The Signal Vol. 84 No.21

VOL. 84 | NO. 21

FEB. 14 - FEB. 21, 2017

The signal at georgia State University

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Inside georgia loses millions Homophobic business practices are costing Georgia millions of dollars.

News | Page 3

myth buster of sex

Our columnist clarifies the common misconceptions of sex and contraception.

opinion| Page 7

DAILY NEWS AT WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM

News 3

rejecting obligations

Not just a game

New-age women are wanting to skip motherhood, but society disagrees.

Find out how The Signal sports staff first fell in love with sports.

A&L | page 12

Sports | page 18

opinion 7

Arts & Living 9

Sports 15

2

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

blotter

IS RECRUITING

Feb 7

I told you once, I’ll tell you again A non Georgia State student trespasser was given two warnings to leave the Arts and Humanities facility on the Atlanta Campus. The investigation is active.

I am that I am

Help! I need somebody

Agency assistance was given to a Georgia State student on Courtland Street Southeast. The case is cleared.

A non Georgia State arrestee provided a false name, address, and date of birth to officers. The incident occurred off campus.

Feb 8

Hooligans on N Deck

Property of Library North was stolen and its value is less than $1,500. The case has been cleared.

A Georgia State Student’s property was

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found damaged on the N Parking Deck on the Atlanta Campus. The investigation is active.

The price is right

Apply now at www.georgiastatesignal.com COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL COVER DESIGN BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK A student impersonates President Mark Becker as students and Turner Field residents convince “him” to sign a CBA.

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA MAXOURIS | THE SIGNAL

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

SAFE SEX ATL is at third-world HIV levels, but has cut down on HIV prevention programs CHRISTINA MAXOURIS News Editor

A

Feb. 9 study by 11Alive found that while the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) poured millions of dollars in a failed project, it cut hundreds of thousands from HIV prevention programs. Atlanta has scored top ranks in HIV levels for over three years, placing the Metro area among third-world country levels.

Specifically, in 2016 over $700,000 was cut from the CDC, mostly coming from HIV prevention funding, according to Georgia’s Department of Public Health.

But according to Georgia State’s School of Public Health PhD candidate Jamal Jones, a lack of prevention awareness is exactly the problem.

Jones said that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is available which can help treat HIV if exposed, however, it is very expensive.

“They recommend PreP for men [who] have sex with men, who have a partner with unknown status, or if you’re involved in injection drug use,” he said.

But for lower-income, “resourcepoor” communities which tend to be the hubs of higher HIV levels, access to that treatment and other prevention medication is almost impossible. “[Atlanta is] considered an urban cluster of HIV cases, so you have several zip codes which have a higher prevalence of HIV, high rate of existing cases of HIV, some are underserved communities, some don’t have the resources available to attack HIV, some of those communities [HIV is] stigmatized,” he said.

Communities that a lot of Georgia State students come from, Jones said.

According to graduate student Victoria Novak, who’s worked in Public Health for the last six years, the lack of access in those areas is exactly the problem, and critical for HIV prevention.

“People should be encouraged regularly by their doctors to get checked and help understand the risk. Once diagnosed, they require stringent counseling and have to take antiretroviral therapy for the rest of their lives,” Novak said. “Many communities in Atlanta don’t have access to the healthcare they need to keep HIV under control, and (...) with the political threat looming of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, with no replacement currently available, it could get a lot worse.”

The stigma of HIV is a major factor that often prevents both students and residents from getting tested, in fear of getting back positive results. And according to Jones, Georgia law doesn’t help get rid of the stigma.

Under Georgia law, “if you learn that you have been infected with HIV, it is a crime to engage in certain types of activity in Georgia. You cannot increasingly engage in sexual contact with someone, share hypodermic needles or syringes with someone, offer to perform sexual acts or engage in sexual intercourse for money, solicit another person to engage in sexual acts for money, or donate your bodily fluids, tissues, or other bodily materials,” according to website Criminaldefenselawyer.com. In other words, it’s a criminal offense to pass on certain sexually transmitted diseases in Georgia.

“I don’t think the law necessarily helps, because people are afraid to disclose their status to their partners because they don’t know how the partner will react,” Jones said, adding that the fear of those reactions prevent people from getting

tested on time.

“Some people are afraid to deal with a positive test result, (...) how my family will react to it, how my partner will react to it, how will my friends react to it,” he said.

Novak said that despite the drugs available to help manage the infection, people still fear the diagnosis.

“There is definitely more fear in communities that have received less education about the disease, its risk and treatment options,” she said. “But also in some cases, straight men may be afraid to admit they’ve been diagnosed because many people in their community would see that as an admission that they were gay.”

And that’s the reason why, once people in Georgia get tested, it’s often too late.

Jones said that a big problem in Georgia is that by the time people choose to get tested, they are already within the advanced stages of AIDS, or they are getting there, so by the time they receive their results, the disease has already progressed.

In partnership with the Georgia State School of Public Health, Jones helped launch a new Georgia State-specific campaign, aimed at increasing the amount of students tested.

Georgia is ranked 5th in the nation for new HIV diagnoses, and according to the campaign’s press release, two-thirds of individuals living with HIV in Georgia reside in Atlanta.

But the problem is one that has brought about multiple efforts throughout the years towards a resolution.

This year, a new Georgia bill hopes to add medical marijuana as part of HIV treatment.

House Bill 65 (HB 65) authored by state Rep. Allen Peake, aims to expand the conditions covered by medical marijuana to include HIV/AIDS.

GEORGIA is ranked 6TH highest in the nation for AIDS cases.

66 percent of Georgians living with HIV/ AIDS resided in the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2010.

Over 19,000 INMATES are released every year and at least 300 of them are HIV+.

(According to the Georgia Department of Public Health)

GEORGIA STATE CLINIC OFFERS: • Free and confidential HIV testing, with results in about 30 minutes • Free male and female condoms • Dental dams • Lubricant

PHOTO BY VANESSA JONES | THE SIGNAL

The CDC reports 1 in 51 Georgia residents will have a positive diagnosis in their lifetime. It is important to be aware of testing facilities available to the public like the HIV Intervention Project.

PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

NEWS

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

State

Study estimates Georgia loses millions in

anti-LGBT discrimination costs Homophobia isn’t just a social problem, it’s an economic one, too DOMINIQUE TIMES Senior Reporter

D

iscrimination against the LGBT community is costing Georgia millions, according to a study released last month by the Williams Institute.

Researchers analyzed employment trends, use of public benefits, youth achievement and health disparities among the LGBT community to quantify the impact of discrimination.

The study concluded that Georgia’s current laws and social environment cost the “state government, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year.”

Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at Georgia State Eric R. Wright partnered with the Williams Institute for the research study titled “The Economic Impact of Discrimination and Stigma Against LGBT People in Georgia”.

Wright, a researcher and co-author of the study, said the findings are evidence of a concept that previously was only conjecture.

“The whole point of the study, which is something we have long suspected, is that there is a significant economic toll to discrimination of any kind,” Wright said.

“We’ve known this around race, ethnicity and to some extent gender. A lot of people talk about the gender wage gap or the difficulty of African-Americans in terms of working their way up the ladder, but I think we know a lot less about the impact when it comes to LGBT.” According to the study, nearly 300,000 LGBT adults and 58,200 LGBT youth are negatively impacted by discrimination and stigma in Georgia.

Nearly 200,000 of Georgia’s workers identify as LGBT, and according to the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 80 percent of transgender Georgia respondents experienced mistreatment or harassment at work. Another 34 percent reported losing a job, 26 percent said they were denied a promotion and 60 percent said they were not hired because of their gender identity at some point in their life.

According to Williams Institute, discrimination deters LGBT workers from being “out” at work. As a result, these workers are often disengaged, absent and overall less productive. The businesses they work for have a harder time recruiting and retaining employees who prefer a work environment that is more supportive of the LGBT community.

Researchers estimated that employers risk losing $9,100 for each employee who leaves the job.

Discrimination in the workplace and in

housing can create financial burdens for LGBT individuals, 36 percent of whom reported having a household income below $24,000 compared to 28 percent of non-LGBT adults.

“There’s a stereotype out there that LGBT people are economically better off,” Wright said. “In terms of individual earnings and household earnings, we now know from census data that LGBT households tend to be less well-off than non-LGBT households.”

The 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey also found that 23 percent of transgender Georgians reported being homeless because of their gender identity at some point in their lives.

Williams Institute’s research estimated that workplace and housing discrimination against transgender residents annually costs Georgia $1,048,000 in state Medicaid expenditures and $477,000 in homeless shelter expenditures.

Researchers also found that LGBT Georgian’s higher rates of negative health repercussions, including smoking and major depressive disorder, are linked to stigma and discrimination and have economic effects as well.

The study estimated that if the gap between depressive disorder rates of LGBT people and non-LGBT people decreased by a fraction, Georgia could benefit by $110.6 million to $147.3 million every year.

Wright said the actual amount may be larger.

“My reaction when we got done was that this was an underestimate because there’s so many things that we don’t count,” Wright said. “The people who hold onto these hateful feelings and prejudices have indirect consequences too, and no one’s ever tried to quantify that. If they were more open-minded, more accepting, could work alongside someone who was different from them, they might have more opportunities.”

According to the study’s authors, by creating a legal and social climate that is more supportive of the LGBT community, Georgia would gain economic advantages. Wright said the problem with the state’s political climate is not so much that discriminatory policies are in place, but that anti-discrimination protections are not.

“Pass a law,” Wright said. “That changes the environment, creates a better business impression, it just has this sort of waterfall effect.”

A report released last month by Georgia Unites Against Discrimination shows that Georgia is one of five states without specific legal protections for LGBT residents.

Titled “Liberty and Justice in Georgia: Protecting Our Heritage and Growing Our Competitive Future”, the report showed that Georgia currently has no law preventing businesses from denying service because

of their religious beliefs or preventing landowners from refusing to rent or sell to an individual based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to the report, Georgia is one of three states that does not prohibit private employers from discriminating based on race, religion and other factors.

