Technique (Volume 95, Issue 12 - October 16, 2009)

Technique

Aerial views

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New Tech-developed Google app allows for real-time video watching.!9

The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper

Crime persists around campus 14TH ST. AT STATE SEPT. 7

MECLASIN ST. JUN. 29

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Tech’s SWAT team trains using full equipment and gear at a shut-down laboratory facility.

GTPD adds SWAT team

Since June, seven armed robberies have been reported on and off-campus. Six of the seven are shown.

ETHEL ST. AT FLYNN OCT. 10

See Flooding, pg 6

TECH PARKWAY JUL. 14

By Zimu Yang Staff Writer

The Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) will add an eight man SWAT team to its force in the coming months. The team’s formation is the culmination of over three years of work by the administration to increase emergency preparedness and safety on campus.

In order to fund the development of the force, GTPD received an expanded budget from the Institute and additional grants from other sources. The funding provided for the development of the SWAT team and also for the procurement of more vehicles and equipment for use by GTPD. Despite the additional resources provided for the creation of the force, there are still some constraints placed on the team, such as limited manpower. Members of the team currently perform regular patrol duties in addition to maintaining SWAT responsibilities. “At this time we’re allowing SWAT guys to do double duty‌ as we expand our personnel, we’re hoping to eventually to become a full time SWAT team. But we want to have a bit more people on patrol first, we don’t want to take away from our primary duties as patrollers,â€? said Lieutenant Marcus Walton, leader of the SWAT team.

In overall command of the team is retired Atlanta officer Anthony Whitmire, who has been policing since 1979 and is a ten year veteran of the City of Atlanta SWAT team. Whitmire arrived at Tech two years ago and has been heavily involved in the development of the team for one and a half years. “The commander’s job is to be more or less outside and directing making sure they are getting the support and equipment they need and making sure the plans are being carried out,� said Whitmire. “A successful SWAT operation incorporates a whole lot more than just what is going inside [the See SWAT, page 4

THE VARSITY JUL. 14 LUCKY ST. NEAR HUNICUTT JUN. 22

1IPUPT CZ &SJD 5VSOFS Student Publications

By Emily Chambers Editor-in-Chief

Atlanta Police Department Chief Richard Pennington announced plans to place four more police officers on and around Tech campus. The announcement was made on Tuesday Oct. 13 at a City Hall press conference following a string of violent crime around both the Tech campus as well as the Atlanta University Center (AUC).

On Friday Oct. 2 at 12:15 a.m. two Tech students were robbed at gunpoint in Home Park. The students were walking on Hemphill between 10th and 14th Street when two men approached them on foot. Both men were described as black males around five feet nine inches tall. One of the two men drew a gun and demanded the students’ belongings. After the robbery, both men fled the scene in a black vehicle headed northbound. This crime was followed by a second similar robbery just nine days later.

On Oct. 11 at approximately 11:30 p.m. two more Tech students were robbed at gunpoint in Home Park. The students were walking on Ethel Street when a man exited the passenger side of a light-colored sedan.

The man, who was described by one of the victims as a black

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UP 5FDI male about five foot eight inches tall wearing baggy clothes, was armed. He drew a handgun on the two students and demanded their belongings. After the students turned over their things the perpetrator fled the scene heading north. Both of the Home Park robberies are being handled by the Atlanta Police Department.

While no students were harmed in either confrontation in Home Park, not all studentrelated crime in the city has ended without violence. Last May Tech student Patrick Whaley was shot in the parking deck of the Tivoli Tenside apartment buildings near campus. Three men were sentenced on Oct. 13 for the crime of shooting Whaley as well as the kidnapping of Georgia State student Carsten Singh. The shooter, Robert Hodge, was sentenced to 30 years incarceration while his accomplices DeAngelo Love and Maurice Brown were both sentenced to 25 years.

More recently a Morehouse student was shot Tuesday Oct.

13 at 1 a.m. while walking home from the campus library.

The student has since been released from Grady Memorial Hospital after treatment for a gunshot wound to the arm. “Some of these areas are still not safe at that time of the morning,� Pennington said at Tuesday’s press conference. “I think [the students] have become easy targets for some of the criminals.�

The four new officers will be assigned to patrol between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. and will most likely be compensated for overtime. The four officers will be complemented by four officers patrolling the AUC campus as well as a number of undercover officers who will likely pose as students btoh on and around campus. There was no mention of increased patrol near the Georgia State campus. “It’s going to be a twopronged approach, one is high visibility and one is going to be an undercover approach,� said See Crime, page 3

MLR, UtC to be renovated in the Student Center

By Andrew Nelson Contributing Writer

Since the 1970s, the Student Center’s Music Listening Room (MLR) served students as a place for relaxation, a cool atmosphere and often for mid-day naps. However, by Spring 2010 the Student Center will convert the MLR into a new location for Under the Couch (UtC). “For some people, relaxing means lying down on a couch and listening to music with their eyes closed. For others it means strumming away at a guitar or meeting a group of people to jam,� said Evan Seguin, president of the Musicians Network, which runs UtC. “It’s hard to say exactly what a day at the new Under the Couch will be like because it all depends on what Tech students actually want to use the space for.�

With its recently decreasing utilization and the expansion of the music department, the Student Center decided last year to combine MLR with UtC, which has been in its current location (the ground-level space under the Couch Building) for over 15 years.

Weekly live concerts and recording services currently hosted at UtC will be moved to the new lounge. In addition, the daily music library offered by the MLR will be still there as well. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. “The goal for the daytime operations of the space is to have a livelier version of the MLR. It’s ultimately a place for people to See MLR, page 5

2011 TechUGA game not to move

By Hahnming Lee Business Manager

After some discussion to move the Tech-UGA game to the Georgia Dome or a neutral site and changing it from the end of the year to the beginning, the idea has been rejected by UGA officials.

The original idea proposed was to move the game in 2011 to the Georgia Dome and to play in Sept. for the Chick-fil-AKickoff game, an interruption in the regular schedule that usually had each team hosting a home game in alternate years. The plan would have been contingent on UGA agreeing to change what would have been a home game to an away game in 2012. Georgia Director of Athletics Damon Evans rejected the idea, citing the potential change in schedule as a central reason.

NEWS

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Technique

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Founded in 1911, the Technique is the student newspaper of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is an official publication of the Georgia Tech Board of Student Publications. The Technique publishes on Fridays weekly during the fall and spring and biweekly during the summer.

A DVERTISING: Information and rate cards can be found online at nique.net/ads. The deadline for reserving ad space is Friday at 5 p.m. one week before publication. To place a reservation, for billing information, or for any other questions please e-mail us at ads@nique.net.

You may reach us by telephone at (404) 894-2830, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

COVERAGE R EQUESTS: Requests for coverage and tips should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief and/or the relevant section editor.

OFFICE: 353 Ferst Dr., Room 137 Atlanta, GA 30332-0290 Telephone: (404) 894-2830 Fax: (404) 894-1650

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Emily Chambers editor@nique.net Telephone: (404) 894-2831

NEWS EDITOR: Vivian Fan / news@nique.net OPINIONS EDITOR: Kaitlin Goodrich / opinions@nique.net FOCUS EDITOR: Kate Comstock / focus@nique.net ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Jennifer Aldoretta / entertainment@ nique.net SPORTS EDITOR: Nishant Prasadh / sports@nique.net

FOLLOW US ONLINE: http://nique.net Twitter: @the_nique

Copyright Š 2009, Emily Chambers, Editor-in-Chief, and by the Georgia Tech Board of Student Publications. No part of this paper may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the Editor-in-Chief or from the Board of Student Publications. The ideas expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Board of Student Publications, the students, staff, or faculty of the Georgia Institute of Technology or the University System of Georgia.

First copy free—for additional copies call (404) 894-2830

From the files of the GTPD...

Campus Crime

By Vijai Narayanan Assistant News Editor Stalking Swimmer

A student called police after stating that his ex-girlfriend had been stalking and harassing him and his current girlfriend. The girl, identified as a fellow swim team member, had been threatening suicide, and had shown the complaintant marks on her wrists.

In response, the police officer advised him to talk to his swim coach about the stiuation instead.

broken bottles thrown at the basketball court. The complaintant then went to investigate, and found two unknown males climb down the roof and run towards the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) house next door. He then saw the same two men, peeping through a window. When police tried to reach the SAE house, the respondant provided little help or concern in addressing the matter.

Police were called to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity Thursday, Oct. 1 in the afternoon after a report of a criminal tresspass. The complaintant stated that he found

On Oct. 3 an officer pursued a vehicle for attempting to avoid a roadside safety checkpoint.

The officer followed the vehicle towards 16th Street, where the

Greek roof-top vandals

A cracked case

driver crashed his car. The suspect continued to flee on foot, before the office pinned and tackled him to the ground and took him into custody. The officers found a red and gray bag with three bricks of suspected crack cocaine, the largest one with the numbers ‘007’ engraved in it. The drugs were estimated to weigh three to five lbs.

Field hockey ďŹ ght

An officer arrested a man on the night of Oct. 4 for allegedly striking the victim intentionally in the back of the head with his field hockey stick during a game on Stamps Field. The victim sustained a laceration to the back of his head that required stitches.

According the victim the suspect acted aggressively throughout the game, often hitting other players in the legs. The victim indicated that he wanted to press charges and the officer placed the suspect under arrest for assault.

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NEWS

Council Clippings

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This week in Student Government

ach Tuesday, elected members of the two houses of the Student Government Association, the Undergraduate House of Representatives (UHR) and the Graduate Student Senate (GSS), convene to consider allocation bills and discuss issues facing campus. Here is a summary of those two meetings.

This edition of Council Clippings covers the UHR and GSS meetings from Oct. 12, 2009.

Triathalon Club

The GT Triathlon Club requested $548.00 from SGA to help fund uniforms for the club.

These uniforms are mainly intended for the national collegiate tournament in late February. The club generally finishes in the top ten. GSS passed the bill 24-1 and UHR passed the bill 39-1.

Crime

GSPN QBHF assistant police chief Alan Dreher at the press conference.

“We are thankful for the additional support. In the past when the APD has increased presence in Home Park there was a corresponding decrease in criminal activity,” said Home Park Community Improvement Association (HPCIA) President Nelson Burke. “[Late hours kept by Tech students] has a lot to do with in increase in crime in Home Park.

Most of the crimes are happening between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.”

The HPCIA has offered a board position to Student Government Association to increase communication.

By Matt Hoffman, Ads Manager Bowling Club

UHR discussed at length a resolution that states that the representative body “opposes any

attempt to cease operations of Wingnuts and East Side Market on campus.” A wide range of aspects involving the dining hall to be placed at the North Avenue Apartments were discussed.

Questions of the quality of food that would be provided at the new facility was discussed. After amendments to soften the language of the resolution and another to delay the vote failed, the resolution passed UHR 37-4-1.

For more see www.nique.net.

Closer to home, the Georgia Tech Police Department released their crime statistics last week, including tips for both personal and property safety as well as statistics on crime between 2006 and 2008. The report indicated that 2,110 criminal offenses have been reported on campus during the three-year period. Of those crimes 2,091 were burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft or robbery. There was a clear increase in crime between 2007 and 2008. In 2007 the annual crime total reported to the GTPD was 626, while 763 crimes were reported in 2008.

While only three cases of aggravated assault were reported in 2008 according to the crime

summary released, there was a decrease from the six assaults in 2007.

While data from 2009 was not included, police.gatech.edu does report that there had been 372 crimes reported between Jan. and July of 2009, an average of approximately 53 crimes per month. When compared to the three years prior, which averaged approximately 58 crimes per month, there appears to have been a slight decrease in overall number of crimes reported to the GTPD. According to police.gatech.edu there were eight reported aggravated assaults in 2008, indicating an increase in reports of violent crime.

The GT Bowling Club sought funding for uniforms and the entry fee into the Brunswick Southern Collegiate Classic. The entry fee was amended to $300, the bill was also amended to fund $400 for one set of eight uniforms, as the need for two sets of uniforms was seen as unnecessary.

North Ave. Dining

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Breaking

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lot of things went on outside the bubble of Tech in the past week. Here are a few important events taking place throughout the nation and the world.

Senate Committee passes healthcare bill The Senate finance committee voted on Tuesday to pass a healthcare reform bill that aims to extend health insurance to millions of Americans. The bill passed the committee with a vote of 14-9, garnering one Republican vote from Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. The bill proposes to cover an estimated 30 million Americans and bring the nation closer to providing healthcare for all Americans.

