Attorney General Olens, who had opposed the students’ request for information a year prior, was influential in this rewrite.

And while the law never mentions GILEE directly, it impacts which GILEE records are publicly accessible today.

Sommer Ingram Dean, staff attorney for the Student Press Law Center, provided advice for journalists or student activists interested in investigating GILEE, despite what she calls “a pretty broad exemption.”

“Ultimately, it’s going to be up to the recordkeeper to cite any applicable exemptions when you all request the records,” Dean said. “You shouldn’t self-censor the records you’re asking for.”

After The Signal requested documents in August, two inquiries were denied by the university: the 10 most recent delegations, including the police forces involved and the locations visited; and all Atlanta Police Department officers who have participated in the program.

In both instances, the university cited O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 (25)(A)(v) — the very language created in 2011 to protect GILEE. According to its website, GILEE maintains a 501(c)(3) organization status through the Georgia State University Foundation, which protects their donors from being revealed in open records requests.

Under 50-18-72 (29) of the Georgia Code, records by public post-secondary educational institutions containing donor information are restricted from public access, which also means all donations to the foundation, including those for GILEE are protected.

Because of Georgia’s laws, information containing GILEE donors, program participants and training details are all restricted.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

GILEE works with officials in and from

1992

1993

2010

GILEE founded to provide security for Atlanta Olympics

First counterterrorism training delegation to Israel

Student opposition to GILEE takes root with protests in Unity Plaza and the delivery of a petition with 900 signatures to University President Mark Becker

The Atlanta Police Department is one of the many agencies sent through the GILEE training program.

countries across the globe, per its website.

Some SGA representatives have taken issue with some of these international partnerships, particularly Jazmin Mejia, university-wide president, and Hamza Rahman, Atlanta campus executive vice president, who co-authored the university-wide opinion resolution 89-UWSR-05 in spring.

“We are not against GILEE because of its involvement with just the state of Israel; we are against GILEE because GILEE works with human rights violators,” Rahman said.

According to evaluations by Human Rights Watch, an organization that reports and investigates violations across the globe, some GILEE partners don’t come out completely clean.

For example, Egypt is facing one of the worst human rights crises in decades and has prosecuted peaceful protestors and dissidents with counterterrorism laws and tactics (counterterrorism is a primary area of focus for GILEE).

Furthermore, Brazil, Argentina, France, China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have all partnered with GILEE. They, too, have histories of human rights violations.

But the HRW doesn’t assign the U.S. a perfect record either: “The [U.S.] criminal justice system — from policing and prosecution through to punishment — is plagued with injustices like racial disparities [and] excessively harsh sentencing.”

But do these partners train with and share these tactics with American police? If you ask Friedmann, he’d say no.

“GILEE does not condone, support or train anyone to violate human rights,” he said.

WHY ISRAEL MATTERS

GILEE’s partnership with Israel is one that can’t be ignored, not only because of the opposition to GILEE by pro-Palestine students on campus, but also because of the program’s intense pride toward the nation.

The GILEE website echoes fears of antiSemitism and invokes Israel in all of its three

PHOTO FROM SIGNAL ARCHIVES

founding objectives.

This partnership is facilitated by the Israel Police (IP) and its Anti-Terrorist Unit providing knowledge to U.S. officials.

Friedmann’s support for Israel is often displayed in his writing. But for some, this is instead seen as a display of Islamophobia and political extremism, outlined by an April memorandum by SGA Senate resolution supporters.

An article titled “Radical Solution to Radical Extremism,” authored by Friedmann and published on the GILEE website, argues in favor of Israeli operations in Gaza, which he calls “a legitimate defensive action against a continuous onslaught of terror that has not been stopped by other means.”

“The ‘silent majority’ of Muslims and their various advocacy groups have not yet broken their silence about terrorism, jihad and their attitude to the West,” Friedmann wrote in the 2004 article. “[Groups not typically associated with conservative Islam] gladly jump on the bandwagon of bashing the same America they sought refuge or a better life in and now do their best to destroy.”

In a recent email correspondence, Friedmann said this article requires careful reading and attention to the sources his sentences are based on.

He noted that both authors referenced in those sentences — Irshad Manji and Stephen Schwartz — are Muslim.

“The article is based on facts not fiction.

Regrettably, terrorism is real and the article notes that there is a lack of universal condemnation of it,” Friedmann said. “The writing is therefore NOT problematic.”

SGA representatives Mejia and Rahman said that two events further associated their GILEE resolution with anti-Israel sentiments, despite their intentions.

The first was the publication of a letter to the editor in The Signal by student Zainab Khan, which persuaded readers to support both the SGA GILEE resolution and the Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement, a staunchly anti-Israel coalition.

2011

Georgia State student group files an open records request which then State Attorney General Sam Olens said could “aid terrorists”

2012

Georgia General Assembly passes House Bill 261, an open records exemption which protects GILEE

Georgia General Assembly incorporates language of HB261 into a rewrite of Georgia’s Open Meetings and Open Records Acts

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

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“We are not against GILEE because of its involvement with just the state of Israel; we are against GILEE because GILEE works with human rights violators.”

Hamza Rahman SGA Atlanta EVP

Georgia’s General Assembly has written into law a protection of GILEE’s records and passed resolutions commending the program and Friedmann’s work.

“Neither Jazmin nor I have ever advocated for BDS at Georgia State, nor do we have any plans on doing so,” Rahman said. “But the publishing of [Khan’s] letter made GILEE a BDS issue rather than a human rights issue.”

The second event they pointed to was when GSU Hillel, an organization that supports Jewish students on campus, publicly defended GILEE after Executive Director of Hillels of Georgia Russ Shulkes addressed the SGA Senate during the final university-wide assembly.

In his address, Shulkes said the program plays a broader role in the Atlanta Jewish community, which has been overwhelmingly proud of GILEE and its relationship with Israel.

“The main reason we’ve supported GILEE historically is because a lot of Jews identify GILEE with the relationship they have with Israel,” Shulkes said.

But ideology may not be the only thing bringing GILEE and GSU Hillel together: Records show that both organizations share at least one major financial donor.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta has supported GILEE for over a decade, with $24,900 in 2008, $6,650 in 2011 and $116,950 in 2016.

Hillels of Georgia also received $624,759, $406,286 and $45,200 in those years, respectively.

Schulkes said he believes this to be a natural correlation.

“We probably have a lot of similar donors. A person that cares about Hillels of Georgia will care about Israel and a person that cares about Israel will donate to GILEE,” he explained. “I think

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

the tie goes even deeper than that because of the nature of Atlanta.”

During the April 18 SGA meeting, students lined up to speak in support or protest of GILEE. Rahman, Mejia and Shulkes, who were heavy contributors to campaigning for and against the resolution, were in attendance.

PHOTOS BY ADA WOOD | THE SIGNAL

senior administrator within Hillels of Georgia, whom they declined to name specifically.

“I hope u guys are going OK. I spoke with Robbie [Friedmann] this morning… Just wanted to FYI you two. He told me he filed a police report, and more comment, against the ‘slander and libel’ written in your op ed,” the sender wrote.

The “op ed” mentioned was a letter to the editor, published in The Signal and written by Mejia and Rahman, with a message to students requesting their support for the resolution against GILEE. “It is very possible you will have to defend what you two wrote about him,” the message continued.

“If I can be any support for you emotionally, let me know.”

Friedmann denied he ever filed a police report or lawsuit against the students.

The day of the final university-wide meeting, both Mejia and her mother received calls from an unknown number inquiring about potential anti-Semitism.

“It has come to my attention that your daughter, Jazmin, will be participating in a student body debate and vote tonight on a resolution regarding Israel,” Joel Griffith, the caller, said in a voicemail.

Griffith is listed as an author at The Daily Signal, a conservative news outlet funded by The Heritage Foundation, which states on their homepage, ‘‘Donald Trump and many Republican Congressmen promised they’d drain the swamp.

And Heritage is here to help them do just that!”

But Mejia and her mother weren’t the only ones to receive a call that day; Rahman also received a call from Griffith — and he picked it up. Rahman described recieving a similar line of questioning about anti-Semitism.

