FOCUS Technique • Friday, August 24, 2001 • 1 Introduction This special freshman issue of the Technique is published yearly dur- Technique’s new Focus section works to bring issues to light ing the first week of school. Regular By Matthew Bryan holds within its brick walls. No Technique must grow out of the from the administration, they will publication begins next Friday and Editor-in-Chief specific event or topic prompted mold of a daily newspaper and appear in News. A club collecting continues throughout the semester, ex- the column, but rather the per- take on a more news-magazine style food to feed children in a starving cept during midterm break, dead week, The word “focus” means the ceived need for information about in the feature-reporting Focus sec- Third World nation, or a vice pres- and finals. The Technique is Geor- point at which rays converge after campus research made the column tion; big-picture, feature-length ident declaring all students exempt gia Tech’s student newspaper—a reflection or refraction. It was the essential, the idea came from within. stories and the addition of info- from finals, will appear in News. unique group of journalists at a school need for focus that prompted the Additionally, as trends form in graphics and pull-out stories re- Something like fun weekend get- with no journalism department. creation of this section by the same the news section their impetus will flect that change. aways or the haunted house in Cover Photo name. be discovered in Focus. For exam- The new Focus section replac- Towers hall will be covered as En- Summer Architecture Design Stu- The Technique’s News section ple, a string of campus burglaries es Campus Life in these pages. tertainment. dio students Jorge Bazan and Mieko acts like a mirror to reflect the might generate a feature on cam- Ironically, the Campus Life sec- This change is one of the first Preston design a model for the Italian events and happenings on cam- pus crime, or a series of adminis- tion of the Technique seemed to of those being made to the paper design contest ATER, an Italian ac- pus with a straightforward, unbi- trative changes in a particular lack a central theme or focus and in the coming year. A change that ronym which indicates the contest’s ased approach to news reporting. department might prompt a story became simply a repository for any- came from the recognition of a focus, social housing for the third mil- The new Focus section con- indicating the changes are a sign thing that didn’t fit in News or shortcoming in years past. lennium. verges trends and broad issues re- of growth or of decline. Entertainment. Focus replaces The Technique is being called Help Wanted flected in the News section in order Previously, these issues ap- Campus Life but doesn’t resem- to a new level of professionalism. to bring to light their place in the peared, albeit rarely, in the News ble it. Focus fills a gap in coverage As the Institute improves academ- Are you doing research on cam- big picture. section. Stories such as “What is not previously filled by the Tech- ically, Auxiliary Services improves pus? Do you think you can handle our In short, News has its origins Honor?” or “What is Hazing?” nique and splits Campus Life be- in its service to students, and the abusive interrogations? Our contes- outside the Technique office, but were feature-style responses to tween News and Entertainment. quality of students improves, so tants are decided in a weekly full- Focus is formed from within. For honor code violations and a pair In the past, News echoed mainly must the newspaper. contact Parcheesi tournament. For example, the new Campus Research of fraternity hazing incidents. These items from the administration, and We’re commited to this new more information, contact columnists Review column from Ben Small ‘features’ are important because news generated from students was standard and excited about our Benjamin Small at [email protected] and Joe Gezo illustrates what in- of the format of the Technique. sent to Campus Life. Now, as events new Focus and excited about the or his sidekick, The Amazing Joe Gezo novative research Georgia Tech As a weekly publication, the happen, whether student-based or upcoming year at the Technique. at [email protected]. 2 • Friday, August 24, 2001 • Technique FOCUS Tutoring programs encourage students to ask for help Tech offers a variety of tutoring programs to meet the often unique requirements of students. From on-air question and answer sessions to personally crafted one-on-one appointments, students have every opportunity to get the support they need. By Gray Gunter for three to four hours each night, Assistant Campus Life Editor Freshman Experience provides free tutoring in the basement of each The first step to recovery is ad- Freshman Experience dorm. mitting you have a problem. When Instructors are trained to pro- it comes to academic difficulties, vide help in calculus, chemistry and many students are hesitant to ask physics, which compose the major- for help. Robert Busch, a third year ity of a student’s first year curricu- Chemistry student, echoed these sen- lum. Tutors are predominately timents, “Going to someone, other upperclass students currently enrolled than somebody else in my class, is at Tech who have already complet- usually the last thing I do when I’m ed the introductory courses. Eliza- stuck on a problem,” Busch said. beth Eubank, a former student in The reasons behind this plague the Freshman Experience said, “Most of apprehension are varied. Many of them are very knowledgeable and students fall victim to general social willing to help you as much as they anxiety, understandable at a school can.” The student tutors for each renowned for attracting introverts. dorm are easily distinguished by their Others aren’t sure where to go for blood-red collared shirts. answers, although there are entire In addition to the group tutor- departments dedicated to provid- ing provided by Freshman Experi- ing student support. The final, and ence, the Office of Success Programs often most prominent culprit, is la- offers one-on-one tutoring by re- ziness, though I just don’t feel like quest in subjects such as: Civil En- writing anything about that. gineering 2020, Chemistry 1310, For those willing to overcome 1311,1312, Math 1501, 1502, 2401, the daunting forces of shyness, con- 2403, Computer Science 1311, fusion and laziness, there are plenty 1312, ECE 2025, 2030, Physics of tutoring resources available on 2211, 2212, Spanish 1001, 1002, campus for free. This article focuses 2001 and 2002. on the broadest programs available In the 1-to-1 program, students By Jon Purvis / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS to students of all majors. Yet, for are allowed one session per week A lone student studies in the library. In order to support all students needing academic assistance, the Special each specific major and course there regardless of the course. Students Programs Office, OMED and Freshman Experience provide a widely diverse selection of tutoring alternatives. are a number of alternatives for aca- should know, however, that the pro- demic assistance. For more infor- gram has strict guidelines concern- not notify the Success Programs available for you, special arrange- toring can schedule an appointment mation on these services, students ing cancellations and no-shows. For Office or the tutor by phone or ments can be made to get you the online at lotus.stucen.gatech.edu/ should contact the office of their example, when a student cancels by email (no-show), the student will help you need. Instruction in other 1to1/ or call 404-894-1945. To can- particular school. phone or by email three separate be restricted from receiving tutor- subjects is available by request, which cel an appointment, call 894-1945 Entering freshmen enrolled in times, access to tutoring will be re- ing