Illustration by Barry Lee.

The world of college dating is a unique thing. It’s a strange hybrid of high school dating where the pool of singletons is so small it’s nearly incestuous. In high school, people date the same people who are always around. In the adult world, dating expands to an entire city. It branches off to people from more diverse backgrounds, different age groups and different social circles. Dating as an adult means a clean slate with every new relationship.

In a college atmosphere you have the chance of meeting someone from a different part of the world with a different perspective. Similar to high school, the college environment enables couples to engage with each other during the school day in and between classes, something that adult-world couples don’t usually have. Finally, what makes the college dating experience unique is the fact that most students live in the same general area. “There’s just something about seeing people naked, and then seeing them the next day in the Hub,” said Cara Mayuski, second-year sculpture student.

For students experiencing their first time away from home, college can offer a variety of new experiences. Curfews don’t exist and students can come and go as they please with whomever they want. Students have most of the luxuries of being an adult without the bulk of responsibility.

At a school like SCAD, this is especially true. With a mostly female student body and a sizable amount of homosexual male students, SCAD’s dating dynamic is a bit complicated. “I think its terrible,” said Codi Glancy, third-year photography student. “Most of the straight guys at SCAD are either jerks or not single.”

For gay males, dating at SCAD can be just as complicated. “I find that a lot of gay men at SCAD are too effeminate for my liking,” said Mario Samayoa, second-year fashion student. “I typically go for more masculine guys, and they’re in short supply here.”

Since SCAD is such a small, tight-knit environment, singletons often find themselves competing over the same people. “Everyone is in a clique [at SCAD],” said Glancy. “Girls and guys within the clique are all dating each other. Typically two girls like one guy and it just becomes drama.”

Young college students are infamous for not wanting to settle into committed relationships. “There are a lot of reasons why male students don’t want to be in relationships,” said Aaron Thompson, fourth-year graphic design student. “You’re away from home, so many girls are giving you attention and you don’t want to settle and stick to one girl.”

The drama of competition and broken hearts isn’t the only thing that prevents students from wanting to date each other. Kadem Abram, fourth-year graphic design student, blames the small community for his reason for not dating. “SCAD is such a small place, so if you’re dating someone, it suddenly becomes everyone’s business,” he said.

Students who manage to date someone exclusively at SCAD experience something really special. “Most college students haven’t been in a real relationship before college,” says Thompson. “Dating at SCAD is a beautiful thing. I’m dating Amie [Brink, third-year photography student] while she is discovering herself as an artist and vice-versa.”

Matt Terrell, Writing Studio Coordinator. Photo by Alexis Blaudeau.

As fall quarter progresses and as students find themselves closer to midterms, most will be faced with submitting required writing assignments for class. Whether the homework calls for research papers, artist statements or creative writing, students have a resource. The Writing Studio is back and here to help.

Students may recall that this resource was not available last spring quarter. The program has been reinstated with Matthew Terrell, a graduate writing student who serves as the Writing Studio coordinator. Assistance is available to all current students. Terrell attended the SCAD Savannah where he received a B.F.A in writing.

Being a SCAD student himself, Terrell understands that art students cannot be taught in the same way as accountants. SCAD students need information presented to them in a more visual way. This knowledge goes hand-in-hand with Terrell’s support of the college’s value statement, expressing the school’s dedication to “going the extra mile.” He knows full well what it is like “when you’re up at three in the morning at Kinko’s and you know 10 people there. Art school is its very own monster.”

Terrell approaches his job with the same energy he applies to the aerobic classes he teaches at Georgia State University. He’s down-to-earth and he too looks forward to the year he won’t have to write another research paper. His purpose is to aid the student body in presenting their creative ideas in the necessary formats whether it be MLA, APA, or Chicago style.

The Writing Studio is open Monday through Friday, and all current students can sign up for an appointment with by visiting http://scad.mywconline.com using their SCAD email and password. Appointments are scheduled in 30-minute slots. Students should come prepared to discuss what they want to get out the session. The student, not Terrell, is responsible for the assignment.

Features editor Erin White in a preview of Facebook's new profile, Timeline.

