Vol. 82 | No. 4

SEPT. 16 - SEPT. 22, 2014

like us!

VOL. 82 | NO. 4

facebook.com/gsusignal

follow us! twitter.com/gsusignal

inside

The

Changing Landscape of Atlanta Auburn, Edgewood and Piedmont Avenue—hallmark streets of our university are undergoing major changes. The city you see today is the one of yesterday.

Take a look at all the new things that may be in store for us.

NEWS SECTION | PAGES 3-6

Let’s talk Business Georgia State is providing start up money, programs and courses to help prospective student entrepreneurs

News | 6

private loans Loans might be a reality, but there is a way to avoid all the trouble

Opinions | 7

act right Take a closer look at the lifestyle of an extra in Atlanta

A&L | 10-11

The New Guy The Signal sits down for an exclusive interview with new Georgia State Athletic Director Charlie Cobb

Sports | 19

PHOTO BY RUTH PANNILL | THE SIGNAL

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

Opinions 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 17

2

NEWS

last week...

Local

Georgia Lottery cracks down on fake winners

Georgia Lottery is now targeting ‘shadow winners’, those who stand in and act as the winner of a ticket, according to Fox 5 News. These individuals are offered money to claim cash prizes for the actual winners. Individuals with winning tickets over $600 must show their ID to collect funds before the cash is handed out and the lottery checks to see if the winner owes back taxes or has court-ordered penalties such as educational loans or child support.

National

Man feeds ex-girlfriend her dog In Redding, California Ryan Watenpaugh’s ex-girlfriend had him arrested on Sept. 11, 2014 after he texted her asking how her dog tasted, according to Fox 5 News. She confirmed Watenpaugh cooked her dog, Bear, and

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

blotter

fed it to her after she returned to find the animal missing. She claims he beat her while they were together and made her a meal to reconcile the relationship. Watenpaugh denied the claim but was charged with animal cruelty, domestic violence, stalking and false imprisonment.

Global

German gay rights activist severely beaten

A 27 year-old German male was severely beaten and suffered brain injuries after being attacked by a group of men in downtown Belgrade, Serbia on Sept. 13, according to ABC News.

Hundreds of gay rights supporters rallied that day carrying signs stating “Stop the violence” and “Your polices, Our Blood”. Nebojsa Stefanovic, Serbia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, said foreigners are welcome and pledged the police will identify the attackers.

The unidentified male has had surgery but remains in critical condition.

Sept. 8

“Dude, where’s my car?”

A Georgia State student who said she sometimes forgets where she parks her car could not find her vehicle at the Loft Parking Deck. She said she didn’t know whether it was stolen or not. A report was filed for abandoned/stolen vehicle.

Triple offense

A report was filed for aggravated assault, terrorist threats and obstruction on Decatur Street Southeast. The individual was arrested, processed and transported to Fulton County Jail.

Triple harassment

Three reports were filed for harassment. The victims were female students. The cases are under investigation.

Sept. 9

Sept. 10

A report was filed for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and obstruction at the Five Points Plaza. The individual was arrested, processed and transported to Atlanta Pretrial.

A non-Georgia State affiliate said the rear window of her vehicle was shattered after she parked at the T Parking deck for two hours.

Nothing was stolen. The case is under investigation and a report was filed for attempted theft from vehicle interior.

Double offense, Five Points Plaza

Open door - missing laptop

A report was filed for theft after a Georgia State faculty member said he left his office door ajar to go to another room. He returned and found his laptop missing. The case is under investigation.

Broken window

The shuttle thief

A student had her wallet stolen after leaving it unattended on the Panther Shuttle. A report was filed for theft and the case is under investigation.

Card fraud

A Georgia State student said her Discover Panther Card was compromised. A report was filed for financial transaction card fraud.

Photo of the week PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL On Thursday, Sept. 11, participants of the Kaiser Run collectively ran 5K across Georgia State’s campus in the late afternoon.

THE SIGNAL

STAFF

Editorial Department

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

signaleditor@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR

Anna Yang

Senior EDITOR

Sam Reardon

ONLINE EDITOR

Open

signasenioreditor@gmail.com signalmanaging@gmail.com

PRODUCTION DESIGNER signalprod@gmail.com

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

signalprod2@gmail.com

NEWS EDITOR

signalnewseditor@gmail.com

ARTS & LIVING EDITOR

signalliving@gmail.com

SPORTS EDITOR

signalsport1@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

rschley1@student.gsu.edu

Maddie Richardson Emily Lasher Ciara Frisbie

signalopinions@gmail.com

COPY EDITOR

Akiem Bailum Raven Schley

Zoya Hasnain

signalcopyeditor@gmail.com

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

signalassociatenews@gmail.com

Lauren Booker & Fernando Mattos

ASSISTANT ARTS & Living EDITOr ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ASSISTANT Online Editor

Open Open Open

Marketing Department Marketing MANAGER

Open

promotions associate Research Associate

Open

signalmarketing1@gmail.com Johnny Gipson

Nicole Motahari

Open

Advertising Department ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Open signaladvertisingco@gmail.com

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR bmcneil1@gsu.edu

MISSION STATEMENT

Bryce McNeil

The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State University community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community.

Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State University community.

ADVERTISING

The deadline for all advertising is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the desired issue of publication. Ads must be printready and in PDF format; files must be delivered via e-mail at signaladvertisingco@gmail.com. Please visit our website at www.georgiastatesignal.com/advertising for more information, including rates and payment methods.

COVERAGE REQUESTS

Requests for coverage and tips should be submitted to the Editor in Chief and/or the relevant section editor.

OFFICE INFORMATION

Suite 200, University Center • P.O. Box 3968 • Atlanta, GA 30303 • Phone: 404-413-1620 • Fax: 404-413-1622 • Web: www.georgiastatesignal.com

SUBMIT LETTER TO EDITOR

Letters must be submitted to the Opinions Editors via e-mail and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. Letters should be 200-400 words

maximum. The Signal will allow longer letters, but only in rare circumstances. Letters must include the full name(s) of the writer(s) and include their year and major. If the writer is a faculty member, they must include their title and department. Letters will be fact-checked prior to publication. The writer may be obligated to make changes to the letter for publication. Letters will be edited for grammar, clarity, length, factual accuracy and adherence to Signal policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/ or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff.

DISCLAIMER

Opinions and Letters to the Editor expressed in The Signal are the opinions of the writers and readers. It does not reflect the opinions of The Signal.

The first copy of The Signal is free. Additional copies can be purchased from our office for $1.00 each.

NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Georgia State to build new student housing facilities The

Piedmont

PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL Currently, the studio of Georgia State’s sculpture department is located across from Patton Hall. However, this space is expected to be turned into student housing as well.

Commons

North

GSU

Honor’s College

Hall

LAUREN BOOKER Associate News Editor

A

number of student housing applicants were on a wait list at Georgia State this academic year, but in the near future there may be a solution.

Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Jerry Rackliffe said Georgia State and the Board of Regents have moved forward with plans to build new student housing facilities for the university.

He also said one of the possible areas for the new housing will replace the Sculpture building located at Edgewood Avenue and Piedmont Avenue. The others would be at 82 Piedmont Ave. and 121-125 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. Rackliffe projects the facilities will be ready for occupancy within the next two years.

Why new student housing?

There are over 25,000 undergraduates at Georgia State and 800 wait-listed students for fall 2014 student housing, according to Rackliffe.

Rackliffe said the growing freshman class, a move to increase Georgia State’s traditionalism and the decreasing number of commuter students have contributed to a growing number of housing applicants.

Kailaa Johnson, sophomore psychology major, said Georgia State does need new dorms because of wait lists this semester.

“I wasn’t on the wait list, but still I knew people who were on the wait list,” she said.

Johnson also said the new dorms would be ideal for upcoming freshman students.

“It could be for freshmen because they are just going into college and they

PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL The parking lot behind the Gourmet Services building is a space that will possibly be turned into Georgia State dormitory property. do not know what things are supposed to be like,” she said. “The upperclassmen should be in the Commons and Lofts and maybe Piedmont, but Piedmont is still a traditional dorm style.”

John Millsaps, Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications at the University System of Georgia, also said the authorization for the purchase of Piedmont Avenue and John Wesley Dobbs was due to Georgia State’s significant demand for housing.

“We continue to grow and we continue to grow each year,” Rackliffe said.

“So it’s getting bigger and better than ever and with it, we are finding that we are needing more housing.”

The university’s housing facilities have 4,200 beds in all. One 12 Courtland, a privately owned housing facility near campus, has 700-800 beds, accumulating to 5,000 beds near campus, according to Rackliffe.

How the housing facilities will be funded Rackliffe said the Board of Regents has a new model for student housing called a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The university would not issue

any debt for the project. The model and the debt would be the state’s responsibility.

The vendor would build, maintain and furnish new housing facilities with their own funds, according to Rackliffe.

“We keep doing the billing and collection because we don’t want students to have to deal with multiple people,” he said.

Millsaps said the three vendors being considered to construct the new student housing facilities are Balfour Beatty, Corvias and EdR.

About the vendors Balfour Beatty is a worldwide infrastructure group who constructs and maintains infrastructure assets, according to their website.

Corvias, a privately-owned group of companies, has done public-private partnerships before and has in-house expertise on large-scale residence hall construction, according to the Corvias website.

EdR, a self-administered and selfmanaged real estate investment trust, has an on-campus housing revitalization program at the University of Kentucky, according to the EdR website.

The vendor will be repaid by a rate of return from students’ rent and bonds issued through Georgia State. There

Edgewood Ave SE

Future Dorm Sites

Ellis St NE

Current GSU Dorms

Patton Auburn Ave SE

Key:

J.W. Dobbs Ave NE

Piedmont Ave NE

PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL The Gourmet Services space located on Piedmont Avenue is an area the university is looking to have their plot mapped on.

will also be caps set on how much the vendor can increase student housing costs yearly, according to Rackliffe.

