In an increasingly globalized world, diversity and inclusion have continued to shake up the workforce. On Feb. 19, a panel of animators from the International Animated Film Association gathered at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking to discuss representation within the animation industry. 

The panelists explained how representation within animation as an industry and an art form involves both on and off-screen actors. “There aren’t a lot of people that look like me who are doing this, but I never thought I was trying to represent the African American community or women,” said Davonne Dupart, a freelance animator and adjunct professor at SCAD. 

“I like doing this, and I want to do it,” Dupart continued. “I never thought of myself as a black woman doing this. It was just I’m an artist — I’m an animator. I love doing this. But then when other people would hear, it would be ‘Oh, you’re an animator? But you’re black?’” 

Jules Premus, a character designer for Floyd County, further discussed disconnects in the animation industry in terms of those creating characters and the characters they are representing on screen. 

“It’s the irony, a lot of times, that marginalized people have to work on things that include them but don’t represent them accurately,” said Premus.

For these two animators, representation behind the screen as well as on the screen is equally important. 

“Most studios are predominantly white male,” said Dupart. “Overall, I’ve been the only woman there, and maybe there’s one other black man there … You definitely feel like a minority.” 

Dupart elaborated on the challenges of being a minority within the industry.  “I’m hyper-aware of how I’m being perceived,” she explained. “I’m always aware of how I can be perceived.”

Dupart explained the significance of perceptions within animation, an industry built upon networking and connections. 

“It’s all about who you know,” she said.  “If they don’t know you, they’re not really going to listen … It almost feels like ‘Man, I’m not a part of that club, how am I going to get there?’”

Panelist Jules Premus further discussed inclusion, diving into the relationship between creating animation and owning animation.

“We don’t just want jobs in the industry. We want ownership of our work and direction of our work,” said Premus. “It’s hard to stay motivated when you feel like you’re the only one.”

In order to create motivation within the industry, Premus outlined steps towards creating a more inclusive workplace for employees. 

“Really working towards a place where we’re not just working to tell stories of people more privileged than us, but working to a place to where we can actually own the work and the stories that we tell.” 

Dupart defined inclusivity in a similar manner, stressing the importance of diversity both on screen as well as behind the screen. 

“Diversity is really having a multitude of people at the decision-making table … It comes to who’s not just on the screen but who’s at the decision-making table.”

Creatively, inclusion can be a difficult topic to navigate, especially when attempting to represent characters without reinforcing stereotypes. 

“For me the biggest thing has been referencing real people and referencing from life and real stories, and not trying to guess at what someone’s experience is going to be or to make assumptions on what is typical or atypical,” said Premus. 

Dupart shed some light on the character creation process behind the Oscar-winning Hair Love. The short features an African American family and follows a father attempting to do his daughter’s hair. 

“What kind of restrictions were they going to put on how these characters needed to look, how would they feel about having a black man with dreads? Not only dreads, but with tattoos, also. He’s not this button-up what you would think of as a safe or approachable type of person,” she explained, illustrating the difficult questions that go into character portrayal.

Premus further discussed the difficulties of character portrayal in terms of disabilities, an often overlooked element of inclusion. 

“There’s such a broad range that the term ‘hidden disability’ can include, from being on the spectrum to having a hearing impairment, things you don’t necessarily want to be outed to having, but you want the assumption that the community is going to accept you,” explained Premus.

“As my back became worse and worse, I sort of saw into this world of hidden disabilities and how few people actually take them seriously,” said Premus, referring to his struggle with severe scoliosis. 

Premus explained the importance of representation as a fundamental part of identity exploration. 

“People are just now learning that we love to see ourselves,” said Premus. “We need to see ourselves as a human element.” 

I hate politics. But what fuels my disdain is less often the actual subjects of discussion and more the discussion itself. The perfect storm of the misinformation age propagated through social media and Donald Trump as President of the U.S. has resulted in an environment where political discourse is nearly impossible. The fluidity of political belief has been replaced with the rigidity of almost religious dedication to a given party. As such, it is in the best interest of the Democratic party not to stoop to the same populist strategies as Trump, just with a blue paint job.

While “populism” is a term most often associated with right-wing politics, it covers a range of political stances that emphasize an idea of “the people” versus some sort of establishment. Often, populist parties, social movements and leaders are best summarized by an ideology that seeks to please voters without rational consideration as to the best course of action. 

