The Signal Vol. 88 No. 22

VOL. 88 | NO. 22

THE SIGNAL IN A MINUTE EPISODE 18 @GSUSIGNAL ON INSTAGRAM WEDNESDAY

WHAT IF YOU SPRING BREAKS WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU? PG. 06

SPORTS AND A&L RECAP THIS YEAR’S UNUSUAL NBA ALL-STAR GAME PG. 08

EST. 1933

Independent, impactful & impartial

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BLOTTER FEB. 27

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

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The Georgia State University Police Department arrested a Georgia State student for a liquor law violation at 8:23 a.m. at Piedmont Central.

MARCH 1

There’s always time for target practice.

At 759 Pollard Blvd., The Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for discharging firearms at 12:46 p.m. The Atlanta Police Department is investigating the case.

NEWS BRIEFS

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brooklyn Valera signaleditor@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Sharayah Davis signalmanagingeditor@gmail.com MARKETING MANAGER Franky Huang signalmarketingmanager@gmail.com

MARCH 2

“I was just visiting a friend.”

At 2:38 a.m. at University Commons, the Georgia State University Police Department arrested a nonGeorgia State offender for disorderly conduct and trespassing.

MARCH 3

“I hope you at least brought toilet paper.”

The Georgia State University Police Department arrested a non-Georgia State offender for defecating on public

property at 1:57 p.m. at T Parking Deck.

GTA has entered the chat.

At 521 Hank Aaron Dr., a Georgia State student was a victim of an armed carjacking at 11:57 p.m.

The case is still active. The Atlanta Police Department is investigating the case.

March 8 Update: Three non-Georgia State offenders were arrested.

LOCAL

NATIONAL

GLOBAL

Racetrac at The Mix: One man shot and another injured

NYC public high schools return in-person March 22

Swiss voters approve ban on face coverings

Sunday afternoon, a shooting occurred at the Racetrac in front of The Mix, student housing near Georgia State. When officers arrived at 5:10 p.m., they found one individual shot and another injured. Atlanta Police informed 11Alive that the victims are stable and several suspects might have been involved. After further investigation, the police believe the two men were victims of an attempted armed robbery.

On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city’s public high schools will reopen for in-person learning on March 22. The city’s elementary and middle school students have already returned due to their low spread rate, according to CNN. Blasio details the students’ emotional struggles, mainly, the students they’ve lost to suicide. He plans to have all schools completely back to normal by September.

In Switzerland on Sunday, a vote was held to approve a controversial national referendum to ban face coverings. According to ABC News, the ban includes burqas and niqabs, worn by Muslim women, as well as bandanas and ski masks. Due to the narrow 51.21% vote in support, the ban covers restaurants, shops, sports stadiums, public transport and on the street. Religious sites, Swiss native customs and health reasons like COVID-19 masks are exceptions to the ban.

NEWS

March 9, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS

The Feb. 18 University-wide Student Government Association meeting saw a historic vote to change, including a new logo.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER THOMAS | THE SIGNAL

Historic vote changes SGA election voting method Implementation of ranked-choice voting hopes to increase voter turnout CHRISTOPHER THOMAS Staff Reporter

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n Feb. 18, The Student Government Association held a University-Wide on Microsoft Teams with a corresponding broadcast on Instagram live.

SGA University-wide President Kaelen Thomas began and called the meeting at order promptly at 7:15 p.m.

The meeting began with Senate Clerk Destani Stone calling the roll and realizing quorum. Then, President Thomas scrolled through the minutes from the last meeting.

Special Guest

Benjamin Oestericher from Georgetown University and an executive intern for fairvote.org was a special guest invited to speak at the SGA meeting.

After some technical difficulty with screen sharing, he gave his presentation to the SGA senate.

Benjamin Oestericher started by illuminating the issues with single-choice voting, which keeps candidates fearful of “votesplitting” from running and does not necessarily represent the majority of the electorate.

Ranked voting is a new voting system where the electorate orders or ranks all available candidates from their most favorable candidate to their least.

Suppose no candidate can accumulate enough votes to be declared the victor outright. In that case, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the candidate pool. For any voter who selected the eliminated candidate, their secondchoice candidate receives the vote from the eliminated candidate.

“The winner represents the majority of voters,” Benjamin Oestericher said.

This type of election can safeguard against drawn-out runoffs as every voter’s ballot counts. If a candidate gets eliminated, then all votes for them are distributed to the voter’s next choice until a candidate receives enough votes to be announced as the winner.

According to Benjamin Oestericher, elections at other colleges see an increase in voter turnout after implementing rankedchoice voting.

Special Orders

Special orders were the next item on the agenda. 91-USOCL-05: Speaker Pro Tempore Senator Le introduced a UniversityWide Special Order to Seat Members of the Ad Hoc Committee to create a five-year SGA Strategic Plan. Senator Toure and Senator Cochran co-chaired the committee, which outlines what

SGA needs to do to continue serving the student body for the next five years.

President Thomas made it known that this committee would create a document to reference in future administrations.

This piece of legislation passed with a vote of 16 for, zero against and one abstention.

The next item of legislation was 91-USO-CL-06: A UniversityWide Special Order to Seat Members of the U-Wide Safety Committee. Senator Le also introduced this order. This legislation’s design is to form a committee to communicate with the Georgia State Police Department concerning students’ safety on campus.

Senators Guerrero and Cochran co-chaired the committee.

This piece of legislation passed with a vote of 16 for, zero against and one abstention.

Executive Reports

The Alpharetta campus took time to interact with students to increase engagement with SGA. The Atlanta campus has not had any stand-alone events for increasing engagement, but the Atlanta campus is trying to work with Spotlight to collaborate on events.

The Clarkson campus participated in the “Welcome Back Breakfast,” but most interested students from Clarkston are international students and cannot join the SGA there due to “policy,” according to advisor Marshonntri Reid-Austin.

There were no representatives from the Decatur or Dunwoody campuses in attendance able to give a report.

The Newton campus has tried to promote the positions within SGA. They have increased involvement with initiatives such as the business etiquette dinner, scheduled for March 25. They are hopeful of bringing in new members shortly.

Finally, Luis Vega, the University-wide and Atlanta Communications Director, spoke about the new logo for SGA, which the assembled senators all reviewed together.

Senator Ward moved to adopt the new logo, seconded by Senator Cochran. The motion passed with unanimous consent.

A New Voting Method

After SGA took care of all the decorum, excitement gripped the air. The next piece of legislation was the one for which everyone present had been waiting. 91-UWB-02: A University-wide Bill to Change the Voting Method in SGA Elections to Ranked Choice.

Benjamin Oestericher’s earlier presentation directly influenced this bill.

This legislation affects how SGA will hold elections across all of Georgia State’s campuses. This bill, introduced by Senator Bivins, would take effect in the next administration.

There were some concerns regarding how to teach students about the voting process, but since the legislation is a bill and not a constitutional referendum, the student body would not need to vote on the bill.

Bylaws committee led by Senator Ward announced that they did not review this legislation, but they still support it.

They called a vote, and in a historical motion, SGA adopted ranked-choice voting for Georgia State elections.

