January 11, 2019•Volume 104, Issue 16•nique.
net
technique
News 2
TECH FOOTBALL WELCOMES COACH GEOFF COLLINS
SPORTS
Top L: Photo courtesy of Edward Kimmel; Top R: Photo by Allie Ghisson Student Publications; Above: Photo courtesy of Temple Athletics
President Peterson steps down, discusses legacy
JONATHAN JEFFREY
NEWS EDITOR
After 10 years of serving as
president of the Institute, on
Monday President G.P. “Bud” Pe-
terson announced his decision to
step down to a faculty position in
the summer.
While Peterson said that he
had been in conversations with
his wife Valerie on when he would
retire for several years, figuring
that “Ten’s a nice number,” he
only began to discuss his possible
retirement with his boss, Uni-
OPINIONS
. .
Dems need new blood
Opinions 5
versity System of Georgia (USG)
Chancellor Steve Wrigley, after
last summer’s revelations of mul-
tiple ethics violations across the
Institute.
“We’ve had some issues in the
past year or so,” Peterson said. “I
hadn’t really broached the topic
about retiring [to Chancellor
Wrigley] before that all started.”
Over the course of his time at
Tech, Peterson worked to expand
Tech’s services through several
developments across campus, in-
cluding the construction of Coda
and 30 corporate innovations
in Tech Square, along with the
p6 Thoughts on Crosland
Life 8
NEWS
Clough Undergraduate Learning
Commons and the Marcus Nan-
otechnology Building on main
campus, among many others.
“Under Bud’s leadership,
Georgia Tech became the first in-
stitution in a decade to receive an
invitation to join the prestigious
Association of American Universi-
ties,” said Wrigley in a USG press
release. “His focus on research led
to an increase in total awards from
$445 million to $851 million. At
the same time, he grew student
enrollment, including the number
of women enrolled in first-year
See PETERSON, page 3
LIFE
p8
Entertainment 12 Sports 20
ROHAN KANSARA
STAFF WRITER
After his historic 11-year tenure,
Jackets head coach Paul Johnson an-
nounced his retirement from Tech
football late last year. His departure
raises many questions regarding the
future of the team, including whether
the new coaching staff can live up to
the success of Tech’s winningest coach
in more than 50 years.
The Jackets’ new head coach will be
Georgia native Geoff Collins, ex-head
coach of Temple. During his two-year
head coaching position there, he led
Temple to two bowl games and won
the most games of any Temple head
coach in their first two years. Collins
is a defensive-minded coach — his suc-
cessful two-year tenure as defensive co-
ordinator at Florida is what landed him
his first head coaching job at Temple.
At Florida, Collins oversaw the No.
11 nationally ranked defense in 2015
and improved it to be ranked No. 6 in
2016. His prowess in coaching defense
is promising for the future of Tech’s
stop unit, which did not take a par-
ticularly large leap forward under Nate
Woody last season.
On top of his defensive expertise,
one of the most notable skills Collins
brings to Tech with him is his ability to
recruit. Recruiting top talent has been
a challenge for the Jackets coaching
staff in the past few years, but Collins
has a proven track record in his abil-
ity to attract prospective players. He
served as the Director of Player Person-
nel at Tech in 2007 where he recruited
one of the highest ranked classes in the
school’s history. In addition to Collins
enhancing Tech’s recruiting appeal, he
is expected to hire fellow 2007 Tech
staff member and Alabama offensive
line coach Brent Key as the Jackets
See COLLINS, page 19
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
President Peterson speaks about research and entreprenuerial
programs that Tech offers during a October 2018 presentation.
News
NEWS EDITOR:
Crosland Tower Opens technique
Jonathan Jeffrey
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR:
Will Finch
After three years of renovations, the Crosland
Tower has opened, bringing swaths of study Friday,
2
space, multimedia rooms and more44 January 11, 2019
news@nique.net

Tech endures while shutdown PETERSON FROM PAGE 1

classes and transformed the land-
fessionals varies geographically.
Tech, for example, in a shortage
area, according to the HRSA.

persists for third week scape of midtown Atlanta.”

WILL FINCH
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
As the government shutdown
enters its fourth week, the immi-
nent impact of halted support for
the institute looms over the begin-
ning of the new year.
Washington D.C has yet to
reach a consensus on border secu-
rity, the sole issue preventing fed-
eral budget approval.
Consequently, legislature has
yet to pass appropriation bills for
agencies that accounted for ap-
proximately $130 million in ex-
penditures for sponsored research
at Tech this past fiscal year. These
agencies include: The National
Science Foundation, NASA, De-
partment of Homeland Security,
Department of Agriculture, De-
partment of Transportation and
the Department of Commerce.
Agencies that procured funds
before the shutdown include the
departments of defense, education
and energy, among others.
In the event of a shutdown,
affected government agencies
minimize or halt altogether the
incurrence of costs by severely
limiting activities and operations.
While shutdowns affect each fed-
eral agency in a slightly different
way, in general, activities related
to grants and contracts from the
previous year would continue, but
additional support is limited, new
grant applications would be put
on hold and no new awards would
be issued.
This is evident in NASA’s con-
tingency plan, which cites that
“new contracts, grants, coop-
erative agreements, task orders,
change orders, and other actions
would not be issued during a
funding hiatus, except those criti-
cal to meeting the requirements
for excepted activities.”
Tech administrators also for-
mulated their own contingencies
when the threat of a shutdown
was clear last December. To help
mitigate the full impact of the
shutdown, actions included ask-
ing principal investigators to de-
lay large-scale purchases and be
more conscious of costs. These
plans would address impacts in-
cluding application submission,
award processing, no-cost exten-
sions and tasks that require fed-
eral sponsor interaction since dis-
continued or limited during the
shutdown.
For the past three weeks, the
Office of Sponsored Programs has
monitored the situation. While
they have not communicated any
large changes or warnings to the
university yet, their guidance sug-
gests that affected personnel con-
tinue working while being wary
of sudden unavailability, delays or
lack of federal communication for
the duration of the shutdown.
“The effects of the shutdown
are subtle,” said one professor
The Centennial Research Building, headquarters of the Georgia
Tech Research Institute, is a hotspot of research on campus.
when discussing the impact of the
shutdown on their research lab so
far.
Without the issuance of new
grants, the professor explained, it
can extend the timeline for PhD
students by weeks or months de-
pending on the duration of the
shutdown. And because most
graduate students are about to be-
gin touring schools, limited funds
due to the shutdown would hurt
professors’ ability to make new of-
fers to interested students.
As a research university, Tech
thrives and sustains itself through
its research. While many of the
agencies that sponsor the col-
lege’s activities are limited in abil-
ity right now, most research can
continue the same, if not slightly
slower.
In the meantime, professors, as
well as the student body, continue
to live the same college lifestyle,
stretching their dollars wherever
and whenever they can.
Photo by Danielle Sisson Student Publications
“I’d like for people when they
think about the time I spent here
that Georgia Tech’s a better place
because he was here,” Peterson
said. “And if that’s the case, then
I’m good.”
In the last couple of years, Tech
administration has been under
scrutiny due to a variety of crises,
beginning with the death of Scout
Schultz at the hands of a Georgia
Tech Police Department (GTPD)
officer on Sept. 2017, continuing
ethic scandals revealed in sum-
mer 2018, and concluding most
recently with two suicides in De-
cember 2018.
Peterson said that his goal dur-
ing the past few months has been
to “right the ship, turn the corner”
before stepping down to a faculty
role where he hopes to both teach
and do research.
Peterson believes he has made
an ample short-term response to
these issues and has set the foun-
dation for long-term cultural
shifts.
For example, three actions
teams were created following
Scout Schultz’s death. A planned
fourth action team on Campus
Safety that would likely have ex-
amined GTPD’s relationship with
the campus never materialized,
and a vast restructure of admin-
istrative positions took place af-
ter last summer’s ethics issues. In
response to December’s suicides,
Peterson expedited searches for
Counseling Center staff.
“But there is a shortage of men-
tal health professionals across the
country, and so we’ve got some
challenges trying to find the peo-
ple to fill those positions,” Peter-
son said.
It is true that there is a na-
tional shortage of mental health
professionals — on Jan. 9, 2018,
the U.S. Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA)
released data that over 115 million
Americans live in mental health
professional shortage areas — but
the amount of mental health pro-
“This is a national issue,” Pe-
terson said. “Georgia Tech is not
unique. When presidents get to-
gether today, the number one
topic that we talk about is mental
health and well-being.”
Peterson says the job does not
stop at hiring more staff for the
counseling center and developing
the Intake Center, a triage facility
opening this year that focuses on
fast responses for students seeking
counseling.
“What we have to do is figure
out is how to develop a more sup-
portive community,” Peterson
said. He encourages all students
to take Question, Persuade and
Refer (QPR) training in order for
students to better recognize signs
of mental distress in their peers
and know how to react.
On all of these fronts, whether
it comes to improving ethics or
mental health culture, it remains
to be seen if recent initiatives will
produce long-lasting change.
“We’ve made the changes,
we’ve incorporated them, we’ve
put them in place,” Peterson said.
“Now we just need to make sure
they’re regularized and become
part of the DNA of how we oper-
ate.”
One of the transitions Peterson
is most proud of is the expansion
of online learning such as the On-
line M.S. in Computer Science.
“If you’d have told me ten
years ago, when I came to Georgia
Tech, that we would offer degrees
to students who never step foot
on campus, I would have said: no
way,” Peterson said.
When he steps down into his
faculty role at the end of summer,
Peterson can resume the original
passion that drove him in 1975
leave his job as an engineer and
pursue a Ph.D.: researching and
teaching mechanical engineers all
about heat. So what classes would
be his pick to teach?
“Thermodynamics, interfacial
transport phenomena, fluid me-
chanics, heat transfer,” Peterson
said. “Those types of things.”

