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Articles by Brooklyn Valera
Un estado de fluctuación — Canopy Atlanta
Leer este artículo en inglés / Read this story in English Canopy Atlanta preguntó a más de 120 miembros de la comunidad de Forest Park sobre el periodismo que necesitaban durante la primavera y el verano pasados; esta historia surgió de esa retroalimentación.
Can Forest Park keep its Hispanic residents? That may depend on police.- Canopy Atlanta
Read this story in Spanish / Lea este artículo en español Canopy Atlanta asked more than 120 Forest Park community members about the journalism they needed this past spring and summer; this story emerged from that feedback.Rachel McBrideandAngie Tran,two of the reporters on this story, are Canopy Forest Park Fellows, community members whom Canopy Atlanta paid and trained to learn reporting skills to better serve their communities.
Letter to the Editor: Georgia State, let trans/non-binary people guide your research
Georgia State has a lot to be proud of. As an aspiring top 10 research institution, Georgia State emphasizes interdisciplinary and impactful research and has been awarded over $150 million in research funding in the fiscal year 2020.
April 13: News Briefs & Crime Blotter
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL Voting law causes Will Smith to pull movie from Georgia According to WSB-TV, producers for Apple Studios’ runaway slave drama “Emancipation” halt production in Georgia following new voting law. Will Smith, producer and star of the movie, said it wouldn’t feel right to give money to a government that enacts regressive laws. Following the controversial abortion bill and voting law, studios have threatened to cease production in Georgia.
Election Season: Student Government Association candidates confirmed for 2021
The Student Government Association election is underway, and students get to take a look at who could be representing them in the upcoming 2021-22 school year for the 92nd administration. The usual competitive and anticipated positions look a bit different this year.
‘Whistleblower Field’: Marc Cohodes announces $100,000 donation to rename Parker H. Petit Field
The Signal has been reporting on Georgia State alumnus and top donor Parker H. Petit’s criminal activity and investigation since 2018. Read the related articles found at georgiastatesignal.com for a chronological recap of the investigation’s timeline.
Tokyo Valentino and Starship Enterprise see business as usual
Tokyo Valentino is one sex shop in the Atlanta area where students can visit for the Valentine’s holiday. Photo Submitted by Tokyo Valentino Since the start of the pandemic, industries have reported a decline in customers and sales from the food industry to the airline industry. Within the retail industry specifically, we’ve seen stores shut down nationwide due to the pandemic. One facet of the retail industry that hasn’t seen such a drastic decline is the adult entertainment industry.
Feb. 2: News Briefs & Crime Blotter
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL Hamilton Police Chief resigns following racial slur incident Yesterday, WSB-TV reported that the Hamilton Police Department’s police chief, Gene Allmond, resigned after he was seen in a recording using a racial slur. Patrolman John Brooks was unaware that his body camera was on during a smoke break with the police chief in front of the police department. In the video, both Allmond and Brooks can be heard using the N-word.
Did You Know?: Twitter and Freedom of Speech
Twitter, a private company, is not required to follow the guidelines of Freedom of Speech. “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech,” the Constitution states. But did their Jan. 8 decision violate the First Amendment in the first place? On Jan. 8, Twitter permanently suspended the account of former President Donald Trump following the Capitol riots on Jan.
West End's generations of Black-owned business
In partnership with ELEVATE 2020, Canopy Atlanta hosted this conversation on 10/10/2020 about the legacy of Black-owned businesses in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood, featuring Thomas Portis Jr. of Benjamin Moore/Southwest Paint—a store that’s been around since the 1970s—and John Onwuchekwa of Portrait Coffee, a new shop based in West End. More than 50 West End community members helped choose this story’s topic through listening conversations and meetings this past spring and summer.
Georgia Democrats Fall Far Short of Goal to Take State House
Democratic efforts to overturn Republican control of Georgia’s state House fell far short of the goal in the Nov. 3 elections. Although votes are still being counted and have yet to be certified, it appears Democrats will pick up just one or two of the 16 seats they needed in order to gain a majority in the 180 member House.
Candidate Profile: Shea Roberts
Shea Evans Roberts Democrat-Atlanta Candidate for State House District 52 (Fulton County) Place of Birth: Dalton, Ga. OPPONENT: State Rep. Deborah Silcox Public Service/Political Career: Shea Roberts is the Democratic challenger for the state House seat in District 52, which covers part of Atlanta and Sandy Springs in Fulton County. The race is a rematch between Roberts and two-term Republican incumbent, Rep.