Without a doubt, it is an energizing tool in politics worldwide, where we can see a spike in populist leaders gaining political offices. One example is the Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro, whose platform is grounded in uprooting the rampant corruption in the country’s government. He rode the resulting public outrage into the presidency, all the while openly admiring the military dictatorship that presided in Brazil for two decades. 

Compare Trump’s campaign to the rhetoric of today’s candidates’ platforms. The ideological explanation for the president’s brash behavior, unfounded arguments and antagonistic vernacular is a form of right-wing populism. His administration advertises an anti-establishment theme in their infamous mottos, “Drain the Swamp,” and “Make America Great Again.” Moreover, Trump’s rhetoric focuses on dividing the country rather than uniting it by painting Democrats and the press as an opposition to what he advertises as the “will of the people.” This is in direct contrast to the liberal democracy that the U.S. is designed to be, basing itself on the idea that different groups with different values are all legitimate. 

What is worrying is that the Democratic Party’s response to Trump’s right-wing populism is its left-wing version — many examples of which can be found in the Democratic presidential nominee’s campaigns. Senator Bernie Sanders, the current front runner for the nomination, best exemplifies the parallels within the Democratic party that incorporate the very populist rhetoric they are critical of Trump for. While his messages are calling attention to important issues, it is the method with which he — and other candidates to a lesser extent — is mobilizing his supporters. And the result can be a following which mimics some of the same antagonism that Trump supporters exhibit, the clearest example of which were Sanders supporters on Twitter actively threatening leaders within Nevada’s Culinary Worker’s Union. Sanders responded to the issue well, and I do not believe that the incident was inherently his fault, but is rather a consequence of the populist strategy. 

 A study by the Atlantic analyzing 46 populist leaders between 1990 and 2018 concluded that in the battle between populism and democracy, populists “pose an acute danger to democratic institutions” and that evidence shows that even left-wing populists are not likely to be a cure for right-wing populism. Per the study, over the same time period as 13 right-wing populist governments, “15 left-wing populist governments were elected; of these, the same number, five, brought about significant democratic backsliding.”

Supporters need to be careful in their mobilization, and candidates need to be aware of their rhetoric and its long term consequences on American politics. Populism may be a direct consequence of the mainstream politicians’ failure to offer clear and inspiring solutions to today’s challenges, but fighting fire with fire this election will leave everyone burned.

If you walked into my bedroom right now, you might be overwhelmed by the smell of baking soda and bleach. My bathroom and walk-in closet are attached to each other at the east end of my room, meaning the scents from within waft through to my half of the apartment. While not unpleasant, the smell is an uncomfortable reminder of the long and painstaking process of sterilizing a space that once held a batch of sickly kittens. 

I have two personality traits: I’m the Editor of the Technique, and I love cats. My home is a transitional space for kittens between the ages of zero days and 18 weeks, my adjoined bathroom and closet are a revolving door cranking litters and single orphans in and out like clockwork. I am a foster, and the reason it has become such an integral part of my identity is because the work it involves fulfills me more than anything else I have ever done. 

Being a foster means that my mornings start with insessant ‘meowing.’ This isn’t just the typical complaints from my own three adult cats, but a chorus of yowls straight from the jaws of tiny kittens falling over each other to get to the plate of wet-food-formula-mush. I have bathed, fed, cleaned up after, played with, cuddled, worried about, cried over, cared for and mourned kittens month after month for the past two years. 

The fostering game is mostly fun. How could it not be? I get to come home to a literal basket of fluffy kittens who headbutt me with love and purr at the sound of my voice. I get to watch the cutest creatures in the world grow up into beautiful animals and I get to help them find a place in the world where they’ll experience comfort and love. 

The way I have experienced and given love has radically changed over time. The saying that “if you love something you let it go,” is accutely true in the world of foster parents. Physically handing over my favorite fosters to their new parents is equally heartbreaking and inspiring. The love and effort I have poured into these cats is reflected in the eyes of those who choose to adopt them.

But it is not all fun and games. Sometimes, it is really, really hard. Last summer I fell hard for a sickly foster we named Jiji. He was a frail black kitten with big yellow eyes. He was demure, cuddly and loved his littermates more than anything. Once he stepped foot into my home, I was in love. He was on the road to what we call a “foster fail.” 