“We don’t want it where this developer comes in here and builds something and starts raising the rents up really high and trying to get extra money out of our students,” he said. “So, in the agreement there is going to be rental caps where they are only allowed to increase it by a certain percentage each year. They have to do that in negotiation with the Board of Regents.”

Rackliffe also said The Board of Regents will decide on a vendor around November.

have to look at.”

Georgia State will have to reach an agreement with the vendor because they will be investing their own money into the project, according to Rackliffe.

He also said vendors have also suggested completing the housing units one at a time.

“Because it is easier obviously to create one building than two buildings,” Rackliffe said. “That detail has to be worked out over the next two months.”

Demolition and site preparation need to be preformed prior to the commencement of construction, according to Millsaps.

What to expect from How the new dorms the new dorms will affect Georgia Georgia State has requested for the vendor to build student housing similar State’s services to Patton Hall.

“With Patton Hall and Piedmont North you are able to get a room and a meal plan for the same price as getting a room with a kitchen in the Commons,” Rackliffe said. “So, a lot of students like that. So we are trying to give more students that option.”

Students also expressed how much they liked Patton Hall’s features in a survey, according to Rackliffe.

Georgia State’s housing website states Patton Hall can house 325 residents. In a suite, two residents stay in a double occupancy room and share a conjoined bathroom with another single occupancy student.

Millsaps said the university has an overall target to add 1,000 beds into their master plan for new housing facilities.

Retail, such as a dining hall, may be possible on the new housing facility’s bottom floor.

“Right now we have about 2,500 students on the meal plan and it’s getting really packed,” Rackliffe said. “If we add another 700 up to 1,000 beds, we would probably need more capacity. So, that is something else we would

The Panther Shuttle route runs on Piedmont Avenue where both possible new student housing facilities will be located nearby.

“They would just walk across the street to the Commons and get on the shuttle there if they wanted to,” Rackliffe said.

Georgia State also already has a security guard on duty at the crosswalk between the Commons and Piedmont Avenue after 5 p.m.

The new housing also means a need for more resident sssistants.

“Marilyn, in charge of housing, likes to have an R.A. on each floor. So whichever housing we build, we will continue that,” Rackliffe said.

Student life personnel and security would also need to be hired and paid through student’s housing rent, according to Rackliffe.

Georgia State may also have to create more parking along with new housing. Rackliffe said he could use some of the 100 Auburn Ave. parking lot and possibly add another level to the existing parking lot behind the housing’s property.

5

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

City

National

Edgewood and Auburn Avenue undergoing revitalization Downtown revitalization to ‘positively’ impact Georgia State and its students

U.S. Senate voting on student loan reform bill FERNANDO MATTOS Associate News Editor

A

fter the last college class ends and after the steps to the podium at the Georgia Dome are mounted, a professional career awaits graduating Panthers.

But for many students, graduation signals bills—2012 and 2013 Georgia State graduates faced an averaged of $24,945 of debt, according to university Financial Aid Director Louis Scott.

This number is lower than the 2012 national student debt average calculated at $29,400 by The Project on Student Debt, a non profit organization focused on research and policy work.

The Project on Student Debt’s research states 59 percent of students within Georgia graduated with loan debt in 2012. Georgia State graduates still left school with more debt than the state average of $23,089 per student that year.

A possible solution

PHOTO BY RUTH PANNILL | THE SIGNAL Noni’s Bar & Deli is one of the twenty buildings awarded grants to remodel their buildings and create a more college-student friendly environment.

TRIANNA ANDERSON Staff Reporter

I

nvest Atlanta launched the Downtown Facade Improvement program in January, awarding business and property owners $2 million in grants to help visually improve downtown Atlanta.

The program’s funds came from the East and West tax allocation districts downtown which have joined together in efforts to make Atlanta more striking, according to an Invest Atlanta release.

Courtney Knight, manager for redevelopment at Invest Atlanta, said the program is intended to improve the aesthetics along the streetcar route and encourage tourists and natives to come to the area.

She also said students will enjoy the remodeled places of business.

“The student’s frequent use of some of these businesses generally improves the quality of life for students,” Knight said.

Alex Todorova, junior Georgia State business major, said her brother is always comparing the surrounding areas of Georgia Tech and Georgia State and hopes remodeling will create a ‘cool’ vibe to the university and surrounding areas.

“Being in a more attractive setting will make me feel proud,” she said.

Todorova also said the streetcar

will prompt her to visit the remodeled businesses on a more frequent basis.

Local business owners Matt Rupert, owner of Noni’s Bar & Deli, was a Facade grant recipient in early 2014, according to Invest Atlanta’s website. The restaurant has been in business since 2008 and is located on Edgewood Avenue.

Rupert said one of the reasons behind Noni’s location is due to its proximity to Georgia State. He believes students will enjoy the new additions to the establishment.

“One of the new additions to Noni’s Bar & Deli will be a rooftop deck. A lot of students will want to take advantage of the unparalleled view of downtown. Students will be able to relax and chill on the rooftop,” he said.

Rupert also said about 200 students come to Noni’s on the weekends and the Facade enhancements will hopefully increase the amount of student customers.

“I predict remodeling will be done by spring of 2015,” he said.

Revitalization Darryl Holloman, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Georgia State, said he is aware of the downtown revitalization along the Edgewood and Auburn area where he resides.

“It always benefits a college campus when the surrounding area

is kept up well and looks attractive.

As tourists come and feel more comfortable in those areas, they will be near our campus, leading to opportunities for perspective students as well as new faculty and staff,” he said.

Holloman also said he believes the revitalization of these businesses will increase foot traffic from students, create vibrant spaces leading to expanded college experiences and will hopefully lead to more businesses that give students discounts.

Noni’s offers a 10 percent discount to students.

Remodeling and safety Shawnice Hadley, junior prenursing major, said Auburn Avenue is scary and remodeling would make her feel safer to walk down the streets at night.

“Right now, nothing draws me to that area, so the new look will definitely be something new for me to look forward to,” she said.

Remodeling has not begun yet because the grants have not been disbursed and the building completion dates vary from project to project, according to Knight.

“There will be an initial meeting on Sept. 18 with all of the grantees to talk about the next steps,” she said. “We will develop a grant agreement spelling out what they’re obligations are and what Invest Atlanta’s plans are for disbursing funds to them.”

President Barack Obama directed the Secretary of Education to propose regulations that would put a cap on student federal loan payments in June.

Nearly 5 million student borrowers would not pay more than 10 percent of their income for each payment, according to a White House press release.

The bill introduced in May by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be voted on in Senate on Sept. 17, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“This week, [Congress has] a chance to help millions of young people,” President Obama said in June. “I hope they do... And in the meantime, I’m going to take these actions today on behalf of all these young people here and every striving young American who shares my belief that this is a place where you can still make it if you try.”

The memorandum states if Congress approves the bill it would go into effect on Dec. 31, 2015.

“It would be scandalous if we allowed those kinds of tax loopholes for the very, very fortunate to survive while students are having trouble just getting started in their lives,” President Obama said in his remarks after sign-

Financial Aid Director Louis Scott said there are three things students should take into account before getting a student loan:

1.

2.

3.

ing the memorandum on June 10 in the release.

The current program only applies to students who took out loans after October 2007-2011. This new version will also benefit students who borrowed before 2007, according to the memorandum.

President Obama also said the government will renegotiate contracts with private companies.

“And we’re going to make it clear that these companies are in the business of helping students, not just collecting payments and they owe young people the customer service and support and financial flexibility that they deserve,” he said.

The government is doing more to help borrowers to know all their options before deciding on one, according to President Obama.

Comments from Georgia State Students and Staff Ricky Sellers, an education major, and Nergis Guclu, a mathematics major, share one thing in common: Without receiving scholarships, both sought student loans.

“I applied three times and couldn’t get it,” Guclu said.

Both would like the opportunity to refinance them but Sellers said he still doesn’t know how he will manage payments after graduation.

“Well, since I’m still in school I haven’t thought about paying them,” he said.

Students like Sellers and Guclu first need to understand what the government’s plan entails, according to Scott.

“There are some things that people who opt for ‘Pay As You Earn’ must understand before they jump in. First, if your income later rises, you may have to pay significantly higher payments,” he said. “Most students who can afford to pay off their loans in the 10 year standard repayment option likely won’t qualify for the Pay As You Earn plan anyway.”

Scott also said debts will be forgiven after some time.

“Remaining debt for many of these borrowers also would be forgiven after 20 years for private sector workers and 10 years for government workers and employees of some nonprofit organizations,” he said.

How can Georgia State help you?

1.

Borrow subsidized loans: you won’t pay interest while studying and for the first six months after leaving school.

The Student Financial Services office has a section of its website dedicated to explaining loans.

2.

About interest, Scott advises: “If you borrow an unsubsidized loan, consider making student loan interest payments during your grace period to save money on the total cost of your loan.”

Georgia State will get in contact with you at key decision points to guide you to the best option for your case.

3.

Georgia State focuses on keeping you on track to graduate. Scott said the university “dedicate[s] staff to student retention activities in an effort to boost student and school success and reduce default rates.”

Know your repayment and benefits options.

6

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

University

Georgia State evolving into startup a community for entrepreneurs Georgia State’s Master Plan includes initiatives to help boost student entrepreneurs SEAN TAYLOR Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State is implementing several initiatives to form a robust entrepreneurial culture.

Erica Bracey, business consultant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), said the university is seeking to make entrepreneurship a viable option for all students.

“The school has an initiative to bring awareness and provide tools for entrepreneurship to its students, especially those outside of the school of business,” she said.

The push for more entrepreneurial opportunities is part of President Mark Becker’s 10-year plan, which he announced in 2011.

Phil Ventimiglia, former Vice President of National Cash Register (NCR), became Georgia State’s first Chief Innovation Officer in April 2014. Ventimigilia will facilitate student entrepreneurship through infrastructure, education and research.

