The Tech Talk 5.10.18 by The Tech Talk

Beerbongs & Bentleys

The Rise of Drug and Alcohol Fatalities See how Louisiana ranks in drug and alcohol related fatalities. | PAGE 5

Check out our review of Post Malone’s second studio album. | PAGE 4

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VOLUME 92 • ISSUE 15

Union Board hosts annual Spring Fling DESTIN SHIMER Staff Reporter | dcs033@ latech.edu

hough it’s not quite summer yet, no one who attended Spring Fling on Mitchell field seemed to notice. Students who attended gathered to enjoy live music, ride a Ferris wheel, swing on a chair swing, play Midway games, and devour crawfish, popcorn and popsicles. Union Board held 2018 Spring Fling on Thursday, May 3. The event lasted

from 5-9 p.m. Gerald Longmire, a junior business major, said he especially enjoyed the food provided by Union Board. He said all aspects of Spring Fling were enjoyable. “Crawfish: good. Fish: good. Popcorn: pretty good,” Longmire said. “This is my first Spring Fling ever, so I can say without a doubt that this is my favorite one yet.” His only complaint was the length of the lines for the rides, but he under-

Spring Fling attendees enjoyed an evening of crawfish and live music.

stood the appeal of the attractions. “You know, everyone loves a Ferris wheel,” Longmire said. “We are all basically just a bunch of big kids, even though we’re in college pretending to be adults. No one will ever turn down a free Ferris wheel and a popsicle on a hot day.” Gabby Thompson, a member of Union Board, said the event had a high turnout because of the work UB did beforehand, which made labor on the day of the event less tedious. She said UB made sure to be very vocal concerning the event on social media, since that is where most students receive their news and learn about school events. “In the weeks leading up to the event, the Board did lots of publicity in the plaza and on social media,” Thompson said. “The day of the event, it was just a matter of making sure everything was set up and the bands were sound checked.” Thompson said a reason for the high turnout may

Photo by Autumn Manry

The event not only included a Ferris wheel and Midway games, but also live music from local band Alive by Sunrise and Chiddy Bang (above). have been the buzz around the musical guests. Alive By Sunrise, led by recent American Idol contestant Cameron Theodos, kicked off the event. “Alive by Sunrise started us off with some excellent music that really set the atmosphere,” Thompson said. “Then, Austin Plaine continued, and we finished

off with a literal bang– Chiddy Bang.” The massive student turnout was anticipated by UB earlier in the year, prompting the location move from Tolliver’s parking lot to the more spacious Mitchell field, where there was adequate space for the midway games and rides, and ample room for

the assumed lines. Thompson said UB is prepared for an even bigger turnout next year, considering this year’s crowd size. “The students were able to come in and enjoy the event starting at five. By 6:30, every single one of our t-shirts were sold out,” Thompson said. “All in all, it was an excellent event.”

Aviation student to attempt world record STARLA GATSON Editor-in-Chief | sjg021@latech.edu

t has been said in order to achieve success, one must shoot for the sky. The sky is exactly where Mason Andrews is headed as he attempts to break the record for the world’s youngest solo circumnavigation. Andrews, a sophomore aviation student, said he has had a love for flying since he was a child and was inspired by his father, a former pilot. “We used to go to air shows, and on Saturdays, we’d just go hang out at the airport and watch the planes land,” he said. “When I was 13, I got to fly for the first time and really loved it and wanted to do that as a career.” He said the idea to at-

tempt the record came from an idea to fly a friend across the Atlantic Ocean to visit his family. “I was looking into it to see if I could do it, and I realized that nobody had ever done it before at my age,” he said. “I was going to do that, but with the equipment I was going to have to have installed and the amount of fuel it would take to go all the way over there and come back, I was like, ‘I might as well break the record for the world’s youngest solo circumnavigation’ because that’s a really popular one right now. It’s been broken six times in the past five years.” The record is currently held by Australian pilot Lachlan Smart, who completed the journey in August 2016 at 18 years and 234

Photo courtesy of Vantage Health Plan

Andrews will begin his journey around the world in early July and return mid-August. days old. If Andrews is successful, he will beat Smart by an impressive margin, as he just celebrated his 18th birthday in April.

