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students face debtLoan costs are rising more and more each year. See how officials are planning to help as student debt continues to goes up.
News | Page 3
Columnist Mitch Oliver discusses whether interest rates are fair to students in “Dollars and Sense with Mitch.”
opinions | Page 7
Insult to injury?Our reporter goes behind the scenes with WRAS DJs to explore daily life at Georgia State’s award-winning radio station.
A&L | Page 10
Left on the dialSex columnist Rachel Kingsley takes on the topic of interracial dating in the first of our new series.
Is it still taboo?
A&L | Page 12
Sports 9Opinions 7News 3Daily news at www.georgiastatesignal.com Arts & Living 18
Inside
Arts & Living 8Opinions 5News 2Daily news at www.georgiastatesignal.com Sports Section B
Inside
AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 VOL. 81 | NO. 1
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A sensory experience
Students Elijah Watkins and Jabriel McIntosh hope to create a new space for
students just off campus.
More about Nibiru Gallery on Pg . 8 – 9
football editionInside: All you need to know about Trent Miles and the Georgia State
Football Team’s upcoming season.
Section B
crime blotterTUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 2
Gone Missin’August 14
The Natural Science Building was the scene of two theft cases on Aug. 14, and cell phones were the main score. The first theft report was made by two Georgia State students who left their office doors unlocked and unattended for two hours and, upon arriving back at the room, found their laptops and cellphones were missing.
In the other report, a staff member cited his cellphone missing.
Investigations are being made, into why the keys to all the offices have seemed to have gone missing as well!
Slumber partyAugust 15
The Atlanta Life Building was the scene of a sleepover.
A Georgia State officer patrolling campus spotted two men asleep on the wall and went over to wake them. The men were given Crim-inal Trespass Warnings and escorted off cam-pus.
Once the two men were unsupervised, they continued their slumber party against a more comfortable stonewall.
Georgia State Police made out scot-free on Aug. 15 with no arrests. However, traffic caused by streetcar installations continues to reign terror on drivers.
Graffiti ArtAugust 16
Investigations are under way after officers noticed graffiti on a Georgia State building.
The image or phrase of the paint was un-disclosed, but it was most likely an image com-mentating on social issues using tasteful con-trast. Atlanta’s own Banksy? We’ll see.
Early morning in B Lot, a Georgia State staff member parked her car at 9:00 a.m. and returned around 1:45 p.m. to a disappointing sight: her rear window was shattered.
There is a silver lining in the fact that noth-ing appeared to be taken, but investigations are being made on the Property Damage report.
Turns out the perp didn’t actually want to do a B&E; he just wanted to break a window in.
Criminal ConspiracyAugust 17
Dahlberg Hall was the scene of theft on Aug. 17 when a Georgia State student left her military bag unattended briefly and returned to find it missing. Investigations are being made.
Perhaps we should worry about the impos-ter going around in military garb. Let’s hope the suspect didn’t share a similar waistline.
Langdale Hall was also the slumber spot on Aug. 17. A female was found snoozing in the building. She was given a Criminal Trespass Warning and escorted off the premises.
She was woken prior to being issued the warning and escorted out; no carrying was necessary.
Ridin’ DirtyAugust 18
A man was riding risky on Ellis St. on Aug. 18. Officers found his vehicle smoking, air bags and all, with physical damages as well. After brief introductions, the man was found to be under the influence, unlicensed and had left the scene of an accident on Piedmont Avenue. He was charged with several counts, including DUI.
He was disappointed once informed Ful-ton County Jail does not serve cocktails.
Don’t steal my TP!August 19
The Student Center was the target of a crafty (crappy?) criminal heist when a staff member noticed the female restrooms were missing the most important component. An undetermined amount of toilet paper was sto-len, resulting in a Suspicious Activity report, and an increase in tardiness. College Life.
A staff member was arrested for obstruc-tion, disorderly conduct. When the officers ar-rived, the individual was irate and refused to comply with the officers. He was arrested, pro-cessed and transported to Fulton County Jail.
source: weather.com
WED82/64
THURS71/51
FRI67/47
SAT69/50
SUN75/56
Weather
NEWS
Photo of the weekCANDRA UMUNNA | THE SIGNAL
SGA President Andrew Whyte mingles with Georgia State Football players Cade Yates (left) and Wil Lutz (right) at the Block Party at Hurt Park on Aug. 25.
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THE SIGNAL STAFF
It’s that time of year again: the sum-mer heat is cooling and we’re throwing our backpacks over our shoulders to face another semester of school. Some of us get in our cars to face the Atlanta traffic, oth-ers hop on a MARTA train and others still walk down the street to get to class. No matter who we are or where we come from, fall 2013 at Georgia State has arrived.
Freshmen and new students, welcome to Georgia State! We’re a big, exciting, loud university with a lot of pride and a lot of spirit. You’ve chosen to study in a city with endless opportunities, so take advantage of them—and get involved on campus.
Returning students, we wish you all luck as a new semester starts. Sometimes the daily routine can become boring—es-pecially if you’ve been at it for a few years. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done before.
There are a lot of really exciting things going on this semester. The celebration for the Georgia State Centennial continues this year with the Centennial Speaker Series and other events throughout the semester. We’re thrilled to say we’ve been around for 100 years and getting better with each one.
We’re so excited for—and very proud of—our football team as they face new and tougher opponents in the Sun Belt Confer-ence. We’ve included a special section in this edition of The Signal to help you keep up-to-date on all of the games, players and news for Georgia State football, led by new head coach Trent Miles. Our expectations are high, and we hope yours are too.
Something is always happening on campus, so take advantage of the many events and enjoy being a part of one of the liveliest campuses we’ve ever seen. Stay in-formed with The Signal with the print edi-tion on campus, our online edition and our social media outlets. We’ll keep you cov-ered.
Welcome back!
The demand for college education continues to increase at an unfortunate cost.
College debt could be getting more expensive for students due to a new bill signed by President Obama this month linking federally backed student loan interest rates to the market economy.
The bill, signed on Aug. 9, means rates will no longer be fixed by the federal government, but will depend on the economy’s market system of supply and demand, much like the U.S. loan bubble that helped bring the economy into recession.
Signed into law just before the fall semester, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act will allow students to keep receiving loans they may not be able to afford.
“Even though we’ve been able to stabilize the interest rates on student loans, our job is not done,” President Obama said. “Because the cost of college remains extraordinarily high.”
Yet, instead of making it harder for students to acquire loans, the government
has made it easier.This fall semester, rates will go down
from last semester’s 6.4 percent to this year’s 3.86 percent, according to White House officials.
Although the federal government will save up to $184 billion for a typical ten year loan, the new law will cost students about $3.7 billion in added interest and will make it much easier for students to go into debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
To keep rates them from skyrocketing, the new legislation will cap undergraduate rates at 8.25 percent, graduate rates at 9.5 percent and PLUS rates at 10.5 percent.
Graduate student rates will drop from 6.8 percent to 5.41 percent and over 1 million GradPLUS and Parent PLUS borrowers will see rates go down to 6.41 percent.
But that may not stop rates from leveling at numbers higher than they were before the recession, leaving students paying even more for their shot at the American dream.
A dream, says former investment banker April Wimberg, that has changed into a risky investment.
“[College] investments are still attractive to many Americans, but they no longer guarantee a path to economic security,”
she said in the Louisville Law Review. “In fact, financing an education and a home with debt can be very risky investment, particularly considering the high costs and shifting demand for both.”
