The Signal Vol. 82 No. 24

2

NEWS

blotter

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

9 3. March You could just ask for his number

Langdale Hall

6 1. March I hope your password isn’t ‘password’

Gilmer Street

A Georgia State student filed a report when they found their car had been broken into through the driver’s front side window. Their Macbook Pro laptop was stolen. The case has been handed over to the Investigations Division.

9 2. March Stalking 101: Stay

A Georgia State faculty member had his phone stolen when an unknown male entered a bathroom while it was being cleaned. The faculty member attempted to take a picture of the intruder to send to his supervisor, when the male snatched his phone and ran away.

The case has been handed over to the Investigations Division.

4.

3.

March 10

4.

Remember, aim for the eyes, the throat and the crotch

2.

Peachtree Center Avenue

hidden

Classroom South

A student reported a suspicious male that followed her from the Dunwoody MARTA station all the way to Classroom South and waited outside her classroom. Georgia State officers responded and escorted the male off campus.

1.

A Georgia State student was pushed into a wall by an unknown caucasian male who attempted to steal her bag. The thief managed to take the student’s phone away from her and was pursued on foot by officers. However, he managed to get away. The case and descriptions of the offender have been turned over to the Investigations Division.

Theft suspicious activity

Photo of the week PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL A mother and son participate in the annual Hunger Walk/Run arranged by the Atlanta Community Food Bank to raise awareness and funds to relieve local hunger.

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NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Krog Street’s makeover transforming Inman Park PHOTO RASTERIZATION COURTESY OF KROG STREET MARKET

SEAN KEENAN & MIRANDA HAWKINS Staff Reporters

B

etween 1,200 and 1,600 customers stroll through the new Krog Street Market (KSM) every Saturday to shop, eat and drink, according to Property Manager Scott Shackelford.

Shackelford and the team at Paces Properties Realty transformed a dilapidated complex into the thriving market located in the heart of Inman Park.

“The area wasn’t being utilized at all. It was an eyesore. We took something from the railroad district and provided a source of income for the city through property taxes, giving a centerpiece to Inman Park,” he said.

Lily Heimburger, vice president of SRS realty, said KSM is a place for local businesses to flourish without a large retail space.

“It was a chance for all of these fabulous entrepreneurs to be able to put their thumbprint here and have a few 100-square-foot stall without having to open a full fledged restaurant,” she said.

However, Paces Properties also took a risk making this investment, according to Heimburger.

“We closed on the property with zero leases signed, which is very rare; a lot of risk involved,” she said.

Paces Property purchased the 3,000-square-foot lot three years ago without initially knowing what they were going to do with the space, according to Heimburger.

“Basically it started with lots of architecture meetings trying to figure out what we’re going to do with it. [We had] one hundred different site plans,” she said.

Heimburger also said the decision to reconstruct the building into Krog Street resulted from a suggestion.

“It started out with five restaurants and we didn’t know what to do with the interior. Someone suggested, ‘Why not do a market?’ and that idea took a shape of its own,” she said.

Taking form With the completion of Krog Street Market, Paces Property is showing interest in further community development, according to Heimburger.

“Now that Paces has done this, they’re interested in going into the communities like East Atlanta Village for redevelopment,” she said. “They’re building new apartments there at the old Gordon School and redeveloping this retail on Glenwood and Grisham.”

Shackelford said this growth will be a stimulant to the local and state economy.

“You’ve got property taxes that are now being paid to the city that weren’t paid before by that vacant piece of property,” he said. “The city is going to take that money and revitalize even further.”

Some nearby businesses are also reaping the benefits of the influx of consumer traffic, according to Shackelford.

“You’ve got small businesses that are taking advantage of that; people doing record sales here for providing a service for the area,” he said.

In addition the inundation of local business, Krog Street will soon host the Alexan, an apartment complex owned and developed by Trammell Crow Residential (TCR), according to Development Associate Elliot Howell.

Howell said the new residence is a response to the growth in the area.

“We have sought locations where multiple new uses are being introduced – primarily new retail or office developments that bring new jobs or a new ‘buzz’ to a particular area,” he said.

Howell also said TCR has a responsibility to engage locations with a potential for expansion.

“As a residential developer we are only one component of the activity that may be happening in an area and are drawn to areas like Inman Park that are seeing growth across multiple product

types,” he said.

The location for KSM was carefully chosen based on its community accessibility, according to Howell.

“In the case of Inman Park, we were drawn to the opportunity to build at Krog Street because of the excitement surrounding the neighborhood overall, the retail development at Krog Street Market and its proximity to the BeltLine,” he said.

Jake Rothschild, founder and owner of neighboring Jake’s Ice Cream and the Irwin Street Market, said the Atlanta BeltLine has been instrumental to the area’s progress.

“The BeltLine has been our best friend in every conceivable way,” he said.

A growing community Krog Street is the result of demand for a staple business within the Inman Park community, according to Shackelford.

“We wanted to provide an installation to the community that they could be part of,” he said.

Shackelford also said KSM accommodates the Inman Park community.

“It is providing something that wasn’t in the neighborhood before; whether that’s a need for places, for entertainment, to bars, to retail installations, for people to come and grab their goods,” he said.

Krog Street has a “little bit of everything” and offers a variety of businesses, according to Shackelford.

“We have the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker,” he said.

Heimburger said it was important that Krog Street housed local businesses.

“Atlanta has a very loyal restaurant following. They want their local restaurant talent coming in and doing what they do best, which is why all our restaurants are local, Jeni’s being the exception,” she said.

Shackelford said in order to adequately provide for the local businesses, it is important to be aware of the community’s needs.

“We have to listen to the community and what they want. These are small business owners who have a vested interest in making [Krog Street Market] successful,” he said.

Along with Paces Properties, other developers have taken an interest in revitalizing the communities of Atlanta, according to Shackelford.

“It’s not just us,” he said. “Other developers across the city are doing the same thing. Inman Quarters is going down here, as well as Ponce City Market and other developments that we’re working on to revitalize the area.”

Putting it all together There have also been complaints within the community regarding KSM’s operation. Rothschild said he’s noticed the customer service at KSM has been what he called “less than stellar.”

“I think the employees that are there working as hard as they know how to are so overwhelmed by the crowd that they have forgotten that a smile and a kind word are extremely important,” he said.

Georgia State student Portia Jordan bartends at KSM Hop City and said her friends have brought some problems to her attention.

“The lack of parking on weekends -- it’s crazy,” she said.

Although KSM has four different parking lots, the Alexan will bring more traffic when housing begins, according to Heimberger.

Rothschild said that while parking space was a major issue, the market’s pricing has been the most prevalent complaint.

Chi Chi Lopez, manager of the Lotta Frutta one block west of KSM, said

he finds the popularity of the market to be only a small threat to Lotta Frutta’s business because he believes KSM cannot continue to thrive with such high prices.

“We don’t see the Krog [Street] Market as competition,” he said. “I see it as a small threat because it’s a brand new development so everybody is curious but you end up paying high prices there. Everything there is overpriced.

What you pay there to buy one lunch, you can use to pay for two lunches [here].”

Lopez also said KSM has the competitive advantage of selling alcohol.

He noticed business slowing down between 4 and 5 p.m.

“We don’t serve any alcohol and they have more than one bar there,” Lopez said. “We decided to pay a visit to the new location and we discovered that it was a bunch of people definitely enjoying themselves, so we put two and two together and we figured it was affecting us.”

Jordan has worked at KSM since January and calls her time there “a whirlwind.” Jordan also said she has faith in the continued success of the market.

“I believe KSM is in it for the long haul,” she said. “With its location on the BeltLine in a walking neighborhood, business will continue to thrive.”

Like the developments around Krog Street and the Inman Park area, Georgia State has also played a role in reinvigorating the city, according to Shackelford.

“Georgia State has been one of those institutions that has revitalized Atlanta,” he said. “You see what’s happening up and down Dekalb Avenue, and they’ve taken over and made an area that was once an eyesore and revived it.”

Shackelford also said the repair of these areas has set the pace for more development to come.

“Georgia State has taken those steps… it is for the betterment of the city itself,” he said.

4

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

university

Spotlight and Campus Events to become one programming board ADJOA DANSO Staff Reporter

A

fter seven years of serving the Georgia State community as separate organizations, Campus Events and Spotlight Programs Board will merge into one centralized student event programming organization.

The change, which goes into effect May 1, 2015, has been discussed for at least three years and became a realistic option in the past month, according to Spotlight adviser and Student Center Assistant Programs Director Phillip Smith and Student Center Director Boyd Beckwith.

Beckwith and Smith said the centralized programming board will remain under the name Spotlight because of the organization’s strong presence in the Georgia State community.

“The Spotlight Programs Board has provided programming for Georgia State students for [more than] 25 years and they already have a significant presence on social media under that name,” Beckwith said.

The goal is to provide students with more campus involvement opportunities and to engage with Georgia State’s non-traditional students, according to Smith at a March 2 town hall meeting hosted by the new Spotlight Programs Board.

Smith also said students would be better informed about upcoming campus events because of the centralization.

“You don’t have to go looking for what’s happening on this Instagram versus what’s happening on that Instagram. It’s all in one place [and] makes it a little bit easier for the students to be able to find and know what’s happening on campus,” he said.

Beckwith said centralizing the organizations would allocate more of the Campus Programming Fee, which is separate from the Student Activity Fee, to programming.

Centralization will also improve communication when planning student events.

“As one organization they won’t have two membership committees, two publicity committees, two copiers, etc.,” he said. “It will increase the communication and collaboration between what had been separate programming entities.”

The new Spotlight Programs Board will have 11 committees headed by 12 directors. Spotlight announced at the March 2 town hall meeting that the members

of these committees will be made public on April 3.

The number of positions will provide students with more opportunities to hold leadership positions within the organization, according to Smith at the town hall. Most of the committees will be a combination of positions that were previously available through Spotlight, Campus Events or both.

Committees new to Spotlight will include the PantherNation committee, which will promote school spirit and support student athletics, and the Patnher Connections committee that will plan events geared towards students.

These students will include graduates, professionals and other nontraditional students, according to a handout provided at the Spotlight town hall meeting.

This year, new discussionbased programs, such as Hot Topics and Screen Takes, were introduced and will continue under the new Spotlight. The programming board will also host TedxTalks, featuring Atlanta-based speakers, as announced at the March 2 town hall.

Sarah Wilcox, who currently serves as the assistant director for programs at Campus Events, said the centralized organization will be able to reach more of Georgia State’s diverse student body.

“Georgia State is home to so many different people with multiple and varied identities, and each person deserves to have programming on campus that they want to go to or with which they identify,” she said.

Current Spotlight Membership Director and Vice President-elect Avien Gober, who has also worked with Campus events in the past, said he has high hopes for the centralized program. He also said that merging the two organizations will continue Spotlight’s history of bringing great events to Georgia State.

“I believe that the [new] Spotlight will be able to continue to provide the traditional events that our students know and love while bringing and creating new events and topics of conversation that will help link Georgia State to the Atlanta community,” he said.

Azhia Brown, the current public relations and social media director for Campus Events, also said she believes the change will be good for students.

“I think by combining Campus Events and Spotlight, we are getting back to the focus of putting on programs to make each student have a great collegiate experience,” she said.

“

I think by combining Campus Events and Spotlight, we are getting back to the focus of putting on programs to make each student have a great collegiate experience.”

Azhia Brown

Public Relations and Social Media Director for Campus Events

Though she currently has no concerns for the new board’s future, Wilcox said some students may assume that they already know what to expect from the new Spotlight Programs Board.

“One challenge I think we will have is people taking their preconceived notions of both Campus Events and Spotlight Programs Board as they currently exist and not giving the new Spotlight a chance because they ‘know’ what it’s about,” she said.

Spotlight Programs Board has been hosting programs and events for Georgia State students since the 1990s. Spotlight events currently include monthly Panther Prowls, amateur open mic nights, and football tailgates. Spotlight also operates the Cinefest film theatre.

However, Campus Events was created during the 2008-2009 academic year and has since been responsible for hosting community-oriented programs, such as Georgia State Nights at Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden and the recently held Georgia State Night at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

In the past, the two organizations have collaborated on larger University events, such as the annual Pantherpalooza concert.

ORGANIZATION FACTS: Spotlight: Operating for 25+ years Campus Events: Operating for 5+ years Number of committees under new Spotlight: 11 Number of directors/co-directors under new Spotlight: 12 (marketing committee will have 2)

NEW SPOTLIGHT COMMITTEES: Panther Connections Committee Responsible for planning and implementing events designed for graduate, professional and non-traditional students. Events will focus on enrichment, social engagement and family-friendly activities. Potential events include but are not limited to Grad Nights, Family Weekend/Carnival and food festivals.

PantherNation Committee Responsible for promoting school spirit by sponsoring events for the entire Georgia State community. Events will encourage attendance at Georgia State athletic events, support student athletes and create and uphold traditions surrounding Georgia State athletics. Potential events include but are not limited to tailgates, Rivalry Week, Spirit events and watch parties.

5

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

local government

MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

UPDATE LAUREN BOOKER Associate News Editor

G

eorgia State student Lauran Chambless saw firsthand the benefits of medical marijuana use after her boyfriend was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. She said smoking weed helped him eat regularly and relieve his pain.

His body responded better to the illegal substance than high dosed pills, according to Chambless.

“The doctors had him on strong pain medication and I saw him become addicted to it,” she said. “I didn’t know about the legislation but I hope it gets passed.