sliver // your thoughts

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// NEWS
Search for top level administrators extends into 2019
MASON FAVRO
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As students return to campus
with the new year, the Institute’s
administration is still continuing
to fill several high-level adminis-
trative positions, including at least
four vacated in the wake of last
summer’s ethics scandals.
In late July 2018, Tech an-
nounced the results of several
investigations, centered on then
executive vice president of Ad-
ministration and Finance, Steve
Swant, as well as three lower level
administration officials: Tom
Stipes, director of digital net-
works; Lance Lunsway, executive
director of Parking and Transpor-
tation Services; Paul Strouts, vice
president of Campus Services. All
were accused of using their posi-
tions for their own personal gain,
and all resigned following the
publication of the reports.
Nearly all their positions have
been temporarily filled in interim
while other candidates are vetted.
In addition, searches are in
progress for the Georgia Tech
Research Institute (GTRI) di-
rector and senior vice president.
In June 2018, the former GTRI
head, Andrew Gerber, resigned in
the wake of allegations that more
than one million dollars worth of
public money was spent on so-
called “morale events” for GTRI
employees, including trips to the
Georgia Aquarium and Six Flags.
While searches continue, the
position of GTRI director has
been filled in interim by Lora
Weiss, the organization’s chief
technology officer.
The Institute is also looking for
a replacement for Patrick McKen-
na, who retired from his position
as vice president of Legal Affairs
and Risk Management shortly af-
ter the ethics scandal this past fall.
According to a spokesperson for
the Institute, his retirement was
unrelated to the ethical scandals
that so closely preceded it.
As part of the vast restructur-
ing, that position was recast as the
vice president of ethics compli-
ance and legal affairs, a role which
Aisha Oliver-Staley currently
holds in interim.
The office of the vice president
of Institute Communications is
seeking a replacement. Michael
Warden, who previously held the
position, was removed from office
Designed by Lauren Douglas Student Publications
technique • January 11, 2019• 3
by President Peterson in August as
a part of his “review [of] the cur-
rent structure, organization and
leadership of the office of Institute
Communications.”
Dene Sheheane, is serving as
vice president of Institute Com-
munications in the interim while
continuing to serve as vice presi-
dent for Government and Com-
munity Relations.
Other senior positions that
have yet to be filled include the
vice president of Industry Col-
laboration and the associate vice
president of Institute Planning
and Resource Management.
4 • January 11, 2019• technique // NEWS

Renovated Crosland increases campus study space

Climbing them leads to the first space for retro computing. Addi- The tower also has two lower temporarily. Additionally, rooms
JEFFREY LUO floor, which features a science- tionally, there is a room for high levels — a basement and a floor in Crosland Tower will use a
STAFF WRITER fiction reading space holding a performance computing, which named “grove level.” The grove similar reservation system to the
small collection of physical books. provides software like arcGIS level has a store and an open space rooms in the Clough.
On Sunday, Jan. 6, Crosland The second floor features an in- and Jupyter. Other rooms provide reading room, where students can Phase two of “Library Next,”
Tower opened its doors to stu- novation and ideation space, a creative software like the Adobe bring in their own computers to which will complete the project
dents following a three-year reno- makerspace and traditional break- Suite. The fourth-floor multime- work. by through a renovation of Price
vation effort. out rooms. Many study rooms dia studio will be open starting On the grove level, visitors can Gilbert replete with connections
The completion of the library throughout actually contain wire- Monday, Jan. 14. also enjoy the unique chandeliers to Crosland, is expected to be
tower project marks the first mile- less monitors for video conferenc- The sixth floor features a dedi- that hang from the ceiling and completed by 2020.
stone of “Library Next” — a proj- ing capabilities. cated graduate student common. automatically play light shows. A Upon completion of phase
ect that began in January 2016 The third and fourth floors The seventh floor offers a view of terrace still under construction two, the combined “Library
to update the Institute’s library house collaborative multimedia the Atlanta skyline and provides will lead to Clough. Next” project will have double
facilities. The tower is situated spaces. These include a data visu- quiet study spaces and breakout On many floors, charging the seating space that was previ-
next to the Price Gilbert Memo- alization lab — similar to that of rooms, in addition to a meeting lockers are provided to students ously available in Price-Gilbert
rial Library, which was closed over Price Gilbert — and a dedicated room and terrace extensions. so they can stow their electronics and Crosland Tower.
the winter break to begin its own
renovation, phase two of “Library
Next” construction.
“Library Next” was under-
taken due to a shifting dynamic
in library usage. The purpose for
library visits has generally shifted
from using print collections to
using digital media and electronic
resources. The Institute subse-
quently placed focus on integrat-
ing physical and digital interac-
tions into one space.
Librarians at Tech have em-
phasized that as the dissemination
of information shifts toward digi-
tal means, the library must also
adapt. Physical collections were
moved off campus to make space
for collaborative interactions.
Most of the school’s physical
collection of books will continue
to be stored in the Library Service
Center located at Emory.
The tower offers seven above-
ground floors that house special-
ized rooms and study spaces, and
they are open 24 hours a day. Due
to the overhaul of the heating,
cooling, water and lighting sys-
tems, Crosland Tower will be able
to cut its energy usage by two-
thirds.
Visitors might notice the new Photo by Allie Ghisson Student Publications
building’s slab stairs bear a strong Although the library has transitioned almost entirely to digital collections and off-campus storage of physical media at
resemblance to those in Clough. the Library Service Center at Emory, the second floor of the Crosland Tower still contains a science fiction book collection.
Opinions
OPINIONS EDITOR: Jon Long technique

“
”
A person’s worth is measured by
the worth of what he values.
— Marcus Aurelius
January 11, 2019
5
Friday,

OUR VIEWS | Consensus Opinion

What to look for in a new president
New leadership could change campus culture
President G. P. “Bud” Peterson has an-
nounced his intention to step down, leav-
ing the Tech community with a pressing
question: who will take his place?
Peterson’s tenure saw a healthy rise in
Tech’s reputation, both in industry and in
academia. Our rankings are consistently
impressive and admissions are as competi-
tive as ever. With an increased focus on
Tech’s sometimes-toxic campus culture,
however, new leadership could provide
new opportunities to address issues like
mental health that have proven to be stum-
bling blocks for Peterson.
The ideal candidate would seize upon
Tech’s recent ethics concerns to highlight
appropriate reporting practices and em-
phasize transparency and accountability,
ensuring that Tech’s administration main-
tains the student trust that it is currently in
the process of repairing.
The new president should also incor-
porate student affairs into their long and
The Consensus Opinion reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of the
Technique, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.
technique editorial board
Samira Bandaru EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Casey Miles MANAGING EDITOR
Lauren Douglas DESIGN EDITOR
Jonathan Jeffrey NEWS EDITOR
Lauren Lambert LIFE EDITOR
Harsha Sridhar SPORTS EDITOR
Avni Shridhar HEAD COPY EDITOR
NO END IN SIGHT BY LAUREN DOUGLAS
short term goals for the Institute, main-
taining Peterson’s legacy of renown while
also turning an eye inward and dialing
in on issues that students feel have been
swept under the rug.
Though the president reports to Geor-
gia’s Board of Regents, there are times
where they will need to push back on ideas
that could be detrimental to Tech. The stu-
dent body deserves a president that it can
trust to fight on its behalf.
With new leadership comes a chance to
break Tech’s cultural inertia and force a re-
assessment of values. Though it may seem
counterintuitive, hiring someone from
outside of Tech would likely bring more
trust to the position than promoting from
within. The administration should take all
of these factors into account when filling
the position as the growing dissatisfaction
with life at Tech needs to be mitigated in
order to allow the Institute to live up to the
reputation Peterson has helped build.
Jon Long OPINIONS EDITOR
Josh Trebuchon ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Casey Gomez PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Zoie Konneker ONLINE EDITOR
Being prepared for a
medical emergency
When I was growing up, my I went in for surgery the next
family never really went to the day, and after the procedure the
doctor. We had all our shots and doctor debriefed my parents about
occasionally would go to an ur- what they found. When they made
gent care when we got strep throat the incision to remove the mass,
or the flu, but we didn’t have a pri- the doctors were shocked to dis-
mary care doctor and never went cover that the tumor was attached
in for check ups. We were just al- to my fallopian tube instead of
ways busy with work, school and my ovary, which is extremely
sports, and we were always pretty unusual. It was also much larger
healthy. I never liked going to the than they anticipated. The tumor
doctor anyway. I’m not afraid of turned out to be 15 centimeters,
doctors. I’m just meaning the inci-
prideful. I didn’t sion was the same
want to be a hypo- “ When you’re already size. They told us
chondriac who was over and over how
constantly going sick, it’s too late to they had never
to the doctor when shop for doctors.” seen anything
there was nothing like this before. It
wrong. I didn’t
think doctors were LAUREN DOUGLAS was unheard of.
These aren’t ex-
important unless DESIGN EDITOR actly comforting
you were sick, and words when used
I always thought to describe a mass
that medical issues would never that was removed from your torso.
happen to me. They sent the mass and the tube
At the beginning of winter to pathology to examine it, and
break I woke up with such bad it was found to be completely be-
pain in my lower left side that nign.
even I couldn’t deny I needed to A week after the operation, I
go to see a doctor. I ended up in looked up reviews of my surgeon
the ER getting ultrasounds and to see how other people felt about
CT scans with doctors constantly him. His rating was three stars.
streaming in and out, poking and Many people complained about
prodding. I had multiple IVs set, his bedside manner, saying he
blood drawn, several shots and was cross, irritable and rude. One
doses of pain medication. Nurses person noted that he pushed more
were constantly asking what my invasive procedures because he
pain levels were as if that was was unqualified to perform less
something quantifiable and easy invasive ones. I was kicking my-
to articulate, and doctors would self for not having a gynecologist
come in and push my abdomen or primary care doctor before this
looking worried. I was scared, but ordeal. I began to regret never go-
I had to trust the people presum- ing to the doctor.
ably taking care of me. Having regular doctor visits
Finally, an official looking doc- wouldn’t have prevented this sur-
tor in a white lab coat came to the gery. It probably wouldn’t have
room. He said they had found a even found the tumor sooner,
large mass that was likely attached given the sudden onset of the
to my left ovary. He told us it pain. What it would have done is
could be cancerous, that I would ensured that the doctor perform-
likely need surgery and referred ing surgery and overseeing my
me to a gynecologist who was af- recovery was one that I knew and
filiated with the hospital. trusted.
I went in for the appointment, When you’re already sick it’s
and when the gynecologist came too late to shop for doctors. You’re
in, I knew right away I hated him. left with no options because the
He was coarse and rude. He was situation is urgent, meaning you
condescending and didn’t believe settle for doctors that you would
I was in pain. He told me I needed normally never see. There’s no
surgery right away and insisted time to get second opinions or
that the incision couldn’t be lapa- build relationships with staff.
roscopic because they needed to When you inevitably get sick,
remove the mass in one piece. I the peace of mind you get from
couldn’t stand him, but I didn’t already knowing your doctor is
have time to look for another doc- worth the time it takes to go once
tor. I was stuck trusting him. a year.

