The Signal Vol. 85 No. 19

FEB. 6 - FEB. 13, 2018

VOL. 85 | NO. 19

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IT'S ME, NEWS PAGE 3 As the fake ID industry grows around Georgia State, police warn of severe consequences for students if caught.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

GETTING STUFF DONE

AN OILY DANGER

STAY CALM

SHOOTING PAST 1,000

SGA president and his team are leaving a get-itdone legacy behind.

Hollistic medicines and essential oils can be deadly for your pets.

Taking some time off for yourself is not only helpful, but will keep you alive longer.

Isaiah Williams joins basketball history in fashion.

NEWS | PAGE 6 WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 10

News 3

OPINION PAGE 12

Arts & Living 7

SPORTS | PAGE 14

OPINION 11

Sports 13

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Underage, under arrest The dangers that come with enjoying a boozy night out RACHEL ANDERSON Staff Reporter

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ith the fake ID industry booming across the Georgia State campus, a lot of freshers to the world of false documents may not know getting caught can come with severe consequences.

The Signal spoke with GSUPD Chief Joseph Spillane on fake IDs, who said they’re not currently a major concern of the department.

“The problem with fakes is not really on campus itself, but more in the bars and liquor stores surrounding campus that cater to the over 21 crowd,” Spillane said.

“If a student gets caught with a fake, they can be charged with being a minor in possession.”

— JOSEPH SPILLANE, GSUPD Chief However, he said that if students get caught with a fake identification document, they can be charged with a misdemeanor.

“If a student gets caught with a fake, they can be charged with being a minor in possession,” Spillane said.

A Minor in Possession (MIP) charge in Georgia is usually a misdemeanor, and the consequences vary. Possession charges can result in jail time, an automatic 6-month license suspension, fines, community service or probation.

This punishment is not as strict as it is in some states, such as Florida or Illinois, where the use of a fake is a felony with a fine of up to $100,000 and sometimes up to 10 years in prison.

To combat usage of fake IDs, many states in recent years have added extra decoration, such

QUICK FACTS: About 70 percent of college students use or have used fake IDs People between the ages of 12 and 20 drink almost 20 percent of alcohol consumed in the U.S. Those who start regularly drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life The U.S. is one of 11 countries where the legal drinking age is not 18 or 19.

Liquor stores in Georgia are required to ID anyone attempting to buy alcohol and reiterate the message with signs throughout the store.

as pictures and designs, to their licenses to make them harder to fake.

One such example is California, which uses a tactile date of birth and signature, illustrations of well-known California landmarks in the background, and an ultraviolet photo and date of birth.

Additionally, for minors, the card’s orientation is vertical, whereas for people of age, horizontal format is used.

But store owners around Atlanta say they don’t need fancy decorations to identify a fake ID. The Signal spoke to a liquor store owner who wished to remain anonymous. Their store lies half a mile from campus, and they said students often attempt to become a part of their customer base.

“We’ve been doing this a long time, so we know a fake when we see it,” the owner said.

“If the picture quality is bad, that’s a dead giveaway.”

The owner also provided some tricks they use to discern a fake, including asking the person for their address or zip code that is on the ID. “If we see an ID that we know is fake, we decline the sale and take the ID and don’t give it back,” they said. “We then call the police and have them come take a look at it.”

For a long time, fake IDs were created using laminated sheets and Photoshop, but for a lower price, online vendors can now provide more realistic IDs that are scannable in bars.

Driver’s licenses all have a magnetic strip and a barcode on the back, and vendors of fake IDs can copy those onto a fake, according to PatronScan.com, a website that sells ID scanners to nightclubs and bars.

“Fake documents are easier than ever to make with new technologies,” Spillane said.

This is due to IDs now having the barcode and magnetic strip that will be able to pass through the scanner.

their ability to have some fun.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she paid a friend $60 for her fake ID. “Most of the time it works, but sometimes I get turned away,” she said.

But other students want no cost to having fun, and prefer taking advantage of their doppelgängers.

“I use an old ID of a friend who is already 21. We look somewhat similar, so it works,” said a student who also wished to stay anonymous. “I’ve never had any trouble with it because it’s a real, authentic Georgia ID of someone who is 21.”

To crack down on the use of fakes, more bars and other places with alcohol have started to utilize a newer kind of technology to spot a fake: the optical ID scanner.

Every government-issued ID has readable characters that are unique and the optical scanner will read the front of the ID and use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to read the ID. Because it is very difficult to fake a legitimate government ID, this is the most powerful method of scanning IDs. But despite students’ new available technologies to create more convincing fakes, the consequences are still serious.

PHOTO BY KIRSTEN JACKSON | THE SIGNAL

While in Georgia the possession of a forged ID can be a misdemeanor depending on the prosecutor, the creation and distributing of such forgery can be a felony if the prosecutor wishes to charge them with one.

IDGod is online distributor of fake IDs that was started in 2012, is based in China, and is currently the most common way of getting a fake among college students, according to Business Insider. The website allows users to choose the information they put on the ID, as well as pick which state the ID is from.

It also offers discounts when buying IDs in bulk. For example, for a Georgia ID, the price is $100, but it falls down to 70$ for two and $60 for each ID if an individual is purchasing six or more.

IDGod also sends two copies of the ID to each buyer, to ensure that should one get taken away, the patron has a backup. The website has been shut down a couple of times in the past year, but because it is based in China, where fraud is not as severe of a crime, it has proven to be challenging to keep the site closed for good.

A FUN NIGHT OUT

According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

But studying in the heart of Downtown, a lot of students don’t let their age compromise

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX BROOKS | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Library to become more student-oriented Georgia State employs design firm to renovate the library WILLIAM SOLOMONS Staff Reporter

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n Jan. 24, Dean of Libraries Jeff Steely sponsored an informational session for students, unveiling the university’s new plans for Library North and South.

Partnering with design firm Pfeiffer Partners, the university is expecting to kick off construction in the next few years.

For the new plans, Pfeiffer asked for student and faculty feedback. They created a steering committee comprised of multiple student leaders, such as SGA executive Markeesa Walker, graduate student Jeremy Land and Associate Provost for Graduate Programs Lisa Armistead, representing administration.

The representatives from Pfeiffer addressed a few challenges that they would have to overcome before the interior of the library can be renovated such as accommodating for the Courtland Street bridge construction. Despite the limited space, their goal is also to expand the library’s functionality to the greatest extent.

“Academic research libraries have been at this for more than a couple of decades, moving less used materials to offsite storage or managing how the collection is housed with creative ways to make room on campus for those activities.”

— GILI MEEROVITCH, Interior designer and library specialist “The challenge here, given the aging buildings and the land-locked site, was to take a look holistically at what was happening outside the building and what was happening inside the building in terms of infrastructure,” said John Graham, the project manager at Pfeiffer.

Graham has a lot of outside improvements to think about.

In the next few years, the courtyard between Library North and Sparks Hall will be lowered by one floor and converted into a green space. This means that the entire main entrance of the library will have to be lowered, allowing the architects at Pfeiffer to open up a new floor that will use the space for gathering spots for students to work on group projects or socialize.

A CHANGE OF FOCUS

Georgia State student utilizes the rolling bookshelves which are set to be replaced in future renovations.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

The focus of the library itself is shifting from a book-oriented facility to a student oriented one that functions to give students access to more group learning opportunities, according to Gili Meerovitch, Pfeiffer’s interior designer and library specialist.

“Academic research libraries have been at this for more than a couple of decades, moving less used materials to offsite storage or managing how the collection is housed with creative ways to make room on campus for those activities,” Meerovitch said.

