Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchange

TODAY'S ISSUE
Applying for college the hip way is on the Internet
By Hailey Williams
Snellville
Special to GwinnettForum.com

JUNE 10, 2003 -- Applying to college is a big part of your senior year. Thanks to an advancement in technology, all of the steps in college application can be taken successfully on the Internet. Through recent years more colleges have chosen this option as the preferred application process.

Applying via a hard copy is still an option. However, on the Internet you get the luxury of tracking your application status. It is also a far easier process, a lot quicker, and more beneficial.

This past September, I applied to Auburn University, Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, and the University of North Carolina. All four colleges I applied to offered and preferred online application.

You fill in the blanks, and send essays as an attached document with your application. Everything is identical to what you would fill out on a hard copy. You can fill out portions of the application and save what you have completed without losing your progress. When you finish, you will be alerted if you have skipped a question or failed to answer any question in the correct format. These bonus features are helpful.

Once everything is completed properly, you send your application and can even pay any fees online. Payment was made by electronic check, credit card or in some cases by a mailed check. Other documents can be sent by mail, such as SAT scores, high school transcripts, teacher recommendations, etc.

By going to each college's web site, you can verify that this school received all your materials and check you application status. You can watch the status change from "Received", to "Processing", to "Accepted/Denied" - all online.

Things have changed so much, even from when my youngest sister started college in 1999. All of this Internet application was barely heard of then and certainly not used as a standard.

Having the option of Internet application is great. Certainly it speeds up the tedious hassle of handwriting the same information over and over. I filled out the personal information section for Auburn, Georgia Tech, UGA, and UNC all in one night. I saved my work for each, then come back the next night and did the high school grades information, plus school and work activities, essays, payment, etc.

Not all applications are the same, but when working on the computer, it is quicker to answer similar questions. This process worked best for me and really would be profitable to anyone with access to a computer.

I know this idea sounds unreal to those who do not frequently use a computer. However this advance is beneficial to everyone. It is quicker to complete for applicants and easier for those processing the information because it is already in the computer system.

There is an additional benefit for online filing. I actually found out I was accepted to the college I'll be attending in the fall, UGA, by going online even before I got the acceptance letter in the mail. This new process is a growing trend and helps ease the stress of applying to college. By having this access, it makes a hectic time more comforting and fun. like it should be!

ELLIOTT BRACK
Norcross vote on mixed drinks opens many questions
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

A referendum coming up June 17 (that's a week away) in Norcross addresses whether the City should allow the sale of mixed drinks in restaurants. Norcross already allows the sale of beer and wine in its restaurants.

The apparent lack of interest in this referendum is what surprises me. You would have thought that there would have been letters-to-this-or-any-editor concerning the sale, coming down on either one side or the other. But no.

It could bode easy sailing for the sale of alcoholic beverages in Norcross. Perhaps the measure will sail easily through.

This proposal comes as Norcross has seen new interest in the city from a group of citizens calling themselves the "City of Norcross Homeowner's Association." Many of the leaders in this group are relative newcomers to the city, as they have put forth an agenda which they label as "progressive," including backing the calling of this referendum.

The Association argues, as do the restaurants themselves, that they need the added profits that mixed drinks would bring. They also say it will help the revitalization efforts. This may be so.

Yet restaurants knew of regulations of the city when locating there. And from the crowds that you see at downtown Norcross at many times, (try to find a parking space), it appears that they do a good business. Granted, all would like to do better, and mixed drinks might be the answer for them.

… Will more police be required for the city to deal with the increased traffic and incidents? Would this mean a tax increase?

… Will parking and traffic be an even greater problem?

… Will there be chances that the new ordinance could lead to further changes in the rules, such as extending restaurants into night clubs, or adult entertainment?

… Think, too, of more than downtown Norcross. Would additional night life activities spring up on Buford Highway, Beaver Ruin Road, even Peachtree Industrial Boulevard?

These questions, and more, have not, and may not be able, to be answered. Yet you wonder.

Another disappointment: the lack of voice from area churches. From at least two churches, we have heard of: "vote your conscience" coming from the pulpit. It makes you wonder if ministers realize that many of their members drink alcohol. Or why else would they take such a "soft" stand on this? Where are the traditional opponents of alcohol of the past who would speak out against the evils of drink?

All this is to say: we question the advisability of approving this referendum in Norcross. We will vote against it, if for no other reason, we are not convinced it's all that much needed----not by the restaurants---but by the citizens of Norcross.

