By participating in the recent National Collegiate DanceSport Championships and USA Dance Nationals from April 1-3, the Ballroom Dance Club at Georgia Tech has earned a sixth place overall national ranking. 

“While we had alumni competing alongside the team, the ranking only includes our current collegiate competitors, of whom the vast majority were newcomers who began dancing this year or even this semester,” said Chris Gibbs, first-year IE and current treasurer of the club. “We were up against some teams more than double our size, so we’re very proud of that.” 

Every year, the Ballroom Dance Club’s competition team travels to compete at collegiate and adult competitions around the United States, such as the Southeastern DanceSport Championship, the Ohio Star Ball, the Arnold DanceSport Classic and others. 

“This was our team’s third competition of the semester and fifth of the year,” Gibbs said. “Our dances have been highly competitive at each.” 

In the most recent competition, Gibbs and his dance partner, Nicole Diaz, third-year BMED, received national rankings in the bronze division for the tango and mambo dance style. Over half of the other couples on the competition team also received similar or better rankings in other divisions and dance styles.

“Experiencing a ballroom competition is just amazing,” said Brittney Bush, third-year CS and current president of the Ballroom Dance Club. 

“You work so many hours in practice to just go out there and show the judges what you can do … You also get to dress up and wear an obscene amount of hairspray and makeup, which is just fun.” 

In addition to attending competitions around the country, the Ballroom Dance Club organizes its own competition at Tech.  

“We also host our very own annual Helluva Dance Competition here on campus, and this year, it’s coming up on April 16,” Gibbs said. 

“We’re hosting it at the CRC this year … we’ll be welcoming teams from five other universities and some local dance studios. Immediately following the all-day competition, we’ll be moving over to the Exhibition Hall for our last social dance of the year, the Helluva Social. ”

Organizing the event, which will involve over 100 dancers, has required much effort from members of the Ballroom Dance Club. 

“Our club has an entire committee dedicated to running this ballroom competition composed of current members and alumni to make the event come together,” Bush said. 

“Overall, it has been a lot of work, but we are very excited to host so many dancers this weekend and give our students an opportunity to compete quite close to home.”

Outside of competitions, the Ballroom Dance Club also offers six social dances a year and weekly lessons to foster a sense of community and teach newcomers about ballroom dancing.

“Most of the events that we host are socials for the Tech and Atlanta community,” Bush said. “We start the event with a beginner lesson of a couple styles, and then we have an evening of good music and fun dancing as people ask each other to dance with each new song.”  

Individuals who enjoy their time at a social event can attend lessons to learn more about the technique behind the dances. The first lesson is always free, but dues are required for repeated participation. 

“We teach weekly beginner and intermediate social lessons, where we start from scratch at the beginning of each semester to teach members up to 10 styles of ballroom and Latin dance,” Gibbs said. 

Students who learn various dance styles through the social lessons can then try out for the competition team every semester at the beginning of the term. 

Gibbs encourages interested students to attend an event, adding that the inclusivity of Tech’s Ballroom Dance Club makes it especially an organization for dancers of all backgrounds. 

“While the worldwide ballroom dance community, especially on the professional level, is still making progress in terms of inclusion, our club has been on the forefront of change,” Gibbs said. 

“In our club, we want people to enjoy dancing, so we have people pick whichever role they prefer. Don’t let a particular gender identity or its association deter you from checking it out. We have talented female leaders, male follows and non-binary dancers who each adapt their performance to their own personality.” 

Bush likewise tells students to reach out if they are interested in getting involved with the Ballroom Dance Club, describing her many favorite memories from being in the organization. 

“The Ballroom Dance Club has provided me an outlet to exercise, make amazing friends and express myself through movement,” Bush said. 

“For myself and many others, going to practice is our escape from the stress of being a student here at Tech … There are a plethora of fun moments both in lessons, at practice and at competitions.”

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article misidentified Zeta Phi Beta as an active organization on Tech’s campus. Zeta Phi Beta does not meet the required minimum number of members to be fully recognized by the Institute.

As American poet Kevin Young stated, “Black History Month is a time to celebrate the fullness of African American history and culture, but that cannot be contained in one month alone.”

To go beyond the February celebration, several organizations at Tech, as part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), aim to raise awareness of Black culture and history throughout the entire year while also seeking to strengthen the Black community on campus.

NPHC is made up of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, also known as the “Divine Nine.” Six organizations of the NPHC are currently active at Tech: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Two other organizations were chartered at Tech but are not active this semester: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.

According to its website, NPHC was founded in 1930 at Howard University while many of the NPHC member organizations were founded in the early 1900s “during a period when African Americans were being denied essential rights and privileges afforded to others.”

The majority of NPHC organization chapters at Tech were chartered in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the earliest being the Delta Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1976. The Sigma Upsilon Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was the latest NPHC organization to be chartered on Tech’s campus in 2013.

Jasmine Chrisp, fourth-year ME, is the current president of the Xi Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. which was chartered at Tech on March 4, 1978. 

“The chapters are an essential source of belonging and community for those who participate in them and a strong advocate and representative of the African American community throughout Tech’s campus,” Chrisp said.

Tkeyah Anderson, EE ’15, and Camille Quick, ENVE ’21, were both involved with Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta’s undergraduate chapter at Tech which was chartered on campus on February 26, 2000. 

Anderson served as treasurer and new member coordinator for Zeta Phi Beta as well as treasurer and president of Tech’s NPHC, during which she focused on improving communication between all of the Greek Councils on campus. Today, Anderson serves as the undergraduate chapter advisor for Zeta Phi Beta and stays closely involved with NPHC activities.

