Technique July 2, 2010 by Technique

Technique Friday, July 2, 2010 • Volume 96, Issue 3 • nique.net

The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper

Blasting off to space

Tech alumnus Alan Poindexter shares the story of his astrocareer.47

Center of campus construction continues By Matt Hoffman News Editor

Skiles walkway will be closed on Dec. 20 to allow construction crews to take over the area to reconfigure the path with the new Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC) and to expand the path for easier pedestrian flow. The Facilities department chose the date to minimize confusion for people on campus. The Skiles alleyway, which lies between the south end of Skiles Classroom building, the Coon Building and the Tin Building, will be the primary detour for students, faculty and staff to get through the center of campus. Currently, the alleyway is part sidewalk and part parking lot for Facilities’ vehicles, but construction will take over the area in three to four weeks to begin to reconfigure the area into a primary pedestrian artery for campus to help alleviate the disturbance associated with the closing of Skiles walkway. Originally, Facilities had planned to build an adjacent, temporary pathway next to Skiles walkway, but they decided against such a scenario. “The administration decided to pull [the alleyway] project forward in order to create less issues with pedestrians in a construction zone,” said John Duconge with the Facilities Department at the CULC town hall meeting on Tuesday, June 29. “We noticed that when we tried to redirect Skiles that no matter how many signs we put up, it was confusing,” said Dustin Hodges with Turner Construction. The hope is that the new path from the Skiles alleyway project will continue to be a major pedestrian corridor even after Skiles walkway reopens. “I consider this a pull forward activity for the campus master plan. It will go along with the landscaping and hardscaping around campus…. It made sense [to do this project now] because it allows to take over the entire Skiles walkway from the Price Gilbert library to the student center,” said Brian Burleigh, project manager for the alleyway project from Turner Construction. Currently, the alleyway construction is planned to be completed by Dec. 1 so that the when students and faculty return from winter break in Jan. they can begin use of the new pathway. “Our goal is not disrupt any day-to-day activities during the semester. In between semesters is the perfect time to make changes,” Burleigh said. Facilities said part of the reason a renovation of the alleyway is planned was because of the crime issues in the area during the Spring 2009 semester. When students returned from spring break last year, they found that Skiles walkway had been closed for utility work, forcing many students to

use the path through the Coon and Weber buildings. On one evening, two students were robbed at gunpoint while using the cut through. The hope is that the renovated alleyway will be more open, better lit and have an emergency call box along the path. According to Facilities, such conditions will reduce the chances of a similar incident from occurring in the area. The Price Gilbert Library plaza on the eastern end of Skiles walkway will also undergo extensive renovation including the removal of the library fountain. While the entire plaza area will be under some construction, the main entrance to the library will remain accessible throughout the process. In conjunction with the CULC work in the center of campus, the sidewalk, which runs from the Student Center Commons to the Bunger Henry Building, will also be closing about the same time as Skiles walkway and is also scheduled to be reopened sometime next June. The need to close this path stems from work being done on Tech Green and the 1.5 million gallon cistern that is being installed under the center-of-campus park. Major work on Tech green itself will begin in September. The cistern is a primary sustainable feature for the CULC and the surrounding area. The water retention system will help with the irrigation of the area and other parts of campus. Some of the water retained from storm water will also be used in some of the plumbing aspects of the CULC. The designers of the CULC intend for the building to be LEED Gold certified, one of the highest sustainability ratings a building can receive. Other environmentally friendly features on the building include a roof garden on the fifth floor, solar panels and a bay-atrium system that will allow sunlight to penetrate into the center of the building. “One of the components of the sustainability efforts with the building is bringing daylight into the center of the building…. With the openings [into the atria] that travel all the way down through the center of the building,” Duconge said. Turner is currently still working on the main structure of the building. The third floor was finished last week with the completion of the final four concrete pours that make up each floor. The first pour of the fourth floor, which is on the southern end of the building near Skiles walkway, was scheduled for this week. All the floors major structure components are scheduled to be completed by August allowing exterior work to commence at the beginning of the fall semester. Once the exterior work is completed sometime around the turn of the year, interior work will start. Major construction is scheduled to be completed by June so that Facilties can prepare the building for classes in Aug. 2011.

Photo by Doug Kim / Student Publications

Rendering courtesy of the Facilities Department

Top: A current view of Skiles alleyway near the hill district of Tech. Bottom: A rendering of the area after the planned reconfiguration.

Burglaries weigh on Tech during summer semester By Matt Hoffman News Editor

Photo by Doug Kim / Student Publications

The AXO house was the site of one of several break-ins that has occurred on campus this summer. The intruder failed to take any property from the house.

A string of burglaries has struck campus this summer, including two at Greek houses. Several of the incidents with items being stolen from residences have shown no forced entry. One of the incidents happened at a dorm. On Monday, June 28, a suspected robbery occurred at Hefner on West Campus. A resident at the dormitory reported missing prescription pills from her room. No suspect has been found. The first incident at a Greek house dealt with a male suspect attempting to break into the Sigma Chi Fraternity house. The intruder was unsuccessful. When later detained, drug paraphernalia was found on him. “Since most chapters remain active at Georgia Tech throughout the summer term, strategies to keep houses secure are the same year-round: avoid sharing house entry codes with non-residents, lock exterior doors and

windows and keep exterior lights on,” said Ashby Foltz, President of Interfraternity Council. The other incident involving a Greek house on campus occurred at the Alpha Chi Omega house. A person living in the house was awakened by the sound of a male attempting to steal her laptop. After the victim shouted at the suspect, he fled the scene but was not detained. “Suspicious activity should always be reported to GTPD. If a chapter house is vacant, for a weekend or a month, chapter officers can let myself and the Office of Greek Affairs know, and GTPD can check the house to make sure it has not been broken into or vandalized. Chapter houses, like all other Georgia Tech facilities, are not immune to area crime, but we hope that their location within the Greek Neighborhood will continue to act as a deterrent,” Foltz said. A string of burglaries also struck campus during the Summer 2008 semester when five different fraternity houses were robbed.