Dr. Robin Morris, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, said the variety of options at the university will allow students to easily gain real business pioneering experience.

“We are trying give students an opportunity to learn about business and entrepreneurship with or without taking a class. This is in line with The Strategic Plan,” Morris said.

Programs and Courses The Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robinson College of Business now offers a field study class which students receive three credit hours and $1,000 towards a startup. The course will be offered to graduate and undergraduate students.

Morris said in the 2014 Maymester a ‘Survey of Business Principles’ was piloted to expose non-business majors to entrepreneurship. The course covered topics such as business innovation, lean entrepreneurship and strategy. The Maymester class was a success and will be repeated next year, Morris said.

Georgia State is also providing students with a variety of free courses on entrepreneurship through other organizations, according to Morris.

The new program, called Startup Semesters, will be held every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Sept. 23. The free program focuses on turning students’ ideas into viable businesses in 10 weeks, according to the course’s syllabus.

There will be a pitch competition at the end of the program for Startup Semester participants, according to Ricky Hunter, Director for Startup Semester at Georgia State.

The course’s syllabus states Startup is an offshoot of Georgia Tech’s Startup Exchange and aims to create a cross-university collabora-

tive student collective between both universities.

Hunter hopes to help turn students’ ideas into reality and the course should help prepare them to take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journey.

“When I was first starting out in my entrepreneurial journey, there were so many things I didn’t know and I didn’t really know how to find the information,” he said.

He also said Startup Semester will help students avoid the same dilemma.

“Startup Semester helps students think through their idea and can provide students with the information and resources, as long as they are willing to put in the work,” Hunter said.

SBDC will host a series of workshops every Wednesday afternoon from Sept. 17-Nov. 19. There will also be 10 modules in Library North room 290.

Students will benefit the most if they attend all 10 modules, according to Bracey.

“The courses are designed to help guide students contemplating through the thought-process of developing a business plan,” she said.

Infrastructure Morris also said the concourse of Aderhold will soon be renovated into a high-tech collaboration space featuring large screen displays similar to CURVE. The screen will allow students to easily share their work and seating design will promote collaboration.

“We are creating spaces for student and entrepreneurs to collaborate throughout campus,” Ventimi-

PHOTOS BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL Georgia State library’s newest addition, The Curve, aims to push creativity and research further with the new entrepreneurship programs. glia said of the space. “We want to build a spirit of entrepreneurship that is embedded within the DNA of the university. In order to do this, we will need to build a variety of programs and structures.”

Ventimiglia said all of the different programs will help students build businesses worth investing in.

“The goal of all of these elements is to get startups to the point at which they are ready to be funded,” he said.

The university is building a collective of expert mentors who can leverage their experience and networks to help students’ startups through the business process, ac-

cording to Ventimigilia.

Buddy Ray, Associate Director of Herman J. Russell Center for Entrepreneurship and former serial entrepreneur, said Georgia State has a unique opportunity to impact the economic development of the entire state of Georgia.

“No other university in this region can support entrepreneurship in such a wide range of fields, from medical to the arts, from the sciences to non-profits, from technology to hospitality,” he said.

Competitions Students will also have the chance to win money for their busi-

ness in competitions throughout the school year.

The H.J. Russell Center for Entrepreneurship (HJRCE) is hosting its annual Panther Pitch Party competition on Nov. 17.

Contestants will pitch business ideas to win cash prizes. First place will receive $500, second $250 and third $150. The competition will be on the 18th floor of the Bennett A. Brown Building, 34 Broad St. The Center for Entrepreneurship will also host a business plan competition in Spring 2014. Entrepreneurs will submit their plans and present in front of judges. The winner will receive $10,000.

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

To Greek or not to Greek— that is the question T Nicole is a double major in biology and English.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys listening to musical theater and watching British TV with her family.

Follow her @SignalOpinions

Animal House), then that’s fantastic.

However, if you enjoy a more varied experience, Georgia State has many different clubs and activities that are free or have a very minimal membership fee.

Shelbey McCullar, a criminal justice major at Georgia State, explains her choice.

“I felt that I didn’t have much in common with those who are attracted to Greek Life. Also, the amount of money that goes into Greek life seems a little ridiculous to me.”

Instead of joining Greek Life, take a look at what activities will benefit you and your interests in the long run. If you’re studying biology, consider joining the Honors Society, an activity that not only looks great on a resume but provides opportunities to meet people in the field. Suppose you’re a pre-law major. The Pre-Law Club holds meetings weekly with guest speakers and recruiters from prominent law schools.

Sports are also another great way to meet people. Whether you might decide to go watch the more traditional football team or our fantastic women’s basketball team, the chance to get involved is great and there are great opportunities to make new friends and get a regular fan group going.

Either way, whether to Greek or not is ultimately your decision, but realize that your options are not limited. Grab some friends from a class and go out and explore before you tie yourself down to any single sorority or fraternity.

ILLUSTRATION BY UDUAK ITA | THE SIGNAL

NICOLE MOTAHARI Opinions Editor

his is Rush Week, an age old recruitment tradition harbored by Greek organizations. I remember how overwhelmed I felt as a freshman receiving information from all these different groups—standing in the courtyard on my way to the library during my lunch break, seeing so many Greek letters on the various banners, flyers and signs making my head spin.

After speaking with a few fraternities and sororities, I realized two things: One, as a flat out broke college student, there was no way on this green earth I could afford to spend money on Greek life and two: I really did not need a solitary group of people I would do all my activities with.

Before making any hasty decisions this week, listen to a couple of words of advice I’ll pass on, and then decide if that’s the right choice for you.

When you are a freshman or a transfer student, you don’t really know your way around campus and most of the faces in your classes are a blur of names which you vaguely recognize as you walk across the courtyard, so joining a sorority or fraternity can seem very tempting because it gives you a sense of solidarity. These people will befriend you, take you under their wing and make sure you go to all the right events. Your ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’ will guide you through your college career.

If you’re the type of person who is eager for the experience that can provide you (and no, it’s not like the Delta Tau Chi fraternity, the infamous frat in the cult classic

Dollars and sense with Mitch

Kick your private loans to the curb

W

MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist Mitch is a senior finance major and student financial advisor. “My goal is to have more college students financially literate.” Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com

Follow him @madmoneyATL

ith a record number of students taking out government and private loans this year, concerns over the future payments of these loans are rising.

While it is nice to live in a fantasy world where your student debt doesn’t exist until you graduate, it is crucial that you have a deep understanding of how to manage your debt now in order to prepare yourself for a smooth transition upon graduation.

One of the biggest regrets many students graduating college with debt have is that they took out too many private student loans. Unlike subsidized and unsubsidized government loans, private student loans are predatory and the only goal is for the loan company to make money.

This doesn’t mean the government doesn’t make money on their loans (trust me, it’s a huge source of income), but profit is not their main concern. The government just wants

you to be able to afford college. On the other side is private student loan companies like Sallie Mae, Discover and Wells Fargo. The main objective of these companies is to make money.

In recent years, the most lucrative way of doing this is to offer a multitude of easily-obtainable student loans to unsuspecting college students. This is happening every day across the country and it is destroying the future financial health of college students. So how can we help alleviate this? There’s a few options for students who are still in school.

When it comes to loans, the lower the interest rate, the better. On average, government loans will have interest between four and six percent. Your typical private loan right now will range from eight to 10 percent and could go higher if you have an adjustable rate loan versus a fixed rate.

You want your loan to have the lowest interest rate possible. This

is easier to do through government loans, so the concept of ‘lumping your loans’ comes into play. Plain and simple, this basically means shifting your debt around so that you have one lump sum loan with a lower interest rate.

For those of you with only government loans, I urge you to avoid taking out private loans unless there is no other option. If you already have private loans, a good tip, if you think it will work in your favor, is to essentially take out a low interest student loan through the government. Use that money to pay off your private loans now, before any more interest can accrue on them.

This might help to clarify. Say you have $10,000 in government loans at five percent interest. In addition, you have $5,000 in private loans through Sallie Mae at eight percent interest.

Repaying both loans in a ten year schedule would result in a total paid

of $20,300 ($5,300 of that being interest). Instead, by paying off that $5,000 Sallie Mae loan and creating one lump $15,000 government loan, you will end up with a total paid of $19,000 ($4,000 of which being interest).

Thus, you can save a decent $1,300 just by making this simple switch.

At the end of the day, no one wants to take on debt to get through college. Unfortunately, it is a reality many of us must accept. To help reduce stress and hassle, I urge you to reconsider when taking on a private loan of any kind. Always borrow smart and remember the private loan companies are out to make money on you and don’t have your best interests in mind. They may seem to want to help “finance your college degree” when in reality all they want from you is that $300 check each month after you graduate.

8

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Why everyone should experience Panther Breakaway

E MIA MCDONALD Columnist Mia does amateur photoshoots, maintains the title of bookworm and hangs out with friends and family.

Follow her @MiaMore09

ver since my initial enrollment to Georgia State I’d heard all about an alternative trip. I’d keep hearing “alternative break” but didn’t know what it was.

I later learned an alternative break trip is when you spend either your winter or spring break doing a volunteer service project.

After a strenuous and expensive semester, the last thing I’d want to do is anything related to working, especially anything that costs money!

So my mind was made up and I just knew an alternative break was out of the question.

But it wasn’t until I saw the impact it had on some of my close friends that it made me reconsider Panther Breakaway. My decision to participate in the trip was easily one of the best choices I’ve ever made and I encourage everyone to try it out.