During her time with Zeta Phi Beta, Quick served first as the academic excellence chair and then as president to help plan campus events, organize community service activities, raise money for various initiatives and coordinate sisterhood bonding get-togethers. 

Anderson and Quick explained that NPHC organizations at Tech serve as a voice of Black students as well as a resource for personal, academic and professional growth.

On campus, NPHC promotes unity among the various fraternities and sororities while also working to highlight the efforts of non-Greek organizations such as the African American Student Union (AASU), African Student Association (ASA), the Caribbean Student Association (CaribSA), Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization (GTBAO) and the Georgia Tech Society of Black Engineers (GT-NSBE).

“[NPHC] and the organizations within it represent a combined effort to create a haven and outlet for those within the African American community and those who want to support it,” Chrisp said. “Such a strong support system is essential, especially at a predominantly white institution.”

Anderson and Quick explained that, with its efforts, the NPHC values scholarship and academic excellence, professional development and community service.

Many NPHC members serve in leadership roles around campus such as President of GT-NSBE, Challenge Counselors, RAs and TAs, to name a few.

Through partnerships with other colleges and community leaders in the metro-Atlanta region, Tech’s NPHC also seeks to extend its commitments beyond the Tech bubble.

Some examples of community involvement for Zeta Phi Beta included March of Dimes fundraising, volunteering with Stork’s Nest for Prenatal Care and raising awareness for autism, elder care, sexual health and voter registration, among many others. Chrisp addressed some misconceptions of NPHC fraternities and sororities.

“Being a part of a NPHC organization is not just about strolling,” Chrisp said, referring to the cultural performance traditionally practiced by Divine Nine organizations. “There is a lot of work and time that goes into it, and being a part of it will make you grow in ways you would never imagine.”

Chrisp, Anderson and Quick all have had positive experiences as members of a NPHC sorority.

“Since joining the organization, I am stretched by it every day,” Chrisp said. “My sisters are constantly challenging me to grow and be a better version of myself and a better sister to them. I appreciate all that I have learned so far, and all there is to learn in a lifetime in this organization.”

Anderson echoed similar sentiments about her sorority’s encouraging effects on growth.

“As a member, I was challenged to do more than focus on grades and truly become a leader in the community,” Anderson said. “I learned valuable skills that have carried on to my professional career on managing my network, leading by influence versus title, refining mentoring skills and how best to fulfill the needs of my community.” 

Anderson additionally discussed some of her personal and social development resulting from her sorority involvement.

“I was able to break out of my shell, introverted by nature, and participate in events I would never picture myself in such as step and stroll competitions or hosting showcases,” Anderson said. “The sisterhood formed during my time at Tech did not end with my time on campus. These ladies are considered beyond just best friends, but as family. My Sorors [NPHC sorority sisters] have been there for me through the best and worst of times, providing the mental and emotional support that is a rarity nowadays.”

Quick likewise explained skills gained from her experience as well as more personal benefits.

“I truly appreciate my experience as a member of [Zeta Phi Beta] during undergrad,” Quick said. “I gained professional and leadership skills, I learned about how to work with different people and most importantly, being in the sorority gave me a sense of purpose. Now I am a part of something so much bigger than myself and have more reason to serve those who are less fortunate.”

She continued by saying, “I have concrete principles to live by now and have a much larger family that will continue to grow and impact me wherever I go.

The many benefits of NPHC organizations are recognized even by non-members. 

“The NPHC community is a very important part of Georgia Tech as the collective group of chapters provide a great deal of service both on and off campus, a strong sense of belonging, academic support and a network of alumni that mentor and advise students,” said Jamison Keller, assistant dean and director of fraternity and sorority life at Tech. 

Mattie Smyth, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, agrees. 

“At a [predominately white institution] like Georgia Tech, having an NPHC is particularly important as a place to find community, feel included and valued, foster leadership development and scholarship and collectively organize around social issues of mutual concern,” Smyth said. “The students involved in NPHC experience a great deal of pride in their organizations and form a sense of belonging on campus.”

Deciding where to live can be difficult – especially when considering the cost of various options. To ease your stress a little this semester, the Technique has researched some of the many choices to compare the differing costs of living around campus.

On-Campus

There are many options to live on-campus at Tech. Apartments for four or six students such as those in Zbar, Maulding, Nelson-Shell and North Avenue cost approximately $4,829 per semester. Suites such as those in Woodruff range from $3,610 to $4,716 per semester depending on the number of rooms. Living on-campus is a great way to reduce costs as all apartments are fully furnished, utilities such as water and electricity are included and no additional transportation is needed to commute to class.

Inspire

Inspire, a brand new off-campus apartment complex located across the street from Bobby Dodd Stadium, is a popular option for students. Prices may vary, but generally range from $975 (five bedrooms and five bathrooms) to $1,515 (two bedrooms). Utilities are not included in the rent. Jackson McGill, second-year ME, enjoys the new amenities, including the gym, his balcony with a view of the Pencil Building and the roof access overlooking the city of Atlanta.

Home Park

Home Park, an Atlanta neighborhood located just north of Tech, offers some of the least expensive options for housing close to campus. In addition to rent, residents must typically pay for utilities such as electricity, water and Internet and may have to provide their own furniture. Current Home Park residents enjoy the flexibilities and freedoms of living in detached homes but warn others that the reliability of every landlord can’t be guaranteed. Unlike in an apartment complex, housing units in Home Park have different landlords, so getting to know your landlord before renting can be beneficial in creating a positive living situation. 

Catalyst

Located on Northside Drive just off West Campus, Catalyst offers apartments ranging in price from $1,079 per month (four bedrooms and four bathrooms) to $1,699 per month (one bedroom and one bathroom). Angelik Laboy, CS ‘21, enjoyed her apartment balcony and free street parking last semester but disliked the frequency of crime in the vicinity, continued construction and management inconsistencies.