In her report, Wimberg lists the similarities between the housing loan bubble and the current student loan crisis, going over how building more universities and raising tuition is counterproductive.
“The government’s overly liberal extension of federal loans to students has distorted the demand for higher education to such an extent that education is overpriced and oversold,” she said.
According to Wimberg, the costs of college education increased 270 percent between 1976 and 2005 and are predicted to continue.
She notes other several regulations that have encouraged students to assume high levels of personal debt like the Stafford Loan program and the Federal Direct Loan program.
“Lending to students who will never be able to repay their loans cannot continue,” she said. “Americans have a habit of spending money they don’t have with little thought into how they will pay off their debt.”
Yet, White House officials say the average
Georgia State student borrowing $6,632 will save approximately $1,481 over the life of those loans.
“I applaud the bipartisan compromise reached by President Obama and lawmakers on Capitol Hill,” Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, said.
Although the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act has received support, President Obama, on Aug. 23, called it a temporary solution to the growing debt problem that has put over 1.1 trillion American students in debt.
“We’re going to work with colleges to keep the costs down,” he said. “We’re going to work with states to make higher education a bigger priority in the budget.”
www.georgiastatesignal.com/newsNEWSWill student loans become the
next housing bubble?JESUS DIAZ
News Editor
Though typical family incomes have only increased 16 percent over the past three decades, average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges have increased more than 250 percent.
The average graduate’s loan debt is now over $26,000.
Credit sources:wh.gov/a-better-bargainU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics The College Board
[College] investments are still attractive...but they no longer guarantee a path to economic security.
-April Wimberg
“
0%
50%
100%
150%
200%
250%
300%
‘82-’83 ‘88-’89 ‘94-’95 ‘00-’01 ‘06-’07 ‘12-’13
257% INCREASEin tuition and fees
(1982-2013)
16% INCREASETypical family income
(1982-2012)
COLLEGE COSTS VS.
INCOME
Meet Marcus Riggs. He is a senior at Georgia State University and graduated from the Black Retail
Action Group (BRAG) summer internship program earlier this month.
“I learned a lot about how the retail industry works from the inside and out,” Riggs said. “Not only did I get to meet peo-ple from BRAG, but there was a huge net-working hub where I was able to make con-nections with other people in the industry.”
BRAG is a non-profit organization that assists students of color in developing ca-reers in the retail and fashion industries. They offer a one-week orientation where students are educated through seminars, workshops, and classes followed by several opportunities to meet with professionals in the field.
In addition to the internship program, BRAG also offers scholarships for full time students entering or already enrolled in col-lege who plan to pursue careers in retail.
After being accepted for the internship program, Riggs says he gained a great deal of experience.
“Many people hear the word ‘black’ in the name and assume BRAG is only for Af-rican Americans but it’s really good for all minorities entering the retail world,” Riggs said.
A senator of the Robinson College of Business Student Government Association and member of the 1913 Society of Presi-dential Ambassadors, Riggs is also part of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity Inc. The organization is dedicated to provid-ing business students with an environment
where they can discover new opportunities to develop skills on a professional level.
“My biggest obstacles were the case studies we were required to do. We had to come up with a company and build it from the ground up. It was challenging and time consuming but worth it because it kept my mind going through the summer,” Riggs said.
The internship program lasts for ten weeks and students are encouraged to apply.
According to the J. Mack College of Business, the BRAG scholarship fund has been helping students pay for college for more than two decades, assisting not only black students, but all minority students.
Internship and scholarship applications are currently being accepted. Students who are interested can apply at the BRAG web-site www.bragusa.org.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 4 NEWS
PHOTO VIA LINKEDIN Senior Marcus Riggs raves about his recent internship with BRAG.
ZOYA HASNAINStaff Reporter
Something to BRAG about
Founder and controversial leader of the White Student Union, Patrick Sharp, received a call from university officials last week saying he
is “not allowed” to use Georgia State in the name of the union.
After being denied access to a Panther Excel-lence Program on Aug. 1, Sharp says his organi-zation has erased the Georgia State name from its website but will continue in its efforts to officially charter the club.
Earlier this summer, Dr. Douglass Covey, vice president of Student Affairs, said that for the White Student Union to be backed by the school, Sharp must first apply and meet the necessary require-ments.
“All organizations go through the same pro-cess,” he told The Signal in July. “As of right now, we don’t have any applications.”
Although Sharp had repeatedly denied claims the Union embraces neo-Nazi views, his organiza-tion was linked as a sister organization to the white supremacist group Traditional Youth Network, which Sharp has since cut ties with.
Sharp has also been seen in a video with white nationalist editor of American Renaissance Maga-zine, Jared Taylor, and making racial comments on white Supremacist websites like Stormfront.org, where referred to blacks as “niggs” and “darkies.”
“TradYouth is people who are traditionally driven,” said Sharp. “I can’t say I agree with every-thing they do. We are not white supremacists or are affiliated with that.”
To be recognized as an official organization at Georgia State, Sharp must first fill out all of the necessary paperwork through OrgSync.com, the student organization website for Georgia State. The Student Life and Development Committee for Student Affairs reviews all paperwork and either approves, or rejects Sharp’s organization.
According to the school’s Code of Conduct, if Sharp’s White Student Union were officially instat-ed as a chartered institution by the school, funding for the organization would come from the student
organization fee, paid every semester by Georgia State students.
Sharp will also have to find sponsorship through an academic advisor or faculty member.
“If they have issues being a white American or euro-American, they should be able to stand up for it,” Breeana Minton, member of the National Black Law Students Association, said. “The main issue is that they’re associated with the Towson, Maryland White Student Union, which is a hate group.”
Besides being able to be funded by the school, accepted organizations will have the privilege to post fliers, set up meetings, ask for a school mail-box and reserve university vehicles.
Sharp, an 18-year-old freshman began the Georgia State White Student Union about two months ago to “promote a sense of identity within the white students,” and in an interview with The Signal, defined white culture as “anybody of Euro-pean descent.”
“It’s not a sense of white supremacy or some-thing like that,” he said. “It’s a sense of identity just as much as there’s black identity, Hispanic identity, Asian identity, it’s just white identity. That’s the only difference.”
In comments to an opinions article by The Signal, students questioned Sharp’s idea of White identity, asking what the 18-year-old student was so concerned about.
“Well, it’s a little presumptuous to assume that a person of color might not genealogically identify as a European. So again: what is white identity? What is white culture?” one comment said.
“On 1 hand, who cares if a WSU exist?! Op-posing it is like reverse racism. You oppose the as-sembly of people?!” another comment added.
“One lady said she would take her son out of Georgia State if the school allowed the Union to go on,” Sharp said.
Sharp added that although countries like Spain, Ireland, Greece and Russia may be inher-ently different, they are united as white Europeans, sharing a relatively common history, ancestry and background.
“The White Student Union is really about bringing all of those together,” he said.
JESUS DIAZNews Editor
White Student Union founder prohibited from using the Georgia State name
7
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TUESDAY, SEPT. 3RD
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the March on Washing-ton and delivered his famous “I Have
A Dream” speech. He spoke of a world where all people, regardless of race, could join hands and live together in harmony. As we reflect on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the ques-tion is: has Dr. King’s dream truly been realized?
I say, no.Over the last 50 years, we have come a long way
as far as bridging the gap among races, but we’re not living in the utopia Dr. King described. People are so adamant about racial equality, but we have yet to discuss and repair an issue that keeps us from living in complete peace and harmony within our own racial communities: colorism.
