Sidelines 01/14/10 by MTSU Sidelines

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

VOL. 87, NO. 1

Blue Raiders take home first bowl win By STEVEN CURLEY Sports Editor

It was the type of season that, depending on what follows, fans look to as the turning point for an entire program. It was the type of performance by a player that gets the national media thinking that maybe those guys at the directional schools can play football after all. A defense facing one of the best running backs in college football rose to the occasion and made him virtually a non-factor. Junior quarterback Dwight Dasher led the Blue Raiders to arguably the most important win in the history of football at MT, defeating the University of Southern Mississippi 42-32 in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 20. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dasher’s performance was that he did

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

MT faced Southern Miss in the Big Easy, taking home MTSU’s first bowl win.

it while fighting through an ankle injury that looked like it could sideline him

the rest of the game at any moment. BOWL, PAGE 12

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Junior quarterback Dwight Dasher, left, and head coach Rick Stockstill raise their trophy after their win in New Orleans.

Media center may take longer than expected By MEGAN MCSWAIN News Editor

Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer

Daniel Henry cuts apart slides for class last semester in the Photography Building.

Photo students may lose their building By ROZALIND RUTH Assistant Community News Editor

Following campus restructuring, the graduate teaching assistants’ offices for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences find themselves in an unexpected location – the Photography Building. In the fall semester of 2010, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences is scheduled to add three new doctoral programs to MTSU’s list of degrees: computational science and mathematics, molecular biosciences and

Features pages 7, 8, 9 Opinions pages 10, 11 Sports pages 12, 13

science education. Each of these new doctoral programs will have 10 graduate teaching assistants needing office space, and two classrooms in the Photography Building are being looked at. “I can see it both ways; it could possibly have some good outcomes,” said Sarah Finchum, a senior photography major and president of the photo society. “Currently it doesn’t seem like it’s doing much good.” Finchum said that the

classrooms are specifically equipped for the photography students and moving photography classes to another space would be difficult for the students. “We have critiques that happen in those classrooms with special lights set up, which for anywhere else on campus we wouldn’t have that,” Finchum said. “That would be a hindrance to our education.”

Hip Nashville restaurant provides new traditional options for healthy eaters. PAGE 7

PHOTO, PAGE 3

Students looking forward to working in a stateof-the-art media center that combines print, broadcast and online media will have to wait a bit longer. The planned Media Center for the College of Mass Communication had an original opening date for the Fall of 2010, but now, construction isn’t set to begin before the Spring of 2011. Loren Mulraine, interim associate dean of the College of Mass Communication, said funding for the media center played a part in the yearlong construction postponement. Roy Moore, dean of the College of Mass Communication, along with Mulraine said the center is estimated to cost a total of about $600,000 to $700,000; however, they are not sure from where or how the total sum is being funded. “So much of what is allocated financially is done six months in advance, or a year in advance, and so they weren’t able to pull money from this year’s budget to start that, but they’ll be able to do that next year,” Mulraine said. Mulraine said $25,000, which was allocated to pay architectural engineers and consultants during the planning process, came from the university. While Mulraine said the university originally intended to allocate a portion of

Ethnicity, religion are not the enemy.

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the construction costs, the College of Mass Communication has yet to receive it. Moore said the new media center will be constructed where the current media design center sits on the first floor of the Bragg Mass Communication Building. It will include two classrooms and studios and space for MTTV, MTSU Records, Sidelines, WMOT and WMTS. “The concept of it is having students work in a professional-like, multimedia environment,” Moore said. “I think it will be an enormous benefit for the students.” Mulraine said Sidelines and MTSU Records will have separate faculty advisers; however, he is unsure of whether the other media outlets will have separate faculty advisers or directors. Mulraine said a total of about two to four staff positions are to be cut once the media outlets converge and two new positions – a director of the media center and an executive assistant – are to be created. Mulraine also said the media center is still set to be included in the restructured College of Mass Communication. Moore said students should be familiar and comfortable with other forms of media and not just those that are used in one particular career field. He said some new classes may be added and the curricula of existing courses

will change to incorporate media convergence. “It’s going to be very different than what we’re doing now, which is where we have the individual classes that teach for a specific media outlet,” Moore said. Dwight Brooks, director of the School of Journalism, said being knowledgeable in one medium is outdated. Brooks said it makes it difficult for students to be competitive and to find a job. “[The center] is not a luxury, it’s a necessity, which is what we have to have to train students for careers,” Brooks said. Students will be creating media content with the media outlets in the center and with other students who have different majors. Moore said a media center Web site will act as a portal to the separate media outlets and feature stories from them as well as those created by students. “You won’t just learn one delivery system, you’ll learn multiple delivery systems,” said Dennis Oneal, chair of the electronic media communications department. “It should be a good thing for all students interested in journalism, from electronic media, to Internet, to print.” Moore said students are welcome to come to a planning meeting for the media center that is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 1:30 p.m. in the Holmes Building.

PARTLY CLOUDY 10% CHANCE OF RAIN HIGH 49, LOW 29

“Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.” Gail Godwin

SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

Construction continues on campus Tucker Theatre

Veterans Memorial Wall The construction on the wall, which is located south of the Tom H. Jackson Building, was completed in November of 2009

Bids for the renovation are underway. The renovation will include replaced carpet & lighting, refurbished seats, & improvements in the lobby & restrooms

Stark Agribusiness and Agriscience Center The center has a new elevator and a new fire alarm system

Education Building The foundation of the new building is being laid and is set for completion in spring 2012, but may be occupied as soon as fall 2011

Cope Administration Building Is undergoing a heating and cooling infrastructure, updating the computer server room

Corlew Hall Scheduled to be residentready in fall 2010

McCallie Dining Hall Set to be expanded by 50 seats on the old patio

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Student works in the Photo Building that could soon be turned into offices for the university staff.

PHOTO FROM PAGE 1 Thomas Oneal, chair of the department of electronic media communication, spoke to the provost’s office and said that the graduate teaching assistants’ offices are set to be in the Photography Building. “The upper most thing in my mind is maintaining the experiential learning environment for the students,” Oneal said. Oneal said he believes it is possible to have the graduate teaching assistants’ offices in the Photography Building and still maintain the quality of the photography curriculum. “I have a proposal that I think is going to work, whereby we’re going to create two new classrooms to replace the classrooms we’re using,” Oneal said. “We’re going to try to make a more efficient use of the same

amount of space.” Diane Miller, interim executive vice president and provost, said MTSU is looking for space to house the offices of the graduate teaching assistants of the new programs in any buildings that might potentially have space. “Generally it’s easier to look at converting classroom space to the type of space that would be needed by graduate assistants,” Miller said. “They don’t necessarily need private offices like faculty members.” Miller said that the office space would be arranged with study panels or desks configured so that the graduate teaching assistants would have some privacy but would still be in a shared space. “With all of our growth, we are limited in space,” Miller said. “You start looking at the spaces that you would get the best economy for.”

Thomas Cheatham, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, said the minimum amount of space needed for these offices is about 1,000-square-feet, but the graduate teaching assistants would share the space and not have private offices. “These are graduate students who will be teaching lower-level classes,” Cheatham said. “[This is a place] to do their work, their research and meet with their students.” Cheatham said that the College of Basic and Applied Sciences is trying to work with the photography program to make sure that they still have enough space for its department. “If that is the space we end up getting, we’re trying to help make sure that they can still do everything that they are doing now,” Cheatham said.

Student Union Building Located next to Business and and Aerospace Business Scheduled to be completed in summer 2012

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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

Test results still pending on assaults and needles STAFF REPORT

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Sandy Stevens, an MTSU doctoral student, notes results on the progress of her study with underwater treadmills.

