January 25, 2019•Volume 104, Issue 18•nique.
net
technique
News 2
WOMEN’S HOOPS NOTCHES TOUGH WIN OVER ‘CUSE
SPORTS
Top L: Photo courtesy of HBO; Top R: Photo by Tyler Meuter Student Publications; Above: Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
Tips & Tricks: the do’s and don’ts of meal prep
MADDIE SCHUSTER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Meal prepping can be a college
kid’s best friend or worst night-
mare. When we do meal prep-
ping right, we are able to provide
ourselves with balanced, home-
cooked meals every night, but
it all relies on actually prepping
what we need. Don’t be discour-
aged. It can be difficult, however,
here are some tips and tricks to
inspire you to save some time and
money while meal prepping:
ENTERTAINMENT
. .
HBO premieres ‘Brexit’ p12 Career fair woes
Opinions 5
DO
Invest in good tupperware
Glass tupperware is preferable
because it is easy to clean, micro-
wave safe and sustainable. If you
are an avid meal prepper, don’t be
afraid to invest in expensive pieces
of tupperware. Cater the type of
tupperware you need to your di-
etary preferences. Mason jars are a
great way to store produce.
DO
Buy only what you need
When going grocery shopping,
it is easy to get sucked into the
Life 8
LIFE
daunting traps of grocery aisles.
Often, we end up filling our carts
with food that we did not plan on
getting, and food that is typically
fast to make and not necessarily
the most healthy choice.
Healthy eating and meal prep-
ping can be a major budget-bust-
er, but by making a list of what
you need and sticking to it, you
can reduce your budget and make
sure that you are not filling your
pantry with unnecessary snacks.
Next time you make a trip to the
grocery store, try making a list of
food you anticipate eating for the
See MEAL PREP, page 9
OPINIONS
p5
Entertainment 12 Sports 20
HARSHA SRIDHAR
SPORTS EDITOR
For three of four quarters, the of-
fense was stone cold. The team’s
third-leading scorer played hardly a
quarter, hampered by foul trouble. Its
star guard entering the year was now
playing off the bench in an effort to
cure her shooting slump. And yet Tech
notched its second ranked win of the
year, beating No. 12 Syracuse to move
to 3-3 in conference play and 13-6 on
the season.
It was the sort of ugly triumph that
a team hoping to contend for a spot in
the NCAA Tournament must achieve
every once in a while. The 65-55 score
betrayed the competitiveness of the
game; that 10-point margin, achieved
largely as Syracuse intentionally fouled
Tech players and the Jackets — par-
ticularly Kierra Fletcher, whose per-
formance will be discussed in further
depth later — capitalized. In a confer-
ence where a pair of McDonald’s All-
Americans along with a Class of 2017
five-star recruit and a former ACC
Rookie of the Year still leave the Jack-
ets outgunned by a number of teams,
beating the Orange is both a major
resume-builder and a phenomenon
worth dissecting. Here are some take-
aways.
1: LOTTA-MAJ’S DEBUT
We had seen Lotta-Maj Lahtinen
play in a reserve role for much of her
freshman year, and when MaChelle Jo-
seph decided that Francesca Pan need-
ed to play off the bench, at least tempo-
rarily, Lahtinen got the nod to replace
her in the starting lineup. The Finn-
ish freshman did not light up the box
score — she finished the game making
only one of her seven attempts from
the field. Two points from a member
See WBB, page 19
Photo by Samira Bandaru Student Publications
Pictured above is a week’s worth of lunch. Meal prepping is a great
way to save money and time while also maintaining a healthy diet.
News
NEWS EDITOR:
Jonathan Jeffery
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR:
Will Finch
news@nique.net
from the bill’s sponsors was that
because the proposed changes
were intended to have a long term
impact, it made sense to enshrine
it as a policy of Stamps Psychiatric
Services.
CONDOLENCES FOR SINGH
A bill was brought before the
GSS to express condolences for
the loss of Gagandeep Singh, a
graduate student studying phys-
ics who committed suicide and
Innovation Fellows Program technique
The Center for Academic Enrichment finished
soliciting applications of M.B.A. students to Friday,
2
assist with InVenture Prize business plans 44 January 25, 2019
Joint Finance Committee pro- None of the students suffered
posed ticketing formula that any injuries aside from their per-
would be used for the Onyx Ball, haps damaged perception of late-
as Student Government Associa- night doughnut runs.
tion policy adheres to a strict tick- The students described the
eting formula. It ensures that Tech suspects to police as “a slim man
affiliated individuals are charged wearing all black and a black hat
less to attend than those persons with a New York logo and a heavy-
unaffiliated with the Institute. set man wearing a gray jacket who
covered his face,” according to
DON’T ENCUMBER US reporting by the Atlanta Journal-
The GSS voted on the repeal Constitution (AJC).
of the spring encumbrance policy One potential lead investiga-

E
ach week , this sec tion of
News will include coverage
of different aspects of bills
and resolutions that have passed
through Student Government. This
will include the Undergraduate
House of Representatives, Graduate
Student Senate and the Executive
Branch of both government bodies.
MASON FAVRO
STAFF WRITER
RAISING COUNSELING ACCESS
The Institute has, in recent
years, been shaken by several
events which drew attention to
the mental health of the student
body and issues with the acces-
sibility of psychiatric services on
campus. A bill came before the
Graduate Student Senate (GSS)
aiming to increase access to these
services.
Currently, every student has
a maximum of three free mental
health consultations; after the
third consultation, a $25 fee is
charged for each additional ap-
pointment. By raising the man-
datory health fee by $5 for all
Institute students, the bill aims to
eliminate these appointment fees
altogether, thereby making men-
tal health services more accessible.
An additional benefit of the fee
increase would be the creation of
two case manager positions.
The GSS debated why this
funding was being raised from
the student body and not from
the Joint Allocation Committee
(JAC), whose purpose is to pro-
vide money for mental health ini-
tiatives on campus. The response
passed away last December.
The motion was adopted by
unanimous consent.
ONYX BALL
The African American Student
Union (AASU) came before the
GSS with two bills that would
help fund their Black History
Month (BHM) events.
The first bill was for the speak-
ers’ fees for their BHM lecture
series. This year’s headline speaker
will be 2018 Democratic Florida
gubernatorial candidate, Andrew
Gillum. Gillum was formerly
the mayor of Tallahassee, where
he championed the Ban the Box
initiative to reduce recidivism, as
well as expanding youth mentor-
ship programs.
The second bill was to fund the
annual Onyx Ball, a celebration
of the accomplishments of black
students of the Institute. It has
been held every year since 2007,
with hundreds of people attend-
ing to see student groups perform,
as well as to celebrate BHM. This
year it will be held at a newly
opened event space at the Tree-
house Studio off of west campus.
The debate among the repre-
sentatives revolved around the
BILL SUMMARY
BILL
Swim Club @ Auburn Dual Meet
GT Tusfaan at UH Nasha
Qurbani — UGA India Night
Boxing Club — Fees and Nationals
AASU Black History Month Speaker
AASU Onyx Ball
for organizational funds provided
through the Student Government
Association (SGA). The policy
had made it so that unspent funds
allocated to student organizations
had to be returned to SGA at the
end of the fall semester. Represen-
tatives from the Student Compe-
tition Center, representing nearly
700 students, had previously
made concerns about the policy
known to Joint Vice President of
Finance.
According to members of the
GSS, this policy had placed an
undue burden onto student orga-
nizations such as Wreck Racing,
which requests more money than
it could use in a single semester,
and then uses it throughout the
fiscal year. It was explained to
the GSS by a representative of the
Joint Finance Committee that
SGA already has an encumbrance
policy for each fiscal year, making
the spring encumbrance policy re-
dundant and an unnecessary hin-
drance to student organizations.
This bill was passed by both
the GSS and the Undergraduate
House of Representatives by an
large majority, repealing the en-
cumbrance policy and removing
a hurdle for student organizations.
AMOUNT GSS UHR
$2,650.00 26-1-0 25-0-0
$774.99 26-0-0 24-0-0
$1,000.00 26-1-0 25-0-0
$5,498.20 24-0-1 26-0-1
$5,000.00 28-1-0 26-0-1
$3,285.00 28-1-0 23-0-1
WILL FINCH
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
THE KRISPY KREME SCHEME
A late Monday night visit to
Krispy Kreme on Ponce De Leon
Avenue went awry for four male
students aged from 20 to 22 when
they were kidnapped and robbed.
At 11 p.m. on Ponce de Leon
Avenue, a man approached the
group while they were exiting the
Shaq-owned establishment, beg-
ging for money. A student offered
the man five dollars to help him
out — but what began as an altru-
istic gesture suddenly turned into
a nightmare as the man pulled out
a pistol.
The gunman entered the vic-
tims’ Porsche coupe and forced all
four students to give him their cell
phones as they entered.
As everyone crammed in, an-
other man joined the gunman in
the developing robbery, sitting
with him in the passenger seat.
Held at gunpoint, the gun-
man directed the student driver to
take the group to the Wells Fargo
on Lee Street. There, each of the
kidnapped students was forced to
withdraw $200 from an ATM, for
a total yield of $800.
The stressful ride-along con-
tinued until the men instructed
the students to drop them off near
Mercedes-Benz. The suspects were
able to get out of the car and es-
cape.
Finally free, the students first
reported the incident to GTPD.
Because the kidnapping and rob-
bery occurred off campus, Atlanta
police were called to lead the in-
vestigation.
tors may have is the result of slop-
piness on the part of the suspects:
one of the suspects left a Samsung
cellphone in the victim’s Porsche.
The suspects have yet to be found.
BLAZING SEASON
There have been multiple dif-
ferent accounts of the possession
of drug related items to varying
degrees since December.
On Dec. 12, a male prowling
near Clough Commons was ap-
prehended by an officer in refer-
ence to a criminal trespass. He
was later found to be publicly
intoxicated and in possession of
narcotic equipment.
Another male was arrested on
Christmas Eve after being pulled
over for a lack of a license plate.
GTPD found six grams of a green,
leafy substance on the person,
which was found to indeed be
marijuana.
Similar events occurred on
two different evenings.
One in which a male driving a
Toyota without a tag on the rear
of his vehicle was pulled over and
in possession of 7.32 grams of a
green, leafy substance. The second
male was driving a Cadillac and
in possession of nearly 14 grams.
As a related side note: in an
undergraduate resolution passed
75%-12.5%-12.5% on Tuesday,
the Undergraudate House of
Representatives announced they
supported ending the statewide
ban on recreational weed. The
resolution is framed so that the
Ramblin’ Reps will advocate this
position to the Georgia General
Assembly if bills related to mari-
juana decriminilization are con-
sidered on the floor.