assistance for the remainder of comes in handy for that tricky ther- or 894-1970. If you are interested the Freshman Experience Program stricted for one week after the third that semester. Thus, it is important mo class. Overall, the sessions are in tutoring students, contact Paddy can obtain help in their core classes cancellation. that students use their one-on-one generally informal and extremely Kennington at 894-1970 or without having to leave their dorm. Also, when a student does not sessions wisely. helpful. From Sunday through Thursday, attend a tutoring session and does Luckily, if a course or time is not Students interested in 1-to-1 tu- See Tutors, page 11 Campus Research Review Undergraduate research a Fuel Cell Champion lasting benefit for students Benjamin Small and Joe Gezo By Josh Boutwell vantages to the co-op program as Columnist Staff Writer well, the biggest being time. Since students are only attending class every Professor Jack Winnick of the Once students get out of school, other semester, it takes at least an School of Chemical Engineering most find that employers don’t re- extra year to graduate. For many is striving to make this planet a ally care that they got an A in Fluid students on the fast track to gradua- better place. No really—he’s in- Dynamics or passed Calculus. What tion, this is simply to high a price to volved with some projects that employers really want to know is pay for work experience. will help us save the environment that you can complete the job for If interested in the co-op pro- as well as produce electricity more which you were hired. For most of gram, get in on the ground floor as a efficiently. This amazing prospect us here at Tech, that job will be freshman so that your graduation is is because of one little chemical some form of research, whether it is delayed as little as possible. You device—the fuel cell. (Perhaps designing circuits, cloning sheep, should contact the co-op depart- certain presidential figureheads building lasers or irradiating stuff. ment or visit their web site at ought to pay attention.) Experience in appropriate re- www.coop.gatech.edu. And what are fuel cells, you search will show a prospective em- If you decided that co-oping is say? I’m glad you asked. Fuel cells ployer that you can be productive not for you, consider working with are perhaps the most promising in a lab. To some employers, this a professor. Most colleges at Tech development for alternative power. can be even more important than offer classes known as “special prob- If you live in California, you’re grades. After all, knowing about d- lems.” These classes are for highly probably having dreams about By Marques McMillan / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Tubocurarine chloride is vastly dif- motivated undergraduate students Professor Winnick’s research is devoted to recovering waste materi- them. Professor Winnick’s research is devoted to recovering waste materi- ferent from synthesizing it. interested in specific course immer- als and reusing them, making fuel cells a “sustainable technology.” See, most current power plants als and reusing them, making fuel cells a “sustainable technology.” Perhaps the easiest way to get sion and research. They come in burn a fossil fuel (like coal), and some fancy electrochemistry in to see more people making that into research as an undergrad is to two basic flavors. The first is similar the heat produces steam, which is the middle and leave only harm- initial investment. Helping this join the Cooperative Education Pro- to a regular course, for instance Public used to turn a turbine and gener- less water at the other end. (You progress is professor Winnick and gram. This program involves work- Policy offers a special problems course ate electricity. Inevitably, a cer- remember reaction potentials from the Georgia Tech Center for In- ing for a company in the business where students participate in a mock tain amount of power is lost in freshman chemistry, right?) No novative Fuel Cell and Battery world every other semester. There trial. These type of classes provide this system (normally around 50 pollution, no moving parts, and Technologies are several advantages to this sys- students with role-playing and hands- percent), since the chemical en- great efficiency (sometimes bet- (www.fcbt.gatech.edu/). He ex- tem, including not having to attend on experience while instructing them ergy is transformed into thermal ter than 90 percent), since they plained to us some of the specif- classes every semester. This provides in business etiquette, proper work energy, which produces mechan- convert chemical potential directly ics of modern fuel cell technology. students with a break from the crunch ethic, and the insides and outs of ical energy and finally electrical into usable electricity. A Proton exchange fuel cell of academia while garnering price- the judiciary system. energy. Additionally, burning large So why haven’t we switched (PEFC) is a sort of membrane less work experience. Of course the Yet most students, when con- amount of anything tends to have entirely to fuel cell power yet? sandwich and generally runs near other advantage is the money. Co- templating research, envision wearing some rather undesirable side ef- First, they’re substantially more room temperature. Encased be- op employment pays extensively a lab coat and mixing the contents fects (soot in the air, acid rain, expensive to build than a coal tween two thin sheets of plati- more than most on-campus jobs of various beakers, a la Dr. Fran- Greenpeace getting on your case, power plant, even though they’re num-containing electrode, there and is a great resume builder for the kenstein. While there aren’t many etc.). much cheaper to operate. As fuel is a proton exchange membrane, next time you’re scoping out that professors synthesizing seven foot Fuel cells, on the other hand, costs continue to rise and fuel cell high paying research and develop- tall monsters, there are plenty who take in fuel and air in one end, do technology develops, we’ll start See Fuel Cells, page 8 ment job at Cisco. Yet, there are some major disad- See Research, page 8 FOCUS Technique • Friday, August 24, 2001 • 3 Tech offers liberal arts degrees with a technology flair By Rob Hill nologies of Representation (LCC Contributing Writer 3314) and Science, Technology, and Postcolonialism (LCC 3316), LCC There is a certain strangeness to is altering the preconceived notions writing about the liberal arts pro- surrounding liberal arts degrees. grams at Georgia Tech, a certain je Most importantly, LCC is striv- ne sais quoi that might have some- ing to integrate contemporary elec- thing to do with the fact that Geor- tronic mediums into classical modes gia Tech is an engineering institution of communication, cultural studies that only confers its undergradu- and humanities. ates with Bachelor of Sciences. You don’t have to be an LCC “If Georgia Tech really wants to major to get involved, though. LCC be in the top ten [universities], its provides minors in Women, Sci- liberal arts program needs to be ex- ence and Technology (WST) and panded greatly,” James Bradshaw, Performance Studies and certificates undergraduate Physics major, said. in American Literature, Literature Anything to do with the eternal and Culture Studies and Film Stud- search for truth and beauty ies. through␣ such mediums as paints and If you haven’t the time to pick poetry sound as out of place here as up a minor, you should check out the␣ Discovery Channel’s crocodile Prometheus, an organization that hunters Steve and Terri making a supports History, Technology, and guest appearance on The Young and Science (HTS) majors at Tech by the Restless. sponsoring D-Day discussion fo- Yet Tech does offer a liberal arts rums. education. Although the program The group organizes discussion is definitely integrated with