THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
VOL. 88, NO. 2
Youth step up, help Haiti MTSU students and Haitian natives collect goods for relief effort By ROZALIND RUTH Community News Editor
MTSU students started collecting relief aid Tuesday for the Haitian people after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of the capital city Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12 followed by a 5.9 aftershock yesterday. Two of the students collecting for Raiders Helping Haiti – Ertha Luma, a sophomore philosophy major, and Erwine Sainvil, a senior social work major – are Haitian natives who have family members who live on the island nation. “It just hurts my heart to see my country struggle,” Luma said. “It has always been one disaster after another, and they never get a break.” Luma and Sainvil have been working with Raiders Helping Haiti, a group of students who are collecting supplies such as clothing, shoes, non-perishable foods and medical supplies for their native country since the earthquake. “I think with MTSU’s help we can help a whole country stand up on its feet, because I feel like right now Haiti is on its knees,” Sainvil said. “We are being beat to the ground
Photo by Chris Donahue, staff photographer
Haitian student Ertha Luma hands out fliers on Haiti relief efforts.
Students on campus at risk for PC virus By CHRIS MAYO Staff Writer
A computer virus was detected last week that is saving links to pornographic Web sites on the desktops of campus PCs. Gregory Schaffer, assistant vice president of the Information Technology Division, said that the virus is a variant of a Botnet auto-worm, a selfreplicating, self-launching virus, first seen about six months ago. Shaffer said people rent time from the creator of this virus, sets up links and creates pop-ups for the renter’s Web site. The virus can sit dormant on a machine for weeks, infecting other machines before showing any sign it exists. “Malware sometimes disguise themselves as something good to fool users and scanning software,” Schaffer said. “The virus is a form of malware, which our antivirus software did not identify at first.” Schaffer said that ITD was successful in working with
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Trend Micro, the university’s antivirus software provider, in creating an update for its software to identify and eliminate the program from infected PCs. MTSU computer technicians are now busy working to remove the virus from infected computers around campus. Shaffer said the virus poses a serious threat to facilities with multiple users for every computer because it installs itself onto any thumb drive. The virus then launches itself onto any computer once the infected thumb drive is attached. Because of this, he said, the virus has been especially prevalent in labs and teacher stations. He said this also puts students’ personal computers at risk. Students should regularly update their virus scanning software and scan their PCs with the thumb drive loaded so that it is checked as well, he said. VIRUSES, PAGE 3
does not go directly to the people,” Luma said. “There are people out there who are scamming; they are taking advantage of people’s generosity.” Luma said she feels MTSU has been very supportive to her and the Haitian community, and she is grateful for all of the thoughts and prayers her classmates have sent to her. “I have been a proud Haitian ever since I can remember,” Sainvil said. “Even though our country is devastated right now, I think we can still make it with a little push and a little bit of help.” Deya Bakoyema, a freshman basic and applied science major, and Lucretia Williams, a sophomore basic and applied sciences major, are friends of Luma’s who helped the relief effort by passing out fliers and working at the Raiders Helping Haiti booth. Bakoyema said she watched the news all weekend and wanted to do something to help out her friend.
HAITI RELIEF
HAITI, PAGE 3
Meal vouchers help make campus food affordable By MICHAEL PECK Contributing Writer
After numerous complaints from students to faculty and staff about the exorbitant prices of food on campus, Aramark and MT Dining Services responded by offering free meal vouchers, with hopes to make on campus eating more affordable. Aramark set up the Doug McCallie Scholarship last year, named after the former director of Aramark Food Services at MTSU, to distribute a limited number of vouchers for free meals and items from the food pantry in the Student Support Services Office. Director of Student Support Services Crickett Pimentel said she thinks the scholarships fill a need for students on campus because of the many factors affecting the ability of a student to afford the basics. “Sometimes people go hungry because they’re having to make a choice; ‘Do I pay my light bill or do I buy groceries,’” Pimentel said. Any student who needs a voucher or food items from the pantry must first receive a referral from either an administrator or faculty member. Vouchers can be exchanged for a meal from McCallie Dining Hall or The
Column by Craig Hoffman gives MT men’s basketball a midseason progress report
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with this earthquake.” Raiders Helping Haiti plans to be in the lobby of the Keathley University Center on Thursday and Friday this week to take donations and hand out informational fliers. “We are very proud, and we have always been patriotic,” Luma said. “Our country will always be in our heart, and it will always be our No. 1 priority.” Sainvil is a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, which is helping Raiders Helping Haiti collect the necessary supplies and distribute them to Haiti. “We need the international community to help us,” Luma said. “It is our duty to help another brother.” No monetary donations are being accepted by Raiders Helping Haiti. Luma said students who want to make monetary donations should make a contribution to the American Red Cross, an organization with a long-standing history of providing humanitarian relief in times of crisis. “There are organizations where the money
Photo by Erin O’Leary, staff photographer
Adam Tahirkheli, freshman business major, fills his plate with food at McCallie Dining Hall.
Raider Zone, and the bags of food contain breakfast, lunch and dinner items. The Student Services Office has allotted roughly 200 meal vouchers a semester and typically hands out five a week per student. The number can change depending on a student’s needs, but MT Dinning Services said they will not turn away a person who needs help.
