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#K
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The Beginner’s
Guide to Beer
Campus Life 8
Creator Spotlight:
Deidre Mirkin
Entertainment 16
Delicious Low-
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Sports & Health 30
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Inside the Issue 3
DWMA: Senior Portfolio Open House
6
Campus Life
Landing an Internship
8
Campus Life
The Beginner’s Guide to Beer
10
Campus Life
Exploring the Sisterhood
11
Campus Life
6 Ways to Better Manage Your Time
12
Entertainment
The Shamrock Season
16
Entertainment
Creator Spotlight: Deidre Mirkin
20
Entertainment
Fall in Love with Home: Spring Break 2017
21
Tech
Why You Should Learn How Your Tech Works
22
Tech
Sense, Think, Act: The KSU Robotics Team
24
Tech
Kickstarter Future Tech: Beach Bum Gear
26
Tech
Virtual Reality: Outgrowing Its Origins
28
Sports & Health
Intramural Sports
30
Sports & Health
Delicious Low-Carb Veggies
31
Sports & Health
Trust the Process
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CAMPUS LIFE
Landing an Internship Using Campus Resources by Alem Sahic You finish printing out the final copies of your resume. In your hand, they feel crisp and professional. You know it is important to dress for success, but you should also know that it takes a lot more to impress a potential employer than just putting on a nice tie or wearing a fashionable set of heels. In addition to that, how do you even get started on contacting a potential employer in the first place? This is the most important step on the road to becoming an intern.
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Looking professional, having a good resume, and knowing 30 different ways to tie a tie is all useless if you can’t get in contact with an employer. There are many resources that students can use to support your journey.
Career Services Our Department of Career Planning and Development is likely the best place to go for personalized
information on how to improve yourself. They offer services such as checking your resume, advice regarding certain companies, providing mock interviews, tips on how to dress, information on upcoming career events, and, most importantly, a career management system called OwlLink. Of these tools, OwlLink will be the most important for an internship. OwlLink provides students with a way to find companies that exclusively desire interns from KSU. These companies are all filtered by
Photo by: Charlie McDermitt
the Kennesaw system to make sure you work for the most reputable and desirable companies available. I highly recommend trying it out for yourself. Setting up a meeting with career services is rather easy, and finding information on careerexpanding events in Kennesaw is even easier. Check out www. kennesawstatecareerservices.com, or call them at 470-578-6555 to find information on how to meet with your personal career advisor.
LinkedIn LinkedIn is a website that launched on May 5th, 2003. This valuable resource, often described as the Facebook for professionals, makes your professional image public and helps you to get noticed by potential partners and companies. It is likely that you will find many of your
professors’ LinkedIn accounts being rather active. It is customary to share a LinkedIn account with potential business partners. Think of your LinkedIn account as a detailed business card, so make sure to include its link on your actual business card. This makes exchanging account information more efficient. During college career fairs, expect an employer to ask for your LinkedIn account; this will give them insight into what kind of worker you are.
Career Fairs You may have seen advertisements about career fairs circulating on campus. At these events, you can bet that there is a higher ratio of people in business attire compared to those casually dressed. KSU’s career fairs are one of the
Source: Linkedin.com
best ways to get in contact with employers. Career fairs allow for face-to-face interaction with the companies you are interested in, with the added bonus of skipping the whole resume process. These “interview fairs” give you the opportunity to practice your skills in communicating with companies and learn how to improve your chances of landing your dream internship. There are several career fairs offered this semester:
All Majors March 22nd 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Betty Siegel Student Recreation Center
Non-Profit and Government April 13th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Kennesaw Student Center University Rooms
great way to meet some earlybird employers without competing with large crowds of people for a conversation. For more information on career fairs, visit their website at: www.kennesawstatecareerfairs.com. With these resources, you should be on your way to landing an awesome internship. Stay tuned for future articles on student success.
Remember to dress professionally and bring a valid ID. You can also volunteer to help set up some of these events. This will be a
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CAMPUS LIFE
The Beginner’s Guide to Beer by Samantha Holt
So What’s the Difference?
W
ith the vast number of beer styles across the globe, and the constant creation of hybrid brews, I can’t even begin to cover all of them in one article. I can, however, break down a few of the most popular styles to get you on your way to becoming a beer expert. Before we dive in, here are some terms you will need to know as a newfound beer connoisseur:
ABV stands for “alcohol by volume.” A higher ABV means you should probably drink slower.
IBU stands for “international bitterness units.” This is the measure of bitterness in a beverage. The bitterness in beer typically comes from hops, which balance out the sweetness from the malts.
When it comes to the beer world, everything (mostly) boils down to two styles of beer: ales and lagers. Ales and lagers range from light to dark in color and come in a variety of types, so don’t assume all ales or all lagers are the same. That’s not to say that a beer can’t be its own variation of these styles, however - beer is a complex subject, and these two groups can best be defined as the overarching “parent” categories.