tech- topics with panelists who either give nology, it offers a hybrid take on supporting or negating evidence to the classical liberal arts degree for argue a debate. Afterwards, a dis- students interested in the study of cussion is initiated between the pan- technology and culture. In fact, Tech elists and the members of the actually supports an entire college audience. dedicated to the liberal arts, Ivan Past topics included “The Greek Photo by Robert Hill / STUDENT PUBLICATIONSl Allen, and they’re doing some real- System: Yea or Nay,” “Affirmative Yuri Gitman, senior STAC major, takes part in a STAC Society discussion on the implementation of an audio- ly amazing stuff. Action: Free Ride or Leveling the visual performance studies course at Tech. Gitman has plans to continue his film studies at NYU in the fall. “Our goal is to integrate the In- Playing Field,” and “Jesus Christ stitute’s traditional professional the Resurrection: Fact or Fiction.” media studies program. STAC, Sci- nalism. in the art of Industrial Design. Un- strengths with the kind of liberal LCC is also heavily involved in ence, Technology and Culture, is a Yet perhaps you’re more inter- dergraduates concentrate on “form, education that prepares students to DramaTech, Photography Club and distinctive program that combines ested in the social context and legal- color, proportion, and composition manage information, design and plan STAC Society. They even sponsored traditional mediums of study with ities surrounding information in a process of visual and manual projects, communicate clearly, think a Cannes screening group, led by current technical and scientific ex- technology. If so, Public Policy is training in both two and three di- critically, and work effectively in LCC professor Paul Young, to gen- pertise. The program emphasizes the place for you. Public Policy con- mensional design.” Students learn teams across disciplines and cultures,” erate discourse among film students. communication, cultural interpre- centrates on understanding tech- problem solving techniques, model Dean of Ivan Allen College, Sue If you can’t find what you’re look- tations and textual analysis in order nological change and making the construction, sketching, drawing and Rosser, said. ing for at Tech, Ivan Allen also sup- to analyze texts ranging from nov- appropriate and responsible deci- concept formation and design. To begin, the School of Litera- ports cross enrollment opportunities els to films and webpages. STAC sions that come along with it. Pub- “I can’t imagine world without ture, Communication, and Culture with Georgia State and Emory, a majors prepare for careers in film, lic Policy majors assess issues such art,” graduate ID student, Sue Rink- (LCC) is playing an integral part in program that diversifies an already television, and the evolving disci- as economic development and tech- er, said. redefining the fundamental foun- impressive academic curriculum. pline of webdesign and digital art. nology, hazardous waste manage- Students also master computer- dation of humanities education. “Programs like HTS are liberal They also enter fields like e-com- ment and smart economic and aided design, ergonomics, human With course offerings such as arts on steroids,” HTS alumnus, merce, media specialization and ac- ecological growth. factors and materials manufactur- Evolution and the Industrial Age Andrew Pae, said. ademia. If Ivan Allen isn’t your niche, ing. ID graduates secure jobs rang- (LCC 2112), the Rhetoric of Scien- In addition, most students don’t LCC students have also gone on the Georgia Tech College of Archi- ing from product designers to mass- tific Inquiry (LCC 3310), Tech- realize that Tech offers an extensive to programs in policy, law, and jour- tecture offers a challenging program transportation layout specialists. ␣ print12wax

repeat5 It’s not that difficult with the production of the Technique. Why not stop by Thursday mornings, room 137, Flag Building? Free bagels.

paste3 tape4 4 • Friday, August 24, 2001 • Technique FOCUS

Majors, minors and certificates offered at Tech Dreamy geek-centric College of Architecture: Certificates Offered: History Majors Offered: Chemical Engineering Sociology Architecture Polymer Eng. and Polymers Women, Science, & Tech. paraphernalia rules Building Construction Electrical and Computer Eng. International Affairs Industrial Design Textile Manufacturing Public Policy By Benjamin Small Another stupendously popular Biomedical Engineering Political Science Staff Writer set of books is Donald Knuth’s tril- Certificates Offered: ogy The Art of Computer Program- Building Construction DuPree College of Management: College of Sciences: Everybody likes toys. Especially ming, which is $134.95 from online Fine-Arts Music (Fall of 2001) Majors Offered: Majors Offered: geeks. So if you’re trying to win the bookstores like amazon.com and Management Biology heart of some technologically-afflu- barnesandnoble.com. These books College of Computing: Chemistry and Biochemistry ent or otherwise nerdy classmate, cover nearly everything a CS needs Majors Offered: Certificates Offered: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences here are some gift suggestions. And to know. Classics. Computer Science Accounting Applied Mathematics if you yourself are a geek and are Digital cameras have recently been IT Management Discrete Mathematics trying to stay with the latest in geek hot too. Kodak, Canon, Fuji, and Certificates Offered: Finance Physics trends, here are some übercool sug- Olympus all have some really great E-Commerce Technology - International Management Applied Physics gestions, yo. models, but they’re up in the $100s. E-Commerce Solutions Marketing Psychology It is important that I first make The quality on digital cameras has E-Commerce Site Admin. Operations Management you familiar with one of the great- increased drastically over the last E-Commerce Technology for Certificates Offered est online purveyors of cool swag few years; they’re certainly worth Managers Ivan Allen College: Biology ever: thinkgeek.com. Check them the investment. UNIX - Majors Offered: Molecular Biology/Genetics Many even have features present UNIX Systems Management Economics Environmental Biology in good-quality analog cameras like UNIX Systems Programming History, Science & Technology Microbiology/Microbial Tech. “Now, don’t be control over shutter speed, focus depth, and brightness. LINUX - International Affairs Health Sciences fooled by all this new Using Linux Systems Literature, Comm., & Culture Chemistry and Biochemistry Yeah, all these are pretty hefty Linux Systems Admin. Public Policy Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry technology—books investments, so you’d better be pretty serious about attracting that dream Internet - Chemical Analysis are definitely still in. Web Page Design Certificates Offered Physical/Inorganic Chemistry geek. But if you’re still in the “get- Web Programming Economics Earth & Atmospheric Sciences O’Reily Books are ting-to-know-you” stage, there are still some cool things for under $100. Networking - African-American Studies Surficial Geochemistry perennial geek Network Operations Asian Affairs Solid Earth Geophysics The Happy Hacking Keyboard Admin. of Open Systems European Affairs Mathematics favorites.” is “the ultimate personal keyboard.” Software Engineering - History Acoustics See, computer geeks value their key- Software Engineering Sociology Atomic, Molecular, Chem. Physics boards like appendages (’cause they Object-Oriented Dev. International Affairs Applied Optics are), and these are some of the neat- Info. Tech. for Managers American Literature Biophysics out sometime if you haven’t already. est keyboards out. Database Management Drama and Film Computational Physics They sell all kinds of geek-centric The key layout itself is like an IT Project Management