“I’m really confused — freaked out. I just don’t know how this person got my mom’s phone number, and it made me question both her and my safety,” Mejia said.

Mejia said that by attending a free trip to Israel in December 2018, orcestrated by GSU Hillel and Russ Shulkes, she was required to fill out an emergency contact form with her and her mother’s information. Rahman also attended the trip, and he, too, filled out the form.

Lara Schewitz, the director of Jewish life

at GSU Hillel, confirmed that there was an emergency contact form for the Israel trip, to which only she and Shulkes had access.

“Russ and I both respect the confidentiality of the names that were given to us so we made sure to keep it between us,” Schewitz said.

Mejia said she doesn’t know how or by whom the contact information was disseminated — if it even was — but she does know that, as a student, her and her mother’s information shouldn’t have been so easily obtainable for the journalist.

When contacted by The Signal, Griffith said he wouldn’t disclose how he obtained his sources. But he did note that that kind of information is much easier to obtain than some might think.

Griffith said he was pursuing that story but never published anything on it. He said he was troubled by the injustice, misinformation and hatred regarding Israel, especially at the college level.

“I think [students] are going to need to own up for these actions. They want to be the public face of this BDS movement? Well, they are going to get the publicity that they want,” Griffith said. “These are leaders. The leaders today on college campuses often are far more likely than others to become the leaders nationally and in their communities.”

But for Rahman, this was just the beginning.

“Let’s also be blunt in that we realize that this was an intimidation tactic. It was to scare us,” Rahman said. “And this wasn’t the only intimidation tactic used.”

After being added to a Facebook group chat, Mejia and Rahman received a message from a

MARCH 14

APRIL 9

APRIL 18

Senators in SGA introduce a resolution condemning GILEE, and an investigative committee is formed

Letter to the editor published in The Signal connecting GILEE to the BDS movement

SGA holds its second meeting, which discusses the GILEE resolution including committee findings. A vote is held in which the resolution does not pass

THREATS TO STUDENTS

KNOWN SUPPORTERS

Because of the heavily protected records around GILEE’s program and its donors, speculation about who supports the program persists.

At GILEE’s 25th anniversary gala in 2017, attendees ranged from political leaders to corporate partners and law enforcement officials.

“Sandra and I are honored to have GILEE in our capital city,” then Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal said.

The GILEE program has been routinely supported by Georgia’s governmental bodies in the past. A Georgia House resolution recognizing Friedmann’s efforts and a Georgia Senate resolution commending the GILEE program were both passed in 2007.

2019

NEWS

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Counterterrorism and GILEE: the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics to today BEN COLETTA

Associate News Editor

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ILEE was established in 1992 to provide counterterrorism training for police officers in preparation for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

But students in the past have questioned GILEE’s effectiveness – since there was in fact a terrorist attack at the Atlanta games.

Since its inception, a focus on counterterrorism and preparedness has been emphasized for its American trainees.

In an effort to improve homeland security, GILEE works with international partners, exchanging American expertise in areas like violent crime, community policing and urban policing.

On July 27, 1996, a bomb went off in Centennial Olympic Park, killing one and injuring 111. The bomb was planted by domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph and would be his first of four bombings between 1996 and 1998.

Richard Jewell, a security guard, spotted the bomb and evacuated the area, limiting the loss of life to one. However, after the bombing, Jewell was accused of being the attacker and later sued the AJC and other media organizations for libel. In October 1996, Jewell was exonerated by the FBI. The disorganization and lack of direction of the investigation — specifically the accusation against Jewell — as well as the failure to prevent the terrorist attack in the first place continue to fuel the argument against GILEE and questions over its effectiveness.

“I would suspect they failed because they were too busy training our officers to look out for Arabs or Muslims, instead of the real threat of right-wing extremists,” Attorney Edward Mitchell said during the

What is the Georgia State University Foundation?

ROSS MCWATERS Staff Reporter

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uition, fees and state support fund Georgia State. But these only cover two-thirds of the school’s expenses. What fills that last one-third?

The Georgia State University Foundation.

The foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that helps fund Georgia State, taking in millions of dollars of revenue each year, primarily through taxdeductible donations. Charitable donations to the school are also given through the foundation, which it then distributes the funds to Georgia State’s needs.

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SGA investigative committee meeting.

However, GILEE’s assistance in security efforts have been productive. They provided training for the 2008 Beijing and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games — both of which were free from attack. Ahead of the 2016 Games, Rio police arrested eight for a plot to bomb the Rio Games, according to the BBC. “Following the September 11 terrorist atrocity, GILEE focuses on enhancing homeland security efforts through international cooperation and training programs,” the GILEE website states.

“GILEE’s goal is to provide peer-topeer professional training through the introduction of best practices in order to enhance agency capabilities to better deal with threats to public safety and improve security.”

GILEE is fairly popular in the law enforcement community, according to the list of awards and honors on their website. Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Vernon Keenan, who attended the first GILEE delegation to Israel, validates this: “The GILEE program greatly enhances the professional development of Georgia law enforcement.”

The Georgia Sheriffs Association also calls the program one of the most beneficial training programs available to sheriff ’s offices in Georgia. The association has even disputed claims about GILEE targeting specific minority groups.

“The Association rejects all claims that these professional training exchanges include exercises of instruction relative to tactical or military operations designed to oppress minority populations or other specific groups,” the association stated. “Accusations that these valuable international training exchanges lead to deadly encounters in the United States are fallacious and slanderous.”

GILEE is the only non-law enforcement agency to receive the governor’s Public Safety Award. It has also received awards for working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, as well as the Israeli police commissioner and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

The 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta ran right through Georgia State’s campus. GILEE was created in preparation for the event and has provided security training for several Olympic events since then.

GILEE is funded entirely through private donations made to the foundation and law enforcement agencies, according to Robert Friedmann, GILEE’s founding director.

“Only foundation funding that has been given specifically for GILEE is used for GILEE,” Andrea Jones, associate vice president for public relations at the university, said.

But the foundation’s role at Georgia State is much broader than GILEE — throughout the fiscal years 2012-16, the foundation averaged $32.8 million a year in gifts to use toward university needs.

However, the foundation isn’t funded by charitable donations alone. According to its 990 tax form for 2017, the foundation has several methods for gaining revenue, which are divided into four categories: donations, program services, investment income and a miscellaneous category.

In 2017, the foundation earned $26 million through donations, $18 million

through program services, such as leasing and renting income, and $38 million in investment income, for a total revenue of $82 million.

In the tax documents, the foundation describes three broad categories of support for the school.

The first category is program support.

At $35 million in 2017, it constitutes the largest share of support, which is dedicated to the university’s education, facilities, activities and programs. The funds specifically provide space and technology for teaching, learning and research.

The second is student support.

This applies to merit- and need-based scholarships provided by the university.

It also aids efforts to manage tuition costs and debt loads. The foundation granted $7 million for these programs.

The third is faculty and staff support, with $4 million, some of which goes towards increasing faculty salaries. The

“GILEE’s goal is to provide peer-topeer professional training through the introduction of best practices in order to enhance agency capabilities to better deal with threats to public safety and improve security.”

GILEE Website

PHOTOS FROM SIGNAL ARCHIVES

donations are used to expand research opportunities and improve the classroom environment by attracting and retaining world class faculty.

Due to how broad the expenditure categories are, the specific expenses that the foundation covers, programs they fund or departments they contribute to aren’t named.

In 2017, there are three specific contractors the foundation paid. They were contracted for real estate and construction on Georgia State’s campus, including renovations and maintenance of buildings and classrooms.

Within the foundation, there are only four paid employees on the document: President Walter Massey; Assistant Treasurer and CFO Dale Palmer; Assistant Secretary Adrienne Veal and Comptroller Mildred Begitschke. In 2017, the foundation paid a little more than $600,000 for their four salaries combined.

TUESDAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST JANUARY27, 15,2019 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Letter from the Editor Do you know how to swim?

DANIEL VARITEK Editor-In-Chief

I learned at a summer camp in elementary school. Far away from home and in an unfamiliar environment, we awoke at the crack of dawn and marched down to the lake as we shivered with towels in hand.

