pageFOCUS 9 Technique • Friday, January 16, 2004 • 9

Hoopin’ it up with Hewitt 3...2...1...Happy New Year! Men’s basketball may not be No. 3 anymore, but The ‘Nique ushers in 2004 with a review of FOCUS we still love them. Coach Paul Hewitt talks about Atlanta’s own Times Square-like party—the the team’s strategies and successes. Page 28 Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta. Page 15 Technique • Friday, January 16, 2004 Free food promotes class identity at Junior’s By Jennifer Lee Sophomore Summit. Focus Editor “Georgia Tech gets a lot of flak for our poor ratings,” said Darragh Last Thursday seemed to be the Wright, one of the members of the real start of the semester as several steering committee for Sophomore events were held to welcome stu- Summit. “It’s easier to get a sense of dents back to Tech after the break. belonging within your class, and in One of the events was Juniors at turn get a sense of belonging at GT Junior’s, sponsored by Student Gov- so that no one feels lost.” ernment Association’s Junior Class Several students who attended Committee, which was open to jun- Juniors at Junior’s expressed approval iors only and advertised free Jun- at the idea of something for the ior’s chicken tenders baskets to the junior class. first 100 people to show up, and “I think it’s cool,” said Jonathan half off the next Laing, an Inter- 100. national Affairs Despite the and Modern cold night, the “After your freshman Languages ma- event, which ac- jor. “After your cording to the you never get to do freshman you email invitation, anything with just your never get to do was supposed to anything with begin at 7 p.m., class...so this is kinda just your had people lining nice to keep the class class...so this is up outside Jun- kinda nice to ior’s as early as identity alive.” keep the class 6:30, and it took Jonathan Laing identity alive.” less than an hour INTA/ML junior “I know By Ayan Kishore / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS for the food to sell several people Students, many of whom waited outside in the cold half an hour early, chow down happily on free Junior’s out. here, a lot of chicken baskets. The event, called Juniors at Junior’s, is part of a larger movement toward better class identity. “We had to people that I’ve tell people to go home,” said Junior had classes with through my fresh- credit hours class as well as year.” tually sit down and eat,” she said. “I “The idea for SophCom from Class President Amy Phuong, who man year and stuff, my roommate… “Juniors at Junior’s was our idea thought they were just going to come the students emerged around the led the planning for the event. I even met somebody new. They of just having fun,” said Phuong, and go.” same time as a new initiative for the “By 7:10, we completely ran out should do this again next year,” he who wore a nametag that night that Another group that has come Office of Success Programs to begin of the half-off tickets,” though she added, noting that the theme of Jun- said “Ask me about Junior Com- out of this initiative is Sophomore to examine the sophomore student added, “People still bought full price ior’s grill would no longer apply. mittee” and walked around talking Committee—SophCom for short, experience at GT,” said Amy Stalz- just to be in there and have fun.” Greg Gunn, a Computer Engi- to those who attended. which was started directly by the er, who works in Success Programs Juniors at Junior’s highlighted a neering junior who was squeezed She said that she had noticed steering committee of Sophomore with FASET and Freshman Coun- push for more class identity that has into a booth with six other friends, that there was a greater degree of Summit. The organization is still cil and is the advisor to SophCom. been surfacing on campus in the said, “It would have been a better apathy in the junior class, and as a developing, but last semester host- “While we have, in the past, main- past few months. idea if it hadn’t just started junior result, “we tailored our events not ed a Sophomore Preunion that fea- ly focused on programs relating to Though the idea is not new, it year. That way we could get a feel to try to get people involved.” tured a hot-air balloon and a cookout was brought up seriously at last year’s for the people who were in the same “It was suprising to see them ac- on the Instructional Center lawn. See Juniors, page 11 Campus Research