“It is a case-by-case basis to make sure people don’t go hungry,” Pimentel said. Pimentel said that last semester, when the program began, all of the vouchers were handed out. Aside from the Doug McCallie Scholarship, the office relies on private donations to keep their food pantry stocked. They call these donations their “food bank.”
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Pimentel said because of the bad economy and with Tennessee’s unemployment rate higher than the national average, students are hurting. Many MTSU students are either losing jobs, or getting their work hours cut back, she said, and this scholarship is absolutely necessary at a time like this. “It’s hard to study when you are hungry,” Pimentel said. “You have to meet the basic needs.” John Thomas, senior mass communication major, said he questions the timing of Aramark’s decision to start the scholarship program. “Is this a result of all the complaints,” Thomas said. “Would the free vouchers be better spent by reducing the cost of meals?” Thomas said he would like to know Aramark’s profit margin and see how it relates to comparable businesses off campus. Candice Hall, senior liberal arts major, said she is solidly behind the idea of the vouchers. “College students struggle with many things like deadlines, finals and work schedules,” Hall said. “Finding food should not be one of them.”
THUNDERSTORMS 80% CHANCE OF RAIN HIGH 60, LOW 42 “My dad always told me, if you’re a man with a clear conscience, speak with a clear conscience and the world will know.” HAITIAN RAPPER, WYCLEF JEAN
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
MLK’s flame still burns strong By MARIE KEMPH Campus News Editor, and MEGAN MCSWAIN Staff Writer
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., hosted a candlelight vigil Monday night in honor of the organization’s most famous member: Martin Luther King Jr. “A lot of people use this day as a free day, because a lot of places are closed,” said Alpha Treasurer GliJuan Kirby, a junior electronic media communication major. “We [host the candlelight vigil] in recognition; we do it in memoriam for him.” Kirby said the Alphas hold the vigil every year to pay respect to King and honor his legacy. The event is open to all students on campus. More than 100 students attended the event at the Keathley University Center. “I ran out of the paper holders used with memorial candles because there were so many people there,” Kirby said, adding that as attendees stood in a circle outside of the KUC, they began to sing “We Shall Overcome.” Participants watched “MLK: Words that Changed a Nation,” produced by CNN, and listened to Richard Milner, professor of education at Vanderbilt and an Alpha alumnus, speak about the Civil Rights Movement. “He told us King spoke truth to power,” Kirby said, referring to Milner’s speech. Alpha member Michael Farmer, a junior marketing major, said one reason the fraternity holds the vigil is to educate students about King’s accomplishments. “It’s very important that we know and understand our history so we can
progress for the future,” Farmer said. Arbor Barrow, senior English major, and Rose Cage, sophomore history major, said they came to the event because they thought it would be interesting. “Martin Luther King Jr. contributed a lot to the Civil Rights Movement,” Barrow said. “I think what he teaches us is as important today as it was when the Civil Rights Movement was in progress.” Cage said she thinks King’s vision still applies to today. “His message of equality is always going to be just as relevant, because there are still groups that are being discriminated against,” Cage said. Charles Collins, Alpha member and senior recording industry major, said the vigil is held each year to remind people that they can achieve their dreams. “[King] opened so many doors for us, not only as African-American males, but peo-
Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer
Students gather on the Keathley University Center Knoll to show respect for Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.
dren about the Civil Rights Movement. He added that one girl asked him if she could participate in a sit-in, even though she was white and a girl.
His message of equality is always going to be just as relevant, because there are still groups that are being discriminated against.” ROSE CAGE SOPHOMORE HISTORY MAJOR
ple in general,” Collins said. “I think, basically, what we want students to accomplish is to pursue anything they want to do.” Kirby said Alpha members participated in a mock sit-in earlier that day at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro to celebrate King’s 81st birthday. Kirby said members sat at a kitchen counter to demonstrate a sit-in and educate chil-
“It educated kids about the fact that there weren’t just black men who participated in the sit-ins,” Kirby said. “There were actually young females and young males of different orientations and races that participated.” Kirby said the fraternity plans to participate in events at the Discovery Center in the future. “We love the Discovery Center, and we love going
there for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” Kirby said. “Every year that we can go there and help, we definitely plan on helping, demonstrating sit-ins and anything else they need us to do.” King joined the Alphas in 1952 as a doctoral student at Boston University, and he was honored as the keynote speaker at the Alpha’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1956. The MLK National Memorial Project Foundation, founded in 1984 by the Alphas, was established to raise funds to build a memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial will honor his efforts in the Civil Rights Movement on a national stage. The Alpha’s national Web site, Alpha-phi-alpha.com, stated that the foundation is still accepting donations to complete construction.
Photo by Sarah Finchum, staff photographer
Students sing and praise the great accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. at a candle light vigil Monday on the KUC Knoll.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010 SIDELINES
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Staff Senate gives workers campus voice STAFF REPORT
MTSU announced plans to unveil a new Staff Senate, an organization to represent the non-faculty employees in university government and advise President Sidney McPhee on staff-related issues. Trina Clinton, an MTSU human resources coordinator, said HR will conduct the elections, which are set to begin the first week of May. “We need you to nominate one or more of your colleagues for the election that you feel would do a great job in representing non-faculty employees,” Clinton said. “In order to have a successful Staff Senate, it is important that the represented employees elect individuals that will voice their ideas and concerns.” Clinton said the senate would consist of 24 members, with one representative for each of the six major divisions of the staff, as well as six at-large representatives. All representatives would be elected for a two-year term running during the fiscal year – July through June. Nominations will be accepted until April 1. Anyone who wishes to nominate a candidate should e-mail Clinton at kclinton@mtsu.edu.
