February 22, 2019•Volume 104, Issue 22•nique.
net
technique
News 2
EXHIBIT HONORS TECH’S FALLEN TREE
LIFE
Top L: Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik; Top R: Photo by Jon Long Student Publications; Above: Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
John Oliver’s ‘Last Week Tonight’ return is a success
JOSH TREBUCHON
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
On Sunday, John Oliver’s
weekly late night show “Last
Week Tonight” returned to HBO
for its sixth season, having been
on break since the last episode of
season five aired in November.
Since originally airing in April
of 2014, the political comedy
show has amassed a significant
following by carving out a niche
for itself within the crowded field
of political comedy focused late-
night shows.
SPORTS
. .
Softball starts season p19 Presidential search
Opinions 5
“Last Week Tonight” differs
significantly in format from tra-
ditional network late night shows
such as “The Late Show” and “The
Tonight Show” in that it airs once
a week on Sunday nights, whereas
traditionally shows in the genre
are nightly.
Still, while Oliver’s series is
inherently unique in its format, it
is the style and depth of the show
which really set it apart from the
rest of the pack. Oliver’s comedy
style is nothing unique, but while
other shows divide their slots into
several segments which last no
longer than roughly ten minutes
Life 8
ENTERTAINMENT
each, talking about a wide variety
of topics with relatively uniform
depth each night, “Last Week To-
night” devotes the lion’s share of
its run time to one topic, covering
issues in much greater depth.
The result of this unique style
is that “Last Week Tonight” sto-
ries make the segments from other
late night shows feel like shallow,
throwaway content. While other
shows fill up their airtime with
short repetitive segments which
all seem to be about Donald
Trump — a trend which seems to
be universally disliked across the
See OLIVER, page 15
NEWS
p3
Entertainment 12 Sports 20
JAIMEE FRANCIS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Tables covered by snacks such as pe-
can pie, acorn jelly and birch tree juice
enticed dozens of hungry students to
step away from the stress of their proj-
ects, assignments and deadlines and to
investigate the “Fall of a Champion”
exhibit on the third floor of the Clough
Commons. Hosted by the fall 2018
class of LMC 3308 Environmentalism
and Ecocriticism, the event memorial-
ized the Skiles Walkway willow oak
that collapsed on September 18, 2018,
an oak the class affectionately calls
“Big Al.”
“We were in the LMC course [En-
vironmentalism and Ecocriticism],”
Alex Flack, a third-year International
Affairs major explained, “and halfway
through the semester, the big oak fell
down. We wanted to preserve the his-
tory and legacy of the champion tree.”
In order to honor this champion
tree, the class created a multitude of
different artifacts. Examples included
a book they wrote about the tree life
on campus, woodworking projects
they built themselves from the rem-
nants of Big Al and a video showcasing
their construction process. Those who
had been lured by the scent of snacks
quickly discovered that even the paper-
ware and utensils in which they were
eating from were made from the fallen
oak.
Professor Hugh Crawford explained
why he integrated woodworking into
his LMC 3308 Environmentalism and
Ecocriticism course, describing it as
an effort to cultivate cognitive engage-
ment and add some creativity to stu-
dents’ learning.
“I was working on hands-on learn-
ing and questions about cognition and
tool use. So that’s what started the
See CHAMPION, page 10
Photo courtesy of HBO
John Oliver’s show “Last Week Tonight” returned to HBO on
Sunday. The first episode of the new season covered Brexit.
News
NEWS EDITOR:
Info from Ethics Forum technique
Jonathan Jeffrey
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR:
Will Finch
On Tuesday, administration leaders updated
the campus on what the Institute has done to Friday,
2
improve ethics compliance and culture 44 February 22, 2019
news@nique.net

Intercollegiate conference tackles mental health

JONATHAN JEFFREY
NEWS EDITOR
On Friday, Feb. 15 to Sunday,
Feb. 17, students from universities
across the country gathered in the
Georgia Tech Hotel and Confer-
ence Center to discuss the most
challenging issues connected to
student mental health and well-
being in the inaugural Intercol-
legiate Mental Health Conference
(IMHC).
The event is a first of a kind,
spurred by the fatal shooting of
Scout Schultz in September 2017
that brought attention to depres-
sion, stress and other mental
health and well-being issues that
students at Tech face. Out of the
response to the Schultz’s death
came the Mental Health Joint Al-
locations Committee, a $1 million
fund combined from Institute and
Student Government Association
(SGA) contributions to be spent
on initiatives that could improve
issues on campus.
Over $26,000 of those funds
went to support the IMHC,
which was organized by the
Mental Health Student Coali-
tion (MHSC). Students and a few
mental health professionals from
nine universities — the Univer-
sity of Michigan, the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Duke, Virginia Tech, Stanford,
Clark Atlanta University, Emory,
Georgia State and University of
California, Los Angeles — were
in attendance at the conference.
The mission of the conference
was to “gather the best practices
on mental health from college
campuses across the nation” by
bringing “together campus leaders
to share those practices and de-
velop solutions to relevant issues,”
according to the website. The best
practices and primary analysis
generated by the conference will
be published online by April 22.
Colin Spencer, president of
MHSC, said that before he and
his team began contacting people
for this conference, MHSC had
no contact with mental health ad-
vocacy groups at other schools.
“Everything came from noth-
ing, quite literally.” Spencer said.
“We just blind emailed all of the
schools, all of the mental health
advocacy groups that we had, and
was like, hey, we’re doing this,
please come.”
Part of the pitch was to be able
to synthesize established methods
and brainstorm new ideas that
could benefit all universities.
“At its core IMHC is a research
initiative to identify, evaluate, and
share the principal components of
effective college mental health sys-
tems,” the website says.
“There’s only so much that you
can do within our campus, right?
You get to the point where no one
really knows the answers anymore
to the problems that we’re facing
now,” Spencer said, “and then to
see other campuses be like, hey,
we tried this, and it failed, but
we tried something else and it
worked. And then we’re like, oh
my gosh, we never thought about
that before. Why don’t we do
that?”
Participants in the conference
were able to listen to keynote
speakers such as Archie Ervin, the
vice president for Institute Diver-
sity at Tech, and Kim Jones, the
See IMHC, page 4

wide petition that had circulated
the week before and made public
the student body’s many com-
plaints with the dining options
currently provided by the Insti-
tute.
“Georgia Tech students have
repeatedly encountered rotten, in-
sect-infested, or otherwise severely
unpalatable food in Sodexo-oper-
ated dining halls,” the resolution
reads.
In the end, the petition gar-
company, was awarded the $24.5
million contract instead. Citing
the recent ethics scandals at the
Institute, Sodexo has sued in or-
der to have its contract reinstated.
BEAUTIFUL BODS
The Zeta Phi Beta sorority
brought two resolutions before
UHR. The first was seeking fund-
ing for a male beauty pageant, in
which the contestants would com-
pete through fundraising for out-
the events would help to spread
the group’s name and reputation
on campus, it was not an event
where potential members would
actively be solicited. Ultimately,
both bills were voted on separately
and passed by UHR.
ALLOCATIONS EXTENDED
The Mental Health Joint Al-
location Committee (JAC) has
been extended for another two
years after President G.P. Peterson
pervasive mental health issues that
the Institute faces. It is a source of
funding for mental health pro-
gramming on campus, including
a possible lowering of the student
health fee, a memorial bench for
Schultz, as well as the addition of
swings on campus.
WHAT’S THE ZEITGANJEIST?
After having approved a mem-
orandum endorsing the legaliza-
tion of medical and recreational

E
ach week , this sec tion of
News will include coverage
of different aspects of bills
and resolutions that have passed
through Student Government. This
will include the Undergraduate
House of Representatives, Graduate
Student Senate and the Executive
Branch of both government bodies.
MASON FAVRO
STAFF WRITER
SGA DECLARES DINING SUCKS
The Graduate Student Sen-
ate (GSS) and the Undergraduate
House of Representatives (UHR)
unanimously passed a resolution
expressing support for a public
dining option for the Institute.
The resolution followed a campus
nered more than 2,000 signatures.
In addition to the unanimous
vote, seven students spoke at
UHR open forum in support of
the measure. A variety of years and
majors were represented, showcas-
ing the wide popular support that
the public dining option proposal
has enjoyed. The students cited
the superior quality and lower
cost of the public dining option
at the University of Georgia and
estimated that Tech currently col-
lected $20 million from student
dining costs.
The Institute is currently in
the middle of a legal fight over the
dining services contract. Sodexo,
one of the largest national dining
services companies, was a provider
for many years before their con-
tract was cancelled and Aramark
Higher Education, another large
side charities. The second was for
funding for “Zeta Week,” a week
of programming that will include
such activities as zumba, fam-
ily feud and a paint and sip event
with mocktails.
UHR representatives hotly de-
bated the two bills, as some mem-
bers believed that funding the
events would have been out of line
with SGA funding guidelines.
They were worried about entrance
fees to Zeta week events, however
the bill’s sponsor cleared that up,
stating that SGA funding would
eliminate the need to charge fees.
Another representative brought
up the fact that the student or-
ganization was listed as having
eight members and wondered if
the planned events were planned
as recruiting events. The response
from the sponsor was that while
agreed to a memorandum of un- marijuana, SGA has now released
derstanding according to a report a survey to the campus commu-
given to UHR body by President nity in order to gauge how the
Evan Gillon. The memorandum student body feels about the issue.
keeps the application process the As of UHR session on Feb. 20,
same, extending only the end date 521 individuals had completed
of JAC to June 30, 2021. the survey, approximately three
JAC was originally set up in percent of the roughly 15,000 un-
the wake of the Scout Schultz dergraduate students enrolled at
shooting, in order to address the the Institute.
BILL SUMMARY
BILL AMOUNT GSS UHR
Cricket Club – ACL Spring Knockout $275.00 25-0-0 27-1-1
Men’s Club Lacrosse Travel/Trainers $1,157.10 25-0-0 27-1-1
Club Tennis – Grips and Strings $130.00 25-0-0 27-1-1
Airsoft Club Competition & Coach $1,614.30 25-0-0 27-1-1
Triathlon Club Bike/Trailer Supplies $1,100.00 26-0-0 31-0-0
Zeta Phi Beta Event Funding $520.00 25-0-0 25-2-2

sliver // your thoughts

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NEWS EDITOR
Jonathan Jeffrey
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For context: Samira Bandaru EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jon Long
On Jan. 18, 2019, GTLibrary said on Reddit thwat “Facilities
have it on their punch list, so it should be fixed soon.” On Casey Miles MANAGING EDITOR LIFE EDITOR
Lauren Lambert
Feb. 18, 2019, GT_SGA noted on, also on Reddit, that “the
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// NEWS technique • February 22, 2019• 3

