Connect with us at www.facebook.com/tntechoracle
THE
Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | 38505
O
RACLE
Volume 94 | Issue 16 | Free in single copy | April 1, 2011
Henderson Hall faces summer, fall renovations By JUSTIN O’DELL Staff Writer
Students expecting to have class in Henderson Hall in the summer and fall will be meeting elsewhere. Henderson Hall will undergo a renovation that will begin this summer and continue into the fall semester. “There won’t be classes in [Henderson Hall] during the summer,” said Kurt Eisen, College of Arts and Sciences associate dean, “and it’s also been decided that classes won’t meet in [Henderson Hall] during the fall semester.” Students will still register for classes like usual, but a class that would be located in Henderson Hall will now meet in a different building. “We had to be creative in finding teaching spaces,” Eisen said. “With help from other departments and colleges, [the fall semester] looks okay so far. If we need more sections because we have more students, then the challenge will remain to find spaces.” The primary reason for renovating Henderson Hall is that the building has no sprinkler system. Also, the roof and fan coil units that
A typical classroom in Henderson Hall. Renovations include the addition of a sprinkler system. provide heating and air conditioning in classrooms and faculty offices are being replaced. “The problem with this building from a safety point of view is the open stairwells,” Eisen said. “Because it has open stairwells, it’s considered a fire hazard.”
According to Eisen, open stairwells are considered fire hazards because the fire can travel from floor to floor more readily. As a result, the seating capacities have to be at the low end of what the code allows, but the sprinkler system should help with that.
“If a classroom has a certain number of seats,” said Glenn Binkley, Facilities and Business Services associate vice president, “then when the classroom is full, another desk can’t be added. They must stay within the [maximum] number of seats.” The diminished class size
Photo by Justin O’Dell
could cause a major problem coming back into Henderson Hall after the remodel is complete. Classrooms will only be allowed one student per 20 square feet. Where most classes held 40 students before, the building will have only 25-30 students per class-
room. A smaller classroom could enhance the learning experience. When surveyed, several classrooms were given a “C” rating on an AF grading scale because there wasn’t an opportunity for collaborative learning. Currently, each classroom has a different level of technology. Some have PowerPoint, while others still have projectors. Some classrooms still have chalkboards. “The plan is to standardize the technology in all the rooms,” Eisen said, “so you don’t have to figure out the technology when you go from one room to the next.” Though the classrooms won’t be used, the faculty offices will remain open. Because the after-hours computer lab in Henderson Hall will be closed for the renovation, another computer lab will be opened temporarily in its place. The temporary lab location was undecided as of deadline. The renovation is expected to be finished before the fall semester is over, but it’s likely that students will remain in the classrooms in which they began the semester.
Suspected magazine swindle on campus defrauds students By ALEKSANDR PETERSON Staff Writer
University Police received a call March 14 reporting a suspected magazine sales scam. The complainant says he was approached in the RUC by two subjects—calling themselves “John” and “Kelly”—who persuaded him to spend $100 on magazine subscriptions. “They told him they were selling them for a fundraiser to pay for scholarships,” said Officer Tony Nelson in his report. “The numbers and e-mail address given by the suspects were false.” Campus Police Chief Gay Shepherd said this isn’t the first complaint she’s received this semester. Earlier reports of a so-called magazine scam described the same two suspects. “They’re hard to catch because people don’t report it until these guys are long gone,” Shepherd said, “but we’re still looking.” “John” and “Kelly” gave the March 14 complainant something resembling a receipt from a company called U..S. Circulation Corp. Trav-
“
They told him they were selling them for a fundraiser to pay for scholarships.
el. The company’s website, www.uscctravel.com/, claims to offer a “Freedom Scholarship” of $500-$10,000 to students who work for them as traveling salespeople. The Georgia-based company’s website also claims that a percentage of proceeds go to charity. “At USCC Travel we are a socialy (sic) responsible copmany (sic),” the site said,“ and a portion of every sale is donated to various organizations, such as cancer research, diabetic research, children’s athletics, children’s hospitals, Red Cross/Haiti relief, and more!” Shepherd doesn’t think “John” and “Kelly” are affiliated with Tech or even from the Cookeville area. “Usually the kids that are doing this are getting scammed themselves,” she said. A user entry on Ripof-
Tony Nelson Tech Police Officer
fReport.com describes a similar scenario. A man said he agreed to purchase a year-long subscription for $51 after a young lady came to his door and introduced herself as Brittney Midgette. The girl told him cash would be preferable and that she was raising “points” for a scholarship. “I have called the customer service number they provide,” said Walt, of Miami, Fla., “and it always goes to voicemail, and most of the time it is full.” He never received any magazines. Shepherd noted that soliciting on state property is illegal. “If you see somebody soliciting, contact the University Police.”
For official campus crime updates, visit www.tntech.edu/police/ police-crimelogs
Courtesy of Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls perform for an audience in the United Kingdom in 2006.
