The Tech Talk 1.26.17

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JANUARY 26, 2017

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TOPS funding hits all-time low Students concerned of collegiate futures amidst financial aid cuts AMBER HARRINGTON News Editor | anh038@latech.edu

“The biggest issue with the TOPS reductions this year, in my view, is that students and families have had little time to prepare for the cuts.

But the state’s budget shortfalls have left the state with few choices.”

PRESIDENT LES GUICE

The turn of the winter season into spring may bring unfortunate financial news for some Louisiana Tech students.

Beginning the spring quarter of 2017, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) will be cutting eligible student funding to 41.8 percent.

Tech President, Les Guice, feels the timing of the change presents the greatest problem.

“The biggest issue with the TOPS reductions this year, in my view, is that students and families have had little time to prepare for the cuts,”Guice said. “But the state’s budget shortfalls have left the state with few choices.”

According to Guice, Tech has one of the highest numbers of TOPS students in the state. This means that when the cuts occur, they could potentially affect currently enrolled and future students.

“We are not sure how much the TOPS cuts impacted the numbers of students who came this year,” he said. “We had an increase in enrollment, but we know that some students were not able to come to Tech because of the flooding in South Louisiana and TOPS cuts.”

Despite the cuts, Guice said it was too early to predict a change in the number of incoming freshman for the 2017 school year, as Tech will take other measures to ensure financial assistance.

“Even without full TOPS funding, we believe that the Tech degree is affordable for most students and is a great value and return on investment,” he said. “Tech has received numerous national recognitions for such. And we continue to place a priority on raising private funds for scholarships and work with our corporate partners to provide other forms of support to help students.”

Leah Spence, a sophomore biology major with a concentration

in pre-pharmacy, said she’s concerned the lack of TOPS may now hinder current students, like her, from being able to afford tuition.

“Students may have to start taking out loans or getting a job to pay for school in the middle of the school year,” she said. “They will have to start worrying about money, since TOPS can’t pay for it any more.”

Spence said while the TOPS situation is stressful, she is relieved Tech is generous with its financial aid.

“Compared to other schools, Tech offers a decent amount of financial aid to deserving students,” she said. “That’s very helpful.”

Aimee Baxter, Tech’s director of financial aid, said while financial aid is available, students should start planning for the reduced spring TOPS amount and the additional out-of-pocket expense.

“Some limited university assistance may be available for the spring quarter, but it would not cover the amount of the full reduction,” Baxter said. “Hopefully, students/parents have made provisions for the reduced spring TOPS amounts.”

Baxter also said as of Jan. 19, the university has 6,316 federal financial aid applications for the 2017 award year, which is an increase from previous years. However, she still encourages eligible students to apply for financial aid as soon as possible.

“If a student would like to request additional federal financial aid if they have remaining eligibility or have previously declined federal aid, they should do so as soon as possible in order to have their request processed prior to the Spring Quarter,” she said. “The Request for Revision of Fin Aid Awards can be found on the Financial Aid website under Resources, Forms, Academic Year 2016 and must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office for processing the request.”

VOLUME 91 • ISSUE 12

Dr. Mack honored with national CLAG Outstanding Service Award DILLON NELSON Staff Reporter | djn005@latech.edu Louisiana Tech has had several distinguished professors on the payroll over the years, and now it can add one more to the list.

Taylor Mack, an associate geography professor and member of the Conference of Latin Americanist Geographers, won the CLAG Outstanding Service Award due to his dedication to the field of Latin American studMACK ies. This honor has only been awarded five other times since 1970.

Mack said he personally views this award as the summation of 12 years of service to the organization. He said this has included working on the Board of Directors, editing their newsletter for more than ten years, organizing and judging paper competitions, serving as chair for the group and helping to organize a conference in Nicaragua.

“I’m quite humbled to get this award because I’m the fifth person to ever receive it,” he said. “I didn’t do any of it for the award, but it’s nice to have your friends and colleagues honestly believe that you deserve it.”

Mack said a large part of his Ph.D training was doing plenty of service to the profession. He said he still believes in doing minor service work alongside his major work even at this stage in his career.

“When I got to LSU, my Ph.D adviser strongly encouraged us to do service, and that really stuck with me,” he said. “We started out doing community service things and very low-level services like folding newsletters to send them out.”

Mack said his mother, who ran for county commissioner when he was younger, also preached the values of community service and attending events within the community.

He said he wanted to make sure his mother saw the press release about him receiving the award in New Orleans.

“My mom was raising five boys, but she was still serving at church and helping with school,” he said. “So when I got to grad school it was just a natural extension of those values.”

Jason Pigg, the department head of social sciences, said he admires Mack’s devotion to many geographical organizations. He said a strong Midwestern work ethic seems

> see MACK page 6

2 • The Tech Talk • January 26, 2017

NEWS

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Jamba Juice comes to Tech with grand opening MORGAN BERNARD Staff Reporter | mrb056@latech.edu The Lambright Sports and Wellness Center had music blasting and blenders rolling Jan. 18, for the grand opening of Louisiana Tech’s new Jamba Juice.

This new smoothie center was brought to Tech by Aramark, the campus food service, and has taken the place of the sandwich and frozen yogurt shop previously located in the Lambright POD. Ivy Miller, a marketing intern of Aramark, said the idea to bring Jamba Juice to campus came from Tech’s students.

“We wanted to bring something new to campus for the students,” Miller said. “There is nowhere else on campus to get smoothies, so I heard that a lot of people were excited for the Jamba Juice to open. There are also other new additions like fresh pastries and two touchscreen coffee machines.”

Miller said students had several opportunities at the grand opening for people to come see what the new addition was all about.

