Vol. 91 No. 9

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THE BLOTTER

February 6, 2024

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

CRIME BLOTTER

FEB 5TH

FEB 3RD

FEB 2ND

“As good a place as any.”

“What floor did I park on?”

“This is definitely my car."

On Monday, Feb. 5th around 6:30 PM a nonGSU individual defecated in a trash can. This occurred in the Arts and Humanities building.

On Friday, Feb 3rd at 7:19 PM, a non-GSU individual was arrested for trespassing at M Deck.

On Thursday, Feb 2nd a GSU staff member was the victim of a car break in at A deck. The investigation is still active.

NEWS BRIEFS

LOCAL

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

First Lady Biden coming to Atlanta Feb. 7th

Tech CEOs dragged before Senate Judiciary Commitee

120 dead in Chile wildfire

On Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden will be coming to Atlanta to give remarks on women's health in Georgia. This visit is part of the White House's initiative to improve women's health nationally. Health outcomes across the country have been the worst among developed countries for a long time. This trend can be seen more clearly in specifically women's health outcomes in things like prenatal care and delivery. Atlanta, and more broadly Georgia, was labeled as the worst state for health care in a recent Forbes study. This placement was made considering several factors such as cost, coverage and mortality rates for major diseases.

Another high-profile senate hearing just wrapped up as CEOs of large tech companies were asked to testify in conjunction with a set of new regulatory laws proposed by the Senate.

Among the CEOs of companies like X, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, not all came willingly. The CEO of Discord was one of a few who had to be subpoenaed before attending. Speaking toward the proposed regulatory laws, many people have spoken out, stating that these laws infringe on the First Amendment rights by empowering the censorship capabilities of these large companies without addressing the root causes of why these issues exist in our society.

A few days ago, a fire broke out from the residence of a Chilean man doing some welding work. The fire has now spread up and down the country's coast, claiming over 120 lives as of Monday with more likely to come. Of the reported 161 active fires, 102 of them have been contained while the country's emergency response teams fight the remaining 59. The blaze has wiped out several coastal tourist towns, and displaced thousands.

These fires come on the heels of an already sweltering summer spurred on by El Niño. This is but one of a recent series of wild fires that have erupted in increasing numbers around the world in the past year.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Photo by Trent Legaspi | The Signal

Recent bout of warm weather gives Panthers hope for a quick return to Spring temperatures.

NEWS

February 6, 2024

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

May the odds be ever in your favor...

Housing's new lottery process recieves backlash from students EMILY WAHNER Staff Reporter

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Many skycrapers in Atlanta stand abandoned for many years

PHOTO BY NOAH ZECHES| THE SIGNAL

Long abandoned tower getting and giving others a second lease on life

City launches plan to convert 2 Peachtree Street into affordable housing DAVID HOFFMAN Staff Reporter

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long-forgotten staple of downtown Atlanta is getting new renovations to convert it into affordable housing.

2 Peachtree Street is a 41-story skyscraper that sits right along Five Points at the corner of Peachtree Street and Marietta Street. The iconic downtown landmark was built in 1966 and held the title of the tallest building in the city until 1976.

The building has changed hands several times throughout its history.

Initially constructed as the headquarters for First Atlanta, it was later purchased by the state of Georgia and converted into government offices. During the pandemic, the state moved its offices out of the building, leaving many of its floors empty.

Last year, the city of Atlanta partnered with Invest Atlanta, an economic development agency, and purchased the building from the state for $39 million. The partnership hopes to turn the skyscraper into office spaces, retail and affordable housing.

“This historic purchase is an investment in downtown Atlanta and a huge leap forward in our plan towards 20,000 affordable housing units,” wrote Atlanta’s Mayor Andre Dickens in a press release shortly after the purchase.

“I am grateful for the partnership with Invest Atlanta on the acquisition of 2 Peachtree Street, which provides us with a unique opportunity to address both

our need for mixed-income housing at MARTA stations and move us closer to our vision of a world-class downtown area.”