HAITI FROM PAGE 1 “Now is the time that we really need help,” Sainvil said. “I want people to know that this is
Williams said. Items sought include baby formula, antiseptic, rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, bandages, feminine products, petroleum jelly, bottled wa-
I want people to know that this is not going to go away in a month or two— it might be here forever.” ERWINE SAINVIL SENIOR SOCIAL WORK MAJOR
not going to go away in a month or two – it might be here forever.” Donations can be brought to the drop boxes in the KUC lobby as well as Room 107 of Peck Hall, or Room 101 of Midgett Hall, through Friday. “We are taking things that you may have at the house already, like canned foods or clothes that you do not even wear,”
VIRUSES FROM PAGE 1 “Although it started with just the [links to] Web sites, there is a danger of it morphing into something more nefarious,” Shaffer said. The virus is now disguising itself as Malware Defense. In actuality, this is not a valid anti-virus program. A pop-up warning appears stating that the computer is under attack from viruses and needs credit card information in order
ter (preferably packaged by the case), powdered milk, gently used clothes, handheld or portable radios, f lashlights with batteries, non-perishable foods, and children’s toys. “Anything that they can do will really help, and I really appreciate them from the bottom of my heart,” Luma said. “I will be eternally grateful to everybody.” to remove an alleged virus, according to an ITD press release. Anyone encountering any pop-up message that asks for personal information should close the window and contact the ITD help desk immediately. Schaffer said that all students should install antimalware programs and keep anti-virus software up to date. Any student who believes his or her computer is infected can reach the ITD help desk at 615-898-5345.
Photo by Jay Bailey, photography editor
A lone tree outside of the Keathley University Center battles against the elements waiting for spring to come.
CURRENT EVENTS Nashville Shakespeare Festival: The Tempest
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Help Haiti Benefit Concert: DJ K7, Milele Roots
Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Times
Jan. 14 – 31 Thursday – Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sunday 2:30 p.m.
Jan 22 – 24
Jan. 21, 8 p.m.
Through Jan. 31
Location: Sommet Center, Nashville Admission: $14.75 – $102
Location: The Riverhouse Admission: $5
Jeff the Brotherhood, MARJ and Special Guest 18+
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Location: Frist Center for the Visual Arts Admission: $7 for students, $ 10 adults and 18 and under free
Location: Troutt Theater, Belmont University Admission: $10 for students, $19 in advance, $22 at the door Thursday – Saturday, $16 in advance and $19 at the door Sunday.
Eastern Barrel Futurity Association Barrel Racing Jan. 22-24 Location: Tennessee Miller Coliseum, MTSU Admission: free
CRIME BRIEFS Jan. 6, 4:29 p.m.
Jan. 11, 3:29 p.m.
Jan. 15, 5:02 p.m.
Traffic
Theft
Theft
Eaton Street Colton Mason was issued a state citation for a violation of a traffic control device and improper display of a tag.
Jim Cummings Hall Someone reported their car keys stolen.
Alma Matter Drive A complainant reported their Oldsmobile Aurora was broken into and books were stolen from the vehicle.
Jan. 13, 4:11 p.m. Theft
Jan. 6, 10:20 p.m. Harassment Scarlett Commons A complainant reported receiving a harassing e-mail.
Jan. 8, 11 p.m. Theft Greek Row - Pi Kappa Alpha House A laptop was reported stolen.
Todd Building A laptop was reported stolen from the building.
Jan. 16, 1:58 p.m. Alarm Fire Boutwell Dramatic Arts A curtain caught on fire.
Jan. 14, 1:31 a.m. Burglary
Jan. 16, 9:26 p.m.
Peck Hall Windows were reported damaged from an alleged forced entry.
Theft Miller Horse Coliseum A wallet was reported stolen.
Jan. 14, 5:21 p.m.
Jan. 17, 4:40 a.m.
Jan. 8, 2:05 p.m.
Traffic
Alcohol
Theft
Rutherford Boulevard Donald Walls Jr. was issued a state citation for driving without a license.
Scarlett Commons, Building 3 Michael Logan Woods, Cody Ryan Benard and Wesley Jordan Tabor were issued campus citations for underage consumption of alcohol.
Corlew Hall Flat panel televisions were reported missing from the building.
Jan. 14, 5:29 p.m. Jan. 11, 3:30 p.m.
Vandalism
Theft
Pittard Campus School A complainant reported the building’s marquee had been vandalized.
Business and Aerospace Building Complainant reported theft of a bicycle from racks outside over the holidays.
Jan. 17, 4:41 p.m. Traffic Alumni Drive Robin Hardy was issued a state citation for failure to provide proof of insurance.
Jan. 22, 9 p.m. Location: The End Admission: $5
Jan. 22-23, 7 p.m. Jan. 24, 2 p.m. Location: Mufreesboro Little Theater Admission: Adults $10 and Students and Seniors $5
Robbers, One Big Owl, The Fine Grain and The Man In the Moon
Saturday PM Art: Erin Anfinson: Printmaking
Jan. 25
Jan. 23, 2 p.m.
Location: Rocketown Admission: $5
Location: The Discovery Center Admission: $5
Events Policy Sidelines welcomes current campus and community events submitted by all readers. Please e-mail events to slcampus@mtsu.edu or slnews@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.