Science, Tech., and Culture Nonlinear Dynamic and Chaos paraphernalia: caffeinated beverag- older UNIX keyboard, but there Cognitive Science Technical and Business Comm. Solid State Physics es, trendy t-shirts, books, and gad- are only like 60 keys instead of the Western Traditions Sec. Education Preparation gets. inflated 100+ of contemporary key- College of Engineering: Performance Studies Psychology Most of these items can be pur- boards. They start at about $50. Majors Offered: Women Science & Technology Biopsychology chased online or from your local Barcode scanners are also spiffy Aerospace Engineering French Experimental Psychology neighborhood technology store. On as far as peripherals go. The :Cue- Chemical Engineering German Cognitive Psychology with the list then. Cat made by Digital Convergence Civil Engineering Japanese Industrial-Organizational Psych A small poll of some of my geek (www.crq.com) is definitely the most Electrical Engineering Linguistics Engineering Psychology buddies indicates TiVo to be a must- widely-known of these, and all kinds Computer Engineering Spanish Social/Personality Psychology have. If you haven’t heard of this of software is being developed to Industrial Engineering Pre-Law novel digital recording system, get interface them with our favorite Materials Engineering Political Science Minors Offered with it—visit www.tivo.com. OpenSource operating systems. Mechanical Engineering Philosophy, Science & Tech. Biology According to this website, “be- Speaking of the OpenSource Nuclear and Radiological Eng. Minors Offered Earth & Atmospheric Sciences cause it’s smart, TiVo automatical- movement, t-shirts sure are cheap. Textile and Fiber Engineering Economics Cognitive Science ly finds and records your family’s And all geeks like to wear t-shirts favorite programs so you can watch supporting their favorite project, what you want, when you want.” Linux distribution, section of code Sounds pretty cool right? And it from DeCSS, or whatever. mostly is too. TiVo recorders start Now that we’re on to non-elec- at about $200 with a monthly sub- tronic toys, might as well discuss scription of $10 or so. LEGOs. There’s not a geek alive Related to this digital entertain- who hasn’t at some time played with ment is HDTV (high-definition LEGOs possibly for days on end— TV). Everyone who watches televi- mindstorm and the old sk00l sets sion regularly should certainly have alike. The website www.lego.com HDTV. More and more TV broad- is pretty well-done: you can make a casters are switching to this sub- stantially higher-resolution standard, but only a few stations in the Atlan- “There’s not a geek ta area are on top of things yet. Too bad the appliances themselves are alive who hasn’t at more than twice as expensive as or- some time played dinary TVs. And everybody knows flat-pan- with LEGOs possibly el displays are also crazy-cool. You for days on end— know how crowded you desk al- ready is—imagine replacing that big, mindstorm and the bulky CRT monitor that’s a good old sk00l sets alike.” 14 inches deep with something only two inches at most. Thanks to the magic of liquid crystal or even plasma technology, wish list, view all the current sets, SGI, Apple, Samsung, Sharp, Pa- and get information on visiting the nasonic, and Philips-Magnavox all LEGOLAND nearest you. make these obviously expensive but And some honorable mentions: kick-ass computer monitors. oscilloscopes, inflatable furniture, Now, don’t be fooled by all this the Robomower, pinball machines, new technology—books are defi- more RAM, MP3 players, global nitely still in. O’Reily Books positioning systems, gigabit switch- (www.ora.com) are perennial geek ing hardware, 802.11b parapher- favorites. These are the books with nalia, and Encyclopaedia Britannica. pictures of random animals on their So there’s my brief list of things covers—the “animal books” of com- to get for that geek-of-your-dreams. puter programming. Or for yourself. Happy hunting. Best-sellers include the “nutshell” series, especially UNIX, Perl, Linux, If you know someone who is amaz- Apache, and XML. And of course ingly proficient with cool swag, drop Evil Geniuses in a Nutshell. us a line at [email protected] FOCUS Technique • Friday, August 24, 2001 • 5 Student credit card debt on the rise Word to the Wise Infographic Finance to Congressional Requesters, by the Eight ways to protect your card United States General Accounting College Student Credit Card Debt Office (GAO), 86 percent of stu- privileges and credit rating dents said that they paid their own > $7500 22.36% monthly credit card bills in full each Budget: quickest way to destroy your credit month. According to the Student Establish a monthly budget for rating. Your payment must reach $5001 - $7500 10.44% Monitor study, 36 percent of stu- yourself, one that includes real- the financial institution or busi- dents obtained their cards by re- istic figures for credit card pay- ness by the payment due date. sponding to mail offers, 15 percent $3001 - $5000 15.79% ments. Keep your monthly debt Otherwise, it is considered a late

Dollars Owed by filling out an application from a obligation below 10 percent of payment and will incur expen- display on campus, and 14 percent $1000 - $3000 23.28% your monthly net income. sive penalties, extra fees, or addi- by applying at a bank. In addition, tional finance charges. the report noted that more than Use your credit: < $1000 28.13% half of the students reported credit The best way to establish a cred- Minimum Maxim: limits of $1,001 to $5,000, and that it history is to “exercise” the credit B e sure that you are capable of 0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 24 percent of students had com- Percentage of Respondants already given to you. Use your making your minimum bined credit limits exceeding $5,000. Source: "Student Credit Card Debt Poll," JobWeb credit responsibly; it will payment. However, One major credit card company eventually effect paying more than By Gray Gunter ing money among young people. is pioneering a creative way to bring your credit your mini- Assistant Focus Editor These two facts put most 18 year- its services to even younger clien- rating. mum pay- olds squarely in the sights of the tele. Visa International has recently ment will In a world of so much rejection, major credit providers. introduced the Visa Buxx card, which reduce your it’s good to have a few credit card The sole criterion for first-time is obviously hip and cool given the finance solicitations in the mail. The lan- approval by most credit card com- number of x’s used in its name, and charges guage is flattering to the point of panies is age. Lenders must ensure marketed directly to teenagers. The and, of embarrassment “you’ve been selected that students are available for lots of official Visa web site touts the card course, low- for this invitation because of your nice, legally binding contracts. Any- as, “Specially designed for teenag- er your to- personal accomplishments,” “you’ve one over 18 years of age can decide ers, Visa Buxx may look like a credit tal bill. been selected to receive this special which credit card to get and how card, but it’s actually a stored value invitation.” After just a few letters, much to borrow without having a card to teach teenagers practical Keep all infor- even the most humble person will parent or guardian cosign. More money skills that will benefit them mation current: start to feel honored. You have to importantly, young people are able throughout their lives. Though it’s Notify your credit card wonder how many people the cred- to do so without having to show a accepted at over 18 million loca- company of all name, job, itors turned down before you were means of paying off the debt they tions worldwide, on the Internet, or address changes immediately. handpicked. Despite the tone of the will incur. and even at ATM