Beer is brewed using four basic ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. The difference between ales and lagers begins with the yeast used during the brewing process. Ales are brewed with topfermenting yeast which ferments about 15 degrees warmer than the yeast used for lagers. Lagers are brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast, which requires a longer brew-time than top-fermenting yeast. Overall, ales tend to be sweeter and fruitier in taste, while lagers taste crisper and cleaner. Keep in mind that there are other yeast strains that can help you achieve similar flavors in either style. Now that you know the fundamentals of beer, let’s learn about a few of the more popular styles of ales and lagers.
Ales: Pale Ale: These ales are made with mostly pale malt and are usually light in color, though not as light as a lager. These ales typically have a significant amount of hops. India Pale Ale (IPA): IPAs are heavily brewed with hops for a bitter, stronger, and more aromatic flavor. IPAs differ from pale ales because they are dry hopped. This means that the hops are added after the boil, when the beer is cooled down, and added straight to the fermenting vessel. This adds the hop aroma that IPAs are known for. Blonde/Golden Ale: The blonde ale has a balanced mix of bitterness that makes it an easy-to-drink ale. They are rounded and smooth, and sometimes fermented with both lager and ale yeast. Fun fact: these were introduced in order to get the general lager-drinking population interested in craft beer.
Photo source: dlyakota.ru
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Brown Ale: Brown ales are dark amber or brown in color, with caramel and chocolate notes. Historically, brown ales were lightly hopped with a bigger emphasis on brown malts during the brewing process. These ales vary by country and region: southern England brown ales are typically darker, sweeter, and have a lower ABV, while northeastern England brown ales are typically strong, malty, and nutty. American brown ales tend to be drier than those from England.
Background image source: bgfons.com
Porter and Stout: These beers range in color from a rich, dark brown, to black. Think of porters as a precursor to stouts - they tend to be less bitter and and contain less alcohol by volume. These beers are thicker and full of flavor, and are brewed using roasted malts and grains. Chocolate malts add vanilla, cocoa, and coffee flavors. Roasted barley is usually what is used as the main color component of all stouts and adds dry, espresso, and smoky flavors. Black patent malts contribute bitter, burnt, and gritty flavors to the beer. Though some of these flavors don’t sound appealing on their own, when paired with caramel or chocolate malts the bitterness or grittiness balances out the flavors to appeal to your palate. The difference between stouts and porters has long been argued amongst beer experts. While both are very dark in color, stouts can be considered the fuller-bodied porter. Historically, stouts were made stronger using less water for mashing the malts and/or barley during the brewing process. Some brewers add unmalted roasted barley to many stouts to develop a mildly astringent coffee character to the beer. Photo source: aqweek.com
Lagers: Pilsner: The pilsner is a clear lager that is either yellow or gold, and has a distinct hop aroma and flavor. Pilsner Urquell, available in most restaurants offering craft beer, was the first golden lager that has inspired the creation of many of the world’s favorite beers today. Light/Pale Lager: Your quintessential college beers, such as Budweiser, Miller, Coors, and Heineken, all fall within this broad category of lagers. These higher-carbonated brews tend to be crisp, clean, and have very little hop or malt flavors. Instead, they are loaded with rice, corn, and corn grit. Fun fact: Natural Light is made with grits. Doppelbock: These pale to dark brown German lagers have strong maltiness and low hop flavor. Paler versions have slightly more hops and dryness in flavor than the darker versions that have richer malt components.
The Outliers Lambic: Neither an ale nor a lager, lambics are characterized by dry, vinous, and cider-like flavors which are typically followed by a sour aftertaste. What makes a lambic beer unique is the use of wild yeast during the brewing process. Through the exposure of the wort to open air, the wild yeast is able to ferment in order to produce a mildly carbonated sour beer. Hard Cider: Let me just save you the trouble of looking stupid in front of your next “beer-tender:” hard cider is just fermented apple juice. It doesn’t contain any malts or hops, making it an outlier of the beer community. In addition, cideries require different licenses than breweries to brew and operate.
Photo source: sites.psu.edu
Brewers are pushing the limits every day with innovative ideas. Respect the brew. If you’re ever engaging in a beer discussion and run into these terms, you will be able to understand what the heck those snobs are talking about, and maybe even gauge whether a specific beer matches your personal preferences. Happy drinking, and always remember to consume responsibly!
Remember, brewing is both a science and an art form.
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CAMPUS LIFE
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Exploring the Sisterhood: Sigma Alpha Omega by Des Eaton
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here is something quite fascinating about the secret world of sororities. I am not a sworn-in sister, but I have always been curious to learn more. Are sororities more than just peppy girls who like to party? I was prepared to find out. I sat down with Breanna Kennedy, a senior majoring in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic behavioral science, and a proud member of Sigma Alpha Omega. Breanna shared with me some benefits of joining a sorority at KSU.
Des Easton: So Breanna, tell me a little bit about why you joined a sorority.
Breanna Kennedy: I’m actually one of the founders. Four other ladies and I started the sorority in the spring of 2014. We are still new. I always wanted to do sorority life, but I didn’t want to do the really big groups. I’ve been a Christian my whole life and I thought this would be the best fit for me.
DE: Did you consider the general stigma of sororities when you decided to join one?