According to Meerovitch, “There’s lack of space and lack of the right kind of space.”

She said that she observed some students struggling to find an area with an outlet or a space in which they can openly study with other students.

Pfeiffer also showcased a new room, the “Global Studio”, that they hope to include in Library North. This area will serve as a

multipurpose room that allows students to watch presentations using its fold-out seating and will also allow the university to host banquets or parties.

One flaw that Pfeiffer wished to address was a lack of natural lighting within the library. Design Principal Alberto Cavallero said that they would be installing “big windows that would allow daylight in and views outward as well.”

Cavallero also said that they wanted to open up a skylight above the central staircase at Library North to let natural light into the heart of the building and bring more life to the study environments.

The overall plan is divided into 16 different packages, such as ones that focus on certain floors or developing new facilities, like a graduate research station, which the university will be able to adopt throughout the construction process whenever finances and scheduling work the best. According to Graham,

these packages are “standalone and most of them are not sequential so you could do any series of them depending on the current priorities. They can also be grouped.”

During a Q&A following the presentation, one of the individuals in the audience raised a concern about the cost.

Pfeiffer was unable to give a clear answer, claiming that inflation would change the price too much to make a final statement on the overall cost. When asked about a range, they said that the final cost would be anywhere between $10 million and $100 million.

With construction not starting for another two or three years, the plan’s flexibility means that Georgia State could see a variety of different layouts and designs in the months to come.

Pfeiffer has had experience working on projects for other universities around the nation, including library renovations at the University of California and Colorado College.

1966

1968

1988

2008

2014

Library North constructed

Expansion of Library North

Library South constructed

Renovation of Bridge

Opening of the Curve Timeline information provided by Dean of Libraries Jeff Steely.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

NEWS

5

A full-body makeover

Rec center talks Part II of renovations during winter break

NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL

SARA ABDULLA

Safari Park coming soon to Atlanta

Staff Reporter

Atlanta metropolitan residents can expect to see a safari park soon outside of the Atlanta area. The Georgia Safari Conservation Park is planning the construction near Madison, GA. The animals are from Africa and include giraffes and rhinos.

The park will also have events such as tours and feedings.

The park also includes a “50unit boutique that will have an event center for corporate retreats, weddings, birthdays, family reunions, etc,” said 11Alive’s Savannah Brock.

S

tudents who regularly utilize the recreation center may have noticed changes in facilities over the past year. Last summer, the weight room was renovated with better flooring and new equipment, and the security was upgraded to fingerprints instead of having to use PantherCards to enter. Part II of the recreation center’s upgrades took place over Winter Break, which included resurfacing of the exercise room on the main floor and overhauling the welcome desk.

According to Jenny Lehigh, the Assistant Director of Fitness, Georgia State has almost paid off its mortgage for the building, which is significant because it means student fees can be reallocated to other areas in the budget.

Industry standards suggest replacing flooring, tiling and equipment every 10 years. The recreation center was built in 2001, making it close to 17 years old. However, because the recreation center staff does a deep cleaning and conditioning every August and December, management was able to make the gym facilities last much longer. Melissa Buchheit, the director of Recreational Service, said the team worked hard to keep facilities up-to-date and functional for gym-goers. She said student employees have kept count of the number of patrons in each room of the facility, allowing management to analyze what areas of the recreation center are the most popular.

The prime example of the facilities’ use of student data to improve user experience is their repurposing of the squash courts. In 2001, squash was a more popular sport among students, but since then, use of the room has dropped off.

Since the weight lifting areas have become more commonly used and thus congested, employees were able to transform the squash room into another area where patrons could lift weights.

The new floors on the main floor and upper levels are shock-absorbent, improving the experiences of those who lift weights and do aerobics. The turnstyles have been replaced with biometric scanners similar to the ones in the library to improve security and speed up lines to enter the gym area. Additionally, the new

NATIONAL Republicans release accusatory memo

The Student Recreation Center Downtown added a new front desk counter and fingerprint technology over the winter break.

desk in the welcome center is designed to allow employees to move more easily and better serve the users so the lines for services do not congest.

“It’s better for the patrons —it’s easier to see, it’s just more functional,” Jenny Lehigh said.

According to Buchheit, data collected from the biometric turnstyles and headcounts from gym employees indicated that recreation center usage has increased 48 percent for fiscal year 2017, when compared to fiscal year 2015. Specifically,

PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ | THE SIGNAL

almost 650,000 patrons dropped in to work out in fiscal year 2017, compared to over 400,000 in fiscal year 2015. The dramatic increase in volume reflects a change in the makeup of Georgia State, suggested Buchheit. More students are living on or close to campus, so more people want to maximize the university’s resources. More utilization of the recreation center demonstrated a need to keep the center as serviceable and efficient as possible.

Atlanta shortlisted for Amazon headquarters Why a 'strong university system' is a part of the company's requirements STEFAN DE LA GUARDIA Staff Reporter

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Q2. These three characters have taken the country by storm with mayors and governors fighting desperately to have one of the biggest companies in the world set up shop in their city.

Twenty fortunate cities advances to the next round of Amazon's HQ2 selection process.

Initially 238 proposals, Amazon’s final list was shortened to 20 cities that will be considered for HQ2, one of which is our own in Atlanta.

Statistics indicate that the estimated potential over time for the second headquarters is 50,000 high-paying jobs and $5 billion in investment.

The wonder of who will get HQ2 has gained so much attention that gambling sites are beginning to take advantage of it. Paddy Power, a betting site based out of Ireland, has Atlanta listed as having

the second best odds to be selected for Amazon’s second headquarters (5/1 odds; behind Boston, 2/1 odds). So what does this all mean if Atlanta is selected?

Atlanta is the hotspot of the Southeast, adding over 75,000 jobs and seeing 90,000 people move to the Metro Atlanta area in 2016. Statistically, Atlanta has become one of the fastest growing cities with an average of almost 10,000 residents per year. Bringing in a powerhouse like Amazon could produce profit boosts for the economy and a major increase in activity in the Greater Atlanta area.

Dr. Peter Bluestone, senior research associate for Georgia State’s Fiscal Research Center, isn’t surprised by how much Amazon has to offer to the city. “It is not uncommon for major corporations to provide a platform much like what Amazon is doing. We have seen it in the past with the KIA plant here and other automobile plants as well,” he said.

Bluestone also brought up the relationship

between UPS, whose headquarters also lie within Atlanta, and Amazon, explaining that the two could become even stronger partners given that Amazon’s packages are already shipped via UPS. He said the logistics of Atlanta, our talented work force and potential for growth in places like the “southern Downtown area” allow Amazon to have a great impact in a location that is “right for revitalization”.

Along with that, Amazon said they would be considering cities with “a strong, university system.”

Of the 20 cities listed, Atlanta is the only city that has had a developer file zoning plans for a project that surpasses the space the headquarters site description that Amazon provided in its search criteria. Amazon says that eight million square feet will be needed for their second headquarters. “The Gulch,” known mostly as a tailgating location for Falcons’ games, has the space Amazon needs and then some, with eleven and a half million square feet.

Republicans at the U.S. capital released a memo on Friday that accuses the FBI and the Justice Department of abusing their power of surveillance in the current Russian-collusion investigation. According to USA Today, “The GOP memo alleges that top law enforcement officials relied on an unsubstantiated dossier... to get a warrant to conduct surveillance.” Democrats have denounced the memo saying that it is false and that it does not properly address any abuse that may have occurred.

