The Oracle - 091316

ORACLE Tuesday, September 13, 2016

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Fall Fun Fest brings food and fun to Cookeville square

By STEVEN STOIK Beat Reporter Dozens of vendor stations offered food, crafts and community outreach Friday at Cookeville’s Fall Fun Fest, and at least three were hosted by Tech students or faculty.

The music, arts and barbecue competition festival returned to the city square in downtown Cookeville this past weekend for its 20th year giving thousands of area residents another chance to indulge in Cookeville’s small town southern culture and become better acquainted. Visitors old and new anticipated events like Tony Stone’s Barbecue Cook-off and musical guests like Nite Fire and Black Widow. Food vendors reserved booths starting at $450, while in order to participate in arts, vendors paid $100 to reserve a craft booth.

In all, it was a heavily-populated year for both food and craft. This is routine for the street fair, which regularly pulls crowds in excess of 20,000 visitors annually.

The festival is organized and hosted by Cookeville’s Cityscape, a local non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing historic downtown Cookeville.

Board member and previous chairperson Randy Adams illuminated key details on how the event has engaged students and community members in general for so long.

“Cookeville is a great community in which the public and private sectors will work together well,” Adams said. “You hardly see that anywhere else.” When asked how so many booths are organized to best represent the city, Adams said, “This is not a cheap operation. There is a lot of cooperation between the city, county and the university.

Also, the Swallows Agency is our sponsor and they help us pay the bands.”

On Washington Avenue around 6 p.m. spectators were treated with the usual carnival food booths and small business tents, but they could also enjoy the seating area at the intersection with Broad Street where Nashville’s Black Widow band cranked tunes like “Uptown Funk” and other classics onstage.

Also involved this year as usual was local PBS affiliate WCTE, who held the entire west end of the square for their own events.

Carriage rides were offered for a few dollars

each on an adjacent block as people were lining the streets near dusk.

Of course Tech students and faculty showed up in force that evening as well, chaperoning numerous inflatable gyms for the children starting at 5 p.m. as part of the Service Learning Center’s ongoing active service projects.

According to SLC’s assistant coordinator Kaitlin Salyer, the event brought in many new students to get acquainted in serving their community while earning work study and scholarship hours.

“So we work with about 700 federal work study, scholarship and HPEO honors program students altogether,” Sayler said.

When asked about students helping the children, she replied, “There are close to 50 student volunteers out here each night. I think it’s going great so far. We have a lot of new faces…I’ve participated in years past and it’s a lot of fun, great energy and a great community fest.”

Among students wearing their light blue service project shirts, Andrew Neighbor threw in his experience working the inflatables that night for his community.

“I’m here to help, and for scholarship,” Neighbor said. “I need to put in 75 hours a semester. It helps with somewhere around $3,000 a year. Each time you do something, you’re placed into a different job like at the rec center or just volunteering community service.”

His fellow student staff mate, Jackson Ridge, spoke up about his own experience with SLC. “I’m here for work study,” Ridge said. “I applied to help pay for college and I need 110 hours.” He added, “I enjoy it so far and it’s definitely something I’d do again. I think it ended up being pretty big. I’m excited to be a part of this. It’s a cool way to be a part of this community.”

Among a dozen or so non-Tech-related mug stations and glasswork tents on North Jefferson Avenue was the booth for the Appalachian Center for Craft. Staffed that evening by craft center programs manager Gail Gantry, the booth exhibited recent glasswork dishes and other pieces by student artist Jon Watson.

It also provided helpful information on upcoming one-day workshops at the Tech craft center in Smithville. Gentry explained

Photo by Steven Stoik l The Oracle FALL FUN FEST - Putnam County residents fill the closed off square in Cookeville’s historic downtown Friday Sept. 9, for the 20th annual Fall Fun Fest. the craft center’s involvement there.

“We’re here representing the Appalachian Center for Craft, and the bachelor [program] of fine arts, our exhibitions and workshop program,” Gentry said. “The work in this booth is the work of our residents.” She also explained of what importance the weekendlong booth was to students reaching out to the community. “The value is in just learning to interact with the public and how to present their work.”

As for the cook-off, at dusk several local barbecue competitors participated in one of the street festival’s most anticipated events: The 27th annual Tony Stone Cookeville Cook-off.

The Kansas City Barbecue Societysanctioned event had the chance to judge local sausage grilling attempts, including that of Maryville-based food truck competitor Chairman of the Boar.

Griller and food enthusiast Mike Theriault had the opportunity to shed light on his food truck’s attempts at taking home 1st place that night while giving out samples of his recently-cooked sausage.

“The big thing about what we do here is, we gotta knock the judges off their feet tomorrow in the rib contest,” Theriault said.

“We have to cook within a plus or minus five minute window...they judge with the local Mayor, sheriff and local celebrities at 7.”

“It takes a lot of love and a four-stage process. Our biggest competitors are Under the Radar and Quen, Strewn and Brewn.

They always bring their A-game.”

“We have vendors on a waiting list. We have to shut down part of highway 70 for 24 hours once a year,” said Randy Adams as the evening wore on.

Speaking of new students visiting the event for the first time each year, he said, “What you’ll get to see here is Cookeville at its best. They’ll realize they’re in a community that’s involved, cares for them and embraces them.”

Events unfolded as planned for Friday night’s events through 9:30 p.m.

Unfortunately, the Fall Fun Fest was cancelled at 8 p.m. Saturday after an hour delay due to heavy rain, as announced on the festival’s Facebook page.

