The Arka Tech Newspaper Vol.92 Issue 01

ARKATECH THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923

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A R K A N S A S T E C H U N I V E R S I T Y / / T H U R S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 • V O L . 9 2 N O . 0 1

Weather does not slow construction on Brown SIERRA MURPHY Staff Writer

Despite weather delays, the latest addition to Arkansas Tech University’s campus, Brown Hall, is expected to be completed in November 2015, well before its original February 2016 projected completion date.

CDI Contractors, the company overseeing the construction of Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall, broke ground in March 2014 and estimated it’d take 520 total construction days to complete the project.

“We knew it was going to be a twenty two to twenty four month project,” said Galen Rounsaville, Tech construction manager. “But with weather and material delivery delays, progress was slowed.

It was the regular stuff we expected to happen.”

The combination of snow and rain is the main reason CDI Contractors has been slowed in terms of production.

“It was a timing factor,” said Travis Britain, superintendent for CDI Contractors. “Weather was our major downfall on production and completion.”

Expected weather delays aside, Britain said the project is beginning to come together, and he remains confident about its completion.

“We’re toward the ending stages,” said Britain.

“I feel strong about the outcome—I really do.”

(see BROWN page 4 )

"I feel strong about the outcome — I really do" SIERRA MURPHY /THE ARKA TECH Brown Hall is currently under construction to accomodate not only students but teachers as well , including state of the art features like raised floors for computer wires and removable tiles.

-Travis Britain Superintendent for CDI Contractors

Get educated about health, wellness

RYAN HARMON Staff Writer

Arkansas Tech University’s Health and Wellness Center has expanded its event calendar, to include more opportunities for students to get educated about health and wellness.

October's theme is "Be Informed," and it features mass flu clinics from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Oct. 1 in Room 203 of BazTech, and 9 a.m.3 p.m. on Oct. 7 in Room 204 of BazTech.

1 p.m. on Oct. 8 in BazTech Rooms 203 and 204 for "National Depression Screening Day."

Depression screenings will take place 11 a.m.-

(see HEALTH page 4 )

"We were really hoping to engage them, so they would know that we're here on campus, and they would know our faces, if they need us," said Rebecca Gray, director of Health Services.

Each month will have a specific theme, to which the events will relate. Some of the themes follow various national awareness months.

"We tried to see what was recognized nationally each month and select programs that went along with that theme," Gray said.

September's theme is "Be Well," and it features programs relating to wellness and body image, such as "Eating Disorder/Body Image Program" from 3-4 p.m. on Sept. 23 in Room 202 of BazTech, and "Yoga On The Lawn," on Sept. 16 on the Bell Tower lawn. A specific time has not yet been announced for this event.

CLAUDIA HALL/THE ARKA TECH The Health and Wellness Center offers many opportunities for students through events and the center itself.

INDEX News.............................1 Opinions.......................2 Sports............................7 Photos...........................8 RENOVATIONS PAGE 4

ART WALK PAGE 5

CAMPUS LUAU PAGE 8

PAGE 2 | Opinion

Vinyl – Hear the difference, feel the difference

RYAN HARMON/STAFF WRITER

RYAN HARMON Staff Writer The argument has been around for decades: Does music really sound better on vinyl? The answer to that question depends on who you ask, and to me, it's not a simple answer.

It must first be considered how the music was recorded.

For instance, many artists are choosing to release new albums on vinyl; however, if the music was recorded digitally, like most modern music, then does the vinyl sound any better than the CD, or the digital download?

When people talk about the superior sound quality of vinyl, they're referring to albums recorded in analog fashion, as opposed to digital.

Perfect example: I have Bob Seger's classic album, "Live Bullet," on two formats: vinyl and digital download.

I can tell the difference between the two. The digital download has a certain thinness to the sound, and it feels like a left/right stereo mix, whereas the vinyl sounds fuller and creates the feeling that the band is performing around you.

As far as vinyl superiority goes, the reason I've found doesn't actually relate to the sound quality, but rather how the songs were sequenced. If you listened to Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" on a CD, you would hear the album from beginning to end, without any pause.

When you listen to the vinyl version, however, you get the full emotional

effect of the album.

Side one ends with "Songbird," an emotional ballad. As the final notes fade out, you're left with time to reflect as you get up to turn the record to side two. "The Chain" opens up side two, and the feeling gets a little more intense, as if you're halfway through a great movie, and the plot's starting to thicken.

