The Oracle- April 20, 2015

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Former Police Chief files discrimination complaint

By LUCAS MCCOY Beat Reporter

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle CAMPAIGN’S END- SGA Presidential candidate Nathan Cole (left) shakes hands with SGA President-Elect Bobby Adams (right) after the results of the run-off election were announced Friday afternoon.

Adams announced as SGA President After a run-off vote, Bobby Adams was elected as the President of the Student Government Association for the 2015-2016 school year. Large number of write-in votes cause need for run-off election.

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer Tennessee Tech’s Student Government Association Executive Council election came to a close Friday after a run-off election determined Bobby Adams to be the winner.

With a grand total of 1,138 votes, Adams was declared the winner with a final vote count of 682. His opponent, Nathan Cole, had 447 votes and there were nine write-in votes.

“I feel truly honored to be selected by the students to serve them over the next year as SGA President,” Adams said. “Both teams had a lot of people out there supporting them so it was good. I think today was a very positive PR day for SGA and I’m Adams excited for the next year.”

Cole commended his team for a hard fought race despite the loss Friday.

“We ran a phenomenal campaign Tuesday, but after that we were just tapped out,” Cole said. “We reallocated all our resources and he didn’t quite have that, but he brought it (Friday).”

Cole went on to say that this is his last year in Student Government, but he enjoyed his time in the organization.

Controversy surrounded this year’s election as a petition was filed against Adams prior to the initial Executive Council election April 14.

Current SGA Vice President Daniel Tribble and SGA Vice President-Elect

Nick Russell filed the petition the weekend before the election in an attempt to delay the election until the SGA Supreme Court could make a ruling on the eligibility of Adams’ candidacy.

“Mr. Adams was not a full-time student at the time his petition was turned in and signed,” Tribble and Russell wrote in their petition.

The current SGA constitution dictates that all elected members of the executive branch be full-time students at Tech. According to the petition, Adams was two credit hours short of being full time when his petition for election was turned in.

“When I became aware that I needed to become a full-time student, I just signed up for the hours I needed,” Adams said. “As soon as I became aware, I went through the proper avenues, I went and registered for two credit hours.”

Tribble and Russell wrote in their petition that Adams was aware of the new rules for this year’s election when he signed and initialed them during a dead hour meeting April 7.

“The main issue still remains,” Tribble Cole said. “Should (Adams) be allowed to run based off him not being full time at the start of the campaign?”

“I know that there are questions, and that’s OK because there’s always going to be questions, but the good thing is that I followed procedure on everything,” Adams said.

The SGA Supreme Court was going to hold a hearing Thursday, April 16, after the votes were collected to

BY THE NUMBERS:

Results from Initial April 14 Election

Candidate Total Votes Percentage Bobby Adams 753 49.38% Nathan Cole 758 49.70% Write-In 14 0.92% Results from Run-Off April 17 Election

Candidate Total Votes Percentage Bobby Adams 682 59.93% Nathan Cole 447 39.28% Write-In 9 0.79% determine whether or not Adams could have officially run for president based on the SGA Constitution.

SGA Supreme Court Chief Justice Justin Perdue said the petition was ruled invalid for improper filing.

“The petition was not filed to the judicial adviser and that’s why the election commission ruled that it was an invalid petition, and I think it’s an invalid petition too,” Perdue said.

According to the Constitution, “the Election Commission shall determine, enforce and provide disciplinary actions for all rules regarding SGA-held elections.”

After a meeting April 14, current SGA President Emily McDonald said the SGA Election Commission ruled to disregard the petition based on the contents of the SGA Constitution.

A run-off vote was held to decide the winner of the presidential race

after the ruling from the Election Commission.

“The Election Commission members carefully considered this request from the candidates and made a decision that was in the best interest of both the students and the candidates,” McDonald said.

The Election Commission is comprised of 11 members. One is also a member of the SGA Supreme Court, two are ‘civilian’ students and the rest are members of the senate or executive cabinet.

According to election data posted late Tuesday night, 1,525 votes were cast in the SGA presidential race, 753 for Adams and 758 for Cole. Fourteen of the votes were write-ins.

See

“Election,” >>Page 3

Remodel project to begin in Jere Whitson, Backdoor Playhouse to relocate operations

By BRITTANY LYNCH Beat Reporter Construction has been an everpresent constant on Tennessee Tech’s campus this year. After Centennial Plaza and South Hall are completed, the Jere Whitson Building, home of the ever-popular Backdoor Playhouse, is set to undergo construction.

“I am enthusiastic about the potential improvements to the Backdoor Playhouse as well as the Jere Whitson Building and I am hopeful that the University ‘powers-that-be’ will be true to their word, and that the construction work will done in a timely manner,” said Mark Creter, artistic director of the Backdoor Playhouse.

“I am trying to be cautiously optimistic.”

During the construction, productions put on by the campus theater will be taken to a new location.

“The staff of the Backdoor Playhouse will be moving to Read More Online

@

tntechoracle.com

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle THE BACKDOOR- The Jere Whitson Building is slated as the next building on the Main Quad to be remodeled. This will displace the Tech Players for a stint of time.

Foundation Hall during the renovations. We will have a full season of productions next year,” said Creter.

“I am talking to the Cookeville Performing Arts Center and the Wesley Arena Theatre about renting their facilities for our shows. As soon as I have secured our various performance locations, I will announce it on

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our home page.”

Changes will be made to the Backdoor Playhouse, which has been going strong for the past 50 years.

Creter said the entire auditorium would have a whole new look.

“The auditorium will have new (and more comfortable) seating, new floors and carpeting, new ceiling and

newly painted walls,” he said. “A new entrance into the lobby will be created as well as new windows.”

With the excitement of a new home for the Backdoor Playhouse comes the apprehension of the move.

After South Hall is finished this semester and faculty, staff and students can go back to their normal schedules during the Fall 2015 semester, it will be Jere Whitson’s turn to have its transformation.

“The construction is needed as many of the buildings are old and in bad shape. While I am cautiously enthusiastic about the changes to the Backdoor Playhouse, it will be very difficult for the theater program to be without a home for two years,” said Creter. “If a similar renovation was done to the football stadium or the Bryan Fine Arts Building, I wonder how those programs would be dealt with. Again, if everything goes according to plan it will be excellent, but that is a big ‘if.’”

Tennessee Tech’s former police chief has filed a complaint against Tech with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding her 2014 dismissal.

Gay Shepherd started working at Tech’s police department in 1979 and served as police chief for 18 years.

On June 20, 2014, however, she was asked to resign by her supervisor, Marc Burnett, vice president of student affairs.

Shepherd went to Cookeville attorney Henry Fincher April 14 and filed a complaint with the EEOC. She was told she was dismissed from her position for her “lack of leadership” in the Tech police department.

According to the form, she was wrongfully terminated because of conflicts with her supervisor based on her sexual orientation, age and religious beliefs.

The complaint has the potential to turn into a lawsuit if the EEOC declares that the University did wrongfully terminate Shepherd. The EEOC has six months to conduct the investigation.

“We are waiting on an official notification from the EEOC,” said Karen Lykins, associate vice president for communications and marketing.

Fincher commented on the investigation process.

“Then they, the EEOC, will either take the case, refer it to the U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division for prosecution or, much more likely because Ms. Shepherd has a lawyer, they will issue a ‘right to sue’ letter. This gives us 90 days to file a lawsuit in federal court,” said Fincher.

Shepherd could not be reached for comment.

Fincher has issued a statement about Shepherd in an email: “Chief Shepherd has been a trailblazer at Tennessee Tech. One of the first female TTU police officers, Chief Shepherd was both the first female police chief at a TBR 4 year university and the first openly LGBT chief as well. Chief Shepherd loves Tennessee Tech but cannot accept the unfair discrimination forced on her from a few people in the current administration. This administration pushed her out of the job she loves because of who she is – an openly lesbian woman in her 50s. Chief Shepherd tried to work this out with both TTU and the TBR but they stonewalled her. The Tech Administration’s refusal to undo this unlawful discrimination forced her to file this Complaint. If it persists in refusing to fix this intolerable set of events, Chief Shepherd will pursue all legal means of recourse. It’s 2015. Discrimination against someone because of their age, gender or sexual orientation has no place in our society and Tech should be ashamed of what it has done to one of their own.”

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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>> Campus

Anti-abortion display creates conversation by library events @ tech

By WILLIAM WEBB Beat Reporter

The Center for BioEthical Reform (CBR) came to Tech this week to present information for their Genocide Awareness Project campaign.

The CBR is an organization standing against abortion, and their Genocide Awareness Project exhibit juxtaposes images of aborted fetuses with images of victims of historical and contemporary genocides.

According to the CBR’s website, the Genocide Awareness Project has been used to reach college campuses for the past 17 years.

“Our main purpose in being here with the Genocide Awareness Project is to show students two things,” said Maggie Egger, a representative of the CBR. “The first thing we want to show is that the unborn is a human being just like you and I, and the second thing we want to show is that abortion decapitates and dismembers that human being.”

The CBR set up their displays in front of the entrance to the library. Representatives from the CBR handed out pamphlets about the campaign to students that walked by. While some members of the student body enjoyed having the displays here on campus, others stood around the area to protest against the CBR’s message.

“We’ve gotten a lot of varied responses,” said Egger.

“We have a couple of people out here protesting, which we actually like because it creates

April

20

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Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble and TTU Tuba Octet Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building Hayley Davidson l The Oracle

ANTI-ABORTION- Rebecca Sadler, a graduate student, discusses her views to those representing the Center for BioEthical Reform in front of the library. The CBR displayed information on their stance against abortion to those near the library April 15 and 16. more of a buzz around campus. We’ve also had several students come by and thank us for being here.”

Dillon Gardner, a freshman Chemistry major, said that the displays that the CBR had set up on campus were disgusting. Gardner also didn’t like the fact that they were comparing abortion to genocide.

“I understand the comparison to murder since they believe that it is a life, but genocide is simply the wrong word for what they are trying

to describe, “ said Gardner.

“They believe that it is a life, so they’re comparing what is just one life being killed to the forced labor, mass murder, and torture of Jewish people, Africans, AfricanAmericans, and other groups.

