February 19, 2021•Volume 106, Issue 18•nique.

net
18•nique.net

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT

. .

technique 2021 Recruiting Class p18 Review: ‘To All the Boys 3’ p13
News 2 Opinions 5 Life 8 Entertainment 12 Sports 20

TECH AND EMORY STUDENTS HACK COVID-19 p3

NEWS MORGAN WHITTEMORE
STAFF WRITER

In late January, Tech and Emory

jointly hosted a virtual hackathon to
bring students together to design tech-
nological solutions to make returning
to work and school settings during
COVID-19 easier and safer.
A hackathon is a design race-like
event where students come together to
tackle different problems by develop-
ing software.
Tech’s Coulter Department of Bio-
medical Engineering and CREATE-X
program collaborated with the Emory
Global Health Institute and University
School of Medicine to host such an
event from Jan. 22-24, where students
were challenged to come up with solu-
tions for returning to work and school
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was originally going to be an
in-person event this past fall, and we
were going to tackle some of our global
health issues on our end,” said Keri-
ann Roy, operations and evaluation
manager at the Emory Global Health
Institute.
“Then COVID hit, and suddenly
we were at home, and someone was like
‘What if we did it on COVID?’ and we
switched gears,” Roy said.
She stressed that the event was
chiefly a chance for the two Atlanta
schools to collaborate and combine
some of the main focuses of their cur-
riculums. This also led to a rule of the
event where each team had to include
both Emory and Tech students. The
ongoing circumstances of the pan-
demic supplied the theme of the event
as schools and businesses everywhere
struggle to find ways to return to in-
person gatherings safely.
Each of the 29 teams in the compe-
tition pitched their project to a panel of
See HACKATHON, page 2
Top L: Photo courtesy of Ryan Horton via Twitter; Top R: Photo courtesy of Netflix; Above: Photo courtesy of Alex Madison

LIFE

Providing support with Black Mentor Jackets
MAYA TORRES
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
Mentor Jackets has been go-
ing strong through the Student
Alumni Association (SAA) for
some time now, but Jeanne Ker-
ney, CE ‘84 and president of
the Black Alumni Organization
(BAO) noticed a key problem.
Black students were not nearly as
involved with the program as their
peers.
Since Tech was desegregated in
1961, Black students have contin-
uously been overlooked by admin-
istration. When Kerney attended
in the early 1980’s, there were only
two Black professors within the
entire Institute.
Society has come a long way
since then, but still, only 2.8%
of professors are Black as of 2018.
When almost two-thirds of pro-
fessors are white, Black students
are forced to look elsewhere for
role models of color, especially
considering how white-dominat-
ed engineering and other STEM
fields have been.
“Particularly in the Black com-
munity, there’s just a lack of un-
derstanding that you need help
and that people are there that can
help you that have gone ahead of
you,” Kerney said.
That’s where Black Mentor
Jackets comes in.
SAA and BAO have partnered
to create a mentor program for
Black students that will reveal op-
portunities beyond Tech as well
as keep students involved post
graduation.
“I know, in my own experi-
ence, that it helps to talk to some-
one who’s walked down the path
that you’ve walked before,” Ker-
ney said. “You know, we always
say you always hear experience is
the best teacher, but if someone
else has the experience, why don’t
you just go ahead and get that in-
formation from them?”
Her own daughter graduated
from Tech in 2017 and Kerney
noticed that her daughter’s friends
were constantly reaching out with
questions.
She knew that herself and
her peers had a wealth of knowl-
edge to share with their younger
counterparts.
It was simply a matter of how
to best communicate it.
Kerney also wanted Black stu-
dents to have mentors that could
guide them through their time at
Tech and beyond, as well as men-
tors that could make students feel
comfortable.
“They feel more comfortable
with a mentor that looks like
them,” Kerney said. “Most of the
students come from a background
where the only people they see are
people that look like them.”
This idea extends beyond the
Black mentor program.
“We need more professors who
look like the students, which is
not just we need more Black pro-
fessors,” Kerney said. “We need
See MENTORS, page 9
News
CHAD NOIRBENT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
NEW PLEDGE?
Around half past midnight on
Feb. 7, GTPD received a call from
a fraternity in reference to a sus-
picious person standing outside
their on-campus house.
An officer was dis-
patched to the scene and
was able to reassure all those
involved. Upon arrival, the police
officer took note of the perpetra-
tor’s identity and placed him un-
der arrest. Thankfully, no one at
the scene was injured. No drugs
of any kind were involved in the
incident.
It is unclear why this lurker
was standing outside the fraterni-
ty. Perhaps this was his strategy in
order to scout out the on-campus
architecture.
For anyone else consider-
ing doing this should note that
standing outside a house and
suspiciously looking around does
not quite have the same effect
as admiring a structure for its
exterior design.
SKY HIGH: THE SEQUEL
Tech remains one of the best
aerospace engineering schools in
the world, but jumping off of stat-
ues under the influence does not
necessarily boost the rankings.
Around midnight on Feb. 6,
an officer on patrol witnessed two
individuals in front of the Clough
Undergraduate Learning Com-
mons practicing the art of flight.
The officer questioned their deci-
NEWS EDITOR:
Natalie Boutwell
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR:
Lane Elder
news@nique.net
sion and explained the safety haz-
ard issue at hand.
The two stated that they had
not seen any signs indicating they
could not sit or pounce on and off
of the statues on campus.
Upon discovering that the dy-
namic duo were Tech students,
the officer issued both jumpers a
GT Student Code of Conduct of
Violation for Criminal Trespass.
While still at the scene, more
events started to take place as
another member of the group
began to vomit, all while at-
tempting a daring escape to the
Stingerette van.
The officer was able to redirect
them to the statue where they
would repeat the deed several more
times. It was soon uncovered that
the students were underage, and
Grady EMS shortly pulled up to
the scene. Following the inspec-
tion of the entire group, the third
student was taken to Grady Hos-
pital. Her collaborators received
violations for Possession of Alco-
hol before being escorted back to
their dorms.
LOVESTRUCK
Valentine’s Day: it’s that magi-
cal time of the year where some
turn on The Bachelor and curse at
the contestants whilst others try
to impress their significant other.
According to crime reports
though, the most sinister crime
that occurred on campus during
the misdemeanor-inclined holi-
day this year was actually a traffic
violation. This year at Tech, it is
recommended to stay indoors, not
just because of the biting cold and
the ongoing pandemic but also
due to a driver driving the wrong
way on a one-way road.
Around 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 14,
an officer was dispatched to Wil-
liams Street after receiving reports
of a vehicle on the sidewalk. The
driver’s license was taken, and the
case was closed by an arrest.
A nice reminder that on this
most romantic day, you may get
love struck but also car struck if
you are not too careful. Stay safe
out there, Jackets.
Summer abroad?
Program directors from the Office of Inter-
national Education share details for summer
study abroad programs 44
HACKATHON FROM FRONT
allowed us to put our ideas into
action,” Poddar said. Both Roy
the judges composed of experts in and Poddar mentioned how stu-
public health, business, technol- dents could draw from their own
ogy and operations. personal experiences with social
These included people from Em- distanced school to inspire the
ory, Tech and outside companies creation of their products.
who were interested in the solu- “As students, we are concerned
tions offered by the hackathon. about our health by the prospect
After the initial round of judg- of returning to in-person facili-
ing, 10 finalist teams were se- ties, which led us to brainstorm
lected, securing a $1,500 prize our own personal ideas that would
at least, and were then judged help us to feel safe,” said Poddar
in a final round to determine about why his team decided to
the winners. participate in the hackathon and
The winning team of the hack- where they got the idea for Rota-
athon, Rotations, saw the hack- tions. Poddar added “the hack-
athon as “the perfect opportunity athon allowed us to more fully
to conceptualize and model ideas flesh-out our ideas in a careful and
backed by research that could help thoughtful manner with science
prevent the spread of COVID-19,” and consumer-usage in mind.”
said Arvin Poddar, third-year CS, The team created a platform to
one of the students who worked plan safe room layouts for schools
on the project. and businesses returning to in-
He was joined by Ryan Co- person meetings and utilized cut-
belli, third-year CS, and Mer- ting edge research on the virus to
issa Coleman, third-year human inform their software.
health major from Emory, on the As the winning team, the stu-
project. dents received a $3,500 prize and
“Having an Emory student will be enrolled in CREATE-X’s
and two Georgia Tech students launch program this summer to
enabled us to conceptualize strong turn their project into a startup.
tools that maximize public health The hackathon produced many
goals and to create software that other innovative projects. The
Students from Emory and Tech collaborated on a platform to assist with social distancing.
technique
Friday,
2
February 19, 2021
second place team, COVERED,
designed a portable wallet to store
and keep masks sanitary.
The third place team, nonose,
created a comfortable mask that
discourages improper mask wear-
ing. Both of these teams received
a $3,500 prize as well.
The products created during
the hackathon included software,
devices and other projects all de-
signed at aiding the eventual re-
turn to in-person events during
this pandemic.
“It’s going to take a while before
we actually get back to normal,”
Roy said. Roy especially thinks
Rotations will help people in a
less COVID-strict world to still
maintain some caution before re-
suming a completely normal life.
Although the hackathon was
restricted to virtual means, the
teams in the competition came
up with many ideas to help fa-
cilitate a safe return to in-person
gatherings.
As Roy summed up, the differ-
ent perspectives brought together
by the two schools’ collaboration
“gave a different lens” to the com-
petition, allowing for the creation
of many multidisciplinary solu-
tions to our present-day issues.
Photo courtesy of globalhealth.emory.edu