Underwater treadmills move the immobile By MEGAN MCSWAIN News Editor

An underwater treadmill therapy study is restoring hope and confidence in its adult participants who have incomplete spinal cord injuries as they improve their standing and walking abilities. Sandy Stevens, an MTSU doctoral student who is conducting the study, said the participants share messages of hope and a newfound sense of accomplishment. “For many of them, it’s been years since they’ve seen progress,” Stevens said. “I think seeing themselves upright and walking changes their outlook on life.” Stevens first helped Dr. Don Morgan, an MTSU professor in the department of health and human performances, conduct a similar underwater treadmill study in 2006 involving children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Stevens said she wanted to know how adults with incomplete spinal cord injuries – those who have some sensory or motor function below their injury site – could benefit from this kind of therapy. Stevens, who is also an assistant professor at Tennessee

State University in the college of health sciences, began the study at MTSU in the fall of 2009 and will conclude it in July 2010. Stevens said she wanted to test how effective this form of therapy is to determine who best benefits from it and how it compares to other partial bodyweight-support training methods, like over-ground treadmills that have harnesses to support a person’s upper body. “Since I came here, there’s been a big difference in what I can do,” said Janette Rodgers, who is one of the 10 adult participants in Stevens’s study. “I can lift the right leg up very good. It wasn’t coming up at all before. It just would not move.” Rodgers, who started this therapy in November 2009, suffered a spinal cord injury when an automobile accident broke her neck. She said she was conscious while in the hospital and could hear the doctors tell her husband, Terry, she was incapacitated and that he should take her off of life support. “I hope I’ll prove [the doctors] really wrong,” Janette said. “Terry said that it was because nobody can tell me what I can and can’t do. So, they

told me I couldn’t walk, and I’m going to.” Steven said there are not many places where people with these kinds of injuries or disabilities can go to receive aquatic therapy. She said one of her main goals is to transition the underwater treadmill therapy from laboratories to clinic and community centers and make it more accessible. “I’ve always believed [aquatic therapy] held greater potential than what we were seeing,” Stevens said. “I just kept thinking, ‘What if it was just available? What if people could just come and do it?’ I think they would. “Even if we don’t get results that exceed the results of other partial body weight systems, if it’s more accessible, more comfortable and it’s less dangerous, then it’s better.” Stevens said the theory behind the study is that walking does not require communication between the brain and legs and that lower centers in the spine control the legs. “Severing the communication between the brain and the spinal cord shouldn’t mean that you can’t walk,” Stevens said. “It means that you can’t make your brain tell your legs to do it, but you can do it reflexively, and if you build on

that it can become, perhaps, a functional skill.” The water makes weight lighter, which helps weaker participants lift their legs more easily. Stevens said when the participants start the therapy the water gives them a lot of walking assistance. As their speed increases, their resistance increases, which builds muscle strength. Stevens said the underwater treadmill supports cardiovascular function by compressing a participant’s legs and pumping blood back to the brain. It also increases a participant’s reaction time, so that if he or she falls, there is more time to readjust the center of gravity. Sidney Tucker, another one of the adult participants, became mostly wheelchair-bound after a surgery to correct a ruptured disc went wrong. Although he could walk and stand a little before he began therapy with Stevens, he said he is getting stronger and is able to stand more comfortably. “I can actually feel myself getting stronger,” Tucker said. “I can really see and feel a difference. When I stand up, I can stand somewhat straighter. That gives me the ability to walk better, and it strengthens me all the way around.”

Four high-profile criminal incidents from last semester – two alleged sexual assaults on Greek Row and two hypodermic needles found in separate vending machines – remain unsolved and under investigation by the department of Public Safety. Buddy Peaster, chief of police in the department of Public Safety, said no suspect leads or new information has come forward on any of the cases. He said it might take even longer than first anticipated before the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation finalizes the tests the rape kits. And it will be months longer before test results on the needles are returned, Peaster said. “It’s really not on their list of real high priorities, so it’s going to have to sit in a queue and wait until they kind of get around to it,” Peaster said. A juvenile was allegedly sexually assaulted on Nov. 3, and an MTSU student was allegedly sexually assaulted on Dec. 4. Both were reported to have taken place on Greek Row. One hypodermic needle was found in a Pepsi machine dispenser in Peck Hall on Nov. 2, and a second needle was found in a SoBe Life Water machine in the Keathley University Center on Nov. 5.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Sidelines would like to congratulate the following students for selection into Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The recipients of this award are recognized for their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

Amanda Alexander Amanda Floyd Amber Gray Andrew Stepanchuk Austin Purvis Brandon Batts Brian Walsh Britaine’ Bell Clay Cotham Jana McCord Jasmine Gray Jennifer Beadle Jennifer Gibson Kimberly Louvin Mary Crouse Megan Richardson Melissa Stitts Meredith Howell Merranda Holmes Monique Richard Nathaniel Greene Sandra Hyde Shaana Worlds Shannon Murphy Tiffany Watkins

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

Greeks prepare for recruitment By MARIE KEMPH Assistant Campus News Editor

With the start of the 2010 spring semester, Greek organizations are gearing up for spring recruitment. Although it does not usually result in as many numbers as fall recruitment, the organizations are hopeful for a successful enrollment period. “It is our hope that we will see an increase in membership,” said Angela King, director of Greek Affairs. King said organizations set up information tables, host informational meetings, and other events to help prospective students figure out which Greek organization is best for them. She said that Greek organizations are value-based. “Those values are the basis for our foundation and existence,” King said. “Through our recruitment and membership intake processes, we seek to attract those men and women who are committed to upholding those values.” King said the Greek community consists of four separate councils, meaning each recruits differently from one another. Twelve fraternities from the Interfraternity Council will be participating in spring recruitment, which will be held Feb. 1-6. Those include Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi, Kappa Sigma and Tau Kappa Epsilon. King said organizations from the Multicultural Greek, National Pan-Hellenic, and Panhellenic Councils will not participate in a formal recruitment period, but many of those still actively seek new members throughout the semester. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is one of the IFC Fraternities that will be participating in recruitment week. “I’m really looking forward to this semester,” said Josh Goldberg, vice president of Pi Kappa Phi. “We are looking for good quality guys who are not so quick to judge others.” Goldberg said prospective members should be social students who take an active part in academics, possess good leadership skills and are willing to serve their community. He said members have completed more than 360 hours of community service in the past year in support of Push America, which focuses on helping people with disabilities, and active members are required to complete 10 hours of service a semester. Sigma Pi Fraternity President John Thomas said his fraternity will be actively recruiting new members. “We look forward to getting

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Nu, Alpha Gamma Rho and Delta Sigma Theta perform at the Step Show last semester.

Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer

Maria Fleming of Kappa Delta serves chili during the annual cook-off.

this semester started off right and getting more involved with our fellow students,” Thomas said. In addition to participating in open recruitment week, Thomas said members from his fraternity will pass out alcohol awareness pamphlets on behalf of the Sam Spady Foundation Jan. 18-20, 26 and 28. The foundation was founded in honor of a Samantha Spady, a 19-year-old Colorado State University student who died in 2004 from alcohol poisoning when she was at that college’s Sigma Pi fraternity house, according to the Greek organization’s national Web site. Alpha Omicron Pi Women’s Fraternity is among the Greek organizations that will not be actively recruiting this semester. “We actually are not allowed to participate in spring recruitment because we reached quota in the fall, and still met quota once they raised it to 120 members,” said Jenni Bewley, president of Alpha Omicron Pi, in an e-mail Tuesday.

Bewley said members are planning to host “Rock Out for Arthritis Band Benefit,” a charity event held to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation this spring. King said students interested in joining a Greek organization that will not participate in recruitment week should attend open activities and events that are held throughout the semester, in order to familiarize themselves with its members and specific recruitment guidelines. “Students who are interested in those should contact each member organization directly to learn more about the organization and time frames for membership selection,” King said. King said an informational meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1 in Room 221 of the Ned McWherter Learning Resources Center at 7 p.m., which will educate students about the 12 fraternities that are hosting a formal recruitment in February.

Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer

Members of Alpha Delta Pi march down Main Street during the Homecoming Parade.