Since its inception, Facebook has gotten in the habit of making nuanced changes in the way the site operates for users. Typically, users notice adjustments to the homepage where statuses and images are posted. Most recently, Facebook has combined the sections “top stories” and “recent stories,” putting them all in one place. The social network has also added a real-time news feed that offers a summary instead of a detailed account of friends actions. The changes, though small, are usually met with disdain.

“The changes are so stupid,” said Brianna Isbell, first-year fashion design student. “I don’t know why they want to change anything, especially when Facebook was doing fine without it.” Isbell isn’t the only one who shares this view point. Since the new homepage went live, the complaints have been never-ending.

Like the newer social networking site, Google+, Facebook has adapted the practice of lumping cyber friends into categories to optimize control of content sharing and privacy. “I think it’s really interesting that on the same day Google+ went live for everyone, Facebook rolled out their new changes,” said Edanette Marquez, third-year graphic design student.

There are undoubtedly similarities between the social-networking giant and the search engine’s new project. What is exclusive to Facebook is the ability to leave messages on a person’s “wall” and creating events to invite friends to in the real world. What Google+ has exclusively is the “Sparks” sections that highlight different interests ranging from sports and cooking to fashion.

With all the small changes happening on Facebook, there is still one change that hasn’t been made. Facebook’s response to the growing popularity of the younger Google+ is set to release tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 30. The change has been named Timeline. Timeline is a completely restructured profile and works as it sounds — as a timeline. The new profile will document and highlight important life events and accompany them with photos that have already been uploaded. Not only that, but the newest profiles will connect to the new music streaming application Spotify, as well as Netflix and Hulu. The idea is that “friends” will be able to enjoy the same content simultaneously. As far as social networking goes, there has never been anything like this format.

Timeline is available now for anyone with a developer account to preview and explore before it goes live worldwide. The question is, what kind of reception will it receive?

“I think people are really going to like it,” said Eric Anderson, third-year visual effects student. While one student laments about the major change, another one cringes in fear.

“It freaks me out,” says Victory Bagger, first-year photography student. “It’s creepy that so much content is exposed.”

Students must learn to work with their roommates to create an ideal living situation. Photo illustration by Nyasha Mandiveyi.

The idea of sharing the same room with someone you’ve never met is a huge risk for any one to take. Having a roommate comes with the promise of either lifelong friendship or rivalry. You are obligated to get along with that person for as long as you have to live together.

Not only are roommates forced to communicate, there is little privacy and sometimes you just can’t avoid each other. For some, it’s the first time they are sharing personal space with anyone.

Although there is no formula to getting the perfect roommate, there are ways to help alleviate some of the pressure of being assigned a college “roomie.”

SCAD Atlanta uses a software program called Adirondack to help match people’s preferences to a person with similar inclinations. Adirondack considers things like ideal room temperature, whether or not a person smokes and sleep and study habits. Still, some students don’t believe a computer-generated perfect match will guarantee a hassle-free living space. Some students take matters into their own hands.

“To break the ice, I contacted my roommate before we came, to get to know him a little,” said Chioke Shyaam, first-year animation student. “He does bring his girlfriend over sometimes, which can be distracting, but other than that we get along pretty well.”

A rising trend among incoming freshmen is finding roommates on the SCAD Atlanta Facebook page. The page allows you to find out more about potential roommates. The request to become “roomies” is made by the students as opposed to being assigned one.

While some hit the jackpot, others walk away from the experience resentful. “One of my roommates was very two-faced, manipulative and liked to talk down to me,” said Travalia Thurston, third-year fashion design student. “I don’t like people that talk behind my back, but if you mess with me, God help you.”

When conflict arises Student Life (SL) mediates through resident assistants. “We try to work with the students to come to common ground where students can get along.” said Marcus Mister, director of SL. “If that doesn’t work we just switch the students to another room.”

Before sharing a room with anyone, SL advises that students go over the roommate agreement and decide on how to handle issues that may arise.

“When I first met my roommate, I had to pray,” said Kadesh Wyche, second-year fashion marketing student. Although having a roommate comes with its ups and downs, good communication and tolerance are qualities that can make difficult situations end on a positive note. “We don’t have anything in common, so we sat down and talked. Now we are good and I’m still getting to know her.”