They’re minimizing what those groups of people went through.”

Patrick Kent, a graduate student at Tech studying Chemical Engineering, said that he believed what the CBR was doing on campus was a good thing, even though the

images were not very appealing to look at.

“The images are disturbing, but I like the message they are sending out,” said Kent. “I’m definitely against abortion. I don’t see any reason that is fully justifiable for getting an abortion, so I think that having these people here is a very good thing. The pictures make an impact.”

Some students expressed that they don’t like it when organizations with campaigns like this set up on campus at all.

“They are using scare tactics and lack factual evidence,” said Christa Cody, a senior Computer Science major. “They set up to become a spectacle and not to actually inform anyone.

Dylan Duvall, a junior Chemistry major, said that he originally thought the displays were food menus, but was disappointed when he realized that it was just another organization on campus trying to push an idea on students.

Talks to ban sidewalk chalk happening on campus

By ALEX BRUMBACK Beat Reporter The Student Government Association was presented with a bill that could prohibit the use of sidewalk chalk on Tennessee Tech’s streets and walkways.

Pastel pinks, blues and greens have been used to decorate the campus sidewalks during Week of Welcome, SGA elections and sorority philanthropy

weeks. However, there are some people who think the chalk could detract from the campus landscape.

The idea originated as a bill that was enacted by the SGA in 2014. The bill stated that unapproved paints should not be used, because they are difficult to wash away. However, it did not prohibit the use of sidewalk chalk and even encouraged it as a substitute for paint.

The 2014 bill has been taken beyond the SGA and altered to prohibit all sidewalk drawing.

To our readers

“I have no problem with students using chalk on the sidewalks,” said Kevin Tucker, director of grounds, roads and walks. “I love to see the students enjoy the campus and interact with their environment. Obviously, I am not in favor of profanity or obscene visuals being written or drawn.”

Ashley Moyers, a member of Kappa Delta, said that though drawing with sidewalk chalk is a fun experience for members of the sorority, the ban would not be detrimental to their advertising.

“I believe that banning sidewalk chalk wouldn’t be a big deal. I think that it’s more of a fun project for people rather than a useful advertising tool,” Moyers said. “It does catch people’s attention, but most of the time we don’t get the feedback we were looking for.

I believe that sidewalk chalk is a good advertising tool. I’m not saying that it’s a bad resource, but I believe we have better options. It’s a fun project but it’s not our main resource for advertising events.”

All Day

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Scholarships for STEM Majors- Noyce Scholarhsip Program information meeting Ray Morris Hall 137

7 a.m. - 9 a.m.

TTU Garden Club annual plant auction Sale Arena

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Beta Alpha Psi meeting Johnson Hall 218

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Nursing and ROTC Bell Hall 264 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Marketing 101 Johnson Hall 411

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

University Orchestra Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building

22 Red Bus project raises money for orphan care All Day

By HAYLEY GREENHOUSE Beat Reporter

BFA Student Juried Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

& PHILIP GANT Staff Reporter

We would like to thank you for your readership over the 2014-2015 academic school year. Have a safe summer and be sure to pick up the next edition of the Oracle in the fall of 2015.

21

On Monday, April 13, the Red Bus Project double decker bus parked in front of New Hall South on Tennessee Tech’s campus, selling clothes in order to raise money for orphan care.

The Red Bus Project is an initiative started by Caleb Chapman, the lead singer of the band Colony House, and is sponsored by Show Hope, a similar organization. Both help raise money for orphans around the world. The Red Bus Project is a red double decker bus turned mobile thrift store that travels from college to college, spreading awareness about the needs of orphans as well as selling second hand clothes donated by college students to benefit those orphans in need.

Students participated in the Red Bus Project by purchasing clothing and volunteering with the program.

“It’s practically a rolling Goodwill,” said junior secondary education major Matt Utt.“But it’s better because all of the money goes to orphans.”

“It was so awesome, man, and it was a lot of fun. I had a one-dollar voucher and they had a pair of pants that was a dollar so I got free pants.

I’m actually wearing them right now,” said junior criminal justice major Cody Crabtree. “But I’m not

All Day

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11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Scholarships for STEM Majors- Noyce Scholarhsip Program information meeting Ray Morris Hall 137

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Hayley Davidson l The Oracle

DEALS ON THE BUS- The Red Bus Project visited campus on Monday, April 13. The Red Bus is a mobile thrift store that travels from various colleges. going to lie, I felt kind of bad so I wanted to give them five dollars, but they had already packed up.”

This is the fourth time the red bus has visited Tech and the workers said that it was one of the most positive experiences they have had this year.

“They told me they were really impressed with the amount of support that they were getting, and that they were really happy with the turnout,” said senior exercise science major Jackson Chambers. “They said we were one of the best turnouts

they had, which surprises me considering how Tech is.”

In addition to visiting Tech’s campus, the Red Bus Project stopped at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee earlier this month. The organization doesn’t have its tour dates set for next year.

The Red Bus Project has a clothing drive drop off at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee where they also accept used cell phones and electronics.

Ivan Trevino, guest artist with the TTU Percussion Ensemble Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building

23

All Day

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All Day

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11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Scholarships for STEM Majors- Noyce Scholarhsip Program information meeting Ray Morris Hall 137

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Monday, April 20, 2015

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus Politics <<

NEWS

>>“Election”

Continued from Page 1 McDonald said this was the cause for the narrow margin in the election results.

“We had a number of students that wrote in to the campaign,” McDonald said. “That number skewed the data enough to where the candidates did not receive a majority.”

McDonald said that based off the SGA Constitution, a run-off vote was the proper response to the situation concerning the election.

“Because all of the procedures are outlined in the SGA Constitution, a run-off is always possible in any election,” McDonald said. “Mathematically, it may seem surprising that with two candidates, a majority is not reached, but the number of write-in votes resulted in neither candidate receiving the majority of votes, which is required per the SGA Constitution.”

Adams and Cole came to the agreement that Friday would be the best day for the run-off election before approaching the Election Commission for approval.

“One of the reasons that the candidates expressed for having the run-off on Friday was to give themselves and their supporters more time to prepare for the next election and also recover from the Tuesday election,” McDonald said.

“Elections can be very draining and require a lot of time and energy.”

According to the SGA Constitution, the run-off election would determine the winner based on whichever candidate received the most votes, not which candidate had a majority.

McDonald said the run-off would be exhausting for both candidates.

“I experienced a run-off when I ran, so I know personally it can be a very tiring process, it can really wear you out,” McDonald said about her 2014 SGA presidential campaign.

“You’ve been campaigning all day and it can be very tir-

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle RESULTS- Candidates gather outside of the Student Government Association office to view the results of the April 16 initial election. Since neither presidential candidate had a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held to decide the conflict. ing. My word of advice would be to push on and persevere.”

McDonald won her SGA presidential office last spring after a run-off election against current SGA Senator Kyle Bieze.

Cole said that some votes were not counted because of proxies, but was elated about another run-off election.

“Back to back run-off years – it is pretty cool for the centennial year and it means a lot and it’s cool to be a part of it,” Cole said.

Russell was surprised at the results of the April 14 election.

“I’m shocked that a candidate didn’t get 50 percent, only having two of them,” Russell said. “But I think that we have

two great candidates and think that the fact that neither got a majority shows that either would be able to lead the student body very well.”

Russell received 843 votes in an unopposed race for vice president.

Other election results included Savannah Savage winning the position of SGA Secretary, receiving 761 votes in another unopposed campaign. Miranda Stoltz defeated Chase Womble for the office of SGA Treasurer. Stoltz had 769 votes to Womble’s 429.

606 committee attempts to keep funds

By BRITTANY STOVALL Beat Reporter

Sydney Cowen | The Oracle SENATE- Members of the SGA Senate listen to a guest speaker present at their April 14 meeting in the RUC Tech Pride Room.

Number of senators reapportioned for next academic year

By MATTHEW PHILLIPS Beat Reporter The Student Government Association is changing the way Tennessee Tech students will be represented in the senate.

Under Article VII (Elections and Qualifications), section five (Apportionment of Representatives) of the SGA Constitution, “apportionment of representatives in the Senate shall be one (1) Senator for every three hundred and fifty (350) in each college of school or a major fraction thereof, with a minimum of one (1) Senator per college/school.”

Currently, the Senate has one senator for every 250 students. This change will take place beginning with this week’s senator elections and taking full effect Fall 2015.

“As Tech has grown in the past dozen years, the amount of students has increased, and consequently, the number of people in the senate has increased as well,” said Daniel Tribble, SGA vice president. “When the Constitution Revision Committee met back in November, we felt it was appropriate to raise the number so we would have fewer senators.”

Tribble added that the amount of people in the sen-

ate, over sixty when including the freshman senators, seemed too large for SGA. “It seemed it would be difficult to get a lot of stuff done; just not enough personal relationships being formed,” said Tribble. “It just seemed we were a huge, big group coming together just to do stuff.”

Tribble also added that people, particularly senators, should not be upset by the new rule.

“They (senators) had plenty of time to voice their concerns,” said Tribble. “It was a three week process.

We notified everyone in SGA when changes had been made. We asked them to look it over and come with any revisions. We didn’t get any questions until the last week of the process, which was a week or two after it was approved.”

“There’s a reason we capped off the number; we don’t want to have a 150-member senate in the future,” said Tribble.

The SGA Senator elections will take place Thursday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can vote using the SGA online server. SGA meetings are held every Tuesday night at 9:15 p.m. in the Tech Pride Room. All Tech students are welcome to attend.

Please, be sure to recycle this paper after Reading.

Though it may appear some student organizations are no longer receiving as many Chapter 606 funds as they did in semesters past to fund their activities, there is apparently more than meets the eye.

According to Bobby Adams, chairman of Tennessee Tech’s Student Monies Allocation Committee, this reduction is becasue of the Chapter 606 becoming depleted several semesters ago, thus limiting the initial funding cap at the start of each semester. Chapter 606 restrictions allow the committee to give away 5 percent total of the starting balance funds to each organization,

which automatically restricts how much money each group can potentially get.

