Sidelines - Online 10/16/2013

MTSU Sidelines Oct. 16, 2013

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3 NEWS 6 COVER 8 SPORTS 10 FEATURES 11 OPINIONS 12 A&E

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Emily West >> Editor-in-chief

Amanda Gambill >> Managing editor

Stacy Busch >> Online Editor

Chris Bishop >> Online Director

Mamie Nash >> News Editor

Sinclaire Sparkman >> Assistant News Editor Daniel Jansouzian >> Assistant News Editor Bailey Robbins >> Features Editor

Maranda Faris >> Assistant Features Editor

Claire Osburn >> A&E Editor

Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E Editor

Lauren Mandrell >> Assistant A&E Editor Sam Brown >> Sports Editor

Connor Grott >> Assistant Sports Editor Quint Qualls >> Opinions Editor Christine Craft >> Designer

Matt Masters >> Online Photo Editor Kyle Bates >> Print Photo Editor Leon Alligood >> Adviser

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NEWS

Ginseng research grows opportunity for MTSU and Tennessee Cultivating a crop of ginseng could put the university and partners in China in a highly profitable situation.

University researchers from the Tennessee Center for Botanical Medicine Research are partnering with Chinese researchers from the Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants to grow ginseng in controlled environments and in large quantities to extract medicinal benefits.

A team of administrators and researchers from the university were led by State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, to hunt for wild ginseng and bring back samples Oct. 4.

“I think it has great potential, because our agricultural program is one of the best in the Southeast, and we have a lot of good farmland in our state,” said Sidney McPhee, university president, in a press release from MTSU News and Public Affairs.

Ginseng grows in moist mountain climates where the soil is rocky and has

a high concentration of rotten leaves.

If the research goes as expected, ginseng should be able to grow in forest clearings and be harvested without waiting so long for it to reach maturity, according to professor Elliot Altman, director of the research for ginseng at the university.

“There are sophisticated biotechnology techniques that allow us to do this very rapidly,” Altman said.

Asian harvesting of the herb is driving demand for American ginseng higher, and if all goes well, researchers and state officials are hoping this could turn out to be incredibly profitable for Tennessee.

Faison has been digging for ginseng in the mountains of Tennessee for eight years, and he hopes the research from TCBMR and GBGMP can turn ginseng into a cash crop for the state, according to the same release.

“We would also want to test the bioactivities of natural ginseng versus

cultivated ginseng,” said Ying Gao, a researcher at TCBRM. The herb has been an ancient remedy in China for the common cold and other immune system malfunctions for centuries. Cancer patients often take the herb as a supplement to other treatments, and it has also been used to treat viral infections.

While ginseng has been growing naturally in the United States and China for a long time, researchers are looking for faster ways to produce it to sell to global markets in Tennessee.

At up to $2,000 per pound, growing mass ginseng crops is a valuable financial opportunity for the state, according to Altman.

“Ideally, we would like to set up a situation for the state of Tennessee where they can produce what they call crop ginseng — ginseng cultivated as opposed to grown naturally,” Altman said.

Cultivating the crop allows for a quicker grow rate and less time spent hunting and digging for it.

Appalachia has known of the benefits of ginseng for quite some time. Many people dig for ginseng in Kentucky and Tennessee as a way to relieve financial stress.

Cultivating the crop will relieve concerns of wiping it out, since it takes years to mature naturally and is labeled a special concern species.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regulate the annual harvest of wild ginseng to Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

Sinclaire Sparkman //Assistant News Editor Photo courtesy of MT Marketing and Communications.

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NEWS

MTSU prepared to fight the Flu

The Middle Tennessee State University pharmacy is once again stocked with vaccine and ready to fight the flu for a low price to students, faculty and staff.

“Last week we did run out,” said Tabby Ragland, the director of pharmacy. “We had a higher volume than we had in the years past of students, faculty and staff coming in for it. We have gotten more vaccine in so it’s available for students to come to the clinic to get a shot.”

