VOL. 88 | NO. 20 SIGNAL IN A MINUTE: STUDENT NATIONAL AFRO-LATINX STUDENTS STUDENT NATIONAL GUARDSMAN SHARES EXPLAIN STRUGGLING GUARD SHARES TIME IN EXPERIENCE IN D.C. FOR WITH THEIR ETHNIC AND EST. 1933 D.C. FOR INAUGURATION INAUGURATION PG .04 RACIAL IDENTITY PG .08 Independent, impactful & impartial Whistleblower Field Following the conviction of Georgia State top donor Parker H. Petit, Marc Cohodes, a whistleblower that helped bring Petit to justice, is willing to donate $100,000 to jumpstart a discussion between Geor- gia State and the University System of Georgia to rename Parker H. Petit Field at Center Parc Stadium. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN LICHTWARDT @gsusignal georgiastatesignal.com BLOTTER FEB. 12 FEB. 18 Campus carry law Not so happy hour I never got my stimulus doesn’t apply to The Georgia State check last year... housing. EXECUTIVE University Police At the College of Law, a The Georgia State PRESIDENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Department arrested Georgia State student was University Police Brooklyn Valera two non-Georgia State a victim of financial fraud [email protected] Department arrested a MANAGING EDITOR offenders for a liquor at 11:45 a.m. Georgia State student Sharayah Davis law violation, disorderly for carrying a weapon [email protected] MARKETING MANAGER conduct, obstruction and Is the weekend here on school property at Franky Huang fighting at 5:51 p.m. at yet? 11:02 p.m at Greek [email protected] 101 Piedmont Ave. At 4:09 p.m. at the Housing. EDITORIAL Urban Life Building, the NEWS EDITOR FEB. 16 Georgia State University Vacant FEB. 19 [email protected] Adventure time Police Department If I can’t have it, no ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR At 5:51 p.m., the arrested a non-Georgia one can! Vacant OPINIONS EDITOR Georgia State State offender for At Petit Science Park, Kenneth Lockett III University Police obstruction, disorderly a Georgia State student [email protected] Department arrested conduct, trespassing and ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR was a victim of theft and Callie McNorton a non-Georgia State a false fire alarm. criminal property damage ARTS & LIVING EDITOR offender for trespassing at 10:15 a.m. The case is Jada Jones [email protected] at University Commons. still active. ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIVING EDITOR The police department Isa Cordona exceptionally cleared SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Freedman the case. [email protected] ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Erik Indrisano COPY EDITOR Miro Georgiev [email protected] PRODUCTION PRODUCTION EDITOR S LOCAL NATIONAL GLOBAL Evan Koenigs [email protected] ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION EDITOR F Freedom Park home to tree Trump acquitted in historic Human rights groups call for Myah Anglin PHOTOGRAPHY E tribute in honor of John Lewis second impeachment trial release of Yemeni journalist PHOTO EDITOR Matt Siciliano-Salazar I [email protected] Freedom Park Conservancy, Trees Atlanta Monday, ABC News reported that attorney According to CNN on Monday, Adel ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR and The National Center for Civil and R general nominee Merrick Garland said al-Hasani was detained by the Southern Harry Wyman Human Rights spent three days planting trees he plans to focus on the attack on the U.S. Transitional Council, a UAE-backed DIGITAL surrounding John Lewis Plaza, according DIGITAL EDITOR B Capitol when he takes office. He compared secessionist group that controls parts of Caitlin Whisby to Fox 5 Atlanta. The project was unveiled [email protected] the atmosphere right now to that of the southern Yemen. The 35-year-old journalist ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR on Feb. 20, the eve of the late congressman’s Vacant Oklahoma City bomber investigation. Only, was assisting in the release of two European S birthday. Organizers plan to continue VIDEO EDITOR Andre Walker the project with over 300 blooming trees, he believes the current period of time is more journalists when he was arrested. Hasani has [email protected] flowering shrubs and a field of daffodils. Plants dangerous and aggressive. Garland said the been in STC custody for over five months ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR Vacant W that will bloom in February were chosen for Jan. 6 attack was the most “heinous attack on and the human rights groups are calling for PODCAST EDITOR the annual blooming event to celebrate and his release. E a democratic process” and he will pursue all Timo Clark honor Lewis. THE SIGNAL BUREAUS leads of the investigation. ALPHARETTA BUREAU CHIEF Vacant N CLARKSTON BUREAU CHIEF Chris Bryant DECATUR BUREAU CHIEF Vacant DUNWOODY BUREAU CHIEF Vacant NEWTON BUREAU CHIEF Vacant ADVERTISING STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Bryce McNeil [email protected] BUSINESS COORDINATOR Wakesha Henley [email protected] PERIMETER STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Zoana Price [email protected] ADVERTISING The deadline for all advertising is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the desired issue of publication. Ads