FRESHMANFRESHMAN SURVIVALSURVIVAL GUIDEGUIDE Photo Illustration by Vivian Fan 2 • August 20, 2010 • Technique FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE Welcome from the Technique! Technique: 99 years in the making ‘Nique By Hahnming Lee The , as from the first appearance of we call ourselves, George P. Burdell on Tech’s Editor-in-Chief you is that you can succeed in you want to do and go to do it. whatever way you want to. Unlike The school already offers great had its humble be- rosters in 1920 to the peaceful, Welcome to Tech. Many of many other places, where you are resources and groups of many ginnings on Nov. non-court-ordered desegrega- you reading this are on the high of told exactly what to do and how diverse and different interests, 17, 1911. Appar- tion of the Institute in 1961. finally arriving at college and ex- to do it, you can define your own and being located in Atlanta gives ently, we were And of course, we have kept up periencing the excitement of being success and the path you take to you even more opportunities to just as preoccu- faithful coverage of Tech sport- a part of a new community. It is a achieve it. find exactly what you want. pied back then ing events, including the 222-0 great thing to feel, but you should Upper classmen often joke that This guide presented was writ- as we are now whopper of a football victory not treat this as temporary. You freshmen come in as optimists ten to help you get started at the with our football (the largest margin of victory should build your college experi- and “get out” as pessimists be- school and provide you some rivalry against UGA —our in history) over Cumberland ence so that you can sustain this cause Tech has repeatedly “shaft- guidance before setting out. As a first issue revolved around an College in 1916. and not make it just that fleeting ed” them. For many, college did freshman, I was confused about upcoming game against our Today, we are published feeling. not turn out as they had hoped. everything and felt as though I old foe (a game that we won, biweekly during the summer It will inevitably take work to While there is some truth to that, had to uncover and discover half incidentally), and featured an and weekly during the fall be successful. To say that Tech is it cannot be emphasized enough its secrets through word of mouth article by legendary coach John and spring semesters, with the an easy school would be a lie. Its that the choices you make in and on my own. This guide has Heisman. exception of “Dead Week,” fi- challenging academics (and some- college, and not outside circum- done some of the leg work for you At the time, we were only nals week and Spring Break. times equally challenging social stances, will largely determine and provides you information you Tech’s second student newspa- Around 30 students keep our scene) can be daunting and in- your own experience. A profes- could only wish to find in any per (The Georgia Tech beat us to paper running, and of course, timidating. If you feel lost in your sor or two deciding to give you a tour book, brochure or even on- the title of “first student news- we always wel- first few weeks of Tech, you are bad grade should not negate the line. We may be leaving some stuff paper”), but since The Georgia come new writ- certainly not alone. It is not easy positives, and don’t let a couple of out, but finding out for yourself is to transition into a new environ- these situations cloud your feel- half the fun, isn’t it? Tech merged with our publi- ers, photog- ment with almost unlimited in- ings about Tech. Feel free to email me at edi- cation in 1916, and it was our raphers and dependence. It can bog you down Our college is a wonderful [email protected] if you have any name that survived, we like to editors, so feel and the sheer number of choices place to spend the next four (or questions about surviving as a pride ourselves on being Tech’s free to swing can cause massive confusion five, or six, or seven…) years of freshman, the Technique or Tech longest-running student paper. by if you’re The flipside of that somewhat your life, and you should savor the in general. I welcome any and all We have chronicled everything interested. scary independence granted to time you have to figure out what inquiries. IN This guide Make sure you learn all the catchphrases Techies say to each other before Who is George P. Burdell? Read heading out on to campus. page 10 about Tech’s most mysterious and famous student. page 4 Swim in the Campanile. Watch the sunset You don’t need a GPS from the top of Mason. Pull an all-nighter. Eat to find your way ramen five times a week. Build a wreck for around campus. Homecoming. Get lost on Peachtree. Check Navigate Tech with out all the 99 things you should (or probably our handy map. will) do before you graduate. page 9 pages 6-7 TECH UNCOVERED Hidden Secrets Around Campus FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE JUNIOR’S of Junior’sWhile andmost frequent upper classmen it, freshmen are aware of ten overlook the Tech tradition since they spend most of their time in the dining Technique • August 20, 2010 • 3 halls. Junior’s has the best grill and cafe teria-style food on campus. Originally lo cated across North Ave., where the North Ave. Apartments are now located, you can often see old alumni at Junior’s on -FOOD SUBLIME DONUTS Friday’s before home games. This small, independent donut shop on - Tenth St. offers unique twists on the stan- - dard morning pastry. The Reese’s, Oreo, ROBERT W. WILLIAMS AMERICAN Thin Mint and Red Velvet Cake donuts FOOD are all must-tries for anyone new to cam- MUSEUM OF PAPER MAKING pus. The hours may not be the most con- ducive to a college student’s sleep schedule While grabbing a donut from Sublime, (unless one is already pulling all-nighters), venture across the street and take a look but being slightly sleep deprived is a fair at this museum dedicated to papermak trade-off for the experience. ing. It is an interesting stop on a journey DO TO THINGS around campus, and it offers information about paper you could not - TECH REC find anywhere else. COFFEE SNOB Instead of staying in your room and This little known eatery in the Bio- playing video games by yourself, try medical Quad offers quality sandwiches, meeting new people at Tech Rec, which sweet smoothies and savory soup, along offers not only video games but also pool with, of course, coffee that even the most FOOD tables, bowling and arcade games. Even if discerning connoisseurs would appreci- you are not that proficient in billiards or ate. The food is always fresh, and it’s easy bowling, the location is a great place to DO TO THINGS to grab something on-the-go. If you are pick up new hobbies. FERST PLACE in the area, it is a great place for a lunch or a snack and to try something a little This buffet-style restaurant is on the different. third floor of the Student Center and of fers different food every day of the week. While it is a little pricier than most places in the Student Center, the extra money goes to the quality. If you are looking for a sit-down dining experience and not just something for your 10 minute breaks be tween classes, make the trip. You won’t regret it. - FOOD - 4 • August 20, 2010 • Technique FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE Mystery Man: George P. Burdell TECH UNCOVERED By Kate Comstock Business Manager George P. Burdell method was thought could qualify as the most inter- to be very secure, but it was esting man in the world, or at least on hacked shortly after registration began Tech campus. As the only undergraduate stu- and Burdell signed up for over 3,000 credit dent to have received almost every degree at Tech, hours. He still remains on the list for active under- he is not only academically astute but also a very popu- graduate students. lar character within the Tech community who is invited Naturally, the next step in life would be for Burdell to to and attends almost every large social function on campus. marry and settle down. In 1958 Burdell announced his en- Just who is this George P. Burdell? It is suspected that Bur- gagement to Ramona Cartwright, a fictitious student at Agnes dell was created by a Tech student, William Edgar Smith, in 1927 Scott, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Their 50th anniver- when he used two registration sheets to register both sary was announced in 2006 during an NPR broadcast. himself and Burdell. Throughout Smith’s undergradu- Through all of his vast accomplishments, Burdell was se- ate studies he completed both his homework and tests for lected by Time magazine to be a candidate for its Person of the both he and Burdell. Smith even went so far as to change Year in 2001. Burdell was leading with 57 percent of the votes the homework and tests slightly so that professors would not and was on his way to winning; however, the staff at Time dis- catch on.