“I think this a time for jubilation, celebration… You all have just made history,” President Thomas said, addressing the Senate.

A Loss of Quorum

After such a momentous vote, the next piece of legislation was 91-UWB-03: A University-Wide Bill to Create an Online Liaison Position. The bill means to give voice to all the students classified as online students who, given the current laws, have no power to vote. Senator Bivins started a discussion, expressing reticence for this bill.

“This will change SGA a lot, so I really want to know what everybody else has to say about the bill because I’m kinda conflicted, I don’t know how I really feel about the bill.” Senator Bivins said.

Due to the loss of quorum, they held no more votes toward new legislation.

Conclusion

The meeting came to an end in chaos. A ricocheting status of quorum made all further business impossible to continue. Jokes were abounding, and President Thomas announced Senator Mai to be “out of order.”

By the end of the meeting, frustrations were high, with many sighing and groaning at announced business.

Despite all the technical issues and loss of quorum, this meeting of the University-wide SGA changed how the Georgia State elections fundamentally worked. They were also able to staff two committees that will significantly affect how the student body interacts with other Georgia State entities.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY X, 2021

NEWS

4

Nursing students are mass vaccinating Atlanta Students and faculty nurses administered 700 vaccines so far in the Clarkson Area LEILA DAVIDSON Staff Reporter

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Georgia State’s nursing program partnered with the local Clarkston clinic to start the drive-through vaccination site.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

eorgia State’s nursing program is providing nursing students with the opportunity to vaccinate Atlanta-area seniors against the coronavirus. The Georgia State nursing program began their drive-through vaccinations 4 1/2 weeks ago in Clarkston at Ethne Clinic and have now moved to the Clarkston First Baptist Church.

The nursing course coordinator for senior practicum and clinical associate professor for Georgia State, Teresa Bates, acquired the operation’s student volunteers. The students are an entire class of graduating seniors in the nursing program from the Downtown campus.

Each day of the drive-through vaccination site, Michelle Nelson, Joan Crawford and Kristen Lingle, Georgia State registered nurse faculty, oversee seven senior nursing students per day, rotating between groups of seven students every day.

With COVID-19 infections rising and mass vaccination opportunities, these students are a part of something bigger than just clinical hours; they are a part of ground-breaking medical history.

In one day, these Georgia State students are vaccinating an average of 150 senior citizens, direct caretakers and frontline workers. Since starting the drive-through operation, the students have administered over 700 vaccines.

The Georgia State nursing program partnered with Ethne in its vaccination campaign. The Ethne Clinic, located on East Ponce de Leon Ave in Clarkston, is a non-profit medical clinic that provides affordable health services for those without health insurance.

Ethne offers health services in adult and pediatric care, gynecology and specialty care.

The clinic offers free, no appointment COVID-19 testing. As of now, they are focusing their efforts on distributing the vaccine and will resume testing soon.

Eligible persons can make an appointment for their vaccine through the Ethne Clinic website. The clinic is currently offering the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

These students are getting experience for their future careers as nurses and getting a head start on learning the ropes of a world affected by COVID-19, which is expected to affect life for years to come.

In Georgia, nursing students must have a minimum of 480 hours of hands-on, bed-side clinical work to transition to a Registered Nurse. With many hospitals and clinics limiting staff, getting clinical hours has been a hardship for many nursing students, including those at Georgia State.

Ethne Clinic, alongside Georgia State, is allowing these students to continue their education and transition into the nursing field during a pandemic.

The faculty assisting in the operation are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Ethne Clinic and Georgia State to help administer the vaccine.

“It is a very good service for the Atlanta community,” Michelle Nelson, a Georgia State registered nurse, said.

“It feels incredible; it is a worthwhile endeavor. After I heard about the vaccine, I wanted to be involved and volunteer, and it was really hard to find somewhere to volunteer. It is such rewarding work.”

The community’s response has been appreciative of the hard work from these students and faculty members. The Georgia State nursing students and faculty have stood in a parking lot in the harsh February weather for weeks, administering vaccines and saving lives.

“Every single car was highly appreciative, and everyone said thank you to us for standing out here and giving us the vaccine. It was 30-degree weather, and we were standing outside. All day from 9 [a.m.] to 5 p.m. People were extremely grateful for us,” Michelle Nelson said.

On Jan. 8, Georgia State announced that they would be one of the schools receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for distribution through the school Health Center.

The university is following the state’s rollout plan, which is currently in Phase 1A+ for vaccine administration. In

Phase 1A+, eligible recipients include the following: •

Faculty, staff and students who are 65 and older

•

First responders

•

Student Health Center staff

•

Counseling Center staff

•

COVID-19 testing surveillance personnel

•

Laboratory staff who work with SARS-CoV-2

•

Long-term care facility staff or residents

As of March 8, the following are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Georgia State: •

Educators and staff

•

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers

•

Parents of children with complex medical conditions

“

It feels incredible; it is a worthwhile endeavor. After I heard about the vaccine, I wanted to be involved and volunteer, and it was really hard to find somewhere to volunteer. It is such rewarding work.

”

— MICHELLE NELSON

Georgia State Registered Nurse

With the development and upcoming release of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine, there is hope that more people can have access to the vaccine and the U.S. can obtain herd immunity.

Georgia State will continue to roll out vaccines to eligible parties in compliance with the state’s distribution plan.

Georgia State is still offering free testing sites for faculty, staff and students on all campuses Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For students in housing, the residence halls offer testing once a week.

There are sites in Dahlberg Hall and 75 Piedmont for all staff, faculty, and students on the Atlanta campus. Georgia State Student Health Clinic staff administers the tests. They offer the saliva test with no appointment required, and free parking is available at M-Deck.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

5

THE SIGNAL

ILLUSTRATION BY MYAH ANGLIN | THE SIGNAL

Georgia State wins NASPA Virtual Innovation Award Dean of Students highlights programs that benefited students in the past year LEAH LI Staff Reporter

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eorgia State received the Virtual Innovation Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

They join nine other universities across the nation recognized for their virtual student support services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia State News Hub states that this award recognizes Georgia State for “virtually providing exemplary academic, financial and community-building services to students.”

The new Financial Hardship and Emergency Assistance program was one highlight for Georgia State to win the award. Introduced in March 2020, the program provides students with financial support after experiencing substantial challenges during the pandemic.

According to Michael Sanseviro, the dean of students and interim vice president for Student Engagement & Programs, a couple of offices partnered together to provide immediate relief and assistance to students.

“The Georgia State Foundation launched a crowdfunding site to raise private donations. The Dean of Students office created an online ‘one stop’ easy application literally overnight, so students could immediately start requesting help,” Sanseviro said.

The program details also quickly reached other partners behind the scenes, including the Student Financial Management Center, the Student Assistance Team and other social workers and counselors.

Through the application process, an entire team of professionals can immediately assess each student’s unique needs. Then, they connect them with the best resources both on campus and in the community to provide holistic case-managed support.

“While much of the support has been financial, we have helped thousands of students receive the shortterm help they need while also starting to focus on long-term solutions and support resources,” Sanseviro said.