There is not a limited number of vaccines available to the university, she said.

“Sometimes I’m able to get it next day, but I pre-book it every year for what we anticipate we’re going to get in the fall, and we’ve already exceeded that this year, and we’re barely mid-October. We received our first shipments around mid-September,” Ragland said.

Although the flu mist is a modified live virus, it does not normally cause the recipient to contract the flu. The vaccine shot, meanwhile, introduces the virus to the body and trains it to develop the immunity to fight the illness. The shot is a killed virus, so recipients cannot get sick from it at all, according to Ragland.

heard all kinds of excuses for not getting the vaccination, from not knowing it’s available to fear of needles.

Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sat 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“Students as a whole are reluctant to get it because it’s a shot. The flu mist is also available to students. It costs a little more, but it’s avoiding a shot as well,” Ragland said.

Saint Louise Clinic of St. Thomas Rutherford offers the shot for $25.

Located on East Bell Street, the clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Another reason the students may not get the shot is because it is not mandated.

Students can also receive the vaccine at CVS Pharmacy for $31.99 without an appointment.

“It’s not required for our students to get the flu vaccine. We leave it up to them as a whole whether they want it or not. The number of athletes who get it every year pretty much follows the student population, when the number of students who get it increase, the number of athletes increase too,” said Robbie Stewart, head football athletic trainer.

For more information on the 20132014 flu season visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.

The shot is $15, and the mist is $27.

Students can pay with cash, check or credit card or put it on their student account.

Mamie Nash // News Editor

“These are student prices. We feel like we can offer it to you guys lower because you pay a student health fee, so that’s partially included in that.

Students should take advantage of it because it’s less missed class time, less time sick,” Ragland said.

“When you get the shot it does take our body about two weeks to set up the immunity to the flu, so if you got exposed right after you got the shot, yes, you can get sick, but that’s because your body hasn’t set up the immunity to it,” Ragland said.

The shot is safe for pregnant women and children, though pregnant women need to get the preservative-free version. It is also available for people who are allergic to the preservative.

The quality of the shot is not affected by the lack of preservative.

About 500 people get the vaccination from the school pharmacy every year.

Student health officials said they’ve

Students can also get the vaccination at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic for $30. The walk-in clinic is open

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Please note: The information on the CDC website may not be updated, and the CDC may not answer questions due to the current government shutdown.

NEWS

An incident where a black University of Alabama woman was rejected by a sorority because of her race has prompted discussion from sorority members at Middle Tennessee State University.

The incident at Alabama — involving a black female who was denied admission to Alpha Gamma Delta despite holding a 4.3 GPA, being involved in local and state community service and being salutatorian of her high school — sparked discussion among Greek members about the racial lines drawn between black and white organizations.

Dianna Batson, a new member of Alpha Delta Pi, has noticed the racial division between black and white Greek organizations, which was something she had not anticipated prior to coming to college. Batson is white.

“I didn’t know much about Greek life in general. I decided to rush with a friend and loved what Alpha Delta Pi was about. Coming from California, I never really noticed that there was segregation between Greeks until I got to Tennessee. I don’t understand why there is such a separation either,” Batson said, adding that she believes that increased ethnic diversity would draw more interest in Greek life.

Victoria Sorey, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, was unaware of segregation between black and

white Greeks when she was recruited in fall 2011.

“The only difference that I see is in the predominance of race. I believe that certain people join certain organizations based on their comfort within themselves and where they feel best fit. However, every organization, whether black or white, is somewhat focused on the same goals: community service and making a difference,” said Sorey, who is black.

Different sororities and fraternities should start participating in more joint community service ventures and bonding activities, Sorey said.

“Different people have different approaches and ideas. This can help the organization grow as a whole, be more open-minded, step outside of our comfort zone and experience things that we wouldn’t without that diversity,” Sorey said.

Batson and Davis each said that there are no policies in their respective sororities that ban the acceptance of members of different races or backgrounds.