Goo Goo Dolls to rock the Hoop on Tuesday By BRITTANY RITZMAN Staff Writer
Tuesday night, the Hooper Eblen Center will be packed with students eager to see the Goo Goo Dolls, Vertical Horizon and Jeff Leblanc in concert. Though the event is only a few days away, planning for it has been an ongoing task since November. The concert has been a combined effort of SGA, the Student Organization Life Opportunity Fund and Student Activities.
Katie Williams, University Planning coordinator, has also taken a lead role in planning for the concert. “I’ve done Dancing on Dixie since 2005,” Williams said, “and I help in putting together a concert every spring. Those don’t involve nearly as much as this concert, though. I, personally, have never done anything on this scale, and it’s been a long time since the school has had anything this big. “With a concert of this size, there are also a lot of contracts that have to go out,” Williams said. “For example, I have to get a car service for the Goo Goo Dolls,
which is something I’ve never had to do with artists before. With Dancing on Dixie or our usual spring concerts, the artists usually just drive up and start unloading their cars.” Not only are there concerns with contracts and services, but also logistics that must be worked out on campus. The Hoop will be arranged so that approximately 6,000 people can sit in the stands, and 500 people will be allowed on the floor.
See “Concert,” page 2
IN THIS EDITION INDEX News.......................2-3 Opinion ...................... 4 Sports ........................ 5 Entertainment ............ 6 www.tntechoracle.com
Students respond to athletics fee increase Page 2
NEWS
Students should help those in need Page 4
OPINION
FEW SHOWERS HIGH 60, LOW 41
FRIDAY FORECAST
NEWS
More stories at www.tntechoracle.com Tech, Habitat for Humanity to build house Lykins appointed lead University spokesperson Animal welfare center gains community support
O
www.tntechoracle.com
Page 2 | April 1, 2011
SGA executive officers, senators to be appointed this month Elections will be April 7 for executive officers and April 12 for senators By GERI ANNA WILSON Staff Writer
Promotional posters have been circulating around campus since March.
Concert CONTINUED from page 1
Also, the event will require at least 35 student-volunteers, most of whom will be SGA senators. In addition to accommodating spectators, there are security concerns that must be addressed with any event of this size. “We are working with the Cookeville Police Department and our own University Police,” Williams said. “I don’t expect any problems, but if something does happen, it’s good to know that they will be ready to respond.” While most aspects of planning fell into place with relative ease, planning for the concert certainly had its setbacks. “Getting an artist is probably one of the biggest roller coasters of planning a concert,” Williams said, “because you kind of get your heart set on a particular name, but they may be on
tour or in the studio, so plans have to change. I have to say, though, that I am so excited that it’s almost here and we will finally get to see our efforts coming to fruition.” While the SOLO fund has received a lot of publicity with the upcoming concert, major on-campus events are not the only purpose of the fund. Of the funds received from students, 75 percent goes to the Super Fund and is used to put on major events like the upcoming concert. The other 25 percent is for the Minor Fund and can be disbursed to any student organization that is recognized by Tech. Through the Minor Fund, an organization can receive up to $1,000 to put on a free event that is open to all students. This money can go for T-shirts, fliers, food from Chartwell’s, and many other items that help promote the organization and benefit the student body. The fund will not cover the purchase of alcohol or events at which students are charged admission fees. If an organization does try to charge admission for a SOLO-
Creative Services
funded event, it will have to repay the SOLO committee for any funds granted. “The purpose of this fund is to boost student retention by giving the students things to do and hopefully keep them interested,” Lee Gatts, SGA treasurer and SOLO Fund Allocations Committee chairperson. “We feel that if there are a lot of events happening on campus, it will make the college experience better for students.” In order to receive funding, the organization has to file an application with the SOLO committee. After the application is filed, it must be approved by the SOLO committee before the request goes to Student Affairs. Student Affairs will then submit requests and directly purchase anything that was approved in the application. One benefit of this system is that items can be purchased tax-free through the University, stretching event funds a little farther. More information and the application for SOLO funds can be found at www. tntech.edu/sga/forms.
The elections for SGA executive officers and senators are quickly approaching. Along with the elections comes a new group of campus decision makers and leaders. Current SGA President Sean Ochsenbein is excited for the prospective new senators and executive members that will start campaigning next week. “I feel we have a good pool of candidates that are really motivated to not only be a part of student government and try to hold it to the standards that the executive body has tried to hold it to,” Ochsenbein said, “but they also want to progress the student government and make it better. “Something that’s important in any organization is that the new officers not only work on what the previous administration was working on, but they try to create new initiatives and move in a positive and forward direction.” There are several requirements for students interested in a position. The positions are open to all students that are currently enrolled, in good standing with the University and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5.
