The Oracle- September 26, 2014

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>>Page 6

Friday, September 26, 2014

RACLE Volume 99 | Issue 3 | Free in single copy

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

>Adam Adam guns for legal change.

IN THIS ISSUE: 2 Calendar 2 News 3 News 4 Living 5 Sports 6 Opinion 7 Entertainment 8 News

> What is going on with South Patio?

Centennial Plaza project explained

>>Page 5 >>

>Coach oach Brown Brow in hot seat.

> More pictures from Neon Trees

>>Page 3 >>Page 8

'Everybody Talks' about Neon Trees

University rolls out new sustainability initiative, dumpsters purchased

By CHARLI BRAY Beat Reporter

Anthony Thornton | The Oracle

Fall 2014 S.O.L.O. Concert POP PSYCHOLOGY- Lead singer of Neon Trees, Tyler Glenn (above), belts out a song during Tuesday’s S.O.L.O. concert in the Hooper Eblen Center.

Neon Trees give students high energy show

By KIM BIGGS Asst. Managing Editor

& DILLON JAMES Beat Reporter Neon Trees and opening artist Slow Hands performed for excited Tennessee Tech University students Tuesday night.

The Student Government Association hosted another successful S.O.L.O. concert headlined by Neon Trees. On Sept. 23, students and members of the community filled the Hooper Eblen Center to watch Neon Trees and Slow Hands perform for the crowd.

Tyler Glenn, lead singer of Neon Trees, took the stage with a purple Tech foam finger in hand, and filled the arena with his upbeat and energetic stage presence. Glenn and the band displayed their fun-loving personalities in their performance throughout the night.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” said Glenn. “But, at the same time, we’re not a joke band.”

Neon Trees’ energy was reflected in the reaction from the students. Chyna Patterson, mathematics major, could feel the energy from the band.

“I was right in the front, so I was feeding off their energy,” said Patterson. “They all performed really well. They interacted well with the audience and made it a lot of fun.”

The band performed crowd favorites and their most popular hits, such as “Animal,” “Everybody Talks” and their newest single, “Sleeping With A Friend” for the crowd. They performed other songs including “I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)” and “Lessons in Love.”

Toward the end of the concert, Glenn crowd-surfed over the 400 students that had floor access.

Glenn continued to connect with the audience on a personal level by sharing his thoughts on being unique, living life as a homosexual and his life experiences that led to his songwriting. During the concert, he explained challenges he faced through high school and finding himself through music.

Their newest album, “Pop Psychology,” displays Glenn’s personal metamorphosis.

“This was the most thought out one (album),” Glenn said. “I think the record is supposed to be a lot darker, but then when it came time to actually make it, I was the happiest I’d been in a long time.”

Before producing the album, Glenn

‘‘

struggled with his anxiety and fears, which led to meeting his therapist. While writing the songs on “Pop Psychology,” Glenn was learning how to deal with these issues.

“I wanted the record to sound like a celebration more than a depressing thing,” said Glenn. “I think a lot of the tones and themes on the record are still similar. There is a lot about identity, finding love, moderation, things like that, but it’s a lot more energetic than maybe we intended.”

“Pop Psychology” was their most successful album since forming in 2005. It peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart and Alternative Albums chart.

Recently, the band’s bassist, Branden Campbell, underwent open-heart surgery for a valve replacement according to fameisdead. com. Neon Trees originally wanted to cancel the tour. However, Campbell wouldn’t allow it. On Tuesday night, Campbell was performing on the stage in the Hooper Eblen Center.

Some of the tour’s dates have been postponed due to the recent band member’s surgery.

Glenn said the band was happy to give him some time to recover and take care of his health issues, but the band is really “bummed” it happened.

To get the crowd excited for Neon Trees, Slow Hands took the stage and performed a 30-minute set preceding the headlining act. Known to his friends and family as Ryan Cavanagh, he performed varying disc jockey skills continuously throughout the performance.

“I’m not used to people looking at you.