Though Andrews hopes to bring the record back to the United States, his attempt of the record is not merely for his own glory,

but to raise awareness and garner attention for MedCamps of Louisiana, a summer camp for special needs children where he has served as a counselor for three years. “It’s a really important part of my life,” he said. “I just wanted to spend my summer doing something good instead of just hanging around at the house. MedCamps runs entirely off donations, and many families in North Louisiana have no idea their kid would be eligible to come to MedCamp totally free of charge.” Not only will Andrews’ mission develop attention and support for MedCamps of Louisiana, but also for Tech’s department of professional aviation. Jordan Lyons, chair of the

department, said Andrews positively represents the talented students within the program. “We are very proud of Mason for working so hard both in and out of the aircraft,” he said. “The department is blessed to have such gifted students in our degree programs.” Lyons said Andrews, who is the first Tech student to attempt the record in the aviation department’s 51 years, said the young pilot also shows character traits needed to complete the program. “The professional aviation degree program requires perseverance,” he said. “Mason’s flight is a great way to see that perseverance in action. What a way to inspire current and future students.”

NEWS

2 • The Tech Talk • May 10, 2018

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I-20 Top Twenty showcases innovators DONOVAN ROBBINS Staff Reporter|djr029@latech.edu Innovation Enterprise presented a night of groundbreaking originality, where several innovators and entrepreneurs gathered to talk about their ideas and business ventures. On May 1, Innovation Enterprise hosted the annual I-20 Top Twenty event in University Hall. Top 20 is a regional showcase that features some innovative entrepreneurial ventures that are located at or associated with Louisiana Tech. There were presentations made by several different entrepreneurs about their respective products and services. Kathy Wyatt, director of Innovation Enterprise, said the event gave individuals a chance to learn more about entrepreneurship and to get information about their product or service out there. “It is an opportunity for young entrepreneurs who

are just getting started, people who are organizing and creating new organizations or ventures or any individual who is interested in innovation and entrepreneurship to come together and meet with more experienced entrepreneurs and business and community leaders who can help facilitate an idea exchange,” she said. Wyatt also said the goals for the event were to help entrepreneurs who are just starting out learn more about the world of innovative thinking and to show experienced business professionals the ventures that the young entrepreneurs of Tech are taking. “The goal for the individuals who are new to entrepreneurship and innovation would be to help them broaden their network, identify resources that can help support the development and growth of their idea and allow them to interact with their peers and

other individuals of a like mind set,” she said. “For the people who are experienced executives or business and community leaders, our goal for them is to become more aware of the interesting, innovative and inspiring entrepreneurial activities occurring at the university.” Entrepreneurs in attendance for the event said they thought I-20 was a helpful learning experience. Jacob Johns, a junior mechanical engineering major, said the event was informative and felt his group was able to receive good advice about their mobile application, Faidd. “By participating in in this event, it allowed us to get solid feedback on our idea,” Johns said. “It was great to network with others and hear about all the interesting companies, ideas and clubs around Tech’s campus.” Tom Barnett, director of innovation and technol-

Photo by Wesley Wilkerson

Tech’s student entrepreneurs showed off their business ideas and inventions. ogy scouting for CenturyLink, was one of the more experienced entrepreneurs at the event and said he thought the event would be very helpful to those who

aspire to be entrepreneurs in the future. “This program is astonishing; I saw presentations that reached from technology all the way to expand-

ing our social experience,” Barnett said. “I come to these events because I can learn things and because I am always looking for the next best thing.”

History students host forum on gun violence, guns in America MORGAN BERNARD Managing Editor | mrb056@latech.edu Louisiana Tech students had the opportunity to voice their opinions about guns and gun issues in society while also learning more about gun history during a campus forum titled Guns in America. The forum was hosted by students in HIST 490, a course that discusses guns in America, in Wyly Auditorium May 3. During the forum, a survey the class sent out to Tech students about gun statistics was discussed and students from the class shared what they learned in HIST 490. Attendees were also able to ask questions and share their own gun-related stories. Drew McKevitt, an assistant professor of history at

Tech, teaches HIST 490. He said this forum was a project for his students, but was also an opportunity for other students on campus. “This quarter I am teaching a class called Guns and Gun Violence in American History,” McKevitt said. “I assigned the students in the class with the task of putting together a public forum to invite the campus community to discuss various issues related to guns in American society. I think it’s important for students to see history not as a discipline in which they have to memorize things dead people did, but instead as a living conversation between the past and the present through which historians bring a unique perspective and expertise to contemporary problems.”