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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

WELCOME BACK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Thursday, Jan. 14th

The Matrix Revolutions - KUC Theater - 4 p.m. Blue Raider Basketball vs. FIU - Murphy Center - 7 p.m. Rec Center Open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Pool Open 7:15 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. Fitness Expo feat. Free Aerobic Classes - Rec Center - 6 p.m. Food service venues open during regular hours

Friday, Jan. 15th The Invention of Lying - KUC Theater - 5 p.m. Rec Center Open 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. McCallie Dining Room and Cyber Cafe open regular hours JUB closes at 5 p.m. KUC Grill closes at 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16th Lady Raider Basketball vs. FAU - Murphy Center - 2 p.m. Blue Raider Basketball vs. FAU - Murphy Center - 7 p.m. The Invention of Lying - KUC Theater - 5 p.m. McCallie Dining Room and Cyber Cafe open regular hours JUB opens 10:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. KUC Grill closed

Sunday, Jan. 17th The Invention of Lying - KUC Theater - 5 p.m. Karaoke Night - Cyber Cafe - 10 p.m. McCallie Dining Room and Cyber Cafe open regular hours JUB opens 10:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. KUC Grill closed

Monday, Jan. 18th Alpha Phi Alpha Mock Sit In - Discovery center 502 SE Broad St. MLK Candle Light Vigil - KUC Theatre - 7 p.m. Blue Raider Basketball vs. WKU - Murphy Center - 7 p.m. JUB opens 10:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. McCallie Dining Room opens 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cyber Cafe open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. KUC Grill closed

Wednesday, Jan. 20th “Living the drea.m.: From the Classroom to the Corporate World” (BAS State Farm Room - 7 p.m.) This Is It - KUC Theater - 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. - $2 Rec Center Open 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23rd MLK Memorial Brunch - JUB TN Room - Noon $10 for adults, $7 for students w/ an ID, and $5 for children 12 & under Rec Center Open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Graphic by Chris Carter, production manager

CURRENT EVENTS Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 18 Location: campuswide No Classes

Nashville Shakespeare Festival: The Tempest

Michael Jackson’s This Is It: Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before

Last Band Sham – Rocking: Battle of the Bands

Jan. 19-21, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Location: KUC Theater Admission: $2

Mar. 17, entry forms due Feb. 12

Jan. 14-31 Thursday-Saturday 7:30 pm Sunday 2:30 p.m.

Mystery Trip: A Beatles Tribute

Location: Troutt Theater, Belmont University Admission: $10 for students, $19 all others in advance, $22 at the door Thursday-Saturday; $16 in advance, $19 at the door Sunday

Location: The Arts Center of Cannon County Admission: $5 for students , $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and groups

Free Day at the Frist in honor of Martin Luther King Day

Oct. 2-Jan. 31

Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Location: Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville Admission: free

Location: Tennessee Ballroom in the James Union Building– entry forms in Keathley University Center Room 308

Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Thomas Hart Benton in Story and Song Location: Frist Center for the Visual Arts Admission: free with student ID from 5p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; $10 for Adults; $7 with college or military ID and seniors

Events Policy Sidelines welcomes current campus and community events submitted by all readers. Please e-mail events to slnews@ mtsu.edu or slcampus@mtsu.edu, and include the name, date, time and location of the event, as well as your name and a phone number for verification. We reserve the right to refuse events at our discretion as our space is limited. Sidelines is the editorially independent, non-profit student-produced newspaper of Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines publishes Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters and Wednesday during June and July. The events listed are not necessarily associated with Sidelines or MTSU.

Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer

The Student Government Association met on Oct. 29 to discuss issues involving the student body.

Student Government plans for new year By MARIE KEMPH Assistant Campus News Editor

Open parking hours and student transportation on campus are two of four issues the Student Government Association plans to address this semester. The officers and representatives also intend to start planning for spring elections during their first meeting of the 2010 spring semester on Jan. 21. Resolution 13-09-F, supporting the creation of a shuttle stop behind Scarlett Commons, was proposed to improve the safety of students who use that lot after dark, according to SGA records. The resolution was co-sponsored by Sens. Drew Dunlop, Brenna McDaniel and Brandon Thomas. Resolution 15-09-F, which proposes that all campus parking lots follow the same “open parking hours,” was co-sponsored by Sens. Danielle Reed and Kara Jones. Currently, the time that students are allowed to park in various parking lots differs depending on location. Resolution 16-09-F, cosponsored by Sens. Kara Jones,

Danielle Reed and Brenna McDaniel, supports moving the location of campus tours from the Cope Administration Building to the Health and Recreation Center, so that prospective students will have an easier time finding a place to park while visiting campus. Sens. Brandon Thomas and Drew Dunlop co-sponsored Resolution 14-09-F, which proposes adding a new Special Interest Committee to the current list of University’s Standing Committees. The new committee would be designed to address LGBT, minority, disabled and women’s issues. The 2010 SGA spring elections will be held March 2-4, the week before spring break, to elect the SGA executive officers and college representatives for the 2010 – 2011 school year. A student referendum is also scheduled for that same week so students can vote on the gender identity bill that was passed by the SGA last semester. The bill amends the SGA Constitution to include LGBT students in the non-discriminatory clause of Article II Section 2.

“It is up to the students to vote,” said Heather Rawson, executive vice president of the SGA, in an email Monday. She said the SGA will work hard to educate and keep the students informed about the upcoming referendum. McNary said all students are welcome to attend weekly SGA meetings, and students are encouraged to get involved with campus organizations and student life. He said he is looking forward to the spring semester and hopes students will come to and support events. SGA meetings are typically scheduled on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. in the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. Gene Fitch, associate dean of Student Life, said the SGA is planning to attend the American Student Government Association national conference in April. “It is going to be a great conference,” Fitch said. He said that the SGA officers will have the opportunity to meet other student government representatives from all over the country.

CRIME BRIEFS Jan. 1, 12:33 p.m.

Jan. 6, 4:29 p.m.

Jan. 8, 2:05 p.m.

Theft

Traffic

Theft

James E. Walker Library A cell phone was reported lost in the bathroom.

Eaton Street Colton Mason was issued a state citation for a violation of a traffic control device and improper display of a tag.

Corlew Hall Flat panel televisions were reported missing from the building.

Jan. 1, 3:28 p.m.

Jan. 11, 3:30 p.m.

Drunkenness

Jan. 6, 10:20 p.m.

Theft

Alma Mater Drive James Lee Barnes was arrested for public intoxication.

Harassment

Business and Aerospace Building Complaintant reported theft of a bicycle from racks outside over the holidays.

Scarlett Commons A complainant reported receiving a harassing e-mail.

Jan. 06, 12:24 a.m.

Jan. 11, 3:29 p.m.

Alarm Fire

Jan. 8, 11 p.m.

Theft

Wood Hall A resident director reported the lobby of the dormitory was filled with smoke and there was an odor of plastic burning.

Theft

Jim Cummings Hall Someone reported their car keys stolen.

Greek Row - Pi Kappa Alpha House A laptop was reported stolen.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

HAVE YOU ALREADY BROKEN YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?