The upcoming housing development aims to offer rental options across different price ranges, catering to lowincome individuals, students, and those seeking market-rate housing. Invest Atlanta anticipates that the project will provide a total of 625 housing units, including 222 affordable units. There are also plans to include a 65-unit apartment building for seniors adjacent to 2 Peachtree.

14 Marietta Street, which used to be home to Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Public Policy is among the buildings being renovated alongside 2 Peachtree. Plans for the Marietta Street building have yet to be announced.

The project is one of many steps being taken to increase the amount of affordable housing within the city, with Dickens setting a goal of providing 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030.

Dickens is hopeful that this housing development will help bring more people downtown.

“The transformation of 2 Peachtree Street is potentially our most ambitious affordable housing undertaking, providing connectivity between housing units and transit while breathing new life into downtown Atlanta.”

Egbert Perry, head of the

development team leading the project wrote in a statement his hopes for the building, and how it’ll affect the city.

“The vision for 2 Peachtree Street is not just about building or repositioning structures but creating a community that resonates with the heart of Atlanta," wrote Perry. "We are committed to honoring Atlanta's rich history while embracing its dynamic future."

Other members of this development team include Lalani Ventures, the owner of Underground Atlanta, as well as T. Dallas Smith & Co. Details about specific businesses and retail stores that will be implemented into the project have yet to be released, however, in May of last year, Invest Atlanta issued a request for information (RFI) for suggestions on what the first five floors of the building should be used for.

Dr. Eloisa Klementich the CEO of Invest Atlanta shared her thoughts on the building alongside the mayor in a press release published earlier this year.

"What captivates me the most with the project is the commitment to equitable downtown revitalization, the promise of more affordable housing, and the exciting potential for mixed-use spaces that will further the vibrancy of the area,” said Klementich. “2 Peachtree is poised to become a model of what transformative development can create for cities and their communities."

eorgia State University Housing announced a new lottery process to determine housing assignments for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Instead of first come first serve, whether students or not students will be placed in dorms will be chosen at random. This has led to a lot of feelings of uncertainty for students who depend on on-campus housing.

Georgia State emphasized that this new process is random.

“With this process, it is important to note that being among the first to apply does not guarantee you a room assignment, lottery selection, or specific room type. Anyone who applies during the timeframe listed above (Jan 22-26, 2024) has the same chance to be selected for the lottery.”

Christopher Wiggins, a second-year at State, is looking to live in Commons or Lofts.

“It's unfair for all of the students who need housing and incoming freshmen,” he says. “For the people who do get chosen, I hope they get to choose what they get and that it’s not last minute.”

Students who live out of state or too far to commute depend on housing to ensure affordable access to living on campus. With the lottery in place, this increases uncertainty. As a response, a petition was made.

Located on Change.org, the petition currently has 1,389 signatures. The page also explains their response.

“Georgia State University is home to over 53,000 students, many of whom rely on on-campus housing as an affordable and convenient option.

However, with the current lottery-based allocation process, there is no guarantee that these students will secure a place each year.”

Christopher questions the university’s decision on the

change, wondering what the outcome will be.

“We can try as much as we want, but what will it do? Or who are we going up against?” he asks.

I don't know why they introduced the housing lottery as if the way they have been doing housing selection in the past was proven not to work. Even if we get rid of this, are they just going back to what they were doing? What's going on?”

Applicants have already received the notification as of January 30th regarding the updated system. Housing sent out a frequently asked questions document after the lottery announcement detailing that the University is prioritizing returning students and first-years.

“The returning housing application process in the previous year guaranteed 1500 returning residents to participate in room selection. University Housing is pleased that we can increase that initial number to 1800,” the document said. “In fact, we offer a higher percentage of housing spaces to returning residents when compared to other large public institutions. Like most universities nationwide, University Housing does prioritize first-year students.”

Despite the change, many students are still glad that there are housing options at all. Christopher believes that it’s better than commuting.

“It kind of makes you have second thoughts but I am more concerned about not having to commute so I’m just happy that there is housing at Georgia State,” he says. “Even as chaotic as it is, I would still prefer to have housing.”

Currently, the new lottery system is still set to be the process for students to receive housing for Fall 2024.

