Tech Topics - Fall 2008 - (Page 19) STUDENT LIFE Incoming Freshmen Born During Hammer Time (and, yes, you really are that old) M ost of Georgia Tech’s incoming freshmen were born in 1990, the same year MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” moved up the music charts and “Beverly Hills, 90210” debuted on television. At Tech in 1990, President Pat Crecine presented Nelson Mandela the Institute’s first Human Rights Award; the Yellow Jackets basketball team made it to the Final Four; and former Dean of Students George Griffin passed away. The Alumni Association was named the best in the nation for the second year in a row. Shirley Mewborn, EE 56, was president of the Alumni Association and the first woman to serve in the role. Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. On Sept. 18, the International Olympic Committee announced that Atlanta would host the 1996 Summer Games. Also in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was carried into orbit aboard a space shuttle and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released. Joining Hammer on the charts was Vanilla Ice with his “Ice Ice Baby,” but the Grammy for Record of the Year went to Phil Collins for “Another Day in Paradise.” MEET THE FRESHMEN Georgia Tech began its 120th academic year with classes getting under way Aug. 18 with a freshman class of 2,650 arriving on campus. • The freshmen hail from 45 states, the District of Columbia and 41 countries. The most common feeder states outside Georgia are Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Maryland. The most common countries outside the United States are India, China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. • Tech received more than 10,300 applications to join the 2008 freshman class, a 7 percent increase from last year. BLUEPRINT Vanilla Ice emulators were evident on the Georgia Tech campus in 1990. The 1990 best picture Oscar was awarded to “Dances With Wolves,” starring Kevin Costner. Other noteworthy 1990 movies were “Home Alone,” “Pretty Woman” and “Total Recall.” According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in 1990 were Michael, Christopher and Matthew for boys and Jessica, Ashley and Brittany for girls. Those babies are now college freshmen. • Females make up 31 percent of the class, and 20 percent of freshmen are legacy students, with a sister, brother, mother, father or grandparent who attended or graduated from Tech. • There are eight sets of twins in the 2008 freshman class, the same number as last year. • The most common names of incoming female students are Sarah and Elizabeth, with Michael and Christopher being the most popular for males. • University undergraduate housing will be nearly at capacity, with 7,884 students on campus. That’s an increase from 7,482 last year. ANAK Society Celebrating Centennial Within Ranks Since 1908, a select group of Georgia Tech upperclassmen has been making its mark on campus — and since the 1960s, it has been doing so under a veil of secrecy. The ANAK Society now is celebrating its 100th year. According to its Web site, ANAK extends membership to upperclassmen “who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech.” Members originally were “tapped” for selection at semiannual Interfraternity Council dances. In the mid-1960s, the group decided to operate as a secret society. Members remain anonymous until graduation, upon which their names are published in the Technique and on the society’s Web site. For its centennial, ANAK has formed a legacy committee charged with establishing a leadership endowment; a history committee that will compile historical information and artifacts relating to the society; and a celebration committee. In true secret-society fashion, ANAK members could not divulge the dates and times for any of their centennial activities. ANAK alums will be contacted by society members with all of the details. TechTopics | Fall 2008 19
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