The "New" Atlanta

Atlanta, GA is certainly no new city to me. I was born and raised around Atlanta, so I have been exposed to most of the stereotypes that Atlantans face nowadays. For many, Atlanta is not just a commercialized center of the South, but it is home to the majority of crime rates in the state of Georgia. Having lived at Tech for almost a year now, I have viewed more crime alerts sent out by Tech's campus police than I do receiving spam. Focusing primarily on Atlanta, I believe one of the southern stereotypes frequently observed is how people view Atlanta as a dangerous area, home to gangs, robberies, and thieves. However, that is a common stereotype seen in most downtown areas. Consider New York City or even Los Angeles where the number of crimes committed climb each day and are interminable.


On the other hand, Georgia Tech is a prominent university located inside the city of Atlanta, surrounded by crimes everywhere, but inside the campus, the surroundings are different. There is an abundance of diversity seen on campus; students come from all around, both domestically and internationally. It definitely contradicts the point of view most people have on the South--that Southerners are uneducated. Georgia Tech is oftentimes considered the "Ivy League" of the South and ranks as one of the top ten public schools in the nation. There are students majoring from management to electrical engineering, and even to polymer/ textile engineering. The food here also hints a little bit of Southern culture. In the dining halls, fried food is ALWAYS on the menu. It includes everything from fried chicken to fried potatoes all the way to fried peanut butter and jelly. Additionally, stereotypes continue to exist here. Also, many see African-American students simply enrolled here on athletic scholarships, but I have seen African-American students that are majoring in one of the hardest majors offered here, Computer Science. There are dozens of diverse fraternities and sororities offered here. I have seen a Confederate flag hung outside one of the fraternities once, and I had so many interpretations--does it symbolize their pride? Or is there are a sense of racism hidden behind its meaning? Even more amusing is that they were playing hip-hop music in the background. Discrimination continues to be inevitable, but Georgia Tech brings out the diversity in Atlanta. What else does Georgia Tech have to show about its Southern culture? FOOTBALL!!! Yes, attending football games is more than just cheering for your team, but it has become a hobby for Tech students, like for a majority of Southern schools. GO JACKETS!



--
Agnes Ho

Please see map for Georgia Tech's location.
Sources:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pQWdwkLEE
Picture: http://www.gatech.edu/images/splashSports.jpg