Athletics fee increase to fund scholarships, more By CANDICE GRIGGS Staff Writer
Students will now have to pay $175 per semester because of the $25 increase in the athletics fee. The athletics fee is a mandatory fee—regardless of a student’s involvement in Tech athletics. Along with all other fee increase request, the athletics fee was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents during the quarterly meeting last
Friday. Senior communications major Aleksandr Peterson questioned his requirement to pay the mandatory fee. “I really could care less if sports even existed,” Peterson said. “I’ve been at Tech four years now, and I haven’t attended a single sporting event, nor do I plan to. I don’t think it’s fair to be charged a substantial amount of money for a service I don’t use.” The athletics department is funded in three ways: direct institutional support, the
PEACE CORPS GROWS! FARM, CONSERVE, AND PROTECT GLOBAL NATURAL RESOURCES
PAID BENEFITS/GRAD FELLOWSHIPS
APPLY NOW FOR 2012! www.peacecorps.gov
Call our AG JOBS Hotline:404.562.3468
athletics fee and athletics revenue. All money generated from these sources supports the collegiate athletics program. “I think the majority of students at Tech do take advantage of collegiate athletics,” Athletics Director Mark Wilson said. “That doesn’t mean they attend every sporting event, but through the course of the year, the majority of students benefit from collegiate athletics, whether they are attending an event or from the value that Tech ath-
Candidates must also fill out the proper petitions. Many students have already planned to campaign for a position and are working on their petitions. One of these students is Ross Harvey, junior communications major. “I believe that everyone should have a voice on campus, and the only way that everyone can have a voice is for a diverse range of people to be on senate,” Harvey said. “I’m not sure if I would have any specific changes in mind, but I think I could lend a different view on many of the issues.” Ochsenbein offers some advice to students applying for an executive position or a seat in the senate. “Actively look around campus for places where you
“
might be able to improve the campus experience for students,” Ochsenbein said. “As a senator, you can start looking at campus a little differently than most students do. Now they can actually implement bills to work on problems that are on campus. As a senator putting a petition in, I think it’s important to know that student government is a place where you can really help the students.” Elections for the executive officers will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 7, and elections for senate will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12. Both elections will be conducted online. For more information, contact SGA Secretary Kristin Holder, or visit the SGA website at www.tntech.edu/sga/ home.
I think the majority of students at Tech do take advantage of collegiate athletics. That doesn’t mean they attend every sporting event, but through the course of the year... students benefit from collegiate athletics, whether they are attending an event or from the value that Tech athletics bring in terms of exposure to the campus. Mark Wilson Athletics Director
See “Fee,” page 3
REDBUDS CELEBRATION KICKOFF REVIEW TODAY
Door Prizes from local businesses
near Tech
5
(From left to right) The current SGA executive officers are Sean Ochsenbein, president; Kristen Holder, secretary; Lee Gatts, treasurer; and Julian Lyons, vice president.
LUNCHEON PREVIEW: 11:30-2 KICKOFF RECEPTION: 5:30-8 ART à la carte 121 WEST BROAD ST., COOKEVILLE
NEW
$
letics bring in terms of exposure to the campus.” Ashley Smith, also a senior communications major, directly benefited from Tech athletics. “Tech athletics brought me to this school,” Smith said, “and being involved in athletics helped improve my team building skills and gave me motivation to keep my grades up.” The athletics fee increase requests are passed on to
Courtesy of SGA
12 Inch Subs & Large Pepperoni Pizza T-Mart
1205 N. Willow Ave.
(Across From Hooper Eblen Center)
931-528-5592
A CELEBRATION TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS DURING THE REDBUD BLOOM
Find out how you could win a grill
Stop by this FREE event for a great time! FREE food samples from local businesses
FREE local music
FREE discount card good at 50+ local businesses
FREE info about local events
This public service announcement is brought to you by The Highland’s Redbud Celebration Committee & The Cookeville Tree Board
FREE Redbud saplings
NEWS Page 3 | April 1, 2011
www.tntechoracle.com
Relay for Life teams needed at Tech on April 15 events 1
2 “I Relay at Tennessee Tech for my aunt who passed away in 2009, just four months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. To see her go from a healthy woman to being bed ridden in a few short months put life in perspective. I want to see cancer eliminated, so that others do not have to go through what my aunt went through.” Osmak said, “Relay for Life is one day, one night, one university, and one fight. Cancer touches people of ev-
ery background. One in two men and one in three women will hear the words, ‘you have cancer’ in their lifetime. “Fundraising for the American Cancer Society does not just happen during Relay for Life. Students are persuaded to fundraise all year round in order to raise the most money for the American Cancer Society.” To sign up a team for Relay for Life at Tech, visit www. relayforlife.org/tntech.
Sci-fi convention returns By HEATHER KING Staff Writer OMNI-CON 2011 is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 2 and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 3 in the RUC. OMNI-CON is a two-day science fiction/fantasy convention run by fans of that genre. It is hosted by Alpha Psi Phi and rightstuf.com. “It’s a lot of fun,” Gina Dennis, empress of Alpha Psi Phi, said. “Last year it wasn’t that huge, but everyone that came had a ball.” Alpha Psi Phi is flying in two guests, Doug Walker, also known as “That Guy with the
Glasses,” and Scott Christian Sava, creator of the web comic, “The Dreamland Chronicles.” The event organizers encourage those attending to dress up in costumes. For the best costume, a cash prize will be awarded. “Last year,” Dennis said, “I want to say about 11 out of the hundred-something people were dressed up. We are hoping to have more this year.” There will be an art exhibit showing local artists’ work. There will also be an art contest that everyone is welcome to enter. The winner will receive a cash prize.
