The Signal Vol. 85 No. 1

AUG. 22 - AUG. 29, 2017

VOL. 85 | NO. 1

/gsusignal

@gsusignal

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS | THE SIGNAL COVER DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

THE MONEY STRUGGLE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FOODIES UNITE

THE FOOTBALL ISSUE

Increase in tuition is raising concerns among students.

Georgia State is a great place to call home, so don't be afraid to experience all it has to offer!

Fill your belly with new munchies around Downtown Atlanta.

What Quarterback Manning thinks it takes to get Georgia State to a bowl game.

NEWS | PAGE 4 WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

OPINION | PAGE 8

News 3

ARTS & LIVING | PAGE 10

OPINION 7

Arts & Living 9

SPORTS | PAGE 16

Sports 15

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

NEWS www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

GEORGIA STATE STUDENTS LIVING THE SUITE LIFE

Over 400 students will call the Sheraton hotel home for the next week and a half as Georgia State works on rooming accommodations for those affected by the overflow.

CHRISTINA MAXOURIS Editor-in-Chief

G

eorgia State students have started moving into the Sheraton as part of Georgia State’s ‘overflow plan’ to accommodate as many students into housing as possible. Many of those affected have taken to Twitter to protest the university’s practices, but the housing department claims it was all planned — and will all work out.

HOW APPLICATIONS WORK(ED)

In previous years, the university housing system had installed a system where applications shut down when the maximum housing capacity of students was reached. But, after cancellations and drop-outs, that left housing with over 100 vacancies at a time.

“We didn't know how many people were interested [last year] because we didn't receive any applications. So it's difficult to predict and project demand particularly for an instance like this,” University Housing Director Randy Brown said. “The size of a building, how much we charge, a lot of it is based on demand, so if you don’t have the applications to support it, why would you build an 1152 beds [building] when you didn’t have the applications.”

Plus, Brown said, they wanted to make sure more students stayed in housing because they’ve seen a direct positive relationship between students who stay in dorms and higher grades, healthier social lives, and overall student success in college.

The waitlist became the framework for letting students keep applying, so that the office would recognize the demand as they received applications. But then again, the problem with wait lists, Brown said, is that a lot of students could not afford to wait.

“When you go to a waitlist you then have to make plans for something else,” he said, referring to a large portion of out-of-state students, who could not afford to wait around for Georgia State.

What wait lists meant for Georgia State is that they were unable to retain a large portion of the students placed on the waitlist, as they made other plans, switched to other schools or found nearby apartments. So they came up with the overflow plan.

THE OVERFLOW PLAN

Each year, housing experienced what Brown called “The Drop”— students that were accommodated but when move-in time came, didn’t show up, or could not, in fact, afford housing and would not pay.

In efforts to keep those students that were hard to retain while waitlisted, Georgia State instead accommodated them, expecting the usual amounts of cancellations and no-shows as in the years before.

Georgia State Housing usually receives about 1000 cancellations every fall, but has only received around 500 so far. But Brown said he feels confident that spaces will open up in the next two weeks.

“As of today we're at maybe 510 cancellations so far,” Brown said. “We anticipate another 500 or something cancellations.”

To accommodate the 500 of 5300 students this issue impacts rooms at the Sheraton, Piedmont North, University Commons and University Lofts \have been designated as overflow locations.

For about 400 students, their temporary home will be at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, a block away from Piedmont North. Students living in the hotel will receive a prorated cost, and should be moved into university housing no later than Aug. 31. If there is still an overflow problem by then, Brown said, students will be accommodated at Piedmont North, the University Lofts and the University Commons at 4-bedroom apartments.

Brown explained that Commons students who will be giving up space, including all roommates affected, will receive a $1,400 reduction of their semester's housing rate Housing is responsible for the Sheraton rates, and students while at the Sheraton will have access to an unlimited meal plan at a rate of $17.58 per day. The meal plan is usable at Piedmont Central, Piedmont North and Patton Hall.

“The student experience, billing-wise, will be nothing different,” Brown said. “We’ve billed the students staying at the Sheraton a comparable rate to a shared space at Piedmont North.”

According to Brown, around 40 students have volunteered so far.

In fact, he said, there were a lot of students that were excited for the opportunity to share a room with a friend, and even more were eager to receive a refund.

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

STUDENTS TWEET: "I was so excited when I got an email from #gsuhousing then I read it and was like :'( #Sheratonsquad" @INDIA_CHANEL_

THE CONTRACT CATCH

But the catch is, students don’t really have a choice. According to Brown, the housing contract students sign allows for the department to bring in more students in times of overflow. The contract does not guarantee a whole room, but rather, a bed.

Some students tweeted out their frustration under a #gsuhousing thread, pointing out a lack of organization and communication by the university, and some said they preferred their privacy over a $1,400 refund. Others simply said, they still hadn’t been offered a solution.

Darelyanel Medina said she was promised a room by housing within the first two weeks of school. But now, that promise is being changed.

“Now they’re saying I could get a room in either September or October,” she told The Signal in an e-mailed statement. “I don’t have much money to commute and my family [is] moving soon so I will have nowhere to live.”

She said she is #28 of 45 freshman females on a housing waiting list that have not been yet accommodated.

Other tweets focused on Georgia State’s lack of communication, as well as what a lot of students expressed as lack of organization. Priscila Costilla, a Georgia State student, expressed frustration at how Georgia State handled her move-in. Costilla was scheduled to move in Thursday, Aug. 17 to the Lofts at 10 a.m.

“I received an e-mail at 9:30 saying my room was not ready and that I should arrive no earlier than 4 p.m.,” she said, but added that by that point, she was already making her way Downtown. That was the first of two phone calls, followed by another employee asking her not to come before 6 p.m.

But the reason for that, Brown said, is the constant ins-and-outs of students between fall, spring and summer semesters. The Housing Director said the department is currently in communications with the Student Government Association (SGA) to prepare a town hall for students on the first week of classes, to address all issues. However, no flier has been released yet.

"GSU have it in the commons housing CONTRACT that if there is an overflow they can add people to your private room. I have been played..." @MERONISHERE

"Yall we gotta EXPOSE #gsuhousing see something say something. I payed too much for this mess #GSU @GeorgiaStateU #StatenotSouthern" @PITSLANEY

KRISTEN ROGERS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.

NEWS

4

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Payment deadline moved two weeks earlier

Students are dealing with a 7 percent tuition increase from last year KRISTEN ROGERS Staff Reporter

T

he state of Georgia’s tuition increase has caused some students to worry about their financial state, but Georgia State’s two-week early billing date leaves some students in shock and questioning the school’s reasoning.

Students’ first tuition bill was due Aug. 8, two weeks before the beginning of classes on Aug. 21 in comparison to one week early last fall semester. Some students were concerned with whether they’ll have the necessary funds by the due date, in order to avoid being dropped from classes.

“My biggest fear is that if I don’t pay by this deadline, I will not be able to re-register in time to get the classes that I need because once it’s dropped, those classes will be filled up by other students,” Zisuh Morfaw, Georgia State student, said. Morfaw called the due date “completely unacceptable.”

Charmaine Daniels, Georgia State Student Accounts Director, said the financial aid office wants students to begin the semester focusing on their academics instead of trying to finalize their financial aid and payments.

“Last year we had more than 10,000 students who were still trying to complete financial aid requirements as classes were beginning. This was the first year that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was available to students much earlier,” Daniels said.

Students were able to begin submitting their FAFSA in October 2016, meaning they had three extra months to begin the financial aid process, according to Daniels.

Reasons some students have theorized to be the drivers behind the early deadline include the new Georgia State stadium and added bus transportation and recreation fees.

“I honestly think it’s because of greed. When it comes to financial help or giving grants to students, they will not offer any immediate assistance. Instead, they will be sending countless email reminders about students’ bills due but they will never process HOPE in time and they will put last minute holds on their account that prevents people from registering,” Morfaw said.

What also comes as a shock to many students is the early payment coming, after the University System of Georgia’s (USG) college tuition increase in state schools across Georgia.

Last spring, the USG decided to increase college tuition from 2.5 to 9 percent. The Board of Regents (BOR) approved this, leading to Georgia State experiencing a 5.5 percent increase in the fall. This means a semester increase of around $223.

"My biggest fear is that if I don’t pay by this deadline, I will not be able to re-register in time to get the classes that I need because once it’s dropped, those classes will be filled up by other students."

— ZISUH MORFAW, Georgia State student “As students, we are paying for so many unnecessary things that add on to our fee like recreation and student transportation that just make our overall bill ridiculous to pay. I can just say I do not agree with the Board of Regents that USG should increase college tuition. Getting new faculty members is not an excuse for increasing tuition,” Morfaw said.

The AJC stated that the increase is due to the research institutions’ need to stay competitive with schools nationwide, due to the school’s high demand. The increase is also necessary for the hiring of new faculty and the funds needed to operate the campus in its entirety, in addition to the three percent increase in HOPE scholarships also occurring.

For students who are worried about not having the necessary funds by the due date, Daniels said they encourage students to “make a financial plan as early as possible including completing

Students are struggling to make ends meet after the 7 percent increase of tuition, approved last year by USG Board of Regents.

a FAFSA.” “For students awarded financial aid, but the amount is not enough to cover institutional charges, available options include the Federal PLUS Loan (for parents and graduate students) and private education loans (for students),” Daniels said.