Write to us: are responses to or commentaries on

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We also welcome your letters in
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as topics relevant to campus. We will
print letters on a timely and space-
available basis.
Each week we look for letters that
content found within the pages of the
Technique. Along with these letters,
we are open to receiving letters that
focus on relevant issues that currently
affect Georgia Tech as a university, in-
cluding its campus and student body.
When submitting letters we ask
that you include your full name, year
(1st, 2nd, etc.) and major. We ask that
letters be thought provoking, well
written and in good taste. We reserve
the right to both reject or edit letters
for length and style.
For questions, comments or con-
cern, contact the Opinions Editor at
opinions@nique.net.
6 • January 11, 2019• technique
The world’s misplaced love for Elon Musk
Thanks to favorable media ac-
counts portraying him as some
sort of swashbuckling savior of
mankind through daring en-
trepreneurship, Elon Musk has
become a larger than life figure.
Musk’s social media musings are
subject to intense media coverage
over even the most mundane of
things, his opinions are dissected
by analysts and fanboys alike and
his enterprises present themselves
as changing the faces of their re-
spective industries. It is no won-
der, then, that Musk maintains a
popular social media presence and
a devoted following — a fanbase
akin to that of a pop-star rather
than a tech CEO. And given
Musk’s influence in industries
related to popular areas of study
at Tech, it would make sense to
think that Musk would be as pop-
ular — if not more — on Tech’s
campus. If you — yes you, person
reading this editorial — consider
yourself a fan of Musk, I have one
simple plea for you: don’t be.
Write-ups of Musk are in-
toxicating in their breathless de-
scriptions of his hard work and
fantastical dreams of humanities
future, dreams that Musk is at-
tempting to create reality. What
these editorials rarely highlight,
however, is Musk’s exploitation
of the labor of hardworking en-
gineers and designers essentially
for personal gain. Musk did not
become as rich as he is without
attempting to maximize profits
while minimizing costs, and a key
“These workers should feel
no obligation to provide
surplus value just to line
Musk’s pockets . . .”
JOHN EDWARDS
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
part of his success in this endeavor
has been creating a culture where
employees willingly undervalue
their own labor. A former SpaceX
employee, Josh Boehm, described
frequently working 12+ hours a
day and needling employees who
had only worked 50-60 hours in a
week, joking that they were part-
timers. That same ex-employee
summed up the culture with a
phrase evidently used around
SpaceX: “You are your own slave
driver.” Boehm claims that no-
one at SpaceX is forced to work
these long hours — rather, the
culture of the job encourages it.
Musk himself openly advocates
for working long hours, tweeting
recently, “… nobody ever changed
the world on 40 hours a week.”
The problem with this culture
is that Musk is essentially spear-
heading a large-scale movement
against one of the foundations
of labor rights and is turning his
fanboys, defenders and employees
into soldiers against laws that are
designed to protect them and the
value of the labor that they pro-
vide for personal benefit. Musk
and other venture capitalists fre-
quently emphasize the impor-
tance of working long hours — as
they claim to do themselves. But
the reality is that as a laborer —
no matter if you are flipping burg-
ers at McDonald’s or designing
spacecrafts — so long as the focus
of your job is not managing labor,
you are a laborer. You have no in-
centive to devalue yourself in such
a manner.
Engineers who work sixty
hours a week consistently under
Musk and other tech-bros are put-
ting their own physical and men-
tal health on the line while un-
derselling the true value of their
labor simply because they feel that
such effort is necessary to reach
some pie-in-the-sky goal for some
greater purpose. In reality, it is all
because it is far more cost effective
for Musk to create a culture where
instead of having three engineers
working 40 hours a week, he can
have two engineers working 60
hours a week. This way, Musk re-
ceives the same amount of labor at
two-thirds the cost.
Again, the three engineers
working forty hours a week ac-
complish just as much work while
facing significantly lower health
risks — but Musk — who, ac-
cording to Business Insider, is
worth $23 billion — appears far
more concerned with profit mar-
gin as opposed to taking a safer
route towards obtaining his sup-
posed goals.
Keep in mind that the typical
salary for an engineer at SpaceX
— $90k according to Glassdoor.
com — is just $2k more than the
average salary for the same posi-
tion at Boeing, a rival aerospace
firm without reports of such an
exploitative culture and with em-
ployees that are expected to work
only forty hours a week, so it is
not the case that Musk’s employ-
ees are rewarded handsomely for
sacrificing so much.
These workers should feel no
obligation to provide surplus
value just to line Musk’s pock-
ets, but because Musk has created
this charismatic culture of “work
hard towards some moral goal,”
his employees evidently feel com-
pletely comfortable undervalu-
ing themselves and undermining
labor relations, even though this
undervaluing does not help ac-
complish these “bigger purpose”
goals. Rather, it only serves to
augment Musk’s considerable
wealth through cutting costs.
// OPINIONS
And are these supposed “big-
ger purpose” goals truly altru-
istic, deserving of sacrifice? To
be sure, Musk claims to have his
own vision of abandoning Earth
for Mars and populating the solar
system. But all his work has thus
far been put towards reducing cost
measures — reusable spacecraft,
technology for which SpaceX is
at the forefront, simply serves to
lower the cost of spaceflight to
Musk and others, but it does not
truly advance humanity’s place in
the solar system — it just makes
it cheaper. Perhaps Musk truly
believes in himself as a charita-
ble person, making humanity a
space-faring race through his ef-
forts. But thus far, the short-term
prognosis for Musk’s work has es-
sentially been reducing costs and
making money.
Musk is a charlatan. He is every
bit the ruthless venture capitalist
his history says he is, but his fans
take him at face value when he
claims to be a “socialist” and not
opposed to unions when his entire
culture seeks to undermine these
ideologies and institutions, insti-
tutions that protect the laborers he
deliberately exploits through his
enterprises. There is more to Musk
than his jokes on social media, the
media profiles proclaiming him as
some sort of savior, or the lavish
lifestyle he lives. Musk is a capital-
ist instrument of disruption, and
with popular support — especial-
ly from those not on his payroll —
he is truly dangerous.
// OPINIONS
For Democrats, it’s
reinvent or lose in 2020
“Liberals should not
assume that they are going
to win against the current
president . . .”
CASEY GOMEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
As we draw closer to the 2020
election, more Democrats are an-
nouncing their interest in running
for president. Elizabeth Warren
has thrown her hat in the ring and
Joe Biden, Beto O’Rourke and
Bernie Sanders are also consider-
ing the possibility of fighting for
the party’s nomination. Because
President Trump is the Repub-
lican incumbent, it’s almost as-
sured that he will run against the
Democratic nominee.
In 2016 many thought that a
Trump presidency was an impos-
sibility, but in the upcoming elec-
tion cycle Democrats will not be as
passive as they were the first time
around. They know beating him
is not inevitable, so the contenders
will be scrutinized even more be-
cause they need an ideal candidate
to guarantee a win against Trump,
something that seemed like a slam
dunk just two years ago. This can-
didate must have unimpeachable
morals, a clean track record and
a complete disregard for the truth
while maintaining integrity.
Democrats showed in the last
election that they care more about
the morals and ideals of their can-
technique
Technique
Flags Bldg 137 Writers, •Designers, Photographers
didates than Republicans do. Peo-
ple still brought up the Lewinsky
Scandal during Hillary Clinton’s
campaign twenty years after her
husband left office.
Republicans let Trump’s gen-
ital-grabbing comments slip by,
but both sides held tight to Clin-
ton’s past transgressions even after
Bernie was out of the race. Who-
ever wins the Democrat’s nomi-
nation has to be a model in their
personal and public lives.
Any entrenched politician will
have some policy or history that
will draw criticism, which is why
Trump did well as an outsider.
Experienced politicians are inher-
ently disliked. They are viewed as
lying and manipulative, which is
why Trump’s blatant lies are all
the more surprising.
Trump has redefined politics
by denying reality and all evidence
contrary to his current opinion.
To say we live in a post-truth era
is an understatement. People trust
him because they think he “tells it
like it is,” even when there is pho-
tographic proof that he is simply
telling it how he wishes it was,
truth be damned.
Whoever runs against him
cannot get caught up in fact
checking or telling the truth. Per-
ception has always mattered more
than reality, but it is more impor-
tant than ever. Hillary seemed less
trustworthy and her statements,
factual or otherwise, were taken
as such.
This candidate will need to ral-
ly people and unite a party that is
out of touch with their biggest de-
mographic: millennials. Recently
elected younger Democrats are
butting heads with their more ex-
perienced party members because
they want more change. The presi-
dential nominee will have to con-
nect with older, centrist Demo-
crats and younger liberals who are
demanding progress and filling
voting booths in record numbers.
The electoral college will not
be changed anytime soon so the
main goal for Democrats in 2020
will be winning back the swing
states that were lost to Trump.
Drawing people to the polls will
depend on the nominee’s person-
ality in addition to their policies.
Democrats cannot afford for mod-
erates to abstain in this election.
Essentially, the candidate has
to do the impossible by satisfy-
ing a divided party and debating
someone who is not bothered by
facts. They must show strong mor-
als and have an ideal track record.
Liberals should not assume that
they are going to win against the
current president, even with a
lowered approval rating, so they
either need to lower their stan-
dards or come up with a better
option.
Join the
Bird Law
New laws have been in-
troduced in Atlanta to better
regulate the booming elec-
tronic scooter industry. First,
they will finally crack down on
usage of the vehicles on side-
walks. This has long been one
of the biggest complaints since
the scooters were introduced
last summer. The company
will also have to pay a large fee
to do business in the city.
BiblioTecha
Tech’s renovated library,
Crosland Tower, has re-
opened to students after a se-
mester of construction. While
the library’s west wing — situ-
ated above Clough — remains
unchanged, the east wing has
received a much-needed face
lift and now offers a sleek mul-
tipurpose learning space. Even
better, this means the con-
struction plaguing the top of
Freshman Hill may finally be
coming to an end.
technique • January 11, 2019• 7
A Stiff Drink
Freshmen have been com-
plaining about problems with
the milk at campus dining
halls. While students continue
to receive questionable drinks,
no signage has been displayed
warning them about the po-
tentially unsafe condition of
the milk. There have also been
complaints of ants in the cof-
fee from the Clough’s third
floor machine.
Life in the QuickLane
The Jackets traveled to De-
troit’s Ford Field on December
26th to face off against the
Minnesota Golden Gophers in
the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl. In
their last game with Paul John-
son as head coach, Tech fell to
the Gophers 34-10. Minnesota
out-ran and out-passed the
Jackets, holding the lead for
the duration of the game and
sending Paul Johnson into re-
tirement in a fitting fashion:
with a flaccid thud.
Life
LIFE EDITOR: technique
Lauren Lambert MLK Celebrations on Campus
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR:
Rosemary Pitrone
The Technique outlines the campus’ upcoming celebrations 8
Friday,
surrounding the MLK holiday. 410
life@nique.net January 11, 2019