“So no matter how much the organization applies for, we’re not allowed to give out more than that (5 percent),” Adams explained.

This depletion occurred when an influx of groups applied for and were approved for money. Essentially, said Adams, groups aren’t receiving less funds – there Adams is simply less money available in the balance. At one point, a leftover balance would roll from one semester to the next, leaving a higher cap. But that depletion has lessened the cap.

“What they had tried to do was save a little bit at the end of every semester

and roll it into the next semester, which would increase the overall funding and raise the cap each semester,” Adams explained. “And a few years ago … they used up all the funds in the semester.”

He noted the cap also dropped once again this past school year.

Adams stressed the committee works to make allocations “fair across the board” to various groups that apply for the funding, adding that the balance relies on student enrollment.

“Now were down to, basically, however many people we have this semester determines how much funding we have. So it’s a pretty set thing, there’s not much fluctuation … it just depends on student enrollment,” Adams said.

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NEWS

Monday, April 20, 2015

>> Campus

Carillon system plays tunes for Tech’s campus The sound system in the Derryberry Hall bell tower plays seasonal music for Tech’s campus. The all-digital sound system can hold up to 10,000 musical selections and allows musicians to record, modify or compose bell music.

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer & ANNALISE FREITAG Beat Reporter The bell tower in Derryberry Hall can be heard playing more than the chimes that signal the hour.

Amber Glass and Deborah Combs, both of whom work in the President’s Office, strategically coordinate every song, or selection.

Combs said the selection times vary each semester.

“We are careful to avoid selections playing during times in which classes are held,” said Combs. “Each semester, we review the class schedule and where there is a 10 to 15 minute break between classes, a song or two is scheduled to play. Selections are also played during dead hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

Junior Alan Brawner and senior Sam Witt agree they don’t enjoy the strange timing.

“They seem to play at odd times like 25 after the hour, or three before, and I don’t seem to enjoy them as much,” said Brawner.

“I kinda liked it when it was just chimes,” said Witt.

Sophomore business management major Michael Aubrey said the songs are played too frequently.

“I don’t enjoy the songs just because they’re obnoxious,” said Aubrey. “If they only played every once in a while, I wouldn’t mind.”

The carillon, the system that produces sound from the tower,

Drake Fenlon l The Oracle

CHIMES- The bell tower plays songs based on seasonal categories and breaks in the schedule when students do not have class. Selections of the songs are played on Tuesday and Thursday during dead hour as well as fifteen minute breaks in the class schedule. is programmed to play selections from seasonal categories that contain a variety of selections.

Categories like winter, spring, summer and autumn are chosen for the appropriate time of year.

Additional selections are played around holidays, such as Halloween music during October,

“which people seem to enjoy,” said Combs.

Chemical engineering major and student worker in Derryberry Hall, Ryan Downs, said he recognized some of the seasonal selections at Christmas time, which surprised him.

“I was confused at first. It was

Christmas I think when they first started that and I was like ‘What’s going on?’” said Downs. “Then I realized that they were playing ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem.’”

Sophomore psychology major Megan Deel said she likes the different melodies.“I really enjoyed it around Christmas time when they

were playing such joyful holiday tunes,” said Deel.

“The Tech Hymn” and other school pride selections are played before each commencement ceremony. These selections were recorded and programmed with the help of the music department.

The old system, previously housed in the Jere Whitson Building, operated similarly to player pianos, with a music roll that mechanically reproduced each selection. After moving to Derryberry Hall during renovations in the 1960s, the carillon was updated to current Verdin Supreme Carillon a few years ago. The new all-digital system allows musicians to compose, record, modify and play bell music, and can hold up to 10,000 musical selections.

Downs said he recognized the song “Yesterday” by the Beatles being played from the tower.

“I think sometimes it’s cool, it plays the same songs over and over again so it gets kind of repetitive,” said Downs. “I thought it was interesting to hear something other than a grandfather clock melody.”

The system can be controlled in real time from the carillon console, a computer or a wireless remote from up to 1,500 feet away. Despite the carillon’s range, Downs said it was difficult to hear inside Derryberry.

The 61 real bell sounds range five full octaves and vary in sounds, including musical songs, bell peals, tolls and clock chimes.

RANGER THE GOAT #GOATLIFE- According to totalfratmove.com, Tau Kappa Epsilon members attempted to steal Ranger, the mascot for Kappa Sigma’s fraternity on Sunday, April 12.

Owner and primary caretaker of the goat Brenden Phillips was excited to have a goat at the house.

“It says in our bylaws we can’t have a dog in the fraternity house but our bylaws don’t say anything about a goat, so why not,” said Phillips.

The TKE members were caught in the act of stealing Ranger, according to totalfratmove.com.

Shelby Savage l The Oracle

Cookeville Rescue Mission to provide dental assistance to members of community

By KAYLA CLOUSE Beat Reporter The Cookeville Rescue Mission is providing dental assistance to all residents staying at the Mission, as well as members of the Cookeville community.

Residents at the Mission do not have a fee for dental extractions. However, members of the community who use the clinical service must pay a fee. Insurance is not needed for anyone who needs assistance.

“We only do extractions here at our dental clinic. We do it once a week on Monday nights,” said Margaret Ridley, administrative assistance at the Mission. “The dentists that come in are volunteers, and we have about five dentists.

It’s $75. That takes care of the X-rays and the extractions.”

The dental clinic used to be open a few months out of the year, but now it is open yearround. The dental clinic is located in a department located in the back of the Mission’s office.

“It used to be located in a Winnebago,” Ridley says.

Associates at the Mission ask Tech students to get involved with their community and volunteer their time to see expansion in this department of the Mission.

“Last week we had three people, but there were 29 extractions. The biggest issue we have is that more people are needing to come in.

We’re only open one day a week, so that means the waiting list is like three months or more,” says Ridley. “If we could get our own dentist, or if we could get more dentists to volunteer, then we could be open more often and meet the needs of more people. But, right now, it is what it is. We’re glad we can help some.”

Monday, April 20, 2015

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Life in Cookeville <<

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>> Flavor Diversity: >> Staff Friendliness: >> Atmosphere: >> Glazed: >> Chocolate: Darius Berry | The Oracle

By LUCAS MCCOY Beat Reporter Who doesn’t like a good, buttery taste of heaven?

When I think of Cookeville, I think of Tennessee Tech, the historic town square, 94.7 The Country Giant, Rib City and other local sites and restaurants. I also think about doughnuts.

Cookeville is rich with history and heritage. What some residents will tell you about, if you haven’t yet tried them yourself, are the doughnuts in Cookeville. There are a few places to get those yeasty rings of goodness, but the two shops most people have a fondness for are either Ralph’s Donuts or Big O’s Donuts.

My favorite place to go for a doughnut is Big O’s. When I came to Tech, I wasn’t aware of any doughnut shops, but when I was first introduced to Big O’s, I fell in love. They have good coffee, too. But the majority of my Tech friends vie with my tastes and side with Ralph’s.

Created in 1973, Big O’s is located at 209 N. Jefferson Ave. just right off the historic square. If you can’t sleep and you’re craving a cup of coffee, a biscuit or a doughnut of any kind, then Big O’s is the place for you. They’re open 24/7, which is a big reason why Tech students flock to this place. Their house coffee is recommended as well.

Ralph’s has been around a bit longer. Since 1962, Ralph’s Donuts has served coffee and doughnuts to the Upper Cumberland. They have a huge selection of doughnuts as well, larger than Big O’s, and the atmosphere is welcoming, like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time.

Also you get a free butter twist when you go to Ralph’s for the first time. They are open 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Both Big O’s and Ralph’s have free Wi-Fi for anyone who would need access to the Internet.

I got doughnuts from both Big O’s and Ralph’s, and a small panel was constructed. It was time to see which doughnuts were the real winners.

The panel consisted of four Tech students: Thomas Hunter, Samir Martins, Ayla Harrison and Tia Orbin.

HUNTER: Ralph’s — glazed, chocolate, cake, red velvet; Big O’s — glazed, chocolate, cake, blueberry.

Hunter, sophomore multidisciplinary elementary education major, said he didn’t care for the chocolate glaze from either place.

The glazed doughnut from Big O’s was bigger, denser

Darius Berry | The Oracle

and “the air spaces are a little more uniform.” He also said the glazed doughnut looked like a good doughnut, but he was still partial to the Big O’s glazed doughnut.

He said the cake doughnuts from Ralph’s had a nice flavor and good texture, and the Big O’s cake doughnuts were less uniform but had a more defined taste.

He said the red velvet has a similar texture to the blueberry doughnut, and that is what he liked about it.

His favorite doughnut was the blueberry doughnut from Big O’s.

“It tastes like a fried blueberry muffin,” Hunter said.

Martins: Ralph’s — glazed, cake, chocolate, red velvet; Big O’s — glazed, cake, chocolate, blueberry.

Martins, senior civil engineering major, said the glazed doughnut from Ralph’s looked very good, but the one from Big O’s was shinier.

“The glazed doughnuts from Big O’s doesn’t taste as good as Ralph’s,” Martins said.

He said that he liked the cake doughnuts from both places, but he preferred the cake doughnut from Ralph’s, commenting that the doughnut “chews better.”

After trying a red velvet doughnut from Ralph’s, he said he imagined it to be better, but he still enjoyed the doughnut.

He also tried a blueberry doughnut from Big O’s.

“I don’t like blueberry that much,” Martins said. “I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I did.”

He was very fond of the chocolate doughnuts from both places, but he said the one from Ralph’s “is the best.”

Harrison: Ralph’s — glazed, chocolate, cinnamon twist; Big O’s — glazed, chocolate, blueberry.

Harrison, sophomore basic business major, was initially torn between which glazed doughnut tasted better, but she finally decided that she liked the one from Big O’s.

When she tried both of the chocolate doughnuts, she said they tasted very similar and couldn’t see the difference.

The cinnamon twist from Ralph’s was a special treat for her because she’d never had one before.

“It’s so good,” Harrison said. “I love cinnamon stuff.”

She tried the blueberry last, and concluded that it was her favorite.

“I like these because they taste just like blueberry muffins, and I love blueberry muffins.”