The bill does not, however include the provision for a public healthcare option and instead advocates the formation of healthcare cooperatives. The bill follows another passed by the Senate health committee in July, and three others from House committees. Senators must now resolve the differences between the two bills before putting up a compromise bill out for debate on the floor of the Senate.

Stocks Rally as Dow Jones hits 10,000 On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 145 points to close above 10,000 for the first time in over a year. The Dow Jones has not closed above 10,000 since Oct. 3, 2008. Analysts say that while the milestone is not technically significant, it is a meaningful psychological hurdle for investors. In addition, the Commerce Department issued a report saying that retail sales fell 1.5% in September, beating estimates of economists who expected sales to fall 2.1%

UN reports 1 billion undernourished According the U N Food Agency, the food crisis in poor nations coupled with the global economic crisis led to a spike in world hunger, breaking records wit h over 1 billion people worldwide undernourished.

The Food a nd A gricu lture Organization reported that the number of undernourished people rose by 100 million people last year, the highest rate in four decades.

NEWS

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Peterson responds to the undegraduate white paper

By Kamna Bhora Contributing Writer

Institute President G.P. “Bud” Peterson recently released a response to the white paper that was produced in March by the Undergraduate Student Government Special Committee on the Presidential Transition.

Based on surveys conducted among members of the undergraduate student body, the white paper covers campus-wide concerns such as the functionality of Tech’s internet portals, student support and dead week policies, diversity and community service. The white paper also praises Tech’s strengths in sustainability, international opportunities and Tech traditions. Both Peterson and the undergraduate student

body find the biggest concern to be communication issues, particularly in Tech’s online presence.

“Even the President has a hard time getting important messages out. That’s why there’s a push for the campus portal solution as a center to everything,” said thirdyear INTA Amira Choueiki, a member of the committee involved in the paper’s production.

“Communication will hopefully be resolved as we try to create a better ‘one-stop-shop’ campus portal,” said Undergraduate Student Body President Alina Staskevicius.

“When our communication is efficient enough, it’s too little, and when it’s broad enough, it’s completely inefficient,” said fifth-year ECON and MGT and committee chair Stephen Kump.

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Tech’s SWAT team is made up of eight members. They are responsible for patrolling as well as handling extreme security concerns.

In his response Peterson places heavy emphasis on the diversification of curriculum, increasing scheduling flexibility to allow students to take courses outside their majors.

“Tech is a technological university, and because of this, a great deal of technical depth defines most curricula. There is increasing understanding, however, that breadth needs to also define a Tech degree,” Peterson said.

“One of the President’s biggest things is the well-rounded leader, and that’s what we’re trying to produce. This is an institution producing the leaders in the fields, not just the work forces,” Choueiki said.

Peterson also notes the change in core curriculum courses to include “communication skills, a

global perspective, team work and critical thinking skills.”

“Intellectual community is truly a culture shift – a shift to a Georgia Tech with more wellrounded curricula, a prominent speaker series and a bigger emphasis on service,” Staskevicius said.

Another key component of the white paper is the need for an expanded Student Center. Overcrowding has been a growing concern for several years now.

“We need to be creative in identifying meeting space in other locations until plans for an expansion of the student center can be developed,” Peterson said.

“We don’t have a central main street. We don’t have a college town, but we want to create that sense of community,” Choueiki said.

“It’s time for Georgia Tech’s character to grow and mature.

We must become more intellectually diverse, more middlebrow minded and more deeply committed contributors to the intellectual society,” Kump said.

In his response, Peterson made it clear that Tech will grow as a leading institute in the next 25 years, offering new academic opportunities and accommodating the opinions of the growing student body.

“I think it was incredible that [Peterson] took every single point that we had and wrote a response for it. He still has a constant pulse of student input; it wasn’t just a one-time thing. He’s been so proactive about everything he’s seen in that paper that he can be right now,” Choueiki said.

SWAT GSPN QBHF actual operation].”

The SWAT team’s role on campus has been greatly influenced by prior campus shootings around the country, like Virginia Tech.

“Years ago, Virginia Tech had [a] school shooting … not to mention all the school shootings before then. A lot of school shootings are going to be resolved by patrol officers on the road with an active shooter type situation.

However, if the incident turns into a stand off with a barricaded suspect then that’s where we come in,” said Walton.

Additional considerations such as homeland security and dealing with possible terrorists, providing protection for visiting dignitaries and providing better overall security played a role in the team’s development.

“Some of the first questions they [dignitary representatives] ask are [concerning] what type of security can [the university] pro-

vide for this person,” Walton said.

“So with us having a SWAT team we can bring more dignitaries to the campus.”

Aside from its on campus duties, the team could be called on to operate off campus in conjunction with the Atlanta SWAT team. If an operation were to occur on campus, the campus SWAT would likely take the lead, since they have the most experience operating on campus.

The team is required to have at least 24 hours of specialized training per month in addition to a week long training seminar with other agencies such as the Atlanta SWAT School.

Each member undergoes drilling related to repelling, movement, entry, hostage rescue, storming barricades, shooting and physical fitness.

“Because we’re starting fresh, those [requirements] will actually become more stringent as we go along,” Whitemire said.

Maturity and experience of the officers were also important considerations during the selection process for team members.

“On TV you just see the gunfights and shoot outs. SWAT, they have to be a little more mature.

They have to have good common sense to be able to make good rational decisions under stressful situation so you want guys who are a little bit older and a little bit more mature,” Whitmire said. “I can get them in shape, but I can’t necessarily teach maturity and that’s what I’m looking for.”

Equipment on the SWAT team consists of an entry vest with ceramic plates designed to withstand multiple rifle rounds and a ballistic helmet totaling forty to fifty pounds. They are equipped with a Colt M4 rifle and an H&K 45 caliber handgun.

As for future potential expansions of the SWAT team, “We’d like to see it get bigger,” Walton said.

sliver

www.nique.net

I wish I was barium, cause then I’d be so Ba! Technique is the man!

I’m on a boat! Well not yet, but if Mama N. keeps crying this way, I might as well be on a boat...to a far far away land with hawt guys everywhere! ;) A shout out to all mah roomies: Kathleen, Gopi, and Afshaaaan!

Why don’t I ever see you guys? there’s a guy in my ece class named Michael Phelps !

Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

Dr Gole: You are not funny, but thanks for trying...

Guy in 2232 picking his VERY dirty feet in class: you are a disgrace.

Breaking benjamin>>linkin park gt parking is >> linkin park ;) listen, you are the only HIM fan on the planet, I have not even ever heard their songs Hey dumb-@$$ in PST 1101. No one wants to hear you argue with the professor the entire class. how much more rain can we get? can’t wait for six flags and the football game!! to the oklahoma sooners kid: nobody cares about you or your exgirlfriend from Clemson. get a life. i think it might rain this week swim team members: go to class without shirts on. please. rain rain go away.

My CS1316 TA would be so cute if he weren’t so obviously gay...

Daniel, you are the cutest boy I have ever seen :) Dear cute boy in my CS1050 class, please sit next to me everyday “Sometimes we all get left behind, in a race of style” If you haven’t made any progress with a girl and she likes eatting with you at dinner, chances are you are her teddy bear now and it’s all your fault.

So why are we still open when it is impossible to get to class.

Apparently, rain boots and gym shorts is the new “wear pajamas to class.” Both are equally annoying. Take 5 mintues and GET DRESSED in the morning!

NEWS

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1IPUP CZ +PIO /BLBOP Student Publications

The new MLR and UtC lounge will feature comfortable furniture, increased desk space and a large music library which The construction will be completed by 2010, will be entirely digitized. As of yet no home has been found for the MLR’s 40-year collection of CDs and vinyls. but UtC will not move till after Spring semester.

During the day, the lounge looking for the best option of for acoustic performance. same building.

MLR GSPN QBHF will operate similar to the MLR. where the vinyls and CDs should Seguin has also collaborated The Musicians Network will go to relax in between classes,” It will feature comfortable fur- be stored. Officials are consider- with Tech’s radio station WREK retain control of the current Seguin said, “Some people may niture to relax and nap, possible ing offering it to students at a dis- to allow evening shows and events UtC location until the end of the at UtC to be broadcast live.

Spring 2010 semester. After that, want to eat their lunch and see open mic hours during lunch, count.

Moving weekly live concerts “This is something we’ve al- campus officials and the music deTech students perform. We want occasional live bands, magazines, to provide a space where people board games, increased desk space to the new space will alleviate ways wanted to be able to do. I partment will decide what to do noise and parking problems ex- think that our organizations have with that space, which will most can go and enjoy music in which- and a massive music library.

One major change to this mu- perienced at its former residential very similar goals and can provide likely be used as offices for music ever way they enjoy it most.” a lot to Tech students as a whole faculty or storage.

The new space will largely be sic library is the fact that the 40- location on West Campus.

The Student Center will sound- if we work together more often,” “The move is really great for fitted to meet the needs of the year collection of CDs and 4000 our organization, and, more imMusicians Network, which will vinyls – including many limited proof the floor and ceiling to pre- Seguin said.

Musicians Network and portantly, to students to experiretain control of the UtC lounge. and original editions – will no vent noise problems between the It will feature two sound-proof longer be available. Those col- MLR and the study areas on the WREK have not finalized any de- ence, create and share music,” recording studios with a live mix- lections will all be digitized and second floor of the Student Cen- tails on this possible musical part- Seguin said, “We are all very exing booth, locker storage space for available for use via the room’s ter. The room is specifically de- nership, but representatives from cited that this will be a huge step signed to be a performance venue, both organizations have expressed in bringing that to everyone on instruments, and a stage for per- music server.

The Student Center is still and it will be optimally outfitted excitement to work together in the campus.” formances.

Election candidates visit for meet and greet

By Vijai Narayanan Assistant News Editor

1IPUP CZ +BSSFUU 4LPW Student Publications

Mayoral candidate Jesse Spikes poses with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta. Both hosted the event.

sliver

www.nique.net

girls of each kind..... from UGA! Ya Trick Ya!!!

That was sweezy.

By the way Sweezy. I put the blue cloth in your back pocket. Not Hunt.

GOT’EM!!!

Everthing’s going to be alright!

Squishy or Firm? Hmmm. “I’ll take both wrestling like naked mole rats in popsicle juice!

Is something burning in here?

No that’s just a johnston burn!

What’s worse?

Marooned on an island with an ogre?

Or marooned on an island with Marge?

Can I just have a box of popsicles on the island?

Popsicles! popsicles The ambiguously gay dou. Working out together since 2006.

And I Like It!! boy who works at the CRC desk, Ryan... you are hottt!!!

If you’re not coming to class, then CANCEL it, Professor. Subs are for high school.

420 smoke out every day It would be pretty cool if I could hear this lecture instead of you blowing your nose for 50 minutes.

The sky is trying to refill the Library Fountain; we should too!

So did anyone hear the Thunder?

The option only works if you can throw the ball.

WHO DAT?!

WHO DAT?!

WHO DAT SAY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?!

WHO DAT?!

Hey Paul! Bills are going down like a cheap hooker! BRING ON THE PAINNNNNNN (santa claus)*i=-1 oh noes!

Not feeling the rain boots. Not attractive at all.

On Thursday, Oct 8 members of Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sororities hosted an event to bring together candidates running for local elections in the City of Atlanta. Candidates for the office of Mayor and City Council from nearby districts were present at the event. The event was held to educate students and the campus

community about the candidates and also to encourage people to get involved and vote in local elections. College students generally have low voter turnouts for city wide elections.

After serving for eight years, the current Mayor of Atlanta Shirley Franklin is prevented from running in the upcoming election due to term limits. Candidates were allowed to deliver a brief three-minute presentation about

their platform. The remainder of the event took on a meet-andgreet style, and candidates met individually with students to answer questions.

Representatives from the campaigns of Lisa Borders, Kasim Reed and Jesse Spikes were present at the event. In addition, representatives for candidates running for City Council were also present at the event. Elections will be held on Nov. 3, 2009.

Opinions

“ ”

Chase after the truth like all hell and you’ll free yourself, even though you never touch its coattails.

—Clarence Darrow

OUR VIEWS CONSENSUS OPINION

United front

Attack campus crime from all directions

The announcement that the Atlanta Police Department will allocate an additional four police officers to patrol Tech campus and the surrounding areas at night as well as four more officers for the Atlanta University Center and new undercover officers is a welcome addition to the crime prevention policies on campus.

It is depressing that three Atlanta college students were shot before these steps were taken, but we acknowledge that there have been many steps in the right direction such as checkpoints around campus and the end of police furloughs.