Review SGA’s online booktrade site offers Biology group finds more than Nemo alternative to bookstore, auctions By Grace Nam Last November, Professor Mark the six-person team of scientists that Contributing Writer Hay of the School of Biology led a had the opportunity to take part in By Shakeela Bader ru is the webmaster for the site, team of graduate students to the this underwater project. Contributing Writer using his newfound computing For those who think that research undersea laboratory Aquarius in the Hay’s research involved the di- skills by creating a mini-Ebay is all about micropipettes and Petri Florida Keys. The laboratory is gov- minishing coral reefs and its rela- As a new semester dawns and for trading textbooks at Georgia dishes, how does swimming among ernment-sponsored and lends itself tion to herbivorous fishes. students hurry to buy textbooks Tech to help alleviate the bur- fish for nine hours a day and living to research missions for different Hay explained, “Around the for classes, students often turn to den on students’ wallets through in a facility that is 47 feet underwa- groups around the country. It was whole island nation of Jamaica, cor- alternative methods of buying and a book trading website. ter sound? an arduous yet exciting 10 days for al cover was 60 percent in the late selling their textbooks in hopes Pesaru made the website in July seventies. In the early nineties it was of avoiding the overpriced offer- of 2002, and received backing three percent. One of the primary ings at the from Student reasons for this was over fishing; bookstores. Government people took out most of the fish Industrial Association that eat seaweeds. If they are not Engineering “It is just another (SGA) to controlled by grazers, [seaweed] will junior Antho- strengthen over grow and kill corals.” method of selling ny Mojica and publicize After a significant amount of said, “I sell my books like... this new way underwater observation and video books back to of trading taping, they found that there were newsgroups and the students I books. three species of surgeon fish and 15 know, buy bookstores.” The web- species of parrot fish that were im- online site allows portant grazers. Shan Pesaru through Georgia The team built 32 big cages with GT Booktrade webmaster Amazon.com, Tech stu- different combination of these fish- Ecampus.com dents to es to observe the effects on coral reef and other col- trade, resell growth. lege textbook websites.” and buy the textbooks required “It took us forever,” Hay said of Other computer-saavy stu- at Georgia Tech. Pesaru said “the the research. “As soon as we started dents also use the Tech news- website is a third party which putting fish in [the cages], sharks group git.ads. connects people safely and quickly started tearing them apart to get the However, another option that for book trading.” fish out. Eels blasted right though is available at SGA’s online book- David Bussman, the chair of them like missiles. We had to repair Photo courtesy Institute Communications and Public Affairs trade site at http://sga.gatech.edu/ SGA’s Public Relations Com- that and figure out ways to keep the booktrade. Third-year Comput- Biology professor Mark Hay led a group of students on a 10-day research sharks from tearing them up.” mission on the undersea lab Aquarius. The group dealt with bad food and er Engineering major Shan Pesa- See Books, page 14 awkward living conditions but also got to study rich underwater life. See Aquarius, page 14 10 • Friday, January 16, 2004 • Technique FOCUS Computer science grows as students come in with leg-up By Joshua Cuneo when I was eight or so, I was mess- could do that,” Gilman said. ing CS 1321 and 1322 a breeze for have to overcome any feelings of Senior Staff Writer ing around with computers,” Gil- Gilman and DePalma turned to students like Gilman and DePal- inadequacy that may arise. “I can man said. “When my games broke, books, the internet and associates ma. But both refute the claim, ar- see someone who wasn’t computer There’s one in every class: the I tried to fix them, and that inspired for help in their endeavors, picking guing that the classes have still taught literate feeling like, ‘Oh my God, “smart guy” in the corner who starts me to learn how to program.” and choosing among the various them a great many things. the guy sitting next to me wrote a incomprehensible dialogues with