The Financial Hardship & Emergency Assistance program also includes food insecurity grants. To effectively help struggling students, Georgia State created grants ranging from $100 to $250 and applied them instantly to students’ accounts within 24 hours of application, giving those students money for food.

“During the December break, when most offices were closed, we partnered with Kroger and issued e-gift cards to needy students throughout [the] break,” Sanseviro said. “We even had one student with an emergency on Christmas, and our on-call staff were able to help her find a nearby Kroger that was open and could provide her free food with the e-certificate.”

Georgia State also kept all of the on-campus housing and food service open throughout the winter break for the first time to ensure residential students would have a safe place to stay. They also began their 24/7/365 Mental Health Support program.

“As part of our BeWellGSU initiative with the onset of the pandemic, we immediately shifted our counseling services to be available virtually to all students and partnered with TogetherAll to provide 24/7/365 access and support,” Sanseviro said.

No matter where a Georgia State student is in the world, they can connect with either peer support networks online or a professional counselor through the program.

Also, to assist students with living needs, Georgia State managed to keep students engaged safely amid the pandemic.

Georgia State launched the Navigate app to give students access to advising information and support, including the opportunity to schedule virtual advising appointments through the app. Sanseviro said that Georgia State has provided over 65,000 virtual advising appointments since the start of the pandemic and the app’s launch.

The online Panther Involvement Network (PIN) offers students all kinds of activities.

Georgia State enhanced all co-curricular engagement opportunities, including a new POUNCE Rewards program, allowing students to stay connected and earn prizes through both in-person and online programs.

The PantherConnect program also started last summer. It provides incoming students guided pathways to get involved based on their high school involvement from their admissions applications and academic interests. “[We know] it can be overwhelming for new students having hundreds of student organizations to choose from and thousands of programs. PantherConnect helps

make the process of getting connected with other new students and student organization leaders easier, and it is all fully automatic through PIN,” Sanseviro said.

As a result, Georgia State successfully maintained a smooth and cohesive community during the pandemic.

According to Sanseviro, Georgia State had more engagement from across all six campuses after moving online compared with previous in-person times.

Various virtual programs were available for student participation. Some of the most popular ones include the health and wellness programs like “healthy cooking on a budget,” online meditation and yoga. The virtual video series that launched last spring had over 200,000 views.

After the campus reopened in fall 2020, Georgia State started to provide many hybrid programs. For example, there was a Welcome Back Comedy Show with comedians and a small in-person audience in Speakers Auditorium on the first Friday night of classes. They live-streamed the show through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so that students could view it from anywhere.

“Our primary goal has been to maximize opportunity and access despite the limitations of social distancing,” Sanseviro said.

Many students think Georgia State has done a great job keeping students engaged while ensuring public health amid the pandemic, like senior Josh Mancin.

“The school has done well … especially by reserving a whole building solely for students that test positive for COVID-19. Also, there have been very few overall cases on campus thanks to Georgia State’s protocols,” Mancin said. “The dining hall has continued to produce enough food to feed us all too.”

Winning this innovation award and being the only Georgia school to win it reveals how helpful Georgia State’s long-time efforts are for students.

“This award truly [shows that] #TheStateWay is using data-driven, student-focused innovative approaches that leverage technology in unique ways to scale our services across multiple locations to a large and diverse student body,” Sanseviro said.

Although the award celebrates Georgia State’s ability to provide virtual services to students, Sanseviro notes that they will continue to “strive for new and innovative ways to meet the ever-evolving needs of our students.”

OPINIONS

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS

March 9, 2021

Take his name down Put up Becker instead

Georgia State needs to remove Petit’s name from it’s property KENNETH LOCKETT III Opinions Editor

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ILLUSTRATION BY ERICA DEAN | THE SIGNAL

All college students deserve a spring break this year

It is important to value a much-needed time off school CALLIE MCNORTON Associate Opinions Editor

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pring break is around the corner, and students are deserving.

After what followed our 2020 spring break, students are excited to inch toward normalcy in 2021. COVID-19 numbers are slowly going down while vaccine numbers are going up. Georgia State students will have a chance to get away from online schoolwork for a week safely. Unfortunately, other institutions are choosing a different route.

The University of Georgia is among some universities, such as the University of South Carolina, that have opted out of spring break.

Institutions give three “wellness days” sprinkled throughout the semester. Under the circumstances, risk and reward are being factored into the decision.

Even though this decision is said to be based on students’ safety and well-being, many feel it is a misstep.

One of the main reasons universities are at least giving wellness days is for students’ mental health. In January 2021, 4 in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. The

results were a jump from 1 in 10 in January 2019.

Students need more than a day off; spring break rejuvenates students before the semester’s final stretch. Even though universities say a wellness day is good enough, we are not buying it.

“The week of this ‘mental health day’ was actually one of my heaviest school work-load weeks that I have experienced yet,” Lily Brogan, a freshman at the University of Georgia, said. “Sure, I didn’t have class. However, I spent pretty much all of my ‘mental health day’ doing homework and assignments. Professors actually seemed to assign more work this week to compensate for us being given this day off.”

The whole reason this is a conversation is due to the pandemic. It is something we still need to monitor and act accordingly. However, students will always go out to bars, go in and out of town, and go to college events.

Back in August, the university community criticized Greek life at UGA for its insensitivity to the pandemic. This behavior is a commonality across America;

COVID-19 will not stop some from doing what they want to do.

“Most of my classes are predominantly online,” Brogan said. “Because of this class format, many of my friends go home or go on trips, even as classes are still in session. Because students are traveling and going home anyway, I see no reason why spring break needs to be replaced by mental health days.”

Everyone has different opinions on how the university system should handle this pandemic.

However, students at least deserve this spring break. Unfortunately, there is a lack of compassion as institutions deal with different obstacles, Georgia State included.

“I feel that college students deserve a spring break this semester more than ever. The past year has been the most emotionally draining year of my life,” Brogan said. “I think that a break during this semester would not only improve academic performance but would also have many positive outcomes on students’ mental health in the long run.”

f you have been reading The Signal over the past three to four years, you know that top university donor Parker H. Petit was accused and convicted of securities violations that ended with his receiving jail time. But many of you might not realize that the university’s science center and football field share his namesake. And frankly, it’s time to get that changed.

Both are tangible reminders of the disgrace that Petit has brought on the university. It’s understandable why the university and USG are unwilling to change the name, considering Petit donated $10 million to the university in 2017 alone.

The following year, MiMedx employees accused Petit of donating fraudulent stocks to Georgia State, and he resigned from the pharmaceutical company amid the federal investigation.

This leads to an obvious question with an unclear answer. While we know that the stocks donated were part of the channel stuffing for which Petit was charged, was the $10 million a product of that as well?

With no answer, the university is allowing the name of a crook to be displayed on our football field.

There is a clear answer as to who should be on the field: current Georgia State University President Mark Becker.

While I’ve been critical of the university and Becker over the past few years, I’d be foolish not to recognize all the excellent work Becker has done for Georgia State. Despite facing multiple economic recessions in his decade

at the university, he added 17 new buildings to the Downtown Campus.