The problem, however, will not be stopped just by increasing the number or even the quality of officers on campus, as has been done through the new addition of a SWAT team on campus. It is devastatingly apparent that the most violent and shocking crimes are being perpetrated by people with no ties to the universities. These criminals drive to our neighborhoods to wreak havoc on a vulnerable

population, but they then return to the poverty stricken neighborhoods that circle Atlanta, neighborhoods like Vine City and English Avenue. Both the Atlanta Police Department and the universities of Atlanta must encourage programs that combat the rampant poverty and crime in these neighborhoods in order to stem the flow of criminals onto our campuses.

Unfortunately, while it is never the victim’s fault when a crime is perpetrated, we must remind students that we control the supply of vulnerable targets. Do not walk through Home Park or Centennial Place at night. The Stingerette service is affordable, far more so than a hospital visit or traumatic attack. If you cannot adjust your finances to afford a ride home, then adjust your schedule. Walk home earlier or crash on campus till the next day. At this point, all students should be aware of the danger and do everything they can to protect themselves, including modifying our behavior.

The Consensus Opinion reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of the Technique, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.

Technique Editorial Board Emily Chambers, Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Saethang, Managing Editor Hahnming Lee, Business Manager

Jennifer Aldoretta, Entertainment Editor Vivian Fan, News Editor Nishant Prasadh, Sports Editor Kate Comstock, Focus Editor Kaitlin Goodrich, Opinions Editor

Matt Hoffman, Advertising Manager Kelvin Kuo, Photography Editor Siwan Liu, Layout Editor Reem Mansoura, Development Editor Craig Tabita, Online Editor/Editor Emeritus

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY CRAIG TABITA

Technique

Opinions Editor: Kaitlin Goodrich

6

Friday, October 16, 2009

YOUR VIEWS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let us keep Wingnuts on campus One third of students in the North Avenue Apartments may subscribe to a meal plan, but two thirds of them eat at wingnuts.

Don’t remove the angry Chinese lady for worse food.

Daniel Moore Third-year CS

Get over Peter Pan syndrome and grow up

By Roy Long The Daily Toredor

(UWire)—Peter Pan was my childhood hero. He had every quality a kid could want.

He could fly, hang out with fairies and fight pirates in Never Never Land. Besides wearing the tights, I could really see myself doing all of those things and tried to emulate him in many ways.

Now that I am an adult, I know I should not act or be like Peter Pan. We must beware of Peter Pan Syndrome.

This is a disease which causes us to believe we can remain in childhood forever, like Peter Pan. It preys upon college kids who believe their lives parallel the life of this hero of children’s literature.

Those afflicted with this syndrome believe Never Never Land exists and it is called college.

Manifestations of Peter Pan Syndrome include a refusal to grow up. It is fear of the next stage in life. This is an understandable fear, especially when those who are afflicted with this syndrome are children. However, most of those attending classes at Tech do not fit this category, yet still fill the criteria for Peter Pan Syndrome.

Symptoms include a refusal to go on dates, spending hours upon end playing video games and eating pizza every meal of the day. In short, it is a refusal to take responsibility for life. Undiagnosed and untreated, Peter Pan Syndrome will result in years wasted in the pursuit of things which do not matter.

There is a cure, but it requires more than just a pill or a workout regimen. First, we have to recognize the problem and then we have to make that next step.

Change can be scary. It is ironic we as a nation voted on the platform of change in 2008, but yet fear change in our own lives.

However, we must make that next step.

Life occurs in phases, and we do not need to fear the next phase in life. Perhaps it is time to devote yourself more to your schooling, get married to your long-time boyfriend or girlfriend, or get a job. Whatever that next step may be, taking responsibility is a good thing. It makes us more capable individuals and we find that hap-

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piness does come from successfully providing for those dependent on us.

The message is simple. We need to grow up. Things which are most important in life should not suffer from those things which are not. We need to put the pursuit of fun and entertainment on the bottom of the totem pole, below family, responsibility and personal development.

Those who join onto this ship of responsibility must beware of going overboard. We need to remember what happens in Disney’s sequel “Hook.” It is important to keep outside responsibilities in moderation. In the film, Peter Pan grows up and in a trip back to Never Never Land realizes he has become a jerk. He placed himself and his pursuits ahead of his family. This is yet another manifestation of Peter Pan Syndrome: selfishness. It is still a prioritization problem.

In college students, this is manifested by being fulfilled in what they do, instead of who they are. For example, some actually believe they will be fulfilled through their vocation. While we should do those things we enjoy, work is not the purpose of life. We need to understand that happiness stems from our identity, not our accomplishments. The shadow of our accomplishments should never overpower the reality of our own selves.

So, my advice is simple: re-prioritize. To those of you who spend the bulk of your time pursuing your own happiness, look to others. You will find deeper fulfillment in relationships with others, in personal development (which is distinct from the pursuit of fun) and in devoting yourself to your studies (which is one of the purposes of your time in college).

To those who always seem “too busy” for these things, I advise you to simplify your life. Close the books, clock-out of work and reconnect with those who matter.

Whether we relate more with Peter Pan as a young boy or as a man, it is time to grow up, to remember Never Never Land does not exist, and to keep fun and responsibility in moderation to those things which matter most.

OPINIONS

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Instant gratification not real satisfaction Today’s technologies allow us to get everything that we want in an instant.

We no longer have to wait for what we need or want; instead it can be obtained in seconds.

So is this really helping humans appreciate what we are gifted, or is it just reinforcing the idea of instant gratification.

The days of long torturous preparation for a delicious meal are waded away with hot pockets, easy mac, and pizza rolls. We no longer have to plan our day ahead of time, but instead live every second in the moment.

I think this ideal should change; we should start appreciating what we receive. Enter the new age of snail mail instead of e-mail, film instead of digital.

The best feeling in the world is getting a piece of mail or just a package, from someone that has been thinking of you. Brownies, a love letter, a mixed tap, all these could be in your possession through snail mail.

It is not quite the same receiving the same letter or music download over the Internet.

Yes you get it all at once, and all in once piece, but what is the joy of the expected?

Totally unexpected, because of the unreliability of the United States Postal Service, packages ensue moments

“We no longer have to plan our day ahead of time, but instead live every second in the moment.”

Kelvin Kuo Photography Editor

of nostalgia.

Photographs also thrive as a physical piece of our lives, bringing back memories of our yesterdays. Today we look at photos on a computer screen, instead of flipping through albums.

Backlight screens are the source of material to our minds, not a piece of paper that lives independently. But I would not disregard the instance when Polaroid came out with instant film, it was still a great innovation. The art of developing film and producing a picture has been degraded into flash drives and memory sticks. We now are able to take multiple pictures, write and rewrite many excerpts til its perfect, unlike trying to be perfect first.

We do not appreciate the beauty of the unknown. I know for a fact that perfect is not always the best. I have seen it through the holgas, dianas, and polaroids.

I have also witnessed this from the letters from a long

lost girl who sends me the best postcards ever. They are the best because it is what she truly thinks, what we have already gone through, not just a hallmark card with a standard message. All these have a lot more meaning and worth more then just the monetary tags put on them.

Moments that bring you back, make you think, it’s ultimately a piece of history. A physical piece that cannot be taken back, not like the retractable emails and messages of today. An ex-girlfriend will not delete your Facebook wall posts, or messages if you made her mad, but it is a message that thrives. You won’t be worried about a virus attack because photographs that will not become corrupt in an instant. The technology of today allows for the instant gain and the instant loss of our valuables.

But while there is certainly a room for instant services, that room is just not in you personal life.

Messages that need to be sent and received instantly for project updates or invitations to a once in a lifetime opportunity. A quick snapshot is great if you just happen to see a celebrity or a long lost friend.

I’m not saying that “instant” is bad, I do eat pizza rolls and I do watch Hulu.com. I also get enjoyment watching the Office or ESPN360.com when I missed an episode or game. Waiting for reruns is a thing of the past- I love watching these on my terms.

But there are times when a surprise is exactly what you need to mix things up.

The message is clear. Don’t always rely on the technologies of today and the quickness of it.

Instead enjoy the unknown, the slow, the old.

There are times where you should leverage yourself with the technologies of today, but realize that these have little worth, little meaning.

Read a newspaper, not just online news. Go out and talk to your friends instead of sitting in your room and chatting over instant messaging.

Go out and enjoy a run, don’t just fall for the next diet fad of only eating maple syrup.

There are many things that you can enjoy today that were enjoyed in the past. You do not need to be efficient when you are having the time of your life.

Prowess should determine conferences It is time for change.

For too long we have seen subpar football conferences attempt to compete with legitimate, competitive conferences that actually produce top rated football teams. This problem must be resolved; it is time to realign collegiate athletic conferences.

When the ACC pillaged the Big East some five years ago, many believed that a new era of a dominant east conference was upon us, but this has not been the case. The ACC has only won one BCS game since the expansion, and the ACC conference title has been relegated to the same importance as the last game of the Pittsburgh Pirates season, no one cares and the outcome does not really matter.

The winner will most likely play the Big East champion in the Orange Bowl, and the loser will go to some other less than prominent bowl game that will be over looked by everyone who does not have a direct relationship with the school.

The Big East, or more appropriately the Little Least, is not even a skeleton of its former self. The conference started with no teams in the top 25, and as it stands now Cincinnati and South Florida and the two most prominent programs the conference. Not exactly the most impressive top end schools for a conference that is currently held in the ranks with the SEC and the Big 12.

of their conferences, which as can be seen from the recent contracts negotiated between major conferences and major networks is where the majority of athletics revenue is coming from.

There is nothing wrong Matt Hoffman with being a basketballAdvertising Manager focused school, but there is something wrong with not having at least one winning up Fresno State, Boise State, season in 15 years. In world of Utah, BYU, Nevada and college sports, football is God, another team, which could and keeping the Sabbath holy be any number of mediocre should be of utmost importeams, but could possibly see tance. major improvements for the The new super conferences same reason as SMU and Rice. would allow the schools stronThe Big 10 is the big prob- ger positions at negotiating lem. Out of all the confer- tables with major networks ences they would be the most when hatching out broadcastreluctant to change, but here ing rights and with major coris what they should do: pick porations for advertising conup Pittsburgh, West Virginia, tracts. The bowl games could Louisville and Notre Dame. also find the new arrangeThey would also need one ment beneficial, preventing more, but, they should im- the abomination that was the prove over time.

2007 Orange Bowl between It might seem strange to try Wake Forest and Louisville. to include mediocre teams and Larger conferences will allow exclude other teams from the for wider, and more equally ACC such as North Carolina, dispersed quality of teams, Maryland and Virginia Tech, leading to better post-season but sometimes tough decisions matchups have to be made: they are out.

The scenario discussed is The current model is not certainly just one of many that working. The football pro- have been thrown out there, grams of Duke, N.C. State and but they all come from the Syracuse, to name a few, have same idea, that if the weaker benefitted from the exploits of two conferences do not begin being a part of a major football to produce results more fitting conference, but seemingly re- of a top tier football conferfuse to make significant con- ence, then they run the risk of tributions to the football side not existing at all.

“In the world of sports, football is God and keeping the Sabbath holy should be of utmost importance.”

So the easy way to solve this problem is to get rid of these two leeches of conferences, and create four 16-team super conferences. First the SEC would pick up Tech, Florida State, Miami and Clemson.

These four teams would fit well into the conference, as three of the schools already have their primary rival in the SEC, and geographically speaking are already woven into SEC territory.

The Big 12 should reform the old Southwest Conference, minus Arkansas, as its southern division, leaving the old Big 8 as the North division.

This would allow teams like TCU and Houston to compete in a major conference, which would seem more appropriate given their recent success.

SMU and Rice would be the other two teams that would need to join, which, granted, not exactly football powerhouses, but time, and a better ability to recruit by being in a major conference, could help the ailing programs.

The PAC-10 would pick

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What is your favorite homecoming event?

Richard Mokuolu Third-year ME

“I like Mock Rock because everyone is carefree and it seems like a lot of fun.”

Subho Chatterojee Second-year ECE

“The Third Eye Blind concert in the Burger Bowl.”

Chris Willis First-year AE

“I like the squirt gun event.”

Meredith Harney First-year PSYC

“I’m really excited about Mock Rock.”

Photos by Joey Cerone

OPINIONS

t 0DUPCFS t Technique

OUR VIEWS HOT OR NOT

HOT– or –NOT Spring reading

The American Red Cross recently announced that Tech was the university that provided the most blood to their blood bank for the past fiscal year. While perhaps this is just annother indication that Tech students are used to not just mental but also physical sacrifices here, it is good to see that Tech students are doing their part to contribute to a worthy cause.