In the report’s conclusion, Georgia Unites recommends state legislators to pass antidiscrimination protections for all residents in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Executive Director of Georgia Equality Jeff Graham said the Williams Institute study “put a price tag” on the ways stigma and fear can play out in a person’s life, something he has heard through conversations with members of the LGBT community.

“I’ve spoken to people who are considering moving out of state to a place that is more accommodating and welcoming of them as a same sex family,” Graham said, “and with a number of large companies, there is a reluctance of people willing to move to Georgia because it doesn’t have the same basic civil rights protections as other places.”

The passage of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act and North Carolina’s bathroom bill stirred backlash from businesses in 2016 based off the perception that the states are intolerant places.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal cited economic reasons for vetoing the state’s version of the ‘religious liberty’ bill last year as well.

“There’s an argument morally, a social justice argument, that we ought to protect people who are more likely to be vulnerable in our society, but this report was looking at the business side of the issue,” Wright said.

“The more inclusive you are, the better it is for business.”

Graham said Georgia Equality has issued a series of polls over the last six years which have shown that “strong majorities of people support protecting members of the LGBT community.”

“Legislation would not only be an economic benefit, but also a statement of values,” Graham said. “It’s known that Georgians are a very fair people and we need legislation that agrees with the values that most people live their lives by.”

Senate Bill 119 (SB 119), a nondiscrimination measure introduced by state Sen. Lester Jackson on Feb. 9, would amend Georgia’s laws to ensure that LGBT citizens are protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations if it passes into law this legislative session.

WHAT ARE THE STATS?

Workers: •

• • • • • •

Nearly 200,000 workers in Georgia identify as LGBT. 80 percent of transgender Georgia respondents experienced mistreatment or harassment at work.

34 percent reported losing a job.

26 percent said they were denied a promotion.

60 percent said they were not hired, because of their gender identity at some point in their life.

Employers risk losing $9,100 for each employee that leaves the state or changes jobs.

Housing and workplace discrimination costs an estimated $1,048,000 in state Medicaid expenditures and $477,000 in homeless shelter expenditures each year.

Youth: • •

Georgia is home to 58,200 LGBT youth.

Can increase costs to the state via lost wages, Medicaid and homeless shelter expenditures.

Health: •

•

•

Disparities between LGBT people and non-LGBT people on linked to discrimination including major depressive disorder and smoking.

If the disparity in rates of major depressive disorder were reduced 25 percent to 33.3 percent, Georgia’s economy would benefit by an estimated $110.6 million to $147.3 million annually in increased productivity and decreased health care costs.

If the disparity in rates of smoking were reduced by 25 percent to 33.3 percent, Georgia’s economy would benefit by an estimated $81.5 million to $108.6 million annually.

PAGE DESIGN BY TAISJAH WILKINS | THE SIGNAL

5

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

State

Hubs for sexual aggressive behaviors Last Week How Georgia is trying to impact sexual assault in nightclubs and bars SYRINA MERILAN Associate News Editor

G

eorgia’s fighting back against sexually aggressive behaviors with laws, regulations and raising awareness on sexual attacking methods in Downtown’s nightlife.

On Jan. 25 the Senate read and referred Senate Bill 45 (SB 45), sponsored by state Sen. Lawrence Walker III, targeting the act of “upskirting” the practice of taking pictures under a woman’s skirt without her permission.

Walker told The Signal the idea for the bill was sparked after an incident in Houston County Georgia, where a Publix worker covertly took a video under the skirt of an unsuspecting shopper. The employee was apprehended and brought to court, but was let go without any charges, because there’s currently no law against his actions.

“They said it was not an invasion of privacy, because it didn’t take place on private property,” he said. “We want to make sure our laws reflect that this is not acceptable.”

The bill would file upskirting as a misdemeanor on the first offense and after two or more times the offender will face felony charges, five years in jail and a possible fine of up to $100,000.

This is another step taken by Georgia legislature to prevent mischievous sexual behaviors in public places. In July 2016, House Bill (HB 152) was passed, requiring that a person must be 21 years of age or older to enter bars or any establishment where 75 percent or more of the revenue is acquired by the sale of alcohol.

A loophole in the law allows for establishments that sell alcohol to give entrance to underage individuals if they define themselves as “entertainment facilities”.

According to the IRS, an ‘entertainment facility’ is “any property you own, rent, or use for entertainment,” and typically does not require any expense including“expenses for depreciation and operating costs such as rent, utilities, maintenance, and protection”. But under that definition nightclubs are not considered entertainment facilities and are therefore required to follow the law.

And those night clubs may be the prime zones for sexual predators looking for targets.

According to the Atlanta-based Murray Law Firm (MLF), which specializes in sexual assault, there are particular actions that employees of bars and nightclubs have to look out for, when it comes to sexual assault, including “up-skirting” along with pressing up against someone on the dance floor, and groping.

Targets in nightclubs

According to the 2014 study ‘‘Blurred Lines?’ Sexual Aggression and Barroom Culture’ men are

increasingly more aggressive when in an environment similar to a bar.

According to the study, “about one-third of the incidents involved intentional aggression on the part of the male initiator—that is, the initiator engaged in sexual actions that he knew were unwanted, minimally causing the target discomfort but sometimes causing more serious distress including forcing her to leave the area or bar.”

Juliana Kubala, senior lecturer in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, said that women are targeted more often than men in bars and are then sexually assaulted. She said there are constructed “scripts” where the male role is described as a predator and the female takes the role of prey, regardless if they give consent. “[A man’s] sexuality is associated with being active. Men are supposed to ‘get’ women. It’s not about consent in the script,” she said. “These narrative scripts are heightened in certain kinds of ways, because these spaces are also about the production of gender behavior. I think for women the social scripts says they’re supposed to be passive. They’re supposed to wait to be chosen.”

But a rising concern factor in the bar scene are date rape drugs, like Rohypnol. According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Rohypnol is typically used in sexual assault cases and can mimic intoxication, while clearing the victim’s memory after the fact.

“Rohypnol” is also misused to physically and psychologically incapacitate women targeted for sexual assault. The drug is usually placed in the alcoholic drink of an unsuspecting victim to incapacitate them and prevent resistance to sexual assault. The drug leaves the victim unaware of what has happened to them.”

Know your limits

A Grady Rape Crisis Center (GRCC) spokeswoman specified three ways in which women can minimize the risk of sexual assault.

Always be surrounded by girlfriends, never leave your drink unattended, and never leave with someone you’ve just met.

Dr. Laura Salazar, School of Public Health Professor, agreed with GRCC and went further into depth on how women can minimize the risk of sexual assault. She said that the most important rule is to never go out alone, instead always be accompanied by a group of friends and designate a “mom” of the group, who will stay sober and keep track of everyone.

“Go with people that you know have similar values that you can trust.

Have someone that won’t drink that can look for the others to make sure that they’re okay. Start a group chat to make sure you’re all okay. Have a plan, so everyone knows what is expected. That is the best safety measure,” Salazar said.

Salazar said it’s important for

How to minimize risk?

• •

Don't ever go alone, go with a group of trusted friends.

Start a group chat to make sure to make sure you're all okay.

Have a plan, so everyone knows what is expected.

• Don’t leave with some you don't know • Know your limits alcohol wise.

• Speak up a tell a man to leave you alone he starts to make you uncomfortable.

• Know the reputation of the bar/nightclub you plan to go to.

• Stay aware of your surroundings and we wary of those you do not know According to Dr. Laura Salazar

What night clubs can do to be safer •

Have security at the door so that they can observe who is leaving and entering the establishment and take note of who they are entering with.

• Install and maintain surveillance cameras outside restroom doors, and consider employing a restroom attendant. If the restrooms are gender-segregated, monitor to ensure that men do not enter the women’s restroom.

• Support staff (porters, bar backs, busboys, and kitchen staff) should receive sexual assault awareness training so they are aware of able to recognize potential perpetrator behaviors that may lead to sexual assault.

• Post signs letting customers know that their safety is a priority, and include on the signs who among customers can approach if they need assistance.

According to The Murray Law Firm.

students to know their alcohol limits especially when it comes to freshman who may or may not have had alcohol prior. An increase amount of alcohol can impair a person’s ability at assess a dangerous situation.

“Know your limits alcohol-wise.

Before you go to a bar and club know your limits. Especially for freshmen.

You should know your limits before, so you can assess your risks. If you start doing shots you are less able to asses your risk. You always want to be sharp,” Salazar said.

She reminded women that they should be “wary of guys and men you don’t know” and that it is acceptable to be paranoid of unfamiliar men, but the only way to be aware of your surroundings is by not being overly intoxicated.

“You want to have fun, but still have your guard up. That’s why knowing your limit on alcohol is important because, with too much alcohol you can’t keep your guard up.”

Salazar encouraged women to not be nice, when they feel uncomfortable or pressured by a man who is giving them unwanted attention. She addressed that some women may feel that they don’t want to be a disturbance, but if they feel uncomfortable they should always speak up.

“It’s OK to not be nice. If a guy is touching you on your waist or arm and he’s bother you, tell him it’s not cool. I think in a social situation women don’t want to make a big deal about it and cause a scene,” she said. “[There are] some guys that are very tenacious and you don’t want to cause a scene, but sometimes you need to not be nice, so that he knows you’re

with your friends and you don’t want to be bothered.”

Salazar said that it is also important to keep the venue in mind the venue.

She suggested that women should be observant of the men to women ratio and to know the reputation of the club/bar that they plan to attend.

“Know the reputation of the bar and club you’re going to. If [you notice] there are more guys than girls and it’s going to be a ‘sausage feast’ as they call it, you might want to reconsider. Keep in mind if the place is known for sexually aggressive men.

Try to find out where your going first from other people,” Salazar said.

What can bars do to help?

According to MLF, bars and nightclubs are obligated by law to protect their customers from any “foreseen” harms and in any event that a customer is harmed they have the right to prosecute.

“Should a nightclub owner or manager fail in this legal duty, victims of nightclub sexual assault may elect to pursue a legal claim for their injuries and suffering.”

MLF has targeted specific ways in which nightclubs or bars can be more efficient in protecting their customers from sexual assault. They encourage employees to look after customers that may have had a little too much to drink by calling a cab. They also recommend installing cameras that are being monitored at all times, and hiring security that is vigilant and will notice if a guest is leaving with some they didn’t come with originally.