Art Deco letter seal made by Neil Miller, recent SCAD graduate.

Born in Portland, Or., Miller spent the earliest moments of his youth there before moving to the Metro Atlanta area at age three. Miller recalls the start of his artist career from his pre-teen years. “I’ve been doodling in sketchbooks since middle school,” said Miller. His interest in art steadily grew during high school, where he attended a magnet arts and science school in the Roswell area. What really sparked Miller’s interesting in the artistic world was what he discovered as a student at DeKalb Technical College. There, he sought a degree in welding, but he wasn’t interested in using those skills the same way other students were. “In my welding classes, everyone else was busy making car parts while I was off making swords and stuff,” said Miller.

It was during his time at DeKalb Technical College that Miller also discovered his passion for 3D work. In a drafting class he learned about Autodesk Inventor, a design tool used for making 3D digital prototypes. This software combined with a 3D printer opened a new door of possibilities and dimension to explore.

Neil Miller.

It wasn’t until a senior portfolio class that Miller realized that he felt more passion about working in the physical 3D form, as opposed to computer rendering. “I went down to Savannah once my portfolio professor saw the metal work I was doing,” said Miller. “I was blown away by their facilities. They have a lot of cool toys.” His enthusiasm and natural talent for industrial design led him to receive special permission from the department to create a final portfolio under a different major.

“I realized I was in the wrong major towards the end of junior year,” said Miller. “I learned a lot from ITGM and the professors, but I was not a fan of programs like MAYA and I missed making tangible objects.” Since graduation, Miller has been working on incredible metal pieces. Some of his must successful pieces include an Art Deco gargoyle letter seal, a pair of stainless steel wolverine claws and an Equalizer revolver that enables target engagement otherwise out of reach. The pieces are immaculate in design and functional to boot. Miller also dabbles in jewelry making on the side.

Miller is quite the Renaissance man — he also writes poems and other works of fiction as a means of expression. Since leaving SCAD, Miller is focused on finding a job that can be fulfilling and also pay off his school loans. His parting advice to students preparing for professional careers is to network and, above all, be yourself. “The closer in proximity you are to people who are where you want to be, the more insecure you feel,” said Miller. “While networking, just remember to be yourself and be confident. Confidence will get you a long way, especially if you have the talent to back it up.”

Life drawing by Jacquelyn Kamback, second-year printmaking student.

Every artist knows what it feels like to be completely devoid of inspiration. Hours of sitting idly wishing for an idea, feeling or color to come to the rescue and help with the creative process. Artists spend hours pumping out rough drafts that are less than spectacular, failing to get across their desired points. Some work without a point at all. As any SCAD student knows, feelings of creativity can be fleeting, and when inspiration comes it is always welcome.

Inspiration can come in multiple forms. In fact, it can come disguised as nearly anything. Some artists feel moved by other works of art and use them as a blueprint. Inspiration can be transferred from one completed work and used to assist works in-progress. Recent SCAD graduate Antonia Matlock, graphic design, cites other artistic expressions as a primary source for inspiration. “As an artist, I use the work of others to help me get ideas,” said Matlock. “I try to take old ideas from many different works and fashion them together as something new.”

This is a common practice many artists use to grasp the elusive feeling of inspiration. Students at SCAD have the luxury of being around impressive creations on a daily basis. Hallways in the 1600 Peachtree building are decorated with the work of students and faculty, and the it’s always being updated. Matthew Smith, third-year television production student, finds that his collegiate surroundings support his creativity. “I draw inspiration wherever I can,” said Smith. “Going to a school where I’m surrounded by art helps to keep me inspired.”

When searching for artistic influences, using things from everyday life seem to be something many students have in common. Some artists use personal interactions and other human behavior to get ideas about what audience to create for, and how to incorporate the human condition into their work. “It sounds weird, but I like to watch people in public and notice how they interact with each other,” said Nora Graven, third-year animation student. “I incorporate realistic human behavior into my animation.”

