'SJEBZ 0DUPCFS t7PMVNF *TTVFtnique.net McCain? «««««« Obama? ««««« «««««« The College Democrats Neither? and Republicans make their cases. ««««« Will you be persuaded?49 ??? TechniqueThe South’s Liveliest College Newspaper «««««« Task force suggests curriculum changes By Vijai Narayanan At the undergraduate level, committee issued its report are trying to graduate in four Presidential Contributing Writer the task force focused its ef- outlining two major issues for years,” Vito said. !e group forts on implementing changes reform. !e first idea decided also looked at the possibility !e Provost Task Force of that would ensure continued to pursue is calendar reform. of mini-semesters in January candidate Excellence issued a report last success for students. “We asked ourselves how we and May that would allow stu- week that outlined several “We wanted to figure out can introduce flexibility into dents to conduct an intensive ideas for improving student what we need to do to make the calendar to allow the stu- research experience or take an life and continuing to improve sure the current generation of dents to do things that are very intensive course. In addition, BarrBy Jisoo visits Kim Tech’s standing as a global Tech students is as success- difficult now,” Vito said. the report considered issuing Contributing Writer leader in science and technol- ful as previous generations,” In its report, the commit- classes that would not last a ogy. Composed of faculty, staff said Ray Vito, vice-provost for tee discussed the possibility whole semester. Bob Barr, presidential candidate of the and students, the task force Undergraduate and Graduate of a trimester calendar, which !e second major idea at Libertarian Party, visited Tech on !ursday was created a year ago to solve Studies. would offer students a full the undergraduate level would to speak about his views on the upcoming issues related to undergraduate After working together summer semester. “!is will election and his position on several of the and graduate level education. for a year, the undergraduate make it easier for students who See Task Force, page 6 current major issues. !e event was presented by the Debate Team, and saw approximate- HOMECOMING 2008 ly 180 students and faculty listen to Barr’s 50-minute speech. He conveyed his party’s support for less government intervention in administering the country Widmaier, Smith named Mr., Ms. GT and suggested By Laleh Khoogar embracing lib- Contributing Writer ertarian values to deliver the Kevin Widmaier, fourth-year nation out of PUBP major, and Eden Smith, the economic fourth-year IE major, were named crisis. Mr. and Ms. Georgia Tech 2008 “!e choice during halftime of this year’s home- between big coming game. govern ment !e contest began about a and really month before Homecoming Week, big govern- when organizations across campus ment; that’s By Blake Israel / Student Publications nominated outstanding individuals the choice the to be Mr. or Ms. Georgia Tech. [Democrat Party and the Republican Party] !ese individuals went through give us. We and the Libertarian Party believe an interview process that cut the that there is another way, a better way, and candidates down to 10 males and that is the way of freedom and liberty,” Barr 10 females. said. After a 10-day voting period, Barr started off by commenting on the each of the candidates was scored, past three presidential debates between half based off the interview and half Obama and McCain. He said that the de- based off the voting results. At this bates have been ineffective in serving as a point the candidates were cut down stage on which presidential candidates could to 5 males and 5 females, the final- prove their competency as the future presi- ists were present on the football dent of the United States. He suggested that field during halftime. some significant references to the Constitu- Kevin Widmaier comes from tion should have been made in the debates. Acworth, GA. He has served as “Cycle after cycle, what we seem to be Chair of the Student Lobby Board getting is a lower and lower quality of debate and is currently President of the and a lower and lower level of discussion of Beta !eta Pi fraternity on campus. issues that really should matter to the people He was sponsored by the Phi Mu of this country,” Barr said. He described sorority. By Michael Schneider / Student Publications the debate as “an exercise in the candidates “I was very honored to be nomi- Top to bottom: Tech’s homecoming saw the selection of Mr. and Ms. Georgia Tech; throwing sound bites,” and he expressed that nated by Phi Mu at the beginning students race in the Mini 500; Ramblin’ Recks are come out for the