BK: Yeah, a lot of times, when people think sororities,
DE : Breanna, what do you think some benefits of joining a sorority are? I’m going to give you some categories: the first one is life benefits.
all they want to think about is the parties and that stuff. We’re totally different from that, especially being a Christian sorority. We are a dry sorority, which means we don’t do anything with alcohol. Also, a lot of people say that you pay for your friends, but honestly what we’re paying for is all the merchandise and the activities that we do. It’s totally worth the money. I love all the girls and we really are a family.
BK: It has helped me connect with other girls. I kind of
DE: How time-consuming would you say it is to be in a
DE: The third category is college benefits.
sorority? I know students are carrying quite a load as it is.
BK: It is a time commitment because we do have certain requirements that the girls have to meet. We try to lay that out at the beginning, that way they know what they are committing to. I have a very busy life but I have done it all four years and I don’t regret it at all. I make time for it.
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grew up hanging with the guys, so it’s really helped me build relationships with girls. It teaches you to really connect with other people in a group.
DE: What about a career benefit? BK: It’s a great resume builder. It shows that girls are able to perform in leadership roles.
BK: It has helped me with classes. We meet up and do study groups together. It’s just very encouraging. Any time I have a problem in class, they are the first ones that I turn to. We also like to recommend different classes and professors to each other. For more information on sororities, students can visit the Department of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Photo by: Breanna Kennedy
Tick-Tock: 6 Ways to Better Manage Your Time by Damie Omole
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rom sprinting across campus to get to class on time, to hoping that the clock doesn’t run out while taking your test - as students, we have all been there. The truth is that most students have found themselves in one or another of these time-crunch moments. While sometimes these situations are totally unavoidable, good time management is vital to enhancing our college careers. Studies by various researchers have shown a remarkable connection between time management and academic success. Here is a list of ways to maximize your time:
Utilize Time Between Classes While waiting for the next class to start, you can spend your time planning and arranging your calendar, working on assignments, or reading. This reduces the number of tasks you have to complete when you get home.
Photo source: www. roadmapplus.com
Prioritize This is another helpful way to maximize time. When making lists or planning out your day, it is advisable to arrange assignments and activities from the most important or urgent to the least important. This helps give you a clearer picture of what you need to do first.
Plan Planning is the foundation of time management, and having a planner can be the difference between someone who is organized and someone who is not. Investing in a planner is an essential step towards managing your time better, as you can organize month-by-month or by hours in a day. You can easily arrange your activities and deadlines in one easy-to-access place. Although I have a physical planner, what has also helped me manage my time better is Google Calendar. You can put in your class times and assignment deadlines, which you can pair with alarms to remind you of your upcoming deadlines.
Avoid Procrastination Procrastination is one of the prime enemies of time management. Procrastination leads to stressful situations that could have easily been avoided. Leave procrastination behind; do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it.
Time Yourself I often find myself spending hours on things that should only take a couple of minutes because I thought I had all the time in the world. To prevent scenarios like this, make sure you set time limits when scheduling your activities.
Make To-Do Lists To-do lists are very effective for keeping track of your activities. You can either implement this in your planner or have a different notebook for your to-do lists. What I particularly like about the lists is that they help keep track of things you want to do, and things you have already done. Finally, just take it easy and be calm. We tend to achieve more when we are calm and stay productive without stressing out.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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The Shamrock Season by Jessica Brummel
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t. Patrick’s Day has become an almost international holiday: everyone is a little bit Irish on March 17th! With the day’s most popular activities consisting of getting drunk, eating good food, and wearing green, it’s easy to forget what some of the holiday’s symbols mean.
Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival: March 18th, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Town Center Park in Suwanee, GA This event is a wee bit expensive: tickets cost $60 on the day of event, and $55 from March 4th to the 17th. But if you get here, you’ll be able to try 350 craft beers, listen to live music, play games, and get food from local vendors. For those beer artisans out there, there’s also a home brew contest!
Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race: March 12th, 8:30 a.m. at Atlantic Station
Green The official color of St. Patrick’s Day was originally blue, but, taking cues from the Irish flag, Catholics in Ireland wear green, and Protestants wear orange. White symbolizes the peace between the two groups. Green became popular because of St. Patrick’s use of the green clover, and also because another name for Ireland is the Emerald Isle.
The Shamrock St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to talk about the Holy Trinity in Christianity.
If you want to get ready for St. Patty’s Day and burn calories in preparation for all the food you’re sure to consume that day, or if you just want to support the Junior League of Atlanta, this is the event for you. At 8:30 a.m. there will be a 5k and a 10k run. Bring your dogs!
Marietta Shamrock Shuffle: March 18th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Marietta Square This run is a lot closer to home. It costs $35 to run, and it starts at 8:00 a.m. All profits go towards the Marietta Police Athletic League, which works to support local youth through sports and mentoring.
All around the world you’ll see people celebrating this day in different ways, and Atlanta is no different. Here are some events you won’t want to miss: St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 11th, 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. in Midtown Atlanta This event dates back to 1858. Onlookers will be treated to a giant parade with bagpipes, floats, kilts, and more!
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Hemingway’s St. Patrick’s Day Party: March 17th, 12:00 p.m. at Marietta Square Support local businesses and come out to Hemingway’s! They’ll be celebrating with Irish music, green beer specials, food, costumes, and many singalongs. Not feeling the need to go out? Celebrate at home with friends with these drinking games (21+).