Spicing up Fridays with Health Initiatives

ROSEMARY PITRONE
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
At 11 a.m. on Mondays
through Fridays, swarms of hun-
gry students wander the Student
Center in pursuit of lunch. On
Friday, January 11, those stu-
dents will have the opportunity
to sample a recipe made by one of
Health Initiative’s own registered
dieticians.
On select Fridays throughout
the semester, Health Initiatives
hosts “Flavorful Fridays,” an event
where a dietitian provides a cook-
ing demonstration in the Student
Center Healthy Space, located
adjacent to the Food Court. Stu-
dents can stop by the space to
sample foods, pick up recipes and
ask the dietitian questions they
may have regarding nutrition.
Flavorful Fridays first launched
last fall, and the events happen
around once every month. Each
event has a different theme and is
designed to encourage students to
step outside the box and try new
things. The first event of the se-
mester is called “New Year, New
Eats.”
“It’s really to encourage trying
new foods — like a new recipe,
different cuisine, new restaurant
— because by trying new and
different foods you can add more
colors, more textures, maybe
even trying food of a different
culture,” said registered dietitian
and Health Initiatives nutrition-
ist Leah Galante. “And by doing
that, you’re getting more balanced
— more nutrient-dense — eating
choices overall.”
Students who attend “New
Year, New Eats” can expect to dis-
cover new recipes as they observe
the cooking demonstration. The
event will feature Galante’s recipe
for what she calls “Utica Greens
and Beans.”
“I’m from upstate New York,
so it’s sort of my take on a tradi-
tional recipe from Upstate New
York — and I added beans to it.
As far as newness, I thought the
demographic of people who have
been to upstate New York in
Georgia is smaller, and probably
new for a lot of people.”
Galante finds that students
have common questions about
healthy eating.
“Students have a lot of inter-
ests in similar topics — so, eating
healthy on a budget is one we get
a lot of requests for. We do work
one-on-one with students with
disordered eating habits. Usually,
because there’s [a large amount of]
misinformation available, we do
a lot of debunking of what’s out
there,” Galante said.
Because many Tech students
are interested in how to eat on a
budget, Health Initiatives offers
grocery store tours with a nutri-
tionist. Small groups of around
five to seven students can re-
quest a tour led by a nutritionist.
One such tour will take place in
March, which is National Nutri-
tion Month.
The theme of National Nutri-
tion Month is “Let’s Change the
Conversation.” At Health Initia-
tives, this will be a time to high-
light intuitive eating, which has
always been a significant focus of
their services.
“Intuitive eating gets away
from traditional diets in general Photos courtesy of Health Initiatives
where there’s more restrictive or Top: A Health Initiatives dietician prepares a nutrient-packed smoothie during a cookie demo.
See FLAVORFUL, page 10 Bottom: A hungry student takes food samples during a Flavorful Friday event in fall 2018.

JAY JAGANAATH
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On January 6, 2019 Georgia
Tech opened up Crosland Tower,
also known as Library East, after
a two-year renovation. The reno-
vation was part of the Price Gil-
bert Library Renewal Project, also
called Library Next.
Crosland Tower will serve as
the campus library until 2020,
at which point both Crosland
and the Price Gilbert library, also
called Library West, will both be
opened for use together.
Meanwhile, the new opening
has garnered a lot of interest from
students across campus, who have
flocked to visit it due to its nov-
elty. The Technique asked a few
students about their views on the
Photo by Allie Ghisson Student Publications look and function of the newly
Above: View of the Atlanta skyline from the terrace of renovated opened library.
Crosland Tower. Below: Students study in the indoor quiet space. Some people appreciated the
change in aesthetics of Crosland
Tower in comparison to the Price
Gilbert library.
“The entire building seems like
a fresh breath of air for us stu-
dents,” said Justin Wurst, first-year
CS. “The seven-story tall building
really allows Tech students to ap-
preciate the Atlanta skyline from
just within their campus.”
The increased student capacity
of Crosland Tower in comparison
to the previous Price Gilbert li-
brary has been a sign of relief for a
few students. This is true for stu-
dents like Ishrat Arora, third-year
ME.
“One of the best benefits of
this building is that it now pre-
vents the overcrowding of CULC
during midterm or finals season,
affording all of us a quiet place to
study,” Arora said. During peak
study times, many students find
that the CULC can be too noisy
or crowded to accommodate their
needs.
However, some students be-
lieve that at the moment, the new
library feels a bit too rushed and
unfinished. “The floor plan choice
for some of the floors feels a bit
weird and disconnected,” said
Rohit Ramachandran, first-year
IE. “It felt like [it] looked like two
rooms joined together, almost like
a quad dorm room.”
Some students also feel that
after the initial novelty of the li-
brary eventually wears off, they
will find that it does not provide a
drastic improvement compared to
the previous library.
“Even though it’s open right
now, the building feels unfinished,
with most amenities unavailable
and even some technical glitches
like an ‘up’ button at the elevator
on the highest floor,” said Tony
Kim, first-year CS. “However, the
building shows some promise and
I hope that Georgia Tech contin-
ues to make subsequent improve-
ments to this building.”
The library does seem to have
gained an upgrade in terms of
energy efficiency, according to
the architecture firm conducting
these building renewals, Berkebile
Nelson Immenschuh McDowell
(BNIM). After the complete reno-
vation, the population using both
buildings will have nearly doubled
— the 1,250 seats currently avail-
able will grow to 2,360 — yet the
buildings’ total energy consump-
tion will be reduced by about a
third. The energy consumption
per capita will be 80 percent less
than what it is currently.
So far, it seems that the fresh
design, ample quiet space and
rooftop terrace of Library East
will provide students with an ap-
pealing space to study and learn.
Based on these opinions, it seems
that many students believe the
Georgia Tech Library has a bright
future.
// LIFE
Keeping
New Year’s
Resolutions
LANE ELDER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It’s that time of year again.
Bold declarations of losing weight,
eating better, reading more, scroll-
ing less and being kinder are
thrown out the window with the
start of the semester.
Who has time to work on lofty
resolutions when it is day four of
classes and somehow you are al-
ready three assignments behind
on everything? What is the point
of New Year’s resolutions when
everyone knows that they are just
a feeble joke to feel better about
yourself for a couple of days in the
new year?
In the words of Cavett Robert,
a motivational speaker, “Char-
acter is the ability to carry out a
good resolution long after the
excitement of the moment has
passed.”
Here are some tips for making
2019 the year where your well-
meaning resolutions last beyond
those exciting first few days in
January.
BE SPECIFIC
Psychologists and health pro-
fessionals alike often recommend
implementing the S.M.A.R.T.
goals model in order to concretely
accomplish abstract resolutions.
How do you know you’re succeed-
ing at getting in shape? Set small-
er, specific goals under the larger
resolution to help track your prog-
ress. S.M.A.R.T. goals must be
specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic and time-oriented.
For example, someone who
wants to get in shape could break
their resolution down into these
five areas. A specific way to get
healthier would be to work on how
often you are active, or to master
a new workout routine or to adjust
your resting heart rate through
regular aerobic exercise. Goals can
be made measurable by putting
them in quantitative terms instead
of qualitative. Perhaps make your
goal to reach 10,000 steps a day
instead of “move around more.”
A large part of why students
fail at resolutions is because they
are not attainable or realistic. As
a Tech student, you may not have
time to train for a marathon dur-
ing the semester, so don’t make
that your resolution for 2019. In-
stead, decide not to take the buses
when having to walk to west cam-
pus, or perhaps choose to visit the
CRC in between classes.
Finally, making sure your reso-
lutions stay time-oriented is a sure
way to prevent yourself from be-
ing burned out by January 15. Say
that you want to be able to run
three miles, lift a certain amount
or train for a triathlon by the end
of the semester, and then break
the resolution down into smaller
steps with deadlines.
While vague mantras about
living better in the new year can
be inspirational, you can make
sure to follow through with your
resolutions by staying specific.
REWARD YOURSELF
Putting in the work to attain
your specific resolutions can be a
difficult task. Making statements
at the start of the new year is fun;
actually going to the gym three
times a week or giving up social
media for a certain amount of
time to study is not as pleasant.
Reward yourself for meet-
ing your goals to stay motivated
throughout this semester. A re-
ward doesn't have to be extrava-
gant. Thomas Russ, second-year
CE, stays simple by rewarding
himself with “literally food, like a
Sourpatch Kid or a sip of soda.”
For Casey Wood, third-year ISYE,
“junk food and Netflix” is the an-
swer. Mary Hartness, second-year
LMC, prefers going towards hob-
bies and company. “Sometimes
I’ll treat myself to a coffee, or re-
ward myself by doing something
I enjoy,” she said, “like spending
time with friends or painting.”
The key is to make sure the
reward isn’t counterproductive to
the work you’ve done. If your reso-
lution is to eat healthier, you could
treat yourself some fancy trail
mix, rather than an unhealthy
snack reward. If you’re trying to
study more, take a break, like Dan
Kotten, second-year ME, who cel-
ebrates goals with “a hot shower, a
nap and a night with my friends.”
Intentional, small rewards pave
the way to success in the long run.
STAY ACCOUNTABLE
Tech is a campus with many
other students, organizations and
faculty members who are looking
to help you to succeed. Consider
asking a roommate to check in.
Some people may prefer to public-
ly share their goals on social me-
dia. Putting your New Year’s reso-
lutions out into cyberspace might
make you more likely to want to
follow through.
For example, if you post on
social media that your resolution
is to read 20 new books through-
out the course of the year, your
friends and followers may respond
with encouragement and possibly
even give you book recommenda-
tions. New Year’s resolutions do
not have to be a personal battle;
letting your friends help keep you
accountable can make sure you
still have the energy to tackle your
resolutions come later in the year.
Accountability might also
take place in the form of creat-
ing goals in the context of a group
setting. Achieving goals is easier
when it is done as a social activity
amongst friends and family. Start
a running group, a book club or
a healthy dinner club with people
that share similar goals.
In addition, writing down your
goals in a journal or creating a vi-
sion board might help them come
to fruition. They will serve as a
technique • January 11, 2019• 9
constant reminder of the goals
that you are wanting to achieve.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Tech classes are difficult and
the culture can be competitive.
Some find this is also true of the
world outside of the Institute’s
bubble.
“This looks to be the year of
the wolves — the year when sav-
age and previously unimaginable
things might happen,” wrote New
York Times columnist David
Brooks on New Year’s Eve, in ref-
erence to the tumultuous political
climate.
While building resolute char-
acter remains important, you
should resolve to make 2019 a year
where you don’t fail to be consid-
erate of your limits in regards to
your goals.
You will fall behind on your
S.M.A.R.T. goals. You will have
to tell your accountability friends
that you slipped up. You may even
have to abandon a resolution all
together and choose something
more specific or attainable. How-
ever, that does not mean that you
have failed, and certainly does not
mean that you are unable to try
again.
January 1 is an arbitrary date
for resolution-making after all.
Yes, it would be ideal if your re-
solve to do better in 2019 is suc-
cessful. Travel, become healthy,
try new things, dedicate yourself
to academic success and excel in
whatever else you resolve to do.
But most importantly, strengthen
your resolve to be kind to yourself,
no matter what the new year may
bring.
10 • January 11, 2019• technique // LIFE

