EXCLUSIVE SNOWMAGEDDON COVERAGE
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Monday, February 23, 2015
RACLE > Oldham praises campus students and workers for their eager cooperation.
Sarah Jacobs | The Oracle
Haylee y Eaton | The Oracle
>>Page 3 >>Page 2 > B’Ball Seniors recognized.
>>Page 4
Morgan Reid | Guest Contributor
Serving Tennessee Tech weekly during the fall and spring semesters
Sarah Jacobs | The Oracle
> Opinions on the snow.
Volume 99 | Issue 12 | Free in single copy
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LET IT SNOW- Students enjoyed the full week off from classes. Pictured above from left, Holly Morgan blows snow into the air, Bell Hall sits with a lawn full of fresh powder, Morgan Frye celebrates the closing of school, and Awesome Eagle dashes through the snow in a one bird open sled.
Historic winter storm cancels classes for full week, Spring Break to remain as scheduled By DRAKE FENLON Managing Editor
As part of a new campus safety procedure, all classes were canceled at Tennessee Tech for five days last week. In attempts of keeping the members of the campus community safe, University administration canceled a majority of campus activity the week of Feb. 16 through Feb. 20. According to Karen Lykins, Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, for this rare circumstance of classes being canceled, the administration took several factors into play before making the final decision each day of closure. Lykins said the factors examined included keeping up with weather forecasts, monitoring the condition of roads, sidewalks and parking lots in the Cookeville area and the status of other Tennessee Board of Regents schools, private universities and public K-12 schools in the area. “The decision came after around-the-clock monitoring by a lot of individuals concerned with the safety of students and employees,” Lykins said. “All college deans were consulted and gave input into the decision to cancel classes.” The decision to temporarily close down campus did not strictly end with deliberation from the deans and administration of the University. “A lot of teamwork goes into making sure we are monitoring state and local agencies and media so we can gather all the information available,” Tech
President Phil Oldham said in a press release. “Our campus police and facilities personnel are continuously traveling campus streets and surrounding roads to give us the latest information.” Use of the newly modified emergency alert color-coded system played a key factor in getting the information out to members of the campus community. Before 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, an email message was sent to all students, faculty and staff with assurance that the University was monitoring road and travel conditions and would communicate a decision on the campus status as soon as local and area weather conditions began impacting those areas. Later that night at 11:30 p.m., an email was sent out saying classes were fully canceled for Monday, Feb. 16 and the University had been placed on a code orange threat level, meaning all employees would have reported at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16. Before employees could report Monday morning, a follow-up email was sent out, moving the code from orange to red meaning campus was closed except for emergency personnel. According to the code “Emergency personnel include Campus Police, Facilities personnel, Dining Services personnel, Residential Life personnel and Health Services personnel.” According to Lykins, the rest of the closures went on a day-by-day basis, depending on the weather circumstances. Lykins said that even though the University
was officially closed for the full week, there were campus workers on duty every day to feed, serve and protect about 2,500 students who live in residence halls. “There’s constant attention being given to streets, parking lots and sidewalks,” Lykins said. “Facilities workers work a rotation throughout the day and evening so that about 20 workers are on campus at any given time.” Some students on social media suggested the concern of the administration eliminating the upcoming Spring Break. Lykins diminished these rumors by stating “There is no current discussion or thought about any modifications to the remaining semester schedule.” As of press time, the campus is in a status of green and the administration plans to keep the campus fully open for the week of Feb. 23. According to an email sent to students Sunday, Feb. 22, professors will help students to adjust back to a full-time class schedule after the closure for snow. “We will work with colleges to make sure students are not penalized as a result of inclement weather closing of the University,” Bahman Ghorashi, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Generally, each class has its own requirements and instructors determine the best way to help students catch up.”
Students affected by snow closure
Winter storm causes students to spend portions of week without power, Tennessee elevated to Level II- State Emergency By JAKE THREET Beat Reporter
Gabriella Farley | The Oracle ICED OUT- Last week’s snowy and icey temperatures caused cast and crew of “The Vagina Monologues” to postpone all performances at the Backdoor Playhouse until this week.
Vagina Monologues postponed because of winter storm By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer Tennessee Tech’s Backdoor Playhouse has postponed the production of “The Vagina Monologues” as a result of last week’s inclement weather conditions. The play was scheduled for Thursday Feb. 19, Friday Feb. 20 and Saturday Feb. 21 but was rescheduled for this Monday Feb. 23, Tuesday Feb. 24 and Wednesday Feb. 25. Director of Backdoor Playhouse Mark Creter said it was his decision to postpone the play. “ I want to give the actors the chance to have a few tech Read More Online
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rehearsals before we open Monday,” Creter said. “I think it is the best plan even though it goes against the old adage that ‘the show must go on.’” This will be Creter’s ninth time producing “The Vagina Monologues” for Tech. Creter apologized for the inconvenience on Backdoor Playhouse’s Facebook page. He went on to say that the rescheduling would not affect the spring production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The show starts at 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and costs $15 for everyone including Tech students.