Photo by Precious Brown

Drew McKevitt leading conversations on gun violence. McKevitt said he hopes students who attended the forum gained a clearer image of gun history in America and how it affects our society today. “I hope students see that

campus attitudes toward a range of gun-related issues reflect the national diversity on these kinds of questions,” he said. “I also hope they get a sense from the students in the class that, regardless of

one’s political opinions today, the history of guns in the United States is messy and complex and can’t be simplified into sound bites to score easy political points.” Joshua Green, a junior industrial engineering major, took McKevitt’s HIST 490 course this quarter. He said the class has helped him better understand the topic of guns and gun violence from both viewpoints. “I am an avid gun supporter, and while I did not speak at the forum, it was important for me as a member of the class to host the forum and help dispel myths from both sides of the gun debate,” Green said. “One thing I picked up through McKevitt’s class was a better understanding of statistics considering gun violence. A large

majority of deaths attributed to guns can be directly classified as suicide or gang violence while mass shootings account for less than one percent. Those figures were very interesting to me and helped me gain a better understanding of the debate.” Green said the forum was an opportunity for students to ask questions and freely speak about their concerns with guns in a safe environment. “Overall I feel like the forum was a chance to bring unbiased facts to light concerning the polarizing topic of guns and gun violence,” he said. “So many people are passionate in their stance for both sides but this forum allowed each side to look at the facts and have a peaceful discussion.”

Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation hosts pop-up sale for arts DONOVAN ROBBINS Staff Reporter|djr029@latech.edu The Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation showed their appreciation for the artists of Louisiana in their Pop Up Sale event. The Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation is an organization that tries to cultivate compassion in individuals, family and community through various events they put on. These events are centered around art, healthy living and outdoor activities. On May 1, the foun-

dation hosted its Pop Up Sale event on Trenton Street. The Pop Up Sale featured a number of different works from various artists around the community on sale. There were also different activities held during the event, such as a live music, live painting and a silent raffle. The sale was held in accordance with Give For Good, which is a day of online giving that is always held on the first Tuesday of May. Give For Good gives nonprofit organizations the opportu-

nity to come together with the community to raise money for charity. Dylan Sanders, program director for Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation, said one of the goals for the event was to demonstrate what Give For Good was. “We decided we wanted to have some kind of event here in Ruston that showcased what Give for Good was and one of the ways we wanted to do that was with the Pop Up Sale,” Sanders said. “We support local artists and artisans, so it was a natural decision to

feature the local artists in the community for our event.” Jane Watts, director of Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation, said the event was also held to bring attention to the foundation. “We wanted to raise awareness for our work in the community and to raise funds through sales and donations,” Watts said. “All the proceeds we gained will go to charity.” Dasia Canales, market manager of the Ruston Farmers Market, said the overall attendance for the event was

good and she enjoyed the inviting atmosphere of the event. “The turnout has been really good; we had a lot of people come in throughout the day and it got a good amount of publicity,” Canales said. “The event also had a very relaxed and welcoming environment.” Ryan Botts, a senior industrial engineer, said the sale was a good learning experience for him. “There were a lot of artists here that I did not know about

until today, so it has been nice being able to look around and familiarize myself with their work,” Botts said. “It is interesting to see the community come in and support the artwork.” Botts also said he was able to learn more about community service work because of the event. “It was a learning opportunity for nonprofit work,” he said. “Seeing what these events are like gave me ideas for how I could do my own events later on.”

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

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• FETCH Crawfish Boil Woodard Hall 1-5 p.m.

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• BBQ Bash Student Center 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

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•Baseball vs. Old Dominion 6 p.m.

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FROM THE EDITOR

MANAGEMENT

A chapter closes

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Starla Gatson

MANAGING EDITOR

STARLA GATSON Editor-In-Chief | sjg021@latech.edu

Morgan Bernard

NEWS EDITOR Bryn Young

SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Bell

PHOTO EDITOR

Colin Fontenot

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Autumn Manry Precious Brown Wesley Wilkerson Hannah Roundtree

ADVISERS

Michael LeBlanc Dr. Judith Roberts Megan Smith

ADVERTISING ADVISER Michael LeBlanc

PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael LeBlanc

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Michael LeBlanc

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a year. Mail to: Tech Talk Subscrip tions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272.