I’m used to people with hands in the air, dancing and strong kick drums,” said Cavanagh.

“If you watch me cry and sweat, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.”

Despite the technical malfunction at the beginning of the set, Cavanaugh got the crowd excited for Neon Trees’ performance after he was finished.

The SGA constitution article states the S.O.L.O. fund is designed to, “enrich and advance the quality of a complete college experience at Tennessee Tech University.” Every semester, SGA chooses a list of bands for the students to vote on as a collective body. Once the vote is complete, the decision will determine the performance.

“I’m really impressed by the performance,” said Patterson. “I’m glad I went.”

I was right in the front, so I was feeding off their energy. They all performed really well. They interacted well with the audience and made it a lot of fun.

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—Chyna Patterson, Mathematics Major

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Katherine Smith | Guest Contributor CROWD SURFING SAFARI- In the midst of singing a song during the concert, Tyler Glenn (above), takes a ride across the hands of the listening audience in front of the stage.

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle ON POINT- Neon Trees lead singer, Tyler Glenn, and bass player, Brandon Campbell, add their own extra pizzazz to the S.O.L.O. concert performance Tuesday night.

Tennessee Tech has launched a new sustainability initiative for Tech waste and recycling. The TTU Sustainability Initiative (TTUSI) went into effect at the beginning of this semester.

According to Kevin Tucker, director of Horticulture and Grounds, the change to Tech’s previous initiative began at the end of last spring when Sustainability was considering hiring an outside source to handle all waste management.

“I heard about that and I said ‘We don’t need to do that. Why hire an outside entity to whom it is just another job, as opposed to keeping it within our family where stewardship is important?’”

Tucker said. “All the technology is here. We have the resources. Why not be recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in sustainability?”

TTUSI’s first project was to renovate the way cardboard waste was being recycled.

“We purchased 22 dumpsters for cardboard that have small slots which force people to break down boxes before putting them into the container. All of the cardboard from each dumpster is picked up and taken to the Tech farm (located in Overton County) to be made into compost,” said Tucker.

The first cardboard pickup was executed Sept. 18.

Cardboard pickups will take place every Thursday.

According to Tucker, cardboard is just a small part of TTUSI. Aluminum and plastic waste will be collected and ultimately processed and manufactured into a useful product.

“We will come up with, through collaboration between Engineering, Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology and the School of Business, products that we can patent and eventually manufacture to make money for the University,” said Tucker.

Examples of possible products are plastic wheel stops, aluminum street signs and aluminum-reinforced planters.

“Ultimately, I am looking for something that is truly patentable that the University can reap benefits from,” said Tucker.

The initiative doesn’t end there. A shredder will be purchased by the end of this semester to be used for shredding food bi-products, cardboard, leaves and wood chips for compost as well as plastic and aluminum waste, according to Tucker.

Once the shredder is purchased, Tech will also handle all of its own document shredding.

“Presently, Cintas shreds our documents. But once our shredder is in operation, we will begin doing our own document shredding,” Tucker said.

See

“Green Initiative,” >>Page 3

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NEWS

Friday, September 26, 2014

tntechoracle.com Contact us: oracle@tntech.edu

>> Campus

New parking lots added campus wide

Tech police warn students events @ tech of potential fraud attempts

By KIM BIGGS Asst.Managing Editor

By LUCAS McCOY Beat Reporter

Tennessee Tech University has added more parking over the summer and implemented a free new shuttle system around campus.

Students, faculty and staff have all complained about the lack of parking on campus. However, the new parking additions spread throughout campus this semester have created 180 extra spots. The free shuttle runs a route throughout campus, allowing students to be picked up at any of the given stops along the way. Jack Butler, associate vice president of Facilities and Business Services, is eager for students to embrace the new change.

“Over time, the frustration levels will be lower because we will have more parking. We will be running shuttles, and people will be able to find somewhere to park,” said Butler. “Every year it will get better and better.”