He also raised the graduation rates by 22 points over the past decade, making Georgia State the model of student success in the U.S. and across the world.

These achievements and many more make Mark Becker a far more worthy person to have the science complex named after.

Even if it’s not Becker, the university has plenty of names from which to choose. What about former quarterback Dan Ellington for the field and Baozhong Wang for the science center? The latter is a Georgia State professor who is working on a vaccine for all coronaviruses.

None of those names suit your fancy? What about letting the students vote for the namesake of both?

Give students the power to choose who represents them on the building they pay for and the field they cheer on. There are many possibilities, none who have donated possibly fraudulent money to the university.

Even then, no amount of money should allow you to sway university politics in such a way.

As it stands, the university and USG are unwilling to act because of the message it sends.

If you commit a crime, you cannot represent the university. The message that no matter how white, male or wealthy you are, the university represents diversity and inclusion, and you can’t buy notoriety on our campuses.

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

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‘One Night in Miami’: Men with a goal in mind Regina King gives her directorial debut in this drama DORIAN ROSENBURG Staff Columnist

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ne Night in Miami’’ takes four of the most influential figures in the late 1900s and puts them in one room for a bombastic display of political discourse and understanding.

The film takes place on Feb. 25, 1964, the night Cassius Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali, won the heavyweight world title at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

After Ali’s big win, he meets with his mentor and friend Malcolm X at a hotel where he was also joined by NFL superstar Jim Brown and music icon Sam Cooke.

At first glance, the film seems like a fictional tale of four of the most significant African Americans in history coexisting in one room for a night. However, the meetup did occur; we just don’t have many details on what happened during that one night in Miami.

With little knowledge of what actually happened, the magic of storytelling comes into play. Screenwriter Kemp Powers crafts a sophisticated dynamic between the four men based on real archival facts and emotional truths about each character.

Powers entrenches a power dynamic between the men to drive the focal point around the appropriate measures taken to drive the civil rights movement.

With Regina King making her debut behind the camera, the stage play comes to life as a vibrant piece of cinema that harps on emotional authenticity without straying from its original subject matter.

With so many significant figures in one film, it would be challenging to identify and flesh out each character fully. King overcomes this lack of characterization by spending time on each man’s backstory, with

discrimination being a central theme and creating a perfect segue into their discussion.

The discussion around racial discrimination is the prominent issue that pulls the film together into a cohesive paradigm that is more so influential than elegant in its structure.

Black icons’ rise became evident during this time as they started to seep their way into mainstream white audiences. This rise created a platform for stars such as Jim Brown, Cassius Clay and Sam Cooke. Yet the only person who seemed to be using their platform was Malcolm X. After this identification, the debate becomes genuinely fascinating as each man delves deeper into their insecurities and forgivings at the white man’s hands.

A massive shift within the conversation comes when Malcolm plays the Bob Dylan song, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” a number one chart-topper that references political protest. The fact that a white man is writing and singing about civic struggles before Cooke ever did is genuinely eyeopening to not only the men in the room but the audience as well.

The film ends with Cooke singing his song “A Change is Gonna Come,” showing a complete full-circle moment as he opens his objectives toward making a change in the world one song at a time.

The rendition is ever so relevant within our current political agenda as celebrities such as the film’s director, Regina King, fight to use their platform to advance the Black community. “One Night in Miami” is a timeless fly-on-the-wall drama that will speak with audiences on a generational level.

ILLUSTRATION BY KENNEDY CONWAY | THE SIGNAL

Dangerous promises: Reopening schools in a time of crisis

Put students first and keep them at home ABIR ODEH Staff Columnist

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t’s no doubt that President Biden entered office in a time of crisis, and in the short time, he has accomplished much and promised much more.

He has rallied the country to unify.

Following his inauguration, he rejoined the World Health Organization, rejoined the Paris Agreement and reversed the Muslim immigration ban that had been in place during the Trump administration.

His goals included decreasing COVID-19 cases and providing economic assistance to families in need.

By the first 100 days of his presidency, he hoped to have 100 million Americans vaccinated and the majority of elementary and middle schools safely reopened.

Biden’s promises of action are reassuring and hopeful, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

His goals of controlling the spread of COVID-19 and his promise to safely reopen schools in the first 100 days of his presidency are contradictory; one cannot happen alongside the other.

It’s safe to say that schools are more than academic institutions — they are the cradle of American society.

They are a daycare system, a place for extracurricular activities and an educational institution.

For many families, especially those where both parents work, school closures were crippling. However, remaining open is far riskier than staying home.

There is a need for schools to open, but opening them now is reckless.

In Georgia, teachers receiving a vaccination is not a requirement for schools reopening. How can we reopen when we don’t even prioritize our educators?

Between students, staff and faculty, schools are germ incubators. Opening them up would be allowing for the virus to breed freely among the people of our community.

We don’t have control over the thousands that work or attend each school. Requiring masks and social distancing is not enough when masks are down to eat at lunch, and then students, faculty and staff will go home to people who may or may not have been safely quarantined.

There are far too many variables to control; it is not just the school building and the school hours that have to be considered but also the home lives of every person who goes to those schools.

We are not just concerned for the lives of the people at those schools.

We are concerned about the families surrounding those people. Many students live in multi-generational households; others live alone and don’t visit family because they fear spreading the virus to their families.

We cannot be too careful. It is not impossible to open schools up safely — it’s entirely possible. However, we are not robots. We cannot control the variables off school grounds to protect our communities. We should put

students first by prioritizing their safety and keeping them home to continue distance learning.

“

Biden’s promises of action are reassuring and hopeful, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

”

— ABIR ODEH

Staff Columnist

For now, distance learning and adaptability are the new normal. We need to stop rushing to reach normalcy because as long as COVID-19 is a risk, we cannot feel normal.

If it were a game of stakes, the bets would hold no substantial gains on either side, and honestly, I wouldn’t wager at all.

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Atlanta takes on the 2021 NBA All-Star Game A one-night-only event for the first time ever Jada Jones ARTS & LIVING EDITOR & Andrew Freedman SPORTS EDITOR

Last Minute Game Plans

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he 2021 NBA All-Star Game is an area of contention for local government officials, NBA players, fans and public health experts.

Recently, the U.S. recorded over 500,000 COVID-19-related deaths, which is about the size of Atlanta’s population. Some criticize the NBA for holding an extraneous event, while others see no problem with it.

Initially, the NBA scheduled the All-Star Game in Indianapolis, but scheduling conflicts and the ongoing pandemic pushed the game to Atlanta. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association will donate $2.5 million to Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief funding.

We need to be Like other major sports leagues, the NBA’s handling of COVID-19 is questionable at times. very careful about The NBA Orlando Bubble, using six Disney hotels and frequently testing over 5,000 people over 96 days, led to zero positive coronavirus tests; at one point, the Bubble worked to perfecpointing fingers tion. at the NBA saying, Then, the 2020-21 regular season began, and by the second day, the league postponed 30 ‘[Rising cases were] more games, including a matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. The league witnessed some of their most talented players lose significant time to contact obviously a result tracing. of people going out MVP candidate Kevin Durant had to leave the Brooklyn Nets Feb. 5 home game against the and celebrating Toronto Raptors due to contact tracing after initially getting cleared to play. Many people see this as Durant’s fault, but it introduces a bigger question. because of the Why is having the All-Star Game such a big deal to the league?