Colorism is a form of prejudice based on skin color in which members of a racial or ethnic com-munity are discriminated against based on the so-cial meaning(s) attached to their skin tone. This is not something that affects the Black community alone; the Asian and Hispanic community also face prejudice from their peers if they are “too dark.”
This summer, Oprah’s documentary “Dark Girls” made its debut and caused its viewing au-dience to spark conversations about how darker individuals are at a social and economical disad-vantage.
For instance, studies conducted in the early 2001 and 2006 show that criminals with darker skin receive heavier prison sentences than lighter skinned criminals who have committed the same crime and have similar criminal records.
Not only that, but when it comes to mate selec-tion in the Black community, a 2012 study titled “Shedding ‘Light’ On Marriage” showed that those with lighter skin and Euro-centric features are pre-ferred over those with darker skin and Afro-cen-tric features.
Again, colorism isn’t something that affects the Black community alone. Consider the fact that members of the Hispanic community clas-sify themselves as either Black or White Hispanic. That’s division in itself !
Also, it has been reported that Latinos with lighter skin earn approximately $5000 more than Latinos with darker skin, and those with darker skin usually receive longer prison sentences as well.
As for the Asian community, fair skin is ex-tremely admired. For instance, women collectively, spend millions on whitening cosmetic products to become as light as possible.
There have been reports of some Whites who face colorism, too. Many have been teased because they are “too pale” and are considered as unat-tractive compared to their tan counterparts. Some whites with pale skin have reflected on being en-vious of their classmates who could tan easily or naturally had a semi-warm complexion.
Being referred to as “albino” and ostracized by classmates caused a great blow to the self-esteem of individuals considered as “pale.” Some have admit-ted to sunbathing for extended periods of time, at the risk of developing skin cancer, just to fit in.
It has been 50 years since Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech. Dr. King wanted us to live in a world where we are “not judged by the color of [our] skin but by the content of [our] char-acter.”
If you ask me, his dream doesn’t speak out against racism alone. He wanted us to appreciate the skin tones of everyone including those inside
of our respective racial communities.With Black people still claiming “team light
skinned” or “team dark skinned” on social media, 40% of Asian women admitting to bleaching their skin for a lighter complexion, and White teenagers being bullied into tanning beds, Dr. King’s dream is far from becoming a reality.
OPINIONSwww.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions
Raena is a junior studying journalism.
RAVEN NAQUELLEColumnist
The Dream:50 Years Later
Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the
This momentous decree came as a great beckoning light of hope to millions of Negro slaves
It came as a joyou
s day
brea
k to
end t
he lo
ng
MLK Jr. 50 year annivers
ary
March on Washingt
on
But one hundred years later the Negro is st illnot free. One hundred years later,the
l ifeof the Negro is still crippled I have a dream that m
y fo
ur li
ttle
child
ren
will one day live in a n
atio
n w
here
they
will
be able to
together at th
e tab
le
of br othe
r hoo
d
I have a dream
This
is o ur
hop
e. This is the faith that I go back to
With
this
faith we will be able
the mount
ain
of d
espa
ir a s
tone o
f hop
e.
With
this
faith
we
will
nati on i nto
a beautiful
transform the genuine discords of
brotherhood
With
this
faith
we w
ill be able t o w
ork together, pray together; to
toge
ther, go to jail to
gether, to stand up
to stand up for freedom forever, we will b
e free
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill a
nd m
ountain shall Let freedom ring from every hill
And when this happens.when we allow freeedom to
From
ever
y mountainside, let
will not be ju
dged
by
the
colo
r of
thei
r ski
nbut by th
e content of t
heir c
hara
cter
.
we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's
children, black men and white men, Jews and
Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics,
will be able to join hands and
and sing in the words of
the old Negro spiritual
Free at lastfree at lastthank God almighty
we are free at last.
MADDIE RICHARDSONA father holds his son up to mimic the “Beyond” statue at the MLK Historic Site.
MADDIE RICHARDSONA young girl gazes at her reflection in the pool at the entrance of the MLK Center.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 2013 6OPINIONS
I’m coming back.After 39 years (almost to the day) that I
graduated from Georgia State, I’ll be back in the classroom this fall. A grandfather going back to school. Apprehensive? Yes. Excited? Yes!
This place has changed just a little in 39 years. To give you some perspective, a lot was happening in 1974 (the year I received by bachelor’s degree).
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record and Maynard Jackson was entering his second year as Atlanta’s first black mayor. The unforgettable Noah Langdale was the University’s president. Dahlberg Hall, named after my former mentor, Bill Dahlberg (also a GSU grad) used to be the Municipal Auditorium.
It was in that building that I watched Muham-mad Ali regain his title by knocking out Jerry Quarry in 1970 and stayed late after class to watch concerts like The Allman Brothers Band and The Who.
Hurt Park is still here, as are Kell & Sparks Halls (although Wayne Kell and George Sparks, the uni-versity’s first president, were long gone back in 1974). The greatest student radio station anywhere, WRAS-FM, was on the air--where I worked in news and did color commentary on the GSU basketball games.
I took journalism classes from the legendary George Greiff and found an academic mentor in an extraordinary young English professor named
Larry Beloof. Like each of you, I was the benefi-ciary of exceptional academic and personal influ-ences during my years on what has become one of the nation’s great urban campuses.
Forgive the reminiscing, as I am trying to avoid a trip down memory lane. As the emerging young poet Clifford Brooks reminds us, “Nostalgia is ru-inous, the slow death of better days.”
But we have to look back occasionally, as it pro-vides perspective—and blessings we can actually count.
My degree allowed me to pursue a career in broadcast journalism and later in corporate com-munication. And, I’m returning to Georgia State to study creative writing under Dr. David Bottoms, Georgia’s former Poet Laureate whose extraordi-nary work continues to inspire me.
So now I’m picking up The Signal and thinking how terrific it is that the bright young students who are now running this paper (and web site) will soon branch out into careers that will take them to places they can’t even envision. Take it from a grandfather who has been there (and now back).
When I was attending classes in Kell Hall, little did that I know that I would live a life after college that would include an extraordinary 39-year mar-riage, three beautiful daughters and two incredibly cute grandkids. I got to see places like London and Cape Town and Hong Kong (not to mention Vida-lia and Waynesboro).
I went backstage with Tom Petty and Chuck Leavell and watched U2 open the Georgia Dome in 1992 (with my then 14-year-old daughter).
I’ve walked three daughters down the aisle and known their unconditional love. I have been richly blessed. Like Tennyson’s Ulysses, I have become “…a part of all that I have met.”
I remember my father, who graduated from Ohio State on my 13th birthday, and how much he loved the classroom. But his decision to put his family first created a ‘late start’ on his career. I have seen the sacrifice that he and my mother made—and I know what David Bottoms writes of in his wonderful poem “Sign for My Father, Who Stressed the Bunt.”
So my Dad, were he still with us, might ask (like Dylan) “Where will you go now, my blue-eyed son?”
And I would answer, “I am going back to school, where the buildings are different but the heart is the same.”
Older now, I sling a backpack over my shoulder, trying foolishly to jam a Yukon into a Yugo-sized parking space, back aching, cussing traffic, still balding and highly uncertain of what lies ahead.
But there is one certainty I know: nothing is more exciting than learning. And I am living proof of that.
An old Panther comes homeAltman, 61, lives in Lawrenceville with his wife Lisa. He has pub-lished articles in Georgia Outdoor News and the Gwinnett Citizen and is currently the Books and Writer Editor of the Pickens County Progress in Jasper, Georgia.