Is the sound quality better than the CD? Of course. But the sound quality isn't what makes the difference.

These classic albums were recorded to fit perfectly in a vinyl format.

They're not just collections of great songs. They all work together as one piece.

There are special remastered versions of many classic albums available on newly-pressed vinyl. They run in the $20-$30 range, and some of them sound great. That being said, you shouldn't have much trouble finding an original pressing of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" or Seger's "Live Bullet" for a $5 bill any day of the week.

No matter how good the remastered reissues are, they'll never replace having the original pressings—in my eyes.

I'm afraid my generation might never understand the concept of listening to an album the way it was intended.

Perhaps this is part of the reason why album sales aren't what they once were. It's not about the radio singles. It's about the songs inbetween.

Editorial: ed·i·to·ri·al

[ed-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] noun: An article that represents the official viewpoint of a newspaper on a topic of public interest.

Can North El Paso be Tech’s Dickson Street?

EDITORIALS The Arka Tech

demolishing, and rebuilding will be a necessity.

During her inauguration speech last semester, Dr. Robin Bowen’s hopeful remarks about turning North El Paso into Russellville’s version of Dickson Street sent a buzz through the student body, particularly on Twitter, where instant affirmation is granted in the form of a yellow Favorite star.

Also necessary: legalizing alcohol sales within the city. Currently, this is unlikely based purely on the conservative makeup of the area’s demographic. Things will change as time passes, but we could be looking at a lengthy wait before the booze begins to flow west of Conway County. Voters bear just as much responsibility as the policy makers when it comes to money spending and money making.

When students heard about her statement, tweets lauding her and the possibility of Russellville’s own Dickson Street rolled in. These tweets, more likely than not, were from those who’ve spent a few nights out on Fayetteville’s main strip and are eager to bring that singular revelry to our city. And who could blame them? Dickson Street is everything most college students consider a large, if not the largest, part of the college experience. The food is killer.

Shopping outlets abound. Its music venues pull in talent from across the state and country, and students flock.

The bar scene rivals, and in many aspects surpasses, Little Rock’s River Market. From higher-end microbrews made locally to your standard Whatever Light in a can, the UofA populace is brought out in force whether it’s refund check time or Taco Bell for the third night straight.

So of course Tech students (and anyone not of Puritan ilk) want this for our community. But while making Bowen’s “cultural center” a reality is possible, for now the idea is just that: an idea.

North El Paso Avenue stretches about a mile to Main Street and the downtown area. That’s roughly a 20 minute walk. The heart of that walk leads one through a rather unglamorous residential area. Last time we checked, defunct-looking houses were not a part of Dickson Street’s allure. Tech already owns some real estate on North El Paso— including lots and houses on North Denver Avenue and an apartment complex on West L Street—but to turn the area into a cultural hub students would actually spend time and money at, expansive purchasing,

Bowen said she’s been encouraged by the city’s development on North El Paso so far, but this work is small ball. Street and sidewalk work may be a foundation, nascent steps leading to a goal many years and dollars away. But time and money appear to be on our side. From 2003-2013, Tech was ranked top-10 nationally in student growth among master degree-granting universities. The more students, the more money the university must spend on expansion.

And what better way to expand than the idea Bowen at least nominally put forth.

The initial financial burden would have to be carried both by Tech and the city of Russellville, but if student growth continues to increase at a similar pace, the kickback would be well worth it for both entities.

North El Paso would draw prospective students to Tech, and these students would in turn generate tax revenue for the city. Bowen also implored students to show grit in their academic perseverance during her speech. This same determination applies to our university’s decision makers. Tech’s administration will have to show grit in its planning and execution to develop “our town’s version of Dickson Street” into anything more than a convenient idea meant to capture student’s attention.

Summer of gaming: The highs and lows MATTHEW EMERY Staff Writer

this game was lost in purgatory and would never be heard from again.

This summer was an interesting one for video games. It was a nonstop steam-engine supplying enjoyment, anger and sadness for the entire gaming industry. Earlier this year, 2015 seemed like it would be a fine year for gaming, but following summer events, it turned into a year that will not be soon forgotten.

Following that blockbuster was another, the beloved JRPG “Final Fantasy VII.” It’s getting remade, a complete overhaul with next generation graphics. “Final Fantasy VII” is a pretty big piece of gaming history, and is considered the greatest role-playing game of all time by many.