sliver // your thoughts

nique.net

Valentine’s Edition: If happiness starts with an “h”, why does mine

technique NEWS EDITOR
start with “u”? The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper Natalie Boutwell
yall got any phineas and ferb pron? Taylor Gray EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OPINIONS EDITOR
IIf you say you love Atlanta get out of midtown and work on mak- Journey Sherman
ing it better Jannat Batra MANAGING EDITOR
LIFE EDITOR
It’s ok to wear red and black on campus but it sucks to clarify it’s for Hope Williams
non u[sic]ga reasons Founded in 1911, the Technique is the student newspaper of the ENTERTAINMENT
guys hate to break it to you but wrestling is fake Georgia Institute of Technology, and is an official publication of EDITOR
Gather round kids and hear the tale of my current unemployment the Georgia Tech Board of Student Publications. The Technique Maya Flores
situation :( publishes on Fridays, weekly in the fall and spring and biweekly in
SPORTS EDITOR
There is no such thing as conscious thought the summer.
There is no such thing as unconscious thought Jack Purdy
Premarital eye contact is a sin, Dianne. ADVERTISING: Information can be found online at nique.net/ PHOTO EDITOR
Dani Sisson
I wish Pascal from Animal Crossing was my grandpappy ads. The deadline for reserving ad space is Friday at 5 p.m. one
I wish they would keep their name the Washington Football Team week before publication. To place a reservation, for billing infor- DESIGN EDITOR
and their mascot would be just a different football team mation or for any other questions please e-mail us at ads@nique. Amanda Wang
I’d like to have a cat and name her Eugene. After the Sufjan song. net. You may reach us at 404-894-2830, Monday through Friday
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ONLINE EDITOR
“I’m hysterically American, I’m a construct of your mind” - A Sarah Miller
Christmas unicorn Copyright © 2021, Taylor Gray, Editor-in-Chief, and the Geor- TECH EDITOR
Do not perceive me. gia Tech Board of Student Publications. No part of this paper Keely Culbertson
Lane Elder? More like Helter Skelter may be reproduced in any manner without written permission
I would commit murder for 1 (One) Jumbo Push Pop from the Editor-in-Chief or from the Board of Student Publica- HEAD COPY EDITOR
tions. The ideas expressed herein are those of the individual au- Avni Shridhar
single handedly carrying the sliver section of the nique takes a toll.
i am the Mother Quipper. thors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Board of
Student Publications, the students, staff or faculty of the Georgia
Stop being racist in the sliver box its very sad for you : - / Institute of Technology or the University System of Georgia. First
I really think that puffins should get more appreciation as a species copy free; for additional copies call 404-894-2830.
we’re here to burgle your turts
// NEWS
In-person tutoring makes a return to Clough
ANDY BORST
STAFF WRITER
On Feb. 8, the Institute offi-
cially returned to in-person tutor-
ing through Tutoring and Aca-
demic Support, a unit of Office of
Undergraduate Education.
With the apparent risk CO-
VID-19 posed to students and
faculty members, the Institute
previously closed many in-person
activities, including in-person tu-
toring. The offering instead shift-
ed to an online platform through
BlueJeans, allowing students to
continue to gain the academic
Students study at the in-person tutoring center located in
room 273 in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons
support they needed without be-
ing needlessly exposed to CO-
VID-19.
However, while the online op-
tion has been a sufficient alterna-
tive to continue helping students
in a safe manner, many believe
it is not as effective as in-person
tutoring. With that in mind, the
Institute made the decision to
reopen in a hybrid capacity, with
some sessions being offered on-
line while others are offered in
person, to accommodate both
parties’ concerns.
“We didn’t open at the start
of the semester because we
were afraid of a possible CO-
Photo by Lane Elder Student Publications
VID-19 spike upon everyone’s
return to campus,” said Linda
Green, director of Tutoring and
Academic Support.
“We’ve been thinking about
how to return to in-person in
some capacity since last fall. The
Institute gave us the go ahead, and
we decided that waiting until Feb.
8 would allow our student staff
time to be ready to transition.”
In-person tutoring has been
around for years at the Institute.
It has proven to be an excellent
way for students to catch up on
content that has confused them or
stay ahead of the curve and make
sure they have the knowledge
squared away.
“Tutoring not only helps stu-
dents gain a deeper understanding
of the course content, but it also
helps boost confidence, promote
effective study habits and lessen
the imposter syndrome,” said Jus-
tin Boone, assistant director of
Tutoring and Academic Support.
“Participating in tutoring also
improves technical communica-
tion skills by encouraging stu-
dents to articulate their thought
process as they solve problems.”
When planning for the recent
tutoring transition, many students
expressed concern about whether
they were to be given the choice to
do in-person or online.
In response, the Office of Un-
dergraduate Education made sure
to keep these concerns in mind
when going back to in-person.
A sign and hand sanitizer welcomes
to the in-person one-on-one
“Both tutors and students who
require tutoring will be given the
choice as to whether or not to par-
ticipate in online or in-person tu-
toring,” Green said.
In this way, students, whether
they tutor or need tutoring, are
able to pick and choose whichever
options work the best for them
given their specific circumstances.
To accommodate for returning
to in-person tutoring, Tutoring
and Academic Support has cre-
ated a comprehensive plan to en-
sure a minimized risk of exposure
and transmission for in-person
sessions.
“We have given tutors their
own whiteboard markers and
erasers to ensure that transmission
in that manner is reduced. We are
also committed to cleaning [up to]
technique • February 19, 2021• 3
Photo by Lane Elder Student Publications
students
tutoring center
five times a day, as well as enforc-
ing a strict mask-wearing policy
for admission into the tutoring
session,” Green said.
Hand sanitizer and disinfec-
tant wipes are also available at the
entrance for students using the
study space.
While risk is still inherent in
resuming in-person activities dur-
ing this trying time, Tutoring and
Academic Support have taken
many necessary steps in order to
be safe and appear committed to
keeping both students and faculty
safe. Students interested in reg-
istering can sign up at tutoring.
gatech.edu for up to two tutoring
sessions a week. They can schedule
appointments any day of the week
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., depending
on tutor availability.
4 • February 19, 2021• technique
Options abound for Jackets to swarm abroad
NATALIE BOUTWELL
NEWS EDITOR
Tech’s summer study abroad
programs have had to alter their
traditional structure to balance
students’ scholarship and safety
with the continuing threat of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Some programs, such as “Salud
in Spain” and “Latin America
Today,” have decided to go vir-
tual, offering an online Global
at Home Program. Additional
programs, such as those at Tech’s
Lorraine Campus (GTL), plan to
have students in a format as close
to pre-pandemic as possible.
Others, such as the Oxford
Summer Program, have been can-
celed completely.
The Technique recently reached
out to directors and staff members
of these programs to learn more
about their plans for the upcom-
ing summer.
“We recognize that this sum-
mer may not be the summer we
were hoping for — ­­ in terms of
the pandemic being over, every-
one being vaccinated — we’re still
in a kinda unknown with what
is going to happen and what this
summer is going to look like,” said
Kelly Comfort, director of “Salud
in Spain.”
To deal with this unknown,
Comfort has shifted her tradition-
al study abroad program in Spain
to a virtual format.
There will be both synchronous
and asynchronous components of
two courses which focus on health
care and medicine in Spain.
“For the student who wants to
make this summer meaningful
— academically, professionally,
culturally and linguistically — I
think this is a really great option,”
Comfort said.
Her goal in creating the Global
at Home program was to make
the experience as immersive as
possible for students by recreating
many of the typical elements of a
language-based study abroad such
as city tours and exchanges with
host families.
“We’re going to have the family
try to create a virtual introduction
to the city where [the students]
would have been living which is
Granada,” Comfort said.
Additional plans have been
made to engage the host families
and students with conversation
exchanges and cooking classes.
Comfort also plans to use
roundtable discussions with seven
medical professionals from Spain
and guest lectures from professors
at the medical school in the Uni-
versity of Grandad.
“Rather than just interact with
me, which [the students] could do
anytime, we wanted to give them
the resources they would have had
if we could have gone abroad,”
Comfort said.
Students will also have the
option to participate in cultural
activities such as flamenco dance
classes and discussions on Spanish
films and TV series.
An additional class will be of-
fered to students interested in tak-
ing part in an internship focused
on Hispanic medicine.
The “Salud in Spain” pro-
gram was designed specifically
for students interested in health
and medicine.
It can be combined with the
“Latin American Today” pro-
gram, directed by Spanish profes-
sor Paul Alonso, allowing students
to complete four out of the five
required courses for a Spanish mi-
nor in one summer.
The aforementioned uncertain-
ties of this summer and Spain’s
current and future response
to the pandemic encouraged
Tech’s Spanish Department to
make the decision to move their
programs online.
“Due to restrictions in the
countries where we normally go,
it just wouldn’t make sense for us.
For example, currently, in Spain,
there’s restrictions on even leav-
ing your province … [and] on
how many people can gather be-
sides your immediate household,”
Comfort said.
“It just wasn’t going to be pos-
sible for us, at least in Spain.”
More than thousand miles cause it is a campus abroad and
away, in Lorraine, France, pro- not a study abroad program.
gram directors and staff at GTL “It provides year-round pro-
are planning for a semi-normal grams for our undergraduate
summer. students who take regular Geor-
“This coming summer, we re- gia Tech classes while living in
ceived nearly 400 applications for France,” Bass said. “Besides the
300 spots, which is typical during regular GT classes, GTL of-
a ‘normal’ year,” said Catherine fers fun, unique cultural activi-
Bass, director of academic and ties, events and field trips to en-
student affairs for GTL’s under- hance the students’ experience in
graduate programs. France.” This year, students may
Accepted students will be liv- be limited in their cultural activi-
ing on GTL’s campus with ad- ties and weekend trips if current
ditional “safety measures imple- travel restrictions around Europe
mented [that] mirror those of the continue into the summer.
Atlanta campus and those man- As a replacement for a grand
dated by the French government.” tour of Europe, Bass suggested
In the fall semester, GTL host- that students focus on France and
ed students with few COVID-19 explore its unique regions.
cases on their campus. “The location of Metz allows
“We looked at French gov- for easy trips throughout France,
ernment guidelines and those be it to Paris or going to the Alps,
of Georgia Tech and picked the the French Riviera, the Norman-
stricter of the two. We follow dy beaches, the Loire Valley castle
Tech’s social distancing recom- region or the beautiful Alsace re-
mendation of six feet rather than gion only 2 hours away.”
France’s prescribed three feet With traveling this upcoming
four inches,” Abdallah Ougaz- summer, Bass encourages students
zaden, director of Georgia Tech- to be cautious. “The caveat is that
Lorraine, published in a director’s [students will] need to act respon-
letter for the fall semester. sible, respect the safety measures
GTL has more flexibility in and precautions experts from each
offering options for students be- country have agreed upon.
Georgia Tech Lorraine’s campus remains open for students
an international experience despite the pandemic’s travel
// NEWS
They may need to show more
flexibility in their traveling plans,
be willing to adapt to temporary
border closing, curfews, visit
fewer countries, but this will not
make the experience less valu-
able,” Bass said.
Unlike their classmates in
France, students who signed up
for the Oxford program earlier
this semester will not have the op-
portunity to do any international
traveling. The program recently
announced that it would not ac-
cept applications for the upcom-
ing summer. Students on Tech’s
subreddit report that they have
not received their refunds from
when the program was originally
cancelled in 2020.
Representatives of the program
did not respond when contacted
for comments.
For students who are unsure
about studying abroad this sum-
mer, Bass says, “It is a very per-
sonal choice which only they can
and should make based on their
level of comfort.” To find out
more about these and other study
abroad options, students can visit
atlas.gatech.edu. Applications
for the “Salud in Spain” program
will remain open until March 15.
Photo by Emily Orton Student Publications
looking for
limitations
Life
Lawrence Ross discusses college campus racism
HOPE WILLIAMS
LIFE EDITOR
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the Of-
fice of Fraternity and Sorority
Life hosted a talk with author
Lawrence Ross to discuss the
experiences of Black students on
college campuses and how rac-
ism remains rampant across the
country — both in the Greek life
system and outside of it.
Ross attended both University
of California, Berkeley and Uni-
versity of California, Los Ange-
les (UCLA), where he graduated
with a BA in history and MFA in
screenwriting. Ross is a member
of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Inc.
He has written several books,
including his latest, which was
the focus of the talk, “Black-
balled: The Black and White
Politics of Race on America’s
Campuses.”
The talk covered many topics,
including detailing racism on col-
lege campuses across the country,
both recent and from the past.
This includes racist parties
and songs, blackface, assault of
Black students and the usage of
racial slurs.
“The problem is that often-
times, when we have this look of
college campuses, whether that’s
Georgia Tech or anywhere else
as being utopias, what we don’t
do is give a real realization that
these spaces are just like the rest
of America,” Ross said.
Ross explained how institu-
tions and colleges often handle
racism and how this ends up
shifting the focus of the conver-
sation away from the target of the
incident and to the person who
was being racist.
“The very first thing the insti-
tution or the organization would
do, would individualize it,” Ross
said. “‘These are just two people
at one chapter. Don’t look any
further, two people at one chap-
ter.’ The next thing they would
actually do is they would mini-
mize its impact. ‘This does not
reflect the values of the fraternity
or reflect the values of the orga-
nization or the institution,’ and
then the last thing they would do
is they would trivialize it.”
These actions end up dismiss-
ing the impact of racism on stu-
dents of color.
Part of the talk included a
short quiz.
It asked attendees if they
would be able to identify both
their race and others’ races.
“If you can recognize yourself
and you can recognize other peo-
ple and their race and ethnicity,
LIFE EDITOR:
Hope Williams
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR:
Maya Torres
life@nique.net
then you’re not colorblind, and
in fact, we don’t want you to be
colorblind,” Ross said.
Ross continued by explain-
ing the danger in refusing to
acknowledge race.
“Usually when people are
talking about they’re colorblind,
what they’re really trying to say
is that ‘I recognize there are racist
stereotypes associated with your
race, and I don’t want to fall into
those, so I’m going to erase you,’”
Ross said.
He also explained how dimin-
ishing the importance of race as a
sociological concept is a form of
erasure as well.
“A lot of times people will say,
‘Well, race is a social construct,’
as though to say that it’s not that
important, right?” Ross said.
“... Money is a social construct.
How many of y’all are willing to
give me all the non-important
social construct money that’s in
your bank account? Seriously,
because one could be a biological
nothing but also a sociological
everything in this country.”
Ross continued by discussing
the difference between race averse
and race aware students.
“A lot of times what will hap-
pen is that you will see an over-
estimation of the race in terms
of the projection, whether or
not it’s on your IFC [Interfra-
ternity Council] or Panhellenic
or on your college homepage,”
Ross said.
Ross also discussed how rely-
ing on common historical narra-
tives, such as that the integration
of universities meant the end of
racism, as extremely harmful for
Black people who still face edu-
cational disparities and racism on
college campuses.
“Jim Crow segregation was
something that was constructed
intentionally from the federal lev-
el, local level, the state level and
culturally, to be able to create ac-
cess for whiteness, lack of access
for those who were not white,”
Ross said.
Affirmative action was a pol-
icy that began during the 1960s
to intentionally provide Black
Americans and groups who have
faced discrimination for their
gender, race, sexuality, religion
or nationality the opportunity
to gain access to spaces they had
been forcefully kept out of for
centuries.
“It basically says, ‘We under-
stand that society is intentionally
inequitable,’” Ross said. “‘Inten-
tionally, it’s not just simply be-
cause people make choices, it’s
intentionally inequitable because
we did all of these things.’”
Affirmative action has become
such a contentious policy that
in 1996, California Proposition
209 was passed, banning affirma-
tive action for any of the state’s
governmental institutions. Stud-
ies have found that since 1996,
Black, Latinx and Native Ameri-
can students’ enrollment rates in
California state institutions have
dropped.
College campuses themselves
also create spaces that still give a
platform racist and reprehensible
technique
Opinions on Off-Campus Housing
Students living in Home Park, The Mark and UHouse dis- 8
Friday,
cuss the advantages and drawbacks of living off of Tech's
campus49 February 19, 2021
people from history by naming up an excuse about why you tory of African American
buildings after them or honoring can’t speak up, or are you going Fraternities and Sororities,”
them with statues. to be in spaces where you may which, in addition to his most
“Oftentimes, the campus en- be the only person to actually recent work, provide a clos-
vironment itself can be insulting have a voice?” er look at the intersection of
to people of color,” Ross said. Ross has also written Greek life and race on colleges
“Remember, most of our cam- “The Divine Nine: The His- campuses.
puses have been around for over
100 years, you know maybe 200
and something and sometimes
300 years.”
Examples of this include Rus-
sell Hall at the University of
Georgia, which is named after
Richard Russell, a U.S. Senator
for Georgia who was a staunch
segregationist, and the Silent Sam
statue at the University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill, a Confed-
erate monument that was toppled
in 2018.
“It’s important to under-
stand that symbols matter and
buildings matter,” Ross said.
“They’re not just people being
hypersensitive.”
Specifically within the IFC
and National Panhellenic Con-
ference (NPC), historical and
current racism must be addressed
with complete honesty.
“If you’re going to deal with
a topic like race and racism, you
have to be honest with yourself
and you have to be honest with
yourself in understanding that
when we talk about race and rac-
ism within IFC and Panhellenic,
it sure as hell wasn’t inadvertent.” Photo courtesy of thelumberjack.org
Ross said. Lawrence Ross spoke to the Tech community on Feb. 9 about
“It was purposeful and inten- how racism on college campuses can be found in Greek life
tional and continues on to this and in other areas such as in the admissions process.
day.”
Ross emphasized the inher-
ent responsibility that each
person has.
“You have to be anti-racist to
the point that what you’re talk-
ing about is that you believe in an
American society where everyone
should be able to take part as first
class citizens,” Ross said. “That
means you have to be anti-racist,
anti-misogynist, anti-homopho-
bic, anti-ableist.
“You have to look at every-
thing and constantly say to
yourself, how can you make this
world better.”
He continued that white stu-
dents should never expect it is the
job of minority students to edu-
cate them and that it is their re-
sponsibility to learn how to sup-
port communities of color.
“White students need to go
out there and demonstrate that
when they actually put out a
statement, that it is not just per-
formative, it actually has some
teeth to it,” Ross said. “White
students should not rely upon mi-
nority students to be their racial
whisperers.”
To close the talk, Ross left at-
tendees with a message that us-
ing your voice is one of the most
powerful ways to make change.
That change could be in IFC,
NPC or in spaces outside of
Greek life and college campuses.
“Are you going to be the part
of the people who are just the
non-racist ‘I don’t want to talk
about race. I’m racing averse,’” Photo courtesy of Amazon
Ross said. Ross’s book, pictured above, was published in 2016.
“Are you gonna be anti- His lecture to the Tech community built
racist? Are you going to make upon the main topics in the book.
// LIFE technique • February 19, 2021• 9