OPINIONS

February 6, 2024

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What does MLK day mean now?

A look at whether a day of remembrance has been reduced to just a three-day weekend MAYSA OSMAN Staff Columnist

E

very third Monday of January, we get a three-day weekend that we all eagerly look forward to. We get the third Monday of January off because of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for civil rights. However, an overwhelming majority of us have just reduced his day of commemoration to just a three-day weekend.

Most educational institutions have significantly failed to teach their students about Dr. King, the struggles he endured, the battles he fought, and the importance of his actions. Our capitalistic society constantly attempts to use his day to boost sales by offering discounts on things not affiliated with his legacy.

Teaching institutions usually ignore the contributions of Dr. King, and then on the third Tuesday of January and in February, they would cherry-pick the parts of his legacy to teach, which are always limited to the "I Have a Dream," the Letter from Birmingham Jail, the assassination, The Civil Rights Act, and some other superficial stories.

Throughout my entire school experience, from middle school to college, I have only been taught about Dr. King during his day of commemoration and during Black History Month in February. The textbooks that featured him, were all alike and mainly focused on his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, his arrests, and the rallies he led.

From my experience, those textbooks have failed to dive into Dr. King's character, they failed to draw a clear image from the beginning of his advocacy work until the end, and they were unable to connect his progress in terms of where he left off and where the next generation should pick up in the pursuit of equality because the fight is not over.

This year marks 60 decades since the Civil Rights Act passed and since Dr. King delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. However, inequality and racism are still present in our society. If not present explicitly, it is present in our system through redlining, the criminal justice system, homeownership, healthcare disparities, voter suppression, and the list goes on.

Every third Monday of January, I always ask myself, "If Dr. King were alive today, what would he say about the current state of inequality in the United States?" The question always resurfaces in my head at least a few times annually, and I avoid it because I know the answer is not a pleasant one.

On every third Monday in January, with a feeling of guilt, I follow the masses and participate in service projects that aren't directly related to the work of Dr. King. I help MLK's hosue fenced in after attempted arson attack PHOTO BY BIZUNESH KEITH | THE SIGNAL package food for shelters, sort books for charities, or volunteer at a religious service like I do at least a dozen times a year instead of doing something directly related to Dr. King's advocacy work, such as picking up the fight for equality from where he left off.

I realize that as students or just ordinary people, there isn't much we can do, but when it comes to lawmakers, I am baffled by their inaction. How come they dare to quote` Dr. King every year and post his portrait to their social media followers, but they can't do anything to end systemic racism like they promised they would before getting elected?

For instance, the death of George Floyd in the hands of a Minnesota police officer has moved the nation, and many congress members vowed to take action. However, it has been almost four years since H.R.1280, also known as the George Floyd Bill, was introduced in the House. H.R. 1280 is designated to enhance police training, ensure police accountability, and ban a few methods of force that officers in most states use. Ironically, the bill has yet to make it beyond the Senate. I wish every third Monday of January would be used to reflect on Dr. King's "Dream" and not just be seen as a three-day weekend.

Tortuguitas lasting impact

Remembering the life of the environmental activist who was murdered while protecting Atlanta’s South River Forest

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MARIA SPONAR Staff Columnist

wo weeks ago, the entire world grieved the anniversary of the tragic and untimely demise of Manuel “Tortuguita” Esteban Paez Terán. On January 18th, 2023, Tortuguita, an indigenous and non-binary environmental rights activist, had their life stripped away after being shot by Georgia State Patrol a staggering 57 times. They were only 26 years old.

Tortuguita centralized their life around helping marginalized communities and defending the planet by joining organizations whose goals aligned with defending oppressed communities and the forest. One of those organizations included “Food Not Bombs”, which helped feed the homeless. Every moment Tortuguita spent on this Earth was to help others – even with growing out their hair, which they did in hopes of being able to donate it to children with cancer later on.

On the day of their fateful passing, Tortuguita was peacefully protesting the implementation of what activists call “Cop City”, a police training center that was going to be constructed in Atlanta’s South River Forest, demolishing 85 acres worth of natural resources and replacing it with firing ranges, mock villages for raid training, and other militarized police facilities.