Coin Hunt For this game you need as many gold coins as you want. Number each coin with a sharpie (if you have 20 coins number them 1-20). Hide these around your house, then write down a different rule for each number so everyone at the party can read it If someone finds a coin, they have to do the rule on the coin - take a shot, down a beer, etc.
Irish Poker Everyone gets four cards, face down.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/millermz/6849000586/
The person to the left of the dealer has to guess the number on their card. If they get it wrong they drink for the same number of seconds as the number on the car. If they get it right, the person to their right has to drink for that many seconds. Keep going around in a circle until everyone’s done!
St Patty’s Day Drinking Game Drink if you woke up and forgot it was St. Patty’s Day
Drink if you get pinched
Drink if someone claims they’re Irish
Drink if a food or drink is not normally green, and now is
Drink every time you see/ hear the phrase, “Kiss me, I’m Irish”
Someone talks in a fake Irish accent Irish music is played
Make your own green beer Get a light beer, a pint glass, and green food coloring. Add 3-4 drops of food coloring and then slowly pour the beer in. Make sure to drink responsibly on St. Patrick’s Day and follow KSU policies on alcohol. Nothing ruins a good holiday like getting sick or in a lot of trouble!
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green-beer.jpg KSULIFESTYLE.COM / MARCH 2017 13
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ENTERTAINMENT
Creator Spotlight: Deidre Mirkin by Jessica Brummel
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elcome to the first segment of Creator Spotlight. Each highlight will feature one of Kennesaw State University’s own creators, whether it’s art, film, or music. Our first interviewee is Deidre Mirkin, an art education major. She has found so much joy in art that she wants to be able to share this passion with the generations to come.
1. What inspired you to start creating art? Are there any artists you draw inspiration from? Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I remember drawing mandalas in preschool. Growing up with an artist as a mother has had a huge impact on me. She works as a graphic designer, but has a background in all sorts of artistic fields. She has always inspired me to push myself creatively, and to explore new tools and techniques. I would not be the artist I am today without her. There aren’t really any artists in particular that I consciously draw from, but recently I’ve been getting into painting rocks in a style similar to an artist named Elspeth McLean. She is the rock painting queen. I very much admire her Aboriginal-esque work.
2. What would you call your style, and how did you develop it? My style is mainly abstract. I’ve always had a knack for patterns and repetition: making interesting shapes and exploring different ways that lines can be combined, curved, hatched, etc. When I was little, I started drawing mandalas, which are radially symmetrical designs that grow outward from the center. They have become very popular in recent years, especially in those adult coloring books. I’ve developed my style by not paying attention in class, and by doodling in my sketchbooks or in the margins of assignments throughout the years. Don’t follow my lead, kids.
3. How long have you been practicing? My entire life. I honestly cannot tell you the moment I started practicing. I would doodle in school and at home. I always had some kind of project going on, whether it was drawing a picture of a dog, painting on a huge canvas, weaving ripped-up T-shirts into a loom, making hanging artwork out of cut-up soda cans, gluing seashells together to make seashell sculptures, making jewelry with beads and wire, cutting and sanding down pieces of wood to make cool walking sticks, knitting scarfs, making friendship bracelets, or painting mandalas on river rocks; the list is almost endless.
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Creator Spotlight: Deidre Mirkin (continued) 4. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out? For someone starting out, I would advise them to find a style or technique that is fun for them, something that they can see themselves looking forward to working with. A mistake I think a lot of people who are trying to be artists make is assuming that you need to be good at drawing to be good at art. While there is some truth to that, you can make brilliant art that is not related to drawing at all. There are so many different kinds of art, and endless possibilities. Drawing, painting, sculpting, photography, filmography, graphic design, printmaking, jewelry making, carpentry, or forging; the list goes on forever. Find something that is unique to you, and, if you enjoy it and are good at it, take off with it.
5. What is your career goal? Does it involve art? I am an art education major. While my dream is to make and sell art, I’ve realized over the years that it is an unrealistic lifestyle in terms of making a decent living. Instead, I’ve decided that I want to be an art teacher. I have found so much joy in life through making art, and I want to share that with other people. I think it will be extremely fulfilling to provide tools and guidance to children in order to help them reach their artistic and creative potential, and to possibly give them something to be passionate about.
More of Deidre’s art can be found on her Instagram account @deeloochia
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Fall in Love with Home: Spring Break 2017 by Jessica Brummel
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pring break is just around the corner, and there’s always the issue of planning. Is there enough money for a beach trip? Would it be boring to go again this year? Would I even feel comfortable on the beach? The week-long vacation comes with so many stressors that it’s a bit ridiculous, but there’s no need to freak out. Georgia has so much to offer, and most students haven’t gone to some of the amazing places and sites that are only a few hours from campus. Georgia has so many beautiful sites and amazing experiences to offer. If you don’t feel like having a typical spring break, fall in love with your home again.
Go Camping!
Go Climbing!
Go Swimming!