Tech police roll out new parking plan with increased consequences

By MICHAEL LOUTHAN Beat Reporter &

JASON WILLIAMS Beat Reporter The parking lots of Tech stay crowded this semester as students prepare for more changes to the campus parking plan.

Many students feel that parking has become a hassle for commuters and on campus residents alike.

“It’s just getting old,” Mark Seals, a student in the general curriculum program said. “School has only been started for a few weeks and people are already tired of parking.”

Last semester Tech announced a rearrangement of its zoned parking system as well as an increase in parking permit costs. The new zones include gold, red, green and purple.

The gold zone is defined as “Inner Campus” and is located in the same locations at previous faculty and staff parking. This zone is primarily for employees, but select

upperclassmen may be able to upgrade to this pass.

The red zone is defined as “Student Inner Campus” and is located between The Hoop and Tucker Stadium, behind Volpe Library, outside of the Millard Oakley STEM Center and the commuter lot until its closure. This zone is initially for students, but will be opened up to staff as well. A red zone parking pass will cost $77.50 per semester, or $155 for a full year.

The green zone is defined as “Students Residence Halls and Tech Village” and is located next to all dormitories on campus and

includes Tech Village Apartments parking. This parking zone is only available for students residing on campus and costs the same as a red zones pass.

While these zones help better organize who can park where, it doesn’t fix the underlying problem: there are not enough parking spots. This problem has also led to an increase in the severity of consequences.

In addition to parking tickets and holds, faculty, staff and students can now be subject to towing after multiple infractions.

Multiple students have already

had their cars towed for having multiple violations of the new plan according to Tech Chief of Police Tony Nelson.

“Repeated or fragrant abuse of rules and regulations can result in getting your car towed,” Officer Elizabeth Clemens said.

After three unassigned parking violations student’s cars will be subject to towing.

This policy is only enacted for the fall semester and not the full year. Chief Nelson confirmed that students have their violation record reset at the conclusion of the semester.

SGA reorganizes senators for Independent Programs

By ASHLEY MOYERS Beat Reporter SGA passed a bill that recognizes senators from Independent Programs as senators for the College of Arts and Sciences Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The bill will revise the SGA constitution by adding more organizational phrases under the election section.

According to bill 003, “All Pre-Law and Special ProgramNondegree students in Independent Programs shall, for voting and apportionment purposes, be under the College of Arts and Sciences. All General Health Studies students in Independent Programs shall, for voting and apportionment purposes, be under the Whinston-Hester School of Nursing.”

SGA senator Madison Cole first introduced the topic to the board August 30, 2016.

After several minutes of heated debate, her initial bill Read More Online

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was tabled due to the bill stating Independent Programs as an existing college, when it’s not recognized as such.

“Every student that attends Tennessee Tech University should be able to be represented,” said Cole.

“The SGA constitution did not include these students so it’s our duty to inform and include them.”

SGA senator Brett Windrow is the sponsor of the bill at hand.

He was responsible for the revised form of the bill that was later passed the following week September 6, 2016.

“We managed to get all sides together and solve the underlying issues around Independent Programs representation while ensuring that the solution didn’t create problems for future student bodies,” said Windrow.

One senator who is affected by this situation is Elizabeth Webb, sophomore pre-law major.

“After running in April for the Independent Programs I thought my seat was secure but when the Exec positions

changed hands, seats in the independent programs were found to be against the constitution,” Webb said.

“After a bill was written this problem has been corrected by adding my concentration, which is pre law into the College of Arts and Sciences for SGA purposes.”

Now that the newest bill has been passed the previously elected senators for Independent Program will be reassigned to the corresponding colleges.

As far as passing SGA bill’s the executive council are there to help along the way.

Current SGA president Alex Martin says, “We [SGA President Alex Martin, and executive council] ask that anyone who is sponsoring a bill present it to executive council at the Monday night cabinet meetings so that we can assist them, but it is not required. It is a suggestion meant to serve as a resource to the senators.”

The next SGA meeting will be held Sept. 13, 2016 at 9:15 p.m. in the Tech Pride room, and is open for anyone to attend.

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NEWS

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

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>> Campus

Tech Activities Board gears up for upcoming events events @ tech The Tech Activities Board is scaling back on weekly events, but shifting their focus to more event-based plans. TAB’s first outreach will be in October with “Zorb Racing” on the Main Quad.

September

By MARANDA TANKERSLEY Beat Reporter While it may seem as though the Tech Activities Board is downsizing its usual events and giveaways this semester, don’t fret: this year’s calendar of events is all about quality, not quantity.

In October, TAB is hosting a “Zorb Racing” event on the Main Quad where students race against opponents down a 75-foot track in a giant inflatable ball.

“We originally planned to have the Zorb event at the end of September,” TAB adviser Nickole Anderson said, “but the company we’re renting from had a conflict of scheduling, and we went with the second week in October.”

Geographic information systems senior Wesley Flatt thinks the Zorb racing event will be one that attracts many students.

“Not many people get to do that sort of thing,” Flatt said. “It’s mainly because it costs so much

when you go to some touristy place like the one in Pigeon Forge.”

Anderson also mentioned TAB would be hosting a giveaway the Tuesday before the racing event to promote it.

Also in October is TAB’s candy apple giveaway as a promotion for Homecoming, the organization’s largest event.

“TAB completely runs Homecoming,” Anderson said. “From picking the theme, to creating the packet, to executing all of the events and keeping up with scores.”

The remaining two events will be held later in the semester. In November, there will be a “TAB is Thankful” event, a Thanksgiving-style dinner which includes a TAB Fall t-shirt giveaway, and in December, a holiday photo event with a keepsake for students to take home.