Local

Former Campaign Operator to Kasim Reed linked to Atlanta City bribery scandal

WABE reported that Mitzi Bickers, the former campaign runner for Mayor Kasim Reed’s “get out the vote campaign”, is new a focal point of a federal bribery investigation. The U.S. Justice Department requested hundreds of documents that detailed the conspiration of city contractors E.R. “Elvin” Mitchell and Charles Richard Jr. Both construction owners pleaded guilty to bribery, paying more than a million dollars to secure city contracts. Bickers’ name is on many of the documents purged, but the former Atlanta Public Schools board member has not been charged with any crime so far.

National

President Trump strategizes his next move, after restraining order on travel ban

The Trump administration has no plans to appeal the decision blocking its travel ban to the Supreme Court.

However, the administration remains adamant in keeping the executive order intact according to CNN reports.

CNN source speculated that the president’s next possible move could very well come in the form of a new executive order, one that is more concise in its intentions and purpose. For example, it could outright proclaim that legal permanent residents are not affected by the travel restrictions.

Global

War criminal Charles Taylor calls allies from maximum security prison

The BBC reports that Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, called his political allies from HM Prison Frankland. Taylor is currently serving a 50-year sentence for supporting rebels who performed multiple war crimes in Sierra Leone. The detainee allegedly made the call to denounce his detractors and rally his supporters. The fact that this call was made at all is of great concern to Alain Werner, director of the nongovernmental organization: Civitas Maxima, which builds cases against Liberian war criminals.

NEWS

6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Takei speaks at Georgia State Star Trek actor discusses Trump and WWII experience WESLEY DUNKIRK Staff Reporter

G

eorge Takei, the famed Star Trek actor and LGBT rights activist, made an appearance on campus on Feb. 9 as a part of Spotlight’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

Though the audience was filled with “Trekkies”, Takei’s speech went much deeper than his adventures on the Starship Enterprise as Hikaru Sulu. He spoke to a packed crowd about his rise to Star Trek fame, his struggles in internment camps during World War II, and his fight for LGBT rights.

Takei described the emotions he felt leading up to his family being taken to the camps and the experience of living there as a 5-year-old child.

“Weeks after my fifth birthday, we were ordered out of our home at gunpoint,” Takei said. “I will never forget that moment.”

Takei said he did not fully realize the severity of his situation just yet, though, since he was only five-years-old. When discussing the search light that followed him at night when he ran from his barrack to the latrine, he said his five-year-old self “thought it was kind of nice that they’d lit the way for me to pee.”

Takei also paid specific attention to his development as a gay man and an advocate for LGBT rights.

He started realizing he was “different” at a young age and said it made him “feel very alone”, sometimes isolated from his friends. His discovery of gay bars allowed him to let his guard down a bit, but he said that at the time “police raids” on gay bars were common. Takei compared them to the raids by American soldiers on Japanese-Americans during World War II.

A new addition to the classroom building WESLEY DUNKIRK Staff Reporter

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAVIN HOWZE

Star Trek actor George Takei visits Georgia State part of Spotlight’s Distinguished Speaker’s Series. He speaks on his childhood in a Japanese internment camp and his advocacy for LGBT rights.

He said the resistance against the raids inspired him to fight for gay rights, eventually becoming a leading advocate for marriage equality. Referencing a 2005 California bill which aimed to legalize gay marriage that was eventually vetoed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Takei said “I spoke to the press for the first time as a gay man and blasted Schwarzenegger’s veto.”

Takei’s appearance at Georgia State is one of many of his attempts to reach out to college students. He recently visited Southern Methodist University and Pennsylvania State University.

In an interview with The Signal, Takei said he believes reaching out to young people, in ways such as making speeches on college campuses, is important.

“The young people are going to be the ones that determine the future of this country,” he said.

Takei told The Signal about his disdain for President Donald Trump and his policies.

“We will do all that we can to bring Donald Trump’s presidency tenure to a quick end,” he said.

“I think on so many levels, Donald Trump has been so disruptive: economically, being against free trade. We’re a global society.”

In the interview he also spoke out against the electoral college voting system that helped elect Trump.

“Structurally, our voting system now I think is outdated,” Takei said. “I think the first business on the agenda is to eliminate the electoral college process and go by the popular vote.”

Georgia’s Cyber Innovation and Training Center Governor Deal announces $50 million going towards cyber security EDEN GETACHEW Staff Reporter

O

n Nov. 18, Atlanta created a new cyber security crime unit to help combat cybercrime. And as the 2017 legislative session begins in Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal announced the new $50 million training center that plans to increase American cyber security.

The Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center will be in Augusta, Georgia, and kick off construction in the spring and complete construction in 18 months. The facility will also be the home to Augusta University’s Cyber Institute and the owners of the facility will be the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA).

Augusta has already been the hub of all cyber security with the United States Army’s Cyber Command (Fort Gordon), the US Army Cyber Center of Excellence, and the National Security Agency (NSA) all in the same vicinity.

The training center’s goal is to improve cybersecurity education, increase protection of public resources, as well as delivering secure government services through interagency cybersecurity by building cyber secure public building infrastructure.

Deal said the reality is cybersecurity is important, because cybercrime is now bigger than the global black market in marijuana, cocaine and heroin

Classroom South expansion

combined.

“The protection of Georgia’s citizens, businesses and institutions in the digital realm is becoming significantly more necessary as cybercrime continues to grow. Building on our efforts to keep Georgia safe and maintain its status as the No. 1 state in which to do business, we are taking action to ensure that Georgia leads the way on cybersecurity,” said Deal in a press release.

According to the Georgia Cyber innovation and Training Center fact sheet, out of the $50 million in funding $41.5 million will go towards constructing a 150,000 square foot facility, $2.1 million for staffing, $1.8 million will go towards planning design, utilities, and marketing, $4.6 million will cover staff and operating costs until the building is fully leased.

Joanne Sexton, Augusta University assistant professor and Cyber Institute director, explained that cyber security skills are very perishable.

“Everyone needs the initial training to go into the field. If you’re not practicing you have to spend a little more time on it again. The role of cyber range is to keep everybody skilled and sharp. The thing we can do in a cyber range is a build networks that mimic real networks,” Sexton said. “We then attack those networks so that they can practice recovering from those attacks.”

She said once there’s a breach in a system, it’s always a challenge for the team that’s got to respond to it.

“Kind of like a car accident, you go into shock at

first, you’re not thinking quite as well. Part of it is if you practice all the time, it becomes less stressful. If you learn how to work as a team, you figure how to communicate up to leadership so it’s giving you the real world stimulation,” she said.

Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Arizona are of the few state-owned cyber ranges in the U.S. Georgia is the eighth largest state with a population of over 10.3 million. As its population grows at a steady pace, cybersecurity affects the individuals in some aspect whether it be economic development, education, workforce, or public infrastructure.

Private sector partner and AT&T President, Bill Leahy said AT&T alone has intercepted more than 2.5 million malicious messages and cyber threats in a single day.

“The Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center will provide an unparalleled opportunity for cyber professionals to test their skills and systems in a safe and protected setting. This kind of real-world practice will be invaluable in training a new generation workforce as well as providing educational opportunities for our current workforce,” said Leahy.

Economically, Georgia’s labor force is growing at a rate of 6 percent, and cyber security sectors make up approximately 35 percent of Georgia’s employment. Government services will include opportunities to ensure a closer alliance between Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), federal, state, and local law enforcements.

C

lassroom South is currently being expanded.

The addition to the current building is being built at the intersection of Decatur Street and Central Avenue.

The addition will include a “monumental entrance”, multiple labs and lecture rooms, according to Georgia State’s online report on the project.

“This addition is the second and final phase of an expansion to the [Georgia State] Classroom South Building, one of three primary classroom-dedicated facilities on the campus,” a report by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (BOR) stated. “The Phase I addition to this building was completed in 2013 and was planned, designed and constructed to accommodate this second phase of work.”

The new 35,000 square foot addition will connect the original building with the first addition, which is 25,000 square feet and is designed to accommodate up to 700 students, according to New South Construction, the construction firm working on the addition.

Construction on the addition is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed by February 2018, according to the Georgia State report. During the construction period, the first floor entrance to the original Classroom South building at the corner or Decatur Street and Central Avenue have been closed.

The BOR report stated that the preliminary budget for the project was $13,270,000, but an October 2016 report by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) stated that the project entails a total investment of about $17,000,000.

OPINION

5 TOP

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

x e syths m

You don’t have to guess anymore

H

ave you ever heard one of your friends give some advice on sex and said to yourself “no that can’t be true.” That one guy that thinks certain sex positions can stop pregnancies. That one girl that believes that Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) can only be contracted by men. While some of you may laugh at these and say “nobody believes this,” trust me, some people do. To help out our fellow students, here are the top five sex myths.

1.You can’t get pregnant in water.

MICHAEL GAITHER Marketing Manager

Michael Gaither is a Marketing Major with a specialization in branding. He spends his time reading, watching Worldstar and playing video games. Apologies for his pettiness in advance.

Tweet Michael! @mynameizmichael

VIDEO ALERT!

Check out the video on our Youtube Channel The Signal At Georgia State University

Think that you can use water as a force field for not getting pregnant? Well think again. A jacuzzi, pool, the ocean, or any other bodies of water will not stop pregnancies from occurring. According to americanpregnancy.org, water will not have an effect on whether or not you could get pregnant, because the water outside the body does not interfere with the sexual act occurring. So cancel all your plans of using that hot tub in place of a condom.

2.Big Feet = Big Penis

sometimes called, can increase the chances of pregnancy, because of “weakening the material and increasing the chance that the condoms might break,” according to kidshealth. org.

sex tips

4. I can’t get pregnant on my period. Right?

This is not all the way true. According to parents. com, “while a woman is unlikely to get pregnant during her period, it is absolutely possible.” This is because the male sperm can live in the uterus for up to three days. Even though the chances of getting pregnant on your period are smaller than usual, there’s still a chance. You have been warned.