Music and the natural world can also play a part in developing ideas. Music and sound can evoke strong emotions and memories that an artist can capitalize on, and reformat to their desired medium. Wes Morgan, fourth-year film and television student, credits both manufactured sound and the natural world as some of his greatest sources of inspiration. “I get inspired by so many things, especially God, but I really value the inspiration I get from music and nature around us,” said Morgan. “A lot of my work comes back to my spirituality.”

Creating art is a lot like solving a puzzle without a reference image. The processes become frustrating and can feel impossible, as if there is no solution to be had. Inspiration for creation may be hard to find, yet it also seems that inspiration can be found just about anywhere.

Is Anyone Up? is a revenge-porn website where users can post images of themselves or others.

The Internet used to be, and at times still is, a place of anonymity. Opinions spew from uneducated fingers without consequence through blogs and vlogs alike. But anonymity is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Websites that offer interaction among strangers who are worlds apart, are often automatically linked to either an email account, or more commonly, a Facebook account to personalize and legitimize one’s identity.

The World Wide Web contains more websites for smut than nearly any other topic. Glossy images of perky blondes and brunettes are on constant display for any voyeur. Usually these sirens are out of reach for the common folk, confined to a digital recording or snapshot. That was until Hunter Moore, 25, filled a new void between nudity and anonymity on the Internet.

Moore is the founder and owner of Is Anyone Up? (IAU?), the popular ex-girlfriend revenge-porn website. Jaded lovers post risqué and often explicit images of their exes to offend and humiliate them, often with a running commentary.

The site is set up as a blog that features little text and many images. Moore’s posts mainly consist of young men and women in various states of undress. Each provocative picture includes a headline and screenshot of the featured person’s Facebook profile. Personal details about where the person lives, works and educational background are on display for everyone on the Internet. Entries are enabled for comments where on-lookers rate people’s bodies, dissecting every imperfection. Comments are linked to each commenter’s Facebook account, making their information available as well.

The type of people that are most often showcased on IAU? are a particular breed of young people today: typically tattooed and/or pierced, a blend of potential American Apparel and Hot Topic employees. They are thin, trendy and attractive. Submissions that don’t fit into Moore’s definition of attractiveness are labeled, less pleasantly, as Gnargoyles. Moore updates the site with submissions made by members of popular alternative bands such as Chiodos, Buried in Verona, The Lostprophets, A Sky Lit Drive and A Day to Remember. Moore himself also appears in the nude occasionally. There are even special acknowledgments made to band groupies, accompanied by a list of their alleged affairs.

Surprisingly, the concept behind this kind of a website is perfectly legal for Moore to operate. Forbes Magazine explains that, “Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects site owners from legal liability for the things that their users post.” As the owner, Moore just plays the role of publishing content that is provided by others.

People unwillingly featured on the site who don’t appreciate the attention, can contact Moore to have the images removed. “If someone has a real job, like a school teacher or something, I don’t want to ruin their life,” says Moore to Forbes. “There’s a never-ending supply of photos anyway.”

The flip-side of the vindictive picture submissions is the community of self-submits, where the owner of the pictures requests to have their images published. Former SCAD student, Taylor Hamlin, is one such submission.

“I self-submitted because I was bored,” said Hamilin, 20. “I wasn’t looking for hookups. I just wanted a reaction, and that’s what I got.”

More than 1,000 friend requests as a matter of fact. Like other submitters, Hamlin just sees the site as entertainment and not as something to take seriously. But in the age where employees and colleges use social-networking and Google to evaluate applicants, how long can it just be fun and games? For Hamlin the consequences of her images have been minimal, mostly garnering extra attention from over-sexed males. But for others, a personal “sext” message to a short-lived flame can leave a lasting impact on one’s personal and professional life.

Hands On Atlanta is the largest volunteer organization in Metro Atlanta.

Sweet summer offers the time to relax on sun-kissed beaches, mojito in hand, gazing off into the horizon. If a beachfront vacation isn’t in the budget, Mom and Dad’s living room may provide the landscape. Summer also lends time for giving back to the community in a meaningful and substantial way. For students looking to spend a little time paying their good fortune forward, opportunities to volunteer this summer are endless.

