The Signal Vol. 87 No. 4

GREEK SERIES

MUSIC MIDTOWN

THE ENGLISHMEN

COMIC

PAGE 14

Find out what makes Georgia State’s Greek Councils unique in this new series.

See what you missed from the biggest music festival of the season.

Paul Tyson and Frank Rosenwald discuss English football and life at GSU.

HOROSCOPE

PAGE 13

SPORTS TRIVIA

PAGE 17

NEWS

PAGE 6

ARTS & LIVING

PAGE 10

SPORTS PAGE 16

VOL. 87 | NO. 4

SEPT. 17 - SEPT. 24, 2019

Navigating Immigration Law Immigrants make the grueling trek to America each year, only to find further struggles within the U.S. legal system. These law students are trying to help.

ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

@gsusignal

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

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An immigrant’s journey through the legal system Lawyers and students fight against barriers to access for Georgia immigrants ADA WOOD News Editor

N

avigating the immigration courts is difficult. Today, immigrants and lawyers face threats by the Trump administration to end protections, legal scams, barriers to access for detainees and thousands of cases in the Georgia system alone.

In January 2020, the first law clinic at any university in Georgia specifically dedicated to immigration law will open at Georgia State. The Immigration Law Clinic will be directed by Emily Torstveit Ngara.

“Our current system is very complicated, it’s overburdened, it’s not working well for anyone involved, really,” Ngara said.

“There’s a lot of pressure on immigration judges.”

Getting to U.S. soil isn’t the only journey immigrants have to take to becoming an American. Once they are here, there’s a second expedition that’s nearly impossible to do alone.

“The need for guidance in the immigration context is pretty dramatic,” Darcy Meals said. “People liken it to the IRS or tax code to show how complicated the immigration legal scheme is. Having assistance and support in navigating that system is critical.”

Darcy Meals is the assistant director for the Center for Access to Justice at Georgia State, the goal of which is to highlight the importance of access in the court system.

Access starts with the rights afforded to everyone on U.S. soil — citizens or noncitizens alike — by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.

“In the immigation context, as a noncitizen, you do have the right to due process, but you do not have the right to appointed counsel,” Meals said.

The “right to counsel” may confuse some, but it simply means a person is allowed to have a lawyer. It does not mean one will be provided for them.

“A lot of times, it is inaccessible for people financially,” Meals said. “And there’s also a lot of fraud in the immigration world.”

One example of this are “notario” scams. By their very name, they take advantage of the lack of information immigrants have about a foreign legal system and the language barriers they face.

In Spanish, a “notario público” is a legal professional, but a “public notary,” when translated directly to English, is a profession accessible to almost anyone — and it’s not someone who won’t be able to deliver on any promises to provide relief, protection or citizenship.

Meals explained that the access the center fights for goes beyond the fight for basic rights and resources. Often, access can be inhibited by what she calls “physical barriers,” that also come into play with a language barrier.

A physical barrier can be as simple as how to physically get into a building or follow directions when signs are written in English. Further, needing to read and understand legal documents is hard enough in someone’s native language.

In Georgia, there are currently 32,337 pending immigration cases backlogged in the courts, according to TRAC, a nonpartisan data research organization.

“A lawyer can’t expedite your claims to the top of that list, but a lawyer may know how to navigate which avenues of relief are available to you but also which ones might move more quickly,” Meals said.

One form of relief is asylum, a request someone makes when they come to the U.S. and fear returning to their home country.

Another term that’s very similar to an asylee is a refugee, the main difference being that a refugee usually requests protection

while still in their home county.

Many asylees have fears such as death threats, torture, imprisonment, discrimination or threats to their family.

Asylum can be seen as an eventual path to citizenship because after a year under asylum, they can apply for lawful permanent residence or a green card, and then eventually for citizenship.

Under President Donald Trump, efforts have been made to limit the number of migrants seeking asylum by restricting who can apply. Detaining migrants while they await their court proceedings has been used to serve as a deterrent for others thinking of applying.

“There’s nothing illegal about coming to the border and saying ‘I fear for my life in my home country and I would like to seek asylum,’” Ngara said.

Each of these barriers become compounded when someone is held in a detention center while their case is pending. Meals explained access to the contacts, documents and evidence someone needs to support their claims is immensely difficult when inside detention.

For a pending asylum claim, it’s even harder because detainees are essentially cut off from the government agencies they need to rely on to prove the conditions of their home country.

“It’s basically impossible to do that from immigration detention here,” Meals said.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, one in six immigrants detained in the Southeast have no access to legal counsel. But with an attorney, they’re 10 times more likely to win their case.

Through the Pro Bono & Public Service Recognition Program, for which Meals serves as a faculty advisor, Georgia State connects law students with the SPLC’s Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative, which provides free legal representation to immigrants who have been detained or are facing deportation proceedings.

The program allows students to work under the supervision of an attorney while they collect the necessary documents for a bond motion. This allows someone being held in detention to get out while they await their court hearing, expediting the otherwise impossible situation under detention that Meals outlined.

During spring break, the program sends at least one group of law students to the Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia to conduct in-person interviews with detainees.

“Usually, it’s for asylum claims, so this involves getting their story and figuring what their factual basis for their case is,” she said.

While Meals did say the right to due process is afforded to noncitizens, there’s one catch: expedited removal.

It’s possible for someone to be deported without a hearing before a judge under expedited removal. Three months ago, expedited removal applied only to people who were caught within 100 miles of the border within two weeks of their arrival.

Now, under a policy change by the Department of Homeland Security in July, expedited removal applies to anyone, regardless of where they are in the country, who has been in the U.S. for less than two years.

“There’s legal precedent for being able to deport somebody without a hearing or any kind of appeal through expedited removal,” Meals said.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 83% of people deported from the U.S. were not given a hearing before a judge in 2013.

“There are a lot of questions of when the law itself doesn’t provide for justice, but it’s still the law; it’s not illegal, it’s not

a loophole — it’s just the state of things,” Meals explained.

“But it’s not providing what you’d think of as due process; it’s excluding a certain category of people under certain circumstances from what is otherwise expected of due process.”

For students wanting to explore a career in immigration law, the clinic application will be open Sept. 18 to Oct. 2 to secondand third-year law students. Ngara anticipates taking on 12 students the first semester and eventually expanding to 16.

“For a lot of students, it’s their first opportunity to step into the role of an attorney,” Ngara said. “It gives them the opportunity to start building their professional identity before they even graduate.”

On Sept. 19, Georgia State is hosting an event to kick off the clinic’s establishment with a panel to discuss the status of immigration law in Georgia.

The clinic focuses specifically on removal proceedings, the legal term for deportation, and will take cases on a referral basis, as recommended by the clinic’s community partners. For the clients, the legal work is pro bono, which is free of charge.

One area students will be providing assistance for are cases in which someone has had their protections rescinded.

One protection is DACA, formally Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This policy allows people who came to the U.S. when they were under the age of 16 to be protected from deportation and receive a work permit.

The program has faced threats under President Donald Trump who attempted to end DACA, putting 800,000 “Dreamers,” many of whom don’t remember their home countries, at risk for deportation.

TPS, or temporary protected status, is another protection, given to individuals from certain countries that would be dangerous for them to return to.

For example, El Salvador was hit with a catastrophic earthquake in 2001, providing TPS to Salvadorans in America.

There are 250,000 Salvadorans who live in the U.S., many of whom have rooted their families and careers in this country.

TPS also came under assault by the Trump administration, with threats to end the program for several countries in which its citizens have made America their home, some for decades.

“Both [DACA and TPS] have been threatened with disappearing,” Ngara said. “If someone has DACA and they lose it, they may be vulnerable to removal.”

According to Peter Isbister, senior lead attorney at the SPLC, the argument immigrants “should just come legally and wait in line like my ancestors did,” doesn’t hold up.

Isbister explained that until the early 20th century, there were no immigration restrictions to the U.S and for much of American history, there was no line.

“For many people there simply is no line because family immigration only allows a pathway for certain types of relatives, not any family member,” Isbister said.

Despite the protections afforded through legal programs like DACA, TPS and asylum, there are other ways to immigrate to America legally. But Isbister says for some, “the ‘line’ can be close to twenty years long.”

ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

NEWS

4

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Who is leading Georgia State?

Every change to Georgia State’s administration over the past year ADA WOOD News Editor

I

t takes a village to keep the largest university in the state of Georgia running — Georgia State needs the workforce to support 53,562 students and 2,178 faculty members.

The Georgia State administration faces changes in its staff whenever someone is promoted, transferred or removed the university. So, in the past year, who has changed at Georgia State?

Here are the highlights.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Wendy Hensel replaced Risa Palm as the new provost, shifting from a temporary interim status to a more permanent position in Georgia State leadership. On Sept. 1, Lisa Armistead became the first dean of the graduate school. The positions for interim vice president for research and the dean of Perimeter college were filled by Michael Eriksen and Nancy Kropf, respectively.