Shoot-out success

Any football win is great, but this past weekend’s victory was particularly sweet. With four touchdowns and one amazing steal after a fumble, Nesbitt shone as the game’s star during the exciting defeat of Florida State which ended our pattern of losses to them.

The game was our first ever win at Bobby Bowden field at Doak Campbell stadium, plus, it’s always great to beat the guys who beat your only victorious opponent.

Unacceptable offers

Every Tech student gets a little thrill of excitement when the football game against UGA approaches, a break before finals, making Dan Radacovich’s consideration of relocating the game to the season opener at the Georgia Dome blasphemous. Plus, if the game moved to the opening of the season, fans nation wide would be deprived of Thanksgiving entertainment.

Sexy sin

Every year around this time the free speech zone between the Campanile and Drama Tech is rented out and our airspace is polluted by the protesters with the “homo sex is sin” signs. While we agree that everyone has the right to their opinions, the extremist, judgmental, yelling style doesn’t inform anyone; it just annoys and offends students trying to get to class or enjoy the Campanile.

Future open for Institute design and personal development

What can you have in common with Nathaniel Edwin Harris and the other founders of Tech?

Designing the future! When the founders of Tech first proposed this Institute’s role in designing a New South, I doubt they could have foreseen, even fathomed, the world of today. But I’m sure they expected that what they initiated would have a profound impact in shaping that world. Because of their vision, Tech thrives today as one of the leading research universities in the world.

You can play an equally important role in designing the future of Tech through your participation in the ongoing strategic planning process. We’ve scheduled an exciting event on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. in the Ferst Center, during which Dr. James Canton, a recognized author, futurist and educational and business advisor, will address our community in a talk entitled “Higher Education, Technology, Innovation, and a Look into the Future.” This will be an opportunity to examine and ask questions about the trends and developments that will affect Tech over the next 25 years. On behalf of the planning committee, I encourage you to attend and to invite others too.

As you may know, Tech’s new president, G. P. “Bud” Peterson, initiated our strategic planning to address the question “What will Georgia Tech look like in 2035, on its 150th anniversary?” President Peterson has challenged each of us to be fearless in suggesting transformative ideas that will help Tech sustain and enhance its culture, improve the student experience, provide an exceptional education, achieve true preeminence in research, benefit the state while

“Peterson has challenged each of us to be fearless in suggesting transformative ideas that will help Tech...”

Stephen Cross Director, Georgia Tech Research Institute

engaging the world and reflect best practice in its support infrastructure.

Thinking creatively about a future 25 years hence is critically important. I’m sure it sounds trite, as many students have probably heard their grandparents, or even their parents, say something like “time goes by so quickly.” But looking in the rear view mirror from my own rapidly advancing stage of life, I can say it does! It seems only a tick of time since I was a young assistant professor in 1984. I built my first computer from a kit and wrote parts of my own operating system.

Had I been a bit more on the ball, I might have tried to sell it to some young kid like Bill Gates.

IBM introduced its first personal computer later that year, and contracted with a start-up named Microsoft for its operating system.

There was no World Wide Web then, but the arcane elements were there to support file transfers. The social media of the day (almost wholly restricted to universities) was e-mail. The pace of innovation that has occurred since is nothing short of dizzying. Smart organizations like Tech will not only be able to respond with agility, but also be in a position to direct that change.

So we ask the questions: What kind of skills will an educated

workforce require in 2035? What research topics will be hot topics?

Will Georgia become the major international destination for work in global health and energy systems? Will Atlanta and Savannah become internationally renowned in the arts because of Tech? How soon will The Ratio be 1:1? Will diversity still be an issue? Will Tech alumni not only serve as leaders in industry, but also as governmental leaders in the state, nation and the world? Most importantly, how do we get there?

We want your ideas. Our future will only be as bold and exciting as you help make it. Please join us in Designing the Future – working together to make a difference.

If you would like any more information about the ongoing strategic planning process, visit www. gatech.edu/vision or feel free to contact me at cross@gatech.edu or Chet Warzynski, chet.warzynski@orgdev.gatech.edu.

Drop and Due Day Today is drop day. All classes needed to be dropped must be done by 4 P.M. All student organizations must submit their budgets to SGA by the end of today.

sliver

www.nique.net

birddog him...take the shot! take the shot!

Football player on Blue Route Tuesday night who doesn’t like being randomly facebooked by fans who don’t know you...you’re hot! i hate lcc3401 blargh blargh any cool non-greek dudes wanna do it with bored asian girl? 420 + beer + whiskey is great I wish there were a dislike button for everytime I see you!

I want some sausage manicotti please, Wally!

You come to the library to get work done. Two guys sitting caddy-corner to me: PLEASE SHUT UP and actually do something productive.

One day, kid who sits in front of me during physics class, I am gonna punch you in the back of the head LONGSIDE! :) BAC > GPA? Yup, I go to GT. Guys at Tech, because a girl works on homework with you does not mean she wants to date you.

Today, 2 different people told me how tired I looked. I’m not actually tired. fml. “don’t be tardy for the party!” tour de tech! library fountain is fugly! christy > dobby the house elf i know he a nerrrd OMG, I simply CANNOT wait for NEW MOON! The guy who plays Jacob Black is mighty fine! :) Just say NO! to bushy eyebrows!!!

Just say NO! to unibrows!!

AJC Headline, “DOT to Commuters: Say Home.” Is Tech closed? Nope!

Seriously though! Thin your eyebrows out!

You’ll look less like chewbacca and more like a sorority girl OMG, I just saw a dude at the CRC who looks just like Taylor Lautner, except he has blond hair I love guys who wear cologne!

Focus

focus@nique.net Focus Editor: Kate Comstock

Organization Spotlight: Solar Jackets A student competition team that builds solar team race cars for major international solar competitions.

Contact: www.jacketpages.collegiatelink.net

Technique

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Friday, October 16, 2009

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'()*+,$+-

Public cameras integrated with Google Earth create life-like cityscapes

Photo courtesy of Kihwan Kim

By Sarah Malis Contributing Writer

Remember when Google Earth first came out? Many of your friends, classmates and even your parents began to check their computers and phones to get a glimpse of the birds-eye view of landscapes across the globe. Maybe you were one of those people that fully zoomed in on your address or street, hoping to snatch a view of your house.

Can Google Earth be taken to the next level? At Tech, PhD student Kihwan Kim and his advisor, Irfan Essa, have created an advanced form of this technology.

Essa, Kim and other researchers have developed a system that creates real-time video from traffic and surveillance cameras. The system also incorporates 3-D modeling of virtual skies, cities and even people. No, their program isn’t Big Brother, but is merely an advancement of the Google Earth technology, only forming human models. Not only does the program show models of people, but it lets one view the weather, traffic and even sporting events in from aerial view in real-time.

Want to watch a football game in real-time across the country?

Well, with Kim’s and Essa’s pro-

gram, this is possible. All you’d have to do would go on the respective Internet map, locate the region you’d like to view, and soon enough you’ll have a birdseye-view of the game. There will be real-time models of the players, so you won’t miss a single play.

“Our genius professor started to think of this idea [for the project]. We began to wonder how we visualize about these things. We started talking about these ideas as I was a Master’s student and started making this program,” said Kim. “Kihwan Kim and I were motivated to make visuals like Google Earth alive. We felt that whenever someone showed an overview of a city, it did not look like a city. We wanted to make the fly-through of a city, via aerial maps to be dynamic,” said Professor Essa.

“Our research is very simple.

We’re making the future Earth alive. We want to augment, make the object, visualize the object such as traffic on Google Earth,” said Essa.

Kim further explained his research, describing what makes it that much more specialized than previous programs. “Our videos have virtual views. Instead of limited number of views, we can change our viewpoint. It shows

you a different perspective based on your location…the video blends with your line of vision.

For example, you can change your view in your environment based on your video viewpoint.”

“At present [in the Google Earth program], cities have a feel of ghost-towns. Our work attempts to analyze information

from sources like video cams of traffic and sports and register them on aerial views so as to show an alive version of the earth maps. We leverage efforts like Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth. These systems have a large amount of aerial imagery registered to maps. However, the aerial images used by them were

captured a while back and are just static images. They do not show what is going on in a city. Our prototype system adds that feature,” said Essa.

While it’s not possible to have a camera lurking on every street corner, the program uses comSee Earth, page 10

Photo courtesy of Kihwan Kim

An application designed to run with Google Earth will allow people to view events happening in real-time

GT Dining hosts evironmentally friendly competition

By Rebecca Tattersfield Contributing Writer

Photo by Ben Keyserling/ Student Publications

Students in Woodruff Dining Hall contribute to a GT Dining competition to consume the most locally grown organic produce.

Tech Dining halls are competing against each other for the gold medal in green services. Brittain and Woodruff dining halls and the Student Center Food Court are currently involved in a series of competitions designed to make our campus more environmentally friendly.

These contests are only some of the many steps GT Dining is making towards healthier, more sustainable and more socially responsible dining facilities on campus.

Local produce already accounts for a large amount of the food on campus, but GT Dining aims for more. The two dining halls as well as the Student Center Food Court are currently competing to see who can purchase the most local and organic produce.

The contest will be running every semester to help encourage the consumption of local produce.

Students are contributing by eating the organic food bought from Destiny Organics that is offered in the dining halls. After the food is eaten the organic food has to be reordered and this contributes to the total score.

So far, Brittain Dining Hall has a large lead ahead over the other two dining halls. The prizes have not yet been determined.

A common campus myth nationwide is the alleged poor quality of food found in dining halls.

With the healthy initiative dining services is taking with this competition, GT Dining is putting a crimp in this myth, and hopefully the “Freshman Fifteen,” for good.

The goal of the second competition is to create the most compost between the dining halls.

Greenco Environmental, a

composting company, is working with GT Dining to reduce waste and increase compost, which instead of going to a landfill will be reinvested into Tech’s campus come planting season.

Students’ opinions are both positive and negative, spanning from the healthy optimists to the economically wary.

“It’s a pleasant change,” said Shiromini Jeyarajah, second year AE. “I didn’t buy a meal plan this year, mostly because it was too expensive, but if my money was going towards better, healthier food, I might consider getting one next year.”

Kyle Pate, second-year BME said, “I like the idea of being more environmentally friendly, but going organic usually means paying more.”

Tech has always been ahead See Green, page 10

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Green

from page 9

in the race to greener services.

Since 2004, 40% of GT Dining services produce is locally grown and bought. In fact, this habit of buying and serving local food has been a part of Dining Services for over 100 years. Organic foods are a little rarer at only 5% of total food on campus. However, organic options are available at every food serving facility on campus, including the EastSide and WestSide Markets.

Tech has also signed on to the Atlanta Local Food Initiative (ALFI) which promotes local and organic food in Atlanta.

According to the Office of Environmental Stewardship’s website, “Georgia Tech has a policy of purchasing local and organic whenever cost neutral options for doing so are known and available to us in a reason manner.” This has resulted in Georgia Tech being one of the largest purchasers from “one of the largest local and

organic distributors in Georgia.”

Both of these competitions only add to the already impressive environmentally friendly changes implemented by GT Dining in recent years. Brittain only stocks biodegradable reusable items and both dining halls have eliminated trays, saving 3,000 gallons of water per day.

The cooking oil used in dining halls and services is filtered and then transported off campus to make biodiesel fuel, and all napkins in all dining locations are made from recycled materials.

GT Dining Services has a close relationship with the Students Organizing Sustainability (SOS) student group on campus, making sure that there are always new and exciting options for vegetarians and vegans in campus dining.

With these efforts, among others, GT Dining hopes to reduce its carbon foot print by 26% in the future. For more information on these efforts visit gatech.dining. edu.

Earth

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puters and graphics to render the blanks.

“We can also model the sky based on cameras. We calculate and infer what’s happening in between cameras, generating smooth transitions. You can see objects in a symbolized model, such as people and cars,” said Kim. “We are still in a simple model and testing the research. We still don’t have proper cameras and computation powers and we can still expand the scope of the research.”

Some feel as though Tech’s team of researchers have taken the program too far, claiming it causes an invasion of privacy.

“Invasion of privacy is not true,” said Kim. “We are not recognizing people and showing the footage of them…it’s just a symbolized model. The background is just an image, so you cannot see actual people. People are concerned with the future. Such as, if a company were to industrialize

this technology, it could be a huge problem. This is not the case for our project. We’re just replacing actual images with 3D images.”

Essa said, “At present, our work is aimed at not identifying anything or anyone. We do not identify cars or people. We just track the motion and flow of both and abstract them to generic models. As these are real video, someone watching the videos could identify the people, and we are aware such technologies do exist.