Perhaps the largest volunteer non-profit covering the Metro Atlanta area is Hands on Atlanta (HOA). The organization links individuals and corporations with volunteer jobs ranging from helping those living in poverty and tutoring and mentoring children. HOA has helped arrange over 6.2 million community service hours since it’s inception in 1989.

There are two different ways for HOA volunteers to go about picking an opportunity that is a good fit. One is by perusing the list that HOA creates for individuals to choose from. The other way is through specialized programs. Two of these programs are youth-based. One of the programs, generationOn is geared towards youths age 15 and up who are just beginning their journey as volunteers. The program even allows participants to create their own volunteering opportunities. Another program, Discovery, focuses on tutoring and mentorships of elementary students in 14 Metro Atlanta schools. The two other programs, TeamWorks and springBoard focus on teamwork-driven events and skill-driven events.

Though it is a major organization in Atlanta’s volunteering community, HOA is not the only way students can get involved. The city has many different organizations for every type of person that needs aid. For an animal lover, a position volunteering at the Atlanta Humane Society may just be the thing to fill lazy summer days. Volunteers who are interested in helping at the AHS must attend a volunteering training class that costs $25 and complete a training course with a more experienced volunteer. The AHS has 9 different types of volunteering opportunities ranging from close interactions with the animals to assisting potential adopters in becoming pet foster parents.

WonderRoot is an Atlanta-based non-profit serving artists and creative professionals.

Finally, there is a volunteering organization geared especially towards the artistic soul. WonderRoot is committed to connecting artists with their communities to make a positive impact. WonderRoot works with musicians, photographers, writers and artists from all other mediums. Their objective is to help artists strengthen their own communities through their artistic talent. The company boasts many different work studios including recording studios, ceramic studios, darkrooms and digital media labs. The mission of the organization is for artists to help conduct workshops for other professional artists and young artists-in-training from low-income and at-risk neighborhoods.

These are just a few of the opportunities that are available for students not only during the summer break, but year-round. Unlike a getting a summer job, volunteer work rarely requires past experience and every place offers training. There are many different types of volunteering to fit every type of person.

Get more info:

Hands On Atlanta http://www.handsonatlanta.org/

WonderRoot http://www.wonderroot.org/

Hanging out at Tybee Island. Photo by Erin White.

Now that classes are over and the stress has, hopefully, been washed away from the majority of the student body, it’s time to focus on the upcoming summer break. Summers are often spent roasting under the hot sun, splashing in cool water and relaxing on the beach with sleazy, romantic novels. Then again, some students spend summer inside, glued to their electronics and avoiding human company. This summer, do things a little differently — travel, wear sun protection when out and about and answer your mom’s phone calls.

If vacation plans call for traveling abroad, remember that no one likes an “ugly American” tourist stampeding through their historical hometown. This stereotype classifies Americans as being obnoxious on every front — arrogant, loud, thoughtless and ignorant to the culture they are visiting. A lot of the so-called ignorance can be prevented with a little research on the place in question,  by boning up on customs and social norms for that region. Traveling light can also minimize an obnoxious appearance.

While out and about during the hot summer months, wearing sunscreen becomes vital. However, be advised that sunscreen is not just for warmer weathers, but needed throughout the year. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 should be used year-round, regardless of skin type. They also advise that sunscreen should be applied 15-20 minutes before going outside and then reapplied throughout the day for maximum protection. Skipping on sunscreen is more than just a summer don’t, it’s a year-long don’t.

While there might seem like more pleasure is to be had from spending time goofing off with friends and sleeping, balance is always a good thing. Spending time with loved ones during the summer can actually be more fun than it sounds. Learning mom’s famous recipes or helping dad under the hood of his car are valuable bonding experiences that can’t be had while away at school.

The shiny glare of a computer screen, waiting to suck you in for many mindless hours, is no doubt appealing, especially during summer break, but sometimes it’s necessary to unplug and step away. Getting outside and being more active can improve moods and physical health. More than that, unplugging from the digital world can be a nice change of pace — a chance to spend time in the now.

Still, summer doesn’t have to be all about doing something, again balance is a good thing. This summer, don’t forget to relax too. Simplify your surroundings and relax. Being productive during a time when laziness is an option, is great, but forgetting to enjoy the summer? Now that’s a sin.