Student Affairs was previously a separate branch under Douglas Covey as vice president for student affairs. But last year, Covey stepped down and this branch was moved under the authority of Tim Renick, senior vice president for student success, who reports directly to the university president instead of the provost, as Covey had.

Allison Calhoun-Brown was essentially Covey’s replacement under the reorganization, leading a number of the departments that once reported to him.

As some positions have been filled, five vacancies have also been created. On Sept. 10 and 11, Georgia State invited candidates to campus for the position of associate vice president and dean of students, previously held by Darryl Holloman with Lanette Brown in place until a permanent hire is made.

Andrea Jones, spokesperson for the university, said that this amount of movement isn’t unusual and there have been several employees to retire or relocate to other universities at the same time over the past year.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

COMPTROLLER

TOM LEWIS Special Advisor ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT SUCCESS

Risa Palm

Shibu Joys Director of Financial Systems

Wendy Hensel

Senior Vice President & Provost of Academic Affairs STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Mary Beth Walker

Vacant

QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN

Yvonne Bell Assistant Comptroller

Angela Christie Faculty Director

Robert Elmore Assistant Vice President for Payroll

INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES

ADMISSIONS AND HOUSING

Susan Ridley Director for Enterprise Risk Management

Farrah Bernardino Managing Director for the Office of International Initiatives

Scott Burke Associate Vice President and Director of Admissions

Associate Vice President for Admissions and Housing

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives

Tommy Foster Director for GSURF Accounting

Kimberly Henshaw Managing Director for the Confucius Institute

Jeff Cundiff Director for Financial Reporting

Homma Rafi

Director of Communications

Jill Lee-Barber Senior Director, Psychological/Health Services

Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAMS Heather Housley Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement

HUMAN RESOURCES COLLEGE/SCHOOL DEANS

Monica Javia Director of Employee Relations

Peter Lyons

Vice President for Student Engagement and Programs

Nancy Kropf

RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT James Weyhenmeyer

Assistant Vice President for Research Solutions Geert de Vries

Vacant

Associate Vice President for Research Chet Bisbee

Vacant

Associate Vice President & Director for Technology Licensing & Commercialization

Leslie Wolf

Dean of College of Law

Senior Associate Vice President

Heather Varian

Vacant

Director of Annual Programs Wendell Clark

Natalie Baker

Director of Gift Planning Kim Clifford

Adrienne Veal

Director of Donor Relations Stephanie Alvarez Director of Women’s Philanthropy Initiative

GRAPH BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

Wendy F. Hensel

Vacant

Lisa Armistead Dean of Graduate School

CENTRAL PROGRAMS Yuriy Lukinov

Rodney Lyn*

Dean of School of Public Health

Michael Eriksen*

Vice President Gregori Faroux

Michael Eriksen DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Mike Worley

Huanbiao Mo*

Dean of Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing & Health Professions

Ivy Horn-Gardner Director of Employment

CONSTITUENT PROGRAMS

Nancy Kropf

Dean of Perimeter College

Deedra Bass Director of Organizational Development Services

Allison Calhoun-Brown Associate Vice President for Student Retention

Iris Eben

KEY Added

This person was added to the administration and was given this new position.

Removed

This person and position were removed from the Georgia State administration. The cause of removal or leave is not specified.

Changed

This indicates a replacement, a leave that created a vacancy or a title or responsibility change.

Interim

This person was appointed to fill the position temporarily.

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

5

Over budget and undersized

State officials discuss new Convocation Center NATE HARRIS Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State’s new convocation center is going to cost a bit more than officials thought.

The project’s budget was reworked from $79 million to $85, after approval from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents on Sept. 10.

The state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Fulton Street and Capitol Avenue was originally approved in August 2017. The new facility was planned as a 200,000-square-foot, 7,800-seat building that would host large assembly events, including academic conferences, concerts and convocation and graduation ceremonies. All future Georgia State Men’s and Women’s Basketball home games will be hosted there as well.

However, board members soon met an impasse on the cost of the project, after USG architects in December 2018 presented a design proposal that was significantly over-budget. Several factors contributed to the higher costs, including the general design of the project, a competitive construction market in Atlanta that made hiring contractors difficult, as well as a large unforeseen cost of the proposed mechanical and electrical systems.

“One of the surprises was that the mechanicalelectrical system is very expensive. We had to do a lot of work to bring that back to the budget,” Jim James, USG Vice Chancellor of Real Estate and

Facilities, said. “The [building] design was very cutting edge and state-of-the-art, but simply was not affordable.”

Board members rejected the December 2018 proposal, and spent the following six months evaluating redesigns before deciding that a budget adjustment was needed to make the project viable.

In the end, the proposed size of the facility was scaled back significantly, with the building’s overall footprint cut by nearly 40%, from 200,000 square feet to 122,860 square feet. Most of the cuts were to the large concourses and additional amenities spaces in the original design. Some program spaces were also shrunk in squarefootage, though the number of program spaces was untouched.

Seating capacity was also trimmed back, from 7,800 seats to 7,503 seats. Any additional cuts to the project would have hindered the building’s ability to serve Georgia State’s needs.

“In other words, they have done all they can do to reduce the budget down, and so what we’re proceeding with today with what we think is the minimum requirement for this project,” James said.

Institutional funds, which includes student fees and state appropriated funds, will cover $5.5 million of the $6 million budget increase, while the remaining $500,000 will be provided by the Georgia State University Athletic Association.

Georgia State does not currently have a convocation center of its own. The university previously rented the Georgia Dome for its ceremonies, prior to the building’s demolition, and

Rendering of the Georgia State convocation center from the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents meeting.

now utilizes Georgia Tech’s facilities for convocation.

Board members were presented renderings of the new facility: a large, raised, rectangular building wrapped in glass and insulated metal, allowing those outside to look inside the building.

“It’ll be a very handsome — but not overdesigned — addition to the Georgia State campus and to the city of Atlanta,” James said.

Board of Regents members also voted on another project near Georgia State Stadium Tuesday, approving non-exclusive easement and access rights to Carter & Associates, LLC, a real estate investment and development firm, for infrastructure and landscape improvements near the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

In November 2016, Panther Holdings, LLC, associated with Georgia State, purchased the land encompassing now-Georgia State Stadium and the surrounding parking lots, and later leased approximately 13.5 acres to Carter to develop Summerhill Atlanta, a mixed-use neighborhood with apartments, business offices and retail.

Carter’s current request would be for utility infrastructure to serve a private student housing complex and other housing projects, as well as aesthetic landscape improvements in the area.

“My hats off to Carter and to Georgia State for what’s going on at Summerhill. It’s been a great neighborhood partnership and they’re beginning to reap the benefits of that development with retail,” Benjamin Tarbutton III, chair of the USG Committee on Real Estate and Facilities, said. “It’s a really exciting opportunity for the city as well.”

G

eorgia State’s Student Government Association wasted no time getting the 90th administration underway at the second Atlanta campus meeting of the semester.

Thursday’s session included all of the works: swearing in new senators, establishing committees and passing bills. The biggest accomplishment was the announcement of a $3,000 donation from Planned Parenthood to bring feminine hygiene products to all six campuses.

Communications Director Evan Malbrough brought forward the “Flower Initiative,” a project to add feminine hygiene products to all six campuses, first proposed on the Clarkston campus

by Executive Vice President Yasmin Henry.

Ship overturned off coast of Georgia

The Golden Ray cargo ship capsized after leaving the port of Brunswick on Monday.

Authorities still aren’t sure what caused the Golden Ray to capsize and catch fire.

Immediately after the ship capsized, 20 of the ship’s 24 crew members were rescued, while the remaining four were left unaccounted for. After a few days, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued all remaining crew members trapped within the ship. However, the Golden Ray remains capsized outside the port of Brunswick, blocking both the entrance and the exit to the port.

NATIONAL Trump admin to ban flavored vapes

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced that it would be pursuing a ban on flavored e-cigarettes in an attempt to keep vapes out of the hands of minors.

This ban is in response to the unnamed illness that has sickened hundreds and killed several in the last few weeks — all of whom vaped.

Additionally, Juul, a popular manufacturer of e-cigarettes, is in hot water with the FDA, which is concerned that Juul is marketing its products as a safe alternative to cigarettes without first verifying that claim with the FDA.

GLOBAL

A donation from Planned Parenthood lets the “Flower Initiative” grow Staff Reporter

LOCAL

COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA’S BOARD OF REGENTS

SGA gets $3,000 of feminine hygiene products JORDAN FREDERICK

NEWS BRIEFS

Malbrough is looking forward to developing a university-wide “Garden Week” to raise awareness about issues women face with their menstrual cycles by having a feminine hygiene drive.

At the previous Atlanta campus meeting, EVP Hamza Rahman expressed a desire to connect students with their local government and the Senate made progress on this goal. A bill was proposed to establish an ad hoc committee for this purpose, to represent Georgia State and its community in local government. Senator Spencer DeHart introduced the bill to establish the committee, and the senators erupted in arguments over how the committee would be appointed, almost coming to an agreement to table the bill until the next meeting. After the dust cleared, the senators instead decided to pass the bill, thus establishing the committee.