Both organizations search for prospective members who will benefit their organization, succeed academically, do community service, work hard, demonstrate dedication and represent the organization in a positive light, the sorority members said.

discusses racial lines Each organization has its own philanthropy to raise money for, ranging from Iota Phi Theta’s philanthropy, the United Negro College Fund, to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s philanthropy, the American Red Cross.

also requires that students complete a certain amount of community service hours, which varies by organization.

To join a fraternity or sorority at the university, students must have at least a 2.5 overall grade point average, though many of the organizations require a higher GPA. The school

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Greek Life

COVER

New initiative

breaks

down barriers to student success Daniel Jansouzian >>Assistant News Editor University leaders, faculty and staff have initiated a “Quest for Student Success” program to ensure students have opportunities for academic progress that will lead to graduation.

“This is not about compromising our academic standards; it’s not grade inflation,” said Sidney McPhee, university president. “Students do their part; we will do our part. This will help responsible students be more successful.”

Breaking down barriers The “One Stop Shop” is one way the administration wants to make themselves more available to the student body. The new Student Services Building, on the east side of campus, will house the shop, which is set to open in fall 2014.

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Laurie Witherow, associate vice provost of admissions and enrollment, works closely with the staff who will work in the shop.

“The goal of the One Stop is to remove administrative processes that have become, at best, inconveniences and, at worst, barriers for students,” Witherow said.

Staff members will be assigned students to build relationships with throughout their academic career, regardless of a change of major, she explained.

The One Stop staff will be the primary point of contact for students as they go through the enrollment process.

The staff has trained for the past 18 months to answer questions about financial aid, registration, transcripts, admission and scheduling. They will act as a resource to connect students to other services needed to maintain enrollment at the university, Witherow said.

“We believe we will be able to resolve 80 percent of student issues with one visit to the One Stop, with no need for referral elsewhere on campus, saving students time and aggravation,” Witherow said. “This model will also free the ‘back offices,’ financial aid, business office, records and scheduling, to streamline their processing.”

Witherow predicts the One Stop will be open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. She predicts the building will also open on Saturdays during the start of the semesters.

Eliminating the bureaucracy According to Brad Bartel, university provost, he and McPhee have thought of ways for students to finish their degrees faster and to find satisfaction with their learning experience.

The two went before the Tennessee Board of Regents to request a change to the purging policy.

Previously, students were not allowed to have any debt on their records, but the university was able to raise the allowance to $200. Now, they will not be immediately purged. This means students who have a $25 parking ticket will be able to sign up for next semester’s classes.

The provost and McPhee are also trying to reduce “bottleneck courses,” classes required for students to complete their degrees, that are difficult to get into, according to Bartel.

“We want to make this a much better environment for learning,” Bartel said.

“Students deserve the best experience in the classroom.”

The initiative also plans to redesign courses to bring new approaches to general education classes that have a high failure rate. Faculty from seven different courses has met since the summer to share ideas and review curriculum to make their classrooms exciting for students.

Bartel said they have also been working on increasing tutoring services.

RaiderNet under the academic progress report tab.

While some departments want tutoring done in the department for lab and hands-on experiences, the library is opening up new space specifically for tutoring. The university has put $250,000 into the tutoring program.

“As of [Oct. 10] more than 10,000 individual midterm grades have been reported,” Witherow said.

Improve advising quality “We want to ensure students get advising when and where they need it,” Bartel said.

Advising will start at CUSTOMS and continue throughout students’ academic career.

Bartel said advisers will improve their advising methods, ensuring that they are meeting students’ specific needs.

Plan in action McPhee said elements of the “Quest for Student Success” initiative have already started with midterm grades posted on Pipeline, which has never happened before.

“It is helpful to both faculty and students to know exactly where they are in their classes early on,” McPhee said.

