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Articles by William Solomons
Decatur residents challenge report about senior tax breaks
By William Solomons, contributor Seniors age 65 and older living within the Decatur School District have been granted a senior tax exemption that has been active for more than three years. The exemption, which will expire in 2021 unless it is renewed, was created to slow the growth of the school district, encouraging seniors to hang onto their property instead of selling it to new families with new children that would enter into the schools.
Parker H. “Pete” Petit indicted on accounting fraud charges
Parker H. "Pete" Petit | Image from MiMedx Parker H. “Pete” Petit, alumnus and multi-million-dollar donor to Georgia State, was indicted on accounting fraud charges last week Tuesday. The federal indictment comes on the heels of a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation that began in 2018 into Petit’s actions as CEO of Marietta-based healthcare products company MiMedx.
It’s not the White House, but it’ll do: SGA president receives housing stipend
Every Student Government Association president from this year, starting with the 89th administration, forward will receive a $3,000 credit per semester off their university housing costs. But it doesn’t stop there, when this $6,000 stipend is added to the compensation of about $7,000 a year, the current president – given no changes – and all subsequent presidents net approximately $13,000 per year from the university.
Machete man apprehended at Lofts
University Lofts is an option for upperclassmen students. Photo by Lahar Samantarai | The Signal A man was apprehended by Georgia State University Police Department officers on Wednesday morning inside of the University Lofts. According to GSUPD Chief Joseph Spillane, the person was walking down Courtland Street when the officers responded to the call. Spillane said he may have been mentally ill. A resident at the University Lofts said she witnessed the man being restrained by the police.
Georgia State’s award-winning student media
Georgia State student media organizations have been busy the past week, attending – and winning – a variety of competitions and awards. The Signal and NeoNetwork’s, formally GSTV, Panther Report News and Primetime Sportz took some of the biggest awards in conferences held in Georgia and across the Southeast. Southeastern Journalism Conference – Murfreesboro, Tn. Sixteen students from Georgia State attended the Southeast Journalism Conference from Feb.
Controversial election bill defeated at SGA senate meeting
Sen. Jessica Siemer on Thursday, Jan. 31 introduced a controversial bill to strengthen election code penalties. Photo by Daniel Varitek | The Signal With the Student Government Association elections on the horizon, Sen. Jessica Siemer introduced a bill at the Jan. 31 university-wide SGA senate meeting to enact stricter election violation repercussions.
How Georgia State has been affected by the government shutdown
The streets of Washington were devoid of federal workers as the shutdown slugged on. With several nonessential government departments at standstill, Congress played a political tennis match between the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate, with bills to reopen the government dead on arrival due to a lack of funding for the infamous wall. On Dec. 22, the U.S. government entered into a shutdown that would — 22 days later on Jan. 12 — become the longest in history.
Why the heck is Kell Hall not demolished yet?
This 93-year-old building is soon to be demolished. The question is: when? Georgia State’s oldest building is nearing the end of its life, with years of delayed plans and uncertain deadlines in the past. Kell Hall, the university’s oldest and arguably now most infamous building, is slated for demolition beginning sometime in March. The project was first proposed by University President Mark Becker in 2013. Now, six years later, the project is finally nearing its execution.
Risa Palm says leaving Provost role is no demotion
After 10 years of dedicated work as provost, Risa Palm returns to her faculty research on climate change and natural disasters. Photo courtesy of Georgia State Public Relations & Marketing Communications After 10 years of dedication to her position, Provost Risa Palm is stepping down from her position. The announcement came to students mid-November through a campus broadcast. Her decision to step down stems from her desire to return to her research.
GSUPD establishes new dispatch center
While Honors students are in class learning, and prospective students are on tour, five dispatchers are answering calls and monitoring the campus in the basement of Centennial Hall. The GSUPD call center moved from their cramped, narrow home at the base of the University Commons to beneath 100 Auburn Ave. back in December.
Controversy erupts between P4BF and Black Student Alliance
After several weeks of accusations, apologies and action, a tense situation came to stagnation right before winter break between two Georgia State student organizations. Panthers for Black Feminism released statements addressing their concerns over what they called a “queerphobic� statement said by Black Student Alliance Communication Outreach Chair Alexis Smith: “Being gay impedes the black family.� Smith had said the statement privately to BSA President Jamila Bell.
Student jumps from Piedmont North balcony
A Georgia State student jumped off a fifth floor balcony Wednesday night, according to eye witness reports and Georgia State University Police Department Chief of Police Joseph Spillane. The female student jumped from a Piedmont North balcony after smoking synthetic marijuana. “We do have a student that apparently smoked some synthetic marijuana called spice and she jumped off the fifth floor balcony and landed and we transported her to Grady hospital,� Spillane said. “She’s still alive.�
Carolyn Bourdeaux, AYSPS professor, concedes congressional race
Carolyn Bourdeaux, Democratic candidate and Georgia State professor, conceded to Republican incumbent Rob Woodall on Nov. 21 following a neck-and-neck battle for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. Bourdeaux lost by just 0.14 percent out of nearly 300,000 votes. Days after the Tuesday, Nov. 6 election, the race was still too close to call. The race came to a close after a recount was issued at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov.