Candidate Profile: Deborah Silcox
State Rep. Deborah D. Silcox Republican-Sandy Springs (incumbent) State House District 52 (Fulton) Place of Birth: Sandy Springs, Ga. OPPONENT: Shea Roberts Public Service/Political Career: Deborah Silcox is the second-term Republican incumbent representing state House District 52, which covers part of Atlanta and Sandy Springs in Fulton County. In the Nov. 3 election, she is facing a rematch with Democractic challenger Shea Roberts, who lost a bid to unseat Silcox in 2018 by a 4.6% margin.
Let’s Toast to Some of Life’s Firsts
Hi readers, My name is Brooklyn Valera. Brooklyn, like the city. I’ve said this phrase my entire life, so people are aware of how to spell and say my name. I won’t bore you with the details about why this is my name because the reason is a long story; however, my first visit to the city was because of The Signal. I bring this to your attention because The Signal has not only opened doors for my journalism career, but it has also helped me achieve my own personal goals and discover more about myself.
Read three letters demanding GSU administration stand with the Black community
Three different organizations wrote to Georgia State administration with several demands including to end Georgia State’s partnership with GILEE and reallocate GSUPD funding to social services programs, safety curriculum and security infrastructures. Read the full letters below and read the full story online here. Letter from the Student Government Association Letter from the College of Education Letter from the African Diaspora Student Advocacy Coalition
Georgia State erases accidental mass email from student accounts
On Wednesday, Georgia State students mistakenly received an email from The Office of Financial Aid informing them that they had withdrawn from the fall semester — of 2019. It also stated that the student was responsible for repaying all of the financial aid they received from the university. This caused confusion throughout the Georgia State community as some thought it might’ve been a typo because the fall semester of 2020’s payment deadline falls on Friday.
Georgia State housing returns this fall, what to expect
As Panthers return to campus in the fall, some will bring packed move-in boxes as well. Georgia State plans to reopen its dorms with a few adjustments once the fall semester begins. Similar to the rest of the campus, Georgia State’s housing department will undergo many changes to reinforce resident safety as the university learns to navigate this academic year during the pandemic.
Use your patriotism to protest oppression, not health precautions
The hypocrisy of patriotism in America is no new concept. For as long as many have called it the “home of the free,” others have reminded us of the generational oppression on which their home is founded. Today, this irony presents itself in our Facebook feeds as forty-somethings claim that they are being forced to forfeit their freedom when mandated to wear a mask.
Survivor Stories: The Numbers — Sexual Misconduct Cases at Georgia State This Year - The Signal
Dean of Students Michael Sanseviro, between 2019 and 2020, 180 Title IX cases were reported to the Dean of Students. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prevents sex discrimmination in any educational institution that is federally funded, which includes sex-based violence. Of the total 180 cases, 19 didn’t charge the accused after a full investigation, and 36 resulted in the accused being found responsible, eight investigations remain open and two cases are awaiting a decision.
Suvivor Stories: The Dean of Students, GSUPD and the Accused Respond
THE RESULTS OF THE CASE AND JONES’ RESPONSE In all three cases, Georgia State student Anthony Jones was charged with violating Section 2, Subsection A(18) of the Student Code of Conduct, “engaging in any sexual misconduct.” According to the Dean of Students’ Sexual Misconduct Policy, sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to, “unwanted behavior [such] as dating violence, domestic violence, non-consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.” The results...
Survivor Stories: The Radical Coalition of Survivors and a Letter of Demands
On June 1, a letter was sent to administrators and faculty across Georgia State in various departments signed by the “Radical Coalition of Survivors.” The letter includes a list of failures and demands for Georgia State. The demands include extensive training of Georgia State employees and the termination of faculty accused of protecting and enabling predators. Attached at the end of the letter is a developing list of abusers, demanding their immediate expulsion.
Survivor Stories: A Case and a Denial
Kaylah Oates-Marable, a grad student at Georgia State, completed her undergraduate degree at Georgia State in 2019. After seeing the other three women come forward on Twitter, she followed suit by sharing her story as well. In February 2018, she met Trequavius Thomas on Twitter, against whom she would later present a sexual misconduct case to the Dean of Students. Their story shows the duality of the aftermath of a sexual misconduct accusation on both sides, when there are two different stories.