Presidential Search Committee holds public forum

of Georgia, but he was eventually Criticisms ranged from the dress multidisciplinary gaps. Ad- versations with people about what
WILL FINCH “won over by the value of a Tech particular struggles of students ditionally, there were calls for a they want to see.”
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR engineering degree.” of color and students with dis- president that would cultivate the According to Gillon, the most
Graduate SGA Executive Vice abilities to poor relationships relationship between Tech and impactful thing students can do
Undergraduate and graduate President and Ivan Allen College between students and faculty. the City of Atlanta. in the meantime is to fill out their
students gathered together to have of Liberal Arts graduate student There was notable consensus over Student feedback is not just for own comments online. Tech’s
their expectations for the next Renee Shelby spoke about the rep- displeasure with food services on examining potential candidates website has a form where students
president with the Presidential utation of the faculty, specifically campus, of which the firm repre- within the state or region. The can provide comments or recom-
Search Committee on Wednes- “the reputation in their scholar- sentatives commented, “we hadn’t search could potentially be inter- mendations for the next president.
day. Current President Peterson ship and collaboration with stu- heard that one before.” national. “We’re casting a wide “The firm,” added Gillon, “not
announced his plans on Jan. 7 to dents.” The last question posed to net,” said Tarbutton. the committee, takes [the com-
step down from the position by There was additional praise students regarded the type of After the forum, SGA Presi- ments] and presents it to us and
the end of summer 2019 after ten over the Institute’s promise pro- credentials the next president dent Evan Gillon discussed future builds it into its processes.”
years of serving as president for gram and the relationship be- should have. Aside from typical plans to involve students in the There are tentatively six more
the Institute. tween alumni and students, but leadership skills, many students process. months to find Tech’s next presi-
The Presidential Search Com- 20 minutes into the one-hour fo- suggested someone with experi- “I’m leaning more toward dent, so due to the accelerated
mittee, formally named on Jan. rum, the crowd was ready to talk ence outside of STEM, either in smaller listening sessions rather nature of the search, students only
31, consists of regents, Tech fac- about the problems and challeng- educational enhancement or even than a full-formed [forum],” Gil- have a few more weeks to submit
ulty and staff, presidents of the es of being a student at Tech. in liberal arts, so as to better ad- lon said. “I just want to have con- their feedback.
graduate and undergraduate stu-
dent associations and business
and community leaders — in line
with state policy. Assisting with
the search is the consulting group
Heidrick & Struggles, an inter-
national executive search firm.
Altogether, their purpose is to
eventually provide the Board with
a handful of names that they be-
lieve meet the school’s standard.
On Wednesday, the commit-
tee invited all students to a fo-
rum where they could voice their
opinions on the characteristics
needed in the next president. A
panel of three sat on stage asking
for student input: two representa-
tives from Heidrick & Struggles
and committee chair and Regent
Benjamin J. Tarbutton III. Each
stressed how important student
input was in their search, and stu-
dents were prepared to speak —
both with compliments and com-
plaints about the university.
The estimated 50 students in
attendance had various comments
regarding their experiences and
their wishes for the fuvture. Made
up of various backgrounds rang-
ing from fields of science and en-
gineering to the college of liberal
arts, members of the crowd had
just as diverse opinions about the
strengths and weaknesses of the
Institute.
Austin Kennedy, an industrial Photo by Jon Long Student Publications
engineering student, was origi- Regent Benjamin J. Tarbutton thanks students for attending the forum. Tarbutton was one of three people
nally committed to the University on stage directly communicating with students regarding their expectations for the next president.
4 • February 22, 2019• technique
Panel updates campus on steps taken to
improve ethics compliance, culture
JONATHAN JEFFREY
NEWS EDITOR
On Tuesday, members of the
campus community gathered
in an auditorium at the Global
Learning Center to listen to a
panel of Institute leaders discuss
exactly what steps the Institute
has taken to address the many
ethics issues that came to light in
summer 2018.
Titled “The Year Ahead: Eth-
ics at Georgia Tech,” the event
acknowledged the ethics difficul-
ties that the Institute faced in the
past but served primarily as a ve-
hicle to update the campus on the
progress made and the next steps
to be taken. An important update
is that the Ethical Culture Indi-
cator, a survey developed by the
BB&T Center for Ethical Lead-
ership at the University of North
Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff Lynn Durham moderated a panel led by,
from right to left, Jim Fortner, Aisha Oliver-Staley, Mark Demyanek and Jennifer Hubert.
Georgia that was distributed to
campus last September, is ready to
share its quantitative data before
the main report is released.
Lynn Durham, associate vice
president and chief of staff, ex-
plained that the Institute plans to
release the information from those
surveys to each individual depart-
ment before broadly sharing in-
formation with the department.
“We want your leaders, the unit
leaders, to have a conversation, in-
stead of just posting it to a website
without any context, without any
additional information,” Durham
said. “Each unit leader has a chart,
and it shows the Institute aver-
ages for the questions, and then it
shows their department averages
for those questions.”
Each unit leader is expected to
have a meeting discussing their
department’s results by March 15,
Durham said.
Afterward, the Ethical Culture
Indicator results will be shared to
campus.
Much of the current work in
leadership has been to clarify fac-
ulty and staff on what constitutes
conflict of interest or ethics issues.
“We get emails that come in
where people have questions just
trying to resolve policy, trying to
understand what is required,” said
Aisha Oliver-Staley, interim vice
president for Ethics, Compliance
and Management. “The inquiries
range from consulting activities,
employee startups, board mem-
berships, activities outside of your
regular duties, gifts, Girl Scout
cookies.”
Multiple panelists advised
workers should talk to their man-
agers first and only go around
them to report when managers
are unreceptive or there are indi-
cations that something is wrong.
Photo by Jonathan Jeffrey Student Publications
IMHC FROM PAGE 2
executive director for Georgia’s
National Alliance on Mental Ill-
ness. Additionally, dean of Stu-
dent Life John Stein was present
to offer insight and feedback dur-
ing several of the activities.
The bulk of Saturday was a
spent in a series of breakout ses-
sions, which multiple attendees
described as enlightening or eye-
opening. In the evening, partici-
pants shared best practices and
programs with their departments
in a poster session. For example,
students from Clark Atlanta
shared that they were able to en-
gage their campus in mental well-
being activities through monthly
interactive activities such as ex-
ternalizing pain onto paintings,
and Stanford students shared the
structure of their 2019 Mental
Health and Wellness Week that
included yoga, board games and
discussions on mental health.
Spencer said one of his main
takeaways is how other schools
have used embedded counselors
that operate closely with the stu-
dents’ specific departments.
The Saturday poster session allowed participants to show off
prepared information on ideas to address mental health issues.
// NEWS
“For us, it is a very innovative
thing, and we’re still in the lo-
gistics of working out what that
looks like to have counseling, a
staff in departments on campus or
in housing units,” Spencer said. “I
have had some conversations with
schools here where they’ve had
that for years now.”
On Sunday, events concluded
with a series of cases studies where
participants tackled issues ranging
from how to inform the campus
about a suicide to how to identify
when a student struggling in class
is slipping into depression.
Now that the conference is
over, the MHSC will work to
share summarized information
and best practices with the com-
munity of mental health advo-
cates the conference has made.
“They’ve been telling me
there’s so many different action
items now whenever they go back
on campus, and they’ve taken
emails and phone numbers of all
of these students here, and like es-
tablishing those connections is all
that we wanted with this confer-
ence,” Spencer said.
Photo by Jonathan Jeffrey Student Publications
Opinions
OPINIONS EDITOR: Jon Long technique

“
”
At the end of the day, the king and
the pawn go back in the same box.
— Italian Proverb
February 22, 2019
5
Friday,