sliver // your thoughts

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technique
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NEWS EDITOR
Jonathan Jeffrey
do at Tech. Just want you to know we’re listening and rooting OPINIONS EDITOR
for you bud Samira Bandaru EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jon Long
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the podcast is DOPE Casey Miles MANAGING EDITOR LIFE EDITOR
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why do I have to be nice to the sliver box if the sliver box is not
nice to me ENTERTAINMENT
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it still has mold
// NEWS
GTPD mixes traditional bike tips with
scooter recommendations in safety classes
JONATHAN JEFFREY
NEWS EDITOR
On Thursday, Jan. 17, the
Georgia Tech Police Department
(GTPD) held this semester’s first
Ride Smart bike and scooter safe-
ty class.
While hosting bicycle safety
classes has been a long-running
GTPD practice, it was only late
last semester that information on
scooters was added to the presen-
tation, according to Officer Gary
Cook, who led the Jan. 17 class.
A sprinkling of students was in
attendance, multiple in order to
gain extra credit for their APPH
1040 Scientific Foundation of
Health course.
“The city kind of took a stance
on the scooters, because a lot of
cities were being overrun, over-
whelmed by the scooters, so there
[are] some laws that came into
effect that applies to scooters,”
Cook said.
The class was held in a Cam-
pus Recreation Center (CRC)
classroom, where Cook stood in
Officer Gary Cook shows students in attendance the ABC’s of bicycle riding: checking your air,
brakes and chain. Similar principles of checking tires and brakes apply to those who ride scooters.
front of the rows of students and
explained slides chock-full of tips
mostly related with how to ride,
handle, and park bicycles.
Despite flyers advertising the
class partially as a scooter class,
there was relatively sparse infor-
mation on scooter safety.
“Does anyone have any spe-
cific questions about scooters?”
Cook asked the students. “I know
there’s a whole bunch of different
types of them. We’re not going to
go into train [you on] the scoot-
ers, because I’ve ridden one once,
I don’t really know the proper way
to do it.”
Becky James, a trainer who
works at the CRC, chimed in
from the back with some guid-
ance.
“Part of the ordinance the city
council has brought down, and
they’re doing it in cities surround-
ing here also, are where you need
to park these scooters,” James said.
James and Cook explained to
students that GTPD placed across
campus small signs that indicate
recommended locations where
students should park their scoot-
ers. Most of the signs told students
to place their scooters beside, but
not in, bike stands.
“Just be courteous,” Cook said.
“I think a lot of those signs have
disappeared,” he added, chuck-
ling.
Cook reminded students of the
most important thing to check be-
fore you jump on to ride a scooter:
the brakes.
“Those things go at fifteen
miles an hour, and then you can’t
stop,” Cook said. “We’ve had a lot
of accidents with scooters: people
not stopping at stop signs ... not
able to stop, running into cars.”
Scooters are subject to the
same general rules as bicycles ac-
cording to the law, and, similar to
bicycles, are treated as vehicles.
For example, scooters are not
allowed to ride on sidewalks, but
Cook said that they as with bicy-
cles are of course allowed on the
mixed pathways throughout the
interior of campus.
Additionally, he noted that on
some of the more dangerous roads
around campus, Cook said even
he sometimes rides on sidewalks.
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
WILL FINCH
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
BREXIT MOVES TO PLAN B
As the transition period comes
to a close for the United Kingdom
while they attempt to leave the
European Union, little has yet to
be accomplished since the 2016
referendum on the British exit, or
Brexit.
British Prime Minister The-
resa May committed the British
government to leave the EU in
March 2017, triggering the two-
year timer to negotiate the terms
of an independent UK.
A withdrawal agreement was
finally reached between the two
entities in November last year, but
the deal historically failed British
Parliament. The reception to the
plan was so negative that legisla-
tors called for a vote of no confi-
dence in May’s government earlier
this month. She survived, but not
without showing that much of her
own party does not back her.
This week, May gave a state-
ment presenting her so-called
“Plan B.” The resulting feedback
was just as rejected as the initial
response because critics claim the
new plan is no different from the
original.
Members of Parliament will
now try to take more control of
the process. Eight amendments
have already been introduced.
But without agreement, a no-deal
Brexit threatens the state of the
nation. The banking sector warns
of social and economic catastro-
phe, Scotland has threatened to
leave the kingdom and companies
are already starting to flee.
The race is on for the British
government to come up with a so-
lution that might not make them
technique • January 25, 2019• 3
happy, but will at least be one they
can accept.
BLUE WAVE FOR POTUS
Not even a month into the new
year, several Democratic Party
members have announced their
candidacy for the 2020 presiden-
tial election.
Nine individuals have officially
entered the race so far, includ-
ing Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth
Warren and California Sen. Ka-
mala Harris, among other inter-
esting candidates.
Warren, a sharp critic of big
banks and other traits of unregu-
lated capitalism announced her
bid on New Year’s Eve last year.
She was a longtime bankruptcy
law professor at Harvard before
assuming public office in 2013
and has since used that back-
ground in focusing on issues such
as income inequality in America.
Kamala Harris announced her
candidacy on Martin Luther King
Jr. Day during an interview with
‘Good Morning America.’ Harris
boasts a long career as a prosecu-
tor — a fact that she hopes to ad-
vertise as a positive to voters, but
also a fact that other Democratic
candidates might use to criticize
her in an age where America’s his-
tory with wars on crime is being
re-evaluated.
Whether voters like it or not,
campaign season has already be-
gun nearly two years ahead of the
election.
SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
Two opposing bills in the Sen-
ate to reopen the government —
one sponsored by Republicans
and including over $5 billion in
money for border security and the
wall and the other sponsored by
Democrats — both failed.
The Republican bill’s vote tally
was 50-44, while the Democrat
bill garned a vote total of 52-44.
60 votes totaled were required to
pass.
With the shutdown trudging
on, Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi of California retracted her
invitation for President Trump to
hold his State of the Union in the
House chamber on next Tuesday.
On Twitter, Trump agreed to
postpone the annual address.
4 • January 25, 2019• technique
Inaugural Innovation Fellows recruited to help
InVenture Prize semifinalists craft their business plans
JESSICA BARBER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This year, a notable element
is being added to the InVenture
Prize competition: the Institute’s
Center for Academic Enrichment
(CAE) is launching the inaugural
class of Innovation Fellows to help
guide InVenture Prize semifinalist
teams.
Applications closed on Friday
for current Master of Business
Administration (MBA) students
to become Innovation Fellows.
Under this program, Innovation
On Thursday, the InVenture Prize held its preliminary round from 4 to 6 p.m., where applicants were screened as they began their
quests to be the one of the lucky few to reach the live finale, pictured above. The 2019 InVenture Prize finals will be on March 13.
Fellows will be serve as mentors,
providing competitors with first-
hand help and advice from peers
using their background experi-
ence with business management.
Candidates for the program
who serve as mentors will be of-
fered a $750 stipend from the
College of Engineering to aid In-
Venture teams on a regular basis.
With the beginning of a new
semester, the eleventh annual In-
Venture Prize competition has al-
ready begun its initial rounds.
The preliminary round of the
contest was conducted on Jan. 24
in the Student Center Ballroom,
and it was here that students were
able to pitch their inventions to
judges for an initial scoring.
For those unfamiliar with the
premise of the InVenture Prize,
undergraduate students compete
with their inventions or startups
in various rounds of evaluation by
expert judges. Grand prizes range
from $5,000 to $20,000, as well
as aid with patent filings and po-
tential participation in Create-X’s
Startup Launch program.
Specifically, fellows will aid
InVenture Prize semifinalists in
the creation of profitable plans
through which the students can
continue to develop their compa-
nies’ ideas and goals. Improving
these pitches will give them bet-
ter shots at impressing the judges
leading up to the final rounds of
evaluation.
Adding Innovation Fellows to
help semifinalist teams indicates
the CAE actively expanding re-
sources its provides to teams pro-
gressing through the competition.
The final round of the InVen-
ture Prize competition will oc-
cur on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. in
the Ferst Center Theatre and will
be broadcast live on the Georgia
Public Broadcasting Channel.
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
// NEWS
JONATHAN JEFFREY
NEWS EDITOR
FACULTY COMMITTEES CHANGE
On Tuesday, the Faculty Exec-
utive Board (FEB) met for the first
time this semester. Among the
points of discussion on the agenda
was a list of proposed changes to
the Faculty Handbook that con-
cern several faculty committees.
The recommendation changes
outlined would for several com-
mittees increase the amount of
student representation from a sin-
gle student jointly elected to two
students: one undergraduate stu-
dent elected by the Undergradu-
ate Student Government Associa-
tion (SGA) and a graduate student
elected by the Graduate SGA.
If the changes are adopted, the
committees that will have expand-
ed student representation include
the Faculty Honors Committee,
the Faculty Grievance and Status
Committee and the Faculty Pro-
fessional Services Committee.
Other items discussed at the
FEB meeting include Path For-
ward Advisory Group updates.
Representatives explained how
their process involved four action
types: infrastructure, strategic vi-
sion and evaluation, training and
professional development, and
communications. Each Path For-
ward cluster — Academics, Stu-
dent and Community Life, and
Health and Well Being — would
be affected by these functions.
Opinions
OUR VIEWS | Consensus Opinion
Career (Un)Fair
Do some majors lack the resources for job placement?
For many, a Georgia Tech degree all but
guarantees a desirable job after graduation.
Students of certain majors walk the stage
to find a horde of eager employers waiting
on the other side, while those from smaller,
less visible majors are often met with
nothing.
Companies that attend Tech’s “All
Majors” career fair are not necessarily on
the hunt for students from all majors. It’s no
secret that our programs like Mechanical
Engineering or Industrial Engineering
are top notch; Recruiters, then, use the
Institute as a funnel for a steady supply of
new hires in those areas.
If the Institute has not done a good
job of advertising its LMC program, for
example, these companies will not come
to an “All Majors” career fair looking for
LMC students. This is a problem that a
once-fledgling Computer Science program
had to deal with, and their solution could
easily be replicated in other departments.
Instead of sending Computer Science
majors into a general career fair, the
College of Computing started to put on
its own. Now, companies spend four days
each semester specifically courting new
hires in the computing field.
Although the Scheller College of
Business has not gone that far, they still
The Consensus Opinion reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of the
Technique, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.
STATE OF THE UNION BY LAUREN DOUGLAS
OPINIONS EDITOR: Jon Long technique
“
”
Our lives begin to end the day we
become silent about things that
matter. — Martin Luther King Jr.
January 25, 2019
5
Friday,
Self-perpetuation of
Asian stereotypes
have a dedicated Office of Career Serives Earlier this year, I wrote about internal struggle of wanting to
my experience as a third-culture drink bubble milk tea but having
to help with job placement. Many majors Asian immigrant to the United to deal with the consequences of
in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, as States; neither label felt like they being lactose intolerant.
an example, do not have this infrastructure fit. What I didn’t know was With careful moderation by
that there had already existed the admins, the posts encompass
and will often leave Tech without plans for a group of people who shared a mostly light-hearted jokes but
a career. similar experience. Here, I found also occasionally bring up serious
millenials and Gen Z’s who issues that exist as stereotypes
Tech needs to do a better job of were too westernized for their among the Asian community.
advertising these programs to employers, ethnically Asian family, but too Some posts make light
many of whom have no idea what ethnically Asian to relate to their of characteristics of Asian
Caucasian peers. parenting that
Computational Media or History, The group are emotionally
Technology and Society mean. Until there was titled “Subtle degrading, and
is a healthy pool of employers seeking non- Asian Traits,” “Are we ultimately other posts make
founded on honest pleas for
engineers from Tech, students in other Facebook by degrading what is true acceptance and
disciplines will continue to find themselves several Asian- of our Asian heritage validation within
at a disadvantage. Australians who the group when
had met each other by perpetuating the original poster
It is true that there is a higher demand while attending Westernized isthatunable to receive
for graduates in STEM fields than in other Chinese school validation
on the weekend. stereotypes?” offline. Although
disciplines, and this is especially true at an What began as a these posts are few
engineering school like Tech. This does small community BEATRICE DOMINGO and far between,
not mean that Tech should leave the rest of quickly became STAFF DESIGNER they garner an
an aggregation of immense amount
their students out to dry, however. memes depicting of support and
This problem extends to Tech’s life as a young, empathy from the
graduate student population as well; As westernized rest of the group.
individual growing up in an Asian This issue with Subtle Asian
enrollment in our non-STEM graduate household. Now with over 1.1 Traits is the endless push and pull
prorams increases, their representation in million members from across the of stereotyping within the group,
globe, it is a melting pot of self- and many of the self-stereotyping
career-building events like Tech’s Career, stereotyping memes, jokes and posts are stale and outdated
Research and Innovation Development fleeting internet trends. Westernized generalizations of
Conference should increase to match it. A social group like Subtle Asian culture. The administrators
Asian Traits made me feel like I instruct members to post content
Otherwise, poor job placement rates could wasn’t alone, and meme-sharing that is inclusive of all Asian
drive students away from these programs, became an act of solidarity within races but refrains from being too
or even Tech as a whole. the group. I wasn’t the only kid exclusive. Asia encompasses forty-
who had to endure the unpleasant eight countries, with different
taste of dinner prepared with governments and geographical
bitter melon, and thousands locations and diverse histories.
of other kids also spent their To post inclusive content,
weekends at Kumon. I’m also advancing generalizations of the
not the only person who faces the See TRAITS, page 7
technique editorial board
Samira Bandaru EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Casey Miles MANAGING EDITOR
Jonathan Jeffrey NEWS EDITOR
Lauren Lambert LIFE EDITOR
Harsha Sridhar SPORTS EDITOR
Jon Long OPINIONS EDITOR
Josh Trebuchon ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Lauren Douglas DESIGN EDITOR
Tristen Allen WEB DEVELOPER
Casey Gomez PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Avni Shridhar HEAD COPY EDITOR
Zoie Konneker ONLINE EDITOR
Write to us: are responses to or commentaries on
content found within the pages of the
opinions@nique.net Technique. Along with these letters,
we are open to receiving letters that
Got something to say? Then let focus on relevant issues that currently
your voice be heard with the Tech- affect Georgia Tech as a university, in-
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Each week we look for letters that opinions@nique.net.
6 • January 25, 2019• technique // OPINIONS