“We are serving free smoothie samples so people who have not had Jamba Juice before could try it,” she said. “We also have free coffee, tea and cocoa from one of the new coffee machines. There is also a raffle for free items that anyone can enter to win.”

Emma Robinson, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, attended Jamba Juice’s grand opening and said she

Photo by Jonathan Shaul

Jordan Lammens, an Aramark supervisor, blends a smoothie in the newly established Jamba Juice in Lambright Sports and Wellness Center. enjoys the new additions in the POD. “I am most excited about the Starbucks coffee machine,” she said. “I love coffee, so having quick access to a fresh cup is always great. The smoothie samples were awesome and I think it will be something new on campus that people will want to try out.”

Tavarus Shoals, marketing coordinator of Aramark, said

she thinks students will enjoy the new options in Lambright as well as the original items that stayed.

“I think people who come to work out at the gym will really like the smoothies because it is something easy to get on their way out rather than a sandwich,” Shoals said. “However, we still have the frozen foods, drinks and snacks available for students who come from the campus

International students to compete for scholarships KAILEE COURTS Staff Reporter | kec029@latech.edu

different countries for the guests to enjoy.”

Christiane Olinga, a senior medical technology major, said the event is not just Performances from around the world for international students to attend, but for will fill the Tonk for the 17th annual Inter- American students as well.

“This is not just a fundraising event; it’s national Student Scholarship Dinner on a multicultural event,” she said. “We are Jan. 28.

The event, hosted by the International going to have food and performances from Student Association, will feature dances around the world. Each table will be a difand food from different cultures. Tickets ferent country with a table host to tell them are available in the international student facts about the country.”

Olinga said the dinner is a good way for office and are $12 for students and $20 for students to learn about the different culnon-students.

Yazeed Almahdi, the ISA president, said tures represented on Tech’s campus.

“We have students from about 52 difthey have been working hard all year and ferent countries and around 500 internaare excited about the dinner. tional students on campus,” “We have about ten scholshe said. “The students and arships to give away this year,” “These scholarguests will be able to interact he said. “We have been getting and learn about the different donations and grants from ships help take places being represented.” many different people to be the weight off the Eyas Haj, the Internaable to make the scholarships students’ shoultional Student Association possible.”

SGA representative, said the Almahdi, a junior nanosys- ders so they can scholarship dinner is the bigtems engineering major, said focus on school gest ISA event during the students are awarded schol- and shows them winter quarter. arships based on their need, we are here to “We always have a full GPA and participation with the International Student As- help them as much crowd for the dinner--usually we max out ticket sales,” he sociation. as we can.” said. “It is always good to “International students sale a lot of tickets because only get the Bulldog Scholar- YAZEED ALMAHDI the money goes to the scholship, which waives the out- ISA president arships.” of-state fee,” he said. “These Haj, a grad student in enscholarships help take the gineering management, said weight off the students’ shoulders so they can focus on school and he encourages non-international students shows them we are here to help them as to come to the event.

“International students usually only much as we can.”

Almahdi said the focus of the event is hang out with other international students, the scholarships, but the performances will but this event is the perfect way for international and non-international students to not be something to miss.

“This year we have a lot of students par- connect,” he said. “Guests will be able to ticipating in the dances,” he said. “There learn about different cultures, eat different will be performances from Africa, India, foods and see cultural dances from around China, Nepal and South America aong the world. It will be a fun time to get to other places. There will also be food from know new people.”

apartments looking for a meal.”

Shoals said Aramark hopes Jamba Juice will do well in its future here at Tech.

“We wanted something new and refreshing on campus, and although some people were upset for the frozen yogurt to leave, I think this will do just as well,” she said. “We have already seen a good outcome since it opened, and now with the grand opening more people will be aware that

Jamba Juice is here.”

Shoals said Aramark plans for other renovations with food services on campus this year, and they are excited to see what students will think.

“We try our best to work with what best suits students and what kind of restaurants they want to see here,” she said. “We definitely have some more exciting new stuff coming up, so stay tuned.”

NEWS

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January 26, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 3

Social media and careers: the effects of online posts in the workforce SOCIAL MEDIA S

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STARLA GATSON News Editor | sjg021@latech.edu Part three of a four-part series on the effects of social media on society The development of social media outlets has given college students a platform to publicly express personal thoughts and beliefs.

However, social media posts are often taken into consideration by employers, and seemingly harmless status updates may have the potential to alter one’s career.

Laura Halbrook, a freshman industrial engineering major, said she thinks one’s posts should be considered by employers because they are a reflection of the employee and may also affect work ethic or coworkers.

“Even though it’s on their own time, social media can reflect what kind of person they are,” she said. “And employers can see if they’re the type of person they want working for them.”

Lauren Manyweather, a senior kinesiology major, said she believes employers consider one’s social profiles so important because they want their employees to maintain a certain image.

“They go on people’s social media to see if they match their standards,” she said. “But they need to know that not everybody’s perfect.”

Manyweather said she believes a person’s professional career and success should not be affected by posts made on personal profiles.

“You should separate the professional world from your personal life,” she said.

“Social media is a place for us to present our personal opinions, and I don’t think a person should be penalized for that.”

Lauren Tressler, a career development coordinator, said in certain instances, one’s employment can be hindered or even terminated by social media posts, particularly if the employee’s offensive or inappropriate post was made during work hours.

“Employers fire employees because of social media postings all the time,” she said. “It’s surprising how often people post hate speech, details and pictures of illegal activity and questionable things they are doing while on the clock.”

In regards to past status updates,

Tressler said while it is unlikely that a current employee will be fired because of them, it may be possible.