MENTORS FROM PAGE 1 five Black deans in Georgia Tech what people that don’t look like “Just look at your inner circle said. “Learn to start to interact
history, more than the amount of them have experienced in the and say, ‘Can I reach out and find with someone that doesn’t look
more Black professors,” Kerney Black professors in Kerney’s time. U.S.,” Kerney said. someone that doesn’t look like me, like you.”
said. “We need more Latinx pro- “[Seeing an increase in Black Further, Kerney is interested in get to know someone who doesn’t The best way to start this pro-
fessors, we need more Pan-Asian faculty at Tech] feels good,” she further integration of students of look like me, maybe start to study cess and create a welcoming en-
professors.” said. “Those give me a lot of hope.” different races and from different with someone who doesn’t look vironment is to inform oneself
During her own time at the The road forward, how- backgrounds. like me?,’” Kerney said. about the history that has brought
Institute, Kerney attended on an ever, doesn’t stop there. Kerney “Segregation is not legal in the Although Black Mentor Jack- the country and its society to
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps would like to see a further inclu- United States anymore, but we ets is a crucial program for Black where it is today.
[ROTC] scholarship and found sion of Black history in school still live segregated lives,” Kerney students, Kerney also wants to Kerney advises non-Black stu-
her own role models through the curriculum. said “At Tech, one thing that I focus on forming mentorships be- dents to pick a book or podcast
ROTC program, as well as her so- “I look forward to the white know from talking to the students yond race and gender barriers. and use it to educate themselves
rority and the fraternity through professors and the white students is that the students generally just “If you are Black, you have to not just this month during Black
which she was a little sister. really beginning to study and rec- don’t feel welcome.” get a white mentor, and if you History Month, but every single
Still, she would have been ognize left out parts of the history Her advice is for students to are white, you have to get a Black month.
greatly assisted by a program like of the United States and develop reach out to their peers of differ- mentor, and there’s an oppor- To learn more, visit gtbao.gta-
Black Mentor Jackets if it had ex- true knowledge and empathy of ing races and ethnicities. tunity to do all of that,” Kerney lumni.org.
isted during her college years.
“It would have been helpful to
have someone to always be able to
talk to, someone who had already
graduated,” Kerney said. “I had
a lot of informal upperclassmen
mentors, but to have to talk to
someone who had already gradu-
ated would have been huge.”
Kerney’s biggest asset gained
from Tech was the confidence,
competence and resilience she
needed to begin her career know-
ing she was capable of greatness.
Now, decades out of college,
she is still learning from the men-
tees she has served as mentor to.
Kerney struggles to stay relevant
and relatable. She has a hard time
communicating the things she
would have wanted her 21-year-
old self to have known without
sounding like a lecturing mother.
“[My role is] encouraging her
to make her own decisions, not
being dependent on somebody
else to make decisions for her,”
Kerney said.
Long after the time when she
would have had a mentor at Tech,
Kerney is inspired by the change Photo courtesy of The Black Alumni Collective
she’s seen since her graduation. The Black Mentor Jackets programs gives Black students at Tech the opportunity to meet and
While there is still much more learn from Black alumni. By having role models who look like them, Jeanne Kerney, the President of the Black
work to be done, there have been Alumni Organization, explains, Black students are able to get advice specific to their experiences at Tech.
10 • February 19, 2021• technique // LIFE

Home Park, UHouse, The Mark: Right for you?

SOPHIA TONE
STAFF WRITER
Off-campus housing is a popu-
lar option for students who want
some freedom away from the Tech
campus, or perhaps just a laun-
dry machine that actually works.
Atlanta has a lot to offer. The
areas surrounding the Institute
are wide-ranging in their person-
alities, price ranges and distance
from campus.
To the north of campus lies
Home Park, a neighborhood built
in 1901 for steel mill workers and
saturated with century-old homes,
each one unique and (likely)
slightly run down.
Directly west of campus in the
Howell Mill/Marietta Street area
are a smattering of newly-built
apartments for students who want
close proximity to campus but
distance from Midtown.
M Street Apartments, 935M
and Westmar Student Lofts have
all become popular choices in re-
cent years.
Further to the east is Univer-
sity House (UHouse), an apart-
ment building nestled in the heart
of Midtown and overlooking the
highway. Catty corner to UHouse
is The Mark, a building with simi-
lar aesthetics but a shorter walk to
the nearby liquor store.
Here we provide you with stu-
dent opinions on three off-campus
locations: Home Park, UHouse
and The Mark.
The Technique sat down with
Emily Buchanan, third-year CE
major and Home Park resident;
Madi Nichols, second-year ChBE
and Home Park resident; Jasmine
Ramirez, second-year ChemE and
The Mark resident; Brendan Wil-
son, third-year BA and UHouse
resident; Adam Pendry, third-year
CS and UHouse resident; and
Zach Connor, second-year AE
and UHouse resident.
What is the best thing about
your housing situation?
Buchanan: I have a pet cat and
a chill landlord I never see. You
can get away with anything.
Wilson: Distance to Tech
Square and East Campus
Pendry: Living with my own
big bed and own bathroom.
Connor: The location is by
far the biggest perk of living in
UHouse.
Your apartment overlooks the
city, you’re across the street from
Publix, and Midtown is a very
small walk away.
I also love my roommates, but
this isn’t necessarily a UHouse
exclusive bonus. I can only com-
pare UHouse to on-campus
apartments, but comparatively,
the rooms are much nicer, the
new rates are significantly cheaper
than on-campus housing, and
maintenance requests get filled at
a much faster rate.
What is the worst thing
about your housing situation?
Buchanan: Ants. Ants all over
the kitchen. And super old super
gross kitchen appliances.
Nichols: The house is pretty
old, so it looks a little dingy in
some places.
Connor: UHouse has a lot of
bugs and roaches. The kitchen
doesn’t have very much prep
room. The common space is fairly
small.
Ramirez: It’s very far and I feel
like I’m always wasting energy.
What advice would you give
to students looking for off-cam-
pus housing?
Buchanan: Start looking early
and get a group together the same
size as the house. Landlords are
more likely to sign you to the lease
if you fill the house, because they
really just want your cash.
Wilson: Look early in the aca-
demic year, as most options are
limited by the time spring rolls Photo by Sophia Tone Student Publications
around. Home Park is known for its unique and historic homes,
Pendry: Take your time (even if including the “Primary Colors” house above.
there are deals) and listen to other
students’ experiences.
Ramirez: Make sure you have
your priorities because no one
place will have it all.
If you want closer [to campus]
it’ll be more expensive, if it’s really
cheap it’ll be kind of old and run
down but still pretty nice com-
pared to campus.
What is your favorite spot
near your current home?
Wilson: Whole Foods, Tech
Square, Peachtree Street.
Pendry: Publix 10000%
What are some traditions
and quirks exclusive to your
neighborhood? Photo by Garrett Shoemaker Student Publications
Nichols: I don’t know about UHouse, located in the heart of Midtown,
traditions but the houses in gen- is popular among Tech students looking
eral are pretty quirky and eclectic. to move off campus into their own apartment.