Things didn’t work out with Jiji. When he showed symptoms of illness, he was immediately rushed to the vet. Despite all the hard work, we lost him due to congenital issues. I felt him slip between my fingers, and it is an event I will never forget. 

The event of his death impacted me in many ways. My stance against unecessary breeding has strengthened; even now I have a foster with severe congenital issues that cause her severe discomfort that would have been prevented if her parents’ owners had spayed or neutered their animals. I am more passionate every day about fostering and its impact. Fostering saves lives, which I know to be true when I pull  a kitten condemned to euthanasia out of her kennel at the local municipal shelter. I understand loss in ways I didn’t ever imagine I would, and I value every moment I have with the people and the animals that I love. 

I get scared that a new foster might catch what Jiji had. Or something a previous foster had. Or that a current foster will come in with a virus and infect my foster space. So sometimes I have to bleach my bathroom. And scrub the floor in the closet. And sit and cry a while because I wish I could help every lost creature in the world. 

But most of the time I look forward to creeping into my apartment and scooping up a little bundle of fur — no matter how much of a genetic mess she is, no matter how long she’ll live or be with me — and remembering that the work I do is worth it because of the success stories. And there are plenty of those. 

Students looking to attend Georgia Tech’s summer class program will have a new option beginning May 2020: the “Maymester.” This program will offer compact, three credit-hour courses taught over 15 instructional days, May 11 – 29, as an alternative to Tech’s longer summer programs, which are Early Short session, May 11 to June 12; Late Short session, June 17 to July 21; and Full Summer session, May 11 to July 21. Applications for summer sessions, including the new Maymester, begin on Mar. 23 and last until May 15.

According to the official press release by the summer sessions office, “in-state students’ tuition cost will be $341.93 per credit hour, while out-of-state students will pay $1045.67 per credit hour,” which is on par with all other summer sessions. Since each class is worth three credit hours, in-state students will pay $1025.79 per class, and out-of-state students will pay $3137.01 per class.

The courses offered for this inaugural Maymester run are ECON 4180 “Game Theory,” HTS 2100 “Science and Technology in the Modern World,” INTA 2050 “Introduction to Global Development,” LMC 3214 “Intro to Science Fiction,” ML 2500 “Intro to Cross-Cultural Studies,” MSE 2001 “Principles and Applications of Engineering Materials”, MUSI 3630 “History of Jazz,” and PSYCH 1101 “General Psychology.” Students can also access this schedule at http://summer.gatech.edu/content/maymester.

The aim in implementing Maymester as a part of Tech’s summer sessions is “to provide students with an alternative to taking courses during the longer summer and regular academic year semesters,” which allows “students more room for other academic and professional experiences during the summer, including study abroad programs and internships,” according to the press release. Dr. De Morris Walker, director of Tech’s Summer Sessions Initiatives, said on the kinds of classes available that, “[W]e aimed to offer courses that either fulfill a core graduation, major or minor requirement”. He later remarked that his office will look at this first Maymester and how it has worked for students, saying, “We will also assess if the term does in fact serve a population of students who would not participate in summer otherwise”.

When asked about the inspiration for the Maymester program, Dr. Walker said, “GT currently offers three parts of term for summer classes — full summer, early short and late short. We noticed that these terms may not serve all students interested in taking courses in the summer. For instance, students who have an internship or co-op position that begins in June may not be able to enroll in either of the existing parts of terms. We found that other USG [University System of Georgia] schools and several peer institutions offer Maymester or three-week parts of terms to create additional opportunities for students to enroll in summer sessions”.

The official press release for Maymester also encourages potential transfer students to attend this shortened summer session: “Students who would like to visit from other institutions this summer are invited to apply to attend Georgia Tech as a Non-Degree seeking student by February, 2020”. “Attending Tech in the summer can also serve as a recruiting tool for students who might consider transferring to Tech or pursuing graduate study here, but aren’t currently students here,” said Dr. Walker on the impetus behind advertising to that demographic.

Most freshmen spend a year sleeping, studying and socializing in a small dorm room, sometimes with a stranger for a roommate. After that year, some upperclassmen choose to return to their residence halls as student staff members (SSMs). 