“At the very least, you don’t want your employer to formulate a negative image of you based on social media posts,” she said. “But I think it’s more likely that job seekers may miss out on a job opportunity based on prior posts, as employers have been known to look at social media pages of applicants.”

Tressler said though many college students realize the importance of being

careful about what they post, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of sharing a new photo or status.

“It’s a good thing that individuals have a platform for expression and connection with others, but there is real potential for negative consequences to come from momentary decisions,” she said. “This is relatively new territory and while there is a lot of good that comes from social media, students need to know how important it is to consider future employment when creating a digital archive of their lives.”

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

• South Campus Cook-Off, 6 p.m. @ Lomax Hall

• International Scholarship Dinner, 6 p.m. @ Student Center

• No events scheduled

• Academic Boot Camp, 3 p.m. @ Keeny Hall

• Yoga, Tension Tamers Style, 4 p.m. @ Lambright Intramural Sports Center

•No events scheduled

•Bulldog Basketball vs.

Western Kentucky, 7 p.m. @ the TAC

• ACTS Board Game Night, 7 p.m. @ ACTS NLEP 15188-InterNet Generic Ad (TT).qxp_10.25 X 8 12/16/16 12:16 PM Page 1

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4 • The Tech Talk • January 26, 2017

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A RUNNER’S RAMBLINGS Take a moment to get caught in the moment

MANAGEMENT NEWS EDITORS

Caleb Daniel Starla Gatson Amber Harrington Kacie Kaufman

PHOTO EDITOR

Brian Blakely

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kailee Courts

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Colin Fontenot Jonathan Shaul Ashley Kober Danny Do

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T. Scott Boatright Dr. Judith Roberts

ADVERTISING ADVISER Michael LeBlanc

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KACIE KAUFMAN News Editor | kjk019@latech.edu

I

t has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words — but what about a memory? What is the worth of a living picture of what we have done, complete with the smells, sounds and sensations?

Many of us have access to a smartphone and it is always by our sides. Its presence is constant, maybe even reassuring. Not a single big moment is at risk of being forgotten, and even those that are far from perfect? Don’t worry about it. Instagram has filters to avoid giving full disclosure of how awful that social function actually was. The millisecond captured on film? That makes it look like it might be in the running for one of the best nights of your life.

Photo-worthy moments are staged and sought after, elusive and perceived as valuable. Don’t misunderstand me — taking photographs can be a reward-

ing piece of many experiences. But are we trading in the enjoyment of a trip or event for the perfect snapshot?

The spontaneity of an experience is being lost. Instead, a “spontaneous” moment is simply replicated and fabricated with the perfect lighting and backdrop.

There’s more than one opportunity to get it right.

I remember recently being at a gettogether and encountering a group who spent altogether too much time looking for the perfect lighting for a single shot, as opposed to taking in the people and scene around them. I can’t help but wonder if they actually enjoyed themselves, or were just there for the images they came away with.

Nearly every time we step out into the world, everything from selfies on the street to staged photos can be stumbled across. People often miss out on what they are doing in the constant battle to document each move they make and up-

load it to the online community — even while they are still supposed to be partaking in an experience.

Next time you are out with your friends, I challenge you to put the phone aside.

Snapchat stories disappear in 24 hours.

Instagram photos eventually stop getting likes. But the memories, uninterrupted by excessive documentation, just might have more value than you would anticipate.

A photo might be able to help you recollect an event down the road. But a representative mix of colors on a digital screen isn’t the same as every aspect of a memory that you took the time to truly soak in and enjoy fully. I challenge you to seek the authenticity in all of your experiences.

Take a moment to get caught up in the moment.

Kacie Kaufman is a junior journalism major from Loveland, CO who serves as news editor for The Tech Talk.

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JOHN STACK Staff Reporter | jes062@latech.edu

W

riting is a personal thing, for it is a written representation where thoughts run, what one believes, what he or she stands for, intelligence and insight, i.e., who a person is.

The faculty who run Tech Talk are amiable, affable and truly amenable to new ideas from the writers as this column and title evince but paramount to that, they believe that the stories in the paper should reflect the individual writer’s style and personality and not be so uniformly devoid of character that a machine could have written it.

They want unique writers in the oxymoronic, Margaret Mead sense: “You’re absolutely unique, just like everyone else,” and welcome the waft of fresh air that surrounds them as they enter into the sanctum.

There are rules of grammar which facilitate writing in any forum, and certain ones for specific ones; rules of style, however, are more directing guides than dogmatic ones.

The professors gladly convey that certain manners of style are how a story is generally written, not the only way, and they appreciate fresh ideas and perspectives.

Besides, clarity is preferable to dogma every time.

More often than not, a textbook, written in German, on the qualitative versus quantitative results of the artificial sweeteners in Jell-O is going to be grammatically correct but that does not mean that it is going to be enjoyable to read; let alone, that it is going to inspire others to write (unless there’s a coupon for free JellO in the back).

This is one of the beauties of writing: it allows the writer to exhibit himself within

the circumscriptions of language in manners which reflect his perspectives on life in ways that can transcend language itself.

Such ascension is possible for all, so long as one realizes his place within the framework of this maze of modern language and proceeds to scale its walls.

A few hundred years ago, Shakespeare wrote, “To thine own self be true,” and a few decades ago the Commodores repeated the sentiment — “People want me to be what they want me to be, I’m not happy when I try to fake it.”

That is a great thing about attending a university like Louisiana Tech: you have the opportunity to think what you want, voice it aloud or write it well, and even if it is not published, just remember…

There’s always room for Jell-O. John Stack is a senior journalism major from Baton Rouge who serves as a staff reporter for The Tech Talk.