the Nick DePalma is a third-year CS topics according to their immediate “Just having previous experience Linux book, and I’m sitting here professor and baffles the rest of the major who arrived at Tech already interests. with things can really put you a step knowing nothing,’” Leahy said. room with his amazing grasp of the familiar with several programming “I actually have an uncle who ahead,” DePalma added, “but…it However, “there are people that curriculum. languages as well as the installation graduated in CS, so he kind of led doesn’t really give you the rest of the have all kinds of prior knowledge Some of the most notorious breed- and upkeep of servers. Like Gil- me in the direction that computers story. There are a lot of creative and they get B’s in classes,” said ing grounds for these people are the man, he began playing with his were going in at the time,” said De- concepts that are out there that you Leahy. “They were kind of cocky introductory computer science class- mother’s Macintosh at 10 years old Palma. can’t really teach yourself as well. and they figured they knew every- es. There are so many computer “I read through a computer man- thing.” literate freshmen, in fact, that many ual book like some would read And there are social implications now congregate in the newly-formed “We petitioned [my through a novel and as I’m going as well. “Sitting in front of a com- CS 1321X and CS 1322X courses, through, I’d put the book down “There are a lot of puter all my life...your social skills diminishing the variation in com- high school] to make and try it out,” said Gilman. creative concepts that go down the tubes,” said DePalma. puter talent within each course but The natural next step was to con- “But I think that’s kind of true with a programming class, are out there that you highlighting the vast differences in and so we were tinue their education in a more pro- all Tech students.” computer literacy of Tech’s overall fessional environment. Both can’t really teach Nevertheless, Gilman and De- freshman body. DePalma and Gilman recalled their Palma don’t regret their choice of essentially the guinea yourself.” “You’d get people who had nev- pigs...” high school computer science class- majors in the least. er touched a computer all the way es and summer work experience with Nick DePalma “The good thing about comput- up to people who had written books,” Justin Gilman varying degrees of fondness. CS junior er science is it’s applied to so many said Bill Leahy, a lecturer for several CS freshman “We petitioned [my high school] different areas that you can pick lower-level computer science courses, to make a programming class, and whatever you real interests are and speaking of a time when there was so we were essentially the guinea pursue them to a degree,” said De- only one introductory Computer pigs...and that resulted in everybody And all the people that you meet, Palma. “You can always work with Science class offered. and quikly picked up the nuances essentially teaching themselves how especially the professors, [are] ex- different kinds of people doing com- So, who are these people, and of its operation. to do what programming they want- tremely smart.” puter work.” how do they know so much, any- “Then the family got a Dell…a ed,” said Gilman. He later moved The presence of students like And their kind is on the rise, way? A key factor is the level of 75 MHz,” DePalma said. “I kind of on to promoting himself as a local Gilman and DePalma also provides with no signs of slowing down. computer experience some students started using it so much in the liv- programmer who built profession- an immediate resource for their class- “There are two things going on have had, fueled largely through self- ing room that…they finally gave it al-level web pages. mates. here,” Leahy said. “Number one, teaching as an extension of their to me, so I got to learn all about it DePalma also enrolled in an AP “The fact that sometimes some people have home computers and personal interests. from that.” Computer Science course in high people understand it or have some the internet…[Y]ou can download Take, for example, the case of They pursued it, they said, due school and said it felt more worth- prior knowledge, maybe it lets them free languages, and it’s very, very Justin Gilman, a first-year comput- to a fervent interest in the material. while. “Most of my actual learning