Georgia is home to some beautiful mountains, forests, and parks. Georgia State Parks even sponsors a program called the First-Time Camper Program. Never camped in a park here? You’ll get a six-person tent, four chairs, a camp stove, and a lantern. All you have to do is pay the normal camping fees! Fort Yargo State Park is only an hour and a half away. It boasts 40 campsites, a giant lake which is great for kayaking, and 20.5 miles of hiking trails. The Stephen C. Foster State Park is further away, about five hours, but it’s worth it. Not only is it in the Okefenokee Swamp, but it was designated by The International Dark Sky Association as one of the best places in the world to see the stars. Be prepared though - that beautiful view means that the closest large grocery store is about 50 miles away, so make sure to stock up on food and drink first. Fall in love with the sky for a few nights at one of their campsites.
Want something a little more heartracing? Drive an hour and a half to check out Banning Mills, home to the world’s tallest climbing wall at 140 feet. It also houses a 100 foot power free fall, an aerial adventure challenge park, horseback riding, hiking trails, falconry, and kayaking. It’s definitely a place to drop some cash and make some memories.
Still feeling the beach, but don’t want to make the drive to Florida? Tybee Island is only a four hour drive from the school. This makes it perfect for an early morning drive: four hours in the car for 10 hours on the beach? Perfect. You also get to stop by Savannah, GA: maybe take a ghost tour or walk down River Street. Georgia also has the Golden Isles, a series of small, beautiful beaches which are only five hours away.
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Georgia has so many beautiful sites and amazing experiences to offer. If you don’t feel like having a typical spring break, fall in love with your home again.
Photo by: Emily Kogod
TECH
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Why You Should Learn How Your Tech Works by Tommy Calhoun
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t this point in time, technology illiteracy is almost unacceptable. Everyone interacts with at least one piece of technology, but relatively few of us could explain how things actually work. Well, we think we know: our phones work because of electricity and our WiFi works because we plug it into the ethernet port, but do we really know why it works? Well, no. For the most part, we really don’t need to. For most general purposes, we can get by almost exclusively on our knowledge of keyboard shortcuts and Google Drive. But what happens when we get stumped or our stuff breaks? We usually end up paying someone else to fix it and then get it back to find it magically working again. If you want to get the most out of your technology, you’ve got to learn about it. In doing so, you’re developing valuable skills and saving yourself a little bit of time and money as well. The most obvious reason for learning why your tech works is so that you are able to fix it. It is
a known fact that many products constructed these days favor replacement over durability. Developers want people to continue buying new versions of their products, and the easiest way to do that is to make products that aren’t designed to last. You can save yourself a little bit of money and avoid the constant purchasing of new products by fixing them yourself. For example, last month my laptop charging cord got cut in half. Instead of just buying a new one, I got my hands on a little bit of electrical tape, some wire strippers, and my friend’s soldering iron. After a few mishaps, I had managed to reconnect all the proper terminals and my charger works fine now. Fixing your own stuff can be a cheap alternative to buying into the cyclic nature of modern products, and can also be a pretty useful skill for the future. Learning how your technology works can also be a great resume-boosting skill. Knowing a programming language or simple electronics can give you an edge, even in job fields that normally aren’t very tech-heavy. Having these skills shows that you have the ability to solve your own minor problems and don’t get bogged down by simple technical issues. It definitely pushes you up on the list over the five thousand people that put ‘Microsoft Word proficiency’ and ‘attention to detail’ as defining traits. Learning about your technology can also be a great way to develop a new hobby. I found my interest in building computers while I was browsing some forums trying to figure out what made my computer work. After reading some guides and stalking Newegg for weeks, I made my parts list. Through asking questions and chatting with people, I’ve developed a unique skill and found a group of people who share similar interests with me.
Photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
Background image: Twechie on Flickr.com
Building computers is just one example, though - get out there and find your own thing. Whether it’s cool backyard science experiments, geeking out over really cool cameras, or any number of other things; everyone has something they want to talk about. You just have to find the activity that meshes well with you.