5. Plan B works all the time, every time…I hope.

3. Sometimes it doesn’t take two.

Well, sorry to burst some bubbles out there, but this is not entirely true either. The chances of Plan B working gets smaller every day post intercourse.

This means the chances of the pill working on Sunday after you had sex on Saturday are greater than if you waited until Monday. According to ec.princeton.edu, the chances of the pill working after 72 hours dramatically go down. You also have about an 89 percent only after the first day, of Plan B working in general, according to Plan B’s website. So be careful with relying solely on the pill to save you.

Wearing two condoms does not decrease your chances of getting someone pregnant. I know, stop the presses. In all seriousness, this is a pretty common myth in American culture. Rapper Asher Roth even said on his most famous song “I Love College,” “when it comes to condoms put two on, then tomorrow night, find a new jawn.” Well first off, it might not be a good idea to get your contraception advice from rappers. Secondly, he’s absolutely wrong.

Using two condoms at once or “double bagging” as

Sex can be a great thing, but if done on the whim of hearsay, it can be very dangerous. Don’t just do or believe something because your friends say it would be a great idea. Research everything you can before having intercourse of any kind, but especially if it’s unprotected. Georgia State has a health clinic that will try to answer any sexual questions you may have, so feel free to visit them if you are feeling confused. Happy Valentines to everyone and be safe out there.

This may be the grandaddy of sex myths, because I think for some of us, we’ve heard this myth our entire life. Well, I have good news for everyone.

It’s simply not true. According to Department of Urology at St. Mary’s Hospital, “the supposed association of penile length and shoe size has no scientific basis.” You’re welcome people with size seven shoes and smaller.

PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY TAMMY HUYNH | THE SIGNAL

here are some tips for staying responsible

1

No means No.

2

Get yourself checked, before having unprotected sex.

3

If it’s feels like a bad idea. Stop.

4

Talk to your partner about what they feel comfortable with.

5

No means No. (Seriously)

Stay safe out there!

8

EDITORIAL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

EDITORIAL

There are more options out there D

Atlanta offers resources to help the LGBT community

iscrimination happens. In Georgia alone, “nearly 300,000 LGBT adults and 58,200 LGBT youth are negatively impacted by discrimination and stigma,” according to a Williams Institute study. You can read the story on page 4. We can’t lie to ourselves and say it isn’t.

The problem with LGBT discrimination is not a matter of gay rights or transgender, but it is a matter of basic human rights and common decency.

Is our country really going backwards instead of forwards?

Why are we protesting for the same thing over and over again? How many voices must speak before they reach the ears of those who can help make a change?

However, there is always another community ready to reach out and help. There isn’t only one option. It goes along with the saying, “When one door closes, another opens.”

Depending on what you’re looking for, whether it be a job, internship, a new place to hang out or a mentor. It’s good to be connected and know your rights, know who is who and what is where. This list can be used for navigating the city for a good time but also for LGBT youth looking for work environments where they’d feel more comfortable or accepted.

GOT AN opinion?

We want to hear it! Submit your guest columns to signalopinions@gmail.com

A few companies who are LGBT-friendly: • • • • •

Coca-Cola Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Home Depot King & Spalding SunTrust Banks

Atlanta gay-owned businesses: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

13 Roses Tattoo Parlor Brushstrokes Charis Books and More Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand The Saint Charles Inn Gravity Fitness Kai Lin Art Gallery Las Margaritas No Mas MExican Hacienda and Cantina Noni’s Poster Hut Ria’s Bluebird Cafe Stonehurst Place Urban Body Fitness Woof ’s

The “Gayborhood” App compiles as a city guide for the LGBT community.

HRC.ORG provides LGBTQ Employee Resources such as: • • • • • • • •

Advocating for LGBTQ equality in your workplace Best places to work (since 2014) Coming out at work Discrimination against transgender workers HIV/AIDS and employment discrimination How you can find a employer’s non-discrimination policy LGBTQ professional and student associations LGBTQ professional recruitment events

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

THE TRAPEZE CLUB SWINGING INTO PROGRESSIVE DYNAMICS

INGA MASIC

Arts & Living Editor

E

xperimentation within relationships is becoming a predominant lifechoice, especially amongst openminded crowds, “Fifty Shades of Grey” made sure of that. So, whether it be something as hardcore as BDSM or as mundane as having an “afternoon delight,” couples and singles are trying to spice up intimacy in all sorts of ways.

There is one method that introduces a concept that allows singles and couples to broaden their trust and boundaries when immersing themselves in promiscuous connections with others, the term that is used to describe said individuals is “swingers.”

Swingers are, according to Dictionary.com, “a person regarded as being modern and lively; a person who swaps sexual partners in a group, especially habitually.” Well both definitions seem to illustrate swingers as very adventurous, so where would one go to project that wild side?

There is one place in Atlanta where swingers, people who like to just observe and people who want a solid meal and interesting people to eat it with can visit, The Trapeze Club.

This place really does offer everything from private and public sexual opportunities to prime rib, that is a pretty wide offering.

SWINGING INTO EXPEDITION

David Martin, one of the managers at Trapeze, allowed The Signal to become accustomed with the backstory to the club and everything that happens behind its closed doors.

“At Trapeze adults can come out and live any fantasy they ever thought of or had,” Martin said. “At the front there is dinner and dancing, the chefs do a five-star dinner and they do breakfast, which is included with your door fees. If you want to go to the back, there are areas with private or group rooms where you can go and just watch or participate on different levels. If you just want to play with your partner then there’s places for that, and if you want to do the full snapping there are places for that as well.”

Trapeze is a place where couples join with other couples or for singles to meet other singles and develop their sexual experience. Aside from the fornications occurring in one’s bedroom, this place is also the only public (and legal) establishment in Atlanta that promotes the open exploration of sex between humans.

“Since I’ve started working at the club, one of the biggest changes in the customer base that I have noticed is a lot of couples that are younger are getting into the swinging lifestyle now or at least exploring the club. We are also noticing a lot

more single females attending then did when I first started,” Martin said.

The creation of this progressive establishment began when the two founders decided to develop a high-end destination for those who love daring escapades. One was in the limo business and ventured into the club business, and the other partook in the swinger life and was tired of the run-down, hole-in-the-wall places he was offered to enjoy himself. “They wanted it to be an all-inclusive place where all your stuff can happen at. They started roughly 20-plus years ago in Fort Lauderdale and then 15 years ago came up to Atlanta to start our location,” Martin said.

According to Martin, there is no way to lock one into exactly what they want or who they are, everyone has their own version of swinging. Couples come hesitant or excited when entering Trapeze, and once the play begins, developments within the relationship occur both physically and emotionally.

COUPLE'S RETREAT WITH A TWIST

Most nights at Trapeze will consist of events that Martin finds normal, however, there are some cases where even he, after being in the business for so long, was surprised by.

“We did have a couple do their wedding vows here a few years ago,” Martin said. “One of our attendents got ordained and he performed the ceremony in the club, in front of the members in the back that night. That’s probably one of the most unique things that stands out to me.”

Martin specified why couples may develop an interest in this way of living and clarified the reasons that it may be healthier for couples to try it out, rather than stick to conventionality.

“If you are somewhat open-minded, you can enjoy yourself, and as long as you don’t have extreme jealousy issues. If you have those, then it’s not the place for you and your partner to go. With swingers it’s not cheating when they do it in front of each other, verses most regular marriages where people are sneaking around, and these couples are going out and doing it together. It kind of builds for a stronger relationship for them,” Martin said.

The swinger lifestyle and places like Trapeze allow couples to lay everything out on the table and be honest with one another, according to Martin. For some, Trapeze was the ideal location to test the waters for whatever one might be into to.

“The biggest thing is it enhances their openness with each other and communication, so that way even if swinging isn’t for them, they may like the aspect of coming to a private, clean club with great food and good service,” Martin said. “There’s no rude or pushy people, and you don’t have to worry about going to the bathroom and coming back to find five guys swarming your girl. It’s adults that are in an upscale environment that just want to come and have a good time.”

PHOTO BY DAYNE FRANCIS | THE SIGNAL VIP lounge area at Trapeze, an Atlanta swingers club that offers members an accepting atmosphere for those with partners or by themselves.

Membership Fees and Nightly Users Fees Couples: • Annual Membership: $300 • 2-Month Membership: $50 • Wednesday: $40 • Thursday: $40 • Friday: $70 • Saturday: $80 • Sunday: $40 Single Males: • 1-Month Membership: $100 • 2-Month Membership: $150 • Wednesday: $75 • Thursday: $75 • Friday: $75 Single Female: • 3-Month Membership: $50 • Nightly: $15 * The fees to enter include a mandatory membership purchase, along with a nightly user fee. The nightly user fee covers your buffet dinner and breakfast, mixers, bar tending staff, locker usage and back room entrance.

CONTACT 4470 Commerce Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30336 (404) 699-0100 Wednesday Night: 8 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Thursday Night: 8 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Friday Night: 8 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday Night: 8 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Sunday Night: 8 p.m. – 3 a.m.

PAGE DESIGN BY SALINNA PHON | THE SIGNAL

No sex

Millennials share their journ LAUREN BOOKER Web Managing Editor

N

owadays, sex is everywhere, flashing on TV, steaming up movies, breaking through music and ruling social media.

However, some millennials are choosing to just “say no”

to sex.

Millennials born in the 1990s are having less sex than Generation X’ers born in the ‘60s. The General Social Study found that 15 percent of millennial adults have never “knocked the boots.”

The Signal spoke with three students in Atlanta who are not getting down and dirty because of reasons stemming from Christian values to not feeling sexual attraction.

“I feel like I live on a different plane of existence than everyone else. I feel detached from the common goals of people. It’s really refreshing in mind, but also kind of troublesome that I keep having to repeat to my parents that I don’t want to be married. I don’t want to have kids,” Smith said.

Instead, Smith maintains queerplatonic relationships, which is when someone has strong affectionate feelings for another.

Smith hugs and kisses queerplatonic friends on the cheek to show affection, but the pair knows those aren’t romantic gestures. The furthest they’ve gone physically is cuddling.