See “Convention,“ page 6
Engagement Rings•GIA Certified Diamonds Gold & Silver Jewelry•Custom Design Citizen Watches Jewelry & Watch Repair
Crabtree & Crace Jewelers Paying Top Dollar Diamonds•Gold•Silver Watches•Coins
10 a.m. 13th Annual Celebration of Craft Appalachian Center for Craft 7:30 p.m. Mastersingers Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
3 3 p.m. Studio Clarinet Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Trombones at Tech: Trombone Chamber Music Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium
4 All day Early Course Selection for Fall and Summer 2011 begins 7:30 p.m. Brass Arts Quintet Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
5 All day The Clothesline Project Display Tech Pride Room 3 p.m. 2012 and the End of Time: Misunderstanding the Mayan Calendar Clement Hall 212 7:30 p.m. The Cumberland Quintet in concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
470 Neal Street | Cookeville, TN 931.525.7325
6 6 p.m. Ringer For Life: Horse Shoe Tournament Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion
11 ,5
00 +
Advertise with us
of
as scholarships, team travel, recruiting travel, supplies, and personnel. Scholarships make up about 50 percent of the athletic budget. “I wish I could say there was relief ahead, but I don’t think there will be any, based on the economy and the fact the support from the state is decreasing,” Wilson said. During the TBR’s quarterly meeting that approved all fee requests, Regent John Farris said they are hoping to move toward a more unified fee system for TBR universities over time. “We’re becoming more reliant on students to fund the cost of education at Tech in general. We are just a segment of what’s going on across the entire campus.”
All day Advisement for Summer and Fall 2011
ce
American Cancer Society for fundraising and awareness,” Julie Graham, Relay for Life chairperson of public relations explained. “The American Cancer Society has also come out with an iPhone application that participants can use to view their personal participation center from their phone.” Reasons for participating in Relay for Life vary. Some people have been affected personally by cancer, while others have seen friends and family suffer the effects of cancer. “Relay for Life has given me a great opportunity to help out in the cancer research efforts,” Robin Lynch, Relay for Life team member, said. “I relay for all the people I know who have been diagnosed with cancer.” Will Snodgrass, Kappa Alpha Order president said,
All day Last Day to Drop with a “W”
di en
University administration by Wilson as part of the athletics budget process and are then reviewed before being passed on to the TBR. Wilson decides the amount that is proposed based on economic and financial needs of the athletic department relative to the fiscal budget. “The reason we have been asking for increases of the student athletic fee is to deal with our uncontrollable inflationary expenses,” Wilson said. “Our primary uncontrollable inflationary expense is to keep up with the cost of scholarships. Tuition, fees, meals, and housing all
Image courtesy of Apple
au
CONTINUED from page 2
April
an
Fee
make up part of an NCAA scholarship.” The fee also increased by $25 last semester, bringing the total to $150 for this semester. Students enrolled for Fall 2011 will be paying $175. From the time the fee was implemented, it has been mandatory. “Tuition and fees go up on an annual basis,” Wilson said. “We are budgeted for 200 scholarships that support division one athletics, so if you equate what the individual student has to come up with for the increases in tuition, fees, meals, and housing with us in athletics, its like we’re doing that for 200 of our own children.” The athletics fee paid by students is not being used to fund the new Athletic Performance Center. The fee is only for athletic operations, such
@ tech
Relay for Life offers an iPhone application to track fundraising progress. It is free to download at the Apple App Store.
