ENTERTAINMENT Freshman Issue 2002 ENTERTAINMENT Technique • Friday, August 23, 2002 • 3 Campus housing provides various entertainment outlets Even if you are stranded on campus, there are both indoor and outdoor activities available to Tech students By Joshua Cuneo terparts near the dining halls. much fun. Fortunately, that’s where Contributing Writer For the more athletically inclined the dorm’s Peer Leaders step in. students, both campuses feature “Part of a PL’s goals is to develop Sophomore Narendhra Seshadri basketball and sand volleyball courts, community within the section as missed one thing about his dorm and West Campus also sports a great well as encourage larger communi- room this summer. “Ethernet. Eth- green field for any activity. Further- ty-building programs,” Lucero ex- ernet. Ethernet!” he exclaimed. “It more, bicycle racks abound. plained. allowed me to communicate much But students aren’t required to There are also plenty of social faster with my friends.” make their own fun. “[Peer Lead- functions in and around the dorms That’s just one of the many en- ers] and other housing staff often without the Peer Leader as chaper- tertaining benefits students will find plan out activities to go do various one. Many students cluster around of on-campus housing this year. Aside things around Atlanta to let the fresh- residential hotspots such as the West from an optimal 10 megabyte-per- men experience the city, like go to a Side Market and Under the Couch. second Ethernet connection (Res- Braves game or the High Muse- Friday night and semester-end bar- Net), the residential package deal becues are common, and students also includes a local phone line and who remain on campus over the full cable connection in every room weekend lead their own group ac- (Georgia Tech Cable Network). “[Peer Leaders] often tivities. For more sociable activities, ev- plan out activities “If [we stayed on campus], it was ery floor of Tech’s dorm buildings usually card games or a movie or comes equipped with a complete ...around Atlanta to let grabbing a bite to eat,” said Se- kitchen (sans a refrigerator and freez- the freshman shadri. er) and a comfortable study lounge, But should students worry about sometimes accessorized with a tele- experience the city.” the alcohol and cigarettes that these vision set where students can share Stephanie Lucero student gatherings might attract? a favorite show or film. Former Peer Leader “[Alcohol’s] not widespread in The widespread availability of the actual dorms because the alco- televised entertainment means that hol policies are enforced fairly well,” students won’t have to worry about said Lucero. “There didn’t seem to missing their favorite show. Sopho- um,” said Stephanie Lucero, a former be too many people who smoked.” more Larry Lindsey enjoyed “watch- Peer Leader and current employee Nevertheless, some students still ing movies and episodes of Smallville. for the Department of Housing. Oth- prefer to venture beyond their resi- I think that’s pretty much it for all er activities include dinner outings, dential boundaries and seek alter- the things I did in the dorms. Al- sporting events and midnight break- native forms of entertainment around though,” he added, “had there been fast during finals. “I think that it the rest of campus or in Atlanta. By Robert Hill / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS a pool table in my dorm, I would helps new students adjust socially,” “I mean, personally, I try not to Three students work on an iMovie for a contest in the freshmen dorms have enjoyed that, too.” Lucero said. spend too much time in the dorms during spring semester. Such activities occur often in campus housing. Some of the buildings do come Social adjustment is an essential anyhow,” Lindsey remarked. “I get equipped with other public facili- ingredient for students, especially stir crazy.” away from the dorms most of the [was] a VCR in the TV lounge.” ties such as a pool table, weight room incoming freshmen. With students Seshadri, for instance, prefers the day anyway. and vending machines for the resi- away from the watchful gaze of their Student Athletic Complex to the Yet despite the wide variety of Information about the facilities in dents’ amusement. These are gen- parents for the first time, they have in-dorm gyms. Why? “[It’s] more entertainment available outside the each undergraduate dorm is avail- erally located in the ground floor, to rely on each other to make their spread out,” he explained, “and it dorm rooms, television and the in- able at www.housing.gatech.edu/as- accompanying a larger study lounge college experience endurable and has a pool.” ternet continue to thrive as the most signments/ for bigger groups. For warmer weath- entertaining. The number of on- Some students may find them- popular pastimes. undergraduate_reshalls.cfm. Infor- er, both