have always had a fascination with stories. When I was a little girl, I was rarely ever without a book so I could be whisked away into the life of whatever character I was reading about or a notebook and pen, armed and ready to create a fictional world of my own. My love of storytelling was a major factor in my decision to major in journalism, and through this department and this publication, I gained a greater appreciation for real-life stories. Because of this newspaper, I have gotten to see Louisiana Tech and the city of Ruston through a different lens and have gotten the chance to have real conversations with people I probably never would have met otherwise. I realize this publication has not only opened my eyes to the significance of others’ stories, but also to my own. My two years here have

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Tech Talk welcomes letters to the editor. However, we reserve the right not to print anonymous letters. We also ask that each letter be accompanied by a telephone number, address and classification or title. We will not print the telephone number. Viewpoints should be mailed or brought to The Tech Talk office, 138 Keeny Hall, by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to a Thursday publi cation. Letters should be mailed to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272. Emails should be sent to techtalk@latech.edu. You can also submit letters online at www.thetechtalk.org/home/ lettertotheeditor/. Louisiana Tech University is com Louisiana Tech University adheres to mitted to the principle of provid the equal opportunity provisions of federal civil rights laws, and does ing theand opportunity for learning not discriminate on the basis of race, and development of all qualified color, national origin, religion, age, sex, citizens without regard to race, sexual orientation, marital status, or sex, religion, color, national disability. origin, age, disability, marital Title IX Coordinator: Carrie Flournoy status, or veteran Executive Assistant,status Title IXfor & admission to, participation Compliance Coordinator in, or President's Oﬃce, Tower 1620 employment in theWyly programs and Phone: (318) 257-3785 activities which the University Email: flournoy@latech.edu sponsors or operates. For Title IX Section 504 Coordinator: AnniePolicy Jantz information, see University Division of Student Aﬀairs #1445 atKeeny http://www.latech. Hall 305 edu/administration/policiesand Phone: (318) 257-2445 Email: ajantz@latech.edu procedures/1445.shtml.

the way before me. You set a high standard for this paper, and I can only hope I have successfully continued the work you began. Thank you to all who will come after me; your voices will be the reason this paper continues and will allow the city and the university’s stories to be told for years to come. This is the last issue of The Tech Talk I will ever oversee as editor-inchief. At times, the journey was anything but smooth; I will be the first to say that I made mistakes, and there are many things I could have done better. But it was during this time that I began to find my voice and the courage to do things I never thought possible before — like be at the helm of any publication — and those are things I count as victories. Personal growth happened here. And for that, I am grateful. Starla Gatson is a senior communication major from Farmerville who serves as editor -in-chief for The Tech Talk.

MORGAN’S MUSINGS

Another year gone

PUBLICATION

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formed a crucial chapter of my story. This particular chapter included meeting faculty members who have truly made an impact on my life and college career, whether they realized it or not. People like Mike LeBlanc, who was always there with wisdom, guidance and encouragement whenever I or any other member of the staff needed it and lots and lots of patience during each of my many mess-ups, or Judith Roberts, Reggie Owens and Scott Boatright, who for whatever reason, saw something in me and believed in my writing ability. I am forever grateful to all of you and feel very fortunate to have learned from you. To the editorial staff: I do not say it nearly enough, but thank you. Thank you for all of the terrible puns, the cute animal videos, and most importantly, your hard work. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to work alongside you. Thank you to those who paved

MORGAN BERNARD Managing Editor | mrb056@latech.edu

s we approach the end of spring quarter, many students are stressing over what to do next in life. Whether you are a graduating senior or a freshman finishing your first year of college, the end of an academic year is always stressful as well as celebratory. The change for seniors is obvious. You are now being kicked out of the nest, landing face first into the real world. Some are going straight to work while others are possibly attending graduate school. Either way, there is a good chance that at some point you will think “I just spent four years getting this degree and I still have no idea what I am doing.” But do not be alarmed, you are not alone. When I spend weekends at home with family, one of my favorite things about it is realizing that no one has life figured out. My older cousins who have had jobs for years

now are still figuring out how to do things. My dad claims it has been purely good luck that has brought him this far. Even my grandparents will admit they still have that thought of cluelessness. The point I am making here is not to worry so much about what is next. However, I am not saying to simply let your life fly wild in the wind. Obviously, you should be prepared with some sort of plan mapped out, but do not let that sole idea of “what is next” or “now what do I do” take over your brain. Just the other day, I overheard a conversation between two men and their young daughters. One of the girls asked her father something like, “how did you decide on what you wanted to be when you grew up?” The dad simply responded that he still did not know what he wanted to do; he was still trying to figure it out. While these scenarios may worry some people that our society is full of people who have no idea what they are doing, that is reality.