FLAVORFUL FROM PAGE 8

prescriptive elements ... It has you
tune into what more of your inter-
nal cues from your body are. Not
“Our Shared Future: Changing the World,
just hunger and fullness, but even
what is going to be more satisfy-
ing to you,” Galante said.
Together”
This kind of eating results in a
greater variety of foods in the diet
of each individual.
It is important to continue try- Every year communities across the country gather to celebrate the legacy of, and progress inspired by,
ing new foods even as an adult. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, like in years past, the Tech community will be joining in this cel-
“I’d encourage students to try ebration with a variety of events and initiatives aimed at celebrating growth and promoting continued,
new foods to increase the variety positive social change. Institute Diversity, the institute department charged with supporting and advancing
of nutrients … in their regular inclusivity at Tech, has spearheaded the organization of several events that will engage the campus com-
eating pattern, as well as to have a munity. These events, in line with this year’s theme: “Our Shared Future: Changing the World, Together,”
balance of things. If you’re having are geared toward creating open, meaningful dialogue, and are open to all members of the campus com-
the same thing every day… you’re
probably missing out on some mi-
munity. Please find a list of events below:
cronutrients, vitamins and miner-
als,” she said.
Students can attend a Flavorful Campus-wide Student Celebration MLK “Sunday” Supper
Fridays event to ask more ques- Time: Jan. 15 at 7:00 p.m. Time: Jan. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
tions about nutrition and bal- Location: Ferst Center for the Arts Location: Bill Moore Student Success Center
anced diets, as well gain tips for
cooking and grocery shopping. Distinguished Lecture Komansè Dance Theater: Skid
Galante also says to look out for When: Jan. 16 at 3:00 p.m. Time: Jan 25 & 26 at 8:00 p.m.
more tablings, cooking demos Where: Student Center Ballroom
and grocery store trips as National
Location: Ferst Center for the Arts
Nutrition Month approaches. FOCUS Program
Health Initiatives has more Time: Jan. 17-19 Forces Behind Movements
resources for students available Location: GT Hotel and Conference Center Time: Jan 29 at 6:30 p.m.
on their website. They offer in- Location: Bill Moore Student Success Center
dividual counseling with their MLK Day of Service
nutritionists to provide students Time: Jan. 21 from 8:00 am to 1:00 p.m. Break Free from Poverty 5K Walk/Run
with one-on-one assistance. They Location: Student Center Ballroom Time: Feb. 9 at 8:00 a.m.
can also provide nutrition-related
presentations for meetings and Location: Student Center
MLK Lecture: featuring Dr. Mae Jemison
classes.
In addition, every other Tues-
Time: Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. For more information about these events
day they post a new “Tuesday Location: Ferst Center for the Arts and others within the Atlanta area, please
Taste” recipe on their Instagram visit:
and Facebook, @GTHealthInitia-
diversity.gatech.edu/mlk-celebration-events.
tives. The recipes are available on
their website, healthinitiatives. Story by Bobby Guild Staff Writer
gatech.edu.
// LIFE
January 10
KING HOLIDAY
OBSERVANCE
Kickoff and Reception
• 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Jr.
Recreation Center and
Aquatic Center 
This reception serves as the
opening event for the 2019
King holiday observance and
an invitation to the public to
join us in honoring the life
and work of Martin Luther
King Jr. 
Contact: 
tgrey@thekingcenter.
org
January 11-13
Civil Rights Journey
to Alabama  
The 2019 King celebration
begins with a trip to Selma,
Montgomery, and Tuskegee,
Alabama, to explore the
history of the civil rights
era and visit sites that were
major flashpoints in the civil
rights movement. There
are 70 student ($130) and
30 ($230) faculty spots
available.
Faculty RSVP: https://
orgsync.com/139436/
forms/342122
Student RSVP: https://
orgsync.com/139436/
forms/342125
January 15
Students with King:
Celebrate Differences
• 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Location TBD
The purpose of Celebrate
Differences is to teach
students about the national
impact of Martin Luther
King Jr. on the civil rights
movement as well as
his global influence. The
event is an opportunity
for students to engage in
dialogue with King family
members, veterans of the
movement, and people who
worked with Dr. and
Mrs. King.
Contact: dbullock7@
thekingcenter.org
January 15
CAMPUSWIDE STUDENT
CELEBRATION: Bending
the Arc Toward Justice
• 7 p.m.   Conference Center
• Ferst Center for the Arts  
This celebration will feature
student speeches, cultural
performances, and a
candle-lighting ceremony
for student organizations.
Reception to follow.
Contact: mthomas324@
gatech.edu or sadous7@
gatech.edu
technique • January 11, 2019• 11
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION
JANUARY 10 – FEBRUARY 9, 2019
Our Shared
Future:
Changing the
World, Together
EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE GEORGIA TECH COMMUNITY UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
January 16 January 21 January 22 January 25-26 February 9
Distinguished Lecture: MLK Day of Service MLK Lecture featuring Komansé Dance Break Free from Poverty
Einstein on Politics • 8 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Dr. Mae Jemison Theater: Skid 5K Walk/Run
featuring Dr. Robert • Student Center • 7 p.m. • 8 p.m.  • 8 a.m. 
Schulmann Ballroom  • Ferst Center for • Ferst Center for • Campus Recreation
• 3 p.m.   During Georgia Tech’s the Arts the Arts Center
• Student Center ninth annual MLK Day of Jemison, an engineer, Komansé Dance Theater, The Georgia Tech
Ballroom Service, which honors physician, and NASA led by Georgia Tech MLK Student Board,
the life and legacy of astronaut, will discuss in conjunction with the
Schulmann, former student Raianna Brown,
Martin Luther King Jr., King’s legacy and the
director of the Einstein takes a provocative look African-American Student
participants will serve journey individuals must
Papers Project and in teams and engage take to change the world at homelessness and Union, will host a 5K walk/
co-editor of Einstein in service projects with together and create a gentrification in the metro run to raise awareness of
on Politics, will discuss metro Atlanta community shared future.  Atlanta area and beyond. disadvantaged students
the interplay of politics partners. Ticket registration for Tickets for this event at Georgia Tech. There is
with Albert Einstein’s faculty, staff, and are $30. no entry fee, but students
RSVP: www.engage. are encouraged to donate
concerns for human rights community members Purchase tickets: 
gatech.edu non-perishable foods and
and the trajectory of his opens in November. www.tickets.arts.
professional career. The Contact: bjames44@ Student tickets become gatech.edu gently used clothing. 
lecture will celebrate the gatech.edu available on January
7, 2019, at: gatech. Contact: stephanie. Contact: etogbenou3@
70th anniversary of the gatech.edu
January 21 universitytickets.com lee@arts.gatech.edu
signing of the Declaration
of Human Rights by the NATIONAL MLK HOLIDAY Visit: www.diversity.
gatech.edu/MLK- January 29
United Nations.   OBSERVANCE
Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Forces Behind For more
Visit: http://www. Movements information
einstein.caltech.edu Annual Commemorative
Service January 24 • 6:30 p.m. 
Visit www.diversity.
• 10 a.m. MLK “SUNDAY” SUPPER: • Bill Moore Student
January 17-19 gatech.edu/
• Ebenezer Baptist A Community Meal and Success Center, MLK-celebration
Focus Program 
Church    Conversation President’s Suite A and
• Georgia Tech Hotel and
The Martin Luther King Jr. • 6 – 8 p.m.  Hall of Success Please let the designated
Annual Commemorative • Bill Moore Student Join us for a conversation event sponsor know if
Focus is one of the Service is the spiritual Success Center about women’s activism you need a reasonable
nation’s premier programs hallmark of the King within the civil rights accommodation to
The Georgia Tech
for raising awareness holiday observance. community is invited to movement and other major participate.
of graduate education Sponsored by the King come together over a social movements. A
among the brightest Center for Nonviolent meal and discuss the King reception is included, and TDD
underrepresented Change, 20 spaces will be celebration events, King’s seating is limited to 30. (Telecommunications
students.   available to the Georgia legacy, and creating a device for the deaf):
Tech community through shared future. There are RSVP: 
Contact: sybrina. 404.894.1664
the MLK Day of Service. 100 spaces available.  https://orgsync.
atwaters@omed. com/139436/
gatech.edu Contact: marcus. RSVP: www.engage.
gatech.edu forms/342955
williams@stucen.
gatech.edu Contact: sirocus. Contact: myagnye2@
barnes@ceismc. gatech.edu
Visit: www.engage. gatech.edu
gatech.edu