At present, we are not working on integrating such technologies. We are at present using purely public sources of information, like videos of traffic cams, sports footage and videos of sky movements.”

Over time, this technology may be industrialized even further. “We hope to continue on adding other forms of data to augment earth maps. This could include weather patterns, smog and clouds and also crowds in public spaces,” said Essa.

“In our opinion, if we could

continue this project, we can expand the scenarios. We can deal with rivers and seashores, or birds from videos. But the problem is, now how do we expand these systems on Google Earth? There is still research [to be done], and there is still a gap in the engineering to make it commercialized,” said Kim. Some may argue that this new technology is merely a tool that can create invasion of privacy.

However, the program allows one to stretch past Google Earth’s boundaries, allowing users to be somewhere else in real-time. Essa, Kim and Tech’s other researchers are still developing the program, creating new simulations and scenarios and finding new ways to further real-time video.

Whether or not this work will revolutionize the way students and others view technology, the program is still bulldozing past Google Earth’s limitations and pushing on with this type of multimedia in the future.

technique the south’s liveliest college newspaper.

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Technique t 0DUPCFS t 11

Center for Music Technology redefines music interaction

By Chris Russell Staff Writer

What is music?

For such a simple-sounding question, it’s one that carries a lot of clout. For one person, it might be a life-long passion and fulfilling career as a composer or musician. For another, it might just be noise pumped out of an iPod en route to class, helpfully blocking out thoughts about an upcoming exam.

Whatever it is, it’s hard to define.

One reason for this is that, just as painting has evolved from Da Vinci and Michaelangelo to Warhol and Pollock, music has evolved over time, too.

Watching a parent recognize an elevator tune as a top-10 hit from college or a grandparent grumble about the “noise” kids listen to today is a classic bit of evidence that the times are changing.

Tech is playing its part in these changes, too, by applying its resources as a tech-savvy school to see what new innovations it can bring about in the field of music.

Last Nov., the Center for Music Technology (CMT) opened its doors and began researching how technology can be used to advance music, both at the academic, artistic and consumer levels.

The Center, which currently offers a Masters in Science in Music Technology, and is working on a PhD program, is a collaboration between several groups on cam-

pus, including the Department of Music, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Graphics, Visualizations, and Usability Center.

Gil Weinberg, the Director of Music Technology at Tech and one of three central faculty members in the CMT, said that the Center’s goal is to help innovate and reshape all aspects of music.

Weinberg said, “[At the Center], we want to reinvent the way we listen to, play and compose music.”

Researchers at the CMT certainly seem to be meeting that goal, as a number of projects revolutionizing every aspect of music have been completed in the past or are currently in the works.

Some programs, like ZooZBeat, a recently developed smart phone application, are even aiming to redefine the traditional relationship between composers, performers and consumers.

The CMT website describes the application as a “gesture-based musical studio,” which, in layman’s terms, means that users can compose music on their iPhone by tapping, shaking and singing into their device.

The program is easy to learn (composing a short techno beat took a grand total of five minutes after finishing the download), but still features more than enough tools for more serious users to go beyond creating little snippets and composing some really impressive full pieces.

Other projects even go so far as to almost make composers and performers unnecessary. The CMT’s drum-playing robot Haile has drawn a lot of press recently, and rightfully so, considering it’s able to mimic, accompany and spin off of human partners better than most humans can.

By listening to a given rhythm, Haile is capable of playing it back verbatim, and even composing and performing his own accompaniment in real-time.

In a similar vein, Shimon, a newly-developed robotic marimba player in the center, builds off of Haile by throwing pitch into the mix.

According to the CMT website, Shimon “utilizes melodic and harmonic perception and improvisation algorithms, adding to the rhythmic improvisation approach taken by Haile.”

Videos of both robots performing are available on the CMT’s website.

Others still look to expand the role of sound into areas where it typically fears to tread. A recently developed “audible aquarium,” for example, observes the activity and color in a typical fish tank and translates it into a series of sounds based on what is happening at the moment.

According to Weinberg, the CMT is also beginning to move into another aspect of music: the economic one.

Weinberg said, “We’re focusing on trying to pick projects from the

Photo by Ben Keyserling/ Student Publications

Brad Ritchie of Sonic Generator performs music by Michael Gordon with video by Bill Morrison at a performance last spring. center and make them into companies and commercialize them.”

As an example, he points to ZooZBeat, which is available for purchase on the iTunes app store, and is beginning to develop into a social network.

On the application’s website, users can listen to and download other users’ compositions and upload their own.

Of course, developing all these technologies wouldn’t do much good if they weren’t put to use.

This is where Sonic Generator comes in.

Founded in 2006, the group’s executive director, Jason Freeman, describes Sonic Generator as “the

contemporary music ensemblein-residence at Georgia Tech dedicated to using technology to transform the ways in which we compose, perform and listen to music.”

If this sounds similar to the CMT’s purpose, it’s not without good reason, as the two groups often work closely with each other, and Freeman is also a major player in the CMT. Freeman said, “We often use technology developed at the Center in our performances and hope to do even more of that in the future.”

See Music, page 12

FOCUS

t 0DUPCFS t Technique

Music

from page 11

Freeman points to a recent collaboration and its unique results as a good example of the groups’ relations.

Freeman said, “Last year, for instance, we used mobile phone software developed at the Center to perform a work by composer John Cage. It was originally scored for chorus; our version was for four iPhones and video animation.”

Technology is only part of

what the group does, though.

Sonic Generator is made up of a group of very talented musicians from throughout the Atlanta area.

Freeman said, “The core members of Sonic Generator are some of the best classical musicians in Atlanta; many of them are members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestr. Part of the group’s mission is to bring these amazing musicians to campus to collaborate with our faculty and students and present the results through concerts.”

Freeman himself deals with the electronics for the group, though he says he rarely steps out in the limelight himself.

“Typically I am sitting at a laptop and a mixing console with a few of my students rather than actually performing on stage,” said Freeman.

When asked how he got involved in this field, Freeman said, “I’ve always been involved in composing music and have always been a bit of a computer geek— over the years, these areas of my

life began to merge. These days, my research focuses on using technology to facilitate collaborative creative experiences.”

The group will be holding a concert on Nov. 16 at 8p.m. in the Alumni House.

The concert is free to the public, and will focus on efforts by French and American artists to, as a blurb on the group’s website states, “[explore] the connections between French and American musicians in their explorations of technology.”

The performance will feature several traditional instruments, but a heavy dose of tech can be expected as well, as a sizable portion of the pieces will feature an electronic component.

The concert in Nov. is the first for the program’s 2009-10 season.

There are currently two other concerts scheduled in the spring of which no details have been listed yet. Check sonicgenerator.gatech.edu for more information about Sonic Generator’s performances this year.

technique the reason to show up to friday lectures... or monday lectures

Entertainment

entertainment@nique.net Entertainment Editor: Jennifer Aldoretta Assistant Entertainment Editor: Richard Otis

Technique

13

Friday, October 16, 2009

ODST brings new life to Halo universe GAMES

Halo 3: ODST GENRE: First-person shooter

Food festival flourishes at new location in Tech Square

CONSOLE: Xbox 360 DEVELOPER: Bungie RATING: Mature RELEASED: Sept. 22, 2009

OUR TAKE: !!!!!

Images and photo illustration courtesy of Taste of Atlanta

Taste of Atlanta took place this year in our own Tech Square. The location change did not detract from the large crowd.

From left to right: Will Rece, view of crowded Tech Square, Wolfgang Puck (top) and Atlantic Grill (bottom).

By Yameen Huq Contributing Writer

An opportunity to gorge myself on the best food in town at a decent price?

Sounds like a plan. This past weekend Atlantans were able to get a taste of the wide variety of cuisines found throughout their city. Held in Tech Square, the Taste of Imag Atlanta food festival featured dishes of all stripes and varieties, giving everyone an e Tastecour tesy o o f At opportunity to try their favorites and experiment with the unknown. lantaf The festival itself was reminiscent of a market bazaar bustling with activity. People, Atlantans and Tech students alike, were all trudging about from one food/alcohol stand to the next, indulging in Epicurean pleasure. Fortunately, I arrived at around 3 p.m. and could enjoy my time in a crowded yet manageable environment.

I could hear music from nearly every part of the festival. The sounds came from all kinds of mediums from acoustic guitar players to sound systems pumping out music to fit the tone of the restaurant.

For the person who needed a nice drink to go with food, there was no shortage of expensive beers and wine tasting. Anyone who wished to indulge in the fine wines found throughout the festival, however, had to shell out more for the VIP tickets.

At about $20 for 15 tickets (most foods cost about 2 tickets), I had to be frugal with choices.

My first stop was Il Mulino New York, a typical Italian restaurant but with a New York flavor.

The dish I tried here was Porcini Ravioli glazed in a truffle cream sauce. The dish was certainly savory, tasting what one would expect ravioli to taste like. I had never tried truffles before, seeing it as an expensive delicacy that always seemed out of reach. That being said, I found them to be a bit overrated. The taste of ravioli with truffles didn’t seem notably different from ravioli without it, even with the allure of trying “higher class” food. While savory and enjoyable, this dish was not noticeably different from the equivalents I had tried in the past.

Shifting gears, I headed over to Max Lager’s, a vastly different restaurant that specialized in the bar and grill style of American cuisine. It was here that I tried their wood-grilled lamb sliders. The meat was definitely soft, yet succulent and being grilled with wood definitely brings out the taste. The use of lamb over beef made it significantly softer with a slightly sweet, yet savory texture. While most Tech students and Americans in general have had more than enough experience at bar and grill restaurants, this one’s use of lamb instead of steak made it a stand out.

Moving on to something even more different, I headed down the street to Chef Rob’s Caribbean Café. The restaurant placed on emphasis on Jamaican cuisine and I was able to try jerk chicken for the first time. For the spicelovers out there, the jerk chicken didn’t deliver quite the spicy kick I was expecting. Years of hearing that jerk chicken would burn my tongue had tions t Publica probably raised my expectations too high. However, the food was still good en d tu rael/S y Blake Is in terms of taste, and the sweet taste of the rice mixed with beans was a good Photo b complement for the chicken. The chicken’s taste made up for its disappointingly mild spice.

Fusion cuisine appears to be all the rage in Atlanta. My next stop was at the Sun Dial, a restaurant that appeared to take old favorites and inject them with new twists. The dish I tried here was chili con carne. The twist: the carne was venison and it was mixed with goat cheese grits. As the meat was ground up it was easier to eat than most venison, which is normally tough and chewy.

However, the cheese grits almost spoiled the dish. Grits don’t seem to mesh well with chili at all and while I like goat cheese, this dish unfortunately emphasized the grits over the cheese.

My last stop for lunch was Mosaic, a modern restaurant with a Japanese influence. It was here that I tried the Kobe beef sliders. I had heard much about Kobe beef and its alleged supeSee Taste, page16

Illustration by Jon Cannell

By Zheng Zheng Staff Writer

When it comes to first-person shooter (FPS) games on the consoles, the Halo franchise has definitely been iconic. It’s hard to believe that six years have passed since the original release of this would-be cultural phenomenon on the Xbox.

Now, two years after the last of the series, Halo 3: Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, was launched, Bungie presents to its loyal fans new concepts from the Halo universe in the form of Halo 3: ODST. Released on Sept. 22, this FPS game is both refreshing and innovative while carrying the reputation of the franchise without the help of Master Chief.

That’s right, unlike the previous Halo installments, players in the campaign of ODST will not reprise the role of the enhanced superhuman soldier Master Chief.

Instead, the players will be given the opportunity to play as members of the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST), in what most would consider a side plot that happens during the timelines of Halo 2 and Halo 3.

The game initially starts off with a horrific accident during a drop-pod mission in space that separates the members of ODST. This sets the scene for The Rookie to search for other scattered squad members through out the crash site.

The story of each trooper is later to be discovered incorporated together through The Rookie’s journey. While The Rookie is “the player,” each individual story is played from the perspective of the squad member who experienced it.

Because of this alteration in perspective, the gameplay changes accordingly to let the players know from the very beginning that they are no longer the almighty Master Chief and that they have to think about their actions more carefully in order to survive.

To further elaborate, players, now acting as troopers, will find themselves unable to jump as high or move as fast as the legend himself.

The melee attacks will not do as much damage, and instead of the Chief’s damage absorbing energy-shield, “stamina,” which functions mechanically identical to the shield, is introduced for the

troopers.

Also, players in ODST will have access to new exclusive weapons including a silenced submachine gun and a pistol.

While some players may be disappointed by these changes to the gameplay, the majority will find it to be an interesting new experience accompanied by a refreshing plot connected with the individual side stories.