UHouse

UHouse is one of several student housing options in Midtown. Prices typically range from $1,199 per month (four bedrooms and four bathrooms) to $1,749 (one bedroom and one bathroom), but current specials can reduce rent. Furniture, Internet services, water utilities fees and community amenities (such as a roof-top pool, entertainment area and clubroom) are included in the rent. As of Jan. 23, the deposit and application fee is waived for new residents.  

SQ5

SQ5 is a housing option for students in Midtown right off Tech Square. Rent ranges from $1,365 (a standard four bedrooms and four bathrooms) to $2,135 (one bedroom and one bathroom on the terrace level). There are premiums for higher floor placements. Utilities are not included in the monthly rent. Amenities include a rooftop courtyard and pool, club room and study spaces, among other features. 

Westmar Lofts

Westmar Lofts are located a bit further from campus on West Marietta Street. To accommodate for the distance, a free shuttle to campus is provided to residents. Additional amenities include a resort-style pool, basketball and volleyball courts and a rooftop running track. Monthly rent for apartments ranges from $735 per month (four bedrooms and four bathrooms) to $1,035 per month (an upgraded two bedrooms and two bathrooms). Utility prices are included in rent.

Paloma

Formerly known as Signature West Midtown, Paloma is located just one block from the CRC on West Campus. Monthly rent ranges from $1,099 (four bedrooms and four bathrooms) to $1,489 (one bedroom and one bathroom). 

Premium views of the pool, courtyard, Tech or downtown Atlanta are available for an additional fee. 

Amenities (such as a rooftop lounge, study lounges and grilling/picnic stations) are included in the monthly rent but utilities are not.

Like many characteristics of Tech, religion on campus is extremely diverse.

Students can find ways to get involved with religious groups in a variety of locations from the campus ministries sandwiched between fraternity houses on East Campus to the Rohr Chabad House on 10th Street and weekly meetings of religious organizations in rooms scattered around campus.

The Technique recently reached out to several religious groups and individuals on campus to discover more about organizations themselves, students involved and the purpose of religion at a technology-focused institute.

Kat Shambaugh, fifth-year CM, spoke on behalf of Tech’s Chabad Jewish Student Group.

“Our Chabad is run by Rabbi Shlomo and Shifra Sharfstein and a board of student leaders, and we have events every day of the week, from lunch and learns to BBQs to full Shabbat dinners,” Shambaugh said. “We host parties for every Jewish holiday with fun activities, philanthropy opportunities and tons of good food. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming community for every Jewish student, no matter the background.”

Pradyumna Suresha, ECE graduate student, described Hindu YUVA (Youth for Unity, Virtues, and Action) and its activities on campus.

“Hindu YUVA holds weekly meetings, where we have yoga, team-building games, discussions, workshops and presentations. Apart from this, we have free weekly online Sanskrit classes and the bi-weekly discussion activity known as Samvad,” Suresha said.

“We host speakers on campus to give talks on a wide variety of topics related to Hinduism. In the past we have had talks on topics such as Yogic Neuroscience, Concept of God in Hinduism and Hinduism’s road to modernity. We also celebrate festivals on campus including Ganesha Chaturthi, Navaratri and Diwali.”

Kristen Thomas, fifth-year ME, shared details about Tech’s Christian sorority.

“Alpha Delta Chi differs from other religious organizations on campus because we are a very close-knit group of women who work to glorify God in all that we do whether it be spiritually, scholastically or socially,” Thomas said.

Students at Tech join religious organizations for a variety of reasons. For some, it is a continuation of traditions at home.

“My faith has always been an important part of my life, so I knew I would continue going to mass on Sundays throughout college,” said Cameron Hinton, fourth-year CHBE.

“The Catholic Center is by far the most convenient location to attend mass since it’s right here on campus and eliminates the need to travel to other churches off campus.”

For others, joining a religious organization is a chance to explore their identity and ancestry.

“I wanted to embrace my Hindu identity on GT campus and be part of a community that promotes and practices Hindu lifestyle without judgement. Hence, I got involved with GT Hindu YUVA,” Suresha said.

Shambaugh expressed a similar motivation.

“I was looking for a community and a way to learn more about my background and ancestry, and I was drawn to the Friday night Shabbat dinners at Chabad. Those dinners are so loud and joyful (and delicious) that I felt immediately like I had found a beautiful family,” Shambaugh said.

Some Tech students start with no plan of joining a religious organization but end up doing so through connections with other members.

“Coming into college, I had no intention of pursuing anything relating to a Christian ministry,” said Kori Alejandro, fifth-year EE who is a senior leader at Tech’s Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF).

“Someone reached out and through community, I found I got involved slowly. CCF seemed like a safe and loving community, and that’s what did it for me.”

Thomas has a comparable story about joining Alpha Delta Chi.

“I never considered rushing in college, but during my sophomore year, I learned about Alpha Delta Chi and decided to check it out. At recruitment, I had great conversations with sisters who shared the same values as me. They really just seemed like a big family that was very welcoming, which was why I decided to become a pledge,” Thomas said.

“Now as an active, I serve as the New Member Educator where I strive to create the same welcoming environment for potential new members.”

Many students believe that religion has provided them with values to make decisions throughout their college experience and find meaning in their lives.

“Religion has played an important role throughout my college experience by providing me with a strong foundation to base my morals off of and help guide my life decisions,” Hinton said.

Suresha echoed a similar idea.