DAVE ALTMAN Guest Columnist
Guest Column
Dollars and sense with Mitch: Your weekly diet of financial advice
The Weekly Comic by william miracle
What are you looking forward to this football season?
YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS
Name: Jamey AndersonMajor: Computer Science
“I’m looking for a couple more wins...we gotta better team this year. They represent our team better. [It’s gonna take] better coaching, team work, and everybody work-ing together on the same page.”
Name: Danny FragaMajor: Accounting“I think we have a good football team and event staff and everything. I feel like there’s a lot of publicity around it. I’m looking for-ward to seeing some action, see them take on some big names: UGA, Tech and it’d be cool to see people play that I’ve had classes with.”
Name: Hannah WatersMajor: Applied Linguistics
“Well, I know we just started the sunbelt conference so that should be pretty excit-ing and playing Alabama should be fun too.”
Name: Kaya WilliamsMajor: International Ecomonics
“I’d just like to see us win games. I was at every game last year. I’m a Pantherette. This year I’m really looking forward to better games. I believe in our team and I really have faith this year because of the new coaching staff.”
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 7OPINIONS
You may not be aware, but the money that the government loans many students during college
must be paid back…in full. Go figure. On top of that, there is an interest rate at-tached to said loans. Just weeks ago, Con-gress passed a bi-partisan bill that cut that interest rate from the uncomfortably high 6.8 percent to a more reasonable 3.86 percent.
Now, none of this is life-changing legislature, as an average student pay-ing back loans might save just $30-$40 per month with this new rate. What this recent legislature has shown me, person-ally, is that college graduates are seen as basically incompetent when it comes to paying back their student loans.
The government is treating them just like Goldman Sachs, Freddie Mac, and other Wall Street companies that went under. The government is forgiving col-lege graduates way too much and mak-ing student loans more and more enticing each year.
There is a change that needs to be made to the student loan program—a change that needs to involve a dose of reality with every loan given out. In real-ity, you might not even graduate. If you do graduate, chances of finding a decent, well-paying job immediately after grad-uating are lower than what you might think. No one will tell you this when you are applying for a loan, though. Instead it is all rainbows, sprinkles, and six-figure salaries right out of college.
To combat this, the image of a stu-dent loan should be altered in your mind. Do not think of it as free money that the
government is giving you until you land a high paying job. Instead, think of it as a ticking time bomb, set to self-destruct exactly six months after you graduate, or worse, when you stop going to college.
Now think for a moment if you can diffuse that bomb before that six months is up. If not, think of how you can avoid a direct hit from the blast. In the end, what you borrow must be repaid, with inter-est. That’s all there is to it, yet more and more recent graduates are failing to pay their loans due to inability to pay. If you do not have the means to pay back your loans, your entire financial future will be dead on arrival before you can even begin laying the proper foundation for success.
I’m not trying to scare everyone away from taking out loans. I, for one, am all for them, and think they offer an op-portunity for education that would oth-erwise not be available to many. I simply advise that you think before you sign for that $3,000 loan that you could probably do without.
My advice? Try for scholarships or make a budget for each school year. I’m not asking you to go win the President’s $30,000 scholarship. Just aim for a goal of maybe $1,000 per year. It is surprising how much small scholarships like that can help.
Lastly, budgeting each semester will help you cut back on personal spending that can be put towards paying off stu-dent loans early. Just remember to be a smart and informed borrower so that the loans you take out today will not come back to haunt you in the future.
Mitch is a junior Finance major and student financial advisor. “My goal is to have more college students financially literate.” Leave your questions for him online at georgiastatesignal.com
Follow him @madmoneyATL.
MITCHELL OLIVERColumnist
www.gsusignal.com/artsandlivingARTS & LIVING
JOHNNY GIPSONStaff Reporter
PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNAJabriel McIntosh (left) and Elijah Watkins (right) standing outside their new arts and entertainment venue, Nibiru Gallery.
Starting from the Bottom
A seemingly abandoned building on Au-burn Avenue stands illuminated on a Friday night. A few casually dressed
individuals are scattered along the sidewalk leading to its entrance. Behind them is a narrow doorway, where a pleasant aroma slides through the air. It’s another night at the Nibiru Gallery.
Upon entry, a kiosk awaits all attendees, featuring small trinkets and original jewelry. Satirical and abstract art cover the walls, their messages left to the viewer for interpretation. Just beyond this is the performance room, where a disc jockey spins opposite the stage. Dozens of interconnected wooden doors create a high ceiling for a room of endless activity, where creatives and students alike await the night’s festivities.
The Nibiru gallery is a pioneer venue for Georgia State students, founded and fi-nanced by seniors Elijah Watkins and Jabriel McIntosh. They recently discovered their passion for event coordination and artistic networking, and have since been working to define their niche.Humble Beginnings
Watkins was the graphic design and marketing director and McIntosh was the homecoming director when they began at Spotlight Programs at Georgia State, where the students got their introduction to event
planning.“Seeing the way we affected the people
around us through our events really moti-vated us to begin planning our own events,” Watkins said.
McIntosh agreed that event coordination was a field he suddenly fell into unintentionally, citing his early experiences as a young leader.
“I really didn’t know anything about events,” McIntosh said. “I kind of joined Spotlight on a whim, but it really gave us our big break in terms of planning events and marketing. It’s very rare for freshman to become event directors, so at the time it was crazy having people four and five years older than us taking orders, when Elijah was only sixteen and I was eighteen.”
McIntosh, a Real Estate major, ex-plained that this early success organizing student events opened his eyes to his own possibilities.
“I kind of thought to myself, if we can run events, market, and strategize with bud-gets provided by the school, why can’t we do it on our own?”
McIntosh and Watkins share a desire to be entrepreneurs. They co-created Obscure Goods, a clothing company and brand that brings together the team’s innovative and business powers.
“We both have similar goals, and we both feed off each other’s strengths,” Mc-Intosh said. “Elijah has the genius mindset and business strategy that complements my creative ability.”
The Realization McIntosh and Watkins channeled their
talents into opening an innovative, avant-garde venue in the heart of downtown Atlanta called the Nibiru Gallery. “It’s an incredibly spacious four story build-ing, and there’s a really creative energy within the place. You can really do anything artistically there, and I had a really good feeling about it. The owners made it feel like a family environment, reminiscent to the old times on Auburn,” McIntosh said.
But because the building is old, it needs several renovations including installing bathrooms and air conditioning. Watkins explained that it likely will not be fully renovated for some years to come, but the team is fundraising in the meantime. Nibiru Gallery’s renovations tie into a community uplift project called ‘Save Auburn,’ created by McIntosh and Watkins in an effort to uphold the historical integrity of Auburn Avenue.
Watkins feels that the project is a symbol of them giving back to the downtown com-munity.
“We really want to preserve the historical value of Auburn Avenue for the community. We know the history behind Auburn Ave-nue in terms of civil rights, as well as what it represents to the people who came before us. They made it possible for students like us to attend HBCUs and Georgia State, so we have to preserve that.”
Aside from paying homage to their predecessors, Watkins and McIntosh also
have personal intentions behind keep-ing the Nibiru Gallery privately owned. Making Change
“We want it to be a creative hub for stu-dents all around Atlanta,” said McIntosh. “We want you to have a place to be able to get away and study, create, hang out, and just network with like-minded individuals. Georgia State doesn’t really have an escape like that for students to go to.”
Watkins said it comes full circle with Obscure Goods’ aim: to provide innovative goods and services to artistic, ambitious professionals.
