Our Take: 3.5/5 Stars

Coming just in time to save audiences from the between-Halloweens doldrums,  “School Spirits” on Paramount+ is the newest offering in the paranormal coming-of-age high school drama genre. The five episodes of this series released so far, however, make it abundantly clear that this series lacks any distinctiveness to make it memorable.

The story, adapted by Nate Trinrud and Megan Trinrud from their upcoming graphic novel, follows Maddie Nears (Peyton List) as she finds herself deceased and trapped in purgatory at Split River High School, where she is a senior. To her (living) classmates, Maddie is just missing, which upsets her friends Simon (Kristian Flores) and Nicole (Kiara Pichardo), as well as her often-high boyfriend Xavier (Spencer MacPherson), who is an immediate suspect in her disappearance.

Maddie doesn’t know how she died or where her body is. She is informed of her deceased status by a frosty-haired teen spirit named Charley (Nick Pugliese). Allegedly, he died at the high school in the ’90s and has been stuck at the high school in the afterlife since. Charley explains to
Maddie that because she died at the school, she’ll be there indefinitely until she “crosses over” to whatever comes next but that this phenomenon rarely occurs.

Charley takes Maddie to the Split River High Afterlife Support Group led by a Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman), who believes that this purgatory is a way for spirits to talk out their pasts so that they can move on and not be stuck at the school forever. Here, Maddie meets more fellow spirits, like football player Wally Clark (Milo Manheim), poet/wannabe beatnik Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) and an unnamed ’60s-style hippy character (RaeAnne Boon).

Each of these characters, as much potential as they have, unfortunately lack the strong writing needed for them to shine. The desire to keep watching is less driven by fan theories or red herring clues but rather by the writers intentionally hiding information. A lack of real or even potential “ships” makes this show difficult to belong to a fandom. “School Spirits” also suffers the same actor-character age mismatches that other high school dramas like “Riverdale” and “Never Have I Ever” have also been criticized for — few, if any, characters look like they belong
anywhere near a high school.

There is enough this show has, though, to keep watchers going — not the least of
which is List’s strong acting as Maddie. The “Jessie” alum gives her character a scrappy attitude and, in Maddie’s believable annoyance with her situation, offers viewers the freedom to be annoyed as well. The emotion she is able to deliver despite a middling plot and somewhat cheesy script is commendable. List effectively proves that through this mature-rated high school drama, she has the potential to graduate from being perceived as just another Disney Channel star.

Surprisingly free of the usual melodrama that usually accompanies shows like this, the writers manage to do some things right. “School Spirits” draws strength in that it at least tries to provide a whodunit with high school-aged characters without resorting to the classic high school house party scene — at least, so far.

Production and editing-wise, Maddie’s endeavors to reconstruct the events of the night she died allow for the series to divide its attention between the days prior to her demise and the present. These flashbacks are presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio (as opposed to the show’s usual 16:9), enabling smooth trans-itions between past and current events. This method of showcasing glimpses of memories and alternating timelines ensures that the mystery unfolds at a moderate pace that maintains the show’s intrigue while avoiding premature spoilers.

Furthermore, there are enough jokes, euphemisms and innuendos scattered throughout the series that watchers can at least have a chuckle as they wait for the next episode (because this definitely feels like one you should watch). The names of each episode should also be appreciated — every one of them references ghost/spooky classics. For example, the pilot is titled “My So-Called Death,” a play on the name of the critically-acclaimed 1994 teen
drama “My So-Called Life.”

Interested watchers can view five of the eight episodes of “School Spirits” on Paramount+ now, with subsequent episodes set to release once a week. The Trinruds’ eponymous graphic novel is set to be released in fall 2023.

As a third year student at Tech who’s held many positions on student organization leadership boards, I’ve had the opportunity (or misfortune, depending on how you see it) to reserve a room or event space on campus. 

Despite Tech’s status as a top university in the nation, the system for making these reservations is beyond subpar. And frankly, with student populations on campus rising so much year over year, we should want better from our classroom reservation system. 

A convenient and easy-to-use system would alleviate much of the crowding that takes place at the library and the student center.

Let’s talk about why the system we have now sucks. To make a reservation for a classroom at Tech, you go to gtevents.gatech.edu/EmsWebApp/Default.aspx. Already, this URL is unwieldy and not convenient. The login screen you are greeted with still has a warning regarding COVID-19 and social distancing with dates pertinent to summer … of 2021.

The login credentials you use on this service are the same as your regular Institute credentials — but there’s no Duo two-factor authentication here.

What’s the point of having two-factor authentication if there are still services that don’t utilize the immense security benefits it brings?