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
Over-consumption does not equal prosperity Americans must reformat standards for success to exclude materialism, envy Americans make up a small percentage of the world, yet they consume a much larger percentage of its resources. The waste must stop. According to The World Bank’s most recent statistics (2008), the world’s population is around 6.6 billion people. The United States has a population of more than 304 million. This means that the U.S. is about 5 percent of the world’s population. Furthermore, in 2005, MarketingCharts.com estimated that more than half
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
MT’s Stock rises; renews faith and school spirit After the first bowl win in MTSU history, students have yet another thing to be proud of in the athletics program. In a time where college coaches jump ship in the blink of an eye, such as Lane Kiffin with the University of Tennessee, MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill has shown the MTSU community exactly what he brings to the table, which is loyalty. After turning down East Carolina University’s offer, Coach Stockstill has turned down two contract offers, with the other being an offer from the University of Memphis, in this off-season alone that would have, as rumors imply, nearly tripled the salary that he currently makes at MTSU. It was also speculated that he was a candidate for the head coaching position at South Florida. The position was filled by Skip Holtz, which in turn opened the ECU head coaching job. With the bowl win under his belt, it’s a given that Stockstill will continue to gain respect from the players he already coaches and the future recruits that he will continue to bring into the Blue Raider family. Now, the students within this university owe Stockstill a bit of gratitude for wanting to make MTSU athletics a staple in the university and a reputable football program in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In the midst of his return, the Blue Raider football program will have stability within itself, increasing the likelihood of another solid season in 2010. His belief in the program he has been building for the last four seasons is something that MTSU students should be proud of. His reputation as a head coach has made Stockstill a hot commodity in today’s NCAA football program, but his loyalty to the community, football program and university has made him a special member of the MTSU family.
of the people living in the world live off of less than $2 a day. Ma rket i ngcha r ts.com predicts that, in 2011, the U.S. will spend $753 billion on entertainment and media goods and services. With these statistics in mind, it is clear that we are a country, and perhaps ignorantly so, which is driven, in many ways, by greed and over-consumption. Any thinking person, when comparing these statistics with the numerous problematic conditions the world faces today, can clearly see that we are not
Nate Bernadini only the cause to many of these problems, but also the potential solution. No other country on the planet is in the position to influence the world and impact its direction into the future the way the United States can. I love this country for many reasons, but to not criticize it would only lead to the continuation of step-
world in tremendous ways whether we are aware of it or not. A powerful country doesn’t make it great. A developed country doesn’t make it prosperous. An educated country doesn’t make it right. A religious country doesn’t cause it to fall in God’s favor. A decent heart is great. A moral heart is prosperous. A just heart is right. what we need in life and no more. We need to give in times of abundance. We need to separate luxury from necessity. We need to think outside our borders not so we can be more open-minded, but because we are influencing the
And God works in the hearts of those who seek Him, and religion plays no factor. Nate Bernadini is a senior German major. He can be reached at ntb2f22@gmail.com.
Cease partisan feuds over health care Yesterday, I discussed the constitutionality of the reforms within the health care bill with an intelligent human being. This was the first time that I was given such a privilege. The largest problem in this country is not the actual bills; rather, it is the needless partisan bickering that has plagued Dustin Evans the U.S. for centuries. With a two-party sys- he brought a gun to school. While the legislative intertem, the hang-up comes from one party putting pretations of this amendment out an idea, followed by have been stretched quite far the other party’s insistence in the past, mandating health that their opponent’s idea insurance to the people of this is lacking of that certain great nation is a right that is certainly not discussed in the je ne sais quoi. We desperately need reform Constitution. Thus, the right on most of the systems in this should belong to the states. This does not mean, howcountry, including health care. But it can’t happen if our po- ever, that the government litical leaders continue to fight shouldn’t have the right to require health insurance among like children. Amidst the partisan dis- its people; the Constitution just putes, the average American’s requires it to be divvied among the states. Furthermore, I viewpoint is often ignored. But back to my discussion: would venture to assume that the violation of the Constitu- Congress would include state tion lies in the 10th Amend- exemption policies as it has ment, which sets and limits in the previous editions of the constitutional power of the health care bills. We cannot afford to pay for federal government – among other fantastical interpreta- the country’s health care, espetions, such as “U.S. v Lopez,” cially not as an out-of-pocket where it freed a 12-year-old expense. While it is great to boy charged with the Gun-Free live in a country that cannot School Zones Act of 1990 when refuse to treat us, the medi-
Cheers!
If you were given a quiz on the health care bill, what grade do you think you’d make and why?
