According to an article published by People Magazine this August, model and social media influencer Hailey Bieber has decided to “spice up her life” — and everyone else’s — by debuting her new “cinnamon cookie butter” hair color just in time for pumpkin spice season! For those wondering what in the world “grande cinnamon cookie butter latte with cream, Splenda and oat milk in a compostable, clear cold cup” hair is, don’t worry! If you just tell your hairstylist that you’d like to dye your hair a warm brown color, you’ll receive the same results as Bieber. 

I’d like to intermission to emphasize that I have no issues with Bieber herself — seven-year-old Emily might be ugly sobbing on her bedroom floor upon discovering that she would, in fact, not be marrying Justin Bieber. However, my 20-year-old self is a casual follower, even fan, of the two. I am simply confused, yet also intrigued, by the creative genius (or ridiculousness) of her marketing team. I am choosing to believe that they are either messing with all of us or are just really, really hungry. 

Anyways, the “high protein, organic overnight chocolate oats with subtle notes of Nutella” hair color is not the first offense made by Bieber’s team. Before “cinnamon cookie butter” hair was a trend, there was “glazed donut” nails (a sheer white color), “latte” makeup (literally just brown eyeshadow), “strawberry girl” makeup (some pink blush and freckles), “tomato girl” makeup (I have no idea how this differs from the previous example), “lemon meringue” manicure (any yellow nail polish at your local Target) and even “blueberry milk” nails (any blue nail polish at your local Target). 

Even worse, the tendencies of Bieber’s team have infiltrated the rest of the Internet. As I was scrolling on TikTok last week, I encountered something deeply profane. It was none other than “cowboy copper” hair. Spoiler alert: it is just red. If you want to feel a little more niche, I’ll call it ginger or auburn, but that is as far as I’ll go. After all this, I am left wondering why everything has to sound like a Bath and Body Works candle scent. Why are we writing fanfiction titles to refer to brunette hair? Why are we using random word generators for a simple manicure? Should I start listing a Starbucks secret menu drink every time I get my hair done? 

Beyond being a silly trend to laugh at, the “lactose-free, probiotic vanilla blonde shot with an almond biscoff on the side” hair phenomenon exemplifies our desire to be a Pinterest search term or an aesthetic extension of whatever “blank-core” is trending at the moment. 

Nothing is meant to be attainable anymore. We cycle through trends so rapidly that predictors feel the need to reach or repackage normal ideas into something incredibly obscure. When this happens, people are left scrambling to achieve some new idea of beauty. Brown hair can no longer be just brown hair; instead, we are left with “cinnamon cookie butter,” “cowboy copper” or another ridiculous name the Internet conjures up. I am curious to know how much money people have spent buying these makeup products or sprinting to their hairdresser. 

Regardless, I hope that Bieber’s marketing team seriously considers going for a nice lunch break or an Erewhon trip before coming up with her next trend. If hunger is not the root cause of the issue, then I am glad they have discovered their talent for creating incredibly niche names for things. 

It is truly a gift. I think Crayola is hiring people to name their crayons; I might send her team’s applications their way.

Last Friday, a legion of students gathered at Tech Green, one of the Institute’s primary green spaces, to protest the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center — often referred to as “Cop City.”

The facility’s construction is resisted on many fronts, as opponents are concerned with its environmental and political implications. Many contend that creating a large training facility would not only damage the surrounding forest but would also magnify police brutality rates in the city — particularly following the death of environmental activist, Tortuguita, at the Center’s future site. 

In addition to raising awareness about “Cop City,” the student protestors on Tech Green recognized and honored Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Memphis resident fatally assaulted by a group of police officers in January. 

The demonstration was spearheaded by first-year ME major Samantha Bolton and the club that she founded earlier this school year, Tech’s Organization for Social Activism (OSA). According to their Instagram, “OSA’s purpose is to provide access to civil engagement and allow student input toward positive impact on social justice issues on and off campus.”

Students utilized the gathering to express their frustration with the city’s intended plans. When interviewed, they each shared a similar sentiment, agreeing that this was not the proper redevelopment residents of Atlanta desired. 

“I feel like [building ‘Cop City’] is really going to harm the environment. The land that they are building on is known to be useful in times of drought, and they are now building fake houses on top of it to use for raids,” said Megan Woody, second-year BCHM. 