I’ve seen firsthand how medicinal marijuana can help people.”

With there being four marijuana legislations in Georgia, residents and representatives have advocated for the legalization of cannabis.

Three legislations, House Bill 1 (HB 1), Senate Bill 7 (SB 7) and Senate Resolution 6 (SR 6) have already been traveling through Georgia’s General Assembly. Senate Bill 185 (SB 185) is a new marijuana bill being proposed.

The altered medical marijuana bill, HB 1 Ever since HB 1 was prefilled in November, the bill has been heard, altered then passed on Feb. 25 by Georgia’s House of Representatives, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

Through HB 1, medical marijuana use would be permitted for patients with one of the nine qualifying conditions listed in the bill, including seizure disorders, cancer and glaucoma.

Grant Thomas, Legislative Aide for Representative Allen Peake, who is a sponsor of HB 1, said after the patient is recommended by a doctor, they would need to have a registration card from the Department of Public Health.

However, the newly altered HB 1 will not allow patients to get cannabis oil in Georgia. Instead they would have to get the drug from another state, according to Thomas.

“We are hoping that we will be able to get medical cannabis

shipped to Georgia. This will prevent families from having to cross state lines to obtain the oil. It is currently illegal to transport an illegal Schedule 1 drug across state lines,” he said.

An illegal Schedule 1 drug is one that has a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical treatment use in the U.S., and is not accepted as sage under medical supervision, according to Drugs. com.

Thomas also said the bill’s alterations helps HB 1 accomplish its two main objectives.

“The first one was to provide immunity for possession of cannabis oil for patients and families in our state so that they could begin packing and return home to Georgia,” he said. “Our second goal was to provide a way to grow, cultivate and ultimately provide cannabis oil to approved patients within our own borders.”

Additionally, he said the revised HB 1 would establish a commission charged with planning the bill’s implementation and will begin making recommendations on Dec. 31, 2015.

The provision for in state cannabis growing was removed from HB 1 but a commission to study and determine how to grow cannabis oil in Georgia was established, according to Thomas.

“Governor Deal and Representative Peake ultimately decided that we needed more time to determine how best to develop a system for growing, cultivating and distributing cannabis in our state,” he said.

The bill will be heard next by the Senate Health and Human Services committee on March 19, according to Thomas.

He said the bill may be additionally altered in the future by the Senate.

“There has been speculation that the senate wants to take out all of the conditions in HB 1 and limit the bill to only children with seizure disorders. Additionally, they have indicated that they would like to lower the THC level from 5 percent,” he said.

Recently created clinical trial marijuana bill, SB 185 On Feb. 26, SB 185 was intro-

“

Georgia now has three medicinal marijuana bills under the Gold Dome

Governor Deal and Representative Peake ultimately decided that we needed more time to determine how best to develop a system for growing, cultivating, and distributing cannabis in our state.”

Grant Thomas Legislative Aide for HB 1 Sponsor Alan Peake

duced into the session by six republican representatives: Lindsey Tippens, Renee Unterman, Fran Millar, Bruce Thompson, Butch Miller and Judson Hill.

Through the bill, a program would create clinical trials for cannabidiol or cannabidiol-containing products to treat minors with medication-resistant epilepsies, according to the bill.

The bill has passed in the Senate with 137 votes in support of it on March 13, according to the assembly’s website.

There have been discussions of SB 185 and HB 1 merging, according to Thomas.

“There has been indication that SB 185 will be merged with HB 1.

Representative Peake is open to this idea as the bills are not mutually exclusive,” he said.

Legalization of medical marijuana bill, SB 7 SB 7, a medical marijuana bill, was sponsored by Democratic representative Curt Thompson in November, according to the assembly’s website.

Since then, it has been read and referred in the Senate on Feb. 11.

The bill would provide medical marijuana treatment for patients, dispensary locations for medical marijuana and registering of patients and caregivers of the treatment, according to the bill.

Thompson told The Signal that SB 7 would allow patients to use medical marijuana in different forms.

“Marijuana has two basic properties that get used as far as treat-

ing serious illnesses. One is cannabinoids and the other is THC,” Thompson said. “What it leaves up to the physician and the patient, is the format.”

All uses of marijuana bill, SR 6 SR 6 was also proposed by Representative Thompson. The bill proposes for people over 21 to be able to purchase limited amounts of marijuana, according to the bill.

The resolution was proposed in November and has been read and referred in the Senate on March 4, according to the assembly’s website.

Thompson said in The Signal’s previous article that if the bill is passed Georgia’s citizens would then vote on the bill during a referen-

dum around when the time of the 2016 presidential elections.

“And then if it passed, there I guess it would take, just looking at what is happening in other states, about a year to actually ramp up by about 2017 if they choose to approve it,” he said.

Georgia State student Geoffrey Lester said he thinks the government is negligible if they did not legalize marijuana.

“I don’t think it’s the government’s place to tell people how they should deal with their pain,” he said. “...Not legalizing weed is subjecting a lot of people to unnecessary pain.”

Signal staffer Quentin Moore also contributed to this report.

6

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

National

SXSWedu explores the use of technology in higher education LAUREN BOOKER Associate News Editor

C

ollege students who grew up with the Internet are highly adept at technology, and yet schools have been slow to introduce online tools that can support higher education. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is working to change that.

Higher education technology was a prevailing discussion topic at the South

by Southwest Education summit panels, housed by the Foundation the week of March 9 - March 12 in Austin, Texas. College students, educators and researchers convened from across the country to identify solutions for closing technology gaps at schools, and technology vendors presented new innovative learning tools.

Tiffany Mfume, director for Morgan State University’s Office of Student Success and Retentions in Maryland, spoke on a panel and said one reason that some schools are behind is that faculty can find new technology daunting, and be slow to embrace change.

“I think there is some fear, first of all, when we try to change something, because change usually requires us to do something different and to learn something new,” she said.

She also said educational professionals may feel like learning new innovations would require additional work, although she recognizes the benefits.

“Long term, after you learn the tool, it should take your work load down [and] make you work smarter [and] more effective,” she said.

Ever since Morgan State imple-

PHOTO BY DIEGO DONAMARIA | SXSWEDU PRESS IMAGES Dr. Jill Biden speaks at the Getting to College Graduation Summit, hosted by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at SXSWedu 2015. mented a new tool called Starfish Retention Solutions about a year ago, Mfume said the university has seen its second highest retention rate, ever. The university’s retention rate for all students is 72.1 percent, according to Maryland Higher Education Commission’s 2015 Data Book.

Starfish Retention Solutions provides early alerts to faculty members about a student’s behavior. Faculty receive notice if students are not attending class, failing a course, or showing improvements, according to Mfume.

“The more feedback students are getting from faculty and advisors, and the more we are staying on top of their progress inside the classroom and out, then they are more likely to come back,” she said. “And they are not just coming back. They are coming back with higher

GPAs and doing better.”

Co-Founder and COO of Three Ring, an education technology company with an office in Atlanta, Steve Silvius said at the summit that colleges mainly use technology for mandatory purposes, like processing payments, but not particularly during classroom instruction.

To change this, Silvius said higher education faculty should create safe spaces at colleges for students to share ideas with faculty.

Sharla Berry, University of Southern California Rossier Dean’s Ph. D Fellow and student, said she thinks professors are really working hard to adapt.

“The ones that are really good are very good at integrating feedback from the students and what we tell them, so that they can learn how to be support

students in the classroom,” she said.

She also said that adopting live polling — as the Gates Foundation did during panel discussions at the summit — is an effective technology practice that teachers can mimic to solicit feedback from students in class.

Berry is currently developing a mobile app called College Knowledge LA with her colleagues at the University of Southern California to engage students more effectively on campuses.

The goal “is to connect low income students with college prep resources in their community. So we want to provide real access to real people,” she said.

Andy Allred, a Baylor College of Medicine student and SXSWedu’s Improving College Completion by Guided Pathways summit panelist, agrees the college experience can be enhanced with technology use.

“Online learning can be great, especially when video is included,” he said.

Similarly, Nabeal Musa, a Georgia State computer science major, said online tools can enhance classroom instruction.

“The classes where I’ve had more technology [and] more things to do online, like tests online and stuff like that, I have done better than just normal classes,” he said.

Musa also said adaptive learning, one of the technology practices showcased at the summit, should be implemented into teachers’ websites and instructors’ presentations, along with hybrid courses.

“I just feel like it gives the students more time to do things. And if you are familiar with online, it’s a lot easier,” he said.

university

Students of WRAS 88.5 FM file appeal against GSU-GPB partnership CIARA FRISBIE News Editor

A

lthough the Georgia State – Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) partnership to obtain 14 hours of analog air-time from WRAS 88.5 FM went into effect on June 29, students of the station filed an appeal against the decision with the Georgia Board of Regents (BoR) on March 12.

Zachary Lancaster, president of the nonprofit organization Album 88 Alumni (A88A), said students were frustrated with all of their attempts to negotiate about the decision.

“The students have made multiple attempts to engage in meaningful discussion with both GSU administrators and with GPB but for naught,” he said.

“The students have been taking this process one step at a time. This was the next logical step.”

Album 88’s current General Manager Alayna Fabricius and the station’s incoming General Manager Hannah Frank both worked with Lancaster by researching documents and policy to craft the language of the appeal.

Fabricius said she and others also

believe the appeal was the next step after meetings with university administration and GPB executives failed to be productive.

“We believe that the university knowingly misappropriated student fee funds to benefit a non-student entity.

By doing so, the university administrators broke the same policies they enforce,” she said.

While the appeal was delivered last week and the BoR has not yet replied, a response is expected to within 30 days, according to Lancaster.

However, The Signal reported on June 2 that then- General Manager Ana Zimitravich said the students of WRAS 88.5 FM were not going to appeal the decision about the partnership.

Lancaster said at the time, Zimitravich and others were engaged with university administration and were concerned that a potential appeal would deter away from any negotiations made.

“Ultimately those negotiations fell through,” he said. “The current leadership has been going from one step at a time starting with negotiations between themselves and GSU and/or GPB and then moving on to the next logical step, which is to appeal the pro-

cesses used to fund this deal.”

Georgia State’s Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Douglas Covey was provided with an early draft of the appeal in December 2014, according to Lancaster. Dr. Bryce McNeil, assistant director of student media, also confirmed the draft was brought to Covey’s attention during that time.

“The choice to go to the BoR was at Dr. Covey’s suggestion seeing as he cannot overturn a decision made by the president and Dr. Becker would be unable to hear the appeal due to his connection to the deal itself,” Lancaster said. “By now the BoR should have sent a copy to GSU’s legal office.”

This current appeal is one of the larger Album 88 advocacy efforts to date, according to Lancaster.

“The discovery over the last few months of the gross disregard for the process that mandatory student activity fees is really the key point to be discussed right now,” he said. “Other things coming up are Expo 88, a student produced event at the Masquerade.”

Each year WRAS 88.5 FM hosts a fundraiser event. This year the name has been changed to “Expo 88” and will be held on Saturday, April 4, according

to McNeil.

Lancaster said this appeal goes beyond the actual agreement or it’s impact on the station.

“What has become clear during the development of this appeal has been that the GSU administration went to great lengths to keep this deal a secret, going so far as to circumvent BoR and institutional policy to do so,” he said.

“This uncalled for desire for secrecy resulted in $676,000 of student funds being spent to primarily support a nonstudent entity, which is a pretty clear violation of policy (which are cited in the appeal document…”

Lancaster also said as alumni of Georgia State, it concerns him that administration has been “potentially increasing student fees in order to fund other projects with no clear student focus.”

“If this is the case the question must be asked, has it happened before? Will it happen again? Is the GSU administration actually handling funds, that all students are required to pay and are supposed to pay for support of on and off campus activities, properly in a way consistent with oversight policies?” he said. “These are all important questions to be asked at this point.”

last week Local

Man killed by friend at home

Benjamin Netherland was shot and killed at his home in Union City by his longtime friend Michael Shane Black on March 8, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Eyewitnesses identified Black as the shooter and he was arrested shortly afterward.

Black’s motivation was an undisclosed long-term disagreement between the two friends. Witnesses reported that the individual shot and killed Netherland outside of his house after calling him outside, and continued shooting even after Netherland’s mother begged Black to stop.

National

Infant survives 14 hours in a wrecked car in river

A baby was rescued from the wreckage of a car that had run off the road into Spanish Fork River in Utah on March 7, according to CNN. The baby, Lily Groesbeck, was traveling in the car with her 25-year-old mother Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck when the car ran off the road into the river. Groesbeck died in the crash, while rescue services were able to retrieve Lily from the wreckage. She had reportedly hung suspended in the car for fourteen hours, until a fisherman spotted the car.

Global

African Union helps fight Boko Haram in Nigeria

The African Union helped create a coalition of land and air forces to combat Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state on March 6, according to BBC. Niger and Chad, with the help of the African Union, reacted to Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau declaring allegiance to the jihadist group Islamic State.

Shekau’s declaration has been interpreted by Colonel Sami Usman Kukasheka as an act of desperation.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

University

PCA Georgia receives $82,500 award for child abuse initiatives STAFF REPORTER

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revent Child Abuse Georgia (PCA), which is a part of the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, was recently awarded $82,500 by Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), according to a University release.

The release states that this award will supplement the state’s helpline 1-800-CHILDREN, which is a leading source for child abuse outreach and prevention.