Survivor Stories: An Investigation by The Signal
This year, there have been 214 total sexual misconduct violations through the Dean of Students at Georgia State. Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, and 11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
As Georgia State community faces challenges, SGA pushes for them to be heard
Saturday, Georgia State’s Student Government Association issued a press release following the protest in Atlanta on May 30 in response to the death of George Floyd. The beginning of the post summarizes what happened to both Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. It also includes George Floyd’s initial autopsy results as well as the initial charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
University-Wide President Kaelen Thomas addresses sexual assault at Georgia State
Today, University-Wide President Kaelen Thomas released a statement to the student body to address the recent sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations made within the Georgia State community.
Congratulations Class of 2020: Georgia universities celebrate GAIPSEC graduates
On May 19, the Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium held a commencement ceremony via Zoom to honor the spring 2020 graduates. According to their website, GAIPSEC “is a project of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State” that provides secondary education to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
SGA Election Commission and Student Judicial Board mismanage election
Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing investigation by The Signal into the Election Commission and Student Judicial Board’s management of this year’s SGA election.
Kaelen Thomas becomes de-facto president-elect after Nigel Walton is disqualified from SGA run-off election — pending an SJB decision on appeal - The Signal
Kaelen Thomas and Nigel Walton faced off on the debate stage, now they will face off in the runoff election. Photo by Shel Levy | The Signal Editor’s Note: This page will be updated as more SGA election information comes in. Kaelen Thomas has become the de-facto university-wide president-elect of the 91st administration of the Student Government Association after runoff competitor Nigel Walton was disqualified from a decision made by the Election Commission.
TEDx speakers talk human trafficking
A dozen students and a panel of professionals gathered in Student Center West’s House Salon to talk about a major issue not only in Atlanta but in the country: human trafficking. At a TEDx event on March 11, Deborah Richardson and Monica Khant educated young listeners about human trafficking, its threat, its demand, its frequency, its implications and its role in the production of goods we use every day. Richardson is the executive director of the International Human Trafficking Institute.
March 24: News Briefs & Crime Blotter
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL Magic City is creating a virtual platform for customers. Many Atlanta strip clubs have closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Along with The Cheetah, The Blue Flame and Pink Pony, Magic City also closed its doors but the club announced a plan to keep customers happy. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Magic City announced they are creating a virtual platform for customers to pay $20 a month to watch live and pre-recorded videos.
Your guide to avoiding job scams online
Georgia State student Chloe Pleasant was scammed into opening a P.O. box after she was recruited for a fake job on her personal email. “[The recruiter] said I applied to them on LinkedIn, and I never did,” Pleasant said. “They made it seem like I already applied to them and I never sent an application.” At the time, Pleasant was trying to find a job to help her with her living expenses.
Official SGA election results for the 91st administration
Editor’s Note: This page will be updated with the full results of the general election and runoff election as they are finalized. March 17 at 10:45 a.m. Presidential candidates react to the runoff Kaelen Thomas and Nigel Walton head to a runoff despite each expecting to take the presidency in the initial vote March 10-12. Thomas knew the chances of a runoff would be higher due to the number of candidates. He expected his competitor to be Walton.
March 10: News Briefs & Crime Blotter
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL First student-run polling location on campus Georgia State set up the first student-run polling location on a college campus in American history Sunday. Citizens registered to vote in Fulton County can vote at this polling location on March 9-10 in the Student Center East Ballroom. Voters will decide on the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election. For more information, read the full article here.
Atlanta senators meet last time before elections — rec center, coronavirus and SGA budget - The Signal
The last Student Government Association Atlanta Senate meeting before the SGA elections was held Thursday. Speaker Pro Tempore Terry Fye began the meeting with only 11 senators present. At the time, the senate did not meet the quorum. “No official and binding votes can be taken at any session when a quorum is not present,” the SGA bylaws state. The quorum for the SGA Atlanta Senate meetings currently requires the presence of 13 members.
Impeachment committee order defeated at Atlanta Senate meeting
Five days before the annual SGA debates at the Atlanta Senate meeting, the senate debated articles of impeachment, campaign manager involvement and the responsibilities of an SGA member. A special order to create a committee to investigate articles of impeachment against Sen. Takia Tinsley was defeated at the Atlanta senate meeting this past Thursday. Tinsley is currently a candidate in the race for Atlanta executive vice president.