Students can view their midterm grades for undergraduate courses in

McPhee and Bartel added interim roles to two administrators to oversee the reforms. University College Dean Mike Boyle will temporarily fill the role of vice provost for student success, while Vincent Windrow, director of intercultural and diversity affairs, will serve as interim assistant vice provost for student success.

“This is not a new concept to MTSU. It’s not a reaction to anything wrong; it’s proof that we are always at the forefront of what we need to be doing,” Boyle said.

Boyle filled the position of dean of the university college when McPhee started the college four years ago as a means to increase student success.

The university is increasing transparency with their students, according to Boyle. The university is doing what they’ve always done, only better.

“If the students don’t see a roadblock, then we’ve succeeded,” he said.

COVER

Tara Moore >> Marketing, Senior ““I’ve been going to the same advisor since I got here and she’s really good. She’s helped me be successful.”

Krishawn Nolan >> Nursing (right) Jan-ta Williams >> Communications (left) Nolan: “Maybe more workers need to get into one thing instead of having a whole bunch of different sections for everything.

Williams: “I feel like it’s so unorganized. I had a hard, hard time just getting re-enrolled in my classes because they dropped me. The line was so long, and there were so many people that had the same thing happen to them.”

Sinclaire Sparkman contributed to this report.

The DNJ is looking to hire a part-time clerk/reporter hybrid with a digital focus.

This position is available through the Information Center restructuring that took place this summer. This person will work on our families and faith team, putting in about 25 hours per week, including some weekend work. You need to be able to write and have some basic digital skills and iPhone photography/ video skills. You’ll produce a few stories each week and work with the digital director and news director on digital content, focusing on family and faith issues. Experience as a published writer is required and experience with the digital aspects of the job are also helpful. We will consider a college student if he or she can commit the 25 hours per week. We will consider an MTSU student if he or she can work the hours required.

If you are interested, email your resume and cover letter to Taylor Loyal at tloyal@dnj.com.

Shereese Moye >> Clinical Psychology, Sophomore “I’ve had trouble because there are a lot of psychology majors, and sometimes they need that one specific class.”

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SPORTS

Insell's roundup of women's basketball team

Photo courtesy of MT Athletic Communications.

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SPORTS

Ritchie Simmons //Staff writer// The women’s basketball team officially kicked off this season’s practice, leaving Head Coach Rick Insell excited and ready for work.

“I’ve said it over and over again. If you don’t look forward to opening day of practice, and the opening week of practice … you need to get out of the business,” said Insell to Chip Walters on this week’s edition of “The Drill.”

The team looked eager to start and came out in impressive form in the opening practice runs, Insell said.

“We were clicking,” Insell said. “We didn’t have to stop and teach. We didn’t have to motivate. They knew what we expected, and they went right into the drills. I was as satisfied as I’ve ever been, since I’ve been here, with our first practice.”

Last January, the ladies had problems shooting the ball and the coaching staff noticed minutes were left over from the allotted time given by the NCAA to work with players, Insell said.

The coaches decided to use the extra time to run shooting drills, and percentages increased. The Lady Raiders finished the season playing better than when they started.

Insell said the coaches made it a point this year to be proactive with the shooting drills.

“Let’s not wait until we get in some kind of slump, or we’re not shooting the ball better,” Insell said. “Let’s go

on and start it right now, get our players in the gym and use our 20 hours.”

The team has several new additions this year, including Olivia Jones from Riverdale High School, China Dow, a freshman from Louisville and Caya Williams from Mt. Juliet.

“We’ve got three point guards, and they’re all three going to play,” Insell said. “We haven’t had that luxury the last two or three years, and we’ve got that this year.”

The point guards, junior Shanice Cason, senior Caroline Warden and freshman Ty Petty are working hard, Insell said, and he trusts all three of them.

The team’s star forward, senior Ebony Rowe, spent summer recuperating from a knee injury. She is back on the court and improving every day, Insell said.