Entertainment
Fox’s ‘Masked Singer’ misses on every note
TELEVISION
The Masked Singer
NETWORK: Fox
WHEN: Wednesdays at 9
p.m.
STARRING: Ken Jeong, Jenny
McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger
and Robin Thicke
OUR TAKE: «««««
JON LONG
OPINIONS EDITOR
The invention of the television
set added an exciting new dimen-
sion to the audio-only medium of
radio. By introducing a visual ele-
ment to broadcasts, narratives no
longer had to rely solely on voices
and could become infinitely more
complex. Unfortunately for every-
one with a cable subscription, Fox
has decided not to make any effort
to explore those affordances.
The trend of televised singing
competitions has served as some-
thing of a digestive system for ma-
jor networks; it has only produced
crap, yet it is still seen as a neces-
sary niche for TV programming.
Television’s latest case of dysen-
tery comes in the form of Fox’s
“The Masked Singer,” a competi-
tion in which ten celebrities com-
pete to see who can entertain an
History’s ‘Project Blue Book’ is worth something
TELEVISION
Project Blue Book
NETWORK: History
WHEN: Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
STARRING: Aidan Gillen,
Michael Malarkey, Laura
Mennell
OUR TAKE: «««««
« him to pick up radio signals from
JOSH TREBUCHON
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
On Tuesday, History pre-
miered “Project Blue Book,” a
new drama series which follows
U.S. Air Force investigations into
UFO sightings throughout the
50s and 60s.
The Robert Zemeckis pro-
duced series stars Aidan Gillen
(“Game of Thrones”) as Josef Al-
len Hynek, an astrophysics profes-
sor recruited by the Air Force to
dispel public concerns about UFO
sightings.
The new series is intended to
be a serious drama with high pro-
duction values, real actors and real
producers. This is a drastic depar-
ture from the type of program-
ming the channel has become
known for — reality shows such
as “Pawn Stars” and pseudosci-
entific docuseries like “Ancient
Aliens.”
Because of History’s associa-
tion with these types of shows,
it is natural for a viewer to ap-
proach “Project Blue Book” with a
healthy skepticism — it is hard to
imagine that one could find qual-
technique
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Josh Trebuchon
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Eli Hendler Friday,
12
entertainment@nique.net January 11, 2019
over-enthusiastic audience and a singer from the 50s has beaten a a heavy focus on the big reveal, through the first two episodes has
dollar-store panel of “celebrity” poodle.” Truly must-watch TV. the actual ‘singing’ takes a back- been surprisingly high. It remains
judges the most. The star-studded Only at the end of the show seat and turns into something of a to be seen whether or not audi-
foursome consists of actor Ken does the audience get answers to chore to watch. With such a paltry ences can sit through a full season
Jeong (“The Hangover,” “Com- their questions. After introducing payoff, it is just not worth it to sit of the show or if the novelty will
munity”), former Playboy model several acts — presented in a face- through the 60-minute runtime. wear off as viewers get frustrated
and current anti-vaccine activist off format for some reason — host The show is an adaptation of with the format, but conceptually
Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scher- Nick Cannon reveals the identity a format that has been successful “The Masked Singer” should have
zinger of the Pussycat Dolls and of a single contestant. With such internationally, and viewership never showed its face in the States.
singer Robin Thicke.
The catch? The contestants
are covered from head to toe in
elaborate costumes, leaving their
identities a mystery. While it is
fair that anyone would want to
be covered up in the presence of
the creative genius behind 2013’s
‘Blurred Lines’, the costumes also
serve to introduce tension and ex-
citement into a stale format. The
celebrity contestants come from a
variety of backgrounds — come-
dian Tommy Chong and Pitts-
burgh Steeler Antonio Brown are
the two that have been booted so
far — and give small hints at their
identities before taking the stage.
To an extent, this gimmick has
the opposite effect. The prospect
of watching Antonio Brown sing
is enticing, but that isn’t what the
audience gets. Without know-
ing who is behind the mask, the
performance is no more exciting
than a second-rate “America’s Got
Talent” act. This recognition is
what made shows like Spike’s “Lip Photo courtesy of Fox
Sync Battle” somewhat palettable. The Hippo is one of the contestants on Fox’s new show ‘The Masked Singer.’ The character is
To quote Jeong: “A well-known revealed to be Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in the first episode of the series.
ity television on the same channel
as “Alaska Off-Road Warriors.”
The pilot episode, titled “The
Fuller Dogfight,” opens with a
pair of fighters performing flying
drills over Fargo, North Dakota.
One leaves to return to base, and
while the pilot of the other plane
is flying solo he spots a fast mov-
ing, glowing orb which causes
a station in San Diego. The pilot,
named Fuller, tries to shoot down
the orb and loses control of his
plane, taking damage causing him
to nearly crash.
The initial incident is reason-
ably well filmed and is rather
intense and engaging. The audi-
ence next sees the aftermath of
the incident, as Air Force officials
discuss what to do about the UFO
sighting. Captain Michael Quinn,
played by Michael Malarkey
(“The Vampire Diaries”), is soon
tasked with recruiting Hynek to
investigate UFO incidents.
At this point, the series starts
to show a few of its weaknesses. As
the plot slows down, the viewer is
confronted with mediocre writing
and acting. Most of the dialogue
feels awkward, and the acting
does little to cover up the flaws in
the script. Conversations between
Hynek and his wife Mimi, played
by Laura Mennell (“Loudermilk”)
feel forced.
The plot is fairly well crafted,
but at times the character writing
contradicts the dialogue. Early in
the episode, Professor Hynek ex-
plains to Mimi that one reason he Photo courtesy of History
wants to take the job investigating Aidan Gillen stars in History’s ‘Project Blue Book’ as astrophysicist-turned-ufologist Josef Allen
See PROJECT, page 15 Hynek. The series is based on true events surrounding investigations into UFOs by the Air Force.
// ENTERTAINMENT technique • January 11, 2019• 13
14 • January 11, 2019• technique
21 Savage explores different styles on new album
MUSIC
I Am > I Was
21 Savage
LABEL: Epic
GENRE: Rap
TRACK PICKS: “1.5,” “Out for
the Night,” “Monster,” “Break
Da Law”
OUR TAKE: «««««
JOSH TREBUCHON
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
On the shortest day of 2018,
Atlanta native 21 Savage released
arguably the best rap album of the
entire year.
“I Am > I Was” (pronounced
“I Am Greater Than I Was”) is
just the rapper’s second full studio
album, and it is a drastic improve-
ment on his “Issa Album.” While
that album contains a healthy
mixture of commercial tracks
which fit into the traditional 21
Savage formula and deeper, more
experimental songs, many of the
more ambitious tracks could have
been executed better.
With “I Am > I Was,” however,
21 Savage shows the listener what
he is truly capable of. The record
does contain some standard 21
Savage singles — “Break Da Law”
being the most obvious example
— but for much of the album the
rapper takes risks and experiments
with new sounds and styles, to ex-
cellent effect.
That “I Am > I Was” will not
just be more of the same 21 Savage
becomes apparent with the first
track and the lone single from the
album, “A Lot.” While the song is
far from a lyrical masterpiece, its
sonic layering and stylistic com-
plexity set it apart from the rap-
per’s previous body of work.
of
100’s ces
C h o i
New
Atlanta artist 21 savage recently released his second studio album titled ‘I Am > I Was.’ The
album sees Savage explore more layered sounds than he has rapped over on past projects.
The track opens with several
lines sung in a gospel-inspired
early 2000s R&B style, which are
overtaken by a unique beat cour-
tesy of producer DJ Dahi which
blends a trap sound with more
traditional hip-hop elements. Be-
tween the continued R&B vocals
in the background, the beat and
the main verses rapped in 21 Sav-
age’s signature soft-spoken style,
the track has a deep texture with a
variety of contrasting and comple-
mentary layers which make for a
rich and complex soundscape.
Savage builds on this artis-
tic momentum with the album’s
fourth track, “Out for the Night.”
LAST DAY
Where:
Student Center Commons
The Piedmont Room
When:
Monday January 7 thru
Friday January 11
Time:
9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
The song opens with a smooth,
laid back slide guitar riff pro-
vided by Carlos Santana which is
quickly joined by a fast, power-
ful beat created by producer Kid
Hazel and by harsh verses. By his
standards, 21 Savage’s flow on the
track is downright ferocious —
loud, fast and hostile. The contrast
between Santana’s guitar backing
and the beat and rapping make
“Out for the Night” one of the
most immersive and compelling
tracks on “I Am > I Was.”
The next track, “Gun Smoke,”
again features impressive layer-
ing between the backing track,
the beat, backup vocals and 21’s
Photo courtesy of Epic
verses. It is followed by “1.5,” one
of the faster-paced songs on the
album. In contrast to the previ-
ous two tracks, on “1.5” the beat
itself cedes center stage to a syn-
thetic backing track which sounds
vaguely like a digital flute. This
unique structure mixed with a call
and answer vocal structure and an
excellent verse from the Migos’
Offset makes “1.5” one of the
most enjoyable and easy listening
tracks on the album.
The album does have its weak
points. The third track, “A&T”
is easily the worst on the album.
While the song’s sound is rela-
tively interesting, the listener is
// ENTERTAINMENT
distracted by an unnecessarily
loud and obscene chorus, which is
abrasive and unpleasant. Savage’s
verses are not much better, mak-
ing “A&T” the only real swing-
and-miss on the entire album.
Another weak track is “All My
Friends,” which is good to listen
to but feels less like a 21 Savage
song featuring Post Malone and
more like a Post Malone song
featuring 21 Savage. Either Sav-
age failed to take enough creative
ownership over the track, allow-
ing Post Malone to dominate it,
or he wrote it with the other rap-
per in mind and tried to make the
song match the featured artist.
Regardless, the track just feels out
of place on the album, and should
have been released separately.
In contrast to “All My
Friends,” Savage’s use of Childish
Gambino’s feature on “Monster”
is masterful. Gambino’s verses fit
well into both the song and the
album as a whole, complementing
Savage’s music and filling a sty-
listic hole left by Savage’s slower,
softer flow.
With the exception of a few
poorly executed tracks, “I Am > I
Was” is a fantastic album full of
fresh, unique music. 21 Savage
takes risks with his music, try-
ing new things and creating new
sounds which elevate his artistry
to a higher creative plane.
Though this album is not quite
as good as Young Thug’s master-
piece “Beautiful Thugger Girls,”
there is a strong comparison to be
drawn between the two. In both
cases, the artists expanded their
musical horizons and reached cre-
ative levels which trap music had
not reached before them. This is
still just 21 Savage’s second full
album, and if he can continue in
the direction he has set with this
effort in the future, it is hard to
imagine what he might achieve.
// ENTERTAINMENT
Springsteen gets personal on Broadway
ELI HENDLER
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Convincing someone to listen
to your life story using just a gui-
tar, harmonica and piano is not an
easy task, but it is one that Bruce
Springsteen has been doing five
days a week for more than a year.
Springsteen began his residency at
the Walter Kerr Theatre in New
York city on the evening of Octo-
ber 3, 2017. From then, he played
236 shows to more than 220,000
people in what ultimately became
the most successful one-man show
on Broadway.
Hours after the final perfor-
mance and after shelling out $20
million for the rights, Netflix
premiered the experience for all
of those who were not fortunate
enough to get a much-coveted
ticket to see.
“Springsteen on Broadway”
fits right in with Springsteen’s
most recent activities including
his biography “Born to Run” and
the accompanying album “Chap-
ter and Verse” in that all three
have been glimpses into the life
of Bruce Springsteen in a way
that is clearly very meaningful to
him. The show is nothing like the
typical high-octane Springsteen
concert. This is to be expected,
though, given the acoustic nature
of the shows and because through-
out the entire run, the only other
E-Street band member to join
Springsteen on stage was his wife,
Patti Scialfa.
The show begins with Springs-
teen describing his art before tran-
sitioning into the first story — his
first experience playing guitar.
Appropriately, he then launches
into the song “Growin Up.” This
intro is representative of the rest of
the show. There are talking pieces
— anecdotes from Springsteen’s
life or observations — lasting
about 10 minutes each, followed
by a relevant song.
The songs more or less are
played in chronological order and
truly provide a great snapshot of
the range of style that Springsteen
has explored over his prolific ca-
reer. The context of the songs is
revealed through the stories that
they accompany.
As the show progresses, it
becomes evident how willing
Springsteen is to open up to the
audience and share some deeply
personal stories. This level of
Bruce Springsteen hits the stage of the Walter Kerr theatre in New York City. Springsteen recently
capped a Broadway residence in which he performed nearly 240 shows with a Netflix special.
personalization really makes the
show feel like an individual expe-
rience, even through a TV screen.
While the show does not pro-
vide an opportunity to see new
songs performed live for the first
time by one of the best in the
business, it is anything but stale.
Springsteen keeps the show inter-
esting by playing songs rarely seen
in other live performances of his.
Also, the acoustic nature al-
lows Springsteen to play some
songs closer to how he originally
imagined them. This is fully dis-
played with a haunting rendition
of “Born in the USA” that better
captures the tone that Springsteen
intended better than the upbeat
style of the album version.
Although some of the stories
Springsteen tells were pulled from
his recent biography, the perfor-
mance still has merits for those
who read the book. Something
about having Springsteen himself
tell the stories in the way he does
and pair them with the songs he
does adds a gravity that is lost by
simply reading a book, and that
extra element truly makes this
two and a half hours well spent.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
technique • January 11, 2019• 15
PROJECT FROM PAGE 12
UFOs is to seek the recognition
he never achieved for his work in
astrophysics. Throughout the pi-
lot, however, Hynek seems to be
motivated exclusively by a desire
to seek the truth, never to simply
earn public recognition.
It’s possible that the writ-
ers wanted Hynek’s character to
transform from the skeptical sci-
entist simply looking to publish
often and earn references to a
UFO believer (much like the arc
of the real Josef Allen Hynek), but
without showing the transition, it
just feels like bad writing.
Then there’s Malarkey’s char-
acter, Captain Quinn. Quinn
does not just feel unrealistic, it’s as
if the writers simply lifted a World
War II pilot out of an old comic
book and dropped him on screen.
Naturally, at the end of the
pilot episode, there is a dramatic
twist in which one of the charac-
ters is revealed to be duplicitous.
The twist feels predictable, but it
is unlikely that many viewers will
actually see it coming, and it does
set the series up for some interest-
ing conflicts in the future.
This twist is actually an excel-
lent microcosm for the show as
a whole; it is difficult to watch
certain parts of the pilot without
chuckling at the acting and writ-
ing, but viewers cannot deny that
there is something entertaining,
about the series.
“Project Blue Book” is never
going to compete with shows like
“Mad Men” or “Man in the High
Castle” for awards and acclaim,
but it will almost certainly de-
velop some level of cult following.
The series is often compared to
“The X-Files,” and there is a good
chance that “Project Blue Book”
may become the 21st century ver-
sion of that cult classic. Plenty of
people are going to laugh at the se-
ries, but those who give it a chance
may well find the show difficult to
put down.
16 • January 11, 2019• technique // COMICS