NEWS

2 • July 2, 2010 • Technique

Technique

The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper

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: Hahnming Lee editor@nique.net Telephone: (404) 894-2831

News Editor: Matt Hoffman / news@nique.net Opinions Editor: Nishant Prasadh / opinions@nique.net Focus Editor: Kamna Bohra / focus@nique.net Entertainment Editor: Jennifer Aldoretta / entertainment@ nique.net Sports Editor: Alex Mitchell / sports@nique.net

Copyright © 2010, Hahnming Lee, 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 Alex Mitchell Sports Editor Bad boys, watcha gonna do

At approximately 4 a.m., a police officer observed a male, dressed as a female, performing oral sex on another male on West Peachtree St., near Fourth St. The officer turned on his headlights, illuminating the suspects. The two ran in opposite directions, and the officer chased down the male who was performing the sexual act. The suspect admitted that he had agreed to perform oral sex on the other male for $20. The suspect also admitted that he was a transsexual prostitute and was working around the Fourth St. and West Peachtree area, looking for

subjects to pay him for sexual acts. The suspect was transported to the Georgia Tech Police Department and was charged with prostitution, obstruction of an officer and public indecency. The suspect was then transported to Fulton County Jail. Sight seeing

At around 1:30 a.m., a patrolling officer observed two individuals on the top of Alexander Memorial Coliseum. After circling the coliseum several times, the officer decided to enter the coliseum and go to the roof. The officer located the suspects hiding

on the top portion of the building, and upon questioning them, they said they were on top of the coliseum to enjoy the scenery. One of the suspects was a student at Tech. The two were issued Criminal Trespass Warnings and the Tech student was given a Student Code of Conduct Violation. The two suspects were then released without further incident. I hate spam

At approximately 11 p.m., the GTPD was called about a suspicious email. The victim stated that the email requested she send a donation, but it did not identify where the donation should be sent to or how much the donation should be. A search of the email address was traced to an undergraduate student at Tech. The email was signed with a name not associated with the account.

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BP’s stock is “Beyond Plumetting” I need money! Hey girl, can I hit that? 6’ 210 22 year old man searching girl... With benefits At the waffle house. “Mam what come on a sausage biscuit?” RJ Berger appears to be truth incarnate. How many people can say their parents are swingers lol? U took the time to right “Eff you” in binary. Only at tech. Honestly. Some1 really wants me to streak around campus. Yeah, cuz I like running from the cops for fun! dear moron sitting in the MARC 4th floor atrium: please find somewhere else to loudly talk on the phone for an hour. thanks. how do i wind up sitting next to people who smell terrible in both of my classes? 5 years is a blessing, not a curse. SolarJackets rock! Guy that had a mohawk: When are you NOT in the library? WiFi at WaHo, PoPo at WaHo, Es Barato en WaHo Would someone please fix the lights for the H on the west side of Tech Tower? not sure who looks scarier right now - paul pierce or the deformed monster-people in this syfy movie Why does Stamps Health Center not open earlier/on the weekend? Why don’t they let us make an appointment online when they’re closed? Georgia tech is like a grave you have to dig yourself out of after being buried alive And no it’s not “cool” or “fun” like twilight But mommy I don’t wanna go to school today! The world cup balls suck! Give the goalies their balls back! Free vuvuzelas for everybody! Is there anyone interested in having a Young Americans For Liberty @ GT? What kind of idiots try to mix a thermite solution in a fraterity house! Fact: WTO 1, 2, & 7 were demo’d with NANOTHERMITE! 9/11 is an INSIDE JOB! I love short blonde girls I could care less about sports! Economy sucks, Bilderberg just met, and they want a war with IRAN??? Must watch films; Invisible Empire, Don’t Tread On Me, Fabled Enemies, and Fall of the Republic! If you go on I-20 between AUG & ATL: Notice the wire fence in the median, the cameras, and the sensors? Watch Police State 2000, Police State 2, Police State 3, and Police State 4!

NEWS

Technique • July 2, 2010 • 3

Construction persists at NAA Breaking the

Bubble

By Matt Hoffman News Editor

Work along North Ave. pushes forward through the summer, as the new North Ave. Apartments (NAA) Dining Hall begins to take shape. The work began shortly after the spring semester ended and will continue until Fall 2011, but the work has experienced a slight delay. “The dining hall is currently one week behind schedule. This will not impact the grand opening date scheduled for Fall 2011,” said Kimberley Wilson with the Facilities Department. One of the major aspects of the dining hall requires the reconfiguration of the stairs leading from the street level to the main gates into the complex. Because of the new layout, the old stairs had to be completely removed, forcing students to enter and exit the complex at the bus turnaround on Centennial Olympic Park Dr. “Student safety is our highest priority, and we do not want to route students through an active construction site. We will reopen the corner plaza and the new permanent stair for student use as soon as construction activities reach a stage that allows for safe pedestrian passage,” Wilson said Student living at NAA in the coming year were made aware of the construction that would be taking place at the complex for the upcoming academic year prior to signing their housing contracts. “The dormitories in the vicinity of the construction site are not occupied this summer, and to my knowledge, there have been no complaints,” Wilson said. Many students living during the 2008-2009 complained about noise associated with the brick

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.

Kagan meets the Judiciary Committee

Photo by Doug Kim/Student Publications

Construction on the NAA Dining Hall continues on East Campus at the intersection of Centennial Olympic Park Dr. and North Ave.

replacement on North and East Building of the complex. Better communication and forewarnings about construction associated with the complex is intended to help prevent a similar situation. “In early Aug., our construction team will be working with Housing to prepare a project schedule with key construction milestone dates, so that we may update and inform incoming Fall 2010 residents of North Avenue Apartments. The schedule to be released in Aug. will include an estimate date for re-opening the corner plaza and stair,” Wilson said. Georgia Power has also been in the area, installing ductbanks

under the street. The ductbanks will allow the transfer of the lines on the telephone poles along North Ave. under ground. The work forced the closure of lanes on North Ave. during the night hours. “This work has been carefully coordinated so that the installation of the ductbank in the street by Georgia Power would be completed during the summer while the adjacent dormitories were unoccupied, and with no impacts to the Dining Hall project. Georgia Power has successfully completed this work ahead of schedule. The remaining work involves relocating the utilities into the ductbank,” Wilson said.

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Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan began this week in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. The former Dean of Harvard Law School and current Solicitor General would become the fourth woman to serve on the high court if she is confirmed by the Senate. Kagan has been asked by members on the committee about her views on the “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell” policy, which she cites as the reason for her opposition to on-campus recruiting by the military at Harvard. Her views on gun control and the Second Amendment are also expected to be discussed with the Court’s ruling in McDonald v. Chicago, which struck down a law that heavily restricted the ability of residents to possess firearms. If Kagan is confirmed, the court will be without a Protestant member for the first time in history.

Larry King announces his retirement On Tuesday, June 29, Larry King announced that, after 25 years on the air, he was retiring

from Larry King Live this upcoming fall. His talk show has been on the air since 1985. It is the longest running program with the same host, on the same network and with the same time slot. Many people have speculated that his low ratings and perceived disconnect with some popular figures of pop culture caused him to be forced out, but on his Tuesday night broadcast where he made the announcement, King said that the decision was solely his, he was not forced out and that he made the choice so he could pursue new horizons and spend more time with his family.