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Winter Storm Octavia blew into Putnam County late Sunday night bringing freezing rain and snow that resulted in the closure of Tennessee Tech University for five days. As some students took the time to enjoy their days off from school, others were busy dealing with the harsh conditions the storm left in its path. Power outages happened across the county during the storm and forced some students to find other ways to stay warm. “We lost power for almost an hour,” said Tech student Kelsey Stephens. “We heard people outside of our apartment and went out to see what they were doing and they were sledding and having a snowball fight. We sat in our car to stay warm.” While some were stuck without power, others were stuck inside their dorms or apartments because of treacherous parking lots and roads. “I was unable to leave my apartment for 3 days,” said Tech student LaTausha Hamby. “Our parking lot was solid ice and we couldn’t make it up our hill. Neither me or my husband could even make it to work.” Even with the harsh conditions on the roads, people still found time to enjoy the snow and partake in some fun. “A large group from Pinkerton used laundry baskets to sled down the hill in front of the Penebaker,” Tech student Sarah Gillespie said. “We also raced each other down the hill in the baskets and moonwalked on the ice.” After the storm brought freezing rains and ice in the earlier part of the week, another 1.1 inches of snow accumulated Wednesday adding to the hazardous conditions. “I fell down six steps on the back side of Pinkerton,” said Gillespie. “There was so much ice, and it was like sliding down a slide.”
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Sarah Jacobs | The Oracle SNOW PUSH- Nick Cantrell, Spencer Pryor and Garrison Holmes help push a resident of Saxony Apartments out of his parking spot. A Level II-State of Emergency was issued on Saturday, declaring Tennessee as a major disaster. “Power outages made me appreciate having light to study,” said Tech student Rachel Larkins. “I was also going to use Sunday to finish my leftovers but since I couldn’t use my microwave or fridge, it made the food go bad. Next time, I will definitely take advantage of the food I have instead of eating out.” According to TEMA, the latest weatherrelated fatality total in Tennessee increased to 22 on Sunday afternoon. TEMA named Cumberland, Fentress, Overton, Putnam and White counties as the worst hit areas with heavy damage reported and large power outages. “Our power went out around 4:00 a.m. Saturday and didn’t come back on until 1:30 p.m. Sunday,” said Tech student Neil Stanton. “The biggest problem for me was instinctively walking in a room and flipping the light switch. It was like am unplanned camping trip, but a very comfortable one.”
Death of TTU student, Dillard Biles remembered By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Tennessee Tech student Dillard Biles died at Cookeville Regional Medical Center; he was 21 years old. Biles was a wildlife and fisheries science major and is survived by his parents, Mark Biles and Tracy and sister MaKenna. Students and professors who knew Biles said he was always in a good mood and was a pleasure to have around. “I didn’t know Dillard Biles that long, but every time I saw him, he was so nice and always had a smile on his face. I’ve never EVER seen him frown before. I just saw him a week ago … and though short, our conversation brightened my day!” said fellow wildlife and fisheries major Courtney Wheeler. “… I’m still left speechless. We lost such a wonderful person, and whoever didn’t get to meet him really missed out.” Professor of wildlife and fisheries Daniel Combs said that Biles was studious and had an admiration for his chosen major. “He was extremely likable, and I can’t recall a time when he did not have a smile on his face. He was enthralled with the natural world, and his fondness for wild animals and their habitats was obvious,” Combs said. Biles went on a trip to Costa Rica last May, organized by Combs, with other wildlife and fisheries majors as part of a class where each student was required to teach one another about the geology and biology in the country. “ It was a joy having him as a companion; his enthusiasm enhanced my satisfaction for having organized the trip. Dillard was a fine young man, and we will miss him greatly. Unfortunately, his loss will deprive the wildlife profession of one who would have undoubtedly been a future asset to the conservation of our natural resources,” Combs said. Former Tech student Will Fullerton got to know Biles while they were roommates during the trip to Costa Rica. “Over the course of the trip, I got to know Dillard and his passion for the outdoors and the wildlife that inhabits it,” said Fullerton. “Dillard was just about the friendliest guy you could meet, always ready with a joke and quick to smile. I am very glad I had the opportunity to meet him and I am honored to be able to call him a friend.” Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Anderson and Son Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. Biles’ family has asked for memorials to be made to the World Wildlife Fund to honor their son.
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FRIDAY 36/26 °F
SATURDAY 45/12 °F
SUNDAY 29/19 °F