SARAH’S SCRIBBLES BY SARAH ANDERSEN PEARLS BEFORE SWINE BY STEPHEN PASTIS

LIO BY MARK TATULLI

IN THE BLEACHERS BY STEVE MOORE

LUNARBABOON BY CHRISTOPHER GRADY

// COMICS technique • January 11, 2019• 17

XKCD BY RANDALL MUNROE SMBC BY ZACH WEINERSMITH

CUL DE SAC BY RICHARD THOMPSON

SUDOKU PUZZLE

CHANNELATE BY RYAN HUDSON

BY SUDOKUCOLLECTION.COM
18 • January 11, 2019• technique
Women’s hoops on track for NCAA Tournament
EMILY DYKSTRA
STAFF WRITER
While the campus has been
quiet, the Tech women’s basket-
ball team has been grinding away
in preparation for the upcoming
ACC competition that awaits
them over the next few weeks.
Led by freshman guard Elizabeth
Balogun, who was named ACC
Rookie of the Week twice earlier
this season, the Jackets finished
their non-conference season in
the fall with wins over Appala-
chian State, Georgia State, West-
ern Carolina and more. The team
wrapped up the calendar year
with a significant 81-40 win over
Wofford, along with the West
Palm Beach Invitational in which
the Jackets won 84-73 over Seton
Hall, but fell to Dayton, 85-66.
Most notable of the non-con-
ference wins was an upset over No.
14 Georgia, marking two con-
secutive victories in McCamish
Pavilion over the school down the
road. Early in the season, junior
guard Francesca Pan recorded her
one thousandth career point dur-
ing a game against Idaho State,
while head coach MaChelle Jo-
seph achieved her 300th career
win with Tech. With a top-10 re-
cruiting class and a group of expe-
rienced upperclassmen, Joseph has
an extremely talented team that
will pursue a spot in the NCAA
tournament, a feat the program
has not secured since 2014.
The first game of the ACC
schedule resulted in a win for
the Jackets over Boston College,
bringing the team’s overall record
to 11-3 at the time. The women
held onto the early lead created
by consecutive scores by Pan and
sophomore forward Lorela Cubaj,
resulting in a final score of 81-76.
The game was highlighted by 55
rebounds and 17 out of 24 com-
Forward Elizabeth Balogun drives towards the basket against Notre Dame. The Jackets’
poor second quarter against the second-ranked Fighting Irish doomed them in that game.
pleted free throws, along with
Balogun’s first collegiate double-
double, a team-leading 18 points
and 17 rebounds. The Eagles
struggled to catch back up to the
Jackets while adjusting to their
new head coach and seven true
freshmen.
The Tech women hosted No.
2 Notre Dame, the defending
national champion, as their first
ACC competition of the season
at home on Sunday. The Fight-
ing Irish lead the series of games
against the Jackets, 10-0. Last sea-
son, Pan, sophomore guard Kierra
Fletcher and junior guard Chanin
Scott all scored double-figures
in South Bend, but Notre Dame
broke away after a second-half tie
to secure a win over the Jackets.
Similar to last year, the Jack-
ets posted double-figure scoring
numbers led by Balogun with 14
points, freshman forward Eliza-
beth Dixon with 12 points and
Pan with 10 points. Yet again,
the Jackets lost after a torrid start
that yielded an initial margin of
8-2. The Fighting Irish gained
momentum and led 39-22 at half-
time, thanks to an absolutely dis-
mal second quarter by the Jackets.
While the Jackets attempted to
Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik
catch back up in the second half,
their efforts were too little and too
late. Despite this, the teams were
nearly identical when it came to
rebounding numbers, with Notre
Dame leading only by a single re-
bound, 34-33. Tech shot 36.1 per-
cent, while Notre Dame shot 54.8
percent, a statistic that alone show
where the Fighting Irish gained an
edge.
Tech faces the Duke Blue
Devils on Thursday, a game that
will provide hefty competition
alongside a home court advan-
tage for the Jackets. Last year,
the Jackets came up short against
technique
Join the
Technique
Flags Bldg 137 Writers, Designers, Photographers
// SPORTS
the Blue Devils with a final score
of 77-59. Yet, the team put up a
fight from the beginning as they
led by four at the end of the first
quarter, which was then surpassed
by Duke by halftime to place the
Jackets at an eight point deficit.
The Blue Devils are coming off of
a 63-51 loss to No. 9 North Caro-
lina State and a 73-51 loss to No.
3 Louisville. The North Carolina
State game allowed the Blue Dev-
ils to taste hints of victory as they
came back from sizable deficits
multiple times throughout the
game, but did so to no avail. The
Louisville game was led by the
Cardinals from the beginning,
something that the Blue Devils
will attempt to stay away from as
they enter into competition with
the Jackets this week.
If the Jackets can continue the
success they saw during their non-
conference schedule, the NCAA
tournament could be in sight for
a team that has not made an ap-
pearance in five years. The Duke
women will most likely be fight-
ing the Jackets for a spot in the
NCAA tournament come later
this season and will certainly be
clawing for their first win of this
season’s conference competition.
The ACC schedule has the
Jackets playing Louisville and
Clemson on the road follow-
ing the Duke game, along with
home games against Syracuse,
North Carolina State and North
Carolina to close out the month of
January. February brings another
competition against Notre Dame,
this time at South Bend, before
hosting three more opponents and
traveling to another four. Playing
basketball in the ACC, men’s or
women’s, is a steep challenge. And
it may take more time for Tech’s
young core of players to gel. But
at this rate, the Jackets will be a
worthy contender for a spot in the
NCAA Tournament.
/thenique
@the_nique
nique.net
// SPORTS
COLLINS FROM PAGE 1
offensive line coach Brent Key as
the Jackets offensive line coach
and perhaps as an assistant head
coach. Key coaches one the best
offensive lines in the country at
Alabama, and he is ranked No. 2
in the 247Sports Composite Foot-
ball Recruiter Rankings. While
this hire is not confirmed and Key
himself denied having personally
spoken to the team, the AJC’s Ken
Sugiura expects the move to be
made official in the coming days.
With him, Collins also brings
new offensive and defensive coor-
dinators to round out the coach-
ing staff. The new defensive coor-
dinator will be Andrew Thacker,
Running back Tashard Choice sprints for a touchdown against Miami. Choice, now back
at Tech after an NFL stint, is part of the program’s completely revamped coaching staff..
who served as Temple’s defensive
coordinator in 2018 under Col-
lins. His defense enjoyed a very
successful season with a nation-
best eight defensive touchdowns
scored, 18 interceptions, and 31
total forced turnovers. While
Temple’s defense was not facing
Power 5 offenses, coaching such
a prolific defense in his first year
as coordinator shows Thacker’s
potential to be a great defensive
coordinator at Tech as well.
Similarly, on the offensive side
of the ball, Collins brought his
offensive coordinator Dave Pat-
enaude from Temple to Tech as
well. Patenaude brings six years
of offensive coordinator experi-
ence between his positions at
Coastal Carolina and Temple,
and he most recently led the 2018
Temple offense to be ranked No.
24 in scoring nationwide. Collins
bringing his old staff from Temple
to Tech should help the coaches
transition and solidify their roles
in the new coaching staff.
A final notable addition is run-
ning backs coach and Tech alum-
nus Tashard Choice, who held the
same role for an offensively talent-
ed North Texas team last season.
As Collins and his staff sell
recruits on the idea that the Tech
offense is departing from the tri-
ple-option to a more pro-friendly
scheme, Choice, a former NFL
player, will no doubt be an invalu-
able asset.
Photo by Ariel Bravy Student Publications
HARSHA SRIDHAR
SPORTS EDITOR
Almost immediately after their
matchup against the University of
Minnesota in the everything-but-
prestigious Quick Lane Bowl was
announced, Tech players jumped
onto social media to air their dis-
appointment. “I’m baffled at this
bowl game,” declared quarterback
TaQuon Marshall. “No respect,”
complained safety Tariq Carpen-
ter. “Feels like a slap in the face,”
added offensive lineman Scott
Morgan for good measure.
Baffling, disrespectful, a slap
in the face — all of those words
did apply after the game was over,