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Sense, Think, Act: The KSU VEX Robotics Team by Alem Sahic
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ense, think, act.” This motto from Dr. McFall, a professor in mechatronics, is used to explain the autonomous functions of a robot. A robot uses sensory functions to follow a set path in its ‘memory,’ and then act upon it. In the VEX competition club, a large portion of time is spent on having robots behave independently, and even more time is spent having them behave correctly. All of this is done within the small of confines of their lab in the Engineering Technology building. You can go up to the doors of the lab and see the team hard at work, each designing, programming, and testing their own personal
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robots. With a knock on the door, a few divert their attention and allow you in. As you step into the room, you can smell the scent of batteries, of metal and wires, of nails and gears. There are a few members at the workstation, building robots from strips of metal, screws, cogs, and wheels. Some members are at the computers with their robots plugged in, “teaching” the robot its functions. Others are testing their robots, either with controls or through autonomous control. “You build, test, build, fail, build again, and test again,” says vice president Will H. It is rare that a robot will be made correctly the first time, but through repetition,
readjustment, and some innovation, you can create any machine to perform any function. In an interview with the president of the club, Yassin Moghazy, I learned many interesting things about their organization, particularly about how young it is and how dedicated the team members are. “I think VEX is a three-year-old program this year,” says Yassin. VEX is in its infantile stage at the moment, and is very young compared to other competition clubs on the Marietta campus, some of which have been around since the 1960s. There is much room for growth in the club’s future, and there will be
Photos by: Alem Sahic
many opportunities for VEX to show its potential to a greater community. This year, the KSU VEX team will be involved in three separate competitions. The first will take place at Purdue University on February 9th; the second will take place at the Marietta campus gymnasium on March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and the third will take place at a West Virginia High School on March 11th. At two of the competitions, the ones at Purdue and West Virginia, VEX will have the opportunity to score first place and qualify for the championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
However, the competition on Marietta is not a qualifier since this is the very first time that Kennesaw will be hosting a VEX competition. The team hopes that next year the competition can take place on the Kennesaw campus within the convocation center. This will allow the competition games at KSU to hold much more value, since competing teams will wish to qualify for the championship. This will bring interest and awareness of KSU and their mechatronics program to other University systems, as students and teams will flock to the campus. In describing what competition day is like, Yassin stated that, “It’s a hectic, hectic day, competition day. Typically you show up, you check in, you put your robot down. Maybe you’ve had
breakfast already, maybe you haven’t; you grab a snack if you haven’t. Typically, it’ll have been a late night the night before, or maybe you haven’t gone to sleep. Hopefully, we will go to sleep, that’s the plan, that we will all sleep for at least six hours.” Like in many other competitive teams, there seems to be an alarming lack of sleep prior to competition day, as teams put in the finishing touches to their masterpieces. To the KSU VEX team, the competition is only half the battle. What really makes VEX stand out is not the autonomous robots or Round Robin, but how almost anyone, whether you’re a STEM major or not, a freshman or a senior, or whether you’re green to the club or an old veteran, can be expected to be equally involved in the club and its various competitions. I believe that Yassin described it best when he said during the interview that “Anybody can come in and learn and be competitive, day one. It’s an easy system to learn, and anybody can do it. I think it’s important because not only is it a robotics system, but it brings a lot of awareness to the mechatronics major on campus. And it’s really… a really good place for people to learn and grow and become leaders. We travel together, we compete together, we build together. Everything is a community where we are.” The club members are dedicated to their work, and it’s surprising to see this great dedication combined with such a relaxed environment. Everyone in the club is a friend, and there is no personal drama or frustrations. “Had you ever been around the guys, you’d know we’re all about fun,” Yassin describes.
When asked of his personal opinion of the club, and to state his final words on the matter, the president had this to say: “I love these guys. I really hope more people get interested in VEX. It’s a really unique system and there’s a lot of room to learn, and we do get a lot of opportunities to learn a lot of different things. You’re not restricted to any one method as you might be on another competition team. You don’t have to be stuck on the programming team, you don’t have to be stuck on the electrical team, you don’t have to be stuck on the building
team, you don’t have to...you know. You can be a jack of all trades in our organization or you can specialize in one thing. It gets people opportunities.” From my personal opinion on the club, I believe that it is a great place for anyone who is interested in becoming a part of a highly competitive time while still maintaining a fun and relaxed environment. For more information on VEX, please go to www.vexrobotics.com. For more information on our KSU VEX team, please check out their page on Owl Life.
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Kickstarter Future Tech: Beach Bum Gear by Tommy Calhoun
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pring break is about to get into full swing, and you know what that means: it’s time to grab your towels, load up on sunblock, and start trying to figure out how you’re going to get a beach body in a week, before realizing that no one else is going to have a beach body either. Yes, spring break is the holiday of vacations, and you’re going to want to make the most of it. You don’t want to look like a chump by showing up to the beach with last year’s gear. Thankfully, the entrepreneurs at Kickstarter have got you covered. Here are a few gadgets that you can get to bump this year’s spring break up to the next level.
The Soundboks Speaker: For the Party Masters
Status: Completed and manufacturing The first thing you and your friends are going to want are some fresh beats so you can attract the attention of other beachgoers; music brings the party, after all. The Soundboks is marketed as the loudest batterypowered speaker, and it certainly lives up to the claim. Cranking out 119 decibels at max volume is no small feat (in comparison, 119 db is louder than an ambulance), and is sure to turn a few heads. You also don’t have to worry about running out of charge, because this powerhouse can run for 30 hours on a full charge at medium usage (110 decibels). The Soundboks is also weatherproof, so you can bring it on the most rugged of excursions. If you’re looking for a party magnet to draw in all the other springbreakers, then look no further than the Soundboks.
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Images from Kickstarter.com
The SPUD: For Those Who Miss Their Computers
Status: Funded and in manufacturing process The SPUD (Spontaneous Pop-Up Display) is exactly what it says it is. It’s a 24” 1080p monitor that you can take with you onthe-go. As appealing as staying out on the beach and partying all night sounds, it can also be equally nice to wrap up in a warm blanket and watch some Netflix. Utilizing a compact projector and a simple set-up process, the SPUD can make that a possibility. You can connect with almost any device, either by using a wireless adaptor or the tried and true HDMI cable. Heck, you could even use the leftover juice in your Soundboks speaker to provide a nice multimedia viewing experience on the go.
