The Oracle- April 2, 2015

Page 1

THE

1000 N. Dixie Ave. | Cookeville, TN | 38505

O

IN THIS ISSUE:

Thursday, April 2, 2015

RACLE Volume 99 | Issue 16 | Free in single copy

The primary news source of the Golden Eagles since 1924 Serving Tennessee Tech weekly during the fall and spring semesters

> There’s an App for that:

3 new apps on the market

> FOOTBALL: Brown reacts after Spring Scrimmage

>>Page 2

>>Page 6

> EXCLUSIVE:

Haslam speaks at Charter Day

Classes open on regular schedule for Good Friday By PHILIP GANT Beat Reporter

& DRAKE FENLON Managing Editor After threat of the program shutting down in the fall semester of 2013, the ROTC program at Tennessee Tech had its first ribbon cutting ceremony for the new rappel tower located next to the baseball fields. Tech President Philip Oldham threw the first pitch from the new tower to begin the baseball game against University of North Carolina at Asheville. The rappel tower is the newest project in the ROTC program at Tech but other land is being looked at for use. “We’re taking a look at some other ideas, utilizing some other land that the University currently owns for other training opportunities,” Major Daniel Evans said. Mission Specialist 1 Andrew Whittenbarger, a chemical engineering major at Tech, said that the new tower was good for the program’s morale. “For a civilian career, even some people’s career in the military, they might never rappel,” said Evans Whittenbarger. “But at the same time, it’s a huge confidence booster that you can rappel off a tall tower, you can trust your equipment and the people around you.” The ROTC program, along with 12 other programs across the United States, was almost shutdown in 2013 because of budget reasons as well as a lack of diversity, as cited by the Army. Evans, as well as ROTC cadets, said the community and Oldham were supportive of the program staying on Tech’s campus. “Fortunately state and congress got involved, the University president was instrumental in that, and now we have established new criteria and new leadership that understands the critical nature of being able to turn on and off pipelines of production of officers inside the military,” Evans said. “We anticipate having ROTC here at the University for many years to come.” Oldham said at the time of the risk of the program shutting down that it was important to preserve the legacy and quality of the ROTC program “The president of the University has been behind us, unlike anybody I’ve ever seen. This community has been behind us unlike anybody I’ve ever seen, and really this state,” Company Commander and

Jim Dillon | Guest Contributor

18 months after 2013 threat of program closure, Oldham shows support for future endeavours of the ROTC battalion on campus. New rappelling tower opened for training. interdisciplinary studies major Caleb Anderson said. Whittenbarger, a freshman, learned the program could be coming to a close before he came to Tech. “I heard that it was shutting down but I also heard that the president here at Tech and a big group of people stepped in and made sure that didn’t happen,” said Whittenbarger. “You’ve seen people from all different walks of life get behind our program that has produced quality officers since the 1950s,” said Anderson, “and they said ‘no we want to Oldham continue to keep this program here because we know that Tennessee Tech will always produce men and women to lead in a culture and in a world that needs strong leaders.” Anderson, Whittenbarger as well as Corporal Chelseyrae Hancock, biology and health science major, said that the program has thrived in the 18 months after almost being closed for good. “The program is much more competitive now. Before it wasn’t as astute, it wasn’t as competitive, it didn’t seem like everyone had the drive,” Hancock said. “Maybe it shocked everyone that, ‘Hey, this is something that could go away, this is not something that is always going to be there for me. I have to strive for it.’ There was so much more motivation, I guess you could say, to really do well, make good grades, have a high PT score, meet all of their requirements, then excel in those things.” “This program is going to continue to grow, because we have the right people and resources that are falling into place,” said Anderson. Whittenbarger said that in addition to the new rappelling tower, the program has also moved out of its old meeting area in Tucker Stadium for a more central location on campus. “With the new building, we have a computer lab and a study lounge, so both of those things are really nice as well,” said Whittenbarger. Anderson said that in addition to securing ROTC’s foothold at Tech, the program would also be recruiting for more future cadets. “In the future, we’ll be working with the nursing program to get more spots for students. We’re pulling in different engineering majors from the state and really the country to look at Tennessee Tech,” said Anderson. Both Anderson and Whittenbarger say the future looks bright for the program in its future. “This year we had one of our biggest freshman classes of incom-

2 2 3 4 5 6

>>Page 3

ROTC here to stay, new tower opened By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

Calendar News Technology Opinion Entertainment Sports

ON BELAY- University President Phil Oldham preps for his decent down the newly opened rappelling tower. Oldham was the first person to head down the tower at the opening ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday.