but for a very different reason. The
Jackets were shellacked 34-10 at
the hands of the Golden Gophers,
who had squeaked into bowl eli-
gibility as the result of a rare win
over rival Wisconsin.
The Gophers looked hungry,
prepared to run the ball and stop
the triple option in perhaps the
last time the Jackets would ever
run it. The Jackets looked like a
team that was unhappy to be play-
ing against a 6-6 team in a sparse-
ly attended game in Detroit the
day after Christmas. What should
have been a warm, fond send-off
for Coach Paul Johnson was in-
stead a nightmarish slog. And per-
haps more disappointing than the
outcome was the reason Tech lost
— the team was just outmanned
by the Golden Gophers. Minne-
sota’s offensive line was stronger,
technique • January 11, 2019• 19
its defensive line nastier and its
running backs more resistant to
contact. Minnesota played the
style of football that Tech had
made its calling card for more
than a decade under Johnson.
Though its ending was uncer-
emonious, it is now time for us to
move past the Paul Johnson era.
Tech’s offense will look very dif-
ferent under new offensive coordi-
nator Dave Patenaude, who runs
the sort of spread offense that has
become popular across the coun-
try, even making its way into
NFL playbooks. Certainly, fans
hope that the defense looks dif-
ferent too; it was consistently the
team’s Achilles’ heel under John-
son, and Collins, a defensively
minded coach, has a shot to turn
that around.
Go on an online message board
and you’ll find three types of Tech
fans. The first camp remains
fiercely loyal to Johnson, and
predicts doom and gloom for the
program now that it moves away
from the triple option attack that
made it so formidable for years.
In the eyes of these fans, Tech has
just lost its strongest asset.
The second camp is jubilant
about Johnson’s retirement and
the hire of Geoff Collins, who has
emphasized recruiting at each of
his previous stops. These fans see
in Collins the chance for Tech
football to gain the sort of curb
appeal necessary to sway elite
high school recruits away from
the myriad powerhouse programs
in Tech’s backyard.
The third camp, the one I call
home, is cautiously optimistic.
The transition from Johnson to
Collins will not be easy — al-
though a great deal of credit is
due to Johnson’s staff for con-
tinuing to work on the recruiting
trail even after his retirement was
announced. It is clear that the
new offense and defense will pri-
oritize new skills and players. And
though that may be messy, expect
excitement.
Sports
After 11 seasons at Tech, Paul Johnson retires
JOHN EDWARDS
SPORTS EDITOR
The face of Tech football for
more than a decade, head coach
Paul Johnson announced his re-
tirement on November 28. He
is the godfather of the modern
triple-option style offense, al-
most single-handedly keeping the
scheme alive through his coach-
ing and the work of his former
proteges. In his career at Tech he
took the team to an 82-60 mark
— not including an expunged
ACC Championship game win
— along with a 3-6 bowl-game
record.
Johnson’s legacy in terms of
outlook across all of college foot-
ball is obvious; no coach has done
more to keep alive the ancient art
of the flex bone. Since his first
tenure as a head coach at Georgia
Southern — where Johnson led
the Eagles to two national cham-
pionships in five years — many
of Johnson’s coaching assistants
have gone on to implement their
own triple option styles at other
schools. The style is a hallmark of
any U.S. service academy, and the
puppet master behind nearly ev-
ery program that runs the scheme
is likely a graduate of the Johnson
School of Running the Ball.
But Johnson’s legacy at Tech is
far more complex. Johnson per-
formed surprisingly well in his
first two years as head coach at
Tech, going 19-7 and picking up
the aforementioned ACC Cham-
pionship, but Johnson lost four
straight bowl games to begin his
tenure. Still, Johnson was noth-
SPORTS EDITOR:
Harsha Sridhar
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR:
John Edwards
sports@nique.net
Left: Photo by Robert Combier Student Publications; Top right: Photo by Joey Cerone Student Publications; Bottom right: Photo by Samuel Stewart Student Publications
ing if not consistent as the Jackets
reached bowl eligibility for seven
straight seasons from 2008 to
2014, culminating with arguably
the greatest Tech football team
since the 1990 team that captured
the national championship.
The hangover of Tech’s 2014
Orange Bowl victory persisted
through the 2015 season, however,
as Tech went 3-9 and completely
missed out on the postseason. De-
spite a more-than-solid rebound
in 2016, the memory of that 2015
season coupled with recent strug-
gles caused fans’ patience to wear
thin for the 2017 and 2018 sea-
sons. Despite pressure from fans,
Tech stuck by Johnson, offering
him a contract extension in 2018
after Tech went 5-6 the previous
season and narrowly missed the
postseason. A year after signing
that extension, seen by many as a
signal of the administration’s faith
in their coach, Johnson elected to
walk away on his own terms.
In terms of success, on paper,
Johnson appears as a capable
coach and not much more. To be
sure, reaching nine bowl games
in eleven seasons is a feat in and
of itself, but bowl game eligibility
is expected of any self-respecting
Power Five program — especially
one with as storied a history as
Tech’s, which includes names like
‘Heisman’ in its annals.
Yet, in context, Johnson’s leg-
acy improves; given Tech’s low
investment and low return on ath-
letics, Johnson was able to accom-
plish quite a lot with quite little.
Johnson’s triple option required
no flashy, NFL-caliber recruits
to succeed. That was a neces-
Is It Time to Dance? technique
Tech women’s basketball has a real
shot to make it to the NCAA Women’s
20
Friday,
Tournament this season.418
January 11, 2019
sity, given Tech’s high academic a chance at a better life, and as a the years to come may not know
standards that might dissuade coach, Johnson represented a fa- what a B-back is, why it matters
athletes uninterested in taking cilitator of opportunity, serving that cut blocks are a perfectly le-
calculus their freshman year from admirably in this role. gal and acceptable part of a foot-
attending. Johnson’s triple op- That, more than win percent- ball game or how Tech once won
tion allowed Tech to find success age or strength of schedule or red- games against tough opponents
without compromising academ- zone efficiency, will be the metric while almost never passing the
ics — a very visible issue at other that defines Paul Johnson’s career ball. May they remember, at the
ACC programs — and without years from now, particularly if he very least, the impact Paul John-
substantial investment in the pro- stays retired and never ventures son had as a fervent advocate for
gram, a necessity for Tech’s cash- onto the sideline of a college foot- and shining example of what Tech
strapped athletics department. ball stadium again. Students in athletics can be.
But Johnson’s true legacy is far
more important than shiny metal
bowls, hugged and kissed only to
then be locked away in glass cabi-
nets until the end of time. It is far
more important than scratches
of a pencil on paper, recording
another tally in the “victory” col-
umn for the Jackets. It is far more
important than the number of
graduates who have gone on to be-
come NFL stars, receiving lavish
paychecks and jet-setting across
the country to play for rapturous
applause from fanbases starving
for championships.
Johnson’s true legacy is that
of every player who has passed
through his program. The respon-
sibility of a college football coach
is unique, as the players are still
developing from teenagers into
men and are not simply showing
up to a job each day to earn a pay-
check. Johnson is responsible not
just for developing and mentoring
these players in the realm of foot-
ball, but in life. Every player that
walks onstage to shake the presi-
dent’s hand and receive a diploma
is another success for Johnson and
his staff, and Johnson has gradu- Photo by Allie Ghisson Student Publications
ated plenty. For many disadvan- Paul Johnson discusses a situation with B-back Jerry Howard.
taged athletes, football represents Johnson was known to never use a play sheet to call plays.