GLOBAL South African miners trapped and rescued

On Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, more than 900 gold miners were trapped in a South African mine following a power outage. The power outage disabled the miners’ ability to have clean, compressed air pumped into the tunnels and also prohibited them from using the lifts to get out. Mining unions are now pushing for changes and want to hold Sibanye-Stillwater, the company running the mine, accountable for endangering the miners. According to The Guardian, “The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) called on mineworkers to refuse to work in ‘dangerous conditions’”.

NEWS

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

SGA’s getting stuff done

Corey Gray talks importance of keeping association’s promises CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Editor-in-Chief

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he student government within Georgia State has the power to not only fund organizations with up to $1,000, but also pass legislation and kick off initiatives that directly impact the student body. But the lack of awareness of the association’s existence has been haunting during each election season, and overall senate meeting attendance each year. With 2018 SGA elections inching closer, current SGA president says the attendance problem was one thing he wanted to better for the next administration.

Last spring, Corey Gray ran as Student Government Association (SGA) president with a set of promises, which included taking on senator involvement within the campus in order to raise awareness of SGA’s existence.

With an average student attendance of two per meeting, it’s fair to say that senate meetings are less than popular within the student body.

But Gray made strides in student involvement with the association’s latest survey.

Earlier this semester, SGA blasted out a survey on student commencement recently which received over a 40 percent response rate from all Georgia State graduating seniors, a massive boost from any other survey response the association has received. Over 2,000 students filled out the survey, and 75.6 percent voted on having Spring Commencement in the Georgia State Stadium. Gray said SGA sent the survey out in order to be able to bring the numbers to administration and show them the preferences of the student body.

“We didn’t want to say ‘it’s not in our hands,’” Gray said. “We want to advocate for our students.”

SGA surveys are the most important way that the association can know and acknowledge student concerns, Corey said.

One way he’s made sure SGA advocates for the SGA surveys that get sent out are what he calls the “Survey Wars,” which invite each campus’ SGA to compete against each other for the highest survey response rate.

KEEPING PROMISES

Taking measurable action was a priority for Gray this year.

Committees and initiatives introduced last semester have all been kicked into

The AD-HOC Advisory Committee on Safety met Feb. 2 to discuss events and precautions in regards to campus safety.

action this year. A new AD-HOC safety committee, proposed last semester and now chaired by Sen. Franklin Patterson, is serving as a bridge between students and GSUPD when it comes to safety concerns.

Patterson said they’ve had 10 meetings with GSUPD since October 2017 in which they’ve discussed safety concerns like phone snatches on campus, after which GSUPD addressed the issue by adding on new officers.

“We also have been talking about new initiatives to get the police more out there,” Patterson said. “Unfortunately they are understaffed as well, they’re working on getting a new budget. Bringing officers in is not as easy.”

Implementing such a committee was necessary, according to Patterson, in order to stay ahead of crime.

“No one really cares about anything until it impacts them. The people who watch over us will be the most important people on campus, so I wanted to go ahead and re-establish that communication,” he said.

In fact, when Patterson first reached out to GSUPD to start the committee, they told him that 10 years ago a similar committee was in place, but was dissolved due to “some things that happened, and SGA not really following up.”

But despite the set committee, there’s still a lack of student attendance. It’s easy to blame GSUPD once something happens, Patterson said, but students should get more involved and express their concerns ahead of time.

One such concern was discussed in last week’s SGA meeting, where senators discussed the lack of

functional call boxes. Call boxes across campus were set up by GSUPD to give students access to a telephone linking directly to the department at times of emergency.

However, since last semester, many call boxes have papers stuck on them informing the student body they’re out of order. Senators said the key to communicating such concerns to police is showing up to the meetings, and inviting students to attend as well.

Other initiatives that didn’t just stay in the papers include an athletic committee, meant to increase athlete involvement on campus and student attendance at athletic events, as well as grocery shuttles for on-campus residents.

SGA also created the President’s Council last semester, which invites presidents from organizations across Georgia State to brunch and share ideas, difficulties and collaborate on future projects.

PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST

Perhaps one of the most important parts of Gray’s legacy as SGA president has been his commitment to the student body. Gray spends about half of his office hours per week on a different campus, choosing two different campuses each week to spend a couple of hours in, get in touch with the campus’ SGA, and interact with the student body.

He said as president, “walking through campuses and feeling what it’s like to be a student there,” is what allows him to understand and address student needs.

Staying in line with his promises, Gray said he is working with dining services to increase vegan and vegetarian options, and has helped set up a post-consolidation committee chaired

by Sen. Ariana Roberts, meant to address student concerns on the consolidation. But what has been one of Gray’s highlighted

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

promises has been his call for addressing student mental health.

Last semester, SGA brought forth a ‘Review, Revise and Re-charge’ week-long program spearheaded by Sen. Jessica Siemer meant to help students keep calm throughout finals time.

“The biggest hurdle that students go through in getting their degree is stress,” Gray said. “We realized that stress was a very big factor in students not going out to events, not enjoying their Panther experience, them not going to classes and not passing their classes, them not graduating, and I believe that if we can tackle stress and we can tackle mental health then the quality of life at Georgia State [will be] better.”

The program offered yoga, tutoring, a meditation room, information about studying abroad and courses on financial aid literacy and scholarship information.

The courses taught students how to be financially responsible with loans and gave tips on financial aid requirements. SGA had also brought therapy dogs, anxiety tests and informed students on the Counseling Center’s WellTrack app, sponsored by Georgia State’s Counseling and Testing Center. The app promotes mental health and gives students tips on how to concentrate in classes, relax, and deal with mental health difficulties. It’s a sign to show, as Gray said, that SGA is advocating for its students.

“We’re advocating, doing the work,” he said.

“If you have a concern, we are the first face you should come to.” He said he has no doubts for all the things SGA has yet to achieve, and the services that he, as president, can do for his student constituents.

“I’m not Corey. I’m the SGA president. I’m your president, I’m your representative. So, I’m not just doing it for me, I’m doing it for you,” he said.

THE EIGHT PROMISES Transform student services Offer transfer and transient students equal resources Guarantee transparent student leadership Expand SGA visibility Trump stigma of mental health illnesses Halt sexual assault on all campuses Endorse programs that promote financial literacy Render communal services to students *For the full promises, go to georgiastatesignal.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

STUDENT ARTIST SHARES STORIES OF SUMMERHILL RESIDENTS

Race and rich history of neighborhood a central theme of Laupus’ exhibit SAM PUCKETT

Associate News Editor

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Georgia State students exhibition at the Student Center East Art Gallery shows students the humblest of stories are worth telling. In “There’s Something about Summerville,” photographer and now documentarian Richard Laupus brings interviews, portraits, and history from one of Atlanta's oldest historically black neighborhoods.

Laupus was in marketing and advertising his entire career until he picked up a camera five years ago. He calls that a past life, and from where he is now, it must feel that way.

Laupus is in his mid-sixties, and came back to school at Georgia State to study his passion of photography.

He paid for the project after being awarded a Community Investment Fund Grant from the Annie E. Casey foundation. When it came to staging his event, he said he found Georgia State’s Spotlight team to be very cooperative.

The idea for for the project found Laupus when he was a member of the Turner Field Benefits Coalition, a longtime resident of Peoplestown himself. Listening to older residents tell their stories, he became fascinated with the history of the area. Laupus said as a white person, he also recognized considerable differences between his life and their experiences. Race then became a theme that would continue to influence the stories he told.

“There’s a real need, particularly in the historic black communities, to tell their story,” Laupus said. “Those communities are increasingly being paved under.”

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Laupus knew he wanted to tell the rich history of the neighborhoods surrounding Turner Field and believed Summerhill made a good focus because he found it always seemed to be the first hit by change.