Nursing School gets $1 million expansion
As the semester wraps up, as does Georgia State’s final fall construction project in Student Center West. What once was the College of Law library in Urban Life and SCW will soon become the new home of the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions. The expansion has generated plenty of unwelcome noise, with the sounds of drills and hammers vibrating through the walls of student media offices regularly.
MARTA finds problems with GSU-issued Breeze Cards
For some students, riding MARTA isn’t much of a breeze as originally thought. The Signal received a tip from several students that the Georgia State-issued Breeze Card often malfunctions when students attempt to ride MARTA buses. This malfunction not only prevented boarding, but also charged extraneous fees to the cards, leaving students with a bill that far exceeded the original cost of riding the buses.
Abrams disputes Kemp’s self-declared victory
In one of the most-watched races in the U.S. this election season, Republican Brian Kemp clutched victory for the governor’s office against Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams in the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 7 — or at least that’s what he has declared. As the election creeped further into Tuesday night with no clear victor, many onlookers — most notably, Abrams herself — believed a runoff to be likely.
Advisement center angst
With the semester nearly over, students flock to the University Advisement Center to get advice on their classes and to better mould their schedule so that they can graduate on time with a degree. However, some students said their experience with their advisers was less than ideal. One student said that her adviser wasn’t helping to get the classes she needed to graduate. “I’m not really a fan of them,� Nichole Graves said.
Democratic senator, 16 others arrested at Capitol protest
Though it may be chilly outside, things were heated inside the Georgia State Capitol today, Nov. 13. During a protest partly organized by Black Lives Matter, one state senator and 16 others were arrested. Sen. Nikema Williams was detained inside of the Capitol in zip ties by a couple state troopers. Williams had just won reelection as a Democrat from District 39 on Nov. 6. The protest called for the government to “count every vote,�
Students ticketed, one arrested in Library Plaza
An undercover Georgia State University Police Department officer confronted and charged two Georgia State students in Library Plaza for possession of marijuana on Thursday afternoon. At least two undercover officers were present during the incident. The disguised officers were accompanied by three other uniformed GSUPD officers.
Act supported - The Signal
Senators erupted into debate Thursday evening on the topic of endorsing the College Transparency Act. A bill, intended to throw SGA’s official support behind the federal act, was introduced to the senate by Sen. Jazmin Mejia. Former Executive Vice President Briana Stanley was present at Thursday’s meeting as an advocate for the bill, and many senators referred to her for questions.
Surprise! Library Plaza’s about to be demolished
Library Plaza is slated to be demolished sometime in February or March alongside Kell Hall, according to Vice President for Facilities Ramesh Vakamudi. “It could be February/March 2019 before we start Kell Hall/Library Plaza demolition,” Vakamudi said. The demolition comes months after a “Library Masterplanâ€? was announced in January that laid the groundwork for renovating Library North and eventually Library Plaza.
SGA takes a stand on homelessness in Atlanta
The Student Government Association is creating the foundation for a permanent committee to address homelessness in Atlanta — specifically within Georgia State’s student population. At their latest university-wide meeting on Nov. 1, SGA voted to establish an ad hoc Homelessness Committee that will work with non-governmental organizations in Atlanta to provide aid and resources to the homeless. The committee was sponsored by Sen. Cherilyn Munoz and gained unanimous support.
Abrams vs. Kemp: Are their policies possible?
In one of the most watched gubernatorial races in the nation, Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams have been relentless in rallying their bases to increase voter participation and involvement. For both candidates, one of the hardest issues they will address is the lack of executive power the governor’s office holds, according to associate professor of political science Daniel Franklin. “In policy making, the governor is very involved. In terms of carrying out policy, not so much,�
“The dog bit me.�
A student said she was bit outside of Library North by another student’s dog Tuesday afternoon. The student, declining to give her name, said she asked the other student if the dog was a service animal. “I asked if it was okay to pet the dog,� she said. “When I went to pet the dog, the dog bit me.� However, a witness that was with a group of other students when the incident occured said the dog didn’t bite her. “It’s calm right now.
Six students distinguished with crowns, sashes and applause
Students, faculty and fans bundled up in jackets in the sparsely populated stands overlooking Georgia State Stadium’s field as the homecoming court waited for their names to be called, each hoping for the crowns, sashes and applause that would be granted to only six students. Before arriving to the stadium, the court marched in the golf cart parade, faces beaming and hands waving to the crowd.