ac h
Cancer has become all too common these days. Last year alone, more than 33,000 people in Tennessee were diagnosed with cancer. Tech is part of a national collaboration of colleges that work together to fight cancer by helping raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) has hundreds of chapters nationwide that host events year-round to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society on campus and in the community. Every year, Tech hosts Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is a communitybased event designed to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember lost loved ones, and fight back against the disease. This year, 20 teams have signed up to be a part of Tech’s Relay for Life, which takes place April 15. While many teams are affiliated with
Greek Life, the Relay for Life committee would like people from all walks of life to be involved with Relay. “In order to fight back against this ugly disease, we need all hands on deck!” Erin Osmak, Relay for Life special projects manager, said. “Relay for Life is a party for a purpose,” Osmak explained. “The community comes together for a fundraising event that is fun and helps a great cause.” Countless students have been affected by cancer, which leads them to helping with Relay for Life. Student organizations across campus have signed up for a team and have started fundraising efforts. The cost to sign up is $10. Being a part of Relay for Life does not have to be time consuming. Participants are offered a variety of ways to raise funds. The American Cancer Society has revamped its website and taken advantage of social media in order to reach a wider audience. A participant can send donation letters by e-mail or ask for donations on Facebook. “This year we have turned to technology in order to promote Relay for Life more effectively. Facebook and Twitter are widely used by the
Re
By COURTNEY CLIFFORD Staff Writer
7:30 p.m. Tuba Ensemble in concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
7 9 a.m. Fashion Me Fabulous Clothing Resale South Patio
931-372-3031 ttuoracleads@gmail.com
tntech.edu/calendar
OPINION
Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu. Include your name, e-mail address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Tuesday. We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and content. www.tntechoracle.com
Page 4 | April 1, 2011
How you can help: Nursing student aids Liberian village In continuation from her efforts in November 2010, Claudia Iciarte leads food drive for impoverished children
SARAH TOWNSEND Editorial Editor
It is easy to focus on the bad news around the world these days. Egypt and Libya are in a state of turmoil, the oil in the gulf is still killing sea life, and Japan is facing a disaster that has resulted in more than 10,000 deaths. If you’re like me, sometimes it is hard to watch the news without feeling like our earth and its inhabitants are welcoming a new emergency each day. Though we are, there are still a lot of people working to make the world a better place. I don’t mean political figures or people working with non-profits necessarily. Average people with a lot of determination can make an impact, but not without hard work. Claudia Iciarte is anything but average. She’s a nursing student here at Tech, but despite her busy schedule and workload, Iciarte is doing even more than studying every week. Scheduling an interview was a challenge, due to her lack of free time, but her life-changing project was an idea she had to carry out. You don’t need much time talking with Iciarte to see her dedication to her goals. “It was hard to organize this and at the same time go-
ing nursing school,” Iciarte said, “but I believe that you don’t need to do something big to help people.” You might remember Iciarte from an editorial in “The Oracle” last semester about her work in the impoverished African country of Liberia. For several weeks, she worked in the impoverished country as a volunteer in an AIDS clinic. She was shocked at the things she discovered while living there. There were no paved roads, many people had no access to education or health care outside of the clinic, and people were living in unimaginable poverty. After seeing the living conditions of the people of the village and the Firestone Medical Center (many of them children infected with the deadly AIDS virus or other terminal diseases), she decided to do something more to help them. She said she couldn’t just leave that place and put it out of her mind. She had to find another way to help these people. Last semester, she started a project to collect clothing and toys here at Tech to send the children and their families. The Firestone Company
uses a lot of Liberia’s natural rubber. Instead of just paying for the raw material, the company also decided to give the locals a medical facility (among other facilities they didn’t have before). Many Tech students donated needed items and their time to her cause. This semester, she is focusing more on gathering non-perishable food items for the children, all of which will be delivered by her father on his next trip to Liberia with his job at Firestone. After Iciarte collects as much as she can to send back, those items will go directly to people in need. This isn’t just an example of someone at Tech thinking globally and making a difference. This is also a call to students who think maybe they have no power in the world’s problems. Of course, you’re busy. You’re a student (or faculty member), and maybe you don’t have a lot of time to spare or money to spend on a cause other than your late electric bill, but we all can do small things that when added together will make a real change in someone’s life. A specific time and date for the food drive is yet to be determined, however, when it is, there will be a note in the next edition of “The Oracle,” as well as some flyers on campus. If you would like to donate time to the project, please feel free to contact Iciarte at clau_lok999@gmail.com.
Iciarte posts flyers for last semester’s toy and clothing drive.
Photos courtesy of Claudia Iciarte
Iciarte with Liberian workers at Firestone Medical Center. Liberian children at an orphanage where Iciarte donated clothes and toys.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR ‘The Oracle’ is not ‘The Onion’
I love humor. One of the reasons why I enjoy working for “The Oracle” is the office environment. It’s a place where someone can say, “I major in journalism—I have no choice but to marry rich” and know that someone in the office will grin. That being said, when the staff realized that it would publish on April Fool’s Day, members put stakes in one of two camps of thought. Half of the staff
THE
wanted to produce an entirely fabricated edition filled with fake or satirical news. The other half opted for a normal edition with a one-page insert of bogus news. In case you were wondering, I was for the latter option. As Managing Editor, I have the responsibility to guide the direction of “The Oracle.” My decision to cancel an April Fool’s edition or page was unpleasant, but as stated above, the staff was clearly divided on the subject. In addition, some of our advertisers were wary of running their advertisement in an entirely mock paper. I apologize to the readers
who may have heard about an April Fool’s edition and expected to see a crudely Photoshopped picture of an unsuspecting dean in a bikini. In that same vein, I assure all readers that this edition of “The Oracle” is filled with legitimate news. A journalist’s professional priority should be to deliver news with truth. Making an audience laugh should be an auxiliary concern and is best left to Steven Colbert and writers at “The Onion.”