OUR VIEWS | Consensus Opinion

‘Best Practices’
New guidelines fall short, lack substance
SGA recently released a list of class-
room ‘best practice’ guidelines for teach-
ers, a document promised in the plat-
form of SGA’s current president and vice
president. These guidelines aim to “create
and promote healthy and inclusive learn-
ing environments” at Tech and promise
“straightforward actions that professors,
teaching assistants, and lecturers can take
in order to ensure that our academic en-
vironments promote the comprehensive
health, well-being, and intellectual vitality
of all Georgia Tech students.”
In reality, the document provides a list
of considerations that the aforementioned
group should take rather than concrete,
tangible practices. It urges professors
to “try to be approachable and flexible”
about religious holidays, to “consider”
going through optional trainings and
to “do [their] best to be aware” of class-
room norms that negatively affect minor-
ity groups. These norms are not expanded
upon, and it is not safe to assume that any
professors in need of this well-intentioned
advice would take the time to educate
themselves further.
In fact, a majority of the four-part docu-
ment is anchored in the realm of common
sense. A well researched and data-driven
list of guidelines could have presented
The Consensus Opinion reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of the
Technique, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.
concrete, proven examples of how to run a
healthy and inclusive classroom.
The document also contains a guide
form helping students that need outside
resources. This is by far the strongest part,
as it lays out concrete, actionable steps for
instructors to take.
In order for the rest of the document to
improve, it needs to include examples of
what instructors, on a day-to-day and case-
by-case basis, can do in their classrooms.
This, however, would lead to an even lon-
ger, unpalatable ocean of text that few
people would choose to navigate. Instead,
a video or workshop could better illustrate
best practices. The infrastructure for such
things already exist through departments
like the Center for Teaching and Learning.
SGA could also attempt to incorporate
CIOS into future iterations of their guide-
lines. One or two additional questions
would give them a wealth of anonymous
student data on which to base future rec-
ommendations. Tech also employs several
instructors known for a healthy and engag-
ing classroom environment who could be
used as a resource.
While it’s refreshing that SGA took up
the mantle to advocate for students in the
classroom, there is still work to be done if
they want to enact meaningful change.
A dangerous new
standard for beauty
Unattainable beauty standards Diet and exercise are impor-
have always been a problem from tant parts of a healthy lifestyle
corsets to Barbies to Instagram but starving yourself and over-
models. Everyone likes to think exercising are not. Fad diets have
they are more progressive than persisted for far too long despite
previous generations but the truth research and proof that they don’t
is that we are getting worse. Insta- help. Restricting yourself too
gram and Facebook allow anyone much will hurt more in the long
to become famous on looks alone, run because the change isn’t sus-
which has led to tainable. Weight
an entirely new loss teas are only
type of celebrity.
These celebrities
“Influencers have diuretics
you
that leave
dehydrated
come from upper- hijacked exercise and and don’t contrib-
class families and
generally don’t health food to be for ute to your overall
health. Keto and
have traditional looks only . . .” paleo don’t work
jobs because they for everyone, and
spend all of their CASEY GOMEZ rather than follow-
time working out ASST. PHOTO EDITOR ing specific rules,
and posing for it’s best to focus
photos. These “in- on limiting calo-
fluencers” have started trends that ries and getting the nutrients you
negatively impact beauty stan- need. While switching to vegan-
dards and businesses. ism or vegetarianism is potentially
One of the many beauty tools good for both you and the envi-
that has taken off recently is the ronment, too many people forget
waist trainer. Waist trainers are to supplement their protein intake
most often used during workouts which is essential if you work out.
to shape the waist into a tradi- Finding exercise that you enjoy
tional hourglass figure. While less is also more important than the
damaging than traditional cor- way you look. One of the biggest
sets, waist trainers still compress misconceptions is that you can
your organs leading to acid reflux, achieve a perfectly toned and fit
bruising and lack of oxygen, es- body from cardio alone. Finding
pecially when exercising. Chang- your best self takes time and is
ing the shape of the human body much more likely to happen when
is no easy feat which means that you stop focusing on the way you
in order to actually have an effect look and concentrate on the way
on your waist, they have to move you feel. Working out should be
organs around. Popularized by to empower yourself and if you
the Kardashians and quickly ad- achieve that by the way you look
opted by Instagram models, waist that’s fine, but comparing yourself
trainers have no place in the 21st to people who have an army of
century or among the fitness com- trainers and nutritionists will only
munity. Influencers have hijacked destroy your motivation. Money
exercise and health food to be for is a big factor in the way people
looks only regardless of health or See GRAM, page 7
strength.

A CHALLENGER APPROACHES BY BEATRICE DOMINGO

technique editorial board
Samira Bandaru EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Casey Miles MANAGING EDITOR
Jonathan Jeffrey NEWS EDITOR
Lauren Lambert LIFE EDITOR
Harsha Sridhar SPORTS EDITOR
Jon Long OPINIONS EDITOR
Josh Trebuchon ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Zoie Konneker ONLINE EDITOR
Allie Ghisson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

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want to hear your opinion and want
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We also welcome your letters in
response to Technique content as well
as topics relevant to campus. We will
print letters on a timely and space-
available basis.
Each week we look for letters that
content found within the pages of the
Technique. Along with these letters,
we are open to receiving letters that
focus on relevant issues that currently
affect Georgia Tech as a university, in-
cluding its campus and student body.
When submitting letters we ask
that you include your full name, year
(1st, 2nd, etc.) and major. We ask that
letters be thought provoking, well
written and in good taste. We reserve
the right to both reject or edit letters
for length and style.
For questions, comments or con-
cern, contact the Opinions Editor at
opinions@nique.net.
6 • February 22, 2019• technique // OPINIONS