The award will allow the helpline to extend its hours of operation to 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The helpline recently reopened in February 2014 after a nearly three-year hiatus due to lack of funding, according to the release.

Dr. John R. Lutzker, director of the Center for the Healthy Development— PCA Georgia’s home in the School of Public Health— said this award will prove beneficial for all parties involved.

“Expanding the Helpline and an expanded collaboration with DFCS is wonderful news for Georgia families, children and for PCA Georgia,” he said.

In 2011, a reported 18,541 children were abused or neglected in Georgia, according to PCA Georgia’s website.

Lustker said this collaboration with DFCS will give PCA Georgia the ability to extend its reach across Georgia to service more families in need.

Courtney Strickland, School of Public Health graduate student, said the increased support to the helpline will make a huge difference.

“My mom used to work for DFCS for 10 years, so I’ve seen firsthand how awful it is for families dealing with child abuse,” she said.

She also said she believes its great what PCA Georgia is doing to help children affected by abuse.

Santanna Comer, School of Public Health graduate student, said she believes the support is a worthy cause.

“If it’s benefiting abused children, then I’m all for it,” she said.

Quyana Barrow, a graduate student in Georgia State’s Department of Communication, works full-time for the Fulton County Emergency Services and said she directly interacts with families affected by child abuse.

“As a 911 operator, I hear about family violence everyday and when children are involved, it’s all the more heartbreaking,” she said.

Barrow also said she believes any measure taken to prevent the tragedy of child abuse and neglect is a great thing.

For additional information about PCA Georgia and other child abuse prevention initiatives, visit the PCA Georgia website.

GPC-GSU Update: Subcommittee meets to discuss consolidation of student media organizations MATTHEW WOLFF Staff Reporter

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espite the benefits of a larger student media network after consolidating, Georgia State and Georgia Perimeter College (GPC) will have to overcome financial obstacles in combining the various media outlets, according Georgia State Director of the Student*University Center Boyd Beckwith and GPC’s Student Media Advisor Alice Murray.

Student Organizations and Student Life, a subcommittee under the Consolidation and Implementation Committee for the consolidation between Georgia State and Georgia Perimeter College, met to discuss various benefits and concerns at Georgia State’s Indian Creek Lodge on March 10.

Beckwith said Georgia State is already discussing how to restructure campus media to benefit students of both institutions.

“We’re going more digital. I think journalism is changing and I think we need to make sure our student media reflects what the future of journalism looks like so that we’re training people for that future,” he said. “Working in that way is how we can make sure all the students at GPC feel like they can be part of whatever this new media entity is.”

Beckwith also said he and Murray will reach out to heads of the student media outlets after spring break to ask for their input.

“It is student media; we want their input on what it will look like,” he said.

However, Beckwith also said the most prominent media concern of the consolidation is the cost of radio and cable television licensing fees.

“ASCAP, SESAC, BMI are the major holders of music copyrights and so universities typically have to pay a license just to have music to be played on campus. That’s a fee that GPC is already paying and we’re [Georgia State] already paying but in addition to that there’s a radio license and a cable TV license that we also pay,” he said. “Right now those radio fees are based on your enrollment, and because Georgia State has grown, it’s already gone past what it has been budgeted for in the past. With this enrollment we’re going to need a significant increase to cover the cost and to figure out exactly where that money is going to come from.”

Beckwith also said he has intentions to reach out to the media departments at universities with high enrollment, including Arizona State and Penn State.

Murray, who is also a 30-year veteran at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said students learning journalism through a multi-media platform

is something she would like to focus on while a member of the consolidation committee.

“My goal, before the merger was announced was to do more video and video online,” she said.

Murray also said students studying media should try to experience print, radio and television.

However, she also said her biggest concern is for the future and funding of GPC’s biweekly newspaper, The Collegian.

“Access is going to be key for the students. I’m all about growing student leaders and giving them the chance to really get their hands dirty and learn by doing and we’ve got to work out exactly how,” Murray said.

“The Collegian could become an insert into The Signal; it could be a supplement to The Signal — whatever will help The Signal increase it’s print run to cover the outlying campuses.”

Approximately 95 percent of The Collegian’s revenue comes from fouryear institutions that will no longer advertise in the paper, according to Murray.

“If The Collegian just comes into The Signal, my primary concern is we will lose up to $40,000 a year in advertising,” she said.

Visit www.georgiastatesignal. com for more on this story. | Key search terms: Subcommittee, consolidation, implementation, GPC-GSU

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

What a season on the court!

EDITORIAL

Unforgettable 2014-15 basketball season showed Georgia State at its best

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he 2014-15 season for Georgia State men’s basketball came to a close on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida as the Panthers were eliminated in the NCAA tournament by Xavier by a final of 75-67.

But even by losing, everyone associated with Georgia State University came out a winner — from basketball aficionados, to faculty, to students, to alumni. The week where Georgia State competed in the NCAA tournament was a banner week to have Panther Pride.

As we as students know, there have been times where the university has not always shown its good side (see: the WRAS deal that remains controversial). Even when it comes to athletics and the struggles of the football team, it has made students and alumni less-than-enthusiastic when it comes to Georgia State athletics.

Last week was arguably the university’s finest hour. For a whole week, Georgia State was in the national spotlight.

Last week, Georgia State was at the epicenter of the sports universe.

It began the week prior to the opening week of the NCAA tournament when the Panthers avenged last season’s heartbreaking Sun Belt 2013-14 tournament loss to Louisiana-Lafay-

ette with a 38-36 victory, winning the conference tournament and having an opportunity to experience March Madness.

And if the tournament win in New Orleans could not have been sweet enough, the Panthers defeated Georgia Southern, that school down south, to advance into the NCAAs. Side note — Georgia Southern did not even make the NIT, the secondary tournament that finished on the outside looking in for the NCAAs. That win skyrocketed Georgia State to the national headlines. All of a sudden, every national sports outlet from CBS Sports to ESPN wanted to talk to our Panthers. For a week, we were the Georgia school that was on everyone’s lips. Not UGA or Georgia Tech but Georgia State.

And when it comes to ambassadors for the university, could we have been better represented than we were

by Head Coach Ron Hunter, his son R.J. Hunter, Kevin Ware, Ryan Harrow and the rest of the basketball team?

The two Hunters in particular not only became the faces of Georgia State but also provided something that is rare in major sports — a father having the opportunity to coach his son.

As part of the Panther Family, we’ve known the backstory behind

Ron and R.J. Hunter before they vaulted on the national stage as they did last week. Now, the story of the two Hunters is one that is being talked about from Jacksonville to Los Angeles.

That shot that R.J. Hunter made to beat the Baylor Bears that had his dad falling out of his chair he used while coaching his team that game went viral on social media — and made said chair just as much of a sensation as the team became.

Our university, despite its status as a mid-major in a city where UGA and Georgia Tech are at the college sports totem pole, had a basketball team that not only was hailed as Atlanta’s team, but America’s team.

The Georgia State Panthers became America’s Panthers. Does it get more exciting for a university’s community than that?!

After seeing the images of the team and Hunter on the national stage, this will only improve Georgia State’s ability to land talented recruits that can build upon what this year’s team did.

Athletic Director Charlie Cobb said that one of his goals at the helm of Georgia State athletics was going to be to increase school spirit on campus. Cobb could not have asked for anything better in his goal to do just that than what the 2014-15 Pan-

thers did.

To students, fans, alumni, and faculty: these are the kinds of stories that you remember for the rest of your life. Sports may be a trivial pursuit in the grand scheme of things, but sports also has an effect that not many other forms of pop culture have: The ability to bring people together.

Atlanta as a metropolitan area can seem so divided given that its suburbs are so spread out. If it is one thing that everyone in the city agreed upon, it was the fact that we were behind this team.

One of the biggest things to remember is that it was somewhat expected to happen. The Panthers were picked as preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt, but there was always that possibility that things would not go as planned.

Not only did things go as they were expected to go for the basketball team, they could not have gone any better in terms of propelling Georgia State into the national headlines.

The players and coaches are not the only ones who should be proud.

Students, faculty, alumni, fans should all share in what Georgia State men’s basketball accomplished this year.

Everyone in the Georgia State community played a part (no matter how small) in making history.

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS As of March 23, 2015 QUESTION:

Do you plan on voting in the SGA elections?

YOU ANSWERED: Yes - 41.67% (5 votes) No - 41.67% (5 votes) Maybe - 16.66% (2 votes) Total votes: 12 Keep your eyes out for the next poll! To vote on future polls, visit www. georgiastatesignal.com.

Have suggestions for poll questions? Email them to signalmanaging@gmail. com.

The difference between gender and sex

Why we need to start using the right words to describe both

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JOHN MILLER Columnist

John is an English major with a concentration in Literature. He spends his time cooking, reading, writing and watching movies. Mostly watching movies.

Tweet him @johnmillerdavid1

o you ever get sex and gender confused? Anyone who has ever looked at the true definition of “gender” and “sex” can tell you that they don’t mean the same thing. But too often does one hear them used interchangeably by people who should know better.

Whether you think that someone’s gender is naturally identical to their sex or not, the same exact mistake is made by people from both schools of thought. That mistake is trying to make words mean what they don’t.

And this mistake usually stems from the proximity these words seem to share in meaning. How many times have you filled out an application that asked you to put down your gender and you knew that what they were really asking about was your sex?

This is because many people think that to ask for one is to also ask for the other. But we would do well to remember that sex refers to what is biological while gender is social.

Thinking they are the same makes one run into certain problems, like when an individual’s

gender is not identical to their sex. In this case, the distinction of the two terms is key in identifying what that individual is, and this is also where the difficulty starts because individuals who identify their genders apart from their sexes sometimes also confuse these terms.

To be clear, self-identification has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with gender. And this is where I run the risk of offending someone because I have always taken biological sex to be indicated by chromosomes, which do not change under any circumstances, even after sexual reassignment surgery.

That is not to say the term ‘transsexual’ is inaccurate, but it must be understood that the only parts of the individual’s sex that are being changed are the secondary sex characteristics, not the sex itself.

And this is why gender is a useful term. Gender becomes everything that identifies an individual within a spectrum of what is perceived as masculinity and femininity, including the shapes of their bodies. Just as foreign languages

gender their definite articles (le, la, les) without it pertaining to the underlying biological sex of whatever person, place or thing the accompanying noun refers to, humans can as well.

In conclusion, debates about identity politics should always stick within the realm of fact with an emphasis on honesty and precise definition of terms. A discourse within language becomes pointless if the words within the language lose their meaning. Being honest about what gender and sex mean does not threaten the legitimacy of any identity but rather strengthens terms that everyone may use to express themselves.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN MILLER | THE SIGNAL

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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DOLLARS & SENSE WITH MITCH

Tech toys we’ll all use in five years

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MITCHELL OLIVER Columnist

Mitch is a senior finance major and student financial advisor. “My goal is to have more college students financially literate.”

Tweet him @madmoneyatl

ith Apple recently divulging more details and pricing on their upcoming Apple Watch, I thought I’d go ahead and predict my five biggest tech items you won’t be able to live without by the year 2020. With these come big new businesses that will rise up and join the likes of Apple, Microsoft and other tech giants to compete for increasing consumer demand.

First, of course, will be the Apple Watch itself or a similar wearable. These days, you don’t see many people wearing watches, since obviously the time is right there on your phone. But in five years, watches will do so much more — and they’ll do it more efficiently than our phones do today.

Take the FitBit for example. It’s extremely popular and getting people on board the whole “wear something on your wrist” train again. This is the first time since LiveStrong bracelets were in, and tech companies know they have to jump on the bandwagon quickly. Within five years, FitBit, a similar fitness-minded software, will most likely be integrated into a type of wearable device that replaces everything except your phone.

What exactly will everyone be wearing in 2020? Most likely some form or iteration of the Apple Watch, version 3 or 4 maybe. Or perhaps Pebble, another promising contend-

er in the wearable tech market, will emerge with an innovative wearable that consumers will love. From helping pay for things to emergency situations, everyone will have a close connection to their smartwatch in the future.

Next up will be your personal set of glasses or goggles for the new wave of augmented reality. Since the advent of Google Glass, the idea of living a life in sync with technology is within reach. While the technology is in its infancy, the potential for both augmented and virtual reality for the future of entertainment alone is enough to make your head spin.

This is going to be one of those things you’ll complain to your grandchildren about. “When I was your age, we had to actually drive to Six Flags and ride that actual roller coaster!” The possibilities with this kind of technology are limitless, and that makes it even more exciting.

This one is a little out there, but I’m sure you have heard the recent news that powdered alcohol is now a thing about to hit shelves. The idea is to just add to water or a liquid of your choice and you can instantly have an alcoholic mixture. While many states are scrambling to outlaw it, the idea is genius.

The innovation behind this will most likely evolve and within five years this and other “food tech” products might become the biggest

thing since, well, sliced bread. Just imagine a world where you can print a Big Mac at home, sprinkle on a packet of ‘Powdered Burger’ flavor and add water. While it might seem unappetizing now, it may just become commonplace in the future!

Last, while not exactly considered “tech” today, our car will be the hottest piece of technology we own.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that soon all new vehicles will be required by law to be able to communicate with one another. That means fewer accidents, more overall safety while driving and most important of all: the beginning of driverless cars.

While more than five years off, physically driving a car will one be a relic of ancient times. We will look back and wonder what we did before computers drove our cars for us! Until then, electric cars will continue to rise in popularity and at the very least our dependence on fossil fuels in developed nations will decrease.