“People aren’t just looking for a club scene; they want a place where they can gen-uinely express themselves,” Watkins said.
McIntosh also explained how each event has a theme, including their most recent function, fittingly entitled ‘Bliss: Chill Dif-ferently.’
“Our events always revolve around the five senses,” McIntosh said. “You’re going to be impressed visually, we always have unique homemade scents at our event, and there’s always good music.”
A new place to be
Seeing the way we affected the people around us through our events really motivated us to begin planning our own events.”
- Elijah Watkins
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continued on next page
Georgia State UniversityRecreational Services
@GSU Recreation
recreation.gsu.eduRegistration and volunteer information
Join Team Georgia State for the KAISER-PERMANENTE CORPORATE RUN/WALK
September 12, 2013Warm-up: 6 p.m. - SRC LobbyEvent time: 7 p.m. - Turner Field
KAISER PERMANENTE
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In collaboration withAlumni AssociationAuxiliary and Support ServicesPublic Relations and Marketing Communications
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 ARTS & LIVING
“We want people to be able to mingle and interact in a friendly, sociable environment. We want you to be able to come hang out, and actually feel different, while still unwinding and getting culture,” Watkins continued. He believes a change of pace is necessary for students, especially for those who do not have an interest in the weekly club scene that Georgia State pro-motes.
“I’ve lived on campus for the last three years, so I always see how the younger stu-dents are so eager to soak up the Georgia State lifestyle,” said Watkins. “Georgia State is such a diverse community, students don’t always relate to the typical club scene that campus parties present. They end up not go-ing out, or they may stay at home the next year. Nibiru gallery can be something differ-ent for the students who are different.”
“They don’t have to worry about get-ting dressed to go dancing and fitting in to something they’re not comfortable with,” Watkins continued.
Although Watkins and McIntosh have a long way to go in terms of completing their community uplift project, they now actively host events and mixers at Nibiru, using the skills they learned working with Spotlight.
PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNAWatkins preparing for a show at Nibiru.
Pg. 9 continued
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Changing the culture and nightlife options for Georgia State students will no doubt be a lengthy project, but the Obscure Goods visionaries have no doubt that they can bring positivity and creativity to downtown Atlanta.
For booking information and questions about Nibiru Gallery, contact [email protected]
PHOTOS BY CANDRA UMUNNAThe creative minds behind Obscure Goods and Nibiru Gallery.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 10ARTS & LIVING
PAUL DEMERRITTStaff Writer
PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SIMMONSDJ Jenine Ampudia takes calls while hosting her radio show, Deviltown.
One of the most prestigious cultural ambassadors from Georgia State is an oft-forgotten family of ardent
music aficionados only known as the humble, disembodied voices of Album 88.
WRAS Album 88 is Georgia State’s student-run radio station, which is currently entering its forty-second year of airtime. It holds the distinction of having the highest wattage (100,000 watts) of any student radio station in the world.
For many, Album 88 is the first outlet through which potential students discover Georgia State and its affiliates. Some students even choose Georgia State solely for the opportunity to join the ranks of the passionate elite who proudly dominate the college airwaves.
Ana Zimitravich, senior and marketing major, was one of those students.
“Working at WRAS was my reason for choosing Georgia State. I’ve always really liked music; it’s always been a hobby. I thought what better way to outlet my passion for music than to play music I like on the air for other people who may not have heard of it before.”
Like all hopeful Album 88 applicants, Zimitravich started her tenure through a series of trials, which separate the fair-weather fans from the diehards and tests how much sleep one is willing to sacrifice for the honor of curating their own radio show.
“When I was going through the pipeline there were four sit-ins that I had to complete.
Next they schedule a legal session where they kind of terrify you with the prospect of all the FCC regulations. And then once you’re fully intimated with the equipment you don’t know how to use, they put you on the graveyard shift.”
One of the most daunting tasks for DJ’s is trying to strike the perfect balance between the conflicting demands of school, work and DJ’ing. Even though most DJ’s have majors unrelated to broadcasting, they constantly find inventive ways to juggle their precious spare time.
“It’s been interesting because I don’t only work but I have another job. I am one of the lucky few that gets paid because I have a management position. The most difficult thing is working two jobs and also going to school and doing DJ shifts. You run out of time to sleep,” Zimitravich said.
Thanks to her fierce dedication to radio, Zimitravich is now Album 88’s general manager and curates her own post-punk show called Dot Dash.
DJ’s who host their own shows have the ability to craft a playlist pertaining to a certain theme or genre, just as long as there is no explicit language in the set. Album 88 has a variety of shows, which cater to every imaginable style: from Western (Cowtipper’s Delight), to Spoken Word (Melodically Challenged), and local artists (Georgia Music Show).
Brianna Alvarez is a nursing major who had an early love for Album 88’s sonic diversity. She said, “I found about WRAS when I was 15, and it helped shape my music taste so it felt like a natural decision.”
In addition to the rigorous course offerings of her nursing major, Brianna worked two
jobs and was involved in student government when she began attending her first meetings for Album 88. “It can be a little bit stressful when you’re juggling school and work and you’re constantly wanting to bring something fresh to the radio,” Alvarez said.
She now hosts the popular program Mighty Aphrodite, a show completely dedicated to the aural offerings of female musicians and vocalists.
Perhaps the most understated power of hosts is the ability to control what music potentially tens of thousands of people are listening to at that moment in time. Alvarez described the feeling as an honor.
“You get people that call you and they’re so excited about what you’re playing and you feel like you’re doing something really good.”
Zimitravich shared a similar affirmation in her chance to broaden the musical horizons of her listeners.
“The fun of music is sharing it with other people and feeling like you have a similar connection with a song that means a lot to you.”
Neuroscience major Jenine Ampudia is the PSA director, and handles hosting duties of two shows: the lo-fi folk focused Deviltown and post-rock program Post-Script. Ampudia has to work hard to supply her fans with consistently engaging set lists while simultaneously managing her course load.
“You have to be really disciplined. Making a show takes about four hours for me at the least. I manage both by setting aside certain times to do my shows. It’s always fun to put together set lists; you have to have a good attitude about it and just get it done,” Ampudia said.
An unofficial rite of passage for DJ’s is
getting introduced to the band of loyal late-night pranksters and stalkers who gleefully badger any unlucky graveyard hosts.
“We have a few notorious callers that call frequently. There was one DJ who got love letters pretty much weekly from this old lady, and she would send him teabags, and she would make cards herself and they would be covered with pictures of kittens,” Zimitravich said.
Alvarez’s favorite was a man who will call almost every DJ at least one point in their DJ shift and request ‘No Scrubs’ by TLC.
“Every ten minutes through their whole shift, he will keep requesting and keep calling. They even have his name written down on a do not answer list.”
Despite the incessant tricksters and seemingly unmanageable scheduling, it is easy to tell that there is a deep sense of camaraderie that runs through the divergent interests and majors of the DJ’s.
According to the DJ’s, one of the most important benefits from sticking through the discouraging FCC lectures and sleepless graveyard shifts was having one of the tightest networks of friends who were able to relate through the simple act of sharing music.
“For me, WRAS is like an alternative to a sorority or a fraternity in the most responsible of ways. If people put in the time, they take a lot from the experience. It becomes more then just a college-run radio station -- it becomes a frame of mind,” Zimitravich said.
Album 88 not only provides a 24/7 escape from the doldrums of mainstream radio, but the promise of an impassioned community which is always there to welcome any eager listener into its ranks.
PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SIMMONSBrianna Alvarez, the former host of the Mighty Aphrodite radio show at WRAS, checks the volume levels of the tracks playing.
The DJs of WRAS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 ARTS & LIVING
Do you have a map? Because I just got lost in your eyes.” Pick up lines come with a warning for their user: don’t use them. But for
four Georgia State students, they are a way to get some laughs.
Anthony Lee, Robert Elmi, Mahad Suavero and Abilash Lyengar, known as the “Georgia State pranksters,” started doing pranks on each other as freshman roommates at Piedmont North dorms, room 509. The pranks were harmless and classic, such as putting shaving cream on a person’s hand and then tickling their face.
Lee, founder of 5 OH 9 Productions, got inspired by student pranksters at the University of Florida’s videos. He was impressed, and turned to his roommate Abilash Lyengar and said, “This is us Lash, we can do this.”
The four students hit the streets, taking their pranks with them. Their YouTube channel, which has more than 10,000 views, has videos from their campus pranks. Their aim is to use pick up lines and dares to make women laugh or smile.
“I go at it as like totally a joke from the beginning to end. It’s more of a fun thing. It’s more of just showing we are guys,” Suavero said.
Though the guys use pick-up lines all the time, they don’t think they’re the best way to talk to women. But they do want to show other men at Georgia State that it is not that hard to go up to a woman and strike up a conversation.
“We just want to show dudes that it’s not hard to talk to girls. You could say the most random, cheesy pick-up lines possible and it will work,” Suavero said.
But with pranking comes the threat of backlash from people involved. Lyengar witnessed this first hand.
“Lash went up to a girl and said how much of me do you think I can put into you? She got mad and walked away, and then came back and said ‘You’re a dick’ and walked away again. All we could do was laugh,” Lee said.
When the pranksters go out they have the intention of recording and putting the videos up on their YouTube channel, but the people do not know that they are recording. Some people do not like this idea and will get mad because they did not tell them beforehand.
Lyengar had a date set up with the intention of recording the happenings, but as soon as the woman found out about the videos on YouTube, she cancelled it.
Lee said that for 5 OH 9 productions, though, they would not be successful without the help of social media like YouTube.
What’s in store for 5 OH 9 Productions? Videos where they just start “normal” conversations with women.
But the pranksters will continue to do pick-up line videos and dares, and they might get a few dates along the way.
KAYLYN HINZ Staff Writer
Student pranksters get laughswith pick up lines
SUBMITTED PHOTOLyengar, Lee, Elmi and Suavero of 5 OH 9 Productions prank just for fun.
What’s the cheesiest pickup line a anyone’s ever said to you?
When I was riding the train this boy came up to me and was like, “Oh, you dropped something.” And I was like, what did I drop? And he said, “Your smile.” I was like, okay? He was trying hard to get my number, but that was probably the worst one. He gave me his but I didn’t save it. – Freshman Asalhs Creggs
The ones from Will Smith, of course. You know how Will Smith does, “Are your legs tired because you’ve running through my mind.” Guys kind of reiterate that; like the Fresh Prince kind of deal. – Junior Jaylah Bell
A freshman tried to hit on me and he was not going away and I was like, well I’m in law school. He was like, “I don’t really have any friends.” And I was like, it’s only the first day; you’ll figure it out. – Law Student Danielle Kosacci
Are You Ready For Change?
1Accept the changeit is difficult to accept that fact that lazy Tuesdays by the pool have come to an end, but soon it will be time to return to the reality that is fall semester. Here are some tips to help transition from summer to fall:Don’t spend too much time pining for the days of waking up in the afternoon and prep yourself mentally for what is coming. Knowing that you have to get back on your work grind is the first step to being successful at it. Accept the challenge.
Get organizedGet your thoughts on paper and make a list! What are your personal and academic goals for the semester? It will come in handy to have them written down for you to check off.
Be smart about your timeContrary to what people say, there’s time for studying, socializing and sleeping! Just split it up wisely. Not every day has to be a spent in the library and not every night has to be a party. It helps to schedule out your time for each activity separately.
Embrace the new semesterGet excited for new classes, new faces and new experiences! College isn’t all about the academics, so be sure to remember all the fun things you have to look forward to: football games, Panther welcome week and upcoming festivals in Atlanta
2 3 4By Iman Naim
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Recently, I was on a date with a very successful Atlanta lawyer. We went out for a drink, and half way through the
date the subject of the “types” of people we were attracted to came up. I was honest and said that I don’t really have a specific type and that I’ve dated very physically different men.
The lawyer’s response stunned me: “As long as you haven’t dated anyone besides white guys we’re fine.” Check, please! Why, in 2013, are we still facing interracial dating taboos? In this progressive time (DoMA overruling, anyone?), why do we still have a 1950’s mindset about love and attraction?
I went online to research what people had to say about interracial dating. You know-how they feel about dating someone outside their race, what they think when they see interracial couples in public, and how they think their family and friends would react if they had an
interracial relationship. Unfortunately, most of the articles and
comments were negative and judgmental. I was shocked! Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of interracial dating, I want to point out some positive aspects of dating someone outside your own race.
1. You’re taking a social stand (whether consciously or not) that you are happy in the relationship and with your partner, no matter the color of their skin. If you don’t get the support or encouragement of the relationship from friends or family, you’re saying you’re still strong enough to keep perusing the relationship, regardless.
2. Interracial dating is an opportunity to learn and have a deeper understanding about cultural differences. More than likely, you can
both grow in your relationship by sharing your different experiences, which only gives you both a stronger bond.
3. Dating outside your own race opens you up to finding a connection with someone that you may have not found otherwise. I think that only dating within your race limits you from meeting someone incredible because you’re hung up on the color of his or her skin. If you find someone that you share a mental, emotional, and spiritual connection with, you need to run after it, because those connections are very rare.
4. And lastly, if you date interracially you may be happy and you may fall in love. This is true of any relationship. But being able to see past any risk you think interracial dating entails can open you to happiness.
Is interracial dating still taboo in 2013?
RACHEL KINGSLEYSex/Dating Columnist
For hopeful musicians, the internet is both a technocratic angel and an unflinching monster with billions of
ever-scrutinizing heads. Virtual hype can both elevate a band unheard of outside their area code into blogosphere heaven and the next day rip them into innumerable shreds quickly swept away by the next viral sound.
Indie rock quartet Surfer Blood has had the misfortune of being simultaneously thrust to the front page of music blogs while being ripped apart in the process.
Thanks to early write-ups from prominent online music outlets such as Pitchfork and Brooklyn Vegan their debut album Astrocoast was highly anticipated and well-reviewed. They were considered one of the breakout acts from CMJ’s 2009 Music Marathon and maintained a significant level of blog attention.
In March 2012, their 26-year-old front man John Paul Pitts was arrested for domestic battery against his then-girlfriend. There was visible damage to both parties in the conflict yet they chose not to seek medical attention.
In April 2013 all charges were dropped against Pitts and he has since maintained his innocence in the matter. However, his guilt in the matter, the most tangibly important aspect of the case, was a moot point to the blogs who had already cast their verdict for the entire band.
The incident defined their image and every bit of music they will ever make will be seen as at least tangentially related to one unfortunate night experienced by one of the band members.
In May 2013 Pitchfork published an update with the band as they were on the heels of the release of their second album, Pythons. Writer Ian Cohen proceeded to ask Pitts and guitarist Thomas Fekete 15 questions which were all related to the arrest, only mentioning Pythons in the context of incident.