First-year IE Annie Dang added on, saying that “it is the crossing of several different social movements going on right now, including climate, racial and housing justice. This issue is urgent and, if it is ultimately built, the establishment has numerous repercussions. Facilities like ‘Cop City’ could spread to other cities and exacerbate what is already going on.” 

Alongside their wishes to prevent the development of the training facility, many Tech students shared their discomfort with the potential growth of policing in Atlanta. 

“I wish that we could look into other ways to deal with crime because there are specific reasons why it happens. There are deeper explanations to why it is in low-income and Black communities, and there are funding, mental health and education programs we can implement to address this. So many different factors feed into this system of violence, and militarizing the police is not the answer,” Bolton said. 

Similarly, Dang said that “the idea of an expanded police force is honestly scary. So much of Atlanta is underfunded and, rather than addressing that, they are constantly funneling money into further militarizing the police. The prospect of Atlanta entering what is essentially a militant state is frightening, especially for young people like myself who are living here and dealing with it.”

Alongside the crowd of students were a plethora of guest speakers, one of which was Kamau Franklin, a prominent social justice figure and the founder of Community Movement Builders.

He took to the stage to explain to Tech students what role they played in making a tangible change in their community.

“You as students are leaders of a struggle like this. You have to understand that a city like Atlanta does not want schools like Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Morehouse or Spelman out in the streets protesting and organizing against ‘Cop City’; in fact, they do not want you protesting against anything,” Franklin said. “When you start to lift up your voices and come out into the streets of your campus, you are scaring the city. It is not organizers like myself that terrify them; it is the power of students and young people.”

Franklin went on to reflect on past mechanisms used to push for mass social change.

“In the sixties and seventies, it was young people who were the heart of building militant movements. … You all need to connect with your fellow college students across Atlanta to build a movement that they have not seen before. It is only going to be through your power that a ‘Cop City’ stops from getting built.” 

Following the speeches at Tech Green, students took to marching across the Tech campus. Many held signs saying things like “Policing the Police: Say No to Deforestation” and “Promote Peace, Challenge Police.” Moreover, while marching, they chanted phrases such as “export love, not war” and “no justice, no peace, no racist police.”

All in all, Bolton said that, “as much as [I] hope that it can stop ‘Cop City’ fully, the impact [I] really wanted this protest to have is galvanizing students. [I] hope for college students in Atlanta to get to a point where they are speaking up — not just whispering. People might be passionate but are unsure of what to do with their knowledge. This is our chance to bring those two things together and make active change.”

To learn more about OSA and their mission surrounding police reform, please refer to their Instagram, @osa_gt.

Due to long term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, the livelihood of those that occupy the Earth has been compromised in a myriad of ways — air quality has worsened, infectious disease rates have increased and droughts are more prominent than ever. 

Despite climate change being a sizable challenge facing communities worldwide, researchers are already devising potential solutions. At Tech, administration is doing its part to acknowledge this global issue by emphasizing the importance of sustainability on campus. 

More specifically, the Institute has announced their commitment to addressing climate change by launching a Climate Action Plan. Its development began in 2022 and the plan will be put into place this year. 

According to a press release from the Institute, the plan “will include developing a greenhouse gas inventory, modeling potential mitigation strategies and engaging with faculty, students and staff from across campus.”

The specific campus groups they intend on engaging with include the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainability Task Force. As for outside sources, consulting teams possessing knowledge on both climate change and the workings of universities will help to execute the plan after its completion this year. 

The proposal is divided into two multifaceted parts. As stated by the Campus Sustainability team, the first section involves “[formulating] a carbon neutrality implementation plan for the Institute … [with] recommended solutions specific to how the Institute may reach [these] goals.” 

Next, they will create “action plans to advance Georgia Tech’s role as a leading academic and research institute, and action plans centered on climate equity and community resiliency.”

Students can track the Institute’s progress on these two objectives by referring to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). 

These goals exist to supplement Tech’s broader initiatives, like the Sustainability Next Plan task force, and by extension their larger aspiration to be carbon neutral by 2050. The task force aims to “propose a strategic plan implementation roadmap for sustainability at [Tech] over the next 10 years.” 

Some students are weary about the plausibility of the carbon neutrality goal set forth by the Institute. Among the student perspectives was a general theme of concerns regarding implementation of the long-term sustainability initiatives. 

Specifically, fifth-year BIOS student, Rachel Chin said, “There are so many programs in place — specifically carbon credits — that do not work to curb the effects of climate change but instead are PR moves made by companies and institutions which instead act as a license to pollute.” 