It's only appropriate that we start things off with the biggest gaming event of the year, E3 2015, which took place mid-June in Los Angeles. Sony stole the show and refused to let up.

They trotted out their first party “The Last Guardian,” which was originally revealed at E3 2009 and not heard of since.

This was a pretty big shock considering every year since its original unveiling, fans have submitted to the idea that

Originally released in 1997, the game will be returned to with much anticipation. Developer Square-Enix has not yet issued a release window for “Final Fantasy VII Remake.”

Finally, when fans thought nothing could top this conference, Sony introduced Yu Suzuki, creator of the beloved “Shenmue” franchise.

“Shenmue” had two previous entries, the first in 1999, and its sequel in 2003.

The game has a diehard fan base still yearning to see the conclusion of the

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

SEPHIROTH/FANPOP.COM

story.

Suzuki announced that “Shenmue 3” was finally happening if the Kickstarter amount could be met. Needless to say, fans had the Kickstarter goal funded in less than 24 hours, and it finished with over six million dollars raised.

The stories of the summer did not

all revolve around E3, though, as rumors and allegations ran wild regarding the once dominant video game development and publishing company Konami. The creator of the “Metal Gear” franchise, Hideo Kojima, was relieved of his duties at

(see GAMING page 3)

Opinion | PAGE 3

MAN ON THE STREET Why did you choose

Arkansas Tech?

"Because of the small campus...It's more affordable and there's more of a family atmosphere here" John Sise Freshman Biology Greenwood

"Because of the fisheries and wildlife program" Jonathan Harris Freshman Fisheries and Wildlife Science Alma

"The scholarship they gave me was better than UCA and it's more involved & friendly than the others" Amber Chirstensen Freshman Fisheries and Wildlife Science Fort Smith

"It was a free ride and everywhere else wasn't" Kalin Williams Freshman Management and Marketing Stuttgart

"My brother goes here and I like the campus" Naomi Rheingans Freshman Undeclared Rogers

"It had a good location, good price, and scholarship" Dakota Aaron Freshman Electrical Engineering Alma

Let us fall CLAUDIA HALL Managing Editor

As a child, my curfew was sunset.

I didn’t have a cell phone, and my mom didn’t confine me to our front yard. I was allowed to go across our neighborhood on my Razr scooter to see my friend without my mom calling the cops. A lot has changed in the past decade.

I’ve babysat for a lot of families in my life. It’s given me a front row seat to see different types of parenting and has made me think about how I will raise my children.

I’ve seen the self-conscious mother that wants her kids to like her, so she lets them do whatever they want. Then there’s the eye-twitching, OCD father who never lets the house be a mess and makes a big deal over every scraped knee.

But every once in a while, I came across a happy-go-lucky mom that knows how to discipline her children but isn’t so worried about how they will turn out.

(GAMING from page 2 ) the corporation.

This came as a pretty huge shock as “Metal Gear” has always been Konami’s bread winner, and Kojima himself played a very important role to the company.

Both sides still refuse to comment on the situation, leaving imaginations running rampant as to what happened.

To make matters worse, Konami scrubbed Kojima’s name from the company completely, going as far as removing his name from the box of his newest release, “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain,” which is the climax of his 30 year series.

The nightmare summer for Konami continued into early August, when an employee spoke out to Nikkei, a Japanese news source, about the flat-out immoral work environment regulated by the company.

According to the report, developers working on “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” were forced into an office with no internet connection, and could only send messages to each other.

CLAUDIA HALL/THE ARKA TECH

There’s no right way to parent.

Every child is different, so you have to adapt to the child and find what works. The problem is parents are no longer adapting.

Arkansas Challenge Scholarship

There are thousands of parenting books on feeding your kids organic food and not giving them vaccines and alternative ways to discipline them. But how does that author know how your child will react?

loan process by myself, but my

Our society makes us believe we have to abide by one way of parenting, so our children will grow up to be respectable adults that get a full education. But the more we control children and plan their lives before they’ve reached five years old, the more they want to rebel against those plans.

decided not to. I would never

My freshman year of college, I transferred from the University of Arkansas to Arkansas Tech.

I had enough scholarships to cover my tuition, which was incredible.

up by our parents. They slowly

A month into the semester, I realized I never told the Employees who were late or took a long lunch break were publically shamed through an intercom system throughout the entire building.