When asked if there will be any TAB Tuesday giveaways this semester, Anderson explained that because of a shortage of funds, the organization decided to take a “less is more” approach.

“Our thoughts behind this decision,” she said, “is that we would rather give students a chance to come out and have an afternoon or an evening and have a good time with their friends.”

How students respond to the change this semester will depend on the student, but Flatt doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.

“Big events like that are cool, but free stuff is also cool,” he said. “Sometimes they would hand out some pretty useful stuff, but it wouldn’t hurt to switch it up a little.”

Just because there are four events on the schedule, doesn’t mean that they’re the only events TAB is and will be hosting. Anderson said that it’s possible for the organization to do another small event or giveaway, they just need good ideas.

“We just need more students to be involved,” she said. “Much of what we do is strictly done by the staff in our office.”

If you have an idea for a TAB event or giveaway, contact the organization at ttutab@gmail.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter @tntechtab.

Orientation and Student Success begins search for SOAs

By SPENCER WILLIAMS Beat Reporter Tech is in the process of looking to hire more Student Orientation Assistants (SOAs) and will be hosting an info session at the Roaden University Center Tuesday, September 13.

The info session will cover the general details that involve becoming an SOA such as benefits, qualifications, the commitment that it involves, as well as a Q&A session afterwards.

The office of Orientation and Student Success is currently accepting applications up until Wednesday, September 21.

Director of Orientation and Student Success, Allen Mullis, explained what it would look like to be an SOA. “A Student Orientation Assistant is a peer mentor for the incoming students in the Fall. So essentially they are that student leader that helps facilitate that transition from applying and getting admitted to Tech to really becoming a Tech student. It can be everything from helping answer the simple questions to sharing what their experience has been like as a Golden Eagle themselves,” Mullis said.

As a once Student Orientation Assistant himself, Mullis is able to relate to the incoming SOAs and tell them of his own experience. “The majority of what we inject into our program are the experiences that we share with others and the understanding of just how impactful a role such as this can offer,” Mullis said.

Along with being a paid position here at Tech, there are also numerous other opportunities that come along with the job.

“It’s a great leadership opportunity and a chance to further your experience here as a student at Tennessee Tech,” Elijah Sandoval, a current SOA said.

“Your experience here is ultimately what you make it and this position itself can help further imbed you into the culture and campus as well as getting to share your experience here with the other students.”

The same experience can even be said for students who have been impacted by SOAs. “They help further promote the friendly atmosphere of our school and have even personally helped me during the transition from high school to college as it can be difficult getting acclimated to living away from home,” Haley Payne, a current Tech student said.

‘‘

Your experience here is ultimately what you make it and this position itself can help further imbed you into the culture and campus

—Elijah Sandoval Student Orientation Assistant

,,

Along with the list of qualifications that can be found on Tech’s website (such as you must be an undergraduate Tech student and not graduating in the Spring/Summer 2017 and earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better in college or 3.0 in high school if you are a freshman) there are also other qualifications that they would want people who are interested in this position to have.

“We want students who are passionate about the university and find a lot of value in trying to give back and share their experiences with students and their parents,” said Mullis.

If you are interested you can find out more information at the Office of Orientation and Student Success located at Roaden University Center 339.

Ice Cream & Stroll event kicks off semester for NPHC

‘‘

By BRITTANY MCGEE Beat Reporter The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) hosted the first “Ice Cream & Stroll” on Centennial Plaza, Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m.

The event was orchestrated by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as an act to “raise awareness about the NPHC,” said Alpha Phi Alpha member Sean Henriques.

The NPHC, a predominately African American council, came up with the idea as a way to “give students and other people an opportunity to do something different.”

Different flavors of ice cream, ranging from strawberry to cookies and cream, were being offered to any student or spectator that attended and watched each Greek stroll, hop or strut their stuff. Each fraternity

I enjoyed the tunes that were being played throughout the event because I was able to sing and eat my favorite ice cream at the same time while enjoying the company of my friends...

—Andrea Retano

,,

Ice Cream & Stroll Participant

and sorority performed their routines to a variety of music.

“I enjoyed the tunes that were being played throughout the event because I was able to sing and eat my favorite ice cream at the same time while enjoying the company of my friends and teammates,” said sophomore Andrea Retano.

The crowd consisted of about 40 students and other spectators that also played a huge role in the event.

While “Swag Surfin’” by F.L.Y. was

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playing on the loud speaker, Alpha Phi Alpha members Wolfgang Bronner and Christopher Dodson began to urge the crowd to start imitating the known dance move, while being photographed and videotaped by their photographer.

During the event, Henriques mentioned that it seemed as though the people were really enjoying themselves.

Without an exact end time for the event, students and spectators

just started to fade away after about two hours of eating, dancing and strolling.

“The overall turnout was great,” said Henriques with a satisfied grin on his face.

As of the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority lost their representation on campus due to spring 2016 graduates, as well as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Even with their absence on the campus as of the current semester, the NPHC still plan on making their presence and status known through a plethora of ways on this campus.

“I see their advertising a lot on social media, but this is the first time I have actually attended a NPHC event,” junior Madison Stremler said. “It was fun and exciting.”

“There is a full semester of events planned for the student body and we hope that everyone can come out and enjoy each one,” Henriques said.