Finding a creative outlet

in an engineering school
Tech, the nickname for Geor- searching online forums for any Finding more outlets for cre-
gia Institute of Technology. A sign of creative life at Tech. I was ativity at Tech is pivotal to stu-
nickname most are proud of. A reading a review of Tech that fo- dents that find themselves hoping
school rooted in providing top tier cused on a washing machine met- to be more than just engineers.
education in any STEM field you aphor. Students here are constant- For one, keeping Under the
could imagine. But therein lies the ly trapped in a washing cycle of Couch in the new Student Cen-
problem: we pride STEM, everyone ter is a good place to start. Under
ourselves so deeply
“... Everything you you talk to, ev- the Couch allows for students to Cookies A Blank Canvas
in the technical erything you see, explore their musical passions A Girl Scout troop is selling Due to a series of system
roots of our insti- experience is in everything you ex- without the pressure of needing cookies at Tech’s Barnes and upgrades, Canvas and several
tute that we let the
creatives flounder some way connected perience is in some
way connected to
to succeed. It provides a safe space
for students to build friendships
Noble, offering a ray of hap-
piness in a week of perpetual
other services will be down
for maintenance on Sunday
in the background. to STEM.” STEM. I loved be- and forget about the Calculus test rain and dreariness. If the Girl the 24th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Similar to al- ing creative; would they have the next week. Taking Scouts have any say in the mat- This will affect eduroam, Of-
most every Tech ALLIE GHISSON I find my place? this space away results in students ter, the mints will be the only fice 356, Github and Drop-
student I’ve ever PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Fast forward to being forced to suppress their mu- things remaining thin this Box, among several other ser-
talked to, I was today. After look- sical passions. Starting clubs or or- Spring. vices.
on the robotics ing high and low I ganizations in photography, vocal,
team in high school. We built a have managed to find my way into musical or any other artistic disci-
120-pound robot in a six-week a role at Tech’s radio station while pline gives students the means to
time frame. But what was differ- also writing for the student paper explore fields they may not have
ent about myself was that I was — quickly becoming the assistant even thought about trying. It al-
able to become the president of head of photography and soon to lows students to find personal pas-
the team without having any tech- be stepping into the head photog- sions. Personal passions lead to a
nical background. I was kept away raphy role. more well-rounded person and
from the robot because the team I have a sports photography open up different forms of com-
lived in fear of me breaking the internship and got to shoot Super- munication. It gives people a place
expensive machine or breaking bowl press conferences. I spend to feel true to themselves. Wow No More Gillum
myself. I instead spent my time my Thursday nights either study- Being creative makes you a Zvi Galil, the John P. Imlay The Office of Institute Di-
focused on perfecting the business ing or listening to talented Tech higher performing student and it Jr. Dean of Computing, issued versity’s sixth annual Black
side of the team. I found comfort students perform at Under the allows you to have something to a college-wide email titled History Month Lecture, fea-
in the creative. I played piano, I Couch in the Student Center. I wake up to that you love to do. “I fell off my chair” with the turing 2018 Florida guberna-
made Spotify monthly playlists, I spend Fridays sitting by the glass Tech should lean into the cre- simple body “Wow.” This is in torial candidate and former
took photos of robots. And then I at Tech hockey games. I find my- ative adventures and encourage response to an Inside Higher Tallahassee mayor Andrew
graduated. self writing this very article. An students to do more things major- Education article singing the Gillum as the main speaker,
Coming to Tech as an engi- engineering major, writing an unrelated — it is the best decision praises of Tech over northern had to be canceled due to a
neering major, I found myself opinion article on creativity. I’ve ever made. rival MIT. family emergency.
// OPINIONS
Public schools in financial danger
“It goes without saying that
pulling funds from public
education is nearsighted —
to put it generously.”
ELI HENDLER
ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Earlier this week, the legisla-
tive body of West Virginia voted
to approve a bill that would al-
low for diversion of public-school
funds to charter schools, home
schooling and online programs as
well as make it easier to lay teach-
ers off. While the issue of char-
ter schools is a complicated with
points to be made on both sides of
the argument, this bill is just the
most recent in a national trend of
proposals heavily opposed by pub-
lic school teachers.
These teachers are some of the
hardest working, most underpaid,
and sometimes under appreciated
and most professionals in Ameri-
ca. They are also generally some of
the most committed.
The role that public school
teachers fulfill is incredibly im-
portant, but many come into work
every day not knowing if they will
have the books or materials they
need to effectively do their job.
It goes without saying that
the state of public education — a
guaranteed right in this country
— is in a dubious state in many
parts of the United States. Around
the country, states continue to cut
funding for public education.
In many situations, teachers end
up on furlough because school
districts can’t afford to pay their
salaries. While students may rel-
ish these extra days without class,
these types of measures should
not be necessary.
It is not unusual for states
to look to public school funding
when they are looking to make
budget cuts. This effect was very
prominent during the recession
of 2007 when many states ended
up cutting their budgets by up to
double digit percentages. Many
of these states have yet to return
their public education funding to
pre-recession levels.
While states generally do have
to make tough decisions on what
to spend money on, it goes with-
out saying that pulling funds from
public education is nearsighted to
put it generously. The education of
children at the earliest level is in-
credibly important. Quality early
public education has the poten-
technique • February 22, 2019• 7
GRAM FROM PAGE 5
look, which is why influencers
have such an advantage.
tial to decrease, if not eliminate, funds for the education that has Anyone can fit society’s beauty
socioeconomic disparities in this the potential to instill a love of standards with enough time, dis-
country. learning in kids from an early age. posable income and effort. Insta-
Most public schools are funded Not only do public school gram is littered with ridiculously
by local taxes from the areas they teachers generally have to accept long fake nails, hair extensions,
serve. This means that lower in- a low salary, but often their class- eyelash extensions, dark tans, lip
come areas tend to have less fund- rooms do not receive the necessary injections and colored contacts.
ing for their schools. This results funding for crucial materials. It is Not only are fake nails and exten-
in lower quality facilities and ma- not uncommon that public school sions expensive, but they’re also
terials and less technology to facil- teachers are forced to either spend impractical because they damage
itate learning. While the teachers personal funds or crowd-source your natural nails and hair and re-
in these schools are by no means funding for equipment that is nec- quire extra maintenance.
lower quality teachers, it is more essary for their lessons. Whether it Even though it’s well accepted
difficult for them to effectively do is computers for a coding class or that natural tans are dangerous
their jobs. Less funding can also textbooks for a math class, there and cause wrinkles, the trend of
result in a higher student to teach- is no reason that teachers should tanning has not subsided — mod-
er ratio and larger class sizes. This have to pay for these essential ma- els use filters and fake tans to try
forces teachers to give individual terials out of pocket. to convince people that they’re
students less attention, which, of While it is not generally their naturally darker. Lip injections
course, has many negative impli- strength, elected officials need to and long term colored contacts
cations. focus on the future. They need to require help from a doctor —
This is where funding, both stop being so nearsighted and do which most people struggle to af-
state and local what they are elect- ford even when they get sick — so
comes in. These ed to do — make there’s no chance for the average
auxiliary funds policies that are in American to keep up with trends.
serve to equalize “There is no reason the best interest In addition to cost, all of these
the disparity for that teachers should of their constitu- beauty treatments take time and
schools in lower ents. They need effort, two things in short supply
income areas. have to pay for these to make policies for people who have traditional
Public schools are essential materials out that keep in mind nine-to-five jobs.
the front lines in the importance Overall, influencers promote
the fight against of pocket.” of the younger beauty trends and ideals that no
cyclical poverty, generation. They one, save themselves, can actually
and extra funding need to recognize achieve and that can do signifi-
is essential to their effectiveness. the value of planning for the fu- cant and lasting damage.
An investment in education ture. They need to recognize the As social media becomes an
is an investment in the future. A commitment and enthusiasm that ever-growing presence in our daily
multitude of studies have shown public school teachers bring to a lives, we will continue to be inun-
that effective early education has a sometimes thankless and almost dated with images of a new, un-
strong correlation to later success. always difficult job. Most of all, realistic standard for beauty. And
Many politicians bemoan the out- they need to recognize the im- while the danger of this is subtle,
sourcing of technical jobs overseas portance of public education and it can contribute to an unhealthy
while simultaneously cutting the budget accordingly. view of ourselves.
Life
Jumping for the Tech Sport Parachute Club
ZOE ELLEDGE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Tech Sport Parachute Club
competed in the USPA National
Collegiate Championships, which
were held in Arizona last Decem-
ber. The team placed third in the
2-Way Formation category, which
they considered a huge success.
“In terms of the actual events,
it's kind of like a swim meet,”
said recent Parachute Club alum-
nus Edward Vear, who competed
in the championships. “There's
different events, like 2-way and
4-way formation skydiving, as
well as accuracy landing events.
You basically wait until your team
is called up for whatever event is
going on, and then you all hop on
the plane. ”
For all the non-skydivers,
2-Way Relative Work is when two
skydivers perform rehearsed for-
mations in the sky during freefall.
“For the formation events
there's someone on camera that
follows your team down to record
video for the judges,” Vear Said.
“Then once you're on the ground,
you pack up and get ready for the
next round. It's a lot of fun and
they make sure to split up the
events so there's something for all
skill levels.”
“Anyone in the club with an A
license can choose to participate,”
said club captain Krista Hill, BA
‘19 on the national competition.
“I learned a ton during com-
petitions, and it really showed me
how much more there is to learn,”
Vear said.
Hill and Vear started their Na-
tionals preparation in October by
practicing in wind tunnels, which
gives skydivers a way to practice
moving in freefall, but indoors.
RAIL lab
robotics
ELIZABETH GRACE
STAFF WRITER
At Tech’s Institute for Robot-
ics and Intelligent Machines, Lak-
shmi Velayudhan Nair is teaching
robots how to improvise. Nair is a
fourth-year IC Ph.D. student un-
der advisor Professor Sonia Cher-
nova, who directs the Robot Au-
tonomy and Interactive Learning
(RAIL) Lab.
The RAIL lab’s overarching
goal is to teach robots how to
operate in human environments.
Nair’s research focuses on enabling
robots to deal with unforeseen
situations by constructing tools
out of items in its environment, or
LIFE EDITOR: technique