Cameras were also installed to track movements and actions of the employees during the work day, as opposed to security.

The report goes on to list several other downright degrading and demoralizing claims. There’s no word on if these reports are true, or if they stem from a disgruntled employee with an axe to grind.

Lastly was the death of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata at the age of 55.

Iwata began working in video games more than 30 years ago, while still attending university.

In 2002 he became the fourth president of Nintendo, and the first that wasn’t of the Yamauchi bloodline.

Iwata brought something to the table that had not been seen before. He himself was a character, which made him such a great fit for Nintendo.

Iwata proved that the man behind the scenes in the business suit

I transferred. I lost $1,000 and didn’t know what I was going to do. I went through the entire parents were there for me to talk to.

Later, they told me they were very close to helping but complain about having parents who caught me when I fell, but there is something so rewarding and important about figuring out your problems by yourself.

During childhood, we are lifted teach us to lift ourselves up. If our parents never let us fall, who will catch us when we are on our own?

doesn’t have to be made of stone.

He loved gaming and interacting with fans.

He even helped bug-test “Super Smash Bros. Melee” when his actual position in the company at the time was much above that of a bug-tester.

This is a tradition his competitors, Sony and Microsoft, would adopt as they discovered the best way to run their business is to be directly involved in it.

The industry came together as a whole after Iwata’s death and remembered him in beautiful fashion. Although he is gone, his impact on the industry will always remain.

These, along with stories such as the abysmal PC release of “Batman: Arkham Knight;” Time magazine scaring everyone away from virtual reality; a resurgence of once great games like “Rock Band” and “Tony Hawk Pro Skater;” and the announcement of “Fallout 4;” culminated to create a memorable summer.

After all, it had to be busy when the last thing mentioned is “Fallout 4.”

If you're interested in writing for The Arka Tech, or just want to come to one of our meetings to see what we're all about, email us at arkatech@atu.edu.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

PAGE 4 | News

Series connects Tech students with local professional leaders JENN TERRELL Managing Editor The Department of Campus Life is hosting a Lunch with a Leader series throughout the fall and spring semesters. This is the second year the department has held the series of round table discussions that offer students a chance to engage with seasoned professionals from a variety of fields.

event,” Holt said. “Just show up and participate in the conversation. Lunch is served on a first come, first served basis.”

Guest speakers this fall include Pope County Judge Jim Ed Gibson at 11 a.m. on Sept. 24, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 and a panel of local African American business owners at 12 p.m. on Nov. 2.

Director of Campus Life and event organizer Aubrey Holt said this is a great way to offer students the opportunity to meet someone who has found success in their professional field of interest and learn about their leadership style.

All of the fall lunches will be held in Doc Bryan 242. Speakers will discuss a brief history of their professional career, detail the duties of their current position, discuss their philosophy on leadership and answer questions from the audience.

“No sign up is needed to attend the actual

One guestspeaker or panel will speak each month.

Fall 2015: September, October and November.

WWW.ATU.EDU

Spring 2016: February, March and April.

The first round table discussion in fall 2014 featured Susie Nicholson, VP of Student Services; Dr. John Watson, VP of Academic Affairs; and Dr. Robin Bowen, President.

Last spring featured Jeff Pipkin, President of the Russellville Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Mary Gunter, Dean of the College of Education and the Graduate College; and Amy Pennington, Dean of Students.

For more information or to suggest a future speaker, please contact Aubrey Holt, Director of Campus Life at 479-968-0276 or aholt7@atu.edu or visit http://www.atu.edu/ leadership_programs/lunchwithaleader.php.

Housing renovations boost for students ASHLEY PEARSON Staff Writer Planned and unplanned renovations took place in seven of Arkansas Tech’s 18 halls this summer, including the addition of wireless internet to two halls.

Last November a budget of $4.67 million was approved for spending on hall renovations over the next three years. Approved renovations include the addition of fire sprinkler systems, wireless internet and other renovations.

Both Brown and Caraway had wireless internet and new fire sprinkler systems installed.

Wilson Hall was taken offline for the year for a complete update. By 2017, all 18 housing facilities will have wireless internet.

Tech’s construction manager, Galen Rounsaville, said Wilson will receive new carpet in some areas, a sprinkler system and new storm windows. The rooms will be patched and painted, and a chiller boiler system will replace radiators.