Unsurprisingly, the resulting reviews for Pythons were mixed to negative. Pitts could have released an album of Gregorian chants
with lyrical themes speculating on the broader philosophical implications of My Little Pony and it still would have been seen as his ‘domestic abuse’ record.
Pitts even knew this, he read his own musical death sentence and then lived it out. In a June 2013 interview with about.com, Pitts stated that, “It does cause me a lot of grief that a lot of people won’t be able to listen to our music without [the arrest] in mind. And that they may see that as the spark that triggered all of this, this whole album, when the songs are about so much more than that.”
Now, Pitts may have been guilty and all of his songs could have been some weird self-indulgent musings on why he doesn’t need to be apologetic for domestic abuse. But that is not why indie rock blogs care about his arrest.
They care because Surfer Blood isn’t supposed to have a violent criminal record. John Paul Pitts is just relateable enough to be an indie rock music blogger. As a result endorsing his music is just like having him over for a party, it makes the critic or party host look they are somehow indirectly endorsing domestic abuse.
Initially, this realization was deeply confusing to me. So I decided to list ways in which musicians can not only get away with violent crimes, but actually have their stardom helped by them.
1. Have influence and/or die before the internet.
There are plenty of morally reprehensible musicians who hold permanent places in the canon of popular culture. Frank Sinatra was a gangster, Chuck Berry was a pervert, John Lennon admitted to abusing women early in his career, but all these seemingly blatant judgments of character are anecdotes in the view of musical history.
However, these seminal musicians had influence and they didn’t have the internet to track their movements. It also helps that two out of three are dead. It’s hard to insult the dead without seeming like a jerk.
2. Become a celebrity.
What about current musicians who have been both irrevocably guilty of violent crimes and faced the grueling moral gauntlet of internet criticism?
Naturally, Chris Brown is the first to come to mind. His 2009 violent attack on Rihanna garnered him a significant amount of negative attention and it is almost impossible to have any conversation about either artists without mentioning the incident.
Brown was just fortunate to be famous enough to where assaulting Rihanna wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for him. For those who are thrust into the celebrity lexicon, all press is good press. Sure, Brown did the expected damage control, calculated apologies, and public domestic abuse counseling. But he didn’t even need to.
The day when the news broke about Brown’s arrest he was labeled with the best adjective possible for a celebrity, or really any artist wishing to remain relevant. Brown became polarizing. The debate was split between those who despised his music on the grounds that he was a terrible person, and those that thought it was intellectually edgy to appreciate his music without using it to self-identify.
Even though Brown claimed to show remorse, it is better for his fame if he doesn’t. He has been embroiled in other cases of violence against Drake and earlier this year against Frank Ocean over a parking space.
Brown can continue to be famous and actively be seen as unjustly violent because he is absurdly famous and the absurdly famous are expected to be absurd.
3. Be metal.Varg Vikernes has the unofficial title of
being the most metal person to ever exist. He is a Norwegian black metal guitarist who completed the check list of how to be definitively, unquestionably metal.
In the early 90s he was found guilty of burning down several centuries old churches (even being brazen enough to use a photo of a burned church as the cover to an EP), and was convicted in the most high profile case in the history of black metal.
Vikernes played bass in pioneering black metal band Mayhem in 1992 and got in a conflict with lead guitarist Øystein Aarseth which led to Vikernes stabbing him with a knife a total of 23 times. There have been wildly divergent theories which claim that Aarseth was unfairly attacked and that the murder was premeditated. Vikernes still claims that Aarseth was planning to fool him into receiving a contract when his true intentions were to stun him and then torture him until death.
Again, the specifics are unimportant. In fact the uncertainty of it all makes it even more metal.
Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years of prison, and released in 2009 after only serving 15 years. Upon hearing of his sentence, Vikernes gave a gleeful, boyish smile which has become something of a meme in the black metal community.
He continues to release albums under the name of Burzum and holds a powerful influence over black metal and his music has been reviewed by broader musical blogs who delivered the same news of Pitts’ alleged domestic abuse.
Punk rockers are expected to be punk, black metal musicians are expected to be metal, trap rappers are expected to deal in the trap, indie rockers are expected to be (somewhat) normal.
Of course, these expectations are completely illogical and entirely unfair. Yet they won’t change.
As listeners and critics we unfairly assign certain musicians to be our moral pallbearers while others are allowed free reign in their personal ethics.
Pitts and Surfer Blood will likely be remembered only in the context of other fledgling bands who were on the threshold for success only to be fatally dropped the next day. Their absence will not be based on their objective judgment on their music which still falls in with other power pop bands which dominate college radio.
They were simply in the right place with the wrong faces.
columnsTUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 12
PAUL DEMERRITTMusic Columnist
Indie rockers can’t commit violent crimes
My name is Rachel and I’m a junior here at Georgia State University. My column will be about sex, dating and relationships. I believe that even though our society has become more open about sex, it’s still a highly taboo subject. If we want to become more open and accepting, we need to start with education. I write about my own experiences as a single girl dating in Atlanta. Follow her @rachelkingsley
MAHAD MOUSSEStaff Reviewer
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REVIEWSTUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013
After nine years, the journey that director and writer Edgar Wright started back in 2004 with his fun
little movie about friends, booze, ice cream and zombies (“Sean Of The Dead”), the affectionately fan-named “Blood And Ice Cream” Trilogy has come to an end.
After successfully spoofing zombie movies and buddy cop movies (2007’s Hot Fuzz) with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, there really was no better way to end things than by tackling the end of the world. And they handle it the same way they’ve handled everything else: with gratuitous amounts of swearing, dry wit and rampant alcoholism.
“The World’s End” stars Wright regular Simon Pegg as the former high school rebel, now cautionary tale/mid-life burnout Gary King. Frustrated that his life flat-lined since high school ended decades ago and his friends
have gone on without him, Gary hatches a daring plan to “get the band back together” for one last hurrah in the biggest way possible: finally completing The Golden Mile, the legendary 12 pub run that they failed to finish on their last day in high school.
Needless to say, Gary’s friends are less than willing to accompany him, having long since moved past the point where drinking for the sake of getting drunk has lost its allure. But before his friends can ditch him and leave him to his own devices, they all stumble into the middle of a secret alien invasion of body snatchers who have taken over their old home town.
Against everyone’s better judgment, Gary manages to convince them that the only way to possibly get out of this mess alive is to continue their pub crawl until they reach the final bar on the Golden Mile, The World’s
End, or else the aliens will become suspicious. It is the exact kind of flimsy logic that could ONLY be devised by a desperate drunk and could be sold to equally desperate drunks.
But Gary’s charisma and arm twisting (and his friends growing impairment) manage to pull his con through. Alien invasion and potential end of the world be damned: the lads of Newton Haven are going drinking tonight.
From the getgo, Edgar Wright’s unique brand of humor is out on the forefront thanks to a tight script that manages to dole out equal amounts of rapid fire qupis, dry humor and crude language. But even more apparent is the chemistry between the actors that makes it all work. While films like “The Hangover” series featured a lot of crude jokes delivered by people with next to zero chemistry, there’s never any doubt of the comradely between our heroes. The witty banter, inside jokes and
personal jabs just flow naturally between the cast.
While the film really begins to hit its stride by the second act, when the invasion and the mad dash pub crawl officially commence, there really are no parts where you can say the movie“slows down.” When the action isn’t intense, and things take a turn for the bleak (and indeed this may be the darkest of the trilogy yet), the surprisingly strong character moments carry it through.