The financial aid office also has an installment plan to help students who may not be able to pay their full tuition and fees charges by the payment deadline. This plan means paying 50 percent plus a $50 application fee by the payment deadline, 25 percent by mid-September and the last 25 percent by the second week of October.

“I think that the problem is that they wait too late to send out fall balances. If maybe they sent them out earlier, students like myself could start paying some of it off before it’s all due at one time,” Georgia State student Me’Lexus Johnson said. “I didn’t get my balance until the week before they sent out the notices about the fall deadline. I checked every day to see if it was posted. $3000 is a lot of money to be paid at one time, and the payment plans aren’t really that helpful.”

An Inside Higher Ed states the number of colleges and universities eligible to award federal financial aid dropped by 5.6 percent in 2016-2017. It highlights opinion predictions that higher education is on the verge of a major collapse, as a result of enrollment falling as loan debt and rising tuition cause students and families to ask harder questions about the value of college credentials.

“The majority of financial assistance awarded at Georgia State comes from federal funds so our ability to award these funds has not changed,” Daniels said. “It is dependent on the funding levels approved by the federal government and student eligibility.”

In the past, students have shown concern regarding their financial aid not being processed in time before the payment deadline. Daniels said financial aid processing can be delayed if students do not submit all required documentation in a timely manner or if documents are submitted “piecemeal rather

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS | THE SIGNAL

than full.”

“Students are encouraged to monitor their Georgia State email account and their PAWS account, at least on a weekly basis, to determine if all paperwork has been received by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Any delay in submitting documentation, particularly as the start of the semester gets closer, will increase the processing time due to volume,” Daniels said.

HOW A PAYMENT PLAN CAN HELP •

• •

•

Georgia State’s Payment Plan via PantherPay within PAWS is a two installment plan allowing students to defer up to 50 percent of their current term tuition and fees or 50 percent of their account balance, whichever is less. The remaining balance is split into two, to be paid at later dates during the semester.

A down payment is required at enrollment, along with a $50 application fee.

Students with at least a $300 deferrable balance remaining after all financial aid payments have been applied to their account are eligible.

Enrollment for fall semester begins in July and is available until the second week of classes.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

NEWS

5

Financial aid delays at Georgia State Students complain after being on hold for hours at a time KOFI STILES

LOCAL Georgia eclipse causes delay

Staff Reporter

The AJC reported that due to the eclipse that is expected to occur on Aug. 21, many tourists will be taking to the highways to see the sun get blocked out by the moon. This has prompted the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to suspend construction within Atlanta from noon to 7:00 p.m. on the day of the eclipse. Metro Atlanta District Engineer Kathy Zahul said this move was made for safety in light of the amount of motorists that will be on the road.

O

n Aug. 1, the financial aid office was packed as students awaited financial advisement at the end of the summer semester. Students have been calling in, but some have had to wait for extended periods of time.

From 9 a.m. to well past noon, many students had to stand at the main entrance of the office. On July 24, Lauren Cole, former social media coordinator for Georgia State’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, tweeted at the university’s twitter handle saying that she had called the office, but was put on hold for 48 minutes. She then hung up, called again, but was put on hold again for 51 minutes.

“It’s difficult every year,” Cole said. “I have been a part time student since 2012. I [would] say over the past two years the wait time [has] gotten longer.”

Journalism major Emi Muto said she called the office to set up an appointment to meet with a financial aid advisor. She said it was the better option, because figuring out finances over the phone is difficult. She has also alternated between calling and going to the office in person to seek out financial advisement, but she, like other students, have dealt with longer delays in line.

“I was on hold for 30 minutes and ended up hanging up,” Muto said. “Sometimes I have to come another day.”

Other Georgia State students have also taken to twitter to voice their frustration at the office’s “terrible customer service,” as Georgia State student Rachel Stanley said in a tweet. Another student going by the twitter handle @Astrokid23 complained over the fact that the extended holding times over the phone causes students to “come all the way down to [the] campus and waste your gas for little things.”

“Whether in person, over the phone or online, the wait times are very unacceptable,” Stanley said.

“They have simple forms online, but you’re asked to print [them out] or fax them in. I don’t understand why the infrastructure and support system is so inadequate.”

Students calling in, have been informed that the office is experiencing technical difficulties with its fax services and that students will have to submit documents in person. The school’s twitter handle said that the office has established new leadership

LAST WEEK

NATIONAL ‘Free Speech Rally’ overtaken by counter-protesters Students are waiting in long lines at Student Center East to receive help with their financial aid issues.

and “are reviewing new policies and practices” to improve the service at the office.

Director of Student Accounts Charmaine Daniels explained that the weeks prior to the tuition payment deadline are the office’s busiest time of the year and that the consolidation of Perimeter College only exasperated the delays.

“This is why we began reaching out to students weeks in advance to encourage them to resolve any financial aid or student account issues to avoid long lines and phone call wait times,” Daniels said.

“This Fall we sent over 22,000 payment reminder postcards via U.S mail, sent several emails and have also reached out to students with phone calls.”

Daniels said the Financial aid office has been making changes to provide better financial services to Georgia State students. In July the office increased

PHOTO BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

its staff to reduce wait times and answered 12,719 calls with an average wait time of 26 minutes.

“Since our Fall 2016 peak period we launched our Student Financial Management Center at the downtown campus and added six financial management specialist, seven financial management counselors, and three managers who focus on student account and financial aid issues--this is an increase of 10 staff since fall 2016,” Daniels said.

In the month of July, the office also served 4,839 students for in-person visits with wait times at an average of 42 minutes.

These changes reflected Cole’s and other students desires for the office to expand its staff in light of the influx of new students from Perimeter; however, as the students who complained can attest, some have yet to feel the impact of these changes.

According to NPR, the self-proclaimed “Free Speech Rally” in Boston was called off earlier in response to the thousands of counter-protesters that confronted the rally. 500 Boston police, some of which were uniformed and undercover, were sent out to maintain order within the crowd.

The counter-protesters shouted anti-Nazi and anti-KKK slogans as they met the rally participants, but the rally attendees insisted that they weren’t affiliated with the white nationalists and neoNazis that protested in Charlottesville, Va.

GLOBAL

Georgia State takes on the Campus Carry Law GSUPD explains the do’s and don’ts for gun control on campus SYRINA MERILAN News Editor

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eorgia State ushered in House Bill 280 (HB 280), commonly referred to as Campus Carry, on July 1 with the rest of the universities under the University System of Georgia (USG). The new law only refers to individuals with licences to carry and is limited to only handguns.

The weapon must be carried in a concealed fashion, which means it must be out of the view of others.

“So that means if you have someone in one of your classrooms and they’re carrying concealed, like I am right now, if I have my jacket open, I’m still carrying concealed. If I stretch and you can see my gun a little bit, It’s still concealed,” Georgia State Chief of Police Joseph Spillane said. “If I take my jacket off and I hang it on a chair, you can see [the gun], it’s no longer concealed.”

According to Chief Spillane, if the weapon is not

concealed, they are at liberty to ask if you have a permit, and depending on the answer, they will dish out the appropriate punishment.

“If we get a 911 call about someone who is openly displaying a weapon on campus we’ll respond and we will interact with that person,” Spillane said. “There's two ways it can go. It can go with the $25 fine for not holding properly of having a permit or they'll be going to jail for felony of possessing a handgun without a permit on a campus.”

In regards to where weapons can be carried, all buildings owned or leased by Georgia State are permissible except for intercollegiate sports facilities, housing facilities, childcare spaces, classes where high school students are enrolled and offices for faculty staff or administrative purposes.

Georgia State is also not responsible for providing a space to hold weapons that are not allowed in specific areas.

“Guns have been permitted in locked cars to this point and they will continue to be so. One thing that you should do is not only make sure it's in a locked

care but in a locked compartment or box within a locked car,” University Attorney Kerry Heyward said.

However, the Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) has dedicated an assessment team lead by Lieutenant Pamisa Scott to survey areas for instances where a licensed carry holder is unsure whether a weapon is allowed.

This brought up an issue regarding signage. Some attendants in an information meeting held June 23 asked why signs are not created so both Georgia State and non-Georgia State affiliates are more aware of places they are allowed to carry. Chief Spillane said the guideline sent by the USG forbids them to do so, however, it is up to the licensed carry holder to check for themselves where they are allowed to carry.

“It’s up to the licensed carry holder to determine whether there is highschoolers in class he or she may be taking,” Spillane said. “What that means is they're going to have to go to the registrar's office in Sparks Hall and they're going to have to say, 'I'm in this class can people carry guns in this class? Are there all high schoolers in this class?' It's up to them to find out.”

Police in Spain investigate terror attack

The Associated Press reported that authorities in Spain are searching for the terror cell responsible for the vehicle attacks in Barcelona and at a seaside resort in Cambrils. Catalian police are on the hunt for Younes Abouyaaquoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan suspected of driving the van that plowed through the crowd on Las Ramblas avenue.

Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido pronounced the terror cell responsible for both attacks as “broken” due to the results of a police shootout that claimed the lives of five terror cells members on Friday.

NEWS

6

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

An equal education for DACA students

Federal pressure to cut program in the fall causes uncertain future DACA supporters and members of Freedom University have protested against BOR policies for years now. The picture above was taken after a BOR sit-in last fall.

KOFI STILES Staff Reporter

O

n June 29, 11 attorney generals led by Texas’ Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter to the Attorney General of the United States Jeff Sessions urging him to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). On July 12, former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) that the DACA program may not stand up in the courts.