Rahman hopes to close the gap between the Perimeter campuses and the Atlanta campus

by having the university-wide committee meet together to discuss legislation regarding Georgia State, such as the Higher Education Act. Rahman also hopes this committee will encourage students to advocate for their campus and for the university to collaborate on different legislative bills.

“This committee has already existed on the Perimeter campuses,” Rahman said. “Now that we have the committee existing on the Atlanta campus, they now can meet university-wide as a forum and close the gap.”

The organization saw a resignation of twoterm senator and chair of the Bylaws Committee, Danny Mai, on Monday. According to Kaelen Thomas, Mai is shifting his focus to taking care of his family and working with the Robinson College of Business Success Academy. While his position is vacant now, Thomas is looking to fill it with Michael Aniagboso or Peter Minetos, two new members on the Senate.

U.K. Parliament suspended until Oct. 14

Last Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suspended Parliament for the next five weeks. The opposition insists that this is a move to stifle debate and push the country towards a nodeal Brexit. Brexit, the U.K.’s departure from the European Union, has been controversial and not had clear direction since the 2016 referendum.

The U.K. has been trying for several years without success to come to a deal with the E.U. on the terms of their departure. The deadline for Brexit with or without a deal is Oct. 31.

6

Guide to the Greeks

NEWS

Meet the Panhellenic Council DANIELLA JOHNSON Staff Reporter

G

eorgia State’s Panhellenic council has five nationally based female sororities: Delta Zeta, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha and Phi Mu. In addition to founding their sororities under the basic values of leadership, scholarship, service and sisterhood, the organizations under the Panhellenic Council try to put a lot of their focus on their philanthropic duties and the common goals they have as women.

“I know all of the Panhellenic Sororities as well as the other Greek organizations on State’s campus, do an amazing job giving back to the community and supporting other organizations,” Caroline Kittler, president of Delta Zeta, said.

WORK

The Panhellenic council holds each organization accountable by ensuring they meet the standards that are set.

“These expectations are relayed to the leaders of our chapters which in return help to influence them to not only lead more effectively but provide a sense of guidance,” Amber Hemphill, president of Phi Mu, said.

Although all of the Panhellenic councils have similar recruitment, values and goals, the systematic way each organization is run as well as the philanthropy they choose to engage in varies.

“Phi Mu supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as our national philanthropy. Each semester we raise a large sum of money through events coordinated and planned by our philanthropy chair woman, Clara Kidney,” Hemphill said.

LEADERSHIP

In Georgia State’s chapter of Delta Zeta, there is currently an executive board of ten sisters and thirty-five chairmanship positions. Phi Mu sorority is organized by committees and has a meeting each week to “introduce new radiance programs” to its members. Alpha Omicron Pi has several leadership positions that cover their finances, recruitment, chapter development, ritual, administration and education, however, these roles are usually only held by older sorority sisters who have already held leadership positions. Zeta Tau Alpha has a president, three vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and a historian.

“Each position serves a very important role, and there is a role for everyone from public relations to intramurals,” Kittler of Delta Zeta said.

The presidents of the Panhellenic sororities all come together as a council to empower their sisters and their community around them.

Amber Hemphill is the president of Phi Mu. Hemphill had a new found self confidence after joining Phi Mu and expressed

ILLUSTRATION BY DEVIN PHILLIPS

her appreciation for the life long friendships and skills she gained from being a part of her sorority.

“Without Phi Mu, I would never had the confidence to even run for President,” Hemphill said. “This [confidence] opened my eyes to endless possibilities I could have as president and I felt as though I could give back to this sorority by being a figure those look up to and depend on.”

Kittler was academic chairman before running for president and was very enthused about being on Delta Zeta’s executive board.

“I was encouraged by my sisters to run for president, I had sisters who empowered me and knew I could do a great job even before I believed in myself,” Kittler said. “I love being our president and feel so honored everyday that my sisters voted me into this position.”

Amber Young did not decide to run for president of Alpha Omicron Pi until almost one month before elections. Only having been a part of her organization for a year, Young was uncertain about whether or not she was ready for leadership but her sisters encouraged her to run.

“I realized that I wanted to make a difference in my sorority and lead us to a much more successful future, and that becoming president was just the way to do that,” Young said.

New presidential elect, Aly Britain, has held many leadership positions in her sorority prior to becoming president. Some of these positions include: panhellenic delegate, secretary and vice president of Programs and Committees. When Britain joined Zeta Tau Alpha she was inspired by the women that surrounded her and decided she wanted to inspire younger girls the same way she was.

“This sorority has given me so much and I want to serve it in a way that I can give back just as much, if not more,” Britain said.

CHANGES AND FUTURE PLANS

The sisters of Phi Mu are hoping to go into fall recruitment as a strong chapter and President Hemphill wants the transition to be as easy as possible.

“With that, making sure the new members feel as welcome as possible,” Hemphill said. “I also want to work on preparing the chapter for the executive position changes, come December.”

President Young of Alpha Omicron Pi is hoping to increase her organizations social outreach during this upcoming school year.

“So be prepared to see a lot more AOII on campus,” Young said.

Panhellenic recruitment is in the fall. The sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha and their president Aly Britain are planning to recruit more members and become more involved on campus.

“We are also planning to become more involved on campus in the fall with our Annual Pink Panther 5K on campus and hoping to participate in the football games, especially homecoming,” Britain said. “That has always been a favorite for sisters.”

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM PANHELLENIC LEADERSHIP ALPHA OMICRON PI • • • • • • • • • • •

President Amber Young Vice President of Finance Kaitlyn Smith Vice President of Academic Development Jennifer Rubio Vice President of Membership Recruitment Angelina Jumper Vice President of Communications Juanita Butler Vice President of Standards Jordan Foster Chapter Secretary Emily McWilliams Alumnae Relations Chairman Claudia Carter New Member Educator Social Chair Emilia Mena Philanthropy Chair Elena Luebbers

DELTA ZETA • •

•

President Caroline Kittler Executive Board Giovanna Fussek Kristyn Drummonds Beata Johnson Hope Batzel Tori Domaleski Mira Rickard Stefany Alvarado Dipti Pattni Thavary Mam 35 Chairpersons

ZETA TAU ALPHA • • • • •

President Aly Britain Vice Presidents Rachel Mikowski, Hanna Schurr, Rachel Finch Secretary Kaitlyn Kingsbury Treasurer Helen Blumberg Historian Aleah Freeman

ALPHA XI DELTA •

President Natalia Trujillo

PHI MU • • • •

President Amber Hemphill Vice President of Chapter Development Kelli Macyszyn Vice President of Committees Becca Weyn Treasurer Elle Fox

TUESDAY, 2019 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER JANUARY 15,17, 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

Student Government will fail to meet expectations But it’s not really their fault, it’s the nature of the business KENNETH LOCKETT III Staff Columnist

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he Student Government Association is one of the most essential organizations at Georgia State. They make up the “Big Three,” along with Spotlight and The Signal, which only proves the fundamental importance of the Student Government. As with any political entity, there are promises kept and promises broken; with SGA, it’s more of the latter.

As a former member of the organization, I have first-hand knowledge of why this happens seemingly every year.

To be clear, it’s not really their fault; it’s the nature of the situation in which they often find themselves, a situation common to many people in student organizations. They are students, and sometimes, it’s easy to forget that they are students, primarily when they work on university-wide or even city- or statewide changes like SGA does, but it’s a reality they all face at some point.

Some have to be removed because their GPA isn’t up to par.

Others have to choose between going to class and going to a meeting. And for some students, it’s a battle to run from work, change and be in the office for their committee meeting.

SGA members have to juggle a lot, and it’s that juggling that leads to SGA’s numerous shortcomings. Something that former SGA University-wide President Franklin Paterson and former SGA Arts and Sciences Senator Spencer Bivins reiterated last year was “Remember Your Why.” That is, “Why did you join SGA? Remember who you do this for.”

While it was said throughout the year, it really picked up after the classic “mid-semester hump.” This is something a lot of students feel. They grind at the beginning of the semester.

They go to every lab and attend every lecture. And then the

midterms hit. If you haven’t noticed, classes start thinning out after midterms.

Now imagine that, coupled with hour-plus long meetings, wearing suits that are too hot for the summer or dresses too cold for the winter. It’s a struggle SGA members regularly face in addition to the stress of adulting and of being in college.

And that is one leg knocked over: They are burned out and tired. And it doesn’t help that university politics are the way they are.

For example, consider Financial Aid and Advisement.

It seems administration after administration, these two departments are in SGA’s crosshairs. That’s because year after year, hundreds of students are facing problems within the departments, ranging from long lines to entire scholarships going missing.

And if the ordinary student is having problems, imagine being an SGA senator emailing the director of these departments. I’m willing to bet that they aren’t going to be too keen on helping those - who on the low - accused them of being incapable of doing their jobs.