“College days are the years when you grow as a human being. For many (including me), it is the first time you are mostly away from your hometown and family. Religion helps you lead an ethical life and instills a sense of gratitude in you,” Suresha said. “College life and your peer group also provides a unique opportunity to reconcile religion and rationality. Further, many of the religious practices which have been part of your life from childhood when continued to be practiced during college [can help] maintain a balanced state of mind during the stressful college days.”

Many students, like Suresha, also say that religion has provided them with a respite from their hectic lives.

“During my experience, religion has been a way to fulfill my soul and take a step back to look at the bigger picture,” Shambaugh said. “It’s easy at Tech to get caught up in the next test or project, but having a religious community helps me not only destress but apply all of the skills I am learning to life as a whole.”

Like students’ varying opinions on the roles of religion in their personal lives, students’ ideas differ on the role of religion on Tech’s campus.

“I think the importance of having a Christian sorority is being an example of Christ to our campus,” said Lexi McGill, second-year IE who is also involved with Alpha Delta Chi. “It’s important for us to help others on their faith journey, and as a Christian sorority, we’re able to connect with a lot of students on campus. We can also be a strong Christian community for whoever is seeking one on campus.”

Shambaugh explains the role of religious groups in a different manner.

“I think it’s important for students to have a work-life balance here at Tech and to have a community to feel supported by. Religious organizations can serve as both of these things,” Shambaugh said.

“Being able to explore your identity while taking part in activities that aren’t just studying for exams is a great way of empowering students to focus on their mental and spiritual health, and religious organizations help students find friends who can enrich their lives.”Hinton offers another purpose.

“I believe the role of religious organizations on Tech’s campus include offering a space for students to continue practicing their religion while also providing communities for students to support each other and meet other students who can help each other grow their faith,” Hinton said.

Suresha adds an additional view on the matter.

“First and foremost, religious organizations should provide a platform for students to practice and experience their religion on campus without judgement from others,” Suresha said. “Further, they should bridge gaps between various other religious organizations that are on campus, collaborate and have dialogue with them.”

Dr. John Cressler, an ECE professor who teaches IAC 2002, “Science, Engineering, and Religion: An Interfaith Dialogue,” agrees with the importance of communicating across religions and even other complex topics.

“We live in a diverse world … It is my view that the educational experience Georgia Tech offers its students can/should/must ensure religious and cultural literacy, as well as offer unique opportunities for students to engage in meaningful dialogue across the boundaries of science, engineering and religion/spirituality, particularly within the context of interfaith diversity. The latter is often viewed, incorrectly I believe, as a private matter,” Cressler said.

Cressler sees value in discussing religious traditions, especially in the context of a technology-focused university.

“Many students are raised within some given cultural and religious/spiritual/secular tradition that their family has embraced and reared them in. Those traditions are part of what makes them who they are.

As students mature, enter college, and begin to delve deeply into the subject matter of their chosen fields of study, the intellectual traditions they encounter can often put them at odds with their backgrounds,” Cressler said.

“If that background is religious or spiritual, this educational journey can induce tension, sometimes extreme, with the values they hold dear, the things they believe to be true, or at least once did. Tension can and often does result, and sadly, in my experience, students rarely, if ever, are given the opportunity to engage these ‘matters of the heart’ in meaningful ways.”

Religious organizations, as explored above, and Cressler’s class offer opportunities for discussion.

“Questions inevitably abound (I refer to these as ‘BIG Questions’), and I find that students yearn to talk about them in a safe and non-threatening environment with their peers, where they feel free to share openly their fears and struggles and doubts, and be respectfully heard for who they are, where they are coming from, what they struggle with,” Cressler said.

In Cressler’s class, students select the topics of discussion which often include the existence of extraterrestrial life, CRISPR and genetic engineering, the impact of social media, artificial intelligence and many others.

The overall goal of the course, however, is a lesson to Tech’s diverse campus.

“IAC 2002 is arguably the most diverse class on campus, in terms of race, gender, orientation, major, year, cultural background and religion/spiritual/secular tradition,” Cressler said.

“Class is about sharing deeply and listening intently, never about debate … We learn to respect and cherish the views of others that may differ wildly from our own.”

TEDxGeorgiaTech provides a platform for individuals to share their ideas and stories to spark deep discussion and connection among others.

Srujani Das, fourth-year BME and executive director of TEDxGeorgiaTech, explained in a recent interview with the Technique how the organization relates to the larger TED Conferences.

“TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience,” Das said. “These local, self-organized events, such as ours, are branded TEDx, where x equals independently organized TED event.”

At Tech, TEDx is run by a team of 35 students.

“We have an executive director and six directors, one for each team: programming, production, community, finance, speakers and media. Each team has anywhere from three to eight people,” Das said. “We have biweekly full team meetings in which all the teams come together to share their progress, get questions answered, plan for upcoming events and just start ‘knitting’ together all the work.”

Throughout the year, TEDxGeorgiaTech plans several events with opportunities for individuals to share their voices.

“This year, we have the … Students Speaker Salon, ConnecTED and our annual big conference in April,” Das said. “About two weeks ago, we had our first ever Open Mic Night which was a huge success. We were able to reach some amazing talents outside of the GT community as well. Overall, it was a very successful night with diverse talents.”

Currently, operations are underway for the Student Speaker Salon (SSS) on Nov 19.

“This year, we have four amazing speakers who will be speaking about some thought-provoking topics, although we can’t give away the topics just yet,” Das said. “We will provide time for people to network, some food and drinks and of course, four amazing talks.”

Das highly encourages students to attend. RSVP links for the event will be available on TEDxGeorgiaTech’s social media and website soon.

Putting together events, in particular the past Sustainability SSS, is one of the most memorable experiences Das has had with TEDxGeorgiaTech.