Upperclassmen who become Resident Advisors (RAs) or Peer Leaders (PLs) are expected to advise, mentor and keep their younger counterparts safe. Many of them do so because an older peer made an impact in their lives. However, few remain in their positions through graduation. Some don’t even last a year.

They are deterred by what they determine to be unhealthy living conditions, inadequate compensation and the refusal of administration to hear their complaints.

Last week, the Department of Housing and Residence Life eliminated 60 positions, telling students they were not welcome to return in the fall because the department was looking to cut down on SSM positions. Recent layoffs aside, some SSMs told the Technique that the department’s operation has long been known for its failure to support its student staff.

The Department of Housing has experienced a great deal of staff turnover in recent years. According to the organizational chart found at department.housing.gatech.edu/about, four of the highest positions on administration’s staff are currently vacant, with only one filled by an interim appointee — Sheree Gibson is filling the position of Interim Director for Residence Life. 

Speaking about the issues with the Department of Housing was an emotional situation for current and former SSMs, and almost every person that was interviewed insisted on anonymity for fear of retaliation from the Department. 

Alexandra Marlette, fourth-year CM and former RA, was the only one willing to disclose her name. She became an RA in the Graduate Living Center in 2018, after transferring to Tech earlier that year. As an individual with fibromyalgia and an autoimmune disease, she was forced to live in a room that worsened her condition and made doing her
job impossible.

Marlette showed a video of the flooded floors in her room. According to Marlette, two previous RAs residing in that room said they had had the same issue — meaning the room had already been routinely wet and moldy for two years when she moved in.

“We’re at the front line of kids who are going through a crisis, or we’re staying up late handling emergencies, and things like that,” Marlette said. “And I go back to my room that I can’t live in. That’s my compensation.”

Marlette said she would have loved to stay in the position until she graduated. She liked giving back to the community, and the rent-free residence as compensation helped her afford school. In March, 2019, she moved out because her living conditions were dramatically worsening her medical issues. She said that she was the third SSM to leave her staff so far that semester.

Other SSMs have suffered negative health consequences due to their living conditions. An east campus PL has a severe allergy to dust and has made numerous complaints to both her direct superiors and the maintenance team. After changing her air filter, she was informed that there was nothing else that could be done. 

Gibson said that “if a student comes to us needing an air purifier, we have some resources on hand that we will offer out to students to help them with that.”

The PL said that she was informed that one could not be provided to her. She purchased her own air purifier.

She remains living in a room that is making her sick. Her voice has grown raspy and hoarse. Unsanitary conditions were cited by several other SSMs and some provided photos and videos of mold growing on the furniture provided by housing. 

One former east campus SSM said in an email that her floor was “plagued with plumbing issues so sewage water/actual human poop was overflowing onto the floor two or three times a week. We tried to tell our residents to not flush tampons/excessive amounts of paper, but I would witness toilets overflowing after flushing just a few pieces of toilet paper … wrote multiple maintenance requests, my co-PL and I made waves about it during staff meetings … and nothing happened.”

In addition to health concerns, certain SSMs have become worried for the safety and security of themselves and their residents. 

Several east campus PLs shared that on two separate occasions in the fall semester of 2019, unauthorized individuals gained entrance to east campus dorms and violated the personal space and privacy of residents. Months later, security cameras were installed on some of the freshman dorms facing the highway. There were no Clery Act Safety Alerts for the incidents that had occurred that semester.

On Jan. 18, the campus community received a Clery Act Safety Alert regarding a student in the Perry Residence Hall who had been awoken to find a young man next to her bed. According to GTPD, the male fled when confronted. 

“Additional students in Perry Residence Hall reported being awakened by a male in their unsecured rooms,” stated the alert. “The male has been identified as a student residing in the same housing area and has been placed under arrest.” The email went on to encourage students to lock their doors.

In addition to the responsibility to build community and respond to issues as they arise is the requirement that each staff member is “on duty” for a certain amount of time each month. These on-call hours require the staff to remain in their rooms unless they are responding to calls. They also require staff to perform patrols late at night. The number of rounds required in a 12-hour shift was recently upped to three.