When the people who call the shots are unwilling to help, it becomes complicated to actually get things done. But, then again, it’s what the voters want. And to add fuel to the fire, when there is an issue that the university and SGA can agree on, oftentimes the students against it are the most vocal.

SGA is almost always in a state of battle, and that makes it extremely difficult to get things done. And down comes the second leg: difficulty to just get things done.

The third leg can be anything from laziness, from which some members suffer, to just not precisely knowing what they’re doing but it can all be summarized in one phrase: They are human.

Senator Nigel Walton and SGA University-Wide President Jazmin Mejia are no different from you or me. They are human. They have relationships, friends and families that

need their attention.

Whether it’s work or Netflix, sometimes SGA has to take the back burner. And for some people, SGA is far lower on their priority list than, say, going to Music Midtown. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, it’s up to you to decide. But it’s important to understand that SGA does a lot for us as a student body.

Even if it’s small things like free scantrons, which is a service that many universities don’t enjoy, SGA really does work for the students. Even if some of the members join SGA only never to be seen again, the organization as a whole does a lot of good. And it doesn’t just stop there. SGA is an advocate for the unspoken in the city of Atlanta.

Whether it’s about safety or homelessness or sex trafficking, SGA truly is a voice for the students by the students. Even if at times, it gets a little too governmental, some may also call it corrupt. SGA really tries to fight for students’ rights, for human rights. And that’s all we can really ask of them.

Does SGA fail to meet the vast majority of its goals? Yes. Does SGA feel like a résumé filler that doesn’t actually get anything done? Yes. But if we are being fair, it’s not entirely their fault. Frankly, some members aren’t doing anything because we, as students, haven’t told them about issues we find pressing enough for SGA to address.

Also, let’s be clear: SGA does far more for the students than Georgia State does. Last year, they revamped the Blue Bus stop at the stadium. They advocate and fight for victims of sexual assault. They made the city uncomfortable by speaking up about human trafficking during the Super Bowl.

They forced the city to review the laws about scooters.

They stood along with student protesters as they protested their own meetings. They question long-standing traditions and systems of the university. They make the university uncomfortable because SGA does what the university too often refuses to do: stand by and for their students.

ILLUSTRATION BY AMBER KIRLEW

OPINIONS

8

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Electric scooters are not worth the risk Why e-scooters cause more harm than good ITUNUOLUWA TALABI Staff Columnist

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he implementation of electric scooters a year ago seemed promising. Who wouldn’t want transportation that decreased our carbon footprint and also had us avoid walking long distances?

The e-scooters of the likes of Lime, Bird and, soon after, Uber and Lyft quickly became a popular alternative to public transit such as the MARTA trains, buses and even regular Lyfts and Ubers.

E-scooters have raised a few eyebrows in recent months since their initial release. Shortly after e-scooters were on the streets of Atlanta, strict rules and regulations were put in place to control electric scooter usage.

However, some of the most important rules have proven to be ineffective, the most well known being a law that prohibits electric scooters to be ridden on sidewalks, which is constantly broken every day. This is because there are not many bicycle lanes available in the city, and people fear riding along with busy traffic, so people ride on the sidewalks where it is supposedly safer for them but not pedestrians.

Scooters are a safety hazard in multiple ways, most of which involve riders and pedestrians. In the span of just a year, dozens of

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANCHEZE JOHNSON

students and Atlantans have gotten seriously injured because of electric scooter crashes, either because the riders fell off, or a pedestrian walking to and from class had gotten trampled by a reckless rider.

Back in early 2019, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that Grady Memorial Hospital received an increase in patients due to the scooters, which “estimated it receives between 80 and 100 scooter-related injuries per month, ranging from serious head injuries to broken limbs.”

Unfortunately, it hasn’t gotten better. Scooter-related deaths have grown in recent months. Since May, three riders have died from head-on collisions with buses and cars. Mostly recently, a fourth life has been claimed after crashing with a truck.

The Atlanta City Council could not deny the increasing safety risk these electric scooters posed. What was once a code enforcement issue is now a law enforcement issue. The outcome from these unfortunate deaths have even

pushed a ban on electric scooters at night between 9 p.m and 4 a.m.

Riders on school campuses in particular are known to ride the scooters incorrectly. Students have been seen riding two or sometimes three to a scooter, racing down sidewalks.

Aside from the potential dangers that electric scooters bring to riders and pedestrians alike, the initial appeal, their supposed environmental friendliness is, at best, no better than the other forms of transportation it is replacing, and possibly even worse. A study conducted by the North Carolina State University engineering department found through taking an e-scooter apart and testing it themselves. The report revealed that while the actual ride itself is not creating much of a carbon footprint, its manufacture is.

“We found that the global warming impacts associated with the use of shared e-scooters are dominated by materials, manufacturing, and automotive use for e-scooter collection for charging,” according to the study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

At least if e-scooters were to be on the roads, our minds could be at ease knowing that we are taking a positive step in the right direction against global warming. This recent study, however, negates that entire argument.

Even from a company’s perspective, e-scooters have become much more of a liability than a profitable venture. In combination with the strict regulations, e-scooters, such as those provided by Bird, Lime, Uber and Lyft, only last about three to four months, sometimes just shy of a single month in some U.S. cities.

Caleb Floyd, a Georgia State student who formerly was employed as a Bird charger, attests to the fact that Bird scooters are found damaged and even reported missing.

“It would take hours to find a scooter on the map,” Floyd said. “After you find the scooters, you realize they are broken to the point where the system wouldn’t even allow you to charge them.”

Particularly in Atlanta, e-scooters are usually busted up or hanging from trees. This is definitely not conducive to making money off of e-scooters.

Ben Coletta of The Signal spoke with a representative from Lime, Nilma Daivari, and quoted her statement on the topic of these legislations: “Please do not enact legislation that only disadvantages those of us that are either trying to make the world a greener place or, simply, cannot afford the luxury of car ownership.”

While good-intentioned, some companies agree that these added regulations are more of a hindrance from progress to bettering the environment.

The cost of keeping e-scooters and competitors on the streets are increasing. Many cities are requiring upfront fees that were not initially in place amidst the launch. According to The Verge, some cities demanded Bird and Lime among others to pay $15,000 extra. Bird had to enact transportation fees of $2.00 and unlock fees ($1.00) and combat the wages dictated by city councils just for having e-scooters on city streets.

These demands are putting strains on companies and causing their rates to increase, negating the value of choosing e-scooters over other modes of public transportation.

A one-way trip taking the MARTA train is $2.50; the Atlanta Streetcar’s ticket fares are only $1.00. To bridge the gaps between the station and your destination, you can also take the MARTA buses.

While not as glamorous, your mind can rest at ease knowing that you’re spending about the same amount of money as a potential ride of an e-scooter. These fees are only set to increase over time due to the regulations that are added every couple of months with more financial strain that is put on competitors.

With the known dangers e-scooters have on people and the environment, it is not a mode of transportation that is worth it for all parties involved. The riders, the companies and their investors and the rest of society are all paying unnecessary costs.

ARTS & LIVING Atlanta is more than just chicken and waffles TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

New York-style restaurants that locals consider a must DANIELLA BOIK

Associate Arts & Living Editor

A

tlanta may be famous for hot wings and Waffle House, but the city is more than just Southern cuisine. There’s plenty of ethnic food options and little New Yorkinspired gems in the heart of the city. Here are some New York-style go-to spots locals consider to be just as good or even better than the big apple.

PIZZA

Who doesn’t love pizza? Although Antico has some of the best pizza in town, it’s a little out of students’ price range.

However, Johnny’s Pizza, which actually started in New York City and came down to Atlanta, is cheaper, made faster and is just plain good. What makes Johnny’s so good? Robert Leon, Georgia Tech graduate and Atlanta native, says the crust is better than most.

“The crust is like artisan bread — the quality is just so dang good,” he said. “It’s not overly seasoned, so it doesn’t feel like they’re trying to cover stuff up; it’s just naturally good quality bread that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.”

A $6 large pizza at Little Caesars may be nice for the bank account. Despite Johnny’s being slightly more expensive, Leon suggests Johnny’s quality over quantity at Little Caesars.

“One thing I don’t really like is it’s kind of pricey,” he said.

“An average-size pizza there is like $16, and then choosing all the toppings makes the price fly up real fast. But it’s not Antico — that’s a rip off.”

As far as toppings go, Johnny’s offers anything from slabs of Canadian bacon to extra thick crust.

“My go-tos are the deluxe style or the Hawaiian, cause I’m a fat guy and those are the best,” Leon said.

Johnny’s biggest competition is Fellini’s. Established in the ’80s, this pizza joint has been voted Atlanta’s best for years by several local sources, including The Emory Wheel.

“This is the late-night spot for college students,” regular Fellini’s customer and Georgia State student Adrienne Riga said. “I’ve never been during daylight, but the vibe at night makes you feel like you’re in an 80s or 90s movie with the neon lights and grungy style of the workers.”

With slices starting at about $2, it’s a steal, especially considering their monstrous sizes. Fellini’s has everything from a deluxe veggie slice, to white pizzas (pizza with no tomato sauce) or even thick Sicilian style pizzas.