Echoing Chin’s sentiments, fifth-year EE student Salmata Barrie emphasized her skepticism over the feasibility of such an initiative, stating, “I would truly be interested in seeing the plan outlined by the Institute and hope that we could get there by 2050 by implementing innovative changes that set the university as well as the U.S. on the best path towards fighting climate change. ”

To obtain this end result, the new interdisciplinary Sustainability Next Plan focuses on six different areas: Institute Operations, Education for Sustainable Development, Leading Sustainability Research, Culture and Organization, Climate Solutions and the Living Learning Lab.

Focus area one, Institute Operations, focuses on campus establishments and “ensures responsible stewardship of resources.”

For instance, a way of improving upon this area may look like increasing composting activity throughout campus or providing Tech constituents with free MARTA passes to decrease emissions.

As mentioned earlier, the second focus area is Education for Sustainable Development. This objective showcases the Institute’s desire to generate students who are passionate about pursuing endeavors that encourage and champion sustainability. 

This is being done by expanding education and conversation around climate change. Tech hopes that, by embedding sustainability into course content, students will be better prepared to solve these sorts of problems in their future careers. 

Focus area three, Leading Sustainability Research, relies upon the research facilities offered at the Institute. As a leading academic and research institution, Tech plans on increasing the scale of their climate exploration. This will encourage other similar universities to follow.

Focus area four, Culture and Organization, hones in on the environment that the Institute has created thus far for its community.  Those in charge of the Sustainability Task Force hope to encourage students, professors and faculty to “[bike] to work, [incorporate] the United Nations Sustainable Goals into classroom conversations and [ensure] that sustainability data is shared and collected around campus.” 

Focus area five, referred to as Climate Solutions, is the basis of the Climate Action Plan. This objective is where administrative figures plan aim for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by over half and the attainment of carbon neutrality. Lastly, Tech’s Campus Sustainability website depicts focus area six as making “campus [a] testbed for groundbreaking technologies and climate solutions in action” – revealing why it is being referred to as a “Living Learning Community”. 

A clear-cut instance of campus being shifted into a hub for sustainable design is the living Kendeda Building. This building has proven Tech’s desire to lead by example, as “it is the 28th worldwide to earn the Living Building Certification.” The Institute hopes to construct similar establishments in the future. 

All in all, according to Tech’s Campus Sustainability Next website, “[they are] committed to implementing the Sustainability Next Plan by allocating $1.25 million in support of plan initiatives and [are] actively crafting a governance structure to ensure plan progress. The Sustainability Next Task Force is additionally connecting with the Georgia Tech Capital Campaign to further plan development.” Only time will tell what direction the Institute moves towards next.

Tech presents its students with a plethora of study abroad opportunities. According to the Office of International Education, the Institute sends more than 2,000 students abroad annually as part of study abroad and offers more than 120 programs to do so. These opportunities account for nearly every continent and academic track offered. 

Some of the school’s most popular programs include endeavors in Metz, Barcelona and Oxford. In comparison, the most recently developed program is located domestically in Washington, D.C.

Proposed by professors Zak Taylor and Larry Rubin in tandem with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs (INTA) and the School of Public Policy (SPP), the “GT@DC” venture aims to offer a “pathways to policy” program of courses, internships, research opportunities and extracurricular activities. 

The program will first take place over the duration of the Fall 2023 semester. 

While “abroad,” students will enroll in a full course load; they will be able to take six hours of academic credits along with six hours of professional internship credits. 

Though the course offerings are still being decided upon, administration will plan according to the students needs. Emphasis will be placed upon courses that fulfill the humanities and ethics (Core Area C) requirement as well as the social science (Core Area E) requirement.

For instance, students may take classes related to INTA or PUBP, such as Global Citizenship (INTA 3050) or Political Philosophy (PHIL 3050). Moreover, the internship opportunities are abundant thanks to the assistance of Tech staff; students can take on unpaid internships at organizations like the Department of State, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and more.  

Tech alumni have interned with companies like that of the ones listed above, and thus the school has remained in contact with these programs. 

In addition to taking courses and completing an internship, the faculty intends on coordinating extracurricular activities for those within the cohort. 

According to the official flier for the program, this may look like “[participating] in guided field visits to government offices and also [touring] historic sites and museums around the Washington D.C. area.” 