Although the campaign mode of Halo was never a disappointment, the franchise really became renowned for its multiplayer experience. ODST actually does not offer a fully compatible PVP (player versus player) multiplayer option all on its own.

Instead, the Halo 3 multiplayer disc is included in the packaging as the multiplayer experience for the game. The disc contains the original 11 Halo 3 multiplayer maps as well as 4 extra map packs and three exclusive ODST maps for a total of 24 playable maps.

The original Halo 3 is not required to play the multiplayer disc as it is usable on its own.

Although the Halo 3 multiplayer has definitely stood the test of time and all the extra maps are nice additional features, it is a major drawback for players who already own the multiplayer disc from the original release of Halo 3 and already paid for the extra maps.

For these old fans, the $60 price tag on ODST suddenly seems much higher since they are paying for what they already own.

This, plus a campaign that can be rushed through in three to four hours, could ultimately change the decision to get the game.

In order to compensate for this, the campaign disc of ODST includes the introduction of the new Firefight mode.

It is similar to a survival challenge match in which all team members share a pool of lives and waves after waves of enemies appear in an arena setting.

This mode can be played with single player, split-screen local multiplayer or up to four players total over Xbox Live.

With a total of 10 playable maps, Firefight is quite an excellent addition for quick pick-up games without have to immerse oneself in the storyline of the campaign or get caught up in the competitive environment of the multiplayer game mode.

Overall, Halo 3: ODST is very solid game from most perspectives and might just be worth the steep price.

Those who do not already have the Halo 3 multiplayer disc should especially consider buying.

Even with the absence of Master Chief, ODST feels every bit like a Halo game that is able to accommodate players of all skill levels. This goes to show that the Halo franchise is much more than just one super-powered guy wearing a shiny helmet.

ENTERTAINMENT

Technique t 0DUPCFS t 15

Zombieland satirizes horror film genre FILM

Zombieland GENRE: Action, Adventure, Comedy STARRING: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin and Bill Murray DIRECTOR: Ruben Fleischer RATING: R RELEASED: Oct. 2, 2009

OUR TAKE: !!!!!

By Chris Harless Contributing Writer

The typical zombie film always seems to bring the same images to mind: hordes and hordes of slowmoving zombies that desperately try to fill their insatiable hunger for human flesh. Frankly, this cliché for zombie flicks is going out of style.

Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland satirizes this formula in a way that

is somewhat reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead. While some similarities do exist between the two movies, Zombieland does much more in 80 minutes of film.

Fleischer’s Zombieland walks a very fine line between zombie horror movie and hilarious comedy, and this is definitely not an easy task.

All of the typical zombie cliches are present, but the director expertly uses these clichés for comedic effect.

Instead of instilling fear in the hearts of its audience, Zombieland simply tries to make its audience laugh. Even the most hard-toplease moviegoers will surely bust a gut even before the opening credits are over.

The plot of every typical zombie movie seems to be the same: a deadly virus that turns people into flesh-eating monsters begins to infect the population, and the survivors must do anything and everything to stay alive.

Unfortunately, this plot is now old hat, and serious zombie mov-

ies almost always fall flat because of this. Zombieland really does nothing new with its comedic twist, but does that really matter?

The answer is yes. This movie actually benefits from including all of the zombie genre’s cliches because it brilliantly succeeds at satirizing the entire genre.

Fleischer’s film begins by introducing the narrator/main character who is only known to the audience as Columbus because that is his hometown. Columbus is a neurotic college student with irritable bowel syndrome who tends to keep to himself.

For this reason, he has managed to survive in the post-apocalyptic world of Zombieland for such a long time. Over time, he developed a list of rules that he must follow to stay alive, and these rules show up throughout the movie in the form of funny on-screen captions.

Jesse Eisenberg, a relatively new actor who looks a little bit like Superbad ’s Michael Cera, does great job with this character.

Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures

In the movie, Columbus is trying to go back to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio to see if his family is still alive.

On his way there, he soon finds another survivor. This man refers to himself as Tallahassee because he is on his way to Tallahassee.

Woody Harrelson delivers his best acting role in years with this character.

Tallahassee is an emotional man with a rock-hard exterior who is good at doing just one thing: killing zombies. To him, killing zombies is a game, and he clearly has fun with it.

If you thought this movie could not get anymore ridiculous, then you were definitely wrong because the best part about Harrelson’s character is that his entire motivation for survival is based on finding Twinkies.

On their search for Twinkies in an abandoned grocery store, Columbus and Tallahassee come across two conniving sisters who con them out of their car, guns, and supplies. Columbus and Tallahassee refer to the older girl as Wichita and the younger girl as Little Rock.

These two sisters are extremely crafty, and they repeatedly outsmart Columbus and Tallahassee.

One of the best parts of this movie is the great chemistry between all four of the main characters. They are often reluctant to trust each other and they are often at odds, even as they rely on one another to survive.

In the end, they are still forced to work together because flesheating zombies are definitely good at making people set aside their differences.

Zombieland is definitely the funniest movie to hit the box office since Todd Philips’ The Hangover came out a few a months ago.

It’s so full of excitement, laughs,and allusions to pop culture that moviegoers will have a hard time not enjoying themselves. While this movie certainly isn’t Oscar-worthy, it will definitely entertain its audience.

Although movie tickets are pretty expensive these days, Zombieland is more than worth spending ten dollars to see it in theaters, and fans of parodies or zombie movies should definitely not pass this one up.

Dan Deacon entertains at Eyedrum

By Mark Jackson Contributing Writer

Dan Deacon might seem out of place if you saw him in the streets. His oversized glasses of you-guess-the-color might alone force you to surmise that there’s something quirky about this guy, that he must have some sort of offbeat hobby or something that distinguishes him from the rest of us. Turns out you’d be right.

During his college years at the Conservatory of Music at State University of New York at Purchase, he experimented with all kinds of electronic equipment, releasing several albums that are nearly impossible to categorize for their sporadic content.

His shape-shifting 2003 album Meetle Mice is a good example of his early output. It swiftly moves through sequences of highly unpredictable sounds and textures.

Songs use effects like vocal gibberish, strange monologue, ambient sounds and seemingly random note combinations to bring the listener to places they have almost undoubtedly never been before musically. It is very interesting stuff, but definitely not the kind of thing people rally behind. Not surprisingly, Deacon isn’t known for his work back then.

In 2007, his crazed electropop piece Spiderman of the Rings exploded onto the scene with enormous success. He’s adopted a unique sound combining layered, bouncing synths with driving percussion, topped by either his voice or, more often, a choir of cartoonlike voices that sing like incorruptible kids on a next-generation frequency.

Deacon works in a “feel-good” zone these days and you’re apt to either love his music or find it a little annoying or excessive. Either way, the adaptation of his recent songs to the live setting is undeniably awesome. After touring with a 12-man band in support of his newest album Bromst, he brought a solo set to the Eyedrum here in Atlanta and really got the crowd going.

See Deacon, page16

Interested in photography?

Come to the Technique’s weekly photo staff meetings.

Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Flag building, room 137 photo@nique.net

ENTERTAINMENT

t 0DUPCFS t Technique

Taste

from page 13

riority to all other types of meat.

The slider itself also had the added touch of cheese, most likely Camembert. The soft texture of the cheese mixed with the tender taste of Kobe beef made this an excellent dish. The beef was almost as tender as the lamb sliders I tried earlier and, combined with the cheese, definitely beat Lager’s already good lamb sliders.

For dessert, I went to The Melting Pot to indulge in their chocolate fondue laden brownies and strawberries. The food was rich and sweet, the way chocolate should be.

To complement this chocolate, I ordered a banana cream pie from New York Prime. In this pie I found a flavor that was just the

Deacon

from page 15

Opening act Nuclear Power Pants was first to take the stage.

Hailing from Baltimore like Deacon, their spaced-out, fuzz-rock warmed up the anxious crowd.

The women in the band wore large polygon neon green masks with orange neon teeth, which apparently is their usual concert attire.

The Deacon/Power Pants combination was an interesting one, their similarities lying mostly in their oddball swagger and distinct sound, but they were enough for the two to line up a string of dates together.

After the Power Pants’ set, the small stage placed in the corner of the room was cleared completely, and the sound guys started setting up Deacon’s table on the floor.

He tends to get the crowd involved in crazy ways, usually in the form of Jimmy Fallon-like “shared experiences,” and having his set-up on the floor just makes it easier. Also, it’s much cooler for the people standing right next to him.

“Baltihorse,” one of the songs

right balance of cream and banana. Topping off my experience was Mediterranean Grill, and its sweet, flaky, honey-glazed baklava.

There are far too many dishes for me to cover here, ranging from Thai and Indian cuisine to slightly more exotic dishes such as alligator. The fact that such dishes exist here though, is a testament to this festival’s culinary diversity. With one’s willing to pay the twenty dollar price tag (much cheaper than many of these restaurants normally are), one has the chance to try a new type of cuisine that couldn’t be experienced under normal circumstances. This festival is a great opportunity for the adventurous Tech student who’s not quite adventurous enough to leave the campus. where Deacon manipulates his voice to sound like a cartoon, acted as the soundtrack to an all-out dance contest starting with two people, one of whom happened to be my friend sporting an astronaut helmet. My personal favorite was near the end of the night when “Wham City,” the 11-minute centerpiece of Spiderman of the Rings (and also the name of his Baltimore “artist collective”), played during the formation of a human tunnel that snaked all the way past Deacon’s bio-fuel school/tour bus in the parking lot.

What followed was a much needed intermission.

He only played songs from Spiderman and Bromst, but it made sense since they are the most upbeat and all fit nicely together.

His older songs would probably sound odd in comparison.

To put the show simply, it seemed impossible not to have fun. Deacon turns the experience into a playground, different from listening to his records. When music like his fills the room, you can set other things aside and just get a charge out of the moment.

Girlfriend indulges in fantasy TELEVISION

Secret Girlfriend NETWORK: Comedy Central WHEN: Wednesdays @ 10:30 p.m.

GENRE: Comedy STARRING: Derek Miller and Michael Blaiklock

OUR TAKE: !!!!!

By Zheng Zheng Staff Writer

Imagine a world where your two best friends, both inappropriately hilarious and most importantly, less attractive than you, are the only two other persons of your gender.

Imagine a world composed of only alluring and inviting members of the opposite sex all seemingly interested in you and only you. Imagine a world where you rule supreme in a social life ordinary enough to be believable, but not mundane enough to be dull, all the while without lifting of a finger.

Alas, imagination is no longer the only way as Comedy Central can now make all of these fantasies come true plus even more every Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m. with the brand new feel-good comedy series, Secret Girlfriend.

Originally an internet sensation by the same name, Secret Girlfriend is a point-of-view television series complete with a firstperson perspective that allows the viewers to be the star of a carefully crafted and designed fantasy life with the people in it chosen for them.

To further incorporate this concept successfully, the main character, “you,” as the viewer, is never given a name but rather al-

ways referred to instead as “dude” or “babe,” depending on the addresser, or simply “Hi.” Though this was an attempt to relate more to the audience, the main character whose point of view is shared by the audiences is predetermined to be a male in his mid ‘20s.

The plot of the show generally involves “you” trying to balance your life between the cute, fun and outgoing secret girlfriend Jessica (Sara E. R. Fletcher) and your bipolar, psycho ex-girlfriend, Mandy (Alexis Krause), with whom you still maintain an onagain-off-again physical relationship. However, the conflicts between love and lust are often complemented by the absurd shenanigans that you and your best friends Phil (Derek Miller) and Sam (Michael Blaiklock) regularly get into.

Each of these four main characters is unique and entertaining in their own right, making the show more than just a series of random clips but rather a nicely composed story with fully developed casts.

The show, however, with its overwhelming amount of sexual content, is seemingly targeted to a specific audience. But in reality the show can truly be enjoyed by all lovers of comedy.

While a large majority of Secret Girlfriend ’s humor does come through the exaggeration of its sexual content, it is never vulgar or distasteful. It is always complemented by some other jokes that simply utilize the sexuality and turn it into true humor.

The result is non-offensive, non-degrading comedy that can be enjoyed by more than just people who cannot afford HBO. Furthermore, the breakthrough point-of-view style of Secret Girlfriend really helps the audience to

not only focus on the story within the show and around them, but also intensifies every bit of humor as every bit of absurdness that is happening now is happening to the audience member and no longer to some random character in the cast.

So now, whether you can get wine for the lovely girl in the pool or win a game of kickball to impress Jessica matters more than ever before.

However, there is still the safety net that even “you” are just another character and anything bad that happens to you can still be outright hilarious. Secret Girlfriend successfully uses this firstperson element found often in video games and fully utilizes it to create something unique and entertaining.