Ashton Breeden | The Oracle FORMATION- A portion of cadets from TTU’s Army ROTC Golden Eagle Battalion stand on Quillen Field before Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new rappelling tower. ing ROTC students that we’ve ever had before, so our numbers are really good,” said Whittenbarger. Whittenbarger also said that Tech’s ROTC program is above average in commissioning officers from the engineering program than many other programs in the United States. “This program has come a long way in the last two years and it’s really a testament to the leadership that we have now surrounding this program,” Anderson said. “I would

like to look at this program, eight years from now when I’m a captain, 10 years from now when I’m a major, and see that this program is even stronger and even bigger than when I graduated here. This program had a legacy before me, and it will have a legacy after me if we continue to do things and which I know that we undoubtedly will.”

Students are in for a surprise tomorrow if they aren’t paying attention to the calendars. Tomorrow is not just a normal Friday. Tomorrow is Good Friday and contrary to years past, classes will be in session. Traditionally, schools are not in session on Good Friday, but this year, Tennessee Tech switched Good Friday for an extra day during Thanksgiving break. Good Friday is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. It is closely associated with Easter, on which they celebrate the resurrection of Christ. According to the holiday schedule on Tech’s website, classes will be held on Good Friday next year as well. “I don’t really like it at all,” said junior secondary education student, Matt Utt. “Easter is one of my favorite, if not my favorite holiday. I would take Easter over Thanksgiving any day, so I am kind of bummed out about it.” “I think that it’s horrible. They could have given us the day off. I mean we had it off before,” said Gage Dean, freshman engineering student. “They switched it out for an extra day on Thanksgiving? I guess it could better prepare us for the workplace since most of them don’t get off on Good Friday.” Though some students are just upset at the fact that they have to go to school, some students are seriously concerned about the lack of family time they will have. “I don’t like it that we have to be here,” said junior sociology student, Andrew Oliveras. “It’s easier for students to go home and be with their families on Easter to celebrate the holiday, but instead they have to worry about school and rush home to spend just a little bit of time with their families.” Many teachers are still choosing to not hold class this Friday. “I have one teacher that canceled class and another that just said he isn’t taking attendance, so it’s pretty much canceled. I mean I’m not going,” said Wes Lackey, sophomore nursing student.

Centennial Plaza expected to be open by mid-May, some sidewalks now open By KARLI THREET Beat Reporter Centennial Plaza is causing a buzz around Tennessee Tech’s campus with the walkway between Henderson Hall and the Roaden University Center being opened recently. According to Grounds, Roads and Walks Director Kevin Tucker, he is “doubtful that any other walkways will be opened anytime soon.” He added, “it’s just a safety issue.” One of the most popular questions beRead More Online

@

tntechoracle.com

ing asked is “When will Centennial Plaza be complete?” A previous completion date was set for late spring, but several factors cause the date to be pushed back continually. According to Tucker, “The project is anticipated to be complete by mid-May. That will not include landscaping, but it will include the hardscape.” Moving from the Snowmageddon into the time of April showers bringing May flowers, Tucker says “The weather continues to hinder the project. Anytime it rains, days are lost with respect to the completion date.”

CONTACT:

With the project being completed around already standing trees, Tucker reassures that “We are continuing to monitor the condition of the trees, and we will give them a good feeding of growth stimulants once the project is complete.” A separate part of the project includes a sculpture to be placed in Centennial Plaza. The artist is still working on the sculpture, and Tucker added that the “final design has not been completed.” He anticipates that the sculpture will be installed sometime during the Fall 2015 semester.

According to “Right Now at TTU” on Tech’s website, released April 1, the sidewalk on the west side of Dixie will be closed as part of the Centennial Plaza construction. The closure will span from the UC to Derryberry Hall. This is part of the reasoning for opening the sidewalk from the T.J. Farr building to the UC. The new stairway to the parking lot behind Henderson Hall and the UC will also be open. Everyone is asked to stay on the sidewalk and to not cross over into the construction zone.

news - 931-372-3285 - oracle@tntech.edu | advertising - 931-372-3031 - ttuoracleads@gmail.com

facebook.com/tntechoracle

@tntechoracle

@tntechoracle

FRIDAY 69/35 °F

SATURDAY 57/32 °F

SUNDAY 64/48 °F


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.