The biggest addition made to parking was behind Foundation Hall. The new spots behind Foundation Hall make up 125 of the 180 spots on campus. Another location behind Matthews Daniel Hall added 21 spots for additional parking.

However, some still remain skeptical about the parking situation on campus. Psychology major Kayla Taylor said the current issue with parking affects many of her decisions when it comes to transportation on campus.

“I avoided leaving campus at all costs during the week because the chances of me finding a parking spot close to my dorm were slim to none,” said Taylor. She even admitted to receiving $150 in parking tickets in one semester from parking in spots that were not allocated for her tag. Taylor said she now lives off campus, but proximity was a huge factor in her decision due to the parking issue.

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“When it comes to driving to campus now, I don’t even try anymore,” said Taylor. “I actually refuse to drive to campus unless it’s later in the day when the commuter lots are starting to get empty.”

However, Taylor isn’t the only one receiving tickets for parking in the wrong spaces.

Tony Nelson, interim director of the University Police Department, agreed there are a lot of students struggling to find parking.

“We write more tickets at the beginning of each semester,” said Nelson. “However, as it goes along, people get settled in and realize where they need to park.”

Over the course of the next 20 years, Tech’s campus will change dramatically.

According to Tech’s campus master plan, renovations will be made to add up to 900 spots for parking on the current Foundation Hall property. The commuter parking lot will be replaced with an integrated science building, and those spots will be relocated to the western edge of the campus, past the intramural fields, which could add over 700 spots.

To accommodate for the remote parking, shuttle systems have been implemented around campus. Currently, there is one shuttle running a route through the center of and around the outskirts of campus. As parking shifts to the perimeter of the campus, the number of shuttles will be increased, according to the campus master plan.

Although changes are slow, students are beginning to see alterations being made to assist with the growing need.

“Be patient with us,” said Butler. “We are putting money toward it (parking).

It’s just a drawn out process.”

Tech student Charles Yarbrough was involved in an attempted fraudulent scam. Yarbrough received numerous deceiving emails in his Tech email address from scammers.

Charles Yarbrough, a general curriculum student at Tennessee Tech, got an email from a business owner about a prospective job at the beginning of the semester, and the student received a check last week. But if he cashed the check, there would have been serious consequences.

On Sept. 17, Yarbrough, 26, got a check in the mail for nearly $3,000. This would have come as a surprise for him, if not for the events that preceded the coming of the check.

When Yarbrough got his student email working during the first week of school, he said “generic newsletters” and “campus emails” flooded his account.

“Amongst all of them was an ad that seemed like an employment ad, which I’ve seen some around on the bulletin board in the University Center,” Yarbrough said. The name of the person promoting the ad was Thomas Cook.

“So it didn’t really catch me off guard.

Specifically, the reason why it didn’t catch me off guard was because it was on the school email,” said Yarbrough. “So I read it, and it didn’t wind itself right off to being a scam.

It was very thorough. This fellow didn’t disclose a name of a business.”

Yarbrough said Cook’s email offered a job as a supply currier for a business.

“So I responded just because I was looking for work. I didn’t even think I had a chance because I thought I had responded late,” Yarbrough said. He quickly got a reply.

Yarbrough said the second email wanted general information such as address, email, age, gender and phone number.

He said there was also a brief questionnaire to be filled out. Yarbrough responded and received a final email.

“It was a little more detailed about what the job would entail, and how I would receive money from them,” Yarbrough said.

The email said he was to extract his salary of $300 a week from a check and take the rest of the money “to a supplier to purchase office supplies.”

Yarbrough said in the second email, there was a name for a firm, Christodoulos G. Vassiliades & Co. LLC, a law firm in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Bank information was also requested.

“A red flag went up in my mind at that point,” Yarbrough said, deciding then to stop

communicating with Cook.

“Even though he got no more than my phone number and address that’s all he needed,” he said.

The next day, Yarbrough got a UPS Express package from a Kevin Turner in Benicia, Calif.

“I wouldn’t have even opened it if it hadn’t have been for the fact that I got married just a few months ago and we’re still getting belated gifts,” said Yarbrough.

