Opinions Editor: Naihobe Gonzalez Technique Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind 8 “ extinguishes candles and fans fires. Friday, Opinions ” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld April 3, 2009 Y OUR VIEWS Letters to the Editor OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion A fading Blueprint Skiles Walkway detour SGA’s Joint Finance Committee oversteps its bounds posed a forseeable When the Student Government As- dent organization whose budget proposal sociation’s Joint Finance Committee met all of the guidelines which the com- campus safety hazard recommended this week that the entire mittee is tasked with upholding. Instead, Upon receiving a crime alert printing budget of the Blueprint, Tech’s members of the committee injected their e-mail, I was greatly dismayed to Write to us: read that two Georgia Tech stu- yearbook and one of our sister publica- personal beliefs about what the future of dents were robbed at gunpoint on [email protected] tions, be slashed from more than $60,000 Tech’s yearbook should be. Fiscal respon- Monday night while walking in last year to a grand sum of zero—without sibility should be an important aim for the “Detour” area. We welcome your letters in However, I can’t say I was sur- response to Technique content providing any reasons for the decision— SGA, but the current process is arbitrary prised. When the “Detour” was as well as topics relevant to cam- the committee made a unilateral decision and murky at best. first put into place, I found myself pus. We will print letters on a timely and space-available basis. about the Blueprint’s worth to Tech that The JFC appears to have a clear com- feeling extremely uncomfortable walking in the back alleys of aca- Letters should not exceed simply does not fall under the purview of plaint against the Blueprint, but neither demic buildings just to get to the 400 words and should be sub- mitted by Tuesday at 7 p.m. in library. its responsibilities. its staff nor the student body is aware order to be printed in the fol- While I do drive to the library, Organizations like the Blueprint whose of the reasons for this complaint. If the lowing Friday’s issue. Include I must use the “Detour” path to your full name, year (1st, 2nd, budgets suffered drastic cuts discovered demand for Blueprint copies exceeds the access the E41 parking lot since etc.) and major. We reserve the their grim fates the same day they were number being printed, or if the publica- library parking is no longer avail- right to edit for style and length. able. After walking the “Detour” to go before the Undergraduate House of tion has become too dependent on SGA Only one submission per person last Sunday night around 9 pm, will be printed per term. Representatives. In the case of the Blue- funds, there are possible solutions that I was so spooked that I decided print, the poor timing of the announce- could improve efficiency without lead- I would not use the library in the evening to avoid the shady walk. which is a mere fraction of our ment leave it with few options for next ing to the sudden demise of one of Tech’s The occurrence of this crime size, can legitimately count 31, year. If passed, the budget decision would most trusted historians, including print- is an outrage. I have never felt so and public peers like Berkeley and unprotected or unsafe within the Illinois have 62 and 21 laureates, eliminate one of Tech’s longest standing ing fewer copies or charging students for Georgia Tech community. As our respectively. traditions with the swoop of a pen. yearbooks, like many universities do. college is located in the middle of Speaking of public peers, com- While the efficiency of the Blueprint A drastic budget cut without explana- urban Atlanta, I accept that crime paring alumni salaries with UGA does occasionally affect our stu- is a total cop-out. Engineering can—and should—be debated, it is not tion, however, is not an effective or trans- dent population. careers tend to pay above average, the JFC’s responsibility to eliminate a stu- parent means of communication. However, a crime of this mag- so of course the average Tech grad nitude should never occur directly will make more than his UGA outside the library, the center of counterpart. Saying that we “are The Consensus Opinion reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of the the Georgia Tech campus. More being rewarded for entering chal- Technique, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors. infuriating is the fact that the stu- lenging and valued careers” ig- dents would not have been walk- nores factors like UGA having a ing in the alley if Georgia Tech veterinary school and English ed- Technique Editorial Board had not closed Skiles Walkway. ucation program. Surely we aren’t Craig Tabita, Editor-in-Chief The