Jones and Roush, though it was unplanned, had repairs on its chiller boiler system after it went out in July.

A new roof and chiller boiler system were

(BROWN from page 1 ) Once completed, Brown Hall is expected to be a focal point for Tech.

“I think this is going to be a trendsetter for the university,” Rounsaville said.

“It will have the capabilities of being able to accommodate any new ������ freshmen no matter the kind of atmosphere or high school they are coming out of.”

The university has been mindful of the future of the classroom and applied those expectations to the construction of Brown. Its ten classrooms are all being built with raised floors to accommodate computer wires that will run under the removable tiles.

LIZ CHRISMAN/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS The renovations include 18 buildings, one of which is Nutt Hall. Nutt hall got new paint in all of its rooms, lobbies, the office of the resident director and the conference room. Room and safety signs were also upgraded. added to Paine Hall.

University Commons buildings A, B, C, D and F received furniture, appliances and paint.

is built to where we’re not being trendy, but we’re not married to any set of specific teaching methods.”

Want to be involved with

Brown Hall will also house student service facilities such as admissions, student accounts, financial aid and the registrar’s office. Other offices include human resources, payroll and budget.

Writers, photographers and designers are welcome.

“I think it’s going to be important for students, not only for their administrative things they need to do,” said David Moseley, senior vice president for administration and finance. "But I also think the classrooms are going to be state of the art, and they’re going to add a lot to the academic instruction of campus.”

“Any classroom is adaptable to any professor that walks in there,” Rounsaville said. “Every one of them

Moseley and Rounsaville both expect Brown to be occupied by spring 2016.

(HEALTH from page 1 )

Touch? Preventing Sexual Assault Workshop" from 3-4 p.m. on Nov. 5 in Room 202 of BazTech, and "Wrap It Up: STD and Pregnancy Prevention Workshop" from 3-4 p.m. on Nov. 18 in BazTech Room 202.

"Ask a Nurse," will be featured in the Young Ballroom from 3-4 p.m. on Oct. 12, when students will have the opportunity to ask any questions they have about health and wellness.

At all of the events leading up to the program, students will be able to submit questions discretely by writing them down and putting them in a box. At the program, all of the questions will be read and answered.

November's theme is "Be Sexy," and it features programs related to safe sex and preventing sexual assault such as "Should We Talk Before We

Nutt Hall got new paint in all of its rooms, lobbies, the office of the resident director and the conference room. Room and safety signs were also upgraded.

There will also be a "Test Anxiety Workshop” from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 10 in BazTech Room 202.

"Our main goal is to keep students healthy, or bring them to a healthier state, that way they can succeed in their whole college experience," Gray said.

For a complete, detailed listing of events, visit www.atu.edu/hwc.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

The Arka Tech?

Meetings are Mondays at 3:30 p.m. in CES 140

The Arka Tech

GENERAL POLICY

Managing Editors:

News stories printed in The Arka Tech must be accurate, fair and as unbiased as possible. Any mistakes in fact found in an issue of The Arka Tech will be corrected in the first possible issue. Opinions expressed in The Arka Tech are not necessarily the opinions of Arkansas Tech University or its students. Individual copies of The Arka Tech are free to members of the Tech community.

Contact the adviser for pricing of multiple copies.

RYAN SMITH JENN TERRELL CLAUDIA HALL Staff Writers: SIERRA MURPHY ASHLEY PEARSON RYAN HARMON SAM HOISINGTON MATTHEW EMERY

CONTACT US Office: Energy Center 138 General email: arkatech@atu.edu Ads email: arkatech.ads@atu.edu

AMBER QUAID Faculty Advisor: TOMMY MUMERT

THE

ARKATECH

Entertainment | PAGE 5

PHOTOS BY JENN TERRELL /THE ARKA TECH TOP LEFT: Tech English grad student Larissa Gudino holds the magazine she created.

TOP RIGHT: Tech cheer squad performs for audience.

LEFT and RIGHT: A variety of artwork was on display during the quarterly downtown art walk.

THE ART WALK

PHOTOS BY JENN TERRELL /THE ARKA TECH ABOVE: Tech alumni Nick Hancock teaches pottery classes atThe Studio at A Conversation Piece.