As for the accommodations, students will reside in double, triple or quadruple apartment complexes — similar to that of the housing offered on Tech’s main campus. Attendees will room with their fellow GT@DC study abroad peers. Overall, GT@DC is set to cost $6,300 plus in-state tuition. 

Taylor noted that they “are doing everything to keep costs down. All students pay in-state tuition regardless of residency status. Thus, the total costs are close to — if not cheaper than — a semester here in Atlanta.” 

When asked about the purpose of the program, Taylor and Rubin said that “GT@DC provides an opportunity for Tech students to become connected with important networks of policy and practice in D.C.”

They continued on to say that “students can create a strong and enduring network outside of Atlanta, gain work experience, integrate scholarly and policy dimensions into their program of study and explore public service as a possible career path.”

The two expressed sentiments regarding why they initiated the development of the program.

“While spending a year in D.C. working at the Pentagon in 2017 and 2018, I was struck by our lack of formal and institutional presence. I … began to explore options about how to bring greater Tech presence opportunities in D.C., focused around a semester in the area,” Rubin said.

Taylor emphasized the importance of both non-STEM and STEM majors having some degree of understanding within the realm of policy. 

“[Employers and alumni] were telling us that Tech students were much more employable when they could show real experience and knowledge of the policy space — both domestic and international,” Taylor said. 

He continued on to say that “in order for STEM majors to excel, they need to understand the policy, regulatory and international environments within which firms operate these days. Building a bridge, a car engine or a computer network is no longer just a technical task.”

All in all, that is where GT@DC inspires furthering these abilities. Both professors exclaimed how excited they were for students to experience Washington, D.C.

Taylor says that there is a sense of excitement and empowerment in being around the city.

“The energy and excitement around solving the country’s problems is just fantastic — students will have a ball,” Taylor said. “D.C. is full of college students and 20-year-olds, very few of whom grew up in the D.C. area. Everyone is a transplant, and there is a lot to do.”

Similarly, Rubin says that “there are a lot of social, cultural and professional opportunities to explore. If someone is interested in public service of any sort, it is an essential place to get a jump on a career. I encourage anyone looking for a job in D.C. to spend time there for all of these reasons.”

Applications for Fall of 2023 are available now. 

Space is limited to 17 students during the first semester of the program, and no fees or other commitments are due at this time.

To find out more about the program and application process,  students can contact Taylor at mzak@gatech.edu or Rubin at lawrence.rubin@inta.gatech.edu.

As Georgia’s 2022 midterm election approaches, politicians are striving to encourage civic participation in young people — with Tech’s campus being a major target for voter outreach. 

On Oct. 24, College Democrats, a student organization at Tech, hosted an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Forum. 

At the forum, several prominent political figures either running in the Georgia elections or involved with them spoke, including Representative Sam Park, Long Tran and Amin Ghoneim.

State Rep. Sam Park, the first Asian Democrat and gay man to be elected to state assembly, is up for re-election in State House District 101. This area comprises the cities of Suwanee and Lawrenceville. He has been serving in office for the past six years and is hoping for a bid for a fourth term. 

Long Tran, a small business owner and resident of the town of Dunwoody, is running for State House District 80, which represents the cities of Doraville and Chamblee. In addition to running his cafe, Tran also acts as the mayor of Dunwoody’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. 

Lastly, Amin Ghoneim serves as the political director of Bee Nguyen’s run for Georgia’s Secretary of State. Nguyen, a current State Representative for House District 89, was unable to participate in the forum and Ghoneim spoke in his capacity as a representative of the campaign. 

Overall, the three spent the duration of the meeting shedding light on their political journeys as members of the AAPI community. They were first asked what experiences they had as Asian Americans that assisted them later on with their political careers.

Park responded first to the question. He said that, as an openly gay man as well as an Asian American, “[he has] always felt like a perennial outsider.” 

Park said that, “because I have grown up as a minority in the south, [I’ve] grown to become more empathetic. I believe that shared struggles and experiences help to build camaraderie.” 

In reference to the same question, Ghoneim reflected upon growing up Egyptian and Muslim in the United States post-9/11. 

“[I] grew up in an area where democracy is not a thing, so it heightens my appreciation for some things that Americans do not acknowledge,” Ghoneim said.

The trio were also asked what advice they would provide to the people within the room that are aspiring to enter politics.

Park emphasized that “we need to understand how much power we have as citizens.”