The problem then will be to control the depletion of natural resources in various emerging markets such as South Korea and Thailand that will be hitting their economic stride by 2020.

So there’s four predictions for the future of technology. If there’s any overarching theme here, it’s clear that the future is looking pretty bright — better grab your shades.

The key to surviving hell How to manage your time when you are hopelessly overwhelmed by life NICOLE MOTAHARI Opinions Editor Nicole is a double major in biology and English. When she’s not writing, she enjoys listening to musical theater and watching British TV with her family.

Tweet her @SignalOpinions

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ost university students hold down at least one job, if not more. Personally, in addition to working as Opinions Editor, I work as a concierge in a hotel. Yes, it drives you crazy at times (as it has been doing lately). So I figured this week, I’d write an article about how to balance work, school and a nonexistent social life.

The key to it all is not panicking and planning ahead. Panicking happens when you realize that you have a test every single day of a week, a 10-page paper to write, you need to get your article written and the others edited. Oh yeah, you’re also working five days a week, eight hours a day. Have fun with that. The first step is to take a deep breath and not burst into tears immediately.

The next thing you need to do is plan. Take the time to write out a set routine. You cannot possibly get everything done in one day, no matter how much caffeine you consume.

Create a schedule and dilute the work. For example, write two pages of the paper per day, outline your points and focus your energy for one

of those points. Do the same for your other work, but be careful not to disperse you attention too thinly or else your work will seem scatter-brained.

Believe it or not, you can survive working through all this. Use your time wisely — instead of gossiping with coworkers over your break, keep your tablet or laptop handy and use the time to draft ideas for some of your shorter works (like the newspaper article). Because shorter pieces tend to require a bit less flow from point to point, you will be able to break it into sections a bit easier than a longer essay for a class that might take more effort.

I know it sounds crazy, but save the easiest project for last. The harder work requires more effort and you don’t want to be burned out for them. The easier projects will be a nice respite, and you will feel accomplished after having finished the more onerous tasks.

As I said, social life is a big part, and while you might not be chilling with your friends, it doesn’t mean you have to withdraw and become a hermit. Your friends have gone

through this before, and they’re your best support system during these stressful times. Call your bestie and vent if you need — soon it will be your turn to return the favor.

Mind you, there’s a difference between venting and whining. Don’t be a pathetic little ball of self-pity. No one wants to deal with that. However, do use your resources — oftentimes when exhausted, you overlook little details that can cost major points. If you can get your professor to look over rough drafts, do so. If you’re a procrastinator like me, read it out loud to family and send it to friends. By doing so, you might catch mistakes you might not have caught otherwise.

Relax, calm down and you’ll be fine. Believe it or not, it is not the end of the world. You’ve survived this throughout high school and before in college, you can handle it this time. Once it is all done and you sit with a well deserved glass of the good wine you saved your tips to buy, everything will seem as if it were no big deal and you had it down pat from the start.

Scared in stagnation ZACH ITZKOVITZ Columnist

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r. Lonnie C. King Jr. visited the Honors College at Georgia State March 11.

For those who don’t know, King worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and co-authored “An Appeal for Human Rights,” a document that led to the desegregation of Atlanta and the nation.

Before his presentation, I anticipated something like a visit with my grandparents. I worried that his notions would be dated and that the generational gap would be too vast to overcome. After all, the guy is 78 years old, and 50 years have passed since the Civil Rights Movement.

To my pleasant surprise, King had a sharp grasp of the past as well as the present. He deplored the recently leaked video from the University of Oklahoma, in which members of the Greek community joined voices in a racist ballad. That happened just a day or two before he visited.

King was pessimistic about current race relations, citing the shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent acquittal of the police officer responsible. Discussing current groups of student activists, he elucidated a difference between his generation and our generation: We don’t focus.

We don’t take time out of our days to think about our goals and consider the tasks realizing those goals entail. We don’t understand the way power is structured in our communities and governments and this misinforms our actions.

I was dumbfounded to hear him diagnose current social stagnation so acutely. His description was in light of Michael Brown’s death, but it has a broad application. In an age of hashtags and casual “I’m here with my friends” activism to “raise awareness,” certain social efforts are not resulting in the change the some would hope for. I don’t know how many Georgia State students played starfish on the concrete of Library Plaza in protest of institutional racism, but what this lacked in efficacy, it made up for in misplaced pride.

There’s been much research about the negative correlation between technology use and attention-spans. I’m no psychologist, but technology does seem to stimulate us in a way class does not. As a diagnosed day-dreamer, technology is the only thing quick enough to keep up with my thoughts, and it’s the only thing that instantly gratifies my impulses.

How often does silence greet you at the grocery store, or at the coffee shop? Probably not that often. Ever get uncomfortable sitting in silence, in a room by yourself?

You realize that your hand has migrated to your pocket. Your fingers stretch out and you anticipate the familiar alloy of your phone, only to find nothing. You recoil, dumbfounded, and sit up to look at the wall because you don’t know what to do with your eyes. It’s only you now, in a silence of lingering anticipation and unrequitedness.

Institutional racism also lingers, and to Dr. King’s point, we Millennials hold the future in our hands.

Hopefully our hands won’t drop it as they inch closer to our phones.

ARTS & LIVING

www.georgiastatesignal.com/artsandliving

The Neighborhood

GUIDE HOW TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

WRITTEN BY JOHNNY AVERY GIPSON AND NICHOLE PLACE

PHOTO BY MARC VALLE | THE SIGNAL Painted with artwork, businesses line streets in Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park.

These are some beautiful, artistic and retro communities interconnected with Atlanta.

New stores and shopping districts occasionally open up, inviting local Atlantans and Georgia State students to ex-

plore fresh grounds.

Historic locations such as King Memorial can be found among the new as well. The Atlanta BeltLine also runs through these neighborhoods, calling new and old souls to enter a world of hidden gems and new discoveries on their path.

PARKING SPOTS

TIPS

Being able to find cheap, good parking in Atlanta is pretty hard to do. Unfortunately, most parking lots available are located closer to Midtown, which is great if you don’t mind a long walk. But if you don’t want to walk 25- 30 minutes to and from your car, here are just a few better places to park.

ON GETTING AROUND SAFELY:

LANIER PARKING:

GETTING THERE Getting to and around Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park can be a lot easier than walking. Instead, try taking MARTA or try out the Atlanta Streetcar.

To ride the new street car you can purchase a Breeze card at any street car stop. It costs $1 to ride for a one way trip, $3 for a day pass, $11 for a week, and $40 for a month.

Streetcar Stops: • Sweet Auburn • King Historic District • Edgewood at Hilliard To ride MARTA you need to buy a Breeze Card. They normally run for $2.50 for a one way train ride.

MARTA Stops: • Inman Park/ Reynolds town* • Edgewood/ Candler Park • King Memorial

This is one of the most popular and most common parking lots in the area. There is one, on what seems like every corner. It’s the Starbucks of parking lots. It is normally $2.50 for two - three hours and $5 for 24 hours. (Located on Ralph McGill Boulevard, John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Mayson Avenue Northeast)

LAZ PARKING:

These lots are found more towards Midtown but just a few come out towards Old Fourth Ward. It costs between $6 - $9 to park in these lots depending on the location. (John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Peachtree Center Avenue)

EDGEWOOD-CANDLER PARK SOUTH PARKING LOT:

This is located at the Edgewood MARTA station. The cost to park here is from $0 - 8 depending on the length of time you are parked there. However, the maximum amount of time you can be parked there is 24 hours. (Mayson Avenue)

TIP FOR FINDING PARKING:

Don’t limit yourself to these main parking lots. Many times the restaurants or venues you go to will offer parking. Keep your eyes peeled.

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This is the part where we sound like 40-year-old suburban moms. Enjoy!

Have a Buddy: Walking alone is not always the safest thing to do, especially at night. That’s why having someone or a group of people to get around with is extremely smart. It never hurts to have someone to watch your back.

Know where you’re going: If you plan on taking Marta or the streetcar make sure you know what train you need to get on before you board one.

Trust me it will save you time and embarrassment.

Bring enough money: It’s obviously not smart to carry a ton of cash on you but it is smart to bring just a little more than you plan to spend. This way in case something goes wrong you have just a little emergency funds.

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ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

WHERE TO GO ONCE YOU GET THERE Jackson Street NE

SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH OF THE LIVING ROOM AND PING PONG EMPORIUM:

EDGEWOOD IN OLD FOURTH WARD Edgewood Avenue

Monday night pingpong, organ karaoke, Sister Louisa art, and drinks. Enough said.

466 Edgewood Avenue Southeast Atlanta, Georgia 30312

Edgewood Avenue

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Horizon Theatre Company: For those of you who love theater and those who pretend to hate it and blame others for going to see plays, here is a place to catch great contemporary plays.

1083 Austin Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 Fritti: This menu doesn’t skimp out on the taste of authentic Italian pizza.

309 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307 Bocca Lupo: Because of its use of only the freshest ingredients, this Italian-American menu is constantly changing.

753 Edgewood Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

North Avenue

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Criminal records: If you were hoping to dig into the history of Criminal’s, you’re out of luck. Criminal’s is an eclectic record store that has something for everyone .

1154 Euclid Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

Ponce de Leon Avenue

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Julianna’s Coffee and Crepes: These Hungarian crepes have been named best crepe by Creating Loafing.

775 Lake Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

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Greenwood Avenue

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One Eared Stag: Unfortunately, this place is no friend to Bambi, but it is a friend to taste buds by offering boat scallops and caramel pound cake.

1029 Edgewood Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

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The Albert: This genius restaurant and bar offers only the best meat from cows, pigs, chickens and dogs.

918 Austin Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

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Rathbun’s: Rathbun’s offers American cuisine.

It also offers cooking classes and catering.

112 Krog St. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

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This bar doesn’t just serve flavorful food and drinks but they don’t skim on places to dance.

483 Edgewood Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30312

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Fred’s Meat and Bread: Burgers, fries, cheesesteaks, oh my! This sandwich and burger restaurant can be found at Krog Street Market.

99 Krog St. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

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THE SOUND TABLE:

Do you know who has two dollars Tuesdays and offers half price from 5 to 6 p.m. everyday except Tuesdays?

Your very own Mother.

447 Edgewood Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30312

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THE BELTLINE: One of the greatest things Atlanta has to offer is the BeltLine. This is a great outdoor area for biking, running, and much more. Along with being able to see art work along the trail there are tons of places to eat along the way.

• Two Urban licks • Gilbert’s Café and Bar • Yoforia • Park’s Edge • Irwin Street market

Irwin Street

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Krog Street

INMAN PARK

MOTHER:

If you enjoy great food, drinking and arcade games this is the bar for you. This bar mixes the legal drinking age and the joy of a child in one fun atmosphere on Edgewood Avenue.

427 Edgewood Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30312

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Noni’s offers Italian comfort food. You can find things from pasta to sandwiches to calamari, not to mention dance parties.

357 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, Georgia 30312

JOYSTICK GAMEBAR:

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All the way from Chicago Edgewood brings you waffles, shrimp, beans and endless amounts of fried chicken.

349 Edgewood Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30312

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NONI’S BAR AND DELI:

Boulevard

William Holmes Drive

HAROLD’S CHICKEN AND ICE BAR:

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LAYOUT AND DESIGN BY EMILY LASHER | THE SIGNAL

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ARTS &

n o i t c a r t t a w e N Inman Park’s

Intown culture at the Krog Street Market Written by sydney cunningham, staff reporter

THE HISTORY Beginning in the 1880’s, The Atlanta Stove Works helds its headquarters for almost 100 years.

In 2004, the building then became a place for mixed-used development of offices and restaurants.

In 2006, Tyler Perry transformed the 200,000 square feet space into Tyler Perry Studios, where 16 movies, 14 stage plays and five television programs were made.

In 2012, Paces Properties purchased the land with plans to create an “epicurean center.”

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY GUERIN | THE SIGNAL PAGE DESIGN BY TAMMY HUYNH | THE SIGNAL

LOCATION Krog Street Market 99 Krog St., Atlanta, Georgia 30307 Hours Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Walking through the Market Within the walls of Krog Street Market, there are various dining and retail options. Some are made for daily consumption, and some are very luxurious shops.

Dining

The Cockentrice

In honoring tradition of charcuterie, The Cockentrice embraces the technique of meat cooking.

Chef Kevin Ouzts’ celebration of old school techniques and southern cuisine has gained notoriety in the short amount of time it has been at the market.

Dishes include traditional meat dishes with a creative twist such as Crispy Ginger Short Ribs and Duck Prosciutto. Options range from choosing the familiar chicken or having options such as rabbit and a baby octopus.

Craft Izakaya

Lead by Chef Jey Oh, Craft Izakaya goes beyond simple Japanese cuisine. All dishes have a modern twist.

Japanese fusion dishes are listed along with high quality sushi and a full bar, led by Nate Shuman.

Dishes include Tuna Tar Tar, iidako Karaage (fried baby octopus), Japanese sausage, and classic sushi rolls such as Salmon Roll, Baked California Roll and others. These traditional dishes given a rustic and modern combination, sets Craft Izakaya apart form other hibachi and Japanese dining options.

Fred’s Meat & Bread

Fred’s Meat & Bread is the Krog Street Market’s answer to savory sandwich shop. Lead by Chef Todd Ginsberg, classic American dishes are sold. From burgers, to po’boys, to sandwiches, to fries, and even cheesesteaks are sold. While quality and fresh ingredients are used in every dish, the prices remain affordable. The majority of each time remains under $10.