Once you log in, you’re shown a cluttered dashboard filled with deadlines and warnings that are years out of date. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as finding a classroom available at a certain time in a specific building or a particular area of campus is a time consuming process — literally — since it takes ages for pages to even load with the availability of a classroom or breakout space.

And what happens if you need a specific amenity within a classroom? Or want to see what a classroom might look like without having to trek all the way to Skiles or the Instructional Center? 

Tough luck. Some classrooms have updated pictures, others have pictures that look like they’re from two decades ago, and still others have no pictures at all. 

As for if you need a projector, some rooms that have one aren’t marked as such in the system. 

What does this mean for students? It means more competition for a smaller pool of classrooms. 

By making it easier to find and reserve rooms, Tech could improve the utilization of its existing spaces, making it more likely that students and staff will be able to find a suitable room when they need it.

Another problem with the current room reservation system is that it is not flexible enough to accommodate changing needs. 

Many times, events and meetings are scheduled far in advance, only to be rescheduled or canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. 

This often results in empty rooms (that could be used for events or other purposes even at the last-minute). The reservation system is unable to accommodate the needs of the event or meeting, leaving attendees frustrated and without a suitable space. 

The system should be updated to allow for more flexibility and responsiveness to changing needs, making it easier for users to find a suitable room when they need it.

The solution to these issues is to implement a more sophisticated room reservation system that incorporates real-time data about room utilization and availability. 

This system would provide users with up-to-date information about the availability of rooms on campus, making it easier to find and reserve a space that meets their needs. Increased integrations with other campus services would make event planning, promotion and execution much easier for all parties involved.

For example, integrating with Canvas for instructors could make meetings outside of lecture more feasible. Integrations with Engage or the campus calendar could make event planning and promotion much easier.

Tech could also consider implementing a virtual tour feature, allowing users to get a feel for the room before they reserve it. 

This would make it easier for users to determine if a particular room is the right fit for their event or meeting. 

The virtual tour feature should also be integrated with the reservation system, making it easier for users to find and reserve a room that meets their needs.

Another much more systematic way Tech can choose to do better with the reservation system is by working with departments and building managers to find underutilized rooms all over campus. 

Doing so would add more campus spaces available for student, faculty and organization use and reduce competition for the more popular locations around campus.

The current reservation system is just not cutting it. To improve it, Tech needs to rebuild it from the ground up to be much more flexible and adaptable. 

Tech must work with departments to promote underutilized spaces on campus to reduce competition and can even innovate by making reserving a room an enjoyable experience. 

By doing so, Tech could provide students and staff with the spaces they need to succeed and thrive on campus and prove it supports student well being on spaces on campus.

The 2022 season came to an end just over two weeks ago and marked a troubling trend in college football: declining attendance at games. It is a problem that has plagued college football programs across the nation, and it is one that is noticeable even here in Atlanta, known nationwide as a recruiting hotbed for football talent.

The 2022 season began for the Jackets with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game matchup between Tech and Clemson. This counted as a home game for Tech, but the Jackets elected to cap attendance at 42,500, using the same seating configuration that it used for the North Carolina game last year at Mercede-Benz Stadium, with the upper deck closed off.

This was the second annual game in the six year “Mayhem at Mercedes-Benz Stadium” series Tech has agreed to.

In a statement to the AJC, Gary Stokan, the CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc (which manages the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game) said “It’s Georgia Tech’s game, so we want to be cognizant of their fans, because we know that we’re moving a game out of Bobby Dodd (Stadium).”

However, these issues with attendance are even more apparent at home on the Flats. In the last five seasons of Tech football, totaling 32 home games, Tech has sold out all its tickets just seven times, with six of those times occurring during the COVID-impacted 2020 season when NCAA regulations mandated a cap on attendance at 20% of total capacity. Bobby Dodd Stadium, with a standard capacity of 55,000, was limited to just 11,000 tickets during the season. Bobby Dodd Stadium has only sold out one other time: when the Yellow Jackets faced in-state rival Georgia in the last regular season game of the 2019 season.

Over the last five seasons, the only times Bobby Dodd has had over 50,000 fans in attendance has been during rivals Clemson and Georgia’s visits to Atlanta. Clemson’s 2018 visit to Atlanta put 50,595 fans in seats, while Georgia’s two visits in 2019 and 2021 brought 55,000 and 54,400 fans to Bobby Dodd, respectively.