All-Star Game,’ There are a few answers, but the players’ actions and words may give us the most context.

Future Hall of Famer LeBron James wanted to take this past weekend to rest and spend time when other bars, with his family. Instead, he played in a game that he had “zero energy and zero excitement restaurants, clubs about,” something he expressed a month ago. and fans were going “We’re still dealing with everything that’s been going on, and we’re going to bring the whole league into one city that’s open?” James rhetorically asked the media last month. “Obviously, out anyway, the pandemic has absolutely nothing to do with it at this point when it comes to that weekend.”

— COLIN SMITH James’ comments could also come from starting the All-Star Game each year since 2004, his Clinical Professor in second NBA season. Even with millions of people selecting him to play, the Los Angeles Lakthe School of Public ers superstar is reserved.

Health at Georgia Carmelo Anthony later endorsed James’ comments. Anthony, a personal friend of James, State tweeted, “I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think we need it.”

While Anthony and James feel strongly about this past weekend’s All-Star Game and bringing the whole league to Atlanta, it is crucial to consider that teams are still traveling for road games.

In the most recent batch of 456 tests between Feb. 24 and last Wednesday, seven players tested positive for the coronavirus.

“

”

Technical Foul: Pre-gaming The NBA and Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms condemned all bars, restaurants and fans that hosted All-Star Weekend-related events or advertised any events using the NBA’s likeness.

To curb social gatherings, days before the game, the NBA issued nearly 100 cease and desist letters to local promoters who used the words “All-Star Game” or the NBA’s logo to garner patron’s attention.

“We are in agreement that this is a made-for-TV event only, and people should not travel to Atlanta to party,” Mayor Bottoms said in a recent statement.

Colin Smith is a clinical professor in the school of public health at Georgia State. Smith mentioned that it is not entirely fair to blame the NBA for people gathering in large numbers during All-Star Weekend when people willfully frequented bars and clubs already.

“We need to be very careful about pointing fingers at the NBA saying, ‘[Rising cases were] obviously a result of people going out and celebrating because of the All-Star Game,’ when other bars, restaurants, clubs and fans were going out anyway,” Smith said.

Keeping COVID-19 On the Sideline The league continues to implement new protocols, such as requiring all players and team personnel to wear masks at all times when not playing. Off the court, the press conducts conferences through Zoom, and a limited number of media personnel can attend home games for their respective teams.

State Farm Arena’s health precautions for the game are not straightforward, as Max Strauss, senior specialist for brand communications at the arena, declined to comment on how COVID-19 will remain outside the venue’s door. The only COVID-19 safety measures available are those released by the NBA that the arena reiterated verbatim on its website.

According to the NBA, leading up to the All-Star Game, players may only travel via NBA-provided transportation from their last game to their homes. Traveling to Atlanta, players must take private transport provided by the NBA. Like the Orlando Bubble, players are not allowed to leave their designated hotel during their stay in Atlanta unless they participate in All-Star Game activities.

Fans are not allowed in the State Farm Arena, and players are allowed up to four guests to accompany them to the game.

When players sub out during a game, they walk adjacent to the bench to a “cool-down zone,” 12 feet from the team’s bench. Players do not wear a mask in this area, but they must wear one after they cool down and return to their bench. All of the assigned seats are six feet away from each other.

Coaches were also required to wear masks at all times. However, the Toronto Raptors’ coaching staff did not always utilize their masks, and many believe their actions contributed to some of those seven positive tests.

The All-Star Game will follow the same protocol.

Game On! But Don’t Forget Your Mask Sunday night featured two night’s worth of events.

In the past, the NBA held the Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday nights. However, this year, the three events happened before and during the All-Star Game’s halftime.

The Skills Challenge introduced the evening’s events at 6:30 p.m. In this event, six players completed an obstacle course to test their all-around abilities, including passing, shooting and dribbling stations.

Then came the Three-Point Shootout, another staple of All-Star Weekend.

The All-Star Game followed the Skills Challenge and saw 30 players represent 18 different teams. In the second year of the Elam Ending, some people may have wanted the event to end sooner.

However, the halftime show of the All-Star Game brought something other than a musical performance. The Slam Dunk Contest happened during halftime.

While players were socially distanced and were required to wear masks on the bench, they still played a basketball game together.

The virus could end up affecting any of these players.

Kevin Durant, who led the Western Conference in votes, sat out Sunday due to a left hamstring strain. A now-11-time All-Star, Durant tested positive for COVID-19 a year ago. Jayson Tatum and Nikol Jokic, two players who competed in the event, also tested positive. Tatum, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, continues to feel the effects of his diagnosis from January.

Though not a staunch basketball fan, Smith thinks that the All-Star game can improve players’ and fans’ morale, providing them with some sense of normality despite the event’s modified schedule.

“Certainly, we’ve all been restricted on the things we’re allowed to do, so this [game] has somewhat of a morale value to everybody involved, be they fans, coaches, staff or players themselves,” Smith said. “So you have to balance out the risk involved. The risk of putting on the event versus the potential morale-boosting benefit of holding an event.”

But avid NBA fans like junior Jermaine Noble, public health student at Georgia State, weren’t overly excited for the All-Star Game.

Noble thinks the game was “unnecessary” and believed the event shouldn’t have happened until after the festivities can safely return.

“I understand the NBA still wants to make money, but it doesn’t mean they should put players’ health at risk,” he said. “The All-Star Game should have been canceled this year because what’s the point if people can’t get the true thrill of the game?”

PHOTOS BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR & PAGE DESIGN BY ADAM MONTES | THE SIGNAL

ARTS & LIVING

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/ARTSANDLIVING

March 9, 2021

ILLUSTRATION BY ARIEL WALTER | THE SIGNAL

Simply Signal Recipes: Anime Foods Edition

Learn how to make iconic Japanese and aesthetically pleasing dishes seen in anime ISA CARDONA Associate Arts & Living Editor

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apanese Strawberry Shortcake: Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients: Sponge cake • 3 eggs • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/2 cup plain flour • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of milk • 1/4 stick of unsalted butter Syrup • 1/4 cup water • 2 tablespoon sugar Decoration • 1 cup fresh whipping cream • 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon of sugar • 1 carton of fresh strawberries Instructions: 1. Heat the oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 7-inch round cake tin with parchment paper and set it aside.

2. Separate the egg yolk and egg whites. Place the egg whites in an electric mixer and gradually (at three different times) add the sugar into the mixer bowl.

3. Beat the egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form.

Combine the egg yolks through the egg white mixture.

4. Fold the sifted flour through the egg mixture three to four times.

5. In a small bowl, mix the milk and melted butter together. Take a small amount of the egg white mixture, put it into the milk and butter bowl and mix, and then add it into the egg white mixture and mix it all.