13

LIVING

Di(connitinunged) Grand Champion BBQ

In the South, barbecue places are frequent throughout the city. Grand Champion BBQ remains supreme with their awards. Honored by both the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Atlanta Magazine, their barbecue is sourced from local and fresh ingredients. Menu items include pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked sausage, macn-cheese, potato salad, banana pudding and the staple freshly brewed ice tea.

Retail The Collective

Located in the cottage at the corner of Irwin and Lake Streets, The Collective remains a unique place to shop. With items from local artists, crafters and entrepreneurs. Miscellaneous things are stocked, ranging from home and garden items, vintage clothing, antiques, fabulous jewelry, local gourmet foods, succulents and other local finds.

French Market Flowers

Specializing in sustainably-grown flowers and live plants, French Market Flowers delivers variously crafted bouquets to all Atlanta neighborhoods. The flowers

HEAR FROM THE SHOPS

French Market Flowers, Gu’s Dumplings, and Mama Handmade Bath and Body owners shared some insight into their shops and operating within Krog Street Market.

Gu’s Dumplings

Their original location was off of Buford Highway, titled “Gu’s Bistro.” Their location at the Krog Street Market is much smaller and specialized, where Chef Gu’s focus is on their special dumplings. At “Gu’s,” they offer a particular subsect of Chinese food from Sichuan in the southwestern part of China.

Authentic Szechuan Chinese food means heavy doses of garlic, cilantro, and chili peppers.

The Little Tart Bakeshop & Coffee Bar The Little Tart is no stranger to the Atlanta area. With the new Krog Street Market locale, other

are grown in Coweta County, on Ginger Lily Farm, where the two owners live. Cindy and John Tarrant are of the slow flower movement, which is the belief that organic, sustainable, locally-grown flowers are the best for businesses, communities, and the environment. Their design philosophy is to design as if the flowers were growing in the field, using a lot of natural foliage, berries, and interesting flowers from the farm.

Hop City Store and Bar

locations entail Emory Farmers Market, Decatur Farmers Market and in collaboration with Octane Coffee off of Memorial Drive. At The Little Tart, each item is made from local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. At the Krog location, Octane bean drinks will be served in coffee drinks from drip to espressos, cortados and lattes. The menu changes regularly, however, staple items include croissants, pain au chocolat, turnovers, cookies and their classic take on the BLT.

The Luminary

Atlanta native and “Top Chef: Las Vegas” contestant Eli Kirshtein brings classic French inspired dishes to The Luminary, where there is also a large raw

Krog Street Pet Works

With an original location off of Austin Avenue, Krog Street Pet Works offers pet services that sell unusual and specialty treats for dogs and cats. As a one-stop-shop for treats, toys, and food, unique gifts are sold, including clothing for any occasion, jewelry and beds.

bar, craft beers, cocktails and 400-square-foot patio space.

Named after Atlanta’s first historic newspaper, The Luminary offers high class cuisine. Items include: French toast, croque monsieur, steak frites, snails, oysters and duck leg confit.

texan roots immersed in each item. With live music and an outdoor patio, Superica serves various versions of fajitas, nachos, tacos and margaritas.

Breakfast is being added soon.

Spice Road

Meaning “Hurry Up!” in Arabic, Yalla is the signature option at the Krog Street Market for contemporary Middle Eastern food. Todd Ginsberg, the chef, has been honored in the 2014 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for “BEST CHEF: Southeast.” At the food stall, dishes feature shawarma, kebabs, falafel, fresh-baked pita and laffa, and various salads.

Southern soul food inspired, Spice Road masters chicken cookery. Not opened yet, Chef Asha Gomez is known for her award-winning Kerala fried chicken and a 2013 James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant for Cardamom Hill.

Superica

Yalla

The art of Tex-Mex is exemplified at Superica, with Chef Ford Fry’s and Chef Kevin Maxey’s

Mama Handmade The Spotted Bath and Body Trotter Mama offers a line of handmade, all-natural body products and soy candles. Their primary mission is to create quality products and to better educate consumers about natural body care. Almost all of their products are 100 percent natural they only use essential oils for scent, which are all-natural, therapeutic oils that are extracted from plants.

The Spotted Trotter is an All-American butchery, charcuterie and cheese shop.

With a menu that changes on the weekly, the norm served entails fresh sausage, dried and cut salami, smoked meats and crepinettes such as “Lamb and Feta” and “Pork and Sage.”

Located across from Craft Izakaya and next to Krog Street Pet Works, XOCOLATL sells craft bean-to-bar chocolate and serves as a bean-to-bar chocolate factory. Made from cacao that is sustainably and ethically grown, harvested, fermented and sun-dried on small farms throughout the Americas and East Africa, they are stone ground into a chocolate liquor. With only two ingredients used, cacao and organic cane sugar, every item in the market remains vegan, soy and gluten free.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Pannus Bakery Located on the market floor across from Grand Champion BBQ, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams vendors unique ice cream flavors, sorbets and frozen yogurts. Built from sourced ingredients from around the world, the flavors include Brambleberry Crisp, Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Wildberry Lavender, Bangkok Peanut, Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet and The Milkiest Chocolate in the World.

Located between The Spotted Trotter and French Market Flowers, Pannus Bakery is a wholesale and retail bakery company that specializes in making international breads and pastries. The main focus is on Mexican tradition sweet and breads along with other Latin American dishes. With a goal to preserve recipes and authenticity to the Hispanic communities, items include conchas, turnovers, empanadas and more.

XOCOLATL Small Batch Chocolate

How did you get a residency at the new Krog Street Market? What are the benefits of being at the Market versus having an establishment in solitary?

Cindy Tarrant, co-owner of French Market Flowers: “We called the realtor, and the market really wanted a flower vendor, and that's what we offered. The benefits of being at the market are the varied foot traffic that we get.”

Yvonne Gu Khan, owner of Gu’s Dumplings: “We got a spot in Krog Street because one of our customers that

is a real estate broker kept pushing us to come Downtown. We decided to do a smaller and simpler concept at Krog Street. We thought it was a very interesting concept since a lot of the top Atlanta chefs were concentrated in a single area. The benefits of being at the market is more exposure than if we were a stand alone place. People will come to the market and take a walk and see us.”

Emelie Sennebogen, owner of Mama: “We approached Krog when they were looking for tenants and we all immediately knew it was a great match. Being part of a market means that we benefit from the foot traffic that all of the other businesses bring in and since we're all hyper local businesses, we share a similar demographic, shoppers who are looking for high quality products that are made locally.”

Q:

CT: “I would definitely say that roses are

YGK: “Our Zhong Style Dumplings are

ES: “Our most popular products are our

Based in Atlanta and Alabama, Hop City’s speciality are craft beers, wine, homebrew and growlers (a reusable jug that allows you to bring draft beer into your home). Hop City partners with many Atlanta restaurants, including The Optimist, Five Seasons and Bocado with wine and beer tastings.

Freshly introduced, Hop City is initiating a new venture with “Growlertown To Go,” a full reefer, portable truck with 30 taps to participate in festivals or private events.

Q:

From what you sell, what is the most popular?

not as popular as they used to be. I think our most popular item that we’ve sold besides bouquets, of course, is a miniature kumquat tree. They are small with miniature fruit, and they can sit on your mantle. They are purely adorable and everyone needs one for their home.”

extremely popular and the reason for us opening up a smaller location. Our Spicy Dried Eggplant is also very popular, crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. We also have a Luo Jiang Dried Tofu dish that is similar to beef jerky, but it’s chewy tofu, a big hit with vegetarians!”

soaps. Our most unique products are our line of neighborhood soaps and candles.

(Each bar of soap bare the titles of different towns in Atlanta such as Buckhead, Inman Park, Cabbagetown, Little Five Points and Old Fourth Ward.) We started making them in 2009 and it’s what we’re known for around town.”

14

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

TAKE ME TO SISTER LOUISA’S SISTER LOUISA’S

IN ATLANTA

CHURCH

466 Edgewood Ave. Southeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30312 Hours Monday - Friday: 5 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Saturday: 1 p.m. - 3 a.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m. - Midnight

PHOTO BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium is unique bar prides itself on church-organ karaoke and weekly pingpong tournaments.

Grant Henry’s themed bar is an Edgewood Avenue staple ADJOA DANSO Staff Reporter

S

ister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium has quickly become a combination of a neighborhood bar and a kitschy tourist attraction. Sister Louisa’s features a wide range of original art, all produced by the bar’s owner, Grant Henry.

It’s a bar!

Grant Henry considers his bar an extension of his former art gallery, Sister Louisa’s Art Gallery and the Church of the Living Room.

“I had an art gallery for years, and when I opened this up, [...] I decided to combine my art gallery and the bar,” Henry said. “To me it’s more … it’s truly more of an art gallery that sells alcohol instead of a bar that sells artwork.”

But when it does come down to selling alcohol, Church has it covered. The signature drink at Church is Sister Louisa’s Spiritual Sangria.

“I sell more sangria than anything,” Henry said. “It is a pint glass full of booze, steeped in all kinds of fruit that soaks up the alcohol. A lot of people say they get drunk off of just the fruit that’s floating in the sangria.”

The recipe is Henry’s own and he has been serving it at art shows for almost 20 years. A few restaurants in Atlanta even sell the drink,

including Bone Garden Cantina on the Westside.

Although popular, Sister Louisa’s Spiritual Sangria isn’t Church’s only calling card; Church prides itself on building a community above everything else.

Most people in Atlanta go to bars because you want to escape life a little bit, have a drink, forget you had a hard day,” Henry said.

“Church is a bar that people go to because they want to get into life. It’s a hangout for everybody. It’s sort of become Atlanta’s living room.”

In its first year of operation, Sister Louisa’s Church won the 2011 Atlanta Downtown Design Excellence Award for restaurants and bars. It wasn’t long before Henry saw the impact that winning the design award would have on his business.

“That night at 5 [p.m.] when we opened up, people were in suits and coming from jobs. So that sort of gave us the stamp of approval for a different kind of clientele,” Henry said.

The man behind the woman Sister Louisa’s story is actually a variation of Henry’s life. Before opening Sister Louisa’s Church, Henry attended seminary school to become a Presbyterian minister, much like Sister Louisa was part of

a convent.

“It’s an opposite story. It’s about a woman, but it’s really me. And it’s not a convent, it was about me being in seminary school,” Henry said.

In addition to attending seminary school, Grant Henry received his Bachelor of Arts in hotel, restaurant and travel as well as a Masters of Arts in education from Georgia State.

Unlike Sister Louisa, Henry voluntarily exited the Church because he couldn’t bring himself to fulfill one of his final requirements.

“They wanted me to say, ‘Only through Jesus Christ is salvation possible.’ I couldn’t really say that because I didn’t believe it,” Henry said.

Henry has a background in several fields but got into the bar business when he was a classic “starving artist.”

“I was selling a lot of art but it was more an ‘artist’s life,’” Henry said. “But I sustained my life by being a bartender.”

Who is Sister Louisa?

Some patrons of Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium may be surprised to know that Sister Louisa doesn’t really exist. Grant Henry made up the persona of Sister Louisa when he was preparing for an art show after traveling in Europe.

“When I was making the bio before the art show … I wanted to have a pseudonym. I wanted to have an alter ego. I want to be Sister Louisa’s art agent.”

Sister Louisa is more than an alias for Henry. She has her own backstory.

“Sister Louisa was a nun in a convent outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana,” Henry’s story goes.

She was kicked out for falling in love with the school’s janitor, so she turned to making art in her airstream trailer.

The inspiration for Sister Louisa, however, did not come from an artist. Louisa is a small woman Henry and some friends stayed with while traveling through Prague and Amsterdam.

“We stayed with this woman; her name was Louisa. But she was a little spiritual bird. She was an attorney [...] and she had this long grey hair, and she was brilliant. I fell in love with this woman,” Henry said.

Henry took the idea of Sister Louisa and ran with it. Even before Henry opened his bar on Edgewood Avenue, he received press inquiries from people who wanted to interview Sister Louisa.

Henry set up interviews only to dupe the reporters once they arrived in Atlanta.

“I said, ‘Oh, her 1974 Ford Pinto broke down in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and she is not able to come.

She’s in Tuscaloosa on the side of the road waiting for me to come.

I’ve got to go rescue her,’” Henry said.

Sister Louisa’s sister bar Henry opened a second Sister Louisa-themed bar in Athens, Georgia about six months ago.

This bar, “Sister Louisa’s Church, It’s a Glory Hole,” is decorated almost identically to its twin to the west. Henry decided to open the location after several trips to Athens with his friend, the owner of King of Pops.

“I started liking Athens, and it was only like an hour - an hour and thirty minutes away. I started looking for a space over there, sort of as a joke. I didn’t think I was really going to do it,” Henry said. “But then I found the perfect space, and for some reason I signed the lease.”

Henry is considering the possibility of opening a third Sister Louisa’s Church in Nashville.

“It’ll be the biggest Church,” Henry said. “It’ll be called Sister Louisa’s Country Church of the Living Room.”

This new location would serve food but will continue the current Church concept of being a no smoking, no television bar.

“What [Sister Louisa’s Church] does is it encourages community,” Henry said. “We don’t have any distractions. The art’s the distraction.”

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

Erosol

on Edgewood

15

“If you wouldn’t be able go to a venue and enjoy a drink with its owner, how much does that spot really connect to you?