The DACA program was an executive order issued by former President Barack Obama in 2012. It prevents undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from being deported and provides them with a work permit.

A CHC spokesperson said that the meeting with Kelly centered on DACA’s future and whether or not it would pass the legal test if a lawsuit were brought before the federal government.

“The secretary said, to the best of his knowledge and to people that he’s spoken with, it would not,” the spokesperson said.

Although Kelly did not provide exact details of what called DACA’s legality into question, the spokesperson said Kelly told the caucus that “it was an overreach of executive power.”

The letter sent to Sessions made the same point. It states: “the Executive Branch does not have the unilateral power to confer lawful presence and work authorization on unlawfully present aliens simply because the Executive chooses not to remove them.”

Despite the letter’s motive, it didn’t ask Sessions to “immediately rescind DACA or Expanded DACA permits that have already been issued” nor did it “require the federal government to remove any alien.”

However, if the Trump administration doesn’t halt the renewal and provision of DACA permits and cut the program altogether

by Sept. 5, the attorneys general that signed the letter will take legal action against the program.

Under the Board of Regents Policy 4.1.6, Georgia State started admitting undocumented students that meet the university's academic requirements for this year’s spring semester; however, they don’t qualify for in-state tuition.

Georgia State can only admit students to pay in-state tuition if they can verify their lawful presence. According to U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services, recipients of DACA are not considered to have lawful status in the U.S. The University System of Georgia (USG) was not able to comment on what the disappearance of DACA would mean for DACA students currently enrolled at Georgia State for legal reasons.

Georgia State pre-med student Victoria Michel said she didn’t agree with the initiative to have DACA removed.

“They are still paying for school, and if they have scholarships, it’s mostly because they earned it,” Michel said. “It wasn’t their fault that their parents took them from their home country to come to the U.S, so why punish them?”

Rigoberto Rivera, DACA recipient and organizer for the Georgia Undocumented Youth Alliance, said the situation is frustrating.

“We’ve already made efforts on having in-state tuition,” Rivera said. “We have been in courts for four years now and we have won already and the case has been appealed. So if DACA is taken away we’re gonna lose those efforts.”

The most pressing matter for Rivera is deportation. He fears that many DACA recipients will “have to go back into the shadows.”

“They already have our addresses and they already know where we work,” Rivera said. “So there’s a big concern that if the program ends [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] may just show up at the location of the DREAMer and just arrest them.”

David Lapan, deputy assistant secretary for Media Operations at the Department of Homeland Security, said that the Trump administration’s official stance on DACA hasn’t been determined.

“The administration’s stance on DACA is that it is under review,” Lapan said. “[The] DHS continues to administer DACA until decisions are made on its future.”

As of July 21, twenty other state attorneys general led by California have issued their own letter as a countermeasure against the Texas-led effort to have President Donald Trump cut the program.

DACA STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE GREATER PROTECTION UNDER NEW BILL

On July 28, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) introduced the American Hope Act. The new bill would allow students to access in-state tuition and loans.

The American Hope Act is one of many efforts to protect undocumented youths from deportation. The legislation came in the midst of an effort led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to persuade the Trump administration to cut the DACA program.

Other proposed bills with end goals similar to the Hope Act include the GOP’s Recognizing America’s Children Act and the newly revived bipartisan DREAM Act. According to the National Immigration Law Center, the new Dream Act would repeal section 505 of the Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), which prevents states from making undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition.

If enacted, the Hope Act would do the same; according to a spokesperson for the CHC, this proposal offers more to undocumented youths.

“One of the key differences that makes the American Hope Act slightly more progressive than DREAM is, in [the] current DREAM Act, you have to show you lived [in the U.S] continuously since four years prior to [the] date the bill was formally enacted (passed and signed into law), but for the American Hope Act, you have to have arrived before your 18th birthday and show you have lived here since Dec. 31, 2016,” the

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS | THE SIGNAL

QUICK FACTS ON DACA Over 750,000 undocumented youths received protection from deportation and work permits under the DACA program.

On Jan. 3, 2017, Fulton County Judge Gail Tusan ruled that the state of Georgia had improperly denied in-state tuition to DACA recipients.

Under current law, DACA students are not eligible for federal student aid.

The DREAM Act was introduced in 2001 and went through multiple changes to get passed, but all efforts have been rejected

by Congress. spokesperson said.

Unlike the DREAM Act, the Hope Act would cut out DACA’s educational, work or military requirements that recipients must satisfy before they can move from the initial, provisional status to permanent status.

The bill would also allow DACA recipients and other immigrant youths to apply for conditional resident status (CPR) and obtain a green card after three years of CPR status if they refrain from crime. The time they spent as DACA recipients would be incorporated into the three year requirement.

Rivera said he doesn’t see the likelihood of the Hope Act being enacted.

“It has very little chance of passing because it’s a broader legislation,” Rivera said.

Rivera said he felt the DREAM Act had a better chance of being enacted because the Hope Act covers DACA recipients and non-DACA recipients thereby making it more difficult to pass. But Rivera said he and the Undocumented Youth Alliance will push for both efforts to supply greater protection for DACA recipients.

“It doesn’t matter if it is more broad or not, we just want something more permanent,” Rivera said.

EDITORIAL

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GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome back!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Christina Maxouris signaleditor@gmail.com

executive editor (atlanta) Open executive editor (perimeter) Open Editorial NEWS EDITOR Syrina Merilan

Here’s to our best year yet!

signalnewseditor@gmail.com ASSociate NEWS EDITOR Open signalassociatenews3@gmail.com OPINIONS EDITOR Open signalopinions@gmail.com ARTS & LIVING EDITOR Camille Bolos signalliving@gmail.com ASSociate ARTS & Living EDITOr Open signalassociateliving2@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Open signalsport1@gmail.com ASSociate SPORTS EDITOR Open signalassociatesports1@gmail.com copy editor Alaa Elassar, Sydnie Cobb signalcopyeditor@gmail.com

W

elcome to your home Panthers! Welcome to your brand new stadium, to your campus, or in other cases, welcome back to the places you’re so familiar with. I can’t hide from you how I excited I am about this upcoming year!

I, along with my new team, am excited to bring you this community’s news each week. Alpharetta, Newton, Decatur, Dunwoody, Clarkston, Atlanta -- we’ll be covering all corners of the Georgia State family. I’m excited because we’re embarking on a brand new adventure, in one of the best places to be, with a handful of fresh ideas we’ll present you with. Why should you be as excited as I am?

You now get to call Atlanta your home for however long your Georgia State experience will be. And Atlanta, I promise you, with its unique diversity of people, groups, beliefs, ideas, mindsets, will expose you to opinions that will put your mind to work. And that’s how you will grow!

This is one of the most important times to stand true to your beliefs, and Georgia State will allow you to test your beliefs, by throwing you into a pool of polar opposite ones.

You should be excited, as I am, for this most refeshing experience. Living in Atlanta, I got to be part of groups and events I never before had interacted with. I listened to undocumented students protest for an education, I saw word battles on campus between religious groups and students, I listened to concerns of the Muslim community when our new president came into office, and I reported on Black Lives Matter protests around Atlanta. I’ve seen more in the past two years than most people care to discover in a lifetime.

You will have this opportunity too. Be proud and be humbled that your home is a spark of loud voices, strong

characters and relentless leaders, because those are the kinds of people we need right now. Don’t be afraid to get involved in the action -- discover who you are, what you like and stand for, and give people of all backgrounds a chance to give you some insight.

You will not regret the diversity, the action, and the eye-opening experiences that are offered at the heart of Georgia State. Explore our streets, and pick up a copy of The Signal each Tuesday to read more about your community. We’ll be here all year, reminding you of what the place you call home really looks like.

Welcome home, or welcome back! Welcome to what I suspect will be one of the most interesting years we’ve experienced.

Welcome to Georgia State!

Production design editor Khoa Tran signalprod@gmail.com

Associate design editor Salinna Phon signalprod2@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY photo EDITOr (atlanta) Vanessa Johnson signalphoto1@gmail.com

photo EDITOr (perimeter) Open signalphoto2@gmail.com

ASSociate photo editor Open signalphotoatl@gmail.com

Digital online EDITOR Open

signalmanaging@gmail.com ASSociate Online Editor Open PODCAST EDITORS Caleb P. Smith, Charles Wright

Marketing Marketing MANAGER Open

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Best, Christina Maxouris Editor-in-Chief

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editorial

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Bryce McNeil bmcneil1@gsu.edu

business coordinator Wakesha Henley whenley@gsu.edu

Mamma Mia! Here we go again!

The yearly spiel on how Georgia State needs to pull it together

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eorgia State was established in 1913. That means they’ve had 104 years to establish a stable system that can accommodate their entire student body and take care of our needs, like all other universities have…. right?

The Panther nation was named the fourth most innovative university in the country in 2017, but still has not found ways to effectively handle housing, financial aid, and tuition. Why are we seeing student tweets about the financial aid department hanging up on them again?

As for the overflow plan -- let’s talk about that. We asked around, and couldn’t locate a single student that knew about that cute little contract catch. And that’s fair because who reads contracts anyway? But isn’t it a little unfair to expect students to be okay with the fact that with the contract they’re actually just renting a bed?

If you’ve seen Georgia State housing rates, you know that $4,000+ a semester should not only get you a bed. And it times of crisis (much like these ones) that space that you’re essentially paying for should not be compromised because Georgia State wanted to raise its student retention rate ( = more money).