“As a girl, you don’t want to be walking on Williams Street at one in the morning,” one PL said. “In the end, there’s nothing we can really do about it. If I say I’m gonna quit, housing is just like there are plenty of people lining up to take our spot. We have the free housing [held] over our heads. It’s like they always have something against us.” When talking to her hall director about her concerns about safety, she said that his response is that he has passed her concerns up and that “there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Current and former SSMs reported a stark lack of communication from their superiors. One former PL stated that her supervisor had been let go at one point, but no communication was made to the staff. The SSMs reached out to the hall director with no success — she had been told not to make contact with the staff.

Emmett Miskell, third-year INTA and president of the Residence Hall Association, says poor communication is one of the issues he struggles to improve the most. Part of his job is to be the bridge between residents and the Department of Housing and to advocate for SSMs.

“There’s a lot of concern with communication,” Miskell said. “Any time I have a student staff member come to me and let me know about an issue, I do whatever I can because I do have those connections and those relationships built out with people.”

One current west campus SSM said that after some uproar surrounding last week’s layoffs and other changes, the Department of Housing told students that were laid off that they may reapply. An email from Kasey Helton, Associate Vice President of Campus Services, informed campus residents of plans to improve facilities, change the SSM positions, update the wok order system and update administrative staffing. 

Another current PL explains why she hasn’t left her position.

“I have thought of quitting. But at the same time, I haven’t quit because I know that nothing’s going to happen. I am out of state, and as much as I do love doing it, it goes hand in hand with the free housing. It’s not the only reason why I do it, but it’s a big reason why I do it.”

Without the SSMs, on-campus residents, especially the first-years navigating life at Tech, would be left without a peer as their sounding board, advocate, center of community and friend. 

Tech’s women’s rugby is quickly becoming an unstoppable force. Last weekend, they defeated the University of Tennessee 30-12 while down two players and playing with no substitutions. On a field that was muddy and cold, they had to rely on their skill and grit to win the game.  We sat down with team captain Daphne Willingham to learn what the Tech team is up to.

Willingham, third-year AE, joined women’s rugby her freshman year and like every other girl on the team, she had zero rugby experience before college. She has been able to learn the unique and enjoyable sport and wants more women to share in what rugby has to offer. She believes it promotes individual empowerment while also allowing her to forge lifelong friendships, as most of her time is spent with her rugby teammates. Willingham remarked that “you don’t realize how empowering it is to tackle someone until you try it” but also stresses that the focus of the sport is on willpower rather than aggression. Women’s rugby has grown immensely in recent history. Before 1960 it was a sport that had to be played in secret due to protests from communities. The first women’s World Cup was played in 1991 and was a major milestone in the growth of the sport. Since then, women’s rugby has been one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It is expected that 40% of all rugby players will be women by 2026. The Jackets’ women’s rugby team started in 2006 and continues to grow each year.

The team will have six matches this semester and their performance will determine whether they proceed to the Southeastern Collegiate Women’s Rugby tournament. 

Interestingly enough, their toughest competition is Life University, a school best known for their chiropractic program. Life takes rugby very seriously, and many of their players go on to play for the Atlanta Harlequins, the local semi-pro women’s rugby team. At least if the match gets too rough, they have some people that can help out afterwards. Georgia also has a women’s rugby team and is often a competitive match ­— the Jackets defeated them for the first time in five years last semester. Tech will also play Kennesaw State University as part of their regional schedule.

The Men’s basketball team scored a big win last Wednesday against the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals. The final score was 64-58 . This game showcased the potential of Tech’s talent, which Jackets fans hope continues throughout the rest of the season. The starting lineup (Jose Alvarado, Michael Devoe, Jordan Usher, Moses Wright and James Banks) all scored in the double digits for the first time this season. More importantly, this game broke an incredible 25-game losing streak against top 25 teams. The last time the fast-improving Jackets beat a top-five team was Jan. 9th, 2016 against University of Virginia. This game could create the momentum needed for Tech to be successful this March at the NCAA tournament.  

The Jackets were relentless in their pursuit of this win, staying in lead the entire game. The largest lead was seven minutes into the game at 12 points, and the score at the half was 31-26, with Tech still in the lead. The Cardinals closed in on the Jackets at the end but were unable to pull ahead for the win. The score was 59-58 Tech, with 18 seconds left in the game. Although a tense moment, the Jackets went on to score six unanswered points to solidify their win in the last few seconds. 