WTTU wants YOU

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10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

LinkedIn Photobooth Johnson Hall Student Lounge

11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Career Readiness Interview Workshop Tech Pride Room

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

Stripling Quartet Wattenbarger Auditorium

14

3:35 p.m. - 4:45 p.m Google Speaks on How Goolge Innovates Derryberry Auditorium

15 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Engineering Student Success Fair Ray Morris Hall

10 .m. - 2 p.m.

Service Learning and Civil Engagement Fair Centennial Plaza

11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Career Readiness Career Fair Workshop Tech Pride Room

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

Wonkak Kim, Faculty Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium

16 All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Learning About Learning - Academic Learning Community Meeting RMH 139

17 All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bill Woodworth Wattenbarger Auditorium

18

All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

19

All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

All Day Last Day for 25% Refund Campus Wide

20

All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

11 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Engineering, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Clement Hall 212

11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

AAUP Meeting Henderson Hall 205

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Please recycle your copy of The Oracle once finished.

Thank you!

Tech Teaches 2- Inquiry RMH 104

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

Classes continue Tuesday, Sept. 13 in RUC 369 at 8 p.m.

to be a DJ!

First Nations - The Circle of Music Wattenbarger Auditorium

21

All Day Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus <<

NEWS

Army ROTC hosts annual Gold Bar Golf Scramble to fundraise for yearly expences

By OLIVIA HOFFMAN Beat Reporter Tech’s Army ROTC 2nd Annual Gold Bar Golf Scramble kicks off this Saturday morning, September 17, at Southern Hills Golf Course in Cookeville.

The Gold Bar Golf Scramble is the only ROTC fundraiser throughout the year, and the money raised goes toward training expenses and

purchasing needed equipment among other things.

Calvin Hall, a cadet in his third year of the program, reiterated just how important this fundraiser is.

“We use this money for every single expense we have throughout the year. Not only does it go toward equipment, but it goes toward food, gas for vehicles and everything we need for the betterment of future cadets. It’s a huge fundraiser for us,” Hall said.

Tech’s Army ROTC prepares cadets for life in the military and has commissioned many classes of 2nd Lieutenants into the U.S. Army.

According to Tech’s ROTC website, cadets must be able to maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher and must meet height, weight and physical fitness standards. William Nakamoto, a cadet in his fourth year of the program, talked about the amount of cadets commissioned into the Army from Tech.

“We have commissioned 65 classes of commissioned officers in the U.S. Army and are getting ready to commission our 66th group of outstanding young officers,” Nakamoto said. “The Golden Eagle Battalion at Tennessee Tech is doing better than ever!”

There will be many activities and contests throughout the day, including a silent auction and raffle.

Contests include hole in one, closest to the pin, putting, longest drive

and straightest drive. Breakfast and lunch will be included, and there will be a bar, but feel free to bring your own drinks.

Teams consist of four people, and the cost is $50 per person or $180 per team. While it is best to come with your team already formed, the workers will pair up single players.

Registration is from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

Contact kloftis@tntech.edu with further questions.

Bid Day at Tech TECH BID DAY: Bid Day 2016 marks the end of the recruitment period for sororities on campus.

This is the day that every potential new member will find out what chapter they will join.

With five Panhellenic Association recognized chapters on campus, there was plenty to celebrate as new members were welcomed into their sisterhoods. This day signifies the transition from a candidate to a new member as Recruitment festivities come to a close.

Ashton Breeden | The Oracle

Page 4 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

E NTERTAINMENT

>> Reviews

Donald Glover explores dreamy, deadpan vision of rap industry in ‘Atlanta’

By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor Like its creator’s music, “Atlanta” is a dreamy, contemplatively witty affair. It often shifts from the surreal to the too real in the same scene, a testament to the craft of the show’s mastermind, Donald Glover. Glover’s career thus far can best be summarized as scattershot without losing a grip on what it precisely wants to do. Glover is an entertainer who isn’t restricted to one industry, as is evident with a highly successful body of work as rapper Childish Gambino and various acting and writing endeavors. His career is all about balance, and with “Atlanta,” there’s just an even deeper sense of that between joking and late20s aimlessness that permeates all of Glover’s work.

That it eschews the lofty view of Atlanta for a more honest portrayal of the city should come as no surprise due to the already subtle nature of Glover’s style. This vision of Atlanta doesn’t paint the city in a single negative light, but rather presents it as

both anonymous and highly apparent that what we’re viewing is indeed one of the biggest cities in America. Although it’s rich in history and culture, “Atlanta” is centered around one of the city’s most exciting aspects: its rap music scene, and moreover, the difficulties of navigating that industry with a character who is simply trying to make ends meet.

We meet Earn (Donald Glover) and instantly welcome the character. He’s a charming 20-something stuck selling credit cards in the airport and currently in a war with the old woman competing against him across the way. It’s clear from the way he treats his baby daughter that he wants the best for both of them, despite the mother, Van (Zazie Beetz), forcing him to say “I love you” and effortlessly announcing she has a date with someone else moments later. Earn is stuck and longing to make money as a manager for his cousin Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), a moderately successful rapper who declines until Earn takes matters into his own hands, leading “Paper Boi” to become a household name in Atlanta.

While Glover’s character

Photo Courtesy: slate.com A FRESH PERSPECTIVE - Glover chose an all-black writing team for ‘Atlanta’ in order ‘to show white people, you don’t know everything about black culture.’ Glover previously wrote for NBC’s ‘30 Rock.’ has no problem being painlessly engaging, the writing instead uses the humor when it’s needed and lets the plethora of hilarious side characters steal the show. Most notably is Darius (Keith Stanfield), Paper Boi’s perennial friend who makes Seinfeldian observations with ease.