First, before you fill out an ap-

Letter to the edtior

The Signal Sex Column Anna, I am reaching out to you with extreme concerns for Rachel Kingsley’s recent sex column. Her articles have caused outrage in our GSU offices, classrooms, and several individuals. Myself and others are completely appalled this would be published in a public paper for anyone to see. I believe such foul language and exotic personal sex experiences brings a negative image to The Signal and Georgia State. These articles are no longer beneficial for anyone to read. I know I am speaking for a large group of people who wish these Sexpoloration articles to please stop! I am not one to usually voice my opinion/concerns in this manner, but I strongly disagree with the content of these articles. I used to gain excitement when a new copy of The Signal was published... now I hesitate to open up the paper in fear of viewing an article that misrepresents what we stand for at Georgia State. Again, I am reaching out with these concerns representing a large group of individuals who wish to not take the time to write to you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards, A concerned student and staff member Editor’s Note: Look for next week’s issue of The Signal on Sept. 23 to read Rachel’s perspective on the topic in our Opinions section.

plication, you should gather as much information about the organization as possible; your first stop should be an info session or stop by the tables in plaza. You’ll encounter site leaders (the leaders of the trip) and meet other potential participants.

Furthermore, you’ll learn about the trip themes and topics so you can see which ones spark your interest.

Every year the organization grows in many ways and one of those ways is the trips’ themes; the coordinators of the organization are working towards having trips that based off students’ majors so you’ll really have a benefit.

As I previously stated, these trips are alternative, meaning instead of taking your usual break from school, you’ll actually be participating on the trip, and yes, the trips do cost money, but that’s not a reason to dismiss this opportunity. Before any of you get discouraged, let me inform you of

some of the perks.

The trip cost is $300 which covers your housing, transportation, food and events or adventures you’ll do while on the trip. The only extra funds you’ll need will be for souvenirs and any extra food you want to purchase. If you aren’t working and know that you won’t have the money to apply, there are two scholarship opportunities. All trips are in different cities and states so you are not limited to only Atlanta.

The trips are in New Orleans, Memphis and Orlando—just to name a few. Also, you will be volunteering so those hours could potentially count toward a certain class if you need the credit or another organization. There are numerous reasons as to why PB is a great opportunity for anyone, but those are just a few.

So who is eligible for Panther Breakaway trips?

Everyone—students, faculty and staff—is encouraged to apply because they all serve a different role. The site leaders will be students, your peers, but every trip is required to have a staff leader. If this is your first major trip and you’re concerned about traveling with a group of your peers, not to worry. Your site leaders have been trained for the trip, and again if you need a greater since of security there will be a faculty or staff member a part of the trip for support.

I think everyone should attend an info session to find out if this is something you would be interested in. Don’t let anything stop you from applying if you think this is really something you want to do; the coordinators are willing to work with you and you don’t want to have any regrets. Reserve your spot soon because spots are filling up fast!

You have the passion.

GET THE SKIllS TO TURN YOUR INSPIRATION INTO ACTION. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship as a CAREER PATH but aren’t a business major, you can enroll in one or more courses in the ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORKSHOP SERIES Beginning Fall 2014, start your journey toward actualizing your entrepreneurial goals.

You’ll learn about: • Successful entrepreneurial development • Building the organization and team • Planning the product/service • Funding and development • Marketing • Finance

Contact Mary Brown Phillips at mphillips20@gsu.edu if you have questions or would like a preview of any course syllabus

Instructor Mr. Jeff Patterson Director Small Business Development Center

Who Can Register?

Any student interested in entrepreneurship as a career path FREE for Georgia State Students

http://bit.ly/ENT2014

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

Employing

Panthers How on -campus jobs can provide more than quick cash

by Becca Long

W

ith the pressures from tuition, housing, and living costs, the student life is expensive. Finding the right job can alleviate some of the stress revolved around your finances. There are employers all throughout the city, but nothing beats a job on campus.

Georgia State offers students diverse opportunities to gain valuable experiences and earn some cash. You just have to know where to begin.

PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL Jake greets residents of Patton Hall as they walk in, checks their ID’s and is available for assistance to check in residence guests throughout the day.

Utilizing the resources around you

The Career Services Center is a resource for students looking to broaden their horizons and secure an on-campus job. Equipped with career counselors who are available for advisement, it provides future employees with valuable and personalized information.

“As a career counselor we help students explore their own interests and skills depending on what kind of skills they’d be doing in a particular field,” said Career Counselor Matt Henderson. “We help students choose a major and what kind of jobs might match their interests.”

Approaching the job hunt with a long term focus allows for students to get plugged into their desired field early on in the game. While building skills that can be applied to a future career this approach also provides opportunities to network with professionals.

“Connections you make will be helpful in developing network and skills. A job on campus can help develop professional skills and initiative,” Henderson said.

Initiative is an important part in getting a job. Not only is it an attribute that employers look for in candidates, but taking initiative opens up greater possibilities. Whether that means reaching out to Georgia State professionals or attending the job fair, pursuing your intent increases your chances of finding a job.

The Fall All Majors Fair is the next opportunity to take initiative. On Oct. 6, students will be able to meet with employers from various departments.

“Go to these fairs no matter what year you are in. Talk to professors and see what people are looking for. Seeing what’s out there is beneficial,” Henderson said. “Take initiative to suggest a new way of doing things based on what kind of skill you can contribute to the department.”

If you are unable to attend the upcoming fair, Henderson still encourages you to engage the resources and people that surround you.

“Don’t just explore online; go out and meet people who work in an industry you’d like to get into. Work through your professors and classmates because that’s your current network,” he said.

Experience of jobs on campus as told by:

Taylor Lindsay

Experience of jobs on campus as told by:

Challenges

orking to provide students with the resources we need are the University Bookstore staff.

The rush during the first two weeks of school is crazy. Everybody is coming in at the same time and that’s probably the hardest part just because everything gets so busy.

People sometimes get upset, but not too much. It’s just the volume of people and trying to keep everybody calm. Like getting the right books and that sort of thing can get kind of stressful.

Responsibilities

Benefits

Textbook Advisor & Sales Associate at the University Bookstore Exercise Science Major Junior

W

I help with customer service.

I sometimes order books that we need. I shelve the books and bring them up from shipping when they come in.

Meeting people on campus is cool. I’ve met a lot of people who just come into the bookstore as I’m helping them out. You also get work experience while doing something different. A lot of times you’re not going to work in a bookstore so that’s kind of cool too.

Jake Durham Resident Assistant at Patton Hall Managerial Science Major Junior

O

ne of the most sought after positions on campus is Resident Assistant. The accountability is high and there is no clocking out.

Responsibilities

We have to do six programs a semester for residents, but our big responsibility is to create community throughout all of campus housing.

So just get people together, make their experience great in housing.

The flip side is that we have to enforce university policy, so we’re on duty a few times a month. Being on duty means doing rounds of the

building, and making sure people are maintaining the quiet hours, and all the policies about drugs and alcohol and that everyone has a comfortable living environment.

Challenges

For me I would say the hardest part is learning how to balance being a sense of authority as well as a welcoming friend. You want your residents to want to come up to you and talk about everything. You want to really build that bond with them, but when you have to enforce policy that can kind of scare them away

Benefits

It’s fulfilling to know that you’ve really impacted a resident’s life as far as what their direction might be in college. If we’ve helped create what you really like to do or helped you find your purpose, that’s kind of a big deal.

10

ARTS &

Becoming an actor in Atlanta: A little “extra” advice

by Sydney Cunningham

S

ince Hollywood culture came to form, the entertainment industry has evolved in many different ways. New York and California have been the hot spots to film movies and television shows.

Now, more and more places are being scooped up to film in. They are cheaper and offer untapped locations and talent to scout.

In recent years, Atlanta has been dubbed the “Hollywood of the South.”

While attending Georgia State or simply cohabiting the downtown area, people interested in pursuing entertainment careers can take advantage of what their neighborhood has to offer.

Behind the Scenes: Media Conglomerates in the ATL Atlanta has many companies based here that are well known in the entertainment business.

We have more than 300 recording studios statewide.

We have one of the most internationally known companies—Turner Broadcasting System—owned and created by Georgia native Ted Turner.

At Turner, TBS, Tent, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, and CNN are housed and ran.

Another well known entertainment production is Tyler Perry Studios, run by the eponymous Tyler Perry himself.

However, no matter the experience or drive you put forth to break into Southern Hollywood’s shell, there is a quick and easy job that requires no prior skills or experience that will get you straight to a set.

In the Cut: Becoming an Extra An extra is a role (cast in a film, television show, music video, etc.) that includes some physical requirements, but beyond that is designed to fill space. For example, while the actor is filming and giving dialogue, an extra would walk across a sidewalk in the background or open a door for one of the actors entering a shop.

Sophomore Hallie Huskins has worked on many well-known sets around Atlanta and has learned things that casting companies wouldn’t necessarily tell you.

“I started in high school over the summer because I didn’t have a job, and it sounded easy and fun,” Huskins said.

The most well known casting agencies in Atlanta are CL Casting, Tammy-Smith Extras, and Extras Casting Atlanta.

According to Huskins, the process of getting work at as an extra is reliant almost entirely on

postings on Facebook.

“They will post things on their page like 1825, able to pass a high school/college student, attached with a photo of you, selfies are fine,” Huskins said. “And then you send in a photo with physical descriptions of yourself and wait to get an email saying that you are an extra and where to go for the shoot.”

Some of them are as last minute as a post asking for extras for the very next day.

Huskins said the best thing about being an extra is to be on set and get the opportunity to see how things work.

“I had no idea how CGI worked,” Huskins said. “I’d ask questions and learn how they went about it. Everyone got to see how the cameras were used and if you were to ask a question to one of the crew members, they’d definitely answer.”

Once you receive the confirmation that you get an extras gig, you are given where to go and when. Even if you’ve worked with the same company multiple times, there is always a mountain of paper work.

Huskins had to sign many confidentiality agreements on the feature with Jack Black that she can’t name, however it is rumored to be an adaption of R.L Stine’s “Goosebumps.”

She said the pay is good, but it is dependent on the casting agency you are applying to extra for.

The worst set Huskins experienced was on fan-favorite “The Vampire Diaries.” The best? The set in April with Jack Black.

“I did it once and didn’t want to go back,” she said of the experience. “It was over the summer, very hot, and when they didn’t need us they left us in the heat, no food, and everyone was getting sunburned. One woman had this extravagant necklace on and got a burn in the shape of it on her neck.”