One thing she did mention was she thought the glazed doughnuts from both places were more buttery than the chocolate doughnuts.

Orbin: Ralph’s — glazed, chocolate, cake, red velvet; Big

>> Flavor Diversity: >> Staff Friendliness: >> Atmosphere: >> Glazed: >> Chocolate:

Jordan Pace | The Oracle O’s — glazed, chocolate, cake, blueberry.

Orbin, senior zoology major, said she already had a preference for Ralph’s. She enjoyed both glazed doughnuts from both places.

“It’s just sweet enough to make it good,” Orbin said about Ralph’s glazed doughnut. “It doesn’t hurt your teeth.” She said the Big O’s doughnut has the “right bread to sweetness ratio.”

“I’m not a chocolate fan.” She didn’t find either of the chocolate doughnuts appealing, but she did say the chocolate doughnut from Ralph’s was better because it was “not as chocolatey as Big O’s.”

She tried a blueberry doughnut from Big O’s and said the blueberry offsets the sweetness.

She also tried a red velvet doughnut from Ralph’s, commenting that it was kind of bland.

“There’s nothing to it. It’s like I’m eating nothing at all.”

She concluded by eating cake doughnuts, preferring the one from Big O’s.

“It’s actually really good. There’s no basic flavor and it’s just like a cake.” *** What I noticed was that the doughnuts from Big O’s were bigger than the ones from Ralph’s. Plus the price for a dozen is the same at both places: $9 a dozen. So you’re getting more for your money, but as Orbin said, it will feel like you’re eating more bread.

I’m still a Big O’s guy, but I now know that the general consensus is that more people think Ralph’s tastes better.

Eat your heart out Cookeville.

International students speak about bridging the language barrier Thiago Rezende reached the United States for the first time barely able to speak English and looking for a new sense of independence. After he completed his stay at the University of Maryland, he wanted to return to the U.S. to break through language barriers and become fluent in the English language. He returned to the U.S. and enrolled at Tennessee Tech University.

By BRITTANY STOVALL Beat Reporter The first time that student Thiago Rezende left Brazil for the United States, he barely spoke English. Using maps and directions printed off the Internet, he made his way northeast to the University of Maryland by bus after arriving to the states to attend the school via an exchange program. Here, he wanted to gain a sense of independence by exploring a new country and to learn the language.

“The main goal was to come here and learn English,” said Rezende. “I couldn’t have ordered a glass of water if I wanted to back then.”

When he later returned home, he went back with newfound independence; even his Rezende family noticed a difference. But he was still unsatisfied with where he left off in America – he wasn’t as fluent in English as he would’ve liked, but he badly wanted to be and to break through language barriers. That’s when he decided to return to the U.S., but this time he came to Tennessee Tech University.

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According to Andrew Bleignier, assistant director for Tennessee Tech’s International Education division, there has been a definite upward trend in the last two years in international students choosing Tech for their studies. The school is No. 1 in the state for international students percentage-wise, and apparently one of the highest ranked for increases among the Tennessee Board of Regents Schools, he said.

“The university would like an increase; I think every university would love increases, so our goal is to look at (getting) more,” said Bleignier.

Especially in recent years, the school has typically had the bulk of its international student body come as Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti government-sponsored students.

“We saw a huge increase in 2013 from Kuwait,” Bleignier said.

However, the number of students from those particular countries is now expected to taper off as those students graduate in the next year or two thanks to a “cap” from their home governments that limits the exchange.

“Those programs, their governments have provided a ‘cap’ for their students,

which is kind of a common occurrence for institutions,” Bleignier explained. “And as those students successfully complete their programs here and graduate, we’re seeing wonderfully large numbers of graduation.”

The goal now, Bleignier said, is to try and “replenish” the international group with students from other countries located in Southeast Asia or South America, like Rezende’s home country, Brazil. However, currency exchange rates can stand in the way – the exchange rate from Brazil right now is triple for those students entering the U.S. “That’s been a harder way to recruit from South America,” Bleignier said. “We don’t see quite as much of a currency slippage in Southeast Asia.”

Rezende echoed that sentiment.

“So you have to make three times the money to make it here,” he said. “And Brazil’s not even the highest.”

To help reach out to other countries and diversify the international student population at Tech, the International Student Education administration has hired a new recruiter, Ashley Watson. She was brought on board this semester.

“I think the university is looking at seeing how this all works out,” Bleignier said.

As for Brazilian students, most exchange students come to Tech on a one-year sponsored exchange program. But that is not the case for Rezende, a fee-paying, degree-seeking student who picked Tech after thoroughly researching scholarships and available funding.

The now 25-year-old, who began here as a freshman and is now a junior, is finishing up his marketing degree. An internship with Nissan showed him that here, he would have an easier time reaching out to and be taken on by big-name corporations than if he had stayed back home.

And as for his goal to become fluent in English, many might say Rezende now sounds as if he is a native speaker who has lived in the U.S. his whole life.

“When I got to Maryland, it was very frustrating because I didn’t dominate the language,” he said. “If you would have told me I would have been fluent, I would’ve said there’s no way I would dominate the language to where I can sit in on a business meeting.”

Page 6 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

Monday, April 20, 2015

OPINION The last and final r >> Think Freely

KIMMY WHITTINGTON Opinion Editor

He’s tall, dark and handsome.

Oh, and he drives me crazy.

Not in the, “I’m drooling over your presence,” way, but in the, “for the love of all things good, please shut up,” way.

Twenty-one women went through a lengthy, drawnout interview process just so they could be graced by his presence.

He’s The Bachelor.

Yes, he changes his name, occupation and “style” every season, but his look, his outlook and the women he chases are all the same.

Want to know how I know this? It’s because I embarrassingly have seen all 19 seasons of it.

He always shows up in a tuxedo with a neatly pressed

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Why every bachelor is the same guy with the same moves

handkerchief peeking out of his pocket. His hair is slick, and his words are smooth.

He has an autopilot phrase of, “You’re amazing,” said to every one of his contestants.

He holds the door open for ladies, takes women on exotic dates, buys girls expensive jewelry, and won’t be afraid to kiss on the first date.

He sounds perfect, right?

Wrong.

This bachelor becomes an ultimate rock star for becoming what we all hate: a cheater.

He is dating 21 women at one time and now has become the man of the hour, literally. Every Monday night at 8 p.m., women around the world are staring at their televisions rooting not for one, but several women to date this man.

I couldn’t dare forget his tactics, either. This bachelor

always is blind to reality and chooses the lady who the audience saw as a “problem” the entire series. This show makes national love common and somehow – our business.

Everyone on the show treats the bachelor as if he were the last man on earth and the epitome of all things good in a gentleman. I’ve seen women cry outlandishly for him, break up with their boyfriends, betray their friends, lie about their pasts, and even follow him home.

Listen up. He doesn’t care about you. At all.

He is using his fifteen minutes of fame by kissing as many girls as possible. He hopes to find a wife but isn’t too worried about it.

He’s always the same, yet every news outlet acts as if he is “front-page worthy” or “different.” Well, I hate to break it to you; he’s the same

guy he was back in 2002 when the show began.

Brad Womack, Juan Pablo, Jake Pavelka – they all run together. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one giant show stuck in a vigorous rotation, as if it’s nighttime television of daytime reruns.

Sure, I’ll probably be watching him next season as he adjusts his tie and looks around at his many suitors.

Maybe I will attempt to act as if he’s matured – as if he understands the silliness of this ordeal. Maybe I will give in just as I have the last 13 years, even though he doesn’t deserve it. Maybe he will be different?

After all, he’s tall, dark and handsome.

Kimmy Whittington is a senior in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations.

She can be reached at kemanning42@students.tntech.edu

Bible as state book?

JAKE THREET Staff Reporter What constitutes to be the official book of a state?

That question was raised on the floor of the House of Representatives of Tennessee, who voted to send the bill onto the Senate for voting this past week. Well, it’s not so much of what constitutes, rather should the Bible be the official book for the state of Tennessee.

This is an egregious idea and is not only demeaning for other religious groups, but also for the Bible itself.

Now, I can’t say that I know the Bible cover to cover or even constantly read it. I can, however, say that spirituality plays a big part in my life.

It’s not something I exude or lecture people about, but I’d like to believe God and I are pretty tight. It’s something that gets me through each day. Being raised in one of the most Southern Baptist areas in Tennessee, I grew up with the Bible being ever-present in my life. As I’ve grown up and ventured out into the world, life has shown me different viewpoints, lifestyles and religions that are present besides the singular view I experienced growing up. It’s a beautiful thing.

With that being said, passing a law that would make the Bible the official Tennessee state book would degrade those individuals who live in Tennessee who do not recognize the Bible as their religious doctrine. I get it; Tennessee is a state full of devout Christians and faithful Republicans who sincerely wish the state looked to the Bible as the state book.

THE

se

And I do believe this bill was brought up with some level of sincerity, but no thought.

Article 1, section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution states “That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any minister against his consent; that no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”

It reads pretty clear to me, especially that last part where no preference shall be shown to any religion. Making the Bible the state book not only violates the Tennessee Constitution, but the United States Constitution as well.

It needs to be said that not all Republicans are in approval of this bill and some even oppose it.

My question is what is the point in making the Bible the official book of Tennessee? The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sexton, said, “This does not establish any form of religion, and any move to denounce it, I think, is to silence those of us who would like to see reverence given to a book that has played a role in all of our lives.” Sure, maybe it has played a role in his life, my life and others, but what about those it has not? What about those who choose to worship another way? Are they just the forgotten people?

How about the injustice this bill does to the Bible it-

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DISRESPECT- By requiring a state to mandate a religious book as their own, they are disrespecting all other religions.

self? Do God-loving, devout believers want the Bible to be tossed into the ring of fire that is the Church and State battle.

Is this most holy book not being pitted into a governmental tug of war solely for political purpose? Where in the scripture is this deemed OK? Some would probably argue yes, because the Bible is a way of life. Others have different opinions, including Governor Bill Haslam who is a devout Christian himself.

“The governor doesn’t think it’s very respectful of what the Bible is,” said Haslam’s spokesman, Dave Smith, in a released statement.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III said, “I am quite confident that the Bible’s distinguished place in history will not be diminished in the absence of a state’s endorsement.”