Is Kindr fixing Grindr’s apparent sexual racism?
“Go back to Mexico,� “You look like you’re on drugs,� “I have a preference for light skin guys,� and “Whites only.� These quotes feature in Grindr’s most recent attempt to curb racism and hate speech on its eponymous online dating platform. Earlier this year, Grindr launched its marketing campaign: Kindr. Grindr, a queer dating app, has often been criticized for the amount of racism and hate speech that runs rampant on the app.
SGA wants to ticket smokers. That’s illegal.
For years, the Student Government Association (SGA) has struggled to curb the appeal of smoking on campus. Now, despite assurances that they would not take a hard-line stance on the issue, SGA has said it’s considering ticketing smokers on campus. In a Thursday, Oct. 11, Atlanta Senate meeting, Sen. Kaelen Thomas of the Safety Ad Hoc Committee delivered an update on SGA’s no smoking initiative, which he’s spearheading. “We have some solutions available to us,�
GSUPD admits call boxes inoperable for years
Blue call boxes with their glowing lights dot Georgia State’s downtown campus, ready to contact the Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD) with a push of a button. At least, that’s what they would do if they were fully functioning. Tour guides and orientation leaders tell prospective students that call boxes are an essential aspect of safety that the university provides.
Bridge may be done, but more construction sits on horizon
After just over five months of reduced traffic flow and the shaking of Sparks Hall, the Courtland Street Bridge construction project was completed ahead of schedule. On Thursday, Oct. 4, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner Russell McMurry and Atlanta Regional Commission Board of Commissioners Chairman W. Kerry Armstrong spoke at the ceremony and congratulated the efforts of the construction workers and administrative staff alike.
Man shot outside Waffle House on GSU campus
A man was shot outside Waffle House at the corner of Courtland Street and John Wesley Dobbs Avenue at around 7:46 p.m. on Monday. According to witnesses, five gunshots were fired and the man was shot in the leg. The Atlanta Police Department responded soon after. The man was taken away in an ambulance. Police interviewed people around the scene. One of them said they “saw individuals take off� and that a black sedan sped away from the National Parking lot across John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. Related
Four suspects at dorm caught and detained
Outside of Georgia State’s University Commons dorm around 9:16 a.m., four suspects were arrested by the Georgia State University Police Department (GSUPD). GSUPD’s chief Joseph Spillane said they were chasing after “four suspicious males� and that “they ran from us and we detained all of them.� Spillane verified that there was not a shooting on campus.
‘It’s okay to not be okay’: Bivins delivers emotional address to SGA
“‘Don’t let anyone ever tell you to change that ‘love’ to a ‘loved’ because it’s just wrong. The love still exists, I promise you. Even when I don’t exist, the love still does. So don’t worry, okay? It’s just me that’s gone. The rest of me is still there.’ Those were some of the last words Luis Michael wrote to his boyfriend in his suicide letter.â€?
Georgia State donor ousted “for cause� from former company
Parker H. Petit, a frequent Georgia State donor, has been officially removed from his former company’s board of directors following an internal investigation by the company’s audit committee. Petit served as the CEO and chairman of the board of MiMedx Group Inc., a Marietta-based company. He resigned on June 30 amid mounting pressure from federal investigations into the company and a restatement of company financial records over the past five years. On Aug.
In space for 665 days, she tells her story
The Georgia State Spotlight Programs Board kicked off their distinguished speaker series with an out-of-this-world guest: former astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson. Whitson holds the NASA record for the most days spent in space at 665 and is also the first female astronaut to be a commander on the International Space Station (ISS) twice.
Student Center seeks $25 million expansion study
Georgia State students may not have to differentiate between Student Center East and Student Center West for much longer. In the next few years, both buildings could possibly merge following an estimated $25 million construction project. At the Fall Student Involvement Fair on Thursday, Sept.
Senators gather from across all 6 campuses for their first university-wide meeting
Student Government Association (SGA) President Franklin Patterson opened the first university-wide senate meeting of the year on Thursday, Sept. 6 with a simple icebreaker to liven up the room before business began among the senators. The meeting began with 11 of 26 members missing, but throughout the first hour of business the rest trickled in.
Financial Aid’s bad reputation
It’s safe to say students don’t have the best opinion of the financial aid office at Georgia State. For years, complaints about the efficiency of the Office of Financial Aid have plagued the university. In a recent Facebook poll in the GSU Book Exchange group, The Signal asked students for their experiences with financial aid wait times in the days leading up to tuition deadlines. “Called, waited two hours, they answered, got disconnected.
SGA convenes for brief first fall meeting
Last Thursday, Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) gathered in a corner of Georgia State Stadium before the university’s opening game to kickoff a game plan of their own. At the meeting, SGA adopted a seating bill that allowed two liaisons, Rachel Disanto and Vivian Chew, to be sworn in as representatives from the College of Law. They were sworn in by Chief Justice for the Student Judicial Board for the Atlanta Campus Gavin Hall.