“If I see an attractive person, I think ‘oh they are pretty. Oh how nice,’” Smith said. “And that’s the extent of it. I don’t want to have sex after I see a pretty person.”

Living asexual

Jaime Smith* is a 22-year-old virgin and has never wanted sex. The non-binary, gendered Georgia State student doesn’t get the hots for anyone, ever. Last year when they realized they’re asexual, or someone who doesn’t get attracted to people, it all clicked.

“Even when I have a really close bond with someone, I don’t want to have sex with them,” Smith, who identifies with “they” and “them” pronouns, said. “I would love to be around them a lot.

I would love to hang out with them, talk with them a lot. But I don’t need sex.”

However, Smith does has a sex drive. They explained that this is similar to how straight people only want to get it on with the opposite sex. Smith just doesn’t want to do the nasty with anyone.

On a scale from one to 10, Smith’s sex drive ranks as low as a two or three, because they’ve never orgasmed.

“I went out with a friend and bought a little bullet vibrator...but I don’t use it. I never feel the need to,” Smith said. “I just do not care.”

Even though Smith doesn’t feel the need for hanky panky, they’re capable of catching romantic feelings for any gender or sex. But Smith’s admiration turns from hot to cold when someone says they’re interested in them. This is a characteristic of a lithromantic person, which Smith identifies as.

“I absolutely do not need my feelings returned, because when someone returns my romantic feelings then my feelings disappear. They are gone,” Smith said. “And usually I am just a little disgusted by the person who does feel romantically for me.

In the past I thought it was kind of a commitment thing, but it doesn’t make sense for me.”

These feelings have echoed in past relationships and left Smith feeling the sting of “buyer’s remorse”, after realizing that someone liked them back.

“I went in. I got someone, and I immediately regretted everything,” Smith said. “Later on I felt grossed out.”

Smith doesn’t see a future of getting married or having kids due to their sexuality. Their asexuality wasn’t a choice like it is to become celibate. It’s always been a part of them.

Black, grey, white and purple represents the asexual flag and ACE (on character’s shirt) is a term used for asexuals.

x zone

neys in pursuing sexless lives Waiting until marriage

On the other hand, some battle the temptation of sexual attraction daily while trying to wait until marriage for sex.

Nick Mason, 22 and a Georgia State student, became celibate about a year ago to strengthen his walk as a Christian.

He made the decision to abstain during a sermon at Victory Church ATL, when he felt convicted because of his past decisions.

“Before I met God, I personally thought it was cool to have sex with whoever I wanted. And I thought I was the man for it,” Mason said. “But that’s contrary to what God’s word says.

He told me to wait for my wife, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Mason’s celibacy means no type of sex is allowed, and kissing is an act that would be determined acceptable amongst himself, his partner and God. He said being celibate “celebrates the woman so much more.”

“I am not a cold, unloving person. I am full of love and I’m ready to pour it all out into one person,” Mason said. “And I think one of that is waiting until marriage so I can prove to her like ‘I waited for you through all of this. Even when we were together we waited and now I can pour all of this love into you. And I don’t feel anything for anyone else. My eyes are only for you. My heart is only for you.’”

Last year Mason started the Man Cave chapter at Georgia State to create a student group focused on Christian fellowship among men. He said the club, spanning 90 members, serves as a support system. But Mason still fights temptation when walking around campus.

“There’s women that wear booty shorts and all kinds of stuff,” Mason said. “Once you look at that, you end up lusting over it.

You end up thinking about it as you go to bed. When you wake up you’re thinking about sex, sex, sex, sex. I think it’s one of the hardest things, watching where your eyes go and where your heart goes too.”

Dating and abstaining

Sex is a gift that Julian Payne, a 22-year-old virgin, wants to give to his spouse to honor God. The Kennesaw State University student has never desired to give his body to someone he isn’t married to.

“I feel like when you get physical with someone else, it makes the relationship kind of hazy and kind of blurs the lines. So it’s hard to tell if you really love that person or not or if it’s just like you guys are intimate physically,” Payne said.

However, while dating his first and current girlfriend, there was a moment when Payne’s resolve wavered during a session of passionate kissing. Things got a little too hot, and he had to tell his date “goodbye” for the night.

“You can’t claim their body for yours, because it’s not.

And same for you. Your body isn’t theirs, because there is no covenant,” Payne said.

Payne set boundaries on how he kisses his girlfriend. The pair also goes on dates in public places, and avoids going to each other’s private dorm rooms. He uses a test to determine how far is too far to go with his girlfriend.

“My test is if that person were to break up with me and like I guess five years later I was at their wedding, would I be able

TERMINOLOGY Asexual: free from sexual desires or sexuality

Lithrosexual: can be attracted to a

person but not desire reciprocation *as defined by Urban Dictonary Celibate: a person who abstains from sexual relations Abstinence: restraint from any indulgence of appetite Virgin: a person who has never had sexual intercourse.

to look at their spouse with dignity or would I have to hang my head because of what we did?” Payne said. “I kind of treat my girlfriend like I’m dating someone else’s future wife.”

Outside looking in

The only time Smith feels discontented about their asexuality and lack of sex drive is when seeing sexual imagery or hearing people talk about their complicated love lives.

“If I ever do feel like it is frustrating, is when the sex is thrown in my face in the media. That’s the only time I think it’s frustrating,” Smith said. “Then I am frustrated with the people around me that are just like, they had sex.”

Mason prays and reads the Bible daily to help him maintain his celibacy. He’s also cut out sexual triggers from his life, such as looking at “booty models” and porn.

He advises someone who wants to become celibate to know the reason why they’re making that choice and to form a plan.

“If you are in the habit of casual sex with people, then it’s going to be harder to break that habit. But the longer you go without it, the more you realize that you don’t really need it,” Mason said. “Before it was like a need. I needed to breathe.

I needed to eat. I need to have sex. Now, it’s like I need to breathe. I need to eat. And I need to have God in my life.”

Over time, Smith has come to terms with their asexuality and feels happy to know they are not alone.

“I felt so much relief and so happy that I found a word that described me, that to know there are other people who are out there that feel the same way I do,” Smith said. “I was valid. I existed. I feel very free about where I am.” * Names in article have been changed to protect the identity of those in this story. Names used are aliases.

PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY MINH HUYNH| THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

12

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

SARAH DORLEUS Junior art major “My ideal is to enter into the art world as a scholar and also watering the seed that will eventually blossom into a full family unit.”

SASHA-GAY TRUSTY Staff Reporter

Q

uestions surrounding my intention to procreate became excessive after the age of 21. The expectation was that I should have decided by now and it was more stifling than before, with the implied pressure climaxing in 2015.

When I went home to Jamaica, the personal inquiry was constantly bestowed upon me. “You don’t have any kids yet?,” a family friend asked. “When are you going to have a little one?,” my younger cousin pressed. I was only 23, and found the prying utterly offensive, both to my womanhood and the autonomy I so strongly identify with.

The pressure felt has continued somewhat. More so because graduation is roughly in one year, and we are encouraged to outline our futures post college.

Valentine’s Day is our current focus and for people in my age range, so is sex and possibly marriage. The topic of pregnancy can be added too. With superstars like Beyonce announcing that she will have twins, and Ciara expecting a child with Russell Wilson, pop culture is experiencing a cycle that pinpoints reproduction. So inevitably, I began to consider my position on this subject again.

Truth be told, I have always known I did not want children. Fleetingly so initially, but with age that stance evolved into a conscious decision. In my opinion, society is tricky in that it does not explicitly say “we still primarily value women as breeders.”

But there is still an unavoidable inability to separate women from motherhood, which can subconsciously plant in our minds that motherhood is something we must aspire to.

This is implied largely through imagery and language: Including roles women render in media, and reactions to those who divert from the path to motherhood. Take for instance a recent Buzzfeed article by writer Tahlia Pritchard. In it, she discusses how New South Wales’s current Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, was “asked about why

she didn’t have children.”

It was her first press conference as the country’s new appointee, and that is what she was expected to answer.

I am not okay with that. We can reject society’s imposition that womanhood is not fully achieved when void of kids. Every woman has the inherent right to self-define her womanhood.

REFLECTED THROUGH ACTIVISM

The Women’s March on Washington in January 2017 advocated, in part, for the freedom to chose whether or not to have abortions. Of course it also addressed intersectional activism and the host of issues such activism encompasses.

What resonated with me though, is how this modern, inclusive feminism subtly redressed negative views of women who opt out of procreation.

Abortion is not only for those not wanting additional children or those not yet ready for an offspring. Access to this procedure is just as crucial for women who do not want children for the simple reason of not wanting to. Though I wish that logic was as much a part of the abortion discussion as not being ready, financial reasons, tough circumstances or other endless aspects.

With all of this talk about pregnancy and women’s rights, I wondered how my college peers felt about motherhood in today’s culture.

Do they feel pressured? Is this a concern for them? The responses are insightful.

Sarah Dorleus, an art major, said her experience sees emphasis on partnership rather than children. “[The pressure is] not necessarily to have children but definitely to be married. I don’t think there is a stigma, in fact, I think women aren’t encouraged enough to reproduce and cater to a family. Instead our society is heavily career driven and push women to work instead of giving them leeway to find a happy medium,” Dorleus said.

Journalism student Rachel Gallo said that she has not personally felt pressured to have

children. Like me, she has been probed on the subject though.

“However, I do think there have been pressures placed on women to fit into various societal norms throughout history, especially to have children. Several members of my family have asked when I plan on having children, not whether I plan on having children,” Gallo said.

This indicates a stark generational contrast. Early days of feminism demanded equal opportunity and for women to be viewed as more than just mothers, that women can have the best of both worlds. No doubt these philosophies serve as a basis for current women’s rights organizations.

“Women of previous generations were more adamant about having and raising children and women now are more focused on having their own lives together.

However, I can’t say it’s selfish since the younger generation learned it from the older women,” Dorleus said.

The older version of Women’s Lib may have unintentionally excluded women whose ideal is not have both worlds. Which could be attributed to the perpetuation of notions that our lives will be lacking without children. However, it is okay to oppose these ideas.