That's not something that has escaped the notice of Gloria Williams, one of the community members Laupus included.

“I’m hoping that Georgia State will bring good change to the community,” said Williams.

“This, probably within my lifetime, is our last chance [for progress].”

He looked for subjects at community meetings and an annual Summerhill Reunion.

When word of his project got around, people began to approach him with stories they wanted to share. Twenty-one people were interviewed for the project, and 12 stories from those interviews were chosen for the exhibition.

His goal was to just have a conversation with people. He had prepared questions, but he said he mostly just liked to listen without prompting. There was always a level of improvisation.

“As you go along, you start to understand a little bit more about the community, and you can ask other questions you might not have asked before.” Laupus said.

However there were hurdles to the interview

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

process.

“It comes down to trust,” Laupus said.

“When the people you are interviewing grew up in a segregated world, they don’t easily trust you necessarily.”

“When the people you are interviewing grew up in a segregated world, they don’t easily trust you necessarily.”

—RICHARD LAUPUS, Photographer and documentarian Laupus is conscious of the effect his race might have had on his effectiveness as an interviewer. He asks himself would the stories people told him or the way they told them have been different were they interviewed by someone black.

“You’re asking them to sit down and tell you about stuff that maybe they’d never told anybody before,” he said. “And that’s a burden.”

ARTISTIC DECISIONS

The exhibition was composed of 12 sets of portraits and selections from his interviews, arranged with each person alongside excerpts from the stories they told Laupus.

Each portrait is in black and white, a close shot against a black background. The images are stark yet deeply warming. There’s a lot of contrast like that in the collection. Laupus has captured a lot of consistency from shot to shot, and yet each image feels very personal.

Laupus said it took a variety of approaches to achieve this result. He had to be flexible.

Initially he wanted to capture the portraits on location, in the subjects’ homes. When that became infeasible in many cases, he had to adjust.

“In the end, I either took them to my little studio in my house, or I took a little mini studio with me,” Laupus said. “A couple of them I shot over because I wanted to capture them differently. I wanted consistency.”

It is surprising, then, in this rigorous attention to compositional consistency, that Laupus’ work manages to impress the personal depth it does. He believes the more time he spent with subjects in interview, the more authentic the shoot turned out.

“I would say probably some of the portraits

could have been better because some could only give me so much time,” Laupus said.

“It comes down to whatever rapport or relationship you’ve managed to establish.”

Laupus sees his work as telling the stories of those who are taken for granted. He likes thinking he can show audiences the stories of humble people are just as important and interesting as anyone else.

2011 Project Dreams of Our Children, depicting low-income children and interviewing them on their aspirations, was featured in an exhibit on the Beltline arts initiative.

2015 He made photo collages of Turner Field in the project Beyond the Braves.

2018 His project There’s Something About Summerville tells the stories of older Summerhill residents.

A LITTLE R&R IN THE ATL

Places to escape to in Atlanta to ease your mind VICTOR SLEDGE Staff Reporter

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tlanta, the big city. With world-renowned attractions like the Coca-Cola Factory, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in our concrete backyard, we navigate a city of wonders. Skyscraping buildings billow wind through our walks to class, matched only by the wind of a Grady Hospital Ambulance rushing past with blaring sirens. A city where commuters who live 15 minutes away from campus get to have the pleasure of listening to their favorite album for an hour on the way to class because traffic is just that wonderful.

Let’s face it, the city is great most of the time, but sometimes you need a break from the Atlanta rush. And when that time comes for you, check out some of these relaxing places around the city that will give you a break from all the commotion.

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C H AT TAH O O C H E E R I V E R

34 4 4 C obb P k wy, Atlanta, GA 30339

The Chattahoochee River is of course a great destination to let your stresses float away with the water, but the wildlife is what really sets it apart. It houses more species than any other stop on our list. Firstly, swimming in the Chattahoochee River are more than 20 species of fish. And when it’s not fish swimming by, you may spot a frog, newt or salamander making its way through the water. On the land, you can find a huge array of mammals scurrying around like shrews, otters and beaver, just to name a few. Even as you look in the sky, you can see Cardinals, Woodpeckers and Blue Jays by day, while the owls start soaring at night.

You’ll get to enjoy the soothing sounds of the river with all of those animals right in sight.

Speaking of the sights, the plant life near the river adds to the experience as well. The rich Earth around the river allows for plants including lilies and redbuds accompanied by different species depending on the season.

Spring might bring azaleas, while summer might bring goldenrod.

No matter what time of year though, the river offers a natural dose to keep your senses alive after having them dulled all semester long. With the flowing water and natural sounds of the wildlife, you’re certain to find a good spot to settle down and clear your mind.

PHOTOS BY VANESSA JOHNSON, JULIAN PINEDA AND KIRSTEN JACKSON & PAGE DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

3 MORNINGSIDE NAT U R E P R E S E RV E

2020 Lenox Rd N E, A tlanta, GA 30324

2 AR AB I A M O U N TAI N

4158 Kl o n d ike R d , L i t ho n i a , G A 30 038

The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is a great place to clear your mind of the history you’ve been reading all semester and fill it with history that won’t bring your GPA down, paired with nature you won’t find anywhere else near us.

Fun fact: the mountain isn’t actually a mountain. It’s a monadnock, which is just an isolated, elevated stone mass surrounded by a flat plain. Allowing for geographic features that house rare plant and animal species, the monadnocks are such a unique feature to visit.

Along with the monadnocks, the sea of open green and rustic fixtures gives visitors just a small insight into the history behind the area.

For one, the landscape in the past lent itself to the people there to live off of. Immigrants, freed slaves, traders and settlers, all used the rich land for ways of living. Maybe the most prominent feature is the granite found at the park. Rock cutters, traders and people who built with the granite used the natural merits of the land to make a life in an area that would hold on to its history until present day.

Take a trip with friends here to learn about Arabia Mountain, bike around or go on a walking tour to get your mind off of the city stresses.

4 C A S C AD E S P R I N G S

1345 P ie d mont Ave NE, Atla nta , G A 3030 9

Birds chirping, the sound of running creek water, and an outdoor auditorium.

These are all things you can expect from Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. Even back to around the mid-1900’s, people knew the isolated meditation this quiet forest could offer. As the site of a Civil War battle, the Cascade Springs water was still sold with the faith of its revitalizing properties in mind. It was revitalizing then, and it still is now.

Students can enjoy more healing hikes where soldiers were once wounded in fights.

Little nuggets of history still exist there such as weathered stone buildings and the slope of the landscape over time as water cascaded down the terrain. Moss decorates the spring houses and tree limbs that have seen more days than we can imagine.

Within Midtown’s Morningside neighborhood lies a nature adventure for city dwellers who also like to take a breath of fresh air in their spare time. Acres of trails made for hiking, running and biking await any college student as drowning in exams.In the eye of the storm that is Midtown, you can explore the land and water that is tucked right in the chaos.

South Fork Peachtree Creek offers a serene location laced with green as it curves through the trees creating a natural peace unmatched in a city this big. Even some wildlife finds a way to survive the city life in Morningside where the tall grass, trees, and water make the perfect home for small critters.

Spanning over the water is a bridge worthy of any outdoor connoisseur’s Instagram as they continue into their voyage.

Challenging the urban life around it, Morningside Nature Preserve is a hidden gem in Midtown that’s sure to help you forget your troubles. Even better, it’s also known fondly as “dog beach” for those students who have a furry friend who’s down to share the shore with other beach barkers. So grab some of your friends along with their dogs and you’ll leave so relaxed that you won’t even mind how wet your car is after the pups shake themselves dry on the way back.