Junior guard from Brooklyn, Alvarado was the lead scorer with 18 points during the game. He can be credited with the MVP of the game, scoring four free throws at the end of the game to win it and scoring the most points. Georgia Tech made 44% of field goals, 29% of three pointers, and 71% of free throws. In addition, the Jackets had seven offensive rebounds, 12 assists, 22 fouls, nine steals and four blocks. The Jackets’ record now stands at 12-13.

Tech beat the odds in this game after ESPN predicted 80% chance the Jackets would lose. If you were to bet $100 on the six-point predicted spread for Tech on a bookie website called Bovada last Wednesday, you would have won $190. In addition to the Louisville fans who bet on their team, this loss has impacted the Cardinal’s season in more ways than one. This game ended their 10-game winning streak and must have shaken their confidence enough to lose to unranked Clemson on Saturday Feb. 15.

Head Coach John Pastner was happy about the team’s win but was not surprised citing the confidence he has in the team’s ability. In a post match interview, he said it was a “great win against a great team that’s good enough to win a National Championship.” 

Pastner believes the team experienced tremendous growth in skill this season and said “if you look where we were in November and December to where we are now it’s night and day. It’s not even the same team.” Although Pastner said the current record does not reflect the improvement, he expects the team to hit a groove and showcase their talent in upcoming games.

The student section also had plenty to say about what they thought about the game. Jake Grant, a loyal tech basketball fan, talked about the energy in the student section that night. 

“The energy was good, and the last 20 seconds had me screaming,” he explained. “In fact, I’m just now recovering my voice four days later. I also made it on the Jumbotron one time. Good thing I did my hair that day.” 

As someone in Wreck Club, Grant encourages everyone to come out to support the Jackets and explains how nice of a break it can be from the routine of school work. 

Some fans were a little too excited. First-year Leighton Cohen was so happy about the win that he decided to storm the court. Unfortunately for him, his peers could not break past the security guard, and he was escorted off the court. 

The Jackets have a busy schedule ahead of them taking on Syracuse on Feb. 22, Clemson Feb. 25 and Miami Feb. 29 at McCamish Pavillion.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Netflix released “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” a sequel to 2018’s high school romance. Unlike the vast majority of Netflix’s budding niche of adolescent love stories, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” proved itself as a delightfully charming romp. The hit comedy also marked the arrival of two premier teen heartthrobs — Lana Condor (“X-Men: Apocalypse”) and Noah Centineo (“The Perfect Date”).

To briefly recap the first movie’s developments, Lara Jean’s (Condor) multiple love letters were mistakenly delivered to each of her former crushes. In a somewhat complicated covering of her tracks, she agreed to a fake relationship with Peter (Centineo), who only wanted to make his ex jealous. However, they quickly caught feelings for each other and began an authentic, official romance.

This might not sound like the type of movie that normally spawns sequels. In fact, the new Netflix installment has more in common with Disney Channel productions than it does with Marvel. But Netflix understandably wants to capitalize on a profitable commodity and maintain its vice-grip on the popular-culture zeitgeist.

Yet, “P.S. I Still Love You” manages to capture the same spirit and charm as the original. It only falters where its plot becomes needlessly contrived, giving the movie a less resonant and personal feel. Even despite those shortcomings, the storyline remains reasonably true to the characters and their arcs.

Directed by newcomer Michael Fimognari — the cinematographer of the first — the follow-up features Lara Jean and Peter as an official high school couple. The relationship develops a rocky disconnect, however, when a crush from Lara Jean’s past receives one of her old love letters.

Played by Jordan Fisher (“Liv and Maddie”), John Ambrose reemerges in their lives as he volunteers at the same retirement home as Lara Jean. Despite her being in a relationship, they share an adorable, flirty energy. Meanwhile, Peter remains close with his ex to the dismay of Lara Jean. The result is the classic trope of a young woman torn between two boys.

Where a similar setup works in the 2018 original, the dynamic feels a bit clunkier here. The love triangle even expands into a circle in one awkward, uncomfortable scene. Unwisely, the characters deem it prudent to dig up a time capsule from middle school, putting everyone in the middle of a precarious sitcom plot. What makes this situation along with the arguments that arise so frustrating is just how easily they could be resolved if the characters actually talked to each other.