If there’s anything to criticize about “The World’s End,” it’s that the ending feels a bit rushed, and the alien invasion plot is almost regulated to an afterthought at times. But from laughs, to action, to storytelling, Edgar Wright’s wrap up to his trilogy delivers the goods. Beneath the drunkenness, swearing, and casual violence lies a movie with a lot of heart.
MOVIE REVIEW:
The World’s EndRated R: For pervasive language including sexual referencesRuntime: 109 minutesGrade: A-Verdict: Beneath the drunkenness, swearing, and casual violence lies a movie with a lot of heart.
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The Signal is now hiring reporters for Fall 2013!No experience? No problem. We’re here to help.
Additional positions available for:• Marketing and PR• Business / Sales • Multimedia• Photographers• Designers• Web Developers/Designers
Don’t play Journalist. BE ONE.
Campus Events
Downtown Events
-Phil.harmoniq: Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 pm, Terminal West-The Crüxshadows: Friday, Aug. 30 at 10 am, Dragon Con 2013-Sheryl Crow: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 12 pm, Centennial Olympic Park-Cage the Elephant: Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 7 pm, The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Concerts/Shows
calendar14 TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013
WRAS Dumpster Dive Thursday, Aug. 29 7 pm Collins Street alleyway, under Courtland Street bridgeJoin WRAS Atlanta Album 88 for a night of live music, food trucks and fun. Music will be provided by TV Dinner, Twins and Bluntfang. The GSU Screenprinting Club will sell hand-printed shirts, and IndieATL will be filming the festivities. Admission is free and open to the public.
Panther Welcome 2013 Friday, Aug. 23 - Saturday Sept. 7 Times vary Georgi State campusCelebrate the beginning of a new school year at the 2013 Pan-ther Welcome. With more than 50 events, activities and pro-grams, Panther Welcome brings together different organiza-tions on campus to ring in the new school year. Enjoy free barbeque at the Student Alumni Association Welcome Back BBQ, find out about your major at the College Fair on the Plaza or soak up some sun at the Labor Day Luau. For a full
list of events, visit pantherwelcome.gsu.edu.
Centennial Comedy Show starring Amy Schumer Friday, Sept. 67 pm (doors open at 6 pm)
Rialto Center for the ArtsAmy Schumer of Comedy Central’s show “Inside Amy Schumer” and stand-up special “Mostly Sex Stuff ” will come to Georgia State for the Centennial Comedy Show. This event is restricted to GSU students, faculty, staff and their friends and family. Student tickets can be purchased for $10. For additional information, please visit studentevents.gsu.edu
Meet & GreetWednesday, Sept. 116 – 8 pmLanier Suite, Student CenterWondering how to get involved in Campus Events? Find out at Meet & Greet, where you can find information on volun-teering or becoming an Associate Board member.
Blue at the ZooFriday, Sept. 204:30 – 9 pmZoo AtlantaJoin Spotlight Programs Board and Campus Events for this unique zoo event. Enjoy animal exhibits until 7:30 pm, and live music, refreshments, and face painting until 9 pm. GSU students, faculty and staff will be able to take free shuttles from campus to the zoo. Ticket information coming soon.
2013 Coca-Cola Summer Film FestivalThrough Thursday, Aug. 29Times vary Come see your favorite films on the biggest screen in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the box office or alternate ticket vendors. Visit foxtheatre.org for information and showtimes.
Dragon ConFriday, Aug. 30 – Monday Sept. 2
Times varyThe world’s largest multi-media convention focused on sci-fi, fantasy gaming and more returns to Atlanta. Last year’s convention welcomed more than 52,000 fans and over 3,000 parade participants. Wondering who to see, what to do and where to go? Visit dragoncon.org. This is a membership only
event, see the website for details.
2013 AJC Decatur Book Festival Friday, Aug. 30 – Sunday, Sept. 1
Downtown DecaturOne of the largest independent book festivals in the country, this festival boasts book signings, author readings, panel dis-cussions, an interactive children’s area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more. This event is open and free to the public.
Imaginary Worlds: Plants Larger Than
Life through Wednesday, Oct. 30 Atlanta Botanical GardenExplore the ethereal worlds created by mosaisculpture! Nine-teen mosaic, larger-than life sculptures up to 25 feet tall tower over the garden in this fantastic exhibit. Enjoy living sculp-tures of rabbits, huge cobras, a unicorn and more. Daily ad-mission is $18.25 for adults. Call 404-876-5859 for hours and information.
Girl With a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuisthrough Sunday, Sept. 29
High Museum of ArtThis exhibition features 35 works of Dutch Golden Age paint-ers Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. In addition, this is the first time Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting will be seen in the Southeast. Student tickets are $16.50 with valid ID.
Why wait in line or on the phone for answers when there’s PANTHER ANSWER.
What is Panther Answer?The resource for your registration, fi nancial aid and student account questions.
How do I access it?Log into PAWS and look for the icon.
When can I use it?24/7. Whenever you have questions, you can fi nd the answer.
The system that keeps getting better.The more you use it the better it will become. Questions and answers are monitored to enhance and create new answers — all to serve you better.
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Sudoku
15 TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013games&suchCross word puzzles:
Across1. Vice ___
6. Filly’s mother
10. Credit or playing
14. Something to shoot for
15. Adjoin
16. Chocolate cookie
17. Small terrestrial lizard
18. Cummerbund
19. Short sleeps
20. Leather shorts
22. No charge
23. Large indefinite quantity
24. Highest goals
26. Bottomless
30. Female pronoun
31. Vehicle
32. Sea eagle
33. On the left or right
35. Gave out
39. Urinary organs
41. Patron
43. S S S S
44. Plateau
46. Give as an example
47. Explosive
49. Collection
50. Leisure
51. Edict
54. Hissy fit
56. Shade of blue
57. Bombastic
63. Curtail
64. Hindu princess
65. Potato state
66. Salute
67. Killer whale
68. Santa’s helpers
69. Wings
70. Bobbin
71. Considers
Down1. Ampule
2. Border
3. Absorb written material
4. Identical
5. Warning signal
6. Sexual pleasure from punishment
7. Chagrined
8. Ploy
9. Cultural
10. Meeting
11. A kind of macaw
12. Fend off
13. Units of medicine
21. Impudent girl
25. Carpenter’s groove
26. Apollo astronaut Slayton
27. Twin sister of Ares
28. Terminates
29. Capable of being penetrated
34. Vital
36. Largest continent
37. Plenty
38. Tall woody plant
40. Feudal worker
42. Terrace
45. Gist
48. Panic
51. Russian country house
52. Identical
53. Papal court
55. Attempted
58. Rabbit
59. Doing nothing
60. Grotto
61. Throat-clearing sound
62. Not a win
modernmediaconference2013
mc
Featuring more than 25 guest speakers from major news companies and media organizations from
around the country, MMC is a free opportunity for students to network and gain practical experience
with seasoned media professionals.
Featured Speaker: Monica Pearson, WSB-TVKeynote: Frank Lomonte, Student Press Law Center
Sara Quinn, Poynter Institute
Also scheduled to appear:Colleen McEdwards (CNN International]
Jim Burris (WABE)Trevor Williams (Global Atlanta)
Mark Meltzer (Atlanta Business Chronicle)Paige Rohe (Carter Center)
Thomas Wheatley (Creative Loafing)Doug Roberson (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Yonas Michael (MTV)Mark Woolsey (All-News 106.7)
modern media conferenceJoin us at the 2013
Registration is free for GSU students, $25 for non-GSU students.
@mmcgsuFacebook.com/mmcgsu
September 27-28