For a late-night snack after a night out, Fellini’s is the spot, with 7 locations throughout the city. As far as an authentic pizza joint in the daytime, Rosa’s takes the cake.

Located on Georgia State’s campus by Aderhold, a line wrapped around the outside is the norm at this counter service classic.

“Rosa’s is quick and easy and there’s nothing more classic than their cheese pizza,” Georgia State student Noah Britton said. “It’s also pretty dark inside, so I don’t have to worry about making eye contact while stuffing my face with a slice.”

DELIS

Reuben’s Deli is the deli to top them all. Reuben’s, a New York-style classic, is tucked in Broad Street’s array of restaurants on Georgia State’s campus. The pastrami melt is so good that the scent can be smelled all the way from the roof of Aderhold.

Reuben’s is the holy land for all things New York cuisine.

Even the bagels are shipped in from an Upper East Side staple, H&H Bagels, which has been featured on popular TV shows like “Seinfeld” and “The Office.”

“I’ve never even been to New York, but everything about it feels that way from films I’ve seen,” Georgia State student Yves Ishimwe said. “From the sign outside to all the old historic pictures inside to the way you see them slice the meat, it’s very

Rosa’s “Diana Ross” slice, topped with classic pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions and bell peppers.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN HARMON | THE SIGNAL

NYC-ish.”

The vibe of Reuben’s and the bagels couldn’t be more East Coast-inspired, and so are the sandwiches, like the classic Reuben, rated #1 in the city by Yelp.

“I love their Reuben sandwich. It’s at least six inches thick and has so much flavor,” he said.

Bagels straight from New York are a treat, but having fresh bagels everyday is Goldbergs Fine Foods’ specialty.

Located in several locations in Atlanta and even in the airport for a quick bite, this Jewish New York deli and restaurant has been grinding out fresh bagels of all different flavors since the ’70s.

“Everytime I come home from school, I go here. I know I’m in Atlanta when I’m there. It’s just always been a local spot for me. No one else’s bagels are that fresh,” Atlanta native Clarie Reticker said.

Not only are the bagels fresh but the coffee and the deli creations they serve in their full service restaurant too. “[My] go-to meal is the Summer Special: Everything bagel with house-made cream cheese, red onions, capers and smoked salmon. My favorite to come home to,” Reticker said.

fellini’s pizza johnny’s pizza

Midtown johnny’s pizza

fellini’s pizza

do

downtown

little five points fellini’s pizza

nta atla n tow wn

Rosa’s pizza ruben’s

The “Thursday Special,” stacked high with turkey and ham from Rueben’s Deli on Broad Street.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN HARMON | THE SIGNAL

MAP BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

MUSIC MIDTOWN 2019 Bria Suggs | Arts & Living Editor

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ancing, overpriced food and outfits from Urban Outfitters sum up this year’s Music Midtown festival pretty well. Piedmont Park was packed with music fans of all genres this past weekend for Music Midtown 2019. The annual festival brought over 50,000 attendees each day dressed in their best festival wear. From belly dancing skirts, to mesh shirts, bikinis and walking around shirtless, fans tried to find the perfect balance of being fashionable and beating the Georgia heat.

This year’s festival was filled with talented artists, and sets overlapped between the four stages.

Travis Scott, Cardi B and Billie Eilish were among headliners that supporters waited hours for while standing shoulder-to-shoulder to get the best spots.

Performers didn’t disappoint, delivering their fans high-energy concerts.

Jaden Smith’s performance was filled with stamina that kept attendees engaged. He threw water and even shaved his own head on stage. Atlanta native 6lack started off his set with some chart-topping songs played by DJ Booth, such as “Mo Bamba,” to get the crowd excited.

Large crowds formed for Lil Yachty, Cardi B, Lizzo and Billie Eilish filled with raving, twerking and jumping up and down respectively. Panic! at the Disco came with fireworks and energy that matched that of the crowd.

Day two came to an end with Travis Scott’s infamous mosh pits, the perfect ending to this year’s Music Midtown. It was surely a weekend to remember.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

Jaden Smith

PAGE DESIGN BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

Rapper Jaden Smith waters the heated crowd in Atlanta during his set. With high energy, the crowd jumped along with the rapper.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

Local Natives

Local Natives’ lead vocalist Taylor Rice jumps into the crowd and surfs at Music Midtown 2019. L.A. natives, this was their first time performing in Atlanta.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

Panic! at the Disco

Brendon Urie, lead singer of pop rock band Panic! At The Disco, excites the crowd with his iconic vocals and unique style.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

Crowds

Excited fans enjoy the sun, the music and vibes of Music Midtown 2019 in Piedmont Park.

Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth jumps into an energetic keyboard solo to mix up his pop set.

Lizzo

Top Billboard and platinum-selling artist Lizzo performs a ballad at Music Midtown in Atlanta. Opening up the show with electric energy, Lizzo kept the crowd dancing all night.

PHOTO BY BRIA SUGGS | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Madison Beer

Madison Beer sings to the crowd under the Atlanta sun.

PHOTO BY BRIA SUGGS | THE SIGNAL

Cardi B

Cardi B dominated the stage at the end of Day 1. She kept the crowd engaged throughout the set with her razor-sharp lyrics and twerking skills.

ARTS & LIVING

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

How to build your own music studio Georgia State students discuss creating their personal jam space GUILLERMO RIVERA Staff Reporter

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usic studios can fit virtually anywhere. With the limited amount of equipment needed to make one, someone can begin producing and recording music in their dorm room with ease.

“I keep all my instruments in one corner of my room except for my [keyboard], which is on my desk next to my laptop and interface,” Aidan Nelson, an Atlanta musician, said. “I have my mic in that corner too. I keep everything there just to save space, since my room is so tiny.”

A music studio can exist in a small corner of a dorm room or even on top of a desk, which allows the artist the ability to create music in the comfort of their own home and advance their abilities at their own pace.

EQUIPMENT FOR A STUDIO

The music equipment needed to build a studio is very limited in itself. The first piece of equipment someone will need is a laptop with a digital audio workstation, or DAW for short. FL Studio, Ableton and Logic are very popular and affordable DAWs. “I run Ableton on my laptop, but I started out with FL. I like Ableton cause it’s really simple to me and I can get my ideas down real fast. You can still do a lot with it, though, and since I’m mostly recording live instruments, I can warp the sounds I use with the basic stock plugins,” Nelson said.

DAWs are necessary because they provide different instrument samples, plug-ins and a workspace to lay out and create songs.

However, there are other pieces of equipment needed to relay the sounds as cleanly as possible.

Audio interfaces are another necessary component of every studio. Interfaces can be used for a variety of things, but their main purpose is to enhance the computer’s sound capabilities.

Most interfaces allow people to connect speakers, microphones,

headphones and even instruments to assist them in recording.

“I have a Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio interface to help connect the microphone to my computer,” Eric Kamusau, a junior at Georgia State said. “I have a mic stand, pop filter and two speakers on each side of the computer connected to the interface.”

Once an audio interface is obtained, speakers and other devices need to be purchased to connect to the interface and relay the sound to the musician. Quality monitor speakers and headphones are needed because they allow the highest quality sound to reach the ears of the musician.

“I use 8812 Linear Phase studio monitors, a Scarlett 2i2 Interface and Audio Technica headphones for sound,” Nick Diminico said.

If one wishes to record vocals or instruments, a microphone is required. They can be connected to an audio interface to record even higher quality audio. Mic stands and pop filters are also useful for recording comfortably. Overall, microphones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and good ones that deliver quality sound can be bought for quite affordable prices.

“For a mic, start with what you can afford,” Nelson said. “Get a USB mic or a Shure sm58. That’s what I started with.”

Another useful tool in a studio, although not necessary, is a MIDI Keyboard. MIDI Keyboards can connect to a computer and serve as controllers to a DAW. They can be used to play different synths and plugins, lay out drum patterns and myriad other uses that can advance one’s musical abilities.

Musical equipment itself can be purchased from many different stores, including online websites, music stores, antique shops and other second-hand sellers.

My jazz bass and classical guitar were actually given to me by a close friend, and I found the old Casio I have in this really big antique store far from my house in Loganville,” Nelson said. “The MicroKorg was the first instrument I bought; I sold my 3ds when I was 15 to help pay for it, and I remember buying it at this secondhand music store in the area. Everything else, I just ordered online.”

CHALLENGES OF HAVING A HOME STUDIO

Though building a studio at a house or in a dorm room can

be relatively cheap and easy to do, owning one can come with disadvantages, one of these being dealing with other people living in these spaces.

“A big disadvantage is having roommates and dealing with neighbors, also clothes being everywhere and the room not being treated,” Trey Dowell, a junior at Georgia State, said.

Having roommates or neighbors can limit the ability to record or play music at certain times, which can mess up workflow. Clutter can also be a cause of roommates, or just having a small room to begin with.