6. Pour the mixture into the 18-centimeter-lined round cake tin. Bake for about 40 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. If a skewer comes out clean, the cake is ready. Turn the oven off and remove the cake tin.

7. Drop the cake tin onto the kitchen bench from 10 centimeters (4 inches) high. Cool it in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack upside down. Turn it back and remove the parchment paper. Let it cool

completely.

8. Wrap the cake with cling wrap and leave it at room temperature overnight.

9. Slice the cake horizontally into one slab 10. Combine water and sugar to make syrup. Brush the syrup on the two cut sides of the cake. Whip the cream and spread it on both sides of the sponge cake.

11. Decorate with sliced strawberries and spread more whipped cream over the strawberries. Top with the other side of the cake and spread whipped cream over the whole cake.

12. Decorate with strawberries and raspberries or your choice of decorations.

(Recipe from Chopstick Chronicles) Onigiri - Japanese Rice Balls: Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: For Steamed Rice • 2 cups uncooked Japanese short-grain rice • 2 1/2 cups water For Making Onigiri • kosher/sea salt • 4 sheets nori (seaweed) • Toasted white and black sesame seeds to garnish For Salted Salmon • 1 fillet salmon • Kosher/sea salt • Instructions: To Prepare Steamed Rice: 1. Prepare steamed rice. You can also cook short-grain rice with a rice cooker, an instant pot or a donabe. In a large bowl, gently wash the rice in a circular motion, and discard the water. Repeat this process about 3-4 times. Let the rice soak in water for 30 minutes. Transfer the rice into a sieve and drain thoroughly for at least 15 minutes.

2. In a heavy-bottom pot, combine the rice and water.

Cover the lid and bring it to a boil over medium heat.

3. Once water is boiling, turn the heat to the lowest setting

and continue to cook covered for 12 to 13 minutes or until the water is completely absorbed. Between 12 or 13 minutes, take a quick peek. If there is any water left, close the lid and continue cooking for another minute until completely evaporated.

4. Remove the pot (with the lid on) from the heat and let it steam for another 10 minutes. On a large plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper, transfer the rice.

5. With a rice scooper, fluff the rice. Let the cooked rice cool a little bit until you can hold rice without burning your hands. However, do not let the rice completely cool down.

To Prepare Onigiri Filling (Salmon) 1. While rice is soaking and draining (45 minutes), prepare the onigiri fillings.

2. Salted salmon filling: Sprinkle kosher salt on both sides of the salmon fillet. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit in a toaster oven or oven for 10 to 20 minutes. Japanese salted salmon is cooked until well done (more dry and flaky).

3. Break the cooked salmon into flakes and set aside.

To Make Onigiri 1. Cut the nori sheets in thirds. First, wet hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking to your hands.

Then put some salt in your hands and rub to spread all around your palms.

2. Scoop out a handful of warm rice (about 1/3 cup) into one hand. Create a small indentation in the center of the rice. Put one kind of filling (about 1-2 teaspoons) inside.

Then mold the rice with your hands around the well to cover your filling completely.

3. Press the rice around the filling to gently form the rice into a triangle. Use three fingers (thumb, index finger, middle finger) to make a triangle corner. Your hands should be just firm enough so that the onigiri doesn’t fall apart. You don‘t want to squeeze the rice too tight.

4. Wrap the onigiri with nori seaweed and enjoy.

(Recipe from Just One Cookbook)

ARTS&LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

11

Furry Weekend Atlanta goes digital

Furries discuss online vs. inperson events COLE PODANY Staff Reporter

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ince 2004, thousands of anthropomorphic animal fans flock to Atlanta each year to participate in Furry Weekend Atlanta, the fourth-largest furry convention in the world.

The Atlanta Marriott Marquis’ lobby is eerily silent this year, devoid of those who annually fill it with laughs, loud music and cheerful banter after convention staff canceled the convention due to COVID-19.

“We have a long journey ahead of us, but rest assured, our directors, staff, volunteers, vendors and many more are committed to making sure [Furry Weekend Atlanta] returns,” the convention’s cancellation letter stated.

“We are all in this together, and this community never ceases to amaze us.”

While the Marriott Marquis is quieter than usual on convention weekend, the furry community is as active as ever. The convention’s cancellation led to vibrant online streaming events, like Furry Weekend AtHome.

Furry Weekend AtHome is a recurring event including various streaming panels, an online artist alley and “dealer’s den,” raffles and games.

Furry Weekend Atlanta’s virtual events draw in new attendees, like Mercedes McDonald, who joined the furry community in February 2020.

“I played Jackbox [Games] with a whole group of other furs, and we were able to let loose, laugh and enjoy our lives, even through the worst of quarantine,” McDonald said.

Most people who identify as furries have a “fursona,” a combination of the words “furry” and “persona,” or an anthropomorphic character to represent themselves.

McDonald’s fursona is a

wolf named Syriah. It’s her favorite animal because she has happy memories and feelings associated with the species.

“I wanted my fursona to not only make me happy but everyone who gets to see her too,” McDonald said.

Max Darby, whose fursona is a yellow mongoose, attended Furry Weekend Atlanta in person for six years in a row. He reminisced on in-person experiences that online conventions can’t mimic.

“I attended cons to see friends and catch a few cool things in the area, like the year The Glitch Mob came to Atlanta and then crashed the con and went to the rave. [They were] very surreal experiences, and a nice vacation away from the usual,” Darby said. “Some of the happiest moments are getting pictures with people on the street and seeing how happy we make them.”

Alexander Bryan planned on attending Furry Weekend Atlanta in 2020 but was disappointed to hear that convention organizers canceled the event. Still, Bryan, who joined the furry community a little over a year ago, feels at home. “[Being a part of the furry community] has helped me realize that I shouldn’t care what other people think of me,” Bryan said. “I know what I’m capable of, and if people see me differently, that’s their loss.”

While connecting with friends and making memories in-person again is an exciting prospect for most furries, COVID-19 will impact the way conventions operate for years to come.

“Now that there’s a shift in health mentalities and showing that we’re still susceptible to pandemics that can rage out of control, I can imagine even within myself that there’s some apprehension about being in such close spaces with others,” Darby said.

ILLUSTRATION BY MYAH ANGLIN | THE SIGNAL

The not-so-sweet side of being a sugar baby

Gabrielle Fonrouge explains why ‘sugaring’ will never be sweet KARA MARTIN Staff Reporter

W

hen thinking about the average college experience, many people think about parties, stressful exams and getting enough sleep to make it through the day. On the other hand, some students are willing to do what they need to live comfortably while in school.

Georgia State is one of the highest-ranking schools for students involved in sugaring.

Sugar baby, sugaring and sugar dating are all synonymous. It is an act where one individual receives a large amount of money, gifts or fine dining in exchange for personal and often sexual favors requested by another individual.

Jaray Mazique, the on-campus advisor for the Office of Dean of Students, spoke about the risks of being a sugar baby. Alongside her was New York Post national correspondent and reporter Gabrielle Fonrouge, who dedicates some of her work to shed more light on sexual abuse and human trafficking.