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GUEST COLUMN A look at Tech’s front porch

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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 publication. 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 mitted to the principle of provid­ ing the opportunity for learning and development of all qualified citizens without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status for admission to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities which the University sponsors or operates. For Title IX information, see University Policy #1445 at http://www.latech. edu/administration/policies­and­ procedures/1445.shtml.

TOMMY MCCLELLAND Tech Athletics Director

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constantly get asked what the No. 1 goal for Louisiana Tech Athletics is. My answer, inevitably, draws puzzled looks from those asking the question.

What is our top priority as an athletic department? Simple. We want to do our part to grow the University’s enrollment to 15,000 by the year 2020.

Why is that at the top of our list? Because it is the overall vision and No. 1 goal of University President Les Guice for Louisiana Tech. His vision is our vision. His goal is our goal. We want to create a first class, nationally relevant athletic department that draws people to the University.

Right, wrong or indifferent, people see the university through the front porch that is athletics.

In 2010, the Tuscaloosa Times in Alabama mentioned a study by two major universities that showed a near eight percent increase in student applications to schools with football championships the year before. Eight percent is a tremendous increase in applications in one year’s time.

That’s a slam dunk for any university in the country.

Don’t mistake what I am saying, athletics is not the house. The brick, the mortar, the campus, the faculty, the staff, the student body, the academia … that is the home. But in the world we live in, the national exposure and visibility gained from a successful athletic department provides huge benefits to universities and colleges.

We are the front porch, the window through which people see Louisiana Tech

University.

So what does Louisiana Tech’s front porch look like these days? We feel like we made some major improvements to it over the last few years through on the field success, academic success, coaching hires and major facility construction and upgrades. These are the bricks, lumber, nails and even “Welcome” sign on the front door that provide an appealing entry way to Louisiana Tech University.

Competitively, Louisiana Tech is one of only three Football Bowl Subdivision programs to record nine or more victories and win their bowl game for three straight years. The other two are Wisconsin and Clemson. That’s some pretty impressive front porch company.

Bulldog basketball has won 20 or more games for four straight years, while capturing three conference regular season titles and earning postseason bids for four consecutive years.

Our baseball team won more than 40 games – 10 vs. Top 25 teams – and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since the late 1980s. Our men’s golf team won the Conference USA title and advanced to the program’s first ever NCAA Regional last season.

Tennis earned its first Top 75 ranking in program history last season. Softball recorded back-to-back 30-plus win seasons for the first time in almost 20 years. Soccer qualified for the league tournament three straight years and four of the last five.

Track and Field annually sends competitors to the NCAA national championships.

In the classroom, our student-athletes continue to shine. Our four-year gradua-

tion success-rate is among the top in the state and the conference. Last year saw 75 student-athletes earn their bachelor’s or master’s degrees while 151 made the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and 27 received the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal.

This year has seen soccer student-athlete Katie Sloan named the 2016 CoSIDA Division I Women’s Soccer Academic AllAmerican of the Year, beating out every other student athlete in the country. Talk about a Golden Goal.

From a facilities standpoint, our front porch has seen more than $40 million worth of new construction and renovations in the past three years that have touched every single student-athlete and program. The centerpieces of the improvements are the 70,000-square foot, two-year-old Davison Athletics Complex and the current construction of the new luxury suites and press box at Joe Aillet Stadium.

And finally, and maybe most importantly, is the quality coaches that we have leading our student-athletes at Louisiana Tech.

In my career as an athletic director, I’ve been fortunate to work with some great coaches, but I’m not sure I’ve ever had a group of head coaches that represent a university as impressively as our current group does. They are true leaders on and off the playing fields.

We feel that all of these areas combine to give Louisiana Tech a front porch that it can be proud of for years to come. Hopefully by the year 2020, it’s a front porch that will welcome more than 15,000 students to our prestigious university.

It’s time for a Constitutional Convention There are Louisiana Tech students that are quick to point the finger at Gov. Jon Bel Edwards for cutting TOPS funding, but our state’s Constitution really gave him no choice.

The constitution is set up where things like higher education and health care are unprotected from major budget cuts.

But other special interests are protected — some completely — by amendments that were made in 1973, the last time a Constitutional Convention was held to rewrite state bylaws.

So when there is a budget crisis, like the $313 million one we are in now, state legislators have to find a way to nurse the budget wound. And in large part, the only departments available to help the wound — by taking budget cuts — are colleges and universities along with health care funding.

Edwards recently said the state might need to come together and assemble a Constitutional Convention in order to decide what should and should not be protected, and to what to degree, to better spread out cuts when such crises occur.

In our minds, there is no maybe about it — the state absolutely must assemble the convention. For too long, higher education has taken the brunt if state budget cuts.

TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities.

Without TOPS, many students who have the brains to succeed but do not have the means to further their educations will not be able to continue attending college. So there could be a student somewhere in the state with great potential to do groundbreaking work in the future, but because they cannot afford school any longer, they won’t get that chance.

Many high school students in Louisiana have worked hard for years believing that the state could reward them in college by paying for a great amount of tuition. Now it looks like the rug may be pulled out from under them.

The children and students of today are the future of this state and are our only hope of setting Louisiana straight. The Louisiana constitution has been amended 183 times. And after nearly 200 amendments, here we are in financial disarray, with higher education and health care left unprotected.

To say that line of thinking is backwards is an understatement.

Last fall, TOPS awards were paid at about 93 percent. At the start of this spring they will be down to 41 percent with no chance of increase in sight.

This state is bleeding out financially. An insurmountable amount of blood has already been lost, and if we want higher education to thrive and keep our futures bright and protect generations to come, it’s time for the state to hold a Constitutional Convention.

Let’s right these wrongs and stray away from our irrational, outdated political ideals.