Georgia State student petitions to get Master’s
One of Georgia State’s graduate students is a mother battling competing claims of whether or not the courses she took will be counted for credit. Julia Webb was hired for a reading recovery program within Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), which teaches children how to read. While with GCPS, she was able to take training courses that coincided with potential credits for a Master’s degree.
Georgia State student shot outside of Commons
A Georgia State student was shot Saturday morning around 4:30 a.m. according to a campus broadcast issued by the Georgia State University Police Department. According to Georgia State University Police Chief Joseph Spillane, the victim was inside a car with three other passengers when one of them opened fired on a student they were talking to outside the vehicle, wounding the victim in the face. The shooter was not a student, and the victim’s name has not been released.
Georgia State professor wins runoff, prepares for midterm in November
Georgia State University professor Carolyn Bourdeaux will be facing off against GOP Rep. Rob Woodall, a four term incumbent since 2010, in November’s midterm elections following Tuesday’s runoff. Bourdeaux had ran against fellow Democrat David Kim and won 52 to 48 percent. The candidates were vying for Georgia’s 7th congressional district which houses the cities of Norcross, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee and Buford.
Georgia State Top Donor Resigns Amid Federal Investigation
Former CEO of MiMedx Parker H. “Pete� Petit, a frequent donor to Georgia State, has resigned amid an ongoing investigation into the company’s financial dealings. Petit attended Georgia State in 1973 and earned his MBA in finance at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. “If I had not been able to go to Georgia State at night, I probably would have had a business failure somewhere early on,� he said in 2010.
Mayor signs order addressing immigration policy
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order on Wednesday, June 20 that openly calls upon the Trump Administration to reform the United States’ “despicableâ€? immigration policy. The order further prohibits the City of Atlanta Detention Center from holding any new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. The detainees were being held at the center as part of an agreement between the City of Atlanta and the United States Marshal’s Office.
Arrest made in murder of Georgia State student at Gwinnett mall
An arrest has been made following the murder of Georgia State student Silling Man that occured last December. Police arrested Emmett Davis, 21, for aggravated assault and felony murder. It is believed that Man died due to asphyxiation according to Gwinnett County Police spokesman Jake Smith. Man had been dating Davis several weeks before her death. Police believe the two had been living together in hotels during that time.
MARTA announces Atlanta Streetcar acquisition
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announced on Tuesday, May 5 that it will officially take over the Atlanta Streetcar on July 1 and is working to integrate the streetcar into its new Office of Light Rail Operations. The MARTA press release stated that the primary day-to-day functions and maintenance concerns for the rail system will be overseen by the new office.
Organizations recognized for giving H.O.P.E.
On May 1, 2018, the Georgia State University Police Department hosted an awards ceremony recognizing several homeless shelters and individuals who have contributed to combating homelessness in downtown Atlanta. The awards were hosted by Sgt. Joseph Corrigan. The ceremony was opened with prayer and songs sung by the choir from the Stepping Stone Mission Church. The awards were a part of a program started by Chief Joseph Spillane in June 2017 called the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement.
Georgia State student killed in Dekalb shooting
A Georgia State student was the victim of a shooting at a Citgo gas station on Columbia Drive in DeKalb County on Tuesday, May 15. He has been identified as 24 year-old senior Jason Williams. He was reported missing by his family after he missed a job orientation that was scheduled for Wednesday morning, according to a Facebook post made by the family. Williams arrived at the gas station with another man who has yet to be identified.
Patterson reaches agreement for Commencement
After meeting with Georgia State’s Division of Student Affairs and speaking with Georgia State University President Mark Becker, graduating students within the College of Arts and Sciences are now getting the recognition that they had hoped for. A recognition ceremony will occur on Sunday, May 20 at 2 p.m. in the GSU Sports Arena. On Thursday, May 10, the Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony was abruptly cut short following the threat of rain and lightning near Georgia State Stadium.
A Stadium of Boos, Students Demand Action
Georgia State College of Arts and Sciences students, their families and friends gathered at Georgia State Stadium on Thursday, May 10 for the spring commencement ceremony. However, the ceremony was cut short due to inclement weather and now many students are demanding action from the university. The ceremony was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Shortly before it began, security personnel told the audience to evacuate into the stadium’s interior due to reported lightning in the area.
Georgia State to nominate sites to the World Heritage List
Georgia State has been tasked with getting some of the city’s Civil Rights Movement sites on the World Heritage list, a list put together by the UNESCO World Heritage Center. The list includes famous landmarks around the world, such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China. In 2018, the university was awarded $50,000 to nominate for the list sites that have played an integral role in the city’s and nation’s history.
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