Most people seem like they have life figured out and have every answer to life’s questions, but that is just not the case. Whether you are 7 or seventy, you will always have some things in life still unanswered, and that is okay. Life is not meant to be mastered by anyone. It is something that everyone goes through in different ways and deals with differently. Everyone has moments where they seem completely lost in what to do. But we also have really great moments in life where it seems like it could not get any better. So, if you are worrying about what your next step in life is, take a moment to look back. You have made it this far through all the things you have been through, right? This next chapter will not be any different. Morgan Bernard is a senior communication major from Echo who serves as managing editor for The Tech Talk.

THE ISSUE AT THE TABLE

A heartless ‘heartbeat’ ban BRYN YOUNG News Editor | bjy001@latech.edu

his week saw a large victory for opponents of abortion with Iowa passing a ban on abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat which is generally around the six-week mark. The law is a follow-up on Iowa’s 20-week ban which passed last year and was one of the most restrictive laws in the nation. The problem with this law is how short the period for women to make this decision is. Six weeks is hardly enough time for women to know they are pregnant, let alone make the hard decision of whether or not they want to keep the child. Across the nation, abortions are made increasingly more difficult to obtain safely. In several states, there are only one or two clinics that one could go to. Even if women are able to make it to a clinic, they must go through harassment and hassle from pro-life advocates who protest in front of these places. This bill

sets a precedent that will make that process much harder for people who are just trying to make a decision about their health and life. Much of the argument around abortions is based on the idea of choice, but this bill is taking that choice out of the hands of many women. It is throwing the choice out the window in favor of telling women what they can do with their bodies. The same conservatives who look to cut government overreach are ironically using the government to enforce their views on the women of Iowa. The “heartbeat ban” is yet another double standard from the pro-life movement who look to ensure babies are born but not cared for after. This ban is just another act in a long chain of persecution against women and their rights to choose. They have slandered people who have done nothing except make a healthcare choice and are now chipping away at a vital procedure. Abortion is not a procedure women elect to have because they

are so excited to get one. The way pro-life advocates frame these women is unjust and harmful. They are women trying to do what is best for them in the moment. They are not murderers or evil people but people in a hard situation doing what they have to for themselves. How the ban will affect women is still in the air, as it puts safe and legal abortions in danger in the United States. The more restrictive abortion laws get, the more likely dangerous options will be chosen. For years before Roe v. Wade, abortions were many times unsafe or difficult to obtain. Now, however, women can make a decision about their bodies with certainty they will have a safe procedure. We, as a nation, should not infringe the right for women to make such decisions and take away a safe method for their abortion. Bryn Young is a sophomore communication major from Mountain View, Arkansas, who serves as news editor for The Tech Talk.

Why are teachers walking out? E

ducational funding and salaries for teachers have been problems on the horizon for quite some time now. But after another teacher walkout in Arizona, it is beginning to look like change is a brewin’. The #RedForEd walkout ended May 3 after legislators finally passed a budget including a 20 percent pay raise for teachers and an additional $138 million in funding at 5:30 a.m. Arizona previously ranked 49th in the country in public school revenue per student and 41st in average teacher salary. Arizona is the fifth state to hold teacher walkouts, and all five have successfully called for and prompted change for either more funding or higher teacher salaries. All signs point towards this trend continuing in the U.S. and the success rate is pretty much 100 percent so far, so why not keep walking out? Obviously there is only so much government money to spend and if every single state asks for more money for education, other aspects of the country may be underfunded. However, according to nationalpriorities. org, the $4.2 trillion spending budget in 2017 had education receiving just two percent of the pie chart, at around $85 billion. That may seem like a lot of money, but in respect to what other aspects of our country are receiving, one could call it “chump change.” Veterans’ benefits received four percent of the national budget at $179 billion, more than double the education budget. Now, we can all agree that veterans deserve benefits and are a valued part of society, but should we really be spending more than double the amount of money on veterans than we are on the education of our future American leaders? States like Utah, Alabama and South Dakota all rank in the bottom ten in the country in money spent per pupil, according to teaching-certification.com, and are three of the nine states in the U.S. that are given less than $10,000 per pupil. There will always be states at the bottom of this ranking because somebody has to be, but less than $10,000 per pupil is too little, and it would not be surprising to see teacher walkouts from one of these states. At The Tech Talk, we believe education should be higher on the totem pole of U.S. spending and should result in more discretionary funding and higher wages for teachers. The value of educating the future leaders of our political, economic and social worlds cannot be undervalued, and if it is, something is not right. This is not to say the other aspects of our country being funded are not important, but there has to be more of a balance between them and education if we truly want to put the importance on education that it deserves. So, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we say to all of the hardworking teachers in America: walk it out.