Obama disapproval higher than approval For the first time since he took office almost a year and a half ago, President Obama’s disapproval rating is higher than his approval rating, according to a poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal. Many pundits are pointing to the still unresolved oil crisis in the Gulf as the primary reason why some Americans have become disenchanted with the White House. The President continues to face fire from both sides of the aisle. Conservatives are attacking Obama for not reducing spending, while the left is attacking the White House for what they say is backing away from promises made during the campaign.

Opinions

Opinions Editor: Nishant Prasadh I guess I should warn you: if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said. —Alan Greenspan

“ ”

OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

Projects foreshadow trouble

Construction sites will impact students’ daily lives

There are inconvenient consequences with any construction project, and with most recent projects on campus, these consequences have been annoying but tolerable. However, it appears that the planned construction for the CULC and the North Ave. Apartments Dining Hall could become more than simply annoyances in the coming year. The CULC construction is intrusive, but it at least appears to be the result of detailed planning. Since the detour will lead students past an area that has been the site of on-campus crime in the past, the administration has ensured that extra measures will be taken to protect the large number of students who will use this route in the coming year. Still, the fact remains that the construction will be even more intrusive as it expands. What was once a five-toeight minute walk across campus could become at least a 10-to-15 minute walk, making life difficult for students with

back-to-back classes on opposite ends of the construction site. It will be important for the administration to effectively communicate all pertinent information regarding construction at this site, as it will directly affect the daily activities of most of the campus. More concerning, though, are the potential effects of the North Ave. construction. The decision to close the stairs at the corner of North Ave. for an extended period of time indicates a project that has lacked foresight. The decision will have numerous negative consequences and will make life even more difficult for the North building residents who already must deal with yearlong construction on their building without any sort of compensation or contingency options. Forcing all North Avenue residents to enter and leave via the turnaround on Techwood Drive will present accessibility problems and safety issues that must be addressed.

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 Hahnming Lee, Editor-in-Chief Kate Comstock, Business Manager

Jennifer Aldoretta, Entertainment Editor Matt Hoffman, News Editor Alex Mitchell, Sports Editor

Kamna Bohra, Focus Editor Nishant Prasadh, Opinions Editor Eric Mansfield, Photography Editor

EDITORIAL CARTOON By Rose Peng

Technique

Friday, July 2, 2010

McChrystal’s issues mostly self-inflicted By J.J. Despain The Daily Universe, BYU

Who would have guessed an article in Rolling Stone magazine could change everything about the war in Afghanistan? Rolling Stone is not afraid to criticize government or society in all the jaded and angsty glory of a typical headbanging rocker. But the unabashed irreverence in its most recent issue is more troublesome than if it had come from Ozzy Osbourne or Ted Nugent. This time, the disregard for authority comes from none other than Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. military’s highest authority in Afghanistan. A freelance reporter was able to get up close and personal with McChrystal and discovered a few choice sound bytes to pass along to Rolling Stone. The four-star general let slip some very harsh words against almost everyone in the Obama administration involved with Afghanistan policy, including President Barack Obama himself. Rolling Stone’s standards for appropriate language differ a bit from those of The Daily Universe, so most of McChrystal’s remarks cannot be repeated here. But you don’t have to read his words to know McChrystal made a big mistake. The fact that his speech was too reckless and offensive for The Daily Universe is evidence enough of McChrystal’s need for a reprimand and a wake-up call. The reporter, Michael Hastings, sums up McChrystal’s attitude in the first sentence of his article. “Stanley McChrystal…has seized control of the war by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House,” Hastings wrote. The quips throughout the article show McChrystal as ornery, arrogant, insubordinate and skeptical. He exposed his unwillingness to work with Richard Holbrooke (the White House’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan), his pure doubt of Obama’s ability to handle the war and a juvenile mockery of Vice President Joe Biden and national security adviser Jim Jones. And all with a colorful collection of expletives. Granted, many of the most unflattering quotes come not from McChrystal but from his posse of aides. But all the quotes were given McChrystal’s unashamed stamp of approval when he reviewed the Rolling Stone article. Eric Bates, the Rolling Stone’s editor, said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that McChrystal and the gang looked over the article before publishing. Any resistance from McChrystal? “No, absolutely not,” Bates said. Some will say the comments are a natural byproduct of the rough-and-tumble personality required of a military officer. Also, McChrystal fights for a country that protects freedom of speech,

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and he has every right to speak his mind. And after all, there may be reason to agree with his evaluation of Obama, Biden, Holbrooke and others. But did McChrystal have to choose a base and demeaning method to vent his frustration? Could he not have been more articulate and constructive? Did he have to abandon dignity and adopt a maturity level lower than that of the Jonas Brothers? Instead, McChrystal chose to completely bypass self-control and let his emotions speak louder than his intellect. There is no doubt McChrystal has an impressive military record. He may remember how to engage the enemy, but he forgot how to engage in decent conversation. In 1974, President Spencer W. Kimball accurately defined profanity. “Profanity is the effort of a feeble brain to express itself forcibly,” Kimball said. By resorting to profanity, McChrystal acted immaturely and revealed an incompetent side of his leadership. McChrystal “has a reputation for saying and thinking what others are afraid to,” according to the British newspaper The Guardian. This was something Obama admired and incorporated as he tried to convert military policy from the preceding doctrine to his own. When he appointed McChrystal for the Afghanistan job, he praised McChrystal for keeping the sugar-coating and beatingaround-the-bush at a minimum. However, being given flexibility with this particular trait does not give permission for language and behavior unfit for a high school locker room. In the wake of his faux pas, McChrystal officially resigned Wednesday. Obama will replace him with Gen. David Petraeus, who has been busy leading U.S. forces in the Middle East. I don’t claim to be an expert on the U.S. army, Afghanistan or war. I don’t know whether McChrystal should have resigned, been fired or given some other form of punishment. But I do know McChrystal could use a refresher course on what “army strong” really is. It will come in handy the next time he “can’t get no satisfaction.”