I think that’s the truest statement in this argument.

Just because the Bible is not recognized as the official state book of Tennessee does not make it any less important in history or for those who follow its beliefs. This bill makes no sense to me, and, quite frankly, the House should be focusing on more important matters rather than focusing on what the official state book should be. Issues such as the compensation disparity currently facing women in the workplace, equality for all individuals, and creating more jobs are worth constituting on the House floor.

Jake Threet is a senior in Communication with a concentration in News Editorial.

He can be reached at jdthreet42@students.tntech.edu

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Two weeks ago, Juicy J performed at the Hoop for this semester’s S.O.L.O. concert in front of an estimated 6,500 people. While I think it’s great that the University was able to generate the amount of buzz that it did with the show, I think the show itself was a letdown.

Juicy J took the stage 20 minutes after he arrived and left town as soon as he was done with his 80 minute set.

The opener, Enferno, played for almost an hour and Juicy barely played longer than that. I’m not a hip-hop star but I still think you should play a little longer than the opener.

To Juicy’s credit, the fans seemed to enjoy themselves at the show and the ones on the floor were rapping along with him. What irked me about his show is that he would play snippets of songs where he was featured, and then quit abruptly after his part was done. I know in the hip-hop scene, being featured is more common than it is in other genres, but Juicy has released three solo albums as well as longer verses from his former group, Three 6 Mafia.

The fans at the show caught me off guard as well because from what I had heard, or read on social me-

dia, a lot of Tennessee Tech students sold their tickets.

Nothing against those entrepreneurially minded Tech students, college kids are notoriously poor and this is a great way to earn a quick buck. However, I think a majority of the concert attendees were high school age, and because of that, it didn’t feel like a Tech concert, but more like a local concert, which rubbed me the wrong way.

An interview was also promised to Oracle staff by Juicy J on the condition we only ask him three questions in five minutes. Upon the staff’s arrival to the Hoop to interview Juicy, we were told that he hadn’t arrived and we would be interviewing him after the show. As the evening wore on, we learned there would simply be no interview.

Enferno, however, sat down and talked with us for close to half an hour and was very genuine with us.

Granted, Enferno isn’t as recognizable a name as Juicy J, but still he gave us an interview when he didn’t have to and was arguably the best opener at any S.O.L.O. concert, and for that I applaud him.

Adam Webb is a senior in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and News Editorial.

He can be reached at adwebb42@students.tntech.edu

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of Tennessee Tech University’s employees or of its administration.

Monday, April 20, 2015

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EDITORIAL

An ode to Awesome Eagle: Mentor, hero, friend

By DRAKE FENLON Managing Editor

This is my attempt at giving a poignant thank you to one of the biggest inspirations in my life. He may not say a whole lot, and he definitely doesn’t smell the greatest, but Awesome Eagle is my hero.

The best way to describe my relationship with “The Bird” is to say that I am a close friend to him. Many people might say that I am in fact Awesome Eagle, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I am a 6-foot-2-inch, 22-year-old college guy trying my best while Awesome is a 7-foot-something anthropomorphic Golden Eagle. Only a fool would say that we are one in the same.

As cheesy as it sounds, Awesome Eagle is the reason I am at Tennessee Tech. Growing up in Cookeville, my childhood was filled with weekends attending Tech basketball games. Never being that interested in the game itself, I would always keep a close watch on Awesome as he bounced around the court and entertained the crowd with his hair-brain antics. He always intrigued me, at least a little bit, all the way until I began looking at colleges and trying to find the best fit for my education.

After one tour of Tennessee Tech and one sit down interview with Awesome himself, I knew I was home. I knew that I could go to no other school. Once I accepted the position of assisting Awesome, I never looked back. I was destined to live my life surrounded by a big bag of plush yellow feathers.

After four years at Tennessee Tech with The Bird, I have spent a large portion of my time with our fearless, feathered friend. I’ve traveled all over a portion of the contiguous United States with this avian master of entertainment. From Iowa to Kentucky to Florida on four separate occasions, Awesome and I have seen a great deal of interesting things.

We’ve seen people smile, we’ve seen people cry, but luckily every moment has been enjoyable.

The obvious thing to talk about, concerning Awesome in the last four years, has to be his two Mascot National Championship titles.

I was there in Orlando in 2012, with Awesome when he competed for the first time and placed third overall at the competition. I was also there the year after that where he placed second overall.

Those two losses hurt; they were painful. Hours of work were put into both of Awesome’s routines, but the routines never felt right as rain; they never felt as if they were meant to win the grand prize.

What’s strange is that as a team, we were more satisfied with the 2012 third place ranking than we were with the second place ranking. In 2012, Awesome was new to the national competition scene and we were honored to receive third. That next year in 2013, we knew we were the better team. We knew that we had what it took to win the competition, but we didn’t.

At the competition, Awesome and Tennessee Tech were thought of as just some little throwaway school from Tennessee.

These two close losses struck a cord inside of Awesome. That’s when Awesome and I became inspired to push the limits of the competition and not hold back until Awesome had both a trophy and medal as gold as his regal feathers.

That 2014 competition took work, but everything felt effortless nonetheless. We knew we were going to win as soon as we ran through Awesome’s routine in Tennessee.

Everything felt right with it. Everything looked right. It was show time in Orlando.

Success. He did it. That little throwaway Cinderella school from two years earlier had won the big dance and had won the biggest title in the college mascot world.

Awesome went on to win the competition one more time, and he probably isn’t done just yet. Awesome has a hefty collection of hardware in his nest and that collection is going to keep growing.

As my time with Awesome Eagle comes to a close over the next few weeks, I’ll always remember the good times we‘ve had together and everything we’ve seen. There have been times of smiles and there have been times of frowns. Throughout these times, every moment has been gelled together with literal blood, sweat and tears (emphasis on the sweat; more of that than anything else).

As the much hated former slogan of the University said “There’s a bit of Awesome in all of us,” I am proud to be a Golden Eagle and no matter where I go in life, I will always hold part of Awesome close to me in whatever I do. #TechYeah

Photo courtesy of Dan Fenlon

AWESOME PALS- Drake Fenlon (right) sits with Awesome Eagle (left) at a March of Dimes Walk America charity event in the Spring of 1997. Fenlon is a fan of Awesome Eagle and has been since he was a child. Since the Summer of 2011, Fenlon has assisted Awesome Eagle as a member of the Spirit Squad.

Photo courtesy of Abby Weeden Photography

#TECHYEAH- Drake Fenlon (right) bumps shoulders in mid-air with Awesome Eagle (left) on Overall Field at Tucker Stadium.

ROTC cadets define what an athlete is

By LOGAN SHRUM Beat Reporter The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an athlete as “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.”

It’s 5:50 a.m. The sun slowly sneaks over Tucker Stadium, spreading its warm, red glow over the dew-covered football field where the 86 cadets of the Golden Eagle Army ROTC Battalion have gathered for yet another day of early morning training.

The morning PT (physical training), which takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, generally consists of 10 minutes of prep drills followed by 15 minutes of various types of push-ups and sit-ups, a four to five mile run and ends with a cool-down drill.

This is no easy task for your run-of-the-mill “Average Joe,” but it is especially difficult for the typical freshman cadet who is fresh out of high school, new to the military structure of the ROTC program and has to learn on the fly how to balance becoming a military leader with being a full-time college student.

TTU cadets also attend a three-hour freshman, sophomore, junior or senior-level class once a week, in which they learn different military skills. These skills consist of military tactics, interpersonal communication,

survival techniques and more. They then apply these lessons in a two-hour lab every Tuesday and sometimes even a six-hour lab on Saturdays.

After Golden Eagle cadets reach their junior year, they are assigned a leadership position within the battalion. These leadership positions require 24/7 availability as well as the mental agility to be able to adapt on the fly. ROTC effectively becomes a job or a second job for those who have to work themselves through college already; this can prove a heavy burden to bear, yet many cadets bear it with no complaint, considering having the opportunity to develop themselves into the leaders of tomorrow’s Army far worth the cost.

TTU ROTC cadets also proudly represent Tennessee Tech at various events throughout the year. Whether they are showing their physical prowess at the GAFB challenge (German Armed Forces Badge), which is held at Indiana University, or The Ranger Club competition that is held on a national level, or holding themselves to the highest standard at the yearly JLDX (Joint Learning and Development Exercise), which is held in conjunction with various schools throughout the Upper Cumberland, Tech Cadets are constantly in the spotlight, proudly displaying the Golden Eagle Battalion patch and striving to live up to the mantra, “GOLDEN EAGLES

DON’T QUIT!” So … if cadets train to meet physical standards and compete in national-level competitions, are they not athletes, and if so, do they not deserve the same treatment as other athletic groups?

Though Golden Eagle cadets do many things for Tech, there are many things Tech does not do for its Golden Eagle cadets. For instance, cadets fracture bones, shed blood, sweat and sometimes tears, and effectively sacrifice their bodies in the name of Purple Pride, yet they have no access to the sports physical therapist that any other TTU athlete would. This means cadets have to pay out of pocket for any therapy they may need due to services rendered in the service of TTU. TTU cadets are also not allowed to use the Athletic Performance Center whose mission, according to the Tech website, is to “help our student athletes maximize their athletic potential.” So by barring cadets’ full use of this facility, the point is clearly being made that Tech ROTC cadets are not student-athletes.

Well, I would have to agree. Golden Eagle cadets are not student-athletes; they are much, much more.

Golden Eagle cadets are student, warrior athletes. Warrior athletes who bend and break themselves in the hope of one day achieving the highest level of excellence in both academics and physical fitness. Warrior athletes

who consistently win. Warrior athletes who have been neglected for far too long and who will one day hopefully attain the same level of worth in the campus’ eye as the on and off again football team, but until then, I’m sure they will continue to hold themselves to the same selfless standard they have for decades past.