construction has incon- saying that being a veterinarian or Jenny Zhang Morgan, Managing Editor venienced us all, but this armed high school English teacher isn’t a robbery is more than a simple challenging or valued career. Emily Chambers, Outreach Editor Siwan Liu, Design Editor inconvenience. I refuse to place To be fair, successful sports Vivian Fan, Layout Editor Reem Mansoura, Focus Editor myself at risk. Georgia Tech must teams certainly add to the college Naihobe Gonzalez, Opinions Editor Corbin Pon, News Editor either reopen Skiles Walkway or experience, but using graduation Matt Hoffman, Sports Editor Jonathan Saethang, Development Editor find a safe, open, and brightly-lit rates as a metric can be mislead- Blake Israel, Online Editor Michael Schneider, Photography Editor pathway for the students to use at ing. Vince Young didn’t gradu- Hahnming Lee, Advertising Manager Daniel Spiller, Entertainment Editor all times of day and night. I am ate, but that doesn’t mean Texas disappointed in Georgia Tech for doesn’t have an excellent law the lack of foresight. school, business school or engi- EDITORIAL CARTOON By Craig Tabita neering school. Jessica Falcone Calvin Johnson didn’t gradu- Fourth-year BMED ate, but nobody would then con- clude that Tech is a bad school. Tech’s potential remains Moreover, Duke and UNC man- age to be perennial Final Four untapped thanks to stu- contenders, and Stanford has dent complacency more NCAA championships than any other university. We must keep pushing and Last week’s opinion piece en- improving. Only this year did Mi- titled, “Tech academics, sports crosoft recruiters make us a “Tier and salaries excel,” exemplifies a 1” school; we had been considered disturbing trend of students pla- inferior to the likes of MIT, Stan- cated by mediocrity. Former presi- ford and Harvard. As an institu- dent Clough oversaw tremendous tion of higher learning, there is improvements to the university, much that can be improved from internally and to our reputation, our non-engineering programs, to but we must remember that just the diversity of our student body, 15 years ago, most of our under- to overall student happiness. grad programs were not top ten. What does it say about us when Though we are now a top en- so many alumni literally hate the gineering school, why are we so school? It is the responsibility of quick to pigeonhole ourselves, the entire Tech community to when MIT and Caltech, arguably make sure that future generations the most prominent engineering leave with fond memories and that schools in the world, also have top “getting out” becomes a thing of programs in many other areas? the past. While we (laughably) claim Jim- my Carter as an alumnus to give Qiyu Liu us two Nobel laureates, Caltech, MGT graduate student OPINIONS Technique • April 3, 2009 • 13 leading new internet revolution I’m pretty sure most of “The whole point of social newswire services, which in B Z you reading this newspaper networking is to meet, many cases lets me get break- U Z have heard of Twitter by now, ing news many minutes before Around the Campus but for those uninitiated few, connect and socially interact other news outlets. Want to Twitter is an online “microb- know right now what’s going logging” service that let’s us- with other people.” on in the world? Head over ers post brief messages called to Twitter. I also can follow What do you think about “tweets” with a maximum of Wiliam Brawley different websites that update 140 characters. Assistant News Editor Twitter whenever there’s some- this year’s Sting Break Why 140, you ask? Well, thing new to check out on the that’s the character limit for site. It’s also a great way to find band lineup? a standard text message on a strange or completely random, Twitter turned three years fun and interesting things on modern mobile phone. The the Internet and computers old in March this year, and it the Internet through people purpose of the short and sim- can provide. So, it comes at no has been getting a lot of press posting links in their tweets. ple approach is that at any surprise that someone like my- time lately—literally. For in- There’s also a way for Twit- given time you will have your self—and four to five million stance, CNN anchor Rick ter to function like a wide open mobile phone with you and other users—have embraced Sanchez from his desk chat room discussion on popu- can text out to Twitter what Twitter. on air. The media exposure has lar topics or events with the you’re doing. Going back to the ques- increased Twitter’s popularity use of “hash tags,” which are Sure, with an initial glance tion of why anyone would care dramatically to the point that denoted in a person’s tweets at Twitter, the concept seems about what I’m doing, the an- members of traditional media by a pound sign followed by a really