While these locations make for quick and easy get-away, getting further away from the city calls for some serious decompressing. Here are some Daycation Honorable Mentions that’ll lower your blood pressure and calm your mind: GIBBS GARDENS – over 1.5 hours

Japanese flower gardens and Instagram. Enough said.

PANTHER CREEK TRAILHEAD – 2 hours

If you liked the Chattahoochee River site before, this’ll blow your mind.

BLUE RIDGE, GA – 2 hours

Find a mountain peak here and forget all your troubles.

L U L LWAT E R PAR K

1 4 63 C lifton Rd , D e c a tur, G A 30 033

5

Lullwater Park and all its soothing glory graces Emory’s Atlanta campus, with a breathtaking stretch of more than 150 acres of natural relief comforts. A paradise of high trees, pristine water and cushioned greenery invite students to forget all about the grey-themed city for a while.

Candler Lake, centrally located in the park, invites all weary students into its splashing seduction under the waterfall as they take a jog or just stroll through for some peace of mind.

You can even take in the scenery when you cross over the bridge that leads to a power house that was once fueled by the running water.

ARTS & LIVING

10

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

New, dangerous essential oil trend

Household cats put at risk with the hollistic medicines Staff Reporter

Wednesday, feb. 7 You will leave amazed from the Universoul Circus, an exhibition of athletic and theatrical abilities at the Georgia State Stadium.

Enjoy animals and traditions from around the world of dance, acrobatics and clowning.

A

thursday, feb. 8 Atlanta Ballet’s Don Quixote You don’t have to be a fan of musical theatre to enjoy this performance by the most talented dancers in the Atlanta Area. Come with friends for the stunning choreography of Yuri Possokhov.

Essential oils, normally used for aromatherapy, have allegedly harmed cats exposed to the fumes.

of air freshener with liver value elevations coming from a home that over-used plug-in air fresheners.

She also mentioned a patient who came in with adverse effects from Febreze. Shelton said that stomatitis and squamous cell carcinomas of the mouth are overly represented in cats due to them grooming themselves while contaminated with the left-over particles of perfumes and air fresheners that often cling to their fur.

While Dr. Shelton supports the use of essential oils, she said it’s important to know how to use the oils properly in order not to damage pets’ health.

She explained that the grade, or purity, of essential oils is at the utmost importance when using essential oils around cats.

“The quality of the essential oil will very much affect a cat. Since over 80 [percent] of the essential

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

oil industry is created with fragrance and food markets in mind, a very small percent available are what I would consider worthy for use in veterinary medicine, or Veterinary Aromatic Medicine,” she said.

There are no current regulations in grading essential oils, leaving the producers to use cheap additives and substitutes that are dangerous for cats to ingest even diffused. The worst part is that buyers don’t have any way of knowing what ingredients are used.

While there are many oils Shelton recommends for use with cats, the owner must understand proper dosing and technique as well as make sure they are using a pure and even “veterinary grade” oil. With this, oils can be safely enjoyed around pets, especially cats.

A preview of Slowfire Pistol’s EP release show

A show representing Atlanta’s heavy music scene and out of state scene

FRIDAY, feb. 9 Star Players at Philips At Philips Arena this Friday, the Atlanta Hawks will face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If you haven’t been keeping up with this NBA season, seeing Lebron James play in person is an event in and of itself.

saturday, feb. 10 Tyler, the Creator Prolific rap artist, actor and cool savant Tyler the Creator will be performing at the Georgia World Congress Center this Saturday.

Buy your tickets in advance for what is sure to be an exciting show by a gifted talent.

sunday, feb. 11 Whiskey Blue’s Mingle Students over 21 can enjoy this party regardless of their relationship status. At Whiskey Blue, party-goers display whether they’re open to flirting with colored wrist bands.

JALEN JENKINS Staff Reporter

A

tlanta-based screamo band Slowfire Pistol is having a show to release their EP, “Moment of Clarity”, and have added a wide range of acts to the show. Atlanta’s young and old are represented at the show, which is being held at Eyedrum Downtown. Here is a highlight of the bands playing.

Slowfire Pistol: The cause for the celebration is due to the release of this band’s EP. Taking cues from more heavy-handed screamo bands like Joshua Fit for Battle but with all the pretty sections of bands like Kidcrash, Slowfire Pistol has crafted a unique brand of screamo all their own. This is partly due to the magnitude of the members’ past work. Past and current bands represented by members of Slowfire Pistol include Foundation, Antpile, Criminal Instinct, Abuse of Power, Gordan, and the list goes on. The combined passion for the music they make makes their live show a sight to see, with guitarist Ben Jordan and bass player Lucky Hunter going wild while drummer Blake Hall calmly shreds through the songs. Hank Pratt, singer and guitar player, leads them by singing songs for love and against injustice. Their newest EP, Moment of Clarity, will be played at the show, and it is something not to be missed.

Arbor Labor Union: Arbor Labor Union is a band that is difficult to describe because the band would be hard to understand by anyone other

feb. 7 - feb.13

A Multicultural Circus

SYDNEY BLOEME

new trend of self-care has been popping up across the country as people move closer to holistic medicines. Essential oils are concentrated plant aroma oils, with common examples including lavender and eucalyptus. They can be used in a water diffuser or applied directly to the skin. While these soothing oils can be beneficial to human health, pets, on the other hand, are put in danger.

On Jan. 7, 2018, a Michigan woman posted a viral Facebook post about unintentionally poisoning her cat. Sue Murray said she was suffering from a head cold and looked to the help of a diffuser loaded with Eucalyptus oil to alleviate her symptoms. She said, after several days, her cat, who had been comforting her in her bedroom, had been exposed to the essential oils and started acting irregularly until eventually collapsing, forcing Murray to see a vet under emergency conditions.

“The first couple days I️ didn’t notice any symptoms with Ernie, but on the fourth day, he was lethargic, unstable on his feet and was drooling excessively,” Murray said in her post.

Essential oils are metabolized differently in cats than humans, taking more time to eliminate the substance from the body, making cats especially sensitive to fragrances and oils.

Dr. Melissa Shelton, animal veterinarian from Crow River Animal Hospital and AnimalEO.com, works holistically to test and use essential oils as treatment, and treats many animals including cats exposed to dangerous substances, such as air fresheners, household cleaners, scented candles and essential oils.

She recounted a pet-patient that came in reeking

events not to miss

monday, feb. 12 The World Inside Fernbank Museum presents a multimedia exhibit The Secret World Inside You. Scientists and graphic artists collaborate to showcase the rapidly expanding wealth of research on the human body.

Slowfire Pistol playing at Eyedrum, 2017.

PHOTO BY JALEN JENKINS | THE SIGNAL

tuesday, feb. 13 than its members. Arbor Labor Union drones and drones, hitting melodic peaks and trenches. A bit of post-punk, with a twist of southern style riffs, it is roots music played through a distortion pedal.

Arbor Labor Union’s live emissions can not be watched, but they must be absorbed.

Axis and Yashira: Touring off Axis’ new record, “Shift”, these two bands represent total sonic annihilation. Taking cues from ‘90s metalcore bands and molding it to their own, Axis takes their songs, speeds them up and twists them. Heavy and intricate riffs back to back and a vocal delivery to match, Axis is a band to see. Both bands hailing

from Florida, Yashira is a match made in Heaven for Axis. Matching Axis’ sonic assault, Yashira is a bit more off-the-rails. Heavy is a good word to start with, but Yashira is smart enough to distract the listener from the fact that their face is melting off.