The environmental and social devastation that this Cop City would give Atlanta was immediately apparent to activists. The destruction of the South River Forest (named initially the Weelaunee Forest by the Muscogee tribe), also known as the “lungs of Atlanta” due to its crucial role in providing the city with clean air, would immediately disproportionately affect Atlanta residents, particularly surrounding Black communities, who also rely on the forest as flood prevention.

Atlanta residents were joined by thousands of fellow forest defenders and Indigenous rights activists from all across the country who want to stop Cop City from happening. On

January 18th, 2023, protesters gathered around the forest in the hopes of defending this beloved woodland — and instead faced the horror of watching a fellow protester get murdered for allegedly firing at one of the police officers on the site.

Dr. Kris Sperry, who conducted an independent autopsy two months after Toruguita’s death, concluded that at the time of their death, they were very likely to have been in a seated, cross-legged position, with their hands in the air. This does not comply with what Georgia State Patrol officers are said to have believed at the time of the shooting, despite later body cam footage released from the Atlanta Police Department catching officers insinuating that it could have come from friendly fire.

Dr. Sperry also reported that regardless of the APD’s claims that they allegedly fired first, there was no gunpowder residue seen on Paez Teran’s hands. Months later, a 31-page report that detailed the underlying evidence following their killing was never released, and to this day, no policemen have been or likely will be charged with Tortuguita's killing.

The injustice behind such a tragic death still strikes the hearts of millions of forest defenders and activists across the world who continue to fight for what Tortuguita so selflessly dedicated their life to. On the first anniversary of their death, hundreds of people held a candlelit vigil honoring the life of Tortuguita.

Tortuguita’s death will forever be remembered as utterly devastating and a catastrophic loss to millions of people who connect with their way of life. They will always be remembered as someone who fought for the rights of the environment and the marginalized until the very end. However, beneath all of the grief, their spirit lives on in the thousands of activists who continue to fight for Atlanta’s forest to stay untouched by the police. Their message that the forest must be protected still rings from the voices of those who continue to protest, who now proudly parade streets chanting, “Viva, viva, Tortuguita!”.

Spread : Arts and Living

February 6, 2024

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Podcast Warriors, a TV show made by students Serial TV Production begins work on a new series and gives our Panthers an opportunity to gain experience in the television industry MERISSA WARE

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Arts and Living Editor

he art of filmmaking brings together storytellers, creators and makers of all kinds.

Here at Georgia State University, many talented and hardworking Panthers in the School of Film, Media, and Theatre are passionate and serious about their craft. Among the various classes the school has to offer, there is one class that provides hands-on experience with a web series made by students, called Serial TV Production.

Serial TV Production is a production class taught by Philip Lewis where students each take on important roles in the making of an episodic series. There are roles in camera operating, lighting, audio, acting, and marketing that students can be a part of. The class takes place on Fridays and is structured so that seven episodes will be filmed within a semester’s fourteen weeks. On production days an entire episode is filmed in one day. Serial TV Production provides students with set and production experience that is valuable as aspiring filmmakers preparing for the workforce.

Students will also be getting IMDB credit for their work on this series.

Speaking to the benefits of this class Lewis had this to say, “I think it’s great for students to be able to utilize their production skills that they have been learning in class in a real-life situation. It teaches you how to be efficient and get your job done quickly and well. They are constantly planning, location scouting, getting new equipment, getting insurance and getting ready for the next episode.”

The show that this class is working on is called Podcast Warriors. Podcast Warriors is a comedy/drama that follows a group of friends as they, after several attempts, make a podcast that becomes popular and eventually gets the attention of their right-winged mayor. Podcast Warriors will be finished in a rough cut form by April and it

will be polished over the summer with sound design, color correction, and more before its September publish date.

The first episode was filmed on Friday, January 26.

In the class, they use a call sheet that tells everyone when they need to be on set. Different teams work together on the day of filming and all play important roles to make sure everything is running smoothly.