“We had worked tirelessly with the speakers the previous night till 3am and then the next day, spent a lot of time decorating the theater to match the theme. We ordered specialty popcorn, hot chocolate, cookies and other little snacks. We had activities for the audience members to participate in while they waited,” Das said.

Das continued about the impact of the event.

“Our speakers did an amazing job, and at one point, there was not a single dry eye in the room,” Das said. “It was in a moment where I stopped running around to look around, that I realized just how many people we had touched. At the end of the event, our team was so excited to have organized such a successful event.”

Planning for TEDxGeorgiaTech events can take anywhere from two weeks to three months, depending on the size of the event. Last year, the pandemic forced TEDxGeorgiaTech to move its events to a virtual format.

“Our events are usually in-person which allows people to easily network and make new friends. The COVID-19 pandemic really put us in a challenging position; however we were able to make the most out of the virtual experience,” Das said. “We continued to organize smaller events while providing the GT community ways to interact with us virtually.”

Sajjaad Khader, CS graduate student, spoke virtually at a TEDxGeorgiaTech event last November.

“My speech was titled ‘How a Global Pandemic Helped Me Start My YouTube Channel’,” Khader said. “I talked about my experiences during quarantine, my drive to make an impact, and how both of those led me to create a YouTube channel.”

Khader discussed his memory of the event.

“The experience was extremely uplifting as I was able to creatively express myself and inspire others,” Khader said. “After my talk, many people discussed with me how my speech really opened their eyes and motivated them to excel in their own pursuits.”

This semester, Das and other members of TEDxGeorgiaTech are excited to host fully in-person events again.

“I would like to applaud the team for doing such an amazing job during the pandemic to ensure that we were still fulfilling our purpose,” Das said. “While the virtual events were a success in their own terms, we all are looking forward to the events we have coming up in-person to really get that face-to-face communication going once again.”

Connecting with members in and out of TEDxGeorgiaTech is part of what makes involvement with the organization valuable.

“I think one of the things that drew me to this organization was how close knit a large group of 30 people were,” Das said.

“I have made some life-long friendships through this organization.”

Giving back to the Tech community by providing an opportunity for open conversation is also what makes involvement with TEDxGeorgiaTech worthwhile.

“I have been blessed all of my life in terms of education, opportunities, and nurturing. With all these blessings and coming into a college as prestigious as Georgia Tech, I wanted to give back,” Khader said.

“Therefore, I started searching for platforms where I could motivate and inspire others, and, after talking to a few friends, TEDxGeorgiaTech seemed like the perfect choice.”

Khader explained how he gives back through TEDxGeorgiaTech.

“This year, although I don’t have a new idea to give a TED talk, I can certainly still help out. I am on the speakers recruitment team to help this year’s speakers refine and perfect their speeches,” Khader said.

“Even if I’m unable to impact others directly through my own speech, I can still have an indirect impact through helping the speakers.”

Das echoed similar ideas about giving back with TEDxGeorgiaTech.

“Our purpose is to showcase ideas from our own community that inspire change on Georgia Tech campus and beyond. We have had our own students and professors as speakers, as well as people beyond the GT community come out and use our platform to share their stories and ideas,” Das said.

“We are an organization that welcomes diversity, creativity and innovation, and we will continue to do so in the future.”

This past weekend from Oct. 1 – 3, families and students were reconnected all across campus to participate in Tech’s 33rd Family Weekend.

“We had over 3,700 guests (1,100 families) attend this past weekend from 41 states, Puerto Rico, and six countries — it was our largest Family Weekend in GT history,” said Laci Weeden, director of Parent & Family Programs whose office organizes Family Weekend each year.

The three-day event featured many activities, including annual events such as the Institute Address with President Ángel Cabrera, campus tours, a tailgate before the football game, activities with the CRC, special performances with Georgia Tech Arts and a Jazz Brunch with Dean of Students John Stein.

It also featured education information sessions, college and school receptions and a Family Fun Night on Friday, Oct. 1 at the College Football Hall of Fame.

“It takes 10-11 months to plan each year,” Weeden said. “Our Friday night activities change from year to year and special education sessions change from year to year.”

Education sessions this year included “Supporting First-Year and Second-Year Student Success @ Georgia Tech,” “‘Progress and Service’ Through Civic Engagement,” “What is Well-Being and Why is it Important?” and numerous others.

The event, originally known as Parents’ Weekend, was first hosted by the Tech Alumni Association until 2009 when the Office of Parent & Family Programs took over the multi-day event.

Weeden and others in the Office of Parent & Family Programs always choose to host Family Weekend around this time of year.

“Family Weekend occurs around six weeks into the semester and that is intentional,” Weeden said. “Typically, students have had their first round of exams and could use a little break, a visit from their family, and some hugs and to keep them going until Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break.”

Families and students were especially grateful for this year’s Family Weekend after last year’s event had to be cancelled.

“Family Weekend 2020 had to be cancelled because we just didn’t know enough about COVID at the time and the vaccine was not out yet,” Weeden said. “We also did not want to run the risk of families getting sick coming to campus or students, faculty, and staff getting sick either.”

As with many second-year students at Tech, many second-year families were excited to experience a Tech tradition for the first time this year.

“We knew our second-year parents were going to be just as eager to attend as first-year families, so we planned for larger numbers this year,” Weeden said.

Part of this planning included ensuring that the event was as COVID-safe as possible for all attendees.

“We ordered 4,000 GT branded masks to provide at check-in, provided plenty of hand sanitizer, tried to host in larger venues if the event was indoors, and hosted at outdoors events or tents when we could as well,” Weeden said. T-shirts were sold for this Family Weekend that read, “Reunited – and it feels so good.” For many families, the statement couldn’t be truer.