OPINIONS

Technique • July 2, 2010 • 5

BP only making a bad situation worse More than two months after the BP oil rig explosion, I am compelled to ask: does ANYBODY at BP know what they are doing anymore? After the initial April 25 estimate of 1,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) leaking into the Gulf and the subsequent estimate of 5,000 bpd only three days later, it makes me question whether BP is really taking this issue as seriously as they should be. The YouTube video entitled “BP Spills Coffee” is a hilarious, and pathetically accurate, rendition of what seems very likely to be happening with BP behind the scenes. It seems as though the so-called “obvious” fixes to the problem are simply being overlooked for the sake of spending less money to fix the leak. The oil dispersant that BP has been using, called COREXIT, is considered to be extremely toxic. The purpose of a dispersant is to break up the oil on the water’s surface. However, BP has poured well over 500,000 gallons of this chemical into the gulf despite the environmental precautions on the material safety data sheet. The dispersant is meant to be sprayed over the slick rather than being poured into the ocean, which is what BP has done. The distributor of the dispersants cautions that long-term exposure can cause serious health problems in-

“Instead of playing the blame game about who is responsible...we need to be focusing on the solution.” Jennifer Aldoretta Entertainment Editor

cluding injury to the liver, kidneys and red blood cells. If the Gulf water is still being treated and turned into drinking water, then who knows what the long-term effects of this stuff might be. After two months of leaking, the Obama administration is losing support and attracting immense criticism. Should the government be doing more? Should BP be in charge of the operation or does the government need to take over? On top of the blame that is already being thrown around, according to the New York Times, offshore drilling projects have been halted for the time being. However, BP has been permitted to go ahead with what has been said to be a “risky” drilling operation two miles off the coast of Alaska because it sits on an artificial island that BP built. The type of drilling that will be used is a method (like that used in the Gulf) more prone to the problems that caused the Gulf well explo-

sion. Really, BP? Really, government? Do we really think this isn’t going to cause controversy? Is this really the most intelligent decision we could have made right now? Instead of playing the blame game about who is responsible for the oil well explosion, we need to be focusing on the solution. It’s apparent that this disaster calls for a major reevaluation on our energy needs. What we do not need right now is for BP to push other drilling operations. We need to first fix the problem and then figure out how things like this can be avoided in the future—like, maybe, not drilling offshore or actually having a plan in place in the event that the wells fail. BP needs to take responsibility for the fact that one of their oil rigs failed and is leaking thousands of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico ever day. One Purdue University researcher, Steve Wereley, estimated that the well may be leaking somewhere around 70,000 bpd.

Honestly, at this point I don’t think I’d be surprised to hear if this estimate is true. If it is, it would be nice not to be left in the dark. BP has done everything in their power to mislead the public about the severity of the situation, but a greater sense of urgency from the public is ultimately what will push them to fix the leak and the associated problems. Being somewhat of an environmentalist, it baffles me that a company is more concerned with saving money by using cheap, harmful chemicals to try and hide the oil rather than putting all of their resources, money and man-power into solving the problem in a way that will not further detriment our environment. It is human nature to look out for the good of the species. It is the nature of major monopolies to look out for their pockets. It is extremely disappointing that the latter means forgetting about the former. BP first needs to fix the leak and do whatever they have to in order to do so. Then they can worry about who’s to blame for the explosions and the death of a dozen people. The inhabitants of the Gulf have a rocky road ahead of them, and it would be nice if BP would act with a bit more class than has been done thus far. It’s time to step up to the plate and accept your mistakes, BP.

MLS must change for US fans to care With the World Cup awing fans around the world, the United States soccer team entertained American fans that actually bothered to watch the games. American sports fans have never appreciated soccer for a number of reasons and because of their previous biases, they probably never will. The U.S. soccer team put on a great show at the World Cup, but their efforts were mostly lost on their countrymen. The U.S. scored their first major “victory” of the tournament when they tied heavily favored England in their first match of the tournament. The U.S. came from behind to tie the game, scoring the equalizing goal when the English goalkeeper basically dropped the ball into the net. The gaffe sent American and British tabloids into a tizzy. In their second match, the U.S. overcame a two-goal deficit to tie the game and would have won 3-2 had it not been for a blown call by a referee. The call was so bad that FIFA suspended the referee for the rest of the tournament. With their tournament hopes on the line against Algeria, the U.S. scored a late goal to win the match 1-0. Superstar Landon Donovan scored the winning goal in the game’s 91st minute to advance the U.S. into the knockout round. The U.S. continued to glue fans to their seats with their

“In a sense, the sports world has gone back to a regular summer and it is as if [the World Cup] never took place.” Alex Mitchell

Sports Editor first elimination game against Ghana, but they could not continue their win streak. Ghana slipped by the U.S. in a 2-1 extra-time thriller. So now after all of the excitement, what impact has the amazing run by the U.S. in the World Cup had on soccer here in the States? Absolutely none. ESPN is no longer showing replays of Donovan’s amazing goal. Analysts and reporters are no longer talking about the World Cup on a regular basis. The fans that cared are now immersed in baseball or counting down the days to the start of American football. In a sense, the sports world has gone back to a regular summer and it is as if these exciting matches never even took place. So why do Americans not like soccer when the rest of the world is so obsessed? It is not that the U.S. team is bad or that Americans know nothing about soccer. Most American kids will play soccer competitively at some point, and youth soccer programs are at an all-time high.

The reason why Americans are so apathetic about soccer is simple: competition. Soccer has to compete with football, basketball, baseball, hockey, wrestling, auto-racing and a handful of other sports. While all of those sports have caught on and gained popularity over time, soccer has been left behind. Some of the problems lie in the nature of soccer, but others lie with the American pro soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS has to take most of the blame for the lack of popularity of soccer in the U.S. Other professional sport leagues market their players and make them into household names, but even die-hard sports fans struggle to name American soccer players. Fans want to see Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, but hardly anyone will watch an MLS game simply because Landon Donovan is playing for the L.A. Galaxy. Along with MLS’ failure to market its players, MLS fails to market its teams. MLS is hard-

ly ever televised, and most fans around the country struggle to name any MLS teams. Other professional sports teams are on television for every game and a couple leagues have their own networks. In order to gain money to market their teams and players, MLS needs to put fans in seats and the way that soccer is currently played, that will never happen. American sports fans are used to seeing 200-point basketball games, amazing touchdown catches and towering home runs. Americans need to be constantly entertained, and no American sports fan wants to watch a 90-minute game where the score ends at 1-0. MLS needs to change the game to allow teams to score more frequently. There is a simple way to increase scoring: increase the size of the goals and decrease the size of the field. These changes will produce more goals and make the game more exciting for the American fan. More scoring and a more marketable league might not completely change the way Americans view soccer, but it definitely could not hurt. What the U.S. did in South Africa should be celebrated for years to come but because of this country’s lack of interest in soccer, a select few will remember these matches when American football starts.

BUZZ

Around Campus

What do you think of the World Cup?

Cody Eubanks Third-year ChBE

“I’ve watched a little. I’ve watched less of it since the U.S. has been out.”

Rachel Swinehart First-year BME

“My two favorite teams are Argentina and Spain.”