During the virtual event “When Sugaring Is Not Sweet,” both speakers cleared the air on misconceptions about this kind of relationship and how easy it is to get lost in the glamour and pleasure of it all.

“You’re in this relationship, and you’re told that there’s an exchange of mentoring, access

and networking,” Fonrouge said.

“But there is also this relationship, romantic and sexual component to it as well.”

“

This is not your passion that you went to college for, and no one is going to do this if they have another means of income.

“It might come as a guise of something more like a relationship, and maybe it starts out that way, but eventually a time is going to come where you have to pay,” Fonrouge said. “You could very easily be put into a very dangerous situation where it’s forced on you, or you fight your way out.”

Some students find themselves introduced to the sugaring lifestyle due to peer pressure. Finding a sugar daddy or mama is as easy as downloading an app or signing up for a website.

“When it comes to sugaring, it’s almost as if you want other people to be involved in it to make yourself feel better about it,” Fonrouge said. “This is not your passion that you went to college for, and no one is going to do this if they have another means of income.”

Desperate times call for desperate measures, but it is important to know why some students choose to be sugar babies. Sometimes it is a call for help, and all that person needs is advice or guidance.

“Keeping an open mind is what I found to be the most effective in dealing with these sort of situations,” Fonrouge said.

“Bringing up the long-term impacts of how it’s going to affect you and future relationships is really going to get someone’s mind going.”

”

— GABRIELLE FONROUGE New York Post Nat’l Correspondent & eporter

From the outside looking in, sugaring can appear as simple as giving someone companionship, but in reality, many sugaring arrangement sites promote young women to engage in prostitution.

SPORTS

March 9, 2021

WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/SPORTS

Tori McElhaney on women in sports and COVID-19 McElhaney on the Falcons and her journey into journalism JULIAN HARDEN Staff Reporter

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here is never a dull moment for The Athletic’s Atlanta Falcons beat reporter Tori McElhaney.

After garnering the role, shess immediately became the beat writer for the Falcons. In her first year as a beat reporter for the franchise, McElhaney observed the most tumultuous season in recent memory for the Falcons.

“Going into the season, I never thought that it would be this crazy,” McElhaney said. “From Dan Quinn being fired and going 4-12, this was a nightmare season.”

Nightmare is correct as not only did the Falcons fail to make the playoffs, they’re cap-strapped and facing an uncertain future with veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons are currently $15 million over the cap and will be hard-pressed in free agency on March 17. The new regime will need to be creative to navigate the precarious cap situation for the upcoming season.

The Falcons are picking fourth overall in the NFL Draft, as a new regime takes hold in Atlanta.

“

As a woman, I’m proud to be where I am currently,” McElhaney said. “I also like to speak to other female student journalists to guide them in their careers as well.

”

—TORI MCELHANEY

Falcons beat writer at The Athletic

Former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is the new head coach, and former New Orleans Saints pro-scout Terry Fontenot is the general manager. However, the two have their work cut out for them as they take charge.

“Smith has a lot of work to do here,” McElhaney said.

“The offensive line and the running game need work and might need to be addressed in both free agency and the draft.”

McElhaney also highlighted that the limited cap would also hamstring the Falcons due to COVID-19.

The NFL cap will likely be just above $180 million, and while it’s not the worst-case scenario, the cap is still lower than projected.

The Titans were one of the most efficient offenses last season, and Smith turned former bust Ryan Tannehill into a top-10 quarterback. However, the Falcons are missing a crucial piece to Smith’s offense, and it’s 6 feet, 3 inches with a lethal stiff arm named Derrick Henry.

Henry ran for over 2,000 yards in 2020; more than every opportunity and not leave anything to waste. the Falcons did as an entire team. McElhaney notes “One piece of advice I’d give to students is to take that the running back is a dire need for the Falcons in any job,” McElhaney said. “Any one of those small sites the offseason in several of her articles. could establish a connection that could take you a long “Without a running game, it doesn’t matter who is way.” playing quarterback,” McElhaney said. “The Falcons lost many games because they didn’t have a running As women breaking into a mostly (white) male game that could run out the clock.” industry, the challenge is daunting for some female While many fans like myself are salivating at the thought of Najee Harris in a Falcons uniform, he might student journalists. As McElhaney progressed through the industry, she could see how much of a difference be gone late in the first round. The Falcons will look at other great running back options, such as North she’s making in the industry.

Carolina’s Javonte Williams, who went to the same school as head coach Smith.

“This is a very deep running back class for the Falcons,” McElaney said. “Running will definitely be a priority for the birds, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to pick a running back early on day two.”

When looking at the Falcons draft, the hot topic is whether the Falcons will draft Ryan’s successor. While he had a solid statistical season, many have questioned how much the near-36-year old signalcaller has left in the tank. The Falcons could secure their post-Ryan future by selecting a quarterback in the first round.

Multiple mock drafts have projected the Falcons to select either Ohio State’s Justin Fields or Zach Wilson from Brigham Young University. However, some believe that they will keep Matt Ryan, especially with Smith now calling plays.

As a Georgia alum, McElhaney is all too familiar with the hype of drafting a hometown product in Justin Fields. Fields transferred from Georgia due to lack of playing time and racial taunts and carved out a successful Ohio State tenure.

However, McElhaney is also familiar with the journey she took to get to this point as a professional journalist. As a student journalist, she got her start on the UGA newspaper The Red & Black and never looked back.

After her time writing at UGA, she eventually moved on to write for the Bulldogs’ in-state rivals, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. McElhaney also interned for Major League Baseball before applying for a The Athletic’s Tori McElhaney talks about a PHOTO SUBMITTED BY TORI MCELHANEY position at The Athletic. The questionable future for the Falcons and her experience taught her to take journey as a journalist.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

13

Eight weeks out: the Falcons’ NFL Draft checklist

Dos and Don’ts for the franchise’s front office this April JASON RICHBURG Staff Reporter

F

inishing the 2020 season with a 4-12 record, the Atlanta Falcons enter April’s NFL Draft with six total picks, including the fourth overall selection.

Last season, the Falcons found themselves in the middle of the pack on both sides of the ball.

New head coach and general manager Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot look to bring young and talented players to help replicate the Falcons’ success when they reached the Super Bowl in 2016.

Dos 3. Spend early picks on defense

Last year, the Falcons finished 19th in the league in points allowed per game with 25.9, and the defense had 12 interceptions and 29 sacks.

With the fourth pick, the Falcons should select the best defensive player available.

Micah Parson and Patrick Surtain ll are arguably the best defensive players in the draft, and selecting either one at four would drastically help the Falcons’ defense.

Selecting players like defensive end Patrick Jones ll out of Pittsburgh, or defensive back Elijah Molden, out of Washington, will help add much-needed depth in later rounds.

Falcons do not need to take the same route as division rival Carolina Panthers, who selected only defensive players in last year‘s draft but will have to add much-needed talent to their defense.

2. Protect Matt Ryan

Having a 35-year-old quarterback who is immobile, it‘s understandable why the Falcons offensive line allowed 41 sacks last season.