PHOTOS BY JENN TERRELL /THE ARKA TECH ABOVE: Tech alumni Tiffany Willis shows "Locally Grown" shirts for sale.

LEFT: Clay Harmon, Tech alumni, plays guitar outside of Penny University.

BELOW: Artists across Russellville showcased their work.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

PAGE 6 | Feature

Tech’s new media gatekeeper

Carrie Phillips

LIZ CHRISMAN PHOTO COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

SAM HOISINGTON

Staff Writer An early summer afternoon finds Carrie Phillips and I sitting in her second floor Browning Hall office, right off the University Relations video studio. Phillips is the Director of New Media, and I am unsure of what that means.

As we begin talking about her work, one thing becomes clear: You can’t really pin down Phillip’s job, because it changes too often. Phillips is a woman on the move, always on the cusp of something new.

As the Director of New Media for Tech, she manages all the official Arkansas Tech social media accounts. And her skills have been met with reward. Phillips’ innovative Meet Jerry Instagram takeover posts received an award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. A GoPro video of Jerry was featured on socialmediaforcolleges.com earlier this year.

answering questions brought on by inclement weather. The nature of her work keeps her plugged in well past traditional office hours.

focusing on doing a lot more of the digital side of things, and the idea of that’s really where the future was for this company,” Phillips said.

“You can’t work at your alma mater if you don’t love it,” explains Phillips.

The Hearst executive would then go on to tell her that the company’s research predicted the number of local news stations would be cut in half over the next fifteen years.

Her enthusiasm for her job and her alma mater are apparent even as she describes late nights of updating Arkansas Tech followers on weatherrelated closures and finding the answers to questions about how extracurricular events will be affected.

Phillips also produces videos for Tech. These videos include campus event coverage and interviews with various students, faculty and staff. In this, too, Phillips excels. A touching video that she shot during a graduation ceremony was featured on The Today Show in December 2013.

“Our goal is to make that dog [Jerry] the most photographed dog in the South,” Phillips tells me as she hands me her iPhone.

Phillips began her video production work as an undergraduate at Tech. After her bachelor’s degree, Phillips joined Hearst Television as a News Producer. It was here she realized the growing importance of “new media”.

Managing the university’s web presence consists of more serious matters, too. Phillips is also responsible for posting university closings and

“The Hearst Vice President came in and talked about how Hearst was changing from Hearst Television to Hearst Digital Media and really

“Hearst was realigning their strategy,” she said.

“And that was kinda my ‘ah-hah’ moment. The way people interact is very much changing.”

When the opportunity to join the University Relations opened in August of 2008, Phillips made the switch from traditional media to new media.

Phillips continues to think of innovative ways to engage people on behalf of Tech. In addition to her social media and video production prowess, Phillips also uses tech-savvy tools such as virtual tour technologies and website heat mapping, which helps her track what is most important to users of the Tech website.

These tools and extensive research by university relations and the office of information services were used in the redesigned Arkansas Tech website, which was announced in August of this year.

University begins strategic planning SAM STRASNER University Relations Arkansas Tech University has embarked upon a renewed strategic planning process that will provide the institution with a guiding set of goals and ambitions for the next fiveplus years.

“Strategic planning must be a grass roots effort,” said Arkansas Tech President Dr. Robin E. Bowen. “We need participation from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners. We need to engage in meaningful conversations about the future we want for Arkansas Tech.

One of my favorite things about working on a university campus is we have a large population of very smart people.

Those people have transformative ideas. There will be more ideas than resources, but we will make difficult decisions as the process unfolds with an ultimate goal of creating a framework for continued and enhanced student success.”

One of the individuals at the forefront of the process is Dr. Jason Warnick. A member of the Arkansas Tech faculty since 2006, Warnick is serving as chair of the strategic planning committee.

“Every so often, a major organization like a university or a business needs to set time aside to evaluate how they will move forward,” said Warnick, associate professor of psychology and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Arkansas Tech. “That’s where we are at Arkansas Tech right now. We are at a time when we have a new administration on board, and we’re also part of a changing landscape in higher education.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Sports | PAGE 7

Tech honors fallen teammate with win MATTHEW EMERY Staff Writer The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys lined up 10 players on the first play of its 62-14 Sept. 3 win at Southern Nazarene to honor former defensive lineman Zemaric Holt. Holt died in July at the age of 21.

