They haven’t been occupied (well, legally) for more than a year, but Burge Apartments on North Avenue still gets a workout from time to time. Most recently, it was used by members of Atlanta Fire Rescue for a rope rescue training exercise. Other first responders — Georgia Tech Police Department included — have taken advantage of the vacancy, using the space to practice and refine their own emergency protocols. 

Named in honor of the architect who designed it, Burge Apartments were built shortly after World War II to accommodate the influx of students who were taking advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend college. Georgia Tech is currently seeking a permit authorizing its demolition.

The entire photo gallery from the exercise is also available.

POSTED UNDER Campus Life, Community.

The women’s softball team find themselves in an unusual position: hosting a NCAA Super Regional with a chance to play in the College World Series. This weekend, the Yellow Jackets (46-13) will play the Washington Huskies (44-11) in a three-game series to earn the right to play for a national championship. Saturday’s game at noon and Sunday’s game at 1 PM will be broadcast on ESPN. Admission each day is $10 for reserved chair-back seating, $7 for general admission bench seating and $5 for students.

Despite 13 hours and 22 minutes of rain delays, Georgia Tech swept their regional 3-0 last weekend. The clip below shows highlights of the team’s 7-2 victory over Boston University on May 17 that advanced them to this weekend’s Super Regional. 

POSTED UNDER Athletics, Campus Life, Events, Fun, Students.

Georgia Tech lost one of its legends last week when James Dull, dean of students for more than 30 years, died on March 22. Here he talks about finding and negotiating for the 1930 Model A Ford couple that became one of the Institute’s enduring symbols.

POSTED UNDER Campus Life, GT Culture, Staff.

A chilly February day didn’t prevent students from providing feedback at an outdoor forum at the Campanile on Tuesday, as the Special Committee for the Presidential Transition solicited input from students for any questions or thoughts they have for incoming President G.P. “Bud” Peterson. Committee members are sending a students’ White Paper to Peterson, sharing their opinions on the Institute’s top priorities for the next five to 10 years.

The microphone was passed quite a bit, and the students weren’t shy about voicing their thoughts on the areas of intellectual community, sustainability, communications and diversity.

Many spoke of the need for a better campus life—better orientation to campus for freshmen and transfer students, a 24-hour campus eatery, a “real” dead week and weekend health clinic access. More diversity in student and faculty populations was urged, and questions were raised on how the president’s office would allocate funding to minority recruitment and retention. A few said Tech needed more interdisciplinary courses and majors that cut across more than just engineering. Lauding new housing options, an informed and aware student body and Tech’s reclamation of green space, many students spoke on areas or initiatives they thought were positive, and hoped would be continued.

Committee members still want to hear from undergrads who were unable to attend the event. Undergraduate students interested in sharing their thoughts, concerns or questions can give student feedback here.

POSTED UNDER Campus Life, Communication.

Earlier this morning, the University System Board of Regents named Bud Peterson Georgia Tech’s 11th president. Visit our presidential search site for complete details on the process and the new leadership.

POSTED UNDER Leadership.

 For more on the history of this game, click the image above. 

POSTED UNDER Athletics, Campus Life, Fun.

Sure, all that math may seem like a drag now, but if a recent news item is too be believed, it’s the key to professional bliss. According to their methodology, a mathematician holds the title as “Best Job in America.” In fact, to look over the list, it would seem a Tech degree prepares you pretty well for the majority of them.

More from the article:

Unfortunately, our study finds that lumberjacks have the nation’s worst job, followed by dairy farmers and taxi drivers, which seems to bear out the old grade-school adage that “it’s better to earn a living with your head rather than with your hands.”

Of course, it doesn’t take much effort to determine that mathematician is a more attractive job to most people than lumberjack. But ranking 200 jobs from best to worst is no easy feat. To compile this year’s report, researchers relied on five criteria to compare jobs as different as librarian and sheet metal worker. Those criteria: stress, physical demands, hiring outlook, compensation and work environment.

 So there you have it. And if you don’t get a job as a quant, your plan B can be a mathemagician. 

POSTED UNDER Academics.

Beginning this week, Georgia Tech’s faculty/staff newsletter will be in full color. Behold!

Adding color will not only enhance the aesthetic quality of the publication, but will also offer more flexibility to the editor regarding the way information is presented. Plus it looks cool.

During a time of fiscal austerity, it is also important to note that the cost for this is zero. The full story is not all that interesting, but the short version is that the vendor who prints the Whistle is not charging Georgia Tech for this service. When the contract comes up for renewal at the end of the fiscal year, the the cost to produce the publication will be revisited and and any necessary adjustments — including rebidding the contract — will be made at that time. 

POSTED UNDER Communication, Faculty, Staff.

OK, so for those of you who may be a little confused about why Tech’s football coach would receive a new seven-year contract worth a reported $17.7 million during a period when the Institute is facing budget cuts, hiring freezes, and additional student fees, here’s a little clarification.  

Stories of big college contracts grab headlines, and usually sets off a debate as to why the coach is paid more than the professors. But what often doesn’t get reported is that none of the money that Johnson will receive comes from state (or tuition) dollars. At Georgia Tech (and many other universities), the Athletic Association is a 503(c) corporation, drawing its budget from the sale of tickets, sponsorships, advertising, and alumni gifts. And as an ACC school, Tech also receives money as part of a revenue sharing agreement with its conference. Taken together, this revenue pays for the expenditures of an athletics budget, salaries and scholarships included.

POSTED UNDER Athletics.

 On December 2, 2008 the India Club at Georgia Tech held a candleight vigil at the Kessler Campanile to remember the victims of the recent attacks in Mumbai, India.  Several students on the Georgia Tech campus have ties to the Indian state of Maharashtra, and to the city of Mumbai. The India Club wanted to help support those students and their families in the wake of tragedy. All members of the campus community were encouaged to attend the vigil and wear the color white (white is the color of mourning in India).

Over 300 individuals attended the vigil.  Speeches made by  Interim Institute President Gary B. Schuster as well as Georgia Tech alum and President-elect of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Ritesh Desai, expressed sympathy and hope.  The India Club led the crowd in a candle lighting and moment of silence.  The Indian and American national anthems were performed by members of Tech’s a capella groups.

POSTED UNDER Campus Life, Events, GT Culture, Students.