Lauren Lambert Atlanta street art map
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR:
Rosemary Pitrone
Take a self-guided street art tour around neighbor- 8
Friday,
hoods surrounding Tech410
life@nique.net February 22, 2019
The team also partners with Sky-
dive Atlanta for jumping in their
leisure time, using equipment
owned by Tech.
“Once you are a member of
the club, you are free to go to the
dropzone whenever you want,”
Hill said. “You get two free jumps
a month at Skydive Atlanta plus
free gear usage since the club owns
it!”
The club has a room at Sky-
dive Atlanta and some skydiv-
ers go there almost every week-
end to practice. In order to be
able to jump with the team, new
members must complete a course
through Skydive Atlanta and
then their Accelerated Free Fall
program. Through practicing
baseline jumps, members can be-
come eligible to complete more
advanced ones.
“We jump out of a King Air
airplane at 14,000 feet. You can
only do helicopter jumps after you
get your B license, which is after
50 jumps and a canopy course,”
Hill said. The club offers ways for
members to get their B License
through Skydive Atlanta.
Despite the rigorous safety
training process and qualifica-
tions, the team members earn
discounts for being on a collegiate
team, and they enjoy the social
benefits of the club as well.
“I love the community that
skydiving gives me and the op-
portunity to learn new thing[s]
every jump!” Hill said. “[Skydiv-
ing] really forces you to be pres-
ent. It's pretty hard to think about
anything that might be stressing
you out when you're in freefall,
and there's a great sense of focus
and blocking out everything else. Photos courtesy of Krista Hill
It actually ends up being pretty re- The Tech Sport Parachute Club members jump from an aircraft and skydivers perform a five
laxing believe it or not,” Vear said. person formation. This year the club competed in USPA National Collegiate Championships.
“MacGyvering.” The term origi- ate orientation. For example, to bot uses a handheld spectrometer To connect pieces using pli-
nates with Angus MacGyver, the make a hammer, the robot will which gives information about a ers or tongs, Nair and her group
star of the eponymous TV show need to fasten two items perpen- material’s properties. Using neural use existing grasp sampling ap-
who would construct objects im- dicularly to form a T-shape. net training, the robot determines proaches to teach the robot where
promptu using whatever items he In order to survey candidates whether an item can be pierced objects can be grasped. The robot
had available. Nair wants to give for piercing attachment, the ro- based on its material properties. See RAIL, page 10
robots the same creative ability to
innovate and improvise.
In order to MacGyver, the ro-
bot reasons about two key aspects
of each object that it has around it.
First, it considers the item’s shape
and appearance. Neural networks
enable the robot to learn which
shapes are most suited for certain
functions and to predict whether
an available piece is suited for
that particular function. For ex-
ample, the robot may need a ladle
but does not have one available.
Through training, the robot has
some notion of what a ladle looks
like, and it searches its surround-
ings for items that are similar to
the requisite components, namely
a concave surface and a handle.
Second, once the robot has
identified the necessary constitu-
ents, it will attempt to find a way
to connect them. The group con-
sidered three attachment meth-
ods: magnetic fastening, piercing
and grasping.
If the items have magnets af-
fixed to them, the robot will fig-
ure out the locations of the mag- Photo by Elizabeth Grace Student Publications
nets and determine whether their Lakshimi Velayudhan Nair, a Ph.D. student studying interactive computing, is pictured above
placement facilitates the appropri- with a robot named Curi from the Robot Autonomy and Interactive Learning Lab at Tech.
// LIFE
Exploring street art in Tech’s own backyard
SARAH VIOLANTE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Art Rudick was not always into
street art. It was not until a trip to
New York City in 2016, where the
now retired engineer found him-
self on a walking tour of street art
in the Bushwick neighborhood,
that Rudick developed a taste for
the form. During this trip, Ru-
dick’s niece convinced him to cre-
ate an Instagram account.
Upon returning to Atlanta,
Rudick was eager to find murals
for his Instagram posts; however,
he found that navigating Atlanta’s
street art was challenging, as ex-
isting websites provided minimal
information. This is what jump-
started his idea for the Atlanta
Street Art Map, a website that
makes navigating street art easier.
The Atlanta Street Art Map
can be accessed online at stree-
tartmap.org. The primary fo-
cus of the map is on murals. The
website features six self-guided
walking tours: Atlanta Beltline
(Eastside Trail), Cabbagetown/
Reynoldstown (along Wylie St.
and Tennelle St.), Edgewood
Ave. (Old Fourth Ward, Sweet
Auburn and Downtown), Little
Five Points (along Euclid Ave. and
Moreland Ave.) and Pittsburgh
Neighborhood (The Met complex
off of Metropolitan Parkway).
These tours are just down the
road from Tech and are the per-
fect way for students to take some
time away from studying to appre-
ciate local Atlanta artwork. Many
of it is in walking distance from
Tech’s campus.
Every mural within each of
these locations has its own unique
message. Some are “whimsical
and fun,” Rudick explained, such
as his favorite piece, the Tom and
Jerry mural by Jerkface on the
Five Points Tour. Others, Rudick
explained, are “like the work of
Muhammad Yungai or Fabian
technique • February 22, 2019• 9
Williams which have a very strong
civil rights message.” Muhammad
Yungai, in fact, is a part of a non-
profit program, “Off the Wall,”
which is sponsored by Wonder-
root. “Off the Wall,” which is
concerned with spreading civil
rights messages through murals,
commissioned several artists to
put up 20 murals for the 2019 Su-
per Bowl.
Not all Atlanta murals are
commissioned pieces, however.
On the one hand, there exist large
commissioned pieces which are
backed by corporate sponsors,
while on the other hand, in cer-
tain locations, anyone can just
show up and spray away.
“You have to learn the eti-
quette,” Rudick explained. “In
places like the Krog Street Tunnel,
some graffiti walls in obscure loca-
tions, or underneath the Freedom
Parkway Bridge, you just show up
with your spray paint…and if you
spray over somebody else’s stuff
that’s just kind of what happens.”
This, again, is just one end of the
spectrum. A large commissioned
piece, of course, requires different
etiquette; they should not be tam-
pered with.
It is understood that Atlanta
Street art is constantly changing
and so is the Atlanta Street Art
Map, which sets it apart from any
other existing tools. Rudick has
met a lot of the artists responsible
for creating these works of art.
“I’ll meet with them through
the Street Art Map when they
have murals going up and I am
working with them to find out
where they are… or to get their
biographies onto the website,” he
said.
The Atlanta Street Art Map
bridged the gap between observ-
ers and art as well as between ob-
servers, artists and their respective
messages. Artwork featured on Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
the map is always changing and Above: Mural that is featured on the Atlanta Street Art Map and is in walking distance from
is free entertainment for students. Tech’s campus. Below: Bird mural overlooking Spring Street by off-campus student housing.
technique
Join the
Technique
Flags Bldg 137 Writers, Designers, Photographers
/thenique
@the_nique
nique.net
10 • February 22, 2019• technique
CHAMPION FROM PAGE 1
woodworking,” Crawford ex-
plained. “And because I am a
literature professor, the cultural
history of trees is just fascinating.”
Crawford’s students shared
his enthusiasm for tool use, as
evidenced by the excited manner
in which they shared stories from
their workshop sessions.
“I had no experience [in wood-
working], but I got to use a two-
person saw, which was a real
blast,” Flack recalled.
Students not only beamed
when discussing their woodwork-
ing, but they also fondly recalled
another assignment of theirs
which required them to sit under-
neath a tree for thirty minutes a
week with no technology. Kath-
The photo above was taken at the time the champion tree was chopped down and removed from campus. Many students
attended the removal of “Big Al,” and the tree was later honored by the “Fall of a Campion” exhibit located in the CULC.
ryn Higinbotham, second-year
LMC, explained how this simple
exercise taught her the impor-
tance of stillness.
“It really shifts your perspec-
tive on time and what you should
be doing with it. Because we have
a sense, especially at Tech, that
everything is about efficiency, and
going and being productive,” Hig-
inbotham said.
“So the first couple of times
that I sat under the tree, I was
constantly thinking about my
homework and what had to get
done, but it slowly changed over
time to where I genuinely started
to look forward to it. It became
this moment of peace and time to
be contemplative.”
Despite the class having ended
last semester, Higinbotham can
still be found sitting among the
trees of campus. Classes such
as the one taught by Crawford
stretch the narrow definition that
both faculty and students often
place on learning. Despite the val-
ue behind alternative approaches
to learning, most students never
encounter assignments as engag-
ing as crafting woodworks or as
introspective as sitting outdoors.
Instead, most students spend the
majority of their time hunched
over their computers, praying to
have their homework turned in
before Canvas locks them out at
that detested midnight deadline.
As evidenced by the “Fall of a
Champion” exhibit, the opportu-
nity to learn can come from out-
side the classroom, and even from
unlikely sources. From working
with and sitting with trees, stu-
dents gained skills and insights
that could not have come from
the traditional classroom setting.
Their intellectual and personal
growth reveals that learning is not
just confined to the buildings of
academic institutions: it doesn’t
stop when the steam whistle is
blown or the book is closed. Nor
is it rigidly defined by the grades
you make or the number of credit
hours you take. Just as the limbs of
a tree extend far beyond its trunk,
opportunities to learn extend far
beyond the classroom. With over
12,000 trees on campus, how
many do you pass a day, and how
many do you notice? How many
opportunities to learn and grow
come your way, and how many do
you seize?
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
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FLAG 137
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AT 7:00 P.M.
No Experience
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WE HAVE FREE PIZZA
// LIFE
RAIL FROM PAGE 8
subsequently uses that informa-
tion to determine whether those
grasp locations allow the correct
attachment.
Once the robot has sampled
the locations where these objects
can be grasped, it checks whether
those locations facilitate the de-
sired orientation. The group has
applied these three methods to
teach the robot how to make a
ladle — out of pliers and bowls —
and a screwdriver — out of pliers,
a coin, a spatula and a hammer —
among others.
Nair commented that the most
challenging part of her research
is determining whether the tool
that the robot has made is “good”
or whether the tool that was con-
structed is actually the “right”
one.
To answer this question, Nair
and her group instruct the robot
to make the tool and subsequently
attempt to use it. If it works, then
they consider it to be a good con-
struction.
The second key challenge for
the group is that, since Mac-
Gyvering is actually quite difficult
for humans themselves, invent-
ing examples that can test their
approach is surprisingly hard.
However, humans could poten-
tially learn a great deal by push-
ing robots into that space and dis-
covering what they are capable of
creating.
In the future, Nair hopes that
allowing robots to think cre-
atively will assist humans under
significant cognitive duress. Nair’s
research has applications to disas-
ter scenarios or search and rescue
missions where the available tools
cannot be predicted. An innova-
tive robot has the potential to
provide invaluable assistance to
humans in dire circumstances and
perhaps someday save a life.
To learn more about this and
other recent projects and publi-
cations in the RAIL laboratory,
check out their website rail.gat-
ech.edu.
// LIFE technique • February 22, 2019• 11
 technique