When describing what Podcast Warriors is about, Professor Lewis said, “It’s about a group of misfit Gen Z students at a university who decide to make a podcast about hair and make and that fails miserably, so they decide to do a cooking show. That fails miserably as well but they seem to be getting an audience. That audience puts in a request for them to try to solve some of the city's problems. So, they use the power of podcasting to have a community discussion about the problems in the city and how to solve them. Somewhere along the line, the mayor starts listening to the podcast and starts making policy about the podcast discussion.”

Actress Daya Lora, who plays Amanda, shared some insightful information about her experience in Serial TV Production and how she’s enjoying this experience so far. Daya said, “This is my first time that I get to work in a serial production, so it’s good to see how we prepare for each individual episode and the entire production overall.”

Daya shares how she didn’t have a lot of on-camera footage that she could use for her acting reel, but because of this class, she now does. Daya also shared who her character is and what her personality is like.

“Amanda is a communications major who is very spiritual and outgoing. She feels this need for human connection, activism, and justice, which is something we will notice more towards the end of the show.

Right now, we are getting to know this creative and outgoing side of her. I definitely want to make sure all the outfits that she uses are very unique and talk a lot about her personally and I hope everyone gets to see that.”

The students are learning a lot about real-world situations while taking this class. After speaking with the marketing team, they said that they have learned how to have adaptability after they’ve dealt with a few issues with their social media accounts for the show either being banned or hacked. They also will take away some valuable experience gained from being a part of the class.

Sage Hathaway, one of the students currently working on the marketing team for the series, had this to say about the things she’s learned from being on set.

“I will take away how to work on a set and the feeling of working on a set and how to work through issues that appear.”

Corbin Mobley, another student in the marketing team, added to this.

“I’ve never worked on a set before so, I’m glad I was able to get into this class because it will help me at least get a general idea of how things are supposed to roll and what is expected of you.”

When discussing what can be taken away from being in Serial TV Production, Hathaway said, “We get really good on-set experience and we’re getting IMDB credit which is one thing that I really love because I can put that on my resume. It is, in my experience, so hard to get a job in general in Atlanta, and getting a film job is even more competitive. So, just having base-level knowledge doesn’t do much but once you have that credit and that experience that you worked on an actual production, you can actually do something with that.”

After speaking with 2nd Assistant Director, Lehee Freeman, she shared how it is a really special experience to be involved in this production.

“It’s been an incredible opportunity because it’s a student-led class and our director is our teacher. It’s really a lot of communicating and teamwork and every person on this team is so talented and it’s like a big team effort, so it’s really cool. Sometimes I sit in the class and I’m like wow, we're all college students but we sound like we’ve been doing this for years.”

The first time the Serial TV Production class was held was four years ago. On the class catalog, there was a Serial TV Production class, but nobody was teaching it. Professor Lewis then told a student to write a few episodes and it was titled The Tour, a comedy about tour guides at a second-rate University that always had the bad kids that got them into trouble. The Tour was the first series made by Serial TV Production.

Since then, the second series made from this class was a murder mystery titled, Murder in B Flat Minor.

This series has been published for approximately six months. It lasted for three seasons, culminating in a big finale in season three.

Lewis was in the film industry for over a dozen years and worked at companies such as CBS, NBC, TNT and Sony Pictures. He is the undergraduate director for the School of Film, Media, and Theatre and he is in charge of the internship program connecting students with production companies, casting agencies, etc.

Georgia, and to a greater extent Atlanta, is a hotbed for the production of feature films and television. That demand will only increase as time goes on, and classes like Serial TV Production give our students a chance to get their foot in the door in a real way.

Podcast Warriors will likely run semester to semester just as Murder in B Flat Minor did. As students graduate and rotate out of the class, more will come to continue the series. To keep up with the progress of these students throughout the semester, follow their social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok @_podcastwarriors.

PHOTO BY NOAH ZECHES | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

February 6, 2024

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And the Oscar nominees are…

People are abuzz as the 96th Academy Awards get underway MERISSA WARE Arts and Living Editor

I

t has almost been a century since the Oscars started, as this year will be the 96th Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It will be hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who is a fourth-time host as he hosted the 2017, 2018, and 2023 ceremonies.

The Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Actors Jack Quaid and Zazie Beetz announced The nominations on January 23 in Beverly Hills at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The two movies of the summer, Barbie and Oppenheimer, both received twenty-one nominations. Barbie received eight and Oppenheimer received thirteen. Both films are in six categories together, including Best Picture.

With the announcement of the Barbie movie’s nominations came some confusion and uproar from fans. Ryan Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and America Ferrera was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie, was not nominated for best director, and Margot Robbie, stereotypical Barbie, was not nominated for best actress.

Ryan Gosling said in a statement, “I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d being saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.” Gosling also said, "But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone in the film without their talent, grit and genius.

To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement."

NPR’s host of Pop Culture Happy Hour Linda Holmes said, "I would have loved to see Gerwig and Robbie nominated for directing and performance, but I'm glad they got other nominations."

"It's complicated," Holmes said, "because people think of

movies as directors' projects, so how can you be nominated for best picture and not best director?”

The nominees in the best actress category are Annette Bening from Nyad, Lily Gladstone from Killers of the Flower Moon, Sandra Hüller for Anatomy of a Fall, Carey Mulligan for Maestro and Emma Stone for Poor Things. The nominees in the best director category are Jonathan Glazer for The Zone of Interest, Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things, Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer, and Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon. One female, Justine Triet, was nominated for best director for Anatomy of a Fall.

Despite some of the confusion and disagreement following the announcement of the nominations, there were a few record-breaking nominations this year. Lily Gladstone became the first Indigenous American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award with her Best Actress nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon. There are a record number of acting nominees featuring LGBTQ+ characters including Emma Stone, Jodie Foster, Annette Bening, Sterling K. Brown, Cooper, Colman Domingo, and Sandra Hüller.

John Williams holds the record for most Oscar nominations held by a living person by receiving his 54th nomination. He also holds the record for the oldest nominee at 91 years old. Ten actors received their first Oscar nominations this year including Danielle Brooks, Cillian Murphy, Jeffrey Wright, Brown, Domingo, America Ferrera, Gladstone, Hüller, Emily Blunt, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Two directors received their first nominations Jonathan Glazer and Justine Triet. Both directors This year’s nominations are calling attention to women in film. This is the first year that three female directors received Best Picture nominations: Triet with Anatomy of a Fall, Gerwig with Barbie and Song with Past Lives. Seven of the ten films nominated for Best Picture have at least one female producer, including Thomas for Oppenheimer, Robbie for Barbie and Durning and Macosko Krieger for Maestro.

Technology increasingly has a impact on way we create art

ILLUSTRATION BY SHEMAR DEBELLOTTE | THE SIGNAL

The intersection of art and technology

The influence of technology on artistic expression and consumption

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MACKENZIE SUTTON Staff Reporter n the rapidly evolving world of 2024, the influence of technology extends far beyond smartphones and computers. It has spread to many areas, including art. This interesting mix of art and technology has led to new ways of making, showing and enjoying art, changing how we see and appreciate it. The digital age has mixed up the lines between different types of art. Now, artists can use things like sound, light and movement in their work. The mix of art and technology is creating new ways for artists to be creative.

Technology has had a profound impact on how we display art.

Traditional galleries and museums have made way for digital spaces, offering virtual tours that allow individuals around the world to appreciate works of art without leaving their homes. This not only democratizes art consumption by making it accessible to all, regardless of location, but it also allows artists to reach a global audience, broadening their influence and impact. This shows how art and technology are closely linked.

This is a very exciting time for artists and people who love art. Because of technology, artists can explore in ways they never could before. We can't wait to see what this means for the future of art.

Digitizing of art

Digital tools and software have

created a new type of artist. These artists use these tools to make complex artworks that can't be made with traditional mediums. Examples of this include digital art, 3D printing, virtual reality, digital age film, etc. These technologies have greatly increased what artists can do.

Take digital art, for instance, it is a place where artists can push the boundaries of their creativity to new extremes, creating works that are intricate and sometimes even interactive. The use of software allows for complexity that simply cannot be achieved with traditional tools, opening up an entirely new array of possibilities for artistic expression.