machines, it’s Misinformation could easily turn letters, credit card solicitations are With increasing frequency, the purchasing limit is restricted by a Set reasonable limits: into a late payment because of issued with little deliberation. The decision facing students is not wheth- pre-set balance. This will help teach Limit your limit. Avoid spend- forwarding errors and process- policy behind credit card offers break er or not to get a credit card but how teens how to set a budget, prioritize ing up to your limit. The credit ing lags. Take the time to update down to one simple rule: if you are a many to own and operate at one what they want to buy, and decide limit shown on your statement your personal information. college student you will be offered a time. The average undergraduate how often they can afford to buy.” is the maximum amount that credit card. has $2,200 in credit card debt, ac- Debt management organizations the institution that issued your Pay with cash: College students are the natural cording to Nellie Mae, the nation's recommend a few guidelines when card is prepared to lend you. You Statistics show that consumers target demographic of credit card largest maker of student loans. That choosing a credit card. First, decide don’t have to spend it all. Emer- spend 50 percent more when they companies for two reasons. First, figure jumps to $5,800 for graduate whether or not you really need a gencies may arise where you will are paying with plastic. When there is a need, or at least an urgent students. Since so many student cred- credit card. Figure out if you have a need that money and spending you decide to make a major pur- want, of money among students. it cards have high annual percent- regular income to pay off your debt. over that limit will incur addi- chase, save up and use cash. When asked about his current eco- age rates, the longer students wait Then determine which credit card tional fees or penalties and often nomic situation Chris Hammer said, to pay the cards off, the worse it has the best payment system for spawn the cancellation of your Cancel miscellaneous cards: “Money is my number one concern gets. A Nellie Mae study conducted you. Ignore the introductory rates account. Cut up your credit card offers right now, outside of finishing Baul- in 2000 found that 32 percent of and pay attention to the regular APR when they come in. Not seeking der’s Gate 2.” Next, much to the undergraduate students have four of the card. Finally, and though this Be on time: out new credit is one way to help shock and amazement of parents or more credit cards. This figure is seems simple, it is the downfall of Pay your credit card bills imme- reduce your chance of running around the world, a lack of restraint up from 27 percent in 1998. many students--don’t buy more than diately. Late payments are the up new credit. and forethought in regards to spend- According to the 2001 Report you can pay for. 6 • Friday, August 24, 2001 • Technique FOCUS

Keeping track of life: the PDA Need to get organized fast? By Jon Kaye one. As Anthony said, “Playing games that “it was expensive to get, and I Listen up and take some notes Staff Writer on [a Palm] is kinda dorky.” don’t use it as much as I should.” Palms come in a variety of mod- For students who like to dress By Martin Hildebrand can take several forms, princi- The Technique Staff wants to els to meet a student’s needs. For for success, there is the Palm V se- Contributing Writer pally the old-fashioned handwrit- help you along with useful advice the economically minded, there is ries. These models are marginally ten list. Just like a fine hand rolled on one of the handiest devices geek the Palm III series; while these models superior to the III series in terms of Have you ever made a to-do cigar and Single Malt scotch culture has ever known: the atomic are only a couple years old, in com- functionality (specifically, they of- list? I’m certain that you have whiskey, the handwritten list is, supercollider. No, not really. Even puting terms, that’s roughly the fer a somewhat faster processor and because we have so much to do – and always will be, a classic. I though members of the Tech com- equivalent of several eons. These a rechargeable battery,) yet they of- all of the time—that we can’t prefer this method as I am a pur- munity have been rallying metro models range from the IIIe, which fer profound benefits in style. With possibly remember everything. ist list maker – word to the wise. Atlanta office supply stores to carry says, “I’m a geek, but I couldn’t a sexy, thin exterior, this series fits I am a to-do list freak. In fact, But, a handwritten list – in those for the past five years, they justify spending in your pocket well, and when you’re my affliction—if you find this bullet form – in red ink on a keep giving lame excuses like, “Our more than in a meeting at your co-op job, you’ll obsession a problem, that is—is yellow legal pad is rarely mistak- stockroom is less than three miles a look so much better playing more than just writing lists of en as commonplace class work. across” or “Our insurance doesn’t Tetris to ignore your things I need to accomplish. I Please, plebes, do not abscond underwrite potentially deadly co-workers. also make lists of world destina- with my patented trademark list electronic devices,” so in- Perhaps with a tions that I want to visit; lists of design because I will promptly stead, this humble swank Palm V, Atlanta restaurants at which I set all plagiarized lists ablaze with writer can only playing games is a for- would like to eat; lists of plea- my Prometheus cigar lighter. offer you givable offense. Further- sure-reading books to devour; If a list is of critical impor- advice on more, the rechargeable lists of movies to watch that are tance, foreign language-lists are the sec- batteries will add conve- in theaters now; lists of movies quite adept at preventing un- ond most nience to your life be- to rent from the video store, etc. wanted eyes from reading the useful geek toy: cause you will not These are all separate lists, most important facts of your life. the Palm. have to waste valu- mind you. One cannot combine Due to the rarity of Americans I’ll cut to the chase here. able seconds all these various to-dos onto one reading languages not based on Palms are socially constructive changing tri- universal to-do list! This is the Latin; Arabic, Russian or Kore- devices that allow students to keep hundred ple-As. first no-no to remember when an would be the ideal ruse to track of assignments, appointments thirty bucks on this Got making to-do lists. But, you say, protect your secrets. But, I can’t with professors so they can suck up toy” to the IIIc, which says, money? Want I can combine the movies onto write in Russian, you say. Well, to raise their grades, and dates. For “I’m such an ubergeek that I want to make a CS pro- one list, right? No chance, ama- while I have a special place in my the upperclassmen reading this, you geek toys now, now, now!” One fessor jealous? If you a n - teur. Listen up. heart for the Cyrillic alphabet of may not remember that third one, can imagine the chagrin of the peo- swered yes to either of those While you may think that you Mother Russia, foreign-language so I’ll jog your memory; they’re those ple who paid a premium on the questions, you need a Palm VII. occasionally formulate to-do lists, lists may not be the answer for things you used to have on Fridays IIIc, Palm’s first foray into the realm While they lack the sleek styling of I assure you that you are strictly you (I may be a List Nazi, but I in high school. Useful perhaps, but of color video, when the m505 was the V series, the VII earns its stripes a recreational list maker. I assert am a Communist at heart.) In socially constructive, how? A re- released a few months later with a as a wireless doodad. Just raise the this