“Many families were grateful for the opportunity to see their student, visit campus and “feel normal” for a weekend,” Weeden said.

Students who participated this weekend agreed.

“I had an awesome time at Family Weekend,” said Robert Dunning, fourth-year ME. “My family and I were able to tailgate with other alumni and students and visit the College Football Hall of Fame. Regardless of the score at the end of the game on Saturday, I had one of my best experiences at Bobby Dodd because I got to share it with my parents and my sister.”

Overall, this year’s Family Weekend provided an engaging experience for families to fit right in with the mission of Parent & Family Programs.

Through this tradition, Tech provides “opportunities for parents and families to stay connected and involved in their student’s educational experience.”

The place of art at Tech is contested. Because Tech is a technology-based research institute, some students believe the arts should play only a small role on campus.

However, many Tech students enjoy the arts, and some students even want to see the administration add more art requirements into Tech’s STEM degree curriculums.

Many programs now exist on campus to promulgate a love for the arts. Tech Arts, for example, is part of the Division of Student Life and serves to promote campus arts experiences.

It hosts events onstage at the Ferst Center, maintains visual art around campus and creates opportunities for artist engagement and student creativity.

Events and programs hosted by Tech Arts this year include the Spring 2021 Clough Art Crawl, Traveling While Black virtual reality experience, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre and many others. Crystal Phiri, third-year CS, first learned about Tech Arts when she attended a GOURD Art Club event. “We just drew and painted whatever we wanted,” Phiri said. “It was pretty relaxing.”

The vision statement of Tech Arts expresses that “Tech will be an internationally recognized destination that invites everyone to experience and benefit from the integration of arts with the learning and research that takes place across the Institute through performances, exhibitions, installations, residencies, and creative encounters.”

Tech Arts’s statement, along with its mission to place “art at the epicenter of supporting the Strategic Objectives of the entire Institute,” suggests that arts should take center stage on Tech’s campus.

Many student-run organizations seek to do just that by bringing music, dance, visual art, theater and other art forms into students’ lives.

Examples include dance groups, student media publications, musical ensembles and many others.

One student-run organization, Science.Art.Wonder (SAW), seeks to capitalize on Tech’s STEM-focused population to explore the intersection of art and science.

As an Atlanta-wide initiative centered at Emory and Tech, SAW matches artists and researchers to create art based on and inspired by scientific research.

The organization creates yearly exhibits both on campus and in Atlanta to showcase their unique pieces.

Many students at Tech understand the inherent connection between art and science.

“I think there is a big connection between art and science, math, and engineering,” said Katie Elliott, fourth-year ME. “In music, math is needed to line up the music, and science tells us what the notes will sound like and how they will sound together.

In biology, I think the way organisms grow is an artform. And in engineering, the creativity it takes to make parts or design a structure takes artistic abilities.”

Andrew Babbitt, fourth-year CS, agrees but feels hesitant in taking the combination of art and science too far.

“There is a connection, but when art becomes too intermixed with math or science, you get some weird results,” Babbitt said. “Sometimes it’s really cool, like using fractals in art. Other times it is annoying outside of specific uses, like music serialism.”

When asked if Tech should look into doing more to incorporate art into its STEM degrees, many students were open to the idea.

“I think that students just taking even one art class would help them overall,” Elliott said. “The benefits would be … a more well-rounded education, understanding people better who think differently than you and being able to solve problems in a creative way that you might not have thought of otherwise.” Phiri agreed.

“I think an attempt to encourage art could help STEM majors to be more creative and encourage new ways of thinking or expressing themselves,” Phiri said.

Babbitt also echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I think incorporating art into STEM programs can be beneficial in getting students to think in new ways … STEM is very focused on logic, whereas art can introduce more emotive means of thinking and can be very experiential.”

Despite the benefits, students also believe there could be negatives to incorporating art into STEM degrees at Tech.

“The downside would be that students would have less time to focus on their specific major courses that they will be using for the rest of their careers,” Elliott said.

Phiri pointed out another challenge: “I think taste [in art style] could be subjective, and it’s hard to grade.”

Overall, the consensus on art at Tech remains mixed.

“Ideally, Tech should look into expanding art options and requirements for students. But in reality, they should do no such thing,” Babbitt said.

“Frankly, I distrust Tech’s ability to make ‘good choices’ in terms of art, and I fear it will be predominated by styles I dislike and find little value in.”

Elliott considered the reactions of the entire Tech community.

“I think Georgia Tech should look into adding more art opportunities,” Elliott said.

“But I think there may be a negative response from students, alumni and faculty who do not have an appreciation for the arts.

I hope they would see the benefits of incorporating arts into education at Georgia Tech.”

It will be interesting to track the direction Tech decides to take in the future with evolving curriculums, especially regarding the arts.

This semester’s transition back to a fully residential campus has not been without bumps in the road, especially for Tech Dining, campus’ new self-contracted dining service.

During the first week of classes, many students experienced long wait times from a limited selection of food vendors on campus.

“This is my first year on campus, so I don’t know how it was before, but the lines have been very long when I’ve tried to go [eat],” an anonymous student posted on the Tech subreddit. “I even walked out after using a swipe yesterday because of how long the lines were, and they didn’t seem to be moving after almost 15 minutes. I hope things will slow down soon because I don’t want to have to block off an hour minimum to eat lunch.”

Another anonymous student posted about their similar experiences on the subreddit as well.

“Both [West Village] and North Ave have long lines always … and North Ave is always out of food … last night, [I waited] 20 minutes just to see there was nothing for dinner except hamburgers (I don’t eat beef) and waffles,” they posted.