Yee Ling Foo ISyE grad student

“It’s been a lot of upsets and surprises. I hope Argentina wins the World Cup.”

David Barrera Second-year IE

“It was awesome. I like it.” Photos by Eric Mansfield

OPINIONS

6 • July 2, 2010 • Technique

OUR VIEWS Hot or Not

HOT– or –NOT Draft daze

It was a great day for Tech sports as Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal were selected in the NBA Draft last week. The downside is that the two star forwards will not be taking the court for Tech in the upcoming season, but both have bright futures ahead in the pros. Now, former Tech star Chris Bosh will look to find a nice home (maybe alongside LeBron?) as NBA free agency takes the spotlight.

She’s a superstar

After sophomore Irina Falconi held the No. 1 ranking in NCAA women’s tennis for practically the entire season, she was rewarded with the ITA National College Player of the Year award. Falconi won one national title in the fall and came just shy of winning a second, and she lost only one match during the spring (dual match) season. She was, by all accounts, unstoppable.

Crime continues

It is unfortunate, but crime on and around campus remains an issue. The continued troubles should simply serve as a reminder to continue to take extra precautions these days, particularly after sunset, and to generally exercise discretion on campus at all times. It is, after all, for our own safety; nobody would want to end up as the subject of the latest story about a robbery or a mugging in a shady area.

Severed dreams

Landon Donovan’s lastminute heroics against Algeria led the U.S. soccer team into the knockout stage of the World Cup. Any dreams of a magical run to the title were quashed quickly, though, as Ghana knocked off the U.S. 2-1. It’s a sad ending, but eight teams remain alive for those who have not had enough of vuvuzelas, bicycle kicks and, of course, flopping.

Graffiti, other additions leave modern mark on historical sites

“Wow! The Sistine Chapel is so tall. Can you imagine painting the ceiling up so high and almost upside down?” “I wish I could create figures like that with just spray paint!” “Look, the Trevi Fountain! Let’s go make a wish!” “I can’t believe that people would just want to write their name on random walls.” “The Spanish Steps! Such incredible architecture!” “Look…it’s a…McDonald’s?” These are some of the comments made when traveling throughout historic Europe. The architecture is pretty incredible. Roman engineering seems to defy gravity. Renaissance paintings are mind-blowing. The feats of architecture and the styles and cultures that influenced them and were influenced by them were each unique in their own ways. It was different, though, seeing historic buildings being used to house fast food chains. As an art and architecture geek, it hurt my heart to see graffiti on the walls of buildings that are just not made that way anymore. While I can go on a tirade about the destruction of classical forms, some of the graffiti I saw was amazing. It was art on a whole new level. From the time we landed in Berlin to the time we left the last city, Ghent, in Belgium, I was a witness to all sorts of art forms. Coming out of the airport, the bus drove through a tunnel that was covered in graffiti figures. Prague had interesting political statements. Vienna did not have as much in the way of graffiti art, but was definitely covered in seemingly random black signatures. Flor-

“[The graffiti] was art on a whole new level. From the time we landed in Berlin to the time we left...I was a witness to all sorts of art forms.”

Nancy Thanki Columnist ence was refreshingly neutral. But Rome definitely surprised me. Being the center of the Roman Empire a millennium ago, I should think, would demand some sort of respect. But short of the Forum and around the center of the city, almost every city block had some sort of signature, symbol or general disrupting of the otherwise intact facades. Parisian graffiti was also incredible. Each subway tunnel was covered in it. It amazed me that there were people so dedicated to their art and leaving something behind that they would trek through tunnels in the dead of night after the stations were closed. Belgium surprised me the most, but definitely in the good way. We were given the opportunity to go to the beach after finals. There was a tunnel to get across the highway. From the outside, it is a nondescript, white tunnel. But the inside was an explosion of color and figures. There were different versions of the crazy squirrel from Ice Age, a take on the CocaCola polar bears and so many other creatures. The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is all too true right now. I was told that there are groups of art enthusiasts that come to Europe specifically to do graffiti. That sounds like an incredible way

to spend your time. See the sights and leave your mark, too. It was interesting to also notice that fast food chains were built right alongside historical monuments if they were not already a part of them. The highest-grossing McDonald’s in the world is right next to the Spanish Steps in Rome and just a few minutes from the Trevi Fountain. There is a Burger King in the heart of Vienna’s historic district, only a minute away from where Hitler declared his takeover of the city during World War II. Subway is right across from one of the first opera houses ever built. It was jarring to me as someone who has grown up in America where most buildings of historic importance are generally protected by societies, museums or private patrons. I guess it is different in Europe where just about everything has some sort of historical importance—with, for example, a general that walked along a certain street, or a rebellion happened in a certain square. Either way, the art and architecture along the trip was just as incredible and thought-provoking as the art and architecture we saw in the museums. I think I could have spent the whole time in each city just looking at the graffiti and still not have seen it all.

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I am a GT alum who is awake! Done with tech, now what? acc championship The Tech Trolley’s “tour guy” driver is awesome beer pong architecture what is this smd CS1372 can shove a pointer up its register why does the login system for email suck so hard? I hate GT construction... when is the construction ever going to end I want to know my fate if i keep up this way-DCFC summer studies crew signing in. here’s hoping this makes my last 2 semesters more bearable. I HAVE A HOLD ON MY REGISTRATION beautiful asian girl in the biotech quad, what’s your name? What happened to my ChBE print balance?! Georgia Tech: Construction Zone since 1885 $ is better than D+ she doesnt care enough to care Girl who’s lingerie found its way to my dryer... you have my attention. http://www.ruinedmyday.com You know, BP may not have had a plan for how to deal with this type of disaster, but it’s not like any of the other oil companies that do off-shore drilling had a plan either. why is there no water in the campanile???? how am I supposed to cool off?!?!?! I want subway I want taco bell NOW! Craft Center ftw! party down is the best show on TV. papa john’s is good. It was a joke!