help the other students,” Leahy said. accessible. Number two, comput- er science major who already knows “People told me that ones and came from the internet and my AP “I may be good at math, you may be ers are taught in high schools,” so C, C++, Java and various forms of zeros make up a graphical teacher,” he said. good at computer science, and we many students walk out with a basic web scripting. representation…and I was just A popular perception is that all help one another.” grasp several concepts as well as C++ “My dad had an Apple II, so amazed that a bunch of switches of that experience pays off by mak- To use them, though, students or, increasingly, Java. FOCUS Technique • Friday, January 16, 2004 • 11

events.” Juniors from page 9 One idea that the Junior com- Winner receives a free Technique T-shirt mittee have been discussing is a ring freshmen, such as FASET Orienta- ceremony for class rings, though she tion and Psych 1000, we have a said that many things are “still up in significant number of sophomores the air.” who interact with our programs SophCom is also planning events Tech whom we would like to make sure for the spring semester, including UpClose are provided for at Tech as well,” an event similar to Sports Orgy but Stalzer said. only open to sophomores. “When the students who orga- “You would have to go look and Last week’s Tech Up Close: nized SophCom brought the idea find other sophomores...there might up to us, it was just perfect timing be people you didn’t know were need to ask scott that [we] adopt them and collabo- sophomores,” said Allison Weath- rate together.” ers, SophComm’s current Program- Currently the initiative for more ming Chair. class identity is somewhat fractured She added, “Up until our big Last week’s winner: between several groups. While fresh- event, we would like to do a series of men have ample organizations to small events like having trivia and a No correct entries become involved in, the push for twister contest, just to put our name identity in other out there and get classes has been more sopho- driven mostly be mores in- individuals—stu- “It’s easier to get a volved.” dent leaders in One each class that sense of belonging problem that have emphasized within your class, and both organiza- that there are not tions have faced similar opportu- in turn get a sense of is funding, due nities for their belonging at GT.” in part to the fact year. that sponsors are Also, the Darragh Wright sometimes hes- groups are not all Sophomore Committee itant to fund under the same events based on leadership. the somewhat While Sophomore Committee is nebulous definition of class identi- under Success Programs under the ty. advisement of Stalzer, Junior Class The Junior Committee had want- Committee is a committee under ed to have Juniors at Junior’s before Student Government Association. Thanksgiving break, but Phuong Part of this division may be due said, “We couldn’t pull funding to- to the fact that the committees have gether to get it to happen.” They different ideas for what their con- were eventually able to get the $850 ception of class identity means. they needed from Parent’s Program. “I want to tackle it differently Phuong is also talking with Dean from how SophCom and the fresh- Gail DiSabatino, and has suggested man are doing it,” said Phuong. the idea of a class fund where the “Freshman are trying to get fresh- money would be used only for class- men involved right when they get specific events. [to Tech]. SophCom is still trying Both committees have talked to get them involved, if they missed about the importance of continu- their opportunity as freshman.” ity. “Now it’s just more of, can we By Jamie Howell / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS On the other hand, Phuong said, actually make it stick,” said Wright. “Junior class defines itself as doing “That’s the main challenge [we’re] email: [email protected] events just for the sake of doing facing now.” 12 • Friday, January 16, 2004 • Technique FOCUS Student shows she’s got brains and beauty as Miss GA By Kristin Noell swimsuit and evening gown. Currently, she is preparing for Contributing Writer The swimsuit and evening gown the Miss USA Pageant, which NBC segments involve modeling for the will broadcast live in March. Many people may have a narrow judges and audience, whereas the If she is crowned Miss USA in view of the type of students at