“I think that it’s kind of frustrating that we always support the football team. We’re at every home game in one way or another, and yet we’re not even allowed to use the same facilities,” said a TTU senior ROTC cadet. “I just don’t think that’s right. Even if they just had a slotted time throughout the day for us to use the APC when the football team wasn’t using it that would be nice. Regarding our status as being athletes or not, we are career athletes. Our careers literally require us to be in shape and fit, and whenever the athletes here at Tech get out of sports, they won’t even have to stay in shape anymore. I mean, I plan on staying in (The Army) for the next 20 years. So I will have to be at my peak physical condition for the next 20 years of my life.

I just feel like if people cared about the ROTC program as much as they claimed, then it seems like we could have a few more perks.”

384 days left of childhood, what’s next?

By KIM BIGGS Asst. Managing Editor

I have one year left of childhood. One single year, and then I’m heading for the real world. The big, scary adult word that, as a child, I dreamed of being a member. But now I’m terrified, stomping on the emergency brake as hard as possible.

I don’t want to grow up now that I have 384 days left of reckless irresponsibility. What’s even scarier is I’m still a junior; I can only imagine how I’m going to feel exactly one year from now. What will my emotional range be then?

When I first started college, I constantly told myself it was a four-year gateway preparing me to do whatever I wanted;

now, I see my friends graduating, getting jobs and marrying significant others, and I’m scared. How is it that I am about to be qualified as a real-life adult in the real world with a real job? One that I’m not quite sure I’m qualified to do no matter how much experience I have? In all honesty, I’m not sure there is an answer for these spellbinding questions.

I try to imagine my post-undergraduate life, but I have no vision for the future. I have a small idea of the general things I want to accomplish with my life, but I have no idea where I will be, what job I’ll have, who I’ll hang out with on the weekends, or what my life off the clock will hold. I get it: change is exciting and fun, but what about the fun I’ve had at Tech for the past two years? I’m leaving behind so many memories, only to be replaced by another group of incoming

freshmen that will feel the exact same way in four years’ time.

It’s terrifying.

As I move into my senior year of college, my time spent in Cookeville feels sentimental and nostalgic. I will never have the same schooling experience again. Ever. I will never be surrounded by this many of my peers again, suffering through the same classes or pulling those late nights, just to redo the same project the next morning. Over the summer, I had a corporate desk job, and I found myself surprisingly lonely. I don’t want the rest of my life to be that way. That’s terrifying.

As of right now, the only answer I have is to embrace my diminishing childhood. I have 384 days left, and I plan to make the absolute best of every single one.

Page 8 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

Monday, April 20, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT Editor’s must-see summer movies

“Game of Thrones” upsetting the status quo

By JAKE THREET Entertainment Editor

By DAVID MCMINN Staff Reporter

It’s about to be one heck of a summer at the movies in 2015.

By my estimate, there are 25 – yes you read that correctly, 25 – must-see films this summer. Beginning May 1, I will be seeing a movie every weekend for the rest of summer, maybe even two on occasion. So, balance your money accordingly. I won’t go too in-depth into all of them, but I will list my top nine must-see films.

“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” What a way to kick off the summer movie season. In what possibly may be the biggest movie of the few years, the hype is big and so are my expectations. The gang is back and they look better than ever.

“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” opens May 1.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” I have not seen any of the previous “Mad Max” films with Mel Gibson, but this one sure looks like all kinds of postapocalyptic crazy. I’m not sure what to expect, but the trailer mesmerizes me. “Mad Max: Fury Road” opens May 15.

“Spy” .Melissa McCarthy as an undercover spy? Yeah, I’m in.

Some people are not a fan of her films, but I cannot say no.

Add Allison Janney to the mix and I’ll probably watch it twice.

“Spy” opens June 5.

“Jurassic World” I have maybe the highest hopes for this film more than any others opening this summer. Though I’m cautiously optimistic, I have faith Chris Pratt can bring this series back to life. “Jurassic World” opens June 12.

“Ted 2” I have such a special place in my heart for this foul-

If you haven’t heard, the first four episodes of “Game of Thrones” were leaked just hours before the season premiere. This is a real leak; we’re not talking about HBO accidentally posting them and taking them down after five minutes. They’re out there in the sketchy parts of the Internet, free to pirates, and there’s not a chance HBO could get them taken down before they’d have aired anyway. In fact, the company seems much more interested in finding the leaker than fighting piracy battles.

“Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of ‘Game of Thrones’ originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them,” an HBO official said.

“We’re actively assessing how this breach occurred.”

The leaked episodes are in standard definition and bear a small watermark in the bottom left (really just a rectangular blur).

This appears to indicate that the leak was sourced from “screener” DVDs sent to critics prior to the season premiere, but HBO has yet to confirm this theory.

“Game of Thrones” is no stranger to piracy. Last season’s finale, “The Children,” was the most pirated television episode in history. Nearly 1.5 million people illegally accessed it within the first 12 hours, according to data from file sharing news site TorrentFreak, breaking a record previously held by another “GoT” episode.

Although HBO has historically taken a relaxed attitude toward piracy, this leak comes at an especially inconvenient time.

It doesn’t appear to have hurt the premiere’s performance, with more than eight million people tuning in to this episode, but it occurred just as the company released their new HBO Now service. HBO Now is a premium streaming service that allows subscribers to view HBO content without a cable subscription. It was released alongside the sea-

popsugar.com

LIFE FINDS A WAY- “Jurassic World” will be the first new film in the series since 2001’s “Jurassic Park III.” mouthed teddy bear. The first movie will be hard to follow, but I’m anxious to see what Seth McFarlane has up his sleeve. “Ted 2” opens June 26.

“Magic Mike XXL Grab your towels all interested parties, it’s about to get real hot before the Fourth of July. Channing Tatum and the guys are turning up the heat, and this time they’re taking their show on the road. “Magic Mike XXL” opens July 1.

“Ant Man” I may have the highest hopes for “Jurassic World,” but I have the highest expectations for this film. The world of Ant Man is new to me and, while I have full confidence in Marvel, I’m on the fence with this one.

That being said, it’s sure to garner much attention, and I’m ready to see what it has to offer.

“Ant Man” opens July 17.

“Trainwreck” I am so excited that Amy Schumer decided to write a movie. She is comedy gold and one of the best comics out there, in my opinion. This film looks to be incredibly funny

and sweet at the same time.

“Trainwreck” opens July 17.

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” Tom Cruise knows what he’s doing when it comes to action movies. The last installment in this series was terrific, but this one may just top it. All I can say is, watch the trailer to see just how good it looks to be.

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” opens July 31.

Also check out: “Hot Pursuit” - May 8 “Pitch Perfect 2” – May 15 “Poltergeist” - May 22 “Tommorrowland”- May 22 “Aloha” - May 29 “San Andreas” - May 29 “Insidious: Chapter 3” - June 5 “Inside Out” - June 19 “Minions” - July 10 “Stanford Prison Experiment” - July 17 “Pan” - July 24 “Paper Towns” - July 24 “Southpaw” - July 24 “Fantastic Four” - August 7 “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” August 14 “Straight Outta Compton” August 14

Summer continues to trend with new albums

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

In a year that has already had releases from top artists, the summer continues that trend with new albums from Florence + the Machine, Snoop Dogg and Muse.

Florence + the Machine: “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” The band’s first album in four years could be one of the rare third albums that not only improves on the first two but stands apart from them as well. The single “Ship to Wreck” is more upbeat than previous singles from Florence, but it still features lead vocalist Florence Welch’s signature croon as well as a groovy drum beat and acoustic guitar accompaniment. “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” hits shelves May 29.

Snoop Dogg: “Bush” What he claims will be his last album, Snoop Dogg

>> Reviews

latimes.com

A MASSIVE LEAK- Peter Dinklage (above) returns for his fifth season on “Game of Thrones” as Tyrion Lannister.

son 5 premiere in hopes of reeling in new subscribers, but with the premiere (and the next three episodes) available online, the techsavvy among us seem likely to go for the cheaper option.

Without further ado, let’s talk plot. If you haven’t seen episodes two through four stop here, because the rest of this article has all kinds of spoilers.

The first third of this season concerns itself with the ramifications of last season’s finale, turning the human landscape of Westeros upside down. The Lannisters are down on their luck: Tyrion has no money, Jamie can barely fight and Cersei resurrects the Church Militant (an inquisitorial religious organization) in an effort to keep her power from slipping further into the hands of Margaery Tyrell, who has finally managed to marry a king without him dying. Sansa has returned to Winterfell and faces the prospect of marrying uber-creepy Ramsay Bolton while Arya is hanging out in Braavos, hoping to become an assassin. Jon Snow is voted in as

Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, with Stannis offering to make him Lord of Winterfell and a true Stark in exchange for his assistance in taking the north.

Daenerys’ situation as a ruler instead of a conqueror is slowly slipping out of her control, with two of her trusted advisers sustaining grievous injuries in a fight against the insurgent Sons of the Harpy (not to mention her inability to command the dragons).

Finally, Oberyn Martell’s daughters (known as the Sand Snakes) are conspiring to kill Myrcella Baratheon in an attempt to instigate a war with the royal family and avenge their father; Jaime and Bronn predict their plot and travel to Braavos to thwart it.

On the whole, I like it. This season looks to be upsetting the status quo, bringing new factions into the mix and putting familiar characters in completely new situations and contexts. Longrunning shows take the risk of becoming stale and played out, but at this rate, “Game of Thrones” looks to be keeping things fresh for at least one more season.

“The Longest Ride” feel-good, does its job

By HANNAH BENJAMIN Entertainment Critic

rollingstone.com

QUEEN OF PEACE- “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” is Florence’s first studio album in three and a half years. returns to his original rapping name and an album entirely produced by Pharrell Williams. Snoop has confirmed that the album will feature guest spots from Stevie Wonder and Charlie Wilson. The single, “So Many Pros” has more of a funk vibe with toe-tapping hi-hats and a sultry guitar riff during the bridge.

If “Bush” really is the West Coast rapper’s final album, it’ll be interesting to hear how Snoop handles funk after a 20-year hip-hop career.

“Bush” drops May 12.

Read more content ONLINE

www.tntechoracle.com

Muse: “Drones” The seventh album from the alternative rockers will either show how consistent they are in their sound or how they’ve run out of ideas. The single “Psycho” sounds like Muse and Black Keys’ offspring with hard hitting symbols and the band’s signature bass sound. The downside is that it sounds a lot like their previous works. The band still has their unique sound and shows no sign of slowing down. “Drones” will be available June 5.