“Well, it’s not supposed to be like this,” Peter says during one confrontation. He then adds: “I don’t know. Not like this though.” Part of the reason why the teens’ inability to articulate their feelings is excusable here is that Lara Jean and Peter are rationalizing their emotions in live-time.

Still, these grievances are only hiccups. By remaining true to the characters and their arcs, “P.S. I Still Love You” manages to navigate the hormonal landmines. Lara Jean, for example, is still growing as a person, so the doubts come naturally to her.

Although the sequel lacks some of the heart and emotional resonance that characterized the first, “P.S. I Still Love You” proves a cute, relaxing watch. The love triangle offers curiosity and intrigue, and the humor and dialogue are sharp enough to keep viewers engaged.

Where the new film no longer feels like a revelatory coming-of-age classic, “P.S. I Still Love You” charms just enough for fans who still love the characters.

Last week, on Feb. 12, Allen Stone took the Buckhead Theatre stage by storm and put on a show to remember. The blue-eyed soul crooner managed to sell out the music venue and keep the crowd engaged from start to finish. The “Building Balance” tour, titled after his fourth studio album, drew a crowd of new listeners and new fans alike. 

Opening act, Samm Henshaw perfectly complemented Stone without overshadowing him. Henshaw demonstrated to the crowd that R&B and soul are truly his bread and butter. The anticipation that usually accompanies waiting for the headliner to take the stage was very minimal as Henshaw did a phenomenal job getting the crowd energized and engaged with his performance. He closed his set with the notable hit “Church,” which features an extremely catchy hook and an impressive flow throughout each verse. Closing out his set with this song was the cherry on top of a great setlist. 

The crowd at this concert was best described as fedora-loving hippies, all with a strong adoration for soul music. One of the first hit songs Stone performed was “Give You Blue.” The mid-tempo ballad put Stone’s effortless falsetto on full display and allowed the audience to see how wide his range really is. “Give You Blue”  made it clear that singing comes second nature to him and that his vocal control is out of this world.

Another high in the performance was the romantic song “Consider Me,”  which was prefaced by Allen Stone telling the crowd about his wife and how they met; he shared that he was the last person he thought would ever get married, at least until he met his now-wife. Their sweet tale is what inspired the song. 

One of the best performances of the night was when Stone sang “Taste of You.” This song, like many of his others, highlights the likeness in tone between Stone and Stevie Wonder. “Taste of You’’ has an eccentric groove to it that could not help but make the audience dance. Even attendees who did not know the song beforehand got into this song, it was impossible not to. Allen Stone managed to make the deep song sound like it was a top Billboard hit. 

In the middle of Allen Stone’s set he brought back out his opening acts and sang one of his lesser known songs, “Where You’re At.” The live collaboration was so well done that it is hard to imagine Stone performing the song alone. Each of the artists on stage added their own flair to the optimistic and uplifting tune. This performance left all audience members with a smile on their faces and with a positive perspective on overcoming life’s many adversities.

Another song that got the crowd on their feet was “Brown Eyed Lover,” a song so catchy that everyone knew the lyrics by the end. The track is reminiscent of a Motown-esque sound. At one point Stone ran off stage, creating a groovy interlude of the band jamming out. 

The final and most breathtaking song performed was “Unaware.” Although this song was released nearly a decade ago, it has not lost any of its shine. This song proves that Allen Stone has mastered and fine-tuned his musical craft. “Unaware” has an absolutely gorgeous chorus and offers the most mature sound in comparison to the rest of his discography. 

Allen Stone proved that he is much more than a nerdy hipster with soul. It goes much deeper than that. It is obvious that Stone grew up singing in church. His vocals are on a much higher playing field than most popular artists today, and it is clear that he was born to perform live on the stage. 

After listening to his most recent album,  “Building Balance,” it is hard to believe that Stone could possibly sound better than that in person, but he did just that. Allen Stone is one of the few artists that are just as good —  if not better — live.

On Friday, March 6, the 2020 edition of the annual Atlanta Science Festival opens with an 8 p.m. screening of “2100: Climate Odyssey” at Tech’s own Ferst Center for the Arts. The original film is a look at how life in Atlanta might be different in the year 2100 thanks to the effects of climate change, and the screening is one of the 2020 festival’s marquee events.