“She’s come in looking better than any time I’ve seen her,” Insell said. “That could be dangerous, because she’s taking people inside and doing things now that I thought she could do all along.”

The Lady Blue Raiders will see teams like Miami, Kentucky, North Carolina State and Clemson in 2013, and conference play begins Jan. 8, 2014, as MT opens its CUSA schedule against North Texas.

“We’ve got a lot of opportunities with that schedule,” Insell said. “And I know some people are thinking ‘are you really serious?’ I am serious. I believe in our basketball program, and I believe in this team.”

MT Athletic Communications contributed to this report.

SIDELINES | Oct. 16, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com 9

FEATURES

D N T FEAR THE BR Colorful ponies with large, sparkling eyes and spiky, rainbow manes rest upon the desk of students whose notebooks and T-shirts are themed accordingly.

This isn’t a room occupied with preteen girls – it’s a dedicated adult male base of “My Little Pony” followers preparing for a weekly meeting.

Creative juices begin to flow as the meeting begins with the smell of dry-erase markers on a white board.

“We’re just a bunch of friends goofing off,” said Sommer Franklin, club treasurer.

Though the “My Little Pony” organization is a relatively new club at Middle Tennessee State University, the “brony” phenomenon is not. A brony is a male fan of the “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” television series.

The Nashville area has exploded with a “brony” demographic, according to its members.

Rob Greenwell, a former MTSU student, has found success within the “brony” community

as a musician. Like many others in the organization, Greenwell, who is a rapper in Knights of the Crystal Empire, is always willing to lend a hand, or hoof, to fellow artists striving to succeed in the art world.

“It’s not a matter of being good or bad at [art],” Greenwell said reassuringly. “We work on making each other better.”

Greenwell and other club members is just a small portion of the fan base. The organization is currently working on locating and recruiting fans who are either unaware of the club or are still hiding their pony fandom.

Franklin knows they’re out there.

“We have a Walmart, and all the good toys are gone,” he said.

Founder John Griffin created the club in 2012 because he “knew there were ‘bronies’ on campus.” He works with the current club president, Clay Mings, and faithful members to do what being a “brony” is all about:

10 SIDELINES | Oct. 16, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com

NY

helping out the community.

“We want to do a food drive and a toy drive to show the morals and values of the show,” Griffin said.

Members said a number of factors make the show appealing, but most of the interest is the show’s creator, Lauren Faust.

Faust is known for her work on children shows like “Powerpuff Girls” and “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” all of which present strong female leads and intricate plot lines. Before long, her creation of the MLP series began to draw attention, particularly from adult males, and Faust welcomed it.

“The creators actually respond to the fandom,” Franklin said.

“The content of the show changed once the fan base grew.”

When a technical error caused Derpy Hooves, a pony in the show, to have eyes splayed in different directions, fans responded favorably and requested that the cross-eyed creature

remain. Soon, fans discovered whenever they obsessed over a character who was not in the “mane” six, animators would change story lines to accommodate the fans’ wishes.

Of course, club members have many reasons for liking MLP. Musicians and artists who are Bronies often include the ponies in their work.

Most importantly, the club has learned any subject material can be related to ponies, and nearly everyone enjoys the quirky humor that results.

“Just bringing people together was their biggest success,” said Bradley Beckmann, an audio production freshman.

If you think you can be a “brony,” too, halt your pony at the Student Union building at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Dulce Torres // Contributing writer Photos courtesy of Facebook.

OPINIONS

Blame the Democrats, not the Republicans Am I the only one who finds it odd that people are still blaming the Republicans for the entire government shutdown?

Let’s look at it this way: Republicans control the House, and Democrats control both the Senate and the White House.

That means that Republicans have one-third of the power in the executive and legislative branches of government.

The House tried three times to pass continuing resolutions that would have kept the government funded. If one of these three would have been passed, the shutdown would have been avoided, and legislators might actually have had time to read the entire healthcare bill that started all of this.