The decline of the product on-field goes hand in hand with attendance. Tech hasn’t posted a winning season since 2018, when the Yellow Jackets went 7-6 to lose in the Quick Lane Bowl against Minnesota. That season was the end of the Paul Johnson era of Tech football as Johnson announced he would be retiring as Head Coach at the end of the season. During this time, Tech won 4 of its 6 home games (against Alcorn State, Bowling Green, Miami, and UVA), with the lowest attendance of the season at 37,453 against UVA.

The 2019 season was Coach Geoff Collins’ much-hyped first season as head coach, promising a shift in scheme from Johnson’s triple option-esque offense to a more pro-style one. However, this transition was a weak one, as Tech posted its worst record since 2015, going 3-9 and had record losses like the first loss to an FCS opponent since 1983 (and second-ever such loss) to the Citadel. Tech was also shut out for the first time since 1997 against UVA, a loss that also marked the first home shutout since 1957. Despite this, Tech’s lowest attendance that season at home was against NC State, a 28-26 win that brought 38,198 fans to Bobby Dodd. This season was the first of Collins’ three consecutive three win seasons, as the Jackets’ scoring woes continued through 2020, 2021 and 2022 until his dismissal after four games.

Attendance dipped below the 40,000 mark for all games in the 2021 season except the rivalry game against Georgia, posting an average home attendance of 37,733 or 68.6% of total capacity. The program suffered two consecutive shutouts (at Notre Dame and against Georgia) to close out the regular season with a combined score deficit of 100-0. Notably, the loss against Boston College brought the smallest crowd to Bobby Dodd since 1989 at 31,511— a paltry 57.3% of total capacity.

This past season was not much better, with an average home attendance of 36,625 or 66.6% of total capacity. Athletic Director Todd Stansbury and Collins were dismissed four games into the 2022 season with yet another home shutout (this time to Ole Miss) under Collins’ belt, leading to interim head coach Brent Key’s 4-4 record to close out the season with dramatic upset wins over #22 Pitt and #13 UNC as well as an overtime homecoming victory against Duke. While lively, crowds remained small throughout the season: the reported attendance at homecoming against Duke was a meager 32,041, the smallest homecoming audience since 1983. Key made a plea to Jackets fans to show out at the Thursday night UVA game after homecoming, crediting the student section for the overtime victory at homecoming. “We need a great crowd on Thursday night to really help these kids and motivate these kids and show them that everyone’s behind them in their quest to be successful Thursday night.” 

Despite this call for support, the UVA game (a 16-9 loss) drew the smallest crowd since a 1983 Thursday night game (also against UVA).

Tech’s attendance struggles are not going unnoticed by students, either. Third-year CS Shail Patel said that while the north end zone student section was always lively, he “always noticed empty seats” in the other end zone and the eastern sideline.

Patel was a student season ticket holder for the 2022 season, and attended every home game except the opener against Western Carolina. Patel noted that many students left games before they ended, and he even did the same for Clemson, Ole Miss and Miami. “For Ole Miss and Miami, I didn’t [stay] because they were blowouts… But Ole Miss I left closer to halftime, I stayed longer for Miami and Clemson.”

The product on-field was a major reason for Patel to attend and stay the entirety of the game. However, third-year BMED Anjali Patel cited the energy of the student section as her main reason for coming to games: “I go because the student section is super fun … they like to heckle and shout ridiculous things, which is fun and kind of stress relieving.”

Anjali Patel noted that she too left early during the Ole Miss game. “… We were so bad I left at the beginning of the 4th quarter or the beginning of the 3rd.”

While Tech saw the worst year-over-year drop in average attendance percentage in the ACC from 2021 to 2022, Tech is far from alone in its attendance woes. After Tech, the next lowest was Louisville with a 5.17% drop, followed by UVA with a 4.14% drop. However, Tech and Louisville are the only two programs in the conference who have seen continuous drops since the 2020 season, when Louisville posted a 25% reduction in average attendance from 2020 to 2021 and Tech reported a 12% decrease.

Duke and Syracuse also reported average attendance percent drops from 2020 to 2021 at 24% and 18% respectively. However, their average attendance rebounded year-over-year from 2021 to 2022, demonstrating increases of 25.78% in the case of Syracuse and 58.87% in the case of Duke. This went hand-in-hand with the football performances of each team, with both teams finishing stronger than anticipated at the start of the season — Syracuse finished third in the Atlantic division with a 6-7 overall record while Duke placed second in the Coastal and went 9-4.

Improvement of the football team is a drawing factor for many fans, and for Tech students can mean the difference between attending games or doing homework and studying. For alumni and casual fans, however, cost is a significant factor. Discounted season tickets start at $355, and $385 for seats in “premium areas,” which can still be cost-prohibitive for young professionals living in or around metro Atlanta, where the median rent is over $2,000 according to Zillow.