“I definitely think women can lead fulfilling lives without children. Every person’s definition of fulfillment is different.

Though, I do know that there are women out there who find fulfillment in having children, I know that there are many other ways to grow and be happy,” Gallo said. “Personally, the older I get, the less I want children. I find now that I am focusing on fulfillment in my career and independence. Empowering myself is my goal at the moment, and I am in no hurry to have children, regardless of what society may think.”

Even though the concept of women’s choice is not new, we have not reached the point where women are truly liberated. We have not completely accepted that liberation has no blueprint, nor is there limitation to the choices we advocate for.

RACHEL GALLO Junior journalism major “I definitely think women can lead fulfilling lives without children.”

PRIMARY ARGUMENT Women pushing for control over their lives means having the right to be respected the same, regardless of whether or not motherhood is a goal.

My point with all of this is: Women of the present, and in the future, should not have their womanhood questioned for not aspiring to become mothers.

STATS FOR PERSPECTIVE 46.5 PERCENT

of women age 15 to 44 never had children - 2012 U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey By 2013, fertility rates consecutively decreased for 6 years among women 15 to 44 - Time Magazine

BY 2014,

the percentage of women between ages 15 to 44 who never had children grew to 47.6 percent - 2012 Huffington Post

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY SARAH DORLEUS & RACHEL GALLO PAGE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY KHOA TRAN | THE SIGNAL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

13

ARTS & LIVING

movie Review

Five ridiculous, hard-to-forget sex scenes ALEX GRAHAM Staff Reviewer

W

ith Valentine’s Day on our doorstep, it’s important to remind ourselves that “elegance” stops at the romantic dinner and chocolate boxes. No matter how suave we think we are, we’re all kinda grody in the bedroom. So here’s a list of five ridiculous sex scenes to keep us humble.

So take a cue from these films and go into your next hook up prepared for whatever comes your way. As these scenes remind us, sex doesn’t need to be taken seriously.

The strange stuff is the best stuff.

5) “Shoot ‘Em Up” (2007): Tensions run high when it comes to Michael Davis’s over-the-top action flick, but no one can dismiss the absurdity of Clive Owen shooting a bunch of people while pounding Monica Bellucci. I’m sure we all feel like Owen at some point or another, but let’s be clear: none of us are that cool in bed. (Plus there’s a baby in the room, which makes it kinda awkward.)

4) “Crank” (2006): A drugged out Jason Statham, that famed self-parody of a man, has to keep his heart rate pounding or he’ll die. So naturally he bangs his girlfriend Amy Smart in the middle of Chinatown.

It’s absolutely wild.

3) “The Naked Gun” (1988): Leslie Nielsen has to be on any “ridiculous” list, so even with brief, skinless sex scene he’s made it to number 3.

The image of Nielsen and Priscilla Presley covered head to toe in full-size condoms makes Nielson’s “safe sex” parody a winner.

2) “Team America: World Police” (2004): Nothing says “sex is ridiculous” like showing us all of our favorite dirty deeds played out by vaguely humanlooking puppets. It’s a full minute and a half of Ken Dollstyle grinding, free of genitalia and bodily liquids. It’s freaking hilarious, a solid joke and a two way mirror shining a hard light on our own sexual proclivities: yes, sex this weird even when you have the right parts.

1) “The Room” (2003): Tommy Wiseau’s masterpiece is crazy from start to finish, but the sex scenes top this list as some of the most uncomfortable images ever put to film. You know Wiseau thought he was making the hottest softcore porn ever. Thankfully for us, the result is uncomfortably unforgettable.

Special Mention: This year’s “The Handmaiden” isn’t ridiculous in the same way these other films are, but it does include a delightfully fluidheavy sex scene between Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri. It starts off super hot and quickly becomes gross and sloppy, making it an excellent, if not particularly wacky, reminder that sex is disgusting.

Album review

My choices for five of the sexiest albums ever made JALEN JENKINS Staff Reviewer

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usic is the perfect mood setter, but it can be to your detriment if you do not have the right songs in a playlist, so here is a list of 5 of the sexiest albums to have ever been made.

A possibly not so obvious conclusion to this list is Thundercat’s The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam.

This mini album came out summer 2015, and is a collection of beautiful songs put behind drum patterns reminiscent of the Isley Brothers in their prime and are all powered by Thundercat’s bass guitar. All of this instrumentation never really goes over a low rumble, not to mention Thundercat’s falsetto, which floats over his chord selection and sets a nice mood.

There are so many more, but these give a good start to getting that playlist in working order.

1) Prince: Self Titled 1979 What can be said about this now legendary expression of sexual frustration and showcase of vibe that stands the test of time? Prince’s second album drips sex with tracks like “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?” and “Bambi.” Prince sings about being treated wrong when all he wants to receive is some loving, and on “Bambi” he sings about how he knows that his love for his woman is superior to another’s. But what ties it all together and truly makes it a bedroom playlist chart topper is the combination of Prince’s falsetto and syrupy guitar playing.

2) Sade: Love Deluxe 1992 Okay so it is essentially a known fact that Sade could sing the phonebook and people would melt into their shoes, so any album could and should be on this list, but for the sake of the number cap, a Love Deluxe will have to do. Cuts like “No Ordinary Love” and “Kiss of Life” paint a picture of loves that Sade has encountered before. Not to put down the instrumental section of these songs, because they are smooth and great (guitar intro on “Cherish the Day” is possibly sexier than anything on this list), but Sade could sing these songs by herself and could end wars.

3) Al Green: Lets Stay Together 1972 “I’m so in love with you/whatever you want to do/is alright with me/Cause you make me feel so brand new/and I want to spend my life with you” opens Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, and it sways and dips for another 40 minutes after that. It’s at a perfect calm, relaxing pace, filled with instrumentation that would make some people blush. Big horn sections, guitar parts and of course, the velvety voice of Al Green that is the focal point of the album.

4) Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream 2012 Although there are some low points on this album, there are some undeniable steamy cuts also, and is worth mentioning with the modern sexy albums. Miguel’s smooth voice and harmonies over songs like “Do You..,” “How Many Drinks?” and “Adorn” are a bit more to the point than his company on this group. Songs strictly about sex and how he likes to do it are set to a low pulse of bass and synth, and Miguel’s impressive range of vocal make the songs perfect love-making music.

5) Thundercat: The Beyond/ Where the Giants Roam 2015 TA possibly not so obvious conclusion to this list is Thundercat’s The Beyond/ Where the Giants Roam. This mini album came out summer 2015, and is a collection of beautiful songs put behind drum patterns reminiscent of the Isley Brothers in their prime and are all powered

by Thundercat’s bass guitar. All of this instrumentation never really goes over a low rumble, not to mention Thundercat’s falsetto, which floats over his chord selection and sets a nice mood.

Special Mention: Anything else Sade has ever put out, Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake, Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, James Blake and Little Dragon

calendar&games

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

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Campus & Downtown Events Wednesday

Sweep

Feb. 16

Feb. 15

Aurora Theatre is featuring a quirky performance, that has Dragon con vibes all over, about two girls who time travel with brooms and sweep away bad things and mistakes from the past.

It’s the collab of a lifetime, recreated.

Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins played together at Sun Records many years ago, and on Feb. 15 you get the chance to see the magic happen again.

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Atlanta Mardi Gras Ball

Smokey Joe’s Cafe

The Masquerade is hosting their annual fantasy party featuring fairies, gnomes, trolls, maidens and devils.

It’s an 18 and over event, so grab your costumes and get to partying.

Turner Field is getting lit this February with their Mardi Gras celebration, which will have a DJ, brass band, bar and optional Cajun food, and it’s all happening under a heated tent!

This is a show that tributes to the sounds of over 40 classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. It will be held at the The Legacy Theatre, and tickets online start at $25.

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Feb. 21 If you love7a good underdog, redemption and empowering story 3 1 then this is a show to5catch.9 The story revolves around teachers and students fighting to keep their public schools open.

4 The Chattahoochee 6 River National Recreation Area 9 free 6 park days, hosts where anyone can 2 explore 8 3 enter and the park for no charge. Don’t miss this great opportunity.

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sun Feb 12 04:14:55 2

Illustrator of the week Happy Valentines day by Erik Reid | The Signal MATHEMATICAL MODELING

MATHEMATICAL MODELING

HEY, WHO’S THE NEW GIRL? difficulty rating 0.62) Puzzle 3Puzzle (Hard,3difficulty rating 0.62) SHE’S(Hard, BEAUTIFUL. 3

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HEY JENNY, WILL YOU’RE RIGHT! YOU BE MY Enjoy!

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on 12 Sun04:14:55 Feb 12 04:14:55 2017 GMT. Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sun Feb 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

TIME TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE!

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OH WELL, BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR.

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Love impacted her life on and off the soccer field Junior forward said game ‘saved’ her life and relationship improved

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS RASHAD MILLIGAN Sports Editor

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occer is a sport that is internationally famous for its player’s passion. The competitive nature of sports in general often results in true passion and with soccer being the world’s most popular game, this passion is even magnified more.

Taina Anglade is a great example of an athlete showing this passion on and off the field. She played every minute for the Panthers as a true freshman in 2014. She became the first women’s soccer player from Georgia State to be invited to play for a national team with Haiti, her parents native country.

The game allowed her to add on to the pride her family holds of their heritage. Aside from being a Georgia State athlete herself, she dates former Panther linebacker Shawanye Lawrence, who finished his college career with 172 career tackles. Her competitive spirit motivates her to perform to or above the level as one of the most accomplished defensive players in program history.

Considering the fact that you were linked to the Haitian national team, how would you describe your love for soccer?

Anglade: Personally I’ve been playing since I was three. So when I was first playing, it was kind of like an activity to do, it kind of didn’t do anything to me. But when I grew up, and I was in high school and faced obstacles in my life and went through different things in high school when it came to boys, my parents, I’m thinking my parents are being too hard on me, or I’m getting in trouble, soccer was the outlet for me. Soccer is the one thing that never let me down. So, my love for soccer is deeper than just sports. It’s really saved my life in a sense.

It kept me on the right path, and it kept me out of trouble. So soccer’s everything to me.

How specifically did soccer save your life?