“I honestly would really prefer to have a bigger space to work on music. I just like having lots of empty space,” Nelson said. “I don’t know why, but it helps me with my mood. I love big spaces that are also clean, and my room is neither of those. I feel like when I get a place of my own, I’m gonna have as little furniture and things in it as possible just because I really hate clutter.”

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A HOME STUDIO

Although there are some challenges that come with home studios, they can still be very advantageous to musicians.

A benefit of having a studio in a room is the ability for a musician to create at their own pace. There is no need to pay for studio time or rely on someone else’s studio to make music.

“Recording in your own space is the best way to go for me because you’re not out on a time limit,” Kamusau said. “You have the freedom you take as long as you want to get the finished product whenever you want. You also get to learn a lot about music production in the process.”

Overall, a home studio can provide a place where a musician can be comfortable when creating. This can allow one’s creativity to flow, and for a musician to grow their skills.

“I’m always comfortable, which is important to me. I really need to be able to focus and pay attention to what I need to add to the mix, what ideas to use for laying down the chord progressions, but most importantly, what melodies I should use. And it’s a lot easier for me to do those things when I’m the most comfortable with my surroundings and myself,” Nelson said.

RECOMMENDED STUDIO ITEMS • • • • • •

Georgia State film and media students, like Christian Katulka and Riley Watkins, create music in their dormroom studios, equipped with microphones, monitors and keyboards.

Best Beginner Interface: AudioFocusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface Good Affordable Microphone: Shure PGA48-QTR Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone Good (More Expensive) Microphone: Rode NT1-A More Affordable Speakers: M-Audio AV42 More Expensive Speakers: JBL Professional 305P MkII Akai Professional MPK MIDI Keyboard

PHOTO BY SYLVESTER SILVER III | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

13

The dangers behind dirty dab pens

Black market cartridges leave stoners at a crossroads MORGAN D’AMICO Staff Reporter

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n the past, smoking cannabis had a particular routine: finding a private space, packing a bowl and praying authorities couldn’t smell, see or sense your smoke signals.

Some modern stoners use new technology to get high discreetly. Dab pens, also known as wax or vape pens, allow smokers to partake more conveniently than ever before.

As the popularity of vaporizing THC grows across the country, certain health risks are surfacing at alarming rates.

As of Wednesday, the CDC cites an outbreak of over 450 cases of lung illness potentially linked to vaping in the U.S. The reported cases are spread across 33 states, often among teens and young adults.

Six people have died from vaping-related lung disease in the U.S. in less than 20 days, spanning from Aug. 23 to last Tuesday.

Symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, fever, coughing and chest pain are surfacing mostly among “... young men with a median age of 19,” according to The Washington Post.

Nineteen-year-old Helmut Lord arrived at Georgia State as a freshman with little knowledge about cannabis. Two years later, vaping THC oil with a dab pen is his favorite way to get high.

“I’ve never packed a bowl or rolled a joint. The convenience and discretion afforded by a dab pen is the biggest attractor to me,” Lord said. “It’s made getting high more mainstream.”

Consumers use vape pens to get high by purchasing disposable cartridges, often called dab carts, pre-filled with cannabis oil that is then vaporized and inhaled with the press of a button. The device produces a cool mist resulting in no smoke and little to no odor.

The biggest threat to consumers is a lack of regulation standards. Recent warnings by the FDA and the CDC advise smokers to throw out disposable THC oil cartridges immediately if they purchased the substance from underground traffickers. Vaping products bought from street sources are at risk of being tainted by illegal distributors.

The FDA reports that almost all samples of vaping fluid from lung disease patients in New York included vitamin E acetate, a toxic thickening agent often used by illicit distributors to dilute

ILLUSTRATION BY AMBER KIRLEW

THC oil. While the exact cause of illness is yet to be identified, researchers are closely analyzing the chemical as a major contributing factor.

In the meantime, black market entrepreneurs in Atlanta are placing their own controls to mitigate risks. A Georgia State student who sells illicit dab carts pays close attention to his products to avoid spreading inauthentic vape fluid.

“It makes it scarier for me as a plug because customers are more hesitant after hearing about people getting sick when they buy illegal fake s--t,” the dealer said, who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s up to the judgment of the dealer. Unless you’re a person who’s made a

cart or gone to a location and seen them made, you’ll never be 100% about knowing what’s fake and what’s real.”

According to the dealer, black market distributors are copying the packaging of reputable THC oil manufacturers from states with legalized marijuana to sell fake or diluted carts for low prices and high profit, tricking unsuspecting buyers. He advises users to look out for signs of tainted products.

“Stay up to date on the format packaging of authentic brands to tell the difference. In a lot of fake carts, the oil gets dark over time, and something doesn’t taste right,” he said. “It’s a judgment call.”

Simply Signal Recipe Simply Signal Recipe Serendipity in the stars Finding balance in September’s Full Moon JAS THOMAS

Horoscope Columnist

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eptember 14 marks the day of a very special full moon.

The Harvest Moon is specifically related to the beginning of the autumnal equinox and coincides with a few different cultural events, religious observances and customs globally. In the U.S., we have more modern Harvest Moon festivals complete with beer, farmers markets and concerts.

The time between one moonrise to the next is shorter during this time which was useful for farms who needed to illuminate crops for harvest. It usually falls somewhere in September, though it can fall two weeks after the autumnal equinox. Every three years this moon will appear in October.

When this occurs, the September full moon is then called the Full Corn Moon.

This moon falls in Pisces this year so this should be a gentle full moon. Water signs tend to be the most emotional of all the elements so try not to react too impulsively.

The sun in Virgo offers solutions to bad habits we may have been holding on to — never making up a bed before leaving the room, ignoring emails or leaving dishes in the sink.

The full moon offers the opportunity to let go of even the worst attributes. Let this time be about forgiveness and compassion while still creating healthy boundaries. Dream, journal or meditate. Work through feelings even when it’s easier to walk away.

ARIES

LIBRA

Let go of toxic behaviors, such as a smoking habit you’ve always wanted to kick or laying on the couch all day after classes instead of finishing assignments. This is the opportunity to reach your full potential.

Manage professional life in a compassionate yet practical manner. It’s important to get emotional support for all the unconscious stress work brings into the atmosphere.

TAURUS

It’s a romantic season for the Scorpio but don’t act so fast. Rosetinted glasses can mask true intentions. Remember: Toxic behavior should be confronted, not excused.

Conceive or reconstruct a new vision for the future. Explore creative pathways. Create more space for dreams and hobbies.

Release anything that inhibits growth.

GEMINI

Set better boundaries with professional and personal relationships. Talking it out is the best way to avoid emotional blowback.

CANCER

Process what is worth talking about and release it. Sometimes, clarity is the best medicine. Confusion can be problematic and brew inaccurate opinions.

LEO

Forgive and forget when there is no real harm done. Truculent tendencies may encourage some hostility. Aggression won’t win the battle this time. Focus on the bigger picture.

VIRGO

This is a powerful reset for Virgo. Healthy healing is only possible with change. Intuition will guide towards the best choice.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Obligations can take up a lot of the day. The time has come to find a healthy balance in withdrawing from the world and working hard.

CAPRICORN

There is some important healing that needs to be done with family or a close friend. A decision needs to be made this week.

Immense personal growth is coming full speed.

AQUARIUS

Bring up the important feelings that have value and worth.

Invest in creative skills in moderation. Perhaps there is something monetary to gain from your passion.

PISCES

A full moon in Pisces feels natural because the world is getting into the same rhythm of dreaminess. Don’t be tempted by old, unhealthy habits or people.

ARTS & LIVING

14

games

SuD0KU

easy

games

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

medium

comic

“2 Types of people” Comic by Staff Cartoonist

HARD

SPORTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Georgia State v. West Michigan Recap

Touchdown | 14:18 - 1st Field Goal | 12:32 - 1st

Field Goal | 9:55 - 1st Punt | 9:55 - 1st

Defense folds in 57-10 Western Michigan blowout

Touchdown | 3:32 - 1st Touchdown | 1:43 - 1st Q1 Score

10-24

Touchdown | 0:38 - 1st Punt | 15:00 - 2nd

Touchdown | 12:22 - 1st Interception | 12:22 - 2nd

A no-show defensive performance was the difference

Punt | 11:11 - 2nd Punt | 9:40 - 2nd

ESPEN INDRISANO Sports Editor

T

he Panthers will hope for a bit of amnesia to kick in next week, as the Western Michigan Broncos ran them out of Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, winning 57-10.

The Broncos’ running backs LeVonte Bellamy and Sean Taylor made the difference. The pair ran for a combined 282 yards and five touchdowns in the first half alone, ultimately finishing with 330 yards.

Georgia State’s defensive performance last weekend against Furman was worrying. Saturday’s performance was nothing short of abysmal.

The Broncos needed only two plays to begin the first half firestorm. Bellamy went untouched, as he blew open a 60-yard run. He would have plenty more to say throughout the evening.

Looking for an immediate response, the Panthers offense, which was on fire through the first two weeks of the season, answered with a 32-yard field goal from Brandon Wright. The team’s following drive was much of the same, as Dan Ellington marched his men into Western Michigan territory with a few big completions. A sack and holding penalty brought the drive to a frustrating halt, though.

