TWO ROBBERIES WORLD OF DRAG JIMENA CABRERO BLOTTER PAGE 2 In one night, there were two An inside look at a Georgia How the women’s soccer star armed robberies, including an State student’s journey to made her way from Santander CROSSWORD PAGE 14 attempted kidnapping. becoming a drag king. to the Peach State. NEWS PAGE 4 ARTS & LIVING PAGE 13 SPORTS PAGE 16 PLANNER PAGE 19 OCT. 15 - OCT. 22, 2019 VOL. 87 | NO. 8 The College Conservative Peter Minetos PAGE 3 PHOTO BY UNIQUE RODRIGUEZ @gsusignal georgiastatesignal.com 2 THE SIGNAL GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM BLOTTER OCT. 7 OCT. 8 Drunk and disorderly … Well that’s s----- of you in the afternoon At 3:52 p.m., a non-Georgia At 3:52 p.m., three non- State offender was arrested for Georgia State offenders were defecating on public property arrested for obstruction, at the corner of John Wesley disorderly conduct and Dobbs and Peachtree. drinking in public in Woodruff Park. OCT. 9 Grand theft bicycle? Riding dirty At 12:09 p.m., a Georgia State At 10:43 a.m., a non-Georgia faculty member was the victim State offender was arrested of theft of a vehicle from the for driving while unlicensed, 25 Park place bicycle rack. possession of any controlled Don’t lose your cool, man substance and obedience to At 9:45 p.m., a Georgia State traffic device at the corner of student was arrested for Peachtree and Marietta. disorderly conduct at Aspen Heights. ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019 www.georgiastatesignal.com/news Political activism with Peter Minetos How this young Republican navigates politics MINETOS PETER OF COURTESY PHOTO College Republicans. chief of staff or work in campaign consulting as viable possibilities. ADA WOOD “So, I visited Georgia State the next week and was like, ‘OK, this “Running for office down the road could potentially be News Editor is where I want to go,’” he said. something. I never can rule that one out,” Minetos said. Minetos found his next career move through his connections Minetos was recently sworn in as a Student Government with Georgia State’s College Republicans. He filled a vacancy for Association senator for the Robinson College of Business, but he o have shaken the hand of the vice president, the governor, vice chair of the chapter the same semester he enrolled in classes. said the Young Dems and College Republicans play a different role multiple senators and state representatives is certainly The College Republicans, Minetos said, is an official wing of the than SGA. Tsomething. And it’s something Peter Minetos has done, all Republican National Committee, which is also represented at the Minetos sees SGA as a chance to practice the legislative process by the age of 20. state level through the Georgia Republican Party. without taking political stances — something students can do by But how did Minetos make it this far and this fast in the realm College Republicans — like Teen Age Republicans and Young practicing political activism with political organizations. Republicans — falls into the category of youth organizations for of politics? For Minetos, he finds himself at home in the Republican party, the Republican Party. Each campus operates their own chapter, His career development began early, when he served as his where he believes everyone is encouraged to take risks and follow which reports to the statewide Georgia College Republicans. high school’s class president all four years. During this time, he the American dream. By the end of his first semester in college, Minetos ran for chair experienced what he considers one of his proudest moments to “The Republican Party is the party of opportunity. It advocates this day. of the chapter and won. for folks to get up and get into the workforce and really make When a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas But Minetos aimed even higher the following spring. He themselves a productive member of society,” he said. “We believe High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, 2017, 17 people were launched his campaign for state chairman, the highest position in the power of the individual. The government doesn’t have to be killed and 17 more were injured. in Georgia for College Republicans, which he holds to this day. the one that solves all of the problems.” Following this shooting, students from across the nation staged Because he took on this new role, over all of the Georgia college walkouts, many advocating for more gun control. Students and campuses, he was required to resign from his campus chapter Minetos said the biggest problem with the Democratic Party administrators faced a dilemma, as some schools questioned position. right now is that they are focused on control. He pointed to a few whether there should be consequences for walking out. Minetos has crossed paths with some of the highest political examples from the 2020 presidential candidates: Beto O’Rourke Minetos developed a solution and organized a memorial that figures in the nation, including Vice President Mike Pence and advocating for a gun buyback program, Bernie Sanders planning allowed students to pay their respects to the 17 lives lost. At second lady Karen Pence. for government-run healthcare and Elizabeth Warren wanting to George Walton Comprehensive High School, a student stepped “It was really neat. He’s second in command,” he said. “It’s not “tax and take people’s money.” forward to share the name of a victim, until all 17 were recognized. often someone gets to meet the vice president.” Because of this, people on the right feel they are left with no Afterward, students who wanted to take political action could, Minetos had been invited by a friend to greet the vice president choice, he said, and the Republican Party has what he wants: “Pro- with a table set up by Minetos that provided students with the on the tarmac at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International business, pro-life, pro-opportunity.” resources to write a letter to their representative requesting action. Airport. After snapping a photo with him, Minetos said Pence told “Being an outspoken campus conservative is probably one of the While serving as class president, Minetos’ second step forward him, “That better be on Twitter tonight.” bravest things you can do nowadays on a college campus because came the spring of his senior year, when he earned an internship But Minetos was lucky enough to greet Pence a second time, of the anti-right rhetoric that professors preach,” Minetos said. through Congresswoman Karen Handel’s district office. after stepping out of Air Force Two onto Dobbins Air Reserve But despite Georgia State being a predominantly liberal campus, Just a few months prior in November, Handel faced off against Base. Minetos said students have been very understanding. Jon Ossoff in the 2017 special election for the 6th District seat — a At the state level, he’s met both Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. “[On other campuses,] what happens are the professors that race notably remembered as the most expensive U.S. House race in Jeff Duncan, along with Georgia Reps. Drew Ferguson, Tom have tenure can never get fired and all they do is preach the left’s Graves, Barry Loudermilk and Jody Hice. history to that date. rhetoric and create a hostile environment for students to speak After Handel defeated Ossoff, Minetos had his foot in the door Other notable figures include Georgia Sens. David Perdue and out in,” Minetos said. “The students at Georgia State have been of real politics before even graduating high school. Soon after Johnny Isakson, Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and very welcoming, which I think is a credit to the environment that graduation, as Minetos was planning for college that summer, he Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. [Georgia State University] President [Mark] Becker is trying to received an offer he couldn’t refuse. While in Washington, D.C. for the summer, Minetos came build.” “I was fortunate enough to get offered a position on the team as across the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., at Trump Tower, after a field representative,” Minetos said. “It was pretty special to be in previously meeting him at the University of Georgia. Minetos plans to continue the political path he’s on. As for the that position at such a young age.” “Meeting Don Jr. was great. He was high-energy, really sharp success he’s had so far, he has a few people to thank. No longer an intern, Minetos was organizing volunteers for guy,” Minetos said. “My father has been there for me since day one; he’s been my door-to-door canvassing, holding phone banking nights and Minetos is pretty happy with the direction his life is going now, mentor, adviser and has really shaped the man that I am today, and planning campaign events. and even though he’s just “riding the wave” for now, he could see I could not thank him enough,” he said. “And, of course, the great While working a parade in the district, Minetos had been his future looking very similar. man above — God.” contemplating which college he’d attend in the fall when he came “I really enjoy what I’m doing now, so I do see myself Editor’s Note: Read online for a longer version of the story, across three Georgia State students, Olivia Mitrovich, Maria somewhere in the realm of politics,” he said. including Minetos’ tips for those interested in pursuing politics at Almanza and Kylie Harrod, members of the campus chapter of the If he cooses to pursue a career in politics, he sees a position as a young age.