TNT: A new group playing faster hardcore in the vein of Shark Attack and early 2000’s hardcore groups. They’re opening the show and will leave an impression with songs off their EP “World Domination” which is out on Bandcamp now.

Eyedrum is located Downtown at 88 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 and the event will be on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 starting at 9 P.M.

Mary J Blige at the Fox If you are someone who has been awake over the past 30 year stretch of her career, you have heard of Mary J Blige.

Make sure you by your tickets in advance for her Strength of a Woman tour.

More events and info at georgiastatesignal.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Is College Right For Me?

With rising tuition and debt, many Americans look for new options

L

JAMES FOX Staff Reporter

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

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

Tweet JAMES!

@KingJames21usa

ast week’s State of the Union address

by President Donald Trump was very optimistic. He pointed out the booming economic growth and record low unemployment rate, especially for black Americans. He promised to lift Americans out of poverty along with invest in infrastructure and paid family leave. One way we’re going to get Americans working again, he said, is to “open great vocational schools, so our future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential.” With this statement, Trump took a different approach to education. Instead of promising free college, which just shifts the burden of paying for college to (especially low-income) taxpayers who may not necessarily want to go to college, Trump is encouraging people to work with their hands.

Vocational classes used to be offered in high school as part of the curriculum. Many of you have probably seen movies from the 1980s where goggled students were cutting or drilling wood in shop class. Now, everybody gets the same liberal arts education in public school, whether or not they’re considering going to college. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that about 32 percent of high school students never attend college. Without vocational training, many students graduate high school without any skills they can use in the real world. Also, two out of five students don’t complete college after starting a four-year program. Education today is geared towards pushing people into college, putting more and more Americans into debt.

Student loans are a vital part of the American education system. Loans allow students who otherwise couldn’t afford to go to college to get degrees that will, hopefully, allow them to obtain a stable and fulfilling career. However, loans can put you into overwhelming debt, pitching a student into a deep grave they are unable to climb out of. With the Hope Scholarship and Pell Grants, you would think Georgians wouldn’t

be struggling as much with student loan debt.

But in 2015, Georgia had the highest debt per student in the entire country, with an average of $30,443, according to White House statistics.

Rising tuition rates are another reason American colleges are now so expensive. The average cost of tuition in the 1970s was $1,832 a year, adjusted for inflation. This is nothing compared to the average cost today, which is $31,231. The Bennett Hypothesis, named for former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett, claims the federal financial aid system is to blame for the rising cost of tuition. In an Op-Ed piece in The New York Times, “Our Greedy Colleges,” Bennett pointed out that the price of tuition was increasing faster than the rate of inflation. He argued that, while providing loans for every student sounds like a good thing, we are encouraging schools to increase the price of tuition by funneling money from the federal government. There are several studies that confirm the Bennett Hypothesis, including one by the Federal Reserve Board. And just because everybody gets a loan, doesn’t mean everybody can afford one.

There are about 44.2 million American borrowers with student loans, totaling about $1.31 trillion in debt. That’s greater than the sum of every single American’s credit card debt.

There are several reasons why so many students are indebted, but the major problem is the cost of tuition. According to the Center for State and Local Finance, tuition and fees have doubled since 1980. The median American household income has only increased from $46,000 to $50,000. Because Americans can no longer afford tuition, more students have to take out loans. But is a lifetime of debt worth the pay bump?

The unemployment rate for college graduates is 2.5 percent, which means you are a lot more likely to get a job with a college degree than without. A college degree could also help you earn $12,000 a year more than those without.

The New York Fed claims between 30 to 40 percent of college graduates are working in jobs that do not require a college degree. This is normal for entry level positions, and many people are barred from reaching better or higher-paying positions because they don’t have a college degree. But it depends on the degree you have. For anthropology and art history degrees, the mean salaries are $39,900 and $40,800 a year respectively. This is less than the salary of a licensed nurse who received vocational education, which is an average of $44,840. While nurse practitioners make an average of $104,610 a year, it requires a Master of Science degree in Nursing to become one. So if you want to get a good job sooner rather than later, and earn a decent salary, don’t assume a liberal arts degree is your only option.

It’s very common for students to obtain a twoyear degree at Georgia State Perimeter College then transfer to the downtown campus to get a four-year degree. While Georgia State’s Atlanta campus’s in-state tuition can cost as much as $4,279 a semester, tuition at Perimeter College is $1,390. That means you can go to Perimeter to get the core classes out of the way for a fraction of the cost, because there are fewer fees and lower tuition. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment statistics for students with a two-year occupational degree is 4 percent and 4.8 percent for those with an academic two-year degree. Even if you don’t transfer, getting a two-year degree at Perimeter will put you ahead of the curve when applying for jobs.

ILLUSTRATION BY PHILIP DURAL | THE SIGNAL

EDITORIAL

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

editorial

Self care, self care, self care

Taking some time off is vital in today’s fast-paced world

I

t was a relief hearing our Student Government president affirm the idea that self-care matters. In an interview with The Signal last week, Corey Gray explained why addressing students’ mental health was one of the eight promises on the platform he ran with.

“Stress is the leading cause of death,” Gray said, and before you jump ahead and say it’s heart disease, let us tell you, Gray is right. According to the American Psychological Association, stress is linked to the six leading causes of death, which are heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, acccidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. In other words, it’s no joke.

But it’s easy to forget just how important addressing your mental health is. We know the struggle. Working towards a degree while obtaining a part-time job for car payments and rents, while also engaging in student-involvement on campus (spice up that resume) and applying for summer internships (paid please!), but also staying socially involved and keeping up with family birthdays and responsibilities, toning down unecessary drama, and most importantly, keeping it all together and looking good. Consider this simple fact: “an average

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high school student today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950s,” according to Psychology Today. Multiply that by about 45,000, and you’ll be roaming somewhere close to where our anxiety levels lie.

And not to mention, despite the millions of outside engagements we have to commit to for an up-to- part résumé by the time of graduation, we’re also constantly bombarded by information, texts, emails, and reminders, wherever we go. Our tech angels have their advantages, but staying constantly plugged in can be a problem. Back in the day, when you shut your front door you shut out all outside interactions, and filtered in some more information through the TV, radio or perhaps a phone call from a friend. Within our modern world, texts, tweets, news alerts, Amber alerts, and emails are flooding in each one of our devices, with deadline reminders, meeting updates, employee questions or friends trying to set up coffee dates (Have you seen our schedule?).

No wonder we’re all so stressed all the time.

Don’t be ashamed to take some time for yourself.

Work out, indulge in some good chocolate-covered

strawberry desserts, spend some time with your friends or just unplug for a while and go on a hike or read a book! Fill your tube with Lush products and floating flowers and Netflix your way through a 45-minute bubble bath, put a face mask on, get your nails done, go crazy! Pour yourself a glass of wine (or.. milk) and get some time off. Taking the time to look after your body and mind is a skill not only underestimated but essential for survival!

And if you’re really feeling like you might lose it, turn to those around you. Having a heart-felt conversation under the sun goes further than you think. Look to the friends that have loved and cared for you through the years, or spend some time with your parents. Finally, try meditation! Yes, sitting and breathing can sound intimidating when there's so much to do, but practicing the ability to clear your mind will not only leave you refreshed and calmer, but involves practices that will improve other areas within your life as well.

Take some time off and you’ll see a difference in your performance and mood.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR Georgia State is allows many students to make a new home International women’s tennis athletes Daniela Ramirez and Kristin Rehse at practice on Jan. 30.

CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

I

n life, there will always be times where you have to change and adapt to new things.