Focus

focus@nique.net Focus Editor: Kamna Bohra

Organization Spotlight: Salsa Club The Salsa Club offers classes, dance parties, nightlife and competitions to students interested in learning club-style Latin dancing. Contact: http://jacketpages.gatech.edu/

Technique

Friday, July 2, 2010

Tech alumnus reflects on travels from Atlanta to expanses of space Poindexter shares college, engineering experiences

By Eric Mansfield Photography Editor

A brilliant rush of fire. A roaring crackle. An inverted mushroom cloud of vapor rushing out in every direction. Under 2.6 million pounds of thrust, Space Shuttle Discovery leapt from her pad beginning her 8.5 minute flight into orbit. Four hours earlier, Alan Poindexter, AE ’86, strode out of the Operations and Checkout building. It was Poindexter’s second shuttle mission and his first as shuttle commander. Poindexter’s first time in space was as pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-122 in 2008. In preparation for the single landing attempt, Poindexter trained in the aptly named “Shuttle Landing Trainer,” a variant of the Gulfstream II. The mission successfully delivered the European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory. At the end of the mission, he guided Atlantis for landing at Kennedy Space Center. “You shouldn’t be scared of [landing the shuttle]…know that your best is the best you can do,” Poindexter said. However, Poindexter believes sharing the experience with other astronauts was most rewarding. “The launch was certainly spectacular and very dynamic, very exhilarating...I think the best part about the whole mission was

being with your crew mates in a vehicle working together as a team to get the mission done, and those are the moments that really stick out and shine,” Poindexter said in a pre-shuttle interview. Poindexter’s journey to becoming an astronaut became serious after hearing Dick Truly, a fellow alum and astronaut, describe the experience of piloting the shuttle down for its first night landing. “I was excited by [Truly’s account]. I talked to him a little about that career path…I never made it my sole goal in life, but it was something I always hoped to do,” Poindexter said. Of course, Poindexter was well qualified to become an astronaut. He had logged thousands of hours in flight and over 450 carrier landings, was named “Test Pilot of the Year” in 1996 and had served in Operation Desert Storm. “I made conscious decisions throughout my education and career at the Navy to keep as many doors open as possible,” Poindexter said. Poindexter matriculated at Tech in 1983 after earning an associate’s degree at a junior college. Poindexter considered several other schools before choosing Tech. “[I] applied for and received a NAVY ROTC scholarship [at Tech]. My girlfriend at the time was also living in Atlanta, and it worked out well,” Poindexter said.

In 1986, Poindexter earned a BS in AE with honors. Poindexter’s time at Tech still affects how he works today. “Students at Tech, along with other great universities, learn about their ability to overcome and adapt. They also learn a lot about being a team player. We rely heavily on our teammates to do their jobs to the best of their abilities,” Poindexter said. “The other thing we learned is how to be a good critical thinker and a good engineer. When you’re in a meeting, talking about shuttle and International Space Station topics, it’s good to be [technically literate] so that you have some background and credibility,” Poindexter said. Poindexter has been immersed in a technical environment from a young age. One of five children, Poindexter was born while his father was pursuing a Ph.D in Nuclear Physics at Caltech. “My dad was always very supportive in allowing us to experiment and determine our own paths. Obviously, his technical background influenced my own desire and [that of] my brothers, to become engineers,” Poindexter said. Much of Poindexter’s inspiration derives from memories of previous launches, including both successes and failures. “I can remember very clearly

successful exhibit, “On You,” similarly hosted in the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). The clothes on exhibit are the products of main designer Clint Zeagler and Tech Associate Professor Thad Starner, as well as designs of some of the students in a wearable technology course. The clothes are successful steps at bridging the gap between fashion and technology. “We want fashion people to not be scared of technology,” Zeagler said in a press release. Zeagler teaches classes on wearable technology here at Tech, along with fashion courses at Savannah College of Art and Design

(SCAD). He also has his own line of clothing called Pecan Pie Couture, which is both environmentally and culturally sustainable in the Southeast. The clothes are designed with embroidery done in conductive thread, woven in certain designs. When touched or rubbed against, these patterns can control a cell phone, an iPod or any mobile device connected by Bluetooth. An incoming call can literally be brushed off the shoulder by sliding a finger across the embroidery. A jog wheel type interface, like that of the iPod, can be stitched into a dress, and one can scroll and select in any direction. One step further

Image courtesy of National Space and Aeronautics Administration

Poindexter credits Tech’s rigorous course load and his various teamwork experiences to his success as an astronaut with NASA. being in college when STS-1 launched…I was here in 2003 when we lost Columbia, and those memories are just terrible memories. But I think they make you think about the importance of what we do and how it’s im-

portant to pick up the pieces and learn from the mistakes that we’ve made and the engineering failures that we’ve had…. It makes us a better country and it makes us a better space-faring society,” Poindexter said.

than that is the potential to select on the jog wheel without even touching the interface at all, using capacitive technology. The clothing samples on exhibit are not meant for distribution, but for researchers, especially designers, to get more interested in the technology, according to Zeagler. If more people find this sort of wearable technology interesting, the already endless possibilities could take off and produce exciting results. “[I am excited] to see more fashion people doing this type of thing,” Starner said in a press release.

This sort of technology is part of a movement called natural technology. The goal is to eliminate the keyboard, mouse and even the computer screen to bridge the gap between computers and the surrounding natural world. This way, people can interact with technology in the same way they interact with the world. This technology might seem a bit futuristic, but it has been long coming, evidenced by the voicerecognition and eye-tracking capabilities found on modern cell phones. Another more recent develop-

Innovators fashion new type of technology By Mary Ann Hanke Contributing Writer

For most people, fashion and technology do not really go together. Besides the convenience of pockets to hold cell phones and MP3 players, most do not even use the words “fashion” and “technology” in the same sentence. It must come as a surprise to most then, when Tech’s own Graphics, Visualization, and Usability (GVU) Center developed the “On You 2” exhibit, which showcases these two continually evolving trends as one “wearable technology” unit. This exhibit comes as a sequel to the previously

See Technology, page 8

FOCUS

8 • July 2, 2010 • Technique

Technology from page 7

Photos by Mary Ann Hanke/Student Publications

Image courtesy of Georgia Tech Communications and Marketing

Left and top row: Innovations in technology give rise to “wearable technology,” now exhibited at the Museum of Design Atlanta. Bottom right: Associate professor Thad Starner showcases a wireless glove that may be synchronized with an iPod or a cell phone.

ment is a gesture-controlled gaming system called Kinect. Instead of using any sort of remote, one can just swing a leg in order to kick a soccer ball in the game. Soon, people might be able to display their computer screen onto a wall or their hands, using their fingers as buttons. Similar researchers are working to put data pixels onto contact lenses, which can eliminate the need for computer monitors as well. Tech is on the forefront of these cutting edge technologies, as evidenced by the GVU’s “On You 2” exhibits. By concentrating on the practicality, purpose and user-friendliness of this technology, researchers will soon be able to make wearable technology and other such natural technologies have huge impacts on daily life. The wearable technology will be on exhibit at the MODA until July 9, and more information may be found at www.gvu.gatech. edu.