The Institute has not left the issue untouched, however. The 2022 season brought with it a partnership with Atlanta-based New Realm Brewing Co., which produced the Helluvienna Lager, the proclaimed official beer of Tech Athletics. This partnership was made to entice fans to games, where the beer debuted. 

Athletics also encourages student organizations to show up and show out at home football games by implementing block seating for them. Greek organizations are one such category of organization. Fifth-year CS Justin Wurst said that Athletics rewards organizations (like fraternities and sororities) by assigning better block locations for more involved chapters. “The better numbers you have and have had, the better location you get to be in.”

Wurst said that while his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, doesn’t have a policy encouraging attendance at home football games or game day tailgates (the latter due to IFC regulations around alcohol), “… the on-field product is always more fun to watch with good company.”

Proximity to the stadium is a big reason for Wurst and other members of the fraternity to attend in person. “People don’t usually watch the game at the house if it’s a 5 minute walk.”

Another way Tech administration demonstrated their desire to bring fans into the stadium was through leadership changes in Athletics, primarily through the dismissal of Stansbury and Coach Collins. 

“New leadership will give our athletes, coaching staff and program, a necessary change in focus and direction,” said Cabrera in a press conference.

“Of course, we feel that the excitement surrounding Coach Key and how the team performed under his leadership last year will be a positive factor as we look towards the 2023 football season,” new Athletic Director J Batt said in an email statement to the Technique.

Shail Patel agreed with Batt’s statement. “I think people are more confident in Key this season to build a winning culture than last season because of Geoff Collins and the midseason switch.”

Anjali Patel was more cautious in her optimism. 

“Key showed he could make use of the team better than Collins, but he’s not shown what kind of coach he really is yet. If next season sees more wins, there will definitely be more attendance.”

Despite these efforts, declining attendance at Georgia Tech’s home football games remains a problem that the program is struggling to address. It is a complex issue with no easy solutions, and it is likely that the Tech football program will continue to face challenges in the years ahead. The Jackets face Louisville on Sept. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Candy corn is the greatest candy to grace this planet with its presence.

But wait! Before you crumple up this issue of the Technique and throw it into the recycling bin, let me explain what I mean. Ready to hear me out? Okay.

Candy corn is the king of Halloween candy not because it tastes better than modern candy or because it has nutritional value but because it is the kind of candy that is so inextricably linked to Halloween. 

It has a nostalgic charm that no other candy has. 

Candy corn’s vanilla and marshmallow creme invoke memories from childhood. The texture and stickiness of the treat forces you to take that extra second to let it melt a little more in your mouth, reminding you of that one fifth grade Halloween party where everyone was excited to be a superhero or a fan-favorite character from a franchise. 

Candy corn forces us to come to terms with the fact that Halloween is sweet and encourages us to let out our inner child, which longs for the sweetness of our childhood.

I, for one, remember eating candy corn out of a small cup watching a Halloween movie on the rug in my first grade classroom. 

Now, every time I eat candy corn, I’m reminded of a simpler time in my life, when all I cared about was whether or not we would get dismissed early to recess so I could play kickball. 

I also remember going around my neighborhood, knocking on doors in costume that evening after school and hoping a treat would be behind each one. 

Even if the treat was something lame like an apple or a granola bar, the candy corn another house gave me would sustain my desire for the biggest and bestest candy bar. 

Again, I’m not saying that candy corn is the best candy ever in the whole world all year round — just during Halloween. It’s impossible for candy corn, a sweet treat originating in Philadelphia in the late 1880s, to compete with the likes of modern confectionery delights like Twix or Sour Patch Kids. 

If you made me choose between a Twix and candy corn in the springtime, I’d probably pick the Twix with little hesitation. 

But in the days and weeks leading up to Halloween, the joy that comes with feeding yourself a handful of candy corn kernels like you’re a prized horse in an equestrian movie is incomparable. 

Candy corn is present in every Halloween decoration. 

It’s ubiquitous — unavoidable for a few weeks out of the year, for better or for worse. 

You can’t say the same for year-round candy like Snickers, Twix, Milky Way or even the classic Hershey’s chocolate bar; those are all variations on the same. 

Candy corn is the only unique candy that finds its way into childrens’ grubby little paws during Halloween when every other candy has an easily replicable design. 

In fact, not only is candy corn the greatest Halloween candy but it’s also better than other seasonal takes on major candies — isn’t a candy cane just a glorified mint? 

Aren’t Valentine’s Day chocolates the same as any other chocolate on any other day?

That’s not to say that all candy corn is made the same and deserves this title — only the classic orange, yellow and white triangles in the original flavor combination are Halloween candy royalty. 

Other variations of candy corn are easily bottom of the barrel like the pumpkins, which are just too chewy and large to properly enjoy. 

Or, consider the flavor variations with chocolate in them in place of the vanilla, which disrupt the delicate melding of the vanilla and marshmallow flavors that make candy corn so irresistible.

And so on the first of November when the ghosts, skeletons and other Halloween decorations are put away and costumes are stuffed into the back of one’s closet, candy corn resumes its quiet slumber.

They are once again relegated to the candy aisle at CVS in small quantities, no longer available in five pound bags at the same familiar price. 

Candy corn passes on its crown to the queen of the holiday season, a just-defrosted Mariah Carey, only to reign again the next October.

How do you know if a company or workplace is the right one for you? Whether it is your first time dressing up and printing out resumes for the Career Fair, or if you are a seasoned veteran when it comes to making LinkedIn connections, the question of which employer to choose is one that vexes all, especially once those coveted offer letters roll in.

Pay

It is important to consider the pay of a position, of course. When considering an internship position, you will likely be paid by the hour, whereas the offer letter for a full time position will probably list your salary in terms of annual gross income (before taxes). 

Obviously, you want to maximize your paycheck, so consider the salary and make sure it is an amount you are comfortable with.

But the money flowing into your bank account every week, every two weeks or whenever your paycheck is disbursed, is not the only compensation you should be looking for in a company. 

Benefits

You should ask your recruiter or your interviewer about their benefits package. The days of getting paid in cash and being supported by pension when you retire are long gone for the vast majority of industries. Companies now offer complex compensation packages that can offer benefits, perks and more.

These benefits can include those required by law, those that are not required but expected in a labor market like this one and those that are just nice to have. 

Benefits required by law are workers’ compensation insurance (which pays you in case you get sick or hurt from your job), social security and medicare contributions, pay above at least the federal minimum wage and unemployment insurance. 

In some states, employers may also be required to pay for disability insurance. 

If your employer has more than 50 employees, you are also entitled to a health insurance plan from your employer (up to the standards set by the Affordable Care Act) as well as family and medical leave.

Many healthcare plans exclude vision and dental, which is why these are often considered separate policies. 

Dental and vision are usually considered optional premiums and are add-ons to standard plans. These will help pay for your eye exams, new glasses or contact lenses, dental exams, braces, extractions and more.

The world of benefits is vast, so do your research on plans and coverage before accepting your offer.

Location

When considering your future, do you see yourself in a city or a suburb? Do you want a large office or a small one? Do you want flexible remote work options in your job?

These are all critical questions to ask yourself when deciding which companies to even apply to.

Even once you have an offer in hand, you may be able to negotiate to a different office location if your employer has more than one.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly receding, workers nationwide are appreciative of their newfound freedom in working from home. Remote work policies are broadly popular across many fields, and corporations have been forced to hold on to them for the foreseeable future. 

According to McKinsey, a global marketing consultant firm currently hiring in Atlanta, “Thirty-five percent of respondents say they can work from home full-time. Another 23 percent can work from home from one to four days a week. A mere 13 percent of employed respondents say they could work remotely at least some of the time but opt not to.”

Company Culture & Perks

According to Great Place To Work, “At its core, company culture is how things get done around the workplace.”

Company culture is a combination of the serious and the un-serious parts of a company. 

That includes perks, work-life balance, dress code and values. 

When you get a chance to speak with a recruiter or an interviewer, do not shy away from questions about these important topics, especially if you are on the full-time job hunt. 

The last thing you want for your future with a company is an environment where you are not comfortable.

The right company for you is one that meshes with your values the best. 

A supportive atmosphere at work has been shown to make employees more productive. 

A culture where employees feel safe, comfortable, and valued is itself valuable since it creates workers who make social connections, show empathy, collaborate and encourage each other.

All of these lead to a better bottom line for the business, which is a win-win situation for both employer and employee.

A way to make sure a company you are considering is one that meshes with you is to search for the mission statement on the website. 

A mission statement contains the values that a company strives to embody — if this is one that you find yourself supporting, you are well on your way to finding a company that is the right fit for you.

The final and funnest part of working at a company is the perks. These are nonessential, usually company-specific benefits of working there. 

For example, you may receive an employee discount for your purchases at the company store, or you might get discounts on travel. 

To learn more about the perks, ask a current employee what kinds of perks they receive.