According to a social media post by Tech Dining, a multitude of reasons exist for the long lines and limited dining options. Brittain Dining Hall, a popular dining location on East Campus, had to be closed unexpectedly for maintenance issues. Additionally, Tech Dining has experienced labor shortages and supply-chain issues (like many other dining options around the county at the moment).

The continued construction of the Student Center, which normally houses eight dining options, has also reduced dining locations around campus. Finally, many contractual challenges between outside vendors and the new Tech Dining department led to delayed openings of new venues.

Adjustments to change West Village into an all-you-care-to-eat (AYCE) dining location have also increased wait times and incurred student complaints about decreased study spaces on West Campus.

“I don’t have a meal plan, but even I can see that the layout and location of the building was just not meant for this kind of service,” said Bryan Ong, fifth-year CS. “I’m hoping they either switch it back or at least try to come up with a way they could keep it AYCE but have an open floor plan.”

To deal with the complaints, Tech Dining responded quickly by sending out an email on Aug. 24.

“The start of a semester often brings longer than average lines; Tech Dining is prioritizing these concerns,” the email explained.

The email went on to explain solutions the department plans to enact within the upcoming weeks, including increased staffing, food trucks and retail dining offerings in the Dining Hub at the Exhibition Hall.

It also stated, “Other dining options – Whistle Bistro, The Dive, Wreck Stop, and Cluck-N-Mooh – will open within the next few days. And, following some much-needed repairs, Brittain Dining Hall is slated to reopen next week.”

As of Aug. 31, Wreck Stop and Cluck-N-Mooh have both opened on campus. According to the Tech Dining website, other locations listed above remain unopened or unavailable.

Graduate SGA Vice President of Campus Services Emmett Miskell, INTA graduate student, was also quick to respond to student comments.

“The GT Student Government Association, on both the undergraduate and graduate sides, has heard many questions, comments, concerns about Georgia Tech’s new dining operations,” said Miskell. “While we appreciate every effort Tech Dining has made to prepare a new dining department in a limited time span, there is no doubt that many areas of improvement still remain across all aspects of Tech Dining’s operations.”

Miskell and Bridgette Davenport, fourth-year BA and undergraduate SGA vice president of campus services, created the Student Feedback on Tech Dining Tracking Project to monitor all feedback received from students over email, social media and in-person conversations.

Miskell and Davenport also asked Tech Dining to prioritize certain items for immediate and urgent resolution, including “[increased] service staffing at non-self-serve dining halls to decrease wait time, [expanded] service hours at West Village as soon as possible, [improved] regularity of food station restocking” and other action items.

Despite the dining challenges experienced during the start of the semester, many Tech students have promoted being kind to the dining staff.

“Clearly Tech Dining is still partially in the works … Please remember that it’s not the people who are working’s fault,” said Natalie Peulen, third-year CHEM. “Make sure you say thanks and show kindness to your local dining staff and other staff and realize that they’re probably doing all they can.”

“I know that dining has been difficult the past few days, but I just wanted to shout out the staff at [West Village],” said Sara, first-year MATH. “Everyone I have encountered there is so kind and positive. I hope people don’t misplace their anger towards Tech Dining to the staff.”

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may have concluded, but for many Jackets, the experience is now a memory they will never forget.

Nine Tech affiliates participated in the Olympics this year, including current students, incoming first-year students, graduates and coaches.

Current students included Caio Pumputis, fifth year BA student, who competed for the Brazilian swimming team and Batur Ünlü, second year BME who competed for the Turkish swimming team. Incoming freshmen students included Defne Taçyildiz, first year, and Berke Saka, first year, who also competed for the Turkish swim team.

Former students included Andrew Chetcuti, BIOL ‘16 who competed with the Maltese swimming team, Josh Okogie who played for the Nigerian basketball team and Avi Koki Shafer who competed with the Japanese basketball team. Tech coaches include Nat Page, assistant coach for the US track and field team, and Mfon Udofia, BA ‘13 assistant coach for the Nigerian men’s basketball team.

Both Saka and Chetcuti received the honor of carrying their nation’s flag in the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

In a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Chetcuti said that being named the Maltese flag bearer was “unexpected” but that he “was pretty pumped” when he found out.

Chetcuti also reflected on the alterations to the Games due to the pandemic, including less interactions with other international athletes, daily saliva COVID tests and social distancing in the dining halls.

Despite these changes, Chetcuti said, “It was still the Olympics Games, so it [was] still the same vibe.”

Closer to home, many Tech students participated in the Olympics on-campus by watching alongside their hall community.

“I watched the summer Olympics in the Towers 2 lounge with friends,” said Ophelia Winslett, first-year BME. “For the opening ceremony, our floor [RA] brought a variety of snacks from different countries for us to try and eat … It was a fun time for us to watch the different sports, hang out and socialize.”

For Winslett, the Olympics “symbolizes the fact that the entire world can come together and enjoy something in common, despite everyone’s differences.”

Winslett continued by emphasizing the role of unity in the Olympics.

“The Olympics is one of the few events that unifies everyone. Being able to hold the Olympics, despite COVID-19, shows the commitment people have to continuing the Olympics,” Winslett said.

The challenges of hosting the events during the COVID-19 pandemic made this year’s Olympic events not only memorable to those who participated or watched at home, but also one for the history books.

In the lead up to the Olympics, many Tech professors commented on the significance of the 2020 Olympics and discussed the unique difficulties of hosting the Games during a worldwide health crisis.

International affairs professors Dr. Kirk Bowman and Dr. Brian Woodall provided comments in a discussion, “Insights into the Tokyo Olympics,” moderated by History, Technology and Society professor Dr. Mary McDonald on July 22.