How can you truly enjoy a space if you don’t relate to the person creating it?”

Turning a department store into a dance floor JOHNNY AVERY GIPSON Arts & Living Editor

D

uring daylight hours, it’s easy for the untrained eye to overlook the most eclectic venue on Edgewood Avenue. Bathed in sunlight, Erosol, better known as ‘Department Store,’ stands quiet and unassuming, biding energy in its brick walls as night slowly approaches.

Located at the corner of Boulevard and Edgewood Avenue, Erosol remains inconspicuous to passersby, at least until Event Coordinator Bre

Watson opens its doors at 8 p.m. to begin the festivities. A hulking security guard surveys the outside street as a disc jockey warms up and bartenders engage in friendly banter. Although this is a familiar scene on Friday nights, Watson ensures that Erosol offers an entertaining experience for all walks of life.

“It’s always a great time at Erosol because we’re so open,” Watson said.

“We have no guidelines for our music, events or visitors, so anyone that wants to express their ‘creative soul’ can come in and share their experiences. We’re the voice of the people.”

El Aumento de Erosol Despite Erosol’s cult following in the urban community, the venue hasn’t always been in such popular demand.

Erosol’s owner, Luis Carreras, explained how the business idea came together, referencing the first time he noticed the venue.

“The building’s appearance and location attracted me initially,” Carreras said. “It had actually been abandoned for a few years and nobody was really interested in it. I hung out at the Sound Table a lot and performed there with my band there. After a show one day, I just saw huge potential in the venue and I called the leasing number the next day.”

Even though the venue’s dual naming can sometimes cause confusion for a first-time goer, Carreras said that there is a reasoning behind the names.

“Erosol is a combination of my son, Eros, and my daughter, Sol’s, names,” Carreras said. “It’s just ironic because I didn’t have money left to make a sign when we first opened, but since ‘DEPARTMENT STORE’ is plastered on the front of the building, the name instantly stuck. The funny thing is it actually used to be a department store for women. It’s kind of gotten re-identified by that, like an alias.”

Events Friday/Saturday – Club Night Monday - Playlist Party: Underground artists release new music/perform and visitors take turns playing music from their phones. People take turns at the sound booth playing music that they like Tuesday - Level Up ATL: Open mic night, promoted by DBSC as a platform to break new artists; features live band Wednesday - Open: Promoters, hosted parties and other sponsored events that use the venue.

Instagram: @erosolakadepartmentstore Twitter: @Erosol _DeptStore

PHOTOS BY NADIA DELJOU | THE SIGNAL Erosol, also known as Department Store, has flourished into one the hottest bars on Edgewood Avenue.

Location Erosol (aka Department Store) 467 Edgewood Ave. Southeast Atlanta, Georgia 30307

Hours Monday - Saturday 5 p.m. - 3:30 a.m.

Erosol’s Employees

Bre Watson – Event Coordinator BA in Business and Marketing (VSU), Culinary Arts student at Art Institute.

Found her way to Erosol after organizing a social art event called “Drink and Paint” Luis Carreras – Owner Masters (Music Composition and Performance) – University of Matanzas in Cuba Opened on March 31, 2014 Has been an active musician for over 10 years Sarah Kim – General Manager Manages day-to-day operations Instagram: @SkimmyDipp Twitter: @SkimmyDipp

Department Store’s Demography Carreras felt that it was crucial to establish a place for young creatives in Atlanta to enjoy themselves and network. Erosol keeps a constant ear to the street and has evolved into a cuttingedge rite of passage for burgeoning Atlanta rappers, including OG Maco, iLoveMakonnen and Two-9.

“I think there was a need for a space where the younger people could come and vibe on the weekends,” Carreras said. “My experience in the entertainment industry is what gives me a better perspective of what these people want when they go out. We’re unique from the other locations on Edgewood in terms of the events and artists we have, so we have a different appeal to the culture. We know what they want.”

Although Carreras is the face of Erosol, General Manager Sarah Kim and Watson are the creative visionaries behind innovative, interactive functions like the weekly “Playlist Party,” which recently featured Georgia State alumni Ludracris as guest host. Watson says that Erosol’s main appeal is its wide array of events and performances, inviting a fluid, ever-evolving demographic.

“There’s always a good mixture of people here, but it really varies by night,” Watson said. “There are a lot of younger people here on the weekends, anyone in tune with the underground scene that follows the music, culture and innovation in Atlanta. Our DJs and

promoters bring a lot of unique visitors, as well. People come here to party, network and have a good time.”

Recent changes to the Old Fourth Ward’s infrastructure have played a large role in Edgewood Avenue’s sudden surge in popular nightlife, with attractions like the Atlanta Streetcar making the area more appealing and accessible newcomers.

“I definitely feel like the gentrification and renewal of the Fourth Ward has had a positive effect on the community to an extent,” Carreras said.

“Edgewood wasn’t always as safe and trendy as it is now; I remember a few years ago, you wouldn’t even want to walk this far down Edgewood because of its reputation. The only issue is when people have the attitude that there was nothing of value here before they stepped in. The Fourth Ward has always been rich with culture and entertainment.”

Carreras is humbled by the fact that Erosol has become a calling card for the creative youth and embraces the challenge of being a trendsetter for Atlanta nightlife.

“I love the challenge of having to appeal to such a diverse crowd every week,” Carreras said. “I love how we’ve been chosen as the voice of the youth, breaking new artists and supporting creativity. We just really want to continue facilitating the growth of Atlanta’s culture. We’re all family.”

16

ARTS & LIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

Advocating peace:

Nonviolence at The King Center Written by Inga Masic, Associate Arts & Living Editor

F

orty-seven years after his death, Martin Luther King’s fight for equality through nonviolence is still active today. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change works to keep society fighting for what they believe in by continuing King’s philosophy of peaceful change.

Located on Auburn Avenue, visitors are allowed to view Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial site for no charge.

The dream behind the center The King Center was founded in 1968, just a few months after Dr. King was assassinated. Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Dr. Kings colleagues opened the center to educate people on tactics for making a difference through nonviolence. She wanted to be sure that Dr. King’s encouraging methods of boycotts and persuasive speeches would not be forgotten.

“The King Center is an independent nonprofit organization founded by Mrs. Coretta Scott King and a group of Dr. King’s close associates,” Steve Klein, Director of Communications said. “It is dedicated to educating people all over the world about Dr. King’s accomplishments to empower them to use his teach-

ings to resolve disputes peacefully.”

The main goal of the center is to educate people from around the world on black history while promoting equality among all races.

Through seeing King’s activist documents and family artifacts, the chance arises to make King’s vision for a better world a reality.

“We hope to once again provide fully-accredited internships for college students in the not too distant future,” Klein said. “We also have volunteer opportunities. The King Center provides a broad range of nonviolence education and training opportunities including workshops, forums and field trips (including tours).”

PHOTO BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL

What lies within The King Center features many displays that tell the story of his impactful journey as well as the history of his family. This allows guests to not only get a feel for Dr. King’s philosophical impact on our community but also to get the inspiration from his own life story.

“Dr. and Mrs. King’s gravesite, MLK’s birth home, the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Room, the Gandhi Room and the Rosa Parks Room are exhibits seen throughout the center,” Klein said.

that MLK has more streets, schools, hospitals, parks, and monuments named in his honor than any other Nobel Peace Prize recipients. That’s a legacy Georgians can be very proud of.”

There are plans for expansion for The King Center that will help spread the mission even further throughout the world.

“The King Center plans to increase our capacity, both on-site and through interactive digital media for educating people from all over the world. I want people to leave The King Center inspired and better informed about the unique and enduring power of Dr. King’s teachings to transform society in general and their communities in particular,” Klein said.

This is a summer camp for youths to experience different ways to develop a better understanding of leadership skills and team-building. Their main goal is to turn each member into an inspired leader that has the potential to transform society for the better.

They take a bus ride to Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama and hit these sites: • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • 16th Street Baptist Church • Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church • The Dexter Parsonage Museum

Aiming for Georgia’s youth: Georgia State students would gain from visiting the center to understand Atlanta’s civil rights history given that Dr. King was born here and lead his movement in Atlanta back in the 1960s. He left the powerful impression of transforming the segregation norms back then without affecting the lives of other negatively. This accomplishment and Atlanta/Georgia’s recognition of it has been noticed to an honorable extent.

“Klaus Nobel of the Nobel Peace Prize family visited The King Center to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1964,” Klein said. “Mr. Nobel said that he had been all over the world commemorating Nobel Peace Prize winners and noticed

N.O.W encounter

Camp info:

PHOTOS BY RALPH HERNANDEZ | THE SIGNAL A historic site, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered and commemorated on the street he grew up on.

• Applicants must be ages 13 - 18 • Every one to five applicants must have one adult chaperone • Chaperones must participate in all the nonviolence activities • The registration fee is $150 per person

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

neighborhood reviews

17

FOOD REVIEW

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is an insatiable experience JOHNNY AVERY GIPSON Arts & Living Editor

W

hen naming cities in the South that boast the best barbecue, a few places come to mind, but Atlanta rarely gets a second thought. Known more for its soul and comfort food, it comes as a surprise that one of the best barbecue establishments can be found right in our own backyard at Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q. Fox Bros. is a subtle establishment that is easy to miss, tucked away in Candler/Inman Park. Located on DeKalb Avenue, the untrained eye could zoom right it by it, only becoming aware of the establishment’s presence after looking in the rearview mirror. Once it’s been found, however, visitors will quickly notice its red awning and huge barbecue pit where all food is cooked to order.

Inside, Fox Bros. is noticeably smaller than expected, and due to its semi-cramped floor plan, visitors can expect a 20-30 minute wait for a table during lunch time. A small bar can be seen upon entry, and televisions are mounted on every wall, providing the perfect atmosphere for the avid sports fan. Overall, the ambience is very relaxed, with dim

lighting, large six foot windows and ‘80s dance music playing softly over the restaurant speakers. Fox Bros. doubles as both a family environment safe for children and a more mature, “men’s night out” haven, where the boys can go watch a football game and have a beer. A random assortment of pictures and sports memorabilia line the walls, providing an intriguing, yet ambiguous aesthetic for the first-time visitor.

Once seated, visitors are instantly welcomed by a warm, welcoming server, who quickly provides a menu and takes drink orders. Service is commendable, with constant attention to detail. Appetizers range from Brunswick Stew to Chicken Fried Ribs. There are also an assortment of other openers, like Fried Pickles, Texas Fries, and the insatiable Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers.

For the main course, visitors have a wide array of choices, from Hickory Smoked Chicken Wings to a long list of unique sandwiches. Chicken Wings are purchased in combinations of either 6, 12 or 24. Sandwiches offered include the traditional Pulled Pork Sandwich, Beef Brisket Sandwich, Rib Sandwich, and the Smoked Chicken Salad Sandwich.

Sandwiches vary in pricing, based on the side a customer chooses.

The entrée that I chose was the

Fox Bros. Burger, which is actually a huge slab of smoked, juicy brisket smacked in between two slices of bread. The roll of paper towels found on every table is definitely useful for this meal, as this sandwich is extremely messy. To offset the powerful, chargrilled taste of the brisket, the burger is piled high with onion, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and my personal favorite, the smoked bacon.

The bacon is cooked to perfection, juxtaposing the crisp, fresh onion and tomato with a crunchy, hickory smoked punch. Instead of the typical French fry side, I decided to go with the Mac & Cheese, a tangy, gooey game-changer that goes perfectly with their homemade barbecue sauce.

Overall, Fox Bros. is the full package, in terms of quality barbecue. All of their meat is exquisitely cooked in their pit, and the time and effort put into providing quality sides is notable. Although their music doesn’t

WHERE

TO GO:

Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m.

- 10 p.m. | Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m.

- 11 p.m. | Sunday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Noni’s Bar & Deli exudes a ‘homely vibe’

O

n the tip of Edgewood Avenue lies an ambient atmosphere paired with a rich homely environment. In contrast to other popular venues located down the street such as Sister Louisa’s Church or Department Store, the family-owned trattoria Noni’s Bar & Deli welcomes wanderers of the historic strip of businesses with rich Italian cuisine and the opportunity for “Bene placito” (at pleasure).

A frequent customer, who calls himself “Super Trey,” said although he has lived and traveled to many places in the world, he felt that Noni’s was a true metropolitan.

“You have people from all cultures, people from all walks of life and we all come here to have fun,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what color, creed, sexual orientation — It doesn’t matter. You can come here and have a good time.”

Around 10:30 p.m. a disc jockey began setting up his booth to play slow, but melody-filled songs that easily set the tone for guests for a visually calm, cool and comfortable environment as they stepped into Noni’s.

The music and dim lights only complimented individuals’ sense of feeling “at home” in their environment, and many people were freely welcomed to roam the wooden

floors and stand on a small stage to converse with others by the main entrance main window overlooking cacophonies of city lights that illuminate Edgewood Avenue on a Friday evening.

A bartender informed guests that the kitchen closes before the nightlife begins between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., which was a bit of a letdown for those who might have been seeking a bite to eat to go along with a variety of drink options before they enjoyed dancing later on.

Nonetheless, the bartender greeted everyone promptly and warmly, reassuring that those who were interested in visiting Noni’s another time during the afternoon hours were welcome to have their own “taste of Italy” by choosing from the restaurant’s menu that offers a variety of “Antipastis” (appetizers) and authentic Italian dishes.