dumb. Why would any- swer is, “Why not?” The whole and older generations are em- keyword. The search function one care what I’m doing now, point of social networking is bracing it. of Twitter is then able to track and do I really want anyone to meet, connect and socially Yes, my mother has joined these keywords and show re- Madeline Brumby to know these things? I think interact with other people. By and is following me on Twit- lated users who are also tweet- the answer to this question is posting little snippets about ter. I doubt my grandmother ing about it. The possibilities Fourth-year BIO largely a generational thing. your day, like that cool movie will follow suit, though, as of what people can do with Look at the demographic of you just saw or that totally she’s still confounded by my Twitter are astonishing. Go “I’m excited, it should be a Twitter or social networking as awesome restaurant you just mother’s profile on “Facep- give it a Google and see what good show!” a whole. The large majority of went to, other people could age.” One consequence of you find. these users are typically quite find that interesting or find Twitter’s explosion into the So when someone asks you young—somewhere around out something that they didn’t mainstream is the increasing what’s the point of Twitter, an- the 16-35 age group, most of know before. numbers of older people ask- swer back that it’s a new Inter- whom have used a computer One could, from reading ing about Twitter and what net-based communication net- for the majority of their lives. your tweet, go look up more it is. At least now I can show work where friends and other The personal computer ex- information on that movie or them this article and get back people can share information. plosion began in the late 1970s restaurant that they wouldn’t to my Internetz. If he or she still doesn’t get it, and early 1980s, and has grown have otherwise known about. Not only has Twitter grown just show him or her this ar- exponentially from there. The It’s about sharing experiences, simply in the number of users, ticle, perhaps that might help. people of the information gen- both the good and bad. There’s but it is also becoming a com- However, if by some chance, eration are a lot more comfort- something inherent in the new pletely new form of commu- the person just can’t grasp this able with computers and seem information generation that nication. This is perhaps the darn thing, just give a small to embrace the many things, compels us to want to share most exciting feature of Twit- chuckle, and say: “It’s just the no matter how seemingly things with people. ter for me. I am able to follow Internet, grandpa.” Albert Emery Fourth-year EE “I preferred when they had Cake a few years ago.” RealTen years ago,news I started doesn’t belong on thecould internet otherwise go to another my first job delivering pa- “...the Internet presents a story, a photo, or an advertise- pers for the Ann Arbor News. context where proper grammar ment, an online article does In July, the Ann Arbor News not compete for this space— will cease operation after 174 and full sentences are viewed rather, the additional traffic years. Although I understand as optional and unnecessary.” would lead to additional ad the factors that led to declin- revenue. Although more infor- ing readership and revenue, I Ben Keyserling mation is typically beneficial, am concerned by the trend in online sites may be cluttered newspapers that are cutting Assistant Photography Editor with articles that are genuinely back or eliminating printing. interesting to some, but irrel- A portion of my distaste of evant to most. the move to an online format tional features initially includ- Newspapers are entering a The loss of a page layout is indeed rooted in personal ed additional downtime. Un- venue with lower quality stan- means not only the absence of laziness. Learning a new inter- fortunately, I have yet to come dards, but must compete using a distinct hierarchy, but also Craig Green face, such as Microsoft Office across an online news website similar amounts of resources. compromises general visual 2007, takes effort, and un- that I view as an upgrade. A key feature for printed appeal. Because of differences ME graduate student less there are significant gains On a print newspaper, sig- news sources is a fairly high between computers, the tech- in functionality, I will try to nificant time is spent on lay- level of oversight before going nology does not exist to deliver “I’ve never heard of any of avoid a new interface as long out. In addition to fitting a to press. Online sources com- the same level of visual impact the bands, but I’m sure ev- as possible. I still use a CRT fixed number of words onto a pete for speed, so fewer eyes on a web page as on paper. monitor with a 4:3 aspect ratio