Tech players wear ZH on their helmets, and the team keeps Holt’s jersey on the sideline. Although it appeared the Wonder Boys were a man short defensively, Holt was right there with them.

They proved just that by forcing a fumble and recovering it for a touchdown eight seconds into the game.

“It was a big ordeal on the sidelines,” head coach Raymond Monica said. “Who would ever dream of that? That’s something movies are made of. It’s very fitting to an outstanding young man.

Monica added, “The last time some of those guys wore that white jersey was at the funeral, so this was our way to honor him. It’s a lot bigger than football—it’s about honoring him.”

To add to an already emotional game, Logan Genz, a senior from West Fork, made history by breaking university record for most career tackles, churning out a three-tackle game.

“It’s unbelievable to have somebody like him who has made so many plays and is a tremendous

WWW.ATU.EDU

leader on and off the field,” Monica said.

The Wonder Boys went on to score 52 unanswered points after the opening defensive touchdown.

Tech’s ground game was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 469 rushing yards. Bryan Allen and Brayden Stringer had more than 130 rushing yards each, and combined with Arsenio Favor, Kristian Thompson, and JaMarcus Walker, they accounted for six rushing touchdowns.

The Wonder Boys look to keep it rolling this Saturday at Buerkle Field at Thone Stadium for their home opener at 6 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist.

Golden Suns go 2-2 in Texas UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Arkansas Tech University opened its 2015 volleyball season by winning two matches and losing two matches at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic in Denton, Texas, on Friday and Saturday.

Katie Huff and Kaylee Konsella added nine kills apiece for the Golden Suns. Alyssa Kool made 28 assists, Sarita Stegall dished out 16 assists and Kaci Jackson had 13 digs.

Match Two: Cameron 3, Arkansas Tech 0

19 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday.

The Pioneers had 40 kills and 10 attack errors on 112 total attempts. Arkansas Tech (41 kills, 27 attack errors, 129 total attempts) finished the match with a .109 team hitting percentage.

The Golden Suns (2-2) will host the Arkansas Tech Tournament at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12.

A comeback by Cameron University in the first game set the tone as the Aggies topped Arkansas Tech 27-25, 25-22, 25-22 on Friday evening.

Tech will face Midwestern State University at 11 a.m. Friday, Newman University at 5 p.m. Friday, Missouri Southern State University at 11 a.m.

Saturday and Ouachita Baptist University at 5 p.m.

Saturday. Admission will be free.

The Golden Suns led 25-24 late in the opening game, but three consecutive Cameron points allowed it to take an early upper hand.

Match Four: Arkansas Tech 3, Texas A&MCommerce 0

The Aggies rode that momentum to a sweep, thanks in part to 11 kills by Jordan Williams.

A balanced offensive attack helped Arkansas Tech post a 26-24, 25-23, 25-20 win over Texas A&M University-Commerce on Saturday.

Match One: Arkansas Tech 3, Texas A&M International 1 Hunter Eshnaur notched 15 kills and Madison Nagel registered 26 digs to lead Arkansas Tech to a 25-20, 25-22, 26-28, 25-20 victory over the Texas A&M International University Dustdevils at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic on Friday.

Arkansas Tech was led by Eshnaur (12 kills), Kool (26 assists), Konsella (four blocks) and Jackson (16 digs).

Hillary Shaffer made 14 kills for TWU. Stegall had 23 assists and Nagel collected 23 digs for the Golden Suns.

Match Three: Texas Woman’s 3, Arkansas Tech 0

Eshnaur (10 kills), Huff (nine kills), Konsella (eight kills), McCall Wilkins (eight kills) and Rachel Hampton (seven kills) accounted for 42 of the Golden Suns’ 49 kills in the victory.

Texas Woman’s University compiled a .268 team hitting percentage on its way to a 25-20, 25-23, 25-

Arkansas Tech had a .272 team hitting percentage, while the Lions hit .192.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

PAGE 8 | Campus

IMSSO

PHOTOS BY JENN TERRELL/THE ARKA TECH

Rebecca Williford talks to two international students.

WELCOME BACK LUAU

Binh Thanh Tran and Phuoc Trinh, both from Vietnam, laugh as they land at the bottom of the blow up slide.

Yasushi Odonera, Director of IMSSO, takes care of his two children.

Xintong, China, and Sam.

Grishma Khatri, Ghana, socializes with other international students.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015