Some changes will be easier than others.

Some of them will be a part of the hardest times in your life. For some at Georgia State University, students have had to pack up from their home countries and move to America for college. Included in that group of students are athletes who decided to come to Georgia State to pursue their athletic and academic dreams.

In America, the most popular sports are basketball, football, and baseball, which is why you see the best athletes gravitate towards those sports. However, other sports are starting to pick up steam here in America.

“I think a lot more kids are choosing golf over those four main sports nowadays than ever before. It’s an individual game, and you don’t have to rely on teammates to have success,” men's golf coach Chad Wilson said. “With concussions being a big part of the talk in sports right now, I think parents are guiding their kids to golf, and we are getting some great athletes because of that.”

When you take a look at the rosters for several teams at Georgia State, they have a lot of international athletes. For example, the Women’s Tennis and Golf teams. Both of these teams have a total of 18 athletes between the two of them and of that, 14 athletes are foreigners. This illustrates the potential they have to be able to play at a Division 1 school, but it also shows how quickly things are changing.

For these athletes, the toughest part may be leaving everything that they know behind,

packing up their lives to move somewhere foreign to their love of the game. In most cases, they don’t know anyone, except the coach(es) who recruit them and the friends they develop bonds with.

BROKEN PROMISE

For senior tennis star Kristin Rehse, that’s exactly what happened to her. Rehse is from Hofheim, Germany where she spent all of her life before moving here. She was all set and committed to Georgia State when the coach who recruited her left the school two weeks prior to her arrival.

“It was very hard and I actually never thought of coming here,” Rehse said. “When someone asked me ‘Okay what are you going to do after high school,’ I thought it would be something close to my family, but I was the one ending up going somewhere completely different.

So at first, it was really hard and I got really homesick.”

She considered going to a different school but decided against it because it felt too late; it was already almost time to move.

“At first I was very down, and thinking what am I going to do?” Rehse said. “But there was no way for me to transfer or go to another school, because there was a lot of stuff like paperwork and everything, so I just thought okay I’d come here and just see how it goes.”

Rehse stuck it out and made the best of her situation. So far, it looks like deciding to stick with the move worked for the best.

“I’m the most proud that we won the conference in my second year, that was pretty awesome,” Rehse said.

BIGGEST ADJUSTMENTS

Aside from leaving their homes, student-

PHOTOS BY JULIAN PINEDA | THE SIGNAL

athletes often struggle with language barriers when they first move here. A lot of students do learn English before the move, but there is a still a learning curve when they arrive. Most people say the best way to learn a language is to surround yourself with native speakers, and that is probably why the students adjust so well, and so fast.

“It's by far the language barrier, and it’s probably the fact that when you come to college, not just for our students but for any students it's about time management,” Women’s Tennis head coach Jason Marshall said. “I think the first semester is always the hardest because they are homesick. They miss their friends, they miss their parents and everything is new to them. So to ask someone to leave for four months and come back home it's tough.”

Wilson said that time management is the number one thing that he helps his players with when they come over.

“College golf is new and exciting for freshmen, and we do our best to help them manage their time,” Wilson said. “Making sure they are not just focusing their energy on golf; they have school work, too!”

The language barrier was something that Rehse had to overcome herself.

“Well, at first it was a little hard because I just had English in school, so it was kind of hard to understand at times, but you adjust pretty quickly and it's going well now,” Rehse said.

BONDING TOGETHER

Another thing that helps the student-athletes bond is having a team full of students just like them. The similarities help make their adjustments a lot easier.

“We're from different cultures. Sometimes it’s a little difficult because our expressions. So we

can say something that might offend another person, but you get used to it, and you actually learn a lot about other countries, like food wise and religion wise,” junior tennis player Daniela Ramirez said. “I think that actually helps a lot because we understand each other and that we’re in a different country and that we have to get used to another culture.”

Georgia State is one of the most diverse schools in the state of Georgia, and the athletics department reflects that.

FACTS There are over 30 international athletes throughout the department All eight members o the women’s tennis team were born outside the US Kristin Rehse and Daniela Ramirez were both members of the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Championship team Daniela Ramirez is a native of Merida, Venezuela Kristen Rehse hails from Frankfurt am Main, Germany Rehse has been named to the 2017 All-Sun Belt Singles First Team and 2015 All-Sun Belt Doubles Second Team

SPORTS

14

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

A thousand points and counting for Isaiah Williams

Williams opens up on feeling of surpassing 1,000 career points D’MITRI CHIN

Associate Sports Editor

S

enior guard Isaiah Williams became the only Panther on this year's Georgia State men's basketball team to surpass the 1,000-career points mark, thus far on Jan. 20. What made accomplishing this feat that much more special for Williams was the fact that it came against arch-rival Georgia Southern.

Williams finished that game with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists to help the Panthers secure an 80-66 win at home.

For Williams, scoring his 1,000th point could have come against any opponent, and he would have been ecstatic.

"It's a great feeling, being in college for four years," Williams said. "So it's a great feeling.”

With accomplishing such a remarkable goal, Williams had to endure the challenge of getting an opportunity to produce points on the court. During the 2014-2015 season, Williams had to redshirt for one year due to NCAA transfer rules. After his redshirt year, Williams faced the challenge of battling for playing time against guards Kevin Ware and Isaiah Dennis. In fact, when both Ware and Dennis graduated, Williams had to adjust to a crowded backcourt once again with the arrival of D'Marcus Simonds and freshman Kane Williams.

Nonetheless, Isaiah's biggest challenge on the road to 1,000-career points has been facing "different defenses."

Williams' most significant asset is his sharpshooting -it is perhaps the most efficient way he was able to surpass 1,000-career points as a Panther and will continue to add to that total. So, for him, being consistent in that regard is what ultimately matters.

"Making sure I am putting up extra reps after practice," Williams said as to how he plans on being

consistent for the remaining of the season.

He also added that he had experienced many "late nights and early mornings" working on his craft. His mindset and work ethic is not surprising being that he is a senior and not only is he providing leadership for this

towards being able to basketball at the next However, Williams and the rest of the players that are on the roster know that head Ron Hunter has the tendency to players frequently -- especially if not carrying out the game plan he has aligned for his team. Hunter not been shy to say that he has a considerable amount of talent on year's team, and if a player is not getting the job done, he has options on the bench.

For certain players, it can be quite discouraging to be substituted out

Panthers' team, but he is also working possibly play level. currently coach substitute they are has this

of the game for one mistake, but for a veteran such as Williams, handling the situation with poise is crucial if you want to succeed playing for Hunter.

"You have to be right mentally with the way he [Hunter] coaches," Williams said. "You gotta make sure your mind is sharp and not let it affect you when you come out because you know you are coming back in."

It is worth mentioning, however, after the game against Georgia Southern, in which Williams contributed notably, Hunter was pleased with how he has been elevating his game as the schedule begins to thicken for the Panthers.

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

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

So, how does Williams develop the mental toughness needed to be a shooter who doesn’t lose confidence in his shot?

"That is when the extra reps and all that comes in," Williams said. "You always gotta have confidence when you are shooting, so the extra reps help with all that."

Extra reps have obviously helped Williams accomplish notching 1,000-career points in a Georgia State uniform, but it is safe to say he is shooting for the Panthers to win the Sun Belt Championship this year and possibly much more.