bold claim because list mak- that case, lists written in a short cent poll of Tech students conduct- sleeker design and more standard antenna, and you can connect to ing is a fine art that only few hand notation system of your ed by myself and ECE Senior, Billy features. Palms in the III series fea- the Internet from virtually anywhere. have perfected. While I admit a own, utilizing abbreviations, al- Barott revealed that by and large, ture PalmOS 3 or greater, so they The Palm VII is the last bastion of bit of intellectual arrogance on phanumeric code words or bi- students view the Palm as a positive are compatible with most any of decadent gadgetry, so much so that this matter, I have a penchant nary code if you’re a computer device. Notably, when asked about today’s applications. CS Major, Sven I have never personally seen a Palm for horn tooting. dork, will certainly be sufficient. her views on dating men who own Roepke, the only student surveyed VII outside of an electronics store. After you learn the basics of While crooks may be intelligent, Palms, third year ISyE major, Jan- who owned a Palm, noted that his If you buy this device, you will have proper to-do list construction and they are too lazy to try to deci- een Anthony commented that she Palm IIIx with 4MB of memory is ultimately won the contest that ad- have practiced them sufficiently pher a list that is in anything but would have no prejudice against “good for keeping my memos and vances you to the top rung of the on real lists, one can indulge in plain English. Torpidity explains dating a man who owns a Palm. scheduling, but I don’t really use it geek ladder. Heartbroken, your geeky improvisation, provided that the why crooks have to steal and swin- However, as the Technique staff is for assignments.” While Roepke does friends will cower in shame as you fundamental list-making rules are dle to survive. committed to pointing out the so- note that he sees the general bene- have an IRC conversation with a not violated. To return to a topic I alluded cially constructive ways that a Palm fits of Palm ownership, they are an thirteen-year-old in Jakarta. Aww, First, a word on the variety of to earlier, each list is limited to can enhance a freshmen’s life, it is expensive luxury. Despite the fact isn’t that cute? a/s/l plz? Of course, list formats that exist and the important to point out the poten- that his IIIx is one of the conserva- proper storage of said lists. Lists See Lists, page 9 tial faux pas of malfeasantly using tively priced models, he observes See PDA, page 11 FOCUS Technique • Friday, August 24, 2001 • 7

Research from page 2 Fuel Cells from page 2 are conducting super cool research. made of a Teflon-like electrolytic nick and his research group are de- Let’s say, for instance you’re a polymer and surrounded by some veloping techniques to make fuel pyromaniac, you should check out nifty chemicals. cells even more efficient; he is “very propellant combustion research in One of these is the fuel itself, big on any energy-producing de- Aerospace Engineering. But if you’re which could be hydrogen or even vice being environmentally benign.” instead a fan of Asimov, you could an alcohol. On one side of the poly- Much of the research is devoted to always join the Microelectronics mer membrane, electrons are stripped recovering waste materials and re- Research Center. This type of re- off of hydrogen. On the other, the using them, making fuel cells a “sus- search is the second flavor of the hydrogen, which is now missing its tainable technology.” “special problems” class. electrons, combines with oxygen in Hopefully, the group’s work will Sometimes, however, to get into the air to create water. be able to convince large utility cor- undergraduate research, you have We get to keep those electrons, porations to adopt fuel cells as a to be either very lucky or just plain which gain about 0.8 volts of elec- financially efficient source of elec- crazy. As an example, we will review trical potential, so 150 individual tricity. They have constructed sys- the School of Chemistry and Bio- cells can be tied together in series to tems for recovering chlorine from chemistry. The first step in secur- produce the standard 120 V. Vast waste hydrochloric acid (a common ing a research position is to scope arrays of fuel cells could produce product in many industrial processes out the areas of research you’re in- substantial like microelec- terested in. This means meeting the quantities of tronic fabrica- professor who is conducting the re- power. Al- tion) and for search and letting them know that though the plat- Winnick is “very big using hydrogen you’re ready and willing to be their inum electrodes on any energy- sulfide (that research slave. You need to become keep PEFCs too foul-smelling more than a face in the crowd and a expensive for producing device product of petrol name on the ledger. Go up to the large-scale pow- refinement) as a Photo by Robert Hill / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS being environmentally professor after class and ask him er plants, small- reactant for fuel James Bradshaw is an undergraduate researcher in physics. Students questions. Take advantage of office er units are benign.” cells. volunteered in areas ranging from microelectronics to foreign policy. hours. But most importantly, do already in mass Dr. Jack Winnick Pro- well in the class! If the professor undergrad research, said, “I actively tronic communications. One group production for Chemical Engineering fessor Winnick likes you, you can ask him if he has encourage all students to start look- in LCC is creating a virtual reality powering homes believes in break- any room in his lab for you. If it ing as early as possible. Even your meditation chamber. The disadvan- and vehicles. ing down every turns out that there is room, and he first semester.” tage of this system for students is Solid Oxide potential barri- accepts your support, you will be Science isn’t the only place to the lack of a course or course credit. Fuel Cells (SOFC) operate at high- er to the introduction of fuel cells given a permit to take the courses look for research, though. The School Dr. Greg Noble, of HTS, said, “An er temperatures (~1000° C) but can into the market. We couldn’t agree 2901, 2902 or 2903. of History, Science and Technolo- undergraduate must have a real fire use a variety of fuels; electricity can more since, to the best of our knowl- Students sign up for each course gy (HTS) and the School of Litera- in his belly or else this research will be generated from natural gas, die- edge, electricity is good and smog is in series and upon completion of ture Communication and Culture end up in the background.” STAC sel fuel, kerosene, gasoline, and even bad. These new technologies are their lab work, are given course credit (LCC) both offer research oppor- conducts research on the social is- coal. They use the same sort of pro- definitely the solution to our elec- by their sponsoring professor. In tunities for devoted undergraduates. sues associated with technological- ton and electron exchange as PEFCs, tricity shortages and energy cost in- these introductory courses you learn While engineering and science ma- ly advanced societies and the cultural but since the electrodes can be made creases, and they’re also the answer basic research techniques and how jors usually get course credit, it’s implications of this advancement. from cheaper metals (like copper), to our many of our environmental to perform literature searches. While not always guaranteed. LCC, STAC, If interested, check out the Ivan the cost of SOFC is low enough to concerns. this is certainly not the glamorous and HTS go at it from a different Allen College webpage at make them applicable for larger gi- The only hindrance that remains high-tech project students dream perspective. www.iac.gatech.edu/. gawatt-range power plants. is educating corporate and govern- of, it is a necessary step to getting Once you and a professor have Undergrad research can be a very Moreover, waste heat from the ment entities so that they realize your foot in the research door. If agreed to work together, the profes- important addition to your career reaction can be used to generate fuel cells are the best economic so- you manage to stick it out, you will sor applies for grant money. Usual- at Georgia Tech. It will give you a even more electricity from a tur- lution too. eventually be able to take 4901, 4902 ly the grant awarded is around the competitive advantage over all those bine, just like traditional plants, If you’d like to help this cause or 4903. In these courses, students range of fifteen hundred dollars and hum drum students who simply took which makes SOFCs insanely effi- and are interest in this sort of re- are given the opportunity to con- is used for travel and other expens- regular classes and played DOOM cient alternatives to coal power. search, please e-mail professor duct hard core research with pro- es. LCC conducts research in sever- all year. It is best summed up by Dr. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Feel like [email protected]; a fessors. al ultra cool areas including Noble, “The real benefit is not so running outside and shouting “it’s thorough understanding of thermo- As for when you should get start- multimedia webdesign, CD-ROM much financial, the lasting benefit a great time to be alive”? Don’t leave dynamics and physical chemistry is ed, Dr. Tom Moran, who manages development, film theory and elec- is working closely with faculty.” just yet—it gets better. Dr. Win- suggested. 8 • Friday, August 24, 2001 • Technique FOCUS

Lists from page 7 Spotlight on the Campanile: specific bullets. I strongly advise, no, I forbid a grocery list to include For whom does the bell toll? your cousin’s new phone number. That great book tip your French- By Josh Boutwell cifically developed to sound on Canadian-hating conservative best Staff Writer the speakers. friend gave you? Nope. You can’t Obviously, students weren’t jot it in the margins of your cigars- So you’re in. You got accepted polled when these CDs were pur- to-smoke list. The phone number to Tech and you’re on your way chased. Students probably of the gorgeous-yet-anorexic, 26- to surviving one of the most aca- wouldn’t have voted on the clas- year-old Indian girl you met in Spain demically challenging institutions sic show tunes or Christmas bal- last summer? If I see you writing her in the nation. You slowly emerge lads. number on that kinky places to have from the mental fog of apprecia- Yet there was a system involved sex before I die list, I’ll throw you tion and find yourself with 60 to select the music flowing from out like the trash on a Thursday. pounds of books worth a hard- the fountain. The Student Cen- The question on the tip of each earned $200. ter actually organized an informal of your tongues is, why all the for- As you struggle back to your committee of campus members mality for list making? I learned the new dorm room and a mildly scary to vote on songs relevant to the hard way that if you include the roommate, you decide to rest your Tech community. random phone number of the place weary legs by the pleasant foun- Committee members choose your cousin in Wisconsin is staying tain in front of the Student Cen- a diverse mixture of songs, includ- while the fleas his neighbor gave ter. ing ditties that had special mean- him are being exterminated from As you sit, you see a gleaming ing to the South, seasonal his apartment on a list of projects to shard of metal piercing the sky. ensembles, and of course, Tech- complete at work, you will go weeks You shrug and think, “Hey, this is themed ballads like “Up With the without speaking to your offended a technical school.” As you slowly White and Gold” and the Alma relative and you will be snubbed at begin to relax, you suddenly feel Mater the Friday night Fish Fry at Okie- the insanity begin to rise again. While “When You Wish Upon witz’s in rural Wisconsin. Word to You hear bells chiming “You Are the Star” and “The Music of the the wise, order the Perch. At least my Sunshine,” seemingly from no- Night” are all well and good, the your stomach will be full when his where! administration should maybe think Photo by Daniel Uhlig / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS The Kessler Campanile is one of Tech’s newest icons, incorporating unique-yet-lovable mother pins you Don’t worry, you’re not in- twice about playing songs like “You the traditions of the past with a contemporary emphasis on the future. against the cartoon map of Germa- sane. The Campanile, also affec- Are My Sunshine.” ny with stories of the weekend of tionately known as the “Shaft,” The songs for the Campanile would be the theme from Mighty and the music must be converted to silence she spent on a ranch in Taos, has a series of speakers in the base should uplift the mind and spirit Mouse, “Here I come to save the mono by throwing away half of the New Mexico with that strange sad- which play a variety of songs. The and encourage you to tackle chem- day!” balance. dlebag-with-eyes blood relative. speakers are specially designed to istry yet again. But don’t worry fellow students, Since so many Tech students Often, I will make so many lists reproduce the carillon “chime” Georgia Tech students have there is hope! While the stereo would like greater selection in their that I cannot find the one for which sound of authentic bells. many varied opinions on the vo- system used to play the songs is far shaft music, someone should write I search. Labeled manila envelopes The Kessler Campanile is an calizations of this monument simpler than the stereos most GT a Web interface. Perhaps a system are the brilliant solution to this vex- 80-ft tall stainless steel tower that Danny Hurley, an ECE graduate students have in their dorm rooms, where people can upload MP3s to a ing problem. They are perfect for plays carillon version of songs rang- student who has attended Tech it is expandable. server in the Box Office. This ma- the list of your friends’ birthdays ing from the "Ramblin' Wreck" for several years, felt that “the Shaft Currently, it contains a six- chine could then convert the tunes that you wrote on a napkin. Please to “You Are My Sunshine.” should be upgraded from bells to disk CD player, a few equalizers into mono and feed it into the am- don’t try that at home. Napkins for Music selection is controlled THX; then you can use the THX and a scheduling system. Brown plifier. This sounds like an ex- lists are positively reserved for ex- from the Box Office in the Stu- test instead of the whistle and you said, “You can play regular CD’s cellent senior design project. Any perts such as myself. Those guilty of dent Center. Typically, a student can play the shaft theme song.” in this system. In fact, one of the takers? improper list etiquette are likely to by the name of Derrick Brown Other suggestions for appro- other students put in a Nirvana wipe their mouths with the napkin selects which songs are broadcast priate tunes included “We Are the CD and forgot about it.” For more information on the Shaft, and completely forget to put a half- to the Tech campus. Champions” by Queen, or a few The only difficulty with this contact Rick Steele, Director of the filled bottle of cognac and a red rose But don’t blame him! Two CDs of the more humorous ballads from system is its simplicity. Apparent- at the tombstone of Edgar Allen came with the speakers. They con- South Park. Rachel Glover, an AE, Student Center, at 404-894-2788 ly it cannot handle stereo input, Poe in Baltimore on the January tain approximately 100 songs spe- felt that the best song for the shaft or [email protected]. 19th anniversary of his birth.