He explained that citizens have the power to evoke great change and can take advantage of that through participating in the shared civic duty of voting. Moreover, Park said that “one must know their ‘why’ if they would like to run for office.”

For Park himself, the issue he valued most and emphasized during his election and resulting time in office was healthcare. 

For instance, during his first term as legislator, he “co-sponsored legislation to expand Medicaid in Georgia and defeated discriminatory legislation targeted at minority communities.” 

On the other hand, Tran drew attention to the aspect of time.

He said that one can run for office whenever — there is no need to feel a sense of immediacy nor urgency if they ensure that they still get involved somehow.

Tran has pursued many other career routes himself prior to becoming involved in politics; as mentioned earlier, he runs a cafe in Dunwoody. Prior to entering the realm of politics and holding public office, he explained that he “worked in I.T. as a network security consultant and then pivoted to mobile app development.”

Lastly, Ghoneim wanted to make clear to the audience that, though behind-the-scenes work happens without people knowing, it is nonetheless still very rewarding and important for the process. 

“Campaign staffing and organizing is very powerful work,” Ghoneim said. During the 2020 election, Ghoneim was able to work at the Iowa Caucus, a crucial step in the election process. 

The penultimate question they were asked by the host of the forum was to explain how the recent rise in Asian American hate crimes impacted them both personally and politically.

Tran recounted his experiences within his hometown during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I live in a fairly white and wealthy district. During the pandemic in the city of Dunwoody, I saw signs in front of a shopping center that placed blame upon Chinese and other Asian people.”

To conclude the meeting, they all expressed a similar sentiment. 

Park talked about the possibilities for progress that exists within Georgia and how he believes that these great prospects can be best utilized through voting — specifically for Stacey Abrams.

“For someone born and raised in Georgia, there is so much opportunity. It is up to the next generation to rise up and make use of all of the opportunities that do exist. There is a lot on the line in this election. We have a once-in-a-generational opportunity to elect Stacey Abrams,” Park said.

He also said that one should vote with the understanding that it directly affects their family and friends and that it is the most powerful non-violent action an individual can take for change. 

Likewise, Tran expressed his desire for students to spread the word throughout campus regarding the election and to vote early by utilizing resources organized by community leaders. 

“I want you guys to be with us on this historic journey. It is time to be bold — refrain from being timid or scared. We are setting the ground for you guys to take it away and turn Georgia into the best possible state it can be,” Tran said. 

Through the donations and contributions of alumni and various foundations, the Institute has been able to establish many school-specific grants and scholarships.

One such program was established in 1995 by the Phillips Petroleum Foundation and gave the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering a grant to establish the C.J. “Pete” Silas Program in Ethics and Leadership.

It was named after Tech’s Class of ‘53 CHBE alumnus, Pete Silas, due to his great achievements within the realm of engineering. He acted as both president and CEO of Phillips Petroleum prior to his retirement in 1994. 

Overall, the program aims to highlight “ethics, leadership, strong communication skills and professionalism, [as they are] essential components of an engineering education.” 

Moreover, it focuses on “technical and business decisions that have ethical ramifications.”

Pete Silas recognized that these were difficult topics to grasp. In order to effectively emphasize these pillars, the initiative involves allowing prominent individuals to share their expertise in a public symposium. 

Previous lecturers include Tech’s President Emeritus, G. Wayne Clough, and the former chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, John F. Brock. 

This year, the Tech alum and mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, spoke at the lecture.

In his talk, Dickens detailed Atlanta’s importance in his life and his current position as mayor. 

He recognized how Atlanta was essential to his development — mostly because he only attended schools within the city.

He received his elementary and high school education from a public school in Adamsville. 

Dickens said that he “grew up in a very working class area and did not hear about college until he was 10 years old. Until that point, [he aspired] to be a professional baseball player.”

Though he eventually graduated from Tech, it was not on his radar until his late teens. 

One summer, he attended a program here called MITE, or Minorities Interested in Technology and Engineering. 

Following his experience at the camp and the exposure he received to STEM disciplines, he decided to apply to the Institute. 

At Tech, Dickens was highly involved. He said that he was a part of “the Student Government Association (SGA), the African American Student Union and Greek life. [I] also co-opted for CHBE companies seven times.”

Additionally, Dickens said that he “was really learning about constituent services and community outreach as a student.” Dickens received his CHBE degree in 1988. 

Following his graduation, Mayor Dickens was a practicing engineer for a few years until he decided that he wanted to return to college. 