The Jack Black feature Huskins worked on in April had a much higher budget and it showed in how they could accommodate their extras. It was her best experience.

There were lots of food, with the ability to use their phones, laptops, given Red Bulls like candy, all in an air conditioned room waiting for their scene.

In contrast, conditions on “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” set were the exact opposite, with all of the extras relegated to a tent in the dead of winter, not allowed to use phones, and with nothing but one single heater.

Although Hawkins found being an extra fun and easy money, she had to eventually quit due to the hectic nature of her school schedule and the inconsistency of an extra’s schedule.

“The postings and notifications of when you work are so last minute, you wait to see what the crazy hours are and you might not even have been given a job,” Hawkins said. “I now work as a waitress and at least I know that I work tomorrow and when.”

A misconception about being casted as an extra? Many people think they are going to be discovered and risen to stardom.

Extras are not introduced to the big names or get much recognition from the production crew other than their marks and where to go when.

“It’s a shame. People I’ve spoken to have thought ‘Well I’m on TV! I’m going to be a star like Harrison Ford.’ But you are just a background piece to help the shoot look all the more real,” Hawkins said.

So why do it?

The experience alone is enough to be crossed off the bucket list for curious fans of film and television.

“I’d say do it for a summer to be able to say you’ve done it. You can learn how a set works and is generally run,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins learned things she never would have known without the experience of being on a set.

The audience you see in game shows, such as Atlanta filmed “Family Feud” which Hawkins attended, are all extras. They are told when to laugh, how to respond, and cut in editing to fit the feeling of the rest of the show.

Additionally, in that five minute scene you’ve scene where a character walks across a room, says a few lines, and leaves? It takes up to two days.

While being an extra might not be an easy access to the entertainment industry, being extras on a few sets is the sometimes the closest you’ll ever be able to get to get a feel for the industry with no prior experience or skills.

You get to point yourself out in something that lasts forever and decide if the life of being on a set is for you, no matter the budget.

Currently Filming in Atlanta As Atlanta and its surrounding metro areas are becoming more lucrative for spaces earlier reserved for California and New York, popular films and shows are being housed here. Atlanta has taken the reins in the southeast to host well known productions like the following, which are currently being filmed in and outside of the perimeter.

• • • • • • • • • •

The Vampire Diaries (TV) The Walking Dead (TV) Ride Along 2 (Film) Constantine (TV) Insurgent (Film) The Originals (TV) Red Band Society (TV) Ant Man (Film) Captain America 3 (Film) National Lampoon’s Vacation Reboot (Film)

& LIVING

11

PHOTO BY ALLYSON BUSCH | THE SIGNAL With the boom in the entertainment industry in Atlanta, background actors or “extras” are in higher demand on movie and television sets.

12

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

It can be done:

Get involved with

volunteering

on Georgia State’s campus ENDIA MATHEWS Staff Reporter

C

ommunity service projects are one of the most beneficial things that can be done to help a struggling community or people.

The only problem is that there aren’t enough volunteers to help keep organizations dedicated to serving the community actively running.

“If everyone just put in just a little bit of effort then we could really do a lot in this world,” said sophomore Kayla Kelly.

Kelly has been an active volunteer in different community service projects since she began her freshman year at Georgia State last fall.

Kelly actively inquired about ways she could participate around the area by attending campus organization fairs, volunteer fairs and even by looking at flyers posted around the school.

“There’s so many things to do on campus,” she said. “I would just stare at flyers all day and notice that there’s never a reason for me not to be doing anything.”

After searching Kelly finally decided to work with Habitat for

Humanity through the campus organization GSU Build. She also participates with Circle K Club at Georgia State.

Both GSU Build and Circle K Club are service-based Georgia State organizations that partner with larger national or state organizations to provide service to the community.

Just like majority of campus organizations, information can be found through OrgSync, a website that connects students to various programs and organizations on campus.

If being dedicated to a single organization isn’t something that you’re able to make time for, the Office of Civic Engagement is the place to go to just find about different projects that are occurring throughout the year.

Civic Engagement partners up with various service-based organizations throughout the Atlanta area and has at least one project available for students to participate in every week.

“It’s pretty easy to volunteer. Just sign up and show up with a servant heart and open mind of course,” said Angelica Guilbeaux, Interfaith Ambassador at the Office of Civic Engagement.

Guilbeaux actively serves

with the faith-based organization Interfaith. By participating in both Interfaith and Civic Engagement activities, Guillbeaux has notice the many opportunities serving has provided her.

“Volunteering can lead to so many paths,” she explained. “You may find a hidden passion through volunteering and you can make a lot of friends that share the same thoughts as you.”

Guillbeaux said that you don’t have to be religious to serve with Civic Engagement and that there’s always opportunities for everyone to serve.

“Civic Engagement is connected with many organizations that help different populations like those struggling with homelessness to sex trafficking victims to animals in abusive environments,” she said.

The Office of Civic Engangement is located in the University Center, there you can find a list of opportunities you can do that fit your schedule.

Making time for volunteering was something GSU graduate A’sheana White didn’t do until the end of her college career.

“If I knew what I know now I would have been looking for volunteer projects probably when I

PHOTO BY RUTH PANNILL |THE SIGNAL Students can go to the Office of Civil Engagement in University Center 429 to find fliers and information about how to get involved the community. started college,” White said.

After graduating Georgia State this past May, White started volunteering at Raising Expectations Inc. in Atlanta.

White heard about the organization after attending a nonprofit volunteer & internship fair on campus.

“I really liked the company’s love for children and I wanted to do something where I could pour into someone else’s life I just never knew where to go or who to talk to or if I could even help as a student,” she said.

The Nonprofit Volunteer & Internship Fair is presented by the Office of Civic Engagement and University Career Services frequently throughout the school year with the purpose of pointing students to the organizations that they can volunteer at.

On Sept. 10-11 more than 34 non-profit organizations gathered in Dahlberg Hall for the fair, each one looking for students to join their team as either a volunteer or an intern. Although each organization was dedicated to a specific cause when it came to workers majority of the organizations were looking for anyone willing to learn and serve.

Kate Marsh, volunteer

representative for the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless believes that everyone’s skills can be used in any field and encourages students to volunteer to help out the community.

“It’s important to remember that you’re not doing this for yourself— you’re doing it for someone else,” Marsh said. “The people you’re serving aren’t bad people, they’ve just been through bad events.”

Marsh, a former journalism student, volunteers at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless, an organization that provides legal services to homeless individuals and families in the state.

“Even when I was looking to volunteer I was a bit worried because I didn’t have any experience in the field, but I wanted to do it and when I got started volunteering I loved it.”

There are many volunteer opportunities around campus you just have to pursue them.

If you are ready to volunteer with the Office ofCivic Engagement you can visit their website service. gsu.edu to search for events or visit the office located in 429 University Center. Go to the office to pick up flyers or talk with a staff member who will help point you to projects and organizations that fit your interest.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

13

ARTS & LIVING

a staple of

student life Saxbys is located in the Library North and is a convenient stop to get your coffee fix in the middle of studying.

ALEX KUGACZEWSKI Staff Reporter

T

he sound of a dozen conversations floods the room as students bustle back and forth throughout the store. Across the room, two students sit face to face. The ir smiles deepen as they delve further into their meeting. The cup of coffee between them on the table seems alive, steam pouring into the air and drifting toward the ceiling. It’s just an ordinary day at Saxbys Coffee.

Building a Brand

Ten years ago, Georgia State students were unable to buy a cup of coffee in Library North. Saxbys didn’t exist yet. The cafe wasn’t purchased

by Hamad Mazhir until July of 2008.

Since that time, Saxbys Coffee has become a staple of students.

“I wanted to be in business. I felt that it was the right concept. The foot traffic was perfect. A lot of students go to the library. It had a lot of potential,” Mazhir said.

When Mazhir first bought the property, the menu consisted solely of beverage items. Since taking ownership, however, he sought to localize and personalize the menu items with college students in mind.

“I knew that if the menu could be enlarged you could earn more revenue. Saxbys Corporate works together with this unit to create a more price conscious and more college-bound menu,” Mazhir said.

To that end, Saxbys at Georgia State has introduced a number of items beyond the universal beverage selection at Saxbys across the United

States. Saxbys deli and bakery offer unique selections for students in need of a rest stop.

Committed to Customers

Committed to providing and executing a satisfactory college cafe experience, Mazhir ensures that items from the deli and the bakery aren’t just leftovers from the previous day’s operations.

“Our bagels are baked fresh every day from a local baker, and our entire deli menu is made to order. The fruit that we make doesn’t come from a truck anywhere. We cut it up daily,” Mazhir said.

Localizing the menu wasn’t the only decision made with college students in mind. Mazhir also said that the location’s art is local as well and that Saxbys has reached out to Georgia State’s art department in hopes of displaying new pieces.

During the midday hours of any given point in the week, it’s difficult not to find a line stretching out towards the entrance of the cafe. Over time, Georgia State’s students have become used to the crowd. So has Mazhir.

“Walking into the store, you definitely do get a feeling that its not a cafeteria. We try to focus on the quality of food and the urgency for students.

We’re open to the idea of changing the menu to what the new market wants,” Mazhir said.

ing up roughly five days each week.

“It’s very convenient for me. I can do two things at once. I can usually come to the library and instead of having to make any stops on the way I know already have coffee waiting for me. Convenience beats all,” Toure said.

Toure also said that the shop’s overall environment is one of it’s best features and one of many reasons he comes back for another cup day after day, noting the cafe’s clean interior and the sprightliness of its youthful staff in particular.

Making these stops at Saxbys is a critical part of Toure’s routine as a

PHOTO BY ALLYSON BUSCH |THE SIGNAL

Biology major. He said over the years Saxbys has indirectly helped better him as a student through its convenient location in one of Georgia State’s prime study areas.