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Post Malone drops more of the same with ‘Beerbongs and Bentleys’ Beerbongs and Bentleys Post Malone HHIII BRYN YOUNG News Editor | bjy001@latech.edu Post Malone ended April on a high note with a number one debut to his second studio album “Beerbongs & Bentleys” and nearly 47.9 million streams on Spotify. The album was certified platinum on April 30, only three days after its release. The album is a solid release from the 22 year old rapper/singer. It plays to many of the strengths that Post Malone is known for, such as catchy hooks and decent vocal performances. Many times on the record, Post Malone blends his natural voice with chilling melodies that make the emotion in his songs really connect with listeners. He occasionally pairs it with a solid blend of autotune that works well and is not too distracting. That said, the autotune does occasionally get in the way such as on the hook of “Spoil My Night.” The beats on the album are not that much of a change from normal trap beats. For the most part, each beat can be described as moody, triplet-heavy and generic. Post Malone seems

Republic Records

“Beerbongs and Bentleys,” Post Malone’s second studio album, was released April 27. to just recycle the same sounds that have made him famous. There is little in the way of new or refreshing ideas in terms of production. The mixing is done well but it overall, Post’s pro-

duction leaves much to be desired. Some of the better parts of this record come from who Post chose to feature instead of his own performances. The single “rock-

star” has the amazingly cold feature from 21 Savage which is still a shining moment in the song and on the album. The album also features Ty Dolla Sign, YG and G-Eazy, who all make great

impacts on their respective songs. Although not known for his lyricism, Post Malone does seem to have phoned it in on some lyrics while others are actually clever

and refreshing. For the most part, all his songs are just the same repetitive R&B themes we have heard before: money, women, partying and being sad. There are a few moments that stick out, like “Stay,” which is probably the singer’s best and most unique song. The two references to The Rock in “Spoil My Night” made me laugh but was immediately marred by the line “I ain’t even seen her face, but she got beautiful boobies.” Come on, Post, really? The album as a whole feels bloated and full. Although it is fairly common in the age of streaming to see long albums, “Beerbongs & Bentleys” is 18 songs in length, which is about five songs too long. Most of the tracks are repeating the same ideas and sounds that the others have, which makes the album drag along and get boring. Overall the album is decent, but just seems like everything else Post Malone has made. It contains a handful of really solid vocal performances and some bangers but lacks any sort of depth or uniqueness. Honestly, it seems as in Post Malone had some good tracks and then tacked on several more filler tracks to make money off of the streams.

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More Talk

The Rise of Drug and Alcohol

FATALITIES The number of drug and alcohol related accidents in Louisiana rapidly increases

TAMARIA WILLIAMS Staff Reporter | tmw055@ latech.edu

riving under the influence has become a growing problem for Americans today. According to alcohol.org, methamphetamine was the top substance involved in car fatalities in Louisiana two years ago. “Louisiana is ranked third in the U.S. for the most drugged fatalities according to our data,” a representative from alcohol.org said. “This may be due to the massive increase in amphetaminerelated accidents in Louisiana, which is up 2,200 percent since 2006.” Louisiana is ranked fourth in the U.S. for the most fatal accidents caused by drugs or alcohol. Since 2007, marijuana has taken a significant increase by 61.1 percent of being the top cause of car accidents. “Marijuana accidents are up 471 percent in the last decade, while fatal accidents due to amphetamines are up over 2,000 percent,” the alcohol.org representative said. “The deadliest days and hours to be a driver in Louisiana are between 11 p.m. Saturday night and 3 a.m. Sunday morning, when many bars close their doors.” The deadly opioid fentanyl caused more than 170 car crashes in 2015 and 2016. Since 2007, there has been an increase of this drug involvement in car fatalities by over 304 percent. Although Louisiana ranks lower in car crashes involving alcohol only, fatalities involving drugs are steadily on the rise. “As the number of fatalities from drugged driving accidents rises, the need for more immediate drug in-