In the package was the check without a stub from Top Rock Reality based out of Mesa, Ariz., Yarbrough said.

“I contacted my father, who happens to be an attorney, and once we hashed it all-out, we notified campus police who may have dealt with this before,” he said.

He then took the check to campus police. Yarbrough said Lt. Mike Lambert, Tech officer, didn’t want to keep the check, but Yarbrough insisted.

If Yarbrough would have cashed this check, Cook could have drained the money from Yarbrough’s bank account.

“It becomes extortion, and you’re pretty much at their mercy,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough said most cases like this are impossible to catch the perpetrator, and largely the people who run these schemes are do so out of the United States.

Yarbrough admitted that he should have been “more discerning and a little less gullible” toward the whole experience.

Lambert said this is a very common occurrence and it often works on the elderly.

“There have been more incidents since the Yarbrough case,” Lambert said. “It seems to me these people are targeting the Tennessee Tech student body by using a blanket email.”

“I’m told that apparently it happens very often in the city of Cookeville,” Yarbrough said.

The Tech police department strongly suggests all students to approach emails like these with extreme caution, and if a student happens to answer any of these emails and receives a check, please contact them.

“One student came in yesterday and filed a report with Officer Chris Russell. He cashed the check he received and now he’s out $3,000,” Lambert said.

“Who knows how they get into campus email?” Yarbrough said. “Who knows if they have a source here? I guess you could speculate as far as you want.”

The Oracle staff thanks you for reading. Have a great weekend!

September

26 All Day Event

Middle Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion

5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Upper Cumberland Manufacturing Summit Kick-off STEM Center

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Eastern Illinois University Hooper Eblen Center

27 All Day Event

Middle Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion

4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville Hooper Eblen Center

29 All Day Jim Graham Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Information Session with Kirby Building Systems Prescott Hall 330

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

Cumberland Quintet in Concert Bryan Fine Arts Building, Wattenbarger Auditorium

30

All Day Jim Graham Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

All Day

UT Extension Master Beef Class RUC Multipurpose room

4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Internship Information Session- The Washington Center RUC Room 370

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Amy Roloff Derryberry Hall Auditorium

Please recycle your copy of The Oracle once finished.

Thank you

October

1 All Day Jim Graham Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Information Session and Meeting with Recruiters from Tate & Lyle Prescott Auditorium

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

Jason Bergman, Trumpet, Guest Artist Recital Bryan Fine Arts Building, Wattenbarger Auditorium

2 All Day Jim Graham Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Career Day 2014 RUC Multipurpose Room and Tech Pride Room

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

Joshua Hauser, Trombone, Faculty Recital Bryan Fine Arts Building, Wattenbarger Auditorium

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Friday, September 26, 2014

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus <<

Renovations to South Patio begin with tree relocation area blocked off until project completion

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

Trees were relocated to Sherlock Park from South Patio this week to prepare for construction of Centennial Plaza as part of the Master Plan to refine Tech’s campus. The project will block off a portion of South Patio, making it only accessible from inside the RUC as well as the doors next to Which Wich. These barriers will be moved in cases of emergency.

The trees were moved to make room for construction equipment being put in place Monday to work on the new plaza. Director of Horticulture and Grounds, Kevin Tucker, said the trees would be cut down or demolished if they were not moved to the park.

“Why cut a perfectly good tree when you’ve got a beautiful park area?” said Tucker.

Some students were not pleased with the change of scenery, however.

“I loved the magnolia trees and being in the southern United States, it brought southern charm to our campus,” senior English major Effie Savage said.

“When I heard South Patio was going to be closed for awhile, it was kind of disappointing.

Of anywhere on Tech’s campus I enjoy being,

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle RELOCATED ROOTS- Fences were placed on South Patio on Thursday, Sept. 25 for upcoming construction.

Renovations will continue through late January until construction is complete.

South Patio is one of my favorites. Hopefully it won’t take too long to finish up,” sophomore chemical engineering major Zac Gulledge said.