Dems gain in shutdown

There is no denying that the Democratic party has benefitted Democratic base, strategically
ongoing partial government politically from the catastrophe. Pelosi and Schumer are doing
shutdown — now the longest Still, House Speaker Nancy themselves a disservice by making
in U.S. history — has taken Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader statements which moderates may
a toll on Americans. Federal Chuck Schumer and other find abrasive or overly partisan.
employees have missed paychecks, Democratic leaders are not At this point, Trump’s approval
vital government services are invulnerable. If they get careless ratings are probably not going to
unavailable and confidence in with their messaging, they too fall much lower. The 34 percent of
a dysfunctional government is could be consumed by this Americans who continue to stand
strained to a new level. political conflagration. by the president’s job performance
The crucial political question, Until now, Democrats have are most likely his base of
then, is that of who will bear appeared more willing than enthusiastic supporters, and no
the blame. Thus Trump to political attacks from Pelosi or Thanks, Delta! Harrison Flood
far, Democratic compromise Schumer are ever going to sway Thanks to a grant from Some students living in the
leaders have “. . . On the whole, the on a budget the majority of them. Trump is at Atlanta-based airline Delta, Harrison residence hall got a
been, if anything, Democratic party has deal; before this rock bottom, and Democrats need the MLK National Historic surprise shower this week as
enjoying the Park will be opened until Feb. broken pipes caused a flood
gridlock. Donald benefitted politically whole thing
started, they had
to be transitioning from offense
to defense. They have sufficiently 3, allowing the many Super in the dorms. Tech doesn’t
Trump has faced from the catastrophe.” even reached hurt the president, now how do Bowl visitors to see the historic require renters insurance,
broad disapproval a compromise they protect their own positions site despite the ongoing leaving many affected students
over the matter, JOSH TREBUCHON deal with senate through the rest of this crisis? government shutdown. out to dry as far as liability
with 60 percent of ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Republicans to This shutdown is going to have goes.
Americans placing pass a funding to end somehow, and Congress
responsibility bill which did actually has a clear path to
on the president. Better yet, not include money for a border making that happen: override
Democrats get to watch while wall. Trump refused to sign that Trump’s veto in the senate to pass
Trump’s signature campaign bill even after Republicans agreed a compromise bill. Thus far Senate
promise, a wall across the entirety to it, appearing stubborn and Majority Leader and turtle Mitch
of the country’s southern border, unable to compromise even with McConnell and other senate
becomes less and less of a realistic his own party. Republicans have stayed out of
possibility. More recently, however, the spotlight on the shutdown.
Naturally, congressional Pelosi and Schumer have been Democrats have mostly let them Howl at the Moon Is Pepsi Okay?
Democrats would never admit hardening their stance, publicly do so by focusing all of their efforts Night owls were treated to Anyone with eyes — and
that they are happy about a admitting that they will refuse to on attacking Trump, and it is time a unique sight last weekend, a taste buds — knows that
shutdown — they’ll continue to consider any deal which Trump to force the issue by shifting that Super Blood Wolf Moon. The Atlanta is a Coca-Cola town.
weep publicly for their suffering proposes if it includes a border pressure to the Senate. phenomenon is a combination The Super Bowl has brought
constituents, playing the role of wall in any form. This has been If Democrats in the House and of a super moon — when the an inferior competitor onto
the courageous defenders of the the Democrats’ stance all along, Senate focus all of their efforts moon is closest to the Earth — our streets, boasting Pepsi as
downtrodden. Some of them may of course, but leaders need to be on forcing McConnell into the and a blood moon — a total its ‘official’ beverage. You’d do
even genuinely regret the damage careful in stating it. While the spotlight on the issue, they may lunar eclipse that gives the well to ignore the incoming
being caused, but it’s impossible “never compromise with Trump” just come out the victors in this moon its red hue. propaganda.
to deny that on the whole, the message resonates well with the deathmatch.
// OPINIONS technique • January 25, 2019• 7