The first resolution they tried to pass would have defunded the Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare.” Senate Democrats weren’t having that, so

they denied it, and the House came up with a second resolution that contained a provision to delay the ACA for one year.

The Senate Democrats again denied it.

Delaying the House’s resolution for one year so they could actually have had a chance to read the entire bill before it goes into law makes perfect sense no matter what side of the fence you’re on. It’s apparently their way or the highway.

The House then compromised and said, “OK, let’s pass a resolution that at least delays the individual mandate for one year.” The Senate said no way, and now we have a government shutdown. President Barack Obama did delay the employer mandate – the one that says businesses must purchase health insurance – for one year, but individuals must still purchase insurance or pay a fine.

It’s not one side’s fault. Both parties are guilty of squabbling like little children, but unfortunately the President and other legislative leaders use media to inform the American people that it’s the Tea Party’s fault.

In reality, compromise doesn’t seem to be an option for the Democrats. This week and before the shutdown, the Republicans have tried to avoid it with proposals to fund the government.

There hasn’t been much compromise from the left. The Republicans have now tried 13 different compromises that the Democrats have denied.

Compromise is an essential part of democracy, and obviously the Democrats are the party of “no.”

Samantha Hearn // Staff Writer

SIDELINES | Oct. 16, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com 11

A&E

love me Singles, get ready. The newest dating app is ready to find your new love — or maybe your next creeper.

With the advent of dating apps for iPhone and Android, users have the dating world in the palm of their hands for free with a swipe of a finger.

The latest iPhone app, Tinder, links with a user’s Facebook account, leaving the last name and additional information unknown, such as education, occupation and, surprisingly, current relationship status.

A person’s interests on Facebook — music, movies, sports, etc. — are synced with other Tinder users who share the same interests to give users common ground to spark conversation.

The app is customizable to your dating preferences. Choose the gender you are interested in, choose your distance from one to 100 miles, select an age range from 19 to 50+ that you want to be paired, and you’ll soon see “Congratulations, you have a new match” pop up on your screen.

Tinder finds your exact location and links you to other users in your

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preferred distance. As soon as possible matches are located, profiles in the form of old fashion Polaroid photos appear on the screen. Under the photo is a name, age and whether shared Facebook interests and mutual friends are found.

If a displayed user is someone you would like to find out more about, the option to view four more photos is available. After investigating the small amount of information provided, swiping the users profile to the left or right casts your final decision. It’s speed dating minus the face-to-face interaction.

In order to finalize a match, someone you have approved has to like you back. Once a mutual interest is found, a notification alerts you and sets up the match in a Tinder chat room. For those who fear rejection, fear no more. If someone you found attractive gives you the boot, they will never know you liked them.

While I may have joined Tinder within minutes of hearing about it, my optimism was short lived.

My experience chatting with matches is laughable. I would receive various messages throughout the week ranging from the common “What’s up?” to “Where

are you? I’m in midtown drunk.

Come see me.”

I would catch myself about to reply as if I knew these guys on a personal level when I didn’t even know their last name. I had judged men by looking at four photos and shared interests on Facebook irrelevant to myself as an individual.

The final turning point was when I was in the campus Starbucks, scrolling through Tinder. As I looked through the various men, I noticed one of my matches was less than a mile from where I was sitting. I immediately imagined him walking into Starbucks while I was waiting on my drink. The thought made me tense up as I played out different possible Starbucks run-in scenarios.

After that, I made the decision to discontinue my Tinder account.

Although this mobile dating app gave me a bad feeling, some of my friends have had positive outcomes.

Natalie Shipley >> Contributing Writer Photos courtesy of Tinder.

...or not

Lucas White relocated to Nashville from Texas to attend MTSU and immersed himself in the prevalent bluegrass and country music scene.

Coincidentally, when the time came for Georgia-based country/ folk group Zac Brown Band to take a breather between albums and contemplate a new sound, they decided to incorporate a bluegrass vibe into their new music.