According to the Master Plan, the RUC has issues on the western facing side of the building and adjacent areas. Up to 60 percent could be added to the building if the parking lot on the west side is eliminated.

According to Tucker, the new plaza will be large enough for multiple activities like weddings, outdoor lectures and small concerts.

“It’s going to be a fantastic facility,” said Tucker.

Tucker went on to say some of the trees that were moved could come back as well as new trees being planted for the new Centennial Plaza.

“Once the hardscape is completed, we’ll landscape the plaza area,” Tucker said.

“There will be plenty of shade, large trees remaining and (they) will become focal points.”

Construction is expected to last from now until late January.

NEWS

>> “Green Initiative” Continued from Page 1 According to Tucker, the goal of TTUSI is that Tech will be a leader in sustainability with recycling being just one element.

“The initiative is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and putting Tech on the cutting edge of even newer and more technological sustainability, producing a lot of our own energy that we use,” Tucker said. “After all, we are a premiere engineering school; we have all of the ingredients. All the mind power is here. What we’ve got to do is harness that talent.”

According to Tucker, the initiative has been a success, with positive feedback this far in the semester.

“As a recycling advocate, I am in favor of the idea of Tech being a progressive University that supports sustainability,” said Emilee Gettys, senior nursing student at Tech.

“I am excited that Tech is being proactive and self suf-

Adam Webb | The Oracle WELCOME ABOARD- Nursing major Braxton Douglas puts pieces of cardboard into the new cardboard recycling bins across campus. ficient and that we are taking our own stride to be green,” said senior nursing student Danielle Miller.

There are recycling containers in the lobby of all academic buildings and dorms.

Students can contribute to the initiative by placing their recyclable waste in said containers, according to Tucker.

For large-scale recycling, there is a drop off station at Capitol Quad, Pennebaker Quad and behind Lewis

Hall. There is also a drop off at Tech Village that is still owned by the city. However, there are plans to ultimately take that station over as well, according to Tucker.

“It’s the food chain; everybody plays a role in this when you get right down to it,” Tucker said.

According to Tucker, this will be a semester of transition from the old way of handling waste to the new way.

THE SECOND COMING

INFORMATION FAIR October 7, 2014 from 3:30-6:30 P.M. UTC UNIVERSITY CENTER, CHATTANOOGA ROOM

UTC.edu/Graduate or call (423) 425-4478 Submit your completed admissions application at the event and we’ll waive the $30 application fee.

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle WAVE TO THE CAMERA- Evangelist preacher John McGlone returned to Tech’s campus Tuesday, Sept. 23. McGlone preached on South Patio the previous Tuesday, Sept. 16, as well. McGlone spoke to students about his beliefs regarding Christianity.

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Page 4 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

LIVING

Friday, September 26, 2014

>> Features

Campus food pantry open for all students battling hunger problems

By ALYSSA ADKISSON Beat Reporter The TTU Food Pantry opened for food distributions to all Tech students and faculty this semester in Foundation Hall Cafeteria to combat hunger on campus.

The distributions of food take place on Thursdays and Fridays, however there are volunteers at the pantry every day of the week so you can donate non-perishable food items anytime.

“From the beginning, we have never listed any criteria for recipients of food other than they must be affiliated with Tech as a

student or employee,” said Kaitlin Salyer, assistant Service Learning coordinator.

The idea of the food pantry came about after some of the administration on campus noticed more and more students were contacting them about hunger-related issues on Tech’s campus. Michelle Huddleston, service coordinator for Tech, along with other members of the administration decided to host an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Service Learning Center who would work to establish a food pantry on campus.

Research was done on how to run a food pantry, and it was found there was a nationwide trend among college campuses called

“hidden hunger.” The campus community volunteered to help with the food pantry and collecting donations.

“I researched how to run a food bank and reached out to our campus community,” said Salyer. “They have been nothing but supportive since day one.”