ABOUT ISAIAH WILLIAMS He played in his 100th-career game this year at Georgia State Finished second season at Georgia State averaging 7.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game Four-time Southern Conference Freshman of the Week (Samford University) 2014 Southern Conference AllFreshman Team (Samford) 2014 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year (Samford)

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018

15

Former Panther beating the odds

panther of the week

G League’s Jeremy Hollowell return to Atlanta pending JERELL RUSHIN Sports Editor

A

tlanta to Erie, Pennsylvania — the dream and reality of former Georgia State men’s basketball star Jeremy Hollowell.

Coincidence landed Hollowell in the northern, wintry-weather city playing for the Atlanta Hawks’ G League (formerly the NBA Development) affiliate, the Erie BayHawks.

Erie wasn’t just on Hollowell’s radar after leading Georgia State to a 20-win season as a senior in 2017.

“To tell you the truth, I was kind of looking at leaving and going overseas at the time,” Hollowell said. “I heard about the tryout and [Erie held it] at Georgia State. I stuck around because I knew wanted to go to it. I kept my faith strong and prepared for it. I attended it and it went pretty good; it went very good actually”.

Transparency became the name of the game.

After the tryouts, the Erie brass told Hollowell they would take him in the draft. Hollowell is the franchise’s first draft pick in team history at No. 18.

Erie is one of three expansion teams in the 20172018 season, the first of the rebranded G League.

Hollowell is undergoing a rebranding as well.

Basketball is a career for him now. Not that there’s much to do in Erie anyways, Hollowell says he sharpens up at the BayHawks’ workout center during his ‘free-time’, which really isn’t free.

“It’s a lot more attention to detail, a lot more traveling. Sometimes you’ll have a back-to-back.

You’ll play one day, and the next day you’ll have to lock in and focus a whole other team,” Hollowell said. “You may not have the time to prepare, so the scouting report and the film is something that you have to be locked into more as opposed to having a week in college and studying teams all week.”

Along with that, the competition is uncomparable as guys are still trying to make it to the next level — the NBA. Should Hollowell receive a call-up from the Atlanta Hawks, he’ll make a special round-trip.

"Atlanta is a place I’ll always cherish. It’s kinda like I’m trying to work my way back there. To

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

DEVIN MITCHELL MEN’S BASKETBALL

Jeremy Hollowell drives toward the basket during an NBA G League game

go from Georgia State to the Hawks would be absolutely insane,” Hollowell said.

While he’s working to return to Atlanta, Hollowell is coming across plenty of familiar faces.

His grandparents make a short hour-long trip from Cleveland, Ohio to watch him compete.

Fellow Panther R.J. Hunter faced off against Hollowell in January, each scoring 18 apiece.

Hollowell and Hunter’s history begins in Indiana, dating back to the third grade. He’s competed against a number of Sun Belt peers as well.

“To run back across against those guys, it’s been humbling and at the same time it shows that I’m in kind of in the right place at the right time, you can’t really rush things. Just glad to be where I am and look forward to forwarding my career,” Hollowell said.

Hollowell’s position looks ideal right now, but the journey was far from it. Overcoming the bumps on the road is Hollowell’s favorite memory

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ERIE BAYHAWKS

since furthering his career.

Nearing the the end of his fifth year in school, Hollowell locked into completing his degree-- and admittingly fell out of shape. Hollowell couldn’t take advantage of his workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.

“Then, people would look at me like, so ‘You had those workouts, but how did they go? They must not have went well,’” Hollowell said. “They just didn’t really know the whole jist of it. So it looked like my chances of making it were slim.”

He came out unscathed.

“I just kept my faith, I got my degree finished.

After I got my degree finished I was able to focus on playing basketball.”

Hollowell is averaging 8.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 45.1 percent shooting. This high flight with the BayHawks may soar him back into downtown with the Atlanta Hawks.

Softball Season Preview: Eyes on first place

Talented Panthers aim to exceed Sun Belt coaches’ expectations TAJ STRICKLAND & JERELL RUSHIN Staff Reporter & Sports Editor

S

oftball season goes into full effect as the Georgia State Panthers look to start the year off with a bang in the USF series. The Panthers were voted to finish third place in the Sun Belt in the preseason coaches’ poll.

Seniors standouts Ivie Drake and Megan Litumbe were named to the preseason All Sun Belt team for the second consecutive season.

Coach Roger Kincaid, who has a record of 211138 throughout his coaching career at Georgia State, emphasized the importance of winning the Sun Belt Conference title.

“I think it is of most importance and our ticket to an NCAA regional,” said Kincaid. If the Panthers win the Sun Belt, they won’t have to rely on a committee to vote them into a regional.

Last season, Georgia State played in the Sun Belt Championship against UT Arlington in a tight 9-8 loss. Then they were voted in by the NCAA Division I Softball Committee to participate in the National Invitational Softball Championships.

After losing to Kennesaw State earlier in the NISC Region 5 tournament, the Panthers fell to them again in the title game.

Coach Kincaid talked about how he and his team do not dwell on past, but use the past as a learning tool.

“Not to say you do not learn from the past, but, when we get to that point against them, we will have some scouting information,” said Kincaid.

He acknowledged the need to finish games when it gets very close like the two games against Kennesaw State.

Kincaid has the team to do so this year with boatloads of experience returning. Sixteen players who were part of the 2017 (36-25, 18-9) team are on the 2018 roster.

Senior Kinsley Jennings, the 2017 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year led a pitching unit who looks to improve upon their seventh-place conference finish in ERA. Jennings’ 3.34 ERA and 18 wins were an integral part of her campaign as the Panthers’ top option.

However, hitting should be the team’s strength again this season with six returning starters on offense. Georgia State was exceptional at putting the ball in play, finishing first in hits (508) and

second in batting average (.300) in the Sun Belt.

Litumbe recorded 22 homers in 2017, tying the single-season school record held by Drake.

Litumbe also holds Georgia State’s career homerun record with 53 homers in just three seasons..

“It is a pretty cool stat, but I just try to help my team win in any way,” said Litumbe.

Litumbe described her and Drake’s relationship as friendly competition. Both Drake and Litumbe know that they push one another to be better, which ultimately betters the entire team as the leaders.

Drake has 47 homers in her career, good for second in Georgia State history. She’s also first in batting average (.407), second in runs scored (168) Although she is very team-oriented and unselfish, she talked about finishing her career strong.

“I just want to leave a legacy like [Coach] Roger,” said Litumbe. She also holds the single season record in slugging percentage (.826) and owns fourth in RBIs with 60 in both 2015 and 2017.

The Panthers open the season with a doubleheader in the USF Series on Feb. 9 against No. 18 Michigan and South Florida.

Junior Devin Mitchell scored a career-high 38 points in Georgia State’s 81-51 win over Little Rock last Saturday. Mitchell’s 38 is a Georgia State player’s eighth-most in history. He shot an absurd 12-16 from the field including 10 threepointers, the second-most in the NCAA this season.

His 20 first half points outscored Little Rock’s top scorer. Mitchell owns the Georgia State season-high in points. His six defensive rebounds was a gamehigh as well. Last Thursday, Mitchell tallied eight points, four steals and three steals against Arkansas State.

SPORTS BRIEFS Men’s Basketball — Georgia State is on a ninegame winning streak. Topped Arkansas State 77-66 behind D’Marcus Simonds’ 21 points and Malik Benlevi’s doubledouble. Devin Mitchell scored a career-high 38 points in a 81-51 schelacking of Little Rock.

Women’s Basketball — Dropped two road games, falling to 5-17 overall. Fourthstraight Sun Belt loss moves Panthers to 1-10. Minali had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds against Arkansas State. Lost by just four to 11-0 in-conference Little Rock.

correction — 1.30 Sports Men's tennis has championship talent

Pictured is Kevin Huynh at practice during the 2016-2017 season.

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