Who is to blame for pollution? TRAITS FROM PAGE 5

“Asian” lifestyle seems to negate
the very fact that these different
George, the Hawaiian snail; how the albatrosses that live on cultures exist. The group is largely
Sudan, the white rhino; the calf Midway are dying because they “It is necessary for the dominated by those of East Asian
of Tahlequah, the orca: within mistake plastics for food and feed ethnicity — who are likely the
the past year, the deaths of these it to their young. government to provide group most frequently targeted
animals have made waves in This tally is also reflected more education about by Westernized stereotypes —
the news. They each come from in the polluted drinking water and this raises questions about
endangered or extinct populations that communities are forced to evnironmentally friendly the integrity and inclusivity of
that have been plagued by invasive consume and in the toxic landfills the group, considering that many
species, poaching or habitat that cause entire neighborhoods
practices.” of the members are of South and
destruction. In broader terms, to develop cancer. Southeast Asian ethnicity.
they are victims of humans’ Last year “Guernica” published ROSEMARY PITRONE The relevance of the group
environmental irresponsibility. a story about Dawn Chapman, ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR is also in question. My cousins
These deaths should serve as a woman who began fighting who still live in the Philippines
red flags for humans. I often think the EPA after discovering that a are not part of this group. Even
about the negative impact that my landfill near her home had been my Filipino cousins who live
actions have on the environment. the site of an illegal nuclear- in Australia are not part of this
I am guilty of wasting water and waste dump. The waste poses an beautiful parts of our planet lack When corporations condone group. I’m sure that they could
electricity, and many of the items even greater threat because of the compassion to leave nature in such blatant environmental relate to many of the posts, but
I buy come in plastic packaging a fire burning underneath one the same condition in which they irresponsibility, they hurt not only what makes the group functional
that will not decompose in my side of the landfill. People in her found it. the planet, but also the people and is the fact that first and second
lifetime. community have died of rare It is necessary for the animals that live on it. generation immigrants have been
Although I try to recycle as diseases, but nobody was held government to provide more Furthermore, the U.S. taught that by their Caucasian
often as possible, sometimes it accountable. education about environmentally government has failed in its counterparts that their Asian
is more convenient to dispose of There are stories of nuclear friendly practices. This should duty to protect its land and upbringing was not the norm.
recyclable items in waste dumps also connect an individual’s citizens. In Dawn Chapman’s When differences are introduced
the garbage. and landfill fires actions to larger scale issues; if case, the EPA has shown an into society, stereotyping is
When I throw a “It seems that society from all over the more people knew that the single- unbudging unwillingness to inevitable. It is a necessary
plastic bottle into must address the country. How use plastics they dispose of could take responsibility for that toxic cognitive function, reducing the
a non-recyclable are these things end up killing baby birds on an landfill — the very one that made cognitive load on individuals
bin, a sense of individual attitudes allowed to happen? island in the Pacific, they might unknowing residents ill and took and giving them a point of
guilt lingers in the people harbor Think back to consider cutting down on plastic their lives. reference for how to perceive the
back of my mind. I the last time you consumption. Politicians and the people who “outgroup.” In the case of Subtle
feel as though the towards nature.” took a road trip There are larger questions run corporations know that their Asian Traits, it is the Australian,
universe is keeping and stopped at a that society must address as decisions have grave consequences North American and European
an imaginary scenic overpass. It well. Why are we sold so many for the environment, but most ingroups that have created these
tally of all the environmentally is possible that you were stunned items in plastic packaging in the have demonstrated that they do stereotypes that ultimately fuel
irresponsible things I have done by the beauty of the Pacific coast, first place? Why are there so few not care about the long-term all of the content that exists in
throughout my life. or that you gazed upon the Great alternatives? Should consumers be effects. the Facebook group. Perhaps a
In a way, the universe is Smoky Mountains with reverence. held accountable for it? I have no expertise in better name would have been
keeping a tally of these things. You may also recall looking Millions of people go environmental sustainability or “Subtle Asian Traits as Perceived
For example, it is reflected on down at the ground, past the to Starbucks every day and public policy, but simply watching in Westernized Culture.”
Earth in the form of polluted guardrail, and seeing soda bottles, purchase drinks that come in the the news is enough to convince Are we ultimately degrading
beaches littered with plastic waste. plastic straws and granola bar admittedly distinctive, but non- anyone of the great insensitivity what is true of our Asian heritage
One such beach is on Midway wrappers strewn across the rocky recyclable and non-biodegradable people demonstrate towards each by perpetuating Westernized
Atoll. Though it is remote and cliff or grassy hill. cups. Does the fact that Starbucks other and towards our planet. stereotypes? The subject of subtle
inaccessible to the general public, It seems that society must also sells reusable cups or recently Compassion for people and for the asian traits has become the new
the beach is covered with trash address the individual attitudes got rid of straws let them off the Earth are intertwined. Disregard age cultural narrative of the Asian
that washes up on its shores people harbor towards nature. hook for the millions of pounds for the environments people diaspora: making fun of ourselves
from around the world. A recent It is astounding that those who of plastic its consumers send to inhabit equates to disregard for because internet culture told us to
episode of “60 Minutes” describes have the opportunity to visit such landfills each year? the people who inhabit them. do so.

technique
Join the

Technique
Flags Bldg 137 Writers, •Designers, Photographers
Life
LIFE EDITOR: technique
Lauren Lambert Explore Tech’s robotics lab
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR:
Rosemary Pitrone
The Technique dives into the fascinating world of swarm 8
Friday,
robotics at the Robotarium exhibit 49
life@nique.net January 25, 2019

Mae Jemison Visits Tech

LAUREN LAMBERT
LIFE EDITOR
Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to go into outer space, comes to Tech to talk to students
about the importance of diversity following the Martin Luther King holiday
On Jan. 22, Mae Jemison visited Tech and gave
a lecture at the Ferst Center for the Arts. The engi-
neer, physician and former NASA astronaut came as
a part of Tech’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
This is Tech’s eighth annual Martin Luther King
lecture, where presenters have traditionally spoken
on the importance of progress regarding diversity,
and this year’s theme is “Changing the World, To-
gether.”
Jemison served six years as an astronaut for
NASA and is the first African American woman to
be admitted into NASA, as well as the first African
American woman to go into outer space, which she
accomplished while aboard the Space Shuttle En-
deavor in 1992. Provided Tech’s rich history, inter-
est in scientific innovation and diversity of students,
this event was sold out and had a lengthy wait list to
show for its popularity.
The lecture was preceded by a VIP reception,
where those invited had the opportunity to have
hors d’oeuvres and mingle with Jemison herself.
The reception welcomed some faculty, fans of her
achievements, members of student media and even a
large group of her spirited sorority sisters from Tech’s
Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter. The gathering was con-
cluded by a photo opportunity with Jemison before
her lecture and a chance for those in attendance to
introduce themselves. Perhaps the most memorable
photograph of the night was with a young, African-
American child, who stood beside Jemison while
holding a copy of her 90’s NASA headshot.
As seating was limited, a large line formed out-
side of the Ferst Center for the Arts well before the
doors opened at 6:30 p.m. People from a wide range
of ages, genders and races were in attendance to see
the former astronaut speak — many of whom were
young enough to remember reading about her life
and achievements in their grade school textbooks.
Jemison’s lecture was nothing short of inspiring
and proved to be a solid finale for Tech’s 2019 Mar-
tin Luther King celebration. The overarching mes-
sage of the night was that our attitudes and actions
have a large impact on the world. In order to make
a difference in the world we all share, we must first
make a difference within ourselves. Jemison quoted
Dr. King by stating, “The time is always right to do
the right thing.”
Another important takeaway from Dr. Jemison’s
speech was the insistence of belonging as she stated,
“You belong just as much as anyone.” This message
can speak to anyone regardless of race, gender or
religious preference and especially someone feeling
lost within a large institution such as Tech.
Regarding her period spent as an astronaut, her
lecture provided attendees with an interactive por-
tion. This was where Jemison asked questions about
whether or not the audience would want to be veg-
etarian or meat-eaters in space or what fabrics would
be the most effective in space. The interactive nature
of her speech gave her a more personable touch and
was captivating for even the youngest of attendees.
As a professor, Jemison is also an advocate for
women in STEM and touched on the importance
of diversity in gender as well. She went to school for
chemical engineering in a time period where wom-
en did not have the same tools and opportunities
as we do today and ended up changing the world.
Jemison is a prime example of how much women
and minorities can contribute to society when given
the opportunity, and she shares a message of hope
for a more inclusive future.
In all, Jemison’s lecture was well rounded and in-
spiring to all in attendance.