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Befürworter des friedens
ping over the dirt we, as a nation, simply can’t afford to step over any longer. If we want to benefit our lives, as well as the lives of others, in a positive and progressive way, we, again, as a country, need to rethink our lifestyles. We must conduct them in a way based more on survival rather than the envy and materialism our country has been brainwashed to depend on and live by. We need to be thankful and humble; there is never an excuse not to be either. I cannot stress this enough. We need to reanalyze our standards, as a country, when defining what success is, and, at the same time, understand how we’ve associated achievement with blinded corruption. This can only start with you. We need to take only
cal practitioners deserve to be paid a reasonable amount for their services. That is barely happening today in an effective way. Medicare and Medicaid patients leave their doctor’s office expecting the bureaucracy to make good on its promise of payment. However, many doctors end up getting tangled in seas of red flags and forms in triplicate rejected due to the lack of a comma. Moreover, municipalities, states and even the federal government have to expend countless dollars to the hospitals to cover for people that are uninsured and have no intention of ever paying their bills. A bill proposing health care reform, including both versions that are being revised and collaborated as we speak, would not be a government handout to the “have-nots.” In fact, this “welfare-like” piece of legislation would promote and demand accountability for those people. If we can find a way to follow PAYGO [Pay as You Go] at the same time, making sure we can pay for each bill before it passes; it could be a win-win, even if certain states oppose
the mandate. Point blank, we as a country cannot accept a bill that does not let the states make that final decision. That is not saying the necessity of reforming our current lousy excuse for care is anything less than just that: absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, the people who oppose the bill are not even attempting to find actual problems with it. Sarah Palin, who has been unemployed until she recently joined the ranks of Fox News, is actually still preaching the egregious lies of the death panels, even though the entire country generally feels quite strongly about promoting living wills. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., believes that welfare programs and health care reform are actually signs that the U.S. is becoming a socialist nation. Yet the queen of the tea party herself has accepted more than $250,000 in government handouts and subsidies. Socialism indeed. We live in a country that uses a multitude of social programs to benefit the hardworking people that make this country what it is. Socialism is
not communism. And just because people respect the efforts of Cuban socialist reformer Che Guevara, however offensive, does not mean they are with the communist views of Fidel Castro. This is also not the time to be fiscally liberal and toss around pork. What we need are opportunities to express all of our concerns and make a compromise that will help pull this country back on its feet. In the spirit of contributing to the health care discussion, I urge each and every person who wants to comment on this column to direct those comments to U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, before his retirement later this year. So man up and direct your intelligent comments to someone who can do something about it. It is much more productive to venture out of your typical environment – be it stereotypically conservative or liberal – and find out what is actually going on and what you can do to help. Dustin Evans is a senior organizational communications major and managing editor for Sidelines. He can be reached at slmanage@mtsu.edu.
Al-Qadi
St. Charles
Dominguez
Houston
“70. I don’t pay attention as much as I should. I have health problems, so I should probably care more about it. I guess I’m just too busy with school.”
“20. I think the more I know about politics, the more frightened I get.”
“70. I haven’t done the research myself. Since the problem is not really in front of me, I just don’t see the relevance to my life as of right now.”
“68. The information that I fi nd online is too confusing for me to understand exactly what is being implemented from our current administration. It’s like a web of lies and information.”
Andrea Al-Qadi , sophomore marketing major
David St. Charles, senior music major
Yovanny Dominguez, senior accounting major
Patrice Houston, senior elementary education major
Editor in Chief Alex Moorman* sleditor@mtsu.edu
Advertising Andy Harper sl4ads@mtsu.edu
Sports Steven Curley slsports@mtsu.edu
Community News Rozalind Ruth* slnews@mtsu.edu
Advertising Jeri Lamb jlamb@mtsu.edu
Managing Editor Dustin Evans* slmanage@mtsu.edu
Photography Jay Bailey slphoto@mtsu.edu
Opinions Michael Stone* slopinio@mtsu.edu
Campus News Marie Kemph slcampus@mtsu.edu
Business Eveon Corl ecorl@mtsu.edu
Production Manager Chris Carter* sldesign@mtsu.edu
Features Emma Egli slfeatur@mtsu.edu
Multimedia Larry Sterling slonline@mtsu.edu
Adviser Steven Chappell schappel@mtsu.edu
* denotes member of editorial board
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010 SIDELINES
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Transform your words into actions Talk is cheap and virtually worthless; only initiatives impact the world in positive ways College students tend to be all talk, no walk. They fearlessly approach the touchiest of political topics, arguing their opinion shamelessly. Abortion, socialism, communism, partisanship, bipartisanship, Congress, gay marriage – no topic is safe…unless that topic is put to a vote. None of them will tell you that they’ve never touched a voting ballot unless it was for their high school’s homecoming court. While the number of those voting between the ages of 18 and 24 grows slightly each year, more than half of the youth in America are still not voting. For a generation that
Pearl before swine Pearl Howell claims intense interest in the world around them, college-aged Americans are surprisingly inactive. Political movements have trouble gaining a following on campus. Programs shrivel up and die due to lack of interest. These programs and movements tend
to be focused on things that students should care about. Circle K, a volunteer service organization, struggles to hold on to its few members. Volunteer fairs generate very little interest on campus. The majority of the student body does not vote for campus elections, and even fewer students run or help with campaigns. Why does such a vocal student body refuse to participate in movements that parallel their beliefs? It would appear to be a particularly disturbing form of hypocrisy or perhaps an ill effect of sheer ignorance. Those so willing to speak and so reluctant to act shows a lack of concern for the causes that they so frequently discuss. What
good is done by discussing how awful and widespread the destruction in Haiti was, for example, if no one participates in fundraisers and cleanup? Students need to realize that they are living a sort
sides, who says having both isn’t possible? The problem might be in the college-student cliché: When a freshman enters college, he or she may be expecting to be dressed in black, sipping a piping-
For a generation that claims intense interest in the world around them, college-aged Americans are surprisingly inactive.” of farce when they simply hang out and shoot the breeze with friends and classmates. While having a social life is an important part of being a human being, helping others is a far more important and worthy endeavor. Be-
hot latte and discussing politics. The reality is frequently different and usually involves sweatpants and wolfing down instant lunches. Either way, both scenarios involve an awful lot of sitting and living the American stereotype of
eating too much and talking too loudly. I suppose the point I am trying to get across is an old and overused one: Actions speak louder than words. We must stand and talk rather than sit and talk. Discussing world events and developing opinions is important. Impact, though, does not come from a wellworded argument, but in strong, definitive action. Voting, volunteering, campaigning or starting a movement shows far more conviction than speaking your mind in class or debating with your friends. Pearl Howell is a freshman theatre major. She can be reached at rph2t@mtsu.edu.