tervention as well as education about the effects of intoxicating substances becomes essential,” they said. “Being armed with as much information as possible will hopefully lead to a decrease in drug related road deaths.” Emily Thibodeaux, counselor and coordinator of alcohol and other drug education at Louisiana Tech, said the CORE survey administered last year to Tech students reported different forms of misconduct, including troubles with driving while under the influence and driving while intoxicated. “20.3 percent of our students reported some form of public misconduct at least once during the past year as a result of drinking or drug use,” she said. “.3 percent of students have been arrested for DWI or DUI and 13.8 percent have driven a car while under the influence.” Thibodeaux said students are more prone to alcohol and drugs now more than ever. “I believe that children do not fully understand the consequences that they could face with getting in the car under the influence,” she said. “There are also drive-thru daiquiris shops that other states do not have. I think that this makes the drug and alcohol fatalities increase throughout our state.” Thibodeaux said she believes there should be more education on how drugs and alcohol can affect your ability to think clearly. “The counseling center here at Tech is also trying to begin a campus collation to have students and faculty begin the process of finding different ways to educate and improve the drug and alcohol awareness on campus,” she said. “My goal in being the drug and alcohol counselor is to make sure that students are educated on what can happen if they continue down the path of ‘experimenting’ with illegal drugs and testing the limits with their alcohol use.”

Marijuana use, the top cause of car accidents, has made a startling increase of 61.1 percent. Fatal accidents due to amphetamines are up 2,000 percent in the last decade. Fentanyl caused more than 170 car crashes is 2015 and 2016. 13.8 percent of Tech students admitted to operating a vehicle while under the influence. 20.3 percent of Tech students reported some form of misconduct under the influence in the past year. Alcohol.org and Louisiana Tech Counseling Services

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6 • The Tech Talk • May 10, 2018

Your 2018 Techspy Award Winners MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Nate Harris (Baseball) FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Chloe Lautric (Track and Field) MALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Nate Harris (Baseball) FEMALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Krystal De La Cruz (Softball) MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Amik Robertson (Football) FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kaitlyn Eder (Bowling) MALE PLAY OF THE YEAR (Fan Vote): Jaqwis Dancy (Football) FEMALE PLAY OF THE YEAR (Fan Vote): Nomvula Kgoale (Soccer) COURAGE AWARD: Joniah White (Men’s Basketball)

LA Tech celebrates year with Techspys LA TECH ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Louisiana Tech volleyball senior Jacie McClure and men’s track and field senior Jordan Patrick were the recipients of the Presidential Awards while the Lady Techster softball team took home the Team of the Year Award at the 2018 Techspys held Wednesday night at Howard Auditorium. The year-end “Academy Awards”-style show highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Louisiana Tech student-athletes for the past year (the spring sports of baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, and the spring seasons for tennis and golf all fall under the 2017 season). McClure and Patrick were honored with the Presidential Award by University President Les Guice, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a Tech student-athlete who best epitomizes what it means to be a role model Bulldog and Lady Techster. The duo were recognized for their hard work on the playing fields and in the classroom. The Lady Techster Softball team was named the Team of the Year for their magical run to the Conference USA Tournament title and an NCAA Regional appearance last spring. Tech won 38 games and fought its way through the elimination bracket to capture the league title in Hattiesburg. A record six Lady Techsters earned all-conference honors while Mark Montgomery was named Louisiana State Coach of the Year. The Team GPA Award went to the Lady Techster cross country team while the SAAC Award (Community Service) was award-

ed to the Lady Techster basketball team. The inaugural Tenets of Tech Award was given to the student-athletes in each program that best exemplify the 12 guiding principles that exemplify the qualities that Tech students should possess upon graduating from this institution. The inaugural Tenets of Tech recipients were: Jonathan Barnes (Football), Jacobi Boykins (Men’s Basketball), Sonia Chen (Tennis), Hayden Frederick (Golf), Monica Gebler (Soccer), Kent Hasler (Baseball), Kacie Kaufman (Women’s T&F), Sarah McComic (Bowling), Alexus Malone (Women’s Basketball), Marta Monne (Volleyball), Jordan Patrick (Men’s T&F), Boston Scott (Football) and Katie Smith (Softball). In the individual categories, Nate Harris (baseball) and Chloe Lautric (women’s track and field) took home the Male and Female Athlete of the Year. Nate Harris (baseball) and Krystal De La Cruz (softball) earned the Male and Female Performance of the Year. Amik Robertson (football) and Kaitlyn Eder (bowling) were the recipients of the Male and Female Freshmen of the Year. Jaqwis Dancy (football) and Nomvula Kgoale (soccer) won the Male and Female Plays of the Year through a fan vote. Bulldog basketball senior Joniah White was the recipient of the Courage Award. White missed the vast majority of the 2015-16 season after experiencing heart issues called tacachardia episodes. These ultimately led to a surgical procedure in May of 2016 to install an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (IC) as a precaution for his ventricular tachycardia diagnosis. After playing with this condition