“A major issue … discussed was the issue of hosting an international event during a global pandemic,” McDonald said. “… Local public sentiment was largely against Tokyo hosting the Games in 2021. Polling suggests that nearly 80% of the Japanese people believe that the Tokyo Games should be postponed or cancelled. Local officials feared the Olympics might help trigger an additional rise in infections within Tokyo.”

Another issue discussed was the delay of the Games from their original date in summer 2020 to their actual date in summer 2021.

“The original bid to host the Tokyo Olympics estimated the cost at about 7.5 billion (US) dollars,” McDonald said.

“Most recent projections suggest that the event cost over 15 billion (US) dollars — with about 3 billion of that attributable to the costs associated with the COVID delay.”

As the Director of Tech’s Sports, Society and Technology (SST) Program, McDonald has always been “interested in looking at the social, political and economic impact of the Games.”

This year’s events, McDonald explained, were unique in their focus on athletes’ mental health.

“Travel parties to the Games were limited and thus most athletes did not have an extensive support system at the Games. Athletes reported feeling isolated … I don’t recall a sporting event prior to this one where mental health was so visibly discussed in the media,” McDonald said.

In addition to the unparalleled focus on mental health, McDonald also thinks another “issue that will be remembered is the absence of spectators at the event … Clearly athletes are used to audiences so that certainly was a new dynamic to content with.”

School of Psychology professor Bruce Walker also commented in a recent interview for Tech’s College of Sciences on the impact of the Olympics without the usual spectators.

Walker explained that for some athletes who compete in sports that require intense concentration, such as golf or archery, “the absence of fans and the sounds they make can be a blessing. It is easier to concentrate on performing, which may help some athletes perform at their peak.”

However, for other athletes, crowd noise provides motivation and energy.

“The cheering fans pump up the athletes, and the roar from the stands can push adrenaline and grit, and help athletes squeeze just a little bit more out of their tired bodies,” Walker said.

“It is easier to ‘leave it all on the field’ when there are hundreds or thousands screaming for you or your team.”

Looking back on this year’s Olympics, Tech students, professors and affiliates have plenty to remember and to study about the unique events which, like most pandemic-era events, came with many complexities and mixed emotions.

This summer’s FASET sessions will kick off on June 9, lasting until the middle of August in both virtual and in-person formats. As with many events during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s hybrid FASET sessions will differ drastically from years past.

Virtual summer sessions will start with an 11:30 a.m. welcome session. The rest of the day will be filled with a small group meeting with a FASET leader, a meeting with an academic advisor and class registration.

Parents and guests can attend virtual FASET without registering to take part in presentations on academic success, financial measures, housing, campus safety and various other topics as well as attend departmental orientation and academic advising sessions with their student.

In-person sessions will start with a 7:45 a.m. welcome introduction followed by sessions from campus partners, small group meetings with FASET leaders, meetings with academic advisors and class registration.

This year, parents and guests are not allowed to attend FASET in-person due to limited space and COVID-19 protocols still in place.

Since 1971, Tech’s undergraduate student orientation, FASET — which stands for Familiarization and Adaptation to the Surroundings and Environs of Tech — has served to provide students with academic advising, assist with course registration and create an opportunity to meet and interact with current and in-coming Tech students.

FASET is offered at the start of each semester for transfer students and numerous times during the summer for incoming first-year students.

This summer, virtual sessions for incoming first-year students will take place on June 9, 10, 11 and 25 as well as July 8, 9 and 19 and Aug. 16. In-person sessions for first-year students will occur on July 12, 13, 15, 16, 20, 22 and 23. Virtual sessions for incoming transfer students will be held on July 30 and Aug. 16. In-person sessions for transfer students will take place on July 28 and 29.

Both the virtual and in-person formats of this year’s FASET sessions will differ from the traditional summer format during which in-coming students spend two days on campus and have the opportunity to attend an organization fair, go to events to meet other students, sleep in freshman dorms and eat in various dining halls.

This summer’s hybrid FASET format will also differ from last summer when all sessions were only offered in a virtual format.

Elise Gran, incoming first-year LMC, plans to attend FASET in person this summer.

“I am looking forward to the experience, and I expect it to be really helpful to prepare to start at Tech and plan more for the upcoming semester,” Gran said.

Gran hopes the experience will help her “become more familiar with Tech’s campus … meet more friends and learn more about [her] major classes and opportunities to get involved.”

Garrett Hinton, incoming first-year ARCH, also plans to attend FASET in person this summer because he “wanted a personal and meaningful orientation with his department on campus.”

He is particularly looking forward to “learn more about the workings of campus and that of [his] specific school.”

Like Gran and Hinton, many incoming students are looking forward to shedding virtual habits accrued during the pandemic. As of May 3, 2021, there was a waitlist for in-person FASET sessions.

However, some groups of students, such as those participating in the iGniTe First Year Summer Launch Program, did not have the choice to attend an in-person FASET. All FASET sessions for summer first-year students are only being offered virtually.

“I hate that we have to do this process digitally because I’ve heard that FASET is much more enjoyable in person,” said Taylor Quinn, an incoming first-year CHBE. “I won’t be able to see where the buildings are where I’ll be taking classes, and therefore, I won’t have the chance to plan out my days beforehand. Organization and planning ahead are really important to me, so this layout comes with quite the disadvantage.”

To supplement virtual FASET sessions this summer, Tech has created the Whistle Webinar Series on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This series will provide incoming students an extended opportunity to connect with campus offices to learn more about resources and programs available to students and to ask specific questions to various departments.

The cost for FASET, both the in-person and virtual sessions, is $115. Although it is not mandatory for incoming students to participate in FASET, attendance is highly recommended.

More information about FASET can be found at transitionprograms.gatech.edu/content/faset-orientation.