The Bluegrass of Brown

After being highly recommended by his mentor, Tony Rice, Zac Brown personally asked him to joining the crew as a bluegrass guitarist. White received the career-altering call on November 12, 2011, when he was just 16 years old. The next day, White was on his way to one of the most influential “jam-sessions� of his career.

The chance to play for a multiplatinum, two-time Grammywinning group is once in a lifetime, and the 18 year old has gotten everything he can out of the riveting experience. “[At first] it was really difficult going out with guys that were a little older and more experienced,� he said. “But at the same time, it set a

standard for where I felt I needed to be.�

Throughout time White’s intimidation became enthusiasm, thinking to himself: “This is where I could be, and what I’m striving for.�

With undeniable natural talent and plenty of support, White’s bluegrass guitar sound complemented the band’s new works perfectly. “I worked every angle musically and professionally to be the best I could be at that time,� White said. “I think what made it the best part for me was taking that intimidation and transforming it into something that could build me into where I am today.�

Before joining the Brown crew, White developed experience as guitarist for bluegrass group Mountain Heart, opening for big names such as Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Introduced to the bluegrass genre at age seven by his grandfather and his old-timer friends, he was groomed from a young age to love and pursue a career in the music industry. His grandfather played a crucial role in his success, driving him to his first bluegrass festivals, helping him find new material and cheering him on in his small-audience days. His close “old-timer� friends and mentors taught him discipline in developing

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A&E

his musical talent and helped him learn to produce that true bluesyfolk sound.

While he can’t give any future projects away, White plays guitar with Zac Brown Band until the tour ends in March.

As for his future career, White doesn’t much plan on “going solo.� “I’m very content with being a background guy,� he said. “More of what I want to do is artistic representation and strategic planning for artist careers. It’s the meat and potatoes of the music business, and I love it.�

White wants to use his future music business and audio production degree to help aspiring artists mold their own careers. “I want to help make other artists’ visions work and be a part of their visions,� White said. “I now have more of an experience to know how to do that.�

Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E Editor Photo by Matt Masters.

As one of the touring guitarists for Zac Brown Band, a music business major at the university is traveling straight down the road to musical success.

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A&E

two

tone

14 SIDELINES | Oct. 16, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com

A&E

come for the show stay for the gallery Mufreesboro’s newest art gallery, Two-Tone, will host the annual fall MTSU student art show.

Although 76 pieces in every medium were submitted, only 15 were selected.

The gallery on West Lytle Street will feature student artwork from Oct. 16-22 from 6-8 p.m.

The MTSU Student Art Alliance is coordinating the event.

The opening night of the show will feature an awards ceremony, including “Best of Show,” and refreshments. Anyone is welcome to attend.

“It is a juried show, so we pick an active, working artist to select the pieces that will be displayed,” said Kelsey Young, SAA president and senior studio major. “This time we went with Bryce Brisco. He is a resident at the Appalachian Center for Craft — it’s in Smithville — he is a working artist and got his masters in ceramics at Ohio University. We submit to him all the pieces, and then he gets back to us what makes it in the show and what doesn’t.”

“I want to provide people in and around the Murfreesboro area a place to be able to show and possibly sell their work,” said Todd Wilson, gallery owner. “I’m trying to bridge the gap between people who want to see art and people who are producing art, trying to bring them together.”

Wilson, a tattoo artist at Icon, opened up the gallery a few months ago because he saw the need for this type of creative outlet in town. Two-Tone

displays pieces by local artists that can be purchased.

To decide what he displays, Wilson accepts portfolios from local artists and chooses the pieces that will fit best with the gallery. He also switches out the pieces monthly to avoid staleness.

The gallery is only open Thursday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m., creating an exclusive feel.

“I try to convey a certain attitude and a certain type of atmosphere at the gallery and that above all is what I try to promote,” Wilson said.

Claire Osburn // A&E Editor Photos by Matt Masters.

SIDELINES | Oct. 16, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com 15

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