Entertainment
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Josh Trebuchon
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Eli Hendler Friday,
12
entertainment@nique.net February 22, 2019

Graves provides entry level EDM experience

EVENTS
Far From Here Tour
PERFORMER: Graves
LOCATION: Aisle 5
DATE: Feb. 14
OUR TAKE: «««««

PERRINE KEMERAIT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Going to an EDM concert may

not be how most people decide to
spend Valentine’s Day, but watch-
ing DJ/producer Graves perform
on Feb. 14 was definitely more ex-
hilarating than the typical dinner
date or rom-com movie binge.
The concert was held at Aisle
5, an intimate venue in Little Five
Points that, while small, is still ca-
pable of accommodating a high-
energy audience. Atlanta was the
third stop of Graves’s “Far From
Here” tour, which began in Port-
land, Oregon on Feb. 7 and will
visit various cities throughout the
United States and Canada until Photo courtesy of Sable Valley Records
concluding in San Francisco, Cal- Up and coming EDM artist Graves engages with his audience during a recent performance. Graves, accompanied by opening
ifornia in mid-March. act DJ Hex Cougar, recently paid Atlanta a visit as a part of his “Far From Here Tour,” playing a show at Aisle 5 on Feb. 14.
Joining Graves on his tour is
fellow DJ Hex Cougar, who is act- single, “I’m Fine,” “Arcus” featur- Graves is a stage name for studios and clubs. He entered the tasy,” which earned Mochizuki a
ing as an opener to prep the crowds ing EDM producer RL Grime and Christian Mochizuki, a Hawaii musical spotlight in 2010 with his Grammy.
for Graves’s performances. Songs “Glass Hearts,” for which Graves native who studied audio engi- contributions to the sound engi- Following his collaboration
included in Graves’s two-hour- was joined by his opening act, DJ neering and began his musical neering of Kanye West’s album with West, Mochizuki banded to-
long setlist included his newest Hex Cougar. career working at local sound “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fan- See GRAVES, page 15

Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ draws on public struggles

MUSIC
Thank U, Next
Artist
LABEL: Republic
GENRE: Pop
TRACK PICKS: “Thank
U, Next,” “7 Rings” and
“Imagine”
OUR TAKE: «««««