Although the audience is now fully involved in all kinds of awkward situations through the first person perspective, Secret Girlfriend never lets the audience feel any pressure at any given moment.

Whenever an awkward or hard-hitting situation comes up, it’ll always resolve itself smoothly by the rest of the cast or the show will immediately cut to the next scene.

This allows the audience to fully enjoy all of the greatness in indulging in a fantasy life without ever having to pay the price of having to deal with certain situations.

Overall, Secret Girlfriend is surprisingly entertaining. Its absurd form of comedy combined with the finesse in successfully balancing sexuality and humor with an approach that is both fresh and innovative.

This is a show that will leave you to crave more the instant it’s over and will surely become the guilty pleasure of many in the near future.

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ENTERTAINMENT

THEME CROSSWORD: FLIMFLAM

ACROSS 1. Muscle tension 5. Skewered entree 10. “Alas!”

14. 1996 Madonna role 19. “Once - a time” 20. Maui farewell 21. “American Gothic” painter 22. Out of patience 23. Main level, usually 25. Movie set, perhaps 27. Oolong 28. Having a row 29. Thickness of wire 31. Bassist Carter 32. MacGregor, for one 33. Score 34. Cautious 38. Lacking stick-to-itiveness 41. Israel’s Sharon 42. Expense 43. Butterfly’s sash 44. Burger request 45. Bernstein ballet

47. Fe 48. Connecticut senator 49. Soda 50. Camera feature 51. Minn. neighbor 52. Dated 53. BSA groups 56. Competes 57. Sword handles 58. Actor Mineo 59. Enthralled 60. Couples 62. Dr. Salk 63. Kids’ refrain 65. Scare off 66. Japanese-American 67. Frequently 68. Thicket 69. Shop-window sign 70. Map abbr.

73. Massenet opera 74. Political reward 75. 1962 Sue Lyon role 77. Tennis return 78. Succors 79. Riyadh resident 80. Sesame

DOWN 1. Grass cluster 2. Ron Howard’s early role 3. Writer Ephron 4. Annapolis grad.

5. Ankle-length cloaks 6. Tuckered out 7. Brit’s trunk 8. Word of surprise 9. Shopper’s joy 10. To an extreme degree 11. Composer Carmichael 12. Spy-story character 13. Authors of many footnotes?

14. Elbow grease 15. Early sci-fi author 16. Altar pledge 17. Large cask 18. Appropriate 24. Hawk’s hand 26. Wipes out 30. Actor Baldwin 32. Lout 33. Name from “The Sound of Music” 34. Directing brothers 35. Detroit success, 1955-1971 36. WWII Atlantic menace 37. File-to-file connections

By Robert Zimmerman United Features Syndicate

Technique t 0DUPCFS t 17

81. Attended 82. California city 83. Barroom brawl, perhaps 87. Behavior 89. - Ripken Jr. 90. Roswell sightings 91. Locale of many Van Gogh paintings 92. Even though 93. Gym shoe 95. Poultry selection 96. Short for a long reptile 97. French lake 98. One way to search for water 99. Just fair 100. Barrett of Pink Floyd 103. Dry-season menace 107. Wet-season menace 110. “My Dinner with -” 111. Touches, in baseball 112. Utah range 113. Actress Gilbert 114. Doctor’s orders, at times 115. Coagulate 116. On the up and up 117. Low card

38. Everything in Tijuana 39. Part of a bomber name 40. Leroy Anderson orchestral piece (1947) 41. Under way 42. Early Canadians 46. Coquette 47. Silly 49. Mexican peak, for short 53. Genealogical diagrams 54. Kind of check 55. Tic 56. Floor covering, at times 57. O.T. book following Daniel

61. Web-footed diver 62. Stand up, in a way 64. One answer to “Who is it?”

65. Distrust 66. Hammer’s target 67. Buckeye Stater 68. Bill or Steve 69. Long, narrow cuts 71. Actress Marisa 72. Pioneer movie critic on TV 73. Soapy minerals 74. Abbot’s superior

76. Significant 79. Have an impact on 81. Business channel 84. Between the Rockies and the Pacific 85. Fleur-de-lis 86. Jubilant 87. Matt Dillon, for one 88. Above it all 90. Imperial decrees 94. Wake-up call 95. Do without

96. - del Sol 98. Feature of an old phone 99. Joined the choir 100. Fly 101. The past 102. “Overlord” beginning 103. Corpulent 104. Undivided 105. Rtes.

106. Business watchdog: abbr.

108. Whopper 109. “Overlord” craft: inits.

t 0DUPCFS t Technique

PILED HIGHER & DEEPER BY JORGE CHAM

CROSSWORD SOLUTION FROM PAGE 21

COMICS

NON SEQUITUR BY WILEY

COMICS

NON SEQUITUR BY WILEY

DILBERT 速 BY SCOTT ADAMS

Technique t 0DUPCFS t 19

SPORTS

t 0DUPCFS t Technique

Staff Picks

Oct. 17

Prasadh (62-51)*

Cappetta (63-50)*

Hoffman (63-50)*

Lee (60-53)*

Staff (64-49)*

Arkansas vs. #1 Florida (-22)

UF

Ark.

Ark.

UF

UF

#22 South Carolina at #2 Alabama (-17)

UA

UA

UA

UA

UA

#20 Oklahoma vs. #3 Texas (-1.5)

UT

UT

UT

UT

UT

#6 USC (-8) vs. #25 Notre Dame

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

#7 Ohio State (-14) vs. Purdue

tOSU

tOSU

Purdue

tOSU

tOSU

#9 Miami (-13.5) vs. Central Florida

Mia.

Mia.

UCF

Mia.

Mia.

#11 Iowa (-2) vs. Wisconsin

Wisc.

Wisc.

Wisc.

Wisc.

Iowa

Colorado State vs. #12 TCU (-20.5)

Colo. St.

Colo. St.

TCU

Colo. St.

TCU

Minnesota vs. #14 Penn State (-15)

PSU

PSU

Minn.

Minn.

PSU

Texas Tech vs. #15 Nebraska (-6)

Neb.

Neb.

Neb.

TTU

TTU

Mizzou

OSU

Mizzou

Mizzou

Mizzou

#17 Kansas (-7.5) vs. Colorado

KU

KU

KU

KU

KU

#18 BYU (-17.5) vs. San Diego State

BYU

BYU

BYU

BYU

BYU

#23 Houston (-21.5) vs. Tulane

Hou.

Hou.

Tulane

Hou.

Hou.

#24 Utah (-17) vs. UNLV

Utah

Utah

UNLV

UNLV

UNLV

Missouri vs. #16 Oklahoma State (-7)

* Staff picks were conducted for Weeks 5 and 6 of the season. The results for those weeks are provided below.

Prasadh: 7-9 in Week 5, 10-7 in Week 6 (would be tied for last, but Ohio State pulled a miracle last week) Cappetta: 9-7 in Week 5, 8-9 in Week 6 (finally lost the lead, but could make the rest look silly if OSU wins) Hoffman: 10-6 in Week 5, 10-7 in Week 6 (frequently going against the grain just for fun; so far, so good) Lee: 6-10 in Week 5, 10-7 in Week 6 (picking Oklahoma in Week 5 was legitimate; Vandy, not so much) Staff: 9-7 in Week 5, 11-6 in Week 6 (R. Davis and A. Mitchell in Week 5, A. Mitchell in Week 6)

Football

GSPN QBHF holding the Seminoles to negative yardage and forcing a field goal try that sailed wide left.

Tech’s next drive was its third scoring driving of 20 seconds or fewer, with Nesbitt throwing a deep pass to junior receiver Demaryius Thomas that was caught despite a defensive pass interference call. The game-tying 73-yard touchdown strike was one of two catches for Thomas, who finished with 84 receiving yards.

Tech took its first lead of the night on its next offensive drive on the longest possession for either team. The 9:07 possession was 16 plays and 80 yards long. Tech converted three third downs and one fourth down and had only one play longer than 15 yards. There was only one pass attempt, helping to keep the clock moving.

“We were so far down in time of possession at half time and basically the best way to play defense was to keep them off the field. We were able to eat up the whole third quarter,” Johnson said.

After the touchdown, the game became much more defensively oriented. Tech forced a three-andout on FSU’s next possession, and the next four combined possessions all resulted in lost fumbles.

On Tech’s second fumble, Nes-

bitt pitched to sophomore A-back Roddy Jones on the option. The ball was fumbled and FSU linebacker Nigel Carr recovered, but when Carr attempted to run with it, Nesbitt ripped the ball from Carr and was able to regain possession for Tech. Because a change of possession had occurred on the play, Tech technically had started a new drive and had a first down at FSU’s 25-yard line.

“I thought Josh Nesbitt played a great game. The play he made to steal the ball back... was probably the play of the game,” Johnson said.

While Tech’s defense conceded 539 total yards and allowed 10-of13 third-down conversions, it held FSU to just nine points and 126 yards in the second half. Junior defensive end Derrick Morgan had a strong performance with one sack and two tackles-for-loss.

“We’re going to have to win some games like [this] and we’re going to win some games 10-7,” Johnson said.

“Our main problem was the wishbone. We simply couldn’t stop them. 44 points should’ve won that game,” said Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden said.

The game was delayed due to lightning in the area for 78 minutes after Tech had tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

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SPORTS

Falconi

GSPN QBHF

match.

Falconi’s semifinal opponent, Venise Chan of Washington, provided the sophomore with her toughest challenge to that point.

The match lasted three hours, but Falconi was able to hold off Chan for a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) victory to secure a spot in the finals.

Her opponent in the title match was a local rival: Georgia’s Chelsey Gullickson, the No. 2 player in the nation. Despite being the lower ranked player in the match, Falconi had no trouble defeating Gullickson as she won 6-2, 6-1 to secure the singles title.

“It feels unbelievable to win this title. Winning is a great feeling no matter whether it is a regular match or capturing a national title,” Falconi said in an interview with ramblinwreck.com.

Falconi and McDowell teamed together in doubles this year in hopes of a repeat championship.

In the opening match, they defeated Cal’s Mari Andersson and Jana Juricova, 8-6. Andersson and Juricova came into the tournament ranked No. 2 in the ITA preseason doubles poll, and they were the No. 1 seed in the tournament. This marked the second straight year that the duo defeated the tournament’s top seed.

Despite the big opening win, though, the tandem dropped their second match as they were shutout 8-0 by Florida’s Lauren Embree and Allie Will, ending their hopes for a repeat title.

Falconi and McDowell will lead the Jackets next week as they host the ITA South Region Championships at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.

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Men’s tennis performs well at UGA tourney

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The Tech women’s rugby team battles for the ball during a scrum last weekend. Both the men’s and women’s squads defeated Georgia in the finals to each win the Georgia Rugby Union state championship in Statesboro.

Rugby

GSPN QBHF

short and the game ended in a tie.

Tech’s semifinal win over Emory set up a rematch against Georgia in the finals. The Jackets had not beaten the Bulldogs before, but they proved to be up to the task in this game. In a low-scoring battle, Georgia’s failure to convert after their lone try proved costly as Tech held on to win the low-scoring battle 7-5 and win their first GRU title.

“It’s fantastic, at least for our morale…Not only did we just beat Georgia, but now we’re the No. 1 team in the state of Geor-

gia. That’s going to put a fire under our belly,” Woods said.

One issue that has been a concern in the past for both teams— depth—has not been a problem this year, as both have been able to field full rosters.

“Winning the GRU is a huge step for us, especially with the amount of new guys that we had and the new guys we actually had playing in the tournament,” said Tech team president Rob DeBernard.

“Last year and this year were both huge recruiting seasons for us… The fact that we brought 23 girls down there is pretty amaz-

ing,” Woods said. She noted that several rookies were instrumental in the team’s victory, including tournament MVP Catherine Quesenberry.

Both teams will look to draw on the momentum from winning the GRU tourney to build successful seasons in the spring matrix season. The women’s team proved itself against experienced competition and is on the rise, and the men’s team is hoping for a chance to win the team’s second region title. “We won the South in 1998, and that was the last time...

This year we’re looking to maybe make it two,” DeBernard said.

The men’s tennis team combined to go 21-7 in singles play and 7-5 in doubles play in last weekend’s Bulldog Scramble from Oct. 9-11. Junior Miguel Muguruza and sophomore Dusan Miljevic both went 4-0, and junior Ryan Smith went 3-0 to lead a strong overall performance.

Junior Guillermo Gomez competed at the ITA All-American Championships last weekend. Gomez fell in the main draw but won three consolation matches before an injury forced him to retire.