The orange sun barely pierced through the trees, illuminating the steam that rolled and curled off the water. It was picturesque, and all I could think was, I don’t want to get in that water.

As my friends dipped, waded and jumped confidently into the lake one by one, I sat sideline, equally terrified of the low temperature and concerning lack of flotation devices The minutes went by, and my friends began calling out, “It’s not that bad!” They seemed to be really having fun. I had a choice to make: remain frozen in fear and lose out on new experiences, friendships and fun, or jump in and doggy paddle through the pain.

I faced the same dilemma three summers ago, sitting shotgun in my mom’s ’98 Jeep Cherokee as we drove into Atlanta. I remember squeezing my eyes shut, trying to visualize what college — this major next step in my life — would look like.

Nothing came into picture.

In that moment, it reminded me a lot of learning to swim.

I again was faced with a decision — albeit one much more important — between sticking with my comfort zone and jumping into something new. You can guess which option I chose.

So, I pinched my nose, closed my eyes and plunged into the freezing cold water that was my college experience. It’s exactly what freshmen across campus are doing now.

The more you paddle through frigid water, the warmer it gets. And as your body acclimates to the new temperature, the less you think about how cold it is and the more you focus on where you’re swimming to.

College is the same way. Jump in, but first accept that it will be uncomfortable for a bit and that you might embarrass yourself.

But it’s your willful acceptance of that discomfort and complete disregard for potential failure that make you powerful. Because only at that point are you capable of accomplishing — and succeeding in — anything.

My first plunge into discomfort was moving in to my dorm.

I never could get ahold of my roommate before moving in, so I had no idea what I was walking into. He ended up being great, and we’ve been friends ever since.

My second plunge was realizing I had too much free time and applying to the radio station. Album 88 was my first student organization experience on campus, so I didn’t know

ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

what to expect. And despite those painful 2 a.m. graveyard shifts, they were some of my fondest memories at Georgia State.

I could go on and on — landing a job, making friends, dating, acing a class, failing a class, joining a fraternity, leading a newspaper, renting a house — but here’s my point: College isn’t just a series of plunges. Life is.

As more than 8,000 freshmen embark on their college journeys this year, I’m preparing to graduate and embark on the journey of rest of my life. And I’m now reminded again of sitting in that ’98 Jeep Cherokee, wondering what the future has in store.

We can’t always control what plunges we face, nor can we control how hard they hit us. But we can control how we react to and overcome them.

I can squeeze my eyes shut now and attempt to visualize where I’ll be in one, five or ten years, and while my hopes and dreams might bubble into picture, there’s never a guarantee.

But the difference between the me now and the me three years ago is that I’ve learned how to lean into that discomfort and uncertainty.

Here’s a final piece of advice: You are your own best advocate.

No one will ever stand up for you like you can, so you must do it yourself and do it often.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your parents can’t always be fighting alongside you, nor can your favorite professor, your mentor or your significant other. But you will be there every step of the way, forging a path and building a future that you can be proud of.

Fight and advocate for yourself at every step of your college journey. Never let someone else dictate your life choices, because they won’t be the one living the consequences. Take risks, try new things and don’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way to get good at this thing called life.

I wish only the best for you this year. I highly recommend you become an active participant in the Georgia State community by joining a student organization and reading The Signal. We believe that knowledge is power, and we aim to empower our community members at every step of their college experience.

Good luck on your journey, and don’t forget to swim.

Until next time, Daniel Varitek Editor-in-Chief, ’18-’20

OPINIONS

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Syllabus week: the secret to good grades How to get the upper hand over your new classmates ITUNU TALABI Staff Columnist

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fter a summer filled with internships, summer classes and vacations, every college student claims they are ready to be productive in the fall semester. However, this is the farthest thing from the truth because most students take their easiest and best shot at good grades for granted.

Syllabus Week is notorious for skipping and partying because the course load is at its lightest. To compound matters, some professors don’t even bother to take attendance due to the influx of students switching to and from classes. The majority of students end up slipping behind during this time and the class quickly progresses while you fight to stay afloat until the end.

Nevertheless, there is a way to avoid all this and get ahead of the curve. The secret to all good grades is being proactive and taking advantage of opportunities that are presented to you.

Syllabus Week is a perfect time to get on top of new topics since the first few days are generally review and essentially, the simplest the course will ever be. If you’re ever stuck on the material, you don’t have to wait until after your first failed test to reach out for help. The workload will only get tougher to learn, so start getting help as soon as you can.

First rule of thumb: Do not skip. The weather may be nice, and the class may be empty on the second day, but no matter how tempting it may be to skip class during the first week, do not do it.

Although attendance might not be much of an issue in the beginning, teachers definitely will take note and will form a negative opinion of you early on.

Along the lines of first impressions, meet with your teachers as soon as possible whether you understand the material or not. Forming good relationships with your professors is at its most effective during this time. No professor wants to be bombarded in their office during the last two weeks of the class by desperate students asking for help.

Professors generally won’t help these students much or even at all.

Having a good relationship with your teachers throughout will only help you due to the fact that they know that you are taking the class seriously and are willing to put the work in to succeed. A lot of my highest grades were in classes where I had a good rapport with the professor.

Not bothering to read the syllabus is probably one of the biggest freshman mistakes that students make and will cost you in the end. The way a professor grades and the weight of each assignment varies a lot and it is worth reading thoroughly.

If a professor only gives three exams and nothing else you should probably drop the class. The upside to syllabus week is that you can switch classes and not be penalized at all, unlike trying to switch in October where it will affect your GPA. This may seem fairly mundane, but many students do forget how effortless getting a good grade in a course truly is. If I learned anything in high school, it was how not to study. Throughout college, I’ve learned the art of getting high grades really isn’t studying longer, but studying smarter.

What’s the point of SGA’s Constituency Day? A critique: the good, the bad and the plain stupid KENNETH LOCKETT III Staff Columnist

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t’s a new school year, and while for many, it means new friends, new classes and new stresses, for the Student Government Association, with offices on every campus, it means a new year of events and projects. One of SGA’s many yearly events is their Constituency Day. Also known as College Day, it’s one of the most important events they host. SGA Senator Danny Mai said, “Constituency Day is a day for students to voice their concerns towards their respective representatives, all while enjoying free food! It’s important because it’s an event dedicated to students from that school! You can come up and voice your concerns for any reason towards any topics that interest you!”

As a former SGA member myself, I was expected to assist with and attend as many events as I possibly could, and during this time, it was clear why certain events failed and why certain events succeeded. One

of the most immediate hurdles the event planners face is budget. While some colleges such as Mai’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business and current SGA Speaker Kaelen Thomas’s College of Arts and Sciences used their budget extremely effectively, other colleges, such as the Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design, whose chief planner I’m not sure of, didn’t use their budget at all. The budget has to cover promotional materials and food. There is also the time crunch, as it takes time to have promotional materials approved and made, food to be ordered and rooms reserved. And while some may rely on the SGA office staff to do these things for them, the truly great ones have their leaders involved.

While different factors include being unique in what is being hosted — from CAS’s Lunch with the Dean and Robinson College’s Club Fair style event, to just actual involvement by the head senators in charge of the event, one of the main factors comes down to marketing. The general lack of interest from the students is the bane of any student organization.

However, Mai implied it’s more on SGA’s back.

When asked what makes or breaks an event he had this to say: “Marketing, marketing, marketing!

Without a proper marketing strategy, without a

way to inform the student populace about this event, then how will we get the attention of anyone?

Everyone has a busy schedule to keep too. Everyone has their own goals and targets. As such, without a viable way to market towards those students, a way to gain their attention. Then attendance will drop drastically.”

So for the common commuter student, what are you supposed to do when you can’t attend an event you don’t know about? A quick and easy way to tell if a Constituency Day is worth going to is whether one has heard about it. Have you seen flyers on windows and posts in GroupMe? If you have, the next step is to figure out what food is being served.

If it’s promoted to be kosher, halal, or vegetarian or vegan, that’s a key sign that event is worth going to because it demonstrates that whoever planned it was thoughtful enough to include these minority diets to appeal to as many people as possible. If they are promoting pizza, nine times out of ten, you should run away. That’s a sign that whoever planned it took the easy route. Constituency Days are important sources of information, but only if they are worth your time.