While Noni’s does not offer a “signature” cocktail completely unique to the restaurant, the drink menu did have a selection of a few main cocktails, including the “Lana” which came in a martini glass accessorized by a lemon peel, hinting towards the sweet and bitter fizzle of the alcoholic beverage. There wasn’t quite a tang to the drink, however the fizzle was enough to let the drinkee know it wasn’t just your average concoction; it was good, but needed to be recommended for a specific taste pallet.

Another small aspect that seemed

do much to complement the visual surroundings, it is still a very homely environment, with smiling servers and satisfied customers. It is recommended that visitors come with a full wallet, as this isn’t one of the cheaper barbecue establishments in Atlanta.

Address: 1238 DeKalb Ave. Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30307

NIGHTLIFE REVIEW

CIARA FRISBIE News Editor

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL The Fox Bros. Burger paired with mac-n-cheese is a surprising combination different from your usual burger with fries.

off-putting to guests was when security guards walked around the bar to gather the bar stools to make room for a dance floor for the night-life portion. In this instance, several individuals had only taken a sip of their beverage before being told they had to make room for more people entering.

However, with an abundance of free parking around the corner of Noni’s, a quick-to-greet staff, a bountiful of food options to choose from in the afternoon and a nightlife that has guests celebrating until the wee hours of the morning.

A sample of listed favorites and other main dishes: • Chicken & Eggplant Parmesan ($13) • Seafood Scampi ($14) • Noni’s Lasagna Bolognese ($11) • Muffuletta ($8.50) • Stella ($8) • Grandfather ($9) • Bolognese pasta ($8.50) • Basil mint pesto pasta ($8) • Pancetta cream pasta ($8)

FOX BROTHERS BAR-B-Q Grade: AVerdict: Emphasizing quality and quantity, Fox Bros. barbecue’s amazing entrees can make even the most committed vegan reconsider.

PHOTO BY JADE JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL A deli by day and bar by night, Noni’s provides an atmosphere that welcomes new visitors as well as regulars.

NONI’S Grade: AVerdict: Noni’s creates a sense of “closeness” between guests but could improve on transition to nighttime and its lack of nighttime food.

WHERE

TO GO:

Address: 357 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, Georgia 30312 Hours: Monday - Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. | Sunday: 11:30 a.m. - midnight

reviews

18

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

ALBUM REVIEW

‘Sour Soul’ by Ghostface Killah BADBADNOTGOOD solidly delivers ALEX KUGACZEWSKI

Staff Reviewer

T

hough it may seem like an oddity on paper, the mix of WuTang veteran Ghostface Killah and Canadian experimental jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD makes a certain peculiar sense.

Lately, Cole’s music has taken a turn towards the dramatic, thoroughly lacing his latest recordings with intricate plots of revenge and reincarnation, love and loss; it’s almost too good of a fit for the nocturnal, brooding jazzed out hip-hop trademarked by his triage of collaborators. Together, Ghost and BBNG strike a solid foundation for the ever-dreaded collaborative supergroup concept, coming out ahead of the curve with an album that isn’t just an avoidance of total disaster, but a moderate success on its own terms.

This success owes itself in part to Ghost’s abandonment of the over-arching thematic story-telling of “36 Seasons.” With “Sour Soul,” the testosterone-fuelled braggadocio of albums past makes its fierce return immediately apparent as Ghost bursts through the gate with “Yo, cleanse, clean me of my sour

soul, I’m vicious… I’m a twisted individual, they say critical, I say, nigga, I’m on top of my pinnacle.” Finally freed from the restraints of his own literary ambitions, Ghost’s lyrical game feels notably more flexible than it has over the past few years, if not more powerful.

It’s difficult to shake the feeling that Ghost isn’t riding on his own skill, as if the genius of yesterday’s classics doesn’t osmose itself through the microphone on its own accord; this is still the same do-ragged legend we’ve come to know and love — just finely filtered through an endless procession of singles, albums, collaborations and the passage of time. It’s a perfectly solid showing when Ghost slides into the lines “from the righteous mind’s the law, he powers my soul, teaching me positivity in

the whole, how to walk amongst evils and smile in the face of death, to speak knowledge and wisdom to my last breath,” but only the most fervent of Wu diehards are likely to claim this as one of Ghost’s standout performances.

Instead, the brightest moments on “Sour Soul” often come from BADBADNOTGOOD, whose shadowy atmospheric backdrops conjure a consistently immersive experience from track to track. “Gunshowers (feat. Elzhi),” the album’s fourth cut, sports a playfully morose guitar lick sliding back and forth over its deliberately paced beats; it’s the type of music any sensible rapper would foam at the mouth for, both because of its inventiveness and smooth, persistent cool.

Unfortunately, the instrumentals aren’t quite as sophisticated as the band’s previous showing on the third BBNG album. However, that’s a minor qualm to make given that this is altogether a different type of project — an eclectic jazz trio backing up a hip-hop legend — not an eclectic jazz trio reinterpreting and twisting hip-hop to its own unpredictable ends. Still, what’s here is notably impressive. Take the propulsive nighttime swagger of “Mind Playing Tricks,” for instance; it’s the kind of the track that inspires visions of late

“Sour Soul” Grade: BVerdict: “Sour Soul” is a competent showing from two extraordinary talents, but never reaches its full potential. night escapades, sunglasses senselessly shading the neon jungle of the city as the scent of vodka permeates the sedan.

It’s another hit from a group of talented musicians, but it’s not quite a homerun.

This is all just nitpicking the finer points, though. “Sour Soul,” despite lingering in the shadows of better records from both collaborators, stands as a solid success for both parties. No, this album isn’t going to stand alongside “Supreme Clientele,” and no, this isn’t going stand alongside “III.” But “Sour Soul” will stand all the same. And really, though, isn’t that more than enough when most albums can’t even manage to crawl?

FILM REVIEW

‘Focus’ leaves the viewer with very few memories after it ends FERNANDO MATTOS

Staff Reviewer

E

very year, there are movies outside the race for awards that still manage to deliver good stories.

Many of these movies, however, overlook aesthetics and try to sustain themselves on acting and story alone. It is a pleasant surprise then to see a movie in this category that treats its visual component so well.

Focus is such a movie, where the visuals impress since the opening shots of Will Smith standing at the balcony of a hotel in New Orleans. The film tells the story of two con artists whose paths cross in Argentina three years after the greatest con job of their lives. While Jess (Margot Robbie) has found herself a rich husband, Nicky (Smith) is still in the game for another big play.

The con theme has been part of accomplished Hollywood films such as “Catch Me If You Can” and the recent “American Hustle”, but “Focus” still manages to provide fun.

The acting is above average. Smith plays the role of a guy whose job requires him to be a good actor. He does

a great job handling this double acting – the acting of Smith superimposed over the acting of his character –, and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two. Smith pulls out a great con job on the audience itself.

Another highlight is Rodrigo Santoro, whose acting seems to grow better after each movie. Gone are the overdramatic characteristics that marked some of his roles in Brazilian soap operas early in his career, giving space to a sharper and more realistic acting.

In terms of story, Focus excels in the way it reveals the mechanics behind every con job . For instance, the almost unbelievable millionaire bet Nicky manages to win during a Superbowl game is well supported by a flashback sequence explaining its secrets. This flashback sequence is as fun to watch as the trick itself because it does what almost no magician will ever do: expose the mechanics that make everything work.

These well explained tricks make the story simple and easy to follow.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, both writers and directors, never convolute the movie with intricate plans, multiple steps and varied characters. Thus, one of the best aspects of Focus is it simplic-

now playing at

ity. The movie never presents scenes that don’t move the story forward or scenes that rely only in long dialogues.

The problem of such tight scripts is that the ending often becomes disappointing. The ending of Focus works, but it is far from one that makes the film memorable. There are no questions to be asked, nor theories to be made or characters to be talked about.

Its lack of avenues of interpretation makes the whole experience forgettable very quickly.

On a high note, Ficarra and Requa seem to have had the time to perfect the photography with the cinematographer Xavier Grobet. And they did.

There are the beautiful overhead shots of both New Orleans and Buenos Aires and the well-lit and composed shots of Nicky and Jess walking at night during a snowfall.

Focus is an incredibly fun film to watch because it makes the audience

constantly wait for bigger and bigger tricks, just like a good magician would.

The script tackles a theme that has been dealt with several times already; however, even though it is well executed, Focus fails to stand out among other similar films. It is a good experience while it lasts, but it ends right when the movie does, just like a very quick magic show.

“Focus”

Rated: R Grade: B Verdict: Competent and fun, “Focus” is an enjoyable experience in under two hours.

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AU.RA Jane’s Lament

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COLLEEN GREEN I Want To Grow Up

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HUNDRED WATERS The Moon Rang Like a Bell (Remixed)

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JEFRE CANTU-LEDESMA A Year With 13 Moons

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HOT SUGAR God’s Hand

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JUMO Hylé EP

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A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Transfixiation

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ALEX CALDER Strange Dreams

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GROENI Hewn EP

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BEACON L1

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MICHNA Thousand Thursday

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MONSOONSIREN Falstrati EP

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SORROW Search of the Miraculous EP

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RONIIA RONiiA

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JAGA JAZZIST Jaga Jazzist ‘94 - ‘14

“The Imagination Game” SYNOPSIS:

SHOWTIMES:

During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.

Wednesday - Friday 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 7:45 p.m.

Rated: R Running Time: 119 minutes

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Visit www.georgiastatesignal.com/advertising for our Summer 2015 Media Kit. Contact our advertising coordinator Sean Valrie for further questions.

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On stands June 2 and distributed for New Student Orientation June 8.

calendar & games

20

Campus & Downtown Events Writer’s Festival

March 24 – March 27 Agnes Scott College The design of the Writers’ Festival seeks to reflect the writing process. This year Agnes Scott College sought that process in the movement of Kristin Miller Hopkins’ artwork. The writing process is a process. And it is full of movement. Three distinguished authors will be on campus March 26 - 27, 2015 for Agnes Scott College’s 44th Annual Writers’ Festival, the oldest continuous literary event in Georgia. The 2015 visiting authors are novelist and poet Chris Abani, Pulitzer Prize Poet Tracy K. Smith and Agnes Scott ‘05 alumna and poet Jennifer Bartell.

The 2015 Atlanta International Auto Show

March. 25 – March 29 Georgia World Congress Center – C Building This is an annual showcase of over 400 new 2015 import and domestic cars, light trucks, vans and sports utility vehicles. There will be factory and dealer representatives on hand to answer questions. There are a wide variety of styles: luxury cars, economy cars, family cars, sports cars, hybrids, electric vehicles, convertibles, limited production cars, light trucks, vans and fourwheel drive vehicles.

6th Annual Laughing Skull Comedy Festival

Word Search

Comedy Festival returns to Atlanta. The festival will feature 72 professional comedians competing against one another for the Winner of The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival 2015. Numerous semi-finalists go on to great success like second place on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and 17 appearances on ‘Last Comic Standing.’ The festival had over 400 comedians submit to be in the festival and you get to see the top 72 of them. This is considered by many comedy industry folk to be the best festival to see up-and-coming comedians.

Urban Jungle: A daytime fashion show

March 26 Noon – 2 p.m.

Unity Plaza Featuring the hottest fashion from student clothing lines and boutiques in Atlanta! Come out and enjoy the styles that lie within the jungle. Contact us at spotlightdaytime@gmail.com if you would like to be a part of this new venture.

KODO Earth Tour: Mystery

March 28 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Rialto Center Forging centuries-old traditional Japanese techniques with inspirations from the world over, legendary director Tamasaburo Bando and the members of Kodo have crafted a vision that transcends the meager boundaries of our shared humanity. To experience Kodo is to discover a way of life.

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SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

Panthers hang tough, denied Sweet Sixteen berth in NCAA

FINAL STATS GEORGIA STATE R.J. HUNTER: 20 points, 3-8 threes, 6-15 shooting MARKUS CRIDER: 10 points, 5-8 shooting CURTIS WASHINGTON: eight points, 4-5 shooting KEVIN WARE: eight points, 3-4 shooting T.J. SHIPES: eight points

XAVIER Jalen Reynolds: 21 points, 8-9 shooting Myles Davis: 17 points, 5-8 threes Dee Davis: 15 points, 8-9 free throws Matt Stainbrook: nine points, 4-5 shooting Remy Abell: 4-5 free throws

AKIEM BAILUM Sports Editor

T

he Sweet Sixteen.

Los Angeles. A chance to continue its Cinderella run as the entire country embraced the story that Georgia State men’s basketball had become. All of that was on the line the night of March 21 in Jacksonville, but the Panthers were defeated by Xavier 75-67 in the NCAA tournament’s third round.

The loss brings to a close what a history-making season for the team that included a Sun Belt title and a win in the tournament’s second round.

“I told [the players] not to be sad,” Head Coach Ron Hunter said to the media after the game. “What a great week. Unbelievable week. Especially for me, I’ll be honest with you. It was the greatest week of my life.”

Georgia State received a major outpouring of support from fans who made the short drive to Jackson-

ville to see their team play in the round of 32 vs. its Big East opponent from Cincinnati. Early on, it appeared the Musketeers would run away with the game and cruise its way to Southern California. They led 15-4 early before the Panthers came back, cutting their deficit to as little as two points, trailing 30-28 with under a minute to play in the first half. Xavier took a 32-28 advantage into halftime.