Smith Hall: Brotherhood of communal showers

MAYA TORRES
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
Of all the freshman dorms on
campus, Smith Hall is the most
notable — and the least regard-
ed. As incoming first-years were
self-selecting their dorms, gos-
sip about the infamous building
spread among students.
Smith, an all-male residence
hall on East Campus, is known
for rats, mold and, most promi-
nently, the honeycomb showers.
The showers are set up in hon-
eycomb shape, with entrances to
other shower stalls inside of an in-
dividual stall.
So, to walk into the back row
of showers, one must first walk
straight through the front row of
showers, where an unassuming in-
dividual could be bathing.
These circumstances, while
perhaps not the most ideal,
have built a community within
each floor.
The men of Smith have formed
a brotherhood through shared ex-
periences.
Zachary Dearman, first-year
AE and self-proclaimed “proud
Smithian,” has found his hall-
mates to be a key resource in his
social life, especially during pan-
demic times, which may limit his
and his peers’ access to group so-
cializing.
“I’d say being more in the
dorm, I get to know the other
people in the dorm better,” Dear-
man said. “Everyone knows each
other from the floor, from what I
can tell. It’s a community setting.”
During his first day on cam-
pus, Dearman walked in to
see that the ceiling in his room
had collapsed.
However, when maintenance
arrived two hours later to repair
it, he was able to easily sweep that
under the rug.
Another incident occurred in
the fall semester that caused more
discomfort, which once again
established a stronger sense of
brotherhood.
“It’s definitely different in that
we don’t control the temperature
Smith Hall, located on North Avenue, is known for being one of the oldest dorms.
Residents this year have had the added experience of COVID-19 restrictions.
in our rooms - it’s all controlled on someone’s [specific] shower shoes,
the floor,” Dearman said. “We’ve I’ll [recognize them],” Dearman
had A/C the entire [fall] semester said. “It’s a little weird talking to
so far, except for two days ago. It people sometimes, but it’s some-
got really cold one night, and that thing to do. It’s a good social in-
caused the switch to swap in the teraction. It’s a way of seeing peo-
building and we all had blazing ple without making plans to hang
hot air. We all woke up sweating, out with them.”
but I think it’s a bond.” Ryan Bard, first-year CS, also
Even the showers have further lives in Smith and enjoys the mu-
contributed to the sense of com- sic played on speakers in the bath-
munity within the dorm. room during typical showering
They have led to conversations times.
between fellow residents while However, he has not formed
they shower. a social circle within the Smith
“The curtains don’t go all way Hall in the way that Dearman has
down to the ground, so if I see this year.
Photo by Garrett Shoemaker Student Publications
“My honest perception is that
it was overhyped,” Bard said. “I
shower early mornings or early
afternoons, and usually, there’s
no one else there. The people I’ve
met, I’ve met independently of
the showers.”
Bard attributes most of this to
the COVID-19 regulations.
“With the COVID restric-
tions, forming a community is
harder than normal,” Bard said.
“You can’t leave your door open
and have people stop by.”
Dearman, on the other hand,
has found it easier to establish a
group of friends on his hall.
This is especially thanks to
the help of the Smith Resident
Assistants (RAs).
“My RA’s on my floor are ab-
solutely wonderful,” Dearman
said. “They have set up multiple
socially distanced activities that
we can partake in to get to know
each other better. We had a little
birthday celebration for everyone
on the floor with an August or
September birthday. They laid out
some treats, and then we came in
a couple at a time and signed [a
birthday card] and got a treat.”
Living on campus can be
quite different from other years,
but groups such Smith Hall have
made it easier for students to settle
into their new homes at Tech dur-
ing a pandemic.
“It wasn’t necessarily a first
choice, but I’m perfectly okay
with living in Smith,” Dearman
said. “You [find community] in
bonding over in how we all get
through it together.”
// LIFE
Cooking & relationships at Flavorful Fridays
MADHURA GANGAL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Friday, Feb. 12, as a part
of their Well-Being Weekly se-
ries, GT Health Initiatives held
a one-hour workshop, “Flavor-
ful Fridays.” The theme of the
week’s program was healthy
relationships.
During the workshop, dieti-
cian Amber Johnson and health
educator Deontez Wimbley dis-
cussed having a healthy diet and
maintaining healthy relationships
as Wimbley demonstrated a few
heart-healthy recipes.
Although, in the past, the
Health Initiatives’ dieticians used
to hold this event in-person in the
Student Center healthy space, due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
workshop was held online over In-
stagram Live.
As Wimbley went through the
recipes for oven-baked salmon,
cucumber salad and baked po-
tatoes, Johnson chimed in and
provided information about the
nutritional values of the different
ingredients and the benefits that
consuming them could yield.
“I think we commonly know
[salmon] as a lean healthy form
of protein, but what some folks
might not know is that it’s also
a really great source of Omega-3
fatty acids,” Johnson said, “and
those not only help support your
technique • February 19, 2021• 11
mental health, but they also keep has a different process,” Wimbley “The process really leads us Students can also visit the web-
inflammation low [and] keep your said. into half the conversation about site nutrition.gatech.edu.
heart feeling healthy.” Wembley was referring to the patience… Just being willing to “Thank you for being here
One of the goals that John- second of his three P’s, which go at the best pace for the best and showing us how to create a
son and Wimbley expressed they stood for the process. outcome. You really don’t want to delicious meal and teaching us
had was to de-stigmatize fats and “What you want to do is you rush the recipe,” Wimbley said. all about what healthy relation-
carbs. want to learn the process that Wimbley and the VOICE ships can look like,” Johnson said.
“Fats are not a bad thing, we makes it the most successful rec- team can be reached either “Knowing that it doesn’t start
need them. Fats are responsible ipe and the most successful rela- through email at voice@gatech. at perfect, and that they all take
for the absorption of fat-soluble tionship,” Wimbley said. “There’s edu or through the website voice. work, continuously, is a good mes-
vitamins … [and] from a taste all different types of processes, gatech.edu. sage to hear.”
perspective, fat makes things taste but you want to find the process The team of two registered Additional programs in the
good,” said Johnson. “Eat your that works best for you.” dieticians on staff, including Well-Being series include Mind-
fats. That’s our takeaway.” Wembley concluded his ad- Johnson herself, can be reached ful Mondays, TEDxTalk Tues-
Wimbley then turned the con- vice with his final P which stands through email at nutrition@gat- days, Well-Being Wednesdays and
versation towards a different top- for patience. ech.edu. VOICE Message Thursdays.
ic, his three P’s for cooking and
healthy relationships.
“One: any good relationship,
even any good cook, requires
practice,” Wimbley said. “So it’s
the continued repetition of try-
ing something new, making a
mistake, admitting the mistake,
recognizing what went wrong and
trying again, and really having
that flow within our relationships
as well as within our cooking that
can really help us advance towards
a more healthy … life.”
Johnson expressed the impor-
tance of not being too hard on
oneself.
She mentions framing failures
as learning opportunities rather
than simply deciding to never at-
tempt the task associated with the
failure again. Photo courtesy of healthinitiatives.gatech.edu
“Every recipe has a different Health Initative’s Flavorful Fridays, held virtually through Instagram Live, are part of a weekly
process and every relationship Well-Being Series. Students cans learn about health topics while watching a cooking demo.
Opinions
OUR VIEWS | Consensus Opinion
Students’ roles working with SGA
The community’s responsibility to communicate
The current elected undergraduate Student
Government Association (SGA) officials Brielle
Lonsberry and Kyle Smith took office during an
extremely unprecedented time last spring and
despite that, have still managed to make great
strides within the Tech community. In a time
when transparency was needed most, they were
there to bridge the gap between SGA and the
rest of Tech’s student body.
During times of inevitable speculation, this
administration made sure to set the record
straight and provide concrete facts instead of
tip-toeing around important issues. Whether it
was advocating for Black lives or international
students, this administration showed up for the
Tech community.
Although the platform that Brielle and Kyle
ran on past spring was not fully fulfilled, it is
more than reasonable for them to have turned
their attention to combatting COVID-19. A few
of the major issues they planned to tackle were
further implementing minimester, integrating
mental health curriculum into GT 1000/2000
courses and launching the Menstrual Product
Plan.
We recognize that other failed initiatives
having to do with transportation may have also
become secondary due to the mere fact that
there are fewer people using the service because
of COVID-19.
One specific initiative that SGA deserves to
be commended for is their involvement in the
“Wreck the Vote” campaign that served nearly
2,000 voters at McCamish Pavillion. They en-
sured that this polling place was entirely run
by student poll workers and lead by SGA’s Vice
President of External Affairs. Likewise, SGA’s
involvement with the “Jackets Protect Jackets”
program, where members handed out thou-
sands of personal protective equipment kits the
first week of school, left a notable imprint on stu-
dents.
SGA President, Brielle Lonsberry, should be
recognized for her spearheading of the Sexual
Violence Advisory Committee and advocating
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
Taylor Gray EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jannat Batra MANAGING EDITOR
Natalie Boutwell NEWS EDITOR
Hope Williams LIFE EDITOR
Jack Purdy SPORTS EDITOR
Sarah Miller ONLINE EDITOR
Avni Shridhar HEAD COPY EDITOR
OPINIONS EDITOR: Journey Sherman
“
”
Someday is not a day of the week.
— Denise Brennan-Nelson
for Title IX after the Department of Education
brought forth reforms to sexual assault com-
plaint procedures. This committee then part-
nered with other Student Government Associa-
tions within the USG system to back a Title IX
reform that “prioritizes the mental health and
well-being of survivors.”
Lonsberry was also responsible for leading
surveys and focus groups pertaining to safely
returning to campus in the fall. Moreover, she
led and moderated town hall meetings that dis-
cussed pertinent issues like the rising of COV-
ID-19 cases. After the Department of Homeland
Security ruled to restrict international student’s
visa lengths, Lonsberry advocated against it and
wrote to senators Loeffler and Purdue.
Executive Vice President, Kyle Smith, was a
student member of the Health and Safety Task
Force and also met with President Cabrera over
the summer to discuss students’ needs and con-
cerns prior to returning to campus.
In June of last year, Smith also helped com-
pose a statement with the Graduate SGA that
backed the Black Lives Matter movement. Like-
wise, Smith was also behind efforts to reform
GTPD and allow students to be involved in the
interview process of potential GTPD candi-
dates. He has presented GTPD with outreach
approaches that will better serve all Tech stu-
dents. Although we are quite pleased with all
these efforts made and all their other contribu-
tions as well, there are still changes that need to
be made. We believe that implementing men-
tal health into GT 1000/2000 courses is cru-
cial. Additionally, the Menstrual Product Plan
should be more widespread than ten residence
hall bathrooms. We would also like to see a push
for more inclusive housing options for transgen-
der and non-binary students.
This past year, Brielle and Kyle have had to
lead us through numerous world events, but
have managed to still run a transparent and suc-
cessful administration. We believe that because
of their leadership this school year has gone
much smoother than expected.
Journey Sherman OPINIONS EDITOR
Maya Flores ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Amanda Wang DESIGN EDITOR
Keely Culbertson TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Dani Sisson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Feeling disconnected?
with my phone without an
overwhelming dread ...”
In May of 2020, I deleted
Twitter.
I deleted Snapchat. I deleted
one of my Instagram accounts. I
went even further, and I stopped
checking my texts. I stopped an-
swering calls from friends. I avoid-
ed news outlets like the plague. I
quit listening to podcasts. I hate
to admit it, but even stopped lis-
tening to music too.
Two months into quarantine,
people were desperate for human
interaction. Zoom cocktail hours,
Instagram challenges and online
game-nights abounded, but in-
stead of trying to stay as connect-
ed as possible, I made a shift into
isolation.
This was a radical change for
me, someone who prides them-
selves in being up-to-date and
in-the-know, someone who was
constantly cycling through mul-
tiple apps, someone who priori-
tized creating and sharing online.
I have always thought that main-