3D printing, on the other hand, has revolutionized sculpture and other forms of physical art. Artists can now design their works digitally and then bring them to life in three dimensions with a level of detail and precision that was previously unattainable.

This not only expands the range of what artists can create but also opens up opportunities for collaborations between artists and technologists.

Digital filmmaking

Film is a special way of telling stories that combines art and technology. It uses different parts like writing, acting, filming, editing and sound to create a full experience. This lets viewers feel like they're in different places, times and realities.

Film can make us feel many emotions, think deeply and start conversations. It lets artists talk about everything from personal stories to big social issues. By using visuals, sound and storytelling in creative ways, filmmakers can make stories that connect with people on a personal level.

The accessibility of art and technology on campus can enable students to experiment with new mediums and techniques, potentially sparking new passions and career paths. The fusion of art and technology can also prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital landscape, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and contribute to the future of creative industries.

An example of this intersection of art and technology on campus is the student-led feature film, "Rejuvenation." This film, which premiered at the Rialto Center for the Arts on Oct. 5, 2023, represents creative expression and technical skill.

Art and technology together show the endless possibilities of human creativity. The mix of art and technology brings new ideas, pushes limits and makes us think differently about art. It's not just changing the art world, but also showing us new parts of it. The mix of art and technology keeps creating new things, changing limits and opening new worlds in art.

SPORTS

February 6, 2024

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Braves reload for 2024

Offseason overhaul targets bullpen, outfield, and core contracts

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D.J. SMITH Sports Reporter

Raheem Morris returns to Atlanta to hopefully turn the teams fortunes around

PHOTO BY KARA DURRETTE | ATLANTA FALCONS

HC Raheem Morris bolsters Falcons' new regime

Former interim HC back in Atlanta after 3 seasons as Rams DC QUINN SOCKMAN Staff Reporter

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fter a three-year stint as Los Angeles Rams DC, former Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris is returning to Atlanta. Owner Arthur Blank was quick to strike, hiring Morris just 12 days after the Rams' loss to the Lions in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The twotime Super Bowl champion is widely regarded as one of the top defensive coaches in the NFL and has a coaching career spanning 25 years Alongside Head Coach Morris, the Falcons have also brought in Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson who coached with Morris in Los Angeles.

Following his signing to the Falcons, Morris received praise from many of his former players on social media. Dolphins star CB Jalen Ramsey praised Coach Morris as “one of, if not the best coach in the NFL,” citing their two seasons together, during which Ramsey earned honors as an All-Pro selection in 2021 and Pro Bowl selection in both seasons.

In 2022, Morris’ defense brought the Rams a Super Bowl win, allowing just 20 points to a thriving Bengals offense, slowing the previously unstoppable connection between Joe Burrow

and Ja’Marr Chase.

This past season, Morris coached the Ram's defense to win their way into a 10-7 record, earning a sixth-seed playoff spot. Injuries plagued the Rams’ offense, putting immense pressure on Morris and the defense to dial up pressure in the frequent passrush situations. Aging defensive tackle Aaron Donald was often double teamed forcing Morris to make hefty substitutions and creative pass-rush stunts on the defensive line.

With Morris at the helm, the Falcons aim to make significant changes on both sides of the ball, focusing on addressing the quarterback situation as soon as possible. Having failed to draft a quarterback to replace Ridder before his sophomore season, Falcons fans voiced their frustrations with former Head Coach Arthur Smith.

Again this season, they missed the playoffs and possess a top10 pick; however, if the Falcons want their choice rookie QB in the draft, Morris and Blank will have to negotiate possible trades to move up. The problem is the Falcons haven’t traded up in the first round since selecting Kaleb McGary in 2019 and getting high draft capital is especially

challenging in this year’s draft due to an abundance of rookie talent and at least five teams in need of a starting-quality quarterback.

Another approach Morris could take in addressing the quarterback situation is through free agency acquisition or trading for a QB with an expiring contract. The pool of talent is quite shallow, with Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield headlining the free-agent market. If Mayfield re-signs with the Buccaneers, the Falcons might be left with Cousins or a trade target like the young and unproven QB in Justin Fields.