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ARTS & LIVING TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

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Freedom of speech abroad

An international perspective on the importance of the first amendment DANIELLA BOIK

Associate Arts & Living Editor

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ou have the right to free speech as long as you’re not dumb enough to actually try it.” — The Clash.

Free speech, along with freedom of the press, the right to peacefully assemble and petition the government, is the first amendment granted to U.S. citizens. And The Signal tried it when releasing the Urbanite magazine. Due to explicit content, the school wasn’t allowed to distribute the magazine, and according to students, first amendment rights were violated and students had a say about it.

“Things that really exist should be read,” foreign exchange student Kenza Haddadi said. “No matter how bad and ugly the truth is, it has to be told by the media. That’s their job and their right.”

Haddadi has witnessed that America has a much broader definition of the word “freedom” than in her home country of France. In France, it’s acceptable to write, think and say whatever you want, but with limitations.

“Because of certain laws we have that limit freedom of speech, groups like the KKK or propaganda for Nazism could never exist in France like it can here,” she said.

Radical ideological positions, whether far left or far right, may not be acceptable or tolerated in France, but since coming to America, Haddadi has gained a new understanding about limitations on her freedoms. Her time in America has led her to witness and even be a part of women using their first amendment right to protest HB481, also known as the Heartbeat Bill.

“If this type of protest happened in France, I’d have the attitude of ‘what they’re saying is wrong, I don’t agree, or it goes against my freedom, so they should stop talking,’ but because of the freedom to say things more freely here, I’ve become so much more tolerant and less judgmental and have an attitude of ‘they have the right to think that way,’” she said. “I’m more open to things I don’t agree with/don’t like now because I’ve met so many diverse people in this country who speak more openly about their beliefs.”

As for graduate student Jay Zhengnan Yuan, who moved to the U.S. from China at the height of the 2016 election, he’s seen a great deal of people freely expressing their opinions.

“In China, you could never use or even have social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook to say bad things about the president. It’s a communist country, so the internet is blocked and restricted to what can be said,” he said.

As far as what can be said or published by the media here, Yuan has his opinions on the removal of the Urbanite.

“I can understand as a president or upper faculty member of the school, I wouldn’t love for those things to be said, but it’s reality though and we should identify it,” he said. “We can learn from the media — that’s why we have it. This article really brought out the fact that tuition for college is unaffordable these days and this is the reality of what kids are doing.”

Georgia State student Laurie Chung has also learned a thing or two through the media.

ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

“Georgia State is like the number one school with sugar babies. It’s true and has already been in the news,” she said.

“It’s because of the freedom to be able to publish and say what’s actually going on that we can make a change, so let’s make college cheaper already.”

Chung, whose family comes from South Korea, has similar ideas of freedom of speech and press.

“It’s not overly strict there, but here in the United States, people are allowed to talk about their support openly for the Confederate monuments, whereas in South Korea, if you were to openly support North Korea and be like, ‘Go, Kim Jong Un,’ then that can be very looked down upon and even against what the government believes goes,” she said.

Georgia State student Minela Sejdin, who comes from Bosnia, also has limitations on what can be supported, published, or said in her home country.

“Journalists in Bosnia face harassment and threats as well as political pressure when publishing and reporting. Also minorities living there like Jews, Roma and women are super underrepresented and experience limitations in what they can say despite the European Courts of Human Rights,” she said.

As far as women experiencing problems regarding freedom of speech, places like Iran have some of the strictest limitations.

Student Gia Frowns took a trip to Iran this summer to visit her family, only to discover how different her freedoms as a U.S. citizen look compared to women in the Middle East.

In several countries in the Middle East, that right isn’t granted. Coming back from the summer, Frowns realizes how lucky she is to be able to speak out her beliefs and have her own political opinions.

“Iran has several laws against freedom of speech because it’s a theocracy run by corrupt men,” Frowns said. “Over there, you have to be very cautious about what you do and say on social media and in public; you could be imprisoned and every time I’ve visited, I’m hyper aware of it.”

Despite prison being likely for people who speak out against the government, Iranians still do not shy away from voicing their beliefs.

Frowns knows Iranians are very opinionated and passionate people, especially women.

“Women protest there just like they do here for their freedoms,” she said. “It’s dangerous, but it’s important to them to receive the same rights as men. Women are the givers of life and the backbone to every man on earth, so giving them the right to speak freely is the least the world can do.”

Just like women protesting the streets of Atlanta, women are still fighting the the system even 7,000 miles away.

“Our freedoms are important for our self-power. If we speak powerfully and have the right to, people will learn from us and maybe decide to give what we’re saying a listen and consideration,” Frowns said.

Back-to-school stress?

Georgia State has your back Exploring the best clubs and organizations for mental health in Atlanta Morgan D’Amico Staff Reporter

For many college students transitioning from long summer days to all-night study sessions results in elevated stress and anxiety levels.

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he start of the fall semester means more to Georgia State students than just the excitement of new classes, parties and football season.

Along with back-to-school festivities, the delicate balance of maintaining self-care and juggling academic and social pressure return for thousands of young adults across Atlanta.

A growing number of young Americans face obstacles like depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses that turn day-to-day tasks into exhausting hurdles. For a number of college students, transitioning from long summer days to all-night study sessions results in elevated stress and anxiety levels.

Luckily, clubs and organizations are sprouting up across Atlanta, including Georgia State campuses, that encourage all students to get involved, stay educated and overcome obstacles in the classroom and the outside world.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Embracing the five o’clock shadow Most conversations about body image are centered around women, but negative selfimage is also a significant issue for young men, who wrestle with rigid masculine stereotypes.

Beard Gang is a Georgia State organization with a mission to defy gender-based social conventions about body image by promoting male body empowerment and conscious living among Georgia State students.

Members of this organization reject stigmas of toxic masculinity and instead aim to encourage other young men in Atlanta to feel comfortable in their own skin. Senior Kenon McCollins worked closely with the group and proudly advocates for the grooming community he and the rest of Beard Gang built at Georgia State.

“We wanted to create an empowering

community,” said McCollins. “We empower men through grooming and we want to make men feel good about themselves.”

A significant portion of men ages 18 to 24 struggle with positive body image. In fact, a study by the National Institutes of Health showed about 95% of college-age men feel unhappy with their bodies to some degree. Beard Gang is dedicated to uplifting young men on campus by creating a sense of community and pride in grooming.

A big part of this inclusive club’s outreach is their Instagram account. The feed features Beard of the Day posts where students around Atlanta show off their facial hair and share step-by-step grooming tips with other young men on campus.

“It was really nice to be part of an organization like that,” student Thomas Pruitt said about posing for a Beard of the Day picture. “Since the school is predominantly commuters, sometimes it’s hard to find the type of interconnection that other universities have, so it was good to be part of that.”

B.L.A.C.K. excellence in Atlanta neighborhoods A recent study by the Steve Fund revealed that, across the nation, students of color — particularly black students — feel significantly less emotionally or academically prepared for college than their white peers. Along with higher rates of school-related stress and anxiety, the report showed that young black adults are the least likely out of all surveyed races to seek help or treatment for depression, anxiety, self-harm and other mental health conditions or disorders.

Building Leaders and Cultivating Knowledge, or B.L.A.C.K., at Georgia State is fighting against these odds to elevate the confidence and skills of black students across campus.

The organization maintains a mission to defy stigmas against mental illness and other obstacles in the black community and find pride in Atlanta’s surrounding neighborhoods.

Sisterhood without joining a sorority A number of outside stressors can significantly impact students, but many of these stressors are amplified for women earning a degree. Georgia State is home to the female-empowerment group EmpowHER, a safe and accepting organization for a diverse group of women studying at the university’s Atlanta campus. Through volunteer work and close-knit member meetings, EmpowHER established a strong sisterhood for women from a broad variety of backgrounds.

According to Forbes, Georgia State is one of the most diverse schools in the nation.