A$AP Rocky: “At. Long.

Last. A$AP.” The active A$AP Rocky’s follow up to 2013’s “Long.

Live. A$AP,” “At. Long. Last.

A$AP.” adds to the long list of hip-hop heavy hitters dropping new music this year. The first singles have the same spaced vibes of Rocky’s previous work as he continues to leave his mark on the current hip-hop scene. “At. Long.

Last. A$AP.” drops May 12.

Nicholas Sparks is at it again with a love story for all audiences.

“The Longest Ride” tells two intertwining romance stories.

The first centers on a blossoming romance between a by-the-books art student named Sophia and rodeo cowboy Luke Collins, desperately seeking a comeback. On the couple’s first date they stumble upon a car wreck and save the life of an elderly man with a box of letters. The two find an unlikely friend in the old man, Ira Levinson, and he shares the story of his decades-long romance with his beloved wife, Ruth. “The Longest Ride” had a rough release and only grossed $13 million opening weekend. It also finished third after “Furious 7” and “Home,” which were both released the previous weekend.

The film currently holds a 29 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes besting Sparks last five movies. This dates back to 2010’s “Dear John” which also holds a 29 percent approval rating on the website.

The lack of recognizable stars is probably the biggest reason for the turnout, especially since the most notable

movienews.com

8 SECONDS OF PASSION- Already filmed, Sparks’ next film, “The Choice,” is set to be released sometime in 2016. actor is Clint Eastwood’s son, Scott Eastwood.

Most audiences are probably used to the Nicholas Sparks trope of a young white couple that, against all odds, manage to fall in love.

However, this film incorporates a much more powerful tale between two Jewish people in the 1940s. Ruth (Oona Chaplin) is a Jewish refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria and meets Ira (Jack Houston) through their local synagogue. The couple faces challenges when Ira goes to war and put on a truly moving and powerful display.

Unfortunately, this plot is only a small deviation from the main story between Luke and Sophia, which is pretty lackluster in comparison.

The two try to reconcile their different lives, but when juxtaposed against the moving

themes in the old couple’s love story they seem to lack all chemistry and their romance seems much less interesting.

Additionally, the writing is very typical for romantic chick-flicks to the point where the audience can almost predict every cliched line. That being said, parts of the film are pretty moving and differentiate it from other Sparks films.

Though the cast isn’t star studded and some plot points fall flat, “The Longest Ride” is exactly the kind of feel-good romantic fluff the trailer makes it out to be.

Longtime fans of Nicholas Sparks’ films will not be disappointed.

“The Longest Ride” is rated PG-13 for some sexuality, partial nudity and some war and sports action.

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 9

Monday, April 20, 2015

Scores & Recaps <<

SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

Dodd trades purple and gold for red, white, blue

By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor

Tech junior volleyball standout Cody Dodd has been selected to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team program at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships taking place June 21-29 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Cookeville native received an email from USA Volleyball Senior Director of Events and High Performance Tom Pingel congratulating her on a successful tryout, but at first glance, she was so taken back that she had to confirm with Tech volleyball head coach Dave Zelenock of the potentially big news.

“I just think it’s crazy because I never thought it was actually going to happen,” said Dodd. “I never thought they would even look at me because I didn’t think I was as good as the other girls.”

Zelenock initially shared

in his right side hitter’s shock when he heard the news.

“I know she is good enough physically to play at that level, but anytime you’re dealing with a national team, there’s a lot of politics that go on,” said Zelenock. “I was just shocked that how physical she was came through and they didn’t penalize her for not having a big name across her jersey.”

Dodd is one of a just few players invited to the team who is not from a big-name program or conference. She will also be the lone OVC member playing with the team.

While Zelenock said he’s coached former AllAmerican and current professional club players, Dodd’s achievement is right at the top.

“This is pretty big,” said Zelenock. “And not just for me but for our program and Tech in general. It’s a big deal for all mid-majors for a kid like that to get picked.”

Shea Haile | The Oracle

REPRESENTING TECH - Right side hitter Cody Dodd attacks the ball in a match with Morehead State during the 2014 season. Dodd was recently selected to participate on the United States College National Team in New Orleans, Louisiana.

FOOTBALL

Purple vs. Gold game answers big question

By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor

The Tennessee Tech football team waved goodbye to its seniors and recognized standout performers and leaders from the 2014 season during Saturday’s awards dinner. The dinner took place shortly after the annual Purple vs. Gold Game at Tucker Stadium, which waved hello to newcomers and former redshirt players seeking to fill the vacancies left behind by the exiting starters.

“I think it’s the first time some of these guys have even put on a college uniform sometimes, and I could see that in some of them today,” said head coach Watson Brown. “It’s amazing – you come out here to practice and you see some players’ eyeballs get big as they put on their new uniforms.”

Featured early in Saturday’s scrimmage was a tandem of redshirt freshman running backs Dorian Carter and Deven Sullivan, as they rushed for a combined 99 yards and two touchdowns.

Carter led the highlight reel with a breakout 51-yard run

down the right sideline on the first play of the third team’s opening drive. The following play, quarterback Ty Jobe cut his first series short, scoring on a 14-yard touchdown run.

Carter led the ground game on the day with 87 yards on seven carries. Sullivan provided short yardage and goal line support, adding two touchdowns and 12 yards on five carries.

The team’s deep running backs group – which will likely employ rising seniors Radir Annoor, Willie Davis and Ladarius Vanlier and the two redshirt freshmen Carter and Sullivan – combined for 258 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 39 attempts.

In the passing game, quarterback Jared Davis continued his successful spring and proved that he is ready to take the keys as the starter in the fall. The team signed Coffeeville (Kan.) Community College transfer Colby Brown to compete and help develop Davis, and along with redshirt freshman Jobe, the three each led series in practices and in the three scrimmages, but in the end, Watson Brown decided to stick with experience.

“Jared’s the guy,” said Brown of his starting quarterback. “There’s no doubt Jared was head and shoulders the best. He’s just ahead of them (Colby Brown and Jobe) in knowing what to do.”

Jordan Pace | The Oracle

TAKING THE REINS- Jared Davis analyzes the play in the backfield during the annual Purple vs. Gold game. Davis was named the starting quarterback for the 2015 season by Watson Brown.

Davis threw for 770 yards and four touchdowns in nine games for the Golden Eagles last season, including two comeback efforts at home in a 30-27 overtime win over Murray State, and a 27-26 Homecoming win over Southeast Missouri.

But Davis’ experience wasn’t a signed, sealed, delivered deal for the head coach, who said he was upfront with the quarterback since the first day of camp.

“I told him and the other quarterbacks that this thing was wide open,” said Brown.

“He did come in well at the end of the year playing as a backup (to Darian Stone), but I didn’t think he played well when he was our starter at the beginning of last season.

He earned his new job.”

Brown added that he hesitated in naming Davis as the quarterback at the beginning of the spring because he wanted the competition from the other suitors to motivate and improve the starter.

“This spring forced him to pick up his game, and it worked,” said Brown. “The thing he started doing this spring that we wanted him to do last fall is he’s not trying to be the hero anymore. I kept telling him, ‘We’ve got good players around you, just give them the ball and stop trying to make all the plays by yourself.’ He had a great attitude about taking the challenge, and I think he’s going to have a really good year.”

Despite turning the ball

over for the first time this spring – which came on a tipped pass off the hands of tight end Dametris Watson and into the hands of linebacker Trey Thompson –Davis finished 11-of-18 throwing for 93 yards and an 8-yard touchdown to wide receiver Steve Wilson. He also added 33 yards rushing and a touchdown to his ground numbers. Brown completed 4-of-11 attempts for 48 yards, with Jobe going 6-of-8 for 56 yards.

The defense made its mark, too, as six players – Mike Cain, Corey DeBoe, Senquay Eichelberger, Chris McElderry, Kyron Hart and Joe Robertson – each recorded sacks on the day.

“I hope to see Ty Jobe and Colby Brown getting sacked in practice because that’s our first team defense sacking them,” said Brown.

“If we’re not getting sacks on those two, the head coach ain’t happy.”

At the awards dinner, position group accolades were given to the most valuable players nominated by teammates. Of most note, the Robert Hill Johnson Award (Team MVP) was given to senior quarterback Darian Stone, who led the Golden Eagles in both passing and rushing in 2014.

“Everything I did on the field was for my team,” said Stone. “I’m not about my

numbers or stats, just getting the “W” in the win column.

It’s very humbling to win this award and it shows just how much my teammates cared of me.”

Stone shared the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year award with redshirt freshman wide receiver Brock McCoin.

On the defense, senior strong safety Austin Tallant was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year and was also nominated by teammates for the Sonny Allen Team Leadership Award.

Tallant, whose wife Katie birthed their newborn daughter, Vayda, earlier Saturday morning, expressed his gratitude for his time at Tech.

“I’m not going to remember or miss these awards, I’m going to remember and miss the guys that I played and went to battle with,” said Tallant. “The award is just memorabilia.”

Tallant continued, “I’m not a big talker – I don’t lead by words, I try to lead by example. That’s how I’m going to be as a father and it’s how I’m going to try to lead my family.”

The Golden Eagles will take a break until June, returning for summer practices in preparation for the fall season.

2015 Tennessee Tech Football Schedule Houston

September 5

Away Jax State*

October 17

Home

Wofford

September 12

Away Eastern Ill.*

October 24

Away

Mercer

September 19

Home SEMO*

October 31

Away

Murray St.*

September 26

Away Austin Peay (HC) *

November 14

Home

UT-Martin*

October 3

Home Tennessee State*

November 21

Home

Eastern Kent* October 10

Away

* denotes OVC Game HC Homecoming

Page 10 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

SPORTS

Monday, April 20, 2015

>> Inside the Game

BASEBALL

Baseball sweeps OVC rival

By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor

The Tennessee Tech baseball team completed its first series sweep of the season Friday and Saturday against the visiting Murray State Racers. The Golden Eagles scored a combined 39 runs during the three-game series. The team has hit its high point for April; after losing two games since April 1, the Golden Eagles are currently on a four-game winning streak.