The festival runs through March 21 and brings a variety of science related events and activities for participants of all ages to the Atlanta area, including many events on Tech’s campus. The festival is a great opportunity for students to get involved in Atlanta’s popular science community, and with dozens of free and affordable events so close to campus, checking out some of them is a no-brainer. These are just a few of the exactly 100 events going on around the city.

Beltline scavenger hunt

In addition to the various one-time events, the festival features an ongoing digital and social guided scavenger hunt encouraging participants to explore the science of the city along the Atlanta BeltLine. The scavenger hunt is available through the festival’s website, and those who visit every stop will be entered into a raffle to win 2020 Atlanta Science Festival merchandise.

Science of Kombucha

On Saturday, March 7 the Sevananda Natural Foods Market in Little 5 Points will host a hands-on demonstration exploring the microbiology of Kombucha fermentation. The event is free and there will be free samples. The workshop will last from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Breaking Down the Bean

This event explores the science behind brewing the perfect cup of coffee, with demonstrations on how time, temperature, grind size and proportion impact the flavor of a cup of joe. 

The event takes place at Taproom Coffee between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on March 7, 9 and 10. The last of these sessions will focus on decaffeinated coffee. Admission is $10.

Natural World through art

This two-part event — with the full name “Exploring the Natural World Through Art” — features as its first segment a performance from poet, performer and conservationist Robbie Q. Telfer. Telfer will explore the contradictory ways in which the Information Age has brought knowledge of far-flung ecosystems to the masses all over the globe while also increasing the separation between individuals and the natural world as people become absorbed by their devices and screens.

As its second part, the event features a “soundwalk” through a garden led by Lady Eve. Participants will learn how listening techniques can increase their subtle perception of the environment around them. Lady Eve will explore how sounds from particular locations can be as insightful as visions and as unique as a fingerprint. Both the soundwalk and Robbie Telfer’s performance will take place at the Cator Woolford Gardens at the Frazer Center between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on March 7.

WildFlower Walk

Participants on this event will join a Fernbank scientist in exploring the diversity of native plants and wildflowers that call the Fernbank Forest — a 65 acre hardwood forest around Fernbank Museum — home. Participants will learn to identify plants by their leaves and flowers and gain a greater appreciation for the flora around them. The event takes place March 7 at Fernbank Museum and is free with the price of admission to the museum.

Critters and Cabernet

An adults-only event, “Critters and Cabernet” offers participants the opportunity to interact direclty with live reptiles and amphibians while drinking wine. The event is hosted by the Amphibian Foundation and takes place Friday, March 13 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

Admission is $10 and includes one free drink. Additional drinks will be available for purchase at the event. 

Fernbank After Dark

Another 21 plus event, “Fernbank After Dark” gives attendees the opporunity to explore the Fernbank Museum after hours and features a variety of hands-on actitivities inspired by the special exhibit “Our Senses: An immersive Experience.” The event also features live music.

Admission is $19.95 for non-members, and the event takes place March 13 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Science of Sour beer

This 21 plus event — full name “Science in Little 5 Points: The Science Behind Sour Beer” — offers participants to eplore the microbes that contribute to the unque flavors of beer. As the name suggests, the focus is on how sour beers get their tart and refreshing flavor from wild yeast cultivation to modern lactic souring techniques. The event takes place at the Porter Beer Bar on Wednesday March 18 from 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. and costs $5.

Science Improv

Presented by Tech at the Whole World Improv Theater, “Science Improv” is an improv comedy show featuring a mix of professional comedians and scientists designed to be both entertaining and educational. The March 18 event takes place between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and costs $10.

Science and Spirituality

This event, hosted by First Christian Church of Decatur, seeks to bring scientists and spiritualists closer together through an evening of open questions and answers and lively debate. “Science and Spirituality” is free and takes place on Thursday March 19 at 7:00 p.m.

The Story Collider

“The Story Collider” is a live show featuring a series of scientists telling true stories about their work, their failures and their successes. Additionally, the show will feature comedians, actors and writers who have an informal but deeply personal connection to the world of science. The stories will range from heartwarming to heartbreaking to hilarious, and everything in between.

“The Story Collider” will take place at the Highland Inn and Ballroom from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday March 19. Admission is $10.

The events listed here are just a few of those taking place next month as a part of the Atlanta Science Festival. For more information on these events, and on the other events taking place, visit atlantasciencefestival.org.