limited amount of space, the look at a story before it be- This can eliminate interesting eryone who voted for them on a regular basis. layout of a newspaper provides comes available to the public. spreads to commemorate im- will be happy.” I am willing to accept organization. Headlines, for While I expect a blog to come portant events. a change, once it becomes example, are set in different from a single source with rela- Even in papers with fixed worthwhile. I still use Face- type sizes to imply different tively few information resourc- formats, a lot of thought goes book, because sometimes I levels of overall importance. If es and a limited ability to veri- into where and how images lose phone numbers. My lap- I only have 10 minutes to read fy facts, I expect stories from a are printed, including such ex- top runs Vista and has a wi- one or two stories, these cues newspaper—even online—to treme details as where subjects descreen display. I set up T- let me know what the editors have high quality standards. are facing. With web content, Square sites for organizations I think is important, helping me Spelling errors caused by a a limited number of small pic- work with. Once I am reason- prioritize my reading. Online, rush to release a story cause me tures are typically printed in a ably assured that a product has because stories can be released to wonder whether I’m reading margin. The limited flexibility all of its intended functional- instantly, layouts feature com- facts or thoughts. of online formats diminishes ity, I am willing to give its new petition between what’s im- In addition to proofread- the value of online content and interface a try. portant and what’s recent. ing, editorial oversight helps to makes it less desirable. Many of the interface In general, the Internet ensure that an article is worth I enjoy many features of changes noted above accompa- presents a context where prop- reading. The Times web 2.0 venues, and like how nied significant improvements er grammar and full sentences features the motto, “All the quickly I can share articles I Julie Gonzalez in functionality, making the are viewed as optional and un- news that’s fit to print.” Online find online. However, I use Fourth-year BIO change an upgrade to most necessary. Many who use the publication, through fewer newspapers to obtain informa- users. Changes that make a Internet for communication limitations, wider distribution tion with high-quality writing “I think they all suck.” product better for me, the user, choose not to exercise full sen- and lower standards, renders and reasonably checked facts. are welcome—even if, as was tences, capitalization or punc- such a motto obsolete. While Currently, online news sites do Photos by Joey Cerone the case with T-Square, addi- tuation in their interactions. a print story uses space that not meet this need. 14 • April 3, 2009 • Technique OPINIONS

OUR VIEWS Hot or Not Blue-eyed monsters: Blaming – or – Western bankers for world crisis National calls for punishment “...an international blame- HOT NOT of executives who received bo- game will be no more effective nuses gave way this week to even more ridiculous accusations on than the domestic one already the international front. Brazil’s consuming congressional efforts.” President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Sil- va (known simply as Lula), raised Emily Chambers the bar last week when he threw the blame for the recent economic Columnist Inauguration day Dangerous detour crisis onto the shoulders of “white It’s hard to believe that The Atlanta crime wave people with blue eyes.” Clough announced his de- flooded into campus this week Per Lula’s indefensible logic, it the sun without sunscreen and than attempts to move forward parture a year ago, but we when two Tech students walk- was the greed of the blue-eyed and pouring chlorine on their (most- through universally acceptable all officially began a new era ing through the darkly lit their lies that led us all into this likely blonde) hair. On the other channels. The conference is al- this week with President G. Skiles Walkway detour were crisis. Lula even goes so far as to hand, we could also use rational ready dissolving into a forum for P. “Bud” Peterson starting robbed at gunpoint. Students say that he, the president of Bra- thought and establish that the assigning blame, with France and his first day on the job and a are now being forced to put zil, does not know a single black disproportionate number of blue- Germany distancing themselves student-authored white paper their safety at stake when or indigenous banker, and that he eyed people in banking is just a from Anglo-American influence with new directions for the walking through the heart is going to press this as a central correlation, and does not actually with comments like “this crisis Institute being released. We of campus, a significant fac- issue at the G20 meetings. imply any sort of nefarious scheme didn’t spontaneously erupt in hope the honeymoon period tor the administration should Apparently Lula believes that on the part of the Nordic to end Europe” and subtle threats of ab- endures and Tech continues have taken into account when in between discussions of the su- the world. But then we are left sence on the part of French presi- on an upward trend. designing the detour paths. per-national nature of regulations with fewer pointless and distract- dent Nicolas Sarkozy. and coherency of social spend- ing side-arguments to help world While President Obama ing, world leaders should delve leaders avoid productive work. should make every effort to ac- into economic forensics. Thanks The blatant racism of Lula’s count for America’s role in the to Lula’s logic, at least it should statements is an unacceptable in- economic meltdown, an inter- be easy to identify those guilty. sult not only to the demographic national blame-game will be no Based on his accusations, Ger- group he describes, but also to all more effective than the domestic many, Canada and France will those he leaves out. While it is one already consuming congres- be held unilaterally guilty, as they easy to look at his statements as a sional efforts. The not-so-subtle are the only G20 member states compliment to the Hispanic, Af- allusions to U.S. blame by interna- currently under the leadership of rican, Asian or other brown-eyed tional leaders should be acknowl- blue-eyed politicians. financiers, it is backhanded at the edged and promptly forgotten. Dirty talk Failed flicks The fact that not a single Ca- very least. Lula does not ascribe They serve no productive outlet. Famed porn star Ron Jer- Campus Movie Fest is a fun nadian bank has failed as of competence to brown-eyed bank- Comments like those made by emy joined church founder Tech tradition that gets both press time seems to have evaded ers, but instead accuses them of Lula place the still-leading world Craig Ross this week in the students’ creative and com- Lula. We in the U.S. fortunately lacking influence in their field, economy on the defensive and Great Porn Debate, where stu- petitive juices flowing. For the escaped this list due to our pre- placing them entirely at the mercy minimize any chances of influ- dents got an entertaining look first time in several years—and emptive switch to brown-eyed of the professional decisions of ence that he or the disgruntled 18 at both sides of the issue and following wins at the National leadership mid crisis. Had we as their blue-eyed counterparts. other members of the G20 could even a chance to have their Grand Finale for Best Picture a nation chosen to elect the blue- The G20 summit should be have on future U.S. policy. If Lula body parts autographed by the and Best Drama—Tech did eyed McCain instead of Obama, an opportunity for cohesion and truly wishes to promote “indig- star of films like Orgazmo. A not take a single win home at we would not have been so lucky. unity in the face of crisis. Unfor- enous and black” bankers, then little fun variety goes a long the Southern Regional Grand Of course, it might be time for tunately, Lula’s comments before he should do so by working to re- way at Tech, with students fil- Finale this past weekend. First the blue-eyed folk to have their the start of the conference fore- build an economy in which they ing into the Ferst Center for men’s basketball, now Campus fair share of discrimination. We shadowed weeks of petty disunity have a chance at employment, not the talk. Movie Fest? can punish them for their greed and emphasis on the differences by embarrassing both himself and and sins by leaving them out in between policy approaches rather his position with petty comments.

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www.nique.net it’s only because my last name is long.....i can’t help it. some people think they can outsmart me. maybe, maybe. i have yet to meet one that can outsmart BULLET. OUR RECON PLANE WILL FIND THEM, WHEREVER THEY HIDE!! ,=,e a turtle. or ,=,=,=,=,=,=,=,=,=,e a millipede. keira knightley, please gain 30 pounds and then marry me. ^^^ disagree i love spring...the clothes come off so easily if only we could all wear banana hammocks...the world would be a better place a farmer’s tan is so uncool...just take it all off and wear a banana hammock so everyone will be happy How is that all of our friends have realized that we’re perfect for each other, but you haven’t? Seriously, kid, wake up and make a move. return the backpack, and no-one gets hurt. i’m gaga over lady gaga ooooh, they’re going to have to glue you back together.....IN HELL!!!! Guy with red shoes, I know you want to talk to me. how hard can it be?