Tech, interview portion includes a per- March, she would then proceed to but some students continually amaze sonal one-on-one interview with each compete in the Miss Universe 2004 cynics with their well-rounded per- of the five judges, as well as several pageant, which will be held in Ec- sonas. random on-stage questions if the uador this year. One such student is Caroline delegate advances to the “top five” Since becoming Miss Georgia, Medley, a 25-year-old Suwanee na- selection. Medley had to discontinue classes tive who was crowned Miss Georgia Medley calls the crowning mo- at Tech because of her hectic sched- USA 2004 on Nov. 8, 2003. ment at the Rome City Auditorium ule. Medley’s dreams of being a pag- However, she intends to return eant winner began right here at Tech, to complete the 18 remaining hours where she was “looking for my place “I love being a that she needs for a Bachelors of among Georgia Tech’s world-class Science in Management. scholars and athletes.” Techie! The However, Medley said, “I love “I wanted to find my niche,” she response...when being a Techie! The response I usu- said, and found itwhile reading an ally get from others when they find article in Atlanta’s Jezebel magazine [others] find out I out I went to Georgia Tech is clas- about Tiffany Fallon, Miss GA USA went to Tech is classic. sic. They just can’t believe that a 2001 and second runner-up to Miss woman could be smart, beautiful USA 2001. They just can’t believe and from Georgia Tech.” In reading the article, Medley that a woman could Still, there’s more to Medley then learned how many opened doors defying stereotypes. She is current- and opportunities Fallon found be smart, beautiful ly serving as a classroom assistant through winning her title. and from...Tech.” for two second grade classes at Ly- Therefore, after a little more re- man Hall Elementary School in Photo courtesy Caroline Medley search, Medley “soon found [her]self Caroline Medley Gainesville, Georgia for the third Caroline Medley discontinued her classes at Tech when she won Miss preparing for and pursuing [her] Miss Georgia 2004 year in a row. Georgia 2004, but fully intends to return to finish her degree. Currently goal of becoming Miss GA USA.” In addition, before winning her she is preparing for the Miss USA pageant, which takes place in March. Medley’s pageant career actually title, she was the Internet Sales and started in high school, where she Website Director for the southeast’s She also takes pleasure in hitting She says that being a pageant entered the school pageant during a “very thrilling yet humbling expe- largest Mercedes-Benz retailer. She balls at the driving-range, considers winner has not changed how fellow her junior year in 1995, winning rience. It was the culmination of a still enjoys designing websites in her herself a free-lance “handy-wom- Techies have treated her. “Every- the title of Miss North Gwinnett year and a half of hard work, sacri- free time, and actually developed an,” collects purses and has a pas- one at Georgia Tech has been and High School. fice and dedication all coming to- her own website at www.caroline sion for politics. still is very encouraging and sup- However, she first competed for gether at one moment.” medley.com. How does Medley keep every- portive.” the title of Miss Georgia seven years Being Miss Georgia 2004 obvi- In addition to working for Mer- thing together? All members of the Tech com- later in the 2003 pageant, where she ously comes with responsibility. cedes-Benz, she has test-driven and “Thankfully I am a very orga- munity can be proud that such a placed in the top six before winning Medley served as the 2004 Chick- raced new Mercedes-Benz models nized person, but sometimes things beautiful, intelligent and well-round- the crown the following year. fil-A Peach Bowl Queen and at- around the Atlanta Motor Speed- do tend to get a little hectic,” she ed woman considers herself one of The competition consists of three tended all of the Peach Bowl activities way, chartered a catamaran and set said. “I just always have to keep us and presents a less stereotypical equally weighted phases of compe- and events, which included the Pa- sail off the coast of St. Thomas in telling myself that I can only do the picture of Tech students to the rest tition, which include interview, rade and Bowl Game on Jan. 2. the U.S. Virgin Islands. best I can.” of the world.