Also, a running game that only averaged 95.8 rushing yards on 25.6 attempts per game doesn‘t help Ryan.

Both left tackle Jake Matthews and offensive guard Chris Lindstrom are solidified on the line, leaving immediate attention at center, right tackle and opposite guard position.

Smith just left a 2000-yard rusher in Derrick Henry and will look to immediately bring

a running presence back to Atlanta.

Don’ts 1. Trade away veterans at key positions

For the last couple of years, there have been rumors of the Falcons trading future hall of fame receiver Julio Jones, the Falcons’ heart and soul for many years, most notably a pro’s pro.

Trading away Jones can potentially have significant backlash within the locker room.

Also, there are whispers of the Falcons trading away their veteran signal-caller Matt Ryan and going in a new direction.

Quarterback is arguably the most demanding position to hit in the draft, and trading Ryan at this point seems meaningless.

2. Rebuild through the draft alone

The Falcons have talent at every level, including Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Keanu Neal, Dion Jones, Calvin Ridley and Grady Jarrett. Those names are arguably top-10 players at their respective positions, but the team still lacks consistency.

Slow starts have cost the Falcons for years, and remodeling the team instead of rebuilding the team is the real change they need.

3. Draft a QB

Trevor Lawrence is the clear-cut top prospect for a new quarterback and projected top pick next month. Behind him, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones and BYU’s Zach Wilson all received heavy criticism of their play this past season.

Should the Falcons spend the fourth pick on one of these young quarterbacks to be the heir apparent to Matt Ryan?

No. The Falcons have a winnow roster, and drafting a quarterback at No. 4 to sit two years does not help you win.

Drafting a play-now player will benefit the Falcons and bring immediate success this upcoming season.

For an individual player, there is no escaping accountability, and all of the responsibilities are on you.

PHOTO BY MATT SICILIANO-SALAZAR | THE SIGNAL

Team or individual: each athlete’s preparation is different

Eliel Nsoseme and Andrei Duarte on their pre-game rituals MEADOW BARROW Staff Reporter

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oth individual and team sports promote physical growth, strategic thinking and character development. However, the values that govern performance in each sport are distinct.

It’s common for coaches to chastise a whole team following failure.

Georgia State men’s basketball standout Eliel Nsoseme has provided the Panthers a voice they needed. He often speaks up for his teammates and inspires them to contribute to the team’s success.

“I always say to my teammates that I got their back,” Nsoseme said. “So, I will be there to cover for them when you get beat off the dribble, but also make sure they do their job on and off the court.”

But as an individual player, the emotions are a bit different, and blame cannot go to a variety of players.

Panthers’ tennis senior Andrei Duarte knows the inescapable feeling of accountability. As an individual player, you are solely responsible for everything. So when things get shaky, you can’t hide behind your teammates.

“The good thing about tennis is if you win, it’s on you,” Duarte said. “The bad thing about tennis is if you lose, it’s on you. It is no one else’s fault. You’re the only one out there. You’re the only one

playing.”

When working with a group of people who all want to accomplish the same goal, each individual can have their distinct path to success, so disagreements can be one of the most common roadblocks team players face.

“The most challenging is conflict,” Nsoseme said. “...

Everybody has their own opinion from the best music artist to a more serious issue that can put the team in a bad place.’

On the other hand, individual players face the challenge of walking onto a court with all eyes on them and everyone rooting for their success or failure.

“The hardest thing about being an individual player is that it gets lonely sometimes,” Duarte said.

“When you’re out on the court struggling and have no one to help you out, you feel helpless at times.

There is no one out there but you.”

Being a team player, however, has many advantages. Nsoseme was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but grew up in the Canadian province of Ontario.

International athletes may find it difficult to travel far away from their families, but the team and coaches’ camaraderie is what makes Georgia State feel like home.

“To have a support system that is going through the same thing with you is great,” Nsoseme said.

“It is not easy to be here away from my family, so my team is helping me to go through this situation. The motivation around our team is great from the coaches to the players in the locker-room; we make sure that everyone is confident and in a good place to give his best for the team.”

On the other hand, for Duarte, growing his mastery comes as a perk of individual training.

Balancing expectations on anyone’s shoulders, especially a studentathlete at a young age, can teach accountability, even off the field.

“I believe the biggest benefit of the individual sport that is tennis is the fact that you learn to assume responsibility,” Duarte said. “You learn such a good work ethic.

Because when there are days that you don’t want to play, you push yourself and motivate yourself to go out there and play because you know you need to.”

No matter if you have 10 teammates by your side or zero, individual sports and team sports all have the same goal. Go out onto the court and give it your all to bring home another win.

March 9, 2021

THREE BIG THINGS

GAMES SUDOKU

UNIVERSITY

STATE

NATIONAL

The Panthers’ have a loaded 2021 football schedule

The NBA All-Star Game was a success, for the most part

New details emerge on Tiger Woods’ car crash

As announced last week, Georgia State’s fall slate will easily see them play their most prominent schedule yet. A few highlights are a Sept. 4 season opener vs. Army, Sept. 11 at North Carolina, Sept. 25 at Auburn and Nov. 13 at Coastal Carolina.

The Panthers will return all 11 offensive starters and nine starters on defense. Each person’s experience will prove vital as they face two Power-5 teams for the first time since 2014 when they played Washington and Clemson.

As Team LeBron steamrolled Team Durant in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, the Philadelphia 76ers’ two representatives could not participate. Ben Simmons and MVP candidate Joel Embiid missed the game after their barber tested positive multiple times for COVID-19.

Later Sunday night, all players and coaches involved in the event tested negative. Philadelphia, the top team in the Eastern Conference, remains optimistic the dynamic duo can return this week.

Two weeks after Woods’ one-vehicle crash, the 15time major winner seems to have survived a near-death experience. Multiple sources indicated he was initially conscious, but residents near the accident say he was unresponsive and unconscious.

Woods’ Twitter stated that his injuries included multiple fractures to his upper and lower fibula and tibia, as well as comminuted open fractures, where the bones stick out of the skin.

Now in stable condition, but doctors predict a long road to recovery for the 45-year old.

THE KICKBACK

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY X, 2021

GAMES

15

COMIC

Your Comic Should be Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

Storytellers: A Social Justice Speaker Series featuring Dr. Carlton Usher 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Virtual

Pop Talks 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Virtual

LinkedIn Series: Networking with LinkedIn 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Virtual

WiSE Student Speaker Series: The Importance of Self Care in Leadership 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Virtual

Latinx Trivia 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Georgia Aquarium 5K 8:00 a.m.

Virtual

The Sound of Music 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Spring Break Begins 3/15-3/22

Atlanta Science Festival Ends 3/27 Piedmont Park Basketball Court

Cavaliers @ Hawks 3:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

State Farm Arena

MAR 15

SATURDAY MAR 14

You Got Games 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Virtual

Black Women’s Dialogue 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Virtual

MAR 12

THURSDAY MAR 11

WEDNESDAY MAR 10

TUESDAY

MAR 13

MAR 09

THE KICKBACK

Black Male Leadership Academy 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Virtual

What’s Your Personal Brand?

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Virtual