East and West campus have campus—and especially in-dorm— selves doing such things out of ne- “I’d say most of the freshmen mation about the programs sponsored miniature courtyards outside the activities for students are limited, cessity. The limited meal plan girls watched TV/movies/surfed,” by the Department of Housing and buildings—complete with barbecue so if students don’t make friends, may force students to eat out over Lucero recalled. “I think most girls the multimedia facilities is available grills and benches—with larger coun- they may very likely not have as the weekends, and some may be thought it would be nice if there at www.housing.gatech.edu/reslife. Autopilot Off performs positive punk music at the Warped Tour By Vivian Vakili and other general symptoms of anx- colors, metal chains and other such four crazy punk rockers to show up, ing the name “Cooter,” the band Contributing Writer ious neuroses. tools of the punk fan trade, I finally entirely too ready to massacre my decided to change their name to Having made my way through found the press room. suburban college-going self. How- reflect one of their songs, a song When given the opportunity to the HiFi Buys Amphitheater fair- To my left was Atlanta radio sta- ever, what I was presented with 20 called “Autopilot Off.” After this interview a band so popular that grounds in nearly 100 degree weather, tion 99X, conducting on-air inter- minutes later was anything but in- name change, things seemed to mi- they are invited to play in the 2002 and then having successfully weaved views of such punk bands as timidating. It was Chris Johnson, raculously take off. Warped Tour, the normal person through all of the tour buses back- Quarashi. I took a seat and waited vocalist and guitar player of Auto- What are the band’s musical in- would have a normal reaction— stage and through all of the punk for the band I was to interview, pilot Off, and an avid Muppet fan. fluences? A variety of bands such as that of sweaty palms, racing heart fans sporting various artificial hair Autopilot Off, to arrive. I expected Chris was sent as a representa- NoFX, Bad Religion, Hotwater tive for the band, so I attempted to Music and Snapcase were noted by ask questions that would encom- Chris as having influenced the band. pass the viewpoints of the entire Chris also cited Green Day’s Billy band, not just his. When asked what Joe, as well as Billy Joel, and said all message the band meant for their music in between the two had served music to convey, Chris responded as his own inspiration as well. that they wished to convey the con- Autopilot Off consists of Rub ventional “punk music” message, Kucharek on bass, Chris “Hous- some sort of rebellion against con- ton” Hughes on guitar, Chris vention. Johnson on vocals and guitar and So what differentiates their band Phil Robinson on drums. Not only from other bands featured in the are they bandmates, but Chris de- Warped Tour? “Our songs are hope- scribed each of his band members ful, positive,” said Chris. Instead of as close friends who are all endear- raging violently against authority ing in their own respect. They are and cussing to get their message also proud to all still live at home, across, they instead prefer to sing of where the food is free and the neigh- the positive and to play a show that borhood pizza is their favorite. does not necessarily warrant an R- Where can you next have the rated audience. opportunity to catch this Orange As for their musical style, Chris County, New York band that just said that it may sound a bit pop- finished touring with Sum 41’s “Sum like, but when incorporated with Like it Loud” tour? Chris said you their lyrics, it conveys a sort of “un- can find them at the Masquerade derground pop.” What was the point sometime between September and at which the band realized they had November. You can also check out made it big? Chris said this turning their self-titled album, “Autopilot By Justin Scurti / ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP point was synonymous with the Off,” and prepare for some melodic Autopilot Off, from New York, consists of Chris “Houston” Hughes (Guitar), Phil Robinson (Drums), Chris Johnson changing of the band’s name. punk delivered by some absolutely (Vocals/Guitar), and Rob Kucharek (Bass). They describe their sound as “hopeful and positive” punk music. After having been sued for hav- darling punk rockers. 4 • Friday, August 23, 2002 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT Introduction The Entertainment section serves a void—fun. It seeks to do exactly Atlanta offers many options for movie lovers what its title would suggest by provid- By Joseph Jeong eat and is very near Virginia High- ing readers written entertainment, Contributing Writer lands, a nice place to hang out be- while also exposing readers to many fore the movie starts.