Christine Seiber caseiber21@ students.tntech.edu
ORACLE
Weekly. Student operated. | P.O. Box 5072 Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505
CHRISTINE SEIBER Managing Editor
SARAH TOWNSEND Editorial Editor
WILL HOUSLEY Asst. Managing Editor
CASSIE TESAURO Asst. Editorial Editor
SAMANTHA KENDALL Ad Manager
BRANDON GOODWIN Sports Editor
DAKOTA WEATHERFORD Ad Assistant
ROSS HARVEY Asst. Sports Editor
TALLULAH GILLIAM Copy Editor
CHUCK ACHESON Entertainment Editor
Tennessee Technological University--nondiscriminatory on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities including employment and admission of students to the University as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and regulations based therein and published in CFR, part 86. Tennessee Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.
BRENDA WILSON, Faculty Adviser BEAT REPORTERS: Brittany Anderson, Jillian Boreing, Brendan Bowers, Brandi
Campbell, China Chafin, Courtney Clifford, Olivia Clinard, Jackson Cresswell, Sarah DeRossett, Zachary Edwards, Julie Graham, Candice Goodman, Candice Griggs, Emily Haile, Elizabeth Harper, Justin Hill, Heather King, Shelby McDonald, Amanda Miller, Logan Nickleson, Justin O’Dell, Alek Peterson, Brittany Ritzman, Andy Rutherford, Will Sheckler, Logan Shrum, Ashley Smith, Niklas Trzaskowski, Katherine Vaughn, Suzanne Vaughn, Aaron Vick, Jacob Walker, Lindsey Wallace, Emily Weinzetl, Gerri Anna Wilson, Casey Woodard, Camille Woods
SPORTS Page 5 | April 1, 2011
www.tntechoracle.com
Rival Jacksonville State visits as Tech baseball looks to start strong in OVC PRESS RELEASE
With 22 games under their belt this season, the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech will open up conference play this weekend hosting a huge Ohio Valley Conference rival in the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, beginning with Saturday’s double-header event starting at 1 p.m. Tech’s 2010 season ended at the hands of the Gamecocks in the OVC Tournament in Jackson, Tenn., when JSU defeated the Golden Eagles twice in the double elimination tournament by scores of 9-7 and 10-8 to earn the postseason championship title and the chance to continue their season in the regional tournament. This year, Tech will be looking to avenge the postseason losses from last year and stretch their lead on the 19-16 lifetime series over the Gamecocks. The Golden Eagles are still led at the plate by freshman Zach Stephens with a .363 average and a slugging percentage of more than .600. Stephens has notched 33 hits on the season, including five long balls and eight doubles for 27 RBI to lead the team in all three categories. Tech has three other members of the lineup batting over .300 in sophomore standouts Evan Frazier (.347) and Zephan Guyear (.310) and senior returnee Casanova Donaldson (.311).
Standing in their way, however, will be a JSU pitching staff consisting of three rightys—a freshman newcomer to the weekend rotation in Bradley Raulston and two returning starters in Aaron Elias and Jordan Beistline. Raulston (2-0, 3.21 ERA) has pitched 14 innings for the Gamecocks in five total appearances and will take the hill first in game one, having allowed six runs on 14 hits and striking out seven on the year. A junior out of Covina, California, Elias maintains a 2.57 ERA in 35 innings pitched, the most of the Gamecock bullpen thus far this season. He has surrendered 15 runs on 27 hits and leads the team in strikeouts with 28. In five games started, six appearances in all, Elias has amassed a 3-1 record on the mound. Beistline will cap off the weekend for JSU with his perfect 3-0 record and 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings of work. He has accumulated 11 Ks so far this season and allowed just four earned runs on 22 hits. Jacksonville State’s lineup consists of seven hitters sitting at .300 or above, six of which return from last season’s roster. Junior Ben Waldrip leads the Gamecocks with a .413 in 75 at-bats, having logged 31 hits and 17 RBI. Sam Eberle, another junior out of Chattanooga, has a .355 average and leads the team in at-bats with 107 and RBI with 29 on 38 hits.
Tech will turn to regular weekend starter Matt Shepherd in game two of the series, while lefty Chad Oberacker will handle game three for the Golden Eagles. Shepherd leads Tech in innings pitched with 36.1 and has a 2-3 record having allowed 33 hits on the season and striking out 34. Oberacker, who recently broke Tech’s school record for all-time career hits, has been contributing regularly on the mound this season and currently maintains a 3.29 ERA. He has made three starts this season and six appearances for a total of 27.1 innings pitched. He’s given up 14 runs on 26 hits and has recorded 27 Ks on the season. The starter for game one for Tech has yet to be determined. The Golden Eagle baseball program will host Greek Day on Saturday and welcome Tech Hall-of-Famer Mark Mayberry to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. Student organizations are encouraged to come out and show their Tech pride, with a $250 prize on the line for the largest organization present. Tech will be capping off the weekend with Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale, and the program will be hosting Faith Day, which will award the first 300 fans present with church bulletins a free hot dog from the TTU concession stand. For more information about Tech baseball, please visit TTUSports.com.