taining connections to your fam-
ily and friends, your community
and the world is one of the most
important things one can do. But
I just couldn’t do it anymore.
Up until that tipping point, I
had been trying to do it all. Keep
up with my emails, run social me-
dia accounts for different organi-
zations, maintain upwards of ten
personal accounts, keep up with
four different weekly podcasts,
watch Youtubers, binge Netflix,
play mobile games, listen to all
relevant new music releases every
Friday, call my family multiple
times a day, keep up with friends
from home and college over text
and Snapchat and FaceTime. It
felt like a daily chore that I en-
joyed. Or did I?
I often think about how I got
to that place. When did my online
life turn from vibrant and enrich-
ing to an overwhelming blur? I
maintained that blur through the
strangest semester of my life as we
were sent home due to the novel
coronavirus pandemic. That blur
was all we had for those first few
months.
Collectively piecing together
information about the world is
what gave us our sanity, or so I
Write to us:
opinions@nique.net
Got something to say? Then let
your voice be heard with the Tech-
nique. Sliver at Nique.net, tweet us
@the_nique or check us out on Face-
book at facebook.com/thenique. We
want to hear your opinion and want
to make it known to all of campus.
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
technique
February 21, 2020
5
Friday,
“I was no
longer able to interact
AVNI SHRIDHAR
HEAD COPY EDITOR
thought. But, instead of assuaging
my rising feelings of panic in rela-
tion to what was going on around
me, maintaining connections to
the outside world only served to
heighten my anxiety. I’m not sure
if it was a slow progression or if
it happened all at once. But, sud-
denly I was no longer able to in-
teract with my phone without an
overwhelming dread inching its
way up my throat. Sometimes I
felt like I was suffocating.
So I shut it all off. (Okay, not
all of it. I still looked at Tik Tok).
And the results were… well
they were good. Sitting at home,
I had much more time to myself
to just think. I learned new things
about myself and became confi-
dent in the things I already knew
about myself. I was able to embark
on simple personal projects that I
never thought I would be able to
do. I began to exercise, take dance
classes, learn how to write in Hin-
di, tie-dye clothing (thanks Tik
Tok). I finally had time again to
just do art.
Other than that, this was
the probably the first time in
my whole life that I was able to
properly give my attention to my
sisters, who are ten and twelve.
Where before I would shoo them
away when they asked me to play,
now, I now had the time (and the
energy) to say yes. I know that this
pandemic was difficult for many
people and in many ways, but
I am so thankful for the time it
gave me to spend with my family.
After the summer, I felt com-
fortable enough to download
Twitter again, and now I use it in
a casual fashion; it doesn’t mat-
ter if I ever tweet or even check it
every day. I just look at it when I
want to.
I know it is important to con-
nect with the world around you,
but you cannot do that if you are
not connected with yourself and
the people closest to you first. I’m
not necessarily recommending the
cliché “delete your social media.”
but I do recommend approaching
the online world as optional and
no-pressure. It should never feel
like a chore, and if it is no longer
bringing you joy, just disconnect.
are responses to or commentaries on
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 19, 2021• technique
Conservatism: a philosophy with no home
“At this moment, the
Republican Party abandoned
conservatism and embraced
its antithesis: populism.”
MICAH VEILLON
STAFF WRITER
In the mid 19th century, our ing the subsequent Trump presi-
country would witness what dency. Trump would establish a
could very well be described as narrative that would culminate at
one of our most important po- the U.S. Capitol on January 6th,
litical moments: the splitting of 2021: America is broken, the gov-
America’s Whig Party. The party ernment is against you, and only
split over the issue of slavery, with I can fix it. At this moment, the
northern anti-slavery whigs go- Republican Party abandoned con-
ing on to create the Republican servatism and embraced its antith-
Party. Abraham Lincoln would esis: populism.
soon join the party and help dis- It entirely disregarded the wise
pel with the practice of slavery in words of one of its former Presi-
America. dents, Calvin Coolidge, when he
In similar fashion to the split remarked that “When a man be-
of the Whig Party, the Republi- gins to feel that he is the only one
can Party may soon witness its who can lead in this republic, he
own split as well, with its divisive is guilty of treason to the spirit of
factor being populism and loyalty our institutions.”
to Donald Trump. I would like It was James Madison’s great-
to explore why I think this will est fear for our republic: a candi-
happen, as well as why 2016 left date playing to the emotions of
conservatism with no party to the people, telling them the solu-
call home. tions to their problems reside in
In the Summer of 2016, in one man, and one man alone. As I
Cleveland, Ohio, the Republican have stated in my previous two ar-
Party would nominate Donald ticles, this is a nation of laws, and
Trump as their party’s candidate not of men.
in the race for the White House. Populism and conservatism
At that convention, there would be are incommensurate for one main
words spoken to the crowd reflect- reason: namely, that populism
// OPINIONS
infuses the majority opinion into conservative philosophy is far too split. There will be many Republi-
government, while conserva- profound to be summed up by a cans who will see him as a martyr
tism holds that although major- campaign slogan. The Republican and fully support his campaign.
ity opinions ought to rule, there Party also seems to care very little There will also be people who op-
should be mitigated democracy, about the environment, which is pose him, as in any primary, and
so that by the time majority opin- not a conservative sensibility by ultimately it will come down to (I
ion is written into law, it has been any means. believe) Trump against someone
reviewed and refined. Although, many of the top who is more conservative like Dan
Conservatism maintains that down solutions proposed by the Crenshaw (who has not professed
the majority opinion, if left to left are not the correct way to to be ruining anytime soon). Ulti-
its devices, naturally decays into handle such a complex dilemma. mately, I feel the party will choose
tyrannical mob rule, threaten- Perhaps the issue is with the lib- Trump, who will in turn lose to
ing the freedoms our institutions ertarian view on the free mar- Biden again.
grant us. Conservatives hold that ket, however, I’m not quite sure The Republican Party will then
man is not a rational animal, but yet. Conservatism stands for free enter a state of turmoil (if it hasn’t
rather a passionate animal; and markets, of course; however, the yet) and ultimately split over
if bantered to, will regress to his consumer culture can be quite Trump and populism. Although,
primitive state. Populists flirt with dangerous, thus, conservatives I don’t want it to split solely be-
and pander to this passion, while stand for a tempered free market. cause Trump can’t win, but rather
conser vatives I could con- because populism is remarkably
seek to censure tinue point- dangerous. In the near future,
it and keep it at ing to the I plan to see direct action from
bay. flaws of the conservatives in the party in an
Moreover, as republican attempt to denounce this populist
it stands, the Re- “Populists flirt with and party, but I’ll spring.
publican Party digress here. Finally, I would like to explain
is no conserva- pander to his passion, While I what I wish will happen, because
tive party, leav- while conservatives seek worry about thus far I’ve only explained what I
ing the philoso- the fact that feel will happen. Fundamentally, I
phy without a to censure it and keep it at conservatism hope to see the party split. I have a
political home. bay.” is homeless, few qualms with american conser-
Honestly, con- I think with- vatism in general and personally
servatism was in the next prefer the British conservatism of
diminished once eight years Edmund Burke, rejuvenated by
people began to the Repub- Sir Roger Scruton.
view it simply as lican Party I wish to see a party come forth
a capitalist ideology with tax cuts. very well could split, resulting in that is worthy of articulating the
Sadly, many Americans believe the possibility for a genuine con- conservative philosophy, because I
conservatism can be summed up servative party to emerge. I fully truly regard it as a marvelous phi-
by the mantra “Pro Trump, Pro expect Donald Trump to run for losophy, and believe that it is in-
Gun, Pro Life.” This couldn’t be office again in 2024, which will tegral to preserving the wonderful
further from the truth, for the ultimately be the cause of the freedoms we enjoy in this nation.
// OPINIONS
Royal Bun in the Oven
The Duke and Duchess of
Sussex, Harry and Meghan,
have announced that they are
expecting their second child.
The baby will be eight in line
to the throne. This good news
follows Meghan’s tragic mis-
carriage that occurred over the
summer. They welcomed Ar-
chie in May 2019.
Invention Time
Tech’s Invention Studio has
recently reopened to the public
after being closed for months
due to COVID-19. To ensure
the safety of students, there
will now be a maximum oc-
cupancy set and everyone will
be required to sign-up to enter
the studio and sign-out upon
leaving.
Harrison’s Final Rose
After making a racially
insensitive comment, the sea-
soned host of “The Bachelor”
has decided to step down tem-
porarily. This decision comes
after Harrison made light of a
previous contestant attending
an Antebellum themed party
because the event took place in
2018 and not 2021.
Scam Abroad
Students that were signed
up to take part in the 2020
Oxford summer program have
still not received a refund from
the canceled trip. The pro-
gram planned to run in sum-
mer 2021 but got canceled yet
again. Students are claiming to
be out minimally $5,000 until
summer 2022.
Scrapbooking through school
“In an unprecedented
time like this, scrapbooking is
a way to take back control.”
NATALIE BOUTWELL
NEWS EDITOR
This past summer, I started company in the present while pre-
a new project. With the risks serving the memories of the past.
of the pandemic restricting my One of my irrational fears is
usual summer travels and plans, I that I will forget all of the events,
needed an activity, outside of my places and people that were once
classes, to entertain my time. so meaningful to me. Sometimes
Upon my mom’s suggestion, I when I can’t remember the name
began to make my college scrap- of my favorite elementary school
book. teacher or when I forget where a
I ordered a navy-blue album certain picture is from, I think
from Michaels and collected all of about how fragile and fleeting our
the memorabilia I had saved from memories truly are.
my first two and a half years at Our collective memories – our
Tech: my acceptance letter, ticket history – are protected in text-
stubs from football games, souve- books and archives of important
nirs from study abroad. documents. But what about our
I started to organize page af- own personal memories?
ter page with these memories and In today’s social media ob-
photos, stickers and small, hand- sessed society, most people choose
written anecdotes. Scrapbooking to keep their memories online
soon became one of my favorite with platforms like Facebook
activities. and Instagram. I’ve long avoided
Multiple times throughout the making my own social media ac-
summer, my mom and I would counts, turned away by the pres-
scrapbook together. Since my two sures of deciding what to post.
sisters and I were babies, she has To me, posting on social media
created albums of our childhood. seems more like a competition
Oftentimes, she worked on than a way to share or preserve
my youngest sister’s photo album stories.
while I worked on my college al- I prefer a more traditional
bum. We would chat or watch our form to keep my memories: in a
favorite TV shows while working journal, a notebook or a scrap-
side by side, enjoying each other’s book. In these formats, I don’t
technique • February 19, 2021• 7
have to worry about finding the
perfect picture with my best out-
fit and the most scenic view to get
the most likes.
I can just focus on creating my
own narrative. In an unprecedent-
ed time like this, scrapbooking is
a way to take back control. Like
all art, scrapbooking is freeing in
the way that it is open to possibili-
ties. There is no right answer and
no guidelines or rubric one has to
follow: a refreshing experience for
a student tired of comparison.
In the future, when I open up
my college scrapbook, I know
I will smile. I will be able to see
everything: from my nervous
freshman self on the first day of
move-in to my proud senior self
on graduation day.
I will be able to see the best
parts of college – photos of my
smiling roommates on our Spring
Break trip to the beach – and the
challenging parts of college – pho-
tos of my fellow marching band
members wearing masks and play-
ing instruments in socks.
Scrapbooking, to me, is more
than a craft. It is a way to create
wa bond with my mom, sharing a
common activity we both enjoy.
It is a way to ensure my memories
are preserved in an everlasting for-
mat.
And it is a way for my future
self to reflect on the highs, lows
and in-betweens of my college
experience. In some ways, I am
grateful for the blank space the
pandemic created this summer
because it gave me my favorite
new hobby.