ZOIE KONNEKER
ONLINE EDITOR

Ariana Grande is back at it

again with the pop anthems in her
latest album “Thank U, Next.”
The more notable songs include “7
Rings” and the title track “Thank
U, Next,” both of which came out
as singles before the album was
released earlier this month. One
of the more popular tracks on the
album, the latter single remained
in the Billboard Top 100 for four-
teen weeks in a row.
Grande has been busy in the
past year, releasing back to back al-
bums with a little over six months
in between. Of course, this pair
of albums has led to audiences
comparing the two of them. Both
contain stellar vocal performances Photo courtesy of Republic
by Grande, containing signature Pop star Ariana Grande released her latest album, “Thank U, Next” on Feb. 8. The album, the fifth of Grande’s ten
whistle tones and displays of the year career, draws its subject matter from the very public events of the singer’s recent relationships and breakups.
singer’s outstanding vocal range.
“Sweetener” was a long antici- duced in two months at the end of “Love Me Harder” and “Bang mal journal entry than a piece of and even the inclusion of a short
pated album, with its inception 2018 and released February 8th. Bang.” art from a revered artist. audio clip from close friend Troye
in July 2016 well separated from Ariana Grande has not had While many would certainly This impression may be what Sivan bring listeners back to the
its release in its final form August such a quick turnaround time consider this album a masterpiece Grande desired all along — lyrics reality of Grande’s tumultuous
on 17, 2018. “Thank U, Next,” since her release of “My Every- due to its popularity and relative describing her romantic fantasies, public life.
in contrast, was written and pro- thing” which featured hits like quality, it feels more like an infor- her need for emotional reparation, See ARIANA, page 15
// ENTERTAINMENT
‘Breaker Upperers’ among Netflix’s best offerings
FILM
Breaker Upperers
GENRE: Comedy
STARRING: Madeleine Sami,
Jackie van Beek
DIRECTOR: Madeleine Sami,
Jackie van Beek
RATING: TV-MA
RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15
OUR TAKE: «««««
MAYA FLORES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Featuring a pair of middle-
aged besties, and coming all the
way from New Zealand, Netflix’s
latest original release “Breaker
Upperers” is wildly unpredictable.
Self proclaimed life partners,
Mel and Jen are small business
owners. For a small price of a
thousand dollars, they will end
any relationship with a wacky
scheme. Their break up plots range
from impersonating police offices,
to staging affairs. Quirky accents,
ridiculous costumes, and heartfelt
moments make this movie a thor-
oughly enjoyable watch.
Directors, screenwriters, and
stars Jackie van Beek (“What We
Do in the Shadows”) and Mad-
eleine Sami (“Super City”) shine
in this film. This is Sami’s directo-
rial debut and van Beek’s third di-
rectorial credit. One of the stron-
gest aspects of Breaker Upperers
are the characters; Sami and Van
Beek created and portrayed wom-
en who were well-rounded and
relatable, while still being on the
James Rolleston and Madeleine Sami star alongside Jacki van Beek in the 2018 New
Zealand comedy film “Breaker Upperers,” which got its U.S. release on Netflix on Feb. 15.
edge of satiric. Their writing is on
point; the dialogue is witty, quick
and conversational, the humor ex-
tremely layered.
In an era where female direc-
tors, stars and writers are starting
to become more commonplace,
this movie is a prime example of
what can come from giving voices
to all creators. It provides a raw
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL
Showcase, Present, and Inspire
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH @ GT
gttower.org
look at what female friendship is,
in a completely unromanticized
light. There are fights, awkward
moments, crude jokes and most of
all ugly laughs. Rarely is a female
relationship portrayed in such an
honest unedited manner.
Van Beek’s Jen is stone-cold,
too scarred from a past relation-
ship to pursue any human con-
technique • February 22, 2019• 13
Photo courtesy of Netflix
nection. Sami’s Mel is an athletic
and charismatic bisexual, who is
easy going and fun in every way
Jen is not.
The two’s friendship and busi-
ness began two decades ago when
they discovered their shared boy-
friend was two-timing them.
Since then they have been insepa-
rable life and business partners.
All of the side characters are
hilarious. Jen’s parents are the
extreme of a rich white retired
couple, living out their last years
in coked-out luxury. Mel’s lover
is a dumb millennial, who thinks
only in emojis. Their intern is a
quiet shell of a woman, who barely
leaves any impression at all.
“Breaker Upperers” has a per-
fect balance of humor and sec-
ond-hand embarrassment. There
is enough embarrassment to make
the viewer look away, but enough
humor to keep them engaged. At
several points — one involving an
80s-inspired music video — the
film is laugh-out-loud funny. The
movie’s fresh perspective mixed
with the kooky-offbeat humor —
a product of the filmmakers’ New
Zealand roots, perhaps — makes
the film something wholly origi-
nal and unlike anything currently
on Netflix.
While the plot is a formulaic
rom-com, a platonic twist keeps it
fresh and makes the whole prem-
ise seem new. Cliched tropes are
funny instead of tired when ap-
plied to Mel and Jen. The two
main characters even make up
in a choreographed group dance
number. The movie is certainly
nostalgic, but this only adds to an
already humorous movie; it does
not rely on nostalgia to be enjoy-
able or funny, a pitfall many Hol-
lywood comedies have today.
The movie is delightfully de-
tailed, painting a humorous
New Zealand that is just foreign
enough to be unique, but famil-
iar enough to be relatable. This
is currently by far one of the best
Netflix original films out, and is a
must watch.
14 • February 22, 2019• technique // ENTERTAINMENT

mal claims have yet been made. perience a little bit less enjoyable At the end of the album, is more about self love than it is
ARIANA FROM PAGE 12
Additionally, the lyrical tone of than it could be. Grande leaves her audience won- about hooking up.
Much of the listener’s under- the album, though admirable, The last issue would be mo- dering: does the final song have a Either way, listeners are left
standing of the songs’ meanings is inconsistent. The listener has notony, something plaguing pop hidden meaning? Perhaps Ariana wondering what projects are up-
revolves around intimate details trouble adjusting when Grande is artists nowadays. All of the songs is ready to move on from her dat- coming for Ariana Grande after
of her public life, especially as she emotional in one song and a bad- are simple, and as loyal Arianators ing troubles and put herself out sharing such a tumultuous experi-
openly references her exes and ex- ass in another. This certainly does know, she is able to write and pro- there again, or, as some online ence with the singer. There may be
periences as a pop culture figure. not stop Ariana Grande from try- duce better varieties of songs that may argue, her final track “Break nothing left to say to the artist but
The raw emotional energy that ing, but it makes the listener’s ex- still mesh lyrically and tonally. With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” “Thank U, Next.”
Grande channels into her vocals
is unmatched, allowing listeners
to follow her moods and tragedies
right along with her.
“Sweetener” featured a variety
of other pop artists such as Phar-
rell Williams, Nicki Minaj and
Missy Elliot, while “Thank U,
Next” is a solo project. The album
serves as a much deserved break
from collaboration after such an
eventful time in Ariana’s life.
Songs like “Imagine,” “NASA”
and “Ghostin” are reflections on
love, loss, heartbreak and an ever
changing and intense world. The
ambiguous but thoughtful lyrics
allow listeners to be able to relate
to each song in a different way
and remind one of a series of in-
trospective letters addressed to an
omnipresent “you.”
“Thank U, Next” is an easy lis-
ten all the way through, each song
gently transitioning to the next,
except for the more upbeat songs
towards the end of the setlist. Still,
because there are plenty of songs
like “7 Rings” to fill the listeners’
souls with exciting dance beats,
the jolting transition from slow to
upbeat is barely noticable. Every
song, from start to finish, can be
described as catchy and great for
dancing, even the more introspec-
tive and emotional tunes.
No matter how much the al-
bum is loved by adoring fans,
there are several issues that musi-
cians may notice about the work
as a whole. Plenty of the beats
in the songs are too familiar, her
opening song “Imagine” sounding
too much like “Dangerous Wom-
an” to be considered completely
original.
Grande has also been accused Photo courtesy of Republic
online of plagiarizing melodies While Grande’s new album features some strong songs, it suffers from a tangible lack of compositional depth, probably a
from other artists, though no for- product of the extremely short time in which it was written and recorded. Grande completed the album in just two months.
// ENTERTAINMENT technique • February 22, 2019• 15

late night shows do because Oliver ers to watch other people as they Churchill’s famous “We shall fight
GRAVES FROM PAGE 12 OLIVER FROM PAGE 1
has presented new information in view and discuss the news. on the beaches” speech to Brexit.
gether with some other producers political spectrum — “Last Week each segment. In addition to themselves be- The rest of the episode is simi-
to form a group called “OOF”. Tonight” is doing deep, thorough The new episode discusses the ing hilarious, the clips set Oliver larly funny, making John Oliver’s
The group attained the op- segments on charter schools, coal possibility of a no-deal Brexit, up for an excellent joke about return an undeniably successful
portunity to perform at the 2014 mines and FIFA. explaining what such a scenario justifying offensive statements one. The question is now whether
Electric Daisy Carnival Discovery Because of its uniqueness, the would entail and why it is becom- by claiming that they are simply or not the show can maintain its
Stage in New York, thereby estab- return of “Last Week Tonight” ing increasingly probable. The bit quotes. The show also highlights originality and avoid becoming
lishing Mochizuki’s success as a comes as a welcome development is full of hilarious jokes, some di- the importance of Brexit in Brit- stale as it moves forward.
DJ. After deciding to follow a solo for fans of the show — and of rectly about Brexit and some only ish life with a clip from the reality The season premiere is the
career under the alias “Graves”, good television in general. tangentially related to the seg- show “Love Island” in which par- 150th episode of “Last Week To-
Mochizuki’s style of “EDM Trap” The new episode centers on a ment — but funny all the same. ticipants in the show discuss the night,” and while the show has
earned him acknowledgement 22 minute segment updating the One of the funniest parts of issue while lounding by a pool. stayed extremely fresh until now,
from some of the biggest names in show’s fans on Britain’s pending the episode comes when Oliver The segment follows the show’s there are really only so many is-
EDM, thereby causing Mochizu- withdrawal from the European points out that Brexit has become standard narrative style, explor- sues to talk about and it would be
ki’s popularity to skyrocket. Union, the show’s third story on the center of British cultural life. ing issues through a patchwork understandable for fans to worry.
Graves released his tracks on Brexit. Still, despite the fact that The series then highlights this of clips from the news and other It is critical that Oliver and his
music platforms such as Sound the show has done multiple stories by showing a series of clips from shows and jokes from Oliver. The team continue to find unique
Cloud and Spotify, ultimately on the same topic, it has not re- a British television show named bit concludes with a riotous sa- talking points to avoid becoming
leading up to the debut of his first peated itself in the way that most “Gogglebox,” which allows view- tirical clip which adapts Winston just another “Trump” show.
EP, “Hilo,” in 2017. After playing
at several music festivals, Graves
embarked on his own tour begin-
ning in early February of this year.
Overall, Graves’s performance
was perfect for a first-time EDM
concert-goer. Although the venue
was considerably smaller and the
lights and visuals were not nearly
as impressive as those of other
EDM concerts, this allowed for
an experience that wasn’t too
overwhelming. Additionally, the
crowd was lively but not too wild,
which also made the show more
manageable for entry level EDM
concert-goers.
Despite the show’s simplicity
in comparison to more elaborate
concerts, even seasoned EDM
fans enjoyed the performance,
which was made apparent by the
mosh pit that erupted in front of
the stage.
Not only did Graves put on an
electrifying show, but he also took
the time to meet with fans after-
wards, showing his appreciation
by carrying on conversations and
posing for pictures. Ultimately,
the appeal of a Graves concert lies
in his ability to utilize his music to
energize a crowd, an ability which
clearly comes from how passionate Photo courtesy of HBO
he is about his performances and John Oliver interviews Anita Hill for a story on sexual harassment. While Oliver’s show has become famous for its over the top
his music. silly clips and stunts, it has also featured some in depth reporting and serious interviews, even winning a Peabody award in 2018.
16 • February 22, 2019• technique // COMICS
SARAH’S SCRIBBLES BY SARAH ANDERSEN PEARLS BEFORE SWINE BY STEPHEN PASTIS