The Broncos then continued their first quarter siege. A 61-yard touchdown scamper from Tyler pushed the lead to 17-3. The Broncos’ offensive line opened up huge holes throughout the contest, as they manhandled the Panthers’ defensive front line.

Ellington gave the team a sliver of hope on the ensuing possession. The senior found Aubry Payne for a 20-yard score with 1:43 left in the first quarter. The 17-10 deficit would be short-lived, though.

Bellamy scored his second touchdown of the night on the next drive. The senior flashed his big play abilities, as he scored from 36 yards out to extend the lead to 24-10 at the end of the first quarter.

A few plays later, Bellamy scored again. The offensive line opened up another big hole and the senior took full advantage, as he turned on the afterburners and ran it home from 73-yards out.

Soon after, Tyler scored his second of the contest

and the Broncos were already in cruise control, as they showed the Panthers no mercy.

Jon Wassink even joined the first half party. The quarterback, who is not known for his running abilities, put on a clinic, juking out a pair of Georgia State defenders and scrambling into the endzone from 16-yards out to complete the team’s stellar first half.

Trailing 43-10, the Panthers needed a miracle in half number two, but it was not written in the stars. The Broncos kept their foot on the gas, quickly extending their lead to 57-10 at the 3:26 mark in the third quarter.

When the storm finally died, the Panthers were royally defeated. Apart from Tra Barnett’s impressive 127-yard performance on the ground, there were no positives from the defeat.

The Panthers travel to Texas State next weekend, in what now seems to be a must-win game to open the Sun Belt Conference season.

WHAT WE LEARNED

If the Tennessee game was a step forward for the program, the Western Michigan game was a monumental step backward.

From the offensive struggles to the defensive no-show, the performance was more than worrying.

REALITY CHECK?

The Tennessee win was a program-changing afternoon. The Furman victory last weekend showed the team’s ability to grind out a victory.

But Saturday’s defeat to Western Michigan all but negated the team’s progress.

The defense had a nightmare showing. Against Tennessee, it looked as though the unit had taken a big step forward over the summer. The performance against Western Michigan looked eerily similar to last season, however.

Shawn Elliott was disappointed with the performance.

“They were able to do about anything they wanted to us offensively. The inability to stop the run is the most obvious thing. It was a poor effort defensively. After we got behind, we were pressing offensively and couldn’t get anything going. We tried to come out and do something in the second half and just got further behind,” he said.

The Broncos shredded Elliott’s men on the ground and through the air. Is this a reality check?

Only time will tell.

After rushing for 127 yards, Tra Barnett was the lone standout player from the 57-10 blowout.

TRA BARNETT THE LONE BRIGHT SPOT

Nobody inside the Panthers’ locker room will be thinking of any positives, but Barnett’s performance was promising.

The senior has already had a strong start to his 2019 season and took things to a new level Saturday.

Barnett rushed for 127 yards on 19 carries.

He did not find the endzone — something he managed in the first two games — but he broke the 100-yard threshold for the second time in his career.

Team still on track for winning season It is understandably difficult to keep a positive outlook after a blowout defeat, but if Elliott’s men can simply forget about the defeat and move on to Texas State, they are still positioned to finish with a winning record.

At this point of the season, most had the Panthers sitting at 1-2. The Tennessee win will also go a long way in determining the team’s Bowl Game eligibility.

Touchdown | 6:12 - 2nd Punt | 6:12 - 2nd

Punt | 2:04 - 2nd Fumble | 1:25 - 2nd Q2 Score

Punt | 13:19 - 3rd

Touchdown | 7:54 - 3rd Downs |7:54 - 3rd

TEXAS STATE GAME NOW A MUSTWIN

The flight home from Kalamazoo could not have been easy. The team had a chance to give the Broncos a taste of their own medicine, coming off of last season’s defeat at Georgia State Stadium.

Unfortunately, it just wasn’t to be. The team will begin their Sun Belt Conference season on Sept.

21 against Texas State and need to recover.

Texas State is 0-3. They will not want to go down without a fight in front of their home fans, but the Panthers only have one option: win at all costs.

Should the team fall in their Sun Belt opener, the season could quickly take a sour turn. On the other hand, a win would lay down a market of intent and give the team some much-needed momentum going into their homecoming game against Arkansas State — another formidable Sun Belt foe — on Oct. 5.

We will see what the team is truly made of over these next couple of weeks.

“Very disappointing, very embarrassing defeat, to come out and play like that. A lot of humbled men in that locker room right now, and rightfully so. We’ll get ready for our conference start next week,” Elliott said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW MALEWICZ

Touchdown | 0:21 - 2nd

0-19

Touchdown | 3:26 - 3rd Punt | 3:26 - 3rd

Q3 Score

0-14

Punt | 15:00 - 4th

Punt | 12:01 - 4th Punt | 10:56 - 4th

Interception | 7:57 - 4th Punt | 6:46 - 4th

Punt | 4:20 - 4th

Q4 Score

0-0

Final Score

Georgia State West Michigan

10

57

SPORTS

16

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Kick around with Paul Tyson and Frank Rosenwald Men’s soccer players chat about English football and GSU ESPEN INDRISANO Sports Editor

W

e’re changing things up a bit on this week’s Lunch With. On this installment, no food is involved.

Instead, my guests played a bit of football — that’s the real football, by the way — and chatted about their careers and lives at Georgia State.

My guests this week are Paul Tyson and Frank Rosenwald.

Tyson is the starting goalkeeper and Rosenwald is a starting forward and midfielder on the men’s soccer team.

Both come from England and are big fans of Liverpool Football Club — a club I have also been supporting for as long as I can remember. We talked about topics ranging from English football to balancing sports and academics.

First up was Tyson. We started by talking about the current season. What follows are highlights from our discussion.

Espen: First, can you talk a bit about this season and how it has started?

Paul: We’ve done really well. We are still unbeaten and have won all our home games. We just had a tough tie against UNC Asheville.

Espen: The match went to extra time, didn’t it?

Paul: Yeah. We didn’t take our chances. They scored two good goals against us, but we managed to earn the draw. We are doing well and I am enjoying it so far. Our last game was our first shutout as well.

Espen: So, how have you enjoyed putting on the jersey and representing Georgia State over the last couple of years?

Paul: It is an honor. Obviously, Georgia State has become one of the top Division I schools in the country and it keeps growing.

Espen: So, talk about what it has been like to compete and study at the same time. This is something that is unique to the [U.S.] that I don’t believe you can do in England.

Paul: Yeah, it was the main draw for me coming to the [U.S.], to begin with. Being able to play a decent standard of football as well as working towards a degree was always the main thing for me. In England, you either have to pick the education or a good level of football and here, you get to have the best of both. Obviously, it is a different lifestyle. It has been a really good experience.

Espen: What has the sport meant to you throughout your life?

Paul: I always played Sunday League growing up, but it was never my main sport until I was 15 or 16. I became a goalkeeper at 16, so I was really late to the professional well of footballers. But I always grew up playing it and loved it.

I was a massive [Liverpool FC] fan growing up and went to a lot of games. So, from 16 onwards, I started to take it a lot more seriously. From there, it just became my whole life. I played for two years at Oldham Athletic and went to Nike Academy for a year. Then, I came over here.

Espen: So, for those who may have no idea, speak a bit about the goalkeeper position and what makes it unique.

Paul: I get to use my hands. Traditionally, goalkeepers were simply there to save shots, but as the sport has progressed, it has become more about playing out from the back. So, being good with your feet is very important; it is not all about making saves these days.

Espen: So, I want to talk a little bit about your home, Liverpool. Where in England is the city located and what it is like?

From left to right, Frank Rosenwald and Paul Tyson are international students starting for Georgia State’s men’s soccer team.

Paul: So, Liverpool is in the North [of England] and on the coast. It is about 4 hours away from London. It is a great city. It has two football teams, Liverpool and Everton Football Club. We’re only 40 minutes away from Manchester United and Manchester City, so football is obviously a massive part of the city. Music is [also] a big part of the city.

The Beatles came from Liverpool.

Espen: Were you back in Liverpool this summer?

Paul: So, I played summer league in Greenville, South Carolina. I was there this summer, but at the end of the season, I got to go home for 10 days. I usually go home at the end of summer and at Christmas time, I go home for a month.

Espen: So, can you talk about the term ‘Scouse’? What does it mean to call yourself Scouse?

Paul: So, Scouse is obviously the dialect of Liverpool. We have a very distinct accent compared to everyone else in the country. A Scouser is someone who comes from Liverpool.

I am obviously very proud to be a Scouser. I am the only one on the team now. When I first came here, it was me and two others. Hopefully, when I move on, [head coach Brett Surrency] gets another one in.

Espen: And you mentioned earlier that you’re a big Liverpool fan. I assume that is the club you have supported your whole life?

Paul: Since I was a baby. I have always supported Liverpool and that is just how it seems to go in England. You just follow the team your dad supports.