The Crua Hybrid: For Those Who Need to Catch up on Their Beauty Rest Status: Completed and manufacturing No spring break trip is truly complete without catching up on all the sleep you missed during the semester. That’s where the Crua Hybrid steps in: it is equal parts tent, hammock, bug net, and sleeping pad. Whether you want to sleep in the air or firmly anchored to the ground, you’ll be doing so in the utmost comfort. The Crua Hybrid is completely waterproof and even has a hatch that allows you to link two of them together. It’s perfect for just sitting and relaxing, weathering a storm in its waterproof shell, or catching a quick nap in-between adventures. No matter who you are, or what you’re doing, the Crua Hybrid has a mode for everyone.
Background Image: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/
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TECH
Virtual Reality: Outgrowing Its Origins by Nicholas Zingleman
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magine putting on a device shaped like ski goggles that can take you to another world. No, not just one world, but any place, time, or universe you can imagine. Innovators have finally been able to utilize the newest technologies to make this a reality and you have probably already heard of it. Virtual reality is quickly becoming one of the world’s most transformative technologies because of its ability to allow users to directly interface with their technology. The current and biggest gig for VR at the moment is gaming. Facebook’s Oculus and HTC’s Vive have provided an open platform for developers to build and test anything they could imagine. The open platform also gave those in other fields a spring board to search and find new ways to utilize the headset. Now other developers are utilizing these devices to extend its applications to their work.
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Giving New Possibilities For young adults suffering from high-functioning autism, it is quite difficult to understand and interpret social cues from those around you. We often do not think about social nuances, but for this group of people, they might not even know where to start. It can be especially tough for this demographic because they might also be transitioning to college or into a new community. Unfortunately, there is no proven way to teach these young adults the necessary skills. Utilizing a VR headset, researchers from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas, have created an innovative social training system. This long-term program creates a “platform to safely practice and integrate social cues that may improve social skills, social cognition, and social functioning.” Some of the scenarios utilized involve working out a conflict with coworkers, or speaking about common interests with friends.
Photo source: BagoGames on Flickr.com
Improving Surgery Since the 19th century, operating theatres have been used to allow medical students a glimpse at particular surgeries before performing them themselves. Now, in the 21st century, you just need a VR headset. One advantage that VR gives to medical professionals is the ability to view previously recorded operations as if they’re right in front of the operating table. It also allows for surgeons to plan surgeries of their patients in a way that wasn’t possible before. They can view a three-dimensional scan or diagram of a specific patient as a digital hologram to view and manipulate as needed. This gives spatial awareness that wasn’t possible with just computer monitors and screens. Doctors will now be able to view any given problem indicated on a scan and view it from any angle to attain a better understanding of the operation they are about to perform.
Treating PTSD Since 2005, researchers at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California have investigated promising results from Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy. The project, titled Bravemind, is quickly becoming a viable treatment option for veterans suffering from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. With just the use of a VR headset, three-dimensional audio, vibrations, and smells, patients can begin to work through their traumatic memories and experiences in a controlled environment. Patients have traditionally been instructed to imagine an event or scenario, essentially having them talk it out, but virtual reality headsets are now allowing them to recreate these experiences visually so they can focus more on the treatment. Although research is ongoing, results are suggesting that VR Exposure Therapy is more effective in the long-term.
Some technologies change how you think about everything else. The smart phone did that when everyone suddenly had an Internet-connected computer to carry around. All of the ways we can really use these new devices may not be obvious yet, especially when they are new and flashy. Once we start to get a good look at what the applications are for virtual reality, we will start to see a shift from just a gaming peripheral into more specific models for various fields.
Photo source: http:// ict.usc.edu
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SPORTS & HEALTH
Intramural Sports: Students Lead Athletics by Micheal Jones
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ost students think that they are doing well simply by going to class and making good grades. Doing well academically is a good thing, but KSU loves students who are involved in activities around campus. The more involved you are, the more your peers and the university will notice you. I went to the rec center one day to work-out and meet up with some friends, and what I saw was crazy. I swiped into the rec center and was walking to the weights, but all I could see were people
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from wall-to-wall, chanting and screaming around the basketball courts. This attracted my attention, so I walked into the gym and saw basketball teams playing against each other while the fans were cheering. This was really surprising to me, as I had never seen any excitement from the student body except at football games. I wanted to look deeper into exactly what was going on, and if there were other sports that students were interested in. It turns out that the majority of the students I talked
to were all involved in intramural sports teams at one point or another. It is common in high school for many students to be involved in sports, but I did not expect that on a university level. There are a few good reasons to consider intramural sports teams and to make them a part of your college lifestyle. One reason to get involved is that it doesn’t take up too much time. I talked to some of the basketball players, and they said that playing only took up around six hours a day. The players typically practice
Photos by: Michael Jones
and play games throughout the weekdays. These sports are not only time-convenient, but it also serves as a social hub for students. There were students of all types there, both actively participating in the game and cheering their friends on. The students said that playing intramural sports is a great way to meet new people, build relationships, and make connections in order to network with students who have similar interests. For some students, it might be difficult to feel like you are a part of the university, especially if there is a large student body. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. There are many ways to
get involved with other students, and playing intramural sports is a great way to do that. You make new friends the second you join a team, and you even have the chance to build your reputation. Meeting people can be difficult, but finding a sport that you like and playing it with other people is an immediate ice breaker. These games are entirely run by students: the play, referee, and keep score. Everyone is trying to compete with other teams, and they practice every week so that they will improve and be able to beat other teams. Intramural sports even get the fraternities and sororities involved, and they play along with the rest of the
student body. Playing together contributes to their sense of brotherhood/sisterhood and unity. Essentially, all the teams are playing with the intent to have fun and gain the opportunity to play towards a championship. What would be more fun than forming a group with your friends and winning a championship? You’ll build relationships and make a community of people, all while staying active and keeping yourself in a social setting. Playing for one of these teams is definitely a good idea, and you should not miss out on the opportunity.