New director seeks positive direction for WRC By Kamna Bohra Focus Editor

Reaching out to students to offer support and guidance has been the main goal of Colleen Riggle over the years, as she was recently named Director of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and Assistant Dean of Students. Beginning her work with students as a residential assistant and member of a sorority in college, Riggle moved from her undergraduate degree in exercise and health science from Alma College to a master’s degree in college student affairs leadership from Grand Valley State University. As far as women’s issues go,

Riggle stresses education about the lesser-known problem of sexual violence. “Sexual assault is a prevalent issue on any college campus, but it’s definitely something that’s under reported. Crime statistics are in no way representative of what’s really happening,” Riggle said. She also noted that if any students are affected by sexual violence, they should seek out assistance from the WRC. Part of her later work in the outer community included founding University of Tampa’s WRC, volunteering with a local crisis center and actively participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Currently, Riggle is a

cochair of the National Women’s Studies Association Women’s Center Committee, according to a press release. Riggle was initially drawn to Tech for the WRC project coordinator position. “Working with the women’s center, working with students, the colleagues, the environment, the whole package is a really good fit,” Riggle said of her Tech experience. Riggle’s goals for the WRC include continuing to offer support for the Tech students of tomorrow. “Stress, whether about classes or stresses from parents or stress to be competitive with their peers,

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is something [students] struggle with. I think early on, when students get here, they have a transition issue with getting acclimated to the academic environment— some may not have had to study as much before, but getting here and realizing it’s essential to their success,” Riggle said of the most pressing issues students face in their transition to Tech. Riggle additionally noted that balancing everything campus has to offer is difficult upon first arriving at Tech. Riggle also plans to extend support to staff and approves of programs that extend beyond Tech. She noted that utilizing Tech’s network is important, and

students should not be closed off to the campus boundaries. On the whole, Riggle emphasizes that the purpose of the WRC is not only to handle negative issues faced by women. Other WRC opportunities include student-run projects, including the annual Women’s Leadership Conference, graduate women’s lunches and various outings with Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (ORGT). Perhaps the most extending event is Women’s Awareness Month in March that includes smaller events such as Take Back the Night event, a fashion show to promote information about heart health and a women’s service day.

entertainment@nique.net

Entertainment TOY STORY

Entertainment Editor: Jennifer Aldoretta

Instant classic awes audiences of all ages FILM

Toy Story 3 GENRE: Animation STARRING: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack DIRECTOR: Lee Unkrich RATING: G RELEASED: June 18, 2010

OUR TAKE: ««««« By Yameen Huq Contributing Writer

Images courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

Pixar has eaten Disney and taken over Hollywood. Who would have thought that a small animation company founded by the CEO of Apple Inc. could become such a dominant figure in both the Disney Corporation and the film industry? Each year, they pump out a brand-new film that manages to be both original and entertaining for all. They usually produce what becomes one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and their latest production, Toy Story 3, is a prime example of that. It is both a film for all and the ever elusive well-made third installment of the series. The previous movies in the Toy Story trilogy deal with themes of abandonment and growing-up while maintaining that lighthearted, fun gloss for children. It kicks off with a hook, featuring a high-intensity action sequence that, while fun, serves no purpose other than to highlight how far Pixar’s technological prowess has come since the first movie. After this, it is revealed that the toys’ owner, Andy, has grown up and is preparing for college. Over the time period between the second and third movies, Andy had already sold many of his toys, shown through the absence of many minor characters in the previous movies. His sentimentality, however, causes him to keep the major ones, but due to a mix-up, these toys wind up in a local day-care center. At first, the toys are happy to integrate into this seemingly pleasant center, but as later events will show, not everything is what it seems. The movie is sugary sweet for the eyes, featuring the lush details of every color on the visual spectrum. The technology has come a long way since the last few movies. One only need to look at the highly detailed fur on several animal toys or the depiction of

various types of weather. While marketed as a children’s film, it is actually genuinely funny for adults. The jokes are never too corny or too childish and there is even occasional mature sub-text to keep even the most mature viewer amused. Like every Pixar film, there are numerous in-jokes and references to other works, including other Pixar films. The children’s rooms contain references to Up, Finding Nemo and My Neighbor Totoro. Even Sid, the antisocial child from the first film, makes a brief, yet important cameo. Look out for the teen in the skull shirt to find him. At the same time, the 3-D aspect of this film is really an unnecessary distraction. There’s absolutely no need to shell out an additional few dollars per person for a mild, almost unnoticeable visual upgrade. Despite all the fun and visual splendor, Toy Story 3 is at its core a somber and contemplative film. The fun and jokes are undercut by the fact that these toys are essentially bracing for their own retirement and death, whether or not that actually occurs at the end of film. Moments of joy and cheer are intermixed by danger and sadness that serve to highlight the struggles anyone faces with abandonment and death. It doesn’t address the serious issues in full, but then again, neither do any other Pixar film or children’s movie for that matter. The movie ultimately never fully engages in the more serious topics mentioned. It is marketed as a movie that anyone can enjoy, whether young or old. In that sense it succeeds greatly. Whether one is looking to laugh and be dazzled with visuals or hoping for some light introspection, Toy Story 3 provides a bit of each for all audiences. Any review of a Pixar film cannot be complete without mentioning the short film that precedes it. The short, Day and Night, is clever and reminiscent of Looney Tunes. The personifications of night and day engage in numerous antics in an attempt to understand each other’s ways. This film really allows Pixar to show off its creative and technological muscle. It blends 2-D animation with 3-D in a way that cannot really be explained. The animation styles coalesce beautifully in a way that has never been seen. Day and Night is a great, visual poem that’s on par with the movie it is packaged with in terms of style. The short is so good that it alone is worth the extremely highticket price for the film. Still, with such a great film following it, it is just a bonus for all moviegoers.

Technique

Friday, July 2, 2010

CITY SCENE

Photo by Chris Gooley/ Student Publications

DramaTech’s Arsenic kills DramaTech’s newest performance, Arsenic and Old Lace, will run from Friday, July 2 through Saturday, July 17 every weekend. Written by Joseph Kesselring, the play is a story about two sisters named Abby and Martha Brewster. Two sisters fill their cellar with bodies of men whom they claimed that they have “helped find peace.” Their nephews Teddy and Mortimer also take part in their story. Each show begins at 8 p.m. in the DramaTech Theater.

Centennial fireworks fly on 4th Fireworks will light up the Atlanta skyline on Sunday, July 4 beginning at sundown. Centennial Olympic Park will host festivities beginning at noon with children’s activities. Musical entertainment will begin at approximately 5 p.m. The show will go on rain or shine. The park is within walking distance of campus, so it is the perfect Fourth of July activity for anyone looking for a little summer fun.

Phantom farewell at the Fox Phantom of the Opera will be performing its final shows in Atlanta at various times until July 18. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s play originally opened 24 years ago in London and is the longest-running show in Broadway history. Through the years, Phantom has come to the Fox six times. Your last opportunity is quickly approaching. Catch this classic before it’s too late. For more details, visit FoxTheatre.org.