FEATURES

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE POLL AND VOICE YOUR OPINION EACH ISSUE

A ‘moo’ twist that’s ‘udderly’ meatless T h e n e w W i l d C o w Ve g et a r i a n Re s t a u r a n t s e r ve s m ea t l e s s d i s h e s i n c a s u a l e nv i r o n m e n t By EMMA EGLI Features Editor

I’m eating a Reuben, and it’s arguably one of the best I’ve ever had. It’s got the works: sauerkraut, shredded carrots, spicy mustard, 1000 Island dressing and Swiss cheese. All of this deliciousness between two slices of toasted rye bread. What’s the catch? The catch is this delectable little sandwich has absolutely zero meat in it. Since you’re probably confused as to the existence of a normally animal protein-filled sandwich lacking just that, allow me to clarify. The answer to this conundrum is tempeh. Marinated and grilled, this substitute made by fermenting soybeans could fool anybody looking for a meat substitute. And that’s what the Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant is all about. Healthy alternatives to familiar favorites. When owners John and Melanie Cochran opened the restaurant just three weeks ago, they had the philosophy of humane farming, good food and healthy living on their minds. “We figured this would be a good way to introduce people to the idea that you don’t have to eat meat at every meal,” Melanie says with utmost sincerity. “It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give it up completely, maybe once a week at most. You can have good food – without the meat.” Located in trendy east Nashville and offering an array of dishes that are

Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant 1896 Eastland Ave. Nashville 615-262-2717 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesday and Saturday either vegetarian, vegan or even gluten-free, the Wild Cow caters directly to those looking for meat and dairy-free alternatives at reasonable prices. “We had both been vegetarian for a long time and became vegan about two years ago and just got tired of having nowhere to eat,” Melanie says. “We also noticed there were a lot of people around encountering the same problem.” Scrolling down the menu, you’ll find items like the Mock Chicken Salad Sandwich, the Buffalo Grinder or John’s classic Veggie Burger, all creations of employees and all of which are under eight bucks. “I started learning to cook vegetarian once I stopped eating meat because my mom stopped cooking for me,” John says. “Once I moved away, I had to keep cooking on my own, so it’s all just trial and error.” The owners are proud to say that because nearly all of their food is purchased in its whole form, they can name every ingredient in the food they serve.

“Even our drinks are organic,” John says. “We don’t support Coca Cola or Pepsi products.” One thing that makes this restaurant so remarkable, other than the inviting atmosphere and delectable food, is the friendly animalfood loving staff that works there. All are either vegetarian or vegan, except two, but all share the same philosophy as the Wild Cow’s owners. “Nobody who works here just came in looking for a random job,” Melanie says. “Everyone came to us with the same idea long before we even opened,” John says. If their healthy and fresh food doesn’t warm your heart, then keep in mind all the non-profit organizations the

restaurant supports, including Food Not Bombs, which shares free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry in more than 1,000 cities around the world every week to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment. “We are always helping some form of non-profit organization,” Melanie says. “And everyone who works here is on the same page with us.” Being one of three vegetarian restaurants in town—

Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine and Schulman Center’s Kosher Restaurant located on the Vanderbilt campus are the others—Wild Cow brings in an array of curious customers. “We have definitely run into a few curious people,” John says. “A guy came in a few days ago and got a Philly cheese steak, and after ordering it was asking what the difference was between tofu and tempeh. He sat there for a minute and

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

finally asked, ‘well what’s in my sandwich?’” So if you have an inquisitive appetite and an open-mind, the Wild Cow is the perfect environment to enjoy some cruelty-free, healthy food. “I think that’s the most rewarding thing,” Melanie says, “Seeing people go “wow” when they try something, surprised that it’s delicious and that there is no meat in it.”

Local DJs drop sick beats By KYLE MCCORMICK Contributing Writer

or the past eight years, the town of Manchester has witnessed a bizarre spectacle during the second week of June – specifically on the night before the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival kicks off on a 700-acre farm a few miles away. Tens of thousands of music fans from across the globe flock to this rural community for a weekend of good vibes and outdoor recreation, and several hundred of them start the party one night early under the fluorescent glow of Wal-Mart’s 24-hour public parking lot. On June 10, amid the din of clanking beer bottles, acoustic guitars and excited cross-chatter arose a sonic blast of electronic dance music. Heads spun to see two young men standing atop of a car wielding laptops in front of a portable PA system. As hundreds of people surrounded the vehicle to dance into the morning, Clint Chapman and Tim Dugger didn’t let on that it was their second-ever public performance as a dubstep duo. In that moment, trying to keep their balance as their audience

shook their car and climbed on top to join them, they were no longer two casual festivalgoing musicians testing the waters. They were Beat Repeat. The group’s Web site says, “Beat Repeat is a LivePA music project also integrating other aspects of art such as live visuals and performed live canvas art. Beat Repeat’s music consists of sampling anything under the

Photo Illustration by Chris Carter, production manager

sun, including reggae, classic rock, hip-hop, indie, etc. Those samples are then converted into a highly danceable and heavy bassy mesh.” “We’ll call it ‘dubclectro,’” Chapman says when asked to describe Beat Repeat on the spot. “It’s dubstep and electro-house with an eclectic topping.” Five months after that pre-Bonnaroo performance, Beat

Repeat finds itself at the center of Murfreesboro’s dance and house show scene. The duo has played more than 50 shows since June. Their MySpace page has more than half a million page views. On Halloween night, they headlined Jammenstein, a small festival in Christiana, to round out the evening after seasoned local acts such The Homegrown Band,

Boroughs, DJ Scrabble and others wrapped up their sets. They are asked to play no fewer than two shows every week, though until recently, most shows have happened in friends’ houses around campus. Relying on the student populace and a healthy community enthusiasm for weekend dance parties, Beat Repeat has become a collegehousehold name by providing the soundscape for packed parties every weekend. “House parties are where all of our hype came from - that’s what gives us energy to work for bigger things,” Dugger says. “I like the energy of that, [the fact] that everybody knows every-

body—They go for 3-4 hours...if they don’t get busted.” Despite their popularity, Beat Repeat may be literally outgrowing the ability to play house shows. More often than not, their free shows are stopped by local police before they are finished performing. “The cops know us by name,” Dugger says. “They said the robotthemed house show we played was the biggest party that’s been busted in four years.” It should come as no surprise that Beat Repeat has experienced its share of noise complaints, when considering the amount of equipment they bring to every performance. Chapman and Dugger function as their own mobile production unit, packing with them seven subwoofers and a slew of visual effects including five LEDs, three fog machines and a projector.

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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

Students plan future molding youth By ELIZABETH WARREN Staff Writer

Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer

YEAH! brings in local talent, Greater Than, to keep the communities youth engaged and out of trouble.

College students, especially those of a junior or senior status, have begun to seriously consider what they will be doing after graduation. Many will apply to numerous employers hoping to score that perfect job, but some will take a more independent path by creating their own job or career. Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald, Courtney Sharp, Ryan York, Andrew Jacks and Nicole Tekulve, all graduates from MTSU, took this path. They created an after-school program called YEAH! for youth ranging from 10 to 17 years old. “I had career plans in the recording industry,” York says. “But once I began working with YEAH!, I realized that someone had to provide a quality after-school arts fa-

cility for teenagers.” The program is called Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, or YEAH!. This youth program is meant to bring the community of Murfreesboro closer together by giving teenagers a safe haven to express themselves with support from mentors who can guide them towards their goals. YEAH! also seeks to promote the arts including painting, playing music, different kinds of dance and even how to be a journalist. These skills, which are severely neglected in a good number of primary and secondary public education systems, have major benefits for a child’s life including higher test scores and a better understanding of other subjects. The afterschool program offers many different activities for students to choose from, and many MTSU stu-

dents teach a lot of the programs at YEAH! York says that the list of activities for teenagers keeps growing since YEAH!’s policy for new and different programs allows someone wanting to share what they know with teenagers to come in and begin teaching their art to students. Outside of weekly lessons in many different areas, YEAH! also provides different camps for teens to attend over the summer. The Southern Rock and Roll Girls Camp session will be held this year at MTSU. Young girls will learn how to be strong women who can do whatever they want even if it’s blasting guitar reefs or pumping out mean drumbeats.