Swim & Dive wins three over weekend Last weekend, the men’s swimming and diving team earned wins over Clemson and Western Kentucky, while the women’s team beat Miami, tied WKU and fell to Clemson in the annual Parent’s Weekend meet.

Sophomore swimmer Nigel Plummer won the men’s 50-free with a time of 20.34 seconds, and senior diver Hannah Krimm set a school record with a score of 307.60 in the one-meter dive.

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Volleyball tops Maryland, BC to move to 6-1 in ACC

By Steven Cappetta Assistant Sports Editor

1IPUP CZ 5JN /PXBDL Student Publications

Mary Ashley Tippins sets the ball during last Friday’s game against Maryland at O’Keefe Gym. Tippins had 89 assists as Tech swept both matches.

Tech’s volleyball team continued ACC play over the past two weeks with four matches. For the first weekend in Oct. the Jackets traveled to the state of Florida, where they met Florida State on Friday and Miami on Sunday. In the team’s first match, Tech upset the No. 17 Seminoles in five sets to win 3-2 (19-25, 27-25, 15-25, 27-25, 16-14). Two days later the Jackets saw their first ACC loss of the season in Miami as the Hurricanes posted a 3-2 win (22-25, 26-24, 29-31, 27-25, 9-15).

Tech hosted two matches this past weekend as it faced Maryland last Friday and then Boston College on Saturday. The Jackets swept both opponents, winning 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-22) over Maryland and then topping the Eagles 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-13).

With the latest wins, Tech improved to 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. In the Jackets’ first set against Maryland, they cruised to a 25-15 win behind six kills from sophomore middle blocker Asia Stawicka. The Terrapins closed to within 5-4 early on, but Tech did not allow Maryland to win consecutive points until the very end of the set, at which point they led 24-13.

In the second set, Tech won

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the first three points on kills from three different players. Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Hunter had seven kills in the set, and the Jackets built an 18-8 lead as they picked up a 25-18 set victory to pull ahead 2-0 in the match.

The beginning of set three saw the Terrapins off to a strong start, as they went on a 6-1 run to build an 8-5 lead. Tech battled back, and the set was close throughout with seven lead changes. Maryland managed to open up a 2219 lead late, but Tech rebounded to win the last six points, finishing on a Tippins service ace to take the set 25-22 and sweep the match.

Hunter had a team-high 15 kills to lead the Jackets’ attack.

Stawicka and senior outside hitter Chrissy DeMichelis also had double-digit kills, and Stawicka hit .625 on the day. Junior setter Mary Ashley Tippins had 45 assists. On the defensive side, junior libero Jordan McCullers had 17 digs and freshman outside hitter Susan Carlson had nine.

Against Boston College on Saturday, Tech fell behind early in the opening set but went on a 9-2 run that included two service aces and kills by five players. The Eagles battled to within 19-16, but Tech won the final six points of the opening set to take the match.

In set number two, senior mid-

dle blocker Brittany Roderick had three early kills to help Tech open a small lead, but BC stayed close throughout. With the score tied at 13, DeMichelis and freshman rightside hitter Monique Mead helped spark Tech to pull ahead, and Hunter landed the final kill as the Jackets took the set 25-20.

Early 5-1 and 5-0 runs helped the Jackets break open a 15-8 lead in the third set, but they were unable to put the game away. The Eagles, down 23-16, ran off six straight points, but Tech took advantage of a BC attack error and pulled out a 25-23 victory to complete their second straight sweep.

Mead led the attack with 13 kills and a .524 hit percentage.

She contributed on the defensive end too with four block assists and eight digs. Hunter had 12 kills as she reached the 10-kill plateau for the 14th straight game. Tippins notched 44 assists and three block assists, and McCullers recorded 15 digs in the match.

The Jackets will travel to the state of Virginia this weekend to continue ACC play. Tech will take on Virginia Tech today and then go to Charlottesville to take on Virginia tomorrow.

Tech is 10-0 at home this season and will have a chance to improve its 2-5 mark on the road, as the Jackets will be away for six of their next eight games.

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Technique t 0DUPCFS t 23

HOKIES

VIRGINIA TECH at GEORGIA TECH - OCT. 17 (6 PM)

By Alex Mitchell, Contributing Writer

1IPUP CZ +PFZ $FSPOF Student Publications

Ranked No. 19 in the nation, the Jackets hope their offense continues to roll as they look to join the top of the ACC Coastal Division against the Hokies. Last week, the Jackets earned their first-ever win in Tallahassee when they beat Florida State 4944. The offense did not have to punt once in the game, notching several big plays in the first half and controlling the ball for most of the second half as the team racked up 401 yards on the ground. The defense struggled in the first half but rebounded to make some early stops in the second.

Tech’s option attack has been successful this season, as the team has 1,662 rushing yards so far. The individual leaders on the ground are junior B-back Jonathan Dwyer, who has 511 yards on 79 carries, and junior quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who has 503 yards on 128 carries. Nesbitt will look to build on a strong performance against Florida State, against whom he ran 27 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns and threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Tech continued to get solid play from the A-backs, including a 60-yard run by Allen to set up Tech’s second touchdown.

While the offense has been strong, the defense has raised questions as to its effectiveness. The unit has been hurt by injuries and has generally performed below expectations, and recent changes to the defensive scheme have not helped, as the Jackets have allowed 75 points in their last two games after holding North Carolina to seven points. Last week the Jackets struggled to generate a pass rush, and Ponder and his receivers had no trouble attacking the Tech secondary through the air. Tech’s defense will face a challenge this week in dual-threat Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and the Hokies’ offense features speed and talent throughout the unit. Even if the Jackets’ offense plays well, the team will need the defense to make some stops in order to stay in the game.

PREDICTION: Tech 27, VT 23

JACKETS

VS.

1IPUP CZ .JDIBFM 4DIOFJEFS Student Publications

No. 4 Virginia Tech makes its second trip to Atlanta this season on Saturday night. The Hokies met Alabama in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 5 in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. The Crimson Tide won 34-17 in the season opener for both teams, but the Hokies have not lost a game since then. They picked up two wins over ranked opponents Nebraska and Miami to close out Sept., and they are coming off their best statistical performance of the season in their 48-14 win over Boston College last week.

Virginia Tech was the favorite to win the ACC coming into the season, but they suffered a big loss when running back Darren Evans went down with a torn ACL. The sophomore Evans led the Hokies in rushing last season and finished second in ACC Player of the Year voting. However, his backup, redshirt freshman Ryan Williams, has proven more than capable of handling the starting job. Williams leads the ACC in rushing this season with 734 yards, and he has scored nine touchdowns.

Josh Oglesby and David Wilson have been solid as Williams’ backups and have provided plenty of depth at running back.

The key player for the Hokies on offense, though, is quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The junior Taylor’s passing ability was a question mark heading into this season, but Taylor has silenced his critics so far. He has thrown for 995 yards and eight touchdowns this season and has not thrown an interception in his last four games.

The Hokies’ defense completely held Boston College’s offense in check during their Saturday meeting, holding the visiting Eagles to just three total yards in the first half. The unit has held four of its last five opponents to 15 or fewer points, including both Miami and Nebraska. Of note, though, is that this week’s game will be the Hokies’ first real exposure to the Jackets’ option attack; in last year’s meeting, a 20-17 Virginia Tech win, the Jackets employed option plays only sparingly.

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Football wins shootout against Seminoles Jackets rack up 401 rushing yards, defeat FSU 49-44 in Tallahassee

By Hahnming Lee Business Manager

No. 19 Tech defeated Florida State for its first-ever road win against the Seminoles on Saturday night, 49-44.

The two teams combined for nearly 1,100 yards of total offense, 51 first downs, 13 touchdowns and 10 drives of 60 yards or more.

The teams combined for just one punt during the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we had to punt, we probably would not have won the game,â&#x20AC;? said Head Coach Paul Johnson.

Junior quarterback Josh Nesbitt led Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offense with 27 carries for 143 yards and 131 yards passing. He had four total touchdowns. Junior A-back Jonathan Dwyer had his second 100-yard rushing game for the season, carrying the ball 14 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

There were 10 offensive possessions between the two teams in the first half, and all but Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brief last drive ended in a touchdown. The teams went into halftime with FSU ahead 35-28.

Neither team had very favorable field position in the first half: Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average drive started at its own 34 and FSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at its own 23.

Big plays were key for Tech.

On their second possession of the game, junior A-back Anthony Allen broke a 60-yard run down the sideline to set up Nesbittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1-yard rush that tied the game, 14-14. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a track meet. Once you get the ball just sprint,â&#x20AC;? said Allen, who had 81 rush yards.

Despite the close score, FSU had a clear advantage in some key categories in the first half. Florida State outgained Tech in total yards 403-243. The Seminoles also had the ball for 20:23 while the Jackets only had it for 9:37.

The time of possession was skewed toward FSU because Tech did not have a scoring drive longer than 4:12 and averaged 2:20 per drive. Tech had three plays of 35plus yards and three touchdown drives of just two plays or fewer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We talked at halftime and I told them there was not a difference between [this] game and a 7-0 game...We were going to get the ball first and we just had to get a couple of stops,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said.

On Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first possession in the second half, Josh Nesbitt fumbled the snap at Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 24-yard line to set FSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offense up deep in Tech territory. The defense made its first stop of the night, See Football, page 20

1IPUP CZ ,FMWJO ,VP Student Publications

Josh Nesbitt breaks into the open field during last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game at Florida State. Nesbitt had a team-high 140 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, and he threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas.

Falconi tops UGA star to clinch Rugby clubs victorious in ITA All-American singles title GRU state tournament

By Steven Cappetta Assistant Sports Editor

By Nishant Prasadh Sports Editor

Sophomore Irina Falconi defeated Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chelsey Gullickson in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 this past Sunday to earn the 2009 Riviera/ITA Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All-American Championship singles title. Her victory gave the Jackets their sixth national title since 2007.

Falconiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory marked the first singles title for any Jackets player at the annual fall ITA event, and the second straight year that Tech had won a title at the annual event at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. Falconi teamed with then-junior Amanda McDowell last year to win the doubles title at the 2008 ITA tournament.

Falconi, who was the No. 8 seed in the tournament, started her first-round match in the tournament on Oct. 8 with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Anastasia Petukova of Fresno State. A day later, she competed in her second round match against Notre Dameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kristy Frilling, and Falconi once again was able to win in straight sets as she took the match 6-4, 6-1.

Falconi advanced to the quarterfinals later in the day against Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Caitlin Whoriskey, and with a 6-1, 6-1 win she earned a spot in Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semifinal

Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rugby teams emerged victorious at last weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Georgia Rugby Union state tournament at Georgia Southern University. Both teams defeated Georgia in their respective championship games to secure the title in the de facto state championship tournament.

The GRU tournament brings together several schools from around the South, including several of Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local rivals. The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s club has traditionally been successful at the annual tournament, and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory marked their third GRU title in the last four years.

For the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, the win marked a major milestone for the program, which earned its first GRU title since the club was chartered in 2006. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That much change in such a short amount of time is awesome.

The way this teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come togetherâ&#x20AC;Śto see our guys beat UGA and get their trophy, and for us to follow right behind them and beat UGA again and bring the trophy home was just an amazing feeling,â&#x20AC;? said senior back and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team captain Emily Woods.

In the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tournament, Tech was in a three-team pool with Auburn and Armstrong Atlantic State. The Jackets had no trouble

See Falconi, page 21

1IPUP CZ +PIO /BLBOP Student Publications

Irina Falconi makes a return at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. Falconiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ITA title was Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sixth national title in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis since 2006.

taking down their pool opponents, defeating Armstrong Atlantic 45-7 and beating Auburn 55-0 despite rough weather conditions. They advanced to the semifinals to face Georgia Southern, and while the host Eagles led for most of the game, a late score gave Tech an edge and the Jackets went on to win 8-5.

The win over Southern put Tech in the title game, and Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 7-0 win over Kennesaw State set up a finals matchup between the two. Tech and Georgia played a close match throughout, but the Jackets secured a lead and held on for the 10-6 victory to win the tournament.

The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team had not yet built the reputation of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squad, and as a result they were able to take advantage of opponents who underestimated them, including the tournament hosts in their first match. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Georgia Southern] had a say in who played what and when, and they were excited about playing [a supposedly] easy warm-up game. We came straight out of the gate and scored two unanswered, and itâ&#x20AC;Ś woke them up a little bit.

The final score was about 24-5, so it was fantastic,â&#x20AC;? Woods said.

Later in early-round play, Tech actually faced Georgia, but inclement weather cut the match See Rugby, page 21