10 • July 2, 2010 • Technique

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham

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Technique • July 2, 2010 • 11

Sports

sports@nique.net Sports Editor: Alex Mitchell

Buzz and Woody embark on another adventure as Toy Story returns with the third installment in the franchise. 49

Two former Jackets taken in NBA Draft

Friday, July 2, 2010

shorts

By Alex Mitchell Sports Editor

On June 24, two former Tech basketball players heard their names called at the annual NBA draft. Forwards Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal left Tech early with hopes of playing professional basketball, and both players will have that opportunity after being selected. Favors, who left Tech after his freshman season, was drafted third overall by the New Jersey Nets. Before the draft’s lottery, most experts had Favors going to Golden State with the seventh pick. However, because the NBA uses a lottery system to determine the draft’s order, the NBA’s worst team, the Nets, selected Favors. While at Tech Favors averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Favors’ numbers were good enough to earn him the title of ACC Freshman of the Year. After a slow start, Favors was arguably Tech’s best player during conference play. He was Tech’s leading scorer and rebounder in conference games, averaging 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds (No. 2 in the ACC) while hitting 62.5 percent of his field goals. Favors was also instrumental in Tech’s postseason surge and was named to the ACC AllTournament first team. Before the draft began, New Jersey was looking to improve at the power forward position, Favors’ natrual spot. With their pick, the Nets selected Favors as the first big man off the board. The 6-10 forward has a great chance of starting from day one alongside New Jersey’s other big man, Brook Lopez. The addition of Favors creates a formidable frontcourt for the Nets as they look to improve upon their NBA-worst 12-70 record. Lawal’s situation could not

Technique

Playtime continues

Bedford chosen to Outland watch list

One of Tech’s own, senior center Sean Bedford, was announced as a candidate in the running for the Outland Trophy. The award, presented annually since 1946, celebrates the nation’s top interior linemen. On June 22, the Football Writers Association of America selected 63 players as early picks in a list that will eventually be narrowed down to three finalists in late November. The winner will be announced on Dec. 9 at the conclusion of the season. Bedford is one of 11 ACC players in the running for an award that has yet to be won by a Tech player.

Mateker selected as an ESPN Academic All-American

Photos by Jarrett Skov / Student Publications

Photo by Kelvin Kuo / Student Publications

Left: Gani Lawal finishes off a dunk against Siena. Right: Derrick Favors goes up for a layup against North Carolina at the ACC Tournament. Both players were taken in the NBA Draft. be more different than Favors’. Lawal was drafted 46th overall by the Phoenix Suns, and he will most likely be a backup player for a team that went 5428 last season and made a deep run into the NBA playoffs, reaching the Western Conference finals. While Favors was selected earlier than most analysts originally thought, Lawal slipped back a few places. Most analysts had Lawal going early in the second round, between 30-40 in the draft. Favors’ performance in predraft workouts led to him

being projected higher in the draft, but Lawal arguably had the better career at Tech. He only averaged seven points per game his freshman season but improved dramatically in his second year. Lawal was statistically the most improved player in the ACC during his sophomore campaign, more than doubling his scoring average (from seven to 14.9) and his rebounds (from four to 10). In his junior and final season at Tech, Lawal was named thirdteam All-Atlantic Coast Conference for the second straight year, after again leading Tech

in scoring and rebounding. The Suns run a fast-paced, high-scoring system that requires their big men to run the floor quickly, a scheme they will likely try and fit Lawal into. The Suns hope that Lawal’s success in college can transfer over to the NBA. Lawal will most likely be Amar’e Stoudemire’s backup when he arrives in Phoenix. However, that could all change if Stoudemire opts out of his contract this summer, and joins another NBA team. This move could force Lawal into the starting line-up.

Tech senior track and field member Billy Mateker was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American men’s track and cross country team for the second consecutive year. Members are selected for this award by the College Sports Information Directors of America and the finalists were announced on June 22. Mateker is a mechanical engineering major with a 3.98 GPA. Mateker was Tech’s highest finisher in two events on the season and posted his best 8K performance of his senior year at the Great American Cross Country Festival with a time of 25:14.

Tech to host NCAA Golf Championship a In 2013, Tech will host the NCAA Golf Championship. The decision to host the tournament came on June 25, with the prestigious Atlanta Athletic Club hosting the 2013 NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship with Tech as the host institution. As a result of the announcement, Tech will host two NCAA events in 2013, the Golf Championship and the NCAA Basketball Final Four which will be played at the Georgia Dome.

Radakovich, Joseph rewarded with contract extensions By Nishant Prasadh Online Sports Editor

Photo by Michael Schneider / Student Publications

Dan Radakovich speaks at a press conference. Radakovich’s new contract extension will keep him at Tech through 2015.

Two key figures within Tech athletics received contract extensions earlier this week, as Athletic Director Dan Radakovich and women’s basketball Head Coach MaChelle Joseph agreed to deals that will keep them at Tech through 2015. For Radakovich, the new contract came as he enters his fifth full academic year as athletic director. He took over in February 2006, becoming the seventh athletic director in Tech’s history and has overseen growth off the field and success on the field in all Tech sports. Notably, it was Radakovich who hired current head football coach Paul Johnson, who has led the team to a 20-7 record in two seasons. In both seasons Tech earned at least a

share of the ACC’s Coastal Division regular season title, and the 2009 squad won the ACC title and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl. Over the 2009-10 academic year, Tech’s athletic teams were successful across the board. Seven teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament in their respective sports, with four (baseball, softball, golf and women’s tennis) hosting an NCAA regional. Tech’s collective .727 winning percentage across all sports was the best in school history. Radakovich has also overseen the construction of several new facilities for Tech’s athletic teams. Among these are Mewborn Field, the softball team’s new home stadium; and the Zelnak Center, a practice facility for the basketball teams. After a slow start to her coaching stint at Tech, Joseph has led the

women’s basketball squad to 20 wins and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons. Joseph’s teams have earned some of the most notable wins in the history of Tech women’s basketball. The 2006-07 squad became the first Tech team to win an NCAA Tournament game. That year, the Jackets edged DePaul 55-54 in their opening round game before falling to Purdue in the second round. The 2008-09 team earned the Jackets’ first-ever win over an opponent ranked in the national top five, defeating then-No. 2 North Carolina 66-62. Last year, the Jackets recorded 23 wins, their highest mark since joining the ACC, and forward Brigitte Ardossi became the third player from a Joseph-led team to be selected in the WNBA Draft.