As an aside, as an editor, we seek to have a free and open discussion of any issues for the benefit of the community. That's why this is appearing on June 10, with one more issue of GwinenttForum coming up - - the issue of June 13 - - before the referendum. This allows anyone who wants to address this issue to speak before the June 17 vote. In case you don't understand fully, it's part of the "being fair" aspect of publishing.

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FEEDBACK

6/10: Says he notified editor the article was not his

Please refer to the attached copy of a message I sent to you before you published the article on use of the English language. I see that someone has protested your attributing that article to me, correctly. Since I also indicated to you that I did
not write the article, prior to your publication of it, I would appreciate your notifying your readers that I asked you not to attribute the article to me.
Please let me know when you have done so.

-- Richard Nickelson, Honolulu, Hawaii

6/10: Agrees school safety officers best under chief

Editor, the Forum:

Your analysis of the role of a principal-supervised school safety officer makes plenty of sense to me.

For 32 years I taught school. I have worked for 3.5 years in a Georgia high school wherein school safety officers were intimidated by an unscrupulous principal to hide serious student disciplinary incidents and her mistakes.

Fortunately, our superintendent removed from her position this principal in whom I had no confidence. He also changed our school police organization so that officers no longer worked for the principals of the schools to which they were assigned. Our superintendent placed our school police officers under a chief who answers to the an assistant superintendent.

Happily, she is no longer a principal in this- or any other- state.

-- Dr. Craig Spinks, Augusta

6/10: Says Congressman Scott overreacts to FCC rulings

Editor, the Forum:

Congressman David Scott is over-reacting to the recent FCC ruling on TV and radio station ownership for the following reasons.

First, there have always been ways to get around the rules. Surely Congressman Scott is aware that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSB-TV, WSB-AM and many other radio stations in Atlanta have been owned for many years by the same family and various closely-related corporations.

Second, I had the same concerns when large media groups started buying up newspapers around the country, but my concerns turned out to be unfounded. The vast majority of those big companies left editorial and news control in the hands of local editors and publishers.

Probably, Congressman Scott's real fear is of the trend toward conservative talk radio. But that trend is being brought on by ratings and listener wants -- not by corporate agenda. Like any other business, they will give their customer (the listener) what he/she wants.

If there ever is a demand for liberal talk radio the airways will be filled with it. It is not there today because the majority of people don't want to listen to it.

-- Myles Godfrey, Winder

UPCOMING
Mini Taste of Norcross to benefit Rainbow village

Three restaurants in downtown historic Norcross are hosting a mini-taste of Norcross this Saturday in Thrasher Park in Norcross. They are providing "tastes" of their menu at reduced prices from 1 to 4 p.m. and will have entertainment in the park from 1 to 5 p.m.

All proceeds go to Rainbow Village. Participating restaurants are Paizano's, Dominick's and The Norcross Tavern.

Rainbow Village offers transitional housing for families in crisis. There are homes in Norcross and Duluth. Rainbow Village seeks to break the cycle of helplessness by building self-sufficient families. For information, go to:
www.rainbowvillage.org.

Electromagnetic Sciences' Hansen to address Tech Forum

President and Chief Executive Officer of EMS Technologies, Inc. and retired four-star U.S. Air Force General Al Hansen will be special guest speaker for the June 17 Gwinnett Technology Forum. The forum will be at 7 a.m. at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce building located at 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Technology companies, members and interested
guests are invited to this special presentation.

General Hansen will provide an overview of EMS Technologies, including the company's technology role that helped bring a speedy conclusion to the war n Iraq.

Jim Maran, vice-chair, Economic Development for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, says: "EMS is a defined market leader with a corporate profile that accepts technological challenges and creates superior product portfolios to meet those requirements. We are pleased to have an individual with Al Hansen's credentials addressing the June 17th, GTF session. He is a recognized global leader with a vision for adapting and creating organizations that exceed market conditions."

EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The Company is headquartered in Norcross, employs
approximately 1,700 people worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in Norcross, Montreal, Ottawa and Brazil. For more information, visit EMS at www.ems-t.com.

The Gwinnett Technology Forum is held every third Tuesday of the month. Networking, mentoring, and interchange of innovative business development strategies and other ideas are all part of this interactive group.

For more information, contact Alicia Krogh at (770) 232-8809 or alicia@gwinnettchamber.org