Entertainment
Black History Month art showcase in CULC
MAYA FLORES
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
In honor of Black History
Month, the Georgia Tech Af-
rican American Student Union
(AASU) has curated a collection
of art made by Black members of
the Tech community. The show-
case is on display in the third floor
of the Clough Undergraduate
Learning Center.
The AASU’s Black History
Month Art Showcase features sev-
en works of art, including paint-
ings, multimedia pieces, photog-
raphy and poetry. The art featured
was selected by the AASU BHM
Committee from a pool of appli-
cants from the Tech community.
Angelique Carson contributed
not just one, but three paintings
to the installation. All of her
paintings feature Black women in
different lights. The first, “Reflec-
tions” resembles a playing card
— two young girls are painted
facing opposite directions, both
with the same challenging expres-
sion but in different clothing and
hair, each with a small 3 above
their shoulder.
Carson’s other two paintings
have heavy Biblical themes. “False
Prophet” depicts a woman up to
her eyes in water, with hair flow-
Swift to re-record albums, starts with ‘Fearless’
YESHA THAKKAR
STAFF WRITER
Over time, Taylor Swift, pos-
sibly one of the most prominent
singers of the generation, has
changed her rhetoric through her
song writing.
The former country singer,
originally from Pennsylvania,
wrote songs about the unabashed
intensity of love as a teenager, re-
leasing album after album detail-
ing the magical, magnetic power
of true love.
The original “Love Story”
was one of these classic romantic
songs, where Swift sang about
the unconditional love between
Romeo and Juliet and chose to
give the Shakespearean drama a
happier ending. With the strum
of banjos and her country twang,
she created a classic that would
end up as a TikTok sound almost
13 years later.
In the summer of 2019, Swift
took to social media to announce
that her producing company, Big
Machine Records, was planning
to sell all of her original music to
another company backed by me-
dia entrepreneur and music ex-
ecutive Scooter Braun. While she
held her publishing rights, Swift
lost the ability to make important
decisions about her music, like
whether it can be used in adver-
tising or media.
Just after releasing two major
surprise albums, “folklore” and
“evermore,” in 2020, Swift has
made the decision to re-record
the first of her stolen albums —
this time, with full control over
her music.
technique
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Maya Flores
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Emma Ryan Friday,
12
entertainment@nique.net February 19, 2021
ing around her and a crown upon
her head. The golden crown is the
first thing the viewer sees against
the otherwise blue painting, giv-
ing the impression of Basquiat.
Carson’s use of bright colors and
bold lines create powerful and
striking visuals.
Carson’s third painting “Ephe-
sians 6:12 / War in the Mind” is
an emotional painting of a wom-
an spewing red from her mouth
and lightning from her eyes in
anguish or in anger. The texture
in this painting adds a contrast
to the cartoonist depiction of
the woman.
The verse that the painting is
named after — “For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high plac- Photo by Alex Dubé Student Publications
es” — has devastating resonance Artist Angelique Carson has three paintings on display in the AASU’s Black History Month
in the light of racial injustices that Art Showcase. Joining Carson’s works are poems, photographs and other paintings.
BHM highlights.
Another piece of art featured in white washed by a christened / “They Found Me.” Painted on a “Consider these ‘entities’ as An-
the exhibition is a poem — some- fear complex,” Raphael’s words three foot tall piece of wood, this gels divinely guided to help mani-
thing not often included in art in- rightly indict the world we live in. piece is dominated by a smiling fest the life you want for yourself.”
stallations. Khamansha Raphael’s The poem ends with the deafen- multicolored face, surrounded by Make sure to check out the Af-
“On the dead homies” is a gut ing lines “Nah, I’m just trying to smaller grey and purple faces with rican American Student Union’s
wrenching and intimate look at stay alive / Million man marching swirling eyes. Black History Month Art Show-
the Black experience in America. with all the homies / that might “This painting expresses the case on the third floor of the
With lines like “Gold med- never make it home.” acknowledgement of entities in Clough Undergraduate Learn-
alist or perceived menace / it The most striking painting this world that are working with ing Commons before the end
makes no difference in a society in the showcase is Nigel Davis’ you, not against you,” said Davis, of February.
Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift
Former country star turned international pop star Taylor Swift has begun re-recording her previous albums. The first re-
recorded song, ‘Love Story (Taylor’s Version),’ has already been released and ‘Fearless’ is set to be released in April.
In February, Swift announced fiddle player and backup singer and placing herself in a Shake- Swift’s newer work peers into
the re-recording release date of that are heard in the original. spearean fantasy, this new single the concept of love with skepti-
Fearless, her second album origi- The difference, here, is that audi- is written by an adult woman cism and remorse — a far cry
nally recorded in 2008. A cryptic ences are given an opportunity choosing self-empowerment and from the Romeo and Juliet in-
message posted on her Instagram to revisit Taylor’s old work from self-agency. spired romanticism of “Love
has led fans to believe that the a new perspective and see how In the cover art of this album, Story.”
rest of the album will be out Fri- much she has grown and changed she is seen wearing Romeo’s shirt, It is exciting to see Taylor
day, April 9. as a singer. Her voice no longer speaking to the ownership and Swift take charge of her own mu-
The first single from her new has that country twang, and the independence she has grown to sic. Such an influential artist re-
recording, “Love Story (Taylor’s change in enunciation breathes cherish. visiting past work will likely have
Version)” is a refreshing yet faith- life into the song. “Love Story (Taylor’s Ver- an interesting impact on new
ful take on the wildly popular While the song was origi- sion)” provides a stark contrast releases as audiences get to relive
classic. The lyrics are the same, nally written by a brash teenage to her recent albums, “folklore” the experience of listening to the
and she even hired the same girl exploring the depths of love and “evermore.” song on the radio.
// ENTERTAINMENT
Third ‘To All the Boys’ flat despite chemistry
FILM
To All the Boys: Always
and Forever
GENRE: Drama, Romance
STARRING: Lana Condor,
Noah Centineo
DIRECTOR: Michael
Fimognari
RATING: TV-14
RELEASE DATE: Feb. 12
OUR TAKE: ««
«««««
«««
EMMA RYAN
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When Lana Condor (“Deadly
Class”) and Noah Centineo (“Si-
erra Burgess Is A Loser”) brought
Jenny Han’s young adult novel to
life in 2018, they were irresistible.
Netflix’s “To All the Boys I’ve
Loved Before” became a pop-
culture phenomenon for a few
reasons: it had an endearing cast
and a charming story; it was con-
sidered a big step for Asian-Amer-
ican representation; it had all the
hallmarks of a classic rom-com.
The chemistry between the
lead actors and the cutesy kitsch
of the entire film made for an un-
deniably delightful experience.
Three years later, the third
and final installment in Netflix’s
franchise based on Han’s trilogy is
substantially less delightful.
Following up on a compara-
bly mediocre second film, “To
All the Boys: Always And For-
ever” follows the now-iconic Lara
Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky
through their senior year of high-
school and all of its accompanying
turmoil: college admissions, the
senior trip and prom.
Drama ensues when Lara Jean
and Peter are not accepted into the
same school, even though, as Lara
Jean’s younger sister Kitty (Anna
Cathcart, “Odd Squad”) puts it,
they “aren’t cut out for this long
distance thing.”
technique • February 19, 2021• 13
Lara Jean’s various crises and
indecisions, which, at this point,
any viewer of the TATB trilogy is
intimately familiar with, make up
the primary conflict of the rest of
the film.
He gets into Stanford; she gets
into Berkeley and then falls in love
with NYU. What is a girl to do
when the love of her life is going
to school on the West Coast and
she kind of wants to live on the
other side of the country?
As Lara Jean struggles to an-
swer the age-old question of head
vs. heart (with all the appropri-
ate theatrics), the film clunks
through every trope in the book:
Peter searches for reconciliation
with his estranged dad, the Covey
girls adjust to a stepmother and
impending nuptials, and the stan-
dard drama of promposals and
highschool romance unfolds in
the background.
In true TATB fashion, Kitty
has a secret, Margot offers mater-
nalistic advice, Lara Jean bakes,
Chris does something that’s sup-
posed to be outrageous and Pe-
ter and Lara Jean break up at
least once.
And of course, the storyline
culminates with the two of them
having sex, an entirely unpredict-
able and shocking turn of events.
The big issue with “Always and
Forever” is that ostensibly it is Photo courtesy of Netflix
about growing up, getting serious, The latest installment of Netflix’s teen romance trilogy ‘To All the Boys’ is dis-
learning there is a world beyond appointing to fans of the series and fails to live up to the magical first movie.
the confines of highschool. But
the film, and Lara Jean herself, are The soundtrack features fun a rooftop lit by fairy lights, with point, and in this film Peter, for all
so wrapped up in themselves that cameos by Lauv, The Spice Girls, live music and a one-in-a-million his good looks and charm, comes
the growth that happens seems BLACKPINK and others. And view. across as mostly just immature.
forced and irrelevant anyway. Condor and Centineo certainly But while this approach worked Condor and Centineo are both
One can’t watch the film with- are not hard on the eyes. in the first film, it prevents this talented actors, and the chemistry
out wondering “So what?” Does it Like the films that preceded it, one from being anything but trite. between them is still fun and en-
really matter and who really cares? “Always and Forever” doesn’t take Lara Jean’s doe-eyed innocence, joyable to watch. But despite their
Not that it is an unwatchable place in the real world. The delib- inability to make up her mind, efforts and their apparent love for
movie by any means. The cutesy, erately composited shots and me- and quirky tendencies are endear- the film and their roles, “Always
over-the-top aesthetics that won ticulous sets give it a cartoonish, ing in the first installment, irritat- and Forever” falls flat due to a
so many hearts in the original Anderson-y feel. And the events of ing in the second, and downright poorly developed plot and an ab-