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January 26, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 5

School of Design alumnus receives solo exhibition Peter Hay’s exhibition ‘Unearthing’ on display at Studio 301 STARLA GATSON News Editor | sjg021@latech.edu Many artists use their work to make a powerful statement, and Louisiana Tech School of Design graduate Peter Hay’s newest series of paintings is doing just that.

Hay’s exhibition, titled “Unearthing,” depicts the damages caused by the 2015 Gold King Mine spill near Silverton, Colorado.

The collection contains two parts: “Unearthed,” a series of oil paintings, and “Shroud,” which is painted from pigments created from toxic materials from the Gold King Mine.

“Unearthing” will be on display and available for sale at Studio 301 through March 17, and a portion of the proceeds with be donated to the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana.

Hay, the exhibits director of the Durango Arts Center, said his work is inspired by a need to investigate the natural world and how it has developed into its current state.

“Histories of environment and or inhabitant are represented through research, action and pro-

“I think it’s easy for us not to actually care about something if we don’t see it. But this is such a physical representation of what’s going on.”

CODI CUMMINGS graduate student

cess,” he said in a written statement.

“I moved to the mountains recently and these two series, ‘Unearthed’ and ‘Shroud,’ grew out of a curiosity in the power contained within something as benign in appearance as stone.”

Adrianna Speer, gallery director of Studio 301, said this is her fourth exhibition to host and hopes gallery patrons will be eager to see Hay’s work return to Ruston.

“It was only a little over three years ago that he was here,” she said. “So I think the general public will be really excited about this because they remember Peter Hay and they remember his work.”

Photo by Ashley Kober

Marrisa Hoggatta, a sophomore graphic design major, Rachel Cirsell, a sophomore graphic design major, and Stephen Lewis, a senior graphic design major, look and discuss works from the show.

Speer said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to display Hay’s work and is surprised by the differences between “Unearthing” and his previous works.

M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Split’ hits theaters DILLON NELSON Staff Reporter | djn005@latech.edu After 2015’s “The Visit,” M. Night Shyamalan’s minor comeback of a film, “Split,” comes off as him hitting his stride. This psychological thriller is an imperfect love letter to those who have stuck with him through the good times and the “Another Earth” times.

At first “Split” looks like the type of straightforward thriller he has never really been known to make. All signs point to a basic formula at first, but the film soons reveals itself to be the director at the fullest of his powers.

The first hint of this is the the kidnapping of high schoolers Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) by Kevin (James McAvoy) — a short, pulse-pounding sequence bookended by throwback, stylized credits.

From there, Shyamalan gradually lets rip the thrills big and small (through the odd expositional lull here and there). He really seems to have put extra effort into making this his most visually-distinct film by adding numerous, intentionallyobvious splits and camera tricks to serve as thematic conduits.

Cinematographer Mike Gioulakis (from the great, atmospheric “It Follows”) sets the mood for each well-edited scene and helps keeps the psycho-drama flowing.

His disorienting, stylistic flourishes helps the film

RATING

“This is not typical for Peter,” she said. “The content is way different from what I know his work to be.

It still talks about environmental issues, but I feel it’s

Netflix brings children’s books to life SARAH-KATHERINE SEMON Staff Reporter | sks033@latech.edu

Universal Pictures

James McAvoy plays a man diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities. bounce between the darkness of Kevin’s underground dungeons and the lighter scheme in the office of his faithful psychologist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley) seamlessly.

McAvoy, it must be said, cannot be commended enough for playing the splits in Kevin’s dissociative identity disorder so well. Often going from total wackjob to zen-mode in the same scene, this performance is a masterclass in erratic acting.

His performance cleverly ends up doing most of the heavy lifting of the character and plot development of “Split.”

The best leads in his Shyamalan films are able to straddle the line between hammy and serious, and he would do well to keep McAvoy in his stable of actors for future films. He is able to elicit both the laughs and gasps Shyamalan’s films are built on. His 9-year-old persona “Hedgwick” is both hilarious and unnerving, while another persona (it must be seen to be believed) kicks

“Split” into genuinely horrifying mode during the third act.

Though the fact that the film never does truly deliver on the 23 personalities from the film’s advertising is a tad disappointing at first, the way they are eventually deployed admittedly ends up making sense. For the most part, everything is surprisingly and satisfyingly weaved together with a supernatural touch. Given the portentous references to a prophesied 24th personality that Kevin’s dominant personalities seem to be preparing for (“he’s coming for you” they continually tell the girls), this is only a slight gripe which can be easily forgotten.

As with most Shyamalan movies, there are twists and more twists as the movie winds down. It is a bit overlong, yet none of it feels forced or hacky even as it gets a wee silly. “Split” gives the sense that Shyamalan understands his current place in the world and gives no reason to believe he will stumble with his next step.

On Friday the 13th Netflix brought the children’s book series “A Series of Unfortunate Events” to life with its new original show.

“A Series of Unfortunate Events” follows the journey of three children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, who are left orphans after a fire kills their parents.

The show as a whole was very dark in both theme and most settings.

The sets were striking and polar, either bright and ostentatious or dark and eerie.

Every line in the show had meaning, either hidden or obvious. The obvious humor and almost every character’s blatant disregard for the social norms made it impossible to not find it humorous.

The first character introduced was none other than Lemony Snicket himself. Snicket, who narrated the show, was played

by Patrick Warburton. At first, the monotone narration was distracting and felt very forced.

Soon his ominous presence became both comforting and expected.

Snicket explained every scene as it played out and

much more singular. I’m so enthralled by it.”

Codi Cummings, a fifthyear graduate student, said she was initially unfamiliar with the message behind

the art, but after viewing it, thinks it will send a powerful message to the community.