Design by Lauren Douglas Student Publications

Photo by Allie Ghisson Student Publications

// LIFE
Robotarium hosts
public open house
ROSEMARY PITRONE
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
In a dimly-lit room in Van
Leer, a small crowd gathers
around a large tabletop structure
and waits for something to hap-
pen. In an instant, the white sur-
face of the tabletop lights up with
an image of a warehouse floor
plan, projected from above. Seven
small robots leave their stations all
at once and begin weaving around
the model warehouse, simulating
forklifts moving packages. Each
package is represented by an il-
luminated marker on the robot.
Once the simulation is complete,
each robot finds its way back to its
charging station, where it awaits
the next task.
This is the Robotarium, a re-
mote-access robotics lab located
in Van Leer that opened in 2017.
The lab was funded by the Na-
tional Science Foundation and by
the Office of Naval Research with
the goal of making swarm robot-
ics research free and accessible to
anyone with an algorithm idea.
Sean Wilson, Ph.D., is a re-
search engineer who runs the lab.
He demonstrated the warehouse
simulation at a public open house
held on Jan. 18, 2019.
This particular warehouse sim-
ulation was paid for by a company
and will continue to run for sev-
eral months, but the Robotarium
runs many different simulations
throughout the year for free.
For example, a team of Tech
students tested a Capture the Flag
simulation through the lab for
a final class project on network
theory. The game simulation con-
sists of two teams, and each team’s
algorithm was written by a differ-
ent student. While the simula-
tion runs, an image of a field with
boundaries and two flags on either
side is projected onto the tabletop.
Those who want to use the Ro-
botarium for research or even for
recreational purposes need only
create a Robotarium account on-
line. Uploading and submitting
code is completely free and the
Robotarium does not ask users to
explain the goals of their research.
Anyone can download the Ro-
botarium’s simulator in Matlab or
Python. Users will only be denied
if they are from a company or if
they are trying to make a profit.
The robots in the demonstra-
tion were constructed in-house
by Wilson. The main processors
on the robots are a Raspberry Pi
Zero W and a Teensy 3.2. Wilson
is still building robots and will
make 50 in total.
The lab serves an important
role by establishing a standard
through which different algo-
rithms may be compared. It can
be hard to discern which of two
algorithms works better when
they are tested in different envi-
ronments with different robotics
equipment, so the Robotarium
can act as a control.
The employees in the lab do
not check the code or look at the
data resulting from simulations,
but Wilson guarantees that sub-
mitted code will not break the
robots. The Robotarium utilizes
code based on the concept of bar-
rier certificates in order to protect
the equipment.
“Essentially, there are regions
robots are not allowed to occupy
at the same time,” Wilson said. “If
the system detects the next con-
trol input the user is giving to the
robot will violate that, we change
that control input to be as close as
possible while avoiding the colli-
sion.”
Ph.D. students who work in
the lab “do a lot of the coding
heavy lifting” that makes this sys-
tem possible, according to Wilson.
The positions of the robots
are monitored by eight motion-
capture cameras above the arena
and by asymmetric markers on
the robots that communicate their
orientations.
“They have little hats or mark-
ers that reflect infrared light. Like
a satellite, it lets you know where
they are in space,” Wilson said.
Large windows in the lab allow
interested passerby to watch the
simulations on their way to class.
However, since the simulations
are run on a first-come-first-serve
basis, users often do not see their
simulation run in person.
Instead, the Robotarium pro-
vides users with a video recording
of the outcome. Users can also
have an image of a specific envi-
ronment projected on the arena
to provide more context for real-
world applications in the video.
The amount of code that gets
sent in to the Robotarium varies
depending on the time of year.
The lab sees increases in submis-
sions when a robotics competition
or conference comes to Atlanta.
Wilson expects the popularity of
the Robotarium as a robotics re-
source to continue rising.
“This is the only one in the
world — it’s unique to Tech and
to the world,” said Wilson. “The
most important aspect is democ-
ratizing robotics access.” Cur-
rently, the Robotarium has been
See ROBOTARIUM, page 10
MEAL PREP FROM PAGE 1
next week. Making a grocery list
before you shop can help you stick
to a nutritious, balanced diet. In
addition, this tip can help you lay
out and conceptualize how much
money you spend on groceries
each week, and in turn, save you
money.
DON’T
Forget a balanced diet
The days of quickly made mi-
crowaved ramen and Pop-Tarts
are over. When you meal prep,
you allow yourself to bring more
diversity into your meals. This in-
cludes fruits and vegetables that
often get overlooked when we
make our meals quickly, such as
broccoli, lettuce, apples and to-
matoes. In order to incorporate
balance in your diet, try and pair
every dinner with at least one fruit
or vegetable.
Having a balanced diet pro-
motes a healthy lifestyle, better
sleep, a healthy body weight and
makes you feel better overall. A
balanced diet is often hard for
many college students to achieve,
and by meal prepping it is easily
attainable.
DO
Try out a delivery service
Cooking for yourself while in
college can be a struggle when
time is so limited and with busy
schedules. We have all been guilty
of quickly throwing something
processed in the microwave before
running off to class, rather than
eating a nutritious meal.
With new meal kit delivery
services such as Hello Fresh or
Blue Apron, the supplies needed
for a successful meal prep arrives
right at your door and just needs
to be cooked!
Meal kits give college students
the luxury of a home-cooked meal
in minutes without wasting pre-
cious time. Delivery meal kit ser-
vices are expensive, however, com-
panies often throw in discounts,
technique
Join the
Technique
Flags Bldg 137 Writers, Designers, Photographers
technique • January 25, 2019• 9
promotions and freebies to in-
coming members and referred
members.
DON’T
Eat out for every meal
Meal prepping makes it so you
do not feel the urge to eat every
meal out. Pick one day of the
week to commit to prepping your
meals for the upcoming week,
and store them in the refrigerator
or freezer. Having meals already
made is convenient for those on
the go all day and discourages go-
ing out to eat.
Try copying some of your fa-
vorite restaurant recipes and see
how much it costs you to prepare
that meal yourself, versus what it
would have cost in the restaurant.
Many cooking sites offer mock
recipes from popular restaurants
that are almost identical to the
original recipe.
DO
Try new things!
College is the time to try new
meals and expand your culinary
tastes. Try one new recipe a week
and see what your likes and in-
terests are. By doing so, this is a
perfect way to prepare for new
cuisines that you might encounter
while on a study abroad trip.
Ask around! Many college stu-
dents are turning to meal prep-
ping, especially in the new year.
Gaining a group of people who
are also interested in prepping can
offer a lot of support and ideas.
People are always looking to share
their fast and healthy recipes with
others. In addition, asking around
may provide you with the oppor-
tunity to meet new friends.
Turning to social media plat-
forms might also prove to be
helpful with your healthy eating
endeavors. There are plenty of
bloggers and social media fanat-
ics that love posting about their
weight loss journeys, daily meals
and recipes, and could offer some
insight on this seemingly daunt-
ing task.
/thenique
@the_nique
nique.net
10 • January 25, 2019• technique // LIFE

ROBOTARIUM FROM PAGE 9

used from every continent except
Antarctica.
Researchers from other univer-
sities have also taken advantage of
the Robotarium’s resources. For
example, a biologist from Arizona
State University who was studying
how ants in a colony select their
queens submitted a queen-selec-
tion algorithm to the lab.
The Robotarium is also cur-
rently working with Ford Motor
Company to research how to best
enable autonomous vehicles to in-
terface with humans.
“How do you deal with people
in the road, or shopping carts [in
the road]?” Wilson said regard-
ing the goals of the research with
Ford.
“The coolest [code that has
been submitted] was sent by Stan-
ford. They were studying how you
get robot helicopters to put out
forest fires,” Wilson said. “It was
mathematically cool.”
The next challenge the Ro-
botarium faces is making flying
robots, or quadcopters, more ac-
cessible. This is difficult because
the flying robots are lightweight
and difficult to land, and they
only maintain battery charge for
a few minutes.
For this reason, experiments
run with quadcopters must be
short, otherwise the equipment
can be damaged by falling to the
ground.
Ultimately, the Robotarium
plans to have “swimming, walk-
ing and flying robots,” Wilson
said.
But for now, students can learn
more about running their code Photos by Rosemary Pitrone Student Publications
through the Robotarium by visit- Top: Robotarium research engineer, Sean Wilson, runs a simulation demonstrating code based on barrier certificates.
ing robotarium.gatech.edu. Bottom: Visitors to the Robotarium listen to Wilson speak as the robots remain in their charging stations.

JOIN THE
Technique
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- Tuesdays -
AT 7:00 P.M.
No Experience
Necessary

WE HAVE FREE PIZZA

// LIFE technique • January 25, 2019• 11

Entertainment
‘Brexit’ explores methods behind ‘leave’ campaign
FILM
Brexit: The Uncivil War
GENRE: Drama
STARRING: Benedict
Cumberbatch
DIRECTOR: Toby Haynes
RATING: TV - 14
RELEASE DATE: Jan. 19
OUR TAKE: «««««
MAYA FLORES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Following the unprecedented
political climate of the last few
years, an entire genre of books,
television shows and movies
has sprung up trying to an-
swer one question: “Wait, what
just happened?”
“Brexit: The Uncivil War” is
the latest attempt at an explana-
tion. This made-for-TV movie
premiered on the United King-
dom’s Channel 4, but can be
viewed in the US on HBO.
Directed by Toby Haynes,
the film follows strategist Domi-
nic Cummings, portrayed by
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doc-
tor Strange,” “Sherlock”), as it
explores the events leading up to
the UK’s 2016 European Union
membership referendum.
Deerhunter falls back on old sounds in new album
MUSIC
Why Hasn’t Everything
Already Disapeared
Deerhunter
LABEL: 4AD
GENRE: Rock
TRACK PICKS: “Elemental,”
“Nocturne”
OUR TAKE: «««««
JOHN EDWARDS
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Deerhunter has always been
one for pushing the envelope. Ex-
isting on the often-thin border of
experimental pop and punk, the
band’s minimalist and often sur-
real production have lent them-
selves to some truly brilliant re-
cords in the past, records that felt
truly unique and original. Which
is why it is so disappointing that,
in their most recent release, “Why
Hasn’t Everything Already Disap-
peared?,” such a brilliant and orig-
inal band falls back on tracks that
feel derivative and, at times, bor-
ing. The band treads ground that
others have walked upon many
years before them while contrib-
uting nothing new to these styles.
The record’s lead single and
lead track, “Death in Midsum-
mer,” falls heavily back upon a
clinky piano backing track be-
fore diving into a Kevin-Parker-
esque modern-psych guitar break.
While lyricist Bradford Cox’is
at his best in this track — more
so than anywhere else on the al-
technique
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Josh Trebuchon
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:
Eli Hendler Friday,
12
entertainment@nique.net January 25, 2019
Cummings is the mastermind
behind the “Vote Leave” cam-
paign that is both wildly popular
and widely controversial. The man
himself is portrayed as a caus-
tic anarchist. His motive is not
to leave the EU, but to shake up
a British political system that he
views as broken.
The role is not new territory for
Cumberbatch, who has played the
rebellious boy-genius before, no-
tably in BBC’s “Sherlock.” While
the trope of amoral visionary is
now cliche, in “Brexit” it provides
an apt juxtaposition to the old,
greying members of parliament
who wish to uphold the political
status quo.
Under Cummings’ direction,
the Leave campaign is entirely
algorithmic, and based on data-
driven decisions; his main tool is
Facebook ads. With the help of
the data analytics company, Ag-
gregateIQ, Cummings constructs
a database of unregistered UK
voters that can likely be persuaded
to vote. In addition to micro-tar-
geting potential voters via social
media, the Vote Leave campaign
uses inflammatory language, false
statistics, misconceptions and the
unfounded fear of Turkey joining
the EU to sway voters to return to
“take back control” of the UK.
Visually, the film is gray and Photo courtesy of HBO
unsaturated. While the movie is The vote that resulted in the UK leaving the European Union is the inspiration ‘Brexit.’ The
See BREXIT, page 14 HBO series provides a new look into the data-driven campaign to leave the Eurozone.
bum — the song does not pulse
or pound as Deerhunter tracks
are wont to do. Rather, the song
plods along, seemingly mirror-
ing the lives of the monotonous
workers who fade away “in these
poisoned hills.” While clever, it
hardly makes for an interesting or
particularly memorable track.
“What Happens to People?”
tries to evoke Real Estate — a
band with a similar drone-rock
style — in the backing track, but
the overall result simply sounds
pretentious, reaching for some
broad truth on nature that sounds
more like a stoned musing as op-
posed to some artistic insight
into the human condition. “Tar-
nung,” meanwhile, feels like an
outtake of Grizzly Bear’s 2009
album “Veckatimest,” blending
baroque pop and indie rock with
soft horns, a trippy xylophone and
vocal harmonies — but the result
is that Deerhunter sounds about
ten years behind the times with
the track.
Indeed, this album feels less
like a true Deerhunter album
than a compilation of indie rock
outtakes from ten years ago — a
worse version of “Dark Was the
Night.” Deerhunter struggle to
find their voice on this album,
bouncing around trends from ten
years ago from different artists,
and Cox’s lyrics stumble around
in the dark equally so. Deerhunter
has lost their voice, and they are
frantically borrowing that of other
artists’ to sound complete.
The album as a unit is typically Photo courtesy of 4AD
abstract, but whereas on previous New album ‘Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disapeared’ by Deerhunter borrows olds sounds.
See DEER, page 15 The band struggles to innovate and offer their characteristic unique style in the new release.
// ENTERTAINMENT technique • January 25, 2019• 13