Increase the amount of space, and when it comes to your financial aid department, increase the number of faculty.

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This is not the first time The Signal ran a story on financial aid complaints . Last year wasn’t either. We know students complain a lot (and about everything) but there is a problematic pattern with the fact that students are being dropped from their classes (many of which we know and interact with, and heavily resemble mature and responsible beings), or are spending prolonged times in their day waiting in line, or tied to a phone.

And that’s not to mention the broken-phone communication. “You will need to call this number,”, “Go ahead and talk to the program director of…”, “Let me transfer you to my…”. No, you tell me what to do, because that person is probably busy, out of office, or will probably transfer me back to you.

Get some more phone assistants! Part-time employees!

Train more people in more fields! Multi-task! Figure! It! Out! Let’s set down the basics: Students definitely are not perfect, and we’re not trying to argue that we all put in our FAFSA applications on time. But there’s got to be a way that other universities manage to accommodate and tend to all our needs despite our (only occasional) irresponsibility.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

ARTS & LIVING www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

It’s all in your mind The power of mindful meditation in the midst of back-to-school stress

MEDITATION APPS Don’t let the thought of a hectic semester get the best of you. Instead, destress with awareness of the now by closing the social media apps and opening these meditation apps! The following have personalized meditation practices, progress tracking, and timely reminders: HEADSPACE This one’s subscriptionbased, with a free trial period, engages the user with reminders, specialized meditation practices and fun animations.

THE MINDFULNESS APP This one has many features that keep the user committed to a regular meditation practice. It also includes a health app integration for real time results and tracking.

BUDDHIFY With the Buddhify app, you can center your meditation around specific aspects of your life. There are more than 11 hours of customized meditations to choose from.

SOPHIA MARCHESE Staff Reporter

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all semester is officially in session and with the rush of a new school year comes the pressure of new responsibilities.

For freshman and returning students, meditation is a valuable tool to help cope with stress and release tensions that come from a cluttered mind.

While it is often difficult to have constant control on factors of your external environment—especially while acclimating to a new semester— meditation is always there for your inner self. It is a practice that creates balance for emotional well-being and mental clarity.

WHY MEDITATE?

This time of year is difficult after months of relaxation and sweet summertime, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Meditation is a way to compartmentalize responsibilities in the wake of a new school schedule and an unfamiliar routine.

Stress is almost inevitable when the mind is being pulled in many different directions, and that’s the reality of college.

It’s no secret. From classes to assignments to exams and work

CALM From guided meditation to calming sounds to help you fall asleep, this free app keeps the zen flowing. If you have three extra minutes per day, you have time for a quick guided practice!

ILLUSTRATION BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

schedules— not to mention making time for socialization— there are many things to juggle as a

student. Setting aside time for a little mental TLC can go a long way.

Meditation creates a sense of patience and improved focus. It gives your mind the space it needs and quiets outside influences. A Department of Psychology study performed at the University of Oregon showed that just five consecutive days of meditation translated to “significantly better attention and control of stress.”

A new semester goes further than just the burden of academics. Georgia State has a massive student body.

Sometimes meeting new people may seem overwhelming and a bit intimidating.

Another study found that mindful meditation is shown to relieve symptoms of social anxiety.

A solid practice of mindfulness aids in becoming further aware of emotions without overreacting or overanalyzing.

BEING MINDFUL

So what is mindful meditation?

Mindfulness is an ability to be entirely present in your current state and practicing a refrain from being reactive or overwhelmed by the grips of reality.

Mindful Magazine states that a person is being mindful when they bring awareness to direct experience with the senses, or to their current headspace via thoughts or emotions.

Simply put, it is the sole focus on what is taking place in the present moment. It is paying close attention to surroundings, thoughts, and both emotional and physical feelings.

In his book, “Mindfulness: Living in the Moment Living in Breath,” Dr. Amit Ray said “you are not your thoughts, you are the observer of your thoughts.”

It may sound complicated, but nothing worth the reward comes easily. And unlike happy pills or a gym membership, mindfulness is free and available to everyone and anyone willing to put in the time.

TEN MYTHS ABOUT MEDITATION

A lot of people have the misconception that meditation is merely a hippie-dippie practice based on reaching enlightenment.

The true reality is that meditation can be for anyone and it is beneficial to everyone.

There are many other reasons that people gravitate away from meditation, most of which are simple misunderstandings. The Art of Living said that “while there are myths about many topics, one of the most

popular one is meditation.”

Here are some of these myths, as provided by The Art of Living.

1. Meditation is concentration 2. Meditation is a religious practice 3. You have to it in a lotus position (crossed-leg) to meditate 4. Meditation is only for old people 5. Meditation is like hypnotizing yourself 6. Meditation is thought control 7. Meditation is a way of running away from your problems 8. You have to meditate for hours to go deep 9. If you meditate, you will become a monk.

10. You can only meditate at certain times

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT PROGRESS

If it seems unreasonable to commit to something new during such a demanding time of year, not to worry! Mindfulness is available to all of us in any given moment.

This is not to say that it will be easy, because a meditation practice definitely takes commitment. But if you can commit to at least one (that’s right, one!) to five minutes per day, you will be well on your way to a decluttered and unattached mind.

Before you know it, the benefits will shine bright and your stress will dull down.

You can practice mindfulness of breath, eating, laying in the sunshine—you can even practice mindful meditation of brushing your teeth. There is no “good” or “bad” practice.

If someone is practicing mindfulness while they eat ice cream, they aren’t focusing on how much ice cream they can eat at one time—but instead paying attention to the flavor, the cold sensation on the back of their throat, the way the satisfaction of a sweet treat makes them feel.

A more classic example is of mindful meditation: if a person is practicing mindfulness of their breath, the goal is to become aware of what it is like to focus attention on that breath.

If the mind drifts off to next week’s test or tonight’s group project meeting, that’s okay. It’s completely normal for your mind to wander, and it is often this reality that makes people prematurely give up on meditation.

But practice makes progress. If that happens, take note and bring it back to the moment. Learn from your experience.

Clinical psychologist, Elisha Goldstein, said “if the mind wanders a lot, then you learn how busy the mind is. If it wanders a lot on a particular topic, you learn to what degree that topic is on your mind.”

Practicing mindfulness means learning how to gain control of one’s mind, so that the mind is not in control of oneself.

The new and the old i CAMILLE BOLOS & SAVANNAH ELDER Arts & Living Editor & Staff Reporter

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tlanta has produced some new and delicious places to munch on while we’ve been gone. Not all of them are within walking distance of campus, but they are worth the (very small) trip to surrounding neighborhoods! If you’re a returning student, you’ll probably get the most appreciation of getting out of Broad St. and trying some new menus.

But we’re also here to celebrate the oldies but goodies! While our city touts’ delicious cuisine in surrounding neighborhoods, we also know there’s some hidden secrets hiding through the streets of Downtown. For the freshmen, or for the returning, unexplored students, downtown has plenty of goods to keep you movin’—and by goods, I mean foods.

If you’re the type of person to pack meals for the entirety of your day, by all means, continue your reign. For those who don’t have the patience or motivation to keep up with homemade lunches each day, or you forgot your meal in the fridge (sadface), or you want something new to try with some friends, this roundup is for you.

The restaurants and cafes on this list range from trendy to best bet. Some are more experience driven than cuisine oriented, while others are the equivalent of student-status fine dining. No matter your hunger, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at one of these spots!

VARUNI NAPOLI

99 Krog St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 A delicious Krog Street Market add on—pizza! Who doesn’t love a good, open kitchen pizzeria?! The stall located inside of Krog Street is a scaled back version of the original restaurant in Morningside, but it’s just as good at offering authentic Italian cuisine. Customers can build their own pizza or pick from a selection of artisan red and white pizzas already planned for them. For the greenies, they have salads to choose from that are just as delicious as melted cheese—almost. Save room for dessert because, you guessed it, they have the classic cannoli there as well!

HUNGRY GHOST

345 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

UPBEET

1071 Howell Mill Road, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30318 If you’re looking for a new health-conscious, but wallet-conscious, eatery.

Upbeet is right up your alley. Brought to you by the team behind YEAH! Burger, it’s the new fast-casual, made-to-order restaurant and it’s right off Howell Mill Rd. All the food there is organic with menu items that include salads with your choice of greens, smoothie bowls, smoothies, grain bowls, and yogurt bowls. They even serve organic wines, organic coffees, kombucha and other house made yummies.

For the vegan, paleo and gluten-free customers—don’t worry, they have bountiful options for you as well!

THE CANTEEN

75 5th St NW #170, Atlanta, GA 30308 Inside of Tech Square is Downtown's newest “micro-food hall” and it’s getting a lot of attention and foot traffic. Right now, The Canteen has four stalls—or places to eat as we like to call it—including TGM Bagel, Fred’s Meat & Bread, Yalla and Square Bar. For those who have ventured over to Krog Street Market Fred’s and Yalla will be familiar names and smells, serving the same delicious Mediterranean goodies and melt in your mouth sandwiches—amongst other menu items.

TGM Bagel is providing us with all the breakfast goods—General Muir’s bagels, breakfast sandwiches and Batdorf & Bronson coffee. Last but not least, Square Bar is there to quench your thirst at any time of day (yes, happy hour too). In the mornings they have juices, energy shots and smoothies and as the day moves on they have (for our 21+ audience) beer, frozen cocktails and wine.