2018 film prevail in this one, from the film are not particularly real- infuriating in the third. sence of any real maturity that all
the costuming that made Lara istic either — it is a world where Peter’s curly-haired, puppy-dog of the cute visuals and pretty faces
Jean an icon to the graphics that seniors at NYU invite random appeal captured hearts all over the in the world do not make up for.
give the film its true-to-the-origi- highschoolers to their parties, and world when he first appeared in (And don’t even get me started
nal DIY flavor. where those parties take place on 2018. But it is a little old at this on Kitty. She’s the worst.)
14 • February 19, 2021• technique
Songwriter Blaemire speaks about latest album
MAYA TORRES
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
From rhythm and blues to
musical theatre, writer and per-
former Nick Blaemire truly is a
musical jack of all trades. But in
his latest album, “Superstitious
Drive,” Blaemire wanted to try
something new.
“I wrote a lot of the songs on
‘Superstitious Drive’ within the
year of recording it, and some
of the verses I wrote while I was
singing, like it’s a lot of improv ...
that got me to a more vulnerable
place,” Blaemire said. “I was frus-
trated by trying to make a living
making music, when it’s a very
personal act.”
Blaemire is best known as a
writer for his 2008 Broadway mu-
sical “Glory Days,” but has since
participated in the pop/rhythm
and blues group, Nick Blaemire
and The Hustle, released his first
EP, Ampersand and performed
in productions on Broadway and
beyond. Most recently he experi-
enced a personal crisis as the Co-
vid-19 pandemic tore him away
from the stages on which he had
been entertaining audiences.
In short, Blaemire has had a
busy decade.
Now, not only is he using his
past experiences to inspire his lat-
est work; he is also trying to break
away from the career he has had in
order to explore something more
authentic.
“Musicals … are extensively
about something else, even if
you’re writing about your own ex-
perience,” he said, “The pandemic
just has given this opportunity to
really speak to something specific
and discover how I felt about it
through the writing, as opposed
to just writing another song about
time has already gone by, or an ex-
perience that somebody else had.”
Beyond his work in the world
of theater, Blaemire’s music still
tells a story.
// ENTERTAINMENT
“‘The Hustle’ was very much
about hustling and being in New
York and trying to get my music
out there and trying to bottle the
rhythm of New York City in that
record,” he said “‘Ampersand’ was
more about collaboration and this
idea of ‘I don’t want to do this
alone,’ and I love the process of
giving my ideas to somebody else
who’s talented and seeing how
they can respond to it and make it
better or different.”
“Superstitious Drive” was also
a direct response to the events
happening around Blaemire.
“This record was entirely about
this pandemic and the political
administration that we have just
lived through and the hopes for a
brighter future and the acknowl-
edgement of the sort of frustrating
contradictions inside every hu-
man being,” he said.
Although “Superstitious
Drive” is a deeply personal album,
Blaemire was not the only con-
tributor making it happen.
“My collaborator is a genius
person named Van Hughes. Van,
like the mode of transportation,
which he absolutely is,” Blaemire
said. “He definitely takes me from Photo courtesy of Teresa Wood
the place that I’m in to places I Musician, writer and theatre performer Nick Blaemire speaks to the Tech-
never knew existed. And as a col- nique about the process of creating his latest album, ‘Superstitious Drive.’
laborator, there’s kind of no more
you can dream of.” guage that I find really inspiring, his output, Blaemire does not at- “Physically, I’ve been trying
Earlier last year, Blaemire and through music or through sto- tribute the outpouring of writing to get out and about as much as
Hughes experimented with writ- ries,” he said. “Once the pandem- simply to more free time. I possibly can during this time
ing and producing sounds from ic became reality and not just like “Just surviving is an accom- [when] there’s so much stillness,”
Hughes’s computer, and a collec- this anomaly moment, I was like, plishment and making your time Blaemire said.
tion of songs emerged. The two ‘I have one life and I would like meaningful feels like the goal now “I especially love driving. I find
decided to move forward with the to continue to live it the way that more than ever,” he said. “That’s it to be an incredible act, and very
music and attempt to produce a I was living.’ I liked getting up helped my art. It hasn’t changed metaphorical for what it feels like
record. every day and writing. And even in terms of the rate that I’m work- to be a person. … You could die at
“When art tells you what it is, though suddenly I wasn’t sure ing, but I think my work has got- any moment, so stay on the road,
you kind of have to listen to it,” what it was for anymore, I just felt ten deeper and clearer, because stay focused and there’s some-
Blaemire said. “As an overthink- like I should.” I’ve had the time and because this thing like the car is driving itself
ing person, that’s hard.” Throughout last year, Blaemire pandemic has reshaped the way at certain times. I think that’s a
During a year of uncertainty wrote not only “Superstitious that I think about life.” metaphor for the artistic process
and hardships, Blaemire found Drive,” but also two movies, a A strong motif within Blae- — you have to let the car drive.
balance in creating. television pilot and three different mire’s latest album is the theme Let the album tell you what it is,
“Writing has always been this stage shows that are still in prog- of travel, either direct travel let the music guide you.”
thing where I can put my nervous ress. from one place to another or in a Nick Blaemire’s album “Super-
energy somewhere, and where I But while the pandemic has larger sense of aging and moving stitious Drive” is out now on all
can log my experience in a lan- certainly affected the volume of through space. music platforms.
// ENTERTAINMENT
‘Framing Britney’ focuses on toxic tabloids
FILM
The New York Times
Presents: Framing Britney
Spears
GENRE: Documentary
STARRING: Britney Spears,
Liz Day
DIRECTOR: Samantha Stark
RATING: TV-MA
RELEASE DATE: Feb. 5
OUR TAKE: ««««
«««««
« comfortable with her sexuality.
TAYLOR GRAY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Feb. 5, the world became
obsessed with Britney Spears
again thanks to the release of
the New York Times produced
documentary, “Framing Britney
Spears.” The documentary sets
out to investigate the crumbling
conservatorship her father, Jamie
Spears, has over her and her al-
most 59 million dollar estate and
the #FreeBritney movement that
has spread throughout fans of the
star over social media.
The documentary begins with
Britney’s roots in Kentwood, Lou-
isiana where she was plucked into
stardom at a young age. From the
jump, the film highlights the in-
tense scrutiny and misogyny Brit-
ney faced from the age of 10.
Clips of a baby faced Britney
singing a soulful rendition of The
Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge”
flash across the screen, followed by
the host of the program asking her
if she has a boyfriend.
This awkward interview mo-
ment serves as the beginning of
over two decades worth of an in-
tense and inappropriate focus on
Britney’s body.
technique • February 19, 2021• 15
Hailing from the Bible Belt,
the film shows how quickly Brit-
ney took on an innocent “girl next
door” imagery at the beginning of
her career. Her Louisiana accent
peaked through during sit down
interviews and backstage footage
and reminded the audience that
while she later became one of the
most famous pop stars of all time,
Britney started off as your tradi-
tional all-American girl.
Britney’s image was quickly
manipulated by the tabloid press
as she got older and became more
The documentary makes an in-
teresting case in the fact that it
claims that the Monica Lewinsky
and Bill Clinton scandal bled over
into Britney’s career. The peak of
Spears’ career occurred at a time in
which the American people were
finding out the minute details of
the sexcapades of the President
of the United States. Late night
talk show hosts and conservative
mothers alike started branding
Monica Lewinsky and Britney
Spears as sexual deviants akin to Photo courtesy of Hulu
the school sluts and started blam- ‘Framing Britney’ focuses on the life and downfall of Britney Spears, including her and her father’s
ing Britney for spreading sexual tumultuous legal and personal relationship. The documentary is available to stream on Hulu.
messages through her skin tight
outfits and saucy dance routines. of their relationship. The docu- of the frenzy media that got her The most important takeaway
One of the most shocking parts mentary then edits in clips from there. The documentary sheds the from the documentary is the way
of “Framing Britney” is the film’s interviews Timberlake did where most light on the ways in which entertainment media has shifted
concentration on her relationship he bragged about having sex with the tabloid media, at the height of over time and how the rise of so-
with Justin Timberlake, and its Spears while the heavily misogy- their paparazzi power in the early cial media has given celebrities the
effects on her image. The film es- nistic media at the time served as to mid 2000s, tore Britney and power to control their own public
sentially equates their relationship his hype man at the expense of her career to shreds. image. By providing a platform
to one of a royal couple, and ex- Britney’s mental health. The film While the heavy misogynistic for celebrities to be themselves,
plains how the media’s fascination then touches on Britney’s mar- tones that surrounded her career toxic paparazzi have mostly been
with every detail of their personal riage and subsequent divorce from from the minute it began were put out of work because we no
lives started the initial downfall of Kevin Federline and her peculiar skimmed over while they were longer need them to capture those
Britney’s good girl image. relationship with Sam Lufti, who happening, looking back at the personal moments that remind us
Timberlake, who walked away the film regarded as “the architect situation with the cultural con- that celebrities are regular people
from the relationship with his of her downfall.” text of the #MeToo movement is too. Instead, Britney and other
image still intact, weaponized “Framing Britney” sets out to startling and prompts viewers to stars like her are able to share
the tabloid press against Britney answer the questions surrounding wonder why the media was al- those mundane moments directly
Spears and made her out to be Britney’s conservatorship situa- lowed to run rampant with their with us and have more control
the bad guy, claiming that she tion, but the film ends up focus- fascination over the young pop over how they frame themselves
cheated on him during the course ing more on the events and effects star’s body and personal life. in the public eye.
16 • February 19, 2021• technique // COMICS