The Panthers managed to pull even with the Musketeers early in the second half, as they tied the game at 38. Eventually second-half shooting for Xavier was the difference. They shot over 80 percent from the field in the second half, spelling defeat for Georgia State.

After the game, fans, students, faculty, alumni, and even Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed took to social media, thanking the team for what this season meant to Georgia State and to the city (see Twitter feed on the right).

FROM THE FEED

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 22

SPORTS SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

Recap

Taking care of BUSINESS Panthers avenge last year’s heartbreak with 2015 NCAA tournament bid

AKIEM BAILUM Sports Editor

A

fter last season’s gutwrenching defeat in the Sun Belt championship game to LouisianaLafayette by a final score of 82-81, the Georgia State men’s basketball embarked on a 2014-15 season with the theme being “Unfinished Business.”

That business was taken care of on March 15 at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans when the Panthers defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles by a final of 38-36 in this season’s conference final. The victory won the Sun Belt for Georgia State and also clinched their first NCAA tournament berth since 2001.

“I’m really proud of my kids,” Head Coach Ron Hunter said after the championship game. “First thing I told them before the game is nothing has come easy for us. Nothing. It has been a struggle all year and it’s supposed to be a struggle.”

The deciding scores came in the waning moments of the moments of the second half. With 21 seconds remaining, junior guard R.J. Hunter, who picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half, made two free throws from the line after being fouled by senior Georgia Southern guard Curtis Diamond.

Hunter for the season shot 87 percent from the free throw line.

“I felt I owed my team those free throws,” R.J. Hunter said. “I got a lot of encouragement from my teammates during the timeout [prior to the free throws].”

It was also a big game for Kevin Ware, who finished with 18 points as he made eight of his 17 shots from the field and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Ware and the Panthers were playing on ESPN2 before a nationally televised audience, an audience that still remembers his gruesome leg injury he sustained during the 2013 NCAA tournament while with Louisville. “[Ware] has been through a lot,” Ron Hunter said. “Publicly breaking his leg [two years ago]. It was a struggle for him. I am so happy for him. He’s an unbelievable kid and he deserved that.

He deserved that moment.”

Ware said after the game that he may feel somewhat nervous being back on the national stage, but that those pregame jitters will disappear quickly after taking the court in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m pretty sure butterflies will be fluttering,” Ware said. “But I think I’ll get over it in the first two minutes or at the first media timeout.”

Georgia Southern attempted two game-winning threes after Hunter made his foul shots, but neither went through the hoop. Jubilation ensued from everyone at the Lakefront Arena in Panthers blue and white.

“Shots weren’t falling, so it was time for me to do different things,” R.J. Hunter said. “It was back and forth and we literally got the stop we needed at the end of the game.”

Markus Crider, along with Hunter, also were named to the all-tournament team.

After the game, the team celebrated with Georgia State fans in attendance at the Lakefront Arena. Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson presented the Panthers with the Sun Belt title trophy, then the triumphant players and coaches participated in the ceremonial “cutting down of the nets.”

The party was so much that Ron Hunter actually tore his achilles. He said it was actually embarrassing that it happened since he felt it took away from what his players accomplished.

There was also reflection on how big it is for not only Georgia State athletics, but Georgia State. Ron Hunter said that the chance to represent Atlanta and the state of Georgia in the NCAA tournament was huge.

“I said to Kevin [Ware] that we just did something that we won’t even know how big it is,” R.J. Hunter said.

“The football team is struggling and we haven’t had a good basketball team since the ‘Lefty’ [Driesell] days. Now we’re about to see who we’ll be playing in the NCAA tournament.”

The long regular season grind

The Panthers’ conference title was the culmination of a season that began with high expectations after last year’s campaign that saw Georgia State finish with a 25-9 record along with going 17-1 in the Sun Belt only to lose in the

title game.

This year, the Panthers remained at the top of the conference standings for much of the season. Coming down the stretch, Georgia State was locked in a three-way battle with conference newcomer Georgia Southern and Louisiana-Monroe for the regular season conference crown.

The Panthers defeated the Warhawks 58-50 behind 31 points from Ryan Harrow. The team then defeated the Eagles by a final of 72-55 on Senior Day at the Sports Arena on March 7, clinching the top spot in the tournament.

Georgia State’s victory that day was marred by a hamstring injury to Harrow, sidelining the conference’s leading scorer for much of the tournament as he only saw limited playing time in New Orleans.

aggressive,” he said. “But, somehow we lost it in the last four or five minutes.

I’m really proud of our guys. We beat a good basketball team. Defensively, we were really good up until the last few minutes.”

Junior guard R.J. Hunter admitted that in the waning moments of the second half, flashbacks of last year’s championship game began to set in as the Cajuns made their run.

“It was, kind of, déjà vu because it was the exact same way they got back in the game last year,” he said.

Hunter finished that game with 32 points. The Panthers also got 15 points from Crider and 10 from Isaiah Dennis.

Saturday, March 14: 8379 vs. UL-Lafayette

Half of the championship game was set with the Panthers win. Georgia State’s opponent was Georgia Southern as they earned a 44-43 victory over ULMonroe in the second semifinal game.

The Eagles had bested the Warhawks despite shooting only 28 percent from the field.

The Panthers and Eagles split the two previous matchups. Georgia Southern defeated Georgia State 5854 in Statesboro, Georgia, but the Panthers got the better of the Eagles at the Sports Arena in the 72-55 that clinched the regular season championship.

The in-state rivalry renewed on Sunday at New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena with a Sun Belt title and NCAA tournament berth on the line.

Unlike the high-powered offensive battle the Panthers were in vs. the Cajuns, Georgia State’s title tilt vs. Georgia Southern turned out to be a defensive struggle.

The Panthers led by as many as seven (13-6) with seven minutes left in the first half before redshirt Eagles senior forward Eric Ferguson and redshirt senior guard Jelani Hewitt made threepointers, closing the gap to 13-12.

Winning the regular season conference title had clinched the top seed for the Panthers, meaning they would not take the court until Saturday in the semifinals. Georgia State learned who its opponent would be when the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns beat the Texas State Bobcats by a final of 53-43.

The Cajuns were the tournament’s fourth seed, but was coming into the game vs. Georgia State with a sevengame winning streak.

The stage set on Saturday, March 14 as the Panthers squared off against the team that dashed its NCAA Tournament hopes from last season. The Cajuns had an 8-6 lead over Georgia State before the Panthers turned up the defensive pressure and converted it into offense as the lead grew to 11 at 25-14.

The lead was 44-27 at the half and grew to as much as 24 in the second half. Louisiana-Lafayette would not go away as they would trim the deficit down to as little as single-digits. Georgia State managed to hold off UL-Lafayette by a tally of 83-79, advancing the Panthers into the title game for the second straight season.

Ron Hunter credited how aggressive his team was offensively and defensively in the first half but mentioned how it was a different case in the second half.

“Our kids in the first half were very

Sunday, March 15: 38-36 win vs. Georgia Southern

Georgia State’s lead was 19-16 at the half

The Panthers managed to hold off the Eagles for much of the second half. Georgia State led 29-23 before a 7-0 Georgia Southern run.

Redshirt senior forward Trent Wiedeman made two free throws, then freshman guard Mike Hughes made his first three-pointer of the game.

Sophomore forward Kyle Doyle put in a layup, completing the run and giving the Eagles a 30-29 lead.

That lead would only last briefly as Ware made a three, swinging the contest back in the Panthers’ favor at 32-30.

The two teams tied up at 32, 34, and 36 apiece prior to Hunter’s two free throws. A few seconds later, Georgia State clinched its third NCAA title berth.

“I’ll take ugly wins all day,” Ron Hunter said. “All our games with Georgia Southern are that way because you’ve got two great defensive teams.”

Who would the Panthers play?

After the victory, Georgia State players, coaches, and alumni along with Sun Belt personnel watched the Selection Show on CBS from the VIP Hospitality Room at the Lakefront Arena. The Panthers found out they will be a 14-seed and will play the three-seeded Baylor Bears in Jacksonville, Florida the following Thursday.

Georgia State defeated the Bears in the second round of the NCAA tournament by a final of 57-56 on Mar. 19. The Panthers closed the game on a 13-0 run, capped off by R.J. Hunter’s long game-winning three-pointer that made headlines across the country.

In a moment that went viral on the internet, Ron Hunter fell off the chair that he was coaching on during the game as he witnessed his son’s big highlight on the national stage.

The Panthers would have Harrow back for its third-round game vs. the Xavier Musketeers, who earned the right to face Georgia State after a 76-57 win over Ole Miss that same Thursday. On Saturday, the Panthers’ season came to an end with a 75-67 loss to Xavier. R.J. Hunter finished the game with 20 points.

“I told [the players] not to be sad,” Ron Hunter said after the loss to Xavier.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

23

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

SPORTS CALENDAR

BASEBALL Tuesday, March 24

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS

Kevin Ware Men’s Basketball

Alabama A&M

Before a nationally televised audience on ESPN2 on Mar. 15, the Panthers’ redshirt junior guard from Conyers, Georgia dropped 18 points as he made eight of 17 shots, leading Georgia State to a 38-36 victory over Georgia Southern to win the Sun Belt championship and claim an NCAA tournament berth.

Ware was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school as he averaged nearly 15 points as a junior, leading Rockdale County to a regional championship. His team finished as the 4-A runner-up in his senior season in which he averaged over 13 points.

He joined the Louisville Cardinals in December 2012 after meeting initial NCAA eligibility requirements. The leg injury he suffered in 2013 became an international story.

His third year with Louisville saw him play only nine games.

Prior to the 2013-14, he received a waiver from the NCAA, giving him two years of eligibility. Ware has also helped the team defensively as the Panthers have held opponents this season to under 40 percent shooting.

at Huntsville, Alabama 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.

*conference games

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday, March 26Friday, March 27

Friday, March 27

Sweet 16 NCAA Championship at TBA TBA

UT Arlington*

1340 The Fan 3

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Friday, March 27 Yellow Jacket Invitational at Atlanta, Georgia noon

at Arlington, Texas 7:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL Tuesday, March 24 Georgia Tech at Heck Softball Complex

MEN’S TENNIS Friday, March 27 MEN’S GOLF Friday, March 27

Drake at Des Moines, Iowa TBA

at Greenville, South Carolina All day

Thursday, March 26

WOMEN’S TENNIS Friday, March 27

Kennessaw State

South Florida

at Heck Softball Complex 5 p.m.

at Piedmont Park 1 p.m.

Sand volleyball

Upsets do not only happen on the basketball court, but on that of sand volleyball as well. The Panthers won all four of its matches at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, South Carolina, including earning a 3-2 victory over No. 4 AVCA-ranked Florida State.

Georgia State also earned wins over Arizona State, Tulane, and Carson-Newman. The 12-1 Panthers play next this upcoming weekend at the College of Charleston Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina.

Softball

This past weekend, the softball team played five games as part of the Rock Chalk Challenge in Lawrence, Kansas.

The Panthers won two of its five contests, but dropped both of its games vs.

No. nationally-ranked Kansas. Georgia State’s two losses to the Jayhawks were close as they lost by finals of 8-6 and 5-4.

The Panthers return home on Tuesday as they face Georgia Tech at 6 p.m.

Women’s tennis

Furman Intercollegiate

6 p.m.

THE FINAL SCORE

The regular season for Georgia State women’s tennis is nearing its close. Over the weekend, the Panthers split a pair of matchups on the road in Mobile, Alabama. The team lost 6-1 in South Alabama, but earned a 5-2 victory over Appalachian State. The women’s tennis team’s record now stands at 8-8 on the season. Georgia State’s remaining four matches over the next two weeks will all be home contests before the Sun Belt tennis championships in New Orleans from April 16-19.

SUN BELT STANDINGS 2nd 3rd 4th

BASEBALL

5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th

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T w l B

Georgia Southern 6-3 | Overall: 14-11

1st

Texas State 6-3 | Overall: 10-12-1

2nd

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UL Lafayette 10-2 | Overall: 25-4

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Georgia State 5-1 | Overall: 21-7

w

UT Arlington 4-2 | Overall: 12-9

3rd

UT Lafayette 5-3 | Overall: 12-8

4th

s

Georgia State 3-2 | Overall: 14-9

5th

o

South Alabama 5-4 | Overall: 15-9 UALR 4-4 | Overall: 7-11 Troy 4-5 | Overall: 11-12 UL Monroe 2-4 | 12-9 Arkansas State -6 | 9-11 Appalachian State 2-7 | 7-16

SOFTBALL

1st

6th 7th 8th 9th

T

e g B

UL Monroe 4-1 | Overall: 19-7 Texas State 4-2 | Overall: 18-12 South Alabama 5-3 | Overall: 21-6 Troy 4-5 | Overall: 18-14 UT Arlington 2-4 | Overall: 17-15 Georgia Southern 1-8 | Overall: 8-21 Appalachian State 0-9 | Overall: 9-15

TRANSFORM YOUR STATE OF MIND NMENT AS GOVER SOC T N IAT E D IO U N ST

MEET THE CANDIDATES & DEBATE

CAMPAIGN RALLY

THURSDAY MARCH 26

7 p.m.

SPEAKERS AUDITORIUM

VO

TIN G

-1 2 : A P RIL 6

TUESDAY APRIL 7 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

LIBRARY PLAZA

Go Vote!

VIEW CANDIDATE PROFILES orgsync.com/elections

GO VOTE!

ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

MONDAY, APRIL 13 12:30 p.m.

LIBRARY PLAZA

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