Anglade: I would say the most significant example would be in high school, in the 11th grade. I was literally like a “perfect” student from 9th and 10th grade; I was fine. Then in the 11th grade, I kind of steered off the path. My grades were slipping, my behavioral issues, I wasn’t listening to my parents or anything, but soccer was the one place where my coach was like, ‘No. You’re going to get disciplined. If you disrespect your parents, you’re running at practice.’ He really turned it around for me. It taught me discipline; it taught me hard work, it taught me that nothing came easy. So I feel like, without that life lesson, I would be nowhere near where I am today.

What was your favorite moment growing up playing soccer? What was the first moment you realized you were in love with playing the game?

Anglade: My first moment came pretty late honestly. It was in high school. My junior year I transferred to a new high school, the first year the high school was ever built, and I scored the very first goal in the high school’s history. Just to see the appreciation from everyone, to be remembered for that, it showed me what I can do with it and how much I loved it.

How far do you want to take that love?

Anglade: After college, I plan on continuing to play with Haiti. I think that’s as far as I’d probably take it. Just play internationally.

Do you ever imagine your life without the game?

Anglade: No, not really. Because even if I wasn’t playing, I’d probably want to coach or something. Give that love to other people. So honestly, I feel like this is something that I’ll be involved with for the rest of my life.

So now, for the Valentine’s Day issue’s sake…

Anglade: Oh God [Laughs]...

You have had a past with athletics romantics here at Georgia State. How has that played a part to you in your playing career?

Anglade: Well, you know what you do, you think like, ‘I’m on the soccer team. What I do is so specific to me.’ But when you see someone else working hard towards their sport, having such big dreams and being so ambitious and such a hard-working person, obviously it’s good competition, but you want to be there. You don’t want to be the let down of the relationship [laughs]. You see him, and he just made me want to work harder, and I’m more than appreciative of him for that.

Did both of you ever train together?

Anglade: Not really train together. Over summer, we would have, sort of, optional workouts and he was always the one that was like, ‘Get up. You’re going to workouts.’ So he kind of liked forced me to go, we never really trained together.

Did you go to each other’s games?

Anglade: Yes. He has more traveling to do. I can go to more of his games than he can go to mine, since we play Friday, Sunday and he trains Friday, Sunday. But he did come to a lot of games, and I went to a lot of games. It’s really cool to see him out there.

Any hopes for the future for the both of your careers, since both of you, are upperclassmen?

Anglade: For him, he is training for Pro Day right now.

Obviously, more than anything we want to see him in the NFL and play after this. He for sure isn’t done. For me, I just hope to finish my senior year next year and play for Haiti and represent them.

Any other things that you’d like to say about him?

Anglade: Nothing more than just saying that meeting him, obviously in college, was a blessing because you have a ‘sophomore slump’ as I call it. I met him in my sophomore year and as he’s a year older than me, he would tell me, ‘It gets better. You have to work hard for it. You have to prove yourself.’ Every time we would get down, he was the one to remind me that whatever you work for, you get. He would just say, ‘Keep working hard. It’s coming.’ It was like a role model’s word for me.

Was there a specific moment where you thought, ‘I made the right decision’?

Anglade: After I had a really bad game one day and I was literally like, ‘I can’t go back out there.’ I was embarrassed.

He just told me that everyone’s going to have bad games. He would say everything I did wrong, and then he said, ‘But you know you’re the only person that can fix that.’ So having him in my corner all the time is when I thought that I made the right decision.

Do you think those words would hold as much weight if he wasn’t an athlete?

Anglade: No, not at all. Yeah, that was a big factor.

• Anglade helped set a school record by not allowing a goal for more than 487 minutes over a six-match stretch as a freshman.

• Played every minute of her freshman season at right back.

• Scored a goal in the 2016 season against Charlotte.

• Posted .750 shots on goal percentage in 2016.

• Joined the Haitian women’s national football team.

SPORTS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Social media in full effect for Panther athletes D’Marcus Simonds, Devin Mitchell and Willie Clayton express their thoughts about social media D’MITRI CHIN Staff Reporter

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hen the Georgia State men's basketball team is not doing work on the hardwood, some of the players are letting their fingers go to work on their social media accounts.

Athletes can be careless at times with what they post, but Georgia State Head Coach Ron Hunter seems to trust that his players and staff will use social media to benefit themselves.

“I am completely fine with our coaches and student-athletes being on social media," Coach Hunter said. "I think it can be a valuable tool in a lot of ways. I have witnessed people utilize social media to do a lot of good things for our society. I have also seen people cost themselves millions of dollars by not using it properly. In either case, we can use the good and bad as learning experiences for how our players can conduct themselves when utilizing it.”

D’Marcus Simonds’ social media experience

Georgia State has a significant player that is a fan-favorite of Twitter. His name is D'Marcus Simonds-- also known as TwoSpicee on Twitter.

But what exactly is it about Twitter that Simonds finds so attractive?

"It's always something going on," Simonds explained. "There's always sports on there. I can always go to the NBA account and see what's going on. They have weird stats on there, so I just really like looking at what they got going on in the athletic world."

It comes as no surprise that Twitter is considered to be Simonds' favorite social media site, simply because of the versatility that it provides. It is also worth noting that

he finds it to be somewhat beneficial for the athlete that he is.

"It's given me a lot of motivation," Simonds said in regards to what he receives from being active on Twitter. "People, you know what I'm saying, will be in your notifications talking crazy sometimes...so it gives me something to think about in the back of my head when they're speaking on me. It's like, OK, that's what they said about me. I'll prove them wrong."

It's not always that Simonds receives negative criticism via Twitter, however. He has credited Twitter for being uplifting at times.

"When you're having a bad day, and you're down about something, you can always just get on Twitter, and there's always constant support," Simonds said with a smile on his face. “There's always people out there that are looking to keep you up, to make sure you aren't down or whatever.”

The attention he receives from fans and followers did not come easy for Simonds. He mentioned that he had to consistently stay active on Twitter while taking a different approach to attracting over 4,000 followers on the social media site.

"Honestly man, I used to try to get people to come to the games, so I would start riots with the other school," said Simonds in regards to his unique way of gathering followers on Twitter. "I would be like, y’all not gonna beat us, y'all not better than us, we're gonna kill y’all–stuff like that to start a riot. Then everyone would follow me from the other schools. They would be like 'Oh, man he's talking like this?' "And then they would say something crazy, and it's extra motivation."

Devin Mitchell’s social media experience

Simonds' teammate Devin Mitchell is also

in tune with social media, but instead, he prefers to utilize his Instagram account much more than his Twitter profile.

"Oh yeah, definitely. All your fans, you know, your personal fans can connect with you, students here can connect with you and anybody really," Mitchell explained.

Mitchell is also aware that there are, both, pros and cons to being extremely active on social media sites, such as Twitter and Instagram.

"I'd say the pros are being able to connect with everybody," Mitchell said. "Being able to see everything quick. Me, I'm a basketball junkie, so I'm always looking at scores– SunBelt scores." As for the cons: "You have to watch what you retweet. The song lyrics get a lot of people. You can also see what people say about you that don't like you, so all of that."

Willie Clayton's social media experience

While his teammates D'Marcus Simonds and Devin Mitchell spend plenty of time logging in to their Twitter and Instagram accounts, Willie Clayton admits that he rarely spends time being on social media.

"I'm so much older than a lot of guys on this team, that I take a different approach when it comes to social media," Clayton said.

"I try not to post a lot of things because it can easily be traced back to you, especially a lot of wild things.”

However, it is not to get confused, Clayton does post on social media sparingly.

Nevertheless, his posts tend to have a more special meaning behind them.

"If I do post on social media it's to post something about my family– something someone said about me that was good," Clayton said. "Not too much about my everyday lifestyle, that's not me, I'm too old for that.”

Check out our sports podcast!

Blue

Bleachers FIND US on youtube: THE SIGNAL AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

If you could create your own app, what type of app would it be and why?

SIMONDS It’s gotta be a mixture of everything.

You gotta be able to post pictures, and you can’t post anything crazy. I was just talking to my girl about an app I was going to make. Well, anyway, I’m the real creator of Snapchat. Snapchat steals all my ideas.

MITCHELL I would create an app where you can follow somebody else around.

Like, let’s say you and your friend are in two different places, you can click the app and see where they’re at. That’s what I would. I think if you set it up the right way, that would be cool.

CLAYTON I think I would make it to where everybody is having fun and can enjoy themselves. Anytime someone posts a status about someone being mean; then their page automatically gets shut-down. I don’t know what the name would be, but I would try to make a fun page, instead of trying to come up with something crazy.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Track seniors poised for one last hurrah

The seniors on the Georgia State track team have taken different paths to track CHRISTIAN CRITTENDEN Staff Reporter

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he Georgia State women’s track and field team is now starting to hit its stride in competition, as they finish their indoor track season, and prepare for their outdoor season. They have several seniors preparing to take their last lap or make their last throws in competitions. Those seniors are Jada Stewart, Alysiah Whittaker, Alexandria Jackson, Ravin Gilbert and Tracy Dorcemont, Steward is a transfer student from ADA college in Brooklyn. She is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She decided to transfer to Georgia State for academic reasons.

“I would say the school, I like the surroundings. I like the city life and they had a really good business program, I had to change it to sociology, but the sociology program was good as well,” Steward said.

Steward has been running track since she was four years old, and she gets her love for the sport from her mother who was also a track runner.

She is a sprinter that runs the 60m, 100m, and 200m dashes along with the 4x100m relay.

“I like the 200 best because it takes me time to get my speed back up, so I have enough time to get the ground reaction and finish my race,” Steward said.

The start of a race is one of the more important parts so Steward makes sure that she focuses on that.

“My coach always tells me to count for six.

Keep my head down for six steps and always attack the ground,” Steward said. “For a sprinter, you always have to be cocky, you have to be able to know your body, you have to be able to move fast if you don’t have that in your body you just won’t win your race. So start off we great speed hold it in the middle and just give it all you got.”

Steward doesn’t plan on running track after she graduates, she plans to start on her career.

Whittaker is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where she attended Northwest High School.