Additionally, the university is almost 60% female. In a student body with individuals from countless cultures and classes, it can be easy for young women to feel lost in a sea of the 52,000 total students that spans Georgia

“Black leadership and empowerment is important because, simply, if we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything,” said Mikeale Davis, secretary of B.L.A.C.K. “So by black people taking a stand, a true change can be made in the community. Whether it’s through the power of voice or doing good deeds, we have the power. We just have to figure out the ways in which it should be used.”

The organization uses volunteer services and local outreach as a platform for the black community at Georgia State and throughout Atlanta to come together as an all-inclusive family, giving back to bigger causes and promoting black excellence. Through celebration of culture and community, B.L.A.C.K. tirelessly works to end societal stigmas and empower the black community from the ground up.

“If you want to get involved with the community or be a part of something that’s bigger than yourself, give B.L.A.C.K a chance,” Davis said.

To learn more about this organization’s mission to break the chains of oppression and uplift the black community, look for B.L.A.C.K.’s upcoming events around the Georgia State Atlanta campus.

State’s six campuses.

EmpowHER’s mission is to celebrate the unique qualities of all types of women and encourage them to find unity through sharing life experiences, networking for future careers and giving back to the local community.

“I feel like it’s a lot more diverse and intimate than other organizations on campus,” former EmpowHER Secretary Ajaysa Baker said. “Being at a college that’s already diverse, I think it’s important to be able to embrace all those different cultures and ethnicities.

Anybody can get involved with this club. If you’re Asian, if you’re Muslim, if you’re Hindu, black, white — everybody should join.”

Baker, now entering her senior year at Georgia State, joined EmpowHER as a freshman. The club provided her with the tools to build professional and social confidence, as well as encouraged her and many other girls at Georgia State to develop a network of support through the trials of young womanhood.

“I feel like having an organization that allows different types of women to come together not only to have fun but also to build a sisterhood and to be able to talk and empower one another is a win-win for Georgia State.”

Staying positive with Positive Impact Atlanta is considered the heart of the LGBTQ community living south of the Mason-Dixon line. Along with the city’s vibrant and diverse culture, a series of specialized care centers have found homes here.

Positive Impact is a non-profit health center for the HIV-positive community that offers specialty care and support services such as mental health counseling, medical care and substance abuse or addiction treatments.

With three locations in Decatur, Duluth and Marietta, this organization is one of the largest young adult resources for LGBTQ wellness, disease prevention and mental health awareness. Positive Impact provides free and reduced counseling for college-age people in Atlanta to help promote healthy lifestyles after testing positive for the HIV virus.

The organization also offers PrEP services, supplying people who might get HIV with a daily pill that prevents infection. A wide range of counselors and therapists are available to the HIV-positive community to discuss prevention, gender identity, health and stress.

Dating and hook-up apps, such as Tinder and Grindr, make casual sex easier than ever before, which increase the rates of contracting STIs and HIV. From 2015 to 2016, BackgroundCheck.org reported that Georgia rose from seventh to fourth place in a ranking of the “most sexually diseased states” in the country based on CDC findings, emphasizing the metro Atlanta area.

STI and HIV contraction are not the only health statistics growing in Georgia State’s backyard. The likelihood of depression is double for young people with HIV compared to those who do not have HIV. Although HIV-positive people can still live a long, healthy life after their diagnosis, managing the stress and anxiety of chronic illness can be tough. Georgia State students face a number of daily challenges between studying for exams, navigating relationships, day jobs and landing internships, let alone a positive HIV diagnosis.

Positive Impact specializes in helping Atlanta natives cope with both physical illness and mental health. The organization offers individual or group therapy sessions designed to uniquely suit the needs of young adults.

Services are open to young adults for free or on a sliding payment scale based on each client’s needs.

ILLUSTRATIONS AND PAGE LAYOUT BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

ARTS & LIVING

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Student rapper Madara performs some of his songs during his set at The Masquerade in Downtown Atlanta.

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Musty Freckles performs some of his biggest hits during his set at PantherPalooza 2019.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANOSALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

From summer freedom to school year

How student musicians deal with shifting into the semester GUILLERMO RIVERA Staff Reporter

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ransitioning into the school year can be difficult for students because time slowly starts slipping through their fingers.

With all the exams and homework students need to take care of, it’s difficult for them to focus on their hobbies outside of school.

This shift can become especially difficult for musicians, who need a lot of time to dedicate to their craft.

CREATING DURING THE SUMMER

All of the free time that the summer provides can allow a musician to create music without having to worry about their student life.

“Over the summer, you can push out more work without stressing. Like, I was able to make three projects over the summer,” Justin Outlaw, a fourth-year Georgia State student, said.

Outlaw has gained a fairly large following on the music streaming platform SoundCloud as Madara TBH, and he admits that he actually isn’t able to make as much music during the school year as he does during summer break.

“It kind of limits how much music I make to an extent. I’d probably make one or two songs a month,” Outlaw said.

This is obviously due to the amount of time spent in class and doing other school-related work, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for music creation.

Jordan “J $ENSEI” Taylor is a junior at Georgia State who produces and mixes all of his music, which both alone takes up a lot of time.

“Sometimes, you can’t devote your full attention to music when you’ve got exams or have to go to class for hours on end.

I feel like that’s really the only disadvantage of being a student and a musician,” Taylor said.

The free time that summer offers can allow a musician to work without worry, making it a better time to come up with ideas and create.

“School is a bit difficult to work around, especially when

tests come around, but I always ended up cramming the last days before anyway because I was too occupied making music.

It’s really about the personal drive to do things more valuable to you. Summertime is always a creative time for me, though,” Ezra “POUND$” Anthony, a graduate from the class of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in music technology, said.

Anthony is mainly a producer and is in a couple of Atlantabased bands, so music makes up a large part of his life.

Therefore, being in school wasn’t too advantageous for him as an artist, especially taking classes that didn’t really help him grow as a musician.

“Taking courses that don’t inspire or have anything to do with your own craft is a great disadvantage. This underwhelmed me a lot each semester. But if you want to graduate, you have to go through it,” Anthony said.

SHIFTING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR

Although summer provides more time to be productive when creating music, artists can still maintain productivity during the school year, even though they have less free time.

Some students describe feeling more productive with their music as they make that transition. The day-to-day experiences of school life can serve as a tool for creating music and coming up with ideas.

“It’s easier for me to make music during the school year because I’m actually having more experiences. Summer is more introspective, I guess,” Taylor said.

Anthony also used his experiences during the school year to his advantage by using them as inspiration for his music.

“Yes, school kept me focused. I was also listening to a lot more classical and jazz music during the school year as opposed to the summer. This kind of music inspires me a lot idea-wise, and keeps me driven to work on more material, whether it’s hip-hop, pop, etc.,” Anthony said.

Meanwhile, Outlaw uses music to deal with school stress and as an overall coping mechanism.

“School and music really don’t correlate at all. The music is pretty much therapy for me,” Outlaw said.

SCHOOL AND MUSIC CAN GO HAND IN HAND

Sometimes school can become overwhelming and mess up an artist’s workflow. However, it can only be difficult to combine both studies and music if an artist allows it to. Making time for both studies and music is a possibility.

“I think it has the potential to hinder the frequency you put out music, but only if you let it. It’s all about time management,” Taylor said. “Luckily, I’m naturally a good student and don’t have to really study, so I can spend more time making music.

I’ll always find a way to make time for music.”

Actively trying to mix music interests with life at Georgia State helps an artist manage time with music and school. This allows them to grow as a musician while keeping their studies in check.

“I was able to score a short film each school year with some insanely talented guys from the film school. This was a great opportunity during the school year because it’s more of a longterm project. I also produced various albums with ATL artists over the course of school. School never seemed to intervene with the music because I was still surrounded by music every day at school.” Anthony said.

ARTIST INSTAGRAMS:

J $ENSEI: @mustyfreckles Ezra POUND$: @epnds Madara TBH: @madaratbh

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

ARTS & LIVING

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Simply Signal Recipe

Chocolate Welcome Cookies SKYLAR LITTLE Recipe Columnist

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hat’s a better “dorm-warming” present for your new suitemates than homemade cookies? These simple treats are a great way to kick off the fall semester.