He soon received a master’s degree in Administration and Economic Development from Georgia State University, which is located just a few miles from Tech.

Surprisingly, his recent political ventures did not begin for a while longer; he spent a few years curating a furniture business and also pursued a career in sales. The furniture business he co-founded was called City Living Home Furnishings. 

Dickens outlined that running his business was vital for providing him with a foundation on ethics. He also worked at DSM Engineering Plastics and noted that his career in sales was concentrated in plastics.

He knew that the switch from engineering to sales would be seamless because “[he] knew his product as well as the technicalities. This made [him] more personable and honest about what he could deliver.” 

During the talk at the symposium, Dickens admitted that his career switches were drastic ones; he figured that many would question why he was an engineer, a salesman and then the mayor. 

However, Dickens said he “aspired to be mayor of Atlanta for a significant portion of his life.”

At age 12, he met then Mayor Andrew Young in a grocery store, who left a great impression on him. 

Until that point, “[he] had only recognized him as a person on television,” but meeting him in-person had evoked a sense of admiration. 

Dickens also looked up to another political figure:  former Mayor Shirley Franklin. He first encountered her through his childhood friend, who was her son. 

He also interacted with her because she served as Mayor Young’s Chief Administrator. 

During the lecture, he mentioned that after meeting her, his desire to pursue a career as mayor was solidified; he was around 16 at the time.

Dickens also said that “[he] thinks of her as a mentor especially because [he] believes that she instituted most of the ethics policies we have now.” She went on to assist him during his own campaign years later. 

Following his discussion of his schooling, Dickens spoke about his recent campaign. 

He wanted to emphasize that “this past campaign was the most data-driven one.” 

In his own approach, “[he] wished to be balanced and honest.” Dickens said that he thinks honesty and transparency led to his win. 

Dickens also answered some of the audience’s questions following the lecture.

One attendee asked “how he came to conclusions with individuals that had fundamentally different philosophies from him?”

Dickens answered that “[he] liked to draw circles to find commonalities and look for the common good.”

He advises others in similar situations to amicably disagree and be intentional in going towards the right path. 

Overall, Dickens pointedly made intentionality a major theme in his conversation. 

He noted that, when trying to lead an ethical life, intentionality is one of the most important actions to practice. 

For more information about Dickens, refer to andreforatlanta.com. 

Additionally, for more information regarding the annual Silas Lecture, please visit chbe.gatech.edu/phillips-66-cj-pete-silas-program-ethics-and-leadership. 

Taylor Swift’s musical journey has been effortlessly versatile. In the initial stages of her career with ”Debut,” “Fearless” and “Speak Now,” Swift’s music was characterized by its country influences. Through releasing her fourth album, “Red,” she shed her original persona and went on to adopt that of a popstar. The switch was incredibly drastic, but Swift has remained increasingly successful. Even in her more recent albums, we witness her willingness to experiment with different genres. In “folklore” and “evermore,” her eighth and ninth albums, listeners got to hear Swift’s take on folk and indie music, and during her acceptance speech for the VMA’s Video of the Year Award, she announced her tenth studio album, “Midnights.” It will be released on Oct. 21. 

The artist has said very little regarding the contents of the album; moreover, much of what she has said has been relatively obscure. For instance, Swift says that the forthcoming album is “a collection of [13 tracks] written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams.” She continues on to say that “[it surrounds] the floors we pace and the demons we face. [It is for all of us] who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching — hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve … we’ll meet ourselves.”

Overall, given her vast musical undertaking, it’s difficult to predict precisely what sound and concept she will opt for. However, a theory that I’ve come across and personally choose to believe is that “Midnights” is a foil of her 2019 album, “Lover.” 

Essentially, where “Lover” discusses the splendor and radiance of romance, “Midnights” will supplement it with conversation regarding feelings of loneliness. 

I think this theory is not without some degree of support. After its release, Swift reported that “Lover” was initially to be titled “Daylight,” which just so happens to be the name of the song that concludes her 2019 “Lover” album. 

More suspiciously, “Daylight” ends with a recording of Swift saying the following: “I want to be defined by the things that I love. Not the things I hate. Not the things I’m afraid of, I’m afraid of. Not the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think you are what you love.”

This quote is intriguing, as it blatantly brings up the motif of midnight. Swift is

known for planning in advance and embedding Easter eggs into her work, so I don’t think the outro recording is without a purpose.