The series takes the time to deliver truly funny moments through deadpan delivery.

These aren’t dry jokes being uttered out; they’re deeply funny lines delivered with truth. Yet for all the strength of the supporting cast, one of the show’s problems lies with Van, the mother of Earn’s daughter, a character so ambiguous and nebulous that it is easy to forget about her. There isn’t enough time to flesh her out in the first two episodes that have aired,

and when she does show up, there isn’t any palpable tension between her and Earn due to the show’s focus on its story and themes.

The heart of the show never leaves the screen and sits firmly with Earn. He contemplates the sadness of his situation with a mysterious tuxedo-clad passenger on a bus, pondering “Are some people just supposed to

lose?” It all comes back to balance, and “Atlanta” is consistently a balance of thoughtprovoking and zany writing all brought to fruition by the deft hand of Glover and his brother, Stephen. Glover’s art is often touching, sometimes excessively witty, but always genuine, and it’s easy to see that honesty pours into every scene in “Atlanta” and hopefully will for its run.

Tech students continue Pokémon search among crashes, frustration Months after its release, Tech students travel campus catching Pokémon despite the game’s flaws and technical errors. Players also eagerly await new features while capturing gyms across campus.

By ASHTON BREEDEN Guest Critic

Photo Courtesy: theindiandj.com POKÉMON NO - Cookeville Regional Medical Center banned Pokémon Go Players from entering the hospital days after the game was released due to safety ssues.

The buzz surrounding Pokémon Go in the media slowly faded away this past summer after its July 6 release, but some trainers still dream of being the very best and continue to use the app.

Pokémon Go allows users to catch generation one pokémon, but players can do more than just track down that last Magikarp they need to get a Gyrados. Upon reaching level five, players can tap a nearby gym and choose one of three teams to join: Valor, Mystic, or Instinct. Each team’s symbol and color is based off of the three legendary birds of the original series (Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos respectively).

“I chose the yellow team (Instinct) because all my friends joined that team,” Reid Fuhrman, a junior computer science major said.

The teams compete for control over gyms in their city. To claim a gym, users must first defeat all pokémon left guarding the gym. After that, they can leave their strongest pokémon

to keep the gym under their team’s control. The higher-level gym, the more pokémon can be left to guard it.

Tech is no exception.

“I think there needs to be more gyms on campus,” Nicole Newman, a junior studying special education said. Newman went on to say that she would definitely play the game if she had enough storage on her phone.

But not everyone’s experience with the app has been a good one.

“My starter was technically a Caterpie,” Alyson Pointer, a senior secondary education major said. “The game glitched so I didn’t get to catch any of the starters. I was mad.”

The app has definitely had some ups and downs since its release; ranging from daily crashes because so many people log on at once to a learn-as-you-go tutorial, the app still has a long way to go to reach the potential fans were expecting.

Some rumors flying around hint that trading between users may be coming in a future update that apparently has been given a date.

Either way, Pokémon Go still appeals to some. And those that still play are definitely ready to catch ‘em all.

Poet Emily Joy guests at emotional open mic night

By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic O p e n mic night has been a tradition at Tech for years, but it’s found a new location. The event’s recent move to the Talon Theater, located on the second floor of Foundation Hall, was prompted by the renovations taking place in Jere Whitson Hall, which previously housed Tech’s Backdoor Playhouse. While some saw the renovation as the end of an era, the Talon

Theater has a cool, laid-back vibe that makes it the perfect home for an open mic. There are couches, mood lighting, and an open-floor plan that would make an HGTV host weep with joy.

I had planned to write that the only thing missing was a coffee bar, but professor Andrew Smith made my wildest dreams come true by providing enough Starbucks cold brew to keep me wide awake for the rest of the evening.

Thursday’s event began with a full house. It was headed up by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, professional poet Emily

Joy, who also hosted an intimate and amazing poetry workshop before the show began. She shared two of her incredible poems, both of which covered topics of religion, feminism, and figuring out how to navigate the world.

Chelsea Mathis was the second to take the stage with a beautiful, heartfelt poem about family bonds and maternal love. Later came grad student Tyler McNew, who shared two gorgeous works of poetry that dealt with love, family, sexuality, and spirituality. He described the first work he shared as “angsty,” and to me, that

word doesn’t get enough credit.

As several other poets (including the amazing James Gribble, whose words and voice almost made me cry in front of my roommate, two faculty members, and a chemistry major with a personal statement that became a poem) shared their deeply personal stories, I began to realize that this evening was almost like a therapy session. These people trusted us, their audience, to hear and process their words, and by extension, their minds.

Of course, the evening was not only about spoken

word. It would be difficult for me to feature every amazing artist who performed (and rest assured, they were all amazing; Tech is a talented campus), but two musical acts stood out to me as extraordinary. The first was Chelsea Mason, whose gorgeous southern gothic voice cut me to the core. I was automatically reminded of a mix of Alabama Shakes and Janis Joplin come back to life.

The second was a twoman act described only as “KevBo & Clark.” The singer’s harmonica game was legendary, and his voice was described by Emily Joy as sounding like Swedish

folk singer The Tallest Man on Earth, a comparison I wholeheartedly approve of.

The act’s pianist kept perfect time with the guitar, and the medium-paced love song they sang left my roommate and me smiling and thinking of summertime.

As I said, it would be impossible for me to mention every student, faculty member, and member of the community who took the stage Thursday night. As fall approaches and nights get colder, there’s no better way to spend an evening than crowded into the relaxed Talon Theater, waiting to see them for yourself.