Technique meant it that way. It’s only funny if we It’s FOCUS Technique • Friday, August 24, 2001 • 9

Buzz Around the

Frank Pyrtle Rex Wolf Perla Ortiz David Wen Ph.D. ME M.S. ME ChemE Junior Psych Junior Campus “It’s got top-notch “It combines great “The fact that I “They let in more students in a cosmo- academics and athlet- hardly have any students than they politan city.” ics. Go Jackets!” competition.” have room for.”

Question of the week “What makes Georgia Tech

unique?” Rajesh Rajaram Duke Hutchings Amanda Spencer David Tamburello M.S. AE M.S. CS ME Senior Ph.D. ME “It’s the great profs “The utter lack of a “They let me in and Feature and Photos by “The atmosphere Alisa Hawkins which make it great!” campus-wide person- helps you focus on continue to put up ality.” your studies.” with me!” 10 • Friday, August 24, 2001 • Technique FOCUS

Tutors from page 2 Feature Photo CASE Summer Camp [email protected]. bank of resources on hand for stu- Students who are unable to get dents who have questions concern- to a tutoring session in person can ing their academic career including, have their questions answered us- course catalogs, course critiques, ing the Georgia Tech Cable Net- OSCARS, major handbooks and work. Throughout the academic year, certificate information. Spaarc makes from 10PM to 12AM on cable chan- every effort to coordinate with fac- nel 20, students can call in, 404- ulty members to provide the best 206-1811, and present problems to advisement possible. a team of tutors who will solve the Every student should know there question on air. This is great for are alternatives to using classmates those last minute Physics and Cal- or professors for help, and each stu- culus questions. dent needs to be aware of exactly For students who are struggling what those alternatives are. with the right combination of cours- As Jim Whitehead, a FASET lead- es, the Office of Success Programs er and Georgia Tech Ambassador, also offers SPAARC, Students Pro- explains to incoming students on viding Academic Advisement, Re- his tours, “With the abundance of sources and Communication, an tutoring available there’s no reason organization established by students, why students can’t get free tutoring for students, to provide an objec- on campus.” tive source of academic resources. SPAARC provides academic ad- For more information on tutoring al- visement to students, with a stu- ternatives available within your ma- Photo Courtesy of Robert Hill dents' perspective, in an effort to jor, contact the undergraduate advisor Summer camp participants in CASE (Career Awareness in Science and Engineering), employ teamwork advise students on academic plan- at the origin school. Faculty and staff skills to effectively utilize limited resources to navigate their teammates through an obstacle course. ning. The office also keeps a large have flexible solutions.

PDA from page 7 your friends will have the last laugh when they look at your monthly PalmNet bill. While the Palm VII will put on top of the geek totem pole for a while, it will eventually be replaced, and when it does, you’re stuck with an oversized PDA that lacks the one feature that made it cool. Finally, Palm makes the m se- ries. After years of successfully man- ufacturing the Palm, they decided to aggressively redesign the machines to have a new, modern look. Rang- ing from the entry-level m100 to their tour de force, the m505, these machines have a stylish new look while remaining compatible with the Palms of old. The m100, with just 2MB of memory is functional- ly similar to the classic IIIe, but the innovative m505 offers the utmost in geek bragging rights. Featuring a color screen, a thin silhouette, and copious amounts of expandability, this is the Palm to buy if you want to shame a friend who bought a IIIc when they were first released. Personally, I have a Palm IIIe. While it is a low-end Palm, I find it useful for all of the things that most Palm users like. Not unlike your average busy person, I use it to keep track of phone numbers and ap- pointments. I also write down my assignments and have my Linux box download my favorite websites ev- ery morning before I get up, so I can just sync my Palm and read them on the go. It’s great, because a three- minute sync before I leave provides me with enough content to occupy my mind throughout an entire 8:00 class. Furthermore, I have it use Ya- hoo! to grab the latest news, weath- er, and movie listings, so on any given day, I know exactly what movies are showing at nearby theatres. Thanks to my Palm, and a very useful program called Plucker, I never have to hear that evil capitalist, Mr. Moviefone again! For a movie buff like me, that’s a load off my mind. The only real concern that stu- dents have for Palms is the some- what high cost of purchasing one. As CmpE, Chris Lawless said, “if you lose it, it’s wasted money from your parents.” Likewise, ID major, Neta Ezer also noted that they are overpriced. When asked if she would consider purchasing one, she com- mented, “Maybe, if I ever have enough money.”