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“Food to die for,” as their website puts it. And it must be because they have been getting rave reviews since they opened and they haven’t stopped pouring in since.

If you didn’t know it already, a big selling point here is their late-night menu (cue the perking of students' ears everywhere), perfect for those all-night study sessions or after a night out on the town. Another perk, being a college student, is the affordable menu prices. The cuisine is Asian fusion and they have everything from Sirracha fried rice balls to classic Pho noodles. The background for the name is interesting too, “In Asia, when people die unnaturally, your spirit is said to wander on the street at night, looking for food,” Phan, owner of the Hungry Ghost, said in an interview with the AJC. So if you find yourself wandering the streets late at night looking for food, head on over to the Hungry Ghost and chow down.

FISH POKÉ BOWLS

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Poke may or may not be taking over Atlanta as of late and Sweet Auburn Curb Market is welcoming Fish Poké Bowls to the market with open arms. Owned by the creators of Broad Street’s DUA Vietnamese Noodle Soup, Fish Bowl Poke is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine and sometimes as a main course. Fish Bowl Poke uses sustainably sourced fish seasoned to your liking atop of rice and sauces mixed in with vegetable toppings of your choice! It’s like a sushi salad, but even better than it sounds.

in the food realm

SWEET AUBURN CURB MARKET 209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Speaking of Sweet Auburn Curb Market…this place is an absolute gem in the rough and one of the most forgotten multi-use food halls any Georgia State student has ever heard of. The Market is home to 11 of Atlanta’s popular restaurants, all with made-to-order fresh goodies. Inside you can find places like Just Add Honey Tea Company where engaging the senses is their specialty.

All-natural ingredients are used to brew black, herbal, fruit or specialty teas.

Blended loose leaf teas are available for purchase. There’s also Arepa Mia which serves specialty empanadas with flaky crusts and hearty fillings, but those are just the sideshow. Here, it’s about the arepas: cornmeal split in half and stuffed with hot meats, cheeses and vegetables encased within traditional Venezuelan flavor.

The classic, and always yummy, slow smoked meats await you at Sweet Auburn Barbecue. Sandwich and BBQ platters are available with innovative sides creating a sweeter experience. The SweetWater Honey Beans are cooked Borracho-style baked beans made with honey and local Sweetwater 420 beer.

WEEKDAY CAFÉ

14 Park Place South SE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Open for breakfast and lunch, Weekday Café might not look like much to the untrained eye but like your mother said, don’t judge a book by its cover. This place serves home style options with all combos well under $10. For breakfast, any of the sandwiches or platters are a good choice. The breakfast platters include your choice of breakfast meats and sides —think pancakes, eggs, grits, toast, bagels. While the lunch menu highlights chicken tenders, wings, fries, definitely try the Philly cheesesteak—you won’t regret it.

EBRIK

16 Park Pl SE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Ebrik has moody lighting, chic, yet comfortable seating and music that makes you feel like you’re actually at home. The hip, down to earth staff treat everyone with a warm smile and the perfect drink. They don’t flinch when I order a 16 oz. dirty chai tea latte because they know how to do it right every single time (fist bumps all around). The bakery selection is small but the pastries and bagels are fresh and filling.

Before we head on to the next, let me share this: Broad Street has a reputable mark on Downtown’s food culture, but it is painfully crowded. It’s definitely not the ideal place for food on the go, and if you’re a return student, I can bet that these options are a tad burnt out. However, Broad Street is the original go-to for variety in one common place. You’ll know when it’s lunch time since lines will be out the door and everyone you’ve ever met on campus will cross your path.

ROSA’S PIZZA

62 Broad St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 Since 1991, when you walk over to Rosa’s Pizza you have to know what you want, tell them what you want (sometimes from outside the door) and follow the line until you arrive at the counter to pay for your pizza. A slice-combo will cost you well under $8—meaning slices and drinks. Sausage rolls, hot subs and Italian dishes are also available. As always, the grease is humbling. Rosa’s will probably never die—huzzah!

DUA VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP 53 Broad St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Two words: absolutely delicious! But…only if you have enough time.

Jampacked class schedules reduce our earthly pleasures, but Dua’s pho (“fuh”) warms up the body and mind with tender pieces of traditional meats in their sultry broth. The basil, bean sprouts and jalapenos are served cold so they're fresh as can be. The pho is a must-try. Other options include egg rolls and Vietnamese-styled buns.

As Downtown grows, we expect a steady increase for dining options for students and commuters—as we’ve seen already! The additions are wonderful, the old places are still wonderful. All the above will give you the energy you need as a busy, bustling college student. And let’s face it, we’re all foodies at heart—eat on!

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FALL BACK INTO STYLE

Back to school trends that won’t break the bank TYLER RENEA BATES Staff Reporter

FALL IS HERE AND IT’S TIME TO SLAY!

It seems like it was just moments ago that everyone was basking in the sun enjoying summer ‘17, but now fall is here and it is time to slay! With so much going on like budgeting, getting settled in and re-adjusting our alarm clocks for class, spending a ton of money on new clothes this season might be the furthest thing from a college student’s mind. All anyone needs to spruce up their wardrobe this fall is a little creative, budget friendly shopping and helpful tips to get the job done.

ACCESSORIES: ALL THAT GLITTER ISN’T GOLD

Accessories have the power to make or break an outfit and create an artistic expression to say the least. One of the most important things to realize when accessorizing is that all that glitter does not have to be gold…there are also silvers, metallic, lace, rose gold and neons. All these and more are some of the many options to choose from in the case of the choker.

The Choker is a classic wardrobe piece that many may associate with the 90’s era and has made a triumphant comeback for quite some time now. Of course, the standard black tattoo styled choker is a staple in most stores, however there are now various options available that anyone can wear whether they are dressing up or just running around on campus.

Metal, silver and goldtone chokers are perfect for those presentation days, date nights or a night out on the town with your friends and will give a glammed up look to anyone trying to make a bold statement.

When it comes to the more toned down, everyday choker, retail giant Forever21 has a variety of choker necklaces to choose from with prices ranging from $2.06 - $26.60.

Fishnet tights have played a large role in fashion history as it has shown up in both the 80’s and streetwear fashion. Today, this edgy accessory not only comes in tights, but ankle and over the knee socks.

The classic fishnet tights can easily be paired with a feminine dress, a school boy blazer or an old pair of ripped jeans to give the outfit a sharp look. The ankle socks, which can be bought at Forever21 as well for around $4, come in a variety of colors, including neon, and would pair well with plain tennis shoes.

HOW TO STAY ON TOP

It is obvious that any back to school outfit would be incomplete without the perfect top. With that being said, two trending tops for this fall that can be mixed and matched for days are off the shoulder tops and the classic denim jacket.

Off the shoulder tops have taken over this season and everyone from Rihanna to the girl in class is wearing them. The great thing about these tops is that they are free flowing, feminine and effortless.

If accessories aren’t your thing, then this style will be! Because of the statement appeal, it requires few accessories. This top can come in just about any print or pattern, including the classics such as gingham (checkered print), sheer florals and scalloped trimmed. These tops can easily be found at stores like TJMaxx, Ross or Marshall’s at a fraction of the price major retailers may charge. The off the shoulder look can also be an easy DIY project as long as there is an old t-shirt and some scissors handy. With a few measurements here and there, anyone can simply cut around the collar, apply a few holes for detailing,

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

splash a bit of bleach on the shirt (purposely for a tiedye appeal) and voila!

Denim jackets have never truly left the fashion scene, and that’s really no surprise. In fact, the allAmerican look has so many amped up versions these days! Now, there are stores selling them with patchwork designs, roses, rips and red hues, which of course also amps up the price. Luckily there are a variety of ways stay within a college student’s budget to achieve this look without paying an outlandish amount of money. These jackets can easily be found at a thrift shop for a small price! If thrifting isn’t your thing maybe you have a cool relative that doesn’t have a need for their old denim piece and you can spruce it up with your own DIY design with fabric paint, patchwork or the like from your local arts and crafts store.

TAMING THE TRESSES

This task can sometimes be a huge hassle while trying to get the rest of your life together for a busy day on campus. Luckily, there are many styles available that are quick, easy and fun. All that’s needed is YouTube and a personal touch.

Ponytails and velvet bows have made their way onto runways this season. Whether it’s a slicked-back, middle-parted low pony with a black piece of velvet tied around it or a half-up pony with a huge velvet bow stuck to it. High ponytails, low ponytails, parted down the side, down the middle, slicked-back or pumped up, these babies are fun, simple, easy and can be dressed up or dressed down. Velvet bows can also easily be cut from a piece of fabric and handmade!

The Ninja Bun also referred to as the “top-knot” bun is essentially a bun positioned at the top of an individual’s head in a swirled, tapered shape.

The wonderful thing about this style is that it is so

universal, versatile and easy to do a student can literally go from the gym to a classroom and from work to a party just like that.

The beautiful thing about all of these trends and fashion classics it that they speak to everyone as they are easy, fun and of course frugal. With these tips in hand, students all around campus will be slaying to the fashion gods while keeping their pockets a little bit fatter.

HOW TO EXPAND YOUR WARDROBE AND SHOP SMART • Where to shop: T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and Ross. They sell quality apparel and accessories from retail giants and designers at a fraction of the price.

• Invest in classic wardrobe staples: neutral shoes, classic cut pair of Levi’s and a little black dress.

You’ll always need these!