LIO BY MARK TATULLI

LUNARBABOON BY CHRISTOPHER GRADY

IN THE BLEACHERS BY STEVE MOORE

// COMICS technique • February 22, 2019• 17

SMBC BY ZACH WEINERSMITH CHANNELATE BY RYAN HUDSON

SUDOKU PUZZLE

XKCD BY RANDALL MUNROE

BY SUDOKUCOLLECTION.COM
18 • February 22, 2019• technique
Bartlett enters final season at Tech
ROHAN KANSARA
STAFF WRITER
Originally from Florida, Tech
track and field star Avery Bartlett
had always leaned on sports his
whole life as an outlet for his im-
mense energy. But it was not until
high school that he began to run
track. In fact, the reason he began
his career as a runner was to pre-
pare for the upcoming season in
soccer. “After starting cross coun-
try, I quickly realized I would be
a whole lot better at running than
soccer, and so I began to stick
with it,” Avery said.
At Tech, Avery has been a
prolific runner and holds mul-
tiple school records. However,
balancing the amount of training
needed to excel at that level while
maintaining grades at Tech is no
easy feat. When asked about the
most important aspects of being
a student-athlete, he explains that
“[you have to] practice a lot, you
have to eat well, and you have to
get nine hours of sleep; that’s the
tricky part.” On top of his school-
work and training regime, he also
works part-time at Home Depot’s
Orange Works lab, so sticking to
a strict schedule is absolutely key.
After all, unlike football, basket-
ball and baseball players, there is
no professional career awaiting a
track star — unless his name is
Usain Bolt. Bartlett’s schoolwork
is more than just a requirement to
maintain NCAA eligibility; his
software engineering internship
could parlay into a job.
Reminiscing on his time at
Tech, Bartlett recalls two mo-
ments that stand out as his fond-
est memories. The first was dur-
ing his sophomore year at the
ACC Finals. “It was an absolutely
loaded field, and at the time, I
wasn’t expecting to contend for a
title. I kind of just went for it, but
I ended up getting a huge break-
through race. Going in, my best
time for the 800-meter was a 1:49,
but I ended up running a 1:47.3,
which was a school record,” Avery
recounts. In that moment, his fu-
ture as one of the program’s best
competitors was clear. Bartlett
made clear that he was the sort of
runner who not only deserved a
full athletic scholarship to a Divi-
sion I school but would also repre-
sent his school well.
The second was this past out-
door season during the Florida
Relays where the top 800 runners
nationwide come to race. “I’m
from Florida, so growing up, I’d
see some of these people come out
to race and set Olympic standards.
But I actually ended up winning
that race, beating Isaiah Harris
who would later be the national
champion,” Avery explained. He
was able to go full circle from
watching the race as a kid to win-
ning it.
Coming into this season as
a senior, Bartlett is focused on
maintaining the right mental
state to compete. His primary
goal this year is to place top eight
in nationals to make first-team
All American, having previously
finished only as high as ninth. To
get there, he says he has to take
more risks. “This season,” he says,
“I’m trying to just go for it a little
more … take a little more risks,
push myself in training just a little
harder, because there is a risk in
training too hard.” After the ACC
Championship this week, Avery
will have two weeks to prepare for
nationals and take on his goal of
making first-team All American.
Given that it is his final season
at Tech, being a senior has allowed
Bartlett to take on a leadership
role within the team. Looking
back on the season, he says he is
proud of how well his teammates
have done, especially the fresh-
men and sophomores, and he is
thrilled that fellow teammate
Nahom Solomon, who broke the
school record in the 5K race, will
be attending nationals this year.
When asked about his leadership
role on the team, Avery remarked,
“I’ve been putting in an effort to
be a leader by example, not just
telling the younger guys [what to
do] because that’s not really me.
I have noticed that me and the
other seniors have set an example
to go into recovery after practices.
More freshman than usual are do-
ing it this year which is awesome.”
Through his four years at Tech,
Avery’s perspective of cross coun-
try has shifted. “Now that I’m
Avery Bartlett carries the baton during a relay. Bartlett, a senior,
is among the team’s strongest veteran presences this year.
older, I’m way more thankful for
the opportunities that I’ve had. I
understand the competitions part
of it, but now I’m more invested
in the camaraderie aspect of it and
just being the best teammate I can
be,” Avery explains. He has been
able to mature into a leader for the
team and inspire the younger run-
ners to keep the program running
smoothly.
Looking ahead, Bartlett plans
on continuing his training in an-
ticipation of the Olympic trials
next semester, but beyond that is
a bit cloudier; he says he will be
evaluating his future plans after-
wards.
Still, the future looks bright
for one of Tech’s most decorated
track athletes.
Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik
// SPORTS
BARBELL FROM PAGE 20
self capable of playing host for a
real meet.
The organization strives to
hone the discipline of each of the
athletes while providing a com-
munity that shares and supports
the athletes’ goals. Coaches such
as James Townsend, a USA Pow-
erlifting Coach of the Year, come
to give pointers on technique and
programming a few times a week.
The Barbell Club also offers ad-
vice on everything from weight-
lifting to nutrition throughout the
year. “We want members to be the
best [people] they can be and have
coaching hours, seminars and
physical therapists to injuries,”
Lattime says of the organization’s
recent efforts.
Although the Barbell Club was
started with the intention of cre-
ating a powerlifting-focused pro-
gram, Lattime expects the group
to encompass more general mem-
bers and invites those with more
“niche” interests to bring their
skills and thoughts to the table.
He also hopes to see the group
begin to give back to the com-
munity on a larger scale by fully
committing to a charity or ser-
vice group. “We want to engage
general members more,” he notes
when discussing the importance
of fostering these various interests.
These aims contribute to the
idea that the club is meant to pro-
mote more than physical strength;
it will help create and add to well-
rounded and thoughtful mem-
bers. The group lists its yearly
goals online. They include “[grow-
ing] our community by emphasiz-
ing fitness and nutrition on cam-
pus”, “[hosting] a philanthropy
event to raise money for a local
charity” and “[financing] athletes
to numerous local, national, and
international competitions.” At its
current rate of growth, it ought
to surprise no one if Barbell Club
meets all of those objectives by the
end of this year.
// SPORTS
For softball, hitting improves and pitching lags
JOHN EDWARDS
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
While their counterparts across
Fowler Street began play just a
week ago, Tech softball’s season
has been in full swing for most
of February. Already 5-4 on the
season, Tech softball rebounded
from a pair of tough-luck losses to
the Providence Friars to win four
straight leading into the ACC/
Big Ten Challenge, in which Tech
swept Michigan but dropped a
pair to a high-powered Illinois
offense. Tech’s non-conference
schedule includes games against
Hofstra, Fordham and rival UGA
before Tech begins ACC play
against Virginia Tech on March
8. Here’s how Tech softball stacks
up on both sides of the diamond
moving forward.
THE BATS
It is impossible to talk about
Tech softball without mention-
ing Tech’s offensive MVP from
last season, Cameron Stanford.
Stanford led Tech in batting aver-
age, on-base percentage, slugging
percentage and doubles, and was
named to second-team All-ACC,
freshman All-ACC and the aca-
demic All-ACC team — quite the
feat for someone in her first sea-
son of collegiate play. Not to be
outdone, then-junior Katie Krzus
hit .284/.394/.500 and led or tied
for the team lead in HR and RBI,
forming the potent core of Tech’s
otherwise lackluster offense last
season along with now-graduated
Draven Sonnon.
Despite a slow start to the
season for Stanford — who was
hitting just .167/.310/.375 on
the year entering Wednesday —
Tech’s offense has been firing on
all cylinders so far, as the Jackets
have averaged 7.8 runs per game
Tech’s softball team gets together for a huddle during a game. The team has not kept up its
incredible pitching from last year’s campaign, but its batting has improved considerably.
to date. That figure represents a
vast improvement from Tech’s
sputtering last season, where Tech
collectively hit .227/.345/.396 and
averaged just 4.3 runs per game.
Through nine games, Tech has
scored 70 runs to date in nine
games — but it took them fifteen
games to reach the milestone last
season.
Leading the charge this sea-
son at the plate for the Jackets
are sophomore Breanna Roper,
who has posted an eye-popping
.485/.486/.758 slash line with 16
hits in 9 games, and Krzus, whose
1.000 slugging percentage is tied
for a highly impressive No. 29
in the country among Division I
softball players.
Sophomore transfer Tricia
Awald has also demolished op-
posing pitching, ranking second
to Krzus in home runs and ty-
ing with Krzus and Roper for the
team lead in total bases. Awald
ranked as one of the top fresh-
man in the nation while playing
for the Kennesaw State Owls last
season and was named Atlantic
Sun conference freshman player
of the year before transferring to
Tech for this season.
It is a remarkable turnaround
for a team that struggled so fre-
quently at the plate last year. Part
of it may have to do with cutting
down on whiffs; Tech players
struck out in nearly 25 percent of
at-bats last season, but that figure
technique • February 22, 2019• 19
Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik
has nosedived to just 18 percent
this year. Tech’s offense needed a
serious injection after last season,
and to date it looks as if it has been
completely revolutionized.
THE ARMS
In a sport where just one player
might shoulder the pitching load
for the entire team, Tech’s pitch-
ing appears lost without last year’s
starter Emily Anderson, who
threw 244 innings for Tech last
season, 66 percent of the team’s
total. Anderson pitched to a 2.24
earned run average and recorded
six complete-game shutouts en
route to being tabbed to her first
second-team All-ACC appearance
in her final year of eligibility.
Tech’s primary starter this sea-
son has struggled in comparison
to Anderson’s dominance. Junior
transfer pitcher Morgan Bruce has
started five of Tech’s nine games
to date and thrown to a 3.80
earned run average with a .243
batting average against. Bruce’s
main issue to date has been con-
trol — the junior has averaged 4.8
walks allowed per seven innings,
a noticeable spike from last sea-
son where Bruce averaged just 2.2
walks allowed per seven innings
while pitching for Ole Miss.
North Georgia transfer Am-
ber Johns has taken on much of
the remaining load for Tech but
has similarly struggled with con-
trol. While Johns has allowed just
a .236 batting average against,
Johns also leads the team in bat-
ters hit while recording just a 1.25
strikeout-to-walk ratio for Tech.
It’s been an otherwise difficult
transition to Division I play for
Johns, who last season allowed
just a 0.76 earned run average in
over 111 innings and went unde-
feated for North Georgia.
Collectively, Tech pitchers
have thrown to just a 5.19 ERA,
.271 batting average allowed, 4.2
walks per seven innings and 1.4
home runs per seven innings —
decidedly poor figures. Tech has
traded one demon for another;
while the offense has been noth-
ing short of explosive to date, the
Jackets’ pitching has noticeably
suffered with the loss of Anderson,
and the end result is that Tech
has tread water thus far. Second-
year head coach Aileen Morales
has addressed the offensive defi-
ciencies with a number of strong
transfer recruits, but it is evident
that Tech’s pitching requires con-
siderable attention. If they get that
right as the season goes on and the
batting stays strong, the sky is the
limit for this team.
Sports
Women’s tennis defeats No. 11 Wildcats
GRAHAM LEWIS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The women’s tennis team came
off of an impressive win over No.
11 Northwestern this past Satur-
day, bringing them to 3-3 on the
season. After losing doubles, Tech
quickly recovered by winning five
straight singles matches. The
comeback was led by outstanding
play from Jeanette Lin and Valeri-
ya Deminova.
Jeanette Lin defeated No. 72
Julie Byrne in an impressive 7-5,
6-3 performance. Taking a 3-0
lead in the second set, Lin’s quick
start made for an easy finish. Her
win over Byrne not only secured
the victory for Tech but topped
off an already successful week,
with Lin beating Georgia State
6-0, 6-2.
Valeriya Deminova defeated
Northwestern’s Caroline Pozo
6-2, 6-2 helping to build the Jack-
ets’ comeback. In the second set,
Deminova led 4-0, giving up two
games before sealing the match.
The match continued a very
good stretch of performances for
Deminova, putting her at 4-0 on
the week. With a win in doubles
and singles over Georgia State and
a win in both over Northwestern,
the freshman is currently sitting at
3-1 in singles and 4-2 in doubles.
These two stellar performanc-
es earned both ACC weekly hon-
Experienced or novice, Barbell Club offers fun
EMILY DYKSTRA
STAFF WRITER
The Georgia Tech Barbell Club
states on OrgSync that it is “a sup-
portive community of dedicated
fitness enthusiasts focused on sup-
porting athletes of all skill levels
and barbell related disciplines,”
and president Matthew Lattime
agrees wholeheartedly. After a few
minutes of talking with him, it is
clear that the club is meant to be
all-inclusive to the Tech commu-
nity, even aiming to reach those
with little fitness experience. The
key to their success? “Having a
community behind you that sup-
ports you,” he says.
Lattime is a BME student at
Tech that took up powerlifting
in high school, but did not nec-
essarily come to Tech with the
conscious intention of continu-
ing his sport. As an out-of-state
student at FASET, he experienced
the organization fair that can be
a whirlwind for incoming stu-
dents. After realizing the Campus
Recreation Center might not fit
his fitness needs and desires, he
stumbled upon the Barbell Club
through JacketPages and reached
out to the president of the club at
the time to express his interest in
joining the organization.
Although Lattime had prior
experience with the sport, many
new members come in at a nov-
ice level with the intention of
increasing their strength. He ex-
plained that this allows for bond-
SPORTS EDITOR:
Harsha Sridhar
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR:
John Edwards
sports@nique.net
ors, an impressive feat for such
young talent. After all, Lin and
Deminova are still freshmen and
while both have significant inter-
national experience and were key
reasons why Tech’s most recent
recruiting class was ranked No. 6
nationally. It would not have been
unexpected for them to start off
slow in conference play. While the
team still finds itself in the early
goings and fatigue will no doubt
set in, Lin and Deminova have
shown exactly why Tech searched
in Australia and Russia, respec-
tively, to find them.
Deminova’s background draws
particular interest; before coming
to Tech, she trained at the Spar-
tak Tennis Club in Moscow, one
of the most prestigious facilities in
the country. She follows the same
path as the likes of former profes-
sional star Anna Kournikova and
former men’s world No. 1 Marat
Safin. Also, she has played at the
likes of Roland-Garros and the
All-England Lawn Tennis Club,
home to Wimbledon and French
Open. Deminova is unlikely to
find the college venues in which
she now competes particularly in-
timidating, given her experience.
Tech is currently ranked No.
4 for the season and a win this
weekend over No. 8 Georgia will
push forward an already solid
season. Looking ahead, Tech is
scheduled to play Pittsburgh next
Sunday, then Duke and Syracuse
ing among the new members, as
everyone learns the ins and outs
together, furthering the sense of
community that the club trea-
sures. On the other hand, some
students come in just as Lattime
did, with experience under their
belts, ready to the hit the ground
Tech’s Barbell Club poses for a photo after hosting the Collegiate Clash, the first sanctioned
meet they have ever held. Barbell Club offers opportunities for all experience levels.
Avery Bartlett, a senior on Tech’s
track and field team, brings a veteran
presence to the group.418
on back to back road trips over
the next two weeks. Conference
play will continue until the region
tournament, April 17.
As is true in many sports, the
ACC brings Tech a tough sched-
ule. Although the team ranks
fourth in the country, two ACC
Jeanette Lin dives to return a shot during a home match. Lin, a freshman, has already
earned weekly all-conference honors early in the ACC season for the No. 4 Jackets.
running — or lifting. The organi-
zation has implemented a mentor-
ship program that provides any
new member with a partner in
crime to learn the ropes or share
ideas with. “The club fluctuates
in terms of membership,” Lattime
says. “There are lots of members
Elder Statesman
teams are ahead of the Jackets:
Duke and North Carolina. Mi-
ami, Florida State and Virginia
are all top 25 teams at this point
in the season, which means that
all of those teams are capable of
upending the Jackets on a good
day. And as for the rest of the
in the fall, but it peters off in the
spring.”
For students who stick around,
the organization offers vari-
ous competition opportunities
throughout the year and across
the nation. The most common
types of meets are USA Power-
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Barbell Club
technique
20
Friday,
February 22, 2019
conference, they should not be
disregarded either; the Jackets
will need to maintain consistency
throughout the season.
If Tech keeps up the sorts
of results that it earned against
Northwestern, the season could
continue for a good while.
Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik
lifting-sanctioned meets, with
some particularly talented athletes
making their way to USA Power-
lifting Collegiate Nationals at the
end of the school year. Addition-
ally, Tech hosts its own “mock”
meet, which provides the athletes
with an opportunity to rehearse
and showcase their abilities in a
low pressure environment. The
meet is not sanctioned and does
not officially count for anything,
but it allows the athlete to get a
realistic feel for what competition
day will be like.
Lattime lit up when asked
about his proudest moment as
a member of the organization.
He excitedly spoke about the
sanctioned meet that the Barbell
Club was able to put together ear-
lier this school year. The execu-
tive members began planning for
the meet in early to mid-summer
of last year in order to secure the
needs for a sanctioned meet —
proper equipment, registration
and administrative fees, referees
and referee certification and drug
testing. Lattime explained that
while only about ten percent of
the athletes are subject to drug
testing, it is an important element
of the sanctioned meet. The Jack-
ets competed at this meet, named
the Southeast Collegiate Clash,
against athletes from Auburn, the
University of Georgia and Geor-
gia Southern University. The meet
was a milestone moment for the
Tech program, which showed it-
See BARBELL, page 18