Reck Parade. the moderators in the debates were also inef- of the process. Once we got to fective in trying to “get them to actually do the finalist stage, it was great to lenic Recruitment, attending the Asia something that is very difficult to get one of even be mentioned with guys like INNOVATE Conference in 2008 and these [candidates] to do—to answer a ques- Nick [Wellkamp], Garrett [Lang- competing on the Equestrian team. tion.” ley], Brandon [Kearse] and Sunny She was sponsored by the Sigma Phi Barr also commented on the vice-presi- [Shah]. I’ve known a couple of those Epsilon fraternity. dential candidates, particularly on McCain’s guys for almost my entire time at “Homecoming to me is a celebra- running mate, Sarah Palin, who has been Tech, and they’ve done a lot of great tion of all things ‘Tech’ and a show- popular in the media recently for calling things for the Institute,” Widmaier case of our traditions and what we are herself a “hockey mom.” said. all about,” Smith said. “I’m a soccer dad. !at doesn’t make me “I figured out that I had won “I was very flattered when I was any more qualified to be president than it about five seconds before they nominated, I was not expecting Sig Ep does her,” Barr said. called my name when the camera to nominate me, and it was definitely He supports cutting federal spending as crew came and stood right in front a nice surprise... I was excited just to much as possible and says that the govern- of me. !en when they called my be included in the top 10, and when I By Michael James / Student Publications ment cannot continue spending at this rate if name, it was just surreal. Hearing was announced as a finalist at Mock the country is to remain competitive in the Beta’s block go crazy when they Rock, once again I was shocked. !e global marketplace. called my name was probably one of best part about that announcement He also mentioned that the recent gov- the coolest things I will ever experi- was that I could be excited with my ernment bailout of $700 billion “is enough ence. !ose guys have been like a two sorority sisters who were also fi- funding to almost purchase every single family to me for the past four years, nalists.” house that is currently for sale in the United and I was really happy to get to Like Widmaier, Smith said she was States.” share the moment with them. Also, not expecting to win. She said she was !e event was delivered by the Debate it made the experience even better simply glad to be included among oth- Team after the team’s president, Alice Wang, that someone as accomplished as er fantastic candidates. perceived that the organization needed fund- Eden was honored with me.” “I was shocked when they called ing and publicity. Eden Smith is from Atlanta. my name, and I didn’t quite grasp “We are a new organization on campus, Her campus involvements include and we currently have no source of funding. serving as vice president of Panhel- See Homecoming, page 4 By Anne Campeau / Student Publications See Barr, page 6 t0DUPCFS tTechnique NEWS Upstairs Flooding From the files of the GTPD... Technique Online Voice your opinion! On Oct. 25 an officer was dis- Last issue’s question received 43 responses. patched to the Beta !eta Pi fra- ternity house regarding damage to Campus Crime How much have you lost in the stock market this month? personal property. A student met with police and stated that some- By William Brawley I’ve lost a lot, None, I one placed a water hose into a Assistant News Editor just like every- window of their house and turned one else. don’t have 20.9% any money on the water. Drunk Chair Throwing in his room when checked. invested. !e water hose belonging to Police were called to Fitten Res- As the police officer was leav- the Beta !eta Pi fraternity, and idence Hall on Oct. 25 at around ing the building, the PL noticed 44.2% it was connected to the faucet on 11 p.m. regarding a report of in- a person entering a vehicle in the the outside of their house. !e toxicated people causing property parking lot. !e PL recognized student’s room was located on the damage. !e police initially met that person as the student in ques- 20.9% second floor. He reported struc- with one of the hall’s peer leaders tion. !e police asked the student tural damage to the floor of the (PL) to discuss the incident. to get out of the vehicle, who com- Surprisingly room and water leakage into the She stated that she was aware plied. kitchen below. of two unidentified men in the !e student appeared intoxi- not very much, 14.0% my invest- !ere were no witnesses to de- lobby area throwing chairs into cated, and the officer noticed the ments have re- I have no idea, finitively identify a culprit.