• Shop the clearance rack: it saves shoppers money and is an opportunity to score some unique pieces!

• Be creative and HAVE FUN!

PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY GABRIELLE PARRIS | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

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MOVIE REVIEW

'The Big Sick' : Delightfully fresh rom-com Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan star in this lovely and crisp romance ALEX GRAHAM Staff Reporter

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ing the bell! Call an ambulance! I liked a rom-com biopic! I must be sick! I must have... (snickers)...a BIG SICK. But seriously, I enjoyed Michael Showalter’s rom-com based on the premarital relationship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. Kumail and Emily wrote the semiautobiographical script (note the “semi-”) about meeting in Chicago, dating, breaking up, and then, naturally, Emily being put into a medically induced coma that forces Kumail to confront his Pakistani traditions and bond with her parents.

First off, neither rom-coms nor biopics are usually my kinda jam (I don’t love cute romances, sue me). So despite all the good reviews pouring in about it, I didn’t walk into “The Big Sick” expecting to be blown away. And I wasn’t, but I liked it a lot more than I thought! It’s earnest and pointed and delightful in ways I didn’t see coming and tackles dating in 21st century America with a lot of heart.

It’s the first rom-com I’ve seen in a while that reminded me of my experiences dating, which is saying a lot considering I’ve never dated a Pakistani guy whose parents were upset that I’m white. But it genuinely takes on the awkwardness of uber rides, being busy, sleeping together on the first date and trying to figure out how to be your own person in a relationship.

One important factor here: the story is loosely based on Kumail and Emily’s actual relationship, leaving room for some ever important thinking, writing and plotting that

makes a movie work. You may have a funny story that’s great to hear at parties but doesn’t translate to screen.

That’s fine, but that’s why adaptation is a tricky thing—one that “The Big Sick” does quite nicely.

The story itself flows in the traditional rom-com-y way, and there are a few scenes that feel more important to space-filling than story-moving (“draggy,” as my grandmother labeled it). But to me, Kumail and Emily did a great job of writing scenes in which the characters explore their relationships slowly and naturally, thus leading to believable conclusions when the ends get tied up. Romances, in life and film, need some “unnecessary” scenes to flourish.

Kumail and Zoe Kazan, playing Emily, are utterly delightful, imbuing every scene with an addictive light. The same can be said of pretty much every other character—so little space, so many wonderful actors who should be named—and all these people make the film that much more personable and heartwarming.

Now, there has been a lot of talk about the portrayal of South Asian women in this movie, considering Kumail’s in love with a white chick while his family is trying to set him up with a Pakistani woman. I’m way too white to have a real opinion about it, but I do like Sopan Deb’s piece about it in the New York Times. I don’t want to say “it’s based on a true story so get over it,” because that’s not useful to anyone but we can’t NOT take into account that, yes, this was Kumail’s experience. I’d also point out that most of the Pakistani women felt like real people and not stereotypes (with some exceptions) but, again, who am I to say?

So yes, go see “The Big Sick” and have a nice ol’ time with a refreshingly funny, earnest rom-com and feel the love wash over you.

GRADE

VERDICT

B+

“The Big Sick” is a delight I wasn’t expecting. It’s funny, sad, heartwarming, and makes me feel like I might learn to enjoy romcoms.

GRADE

VERDICT

B+

4:44 delivers as a hip hop album. Minimal fluff with Jay Z’s unique perspective, his internal look on his feelings with the cheating scandal and his response to new jacks in hip hop. His raps have purpose and a time and place within the songs, and no wiggle room for anything else.

It is great to see that an artist already so developed keeps on progressing.

ALBUM REVIEW

4:44 provides soulful and introspective hip-hop Jay Z looks inside and offers advice on new LP JALEN JENKINS Staff Reporter

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ay Z has undoubtedly been in the legend category for some time. From selling CDs out of his car in the mid 90s to having 21 Grammys, 100 million+ sold albums, owning Roc-A-Fella records and being an inspiration to musicians and rappers for periods to come. Not to mention, he is married to the female musical giant and icon Beyonce. Jay Z could have stopped rapping a while ago and lived comfortably, so any musical outputs at this point in his life are rarities, spread years apart.

On 4:44 Jay Z tackles a variety of topics from the perspective of a watchful mentor, a husband, an African American male and a father. A good amount of the lyrical content has to deal with money, a big part of Jay Z’s life, and how to use it properly in the entertainment business.

Songs like “The Story of OJ” specifically target the use of money among African American rappers and youth and how they might not be utilizing it. Potent lines like, “You know what’s more important than throwing away money at a strip club? Credit.” And “You’re on the Gram holding money to your ear. There’s a disconnect, we don’t call that money over here” show Jay Z not criticizing the younger

generation, but offering advice on how to make lasting income.

As for the actual rapping on this album, it’s best described as “confident”. Jay Z sounds relaxed while still getting his message across in an effective way. He doesn’t have to be flashy and rap fast or use crazy metaphors. For the most part, Jay Z’s rapping is straightforward, covering topics that have affected his life over the past four years in a deep, calm voice.

For such a big figure in hip hop, and based on age, it's almost expected for an album of his to have a fair amount of fluff. The fluff on this album is in the production of a couple of songs, but where there is fluff in the production Jay Z always has a couple good lines to redeem it a bit.

Features fit right in, with appearances from Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, James Blake and Gloria Carter (Jay Z’s mother).

Production wise, there are a lot of samples and soulful, straightforward beats. Jay Z uses these to his advantage and dances with them—his lines putting them right where they need to be. A good example is on “4:44” with a sample that has enough soul to belong in the 70’s, but in actuality comes from a 2016 song by Hannah Williams and The Affirmations. This sets the perfect background for Jay Z discussing his very publicly covered cheating scandal.

BEST SONGS 1. “4:44” 2. “Smile” 3. “The Story of OJ”

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Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Sunday

Saturday

Tuesday

Monday

BronzeLens Film Festival

Happening: A Live Music Event

Food Truck Fridays

Plays in a Day

Grant Park Summer Shade Festival

Vicious Circle Writers Group

Meditation in the Park

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

The 8th Annual BLFF is here! Check out film screenings, workshops, master classes, and much more at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. The festival will continue through the weekend and end on the 27th.

Cloud City and Woodruff Park have paired up to give us Happening, a DJ party featuring talent from local music artists. There will be giveaways, games and a raffle! Shimmy on down and mingle with like-minded people.

Stressful first week of classes?

Treat yoself to Food Truck Friyays! Grab your buddy and some delicious lunch from 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. right on Broad St. With eight different food vendors to choose from, your tastebuds will thank you.

Curious to see what caffeine fueled, creative young artists can achieve in a day? Clarkston Campus is housing a performance written, directed, rehearsed and executed by your peers all within 24 hours. Free admission!

Soak up that last bit of summer at Grant Park with music, art and great food! Even start off the day with the 5k if that’s up your alley.

And the best part: it’s free!

Calling all writers!

Manuel’s Tavern is hosting a writers group in the Eagle’s Nest Room from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Bringing work isn’t required, but if you do bring 10 copies of your latest piece for critique!

Get your OM on with a free meditation session led by a qualified instructor from Kadampa Meditation Center Georgia.

This zensation is at Woodruff Park in front of the Water Wall from noon 12:30 p.m.

games SuD0KU easy

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PAWS PROFESSOR ATLANTA

GSU LIBRARY SIGNAL

HOMEWORK

PROFESSOR BOOKS LIBRARY RESEARCH BOOKS PANTHERS BLUE PAWS POUNCE GSU ATLANTA HOMEWORK SIGNAL FINALS http://www.websudoku.com/?level=2 RESEARCH EXAMS SCHEDULE

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

SPORTS www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Revamped Georgia State Panthers

First-year head coach Shawn Elliott comes with an optimistic mentality PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

D'MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

N

ew coach. New season. New stadium.

These are the topics of discussion for Georgia State Football this upcoming season, and rightfully so. Last year was simply one to forget --and never repeat.

While last year's football program had talent and momentum entering the 2016-17 season, since they had just made their first bowl appearance, they managed to only go 3-9 during that season -- which resulted in Trent Miles being relieved of his head coaching duties on Nov. 13, 2016.

“These decisions are never easy to make,” Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb said during a press conference in which he announced his decision to fire Miles. “Coach Miles is a first class guy, who has run a first class program who has always been a true professional and great leader for our program, but we felt the time was right to make a change.

We will begin a national search for our next head coach immediately.”

Shortly after the Panthers' horrendous season ended, President Mark Becker and Cobb announced that co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at South Carolina, Shawn Elliott, was selected as the new head football coach.

The signing would be the beginning of something new for the Panthers.

But before we discuss the future of Georgia State Football, let's take a look at some key departures from last year's team.

Offensively, the Panthers took a big blow to their passing game -- losing arguably the best receiver in Georgia State history in Robert Davis and Keith Rucker, a do-it-all tight end.

Davis was undoubtedly the Panthers' most coveted receiver last year, as he was selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference (first team) for the second straight year. He caught Caught 67 passes for 968 yards and five touchdowns. Not to mention, he's also Georgia State's career leader in receptions (222) and receiving yards (3,391), surpassing former teammate and current Kansas City Chief Albert Wilson (175- 3,190).

Rucker was also a key contributor for the Panthers.

Although he was substantially injured throughout the season, he was only unable to play in just two games. He finished his senior season as an All-Sun Belt tight end, finishing with 32 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Panthers lost, perhaps, their most valuable piece in their secondary in safety Bobby Baker.