Now put the two together and e-mail slopinio@mtsu.edu
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
SPORTS Blue Raiders’ Stock stays still By STEPHEN CURLEY Sports Editor
MT’s head football coach has taken his name out of consideration for the head coaching position at East Carolina University, MT Athletic Director Chris Massaro confirmed Tuesday. Those close to the football program on campus expressed a sense of surprised admiration for the coach. “I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy, especially with what is going on elsewhere,” said Steve Winfree, a graduate student working at the Floyd Stadium ticket office. Massaro said Stockstill’s plan to stay is a statement for the Sun Belt conference. “There’s no reason why the Sun Belt Conference can’t be perceived as an equal to Conference USA,” Massaro said. Stockstill said MTSU was a young and growing football program.
Stockstill reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from ECU, where recently departed head coach Skip Holtz signed a six-year contract in 2008 that could have paid up to $9.5 million after incentives. “I think the biggest concern he had was security— to make sure he could stay here for a long time,” Massaro said. “It really wasn’t about money, if it was about money, he’d already be gone.” The decision comes as a surprise to some after the recent coaching shifts elsewhere in the country. “Coach Stock is a prime example of a coach that’s there for the kids and there for the city,” said junior running back Phillip Tanner. “Unlike a lot of coaches that will tell you it’s just a business, Coach Stock proved it’s not just a business.” Stockstill cited timing issues conflicting with recruit-
ment for both schools, with National Signing Day set for Feb. 3. “The timing is never good for a coach to change jobs,” Stockstill said. “However, the timing of this opportunity came at a critical time in recruiting with both universities and to the fault of neither MTSU nor ECU.” On Tuesday, Stockstill was also named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Raiders to a 10-3 record and New Orleans Bowl victory over Southern Mississippi University. Massaro also discussed adding a fifth and sixth year to Stockstill’s contract, but would not give details regarding the financial element of such an extension.
Photo by Brennan Sparta, staff photographer
Head Coach Rick Stockstill yells plays at players at the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 20.
Inconsistency limiting MT men’s basketball
MTSU breaks every huddle with the words “no excuses;” however, they have every excuse in the book as to why they have been wildly inconsistent this year. MTSU lost six of its first nine games, with its only wins coming against King College, Lamar, and Cumberland, most of those games being played without first Team All-Sun Belt big man Craig Hoffman Desmond “Boogie” Yates. night. All have broken the 20 All of camp and pre-sea- point barrier, but often to no son practice was spent run- avail as the other two have ning an offense that was cen- done nothing. tered around Yates. Then, Washington has been the just days before the season, most impressive, taking on Boogie found out he would the brunt of the scoring roll, need surgery on his knee. and providing fiery leaderThis completely changed ship not seen here prior to his the dynamics of the team, arrival. “From the minute he and suddenly the new play- arrived, this was his team,” ers had some monstrous Kermit Davis told me in shoes to fill. the pre-season. Since the disappointing Emanuel is a slick scorer game against Tennessee, who is still figuring out how which was followed by a to maximize his ability in win versus Southern Illinois Davis’ system. Universtiy-Edwardsville and He can shoot the three, a break for finals, MTSU has but is much more comfortlooked remarkably better. able getting to the rim and They worked on defense, re- from mid-range. bounding, and not turning He could put up huge the ball over, and accord- numbers every night, but ing to assistant coach Artie until then we’re stuck with Pepelea, “really found out the inconsistency that has who their team was.” led him to only average 7.4 After two tough losses points per game so far. to Florida Atlantic and Gallman is easily the best Florida International, this shooter on the team, but at work came to fruition in an just under six feet, he simply enormous upset win against can’t get shots off against Western Kentucky, put- bigger opponents, or at least ting the Raiders back in the doesn’t think he can. If he conference mix. gets trigger happy, then exMTSU’s guards have been pect more consistent numthe backbone of the incon- bers, if not, he’ll continue to sistency. Nearly every game, disappear in games. Meanwhile, the two reJames Washington, Rod Emanuel or James Gallman maining guards from last have put up good numbers, year’s squad have battled but never all on the same each other for playing time
The Basketball Buzz
Photo by Brennan Sparta, staff photographer
Montarrio Haddock, senior guard and forward, dunks the ball against WKU on Tuesday.