“I stay fairly busy. I am a pre-medical student, so there’s always work that needs to be done. Saxbys helps me by being open all the time. I usually like to use the library as my study area. I’ve built a routine coming to Saxbys. It’s like a one stop shop,” Toure said.

While the daily coffee runs help Toure through his classes, he doesn’t always stick to ordering caffeinated fluids. Like so many other regular cus-

tomers, Toure knows his favorite item on the menu.

“I don’t order a lot of food, but when I do I order the croissant with turkey bacon, egg and cheese. That always puts me right back on the map,” Toure said with a smile.

Of course, Toure isn’t the only regular customer at Saxbys Coffe. Over its successful seven year stint, Saxbys Coffee has cemented itself as a cornerstone of student’s academic life. Given the daily crowds, that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.

The Student Experience

Mohammed Toure, 28, and senior biology major, certainly feels Mazhir’s dedication to the student experience at Saxbys Coffee. He finds himself inside the cafe on a regular basis, show-

PHOTO BY ALLYSON BUSCH |THE SIGNAL Saxbys’ menu offers students the options of cold or hot coffee drinks, froyo, smoothies, sandwiches and salads.

14

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

columns

Atlanta Life column

The sleepers of Music Midtown PHOTO BY SAMANTHA REARDON THE SIGNAL ARCHIVE

BY ENDIA MATHEWS

M

usic Midtown, one of the state’s biggest annual music festivals starts Sept.19 in Piedmont Park. Once again some of the music industry’s top charting musicians will be headlining the festival. Eminem, John Mayer, Lorde and Lana Del Rey are some of the most notable acts performing at the festival this

year. With so much attention on these top stars it’s important to not forget some of the less prominent performers.

Whether you’re going to the festival or just want something new on your playlist here are some quick little facts about some of the “not so popular” performers this year that you might want to know.

MAGIC MAN:

THE STRYPES: Hailing from Ireland, The Strypes is one of the more unique bands performing. They’ve basically been defined as young men with old souls because of the nostalgia within their 60s-esque blues and rock & roll sound. Their debut studio album, Snapshot, was released last fall with notable songs “Blue Collar Jane”, “Mystery Man” and “You Can’t Judge A Book By the Cover”.

SATURDAY’S

LIST: BANKS:

FRIDAY’S

LIST: Sex column

RACHEL KINGSLEY Columnist

Rachel believes even though society has become more open about sex, it’s still a highly taboo subject.

To become more open and accepting, she believes we need to start with education. Rachel shares her experiences.

Follow her

@rachelkingsley

Editor’s Note: This week’s column is #NSFW (not safe for work). Read at your own discretion.

I

RON POPE:

Jillian Banks is a Californian native whose sultry vocals tampered along with gritty R&B beats is reminiscent of R&B crooner The Weeknd. Actually, you might have saw her open for The Weeknd during his 2013 tour or heard her single “Waiting Game” in the Victoria’s Secret 2013 holiday commercial. She’s not entirely new to live performances as she performed at Coachella and Bonnaroo, and she went on her first UK tour this year. She’s definitely an artist as she wrote all the songs in her debut album “Goddess” which was released Sept. 5.

#NSFW started dipping into BDSM when I was around 18, and I haven’t missed vanilla sex since.

Being in the lifestyle for 10 years now, I have more experience knowing what I like and what I don’t. Just because you’re into kink doesn’t mean you have to like every aspect of it. Usually, there is a dominant and a submissive partnership, meaning, one person holds the power and domination over the other. I am a submissive and have been for many years now. I like to be submissive to my Dominant.

A lot of people have a misconception about what BDSM (Bondage Discipline Sadism Masochism) is and all that the BDSM lifestyle

This synth-pop/rock band formed in 2010 came to the limelight this February when their single “Paris” debuted on Billboard’s Alternative Song chart at #39. GQ magazine described their 2014 studio album, Before the Waves, as “12 tracks of Alt joy”. They’ve been able to share their synth joys this year at South by Southwest and during their headlining U.S. West Coast tour.

Georgia’s own, Ronald Pope started as a member of the band ‘The District’ that he formed while in college. He then went independently releasing his debut studio album “Last Call” in 2007. With more than four full length albums under his belt, Pope’s latest album “Calling off the Dogs” features the songs “Lick My Wounds” and “Silver Spoons.”

BEAR HANDS: This post-punk indie four piece had their first top-ten hit on the Alternative Songs Chart this year with their single “Giants.” “Giants” is only one song off of their second studio album Distraction. The band has been the talk of the New York indie music scene since the release of their first EP, Golden, in 2007.

Having opened for Passion Pit in their early days, they performed at South by Southwest earlier this year.

Sexploration with Rachel: BDSM

(Bondage Discipline Sadism Masochism)

entails. Most people’s idea of what BDSM is seems based on Fifty Shades of Grey, which is filled with misconceptions and inaccurate portrayals of the lifestyle.

Truth be told, Fifty Shades is amateur hour compared to real BDSM. The difference between “vanilla” relationships and those of a submissive, like myself, is that you learn to trust your partner to take you to the physical tipping point. You learn to let go of the traditional ideas of what sex is or can be. You find intimacy in pleasing someone, and in return, that person is pushing you to orgasm through dominating you.

If you want to explore the lifestyle, my best advice is to find a partner that has been in the lifestyle for a long time. They have the experience and knowledge that will make the exploration of fetishes fun and safe.

Some people are scared of BDSM and even the idea of it, however, there’s really nothing to be afraid of. It’s just a type of sexual expression that some people partake in. In

fact, recent studies have found that people who participate in BDSM have a healthier view on sexuality and more open relationships.

If you are already into BDSM, but your partner isn’t, that poses a serious question of whether or not you can live without it in your sex life. I think sexual compatibility is very important in a relationship. If you don’t have the same fetishes or at least the same interests, it’s going to take a toll on your relationship.

I’ve tried to have “vanilla” sex many times, and I have a hard time achieving orgasm.

I can still remember my first experience with BDSM. He came towards me and tied me up to the ceiling with silk rope to the point I was immobile. He placed a ball-gag in my mouth so that I was unable to say anything. I was starting to get turned on.

With me tied to the ceiling in front of him, he walked around me, sizing me up, trying to figure out where he would start. As his sub-

missive, I wouldn’t dare to question him or give him a suggestion. I waited patiently. He began to smile and put the blindfold over my eyes.

I wouldn’t be able to see what he was planning to do.

The first whip came on my ass.

He had chosen the leather flogger. I felt every inch of the leather hitting my bare skin. With every bit of pain, I got more aroused. Although it was painful, I enjoyed it, and my partner could tell.

If you and your partner want to try BDSM, I suggest starting out with the basics: blindfolds and handcuffs. I think adding these basics will help introduce you and your partner to further your exploration into the BDSM world. Once you get comfortable with these, move on to floggers and nipple clamps. That will heighten the experience for both of you. If you’re unsure if you prefer to be the dominant or submissive, try both. Get a feel for what is most comfortable for you and your partner(s).

reviews

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

15

ALBUM REVIEW

“El Pintor” raises Interpol back from the ashes 1 2 3

ALEX KUGACZEWSKI Staff Reviewer

Release Date: Sept. 8, 2014 Grade: B Verdict: Interpol rishes from the ashes of adversity to meet success for the first time in years.

O

f all the artists that could be compared to a lone sheep among a pack of ravenous wolves, Interpol may have been the most deserving. Sure, “Turn on the Bright Lights” cemented the band as contemporary post-punk torchbearers, but each successive album found the group increasingly at

odds with itself both creatively and personally.

Dragged deeper and deeper into the whirlwind of backlash from fans and critics alike, Interpol’s misfortune peaked with the trashing of its fourth, self-titled album and the departure of longtime bassist Carlos Dengler. It would’ve been easy—smart even—to count Interpol dead and gone. But you’d never know it from the band’s fifth studio outing, “El Pintor.”

Though it lacks entirely in innovation, “El Pintor” succeeds in creating a wholly unified aural experience over its 10 tracks. The record never fails in its evocation of a late night drive through dead city streets, fueled by a restless mind swarmed with regrets. No track better captures this aesthetic than album opener “All the Rage Back Home,” which begins with a morose piece of indie balladry before erupting into action with frontman Paul Banks’s propulsive basslines. More than just an early highlight, it’s the sound of sorrow converted into pure energy.

Energy, however, is only part of Interpol’s equation on album number five. Intelligent songwriting decisions reveal themselves track after track, slowly showing that the band is perfectly capable of learning from past mistakes. Take “My Blue Supreme,” for instance, which finds Interpol running through an irresistable beat colored by melancholic chords before completely bursting apart in the chorus.

It feels far more clever than it actually is, but it’s ultimately irrelevant given just how convincing the move is.

For longstanding fans that have yet to become irreparably jaded, “El Pintor” may just be one of the year’s most compelling “phoenix from the ashes” stories. It’s the sound of a band left buried and done in the dirt not dusting themselves off but confidently returned as if they’d never been down to begin with. Sharp, honest and surprisingly strong, “El Pintor” deserves to be heard by Interpol veterans and newcomers alike.

{ here} your ad

Our most coveted back page is up for grabs, darlings. imagine this being shared on a fancy yacht. with mojitos.

For more information, visit www.georgiastatesignal.com/advertising If you have any questions, contact our advertising coordinator at signaladvertisingco@gmail.com

cheers!

BLONDE REDHEAD Barragan COVES Soft Friday DARK HORSES Hail Lucid State

4 5

HELADO NEGRO Double Youth

6

MARCO BENEVENTO Swift

7 8

EL MAY The Other Person Is You

9

MUSIC GO MUSIC Impressions

10

LIA ICES Ices

J MASCIS Tied To A Star

AMP LIVE Headphone Concerto

NOW PLAYING AT

Cinefest

22 Jump Street Synopsis: After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college.

Showtimes: Wednesday- Friday 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, and 7pm Rated: R Running Time: 120 minutes

calendar&games

16

Sudoku Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.43) 7 9

Campus & Downtown Events Puzzle 2 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.40) A Discussion on Racial 8 7 9 Identity

6 2 5

6 2

6

4

9

7

6

1

1

8

4

9 2 5

6

1

4

3 7

3 7

9

Minutes producer and employee of ABC News, this is a great chance for journalists to hear an acclaimed reporter speak.