Baker was the second leading tackler on the team last year (82) with three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. He proved to have has a nose for the ball -- currently holding the Georgia State career-record with five fumble recoveries while

ranking eighth in career tackles.

Honorable mentions: (L)Alonzo McGee and (DE) Shawanye Lawerence

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Yes, the players that Georgia State lost coming into this year are crucial, but coach Elliott has some weapons at his display on this football team. In fact, along with the returning players from last year's team, Elliott brings in Georgia State's most highly-rated recruiting class.

Nine out of the 20 recruits entering Georgia State this year earned a three-star rating from at least one of the recognized recruiting services: safety Chris Bacon, offensive linemen Pat Bartlett, Jaylon Jones and Connor Robbins, linebackers Victor Heyward and Trajan Stephens-McQueen, defensive backs Jaylon Jones and Kerryon Richardson and quarterback Jack Walker.

When asked if any freshmen players would get the opportunity to crack the starting lineup, coach Elliott expressed the fact that he wasn't opposed to doing so.

"It doesn't matter if you're a new coach or not, you're fine at starting the very best players you can find," coach Elliott said.

"Regardless. Sometimes it can be a true-freshman sometimes it can be a junior - it really doesn't matter to me. The guys that are maturely focus and mentally tough and physically able to go out there and get the job done those are the guys that are going to play."

Coach Elliott signed 20 recruits this year with nine of them earning a three-star rating from at least one of the recognized recruiting services: safety Chris Bacon, offensive linemen Pat Bartlett, Jaylon Jones and Connor Robbins, linebackers Victor Heyward and Trajan Stephens-McQueen, defensive backs Jaylon Jones and Kerryon Richardson and quarterback Jack Walker.

The recruiting class also welcomes three junior college signees in linebacker Jalen Wade and safety Deandre Applin from Georgia Military College and offensive lineman Kevin Kwapis from Iowa Western C.C.

SEASONED VETERANS

The Panthers are returning some key players to this year's roster, as well. Among the notable offensive returnees are quarterback Conner Manning, wide receiver Penny Hart and tight end Ari Werts.

Manning, who was named July 20 to the preseason watch list for the 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award this year, led the Sun Belt with 268.4 passing yards per game last season.

Hart is coming off of a season-ending injury and is looking to return to his dominant form. When he is indeed healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with on the football field. Hart ranks in the top five in Georgia State history in career receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions.

Werts was named to the preseason watch list for the John

Mackey Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. Last year, Werts had 21 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 16.8 yards per catch.

Honorable mention:(OL) Gabe Mobley The defensive stars that are returning include the cornerback-tandem in Chandon Sullivan and Jerome Smith, and defensive end Mackendy Cheridor.

Honorable mention: (S) Bryan Williams

FUN FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA STATE’S NEW STADIUM

• Georgia State named its football field at Georgia State Stadium in honor of Parker H. “Pete” Petit • The stadium includes a 5,600 square-foot video board which will be the biggest in the Group of 5 and the eighthlargest in college football • The inaugural game at Parker H. Petit Field at Georgia State Stadium is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31 vs.

Tennessee State • The Department of Athletics launched a stadium website where fans can find out all of the information they need to be ready for gameday.

PAGE DESIGN BY DEVIN PHILLIPS | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS

16

q&a

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

Conner Manning is ready to lead Georgia State to a bowl game Manning discusses his thoughts on the upcoming season in Georgia State’s new stadium D’MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

Q

uarterback Conner Manning comes into his second year as presumably Georgia State's starting quarterback with much optimism and confidence -- essentials needed to carry out the duties of leading a Panthers team to a successful season.

It was a bit of a see-saw type of year for Manning last year.

At times, it seemed as if he lacked the poise to stand tall in the pocket once the opposing defense started to generate pressure -- which contributed to him throwing 14 interceptions. On the other hand, Conner showed some flashes, making plays in resemblance of the infamous Manning brothers (Peyton and Eli). He threw for over 2,700 yards last year, despite missing two games due to a shoulder injury.

Manning also led the Sun Belt with 268.4 passing yards per game and tied for second with 16 touchdowns playing in 10 games.

Manning has the opportunity to accomplish what no other Georgia State quarterback has ever done.

This preseason he was named to the watch list for the 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award -- a feat no quarterback in Georgia State history has accomplished.

Along from hopefully being the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning has some personal goals he wishes to achieve this year.

"I think it's just making this offense better," Manning said as to what his primary purpose is for this season. "The other is just to be a consistent anchor people can lean on each and every day. I mean, I gotta come out --I can't have bad days -- and if I do, I gotta be able to bounce back the next day and be able to help our team and help our offense take those next steps to getting better every day.

Manning also said that he hopes to guide his team to a bowl game and ultimately walk away victorious.

Georgia State has never won a bowl game in its seven years of existence.

Following is a Q&A The Signal conducted with Manning in regards to the upcoming season:

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW STADIUM? MANNING

It's very exciting for this whole university, not just our football program. I haven't seen it yet with the turf we haven't been there in person, but I've seen pictures, and it's absolutely beautiful. I know our

whole team is very excited to be able to call that home for this entire university -- not just ourselves.

WHO HAVE YOU DEVELOPED THAT CHEMISTRY WITH THIS YEAR IN PRACTICE?

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOUR FIRST SEASON AS THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR GEORGIA STATE?

MANNING:

MANNING:

I'm my biggest critic, I would say, and I know there's a lot of things last year that I needed to improve on -- watching film, and you know, I took that personally on myself to elevate this offense and to elevate my play coming into this year. I've been very motivated and just looking forward to getting out there August 31.

I think offensively for us it's going to be more as a unit. Robert got a lot of the attention last year, and he saw a lot of the coverage, too. So, I think for us offensively this year it's building a group - an entire group, and I'm very pleased with a lot of our younger guys who didn't too much playing time - if any last year. They're gonna play huge roles for us this year, and I feel like I'm very confident in those guys on the outside and it's still the beginning of camp, and we can still keep building on this relationship and chemistry, but I'm very pleased so far.

THIS IS YOUR LAST RIDE HERE AT GEORGIA STATE, HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS A GEORGIA STATE QUARTERBACK?

YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO PERSONNEL CHANGES BEING THAT YOU TRANSFERRED HERE FROM UTAH. SPEAK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL PREPARATION MANNING: WITH BEING IN A NEW OFFENSIVE SYSTEM AND For me, it's hopefully lead our team to a first ever PLAYING UNDER A NEW HEAD COACH bowl victory. I think that's one of my main goals. I MANNING:

The biggest thing that you have to do is buy into whatever the coach is saying. That was the biggest thing for me when coach Elliott and coach Trickett arrived it was -- for the offense and the whole team to really buy into what they're saying right away because they're our coaches, they didn't recruit us, but we gotta go. I felt like our transition as a team has been great. I've kinda been used to new offenses and clean slates and starting all over and learning from the top, and it's my job to help relay information out throughout the offense.

HOW'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OFFENSIVE COACH [TRAVIS] TRICKETT?

MANNING:

It's a great relationship. He's taught me things that I haven't learned as a football player yet in my career, and I feel like he's definitely gotten me better, and he pushes me every single day, and I feel like that's the biggest thing. He doesn't let me settle for anything, and he pushes me every day, and I've been grateful so far.

LAST YEAR YOU HAD ROBERT DAVIS AS YOUR GO-TO GUY,

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

don't

have too many personal goals; I just want to be able to lead this team to where we truly want to go, and I think one of those goals is to go to a bowl game and get a victory.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

17

It’s Panther Season A game-by-game prediction CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

TENNESSEE STATE AT GEORGIA STATE PROJECTED 1 - 0

GEORGIA STATE VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN PROJECTED 5 - 4

The Panthers' first game of the season will be the first of the Shawn Elliott era and the first at Georgia State Stadium. They get a tough draw in their first game with Tennessee State.Last season the Tigers went 7-4 while averaging 415 yards per game and scoring 32.1 points per game, and Tigers, now have former Florida Quarterback Treon Harris running the show. Despite these things, Georgia State should still win this game. With it being the first game at the new stadium, expect near a full house, and that alone should be enough to carry the Panthers to victory.

If no game during the entire season matters, this one certainly does. This time the two teams will square off in Statesboro, so expect Georgia Southern fans to be excited for this one because they have lost two in a row to Georgia State.

In last years contest the Panthers jumped out quick, and the Eagles mounted a comeback but came up just short. Georgia Southern is projected to finish 7th in the conference right about Georgia State, but the Eagles will have to replace their leading passer and rusher from last season. Georgia State wins for the third year in a row.

MEMPHIS AT GEORGIA STATE PROJECTED 2 - 2

GEORGIA STATE AT CHARLOTTE PROJECTED 2 - 1

This game should be kind of interesting because Memphis plays at such a fast pace and puts up a lot of points. Last season the Tigers averaged 38.8 points per game while only have the ball for about a little over 27 minutes per game. Memphis also returns all three top offensive weapons from last year.

Luckily for Georgia State, they have a pretty solid defense, which should be able to keep the scoring to a minimum, but the Panthers won't have enough offensive firepower to win the game. Memphis wins this one as they pull away late.