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O PINIONS

American grit needed in upcoming election KATE TREBING Opinions Editor The summer of 2016 has been one of the most memorable of my college career. I longed for refuge from the world of political campaigning, unpredictable terror attacks and unstoppable natural disasters. I wanted to experience a carefree summer full of adventure. I needed to exercise my independence and flex my cerebral muscles.

To make a long story short, I hopped on a plane and fled the country to study abroad.

Unfortunately, none of the issues I sought to forget can be escaped by a simple geographical translation.

One of the most humbling experiences a student can have while abroad is to view the state of her country’s affairs from an outsider’s perspective. I watched from a South American TV screen as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton blundered their way into the presidential primaries. I listened as if in a dream to the seemingly endless reports of violence between police and the black community. I watched helplessly as ISIS targeted a nightclub in Orlando, the same city in which two of my closest friends lived.

I was safe, encapsulated in an Argentine bubble, while my country seemed to be in the midst of turmoil.

A Committee of Five by John Trumbull (1819) FOUNDING FATHERS - Our nation was founded on a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single leader would have absolute control.

I returned to the States almost expecting to see a nation preparing for an apocalypse.

Wal-Mart’s shelves would be barren as hoarders stocked up in anticipation of an economic shutdown.

Plane tickets to Australia would be astronomically expensive as soon-to-be expatriates took advantage of the safe haven “down under.”

Instead, I found my homeland to be much the same as it has ever been.

I observed as my fellow

countrymen gathered around TV screens to catch the latest presidential campaign highlights. They collectively shook their heads, chuckled sardonically and proceeded about their business. What I had perceived to be an insurmountable national crisis was being reduced to another compulsory absurdity in the daily thread of life.

I was tempted to view this as an outrageous display of insensitivity toward our nation’s future. Was everyone attempting to

ignore a presidential election in which neither leading candidate seems fit to lead a first-world power? Had Americans simply grown callous to politics and become too apathetic to exercise their political rights? I had been surrounded by opinionated, vocal world travelers for two months, and it seemed that I had returned to a nation of close-lipped Americans.

Yet we are not closeminded. Our nation continues to move forward, despite troubles on the home front.

We mourned with Europe when Nice was targeted by ISIS on Bastille Day, and we celebrated in the Summer 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. We bravely mourn our tragedies, and we share our sympathies with our allies when they receive similar losses. We put aside our differences with our neighbors and celebrate our strength in unity.

Since my return to the States, I have watched as a lot, and yet very little, has continued to change. We have all heard the saying, “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.”

It seems that this is true even in the land of opportunity.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton received pardon from the FBI for her email scandal, despite outrage from the public. Republican candidate Donald Trump managed to arrange a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto after asserting that he will “make Mexico pay” for the wall he has proposed to build along the U.S.-Mexico border. Both candidates seem to continuously avoid the repercussions of their words and actions, regardless of the backlash that arises from the very people they desire to govern.

As a student abroad, I was almost embarrassed to watch my country’s spectacle unravel like dirty laundry for the entire world to see. Now that I am home, I see that the only way we can rationally weather these storms is by taking them in stride, with

a good sense of humor and a strong appreciation for democracy. The decision we make in November will affect the next four years of our government, but it does not comprise the next four years of our nation’s history. We are more than just one leader.

This is why our Founding Fathers created a system of checks and balances.

Our country’s history is riddled with triumphs and disasters. We have survived the terror attacks of 9/11, the Watergate scandal, and cycle after cycle of leaders who fell short when we felt we needed them most. But we have always pulled through our trials. By no means should we simply accept what we may see as an inevitable compromise, a choice of the “lesser of two evils.” But if we should find ourselves facing a surreal election, we must keep in mind that our country is stronger than the sum of its parts.

I dread this election like a doctor’s appointment. A necessary evil, a tough pill to swallow. But this nation is strong. We have witnessed generations of change, and we have seen generations of presidents come and go. We are an independent people. We will weather the storm, whichever direction it blows.

Kate Trebing is a junior in communication with a concentration in public relations.

She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.

The reason Mr. Right does not exist and why that is okay JORJENNA ELLIS Guest Critic Most people are under the impression that college is the ultimate time to find your soul mate. Facebook and Instagram are full of pictures of beautiful weddings, diamond rings, and smiling couples. Dating sites like Tinder, OkCupid, Match, and eHarmony are constantly trying to drag young college students into the dating pool and insisting that their services will help you find the One. It’s almost as if we as a generation have been socialized into believing that we can’t survive without an intimate relationship. And if the first guy whose pictures we liked asks for a date, then why not give it a try? Besides, our biological clocks are ticking louder and louder every day. We’ve got to find Mr. Right right now, before it’s too late.

But Mr. Right is getting harder and harder to find, if he even still exists at all.

Most Mr. Right’s are actually Mr. Wrong’s, who immediately feel emasculated when you tell them that you’re double-majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science (with a minor in German) and that you plan on working for NASA. Or, they’re actually just misogynist jerks who think that women are incapable of making

THE

‘‘

To her, my bachelor’s degree is just my ‘back-up plan’—in case I end up marrying a loser and have to provide for myself financially.

their own decisions. Take John, for example, who I encountered last semester.

John and I, complete strangers, are sitting in one of the many lounges on campus, studying for finals. He sits on one side of the table while I sit on the other, books scattered in front of me. We’re passing the time with the usual small talk of college students: majors, grade years, the weather.

Then, John asks me if I have a boyfriend.