Espen: What is the matchday experience in the city and at Anfield like?

Paul: It is great. The atmosphere in England, especially in Liverpool, is quite different to any American sport. We don’t have the American “razzmatazz,” where you have all these different games and stuff going on at halftime; it is all about enjoying the sport and the atmosphere. We sing a lot of songs.

Espen: Where did you catch last season’s Champions League final?

Paul: I was here, actually. My parents came over for it and we went to Fado, the Irish bar in Buckhead. A couple of my friends went to the match in Madrid, so I was really jealous of them.

Espen: So, looking forward, do you see yourself trying to pursue a further career in football?

Paul: Yeah, I would like to stay out in the States.

Hopefully, I could be able to gain a contract after playing at Georgia State. But, obviously the idea of coming out here

PHOTOS BY ZACHARY BUTLER | THE SIGNAL

was that I would always have a backup with a degree. If it doesn’t work out, I may try for a master’s and look at maybe coaching.

Next up was Rosenwald.

Espen: Same question I asked Paul. Talk about this season and how it has been going for yourself and the team.

Frank: It has been great. We set ourselves a target to get the first six games won. We are four in now, and we’re unbeaten. We are going to try and keep these things going and just push on for the rest of the year.

Espen: This being your senior year, what has it been like to represent the school for the past few years?

Frank: It is really weird being a senior.

Espen: Isn’t it?

Frank: Yeah. It has gone by so quickly. It doesn’t feel like I am in my last year, but I am going to just try and cherish every moment now because it is going to be over soon.

Espen: Obviously, football has meant a lot to you. Talk about the role it has played in your life.

Frank: It is huge. It was noticeable when I picked up an injury last semester. You only realize how big a part of your life the sport is when you lose it for a bit. The sport is like a part of my family and has been there since I was 4 or 5. I am never going to be able to let it go.

Espen: So, I want to get your perspective on studying while competing.

Frank: It has been ok for me because before I came here, I was actually doing a similar thing, in playing most days of the week and also being in school. So, it is hard, but the travel is where it becomes difficult.

Espen: How have you enjoyed being in Atlanta and getting to explore the city?

Frank: It is cool. I come from a really small place. So, I have never been a city boy, but there is so much to do here.

It is loads of fun. You’re just never bored. You can just go outside and go somewhere.

Espen: Were there any culture shocks you had to adapt to?

Or was it fairly easy to transition?

Frank: I think it was more about how people perceived me. Some of the stuff I was saying people did not understand. That was quite difficult, but it is alright.

Espen: So, I want to talk about where you come from in England. For those who probably have no clue where the Exeter area is, describe it for us.

Frank: So, it is in the Southwest of England. It is a smallish city — nothing like Atlanta. It has a small football club,

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

SPORTS

17

SPORTS TRIVIA Have you been paying attention to this year’s sports section? Time to find out. The first three questions involve content from one of our first three newspapers.

1. The football team is using a new helmet technology this season.

Can you name it?

a. b. c. d.

HelmetFit FitHelmet The Helmet Fit HelmetTech

2. Super fans Sherrill Moss and Joe Lawson hold season tickets for which Georgia State sports?

a. b. c. d.

Football Basketball A and B None of the above

3. Dave Cohen is a die-hard fan of which rock band?

a. b. c. d.

AC/DC KISS Guns N’ Roses Metallica

4. In which year was the annual All-Sports Rivalry Series between Georgia State and Georgia Southern announced?

a. b. c. d.

2012 2016 2017 2015

5. The men’s soccer team has competed in four NCAA Tournaments. Which year’s tournament was its first?

2011 1995 1997 2001

3-B

4-D

a. b. c. d.

2-C

5-C

Espen: Have you been to Anfield?

Frank: Yes. I try and go at least a couple times a year and see them.

Tickets are really hard to get, though.

Espen: I have been to Anfield before, but for the many that haven’t, talk about the typical matchday experience.

Frank: It is ridiculous. It is even better than you imagine every time you go. You just wouldn’t even imagine what it would be like to actually play there.

Espen: So, what does your dream future look like? Do you hope to continue with football?

Frank: So, football is not the be-all [and] end-all. If I don’t make it, I won’t be stuck. Obviously, I am focusing on my potential careers. I like sports and exercise psychology, so I am looking at master’s programs for that. My dream job would be [as a] psychologist at Liverpool FC. If I can keep playing and earn a bit of money, that would be great. But, hopefully, I can stay within the game and hopefully work within the game as well.

1-A

where I played when I was younger. There is one main street, but apart from that, you basically have loads of farming villages. I do like it. I like that it is small.

Espen: You mentioned you played for Exeter City FC. You played for their U-18 squad, correct?

Frank: Yeah.

Espen: So, what was like to play for your local club and how do you think it prepared you for Georgia State?

Frank: That was cool. It was a really tough, professional environment, which gets you ready to play over here. When I was released, it was really cutthroat. I learned a lot from that, especially professionalism and respecting your elders.

Espen: I hear you’re quite the Liverpool fan. Talk about what the club means to you.

Frank: I wouldn’t be able to support anyone else. That is another huge part of my life. I watch all of their games and I just fell in love with them from the start.

SPORTS

18

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Will sports betting play a new role at Georgia State?

How legalizing sports gambling could affect the school JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

O

n Oct. 5, the Georgia House of Representatives introduced House Bill 570, better known as the Georgia Sports Betting Act. This, combined with House Resolution 380, which allows betting, is set to change the sports world in Georgia.

The Georgia Sports Betting Act would allow betting on both professional and collegiate sports and would issue ten interactive betting licenses. Georgia State, like all other Georgia-based universities, is carefully monitoring the situation.

Students and fans alike would be able to place bets on games. The flagship programs, such as football and basketball, would get an extra financial boost from the bets placed on the teams. As more bets are placed on the programs, ratings could increase, leading to more attention and revenue for the schools.

The push for betting in Georgia may also increase the visibility of Georgia State’s campus. With the possibility of profit, students and fans alike may have a stronger desire to

I do not support sports betting in Georgia.

As a Georgia grad and diehard Dawg fan, losing the national championship was painful enough.

- Brian Kemp Georgia Governor

ILLUSTRATION BY DEMETRI BURKE

attend games. Georgia State’s Associate Associate Athletic Director Mike Holmes is also waiting to see what happens with the bill.

“Just like many other schools in the country and the state, we are closely monitoring the legislation,” Holmes said.

Georgia State is one of the most prominent universities in the state that will oversee the outcome of the bill. The significance is more considerable for schools such as Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, whose sports programs have a much larger fan base. Both UGA and Georgia Tech are Power Five teams, meaning more bets will likely be placed on them if the bill signed into law.

Georgia is one of the few Southern states pushing for the legalization of sports betting, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Other Southern states, such as Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina, have also introduced bills to legalize sports betting.

With the rise of fantasy sports, more states are looking to cash in on the sports betting boom sweeping the nation. New Jersey legalized sports betting in 2018 and in November alone made $330.7 million. The success in New Jersey has put more pressure on other states to ease their restrictions on sports betting and allow it around the country.

However, there are obstacles to the legislation here in

Georgia. The state has been rather conservative when it comes to sports betting. This could prove to be a stumbling block for the proposed bill. Currently, the bill only has one Republican sponsor Brandon Beach and many state legislators on both sides of the aisle are not in favor of legalized gambling.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp previously stated during the 2018 campaign that he was against legalizing sports betting in the state. It’s worth noting that politicians do change opinions all the time, however, and Kemp has yet to decide on the bill.

“I do not support sports betting in Georgia,” Kemp said in a statement. “As a [UGA] grad and diehard Dawg fan, losing the national championship was painful enough.”

The other issue that faces the bill is the fear of players taking part in the gambling itself. NCAA rules prohibit student athletes from taking part in any and all gambling activities. The concern about the restriction of betting is something of which Holmes is well aware.

“Regardless of whether the bill passes or not, those education initiatives will continue to keep all of our student athletes within compliance of the NCAA rules,” he said.

If the bill is approved, students at Georgia State may suddenly have more reason to care about the games in which their fellow student athletes compete.

to-do

my notes

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

monday TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

THE SIGNAL 19

2019_SM_AnnualMeeting_SEPT_11x17.pdf

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8/15/19

3:42 PM

C O M M I T T E E O N S T U D E N T C O M M U N I C AT I O N ( C S C )

ANNUAL MEETING 2019 The meeting provides general information and takes questions from the student body.

The CSC is responsible for overseeing the leadership of five student media organizations: Album 88, Neo Network, New South, The Signal and Underground.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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FRIDAY September 20 10:30 a.m.

Cinefest Theatre

For more information on the CSC and its bylaws, email bmcneil1@gsu.edu or visit: studentmedia.gsu.edu

STUDENT MEDIA

Student Center West, Suite 456 404-413-1592

studentmedia.gsu.edu

To request disability accommodations at this event, please contact Disability Services, 404-413-1560 or via email: dismail@gsu.edu.