Technique Friday, December 3, 2010 • Volume 96, Issue 18 • nique.net
Nostalgic Nutcracker
The holiday classic returns to the Fox for the 51st year413
The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper
DegreeWorks tool launches By Maddie Cook Contributing Writer
Tech is making an effort to simplify students’ registration efforts with a new online program, DegreeWorks. The Registrar’s office has recently decided to upgrade to a new program. Under the same operating system as Banner and Buzzport, DegreeWorks is a program that aims to assist students and advisors in academic organization, academic performance and to plan future academic coursework. “[The Registrar is] really committed to improving the technology of our business
processes, practices and updating for the 21st century while staying in line with the strategic vision of Georgia Tech,” said Robert Simon, assistant registrar. DegreeWorks is a webbased program that allows students and advisors to view all past, present and future coursework. Like degree checklists distributed by academic advisors, DegreeWorks plugs in a student’s specific coursework and allows the student see what is completed and what is not. Based on a student’s program, he or she can also view how an additional major or minor will affect his or her
current schedule. Future installments to the program include a graduation planner and online petition degrees. “I’ll definitely need it to keep track of classes. I’ve actually been needing something like this because I’m a co-op student. This program will help me decide what to take and when to take certain classes,” said Russell Ralston, third-year ME major. By being able to plan out future coursework, DegreeWorks enables students to view the necessary classes and prerequisites for programs. In Spring 2011, the Registrar plans to release other parts of the program like ad-
visor training and a curriculum planning assistant. Once all 36 programs agree to use the program, DegreeWorks will increase advertising and add links to its site on other Tech sites like BuzzPort. Alabama and UGA are among several other universities who have this program for students. “I think [DegreeWorks] is going to help the student-advisor relationship a lot. What the advisor sees is what the student sees,” Simon said. One feature that the advisor and the student share is the notes feature. The feaSee DegreeWorks, page 5
bonjour France-Atlanta Tech unveils multifaceted international exchange
From Nov. 29 through Dec. 12, the Institute is cosponsoring “France-Atlanta 2010: Together Toward Innovation” in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Atlanta. This program features a series of 20 different events focused on the arts, business, science and humanitarian efforts. These events are taking place all around Atlanta, though Tech is hosting nine on campus. Organized under the High Auspices of the Ambassador of France to the United States, Governor Sonny Purdue and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, this initiative was intended to unite American and French experts in various fields in order to facilitate
I would like to salute them.” Institute President G.P. “Bud” Peterson also spoke at the occasion and made his enthusiasm for collaboration with the French delegation clear to all in attendance. “The events of these next two weeks are about increasing awareness, building bridges, increasing collaboration and celebrating our cultures,” Peterson said. The partnership between Tech and France began 20 years ago with the establishment of Georgia Tech Lorraine, Tech’s first international campus, located in Metz, France. Since its inception, more than 2500 graduate students have studied at the campus, and American and French scientists conduct ongoing joint research. On June 15 of this year,
By Siddharth Gurnani Contributing Writer
Peterson traveled to the campus in Metz, France to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the GT Lorraine program, and it was established that a celebration in Atlanta would be appropriate as well. “The Georgia Tech-Lorraine campus offers students from around the world the opportunity to take undergraduate and graduate courses taught in English by Georgia Tech faculty,” Peterson said. Plans are also underway to expand Tech’s presence in the northeast region of France. On Tuesday, Nov. 30, Tech officials and representatives from Lorraine signed a letter of intent to establish the Lafayette Institute, a new resource center for industry and academic research laboratoSee France, page 5
See Leach, page 3
Photos by Basheer Tome / Student Publications
an academic and cultural exchange of ideas. According to Pascal LeDeunff, consul general of France in Atlanta, nearly one hundred prominent French figures have temporarily relocated to Atlanta in order to participate in this occasion. “Many have crossed the Atlantic to join us in Atlanta for ‘France-Atlanta 2010’, including the vice-president of the Lorraine region, the vice-president of the Conseil général de la Moselle, the president of Metz Métropole, the mayor of Metz and a delegation from the City of Toulouse,” LeDeunff said at the opening ceremony, held on Monday, Nov. 29 at The World of Coke. “They came to Atlanta with top scientists, business leaders, artists and NGO leaders. Tonight,
Photo courtesy of Communication and Marketing
W. Marshall Leach, Jr., ECE professor, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the age of 70. He received his PhD in EE from Tech in 1972 and became a professor in the ECE department that year. He was a four time recipient of the Richard and Bass Eta Kappa Nu award for outstanding teacher in ECE, the most by any ECE professor. Leach primarily taught electromagnetics, microsystems and electronic design. He was also the advisor for Tech’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch between 1972-82 and 2003-06. During his tenure he taught hundreds of students and sponsored numerous team projects. He was continuously consulted and contacted about construction plans for amplifiers and speakers he designed and constructed. His death came as a shock to the ECE department. “He had been treated for congestive heart problems for five years but was absolutely fine the Wednesday before his death. He called me Thursday night complaining of pain, and I took him to the emergency room Friday morning. That was the last time I had a conversation with him,” said Thomas Brewer, ECE lab director. Brewer was a close associate and friend of Leach’s. Both arrived to Tech at the same time 40 years ago. “I saw him for five-six days a week over 40 years, so it’s going to be a big vacancy in my life,” Brewer said. He was respected by professors, students, faculty and administration alike. His students characterized Leach as an approachable professor with a passion for teaching. “His overall goal was to teach. It didn’t matter if his final was coming up. You knew he was going to be fair. People loved his classes. He even made the difficult classes nice,” said James Steinberg, ECE electronics engineer. Steinberg couldn’t recall any bad reviews of Leach during his nine years at Tech. “Marshall was the consummate educator [and] one of the best teachers that we had,” said Gary May, Chair of the School of ECE. There has been an outpouring of grievances from former students on Leach’s website. Former students remember Leach as a professor who was always willing to sit down and talk with students, sometimes for hours. “As long as a student needed help, [Leach] would sit with him,” May said.
Above: Jean-Yves Le Deaut, 1st Vice-President of the Regional Council of Lorraine speaks about the Lafayette Institute. Left: President Peterson discusses newly founded Lafayette Institute. Right: Conference leaders take notes. By Emily Cardin Contributing Writer
Longtime professor passes away