2

6

Music Midtown

1

19 - Sept. 20 4Sept.

All day

7

Piedmont Park Music Midtown returns to Atlanta for 2014. This is an event you do not want to miss, with acts such as Capitol Cities and Eminem headlining this year. Largely regarded as the biggest music festival in Atlanta, fest goers are sure to enjoy the slew of activities going on in Midtown Atlanta this weekend.

4

8

1 Welch Visiting Artist: 9

1 Abuses of 6 5 Reporting Power: The Truth-Telling 6 5 2 8 3 Role of Journalists Modern Media Sept. 18 Conference 2014 6 3 2 pm - 4 pm 830, 25 Park Place Chuck Lewis will be delivering a lecture on the topic of Reporting Abuses of Power. A former 60

3

proudly present the third-annual Modern Media Conference. This two-day event will feature over 35 speakers in over 30 panels covering topics from the whole spectrum of media: film, television, journalism, literature, social media and beyond. Registration is free for all Georgia State students. For more information, go to www. modernmediaconference.com.

2

Sept. 19 - 20 9 am - 5 pm Student Center The Student Media of Georgia State

Lauren Levato Coyne

Sept. 19 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Arts & Humanities - Room 667 Lauren Levato Coyne will share the practical skills and insights she’s gained from working for galleries, art publications and most recently, the international granting organization the Virginia Groot Foundation.

Word Search

4 9

8 6

1 6

7

5

4

7

6

2

7

3

4

Puzzle 2 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.40)

8

4

8 1

Sept. 18 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Speaker’s Auditorium Join the Greatest Minds Society of GSU for a discussion on racial identity including actress Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni. Hear Lauren Sudeall Lucas, assistant professor of law, speak on her research concerning the constitutional treatment of multiracial and economically marginalized populations in America.

5

5

5 6

9

2 2

9

6

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

9 6

5

2

1

5

8

3 3

6

2

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Sat Sep 13 18:38:21 2014 GMT. Enjoy!

ANGER APPRECIATIVE ARROGANT BITTER CALM CHEERFUL CONFIDENT

CURIOUS DISGUST DUBIOUS EDGY ENVIOUS EXUBERANT

FEAR FRANTIC FRETFUL GLAD GLEEFUL GRATEFUL GRIEF GRUMPY HAPPY INDIFFERENT JEALOUS JOLLY JOYFUL

MOROSE MOURNFUL NERVOUS OUTRAGE PUZZLED REGRET SADNESS SCARED SCORNFUL SORRY SURPRISE TRANQUIL WORRY

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Head Games The Panthers are testing a new potential game-changing safety device—one that has received high marks with players and coaches PHOTO BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL

The Guardian cap is a new helmet that football players are using to remain safer during practices.

JEREMY JOHNSON Staff Reporter

T

he sport of football can be considered one of the most violent team sports that exists in the world.

But there are ongoing attempts to make each sport safer for its players, and Georgia State football is trying one of these new equipments and innovations.

It’s known as the Guardian Cap, a new kind of helmet that features extra padding, invented by Georgia Tech alum Lee Hanson and his wife Erin Hanson, a Georgia State alumna.

Guardian, the company that is behind the new helmets, is based in Alpharetta where it specializes in engineering products that are more collision-resistant.

These helmets are the first item o f

sports equipment manufactured by Guardian. But because of their expertise in making energy-absorbent technology, it puts them right at home when trying to figure out how to take energy away from some of the violent collisions that occur on the football field.

Diverting injury The helmets are designed to slow down head injuries in the sport and decrease the number of injuries that generally come with the territory.

“Whether it be a quarterback’s hand coming down on a lineman’s helmet, or a slot receiver cutting across the middle who gets hit right in the side with a helmet—those are injuries, but they can definitely be avoided as well. So it’s just not the brain outfit that we’re looking at benefit for,” said Matt Simonds, Guardian’s Na-

tional Sales Coordinator.

During a football game or practice, a player’s helmet can also be used as a weapon in which the player spears into an opposing player with it or by making contact with another player’s helmet. Head to head collisions are being ushered out of the game all together by penalizing players and teams that practice the use of their helmets as a weapon.

But helmets don’t only make head to head contact. They can jam into fingers, thigh muscles or any other soft part of the body not properly covered. They are the hardest piece of equipment players wear, so there are dangers from the helmet itself.

Injuries such as broken fingers due to contact with a helmet have the potential to be reduced due to the soft texture of this new technology. Simonds mentioned how he is already receiving positive feedback from schools using the protective helmets.

“One of the bigger things Georgia State said is something we hear all the time from schools; t h a t w e don’t have the

amount of broken fingers, the bone bruises, or the kind of day-to-day, nagging injuries that you get just from basic contact in practice,” Simonds said.

Fashion vs. protection Many other schools at both the college and high school levels are starting to take a look into the helmets as well. According to Simonds, Syracuse, Clemson, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and UMass among others have tested the Caps with their entire teams for practices.

“We’ve probably got about 10 to 15 college programs and hundreds of high schools that use them in practice,” Simonds said.

The Guardian Caps have had extensive on-the-job testing from the consumers that will be using this technology.

But they are not seen on the field on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during actual football games.

This is mostly due to teams’ needs to have their logos visibly displayed on the side of each helmet. In their current configuration, the Caps cover the logos and hide what makes every team unique and recognizable.

“I don’t know that we’re going to get to the point with this current iteration to games. You can’t cover the logos and the decals and all that good stuff and wear it in a game yet,” said Erin Hanson.

Caps are considered to be two to three years away from game action and it comes down to one unexpected answer: fashion. The world of football is more complex than it once was with the fashion world blending into it. Teams such as the University of Oregon Ducks, with hundreds of uniform combinations, have made it necessary to have shiny new looks on nearly a game-by-game basis.

The Panthers jumped into this new trendy uniform territory when they introduced their new look uniforms last season as well as an alternate black helmet.

Hanson said it’s hard to change

the “vanity factor.” But he says when it comes to vanity and performance, you have to have both.

The company hopes to improve the logo issue in time in order to provide teams with all the things they want in a helmet.

Coaches and players weigh in Georgia State players and coaches are not looking at to make a fashion statement. They like the Guardian Caps and like its results.

“I don’t really care how it looks.

I’m not trying to look cute or anything,” sophomore defensive lineman Carnell Hopson said, who was a victim a of concussion last season.

The players see the Caps as helpful and don’t really see the fashionable side of its design and the impact on program marketing that schools would be faced with. In fact, Georgia State players are happy to have it.

“I feel like the Guardian Caps were honestly—I know it’s silly, but— a blessing. I actually had a concussion last year. One thing I remember from last year without the Caps was when we go block and have to pick linebackers on blitzes where you take a lot of helmet to helmet contact, and you’d have ringing in your ears and stuff like that,” said sophomore tight end Keith Rucker.

“But now with the Guardian Caps, it’s like a pillow or so around your head and it saves us from so much of the impact and you don’t really notice it anymore,” he continued.

Coaches are on board with the Caps as well.

“The most important thing is that we protect our athletes. That we protect our players. So if that’s something that in the future the NCAA looks into and it helps protect players like it’s protected in practice, then you know I’d be supportive of it,” Quarterback Coach Luke Huard said.

Concerns like safety could be the push that causes the game-time use of Guardian Caps.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 18

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Hailing from Alabama, Rebecca Copeland is one of the newest Freshmen additions to Georgia State’s women’s soccer program.

PHOTOS BY RAVEN SCHLEY | THE SIGNAL

Serving on and off the field Rebecca Copeland has a packed schedule, but she manages to serve both her soccer team and community.

BRYAN JOHNSON Staff Reporter

R

ebecca Copeland finds herself incredibly busy. She has had a lot of experience handling the pressure of a full schedule because of her extracurricular work in high school. Not only is Copeland a involved student and athlete, but she has also dedicated herself to community service.

Copeland is one of the latest highly rated prospects to join the Georgia State soccer program, having played with various club soccer organizations such as Alabama FC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League.

The WPSL is a professional development league that in the past has included the likes of United States Women’s National Team players

Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan as former players. Copeland has also worked with United States Youth Soccer’s Olympic Development Teams.

Copeland was not only an awardwinning player on the soccer field during high school but used her spare time to volunteer for various community service organizations.

She was a member of the National Honor Society, Junior Civitan International, the United Way Youth Leadership Council and TOPSoccer.

“TOPSoccer is an organization for youth children that are handicapped or disabled,” Copeland said.

“I mentored them on the field.”

Junior Civitan is an organization dedicated to promoting community service among youth with a special focus on raising money for research into developmental diseases such as autism. The United Way Youth Lead-

ership Council is a part of the youth arm of the United Way, one of the largest community service and charity organizations in the country. “[We] went out into the community. Normally these organizations were pretty organized and they had specific places we would go,” Copeland said. “So we would go to the soup kitchen or just go out picking up stuff around the community.

With TOPSoccer, we would go to a specific place such as a high school and have 30-40 kids come out and work with them for an hour and a half.”

Because she was involved in so many organizations on top of school and soccer, it was difficult for Copeland to find time for everything.

“It was hard at times obviously, but I found the time because I loved it and I was able to do it by balancing [the] time,” she explained.

Copeland is interested in finding opportunities on campus to continue her civic engagement but is looking for the right organization. The struggle is, as always, finding the time.

“I went to the Georgia State Welcome Week block parties and the information was there. I am still looking for a specific place I would fit in.

With my schedule and everything else, I’m still trying to find the time,” she said.

Copeland credits her community service experience with improving herself as a player on the field as well as a person off it.