Things get a bit easier for the Panthers the next week as they travel to Charlotte to take on the 49ers. Last season Charlotte went 4-8.The 49ers do return their starting Quarterback Hasaan Klugh, but they lost their top rusher and receiver from last years team. Defensively, Charlotte gave up over 32 points per game and only had 14 sacks as a team. With a few good weapons at his disposal, Georgia State Quarterback Conner Manning should be able to spread the ball around and lead the Panthers to victory.

GEORGIA STATE AT PENN STATE PROJECTED 1 - 1

GEORGIA STATE AT COASTAL CAROLINA PROJECTED 3 - 2

The Panthers get a week off after their first game before they travel to Happy Valley to face the No.6 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions are the reigning Big Ten champions, so they are out to prove that last year is not a fluke.

Quarterback Trace McSorley, and star running back Saquon Barkley both return for Penn State, who averaged 37 points and over 430 of total offense last season. This game will without a doubt the Panthers toughest game on the schedule, so expect them to be excited to compete, but Penn State should dominate from start to finish and win this one rather easily.

Now that the nonconference portion of the season is over here comes the important of the season. First up is Sun Belt newcomer Coastal Carolina. This game will be the Chanticleers 2nd Sun Belt Conference game of the season, as they play UL Monroe the week before. The Chanticleers did go 10-2 last season and had a very stingy defense only giving up 19 points per game,but it will take them at least a season to get used to the higher level of competition in the Sun Belt.

Georgia State will win this one rather easily.

GEORGIA STATE AT UL MONROE PROJECTED 4 - 2

It was after this game last season that Georgia State let go of head coach Trent Miles. However, things had started going downhill for the Panthers well before this game, which contributed to this loss.UL Monroe won 37-23 and thoroughly dominated on the ground 264-42. UL Monroe does return its best players from both sides of the ball, but they weren't that much better than the Panthers last season when they won. Expect an inspired effort from the defense this time as Georgia State wins a close one.

APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GEORGIA STATE PROJECTED 6 - 5

App State is the best team in the conference and the reigning conference champions. They have been picked to win once again. They won last years contest 17-3 behind smothering defense and a good performance from running back Jalin Moore. The Mountaineers return a lot on both sides of the ball so expect them to dominate this game once again.

GEORGIA STATE AT TEXAS STATE PROJECTED 6 - 4

This contest will probably be the easiest game on the schedule, and a must win if the Panthers want to be bowl eligible. The Panthers first win of the season last year came against Texas State (41-21). Conner Manning threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns last year, you can expect a similar effort this season, and a Georgia State win.

SOUTH ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA STATE PROJECTED 4 - 4

Last year this game was a close one as South Alabama won 13-10 on a late field goal. They are expected to 4th in the conference this year after 8th last year. This game is one of several swing games on the schedule this year. This game could go either way, but South Alabama wins in another close one.

TROY AT GEORGIA STATE PROJECTED 4 - 3 Homecoming is the game that everyone looks to every season. This year the Panthers draw the Troy Trojans who were picked to finish 2nd in the conference this year. Last year Troy won a tight one 31-21, which was the score for the 2nd year in a row, can we see a trifecta? Don't bank on it, but Troy ruins homecoming for Georgia State.

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ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTOPHER WINLEY | THE SIGNAL

SPORTS

18

GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

PHOTO BY VANESSA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Parker H. Petit Field: A first class stadium

Georgia State students share their thoughts on the Panthers' new home D’MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

T

he first game in Parker H. Petit Field at Georgia State Stadium was played on Thursday when the Georgia State Panthers held a blue vs. white scrimmage game (blue defeated white 36-6). The event was also a fan fest, giving Georgia State fans their first chance to visit the new stadium. Around 3,000 students and fans were in attendance to witness.

"Here we are in the beautiful new home," head coach Shawn Elliott said to the press after the scrimmage game. "It's an unbelievable facility. It's really remarkable that this is our home and we have an opportunity to play our games here. This thing is first class."

Elliott wasn't the only one impressed with the stadium. The Signal had the opportunity to talk with some students about their first experience at Georgia State Stadium.

Steven Brenden, a junior at Georgia State, full-time student and a current employee of the university, was very impressed

by the stadium. When asked how he felt about Georgia State Stadium, Brenden admitted that he thought it probably wasn't the best idea.

"At first I was a little skeptical because the stadium was built for the Olympics, so I was like what are they gonna do with all this space," Brenden said. He continued by saying "man, this looks great!"

Brenden also mentioned that "it's obvious we have a lot of unused seating" and he doesn't think the university will necessary fill the stands for the inaugural season.

Sean, who is a freshman at Georgia State also had high-praise for the way the stadium turned out. Sean likes the fact Georgia State officially has a stadium they can call home.

"It's really cool that they have their own individual stadium -not sharing the Georgia Dome," Sean said. "I feel like this will get filled up more, and it's just more personal."

Sean's friend Alex, who is also a freshman at Georgia State said that "my most favorite thing about the new stadium is the Georgia State clock," located by the 5,600 square-foot video board.

Georgia State Stadium has also attracted students from other

universities. Brittany, who attends Georgia Gwinnett College, said she heard about the stadium via social media.

Not to mention, she was also in awe with how the stadium turned out.

"I really like it," Brittany said. It's much bigger than I expected, so that's really good for them -- it's really bright (in regards to the lighting of the stadium), so I really enjoyed it -- it's really cute!"

Andre Applin, whose son DeAndre Applin plays safety for the Panthers, was in attendance to experience the first outing in the new stadium. Andre had some positive and negative comments about the game.

"I really like it, man," Andre said. "It's large. It's gonna be a lot more people than my son is used to playing in front of."

That was the good.

Now for the bad, Andre said that the concession stands need to improve when the regular season kicks off.

"I just realized that it's taking a long time -- taking them a long time for it not to be so many people here. When it gets to be a whole lot of people here, I wonder how long it will take."

The Panthers will host Tennessee State on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.

The offense and defense are revved up and ready to go Both teams hope to have improved during the offseason practices CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

T

he Georgia State football program got a makeover during the offseason, so don't be surprised when they look a lot different when they touch the field for the first time against Tennessee State. A lot of the same players are still here from last years' team but the differences come in other places.

First of all the team will playing in their own stadium, now the new Georgia State Stadium.

“Just something to call our home,” senior cornerback Chandon Sullivan said. “Playing in the Dome was cool, but it's hard to fill up the dome because it's so big, but now we finally have something that we can call our own place and have that home field advantage.”

Sullivan is one of the top returning players from last years defense, which was pretty good. Last years defense ranked no.46 in the nation in total defense. They lost some of the key

contributors from last years defense , Bobby Baker, Alonzo Mcgee, Kaleb Ringer and Shawayne Lawrence are all gone. Baker and Mcgee were the leaders of that defense so now it is up to others to fill those gaps.

“I had my time where I had to follow the seniors, but now i'm a senior so it's just being more vocal, demanding more from the team and from myself,” Sullivan said.

This years' unit will be coached by first-year defensive coordinator Nate Fuqua, who previously coached at Wofford.

Although they lost some of their better players they brought back some of the key contributors, players like, Jerome Smith, Michael Shaw, Trey Payne Chase Middleton, Brian Williams, Marterious Allen, and Mackendy Cheridor. Smith and Sullivan have been rated as one of the better cornerback tandems in the Sun Belt.

The offense last season was a different story, they struggled at the Quarterback position, and couldn’t get anything going on the ground. Last year they only had 1052 yards on the season, and an average of 87.7 per game, which was good for 10th in the conference.

There is hope for this year however, it is The Conner Manning’s second year and even though it's a new coaching staff that makes a big difference.

“It was a big transition, the culture in Atlanta is a lot different than what i'm used to so it took me awhile to get used to, but second year here you truly build great bonds with some of your teammates,” Manning said.

This year Manning will be without two of his top weapons from last years team, Keith Rucker and Robert Davis. They do return Penny Hart who missed pretty much all of last year due to injury. They also return top running back Kyler Neal and back up Glenn Smith. Tight end Ari Werts, who was named to the preseason John Mackey award watch list and wide receiver Todd Boyd. The offensive line will once be anchored by Gabe Mobley.

The offensive line will be the key to the offense’s success this season, because if they are one dimensional they will struggle mightily.

Despite last year's mishaps, this team has some talent, they just have to be able to put it all together.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

19

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

MONIQUE HUNDLEY

Women's Soccer

CHRISTEN CRITTENDEN

PHOTO BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Staff Reporter

The junior midfielder led the Panthers in their opener game, taking five shots, three of which were on target. “Moe”, a physical therapy major, has an impressive season stat of 32 goals, seven of which were during the 2016 season. Starting off her college careeer, Hundley played in all 21 games of the season playing attacking and defending half. Despite her soccer success and practices, Hundley has stayed academically focused and earned herself a spot in the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the spring semester of 2017.

Tennesee State vs.

Georgia State Appalachian vs.

Georgia

— Georgia State women’s soccer team feel 1-0 in their opener game against UAB on Friday, Aug. 18 — The team opened their home games on Sunday night, with a score of — against Kennessaw State.

— The Panthers defeated the Mercer

UCLA

Tennessee vs.

Georgia Tech

TENNESSEE

Michigan vs.

Florida

GO BLUE

Florida State vs.

Alabama

ALABAMA

Bear in a five-set exhibition game (25-23, 25-22,22-25,25-20, 15-11) last Friday.

MEN'S SOCCER ­— Men’s soccer team played their first exhibition game on Aug. 14, losing to Clayton State by 1-0

GEORGIA

Texas A&M vs.

UCLA

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