Blue Raiders finally down archrival Hilltoppers By STEPHEN CURLEY Sports Editor
One shot can change a season. Junior point guard James Washington sank a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to give the Blue Raiders a 47-46 win over rival Western Kentucky University at the Murphy Center Monday. The win marks the first time the Blue Raiders have beaten the Hilltoppers since Feb. 23, 2006. “I’m just really proud for our players and fans who have sat through a few losses in a row to Western Kentucky,” said Head Coach Kermit Davis. “It was a great atmosphere tonight; our fans packed it and willed us to win at the end.” MT led the game until the 1:22 mark of the second half after two free throws by WKU’s Jeremy Evans. Trailing 46-44 going into its final possession, the Hilltoppers made a switch defensively to cover senior forward Desmond Yates and gave Washington the opportunity to bury the three. WKU inbounded the ball and immediately called a timeout after crossing midcourt,
giving them 6.1 seconds to hit a game-winner. The Blue Raider defense prevented them from even getting a shot off until the final second. The shot was heavily contested and completely missed the basket. “In the huddle we said we’re not going to lose,” Yates said. “There was no way we were going to lose this game.” As a defense, the Blue Raiders held the Hilltoppers to just 34.1 percent shooting, hitting 14 of 41 field goal attempts. Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year AJ Slaughter was held to just 11 points. “He’s such a tough guard, he moves faster without the ball than anybody we play,” Davis said. “He makes great cuts, and Calvin [O’Neil] was on top of him.” Yates led the scoring for the Blue Raiders with 14 points while contributing seven rebounds. Forward Steffphon Pettigrew led the Hilltoppers in scoring with 12 points, despite only playing six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. “They played harder and more physical than us,” said WKU Head Coach Ken McDonald. “Middle Tennessee really exploited us at the for-
ward position, and that really hurt us.” The Hilltoppers played a sloppy first half, committing seven turnovers and scoring just 15 points. “We didn’t come out and play with passion and energy,” Slaughter said. “We weren’t getting easy buckets and getting our confidence, and I think that led to shooting a bad percentage.” The win puts MT just one game behind WKU for first place in the conference standings. The Blue Raiders travel to Monroe, La., tonight to take on the University of Louisiana at Monroe before meeting WKU again Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky. The Hilltoppers travel to Troy, Ala., Thursday to play the Trojans. “The Middle TennesseeWestern Kentucky game is the biggest basketball rivalry in our conference,” Davis said. “It always draws the best crowds, and I really do hope that both teams win Thursday and the game is for first place on Saturday.” The game Saturday will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at noon.
with Calvin O’Neil eventually winning out the job over Demario Williams as the backup point guard. O’Neil doesn’t bring much offensively, and is at times actually an offensive liability. However his defense on A.J. Slaughter was the reason MTSU beat WKU. Overall, there are lots of extenuating circumstances when it comes to this team. The backcourt had the biggest adjustment and is just now finding its identity. That being said, with “no excuses” in mind, the backcourt has earned a C+ so far. “The frontcourt grade should be incomplete. There are just not enough grades in,” said Pepelea about MTSU’s big men, and in reality he’s right. Desmond Yates and Theryn Hudson hadn’t played a game together all season until last week. Boogie started on fire when he finally returned from his injury, dropping 20 points against Belmont in his first game back, and then 26, despite being seemingly the only offensive option against Tennessee. Then the decline started. His offensive numbers have still been respectable but he’s been a liability on the defense. Simply put, he’s not healthy. “I’m getting there” he told me this week. “I can’t move like I want to, I can’t jump. It’s frustrating man.”
Clark named Wooden Award finalist STAFF REPORT
The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s John R. Wooden Award Committee has selected Lady Raider’s redshirted senior forward Alysha Clark as a midseason candidate for the 2010 John R. Wooden Award. The award, the most coveted individual award in col-
lege basketball, recognizes outstanding individual and team play through the first half of the season. A national ballot will be announced in March consisting of approximately 20 players competing for the player of the year award. The Mount Juliet, Tenn., native leads the Sun Belt Con-
ference in scoring, averaging 24.6 points per game, and her 11.6 rebounds per game have her ranked sixth nationally. The Lady Raiders travel to Bowling Green, Ky., to play Western Kentucky University before returning home to take on the University of New Orleans and the University of North Texas.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010 SIDELINES
ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO HELP THE RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI?