for a few seasons, White made the difficult decision to forgo the final few months of his career after an on-the-court episode in early February, citing his long-

term health and future. For than 40 student-athletes were also recognized for the Conference USA Academic Medal honors.

Tech takes heartbreaking series loss ANDREW BELL Sports Editor | agb022@latech.edu

SAAC AWARD (Community Service): Women’s Basketball GPA AWARD: Women’s Cross Country PRESIDENTIAL AWARD (MALE): Jordan Patrick (Track and Field) PRESIDENTIAL AWARD (FEMALE): Jacie McClure (Volleyball) TEAM OF THE YEAR: Softball TENETS OF TECH AWARD RECEPIENTS: Jonathan Barnes (Football), Jacobi Boykins (Men’s Basket ball), Sonia Chen (Tennis), Hayden Frederick (Golf), Mon ica Gebler (Soccer), Kent Hasler (Baseball), Kacie Kaufman (Women’s T&F), Sarah McCom ic (Bowling), Alexus Malone (Women’s Basketball), Marta Monne (Volleyball), Jordan Pat rick (Men’s T&F), Boston Scott (Football), Katie Smith (Softball)

Photo by Donny Crowe

Joniah White received the Courage Award at the the 2018 Techspys.

Photo by Hannah Roundtree

Junior third baseman Tanner Huddleston prepares a play at third.

Despite a hot start from the plate, the Louisiana Tech baseball team lost their game 3 rubber match against Middle Tennessee in barnburner fashion. The Diamond ‘Dogs (32-17, 16-8 C-USA) fell to the Blue Raiders (2423-1, 9-14-1 C-USA), losing 7-6 in what was only their second conference series loss of the season. Spotty pitching and a lackluster day at the plate from the top of Tech’s lineup resulted in the defeat, a weekend before Tech’s momentous series matchup with Southern Miss, who is ranked No. 1 in the Conference USA. Tech’s starting pitcher was junior southpaw David Leal, who had a rough day at the mound, pitching 4.1 innings while giving up eight hits, five earned runs and two walks. They rotated pitchers until landing on senior righty Kent Hasler, who pitched well in the final 2.1 innings with no hits, runs or walks, but it was to no avail. Head coach Lane Burroughs was not pleased with his team’s performance and aired his grievances after huddling with his squad postgame. “If we bring this effort to Southern Miss, it will get ugly,” Burroughs said. “We’re playing a real team this weekend. They’re a top ten team in the country and they’ve probably got the best pitcher in the country going up against us Friday night. The effort we had this weekend, and really the last

two weekends at home, isn’t going to cut it next weekend.” Tech batted an impressive .324 from the plate as a team but the top of the lineup — widely considered the strength of their team — struggled. Batting first was sophomore first baseman Hunter Wells who leads the team in batting average, but went a measly 0-for-4 from the plate. Senior shortstop Dalton Skelton went 0-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and two strikeouts and junior left fielder Mason Mallard batted 1-for-5 with a strikeout. Burroughs and the ‘Dogs were a projected 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament before this series loss, according to collegesportsmadness. com. “Clubs this time of year do one of two things,” Burroughs said. “They either wither away and they die because they’re tired and it gets hot or they start (going up). And which club are we going to be? That’s my question to our team. Are we going to wither away because it’s hot and we’re not mentally and physically tough enough or are we going to start (going up)? We’ve got a lot of ball in front of us, and we need to make the most of the games we have left.” After facing Grambling State (2322) May 9, Tech will head to Hattiesburg, Mississippi May 11-13 to face Southern Miss (35-12, 19-4 C-USA), the 11th ranked team in the nation, in a series with Conference championship and NCAA Tournament implications.