“Well it helped me with patience,” she said. “That was a really big thing I learned. The repetitiveness, especially on a soccer field just with myself and having to teach the handicapped and working at the same thing until you perfect it definitely helps on the soccer field.”

It is not only on the field though that Copeland applies the lessons she learned.

“Student wise, community service just opens your eyes to what other people’s situations are. And you’re always wanting to help, or ask for help. That’s another thing that I learned. I mean, you never know unless you ask,” she said.

As an incoming freshman, Rebecca Copeland still has a lot of things to figure out like what major she wants to pursue. Currently, she has set her sights on exercise science.

Copeland also wants to decide what on-campus organizations she wants to join.

She believes in wanting to be a role model on and off the field. The women’s soccer team is looking forward to her future achievements as she continues with the Panthers.

University spokesman: 2017 groundbreaking date for Turner Field “extremely premature” AKIEM BAILUM Sports Editor

O

ne Georgia State representative calls the planned 2017 groundbreaking date for Turner Field “premature” despite this date being mentioned in various reports In an email to The Signal, Georgia State spokesman Don Hale described the January 2017 date that the university hopes to break ground on its Turner Field project as “extremely premature”.

“The university, along with its corporate development partner, has made a proposal for the use of the Turner

Field site. That proposal has not been accepted at this time, so it is extremely premature to consider a groundbreaking date,” Hale said.

This runs contrary to multiple reports where Georgia State and university president Mark Becker have said that they hope to break ground on its proposed project for the land in early 2017. The university would have to agree to a deal with the city of Atlanta which owns the land where Turner Field is located.

For work to commence at the Turner Field site in 2017 raises the question of where the football team will play its home games that year if the 30,000 seat football stadium included in the proposal is not complete in time for the start of the college football sea-

son.

The university’s $300 million proposal, in collaboration with the locallybased Carter Real Estate firm, includes for Turner Field to be retrofitted into the football stadium. Also in the plans is a new baseball stadium on the Turner Field parking lot that once was the home of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Expanded student housing, retail space and parking are elements of the university’s proposal as well.

Georgia State inked an agreement to play its football games at the Georgia Dome until 2016, when it is expected to be demolished and replaced by the Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium that will also play host to Atlanta’s new Major League Soccer team.

The Panthers have scheduled nonconference games on the road against Charlotte and Penn State for 2017, but currently no home games. A home matchup has been scheduled for 2018 against Kennesaw State.

The 2017 date would position the university to break ground on its project immediately after the Atlanta Braves’ lease on Turner Field expires in 2016. The Braves plan to relocate to a new stadium in Cobb County when the lease expires. A formal groundbreaking for the Cobb stadium has been planned for later this month even though work has already commenced.

Last month, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said to WSB-TV Channel 2 that the Braves missed a deadline to inform the city on if they will extend the lease.

The Braves have disputed this claim.

The city was hoping for feedback in hopes that it can move forward with the prospective suitors that include Georgia State. WSB reported in May that the site has also received interest from developers in California, Nevada, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Representatives from the city would not share specifics of the aforementioned proposals.

The Signal also reached out to Violet Ricks, executive director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreational Authority, which will make the final decision on awarding the property.

Ricks had no comment on the story.

Representatives from Carter also did not respond to requests for comment.

1923

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

STAFF PREDICTIONS

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

FOOTBALL

GUEST PICKS OF THE WEEK Student Picker

NATIONAL Sept. 18 Auburn vs.

Student Picker

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

√

Georgia √ √ √ √

√ √ √ √

Whitney Ravan Soccer Whitney Ravan’s second half goal against the North Florida Ospreys gave the Panthers 1-0 lead and would eventually be the difference in Georgia State women’s soccer winning its first game of the season.

It was the second time Ravan has found the back of the net this season.

Ravan first arrived at Georgia State prior to the 2011 season from Colorado. She was the leading scorer in her sophomore and senior seasons at Grand Junction High School.

In 2008, 2009, and 2011 she made first-team all-state. Ravan also once played for the Denver Nike Rush Club team that won the state U-18 championship in 2010 as well as playing in the Dana Cup in Denmark where she was named MVP. She was the highest scoring freshman on her team in 2011. The following season, Ravan led the team in goals with four and was named to the all-CAA team. Last season, she was tied for the team lead in assists with four and was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the fall semester.

SUN BELT Troy vs.

Kansas State √

UL Lafayette vs. √ Boise State √ √ √

Sept. 20 Clemson vs.

√ √

Amanda O’Kelley

Teddy Werner

Class: Sophomore Major: Journalism

Class: Sophomore Major: Business Administration

Florida State √ √ √

Football

Georgia State and Air Force combined for over 1,000 total yards on offense as the Panthers lost to the Falcons 48-38 to close out their opening homestand. The team now heads to the road to face the Washington Huskies in Seattle.

√ √

South Alabama √ √ √

Florida vs.

√

Georgia State vs.

Alabama √ √ √ √ STAFF:

BRIEFS

Georgia Southern vs.

Volleyball

The Panthers were swept in straight sets in all three of its matches in the Black and Gold Challenge in Boone, N.C. After losing to host school Appalachian State on Friday, the team dropped matches against Maryland and Radford on Saturday to fall to 2-8 on the season. Georgia State’s next

√ √

Akiem

√

Bryan

Jeremy

match is on the road this Friday against Sun Belt rival UL-Monroe.

Men’s Soccer

√ √

Washington √ √ √ GUESTS:

√ √

O’Kelley Werner

Georgia State. The Panthers will remain home when they face off against Presbyterian on Tuesday.

The team picked up its first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over North Florida from the Soccer Complex in Panthersville. After being tied at the half, three second half goals secured the victory for

Charlie in charge The Signal sits down with new director of athletics Charlie Cobb

L

ast month, Georgia State hired Charlie Cobb as its new athletic director (AD) after Cheryl Levick assumed a position as an assistant to university President Mark Becker.

Cobb arrived at Georgia State after tenure as AD at Appalachian State, where he presided over major upgrades to its athletic facilities— currently a major priority for Georgia State as it hopes to purchase the land around Turner Field.

The Signal had a chance to sit down with the new athletic director to talk about his return to Atlanta, what he hopes to do at Georgia State, and his thoughts on Turner Field.

TS: How has your experience been in coming back to Atlanta after spending nine years with Appalachian State?

CC: It’s been amazing. There’s a lot of energy on this campus with the urban setting as well as all of the activities, life, and vibrancy. I’ve really tried to go out and interact with as many people as possible on campus.

TS: Among those people, who have you tried to either connect or reconnect with?

CC: I’ve tried to focus first on campus and then our developments staff has tried to connect with a number of donors throughout the Atlanta area.

We also have a strong contingen-

cy of people that will be traveling to Seattle with the football team when they play the University of Washington. We’ll be engaging in some “friend-raising” opportunities there.

I’m a firm believer that in order for an athletics program to be successful that there has to be relationships with people on campus, whether they be staff or students.

TS: How special was the first game of the season?

CC: The buildup to it was especially exciting because I know a few people that still work at the Georgia Dome from my days there. It once again made me realize what an amazing facility it is. When students are engaged, it is a special place for Georgia State to play football.

TS: With games scheduled in the future versus Kennesaw State and others, are there any other schools you’re interested in scheduling against?

CC: I think Atlanta offers an exciting opportunity for Georgia State in terms of driving revenue and creating engagement on campus and throughout the city.

I don’t think there should be a big rush to schedule future games, but with Air Force coming to town, and the fact that Atlanta’s a huge recruiting hub for them, I would like to see Army or Navy come to town. I also think that our location gives us

an opportunity to schedule against some SEC or ACC schools.

TS: What will it take for Georgia State to become the class of the Sun Belt?

CC: We have to recruit well within our region, and everyone’s looking at Turner Field as a potential boon for our recruiting efforts.

But a major element of that is engaging the student body and getting them behind all of our athletic teams. When it comes to football, I want to make Gameday Saturday a regular part of students’ routines here.

I understand students have other things they have to attend to, but it’s all about building relationships, and I’m even doing that myself. We want the students to know who our student athletes are because the front of the jersey may say Georgia State, but the name on the back is where the relationships build.

Soon I’ll be visiting a few of our student athletes and I’ll spend an entire day with one of them each day to see what their day is like firsthand.

TS: On the issue of football using the protective helmets during practice, do you think they should be used for game play?

CC: I think that’s to be determined down the road. I didn’t really know much about it except a Georgia State student was doing a

PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ THE SIGNAL Charlie Cobb, Georgia State’s new athletic director, looks forward to carrying school athletics to an all time high. research project on it. With all of the talk about concussions, you definitely want to put safety first. So I don’t see any reason, if it works, to not use them in games down the line.

TS: Do you have any thoughts on how autonomy may affect Georgia State and other Sun Belt schools?

CC: I think everybody’s jumping the gun. I don’t think anybody has a clear understanding on what specific rules are going to change and how it’s going to impact college athletics.

Ultimately it comes down to the fact that the University of Georgia’s

budget is bigger than Georgia State’s.

Ours is similar to Georgia Southern’s or Louisiana-Lafayette’s. There are going to be some changes, but not everyone is going to be able to get into Georgia. So I don’t think we’re at great risk of losing in that conversation.

To read the full Q&A with Charlie Cobb, head to georgiastatesignal.com

Join Us for

modern media

2014

con f e r e n c e

September

19&20 @

THE

Student Center

Georgia State University

Featuring more than 25 guest speakers from major news companies and media organizations from around the country, MMC is a free opportunity for students to network and gain practical experience with seasoned media professionals.

Presenting keynote speakers: Tom Luse, executive producer of The Walking Dead & Chris Holcomb, 11alive’s Chief Meteorologist Featured Workshop: Tim Harrower, author of The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook Registration is free for GSU students | $25 for non-GSU students Register online at modernmediaconference.com @mmcgsu

/mmcgsu

hosted by: Georgia State Student Media