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SPORTS & HEALTH
Delicious Low-Carb Veggies by Samantha Holt
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s the temperature begins to rise, some of us many not be as ready as others are to begin shedding their clothes. In the wake of spring, and, more importantly, spring break, I am all for leading a healthy lifestyle. We all know that some dishes are just too tasty to give up for the sake of slimming down or living healthier, but, luckily, there are versatile vegetables out there which keep the flavor and essence of the dish without all the extra carbohydrates and inches on your waistline. Here are five vegetables that make delicious substitutions for your favorite carb-filled foods:
Zucchini
Cauliflower
Replace lasagna noodles with zucchini strips to cut carbs. Remember, the more carbs you cut out, the more cheese you can add: at least, that’s what I tell myself. Additionally, this green squash can be spiralized using a spiralizer and used as a replacement in your favorite pasta dishes. All you need to add for flavor is salt, pepper, parmesan, and lemon juice. Just add your protein of choice, and you will have a filling and satisfying meal.
Although this vegetable may be a boring, colorless, broccoliimpersonator which you avoided in your youth, cauliflower tastes delicious when prepared with the right recipe. Instead of homemade mashed potatoes, substitute it with mashed cauliflower. It is just as creamy and tastes almost the same, if not better. Cauliflower can also be used as a low-carb pizza crust for those that prefer their crust thin. You can even replace macaroni with baked cauliflower chunks in your favorite mac-and-cheese recipe.
Leafy Greens
Spaghetti Squash
Instead of using tortillas for your wraps and tacos, replace them with leafy greens for a crisp and refreshing alternative. Cabbage, iceberg, chard, and most collard greens make great wrap and taco material.
If the name didn’t already give it away, spaghetti squash can be used as a replacement for spaghetti. Pair it with your favorite style of red sauce and you will get all of the satisfaction of spaghetti without adding pounds to the scale.
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Portobello Mushroom These huge mushrooms make excellent burger buns; just throw them on the grill and add some salt and pepper. They also make tasty bread bowls for soup and dip. You can make your own mushroom pizza by hollowing out the cap and filling it with red sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, or whichever pizza toppings you prefer. Let’s leave pineapples out of this, though.
Dieting doesn’t have to be boring - take these ideas and get creative in the kitchen. These are just a few easy alternatives to help you look and feel healthier. For expert nutritional advice, students can visit the Center for Health Promotion and Wellness to speak with registered nutritionists. Illustrations by: Emily Kogod
Trust the Process by Eric Hunter
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currently one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 10-5 in the month of January, and they have a chance to be legitimate playoff contenders.
The team spent years at the bottom of the NBA to acquire draft picks, and those players slowly started to develop. Now the future is looking bright in Philadelphia, as Joel Embiid leads the way for the 76ers. They are
Intentionally losing games to get draft picks works because of the tradeoff that you get as the new talent comes into the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks obviously need to take a page out of the 76ers book and rebuild. The Hawks have not had a superstar player since Dominique Wilkins. You would think that Atlanta is a hotspot for talented NBA players, but that has not been the case recently. The team has one All-Star player in Paul Millsap, who could possibly be replaced this year
he developing years for the 76ers were hard for any sports fans to watch. The team purposefully put the worst product on the court, as their goal was to tank the season in order to get a chance at the first overall draft pick. They did this for three years in order to stock up on young talent from the NBA Draft. They also traded away quality players for draft picks to add to this effort.
by Joel Embiid on the Eastern AllStar team. The rest of the players are either past their prime, such as Dwight Howard, or bench players being put into starting positions. The Hawks have a history of making the playoffs and getting beat out in the first or second rounds. The Hawks need to start rebuilding for the future. It starts by trading away what little talent they have while they are still relevant to other teams for draft picks. They are not playing on the level that they need to be playing on to win the Eastern Conference. The fact that great teams are built through the draft gets overlooked too often due to recent trends of team stacking. The OKC Thunder drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka, who led the charge for OKC to make it out of the Western Conference and play for a chance to win a championship. Golden State drafted Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, who led Golden State to a championship and two straight NBA Finals. The Atlanta Hawks can be the next OKC Thunder, Golden State Warriors, or Philadelphia 76ers - it just takes patience. It’s time to rebuild and “Trust the Process,” as Philadelphia fans would say. Three to four terrible years would be worth a shot at a championship.
Photo by: Getty Images
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