Maggie Rogers searches for voice on new album

MUSIC
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
LABEL: Capitol Records
GENRE: Indie Pop
TRACK PICKS: “Alaska,”
“Light On,” “Give a Little”
OUR TAKE: «««««

MADDIE SCHUSTER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Maggie Rogers stunned the

internet with her powerful voice,
unique electro-folk sound, and
raw talent at a “Master Class” host-
ed by Pharrell Williams in 2016,
becoming a sensation. Building
off the momentum of this viral
success, “Heard It in a Past Life”
is Rogers’ first major label album
containing several singles released
over the past year. Rogers blends
the passion of her singles into a
consistent, but muted album.
Out of several singles included
on the album, “Alaska,” which
brought Rogers to fame in her vi-
ral video, is the centerpiece. It de-
livers the magic and airiness that
made Rogers a name to look out
for. “Light On” and “Fallingwa-
ter,” which Rogers performed last
month on Saturday Night Live,
show the passion of Rogers in her Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
earlier days as an artist. “Light After playing her song ‘Alaska’ on Pharrell’s ‘Master Class,’ American singer songwriter, Maggie Rogers, gained prominence.
On” is a story about Rogers per- Her new album ‘Heard it in a Past Life’ which includes ‘Alaska’ provides newfound fans with a unique sound to enjoy.
sonal journey in the spotlight. The
song’s layers pull the listener into with her unique layering tech- gives Rogers the uniqueness that album and brings Rogers to the er-songwriters combining pop,
her struggle, but also provide an niques. The opening of Rogers’ helped her rise to fame in her viral piano in an ode to her childhood. folk and dance. This is a comfort-
upbeat tone that conveys a sense album is a smooth transition into video, it also does not allow her This track brings a tone reminis- able and promising start for Mag-
of optimism and light. These her more powerful songs. “Give a voice to have the same punch that cent of Stevie Nicks, but it does gie Rogers, who is trying to find
songs deliver a sense of uniqueness Little” and “Overnight” both de- her earlier music had. so beautifully. Rogers reflection of her sound in the viral culture she
from the growing female singer- liver a smooth, repetitive sound Rogers struggles to find her other female artists in her music is was suddenly pushed into. Mag-
songwriter pop niche. that eases the listener in with a sound in an already flooded not necessarily a flaw, but a repre- gie Rogers’ reserved performance
The rest of Rogers’ album light tone. What these songs lack genre, but she is able to encapsu- sentation of the growing niche she in this album along with her suc-
blends these singles together but is Rogers’ confidence in her voice late the essence of several other occupies in pop/folk. cessful singles from throughout
does not bring much else to the ta- which is often overshadowed female singer-songwriters. “Past “Heard It in a Past Life” deliv- the year shows that she is a young
ble. Rogers’ talent as both a singer by the electro-folk background. Life” takes a break from the elec- ers passion and is an excellent rep- artist with great potential and
and a producer shine through Though the layered background tro backgrounds of the rest of the resentation of young female sing- someone to watch closely in 2019.
14 • January 25, 2019• technique // ENTERTAINMENT

BREXIT FROM PAGE 12 Cummings ends the film as he facilitated was a transition of pow- Although the politics of the parallels between Brexit and the
begins it: frustrated with the cur- er from one established, bloated UK and the intricacies of their Trump campaign draw them-
obviously plot driven, it is aesthet- rent political system. Even though party to another, different only in political system may be confus- selves. This movie provides a poi-
ically boring. his revolution technically suc- name. And with that he ensured ing to American viewers, the gnant look at the state of western
Despite this, it is still an in- ceeded, the fallout did not turn a dangerous era of social media film is an important and riveting politics. It ends just as it begins,
triguing watch. The dialogue is out as he expected. He wanted politics, data collection and fake watch within the context of the with a question: “Where do we go
quick, and the acting delivers. The systematic change, yet all that he news. 2016 presidential elections. The from here?”
pacing is reminiscent of a thriller
more than a political drama. As
each character is introduced, the
audience is informed of their
name, role in the government,
and which side — remain or leave
— they are on. This helps unfa-
miliar audiences enjoy a movie
that would otherwise be extremely
confusing and alienating.
This film makes it clear that
technology has irrevocably altered
every part of human existence.
Political institutions are not sa-
cred; Cummings proves that now
is the time to adapt or become ir-
relevant. With the 21st century,
a new era of globalization has
been ushered in. Modern politi-
cal systems are slow and clunky.
They were not created to work in
a world where computers can ana-
lyze billions of bits of data, where
algorithms are smarter than any
human ever will be.
Never before in human history
has there been a way for fake news
to be shared and liked and viewed
15 million times by people from
all over the world. The Leave cam-
paign uses this to their advantage.
Egregious statements spread like
fire, wild statistics are easily quot-
able. Cummings and his cam-
paign bets — and wins — on the
idea that no one is going to fact
check a post with a million likes. Photo courtesy of HBO
Why would they? The internet ‘Brexit: the Uncivil War’ explores the data driven campaign that was run by the ‘leave’ campaign. Although the cinematography
never lies. is not the most exciting and leaves something to be desired, the story of the movie still provides for an entertaining watch.
// ENTERTAINMENT technique • January 25, 2019• 15

‘Black Monday’ wins big with premiere DEER FROM PAGE 12

albums — such as Deerhunter’s
masterpiece Halycon Digest – the
TELEVISION surreal nature of the content lent
itself to a greater vision of the al-
Black Monday bum, on Why Hasn’t Everything
NETWORK: Showtime Already Disappeared?, the tracks
merely sound jumbled up and
WHEN: Sundays at 10 p.m. confused. The lack of sonic cohe-
STARRING: Don Cheadle sion — the inability of Deerhunt-
er to pick a style and stick with
OUR TAKE: ««««« it — fails to create a single vision
of the album. It is difficult to say
what the album is truly “about”,
JOSH TREBUCHON as even the few individual themes
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR that tracks represent are obfuscat-
ed, lost in the appropriated styles
If Jordan Cahan and David of other artists.
Caspe proved anything with the The only track where Deer-
premiere of their new Showtime hunter sound comfortable is the
series “Black Monday” on Sunday, one in which they step into their
they proved that they know how own skin, “Elemental.” “The
to catch an audience’s attention. Photo courtesy of Showtime wind was stained/Orange clouds
The pilot opens with a se- Don Cheadle stars as Maurice Monroe, known to his friends as ‘Mo-mo,’ the head of an up-and- fade up for a toxic view/Of end-
quence which drags the viewer coming trading firm in HBO’s new comedy ‘Black Monday,’ about the market crash of 1987. less time, endless time/Let it wash
through an astonishing range of over your body,” Cox builds up
emotions in less than two min- action is violent and abrupt, and appear throughout. This sets up tral character, Maurice Monroe, to a sufficiently trippy chorus,
utes. The series, which is a histori- the music stops suddenly. a puzzle for the viewer, and also played by Don Cheadle (“Iron a back-and-forth of the track’s
cal comedy about the titular stock The sequence is crafted master- symbolizes the universality of the Man 2”). Monroe, the boss at a title, over strings and the same
market crash of 1987, opens on a fully; it sets perfectly the tone of market crash — anyone could be powerful trading firm, leverages clinky piano. “It’s elemental how
defeated-looking businessman sit- the series, embodying the drastic the jumper, because no one on his power to blacklist Pfaff, get- I move,” goes the track – seeing
ting on a curb, sobbing violently fall from success to failure which Wall Street is safe from a crash. ting all of his offers rescinded. Deerhunter move in their element
in what appears to be New York. characterizes a market crash. Ad- The opening sequence sets up Immediately, Pfaff is plunged into is a rarity on this album, and this
In the background, emo punk ditionally, the narrow margin by the narrative style of the show the depths of despair. is one of the few tracks that truly
rockers spray-paint anti-establish- which the driver of the limousine well. Cahan and Caspe continu- In terms of comedy, “Black showcases that kind of familiarity.
ment graffiti on a column. The avoids being crushed along with ously take their characters from Monday” is dense with gems. But the rest of the album only
image — a grown man weeping his vehicle seems to be foreshad- incredible highs to incredible Cheadle’s character is a fast-talk- feels familiar to the audience and
desperately while others move cal- owing something, though Cahan lows, dragging the viewer along ing joke goldmine, spitting out evidently not to Deerhunter. The
lously about him — is distressing. and Caspe may have simply in- with them. The best example of hilarious line after hilarious line. band still has a flair for the experi-
Almost immediately, however, cluded this for dramatic and co- this storytelling style is the arc of Cheadle’s performance is the mental – “Nocturne” and “Dé-
the viewer’s impression of a des- medic effect. Andrew Rannells’s (“Bob’s Burg- centerpiece of the show, but the tournement” showcase the bands’
perate situation is replaced by an Regardless of whether the driv- ers”) character Blair Pfaff. entire cast turns in a great effort. interest in the truly weird, but the
image of opulence and excess. A er’s narrow survival foreshadows Pfaff begins his day as a ner- The delivery of jokes is consistent rest of the album feels wholly de-
Lamborghini limousine passes, the plot of the show or not, the de- vous job seeker interviewing with and excellent, the actors comple- rivative and boring.
blocking the view of the dis- tails of the scene certainly put the Morgan Stanley. He runs into his menting the writing perfectly. It is decidedly a step backwards
traught businessman and shifting viewer on alert — before cutting interviewer and nervously begins Everything about the pilot, for the Athens outfit. For a band
the tone. Upbeat, swaggering pop to the credit sequence, the camera rattling off rehearsed answers to from the narrative, to the subject that has spent so much of their ca-
music enters and lifts the viewer’s zooms in on the jumper’s watch, a questions he has not been asked. matter, to the joke writing and de- reer on the bleeding edge of indie,
downtrodden spirits. gold Rolex, and on an emerald pin Soon, however, he is delighted to livery sets the series up for excel- it might have been fine had they
The relief does not last long, on his tie. When the show returns find that the interviewer is desper- lence. The first episode of “Black stayed in their safe zone of exper-
however. In an extreme moment from the credits and cuts back in ate to hire him. Monday” may be one of the best imental-slash-drone-slash-rock,
of black comedy, the limousine is time, the creators make a point Pfaff, now with three excellent pieces of television of all time, and but unfortunately the band re-
crushed by the falling body of a of showing these accessories over job offers in his pocket, walks ec- the series promises to be among treated even further on this album
suicidal businessman shortly after and over again. Gold watches are statically across the trading floor the best on the small screen for into the safe zones of other bands,
its driver parks it and exits. The everywhere, and similar tie pins and bumps into another cen- years to come. to their own detriment.