The Extra Point By ROSS HARVEY
Asst. Sports Editor raharvey42@tntech.edu
Jumping on the VCU bandwagon Please. Root for VCU. Yes. Virginia Commonwealth. Why not? If you are like me, your team is already out of the men’s NCAA tournament. If you are like me, your bracket has already fallen to pieces. If you are like me, there is no way you are rooting for Kentucky. So why not, like me, root for VCU? Sure, UConn has arguably the best player in the nation and is undefeated in all tournament-style play this year. Sure, Butler was in the Championship game last year and almost won on a last-second half-court heave. Sure, Kentucky has some dynamite players and a closer in Brandon Knight that always hits a clutch bucket when the team needs it. But there is something about VCU. VCU’s run has without a doubt been the most improbable in NCAA tournament history. Almost every expert was decidedly against VCU even being in the tournament, preferring a team like Virginia Tech or Colorado be selected instead, which was warranted, considering VCU had lost four straight before the tourney and finished fourth in the Colonial Conference. Colonial Conference? I can barely name four teams total in the Colonial. As an ACC man myself, I would have preferred someone else get in. I didn’t pick VCU to win a game.
But the selection committee put them in, in the group of First Four teams. The teams that win these games are often one and done. But apparently head coach Shaka Smart and his Rams didn’t get the memo. Since they beat USC in the opening round, VCU has won five straight games by an average of 12 points. Their opponents include powerconference teams Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and Kansas. Those are quality wins that not many teams can boast about having. VCU is led by a scrappy group of seniors, none scrappier than point guard Joey Rodriguez. Rodriguez left the team two years ago after then-coach Anthony Grant left the team to go to Alabama. Eventually, Rodriguez realized he had made a mistake, and Smart immediately welcomed him back to the team. Now Rodriguez, along with Jamie Skeen, Bradford Burgess and Brandon Rozell, has guided the team to two wins away from NCAA history. Not a soul saw it coming, sans those with VCU on their shirts or jerseys. Before the Kansas game, Jayhawk forward Marcus Morris was reported as saying “You guys had a good run, but now it’s over” to a couple of VCU players. That seems to be what everyone was telling the Rams, but they obviously aren’t listening. From the First Four to the Final Four, all they’ve been doing is proving the doubters wrong.
4th and Long By BRANDON GOODWIN
Sports Editor bagoodwin21@tntech.edu
Who is the world is Cuonzo Martin? Last week, Tennessee hired Cuonzo Martin as it’s new men’s basketball coach. Go ahead and take a moment to Wikipedia him...Not much there, huh? If you’ve been watching or reading the local news about him, you’ll see that all people really talk about is his playing career at Purdue. Unfortunately for Tennessee, Martin is going to be coaching, not playing. That being said, let’s take a look at his coaching career. Martin spent the last three years as the head coach at Missouri State University in the Missouri Valley Conference. He has a combined record of 61-41, or 59.8 percent (not that great). In those three seasons, he had a winning conference record just once (15-3 in 2010-11). That sounds like he built up a great program after starting off going 3-15 in his first year, right? Wrong. The reason Martin had such a great season this past year is for the simple fact that he had four seniors in his starting lineup. These guys had played together for their entire careers. Now let’s take a look at what the cheater left for him at Tennessee: three juniors. Sounds promising. The problem? One of those will probably leave (Scotty Hopson) and one of them will do good to remain eligible (Renaldo
DIAMOND TREASURES WE ALSO MAKE CUSTOM MADE OAKLEYS
728 S JEFFERSON AVE IN FRONT OF WALMART (931) 528-1514
F F O % D I 0 H 3 WITH TEC
Woolridge). Martin could very easily end up having just one senior on next year’s squad. Add that to the sanctions the NCAA is sure to impose upon them, and Tennessee has a bleak future in men’s basketball. The other problem I have with Martin is his carefree mentality about the NCAA investigation. In his first statement as Tennessee’s coach, he said he’s not worried about what’s going to happen and that Mike Hamilton has assured him that everything is going to be fine. If you haven’t learned by now that you can’t listen to anything Hamilton says, you’ve got some learning to do. Yes, Martin is a cancer survivor. It’s a great story. I just wonder how much knowledge of the program he actually has. In another statement, he claimed that Tennessee was a top-25 coaching job when he played at Purdue. I guess he considers a program going 48-70 in four years great. In my opinion, Mike Hamilton is using Martin just to get them through the next couple of years and the NCAA sanctions. They’ll probably lose some scholarships or be banned from postseason play. All I can say is good luck, Tennessee.
News Sports Opinion Entertainment
O VISIT
www. tntechoracle .com Please recycle your copy of The Oracle.