must be print- ready and in PDF format; files must be delivered via e-mail at [email protected]. Please visit our website at www.georgiastatesignal. com/advertise for more information, including rates and payment methods. MISSION STATEMENT The Signal shall provide, in a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and significance to the Georgia State community and serve as a forum for the expression of ideas of members of that community. Furthermore, The Signal shall provide an opportunity for students to pursue experience within a professional newspaper environment. The Signal shall also provide truthful and ethical advertising of interest to the Georgia State community. COVERAGE REQUESTS Requests for coverage and tips should be subwmitted to the Editor in Chief and/or the relevant section editor. SUBMIT LETTER TO EDITOR Letters must be submitted to the Editor in Chief via e-mail and must include the text of the letter in the body of the message. Letters should be 400-500 words maximum. The Signal will allow longer letters, but only in rare circumstances. Letters must include the full name(s) of the writer(s) and include their year and major. If the writer is a faculty member, they must include their title and department. Letters will be fact-checked prior to publication. The writer may be obligated to make changes to the letter for publication. Letters will be edited for grammar, clarity, length, factual accuracy and adherence to The Signal’s policy. The Signal reserves the right to modify and/ or reject letters at the discretion of the editorial staff. DISCLAIMER Opinions and Letters to the Editor expressed in The Signal are the opinions of the writers and readers. It does not reflect the opinions of The Signal. OFFICE INFORMATION The Signal Student Center West, Suite 250 P.O. Box 3968 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-413-1620 Fax: 404-413-162 NEWS February 23, 2021 WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/NEWS MARC COHODES, A KEY WHISTLEBLOWER IN PARKER H. PETIT’S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, ANNOUNCES A $100,000 DONATION TO GEORGIA STATE TO RENAME THE FOOTBALL FIELD. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN LICHTWARDT $100,000 donation to rename Parker H. Petit Field Following Petit’s conviction, whistleblower Marc Cohodes announces donation to begin discussion BROOKLYN VALERA Editor-in-Chief he Signal has been reporting on Georgia State with a surplus of product. Petit gifted $5 million worth of Board of Regents about renaming the field. alumnus and top donor Parker H. Petit’s criminal the potentially fraudulent stocks to Georgia State in 2018. Associate Vice Chancellor of Communications Lance T activity and investigation since 2018. The case ended in a $1.5 million settlement paid to the SEC. Wallace delivered an official response to The Signal, almost Read the related articles found at georgiastatesignal.com for The attempt to inflate MiMedx’s revenue didn’t go identical to the 2018 and 2019 statements. a chronological recap of the investigation’s timeline. unnoticed by Cohodes. According to The Wall Street “The Board is aware of Parker H. Petit’s securities fraud • July 2018, Parker Petit resigns from MiMedx amid Journal, Petit complained to former senator Johnny Isakson conviction in the Southern District of New York and will federal investigation about Cohodes before Petit’s criminal investigation. Later, continue to closely monitor the situation,” the response • August 2018, Petit gifts potentially inflated stocks to Cohodes received a visit from two FBI agents telling him to states. Georgia State stop tweeting about Petit or “there would be consequences.” Wallace proceeded to share a piece of the 7.4.1 policy that • September 2018, Petit officially removed from MiMedx “Georgia State is an institution that teaches young people states, “Namings authorized by the Board of Regents shall board of directors how to get through life, and having a convicted criminal’s not be modified without approval of the Board. If a situation • October 2018, Georgia State and USG do not plan to name on the football field is a disgrace,” Cohodes said. occurs that may warrant the removal of a name that was rename Parker H. Petit Field “And as much as they would like to sweep it under the rug, previously approved by the Board of Regents, the decision • December 2019, Petit indicted on accounting fraud I’m showing up with a significant donation to rename the whether to remove the name lies in the sole discretion of the charges field ‘Whistleblower Field’ in honor of the brave MiMedx Board in consultation with the Chancellor.” • November 2020, Petit convicted employees who turned this criminal in.” It is considered an honor for the USG to name something Marc Cohodes, a notorious short-seller who helped shine Cohodes is neither a Georgia State alumnus nor a Georgia after an individual or organization because it usually follows a light on Georgia State alumnus and top donor Parker H. resident. Nevertheless, he disagrees with the message it a philanthropic act that displays kindness and selflessness to Petit’s criminal activity, is now calling to remove Petit’s name sends to students if the name stays on the field.