Hoke rekindles Nashville’s country spirit By JESSICA PACE Staff Writer

Snow and ice kept most from venturing out last Thursday night, shutting down venues across Nashville, except for the 5 Spot. Though the Jan. 7 show was canceled because of the weather, the East Nashville bar was still open and admitting those who would brave the cold for a beer or two. Switching off between cigarettes, area musicians including Caitlin Rose, Jordan Caress, Will Holland, Jacob Jones and Derek Hoke still turned up to play threeand four-song solo sets on acoustic. A handful of regulars attended the informal, nonshow show. In the dark bar, it may have occurred to some that country music could have a chance of making a real comeback, and it’s being resuscitated with the help of a group of people right in Nashville. Country music today has been watered down to commercialized and insincere, and made pink and sparkly by many ladies who have made it big within the genre. It isn’t always bad, but it isn’t country how it was first pioneered. It’s no wonder some former fans have been lost. Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings are long gone, but some of the not-so-wellknowns of Nashville who showed up at the 5 Spot are on the road back to real country music, or at least they’re venturing closer to the sounds of the pioneers than some. Derek Hoke, with “Goodbye Rock N Roll,” is one of the art-

ists who have the right idea. Writing what he calls “tiny little songs,” Hoke is more evidence of new Nashville’s mergence of the old country sound with indie sentiment. “I’m not trying to do a throwback, full-on honky tonk retro thing,” Hoke says. “That’s just the way it comes out.” Growing up in South Carolina, Hoke was doing the exact opposite. He wrote heavy rock and roll songs and played guitar for whatever bands would have him. With his father really into rock and his grandfather a country fan, The Rolling Stones were pushed in one ear, while George Jones was pushed through the other. “You had to do a shit-ton of cover songs like Skynard and Tom Petty,” Hoke says. “If you threw one of yours in there, it better sound kind of like a Tom Petty song to get away with it. Hoke didn’t start to show appreciation for the country music in his upbringing until his move to Nashville 10 years ago. In the first week, he realized what worked in South Carolina wouldn’t work as well in Nashville, and through a job at the Belcourt Theatre and frequenting Hillsboro Village hangouts, he created a circle of friends, dropped the rock act and went native. “I wrote a lot of bad songs,” he adds. “It never hit me that I was doing that until I moved here.” Hoke doesn’t appear to be the type who enjoys the a mps-t u r ned-up -at-t hedive-bar-show, or as he puts

it with a feigned exclamation, the “‘How’s everybody doing tonight’ crap.” He seems morose but in a comical way, and comes off more like a scholarly Ben Gibbardtype who happened to move to Music City and take a stab at writing country songs. He opened his second musical chapter by doing the typical singer/songwriter bit at Radio Café and Writers in the Round, but eventually began calling up all the familiar faces he’d known for years. Everyone said yes, and an abundance of talent climbed aboard to put together “Goodbye Rock N Roll.”

Photo Courtesy of Derek Hoke

Hip Happenings The Great American Trailer Park Musical

The Features Hey Penny

Jan. 8-24, performances on Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Club 527 $7

Murfreesboro Little Theatre $15 Reservations and info at 651-893-9825

Robby Dasher Dave Armstrong Brian Lee & his Orchestra Jan. 14, 8 p.m.

Seeing Skies and One Big Owl are set to perform Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. at Yeah! on the Murfreesboro Square. Admission: $5. For more information call 615-849-8140 for information.

Bonhoeffer’s Free myspace.com/bonhoeffers

Jan. 14. 8 p.m.

Noise Organization Beat Repeat Boroughs Schtompa Jan. 16, 9 p.m. Club 527 $6

Josiah Stevenson Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Acoustic show at JoZoara Coffee Shop Free jozoaracoffeeshop.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

Pointy Bamboo Sticks A SERIES OF BLOGS BY ALEX BLACKWELDER

Photo by Alex Blackwelder, staff photographer

Chinese classmates use chopsticks to barbecue corn and tofu at a local park.

I took forks for granted. I tried to practice using chopsticks before I left America, but usually gave up quickly. I assumed the skill would be easily obtained during my academic year abroad at Hunan Normal University in Changsha, China. I was wrong. When I arrived in China, I became accustomed to waitresses, friends and even fellow foreigners laughing at my frustrated facial expressions as I tried to trap a piece of slippery eggplant with two pointy bamboo sticks. The area of tablecloth between my mouth and the shared dishes became a landing strip for cabbage, dumplings and other greasy food escaping digestion. It was just not happening. Chopsticks became my biggest enemy. I easily picked up certain “Chinese habits” required to survive in this city, but everytime I

Pointy Bamboo Sticks Alex Blackwelder sat down to eat, I was reminded that I was still completely out of my element. I couldn’t feed myself without getting a lap full of rice; I might as well have been a toddler. I felt the judging eyes of every native chopstick user in the vicinity. My embarrassment deepened when restaurant workers began sympathetically offering me a spoon. As weeks passed, I slowly became more comfortable. I started

to refuse the spoon out of pride, and my Chinese friends began to notice my improvement. But my hands were still sore after every meal. I still had to look at and constantly adjust my hand posture, and every movement was a very conscious, deliberate action to get that delicious morsel into my mouth. But then one day, it all changed. After seven weeks of awkward chopstick use, I sat down at one of my regular eateries and ordered a hearty plate of spicy eggplant and fried rice. Half way through my meal I realized I had not thought about my chopsticks once. I was using them naturally. My hand picked them up, placed them in the correct position. I was scooping up the tiniest pieces of fried rice and delivering it to my mouth without a mess. I felt as if I arrived.

I no longer looked like a budget backpacker on a weeklong whirlwind tour on the way to Thailand. I live in China and now I can eat like I live in China. I began to smile uncontrollably. I looked up, and the kind restaurant owner, who had witnessed those weeks of embarrassment, beamed with pride. She noticed too. Alex is a junior global studies major studying in China thanks to financial help from the Gilman Scholarship Program and MTSU Study Abroad scholarship

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Joe Whitefield, executive director of Facility Services at MTSU, strives to improve not only MTSU but the environment through his study of green energy.

Facilities director knows ‘watts’ up By REGGIE MILLER Contributing Writer

Ask Joe Whitefield, executive director of facilities services at MTSU, what the campus is doing to “go green” and the list of efforts will astound you. Actually, go ahead and ask him anything about the campus; he’ll know the answer. His department tracks every watt saved or used, every pound of recycling and countless other details most students take for granted during their time on campus. Whitefield is a wealth of information, especially when it comes to how much all of those details cost. “We have invested $8.3 million in energy and energy cost savings projects across the campus through energy savings performance contracting,” Whitefield notes. “We made improvements in lighting, HVAC, backup generators and central plant operations.” The central plant, in which you can often fi nd Whitefield meeting with anyone from the campus community to contractors and consultants in his office, is a five-megawatt natural gas cogeneration plant. The plant provides half of the campus’ electrical needs, while also serving the steam and heating needs on

campus with the excess heat produced when generating electricity. It replaced a less efficient coal-fi red steam plant in 1998. When Whitefield isn’t juggling maintenance and development budgets and deadlines to keep things on campus running, he is speaking to classes about the demands of campus management or environmental issues. “I have great respect for the students and their involvement in the affairs of the campus,” Whitefield says. “I have worked with dozens of students over the years on numerous class projects, campus initiatives, et cetera.” To warn those quick to criticize decisions, Whitefield says, “Many times I hear or read ‘the campus should or shouldn’t do, and I know the person expressing the opinion hasn’t investigated the issue very deeply. More often than not, there is a reason behind the policy or practice, and that needs to be respected even if change is in order. “When working on a campus initiative for instance, I prefer to work with students who do their homework on the issue and seek to understand the relevant factors and history surrounding the

issue at hand,” Whitefield says. “I think the success of the Sustainable Campus Fund program exemplifies this approach.” The Sustainable Campus Fund began in the fall of 2006, after Students for Environmental Action ran a successful campaign to enact a “green fee.” Among other things, the $8 per student every semester puts hybrids in the motor pool, expands the recycling program, replaces inefficient windows and funds energyrelated grants. A portion of this fund also makes MTSU the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the state. For its commitment to purchasing more than 8.62 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, MTSU received the Green Power Leadership Award. “Anyone in the campus community can submit project proposals to make MTSU more sustainable,” adds Nichole Stude, cochair of SEA. “The Tennessee Board of Regents agreed to let us try it for a year, and the committee just approved a fourth year of projects. I guess TBR likes what we’re doing.” Whitefield serves as the non-voting ex-officio adviser of MTSU’s Sustain-

able Campus Fund Committee, providing technical expertise to the group of students and faculty who approve projects funded each semester. Before working at MTSU, Whitefield worked at the Oak Ridge National Labo-

ratory, where he won several awards from the U.S. Department of Energy for achievement in energy management. When he isn’t stressed about keeping the lights on, the 44-year-old father of two enjoys running, coaching his children in var-

ious sports and supporting his church. As stressful as it may be at times, Whitefield enjoys his work at MTSU. “The university setting is a great place to work,” Whitefield says. “Everyday you can literally see the impacts of a job well done.”