2020 SGA Election Complaints
This webpage will continuously be updated with any new election code violation complaints. These complaints have not been verified and must undergo investigation with the election commission. Election complaints will also be updated through the SGA website. PDF Files: Election Complaints as of 02.28.2020 Election Complaints as of 03.02.2020 Election Complaints as of 03.08.2020 Election Complaints as of 03.31.2020
Conversations with presidential candidates: Nahom Taye
Nahom Taye stands apart from the other candidates as someone who is not a member of the Student Government Association. Where others may see this as a weakness, Taye sees this as a strength. “I come from different organizations that run differently from SGA. An outsider will see that there is no limit. We can’t hide behind the rules,” Taye said.
Conversations with presidential candidates: Kaelen Thomas
“I want to keep students F.I.R.S.T.,” Kaelen Thomas, university-wide presidential candidate, said. His slogan, F.I.R.S.T., stands for a variety of issues he would like to work toward including free feminine hygiene products across campus, increasing on-campus jobs, reducing student homelessness, increasing sustainability and creating better transportation options. Thomas discussed his concern for students’ lack of interest in the Student Government Association over the years.
Conversations with presidential candidates: Carlos Porter
“I understand what type of impact and effects a president could have,” Carlos Porter said. He said he wants to ensure that whoever takes this position is someone that is qualified and understands the role very well. One of Porter’s plans for ensuring that he will be an impactful president is being accessible to all students. “One thing I don’t see this administration doing, nor did I see the 89th administration doing is visiting all campuses,” he said.
Conversations with presidential election candidate: Nigel Walton
Nigel Walton describes himself as a person of action who has always had a passion for politics. “I’ve always had an interest in politics and government,” Walton said. “I told my friends I wanted to be president of [the Student Government Association] no matter what college I went to.” Walton is the chair of the academic affairs for SGA. “Whenever a student has a problem with financial aid, their classes, research and professor relations, we handle that,” he said.
Your candidates for SGA President, Atlanta EVP and Atlanta Speaker
The 2020 Student Government Association presidential race brings a majority of candidates with extensive SGA backgrounds, including two speakers, a committee chair and one Greek life member. The winner will succeed University-Wide President Jazmin Mejia and lead the 91st Administration. Take a look at who could be the next president and the candidates for the two most competitive positions: executive vice president and speaker of the Atlanta Senate.
The end of Georgia’s segregation in education
The culturally diverse campus of Georgia State that many students have come to know and love has not always been so accepting. Georgia State held its first-ever Groundbreaker Lecture Thursday to honor the achievements of Myra Payne Elliot, Barbara Pace Hunt and Iris Mae Welch, the lead plaintiffs who sued for the right of African American students to attend Georgia State. Elliot, her family and Hunt’s family attended the lecture.
Creating new computer science majors
Two new degree programs are making their way to Georgia State. The Admissions and Standards Committee approved major eligibility requirements for Bachelor of Science degrees in data science and game development. On Jan. 23, the Student Government Association held their first university-wide meeting of the semester where Sen. John Le, Student Services Committee chair, announced the committee’s progress.
Goodbye STEM, hello MANGO
Gaurav Bhatia launched a project called the “MANGO model” this year as an update to the STEM model. With the rise of the STEM model, there has been a decline in support for the humanities. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of STEM majors has increased by 43% while humanities have decreased by -0.4%, according to Emsi, a data guide for education and employment. Bhatia has spoken with Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County Schools, and the Doraville City Council.
Resell your textbooks and get your money back
Purchasing textbooks each semester for classes can get costly. The average in-state, undergraduate student taking 12 or more credit hours spends about $1,298 a year on books and supplies at a four-year public college, according to the College Board, a non-profit organization that helps expand access to higher education. Renting a textbook is an option when looking for supplies, but the majority of college students buy their textbooks to own.
Georgia State date night on a budget — Discounts that you didn’t know you had just in time for Valentine’s Day - The Signal
Georgia State students spend a lot of money on school, with funds going to classes, dorms, books and supplies. Students can rarely afford to take a partner out for a bite to eat or sit atop Atlanta’s famous Ferris wheel. Valentine’s Day is near and students may be encountering yet another holiday where they might feel alone because they simply cannot afford to fund a date night. But it’s not too late — Georgia State gives discounts and special offers to students, faculty and even retirees.
What you think you know about condom use — Truths about six condom myths to save your sex life - The Signal
Common misconceptions about condoms can cause a ripple effect of unsafe sex practices. The following six condom myths have been replaced with helpful information that can promote healthy sexual interactions across Georgia State. Vivian Ludi has over 42 years of varied nursing experience, including hospital work and nurse management. “People probably do not know how effective [condoms] are if used properly to prevent pregnancy and STIs,” Ludi said.
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