Sarah’s Scribbles by Sarah Andersen Lio by Mark Tatulli

In the Bleachers by Steve Moore

SMBC by Zach Weinersmith

// COMICS technique • February 19, 2021• 17

LunarBaboon by Christopher Grady Aw R ats by Sarah Miller

Pearls before Swine by Stephen Pastis

SUDOKU PUZZLE

XKCD by Randall Munroe

18 • February 19, 2021• technique
Tech football welcomes strong 2021 class
GRAHAM LEWIS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The 2021 recruiting season
officially concluded this month,
as second-year head coach Geoff
Collins looks to improve the
team’s prospects going into a new
season. Having taken over a ros-
ter totally designed for the triple-
option, Collins’ first partial class
had just one four-star recruit. Last
season brought notoriety as Col-
lins was able to sign an impres-
sive class, landing quarterback
Jeff Sims and freshman sensation
Jahmyr Gibbs. While the 2021
recruiting class fell to 43rd from
SOFTBALL FROM PAGE 20
she played a non-second base po-
sition. Freshmen Mallorie Black
and Jin Sileo got their first college
hits, both singles.
Game two against Boise State
was a literal doubling of the score,
with Tech winning 10-2 via the
run ahead rule in the sixth in-
ning. UGA transfer Madison
McPherson made her Tech debut
in the circle, pitching three in-
nings of two hit ball, allowing the
last of the runs Tech would face
for the weekend. Roper scored
three times and had three walks.
Kauf continued her weekend
Brianna Roper (21) and Kennedy Cowden (center) celebrate during Tech’s sweep of Radford on February
13. Cowden and Crosby Huckabay (19) were offensive threats all weekend as Tech started the season 5-0.
27th in 2020, Collins was able
to add a few missing players that
could be difference makers in
2021.
Four star wide receiver James
BlackStrain had a rather busy re-
cruiting season, receiving offers
from 23 Power 5 schools including
LSU, Florida and Georgia. The
ESPN top 300 receiver stands tall
at 6’2 and is known for his abil-
ity to make quick decisions when
contesting a pass. In just nine
games, he recorded 1,015 yards,
averaging 18.8 yards per recep-
tion. BlackStrain shut down his
recruiting process early after com-
mitting to Tech last year. Another
Tech four-star recruit, Weston
tear going 2-3 with a walk.
Cowden had four runs batted in
via a three-run home run, her first
collegiate homer.
Fifth-year senior Crosby
Huckabay got her first start in
right field in the five games going
2-2 and scoring once. Jin Sileo,
who played exceptional defense
every game, hit her first college
home run in the third inning,
which may not have come about
had the first base umpire not mis-
takenly called a foul ball down the
line earlier in the at bat. Fifth-year
senior Morgan Bruce pitched the
last three innings of the game,
striking out four.
Franklin, stands out as Tech’s
top offensive lineman recruit of
2021. Rated as one of the highest
linemen in Georgia, he currently
stands at third for guards in the
state and 24th for guards in the
nation.
He was the second-highest re-
cruit behind BlackStrain. The 6’4,
308lb lineman could help provide
Sims time he hasn’t had to make
decisions while passing while pro-
viding much needed size to the
line.
Standing near him on the of-
fensive line will be tight end Ben
Postma. Ranked as a top 70 tight
end in the country, Postma is
known for his route running abil-
Saturday’s games against Rad-
ford featured Blake Neleman’s sec-
ond complete game of the week-
end in the first game. She struck
out nine batters, walked two, and
only allowed two hits even with a
shaky fourth inning by her stan-
dards. Kauf absolutely bashed
Radford’s pitching, scoring twice,
homering in the third inning and
driving in three. Cowden hit a
bomb in her second at bat on a 3-2
count for her second home run of
the weekend, driving in five of the
11 Tech runs in game one. Huck-
abay’s first inning single scored
her 100th career RBI. Eight of the
ten batters that hit for Tech in this
ity, with a lot of plays in his senior
season ending with him finding a
way to be open. The commit will
probably redshirt his first-year, as
he looks to add more weight and
get used to the Tech system.
Four-time state champion Grey
Carroll is no stranger to winning.
Being named Mr. Football for
AAA in Tennessee, Carroll will
look to make an impact on the
defensive side of the ball. An ex-
plosive player, Carroll was ranked
as a top 20 player in his home
state and received offers from
Princeton, Yale, and Wake Forest.
The 6’3, 260-pound defensive end
is impressively quick off the ball,
an advantage that could cause op-
game got at least one hit. The 11-0
win gave the Jackets their first 3-0
start in eight years.
Game two against Radford was
a continuation of the first game’s
bashing. Kauf hit another home
run, Cowden’s third home run
was a grand slam, which she deftly
followed up with in her next at-bat
with a bunt single. This was Tech’s
most efficient game, needing to
only hit four times and not even
hit through the lineup a full three
times. Eight of the first nine runs
were scored with two outs. Rop-
er walked twice and hit a single,
scoring twice. Third-year sopho-
more Lexi Ray pitched all five
Photo courtesy of @GaTechSoftball via Twitter
// SPORTS
posing offenses headaches in the
future.
Replacing the best punter in
Tech history, Pressley Harvin
III, is no small feat and will be a
challenge for Tech recruit David
Shanahan. Having spent last year
training at one of the top kicking
schools in Australia, Shanahan
will likely start for Tech this up-
coming season. Look for Shana-
han to be Tech’s punter for the
foreseeable future.
The class will look to improve
off of Tech’s two reconstruction
seasons, starting off this fall in
what every fan hopes will be a
“normal” season, or something
like it.
innings of this game, allowing one
hit, striking out three, and throw-
ing 40 strikes on 57 pitches. She
had a no-hitter that was broken up
with one out in the fifth inning.
In terms of complete domination,
this game was as good as it got all
weekend.
Georgia State was 3-1 coming
into Sunday’s game, losing only
to Boise State in the latter half of
their own Saturday doubleheader.
Kauf came into the game hitting
.750, and was 0-1 in this game,
but walked three times and stole
two bases.
Awald hit her second home
run and drove in two. Neleman
pitched another complete game
shutout, striking out ten again.
Third-year sophomore Bailee
Zeitler, who had been switched
to second base to make room for
Sileo at shortstop, got her first hit
of the weekend on a two run home
run in the second inning. Tech
showed incredible plate discipline
the whole game as every hitter
reached at least one three-ball
count. Fourth-year junior Cam-
eron Stanford drove in the game
ending run with a bases loaded
single in the fifth inning, enforc-
ing the run ahead rule to clinch
Tech’s undefeated weekend.
Kauf’s .692 average for the
weekend earned her ACC Player
of the Week honors, and Nele-
man’s 17 innings of 0.41 ERA
pitching earned her co-ACC
Pitcher of the Week.
As of writing, Kauf is leading
the ACC in hits, doubles, total
bases, and walks. Neleman leads
the ACC in wins and starts. She
never allowed more than one hit
per inning the whole weekend.
// SPORTS
Are legends
WILL FUSS
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
It feels like some players are
never meant to retire. Sports pun-
dits have been predicting Tom
Brady’s decline for years now.
Lebron James was foretold to fall
off after his supposed prime in Mi-
ami and again after he left Cleve-
land a second time. Zlatan Ibrahi-
movic, Serena Williams, Jaromir
Jagr, and an increasing number of
athletes are playing at a high level
well past their athletic primes. Is
this phenomenon simply recency
bias or the development of better
dietary and recovery practices,
lengthening the careers of the
world’s best athletes?
Success begets success in the
case of many of these athletes.
Without the income provided by
sustaining elite play, players are
Lebron James won his fourth title, first with the
season, leading the league in
staying
less able to afford the gaudy costs
of keeping their bodies in prime
shape.
Lebron is the foremost example
of a big star spending big money
on his health. Reports from 2019
pegged his annual spending on
his fitness at around $1.5 million.
Russell Wilson claimed to spend
over $1 million himself in an in-
terview with Bill Simmons.
It may be love of the sport that
keeps some players going since
many do play well into their de-
cline. NBA legend Vince Carter,
who just retired after last season,
was only scoring five points per
game in his final season, a far fall
from the 20-plus he scored in his
peak years. The late Kobe Bryant
managed over 17 points per game
in his final season, but even that
was less than half of his best year
and was often seen with ice wraps
when on the bench.
Photo courtesy of Mark J Terrill Associated Press
total points and
Jaromir Jagr entered the NHL
in 1990 at the age of 18 and played
all the way until 2018, finally re-
tiring from the world’s best hock-
ey league with the second most
points of all time at age 45. He
still plays in the Czech Republic
and contributes just under a point
per game in Czech Extraliga at
49 years old. It may be a love for
the game that keeps him playing
at this point, but he still put up
almost 50 points in his age 44 sea-
son in the NHL, almost overkill
to add to an already magnificent
career.
More and more high level
players are having extended ca-
reers across a number of sports.
Alex Rodriguez, Bartolo Colon
and Adrian Beltre all played 21
or more seasons in the MLB and
only retired in the last few years.
Dirk Nowitzki played for over
two decades for the Dallas Mav-
Lakers, in his
assists at age
technique • February 19, 2021• 19
legendary
ericks and Udonis Haslem is still
playing at age 40, albeit only for a
few minutes a game. Rafael Nadal
and Roger Federer have each been
playing tennis for at least eigh-
teen years at an elite level and are
still winning titles while Novak
Djokovic is coming for their re-
cords.
Zdeno Chara, Patrick Marleau
and Joe Thornton all debuted in
1997 and are still active in the
NHL. Frank Gore has played
16 seasons and garnered almost
20,000 scrimmage yards at the
bruising running back position,
and a significant number of kick-
ers and punters play into their 40s
in the NFL. Drew Brees and Lar-
ry Fitzgerald have had long, con-
sistent and illustrious NFL careers
as well. Ibrahimovic and Wayne
Rooney dominated top flight soc-
cer for years before lighting up the
MLS. Zlatan even returned to AC
Milan after his stint with the LA
Galaxy.
None of these players, how-
ever, have quite the impressive
reign of dominance as some of the
greatest of all time in their respec-
tive sports. Brady and Lebron are
both in the GOAT conversation
in football and basketball respec-
tively. Brady just won his seventh
Super Bowl at age 43, and it is his
fourth title since turning 37.
Brady became the oldest MVP
in league history at 40, winning
his third. To still be the best at that
age takes investment, and videos
of massage tables in his massive
houses and offseason training in
scenic locations like the Bahamas
show that he spares no cost.
Lebron started a streak of eight
straight finals appearances when
he was 26, in what would be most
players’ prime. He had already
17th been in the league for eight sea-
35. sons and made it to the 2007 finals
longer?
in his young career, but this streak
consisted of his age 26 through 33
seasons. Most players are at least
out of the league or beginning to
decline at age 33, but after an age
34 season plagued by injuries, he
bounced back to win his fourth
title at 35 years old, leading the
league in assists in the process.
Even in the early games of this,
his 18th season, he is dominant
again. After over 1,500 games in-
cluding playoffs, he is dropping
25/8/8 on nearly 50% shooting.
He throws down ferocious dunks
like a young player and has up-
graded the finer parts of his game
to account for any wear years of
elite play may have had on his
body. Before his age 32 season he
only had one year with over eight
assists per game; he has eclipsed
that mark every season since then.
Advanced training and taking
elite care of his physical health
have kept him at near-MVP level
play into what should be his de-
cline.
These long careers aren’t a
completely new, 21st century fea-
ture to sports. Wayne Gretzky, al-
most unanimously considered the
best hockey player ever, had a 20
year NHL career. He only scored
under 90 points three times, two
of which came in shortened sea-
sons. Michael Jordan still scored
20 points per game in his last sea-
son at age 39, though he retired
twice earlier in his career and only
played 15 total seasons. Brees,
George Blanda and Brett Favre all
played similar or greater numbers
of games than Brady, but all three
declined more dramatically than
him. This level of sustained great-
ness, increasing one’s resume even
into the 20th season of a career, is
a newer phenomenon that comes
with greater strides in the science
of physical health.
Sports
Tech softball sweeps opening weekend games
JACK PURDY
SPORTS EDITOR
The second weekend of Febru-
ary was a dreary one in Atlanta.
Rain came in and out with never
ending cloudy skies and cold tem-
peratures in the 40s. While it was
as bad as weather can get in At-
lanta, Tech’s softball season began
as good as it could.
The Jackets hosted the 22nd
Buzz Classic, which included
Boise State, Radford, and neigh-
boring Georgia State. Tech played
Boise State in a doubleheader on
Feb. 12, Radford in a doublehead-
er on the Feb. 13 and concluded
with a single game against State
on Feb. 14.
Since the 2020 season was
shortened as the COVID-19 pan-
demic began during last softball
season, every player was granted
an extra year of eligibility by the
NCAA, which helped Tech retain
depth in their lineup going into
the 2021 season.
Tech won all five games they
played over the weekend, allow-
ing only three runs and scoring
44. Tech hit for .421 over the five
games, led by freshman catcher
and right fielder Emma Kauf
and junior first baseman Patricia
Awald. Both hit over .500 com-
bining for four home runs, six
doubles, 12 runs batted in and
seven walks. Junior center fielder
Kennedy Cowden hit for 14 of
Winter sports approach ACC championships
RISH DESAI
STAFF WRITER
SWIMMING
Tech swimming began the
wrap up of their seasons as both
the men’s and women’s teams have
their eyes on the upcoming ACC
Championships. Both teams will
be making the trip up to North
Carolina one week apart from one
another with the women’s team
competing from Feb. 17-20 and
the men’s team competing from
Feb. 24-30.
The women’s team is taking
great momentum with them as
they are coming off of an excel-
lent showing at the Yellow Jacket
Invitational. They had numerous
athletes finishing the day on the
podium including seven of them
finishing in first-place in their re-
spective events. Team leaders in-
clude sophomores Brooke Switzer
and Imane El Barodi as well as ju-
nior Emily Graham. On the other
SPORTS EDITOR: Athletic longevity technique
Jack Purdy
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR:
Will Fuss
Brady wins his seventh title at 43 and
Lebron wins his fourth at 35 as the
20
Friday,
best players enjoy longer careers 419
sports@nique.net February 19, 2021
Tech’s runs batted in by way of pearances all while starting every man Blake Neleman pitched a and allowed her only earned run
only six hits, three of which were game. complete game for the Jackets in her three weekend starts, a solo
home runs. Junior second base- The first game against Boise in a 5-1 win, which was also the home run. Roper actually started
man Breanna Roper walked six State began the late morning of only game of the weekend that re- in right field for this game, mak-
times, recorded three hits and Feb. 12 to escape possible inclem- quired a full seven innings to be ing it the first time in two years
scored seven times in 16 plate ap- ent weather. Second-year fresh- played. She struck out 10 batters See SOFTBALL, page 18
Photo courtesy of @GaTechSoftball via Twitter
Co-ACC pitcher of the week Blake Neleman (9) and freshman infielder Jin Sileo were two of Tech’s stars during their 5-0
start, which included a pair of wins each over Boise State and Radford and a final tilt against Georgia State, pictured here.
side, the men are coming off of an showing that they are peaking at match in their five wins this sea- The women’s team holds an
impressive showing of their own. the right time and getting ready son. impressive record of 7-4. Seven
Entering the Invitational, they for the final stretch. They are led by the star duo of of their eleven opponents that
were ranked 22nd nationally. They look to continue to im- redshirt freshmen Keshav Chopra they have faced have been against
They too had numerous podium prove in each of their events as and Andres Martin. ranked programs.
finishers including three that had they get set to go full speed ahead Both are tremendous singles’ They have been able to pull
first-place finishes. The team is at the ACCs. players and play with great chem- off three of their wins against
led by senior All-American Caio istry alongside one another as ranked opponents. The team has
Pumputis, freshman Bantur Unlu TENNIS doubles partners. been really strong against a rath-
and junior Tyler Branscombe. Men’s tennis is currently sit- The team looks to continue er tough schedule. They look to
Both of these teams have been ting on a 5-2 record for the year. their momentum as they take the continue this high level of play
putting together a series of im- They have had a dominant start to trip down to Florida for matches as they get set into the thick of
pressive performances and look the year as they have yet to drop a against Florida State and Florida. conference play.
to make a profound splash in the
ACC Championships.
TRACK AND FIELD
Both the men’s and women’s
track and field teams finished out
the regular season with strong
performances in the Music City
Challenge in Nashville and are
getting set for the ACC Champi-
onships in Clemson on February
25th.
The women’s teams were
strong in the field and long-dis-
tance events with several of their
top finishers in those events. The
team saw strong finishes in the
3000M, mile, and 5000M as
well as pole vault and long jump.
There were multiple athletes that
showed big days of improvement
having personal bests in their re-
spective events.
The men’s team also had the
long-distance and field events
leading the way for them. Their
best events were also the 3000M Photo courtesy of @GT_trackNfield via Twitter
and 5000M as well as Long Jump. Tech’s indoor track regular season wrapped up last weekend in Nashville.
Both of these teams have been The team looks ahead to the ACC championships at the end of the month.