I try to roll my eyes completely back in my skull, but I’m not that talented.

Don’t get me wrong—John isn’t an unattractive person, but I’m busy and already sleep-deprived. My idiot tolerance level is only running at -5, so John hasn’t picked the best day to annoy me.

“What’s your name again? You know, so I can put it down in my phone here,” he winks, as if that will make him seem less creepy.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t give my number out to people I’ve just met,” I reply, and begin to

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pack up my books.

Apparently, John doesn’t handle rejection very well; he slides his phone across the table towards me. “I’ll just leave this here, so you can type it in yourself.” He pats the wood reassuringly and smiles, which irks me even more.

I look at John’s phone, then at John, and back. I pick up the phone for a moment, toss it back across the table at him with a firm “No” and walk out.

John is not the first chivalrous young man to treat me as less than human in the pursuit of trying to get my number, and I sincerely doubt he’ll be the last.

When I tell my mother the story later on in the day, she says I’m just rude; she believes that John could have been the love of my life, someone who I would marry and have ten kids with. To her, my bachelor’s degree is just my ‘back-up plan’—in case I end up marrying a loser and have to provide for myself

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financially.

But if I spend 4 plus years of my life working for nothing more than a ‘back-up plan,’ then what was the point in even wasting my time? Why did our mothers encourage their daughters to go to college in the first place if they don’t really expect great things out of us on our own?

Several of my single female friends who were born and raised in the South feel the same way, even the science and engineering majors. There’s this pressure put on us from hairdressers, cashiers, even bank tellers, who ask questions like, “How old are you now, sweetheart? Do you have a boyfriend?” immediately followed by, “Well you’d better be finding you a man soon, then! You’re getting old!”

The real point of college, believe it or not, is to build the foundations for a career. Besides, I’d much rather be holding a degree in my hand than a marriage certificate any day of the week, wouldn’t you?

If Mr. Right needs me, tell him I’m out doing more important things, like conquering the world.

Jorjenna Ellis is a senior in English. She can be reached at jlellis42@students.tntech.edu

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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN || PAGE 6

S PORTS

>> Inside the Game

Volleyball opens season undefeated

By HALEY DAVIDSON Beat Reporter

Thomas Corhern | TTU Sports Information 50 YARD LINE PRAYER - Players from both Tennessee Tech and Wofford pray for their teammate and opponent, Michael Roach after he goes into cardiac arrest.

Wofford player released from Cookeville hosptial

By ALEXIS STALEY Beat Reporter Thursday night, September 1, Tech took on Wofford University for the season opener.

Michael Roach, a junior Wofford linebacker, fell to the ground on the sidelines in the third quarter and went into cardiac arrest before being taken off of the sidelines by Cookeville EMS and the athletic staff from both teams.

Roach was then taken to Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Roach, on the way to the hospital, woke up in the ambulance and asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why am I not in the game and what is the score?â&#x20AC;?

In a recent press conference, Roach described his experience to a number of people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got light headed and the world kind of zoned out around me. The next thing I know I woke up in an ambulance and did not know what was going on,â&#x20AC;? stated Roach.

Friday morning, Cookeville Regional Medical Center did an EKG and heart echo on Roach, which led the doctors to diagnose him with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Roach

had a procedure to place an implantable cardioverter defribillator. Roach asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why did it happen now?â&#x20AC;? The doctors at Cookeville Regional Medical Center described his incident as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the perfect storm.â&#x20AC;?

Roach will no longer be able to play football but will be able to continue to be a part of the team as a coach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted to leave the game on my own terms and not have a doctor tell me I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play anymore. So this now puts a competitive fire in me to stick around as a coach so I can dictate when I want to call it quits.â&#x20AC;?

Roachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans for the future he said were â&#x20AC;&#x153;to get a graduate assistant spot at a big law school. I want to help coach and pursue my law degree.â&#x20AC;? He is double-majoring in business economics and English and plans to graduate Wofford University in 2018.

Roach was very pleased with the Tech athletic staff and community and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tennessee Tech community was awesome. The head coach, head trainer, mayor, and athletic director all came to see me and my family which kept us very comforted. I will always have a profound respect for Tennessee Tech and their community.â&#x20AC;?

The Golden Eagles womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball team started off their season undefeated with a record of 3-0, defeating Charleston Southern, University of Alabama Birmingham and Western Carolina in the season opener at Catamount Volleyball Classic August 26-27.

The Golden Eagles started off their 2015 season 0-6, so the team has a head start to a more successful 2016 season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Creating a strong team relationship has been a solid foundation and has helped us to find success early in our season,â&#x20AC;? senior Kennedy Wade said.

Sharon Anderson, senior starting setter, got awarded the Adidas Ohio Valley Conference setter of the week, after her hard work during the classic that helped the Golden Eagles grab all three wins. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was an honor to be named the OVC setter of the week and it was a perfect way to start off my senior seasonâ&#x20AC;?, said Anderson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so blessed to be a part of this team with these amazing girls and I am excited to see what we are going to do this season.â&#x20AC;?

The Golden Eagles went on to play in the Samford UAB Challenge September 2-3. Tennessee Tech battled and came out 1-3 for the weekend, gaining their first loss for the season. The Golden Eagles lost to Bradford, Samford and the University of Alabama Birmingham but beat Northwestern State in

Jim Dillon | TTU Sports Information SETTING FOR SUCCESS - Senior Volleyball player Sharon Anderson led in assists and digs against Charles Southern. three straight sets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to finish at the end of each game,â&#x20AC;? said Kirstin Brugere, sophomore libero, â&#x20AC;&#x153;which in my opinion, lost us all three games.â&#x20AC;?