Morris has experience in coaching both offense and defense. Falcons fans should be particularly excited about his complex attacking style passrush, a culture he successfully implemented both in Los Angeles and during his previous tenure in Atlanta.

Similar to the 2023 Rams, the Falcons currently have multiple veteran defensive linemen (Calais Campbell and Grady Jarrett), giving Morris the task of getting creative on the defensive line. The Falcons may look to sign/draft for depth on the D-line, but the aging talent is very promising with the

fter compiling 104 wins and the top record in the National League, the Atlanta Braves’ postseason run did not go as planned. Following a three-to-one loss against the Phillies in the divisional series, Atlanta has been busy during the offseason, making numerous moves as they look to win their fifth World Series next season.

The Braves began the offseason with a focus on strengthening the bullpen, adding impactful arms to the roster. Key moves included signing pitcher Reynaldo López with a three-year deal, as well as the re-signing of Joe Jiménez and Pierce Johnson. Atlanta also engaged in trades to acquire a pair of southpaws in Aaron Bummer and Ray Kerr.

The bullpen moves don’t stop there. Atlanta also traded for seven-time all-star pitcher Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom. Sale has dished out over 2,000 strikeouts in his career and looks to be the new ace for the Braves. He joins the star-studded rotation of Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton.

The Braves also signed former New York Mets infielder Luis Guillorme to a one-year deal to replace Grissom.

Guillorme was a utility for the Mets, making appearances at second base, shortstop and third base.

Off the mound, Atlanta looks to find a new solution for the vacancy in left field. In recent years, the left field position has been occupied by a left-handed and right-handed twoman rotation, but the question of what the Braves plan to do this

year remains unanswered.

Since last season, they’ve acquired outfielders Jarred Kelenic and J.P. Martinez to compete for the starting spot.

The outfield is among the least of the Braves’ worries, with their latest acquisitions set to complement the reigning NL MVP, Rondald Acuña Jr. in right field, and a rising star in Michael Harris II, patrolling centerfield.

While Atlanta has been assembling a new 40man roster on the field, they’ve also been handling business in the front office as well.

The Braves extended the contract of president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos through the 2031 season. Along with six consecutive division titles in each of his six seasons with the organization.

Despite the various offseason transactions, Anthopoulos has successfully secured long-term contracts for the core players who played a pivotal role in leading the Braves to a postseason run in 2023.

This essential group consists of third baseman Austin Riley, catcher Sean Murphy, first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Harris II and Acuña Jr. “I think you can always improve or make changes that are beneficial to you,” manager Brian Snitker said. “If we went to spring training tomorrow, I’d feel really good about who we have in tow right now.

I feel really good about our team. It’s a group of driven guys.”

The Braves travel to Tampa Bay on Feb. 24 to take on the Rays in their first spring training game and defend their NL East Division title.

The Kickback

February 6, 2024

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Snack and Study 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Dahlberg Hall - Room 134

Bring Your A-Game to Your Career w/ the Atlanta Hawks 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 25 Park Place Suite 111

Food Truck Thursday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Hurt Park

First Pitch Friday: University Edition 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 55 Park Place Room 1106

Leadership DNA: Why Your Leadership Matters 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Student Center West Room 475

Be You Be Well: FREE HIV & STD Testing 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Student Center East Multicultural Center

Exploring The Music of Latin America 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Student Center East Room 210

FEB 9

THURSDAY FEB 8

WEDNESDAY FEB 7

TUESDAY

Block Party!

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Unity Plaza

SUNDAY

MONDAY

GSU Panthers vs Miami (OH) RedHawks!

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM GSU Convocation Center

Enjoy Your Weekend!

All Day

#HealthyStatePanthers February: Love Your Body 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Dahlberg Hall Veteran's Memorial Auditorium

FEB 12

SATURDAY FEB 11

FEB 10

FEB 6

THE KICKBACK

Culture Café on the Go: Recreation Center 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Recreation Center Main Lobby

Puzzle #1

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