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16 • January 25, 2019• technique // COMICS
SARAH’S SCRIBBLES BY SARAH ANDERSEN PEARLS BEFORE SWINE BY STEPHEN PASTIS

LIO BY MARK TATULLI

LUNARBABOON BY CHRISTOPHER GRADY

IN THE BLEACHERS BY STEVE MOORE

// COMICS technique • January 25, 2019• 17

XKCD BY RANDALL MUNROE SMBC BY ZACH WEINERSMITH

CHANNELATE BY RYAN HUDSON

SUDOKU PUZZLE

BY SUDOKUCOLLECTION.COM
18 • January 25, 2019• technique
Tech track and field set for strong spring season
EMILY DYKSTRA
STAFF WRITER
Tech’s track and field squad has
traveled far and wide this semes-
ter with meets across the eastern
United States. A strong showing
at the Clemson Invitational, high-
lighted by senior Avery Bartlett
breaking the school record in the
1000-meter event — a record pre-
viously held by the current wom-
en’s track and field head coach,
Alan Drosky — provided a strong
baseline bolstered by multiple per-
sonal records and top finishes for
the Jackets as they rolled into the
Vanderbilt Invitational this past
weekend.
The Vanderbilt Invitational be-
gan with a first place finish for the
men’s distance medley relay team
of senior Chris Korabik, sopho-
more Tyler Whorton, junior Mike
Reilly and freshman Joshua Wil-
liams, as the team finished with a
time of 10 minutes, 4.17 seconds.
The mix of seasoned upperclass-
men and talented underclassmen
bodes well for the team in years
to come, as underclassmen such
as Whorton and Williams gained
valuable experience competing on
top-tier relays alongside more se-
nior teammates.
The women continued the suc-
cess established by the men’s dis-
tance medley relay, with freshmen
Denise Issah and Taylor Grimes
qualifying for the ACC Champi-
onships in their long jump events.
Junior Brianna Hayden had a
notable 200-meter performance
according to Coach Drosky, al-
though the 60-meter event was
where Hayden placed the highest
last year at the conference cham-
pionship meet.
Day two of the Vanderbilt
Invitational showcased the hard
work of the Jackets as the team set
more than 15 personal records,
capping off a weekend where the
Jackets set over 25 personal re-
cords in total. Senior Maurice
Simpson, who came to Tech from
Kentucky during the 2017 season,
finished in seventh place while
setting a personal record time of
6.87 in the 60-meter event. Simp-
son has consistently improved his
times since arriving at Tech and
finished No. 26 overall at the
ACC Championships last year
in the 60-meter dash. He placed
No. 18 in the 200-meter event at
the same meet last year and made
Tech runners compete at the Georgia Tech Invitational. The men’s and women’s track and field
teams have jumped out to a strong start this semester with their performance in Nashville, Tenn.
significant strides at meets during
the outdoor season, which takes
place later in the spring semester
following the indoor season.
Bartlett kept the ball rolling
from his performances at Clem-
son by posting a personal record
time of 4:03.61 in the mile, finish-
ing fifth for the Jackets. In com-
parison, he posted a 4:12.77 at
the same meet last year, a signifi-
cant improvement. Last season,
Bartlett finished fifth at the ACC
Championships in the 800-me-
ter event with a time of 1:47.58,
then proceeded to earn second-
team all-America honors in the
800-meter after running a slightly
slower time of 1:48.24 at the
NCAA Indoor Championships.
During the past outdoor season,
he secured the championship title
at the ACC in the 800-meter in
1:48.05. However, outdoor times
can vary more than indoor times
due to weather and wind. Bartlett
has made multiple nationals ap-
pearances and is certainly expect-
ed to return to the nationals this
year in his final season with the
Jackets, especially if he keeps up
his recent pace.
Photo courtesy of Danny Karnik
// SPORTS
On the women’s side on the
second day at Vanderbilt, senior
Jeanine Williams finished first in
the 60-meter hurdles with a time
of 8.17. Last season, Williams held
the top time in the ACC in the
event with a career-best time of
8.02. She was ranked fourth in the
country and No. 22 in the world
with that time and finished first or
second in every competition dur-
ing the indoor season except one.
Williams turned down an offer to
represent her home country, Ja-
maica, at the IAAF World Indoor
Championships in England last
season to compete for the Jackets
at the NCAA Championships.
During the outdoor season,
Williams was awarded the title
of second-team All-American in
100-meter hurdles, All-ACC First
Team and 100-meter Outdoor
ACC Champion. Her ability to
compete at such a high level in
both the 60-meter and 100-me-
ter hurdles makes her a versatile
weapon for the Jackets. She will
certainly be chasing more titles
this year in those events, along
with the relays that she partici-
pates in with the team.
The Jackets return to Clem-
son, S.C. for the Bob Pollock In-
vitational, kicking off January 25
and running through January 26.
The team will then compete at
the University of Michigan Invi-
tational meet during Super Bowl
weekend in Ann Arbor before
coming back to the south for an-
other invitational meet at Clem-
son. Some of the team will also
be competing at either the Music
City Invitational at Vanderbilt
or the Iowa State Invitational in
Ames, Iowa on the same weekend.
These meets will build up to the
ACC Indoor Championships dur-
ing the weekend of February 21,
which will be held in Blacksburg,
Va., home to Virginia Tech.
// SPORTS
WBB FROM PAGE 1
of the starting lineup is rarely a
winning formula, particularly
with scoring threat Elizabeth
Dixon riding the pine for much of
the afternoon due to fouls she ac-
cumulated early in the game.
But what Lahtinen lacks in of-
fensive skill early in her career, she
makes up for in intensity. Lahtin-
en put together a scrappy perfor-
mance on both sides of the floor.
Her defense is one of the reasons
that Syracuse star and projected
WNBA draft pick Tiana Man-
gakahia was held to 5 points on
17 percent shooting, just one year
after Mangakahia set her career
high for points against the Jackets.
And her three offensive rebounds,
tied for the team lead with Lorela
Cubaj, helped generate additional
possessions for Tech, even when
the Jackets were shooting with
poor efficiency. Lahtinen’s stint
in the starting lineup may just
be a short-term move by Coach
Joseph, but she demonstrated on
Sunday why Joseph trusted her
with that opportunity. And given
that Pan shot a much-improved
four of nine from the field, it
seems as though Joseph’s strategy
might be working.
2: FLETCHER’S BREAK-OUT
Kierra Fletcher was in the
midst of an excellent sophomore
campaign entering the game. She
led all backcourt players on the
team in rebounds, led the team
in assists and placed second in
steals. She took that performance
to another level on Sunday — her
22 points were her most since she
put up 25 in a season-opening
double overtime loss to Houston,
and Fletcher accomplished the
feat while being the only player
for either team to play all 40 min-
utes. Fletcher fell just one rebound
short of a double-double, but the
most impressive aspect of her per-
formance was her consistency
from the free-throw line. Fletcher
Tech’s Kierra Fletcher drives to the rim against Syracuse’s Tiana Mangakahia during a game at
McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets won the contest, thanks in large part to Fletcher’s performance.
made 10 of 11 attempts from the
charity stripe, enabling the Jackets
to put the game away in the final
minute as the Orange fouled in
desperation.
3: BALOGUN SHINES AGAIN
Joseph knew she was signing
a pair of McDonald’s All-Ameri-
cans in Elizabeth Dixon and Eliz-
abeth Balogun. What she could
not have possibly known was how
soon the returns would come. Ba-
logun has been ACC Rookie of
the Week four times in the past
six weeks, and Dixon has added
on a pair of Rookie of the Week
accolades as well. Balogun was the
one to come up big against Syra-
cuse: she hit four of seven shots
from three and finished over 50
percent from the field, recording
20 points on the night.
Balogun’s presence was helpful
to more than just her score total
— the Jackets outscored the Or-
ange by 23 points when she was
on the floor, indicating that her
defense and overall cohesion with
the starting lineup were likely
impactful. An athletic block late
in the game showed the sort of
impact Balogun can make on de-
fense, particularly as she matures.
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
4: EMOTIONS RUN HIGH
When the game was over, Jo-
seph ran to the middle of the court
with her players as they all hugged
in excitement, walking away with
perhaps their biggest win of the
season. Tech’s coach is not usu-
ally reserved, but it was an un-
characteristically jubilant display.
And for good reasons; this was a
win worth celebrating, one that
showed that Tech could do dam-
age in the NCAA Tournament if
given the chance to participate.
The Jackets will look to capture
similar magic against NC State on
Sunday at McCamish Pavilion.
technique • January 25, 2019• 19
TIMEOUT FROM PAGE 20
physical dominance, but rather,
careful planning and execution
in the frontcourt. Even NBA stars
like Steph Curry admit that they
learn from WNBA players, as
their game requires more thought
than simply the instinct to “run
through the defense and dunk.”
And indeed, Tech’s women’s
team knows how to execute. That