“Our guys are going to battle,” said head coach Matt Bragga. “We have a good baseball team and they are going to keep getting better.

That’s what is fun about this group. I think they just keep improving and getting better and better.”

In the first game of the series both pitchers, Chris Chism for Tech and Brad Boegal for MSU, had shutouts going until the bottom of the fifth, when Ryan Flick homered to right centerfield on a Boegal pitch. Flick’s homerun resulted in two RBIs and gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the night.

The Racers found success against Chism in the seventh inning. Anthony Bayus crossed the plate for Murray State after Nick Moore grounded out. Righthander Jeb Scoggins finished the inning striking out Racer catcher Dalton West.

After striking out Anthony El Chibani, Boegal would walk Tyler Brazelton.

The walk allowed Flick to advance to home plate. The nightmare continued for Murray State in the next at-bat when a wild pitch allowed Farr to score.

With the bases loaded, Tech shortstop Dylan Bosheers made his gamechanging fourth appearance at the plate. The Golden Eagles had already extended their lead to 4-1, but Bosheers’ three RBI double made their advantage 7-1. Left fielder Derek Yoder misjudged the

fly ball, allowing the ball to drop for a double. The hit led to a pitching change for the Racers.

Freshman Chase Chambers, got his first hit of the night on a single to right field. Bosheers was able to score a run from third base, extending the lead to seven runs. Chambers scored during the next at-bat after an error by Murray State.

Two walks by Tanner Edge with the bases loaded allowed Tech to score. The inning would finally end after Brazelton flied out to center field. The Golden Eagles took advantage of fielding errors and inconsistent pitching in the inning to take an 11-1 lead. Murray State would mount a small comeback in the top of the eight, but their three runs were not enough.

Chism was awarded his sixth win of the year after the Golden Eagles picked up the 11-4 win. Dylan Bosheers was Tech’s best hitter during the contest, going 2-for-5 and earning three RBIs. The threat of inclement weather forced officials to decide to have a double header Saturday instead of a Sunday game. The first game of the day would feature a lot scoring from both sides, but Tech got the bats going in the third inning with another homerun from designated hitter Flick, giving Tech an early 2-0 lead.

“Whenever you get big hits like that, whether they are homeruns or not just the big hits, it is a great lift to our team,” said Bragga. “Flick just does a good job. He is a great hitter.”

Tech would receive another run from El Chibani in the inning. His double scored Jake Farr from third base.

The Racers would answer in the top of the third.

Kipp Moore had a solo shot homerun to put Murray State on the board. Pokey Harris was able to cross home plate after Derek Yoder was caught stealing second.

Tech entered the bottom of the fourth inning with a 3-2 advantage. A double

from Chambers down the left field line added an RBI to the freshman’s stat sheet and gave the Golden Eagles some breathing room with a 4-2 lead.

The Racer deficit would increase in the bottom of the fifth. Tech completed a sixrun inning that was highlighted by Bosheers’ double, which scored two runs.

Murray State earned one run in the top of the sixth from an error by Tech catcher Hopkins.

The Golden Eagles had another huge inning of atbats in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six runs. Senior Bosheers completed the second grand slam of his career. The four-run homer electrified the crowd and made Tech’s 14-3 lead seem insurmountable.

Murray State did not have any luck getting a hitting streak going in the top of the seventh, but they did make things interesting in the top of the eighth. The Racers had Golden Eagle fans concerned with their burst of offense. The visitors put a dent in the gap with a seven-run inning. They proceeded to hold Tech scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, but their bats were silent in the top of the ninth.

The Golden Eagles clinched the series with the win. Flick ended the game at the plate, going 3-for-3, including a homerun and two singles. Bosheers led the team in RBIs with six. Evan Fraliex was the winning pitcher for Tech, going six innings and giving up four hits.

The series finale started like the middle game of the series. The Golden Eagles took charge with an 8-0 lead after the first three innings.

Tech took advantage of Racer miscues: wild pitches, walked batters and errors attributed to Murray State’s early demise.

“I think it was really big,” said Bragga about jumping out to the early lead. “Having won the first two, anytime you can jump

ed bases. Alyssa Richards’ fly ball allowed Sakamoto to cross the plate for the Golden Eagles’ first score.

While the Tech batters were creating offense, Danielle Liberatore was wreaking havoc on Austin Peay batters. After getting three consecutive outs in the first inning, Liberatore allowed no hits in the second inning, giving Tech an opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom half of the second.

The Golden Eagles would score five runs in that half inning.

The scoring began when a single from Kelly Kennedy resulted in an error by center fielder Rikki Arkansas, allowing Madison Taylor to score from third. Next, Tech’s Sakamoto hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Kennedy to score from third. During the next at-bat, Eldridge reached on an error by shortstop Morgan Hoeg and Cortney Fry was able to score on the error. Bayli Cruse’s single scored Neeb from second and Eldridge from third. Tech’s scoring concluded when Sakamoto crossed home plate again after an Olivia Bennett double.

On the mound, Liberatore lasted until the sixth inning and allowed no runs during her outing. She struck out six and gave up two hits. Senior Taylor Ketchum closed out the game for Tech, pitching one inning. Ketchum struck out one batter and allowed one hit.

In between games, the six Golden Eagle seniors and their families were honored and greeted by Director of Athletics Mark Wilson and the coaching staff.

“It feels great. We got all of them in, all of them got an opportunity to play,” said head coach Bonnie Bynum.

“It’s one those things. You definitely want to send them out the best way possible. I think the team got behind them and they were the same way – they wanted to give them a great Senior Day.” Austin Peay initiated the scoring in the second game with two first inning runs. Tech would answer in the bottom of the second.

Taylor’s triple down the right field line scored Cruse all the way from second. It was Kennedy’s turn next. She doubled to left field, scoring Taylor.

e l u d e h c S l l a b e s Ba Opponent

Location

Date/Time

Alabama A&M

AWAY

Apr. 22 3:00

Arizona State

AWAY

Apr. 24 8:30

Arizona State

AWAY

Apr. 25 8:30

Arizona State

AWAY

Apr. 26 2:30

Middle Tennessee

HOME

Apr. 29 6:00

Southeast Missouri*

AWAY

May 1 6:30

Southeast Missouri*

AWAY

May 2 1:00

Southeast Missouri*

AWAY

May 3 1:00

Belmont*

HOME

May 8 6:00

Belmont*

HOME

May 9 6:00

Belmont*

HOME

May 10 1:00

Western Carolina

HOME

May 12 6:00

Eastern Kentucky*

AWAY

May 14 4:00

Eastern Kentucky*

AWAY

May 15 3:00

Eastern Kentucky*

AWAY

May 16 12:00

* denotes OVC Game out on someone quick, it demoralizes them a little bit.”

The Golden Eagles did receive some power from Flick their lineup in the early going. Flick connected on his third homerun of the series in the bottom of the third. It was his second solo homerun of the series.

“I try to stay consistent and get a good pitch to hit,” said Flick. “That happened a lot this weekend.”

The Racers continued to battle a homerun from Pokey

Harris, which helped make the game competitive down the stretch. Harris’ homer brought three runs across the plate in the top of the fourth, making the score 8-3. Murray state would add two more runs in the top of the fifth after holding Tech scoreless in the bottom of the fourth.

Tech reemerged in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on a wild pitch and a Hopkins single. The Golden Eagles saw another glimpse of Bosheers’ power in the bottom of the eighth when he homered again, this time to left center field. After the homer, Tech took a 12-5

lead into the last inning.

The Racers would score two more runs, but it was too little too late for them as they fell 12-7.

Chambers and Flick led the team with two RBIs. David Allen and Flick had two hits each. Flick was a combined 7-of-11 for the series and batted in eight RBIs. Trevor Maloney was the winning pitcher in the contest.

The Golden Eagles will be on the road at Alabama A&M Wednesday. Following that contest, Tech will be on the road for a three-game series with Arizona, the current No.4 team in the nation.

SOFTBALL

Softball claims two victories over Austin Peay

By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor Saturday marked the beginning of the last weekend of softball in Cookeville for six Golden Eagles on the softball team: Hannah Eldridge, Angi Sakamoto, Taylor Ketchum, Erica Tuck, Christian Gibbs and Mekenzie Weems. Tech hosted the Lady Governors of Austin Peay for Senior Day game, and while the game obviously had sentimental importance, it also was important in the terms of conference standings.

Senior Angi Sakamoto fittingly was the first base runner of the game for Tech.

Sakamoto reached base on a single up the middle. Another senior, Hannah Eldridge, was the next at-bat. Austin Peay pitcher Natalie Ayala delivered four balls, allowing Eldridge to take her base and Sakamoto to advance to second. Ayala would also walk Sabrie Neeb, leading to load-

Shea Haile | The Oracle

SENIOR SHINE- Senior pitcher Erica Tuck delivers a pitch during the second game of the double header with Austin Peay on Saturday. Tuck went the full seven innings for Tech on senior day.

After the Lady Govs’ Hoeg added a solo shot homerun, Tech continued to produce base runners and runs in the bottom of the third. Cruse had a three RBI blast following Sakamoto’s lead off homerun. Later on in the inning, Fry’s double allowed Taylor to score from first base.

Austin Peay did not have any luck in the top of the fourth against Erica Tuck on the mound. Bennett was the source of the Golden Eagle’s third homerun of the day

in the bottom of the fourth.

Eldridge would add one more homer in the bottom of the sixth to complete the Golden Eagles’ scoring.

“I knew the way our hitters had been these past couple of weeks. I did not really get down on two runs,” said Bynum. “I knew it was something we could come back from.”

On the defensive side of the game, Tuck went the full seven innings on the mound.

She allowed eight hits, three runs and had one strikeout

against 33 batters in the last home game of her career.

“I want to have fun and I want to be remembered as a good role model for the younger kids coming up,” Tuck said about her senior year. “And, we are going to win.”

The Golden Eagles lost two games to Murray state Sunday, but they are still ranked near the top of the conference. They will be at Eastern Kentucky April 25 and April 26 to close out the regular season.