The Golden Eagles have been preparing for the 2016 season since the beginning of August in preseason practices and workouts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that the most beneficial thing we focused on during the preseason is blending as a team on and off the court,â&#x20AC;? Wade said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finding out what each of us bring to the team individually and how all of these things contribute to our success as a whole.â&#x20AC;?

They added six new members to the 2016 roster and graduated only one player, Cody Dodd, who still lives in Cookeville and keeps in touch with the team.

Dodd led the Golden Eagles as the only senior on the team and by also being the leading player in season

stats, having an outstanding 515 kills for the 2015 season.

The Golden Eagles look to seniors Alyssa Povey, Kennedy Wade and Sharon Anderson as leadership for the 2016 season. Sophomore hitter Shealene Little leads the team in kills for the 2016 season with 74, followed closely by true freshman Rachel Thomas with 60 kills.

The team will be traveling to the Blue Raider Bash September 16-17 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Golden Eagles will take on Setton Hall, Illinois State and Middle Tennessee State University, looking to add wins to their record.

Brugere said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In practice this week (after the loss) we did a lot of drills that focuses on finishing strong to prepare us for this weekend (The Blue Raider Bash).â&#x20AC;?

The Golden Eagles are coached by Dave Zelenock and this will be his fourth year coaching the team.

University of Tennessee wins the Battle at Bristol against Virginia Tech 45-24

By BRANDON BURKE Beat Reporter The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Virginia Tech faced each other Saturday in college footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest game ever at Bristol Motor Speedway.

A new world record was set with 156,990 in attendance at the massive event in Bristol, Tennessee.

It was a slow start for the Volunteers offensively.

The Hokies of Virginia Tech drew first blood with a touchdown pass from Jerod Evans to Sam Rogers with 4:32 left in the first quarter.

Virginia Tech led 14-0 going into the second quarter.

The Volunteers took charge from the second quarter on and never looked back. On the first play of the second quarter, Tennessee forced a fumble and recovered the ball on their own 5-yard line. The next play to follow was a touchdown

pass from Volunteersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quarterback Josh Dobbs to Jauan Jennings to cut the Hokie lead to 14-7.

Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offense struck again with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter with a 38 yard touchdown reception by Josh Malone to tie the game. After a mad field goal by Vols kicker Aaron Medley, Dobbs rushed five yards for another touchdown with 39 seconds remaining to lead the Hokies 24-14 going into halftime.

After the half, the Volunteers continued to flourish offensively with a 23 yard touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara coming out of the backfield with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter.

With 6:45 left in the game, Dobbs rushed 27 yards for a touchdown to give the Volunteers a 38-17 lead. Third string running back John Kelly rushed four yards for another touchdown to cap the Vols off offensively for the contest and

extend the lead to 45-17.

The Hokies did find the end zone one more time before time expired resulting in a final score of 45-24 in favor of the Tennessee Vols.

Tennessee received a preseason ranking by the AP polls of ninth in the country. However, they quickly fell to 17 after they barely squeaked by an overtime victory against Appalachian State the previous week.

The Vols needed a big win to prove their preseason

ranking and they managed to accomplish it on an even bigger stage.

The University of Michigan formerly held the record for largest in attendance with just over 108,000.

It is easy to say that mark was well eclipsed Saturday in Bristol with an attendance of almost 157,000.

The Battle at Bristol between Tennessee and Virginia Tech was a record setting and historic day for the world of college football.

From sea to shining sea

By SEAN HENRIQUES Beat Reporter

" # ! " " #

Tech is home to a surprising amount of diversity, and this athlete represents just that.

At first glance she seems to be another American girl who is at Tech for higher education and to compete in higher level sports, but there is something very different about her.

Crystal Liebenberg is a pre-med and dietary physician major from South Africa.

She is also one of the track runners who races in hurdles and sprints recruited by Tech from an international high school.

She has gone from running the rich savannas of South Africa to running the rugged tracks of America in the matter of a year.

During her time in America, Crystal has had difficulty adapting to the American lifestyle and culture. She says people have a hard time understanding her because of her accent and vocabulary and she struggles

with understanding country people even more. Her family is seven hours ahead of her time zone so whenever she has issues she has to talk to the people around her Lienbenberg until her family can be available.

When asked if she had a significant other she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;yes, and it is very different being so far away and in different time zones. You start to forget the memories you shared because of the distance and it hurts.â&#x20AC;?

Her life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all bad though. Since she has been at Tech she has made several life long friends.

Although she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enjoy waking up every morning at the crack of dawn for morning practice, she enjoys watching the sunrise and she looks most forward to learning all about American culture while at Tech.

After she graduates she plans to pursue a graduate degree in nursing.

Photo courtsey: TN 66

University of Tennessee versus TN Tech tickets available for purchase

By DARIUS BERRY Beat Reporter The football season is just underway but that has not stopped anyone from buying tickets for the Nov. 5 game against SEC powerhouse Tennessee.

There are tickets available in the third tier zone of Neyland Stadium, which is located in the upper deck of the stadium for those that still want to attend the game in Knoxville. The deadline was June 30 but if you are still looking to attend you can purchase them for $50 here at Tech in the Hooper Elben Center ticket office. The deadline for those tickets are Tuesday, September 13 and after that day passes no more tickets will be sold.

You can also purchase the tickets by calling the ticket office at (931)372-3940 or by visiting the Tennessee Tech Athletics website at ttusports.com.