The only equipment required is a mixer, a bowl, a cookie sheet and parchment paper. However, it’s never a bad idea to add a sifter to your cupboards if you like to bake. After 10 easy steps, you’re ready for a melt-in-your-mouth cookie that is sure to impress your friends. Want to personalize this recipe? Try it with a citrus twist! Substitute the cocoa powder with equal parts flour, and replace the water with equal parts fruit juice or oil of your choice. Add as much fruit zest to the recipe as desired between steps three and four. What a sweet way to start the school year.

Cook time: 15-20 minutes Total time: 2 hours Yields 15-20 cookies INGREDIENTS

1 cup of butter, softened ½ cup of white sugar 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 2 teaspoons of water 1 ¼ cup of flour ¾ cup of cocoa powder ½ cup of powdered sugar

STEPS 1.

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Mix butter and sugar in a bowl until creamed Add vanilla extract and water Slowly mix in flour and cocoa powder Cover bowl and chill for 1 hour Preheat oven to 325°F Remove dough from fridge and form into 1-inch balls Place balls onto parchment paper-covered cookie sheet Bake cookies for 15 to 20 minutes until bottoms are light brown 9. Let cookies cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar 10. Let cookies cool completely and roll again 11. Store at room temperature in an airtight container

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

Astrology: a dissertation of the stars

How to find your sun and moon sign, and what it means JAS THOMAS

Horoscope Columnist

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ince the earliest civilizations, people have been amazed at the mysterious enigmas of the sky. Movements of the stars seemed like magic and, thus, they were recorded.

Thankfully so, because the pirouette of the sun and moon factor significantly into astrology basics. Gradually, astrologers came to realize that people who were born at a particular time of year, when the Sun, Moon and planets were in the same part of the sky, had more in common than sharing a birth month. Even though every single person is unique, we can learn a lot about each other’s emotions and interests from these sensitive angles.

The twelve signs of the zodiac are separated into nature groups like Avatar: The Last Airbender. The elemental categories are fire, earth, air and water. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius all belong to fire, meaning they are presumably assertive, impulsive, courageous, powerful, passionate and

initiating. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn belong to earth, giving them responsible, cautious, practical, focused, dependable and persevering traits. Gemini, Libra and Aquarius fall under air, rendering them curious, restless, independent, communicative, impractical and entertaining. Lastly, we have the water signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Water is forgiving, understanding, compassionate, emotional, creative and spiritual.

The Sun is the center of our Solar System. In a horoscope, the Sun indicates individuality. Each sign occupies a range of dates in a month and anyone born between those days falls within that corresponding zodiac. For example, anyone born between July 23 and August 22 is considered a Leo. A quick search of someone’s birthday should lead to the appropriate sun sign. These predictions can sometimes feel generalizing, but astrology is so much more than just one sign.

The second sector of understanding astrology is ascendant or rising signs. The Earth’s rotation is on an axis. The zodiac also revolves once every twenty-four hours. Of course, this means that at the time of everyone’s birth, there was a zodiac on the eastern horizon. That zodiac is known as a rising sign, and it

describes personality and how one presents themselves. This is where an actual birth certificate comes into play. The time of birth determines if the ascendant is the same as the Sun sign or if it is completely different. An ascendant fire sign usually points to enthusiastic and optimistic traits. An ascendent earth sign means you’ll appear cautious, reserved, practical and serious. If your ascendant is an air sign, you’ll appear sociable, friendly and communicative. If your ascendant is a water sign, you’ll appear emotional, intuitive and sensitive.

The Moon influences our tides and, arguably, affects us as human beings, too. In astrology, it moves quickly around the zodiac, and in the span of a month, it reaches all signs.

It also reveals your emotions, motivations and underlying temperament. The exact time of birth will indicate its placement in the zodiac chart.

The magnificence of astrology gives a spiritual explanation of a person’s personality, including strengths and weaknesses. It’s also a detailed description of emotion, influences, fulfillment and a variety of other things. Using these astrology basics, it’s easy to pull back layers for even the most complex person.

ARTS & LIVING

14

games

SuD0KU medium

You’ll do great this year.

We’ll write about it.

games

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comic

“first day of class” Comic by Staff Cartoonist

HARD

SPORTS TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

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Student athletes run drills during preseason training camp.

SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

A day in the life of a Panther

Senior defensive end shows what goes on behind the scenes JOI MOORE

Associate Sports Editor

W

hat does the schedule of a football player look like?

I mean, sure, we’ve seen them during the games, practices and between classes. But what about off

the field?

Senior defensive end Terry Thomas Jr. sat down with me to share the rundown of a day in the life of a Georgia State football player. He, along with the rest of the football team, has been participating in summer training camps.

The days are long, with a fully loaded schedule beginning at the crack of dawn.

A schedule like this may seem straightforward. But without the correct mindset, it can become very overwhelming and difficult to manage, even for a veteran player like Thomas.

However, he believes that getting through such a rigorous routine requires always remembering your “why”. Thomas believes that if you understand your purpose and show a passion towards it, the rest will fall into place.

This kind of schedule is very familiar to the veteran player.

Although used to it, the defensive end admits to not being entirely against a day of relaxation. His perfect day consisted of “doing nothing at all” — a phrase with which many college students can relate. No alarms, no regards to a diet plan, and the ability to be more social are a few of the things Thomas would take advantage of if obligations were not a factor.

“Downtime is really hard to find, so there are days when I really just have to make it,” Thomas said.

He expresses the importance of debriefing at the end of the day to keep from getting overwhelmed. After a long day of camp, Thomas enjoys watching TV or catching up on sleep in order to relax at the end of the day.

Going into his final season as a Panther, Thomas reflected on the lessons he has learned over these past three seasons. He described his entire college journey as an experience that will shape him upon graduation.

“Discipline is the biggest lesson I’ll take away,” Thomas said.

“If you don’t love this, you won’t stick around that long.”

He has embraced his role as a leader on the team and plans to be the best role model possible through his non-football commitments, such as being the vice president of the Zeta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

On top of his duties in the fraternity world and his role on the football team, Thomas is also a scholar student who is enrolled in Georgia State’s Honor College and received several academic honors such as Dean’s List Fall 2016 and Fall 2018, CoSIDA Academic All-District, Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll 2016-17 and 2017-18.

“I want to show the younger guys on the team that they can be more than an athlete as well,” Thomas said.

Looking towards the future, the senior is excited about the upcoming season. “Last year we had a lot of youth around, so we had to develop a lot of guys during the off-season,” Thomas said. “I’m really excited to see how these young guys step up.”

Thomas expressed excitement and optimism about the growth of the young Panthers for the upcoming season. “The program, from playing in the Georgia Dome to different changes, is simply day and night,” he said.

“No matter how good you were coming out of high school, college is a different story,” senior said. “You definitely have to catch up to that level to play.”

Thomas and the team will open up their 2019 season in Knoxville on August 31, when the Panthers are to face the Tennessee Volunteers.

7 A.M.

BETWEEN 7 - 8:30 A.M.

8:30 A.M.

8:45 A.M.

9:30 - 9:45 A.M.

10 A.M.

12 - 12:30 A.M.

3:45 P.M.

4:30 P.M.

6 P.M.

7:45 P.M.

8:45 P.M.

Breakfast in the dining hall

Players meet with trainers to get taped up or receive therapy.

First full team meeting and weigh-in; run-down of itinerary; breakup into offensive and defensive groups to go over different systems and schemes

Break up into position teams (offensive linemen, quarterbacks, wide receivers, etc.)

Special teams meeting

Practice begins

Practice ends; shower and lunch at the stadium

Lift weights (offensive and defensive players alternate days)

Position meeting (review that day’s practice)

Dinner in the dining hall

Quick walk through

Walk through ends

SPORTS

16

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Football season and Tennessee preview Panthers looking to rebound from their 2018 lows ESPEN INDRISANO & ANFERNEE PATTERSON Sports Editor & Staff Reporter

F

ootball season is back. For head coach Shawn Elliott and his Georgia State Panthers, the 2019 season gives the program an opportunity to rebound from their 2018 lows and chase some silverware.