Whittaker actually didn’t start participating in track until her freshman year of high school, where she was a four-time school record holder.

“I had three other offers from other schools and I came here my sophomore year of high school just for a visit because I didn’t think I was going to run track in college,” Whittaker said.

“I came on a visit and it was my highest offer so

I decided to take it since I wanted to come to Georgia State beforehand.”

Now in college, she throws the shot put and the discuss. During the 2016 Sun Belt conference outdoor track finals, she placed second in the shot put.

Jackson is one of the throwers on the team and she throws the discuss. She is a Florida native and was a state finalist several times during her career. She started her track career during middle school and didn’t like it at the start.

“At first I didn’t like it my dad would force me to do it all of the time and then I ended up in high school and it just clicked. I started getting good at it and I basically fell in love with the sport,” Jackson said.

Jackson has thrown shot put while in college, she recorded a personal best of (11.77) meters at the BSC Icebreaker during the 2015 indoor track season. She has a personal best of 41.80 meters in her primary even the discuss.

The discuss is driven more by technique than actual strength.

“It deals with a lot of technique anybody can be strong and throw a discuss but it probably won’t go far if you don’t have technique,” Jackson said.

Gilbert is a sprinter from Wesley Chapel, Florida. She is not eligible to run in the 2017 indoor season, but she can run during the 2017 outdoor season. She has been running track for eight years when she started running just for fun.

“Basically basketball season was over with, I was bored at home and all of my friends were on the track team, and for two years straight the track coach had been talking to me and telling me to come out, so one day I just went out there and I really enjoyed it so after that the rest is history,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert runs the 55m, 60m, 100m and 200m dashes along with the 4x100 and 4x200 meter dashes. During her college career, she has qualified for the NCAA East preliminaries several times. During the 2016 indoor track season, she won the Sun Belt 60m title with a personal best time of( 7.36) seconds. She is also set the school record for the 4x100 meter dash with a time of (44.64).

Gilbert doesn’t plan on running track after college, but she won’t completely pass up an opportunity should one be provided to her. She wants to get started on her career and being a part of a non-profit to help the youth.

“Helping kids develop into a young adult,

help them get into college because where I’m from not many people have that many resources so I want to help kids get to the next level,” Gilbert said.

Dorcemont is a hometown girl. She is from Roswell, Georgia. She started track when she was a sophomore in high school. She currently throws the hammer and weight but has thrown discuss and shot put before.

She has set personal marks in the discuss and the hammer during her time at Georgia State.

She threw (37.77m) during the Lady gamecock quad meet, and threw (53.72m) in the hammer during the the Georgia Tech invitational.

Dorcemont doesn’t like to think much when she gets ready to throw.

“Just clear your mind,” Dorcemont said.” You say whatever motivational thing you have to say to yourself before you get in the circle and once you get in the circle you just clear your mind and throw.”

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Track favorites Jada Steward: Favorite event: 200m dash Alysiah Whittaker: Favorite events: Shot put and discuss Alexandria Jackson: Events: discuss Ravin Gilbert Favorite season: Outdoor Tracy Dorcemont: Events: Shot put and hammer

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SPORTS

18

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Column

We wouldn’t be here without sports The Signal sports staff share how athletics helped them in their current career path D’MITRI CHIN

RASHAD MILLIGAN

CHRISTAN CRITTEDEN

t the age of 8 or 9 years old is when I realized that the game of basketball brought so much joy into my life. It helped me to develop friendships and even taught me how to be tough. The game of basketball also taught me how to be disciplined. Basketball was my teacher, and I was surely a student of the game. I was always the smallest guy on the court, so the game of basketball is the main reason why I have developed a win or go home mentality about myself. It’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for the intense battles I had on the basketball court as a youth growing up in Brooklyn and even up until this day, I wouldn’t have the same amount of heart as I possess now.

My love for basketball also goes beyond the court. As I continued to grow, I realized that there were many basketball players that were excellent role models. Many basketball players came from the same struggle that I came from as a child, which was living in a single parent home and not being as fortunate as many other kids. But seeing them make it out of the struggle and give back to communities around the world is what makes me appreciate the game even more. Basketball is much more than a game to me; It’s a lifestyle. Although I didn’t live out my dreams of one day becoming an NBA player, I can say I learned a lot in life by what the sport itself has taught me.

ome of my earliest memories in life include watching library-rented “Star Wars” VHS movies and constantly watching a movie that we did own- “Space Jam.” The Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan narrative came out when I was almost two years old and I immediately connected with it for some reason. I had “Space Jam” action figures of Charles Barkley and Jordan in my room and I still believe his halfcourt dunk will forever give him the edge over LeBron James in any All-Time argument. Thanks to this film, when I was old enough to begin to understand what exactly sports were, Jordan was on the Wizards and personally, the will for me to learn more about the history of basketball began around the age of seven.

At every book fair, I would always buy a basketball book, the first few video games I owned were all related to basketball and I would preview SI Kids’ magazine issues in the grocery stores to read more about you guessed it, basketball. My dad began to bring me with him to Hawks games, where I would adapt to love a team that always disappoints me. When I was older and I finally stopped watching “Space Jam” every morning before leaving for school, “Like Mike” came out with my favorite rapper Lil’ Bow Wow as the star. My favorite stars growing up would all be linked to basketball, the fashion in hip-hop of that era was throwback jersey’s, it seemed as if every interesting thing in the world to me at that point in life would always find its way back to basketball.

fell in love with sports, primarily because both of my brothers played basketball. So I would always be at their games. I also shared a room with my oldest brother. So ESPN would always be on in the house. The first sport that I played was tee-ball, and I was an absolute monster, I thought that I was destined to be a pro. I didn’t become a pro obviously, but that started my love for baseball, which I continue to play until I got to high school. I wasn’t a one trick pony. However, I played basketball and football too, but football was a part-time deal. I was always a big man while I was playing basketball until I was a sophomore and then I realized that I was a certified bucket getter. So that enhanced my love for the game even more.

While I was growing up, Detroit was somewhat the city of champions, the Pistons and Red Wings were good, but the Tigers and Red Wings sucked. The Pistons won one championship and made it to six straight conference final games. Eventually, the Tigers got their act together in 2006, so they were always fun to watch. The Lions would be the worst franchise in sports if it wasn’t for the Browns, but for some reason I still love them and watch just about every game. I really don’t know why I love them so much because they haven’t given me a reason to love them. And despite the fact that we won’t win a championship in the near future, I will always love sports, especially Detroit sports.

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PANTHER OF THE WEEK

19

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

SPORTS CALENDAR

SPORTS EDITOR’S NBA PREDICTIONS

*CONFERENCE GAME

RASHAD MILLIGAN | THE SIGNAL

Hawks vs Clippers MEN’S BASKETBALL Saturday, Feb. 18 UT Arlington

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

at GSU Sports Arena 2:15 p.m.

Kristin Rehse Women’s Tennis The Panthers No. 1 Singles player capped off Georgia State’s upset 4-3 victory over Louisville on Feb. 10. Rehse defeated redshirt sophomore Aleksandra Mally 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(4-6). Rehse was also apart of the Panthers lone Doubles pair to win in Doubles competition. The six feet German owned a 12-8 Singles record as a freshman in the 2015 season for Georgia State. Rehse was also named to the 2015 All-Sun Belt Doubles Second Team that season as well.

Monday, Feb. 20

Texas State*

at GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Standings

PANTHER OF

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Monday, Feb. 20 Sun Belt Indoor Championships

Pacers vs.

THE WEEK Cavs

Pacers

Wizards vs.

Pacers

Wizards

Bulls vs.

Celtics

Bulls

at Birmingham, Alabama 10 a.m.

at GSU Sports Arena 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, Feb. 16 Texas State*

Hawks

NBA ALL STAR MEN’S TENNIS Saturday, Feb. 18 UAB at Johnson City, Tennessee 1 p.m.

Skills Challenge

Embiid

Three-point contest

CJ McCollum

Dunk contest

Glen Robinson III

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S TENNIS

WOMEN’S TENNIS

1st

Arkansas State 9-3 | Overall: 18-7

Little Rock 12-1 | Overall: 18-7

UTA 0-0 | Overall: 4-1

Texas State 0-0 | Overall: 1-0

2nd

Georgia State 9-3 | Overall: 16-8

Troy 9-3 | Overall: 16-7

South Alabama 0-0 | Overall: 7-2

Coastal Carolina 0-0 | Overall: 5-1

3rd

Georgia Southern 9-3 | Overall: 16-9

UTA 9-3 | Overall: 16-6

Louisiana 0-0 | Overall: 8-3

Georgia Southern 0-0 | Overall: 5-1

4th

UTA 8-3 | Overall: 18-6

Louisiana 8-5 | Overall: 14-8

Georgia Southern 0-0 | Overall: 8-4

South Alabama 0-0 | Overall: 5-1

5th

Texas State 7-4 | Overall: 14-9

Texas State 8-4 | Overall: 13-10

Coastal Carolina 0-0 | Overall: 3-2

ULM 0-0 | Overall: 4-1

6th

Coastal Carolina 7-5 | Overall: 12-13

Georgia Southern 7-6 | Overall: 11-13

Georgia State 0-0 | Overall: 6-5

Georgia State 0-0 | Overall: 3-3

7th

Troy 5-6 | Overall: 13-12

Georgia State 6-7 | Overall: 10-14

Appalachian State 0-0 | Overall: 3-3

UTA 0-0 | Overall: 2-3

8th

South Alabama 5-6 | Overall: 12-12

Appalachian State 5-8 | Overall: 10-14

Troy 0-0 | Overall: 2-5

Appalachian State 0-0 | Overall: 2-5

Louisiana 4-8 | Overall: 14-11

Coastal Carolina 4-9 | Overall: 9-14

Louisiana 0-0 | Overall: 1-4

Little Rock 4-8 | Overall: 13-12

Arkansas State 3-10 | Overall: 5-20

Arkansas State 0-0 | Overall: 0-4

Appalachian State 2-10 | Overall: 7-16

South Alabama 3-9 | Overall: 5-19

Troy 0-0 | Overall: 0-5

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