However, many fans have other beliefs. For example, rather than it being a sister album to “Lover,” some assume that it will take on qualities similar to her fifth studio album, “1989.” Though I am a fan of the “Lover” theory, I can’t deny the visual similarities between the two. “Midnights” and “1989” both adopt a simplistic cover art with hues of blue, beige, and soft reds. Though not a Polaroid, the “Midnights” cover also has a prominent white border.

It would make sense artistically too, as Swift hasn’t released anything with her iconic pop sound in a while. Swift is constantly creating, so it is also very likely that her upcoming album is entirely original and possesses no connections to her previous ones. Not to worry, though —fans won’t be sleepless for too long. Meet her at midnight on Oct. 21 to find out. 

For prospective liberal arts students, enrolling at Tech can be intimidating.

Luckily, each year the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts (IAC) hosts a Shadow Day event wherein they extend the opportunity for prospective students to experience the program firsthand. 

The event this year took place on Jan. 28 and more recently, April 8. 

“Shadow Day is one of the best opportunities for students interested in enrolling in the IAC,” said Allie-Grace Mock, a fourth-year LMC major and seasoned volunteer.

Stephen Nash, a fourth-year IAML major, agrees with Mock.

“IAC Shadow Day is the most effective admissions event on campus in terms of the percentage of attendees who go on to submit their admissions deposit,” Nash said. 

Mock explains how there are a plethora of activities for both students and parents.

“We offer panels on international experiences, academic advising and student life, as well as tours of campus, popular athletics spots and freshmen dorms,” Mock said. “High schoolers also get the opportunity to attend real Ivan Allen classes where they can get a glimpse into IAC courses.”

Parents also have the opportunity to learn more about IAC, including financial aid and Q&A sessions.

For many current students, Ivan Allen’s Shadow Day event is what confirmed their interest in liberal arts at Tech. 

“I attended Shadow Day after I got accepted into Georgia Tech. Coming into the day, I was already wondering if I should switch my major,” Mock said. 

“I got to attend an LMC class and knew from there that it was the right path for me. I also got to meet so many other students who were coming to Tech and it made making friends in my very first classes at Tech easier.”

Addison Dascher, a third-year PUBP major, attended Shadow Day as a junior and senior in high school. 

“I was immediately drawn to the school after my first Shadow Day experience, as I got to meet so many incredible students and friendly faculty,” Dascher said. “My senior year Shadow Day is what solidified my decision to come to Tech; I felt comfortable in the environment yet challenged by what it had to offer.” 

Because of their positive experience at the event as incoming students, Mock and Dascher have participated as volunteers since their freshman year of college.

Both Mock and Dascher have acted as panelists for the student life panel and floaters for the parent’s breakfast. However, both noted that they most enjoy the events that enable them to interact closely with the students. 

Mock says that her favorite events are the parent’s Q&A and the campus tour. 

“During last year’s virtual Shadow Day, I gave a tour that was filmed and live-streamed to participants. It was so fun running around campus showing the students what they wanted to see and trying to give them an authentic experience,” Mock said. “The parent’s Q&A is always fun because they ask the questions their kids are scared to ask. They don’t hold back, and it is always a great time.”

Similarly, Dascher likes to take students with her to sit in classes.

“My favorite activity has to be the classes …,” Dascher said. “It’s so much fun walking students to real classes on campus and getting to show them a ‘sneak peak’ of what could be their future school.”

Nash entered Tech as a student in the College of Engineering, but switched to IAC. Since changing his major, Nash has also taken a liking to volunteering for the event.

“My favorite part by far is giving smaller, personalized tours and really getting to connect with students trying to find their best college fit,” Nash said. 

Overall, Shadow Day allows all individuals to recognize IAC’s versatile nature, regardless of whether they are a prospective student, volunteer or both.

For instance, Dascher says that she likes to highlight to prospective students “the STEM underlying current that makes our liberal arts program unique compared to other traditional schools. We do social science research, take CS classes and are required to fulfill math credits.” 

For anyone who is remotely interested in becoming a part of the IAC, Nash would like to convey that it comprises individuals who are genuinely devoted to its members.

“We’re an innovative college focused on leveraging our STEM expertise to improve the human condition, and we’re a great home for students interested in anything relating to humanities, social sciences, arts and STEM,” Nash said. 

“Ivan Allen College is also truly committed to improving the experience of its students, and that’s really why I’m willing to promote it.”