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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

W hat bet ter time to begin t a k ing adva nt age of MTSU ’s count les s resources a nd student orga nizations than a new semester a nd yea r ? I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the start of the 2010 spring semester. Please know how excited we are to have you as part of the Middle Tennessee State University family. MTSU is a wonderful place to study and live, and we are delighted to play a critical role in bringing you even closer to achieving your academic and personal goals. Our focus is providing the highest quality of education to students. As an MTSU student, you have countless reasons to be

From the president Sidney McPhee proud of your university. Not only are we growing in number, but we continue to grow

in the quality of students that we are able to attract. Your presence here is a testament to that. As our reputation as a top public university continues to spread far and wide, we recognize that you are a significant reason for our success. With that in mind, I encourage each of you to continue to strive for excellence, both in the classroom and out, as you embark upon this new semester. We are sincere in our efforts to ensure that you have everything that you

need for academic success. So please take advantage of the many student services that are available to enhance your academic experience, as well as the numerous co-curricular activities that are provided to help you develop into a more productive and well-rounded global citizen. I also encourage you to be active in your student government and become engaged, or maintain your involvement, in one or more of the 200-plus student organizations that have been established here on

our campus. Your participation in these groups not only provides the chance for you to hone your leadership skills, but also may lead to opportunities for the institution to gain positive exposure among a variety of important institutional stakeholders. As always, we recognize that you made MTSU your personal choice for a quality education, and we want to say thank you. We will do our best to ensure that we not only meet your expectations this year, but also exceed them in

every way that we can. As the semester begins, I hope that you will make academic success a major priority and hold fast to the foundational principles that have made MTSU Tennessee’s best. Best wishes to you, our students, and the entire MTSU community for a very prosperous and productive new year. Sidney McPhee has been MTSU’s president since 2000. He can be reached at smcphee@mtsu.edu.

An editor’s d ggreetingg Make your v voice loud and clear Those student s w ho keep their lips sea led in a time of dra s tic budget a r y cha nges at MTSU must lea rn to spea k up When I came to MTSU, I had no idea which direction my life would take. Most of us come to college with poorly structured dreams and confusion about what it takes to reach our goals. But for me, I thought I had it all planed out. Two semesters later and a GPA littered with failure, I realized my plans needed to change. I came to Sidelines looking for something to help me escape from what I thought was a short-lived rut. Two years later, I realized that I had come to the only place that I could feel like myself. Journalism was never my plan, and in my pre-Sidelines days, voicing my opinion about issues relating to

From the editor Alex Moorman campus was not something I would have ever imagined doing. I never attended school functions, I never went to town hall meetings, and I certainly didn’t know anything about the administration, funding or other university issues.

Even though Sidelines introduced me to the workings of MTSU, it is important that all students – whether you work at the school newspaper or not – make your concerns about the university known, because regardless of who the president, deans or professors are, this is your university. Without you, the student, MTSU would cease to exist. In the last town hall meeting regarding the College of Mass Communication, Dean Roy Moore said he wanted students’ input about the upcoming changes that MTSU is to undergo. Even though some students may think that the administration doesn’t want or care about their concerns, I

feel that is just an excuse. It is an excuse because they may not understand their university, feel their opinion isn’t important, or they’re scared that no one will listen or care. I once sat behind those excuses. But now I realize that if you do not make your voice heard to the people who are controlling your university, then you cannot expect your problems – regardless of how big or small they are – to go away. It is important that the university knows them, and over the last few semesters, administrators have been begging you to tell them. President Sidney McPhee’s town hall meetings have seen very few concrete problems

discussed and were attended by even fewer students. That is disappointing considering what massive changes the university is preparing for due to budget cuts. Students must attend open forums and convey their concerns so that the university knows that they care and what they care about. If you feel administrators aren’t listening, make them listen. You, as a student, are part of something much bigger than someone simply receiving an education. You are part of the future of MTSU; you are the voice for current students who may not be as vocal you, as well as the voice for those who will one day be Blue Raiders.

I hope in future semesters, every student at MTSU will stand up and let his or her voice be heard. Let the university know that your concerns are important, and you won’t stop until you get your problems explained or resolved. Every student who is silent represents another problem that the university will never know about. Don’t let your problems be silenced out of laziness, lack of knowledge or fear; instead let them be heard. And don’t stop until they are. Alex Moorman is a junior journalism major and editor in chief of Sidelines. She can be reached at sleditor@mtsu.edu.

Let freshmen opt out of meal plans Students shouldn’t be forced to pay more money based on their year in school and where they live. This seems unfair and wrong, for it is a betrayal of the trust placed in an establishment. Welcome to the world of living on MTSU’s campus. As a freshman living on campus, students are required to buy expensive and, generally speaking, unused meal plans. New students cough up ample funds for the convenience of living on campus and are then forced into a contract for food that will most likely go uneaten. Not only do the plans go to waste, but they also cost more than $1,200 per semester. For this exorbitant price, students are given 10 meals a week and $350 in FlexBucks. The un-

Pearl before swine Pearl Howell fortunate freshman finds these 10 meals at two buffet-style restaurants: McCallie and RaiderZone cafeterias. And while the food is palatable, the all-youcare-to-eat style generally provides the source for a bountiful weight gain, otherwise known as the “freshman 15.”

Ethnicity, religion are not the enemy By Nate Bernadini

Photo classrooms should be left alone By Jay Bailey

If you have an opinion and love to express it through writing, be a columnist for Sidelines. Applications are available in Mass Comm 269. E-mail slopinio@mtsu.edu for more information.

MEAL PLANS, PAGE 11

Middle Tennessee State University 1301 East Main Street P.O. Box 8 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Editorial: 615-904-8357 Fax: 615-494-7648 Advertising: 615-898-5240 Fax: 615-904-8193 www.mtsusidelines.com

Laziness should not lead to handouts By Rebecca McGrath

Editor in Chief Alex Moorman* sleditor@mtsu.edu

Advertising Andy Harper sl4ads@mtsu.edu

Sports Steven Curley slsports@mtsu.edu

Multimedia Larry Sterling slonline@mtsu.edu

Adviser Steven Chappell schappel@mtsu.edu

Managing Editor Dustin Evans* slmanage@mtsu.edu

News Megan McSwain* slnews@mtsu.edu

Opinions Michael Stone* slopinio@mtsu.edu

Asst. Campus News Rozalind Ruth slcampus@mtsu.edu

Advertising Jeri Lamb jlamb@mtsu.edu

Production Manager Chris Carter sldesign@mtsu.edu

Features Emma Egli slfeatur@mtsu.edu

Photography Jay Bailey slphoto@mtsu.edu

Asst. Community News Marie Kemph* slstate@mtsu.edu

Business Eveon Corl ecorl@mtsu.edu

Follow us on Twitter @MTSUSidelines Follow us on Facebook MTSU Sidelines Check us out on Youtube youtube.com/mtsusidelines

* denotes member of editorial board

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

Combat MTSU’s commuter stereotype by Bowl victory foundation for involvement, school spirit