ENTERTAINMENT Page 6 | April 1, 2011
www.tntechoracle.com
French film series continues Wednesday Craft Center hosts 13th season of Celebration of Craft Saturday By WILLIAM SHECKLER Staff Writer
The Volpe Library goes to France this month with a new film series called “The Seventh Art: Classics of French Cinema.” This month, the foreign languages department and the Media Center will be showcasing four public screenings of French classics. The films showcased are Center Stage events, and these films have made a substantial impact on American films to this day. “We hope the series will enrich the cultural lives of TTU,” said Pat McGee, Media Center coordinator. “I hope the series will help people be aware that the United States isn’t the only country that makes movies. Plenty of intriguing examples of cinema are produced by non-Ameri-
cans.” McGee and Debbie Barnard of the foreign language department have been collaborating on the film series that started March 30. The first screening of “La Bell et la Bete,” Beauty and the Beast, is the only film that’s already played in the film series, which means there is still time to catch the next three showings. Films will be shown at 6:30 p.m. in Volpe Library, Room 110 Wednesdays April 6, 13 and 20. All films are in French with English subtitles. Wednesday, April 6 the Media Center will feature “Les Amants” (“The Lovers”), which is a movie about a scandalous love story. Wednesday, April 13, the Media Center will feature “La Haine” (“The Hate”), which looks at racism in the suburbs of Paris. Wednesday, April 20, the
Media Center will feature “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain,” a story by JeanPierre Jeunet. The movie is about a young woman with little joy in her life who finds joy when she focuses on making others happy. All of these titles, except for “La Haine” are in the library on reserves and can be viewed in the Media Center during open hours. “We have a wonderful collection of international movies,” McGee said. Some of the movies are on VHS, but the library viewing rooms have VCRs on which students and faculty can view them. For the fall semester, the Media Center is tentatively planning to show a documentary series dealing with industrialization and food production. The film series is free and open to the public.
By JACOB WALKER Staff Writer
The Celebration of Craft is entering its 13th season and is back with another exciting day packed with music, food and educational workshops led by experts of various crafts. This annual event is taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Appalachian Center for Craft. The event is free and provides visitors with the unique opportunity to take part in acknowledging the arts and crafts that have been local to this area for decades. “Unlike most university programs,” Interim Director Ward Doubet said, “this is all designed to interact with the
community in a way that is typical of craft. Perhaps different from when you usually think of an art department in an urban setting, out here our students get directly involved with everything, whether it’s helping teach the elementary age kids with the outreach program or helping with the workshops.” Usually, studio tours are given to groups and are available by appointment only, but these areas will be open to the public during the celebration. Demonstrations will be given throughout various studios in the Craft Center by students, faculty and other artists. Also, a craft booth will be set up by the Visual Arts Society for those interested in purchasing art from Craft Center students. Two musical groups are
scheduled to perform during the celebration. Local musician Ethan Ballinger, who also plays with “The Cluster Pluckers,” will be displaying his mandolin skills with the Nashville-based band “Alison Brown & the Fair Weather Friends.” “All Of Us” will be providing suitable overtones from the stage for the day’s events as well. Summer workshops are still being offered at a discounted price to Tech faculty and students on a space-available basis. For anyone interested, the Appalachian Center for Craft website has enrollment options for workshops that can last anywhere from a weekend to three weeks. For more information and directions to the Craft Center, visit www.tntech.edu/craftcenter.
Let ’s Tweet About Movies
Les Amants
La Haine
Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain
April 6
April 13
April 20
@SuckerPunch - A movie with limitless potential that’s hamstrung with an uninteresting plot despite awe-inspiring visuals. @ZackSnyder misses again. C@BlackSwan - On DVD, a heart-pumping, dramatic thriller you must see. Tchaikovsky’s works are sublimely woven into the film for great, haunting effect. A By CHUCK ACHESON - Entertainment Editor / @chuckacheson
Photo by Kim Frick-Welker
By MATT KNIELING | Matt Knieling is a magnificent cross between an academic and McGuyver, and he loves a good April Fools joke. Find more of his comics at inanimateshorts.com or on Facebook at tinyurl.com/mattartfb.
Starting next Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Backdoor Playhouse, the Tech Players will begin its spring production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” Theatre professor Mark Creter will play the lead role of Willy Loman (pictured above), and Dave Davidson is the guest director. This production is free for Tech students.
Show Times April 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. Matinee: April 16 at 2 p.m. Late Show: April 14 at 10 p.m.
Convention CONTINUED from page 3
“COMFORT FOOD. COMFORTABLE PRICES.” NOW HIRING- All positions Apply 4/4/11 1385 Interstate Dr. Cookeville 931-520-0411
Booths will be set up by local venders, such as Mountain Top Comics and Downtown Comics. They will have comic books, graphic novels, action figures, and Manga. A console gaming tournament featuring Street Fighter 4 and Capcom 3 will take place. For those who don’t want to participate in the tournament but want to play games, gaming consoles and table-top games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, will be provided. According to Dennis, the event is truly something for everyone. Dennis said that one popular booth everyone enjoys, even those not typically into
science fiction/fantasy, is the zombie panel. “We’ve already had two or three people ask to run the zombie panel,” Dennis said. Other activities that will be at OMNI-CON 2011 include anime viewing, Cosplay contest, a scavenger hunt, a chalk drawing contest, and informative panels. All of the contests offer cash prizes. Pre-registration tickets are $5 for one day and $8 for the whole weekend. Tickets will be $7 for one day and $10 for the whole weekend if purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.omnicon.us.