“I think it’s going to be a good way to see how art can be used to help draw attention to issues,” she said. “I think it’s easy for us not to actually care about something if we don’t see it. But this is such a physical representation of what’s going on.”

Emily LaJaunie, a sophomore graphic design major, said she thinks the collection represents the daily harm that is done to the earth’s natural resources.

“I think he was trying to convey the harm that factories and mines can do,” she said. “How going into nature and destroying it can have an effect on a lot of people’s lives.”

LaJaunie said though she was impressed by the subject matter of the work, the style of the paintings most caught her attention.

“I think a lot of people will be drawn to the silt paintings because of its content matter,” she said.

“But also because of the geodes, the colors and the forms he was able to capture.”

TELEVISION RATING

Netflix

Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are left orphans after a tragic house fire. pointed out pieces in the scene to pay close attention to.

In episodes one and two, “The Bad Beginning,” Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris was introduced. Harris’s portrayal of the Count was as outrageous and cringe-worthy as the character himself.

He also brought a sort of theatrical element to the show, with his musical numbers and grand gestures, which complemented the thematic elements.

His many appearances throughout the show disguised as many different characters, from a female optometrist receptionist to a reptile expert with a sketchy accent, were well represented. From the moment he stepped on screen, he demanded attention and certainly stole the show.

The Count’s outlandish Theater Troupe was also introduced and seemed unnecessary at times with their slapstick comedy and bland delivery of lines.

Episodes two and three, “The Reptile Room,” brings new adventure and

the new character, Uncle Monty, played by Aasif Mandvi. He brought a fresh spin on the character that was different from both the books and the 2004 movie adaptation starring Jim Carrey.

“The Wide Window,” episodes four and five, seemed to slow down.

The story was slower, and the character development took a break.

In these episodes, Aunt Josephine is introduced; while her character is one of the most humorous of the show the actress, Alfre Woodard, didn’t have much to offer. Her delivery of the well-written lines fell short, which caused the believability of her character’s extreme beliefs to suffer.

The final two episodes, “The Miserable Mill,” were not the least bit entertaining. The short-lived characters had no lasting impact on the children and were not at all memorable to the series as a whole.

Overall, this book to small screen adaptation hit the mark. It is definitely a Netflix must watch.

6 • The Tech Talk • January 26, 2017

WEEKLYHOROSCOPE www.horoscopes.com.net

Aries March 21 – April 19 Stress due to overwork might be causing your energy to flag somewhat today, Aries. You might even feel a little under the weather. This is a great day to stay home and recover. Stay out of stressful situations and do things on your own, preferably routine tasks that you can do without thinking. In the evening, order a pizza and watch TV. Don’t make more work for yourself by cooking.

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Today you could feel a rush of sensual passion and desire, Taurus. You may want to get together with a love partner in the evening, but not be able to do it right now. Other responsibilities could get in the way of what you want to do. Perhaps it’s best to schedule a meeting of some kind, even if it’s very late in the evening. You will need the comfort if nothing else.

Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Some problems might arise with equipment that you use at home or with the structure of the house, Gemini.

Appliances might go on the blink or the plumbing or electricity could require repairs. This could be a drag. It might involve staying home to wait for help. Still it must be done. Find a good book and settle onto the couch.

You won’t have to worry about this tomorrow.

Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 Some disturbing news could come today, Cancer.

This isn’t likely to concern you directly. It’s apt to be something about the world situation that might eventually reflect indirectly on you. It could be gossip about someone you know. Whatever it is, check it out before accepting it as fact. The information could be garbled.

The situation is probably more positive than it seems.

Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 A rise in your income could lead to a transformation in your values, Leo, particularly where business is concerned. You could be opening up to the vast potential for prosperity that exists now. This is definitely something you should explore. Take care that you don’t lose sight of what really matters. Money is meant to enhance the other departments of life, not consume them.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 Stress, strain, and a little conflict within a business, romantic, or creative partnership could have you toying with the idea of ending it, Virgo. Don’t do anything rash right now. Wait a day or so and then think about it. This is likely to be a temporary situation. If you break it off

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now you will probably regret it tomorrow. Spend time alone and give your partner some space.

Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Today, Libra, you might feel a little insecure about your state of physical fitness. You could decide to make up for any lack of exercise over the past few weeks.

This is fine, but take it slowly. This isn’t the day to push yourself. Strained muscles and exhaustion could result, and that won’t do you any good. Work out, but pace yourself.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 A friend may be going through some pretty big changes, Scorpio, and come to you for a sympathetic ear. The problem is that you might be a little stressed yourself and not feel much like hearing about someone else’s troubles. Show some compassion. Try to listen for a little while. You might need a shoulder to cry on at some time in the future.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Too many demands placed on you by others could have you feeling used, abused, and stressed, Sagittarius.

You might come close to losing your temper. That isn’t necessary. All you have to do is learn to say no. It might not be easy, since you tend to want to please everyone, but you have to look out for yourself. Help when the request is urgent and postpone the rest.

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 Today you might have thoughts of expanding your horizons, perhaps on a monumental level, Capricorn.

You might consider traveling or even moving to a distant place. Returning to school for an advanced degree could also be a possibility. Your mind could be on expansion less for financial gain than for personal growth. This is good, because the latter often leads to the former. Go for it.