Organizations provide countless opportunities

President Sidney McPhee, who had been Walking down Bourbon Street in New Orleans one night last month, my eyes were harassed mercilessly by students at a forum drawn to a variety of sights and sounds com- on budget cuts just months before, was smiling to chants of “Sidney! Sidney!” while peting for my attention. A man was standing on the sidewalk out- beads were being showered on him in true New Orleans fashion. side of his club struggling to get customers. Head football coach Rick Stockstill faced A mounted police officer was talking to controversy just weeks beme with pride about his horse fore when an editorial was and their history together. published saying that he was A woman, who turned being paid part of his salout to be a prostitute named ary from MTSU’s academic “Beautiful,” was flirting with budget without actually me – no lie. teaching. But after the game, And a myriad of other charpeople were wondering if acters and sounds were flowthe university could find ing in and out of the clubs linenough money to make sure ing the street. he remained our coach. And I saw something else After our victory, even the that I had never thought I most committed to getting would see on the streets of Drew Dunlap sleep went to Bourbon Street New Orleans: Middle Tennessee State University. I am not talking about to celebrate that night, which brings me to the school’s campus, of course. I’m talking the aforementioned MTSU sighting. When I got to the crowd of Blue Raider about MTSU as a community of people that not only share the common bond of MTSU, fans, I realized what I had been seeing since I but also feel that common bond and feel like arrived in New Orleans: Blue Raiders greeting Blue Raiders of all ages and temperathey are a part of that community. The college where you are reading this ments on the street with a loud “Go Blue!” And then there was Bourbon Street… paper might as well be called Middle TenFans of every type were talking with their nessee State Commuter College. Ask those that have struggled in vain to create a cul- old friends and new friends alike. I even got ture and community here, and you will to talk with state Sen. Bill Ketron – a Blue Raider from back in the day – for a while as understand why. For the trip to New Orleans, for instance, he enjoyed watching the victory celebration. A drunken ESPN technician summed MTSCC offered 200 subsidized tickets to 25,200 students. And it took all five days of it up best by saying: “Tonight, it’s all about MTSU.” sales to sell them out. In the winter of 2009, the men on MTSU’s Here at MTSCC, I estimate that 5 percent of the students are involved in doing service football team left Middle Tennessee State and staying connected to the university’s Commuter College, and, 550 miles away in community. On a good night, the KUC The- The Big Easy, laid the foundation for Middle atre might have 10 students enjoying a re- Tennessee State University. Will we choose to build on that well-laid cently released movie for $2. Yes, MTSU is truly a commuter col- foundation by making the unpopular decilege. Sadly, the majority of students come sions, like freshmen residency requirements, to sign up for classes, get their supplies, go that leaders must make when they have a to their classes and, eventually, go to the strong vision for what could be? Or will we leave MTSU back in New Orgraduation ceremony. Oh, and kvetch about leans and say to the men of the Blue Raider the parking. The MTSU I discovered in The Big Easy football team, “Thanks, but no thanks…” before, during and after the New Orleans Bowl was comprised of those students, fac- Drew Dunlap is a senior communications ulty, staff, family members and alumni who studies major. He can be reached at msd2y@ were outnumbered in attendance 2-to-1 mtsu.edu. by the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles’ fans. But we were MTSU, not MTSCC, and that MTSU came away with a bowl win.

If you think you’ve read an article about stu- correspond with your major or any other asdent involvement in Sidelines before, it’s be- pect of your life, there’s always the option to cause you probably have. The staff here can’t start your own. The Office of Leadership and convey how important it is to be part of one Service, located in Room 326 of the Keathley or more of the hundreds of organizations University Center, will help you with all your start-up needs, including funding. All students at MTSU. When students are active in the happen- pay student activity fees at the start of every semester, and they’re just waitings on campus, the overall ing to be taken advantage of. community of MTSU benefits Being a part of an organizaby becoming a lively center of tion, though, is not just about exchange for those with comdeveloping skills and having monalities, as well as differthings to put on your résumé. ences. And you, the student, Let’s face it: sometimes it’s benefit by forming friendships, not what you know, but who gaining experience through the you know, that will be the descope of your organization, and ciding factor on if you land a developing interpersonal skills job or not. that will last throughout your Developing connections life. and networking are huge When students merely attend parts of the organizations class, though, the university be- Michael Stone on campus. Perhaps the best comes a place of function where most of the activity happens inside the class- connection-building organizations available room. Though this type of activity is important, at MTSU are the Greek social organizations. simply doing what is required in accordance Even though these groups are sometimes with the course catalog – for many majors – will overshadowed by negative stereotypes, joining not give graduates much to offer future employ- them provides great ways of meeting people locally and receiving connections nationally ers as they are glancing over résumés. Toward the end of 2009, the Bureau of Labor and worldwide. But organizations shouldn’t be all about réStatistics said there was an average of about six unemployed job seekers for every job opening, sumé building and developing connections. or in other words, 15.7 million people trying to There’s always the making-a-difference-forcapitalize on 2.5 million positions. Needless to the-good-of-humankind factor. Selflesssay, just having a diploma doesn’t necessarily ness is very important in our society, and good deeds would definitely be eye-catchers lead to employment. On the bright side, in accordance with the for employers. The recycling and conservation initiatives aforementioned statistics, the glass is onesixth full; you might just have to work a little developed by Students for Environment Action, harder to be the lucky one that gets to quench for example, demonstrate that the members of your thirst for employment. Being enrolled at the organization aren’t all about fulfilling their MTSU provides many great opportunities in personal greed. And, of course, their actions building credentials that will help make your are extremely important in the overall scheme résumé the shining star among a potentially of human existence because, unless the government has been hiding it, our species won’t large stack. The university has a plethora of trade-spe- be moving to another planet anytime soon. cific organizations that, upon joining, give you That means this one should be tended to. But I digress. a step above others who simply have a degree. If this is your first semester at MTSU, start Examples include the Aerospace Maintenance Club, the Air Traffic Control Club, Alpha Eta off your college career right – get involved. If Rho aviation fraternity, the Flying Raiders, this is your last semester at MTSU, you’ve still Future Airport Executive and Women in Avia- got time – get involved. If you’re somewhere in tion – and that’s for aerospace majors alone. between…well, you get the idea. Granted, not all departments are going to have six organizations under their umbrella, but Michael Stone is a senior journalism major and opinions editor of Sidelines. He can be reached at many of them have at least one. Even if there aren’t any organizations that slopinio@mtsu.edu.

By the way

From the opinions editor

How to start a student organization 1. Complete provisional registration form 2. Complete a member roster, application for registration form and your organization’s constitution 3. Find a faculty adviser 4. Wait a maximum of 30 days to be approved as a student organization 5. Book facility space (typically free of charge) 6. Attend Presidium and/or an orientation workshop to be eligible for funding through student activity fees 7. Have fun! Photo by Jay Bailey, photography editor

MEAL PLANS FROM PAGE 10 It is time for a change. With the current economic recession, students cannot afford to pay $1,200 simply to eat on top of the cost of living in a dorm, buying textbooks and paying for tuition and fees. That is not to suggest that a

meal plan is a bad idea. When money begins to run out at the end of the semester, as it so often does, the meal plan prevents starvation. The idea is sound and considerate, but why not allow more freedom? At the least, a cheaper plan should be available. Why not simply give a FlexBucks plan? Or how about a plan for

just meals? It is a question of trust and accountability. If a student does not properly manage his or her money, that student deserves to live on noodles and frozen pizza for a week or two. Money management and budgeting for the important things are huge parts of growing up. In actuality, those students

who might have trouble affording food are probably not living on campus anyway. Many students at MTSU commute from home to save money. In fact, some make the decision to attend MTSU because of the potential for saving money and being close to home. Therefore, since many of the students who sacrifice a few meals due to a lack of funds are not even on a meal plan,

the entire system is nullified. In the end, the problem is the shameless profiteering of the university. Since most freshmen are 18 or older, they should be expected to feed themselves like all the other adults on this planet. Students live on campus for convenience and to escape their parents, not to gain the parentage of a fussy college. There needs to be a change

in policy at MTSU. The current enforcement of the freshman meal plan is outdated and unfit for the current economic era. Freshmen are being victimized in the name of compassion. The meal plan robbery must stop. Pearl Howell is a freshman theater major. She can be reached at rph2t@mtsu.edu.