much was on full display Sunday,
when Tech upset No. 12 Syracuse
65-55 behind strong showings by
Liz Balogun and Kierra Fletcher.
Head coach MaChelle Joseph has
put together a strong program on
the back of aggressive recruiting,
especially internationally and this
team can hang in with almost any
program in the country. Tech has
a talented team, with Fletcher, Ba-
logun and former ACC Freshman
of the Year Francesca Pan anchor-
ing the roster with more talent on
the way.
So why are Tech women’s bas-
ketball games so sparsely attend-
ed? The women’s team has a pretty
good shot to make the NCAA
Tournament while the men’s team
is a long shot for even the NIT,
universally viewed as a consola-
tion tournament. Why are we so
unwilling to give a team with two
McDonald’s High School All-
Americans — and another five-
star prospect, to boot — more
attention?
It’s because we’ve failed to give
women’s basketball a chance. And
each of us can correct that. This
spring, show up to a game at Mc-
Camish Pavilion and watch Ma-
Chelle Joseph’s team in addition
to Josh Pastner’s. Find yourself
a nice seat — almost all of them
are available. Sit down and wit-
ness some of the best women’s
basketball players in the country
do what they do best. There isn’t
any dunking and the players are
smaller, but the product that Tech
puts on the court deserves not just
respect but attention.
Sports
Men’s hoops must find help for Alvarado
JOHN EDWARDS
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Tech basketball cannot survive
without Jose Alvarado. Saturday’s
game was a sobering reminder of
that fact, as the Jackets managed
a miserable 51 points against a
mediocre Louisville defense with
the noticeable absence of Alvara-
do from Tech’s lineup. Alvarado,
resigned to the bench following
a groin injury sustained against
Clemson the week prior, could
only watch as Tech shot a miser-
able 38 percent from the field.
James Banks III shouldered the
load as best he could, racking up
an impressive 24 point, 11 re-
bound, 3 block performance in 37
minutes on the floor, but no other
Tech player reached double digits
in Tech’s worst offensive showing
of the season.
Alvarado is lightning in a
bottle for the Jackets — the un-
dersized guard has the speed and
basketball IQ to create plays on
the court for Tech. Alvarado leads
the Jackets in points per game, as-
sists per game and steals per game.
Alvarado’s stat-line is not only a
tribute to his ability to score bas-
kets, but generate scores by creat-
ing turnovers and giving his team-
mates the ball. By Offensive Win
Shares, a stat that estimates how
many total wins a player contrib-
utes on offense, only Banks has
been more valuable than Alvarado
for the Jackets, and Alvarado leads
the team by a considerable margin
in Points Produced, courtesy of
sports-reference.com.
But Alvarado has had to shoul-
der the scoring load in a manner
unlike any player at Tech in the
past decade. Josh Pastner’s of-
fensive system values unselfish
play, where any player registers
as a scoring threat on a play, and
HARSHA SRIDHAR AND
JOHN EDWARDS
SPORTS EDITOR AND
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Tech’s best kept secret plays on
a weekly basis in McCamish Pa-
vilion. The Jackets squad that has
dominated the competition thus
far, including a signature win over
a tough Syracuse team this month,
has done so thanks to a top-tier re-
cruiting program, passionate and
involved coaching and a hefty
dose of fan enthusiasm. Argu-
ably the most exemplary, standout
program on Tech’s campus is the
women’s basketball team — and
though their attendance numbers
do not suggest it, they are wholly
deserving of your attention.
SPORTS EDITOR:
Harsha Sridhar
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR:
John Edwards
sports@nique.net
there is rarely a “go-to” guy. This
system worked well last season
when the Jackets had substantial
scoring threats with Josh Okogie,
Ben Lammers and Tadric Jackson
on the floor, but with all three
players gone this season, the scor-
ing burden has fallen to Alvarado
and Banks almost exclusively.
Whereas the Jackets had four
players averaging ten-plus points
per game last season, this season,
only Banks and Alvarado have
reached the threshold. Tech ranks
dead last in the ACC in points per
game in conference play.
To be sure, Pastnerball values
defense to a extraordinarily high
degree, and the Jackets have deliv-
ered thus far on that promise —
Tech ranks No. 12 in the country
in field goal percent allowed —
but Tech is faltering rapidly in the
ACC because they have been un-
able to score without Alvarado on
the court. Even worse, Tech has
begun to struggle with Alvarado
as well; after Alvarado notched
17 points on Virginia Tech in the
first half of the Jackets’ meeting
with the Hokies this January, Vir-
ginia Tech posted taller players on
Alvarado and effectively shut him
down for the second half as the
Jackets lost, 52-49. And during
Tech’s road game against Clem-
son, the Tigers used the same
height mismatch to their advan-
tage and held Alvarado to just 10
points in 35 minutes.
Alvarado is a great scorer, but
he is still much smaller than an
average point guard, and he strug-
gles against taller forwards and
centers. That one of Tech’s two
only dominant offensive weapons
can be shut down the way Alvara-
do has been by Virginia Tech and
Clemson means that Tech still
has a substantial issue to address,
even when Alvarado is healthy:
they need more offensive threats
Freshman guard Elizabeth Balogun runs towards the basket uncontested for a layup late
against Syracuse. The Jackets’ upset win was highly entertaining but poorly attended.
We cannot deny that women’s
basketball programs are less popu-
lar among sports fans than their
The men’s and women’s track and
field teams kicked off 2019 by shatter-
to complement him. The offense
cannot be Alvarado or bust.
More offensive threats on the
floor means less pressure on Al-
varado and an easier way to pun-
ish teams going for the height ad-
vantage over Alvarado. It means
less pressure on the team, overall,
and a higher rate of offense. Tech
can ruin teams’ efficiency like al-
most no other in college basket-
ball, but Tech must begin capital-
izing off of the forced misses and
get buckets of their own.
Where are the Jackets to find
these threats? Perhaps Pastner
should re-evaluate who is get-
ting minutes. Forward Evan Cole
has averaged just 13 minutes per
game, but Cole’s field goal per-
Jose Alvarado dribbles towards the basket, fighting a Notre Dame defender during Tech’s win
over the Irish. Alvarado has played well this season, but he has not had much scoring help.
male counterparts. In 2013, the
WNBA averaged about 400,000
viewers compared to about 1.5
Starting Fast
ing personal records.418
centage is the No. 3 on the team
behind Banks and Abdoulaye Gu-
eye. Despite this, Cole has largely
been relegated to the bench fol-
lowing some early-season injuries,
losing out on his chance to join
Pastner’s main rotation after miss-
ing a good portion of non-confer-
ence play. Cole represents a threat
in both the front and backcourt,
and at six-foot-nine, his imposing
presence would punish a team go-
ing for a mismatch on Alvarado.
Brandon Alston has also found
himself in a small role but rep-
resents an efficient sharpshoot-
ing option, serving as Tech’s best
three-point shooter this season
— perhaps a few more minutes
per game could help Tech’s of-
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
million viewers for NBA games.
The difference is even more pro-
nounced at the collegiate level
technique
20
Friday,
January 25, 2019
fense while giving the oft-taxed
Alvarado a breather, which could
in turn make him much more ef-
fective down the stretch.
Tech has defense in spades.
There’s no questioning that, but
holding ACC teams to season-
worst totals in offensive efficiency
ratings means nothing when Tech
is still a worse-scoring team than
their opponents.
Behind Alvarado’s 16 points
on Tuesday, Tech knocked off a
depleted Notre Dame squad Tues-
day, 63-61, as Tech had four scor-
ers reach double digits. A more
balanced approach to offense
takes the pressure off Alvarado
while keeping him as a threat, and
it may be Tech’s best option.
Photo by Casey Gomez Student Publications
— the NCAA Women’s Basket-
ball National Championship reg-
istered just 3.5 million viewers,
but the finale of the men’s ver-
sion of March Madness picked
up 16.5 million viewers. The lack
of popularity is doubly damning:
it is far easier to get involved in a
sport when your friends follow it
as well, disincentivizing fans from
joining. But truly, all it takes to
become a fan of women’s sports is
a simple first step.
Consider that women’s basket-
ball is generally functionally iden-
tical to the men’s version, while
arguably displaying far more disci-
pline and a higher quality of play.
Whereas there are a multitude of
physical outliers in the NBA and
in college men’s basketball, freaks
of nature like Giannis Antetok-
ounmpo, LeBron James and Zion
Williamson, women’s teams can-
not rely on six-foot-eight destroy-
ers of rims, and thus rely more on
good fundamentals and skilled
play. A WNBA or college women’s
basketball player cannot simply
bowl over a defender en route to
a brutal dunk, so scoring requires
instead ball-handling skills and
quality basketball IQ. A women’s
game is not decided by brutal,
See TIMEOUT, page 19