Let us know what you think @ opinions @technique.gatech.edu FOCUS Technique • Friday, January 16, 2004 • 13

2003. The number of active accounts fer to buy their books the old-fash- “When you come out of the Books from page 9 have nearly doubled since 2002. ioned way, saving time instead of Aquarius from page 9 Aquarius with a wet suit on, the fish Since 2002, $14,975 has been used money by just paying the price at pay no attention to you. [But] when mittee, added, “the website is meant in selling the books online, and 582 the bookstores. Real life underwater was not as you come out without a wetsuit on, to cut off the middleman, maxi- books are available to date. Industrial Engineering freshman glamorous as Captain Nemo’s lux- the fish are real interested in you. mize return for selling books and Pesaru said “the numbers will Paul Evans said, “I just went to En- urious one on the board of the Nau- They think our wastes are like can- minimize cost.” probably increase once the site is gineer’s Bookstore, and they gave tilus. dy,” Hay said with a laugh. “And A student can login without a more publicized.” me cash for my textbooks.” “Because of the pressure, there is they are not patient and are very fee and indicate the book she is sell- Among the students in the fore- In addition, websites similar to a lot more oxygen per cubic centi- hungry." ing or buying. The student receives front of this project is last year’s SGA’s site exist, such as meter of air,” Hay explained. “This In addition, sleeping quarters were email alerts when another student is Head of Campus Chair Vickie Cher- www.gtbooks.com, another online means that if you get a fire, things small and confined: six people had buying or selling the desired book, ry, who helped initiate the website. booktrade site which was also creat- are really going to burn well. So to squeeze into a tube-like room then both students are able to set up SGA chalked the sidewalks twice ed and maintained by students. This stuff becomes flammable there that that was eight by seven feet. “It was a meeting via email. website is open to students from is not flammable like a tube with The main features of the website neighboring colleges such as Geor- here. The Aquar- three bunks on include a small image of each book, gia State University and University ius technicians each side, with price comparison through half.com “I got my Linear of Georgia. have to check ev- “At night, one can barely enough and email alerts. Algebra book for In the future, Pesaru said he erything that space to get in A few students like Kellie Saylor, “hopes to take his website to other goes under.” look out through view between them.” freshman Industrial Engineering eleven dollars, and I universities” as well. Due to this ports and see the “Some people major, have used the book trade didn’t have to pay However, he added that SGA is fact, they could clouds of thousands talk about being website to get textbooks. not running a business, and he is not have an open claustrophobic Saylor said, “I got my Linear Al- shipping and glad other websites are available. fire to cook food. of fish that were or feeling like gebra book for eleven dollars, and I handling like I have to He also emphasized that the site The team had to attracted to the lights they are shut in, didn’t have to pay shipping and han- is for serving the students, it is non- eat freeze-dried but for most of dling like I have to with online web- with online websites profit and he is not competing with food—and, of on Aquarius.” us, because this sites like eBay.” She said she will use other book trading sites. course, fishing is what we want like eBay.” Mark Hay the website again. “It is just another method of sell- was out of the to be doing, it is Biology professor However, many Tech students Kellie Saylor ing books like advertisements and question. The almost more are not aware of the website, though ISyE freshman newsgroups and the bookstores,” said team was perpet- freeing than it is they are open to the idea of using it. Pesaru. ually cold and claustrophobic,” Rebecca Roach, a second-year “The message is not about com- wet because it was hard to heat the said Hay. “We can spend a lot of Public Policy major, said, “I think petition, but to help students be- Aquarius. Everyone got blisters on time swimming with fish and that buying and selling books is such a this year to introduce book trading cause they feel they are being cheated,” their feet from scrapes with the ocean part is really neat.” pain, and you get gouged by the website and has advertised in the he added. floor. Although it was hard work, the bookstores because you get little Student Center. In addition, Pesaru was also ex- One of the more interesting ex- team was surrounded by the sub- money back.” SGA’s current Campus Services ploring “large databases and this periences of living underwater 24 lime magnificence of the ocean day Chemical Engineering freshman chair, Abigail Hung, said “we worked project enabled him to work with hours of a day was answering the and night. Sarah Jacoby agrees, and after learning with FreShGA to advertise, fliers, such and store large amounts of in- call of nature. “At night, one can look out about the website said that “it sounds emails and word-of-mouth.” formation.” The “outhouse” on the Aquari- through view ports and see the clouds interesting and I’d like to know more Hung said the new goal to in- However, he says one of his main us consisted of a chamber filled with of thousands of fish that were at- about it because I didn’t get as much crease the traffic is “to publicize at objectives “behind the web was to water, but with air trapped at the tracted to the lights on Aquarius,” money back from the bookstores.” the start of the semester rather than interface so students can easily find top. "You stand in there so that you said Hay. “It is still a lot of fun. Nearly 3,000 students have vis- the end.” information about the textbooks they can breathe, without the tank,” Hay Everyone said that they would go ited the website since December 25, However, other students still pre- need.” said. back in a heartbeat.”