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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

HISTORY IN THE MAKING MTSU SECURES FIRST EVER BOWL WIN IN NEW ORLEANS

SPORTS

VISIT MTSUSIDELINES.COM

FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF MTSU’S FIRST BOWL VICTORY

Photo by Brennan Sparta, staff photographer

Junior quarterback Dwight Dasher drops back to pass against a Southern Miss blitz. Dasher threw two touchdown passes against the Golden Eagles.

Blue Raiders make history in Big Easy Da sher sprint s into the record books a s the Blue Ra ider s bring home f irst bow l w in BOWL FROM PAGE 1 “Unless I broke something, that’s the only way I would have come out of the game,” Dasher said. To top it all off, the Blue Raiders finished with the highest national ranking it’s ever received at 33. “I’d like to congratulate our players,” head coach Rick Stockstill said. “Other teams can’t match our intensity, enthusiasm and toughness and that was evident. We fell behind 14-0 but we never quit.” “I thought this game was perfect example of a team playing hard with enthusiasm and toughness,” Stockstill said. “We played harder and harder as we went on. We played smart. This was a great team effort.” The Blue Raiders got more outstanding efforts from senior linebacker Danny Carmichael, who finished with seven tackles and an interception. Senior cornerback Alex Suber finished with an interception of his own. “This win to send me and the rest of these seniors out is unbelievable,” Carmichael said. “I’m speechless.” “It’s been a testament to our hard work,” Suber said. “We’ve had a couple of bad seasons and coach Stockstill came in and turned things around. We took what he said and believed in it and you see the results.”

Dasher’s performance lifts him into lofty company, as the record he set was previously held by Vince Young, who ran for 200 yards in the 2006 Rose Bowl against the University of Southern California. He also joins Young and other great quarterbacks who have thrown for 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season. “I thought Dwight’s performance was an example of what our team stands for,” Stockstill said. “That no matter what the situation is that if you’re still standing you’re gonna get out there and play the next down. “Dwight was hurt a lot more than he’s letting on, and I’m really proud of him and the effort he showed and the toughness that he showed.” The 10-win mark is the most in history for a Sun Belt Conference team, as rival Troy University fell to Central Michigan University in the GMAC Bowl to finish with nine. Going forward, a bowl win on national television should do nothing but improve recruiting as Stockstill continues to improve the program. In just four years Stockstill has led the team to not only its first bowl win in a short Football Bowl Subdivision era, but an SBC championship in 2006. MT may have a tough time reloading in its effort to repeat the success of 2009. The Blue Raiders’ graduating class includes Carmichael, Suber,

Photo by Brennan Sparta, staff photographer

Senior receiver Chris McClover runs past the Southern Mississippi defense. McClover finished with four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.

wide receivers Desmond Gee, Chris McClover and Patrick Honeycutt, cornerback

Marcus Udell, punter David Defatta and linebacker Cam Robinson.

For right now, though, the players will savor this victory. But the coaching

staff is already back to work planning the future of Blue Raider football.

MMA action comes to MT STAFF REPORT

MT will get its first glimpse at the growing sport of mixed martial arts Feb. 6, when the Murphy Center hosts a night of amateur fighting. The Mixed Martial Arts Association of Middle Tennessee State University and Guardian MMA are set to sponsor the event, with 3 percent of the proceeds going to Disabled Veterans, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Women Against Domestic Violence. “The evening will showcase the talents of MMA artists

from around the country,” said Anthony Gomez, MTSU association president. “Please come out and contribute to the cause and at the same time enjoy an awesome show.” One of the highlights of the day will be a meet-and-greet with MMA veteran and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock. Shamrock was one of the sport’s early pioneers in the United States, participating in seven of the UFC’s first 10 events as well as enjoying a prolific career in Japan. Shamrock also had a stint in

the world of professional wrestling, most notably in the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, in the late 1990s. “We are proud to welcome as our special guest retired UFC champion Ken Shamrock that evening to meet and greet the public and sign autographs,” Gomez said. Tickets are on sale now at the Murphy Center box office. Tickets are $16 for students with a valid ID and $21 for the general public. Special VIP ringside tickets are also available for $35.

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Two competitors from Guardian display their abilities during their UFC demo fight last Saturday.

www.mtsusidelines.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 SIDELINES

Lady Raiders look to rebound Disappointing star t to season motivates team in second half By CRAIG HOFFMAN Staff Writer

The Lady Raiders came into the season with lofty expectations, with the ultimate goal of San Antonio and the Final Four. They had every reason to believe that this goal was attainable as they returned every player from a conference championship team, including First Team Pre-Season All-American Alysha Clark. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as Coach Insell’s squad opened with a tough schedule and lost four non-conference games. Quality wins against defending Conference USA champion Central Florida and defending national runner up Louisville and a Southeastern Conference team in Kentucky were important, but the key tests were three top 10 teams in Louisiana State University, Xavier and Tennessee. No one expected the Lady Raiders to win all of them, and to win two was a tall task, but losing all three games never crossed anyone’s mind. That happened, and MT also lost on the road to a tough South Dakota State team. MT seemed to be turning things around in conference play, winning their first few games handily, and then Saturday’s game at UALR happened. MT layed a complete egg, going 0-12 from three, scoring only 43 points and letting UALRs Chastity Reed pick apart MTSU’s defense to the tune of 10 assists. Unlike last year, the

Photo by Jay Bailey, photo editor

Senior guard Chelsia Leymon attempts to evade a Tennessee defender during their Nov. 25 game.

2009-2010 version of MT is incredibly deep; however, everything still starts at the point guard slot. “You can’t say enough about Chelsia Lymon,” said head coach Rick Insell when asked about his guard play. Lymon is playing with a severe shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season, and despite that, she has been one of the most consistent players for the Lady Raiders. That’s the exact opposite of what can be said for Anne Marie Lanning and Jackie Pickel. Pickel has been nothing short of bril-

liant defensively, giving AllAmerica candidates Allison Hightower (LSU) and Angie Bjorklund (Tennessee) fits. However, she has been ice cold from outside, shooting only 26.8 percent from deep. Both she and Lanning have improved their game off the dribble, but the outside shooting is where they are needed most, and they haven’t been consistent. Kortni Jones has been solid off the bench, backing up Lymon along with Tina Stewart, who has now made a mid-season move to the two-guard. Insell will need a bigger contribution

File Photo

Junior Forward Emily Queen takes a shot attempt against ASU last year on Jan. 1.

Queen out for the year STAFF REPORT

The Lady Raiders lost a vital piece of its backcourt Wednesday as the team announced that junior forward Emily Queen will not return this season due to knee surgery. Queen had surgery Monday to repair her lateral meniscus in her left knee. “She has played as hard as anyone, grabbing double-figure rebounds in three of her last six games,” head coach Rick Insell said. “There are not many teams across the country who lose someone of her ability and will not suffer any consequences. Could we have won the Kentucky game without her? No. Emily is the type of player who constantly battled in the paint and was very aggressive on

the boards. She played with such tenacity and we will miss that. Queen ends her short season averaging 5.8 rebounds per game, with 9.6 against Sun Belt Conference teams. In conference games her performances had her ranked second in overall rebounding and fourth in defensive rebounds Queen had been battling the injury through all of preseason camp and had already missed significant time at the beginning of the season. “She worked as hard as any individual we have during the offseason. It is unfortunate the timing of her injury came when it did, but I know she will work hard during rehab to get back and be ready to go for her senior season next year.”

File Photo

Queen jumps for a rebound.

from Senior Dana Garrett as the team continues on in conference play. “There’s a lot of different pieces to the puzzle, which makes us very versatile,” Insell said in describing his guards. That being said, if the perimeter shooting doesn’t become more consistent, this team will fall far short of its goals and could wind up not winning the conference.

Photo by Brennan Sparta, staff photographer

Senior forward Alysha Clark dribbles past a UCF player Nov. 15.

SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010