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today you may receive some information about how to increase your income in a short period of time, Aquarius. This information may or may not be valid. Be cautious. Check out the facts before committing, wait a few days, and then check them again. Great opportunities abound and should be explored, but what you hear about today might not be one of them.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Across 1. Unspecified in number 5. Queues 10. Old card game 14. Med. school course 15. Actress Verdugo 16. Grape plant 17. Imaginary 19. Zeno of ___ 20. ___ Janeiro 21. Basic monetary unit 23. Catch 26. Shaky 27. Narrate 28. Pivot 29. ___ man with seven wives 30. Seine spot 31. Has been 34. Start of a counting rhyme 35. Humorous 36. Guitarist Atkins 37. ___ Paulo, Brazil 38. Quotes 39. Willow provision 40. Slum area inhabited by a minority group 42. Washroom 43. Capital of Venezuela 45. Pure 46. Humiliated 47. Cobb, e.g.

48. Workout count 49. Concerned with volts and amps 54. Writer Roald 55. Mr. Moto portrayer 56. Han ___ was a “Star Wars” character 57. Eye problem

HIGH 56 LOW 30

>

FRIDAY

HIGH 55 LOW 33

Down 1. ___ Francisco 2. Washington bill 3. Dallas player, briefly 4. Infinite time 5. “The Raven” maiden 6. ___ France 7. Campbell of “Scream” 8. Vane dir.

9. Mocking 10. Slender 11. Orcinus orca 12. Lend ___ (listen) 13. Weeping 18. Lasso 22. Ed and Mel of baseball 23. Great Lakes tribesmen 24. Where Hercules slew the lion 25. Scene painting 26. Garr and Hatcher 28. Walkon role 30. Annie of “Designing Women” 32. Dreaded mosquito 33. Cancels a dele 35. Strongholds 36. Immature 38. Gospel singer Winans 39. Echolocation 41. Pain in the neck 42. Askew 43. Parlor game 44. Skip ___ 45. ___ bleu!

47. Spanish muralist

50. Mauna ___ 51. Barracks bed 52. Cockpit abbr.

53. Chop off

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

Have any ideas for future comics or feedback? Email dwyer@latech.edu

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Relations with partners of all kinds - business, romantic, creative - might be somewhat strained today, Pisces. You and the other parties involved may have been under a lot of stress, and you could be snapping at each other. It might be a good idea to keep contact between you to a minimum. If you can’t, try to be cordial and cooperative even if you don’t feel like it.

www.accuweather.com SATURDAY

HIGH 57 LOW 34

SUNDAY

HIGH 57 LOW 34

MONDAY

HIGH 61 LOW 40

TUESDAY

HIGH 66 LOW 50

MACK from pg. 1

to drive Mack and makes him so dependable.

“One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about him is that when something needs to be done he’s willing to step in and help out and will often come forward to volunteer,” he said.

Donald Kaczvinsky, dean of liberal arts, said Mack is one of the star professors at Tech. He said his Latin America travels and studies, which date back to before he was a university scholar, are what put him on the path to this honor long ago.

“He seems to have always displayed an incredible dedication to his profession and his organi-

58. Satisfied 59. URL starter

DAILY U

WEEKLYWEATHER THURSDAY

www.bestcrosswords.com

“He seems to have always displayed an incredible dedication to his profession and his organization. He knows firsthand everything there is to know about Latin America.”

DR. DONALD KACZVINSKY Dean of Liberal Arts

zation,” Kaczincsky said.

“He knows firsthand everything there is to know about Latin America.”

Kaczvinsky said Mack and his fellow geographers are a tight-knit group whose collective goal is to maintain an interest within the field.

He said Mack aims to inspire younger historians and geographers to be as passionate as he is and to serve as much as they have time for.

“I think he recognizes how where you’re born and where you’re from dictates your destiny and what your life is going to be,”he said. “He in particular is especially concerned with improving America by helping others to understand culture and how we relate to the world.”

SUDOKUPUZZLE Difficulty EXPERT

WEDNESDAY

HIGH 61 LOW 43

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.

www.sudoku-puzzles.net LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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January 26, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 7

More Talk THE LIFE OF A

PERFORMING ARTS MAJOR ASHLEY DAVIS GIVES A GLIMPSE OF LIFE ON STAGE

MORGAN BERNARD Staff Reporter | mrb056@latech.edu

“I saw the microphone in front of me and something just possessed me to sing, and I have been performing ever since.”

ASHLEY DAVIS senior theater major

Practicing 18 hours a week, learning to speak in several accents and battling with swords are just some of the unique experiences within the life of a performing arts major at Louisiana Tech.

Ashley Davis, a senior theatre major with a concentration in performance, is one of these students, and she said theatre is something that has always been a big part of her life.

“My first onstage performance was at the age of four,” Davis said. “I saw the microphone in front of me and something just possessed me to sing, and I have been performing ever since.”

Davis said she was lucky to grow up in the city of Covington, Louisiana, as it has a community that strongly supports the performing arts.

“I was involved in a community theatre when I was young until high school where I had a theatre class,” she said.

“Once I was out of high school I had no doubt in my mind that I immediately wanted to start studying theatre.”

Davis said that with the concentration on performance in her major, she is

Photos by Brian Blakely

Ashley Davis rehearsing her part in ‘She Kills Monsters’ with Austin Harrison. directed more toward the acting side of the performing arts.

“I want to act and perform on stage in my career,” Davis said. “Not necessarily for the fame and fortune, but to have a steady stream of jobs doing what I love.”

Davis said she also works with other aspects of the performing arts program at Tech along with acting and performing.

“I am the student recruiter coordinator for the theatre, so my job is to promote the program and give information to students who are interested,” she said. “I also help professors with recruiting undergraduate and graduate students by encouraging them to keep studying the arts.”

Davis said she enjoys her performing arts curriculum as it involves unique classes along with regular school subjects.

“We have some courses that you would not expect a college to even have,” Davis said. “There is a stage combat class where you learn how to fight on stage and use various weapons.

A class like this is where actors in action movies learn to do those intense battle scenes. Dialects is another cool course where we learn how to speak in different accents.”

