ARKA
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
THE
ATU football ranked 11th.
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ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY // THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 • VOL. 94 NO. 03
ATU Multi-Sports Complex: Coming Soon COLTON STRADER
Contributing Writer
A $3.5 million multi-sports complex is expected to be com-
pleted and open in spring 2018 on Arkansas Tech University campus. It will house new facilities and practice areas for the sports teams.
When the complex is completed, current storage facilities and practice areas will be moved from the team’s current facility, Stroupe Hall, to the complex.
“Stroupe is the worst building on campus, yet it is used for indoor practices and storage for our sports teams,” Steve Mullins, Tech’s athletic director, said.
AMBER QUAID/THE ARKA TECH Steven Walton, graduate assistant for outdoor recreation, weighs the last fish of the day caught by Sol Parsons during the Outdoor Recreation Fishing Tournament on Sept. 23.
Campus Rec hosts its first fishing tournament
AMBER QUAID
Editor-in- chief
The official is calling time— then, one of the participants shouts, “Wait!” They are reeling in a fish that could’ve been a record breaker on many levels. After the fish breaks the water, he runs his fish across the
field to be weighed and measured. Officially making it the last fish caught. This was the final scene of the Outdoor Recreation Fishing Tournament that took place on Sept. 23 at Pleasant View Park. Steve Walton, graduate assistant for outdoor recreation, was the main coordinator
during the event and wanted to add something different to this year’s list of events. “We want to promote the fish and wildlife aspect of outdoor recreation,” Walton said. “A lot of people think outdoor rec is just biking,
(FISHING page 5)
Celebration of fall marked by mooncakes HALEY FOSSITT
Contributing Writer
Students are invited to come experience the Mid-Autumn Moon Cake festival, enjoy some traditional treats and learn more about the Chinese culture on October 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hindsman Bell Tower. The office of International and Multicultural Student Services is bringing this traditional Chinese holiday to Arkansas Tech’s campus. “This is a good opportunity for students to come out and experience an event celebrated by a different country. The
IMSSO office will have traditional moon cake, Chinese candy, tea, and several other traditional treats for students to try,” Tulsi Patel, a CSP major from Morrilton, said. China follows the lunar calendar so the moon cake festival is always celebrated in the middle of autumn when the moon is at its brightest. People often share moon cakes with their close friends and relatives as a way to wish them a long and happy life. The moon cake festival is a time to celebrate the harvest and come together with friends and family.
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“I like that everyone gets to come and learn in a social setting. It’s a good learning opportunity to exchange knowledge with other students,” Sabrina Anwar, International Student Service
Specialist, said. This event is a part of the Global Focus On-Track program and students will be able to swipe their tech ID’s at the bell tower from 6-7:30 p.m.
Stroupe Hall is littered with broken windows, unhinged doors and under-equipped facil-
(COMPLEX page 4)
Better benefits, insurance for college athletes College athletes getting paid—this topic has been debated about for years. College sports bring in an abundance of revenue to the college, much more than people realize. According to USAToday.com, Texas A&M and the University of Texas both made over 180 million dollars in sports revenue. These two schools were ranked at the top of the list of schools that made the most money in college sports. There are numerous college athletes who feel like the NCAA treats the players on fairly. Some college athletes have strong opinions about National Collegiate Athletic Association because it makes the rules and polices that surround college sports. Ben Simmons, a college basketball phenome, played one year at Louisiana State University (ranked 7th in sports revenue in 2015) is a good example of an outspoken athlete. Now the current point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons said, “The NCAA is really f---ed up. Everybody’s making money except the players. We’re the ones waking up early as hell to be the best teams and do everything they want us to do and then the players get nothing. They say education, but if I’m there for a year, I can’t get much education.” Simmons was quoted saying this on the film “One and Done,” a film that aired on November 4, 2016. Shabazz Napier, current NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers, led UConn to an NCAA championship victory. Napier told reporters in 2014 while in college, “We do have hungry nights that we don’t have enough money to get food in. Sometimes money is needed. I don’t think you should stretch it out to hundreds of thousands of dollars for playing, because a lot of times guys don’t know how to handle
Ricci Logan Sports Photographer
themselves with money. I feel like a student athlete. Sometimes, there’s hungry nights where I’m not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.” Even though student athletes have special talents, they are still everyday people. Many college athletes cannot afford the jerseys they wear on their backs, and this is the same jersey that people buy to support them. However, even if the NCAA did want to pay players, they would not be able to compensate every college athlete. The current basketball coach for the Kentucky Wildcats John Calipari said in a 2015 press conference, “I think we have to move to paying for their insurance. These kids [currently] have to pay their own disability insurance,” according a the Huffington Post article. According to the Huffington Post, the NCAA provides student-athletes with catastrophic-injury insurance coverage, but in a 2013 court filing, the association said it “denies that it has a legal duty to protect student-athletes,” arguing that it is the responsibility of individual schools. Various amounts of college athletes get scholarships to play a sport, but other students get scholarships to go to school. These students are not bringing in the same money as the college athletes. This does not mean that a free education should be taken for granted, but college athletes should receive something more than just a free education. More action could be taken to take care of college athletes, like making sure they eat and paying for their insurance.
STEM fair offers internship possibilities to students ANDREW CARNEY
Contributing Writer
Students looking for possible internships or future careers will have an opportunity at the science, technology, engineering and math career fair on Thursday, Sept. 28. Arkansas Tech University will be hosting the career fair at Young Ballroom on Thursday from 1-4 p.m. Several businesses ranging from Entergy to JB Hunt will be available for students to speak with and learn more
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about the companies as well as possible job opportunities. Students are encouraged to attend the career fairs but come prepared for them as well. One student attending the career fair is Sidney Bowman, a psychology major from Paris. Bowman said the career fair gives you a good idea of what employers are looking for so you can prepare for the future. This will be Bowman’s third time going to a career fair at Tech. “Ask for internships. The career fair can be a way to get a foot in
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the door for future employment. Ask questions. Then talk yourself up. You never know what a good conversation will result in,” Bowman said. The career fair is an opportunity to connect with prospective employers seeking students from a broad range of disciplines. Patrick Smith, Arkansas Tech graduate from Fayetteville, received his current full-time job from a visit to the math and science career fair. “I never went to a career fair at Tech until my senior year, which was a huge mistake. I wouldn’t be doing the
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job I am today had I decided not to take a chance and speak with the representative of my current employer. My advice for any student regardless of class is to go to the career fair. You have nothing to lose only everything to gain,” he said. Career Services states professional dress is required for the event. It is recommended to bring several copies of your resume, if you have one, as well as check to see which employers are attending the fair in order to prepare more readily.
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