FEATURES
By EMMA EGLI Features Editor
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me as I gasp at the little red numbers blaring in my face at the register: $500. The bookstore employee shrugs her shoulders apologetically, as if she sees that same reaction at least a dozen times a day. Thinking back on this memory of my first week of freshman year, I shudder. Not only because I nearly spent half a grand on textbooks, but because I see it happen to so many students every semester. It’s easy to point them out because they have that defeated look on their face as they emerge from the Keathley University Center with a handful of brand spanking new books in tow. “I did the exact same thing you did,” admits Lana Tingle, freshman recording industry major, after I told her my horror story. “I put down the $5 at Customs to reserve my books.” Tingle says she knew it wasn’t going to be cheap and just assumed it was normal to pay that much. “They handed me my box when I went back and I paid because I didn’t know any better,” Tingle says. And that right there is the problem; many students don’t know any better. In high school, we were
so used to being handed our textbooks, promising we would return them without them looking like a pack of wild dogs had gone at the pages. But now, stepping into the college realm, we are introduced to the concept of purchasing our own books on our own time. Gasp! Welcome to adulthood. That’s where this handy dandy invention called the Internet steps into play, and not to sound snarky, but it boggles my mind how many students fail to explore their options and save themselves hundreds of dollars. Let’s take a gander at Half.com. A subsidiary of eBay, Half provides a platform where sellers competitively put their item up for sale based off the sale prices of others. The potential buyer sees the available inventory for any particular item and can choose the seller. So that new Mathematical Ideas textbook you were about to purchase from Phillip’s bookstore can probably be found on Half for… well…half the price. Albeit used, who cares if your copy has ‘I heart Megan Fox’ scribbled on the pages. You’re going to inevitably try to sell it back anyway. If the thought of buying your books from a sketchy, nameless individual freaks you out, and you don’t want to sit around for weeks
waiting for said fellow to ship your book, then consider renting your textbooks online from a well-known company like Chegg or Direct Textbooks. You can go to Chegg.com, make an account and search for the books you need. You then have the option of renting your book for either 60, 90 or 120 days and at the end of that period, you just stick them back in the cute little bright orange box they came in and send them back. “The price changes from book to book,” says Aayush Phumbhra, cofounder of Chegg. “For example, ‘Reading, Thinking and Writing,’ the most popular book used at your college, has a list price of $94 and on Chegg you can rent it for $32.” If the thought of saving yourself an arm and a leg doesn’t excite you, then maybe the fact that they plant a tree for every book you rent will. “With the help of students, we have been able to plant over 2 million trees,” Phumbhra says. “And we have saved $340,000 on your campus alone.” So why would anyone object to this crazy notion of borrowing books and saving money? “One reason is that fear of the unknown,” says Chris Lindgren,
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president of Direct Textbooks, another online textbook company. “When you go to order online, if you haven’t done it before, you’re left wondering if you got the right book or if you will get it in time.” If at this point you have looked at all these options and you want to rule out dealing with online purchases entirely, then do yourself a favor and at least look at the bookstores that are off campus. They have the student’s best interest in mind and they will give you the best deal. “You’ve got to look at the big picture,” says Amy Richmond, manager of Beat the Bookstore. “I do encourage students to weigh out all their options and see how much money they will be out of pocket for buying something new or used online — After they have done all that, then come to us so we can help give you the lowest price we can.” That day I left the bookstore, I went home, turned on my computer, did some research and saved myself $300 dollars. It’s frugal, but do the responsible thing and bargain shop before you blow your money; the money you could be spending on burritos at Taco Bell.
TEXTBOOKS
Re-evaluating the Sunday night special New restaurant brings culture to the ’Boro party scene By DUSTIN EVANS Managing Editor
When I returned to Tomato-Tomäto last semester, I was shocked and disappointed that I would no longer receive my coveted fishbowl of Pabst Blue Ribbon. However, in the shortest amount of time possible when opening a new restaurant, the fi ne people at the Blue Rooster gutted, remodeled and opened 3 Brothers Deli & Brewhouse in the vacancy left by my ex-favorite eatery. The kicker – this place has a full bar and one of the fi nest selection of imported beers in the ’Boro, and the
food is the secondary hook that will leave you satisfied, full and happy until last call. Yes friends, a bar in Murfreesboro that serves delicious food till 1 a.m. And, you can leave without reeking of stale cigarette smoke for weeks on end. Although the sandwiches speak for themselves, this delicatessen serves 75 bottles, has 22 different draughts to choose from, a full liquor and wine stock and a daily happy hour from 3 to 8 p.m. – screw the fishbowl of PBR. This lush digresses. 3 Brothers has a vivid décor that establishes an
air of culture infused by classless kitsch. Yet, just behind the leg lamp, an heirloom Christmas favorite, visitors can fi nd unique treasures on display from local artists. Virginia P. Brick-McEachern, who works as a liaison between the restaurant and local musicians, painters, photographers and other artists, said she holds “The Beatnick Night of Jazz, Art & Wine” every Sunday at 7 p.m. Local artists are featured for a month, with a debut night during the “Beatnick” night where visitors can meet and speak with the artists. The evening kicks off at
8 p.m. when the artists are joined with local musicians and spoken word artists, like Word Up. Later in the evening, the microphone is opened up for anyone to jam, bringing a truly eclectic evening of poetry, music and rhythm. While being surrounded by music fans, brilliant artistic creations and holding a frosted mug of Hazed and Infused, it seems like enough for a great Sunday. However, one can also catch up on the game simultaneously while digging into The Big Brother, the signature sandwich – a sinful pile of numerous deli meats topped with French fries and cole-
slaw on toasted sourdough. The thought of eating all of that on a sandwich was a tad frightening, but the combination of corned beef, coleslaw and fries is actually heartwarming and plays into the home-style feel 3 Brothers is going for. Sandwiches, salads and the almost famous chili can also be paired with the freshfried chips and horseradish dip to deliver a subtle pop to the senses. If Sunday is not a good day to venture out, 3 Brothers has events each night, including Beer School from 5 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Beer School features a brewing expert that can give
visitors insight to the brewing world. Four samples of different hops and malt blends can be tasted for $5, with the usual happy hour special of receiving your third beer for free. With different music nights, trivia contests and regular drink and food specials, 3 Brothers is a fantastic hang out for all ages. It is a place you can call home, when you don’t want to deal with “those people.” –Cheers. Local artists interested in contributing artwork for 3 Brothers’ gallery presentations should contact Brick-McEachern at queenp227@yahoo.com.
Photo by Jay Bailey, photography editor
Guests enjoy live music and one-of-a-kind art at 3 Brothers Deli & Brewhouse. Between live music, tasty sandwiches and wonderful beer choices, everyone is sure to find something pleasing to the senses at this Main Street hot spot.
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
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