Davis said along with their daily classes, many performing arts students must also attend practices for theatre performances being held throughout the year.

“We have three to four mainstage performances every year,” she said.

“The whole theatre program helps with putting on each show. We usually have rehearsal six days a week, three

hours daily, but it also depends on the director and complexity of the show.

Practices usually start a few months prior to the show times so there are hundreds of hours of work put into a year of performances.”

Davis said with each show the school performs she hopes the audience sees how much hard work and talent is put into the performance.

“Theatre is passionate and loving, and consists of so much work,” she said.

“I want people to have respect for the theatre and performers, and to see how much dedication and passion is put into a single show. To an audience member, the show may be great but it is forgotten later, but to those actors and company members that is their life every day.”

Davis said she wants more people to be interested in the performing arts so they can see why the theatre is so important to her.

“Being at the theatre is so exciting because these people are making art happen all the time and that art is so important,” Davis said. “I think it is important because the arts give people the opportunity to express themselves, and being different is celebrated and encouraged here.”

Davis said she chose Tech’s performing arts program over other universities because of its small size and togetherness.

“I love Tech’s smaller program because we are like a little family,” she said. “I get to be a part of a theatre where I know all of my peers and professors, and we all work together really well. It is a loving place to be where we always back each other up and support each other one-hundred percent.”

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8 • The Tech Talk • January 26, 2017

Erik McCree (2) earned Louisiana Sport’s Writers Association Men’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week honors after scoring in double digits for two games.

Photo courtesy of Donny Crowe

Dunkin’ Dogs’ defense key to winning streak ALEX HEARD Staff Reporter | amh072@latech.edu Find a fire extinguisher because the “Dunkin’ Dogs” are on fire.

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team has won four straight games – all against conference opponents to add icing on top of the cake. The games have been against Charlotte, Old Dominion, and most recently Rice and North Texas.

Tech is currently 14-6 and 6-1 in Conference-USA play. One key to Tech’s success has been its hardnosed defense. Tech held North Texas to its seasonlow in points scored (57).

Eric Konkol, head coach at Tech, said the team’s stingy defense can be credited to its most-seasoned players, Erik McCree and Jacobi Boykins, for leading by example. “(Those guys) are two of our upperclassmen that we count on a great bit, both inside and outside and from their defense,” Konkol said. “Both guys getting ten rebounds was huge and something that we have been challenging Jacobi to do, to help us on the backboard. He gets blocks. He gets steals. He is a tremendous defender. Erik has been doing it on the backboard all year, as well. Those two guys have been leaders for us and we certainly expect and count on their production.”

Tech has continued to get their act together more in the second half of games during this winning streak.

Konkol said North Texas, much like Rice, started out the game playing well but were buckled down after he challenged his team’s toughness.

“I give North Texas a lot of credit,” Konkol said. “I thought they played hard, fast and tough. They showed some great toughness playing with a smaller lineup.

They really gave us some trouble early. I just challenged our guys at halftime to play faster and tougher. I thought we were not as sharp and not working as hard, as well as a little bit on our heels. I think that was the difference and we just came out with a lot more pop (in the second half).”

Konkol said when Tech plays fast and tough they can get into teams’ heads, Rice succumbed to Tech’s mental games on defense.

“Those two “We wanted to be active and really try to keep guys (McCree them guessing,” Konkol and Boykins) said. “There were some individual defensive efforts have been leadthat happened. We were ers for us and also switching and being we certainly in gaps and the team defense was there tonight. We expect and wanted to make things dif- count on their ficult for both (Egor) Koulechov and (Marcus) Ev- production.” ans. They are two terrific KONKOL talents and great scorers. I ERIC Men’s basketball really thought that was the head coach difference in the game.”

Tech will take its win streak on the road these next two games, the toughest road trip of the season for the Bulldogs, to play conference foes University of Alabama-Birmingham and Middle Tennessee.

UAB is 5-2 in conference play while Middle Tennessee is undefeated at 7-0.

Photo by Ashley Kober Tech plays against UAB at 8 p.m. today in Birmingham, Alabama.

Omar Sherman (with ball) defends the ball from the reach of NTSU.

Tech track and field has historic weekend in Nashville ALEX HEARD Staff Reporter | amh072@latech.edu History was made in Tennessee.

Louisiana Tech’s track and field teams finished their second indoor competition of the season with several top finishes this past weekend at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Tech had eight Top 10 finish-

es by both the men and women.

Gregory Ballard started things off great at the invitational by setting a new Louisiana Tech record in the men’s pole vault Friday night.

He finished sixth overall with a mark of 16-0.75 (4.90m), which broke a school record that stood for over 30 years.

Tamario Lattin also had an impressive weekend for LA Tech by

recording three Top 10 finishes in three separate events, including finishing as high as second place in the men’s long jump on Friday with a mark of 24-6.25 (7.47m).

Lattin also finished ninth in the high jump Friday with a mark of 6-8.0 (2.03m). Lattin kept things going on Saturday when he finished third in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 49-5.0 (15.06m).

In Friday’s 5,000-meter race, Manoah Kiptum ran well with another Top 10 finish by placing ninth with a final time of 15:41.04.

The women showed out as well. The Lady Techsters had three Top 10 finishes between Alexis Hyshaw, Denisha Henix and Asia Abron. On Saturday, Hyshaw placed eighth in the women’s 60-meter finals with a

time of 7.73. Abron, on the other hand, competed in the shot put and finished 10th with a mark of 42-9.0 (13.03m). Friday, Henix finished the women’s long jump in ninth place with a mark of 19-2.5 (5.85m).

Tech’s squads will be back at it on Feb. 5 at the South Alabama Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama.