The Tech Talk 2.5.15

IMMORTALIZED Dan Reneau, former president of Tech, is inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame

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Islamic association hosts lecture Tech’s Muslim Student Association hosts a discussion to dispel falsehoods about Islam

FREDEDREIA WILLIS Staff Reporter

KAILEE COURTS Staff Reporter Following recent events like the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, are many misconceptions exist about the Islamic religion and culture group.

Louisiana Tech’s Muslim Student Association held a lecture to inform students about the misconceptions of the Islamic culture.

Dr. Mahmoud Khalil, the president of the Islamic Center in Monroe, was the speaker at the lecture. “Muslims make up one-fourth of the world’s population,� he said.

Khalil spoke about the main beliefs and practices of Islam. “There are the basic things some people already know about Islam,� said Khalil a cardiologist with Medical Groups and Clinics in Monroe. “Then there are more in-depth things people are a little confused about.�

Khalil said Islam is a strict monotheistic faith, meaning Muslims only believe in one god. He siad Muslims worship Allah, which is simply the Arabic word for God, and all acts of worship revolve around praising Allah.

He said Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last prophet from Allah so he is not worshipped by them.

One of the main topics he brought up was the issue of terrorists and jihad. “In Islam, jihad is the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin,� he said. “Non-Muslims believe that jihad is synonymous with fighting and it is not.�

Khalil said Muslims do not believe in fighting unless it is for self-defense, family or country.

The life of a non-traditional student

Photos by Colin Fontenot

ABOVE: Dr. Mahmoud Khalil, a cardiologist, speaks to a gathering of students.

LEFT: Khalil answers questions after the talk.

“We do not believe in such a thing as war until elimination,� he said. “We do not attack people who do not fight.�

Khalil said there is so much more to jihad than what the media have covered. “The attacks going on are not something condoned by the teachings of Islam,� he said.

Nicole Rusk, a junior communication major, said she came to the lecture because she does not know much about Islam and wanted to hear from someone who is a practicing Muslim.

The passion of his grandfather dug deep and created a desire in Bruce Norman’s heart to follow in his footsteps, which was one reason leading him to be a non-traditional college student.

Norman said it had always been his plan to return to school by 2015, and new opportunities i* XBT pushed him to return in influenced by March 2014. “In January of 2014 him because the company I was working for eliminated IF XBT WFSZ several thousand man- deliberate and agement positions, with mine being one of organized.� them,� said Norman, a middle-aged junior me- BRUCE NORMAN chanical engineering junior mechanical major. “While I had had engineering major some fair-paying jobs, the lack of a college degree meant I was, in general, earning less and had poorer benefits than I would receive if I had a STEM degree.�

Norman said his paternal grandfather was a civil engineer who sparked his interest in going into the profession. “I was influenced by him because he was very deliberate and organized,� Norman said. “When I would spend time with him, he would tell me some of his inspiring growing up experiences.�

He said his father was in the army from 19601980 and they traveled quite a bit as it was normal for him to be transferred to a new duty station about every two years.

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Tech students attend Passion Conference 2015 MATTHEW VALCHO Staff Reporter

Thousands of college students poured into the Toyota Center in downtown Houston this weekend for Passion 2015.

Passion is a Christian faith-based gathering of collegeaged students representing hundreds of schools across the nation with the purpose of worshipping and learning about Christ. Respected Christian speakers gave talks at different sessions throughout the weekend with different bands and singers such as David Crowder and Chris Tomlin performing at each.

Louisiana Tech students attended the Passion 2015 Conference, as well as the previous gathering in Atlanta in early January.

Scott Felder was one of the students who attended the conference in Atlanta. “I would not call it a big church service,� said Felder, a

sophomore mechanical engineering major. “It is basically just a big party with 17,000 other brothers and sisters in Christ.�

Three conferences were held in January. The first two were in Atlanta at the Phillips Arena while the final gathering was in Houston at the Toyota Center. Both arenas have a capacity of at least 18,000.

Katie Rose, a junior speech pathology major, also attended the Atlanta conference. “It is a chance to get away from school and learn about God with thousands of other Christians who have the same mindset as you,� she said.

Rose said Passion is not just a chance for Christians to gather together, it is an opportunity for students to get involved with organizations fighting for human lives.

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Attendees of the Passion Conference hold up signs to show their TPMJEBSJUZ XJUI UIF &OE *U NPWFNFOU

Photo by Matthew Valcho

NEWS

2 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

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There is no college without coffee and caffeine FREDEDREIA WILLIS Staff Reporter

life or none at all,” said Schwarz, a freshman health information management major.

She said drinking too much coffee can have Thirty-page research papers, all-nighters and hectic negative effects on any student and cause things schedules are all included in a typical week for college stu- like insomnia, nervousness and muscle tremors. dents, but some have now found their saving grace: coffee.

“Too much caffeine or too much coffee does Most students will tell you to deal with their mood swings, not have any effects on me physically or my study habits and interaction with other students, all they need mood,” Schwarz said. “But I know some stuis some caffeine to get them going. dents’ academic habits are affected negatively.”

Sydney Ponthieux, a senior history and secondary educaClaire Broussard said she drinks coffee at tion major, said she has been drinking cafleast six times day, if not more, to feine since she was five years old, and any keep her going from class to class.

I still love and need caffeine is a need for her.

“If someone is in college it is al“Sodas, coffee, energy drinks; anything to have my coffee, most impossible for them to not be with caffeine is a must-have,” she said. “My which is like mine a caffeine addict,” said Broussard, a mom is Cuban, so I literally grew up drinkfreshman biochemistry major. “It is ing small amounts of coffee with my milk and any other collike the life blood of the professional but it quickly transformed into something I lege student’s enand college world.” cannot go without.”

Broussard said one of the posiergy source.”

Ponthieux said she has even taken caftive sides to drinking coffee is she is feine pills to allow her to stay awake longer CLAIRE BROUSSARD more alert and can easily handle her during the night and to give her a boost of Freshman biochemistry major schedule. energy while studying.

She said there are negatives, how“Caffeine also affects my mood to a ever. certain extent,” Ponthieux said. “After a cup of coffee I feel Caffeine dependency and caffeine crashes like I am actually functioning and I am naturally a bit shy, but are some of the side effects. caffeine allows me to talk freely.”

“I still love and need to have my coffee, She said some downsides of drinking too much caffeine which is like mine and any other college stuor coffee could cause a person’s brain movement to become dent’s energy source,” Broussard said. “Having too fast paced, or cause hyperactiveness. a Java City and a Starbucks in close range is one Mallory Schwarz said the effects caffeine can have on a of the many great things about being at Tech.” person depend on the student’s health and the amount being consumed.

Email comments to “Caffeine can have different effects on a student and their flw005@latech.edu.

ABOVE: Sydney Ponthieux, a senior history major, gets a cup of coffee from Java City.

Photos by Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay

LEFT: Malory Schwarz, a freshman health information management major, gets a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.

Tech organization supports healthy family environments MATTHEW VALCHO Staff Reporter The Louisiana Tech Council on Family Relations (LTCFR) is a student organization that wants to help families grow.

LTCFR held its winter interest meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Katie Falgoust, the president of LTCFR, said the council is directed at helping Tech students learn more about the growth of a family.

“The club consists of mainly family and child studies majors but we are open to everyone joining,” she said. “It really comes down to having a passion for families and seeing them grow to be happy and live in healthy environments.”

Falgoust said she wants to make it clear the council is more than just a social club.

“We love getting to meet and talk together, but we do not just keep to ourselves,” said Falgoust, a senior family and child studies major.

“We are trying to get our group more involved in things

on and off campus; we want to shed the idea “It really comes a senior family and child studies major. “We that we are sort of a clique.” have to coordinate events with the Tech staff down to having a Brianna Skinner, the vice president of LTCso it helps build a relationship that could enFR, said even students who may be on a dif- passion for families hance the learning experience.” ferent career path than other students on the and seeing them Falgoust said the council wants to get council can benefit. more out into the community. grow to be happy “LTCFR will hopefully become a member and healthy “LTCFR is dedicated to seeking out opof the National Council on Family Relations portunities that help families in Ruston grow,” this quarter or next,” said Skinner, a sopho- environments.” she said. “Service projects and some speaking more family and child studies major. “That events are good ways to do that.”

FALGOUST membership will give us access to tons of KATIE LTCFR hosted an evening talk with Amy president of LTCFR academic journals and studies that can benYates, the director of the School of Human efit everyone from teachers to psychologists.”

Ecology, earlier in the winter quarter. This talk Jordan Harper, the treasurer of LTCFR, said there are was an opportunity for students of all majors to get to ask questions about family growth out of the classroom. more benefits than just research materials.

Harper said it created some interest in the club.

“LTCFR can be a big resume builder, especially if we “I am glad that we had some new faces here,” she said. join the National Council,” she said. “A possible employer “It means that we are growing.” could see that and be very impressed by it.”

Harper also said the benefits are not only post-graduation.

Email comments to “We get to know the professors really well,” said Harper, mvv002@latech.edu.

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UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY • Last day to drop with “W” grades.

• Lady Bulldogs softball will host SIUE at 2 p.m.

• Last Night of Ballyhoo performance at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY • Lady Bulldogs softball will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 9 a.m. and Abilene Christian at 3:45 p.m.

• Lady Bulldogs basketball will host Middle Tennesee State at 6 p.m.

• Last Night of Ballyhoo performance at 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY • Lady Bulldogs softball will host Missouri State at 1:30 p.m.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

• BOSS registration begins for honors and graduate students.

• BOSS registration begins for seniors.

• A New Frontiers in Biomedical Research Seminar will be held in University Hall from 3:30-5 p.m.

• A I-20 Corridor Regional Accelerator will be held in University Hall from 5:30-8 p.m.

• The Percussion Ensemble Winter Concert will be held in Howard Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY • No calendar events.

THURSDAY • Boss registration begins for juniors.

• Bulldogs basketball will host Florida Atlantic at 6:30 p.m.

NEWS

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February 5, 2015 • The Tech Talk • 3

Business center aids in development MICHAEL HOGE Staff Reporter Individuals may have a tough time growing their business or startup, but the Technology Business Development Center has a program to help businesses grow.

The I-20 Regional Accelerator is designed to help entrepreneurs or existing businesses looking for new ideas to help expand their customer base. The program, which is free, runs from January to April, with a meeting every other week.

Kathy Wyatt, director of the development center, spoke to the group of people attending the conference at University Hall.

“You all have been encouraged to consider what you might want to ask these experienced entrepreneurs and what they might share with you that might help guide your actions and try to come up with a business model,” Wyatt said.

She said many of the attendees are Tech students themselves, so it is not just local and regional businesses attending, but university students as well.

For one minute each individual or individuals representing their business told

Photo by Jaclyn Perry

Advisors at the I-20 Regional Accelerator judged and assisted those presenting ideas to the panel. the attendees what progress they had made since the last meeting.

Josh Carver, an undergraduate in industrial engineering, said his company Gear Down Waterfowl is focused on first producing a boat for duck hunting. He

said this boat is designed to hide a hunter wherever they want to go.

Not everyone is as far along as Carver with the process of getting a product out to market.

Rachel Pardue, a high school student, presented

Poetic duo bring laughter to Tech

about her idea of a handheld translator, which is intended for use by the military, police officers, international business people, tourists and students.

“This translator will be the first of its kind to make translations as well as audio voice

recognition,” said Pardue.

“What I know is more of the business side and have spoken to the customers and seen what they really want and it is really trying to find someone who has the knowledge to teach me,” Pardue said.

Photo courtesy of Louisiana Tech School of Literature and Language

LACY CAMP Staff Reporter Two Shreveport poets, Ashley Mace Havird and David Havird, filled the room with poetry and laughter by sharing a few of their poems and conducting a book signing on Jan. 29.

David Havird said Robert Rudnicki, an associate English professor at Louisiana Tech, brought the couple to Tech for the event attended by students and English professors.

“Dr. Rudnicki was a student of mine at Centenary College of Louisiana,” he said. “He invited us to come and we were all too happy to come.”

Throughout the event, the duo explained their backgrounds and the influences behind some of their poems, particularly how the death of Marilyn Monroe inspired David Havird’s poem “Smoking in Bed.” David Havird said the main influence on his writ-

ing was James Dickey, a poet and novelist whom he studied under.

Dickey’s impact can be seen in his essay memoir “In and Out of Class with James Dickey.”

“To speak for the both of us, we began writing as children. It was not until college where we began to seriously write,” Ashley Mace Havird said. “I began with writing stories, but then I began to write poems when I was about 35 years old.”

Despite David Havird’s first publishing, he took a break from writing.

“There was a period from 1976 to 1995 when I didn’t write poems,” he said. “I was in graduate school so because of dissertation and seminar papers, I didn’t write.”

The two have won prizes on their poetry and competitions which allowed their poetry to be published in chapbooks, which are small books of poems.

David Havird said his first work was published in

the magazine “The New Yorker” in 1975.

However, it was not until 2009 that he won the Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Prize, his first award, with his two chapbooks “Map Home” and “Penelope’s Design.”

Ashley Mace Havird began to win awards when she was awarded a Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship in Literature in 2002.

Following her award in 2002, Ashley Mace Havird won the 2009 South Carolina Poetry Initiative Series Prize with her first chapbook, “Dirt Eaters.”

Ashley Mace Havird’s most recent awards include having her poems and short stories appear in different journals, such as “Shenandoah” and winning the 2013 X. J. Kennedy Prize.

In 2014, she had her second chapbook, “Sleeping with Animals,” published.

Email comments to lmc074@latech.edu

Email comments to mph027@latech.edu.

Legacy Day sees alumni, prospective students attend ALEX HEARD Staff Reporter

David and Ashley Mace Havird shared some of their poetry at Tech on Jan. 29.

During the panel discussion the guest speakers gave her many suggestions and ideas on how she could succeed with her business idea.

“You need to know what you want to do and what problem you’re trying to solve” said Ryan Wooley, president and CEO of BlueArx. BluArx is a consulting company that has an office on the Tech campus.

He said in being local, Pardue should apply for a tax credit program that is offered by Louisiana Economic Development that offers a 35 percent tax credit.

Tom Snell of Nexus Systems stressed the importance of having other people to help make an idea into a product.

“I had an idea, and I couldn’t finish it without people around me, and in my introduction I said I had three other partners; see this time I just didn’t have an idea,” Snell said.

He said not to be afraid to bring other people in to help with Pardue’s idea because Snell had an idea for sports films that he was unable to bring to fruition because of a lack of people.

Prospective students are acclimated for their upcoming freshman year at the summer orientations and various Timeout for Tech’s throughout the school year.

However, for those students whose parents are alumni of Louisiana Tech, they are given a recruiting experience like none other on Legacy Day. Legacy Day consists of tours of residential life and other buildings on campus, a look at the “Band of Pride” in Howard Auditorium, and a myriad of departmental sessions with the students and their parents.

“Legacy Day is a thank you to our alumni,” said Andy Cline, who is in charge of Tech’s Orientation Student Leaders and Student Recruiters.. “We roll out the red carpet to their children and give them a personal, exclusive deal.”

Cline, who is in charge of the Orientation Student Leaders and Student Recruiters at Tech, said they put on such a unique event for the students in hopes that it will sway their college decision towards Tech.

“Legacy Day is so exclusive because we truly get to know these kids and their parents,” said Zach Vines, a sophomore supply chain management major and student recruiter,. “We give them up-close-and-personal tours of campus and eat with them in hope to make them realize how bad the university wants them.”

Vines said when talking to these pro-

spective students they tend to get their parents’ opinions and why they decided to attend Tech.

“Essentially we’re two Bulldogs trying to lead a lost puppy in the right direction,” Vines said.

Madison Bottoms said after seeing such a large freshman class in the fall, the hope is to increase those numbers this upcoming year with a majority being legacies.

“Past enrollments show legacies who attend an event like today tend to come to Tech,” said Bottoms, , a junior math education major and president of the student recruiters. “So we hope we can keep that streak, so to speak, going.”

Bottoms said the importance of Legacy Day cannot be taken lightly.

“We’re the first faces these kids see at Tech,” Bottoms said. “Our main goal is to make a great impression on them so they end up following in their parent or parents’ footsteps.”

Bottoms said academics are very important, but they also hope to show how much fun athletic events are at Tech.

“After all the touring and academic breakdowns today, we will end the night with free tickets to see the Dunkin’ Dogs play Marshall University,” Bottoms said.

“People tend to forget how important some prospective students hold a university’s athletics in their final collegiate decision.”

Bottoms said he and his fellow recruiters wish to show how memorable Tech sporting events can be.

Email comments to amh072@latech.edu.

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4 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

Insight The

TechTalk

FROM THE EDITOR

Go away from GOMESA

MANAGEMENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Sadler

MANAGING EDITOR Cody Sexton

NEWS EDITOR

Ray Patterson

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Cody Sexton

FEATURE EDITOR

Kelsy Kershaw

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Wynnifred Sanders

ASSOCIATE MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Ellie Moslander

PHOTO EDITOR

Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jaclyn Perry Colin Fontenot Devin Dronett Carter Carroll Brian Blakely

ADVERTISING MANAGER Taylor Loftin

ADVISERS

Dr. Judith Roberts T. Scott Boatright

JOHN SADLER Editor-In-Chief

L

ast Monday, President Obama unveiled his $4 trillion national budget plan for the year.

Among the particulars, the plan specified a cancelation of the current distribution of offshore oil drilling funds among Gulf Coast states, known as the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. Instead, the money the federal government doles out will be put into a plan that provides “broad natural resource, watershed and conservation benefits for the entire nation.”

The revenue sharing, which has been in effect since 2006, has given around $30 million to the Gulf states annually.

The plan, co-sponsored by former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, is expected to raise around $500 million in revenue for the Gulf states by 2017, when the central Gulf region must begin

to follow the act.

Or at least it will, if not cut down by this new budget proposal.

The money, or at least the money that came to Louisiana, is set aside exclusively for wetlands protection.

The wetlands are a critical part of Louisiana’s ecosystem, and the money we gain from GOMESA could be game-changing in how we deal with our dwindling coast.

Putting oil rigs into the Gulf puts the Gulf States front and center to bear the brunt of an ecological disaster.

Doing this, and then taking away the monetary buffer we are using to rebuild our ecosystems while claiming the continental shelf is “owned by all Americans,” as Interior Secretary Sally Jewell did, is condescending.

Of course, the continental shelf does not belong to the states, but oil rigs are dangerous, and have the capability to cause extraordinary damage to the ecosystems of both the Gulf

and its bordering states.

I am not anti-oil by a long shot, but look at the BP disaster and tell me an oil rig cannot wreak havoc. And that was only one. There are currently around 3,500 oil rigs in the Gulf.

Our proximity to the sites of possible ecological crises gives us claim to a little bigger piece of the pie.

Especially when we are using our funds to rebuild our wetland ecosystem, which is both an integral part of our hurricane defenses and an important part of our culture.

While it is highly unlikely this law will pass, as it requires congressional action and not just an executive decree, the fact that it was brought up is disconcerting.

Please, Washington, we are trying to improve our state. Don’t make it harder on us.

John Sadler is a junior journalism major from Extension who serves as editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to jts040@latech.edu.

ADVERTISING ADVISER

Dr. Reginald Owens

ADVISER/PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael LeBlanc

LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Michael LeBlanc

Not a fan of fans

DEPARTMENT HEAD

Dr. Reginald Owens

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CODY SEXTON Managing Editor

T

he other day, as I was lying on the couch polishing off the last of my chips and dip from the quaint Super Bowl party my friends and I had, I decided to have a throwback music video-a-thon.

This came from having been filled with nostalgia after watching Missy Elliot perform an outstanding medley of some of her greatest hits.

As I made my way through anything from circa 2006 Beyonce and No Doubt, I came across the music video to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”

I was filled with a disdain I could not pinpoint the exact source of, but decided to watch the video anyway. I was halfway through the second chorus before I realized I was singing along and even motioning my hands in the claw-like fashion seen in the video.

As I sat there trying to remember what exactly it was that made it my gut reaction to sneer at Gaga after reading her name it hit me: I hate her fans.

Gaga’s fans, better known as “Little Mon-

sters,” are some of the absolute worst fans on the planet. Because of Gaga’s sky-rocketing success in 2009, many flocked pledging their allegiance and, more importantly, their money to her.

I hate fans. Gone are the days people were brought together by a common love of music. Today they are separated into categories like “Little Monsters,” “Barbz” (Nicki Minaj) or “Swifties” (Taylor Swift). Although, to their credit “Swifties” are harmless. They’re like the Hufflepuffs of the music fandoms.

It can be said for many other hardcore fans of current artists who are imbued with the selfrighteous need to proclaim that whoever they support is better than anyone else. They’re like sports fans, but worse because there is usually a large amount of sass involved when one “slays” another’s “fave.” Further examples are a simple Google search away.

It wasn’t long ago I came across a thread online with multiple people arguing over who was better between Britney Spears and Beyonce.

Two women known for completely separate genres of music were being unknowingly pitted against each other.

What was most impressive about the con-

frontation was the research that went into these disputes. I learned Britney’s first album “Baby One More Time” has outsold Beyonce’s whole discography.

What a lot of these people do not realize they are doing is they are ultimately attaching a negative image to the person they are repre senting.

While I will not proclaim to be a member of a fandom I will say I closely relate to Kesha’s “Animals” because I am a fan of her in particular. Others should take note from Kesha fans.

We are humble. We know Kesha is not the best singer and her chances of winning a Grammy are less than Katy Perry’s. So, we stay humble.

Terrible fans can be found in any form. From sports fans to music fans to theater fans, these extremists need to realize while they remain biasedly faithful to their “faves” they are just adding unnecessary nonsense to a non-existent issue.

No fan should strive to be a “Little Monster.”

Cody Sexton is a senior journalism major from Seattle who serves as managing editor for the Tech Talk.

Email comments to cls068@latech.edu.

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, clas­ sification or title. We will not print the telephone number. Viewpoints should be mailed or brought to The Tech Talk office, 139 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 committed to the principle of providing 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/ policies-and-procedures/1445. shtml.

SOME R’ELLIE GOOD ADVICE Well, you can always marry…yourself ?

ELLIE MOSLANDER Associate Multimedia Editor

T

he ceremony had all of the components of a memorable wedding: an elegant cake, an elaborate dress, a walk down the aisle, bridesmaids, vows, many guests and someone to officiate.

There was one very important thing missing in this particular ceremony though. There was no significant other.

It is not unusual for close friends to make a pact to unheard of to marry each other once they reach a certain age, if they have not found someone yet.

Some do it as a joke and some may be serious; but either way, I’m sure many of us have heard the phrase “If I’m not married by 40, we’ll get married.”

Yasmin Eleby took matters into her own hands and married herself Jan. 3 when she

turned 40 years old.

Yes, she married herself.

It was a pledge she made to herself so because she wanted to celebrate her life and independence.

She had been planning the event and wedding since July and even planned her own honeymoon.

She is a successful woman who works as an executive in the oil industry. This was her choice to celebrate her life, she told ABC news.

“My wedding was going to be about me making a commitment,” Eleby said. “To love myself, to honor myself and to know my self-worth.”

Since she had not found anyone she wanted to marry, she just decided to go ahead and do it all by herself.

While I respect her independence and her desire to celebrate her life, this is pretty bizarre and slightly narcissistic.

Most of all, it is pretty humorous because

she could definitely celebrate her life and display her independence in a different way.

Birthday parties and celebrations of life are great, but going to the lengths of having a real wedding is a bit much.

I never really thought I would read about someone marrying himself or herself, conducting a ceremony and going on a honeymoon.

Of course, this ceremony is not recognized legally; she called it a “spiritual ceremony,” but nonetheless, Eleby, her family and friends took it very seriously.

So for all of us out there who feel as if we may never find love, there is always the option of saying “to heck with it all” and just marrying yourself. I guess.

Ellie Moslander is a junior journalism major from Albuquerque, New Mexico who serves as associate multimedia editor for the Tech Talk. Email comments to emo012@latech.edu.

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Arts Entertainment

February 5, 2015 • The Tech Talk • 5

Anthony Ellis, a freshman engineering student, looks at one of the books at the art show created by Frank Hamrick.

Photo by Brian Blakely

Tech’s artists show off their talent

KAILEE COURTS Staff Reporter

Studio 301 Contemporary Art in downtown Ruston was the place where Louisiana Tech photography faculty and six graduate students showcased their work.

Faculty members Adam Forrester and Frank Hamrick, along with students Marcus Journey, Hannah Cooper McCauley, Zachary McCauley and Rachel Spencer, had their art on display for the public to see.

Hannah Cooper McCauley, a graduate student, had her photography work on display.

“I started taking photography seriously when I started college,” she said. “I love photography because you can have a specific language.”

McCauley said she uses her photos as her own language.

“It is easier for some people to explain things using words or drawings,” she said.

“I use my photos to speak the things that I cannot say.”

McCauley said the pictures she had on display were inspired by fairytales.

“The pictures here interpret fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams,” she said. “They are an abstract way of storytelling through photography.”

ANDRUS McCauley said her favorite piece on display was “The Day it Happened.”

“It is a simple photo of my hands and some wasps; I am allergic to wasps,” she said. “It represents overcoming my literal fear and the fear of losing someone.”

Taylor Andrus said she really enjoyed

Nothing ‘More Than Three Words’ CODY SEXTON Managing Editor As Missy Elliot’s career made a sudden appearance at Sunday’s Super Bowl half-time show riding shotgun in a timet rave l i n g D e L o re a n , something else from the early 2000s managed to catch a ride in the trunk.

On Feb. 1, as Missy was saving everyone from Katy Perry’s caterwauling, YouTube personality and bane of the gay community’s existence, Chris Crocker released his new album, “More Than Three Words.”

An homage to his famous “Leave Britney Alone!” rant, “More Than Three Words” is Crocker’s latest attempt at staggering toward social relevance.

After tirelessly searching for a free download, I caved and bought the album, because like Nicki Minaj, “When I come out of my mansion I sprinkle some bread for the pigeons.”

For his latest album, Crocker has forgone any attempt to create a clubbanger as he did on previous records and gone instead the acoustic route, without the acoustic part.

Crocker’s voice is processed for production, but not enough to disguise his

Chris Crocker

More Than Three Words Chris Crocker IIIII whine reminiscent of the worst of what the emo boy bands at the bottom of a Warped Tour lineup had to offer.

What “Vice” had the nerve to call “pop-rock” and “folk-country” is nothing more than 10 tracks of the same three guitar chords and Crocker crooning about his problems with life, love and of course the Internet.

The opening song, “All of Me,” is Crocker’s “I don’t care what people think about me” anthem featuring vocals too soft for the overpowering background beat.

To describe one song is to describe them all. Nothing stands out about the album, save for all the tracks sound like they were written by a 13-year-old.

The lyrical content has about as much substance as a Big Freedia or RuPaul song, but at least those are ironically fun to hear.

Interestingly enough, while this album was meant to shed a negative image that has haunted Crocker more than Britney’s past has actually haunted her, he includes a track titled “2007” in which he addresses the famous YouTube rant.

The lyrical content of the song describes the physical acts of picking up his camera and recording the “Leave Britney Alone” video that made him relevant.

At least the guy knows not to bite the hand that fed him and gives credit where credit is due. Without that video, Crocker would not have the social platform to publicly credit himself for pioneering the anti-gay crusade on the Internet.

The album’s only saving grace is the final track, “Grand,” an ode to his grandmother whom he lived with for a great deal of his youth. While the song is not groundbreaking, or even level to the ground for that matter, by means of lyrical content, it is still a sweet gesture to the woman who raised him for the majority of his life.

Though this was Crocker attempting to prove he is more than three words with this album, he simply reaffirmed our belief that he is in fact nothing more.

Email comments to cls068@latech.edu.

coming to look at a lot of the pieces in the exhibit.

“I am taking an art history class and I think all of these pictures are really cool,” said Andrus, a sophomore pre-veterinary major. “They all look very interesting.”

Andrus said her favorite piece of the night was McCauley’s photo titled “The Kiss.”

“This photo looks like a classic,” she said.

“It makes you think of a movie because of the way the background is faded and the focus is on the kiss and the guy.”

Hamrick, an associate professor in the School of Design, had seven color pieces and three books on display “I got my first camera when I was 10, and that is when I started taking pictures,” he said. “I did not formally start taking pictures until 10 years later.”

Hamrick said the color pieces he had on

display were from when he was a student, and the books are his most current work.

“I wanted to show students what I was doing when I was their age,” he said. “It is also a way to compare my work.”

Hamrick said he likes photography because it is a way of having a voice and preserving the moment.

“It is a way to point out the good and the bad,” he said. “It is up to the viewer to decide what they think the photo means.”

Hamrick said a piece of advice he would like to give students is their future is up to them.

“Nothing will happen if you do not put yourself out there,” he said. “It is up to each person to be a creative, contributing member of society.”

Email comments to kec029@letech.edu.

SPEAK MAGAZINE

is avaliable digitally on issuu Go to issuu.com/speakmagazinemedia or download the issuu mobile app and search for SPEAK Magazine

6 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

World W&NBRIEFS WORLDNEWS Pope decrees slain archbishop a martyr VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thirty-five years after he was gunned down by a right-wing death squad as he celebrated Mass, Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero moved a step closer to possible sainthood Tuesday when Pope Francis declared he was a martyr killed out of hatred for his Catholic faith.

Selfies linked in deadly plane crash DENVER (AP) — Selfies were a likely factor in a small plane crash near Denver last year that killed the pilot and his only passenger, according to a new National Transportation Safety Board report.

Iraq explosions kill several civilians BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say a series of bombs across Baghdad have killed more than a dozen civilians, with a heavy focus on commercial areas.

The deadliest bombing happened in central Baghdad’s popular Karradah area, where police and hospital officials say three bombs hit Wathiq Square, a popular commercial district packed with restaurants and shops, killing at least five people and wounding 15.

Nation

US, Iran talk compromise ASSOCIATED PRESS VIENNA (AP) — With time for negotiations running short, the U.S and Iran are discussing a compromise that would let Iran keep much of its uraniumenriching technology but reduce its potential to make nuclear weapons, two diplomats tell The Associated Press.

Such a compromise could break the decadelong deadlock on attempts to limit Iranian activities that could be used to make such arms: Tehran refuses to meet U.S.-led demands for deep cuts in the number of centrifuges it uses to enrich uranium, a process that can create material for anything from chemotherapy to the core of an atomic bomb.

Experts warn any reduction in centrifuge efficiency is reversible more quickly than a straight decrease in the number of machines, an argument that could be seized upon by powerful critics of the talks in the U.S. Congress.

The diplomats are familiar with the talks but spoke only on condition of

anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss them. Ahead of a new round of negotiations this week, they said there is no guarantee the proposal can be finessed into an agreement.

According to the diplomats, the proposal could leave running most of the nearly 10,000 centrifuges Iran is operating but reconfigure them to reduce the amount of enriched uranium they produce.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there is a range of discussions going on, focused on cutting off the different pathways for Iran to potentially arrive at a nuclear bomb.

“There are many pieces of the puzzle that need to be put together,” Psaki told reporters. These include how many centrifuges Iran operates and how they operate, she said.

Iran offered last year to reduce the output of its centrifuges if it could keep most of them going. That was rejected back then by the U.S. and its five negotiating partners. But both sides are under increas-

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal has waded into the vaccine debate, urging parents to get their children vaccinated and saying he wouldn’t send his children to a school that allowed vaccinations to be optional.

$100K in marijuana, guns seized in bust HAHNVILLE (AP) — St. Charles Parish deputies have seized over $100,000 in marijuana and numerous assault rifles in a bust believed to be linked to Mexican cartels. Deputies also confiscated 17 assault rifles, two handguns and $36,880 in cash.

Two men were arrested and each face multiple drug and weapons charges.

Lenny Kravitz added to Jazz Fest 2015 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After a 10-year hiatus, rocker Lenny Kravitz returns to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Producers of the festival announced Tuesday that Kravitz is scheduled to perform Sunday, May 3.

AP Photo/Keystone,Martial Trezzini, File

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, listens to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as they walk in the city of Geneva, Switzerland during a bilateral meeting ahead of nuclear discussions. ing pressure ahead of two deadlines: to agree on main points by late March, and to reach a comprehensive deal by June 30.

The latest negotiations have been extended twice, strengthening skepticism from both hardliners in Iran

and critics in the U.S. Congress.

Failure this time could result in a push for new sanctions by influential U.S. legislators, a move that some Iranian officials warn would scuttle any future diplomatic attempts to

end the standoff. The talks increasingly have become a dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are also at the table but recognize the U.S. and Iran stand to gain — or lose — the most.

Africa agrees to send troops to fight Haram ASSOCIATED PRESS

STATENEWS Jindal speaks out about vaccinations

www.thetechtalk.org

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Houseboats sit in the drought lowered waters of Oroville Lake, near Oroville, Calif.

Californians begin adjusting to life in current drought ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — December’s rains enabled Californians to finally meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for a 20 percent reduction in monthly water consumption, but more restrictions loom as the state adapts to longterm drought conditions.

California is by no means out of trouble, despite a survey released Tuesday that showed an unusually rainy month helped residents cut water use by 22 percent statewide from December 2013 levels.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack that supplies a third of California’s water is 75 percent below its historical average. And for the first time in recorded his-

tory, there was no measurable rainfall in downtown San Francisco in January, when winter rains usually come. Residents have reduced consumption since July, when the state authorized cities to fine people $500-a-day for violating restrictions on lawn watering and washing cars.

Despite the ongoing drought, now entering its fourth year, the latest data show the message is resonating. Per-capita water use has been cut in half in the last six months, with Californians using an average of 67 gallons a day per person in December, compared with 140 gallons per person in June.

Water board officials lauded water providers such as San Diego managed to meet the target.

African Union’s Peace and Security Council, Samil ADDIS ABABA, Ethio- Chergui. pia (AP) — African leadAfrican leaders who are ers agreed to send 7,500 members of the 54-nation troops to fight African Union the Boko Haram are meeting in insurgency in the Ethiopian northeast Nigeria, capital Addis an African Union Ababa for a twoofficial said Satday summit that urday, as the inends Saturday. ternational comU.N. Secremunity, including tary-General Ban long-time foes the Ki-moon earlier U.S. and Iran, ralsaid he supports lied in support of the AU’s move Nigeria against to send a force the militants. to fight Boko HaBAN The move ram. Boko HaKI-MOON came after the ram is increasing council urged its attacks as Niheads of state to endorse geria prepares for Feb. 14 the deployment of troops elections. Thousands have from five West African been killed in the 5-year incountries to fight the terror surgency. group, said the head of the Iran also said Saturday

it has begun consultations with West African countries affected by Boko Haram to provide help.

The country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said he is confident the group could be defeated with collective action.

African nations have opened up a new international front in the war on terror. On Thursday, neighboring Chad sent a warplane and troops that drove the extremists out of a northeastern Nigeria border town in the first such act by foreign troops on Nigerian soil.

Chad’s victory, and the need for foreign troops, is an embarrassment to Nigeria’s once-mighty military, brought low by corruption and politics.

Maternal marijuana use under the microscope in Colorado ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER (AP) — Marijuana use by pregnant or nursing women might seem like a no-brainer of a bad idea. But a proposal in Colorado to step up such warnings was rejected Tuesday because of concern about limited or in-

conclusive research on the dangers. Pot shoppers in Colorado and Washington already receive warnings that the drug shouldn’t be used by pregnant and nursing women.

A Colorado bill proposed going further by requiring pot shops to post signs saying that maternal marijuana use poses risks

to unborn children. But the sponsor agreed to scrap the effort Tuesday and try again.

His proposal revived an ongoing debate about maternal marijuana use.

Some pregnant women use marijuana to alleviate nausea. Women testified Tuesday that the warnings would have been insulting.

W&N

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February 5, 2015 • The Tech Talk • 7

UK to create three parent babies ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON (AP) — Britain moved Tuesday toward allowing scientists to create humans from the DNA of three people.

The technology aims to liberate future generations from inherited diseases, but critics say it crosses a fundamental scientific boundary and could lead to “designer babies.”

The U.K.’s House of Commons voted 382-178 in favor of legislation to license these experiments.

If approved in the House of Lords, Britain would become the world’s first nation to allow genetic modifications in human embryos.

“This is a bold step to take, but it is a considered and informed step,” Health Minister Jane Ellison told the Commons.

The technology is completely different from that used to create genetically modified foods, where scientists typically select individual genes to be transferred from one species into another. But critics say it crosses a red line, since changes made to embryos will be passed on to future generations, with the potential for unforeseen consequences.

While this legislation was drafted specifically to grant permission only for certain specified techniques, critics fear it will encourage scientists to push for other experiments in the future.

The protests are “about protecting children from the severe health risks of these unnecessary techniques and protecting everyone from the eugenic designer-

AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Rachel Kean, activist and campaigner, poses outside the Palace of Westminster, after she witnessed the vote on three parent babies in the House of Commons, in London on Tuesday. Britain’s House of Commons gave preliminary approval Tuesday to permitting scientists to create babies from the DNA of three people. baby future that will follow from this,” said David King, director of the secular watchdog group Human Genetics Alert.

The technology alters a human egg or embryo before transferring it into a mother with defects in her mitochondria, the energy-producing structures outside a cell’s nu-

cleus. These genetic defects can result in diseases including muscular dystrophy; heart, kidney and liver failure; and severe muscle weakness.

Scientists would remove the nucleus DNA from the egg of the prospective mother and insert it into a donor egg from which the

nucleus DNA has been removed.

The resulting embryo would have the nucleus DNA from its parents but the mitochondrial DNA from the donor. This can be done two ways — before or after fertilization — in the techniques approved by the Commons.

Scientists say more than 99

Seahawk fans struggling with reality of the Super Bowl loss ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE (AP) — As shocking as it was, the Seattle Seahawks’ lastminute loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl Sunday was probably not even the worst loss in the city’s sports history.

Seattle did lose an entire NBA franchise, after all, when the SuperSonics up and moved to Oklahoma City. At least the Seahawks will be playing again next season.

But the grief, anger and bewilderment felt by many Seahawks fans nevertheless shows only mild signs of abating, even days later. Many say they’re certain the decision to pass from the 1-yard line — instead of handing off to bruising running back Marshawn Lynch — will forever haunt the Northwest the way previous sporting gaffes defined other cities.

“I’ll be 90 years old and still thinking about this game,” said Norb Caoili, a longtime season-ticket holder from Renton. “The history of sports is defined by moments like this, where heroes rise and save the day, or where teams collapse on the biggest stages.

It’s always going to be a part of the fabric of Seattle, and that’s tough to swallow.”

Caoili, 45, is the force behind Norb-Cam, a YouTube channel that features videos of himself — wearing a green wig, Seahawks headband, and blue-and-green face paint — reacting to the action during Seahawks games.

The videos have been viewed an improbable number of times, making him a prominent voice among Hawks fans.

For him, the way the Seahawks lost is what makes it so tough: Moments earlier, the team seemed on the brink of a miraculous victory, with

percent of the DNA in the resulting child would come from its parents, with a tiny fraction coming from the donor egg.

Britain’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sally Davies, said the law would give women with mitochondrial disease “the opportunity to have children without passing on devastating genetic disorders.”

Britain has long been a leader in reproductive technology; the world’s first baby from in vitro fertilization, Louise Brown, was born in the U.K. in 1978.

U.S. regulators are moving more slowly: Scientists at a U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting on the techniques last year warned it could take decades to determine if they are safe. Meanwhile, experts say the techniques are likely being used elsewhere, such as in China and Japan, but are mostly unregulated.

“Scientists around the world ... have raised many cautions about the risks to any children that might result from these techniques,” said Marcy Darnovsky, who directs the Center for Genetics and Society, an American advocacy group.

“We urge women who might consider undergoing this biologically extreme procedure to carefully investigate.”

No date has been set for debate in the House of Lords, but it is expected to be in the next few weeks. It would be unusual for it to reject legislation that has passed overwhelmingly in the Commons.

The techniques would likely be used about a dozen times a year in women with faulty mitochondria.

Venezuela begins the occupation of private supermarket chain ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Christoph Lunden, visiting from Hamburg, Germany, picks out a Seattle Seahawks’ Earl Thomas shirt from a sale rack at a store at the Seahawks’ stadium Tuesday in Seattle. receiver Jermaine Kearse making an inconceivable, bobbling, falling catch despite great coverage from Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler. It was a gift from the football gods, “divine intervention” that signaled a certain Seahawks victory, he said.

Lynch’s subsequent run, bringing the ball to the 1 with the clock ticking down, only fortified that impression.

Caoili’s video from the Super Bowl — tickets $2,700 apiece, airfare and lodging $1,400 — shows him chanting a mantra for Lynch to get the ball: “Give it to him again, give it to him again, give it to him again.”

The decision to pass, then, becomes not just “the worst play call I’ve seen in the history of football,” as Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith described it, but an affront to the gods, a sort of cardinal sin pun-

ished by instant karma: Butler’s goalline interception, and New England’s fourth championship of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.

It was an epic failure, on par with the ground ball through Bill Buckner’s legs that helped sink the 1986 Red Sox or the “wide right” field goal attempt in 1991 that proved to be the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Buffalo Bills.

Caoili and other fans said that even if the loss sticks with the team, and the region, a few more Super Bowl championships could take the edge off. Odds-makers have Seattle 5-to-1 favorites to win it all next year. In the Seattle suburb of Renton, where the Seahawks are headquartered, fans left balloons and signs for the team in a memorial thanking them for a great season. “We still believe,” said one.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — National guardsmen and state price adjusters fanned out across Venezuela Wednesday to impose a military-style occupation with an unusual goal: Making sure shoppers can buy enough sugar.

The South American country’s socialist administration temporarily took over the Dia a Dia supermarket chain as part of a crackdown on the private businesses it blames for worsening shortages and long lines. Embattled President Nicolas Maduro says right-wing owners are purposely making shopping a nightmare by hoarding goods and removing checkout stations. He has promised to jail any business owner found to be fomenting economic chaos.

Two executives of Venezuela’s largest drugstore chain, Farmatodo, were detained over the weekend as part of an investigation by price-control authorities.

On Monday night, Congress President Diosdado Cabello said officials had arrested Dia a Dia’s owner and taken over its 35 stores “for the protection of Venezuelans.” By Tuesday morning, armed soldiers were overseeing lines for bags of sugar at a Dia a Dia location near the presidential palace.

Many economists blame price and currency controls for causing the economic distortions plaguing the country at a time when falling oil prices are battering its revenues. Analysts see this week’s moves against business owners as an attempt to drive home Maduro’s counter-narrative that the right-wing is waging an economic war.

“The government is starting to prepare for a social explosion,” said Diego Moya-Ocampos, an analyst with the London-based consulting firm IHS Global Insight. “They’re trying to channel all the social discontent against the private sector.”

Many Venezuelans agree with Maduro. Even Dia a Dia branch manager Carlos Barrios said it was possible his bosses were hoarding.

He’d seen the photos government workers had posted outside his store of pallets of sugar, corn flour and toilet paper apparently sitting at the chain’s central warehouse.

Unlike Farmatodo, which serves patrons across the class spectrum, Dia a Dia caters to lower income shoppers, the bedrock of Maduro’s shrinking base of support.

Shoppers who were able to enter the store praised the takeover and rationing system.

NEWS

8 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

www.thetechtalk.org

Tom Stringer (center), a junior finance major from New Zealand, led Haka performers Chris Luke, a junior chemistry major (left) and Ross Digs, a junior biology major (right).

Louisiana Tech’s

Cultures come

TOGETHER

MICHAEL HOGE Staff Reporter

The sounds of music and dance filled the Tonk Jan. 31 with International Student Scholarship Night.

The International Student Association hosted the event, entertaining guests with songs and dances from around the world.

“This is one of the fun times when we get to share our culture,” said Shashank Shrestha, a senior economics major from Nepal.

He said by connecting American and international students, everyone can learn more by sharing cultures.

“We help international students get more involved on campus and help out with whatever they need,” said Laura Rodriguez, a Columbian who is president of the International Student Association.

Cory Green, a senior sociology major, said he looked forward to learning about food, music and dance from around the world.

“My friend Nelson invited me, and I’ve never been here so I’m pretty excited,” he said.

Rakshya Deoja, coordinator for the International Student Office, said, “It’s a way for all students to come together.”

All ticket sales and donations go toward scholarships as well as scholarships donated by organizations, she said. Deoja said about 175 international students attended, and while not all are there many do help out in other ways with the program.

Hong Nguyen, a junior computer information systems major from Vietnam, said she was a table host. Each table represented a different country and she decorated her table with items from her country.

“We introduce our country with our guests and maybe assist them to help understand more about the different performances tonight and how the different countries are involved with Tech,” she said.

Nguyen said the performances were amazing and thought the guests also enjoyed the program.

“I thought it was pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “I set it (my table) up with a couple of other people, and we were trying to get people to feel like they were in a story.”

Sujan Kunwar, a senior biomedical engineer, was one of those awarded a scholarship.

“I’ve been involved with the international students since I came to Tech and my application was pretty strong and I’m a student in pretty good standing ,” he said.

Kunwar said he was surprised but very happy to receive a scholarship.

“I was pretty excited when I heard my name, because it helps me a lot paying for school,” said Rodriguez, a junior double major in animal sciences and kinesiology. “Paying for school, it’s hard, and being an international student has its limitations.”

Email comments to mph027@latech.edu.

TOP RIGHT: Hong Nguyen, a junior computer information systems major from Vietnam, hosted a table during the International Scholarship Dinner.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Laura Rodriguez, a junior kinesiology and animal science major form Colombia, performed a Colombian dance with Fernando Merino, a sophomore accounting major from El Salvador.

LEFT: Hugo Zumaran Justiniano, an architecture graduate student from Bolivia, served pita bread to Ruby Delatte, the daughter of Justin Delatte, an architecture graduate student, in line behind her.

Photos by Deepanjan Mukhophadyay

February 5, 2015 • The Tech Talk • 9

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More Talk

POST GRAD To leave or not to leave?

Tech seniors decide whether to stay in Louisiana after graduation

ney o m r A la e Micha

Jake Ch aisson

Design by Kelsy Kershaw

CATHERINE BURKE Staff Reporter

P

ulses quicken and palms begin to sweat as graduating seniors face one of the most important decisions of their lives: what to do post-graduation. The class of 2015 faces many options, including whether or not to stay in the state of Louisiana.

Michaela Armoney said she plans on staying in Louisiana to continue her education.

“I plan on graduating in the spring and staying here to get my masters in counseling,” said Armoney, a senior family and child studies major.

“After I get my masters, I would like to move out of the state, but I will go where ever there is a job opportunity. I would just like to get out for a bit.”

Armoney said if she does leave the state, it would not be for long.

“After it is all said and done, I see myself ending up back here,” she said. “I just think it would be nice to branch out for a while.”

Photos by Colin Fontenot

Jake Chiasson said he has other plans that do not involve Louisiana or this country.

“After I graduate this spring, I plan on moving to New Zealand in June,” said Chiasson, a senior business administration major. “I am not exactly sure what I want to do, but I got a work visa and have applied to be on a sky dive drop team.”

Chiasson said he is excited to move, but will miss a few things.

“I am moving to be well-cultured and welltraveled outside Louisiana,” he said. “I am very excited, but I will definitely miss my friends, family and Kappa Sigma brothers.”

Not every student plans to leave the state.

Seth Lawrence, a senior finance major, said he plans to stay in Louisiana.

“This fall I will be attending law school at LSU,” he said. “I can see myself staying in Louisiana for sure, but it will all depend on the job.”

Lawrence said if everything goes his way, he would prefer to live in Louisiana.

“Louisiana is my home,” he said. “It would be

exciting to work in this state and watch it grow.”

Zach Harris, a sports performance graduate student, said he does not plan on leaving Louisiana anytime soon.

“I plan on working in an area where I can train and coach athletes,” he said. “I will graduate with my master’s in May.” Harris said the state’s beauty has made him settle on staying here.

“I was born in south Louisiana and grew up outdoors,” he said. “I had always assumed I would go back to south Louisiana, but I have recently discovered the beauty of some places up here; it makes me realize how awesome Louisiana really is.”

Harris said it does not matter where he lives, as long as it is in Louisiana.

“The state is all around great in so many ways,” he said. “I would love to live just about anywhere in the state. You cannot just leave a place like this; it is Louisiana, and it is the best.”

Email comments to cjb066@latech.edu.

10 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

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Distractions WEEKLYHOROSCOPE

of information that will open a whole new world of knowledge. Excitement and happiness will be with you all day. This conversation will have an impact on your future.

Aries March 21 – April 19 Social events or group activities could prove more stimulating than usual, Aries. Discussions of every subject imaginable could take place around you, and you might have trouble deciding which ones you want to join. Your mind may be going the speed of light by the time the gathering ends. Walk home if time and weather permit. That should clear your head enough to let you sleep well.

Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Your physical and mental energy are exceptionally strong right now, Libra. If you’re creative, you will want to put that energy into a project that means a lot to you. If you’re athletic, you will probably want to get outside and play a game or go for a jog or cardio class. Bear in mind that much of this energy is nervous energy that burns out quickly. Pace yourself.

www.horoscopes.com

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Your writing, speaking, and communicating skills are enhanced today, Taurus. Therefore, you can expect to impress a lot of people around you who will change their opinion about you. People will express their sympathy openly, and you will feel integrated and accepted throughout the day. Tonight, find a bookstore that’s sponsoring a lecture and go.

Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Correspondence with someone who lives far away could appear to lead to something more than friendship, Gemini. This person seems to be in total accord with you about nearly everything, and warm feelings could flow between you. However, if you haven’t met in person, you should, at least before you get your hopes up for a relationship. It may be just what you’ve wanted - or it may not. Be careful.

Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 A quick survey of the financial news might reveal that your investments, particularly those involving property, might be worth far more than you thought, Cancer. This might make you wonder if you should sit back and let it all mount up or actively put it to work for you. Consult a professional before taking any immediate action. You will want to be sure you’re doing the right thing.

Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 A message could come today from a business or romantic partner that brings some welcome news, Leo. Action on an enterprise of some kind, perhaps involving writing or speaking, could put one or both of you in the limelight. Make the most of the opportunity. It could lead to future advancement and exposure, perhaps even more promising than this. You’ve worked hard and now you’re reaping the rewards.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 Today you can expect to have a highly interesting conversation with someone, Virgo. The person you will be talking to is going to provide you with a ton

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 A delivery could come to your house that you find very emotionally moving, Scorpio. Perhaps you’ve received a gift that represents a big sacrifice to the giver, and was all the more sincere for that. This could be on your mind for most of the day even though you have a lot to do. When thanking the giver, be warm and sincere but not too effusive. You don’t want to embarrass your friend.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 A friend might drop by and want you to keep them company while they runs errands, Sagittarius. This might be a good idea, not only for the diversion from routine but also because something might happen in the course of these short journeys that points you in a new and very positive direction. Your mind could suddenly be flooded with ideas. Make the most of it.

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 Paperwork regarding money might take up a lot of your time today, Capricorn. This can be tedious, but it’s something that can make a very positive difference to you, and therefore needs to be handled as soon as possible. Try to stay focused, and don’t forget to ask for clarification when you need it. In the evening, celebrate by going out on the town with a group of friends.

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 A subject that fascinates you could occupy much of your time today, Aquarius. Questions may arise about this subject that you want answered now. Therefore, you could get into some in-depth research. This might have you trapped in the library or glued to the Internet until you either find what you want or pick up a few leads to places where you might find it.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Across 1. Asimov classic 7. Lentil and spice dish 10. Break 14. Crownlike object 15. Poetically ajar 16. Humorist Bombeck 17. Core 18. Coffee container 19. River which flows through Stratford in England 20. Bulbous plant 23. Christmas song 26. Skid row woe 27. Utah’s ___ Mountains 28. Hawaiian outdoor feast 29. Loser to DDE 30. Turkish title 31. Formal speech 33. Witch 34. Al Jolson’s real first name 37. AFL partner 38. Refusals 39. 100 square meters 40. Front part of an apron 41. ___-Tiki 42. Genetic messenger 43. Ceramic ware 45. Beverage made with beaten eggs 46. RR stop 47. Corrida cries 48. Thin as ___ 51. Big brute 52. Paradises 53. Unsophisticated 56. Coarsely ground corn 57. Deranged 58. Sunup to sundown 62. Catchall abbr.

www.bestcrosswords.com 63. Application 64. Sewing instrument 65. All there 66. Georgia, once: Abbr.

67. Collar Down 1. Gross!

2. Future fish 3. Bobby of hockey 4. French hello 5. Actor Ryan 6. Bath powder 7. Misgivings 8. ___-ski 9. Singer Horne 10. Objects from everyday life 11. Senator Sam of Watergate fame 12. Young salmon 13. Country singer Tucker 21. Black Sea port 22. Gold lump 23. Quick sharp sound 24. Recording of acoustic signals 25. Hazardous gas 29. For ___ (cheap) 30. Homerun king Hank 32. Register 33. Partial antigen 34. White-barked poplar tree 35. Femme fatale 36. Bottomless pit 44. Rug rat 45. Teat 46. Arachnid 48. Donkeys 49. Gaucho’s rope

DAILY U

50. Capital of Jordan 51. Compile, accumulate 52. Conger catcher 54. Big birds 55. Comedian Carvey 59. HST’s successor 60. Capp and Capone 61. Are we there ___?

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 As the oldest pisces in the zodiac sign, you have a for-permission to respect natural. However, this month you can you at least have little to rebel when you achieve your goals. You can surprise you on how much you can be somebody and he impressed in your life specifically!

WEEKLYWEATHER

www.accuweather.com

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

HIGH 45 LOW 26

HIGH 57 LOW 41

HIGH 66 LOW 50

HIGH 67 LOW 50

HIGH 64 LOW 36

HIGH 56 LOW 35

HIGH 62 LOW 31

SUDOKUPUZZLE

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Difficulty HARD

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

Sudoku Puzzle - Hard

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

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

STUDENT from pg. 1

ISLAM from pg. 1

>

>

“I think a huge misconception about Islam is how they view their god,” she said. “I want to know more about what they worship, what their religion entails and how they view other religions.”

Rusk said she was happy the lecture was held because it was informative for people who were truly interested.

“I was able to leave with a better understanding of what Muslims really believe,” she said. “I thought the lecture was very informational.”

Ibrahim Al-Agha, the spokesperson for the Muslim Student Association, said the organization’s members wanted all who went to the lecture to take away truthful information

PASSION from pg. 1

>

More Puzzles:

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

about Islam.

“Since the perception of Muslims and Islam in the west has been misconstrued, we wanted people to have their misconceptions about Islam answered,” said Al-Agha, a freshman computer science major..

Al-Agha said if students have questions about Islam, they can stop by the Islamic Center, located at 203 South Homer Street.

“People should not assume things about Muslims or Islam without asking a Muslim,” he said.

“We are happy to answer any questions and clear up any misconceptions about us.”

Email comments to kec029@latech.edu.

Norman said his first term of college was in 1982 at Northwestern Annex at Fort Polk and returning to school again has adjusted the way he learns new things.

Norman said he is currently not working because he wanted to be able to devote all of his time toward his courses, but he had been saving money to return to school.

“In order to do well I have to think beyond the material presented and look at ways to make different methods work together to achieve a greater result,” he said. “I still struggle with this at times but my thought processes are much broader when compared to them when I returned.”

Norman said being around younger students comes with no surprises be-

cause in his previous job the people he had authority over were within the age range of most of Louisiana Tech’s students.

“My return to school has been very good and the younger students seem to accept me as just another fellow student, although on occasion I am mistaken for faculty,” he said.

Norman said he feels like just another student, although one with a bit more life experience.

“The first thing I will do after graduating is find stable employment with a company known for treating their employees well,” he said. “I will enjoy life as much as possible.”

Email comments to flw005@latech.edu.

One such organization is the “End It Movement,” a coalition of non-profit organizations whose goal is to end modern slavery for the 27 million estimated people enslaved.

Organizers said Passion has made it a point to raise awareness and funds at all of its conferences.

In 2013, Passion was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The 60,000 attending students raised more than $3 million to help fight slavery.

Lindsey Crawford, the executive director of Freedom13 Ministries, said the organization’s mission is to aid men and women in escaping sexual slavery.

“There are millions who have somehow come into sex slavery and sex

trafficking one way or another,” she said. “It is not like they woke up one morning and said, ‘Hey, I want to be sold into sex slavery.’”

Crawford also said the work Passion and many other organizations do for “End It” has made a difference.

“Passion has really brought it down to a more personal level,” she said.

“Slavery is an issue around the world, but also here at home. ” Feb. 27 is Shine a Light on Slavery Day. Crawford said students who want to learn more and get involved can go to enditmovement.com.

Email comments to mvv002@latech.edu.

www.thetechtalk.org

SPORTS

February 5, 2015 • The Tech Talk • 11

IMMORTALIZED

Former Tech president Dan Reneau (center) receives the plaque signifying his induction into Louisiana Tech’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Photo by Brian Blakeley

Reneau inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame WILL TRAHAN Staff Reporter Reneau, Tech’s longest serving president in university history, was inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday.

In 1987, Daniel Reneau took over as the 13th president of Louisiana Tech University.

He would go on to serve as president until 2013 when Les Guice succeeded him. “During his tenure as president, Dr. Reneau led one of the most transformative periods in the history of Louisiana Tech Athletics,” said Guice of Reneau during his induction ceremony.

Guice said it was Reneau’s vision and leadership that helped position Tech to compete nationally.

“The growth and success that our athletics programs have enjoyed over the past few years are rooted in the decisions that Dr. Reneau made on their behalf,” Guice said.

Reneau said his induction was both an honor and a humbling experience.

“It is a great honor and I am very proud to be associated with those who have already been inducted,” Reneau said. “I feel like there are others far more worthy than I, but I am very honored and

pleased to be inducted into it.” uring Reneau’s tenure, he changed the landscape of Tech athletics a great deal.

Tech moved from competing as a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as I-AA) school to a Football Bowl Subdivision school under the leadership of Reneau, which helped earn the university more exposure.

“Moving into I-A was not only about moving up, but also building a I-A athletics program along with building a I-A academic program,” Reneau said.

Reneau said he is pleased with the people who have fought so hard to get Tech where it is today.

Reneau also helped the athletics program stay on course through multiple conference changes.

“It was not easy and it was a lot of people working together, but it was absolutely essential if we were going to be successful,” Reneau said. “The entire goal was to get into a conference that (Tech) could be competitive in and nationally respected in. Conference USA was the goal and finally we achieved that goal.”

There were many moments during Reneau’s

tenure that are memorable for him in Tech athletics.

“The two great football wins against Alabama, especially the dramatic fashion the last one was won in,” Reneau said of some of Tech’s biggest moments. “And winning the national championship with the Lady Techsters, and how successful the track team was were some of my favorites, but there were many.”

Reneau said he is a Bulldog through and through, from graduating from Tech as a student to advancing school athletics to where they are today.

“I think we are very fortunate to be where we are and to have the types of coaches come through Tech that we have,” Reneau said. “I could not be more pleased with the direction that Tech athletics are moving.”

For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desk’s Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Email comments to bwt008@latech.edu.

www.thetechtalk.org

12 • The Tech Talk • February 5, 2015

Sports Talk Bulldog baseball returns to the diamond CATHERINE BURKE Staff Reporter J.C. Love Field is about to heat back up as the Bulldog baseball team prepares for the beginning of their season. First year head coach Greg Goff and the team had their first official practice on Jan. 23.

Coach Goff said the team has worked hard in the offseason.

“We’ve worked in the offseason on creating a more aggressive culture within the program,” he said. “Then making sure “Coach that translates to the field and Goff has up until the prepared Conference us for every USA Tournasituation we ment in May.” Goff said might face he is very in a game.” proud of the seniors.

“One thing TAYLOR LOVE that has reshortstop ally stood out has been the leadership displayed by our 12 seniors,” he said. “As a new staff, the commitment shown from our older guys has been a great example for our newcomers, and those kinds of things go a long way once the season begins.”

Taylor Love, a junior shortstop, was recently named to the pre-season All-Conference USA team. Love said he is very hopeful for the upcoming season.

“Coach Goff has prepared us for every situation we might face in a game,” he said. “Coach always says if we can do what we do and stay with our plan, we will be successful.”

with Jared King

Football recruiting concludes

W

Photo by Donny J. Crowe

The Louisiana Tech baseball team begins its first season under new head coach Greg Goff on Feb. 13 when the Bulldogs start a three-game series against Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

Love said the team is well prepared for a successful season.

“Our expectations for the team are to win a conference championship,” he said. “It would be awesome to get the chance to play in a regional.”

Bre’Shon Kimbell, a senior right fielder, said he thinks this year will be promising.

“Coach Goff is preparing this team in a manner that is going to give us a shot at being successful,” he said. “I have my faith in his recipe for success and win-

ning games.”

Kimbell said the main objective this year is to overcome adversity.

“The toughest obstacle for us is to believe in the change in this program,” he said. “We must stay strong, stay together and turn the reputation of this baseball program around.”

Kimbell said he expects a winning season.

“I think we have a chance at a conference championship,” he said. “We are a hungry wolf pack

that is striving for success and I am ready to shock our opponents with a new, aggressive style of play.”

The Bulldogs open up the season at Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 13.

For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desk’s Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Email comments to cjb066@latech.edu.

Lady Techsters to host several tournaments in February WILL TRAHAN Sports Reporter If someone does not know the game of softball, he or she will have plenty of opportunity in the month of February.

With three tournaments scheduled in Ruston, the Lady Techster Softball Complex will be hosting 29 games in the coming month, giving students just that chance.

The Lady Techsters themselves will be playing in 14 games at home.

“It is a great opportunity for

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

students to come out and support us and it does not cost for them to come watch the games,” Head Coach Mark Montgomery said.

The team is led by two seniors, Janine Godwin and Bianca Duran, who are excited to play so much ball in front of their home crowd.

“It is exciting to get the chance to create that home-field environment that we have been striving for and I think we will get a lot accomplished having so many home games,” Godwin said.

Godwin is Louisiana Tech’s

center fielder and has battled back from some injuries early in her career.

“She (Godwin) has worked hard to be in the lineup every day and she really started to blossom at the end of last year and has continued to do so,” Montgomery said.

Duran has cemented her role on the team as the No. 1 pitcher.

“As a senior she is very confident and composed when she pitches and is very determined,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery said she really

does have a Bulldog mentality when she is in the circle pitching and that is the fight that his team needs.

“Being at home will be a really big deal for us,” Duran said.

“We will have all of our friends and families plus the students that come out there. It is a big deal for us (Duran and Godwin) to be able to help turn things around for the program here at home.”

With such a young team, Montgomery said he is looking to some of the younger players to step up during this massive home stand.

Pauline Tufi spent time pitching last year and playing first base and will be the anchor RBI spot in the lineup. She also made the Freshman All-Conference team last year for Conference USA. “Tufi is a second-year player that will bat the three or four spot and I look for her to have a tremendous year,” Montgomery said.

Another captain for the Lady Techsters is Anna Cross. The junior is playing third base this year and is serving as the fourth captain on the team, she will bat lead off in the lineup as well.

The first tournament will kick off at 3 p.m. today against the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks.

For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desk’s Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Photo by Donny J. Crowe

The Lady Techsters open the 2015 season Thursday with a six-team, four-day, 15-team Lady Techster Invitational Tournament at the Lady Techster Softball Complex. Tech will compete in six games during the tournament.

Email comments to bwt008@latech.edu.

hether its high school football players or college coaches, Louisiana Tech’s head football coach Skip Holtz has proven how good of a recruiter he is during his two seasons at Tech Wednesday Tech signed its second recruiting class since Holtz took over the program following the departure of Sonny Dykes after the 2012 season.

This class is markedly different than those of recent history in regard to the number of high school athletes being signed as opposed to those from junior colleges.

In fact there are no junior college signees in the 2015 class.

Of course, recruiting is very volatile and, as such, things can change very quickly — especially considering the age and maturity level of those involved.

Despite those factors, recruiting is the lifeblood of any athletic program.

This year’s class features high school athletes who fill needs in Tech’s secondary and defensive line. This class features several additions to the defensive side of the football and a few players at the skill positions on offense.

Recruiting sites grade the careers of high school players and give them a star rating with zero stars being the lowest and five stars being the highest.

Tech will fill its voids at defensive back with a pair of three-star recruits.

Former Texas and TCU commitment Johnny Shaw from West Orange-Stark High School in Orange, Texas and Ephraim Kitchen from South Panola High School in Batesville, Mississippi will rove the secondary of Tech for the next four years.

Along the defensive line, Tech added two-star defensive lineman La’Dante Davenport from Northwood High School in Shreveport, two-star defensive end Immanuel Turner from Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Arkansas and two-star defensive tackle Courtney Wallace from Neville High School in Monroe. Wallace was previously a Texas Tech commitment.

Tech also fills a void at offensive line with the addition of two-star commitment O’Shea Dugas from Northside High School in Lafayette.

Jared King is a senior journalism major from Jena who serves as sports editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to jki008@latech.edu.