Alumni Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 5) VIEWPOINT<<< The Millennials Generation Joseph P. Irwin, IM 80, Publisher John C. Dunn, Editor Kimberly Link-Wills, Managing Editor Leslie Overman, Assistant Editor Everett Hullum, Design What is the most important issue facing the country today? Most people would probably answer “the economy.” And for good reason — everywhere we look, the economic news is bleak. The stock market is declining. Housing prices and new construction are falling. Jobs growth is weak (and that may be overstating the reality). Consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of gross domestic product, is declining. Interest rates are falling. The mortgage mess is spreading. We have inflation in energy costs, which drive other costs up too — notably food and transportation. It’s not a pretty picture. And to top it all off, we have the medical community telling us that we’re all obese. Man, things are bad! Well, one of the things I’ve learned about our country is that we all believe that we can make things better. It might take a little time but we can overcome. My view is that by and large Americans are a positive lot. And I think that mentality is what sustains us through tumultuous times. This new generation of students, the “millennials” as the marketing wonks like to call them, is a generation of believers too. Georgia Tech is focused on bringing the best out of this new generation by providing an educational and life experience par excellence. Oh yes, it’s a long way from drownproofing and standing in line to register for classes but believe me, it is no less rigorous. In fact, it’s probably harder intellectually today than it ever was before. But these kids are smarter and more focused too — including my own two millennials. All of which is good reason for you to continue to support the mission of Georgia Tech. As alumni, we enjoy the benefit of Tech’s great reputation today even though the school is a far better institution now than when we matriculated here. Alumni Association Executive Committee C. Meade Sutterfield, EE 72 Chair Janice N. Wittschiebe, Arch 78, M Arch 80 Past Chair William J. Todd, IM 71 Chair-elect/Finance Joseph W. Evans, IM 71 Vice Chair for Roll Call Thomas Davenport III, IM 84 Terry Graham, IM 69 Sonya C. Rush, ChE 81 Members At Large Joseph P. Irwin, IM 80 President Advertising Jim Shea (404) 894-0764 • E-mail: jim.shea@alumni.gatech.edu Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine (ISSN: 1061-9747) is published quarterly (Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring) for contributors to the annual Roll Call of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, 190 North Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Georgia Tech Alumni Association allocates $10 from a contribution toward a year’s subscription to its magazine. Periodical postage paid at Atlanta, GA and additional mailing offices. © 2008 Georgia Tech Alumni Association Main Number (404) 894-2391. Joseph P. Irwin, President Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, 190 North Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Editorial phone (404) 894-0750/0760. Fax (404) 385-4637. E-mail: editor@alumni.gatech.edu; gtalumni.org. Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine • Spring 2008 5 http://gtalumni.org http://gtalumni.org
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