The Panthers were one of the worst teams in the country last season. Injuries, especially in the secondary, did not help. When all was said and done, the Panthers finished 2-10, with their opening day victory against Kennesaw State representing one of the few positives.

On the offensive side of the ball, things will be different this season. Wide receiver Penny Hart, who is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, will no longer be catching passes from Dan Ellington. As a result, there is a huge hole to fill.

On the defensive side of things, the Panthers will hope 2019 ushers in a new age of dominance. At worst, the Panthers’ secondary, which was torn to shreds last season, is now a year older. Head Coach Shawn Elliott, speaking after April’s spring game, confirmed the team’s goal to pressure opposition quarterbacks at a much higher level this season.

Here are some players to look out for:

DAN ELLINGTON: SENIOR QUARTERBACK

If there is one player who will make or break the offense this season, look no further than Dan Ellington. The dualthreat quarterback is the key to Shawn Elliott’s no-huddle offense.

Ellington has high hopes for the 2019 season. After being given an honorable mention on the 2018 All-Sun Belt team, the senior is looking to take things to a new level over the course of his last college season.

“My personal goal is to be the best quarterback in the conference,” Ellington said after April’s spring game. “I honestly think I can do it.”

Ellington, who transferred to Georgia State in 2017, will be competing in his final year of eligibility. The quarterback hopes to compete in a bowl game.

“I have never been to the postseason in my life,” he said. “I just want to get to a bowl game.”

TRA BARNETT: SENIOR RUNNING BACK

The running back position is the second piece to the no-huddle offense. Last season, Barnett earned his starting spot and did not look back. He rushed for 551 yards on 109 carries, giving him an impressive 5.1 yards-per-carry average.

This season, the senior, along with Ellington, will be looking to cement his legacy. His 703 career yards with Georgia State has him seventh in Georgia State history.

CHRISTIAN OWENS: REDSHIRT SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER

Owens was one of the standouts during April’s spring game. The 6-foot-4-inch receiver has the ability to become Ellington’s go-to guy this season.

He caught multiple passes during the spring game, including an 83-yard touchdown. Without Penny Hart, the offense will need its new faces to show up and produce right away. If not, the offense will struggle to move the ball.

VICTOR HEYWARD: JUNIOR OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Heyward has been one of the defense’s standout players since he arrived in 2017 as a true freshman. Last season, Heyward was one of the few bright spots in what was an otherwise lackluster defensive unit.

Heyward started every game for the Panthers and was fifth in tackles, totaling 48. If Shawn Elliott’s vision for a dominant defensive line is to come true, Heyward will be a key player.

“I was very, very pleased [with the defense],” Elliott said after the spring game. “Every single day this spring, the defense brought it.”

JABARI AIKEN: SOPHOMORE CORNERBACK

PROGRAM COMPARISON GEORGIA STATE

TENNESSEE

FIRST SEASON 2010

1891

Aiken was part of the Panthers’ secondary unit that was consistently shredded in 2018. During the spring game, however, the sophomore brought a new level of intensity.

He made numerous defensive plays, including an interception, as the defense went on to claim the match 54-33.

He, like the rest of the secondary, is now a year older. Only time will tell if the improvements show.

COLORS

MASCOT

OPENING DAY PREVIEW

The Panthers will open up their 2019 season in Knoxville, Tennessee, as they take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

For the Volunteers, head coach Jeremy Pruitt is going into his second season. The Volunteers finished 5-7 last season and missed out on a bowl game, something which left little to celebrate.

On offense, junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is one to look out for. With Jim Chaney taking over as the Volunteer’s offensive coordinator this season, Guarantano could finally have his breakout season.

The defense will look to slow down Georgia State’s up-tempo offense and keep them off the scoreboard as much as possible.

This game represents a chance for both programs to lay down a marker for success in 2019. For the Panthers, a victory against an SEC team would signal a sharp jump in quality, hopefully setting them up for a run at the Sun Belt Conference title. For the Volunteers, nothing short of a dominant victory would be seen as a positive. If the Vols have aspirations of fighting for the SEC East or a bowl game appearance, they simply must win in front of the Neyland Stadium faithful.

POUNCE

SMOKEY HEAD COACH

SHAWN ELLIOTT

JEREMY PRUITT

2018 SEASON RECORD FINISHED 2-10

FINISHED 5-10

STADIUM AND CAPACITY GEORGIA STATE STADIUM: 24,333

NEYLAND STADIUM: 102,455

ESPEN INDRISANO’S SEASON PREDICTIONS:

Aug. 31 will be a massive day for the Panther’s football program, regardless of the result. For the players and coaching staff, victory is obviously the number one priority, but do the Panthers have enough to run with Tennessee?

If the team can survive the first half and perhaps take a lead into the locker room, you won’t want to take your eyes off the screen, as the Volunteers do have some weaknesses that can be exploited. Do I believe this will happen? Probably not. Keep your expectations to a minimum.

I think the Panthers will hold their own, but ultimately fall 31-17.

For the season as a whole, though, I believe the Panthers will take a big step forward. A loss against Tennessee would be a disappointment, but the Panthers could have a realistic shot to get their seniors into a bowl game.

The games against the Western Michigan Broncos and Army Black Knights will also represent tough out-of-conference matchups, but if the Panthers can go down to Statesboro on the final week of the season and steal one against the Eagles, I think a 6-6 record would be good enough to appear in another bowl game, perhaps the Cure Bowl for the third time.

2018 SEASON RECORD FINISHED 2-10

FINISHED 5-10

CONFERENCE SUN BELT CONFERENCE

SOUTH EASTERN CONFERENCE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 0

6 BOWL GAME RECORD

1-1

28-24

NUMBER OF NFL PLAYERS FROM SCHOOL 6

38 FIGHT SONG

FIGHT PANTHERS ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

ROCKY TOP

SPORTS

17

Football using HelmetFit this season

The new helmet-fitting tech aims to limit concussions

1. Who is the current head coach of our football team?

ESPEN INDRISANO Sports Editor

a. b. c. d.

W

hen the Georgia State football team takes the field this season, you may not notice anything new about the player’s helmets on the outside, but on the inside, a new fitting technology may help limit the number of head injuries the players will inevitably face.

Head equipment manager Nate Simon has been busy this off-season. Each helmet the football team uses, including the helmets worn throughout this summer’s training camps, now function with the help of HelmetFit. The equipment team has been able to test the software over the summer.

“We fitted all of our [training camp helmets] with the tech,” Simon said. “We have had far less complaints about the fitting than we have had in the past.”

Concussions have rapidly become one of the most critical issues the sport faces across all age and skill levels. This is an issue all programs actively try to improve.

“Concussions are the biggest problem in football,” Simon said. “No helmet will keep a player completely safe, but it is our job to help increase player safety.”

This is where HelmetFit comes into play. The company was founded by Mike Weatherby, a former football player who had his fair share of head injuries during his playing career. His technology is designed to decrease the amount of time needed to fit a helmet, provide optimal fits for each individual player and even keep equipment managers organized.

The technology allows players to work with equipment managers to develop their perfect fit. PSI readings are used to determine whether a player’s padding should be inflated or deflated in multiple pressure points.

In addition, HelmetFit uses an app, in which equipment managers can keep a detailed roster list, where each player’s ideal PSI readings are recorded and monitored. After each practice or game, the helmets can be quickly inspected and refitted. This can help make sure players never walk out onto the field with a poorly fitted helmet, something that has been proven to increase the odds of head injuries.

“This is one of the first apps we can use to fit helmets,” Simon said. “After each game, I can go back

a The Atlanta Braves b The Atlanta Falcons c The Atlanta Silverbacks d The Atlanta Dream 3. In addition to the Georgia State Panthers, which professional football team also played their home games at the Georgia State Stadium during the 2018 season?

Equipment team suits up and demonstrates the new helmet-fit technology that will help future player safety at Georgia State Football.

and inflate their helmets to where they are supposed to be.”

While one would think safety would be every football player’s top priority, there have been players opposed to new helmets and technologies. To single out a particular name, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown recently filed a grievance case against the NFL. The league prohibited Brown

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

from wearing his helmet, one which was deemed to be unsafe.

Here at Georgia State, however, Simon said the players have not only enjoyed the new helmet tech, but embraced its potential to keep them safe.

“They do everything on their phones,” he said. “It has been cool for them to see how [HelmetFit] works and how it can keep them safe.”

James Mechwart talks about program’s origin Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State Intramurals is set to welcome a new sport into its ranks for the fall 2019 season: table tennis.

James Mechwart, a junior at Georgia State, is the founder of the program. The opportunity to bring table tennis to the school is an exciting one for him.

Mechwart is no stranger to the sport. He played in high school and at his former college, the University of North Georgia. One of the main reasons he’s pushed for a chance to have the program is because he believes the sports brings about a strong sense of community and teamwork.

“I started playing a couple years ago at the University of North Georgia, and I wanted to bring

Kirby Smart Geoff Collins Chad Lunsford Shawn Elliott

2. Which Atlanta sports franchise called the Georgia State Stadium (then Turner Field) home, before it was acquired by the university in 2017?

Table tennis serving new opportunities JULIAN HARDEN

SPORTS TRIVIA

the sport for an important sense of community,” Mechwart said.

The process of registering the sport for the fall semester was a lengthy one. While not the most enjoyable, Mechwart knew that the process was worth it not only for himself, but the school as a whole.

“I made a few calls, filled out a few forms and after a semester and a half of networking, people started to join and we got bigger,” Mechwart said.

Mechwart is also looking at bringing in sponsors to help network the sport to others and get them interested in playing. In his efforts to highlight the community aspect of the sport, he wants to get sponsors and create awareness about the program. In turn, Mechwart hopes this will help the program get the necessary equipment for those who are joining the program.

For the fall season, Mechwart has been able to tie down a few early members.

“We currently have about 15 members, but we

are sure to have more during the fall semester,” Mechwart said.

Mechwart hopes to have at least 20 or more join his program as the fall intramural season begins opening its doors to new members. In doing so, Mechwart hopes to spread the table tennis culture around campus..

Table tennis is one of the world’s most popular and diverse sports. From Asian nations, such as China, Japan, South Korea and India, to European nations like Sweden and Germany.

Here at Georgia State, the sport’s diversity is significant, as it embodies the core values that the university promotes. The university prides itself on its diverse student body and inclusion. Mechwart said the addition of table tennis will only further highlight the school’s diversity.

The sport is also small enough that even those who had no previous knowledge can pick up the sport and learn. Mechwart is excited to see where the sport can go on campus.

a. The Atlanta Falcons b. The Atlanta Legends c. The Georgia Swarm d. The Orlando Apollos 4. How many bowl games has our football team competed in since the inaugural 2010 season?

a. b. c. d.

4 3 2 none

5. In which bowl game did the Georgia State football team defeat Western Kentucky 27-17 in 2017?

a. The Cure Bowl b. The Boca Raton Bowl c. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl d. The Birmingham Bowl 6. In addition to the United States of America, how many countries are represented by our men’s soccer team’s roster?

a. b. c. d.

1 5 8 10

1-D 2-A 3-B 4-C 5-A 6-5

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

SPORTS

18

Sherrill Moss and her husband Joe Lawson, pictured above, have been football-season ticket holders since the team’s inaugural season in 2010.

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHERRILL MOSS AND JOE LAWSON

Lunch with Georgia State superfans

Meet Panther die-hards Sherrill Moss and Joe Lawson ESPEN INDRISANO Sports Editor

L

unch With is my new feature series. Over the course of this year, I hope to sit down with as many athletes, coaches and fans as possible; share a meal at an Atlanta restaurant of their choice; and interview them not only about their lives on the field, but also off of it. The goal is to better understand my guests on a personal level and connect with them on topics deeper than just sports.

My first guests are Sherill Moss and her husband, Joe Lawson, who made sure to dress head-to-toe in blue and white. Not only have they been football-season ticket holders since the team’s inaugural season in 2010, but basketball-season ticket holders as well. They have been in attendance for some of our program’s most historic events, from R.J. Hunter’s miraculous three-pointer against Baylor to the football team’s 2017 Cure Bowl triumph.

We sat down at Atlanta’s own, The Varsity. Whatever your opinion of their food may be (I happen to be indifferent to the overall quality), there are very few places in Atlanta better suited to sit down, enjoy a cost-effective meal and chat about sports.

What follows are highlights from our conversation.

Espen: What is your opinion of the Varsity? Because we are eating at an Atlanta icon.

Sherrill: This is an Atlanta icon. You certainly don’t want to make it a regular meal. There’s nothing that tastes like a Varsity chili slaw dog, it is very unique. They also have the best onion rings. It’s just different.

Espen: This is this is actually one of the places that I will always take people if they’ve never been to Atlanta before. I just take them to The Varsity for the experience because, I mean, it is a classically American join, isn’t it?

Joe: You know I can say this takes a while, but it can grow on you.

Sherrill: I used to always get a Coca-Cola and this place

served more fountain Coca-Colas than any other outlet in the world. Think about that.

Espen: So you guys hold season tickets for both football and basketball, correct?

Sherrill: Oh yeah, we wouldn’t miss it. We also go to the baseball games that we can over in Panthersville, we’ve been to soccer games and we just love going to as many sports as we can.

Espen: So, one question I do have —because one thing that the school is actively trying to do is market their teams and get more people to come to games— is why should Georgia State students care about their teams and show a passion towards them?

Sherrill: Well for one thing, the better Georgia state does and becomes more well known in athletics, the better it is for your degree. When you think about Alabama, do you think about the college, the school and how great it is? No, you think about the football team. And I must mention that we did beat them in basketball last year. So, it helps your degree. But the platform Georgia State is giving you to make lifelong friendships is something that you will ultimately be very proud of. So, I really get upset when I don’t see a lot of students at the games because it’s so important that we support the teams. Those guys and girls are working hard for you.

Joe: Whether you’re a student or an alumnus, you don’t know what you’re missing if you don’t go. Once you go to basketball, football or any of the other sports at Georgia State, even beach volleyball, you will understand what you are missing out on.

Espen: I caught my first beach volleyball games last year. I will be in attendance for every single game this year, whether or not I am covering the events or just there as a fan. They are so much fun.

Espen: So, players such as D’Marcus Simonds, have described you as superfans. How does that make you feel?

Joe: First of all, after all of the games, whether it’s football or basketball, we always come out on the court or on the field and mingle with the players. They love that because a lot of their parents don’t live around here.

Sherrill: I’d like to thank them. Thank you for picking Georgia

State because I know they all had choices. You know, we don’t have any kids of our own, so these guys are like my kids.

Joe: We just love them to death.

Espen: So where do you think your love for the Georgia State athletics comes from?

Sherrill: Well, I think that going to the games has been so much fun, whether we win or lose. I think we have great coaches that are helping bring the kids forward. So, every part I touch just gets more and more inspiring.

Espen: And Joe, you have been adopted into the Georgia State family, what has it been like to immerse yourself in the program?

Joe: Well, *points to his hat* it has turned my hair blue. It’s been so much fun because we always think of these guys as our kids. It’s just amazing how they accept us as we accept them.

Espen: You have had the ability to watch our football program ever since the 2010 season. So, what were your initial reactions when it was announced the university was creating a football program?

Sherrill: I was absolutely shocked; I couldn’t believe it. It was such a huge undertaking.

Espen: What was the experience of that first game at the Georgia Dome like?

Sherrill: I think 30,000 people came. When we stood up and we actually had an alma mater, I almost cried because I didn’t even think we had an alma mater when I went to school here. I was just shocked and amazed and excited.

Espen: What have been some of your best memories around Georgia State sports?

Sherrill: Definitely R.J.’s shot against Baylor because everyone in the stadium wanted us to win since we were the underdogs.

Espen: R.J. hit that shot when I was a junior in high school. I can remember thinking to myself that Georgia State might have been the school for me after that game.

Sherrill: See what athletics can do for the school? It is so important.

Joe: I’ll say it again, whether you’re a student or an alumnus, go to the games. You are going to have so much fun. You are really contributing to the school.

to-do

my notes

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

monday TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

THE SIGNAL 19

Welcome back, Panthers!