TTU Food Pantry first began distributing food on Sept. 5, 2013. There were approximately 50 students signed up to receive food when it opened. After the first semester of distributions, the TTU Food Pantry was able to open up to Tech employees. To date, TTU Food Pantry has served approximately 300 students and employees on Tech’s campus.

Psi Chi, the psychology honor society and service organization on Tech’s campus, hosted “The Hungry Games” on Sept. 25. There was corn hole, Frisbee and other games on Main Quad. Participants were asked to bring two non-perishable food items to donate to the TTU Food Pantry.

Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society at Tech, is hosting Eat.Glow.Run. 5K on Oct. 3 to raise awareness of campus hunger and collect donations for the TTU Food Pantry again this fall.

“We are super excited to be a part of the run again this year,” said Salyer.

TLC’s Amy Roloff to speak Eat.Glow.Run. 5K to help food pantry honor society to host on campus race Tuesday in Derryberry Hall Accounting to gather food, donations for campus food pantry.

Amy Roloff to speak in Derrberry Hall Auditorium Tuesday night about living as a little person and how that has affected her life. who could generate an inter-

By ELISSA LONGFELLOW est in diversity.”

Beat Reporter Her lecture, entitled “It’s Television star Amy Roloff will be at Tennessee Tech University Tuesday to speak to the campus about diversity.

As one of the stars from the TLC television show “Little People, Big World,” Roloff has traveled nationally to impart her experiences living Roloff with achondroplasia, which is a form of short-limbed dwarfism, as well as being a wife, mother, businesswoman, farm owner and author.

“We wanted to drive the message that disability is diversity,” said Chester Goad, director of Disability Services at Tech. “It’s one thing to bring a lecturer to speak about an academic topic, but we wanted to bring someone

Me, It’s You, and Diversity is a Good Thing,” will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Derryberry Hall Auditorium.

The event, sponsored by disability services, is free and open to the public.

Roloff has proved throughout the show and her life that she can do the same things as any other person but in a different way.

“We hope that people remember the importance of not stereotyping. We must learn to think past stigmas.

Our perspectives are often limited when the possibilities are unlimited,” said Goad.

“When I think of diversity, I don’t really think about disability, but I guess if you think about it, it’s as much a part of diversity as anything else,” said Hayden McMillen, junior journalism student. “Everyone needs diversity. Where we are in the

U.S., we can sometimes be a little strict and judgmental, so it’s nice to have someone come and speak to us about diversity so we can be more aware.”

Roloff graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree before working in a familyowned business’ personnel department.

In 2009 she founded the Amy Roloff Charity Foundation, which is designed to help children facing various life challenges. She has also served on the board of Little People of America, the national organization for people with dwarfism.

In addition to her lecture, Roloff will be visiting some University classes and have a lunch with the SGA, ABC (Able Bodies Community) and the ADA committee.

The event is a part of the Center Stage Series, which is made possible by Tech’s general education fund.

GAME FACES

DUTY CALLS- Anthony Emiren (left) watches on as Marcquis Hogue (middle) and Haasan Miller (right) compete in Thursday night’s video game tournament at the semester’s first Late Night Tech Night. The two separate tournament brackets consisted of organized teams of four playing Mario Kart 8 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The bracket ran in five rounds with video game themed prizes being given out throughout the night. The tournament was sponsored by the TTU Counseling Center, the Tech Activities Board and ResLife.

By ALYSSA ADKISSON Beat Reporter Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society at TTU, will host the Eat.Glow.

Run. 5K at 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Johnson Hall.

Eat.Glow.Run. is a 5K-glow run/walk and food drive combined to promote education and assisting the TTU Food Pantry in fighting campus hunger.

The registration fee is $30 plus two canned goods, or $35 without canned goods.

All canned goods and half of the money raised is given to the TTU Food Pantry.

“Our goal this year is to double to amount from last year to donate to the pantry,” said Cassie Marshall, MBA student at Tech and co-creator of Eat.Glow.Run. “Many students on campus go hungry and The Food Pantry’s efforts are irreplaceable.”

Last year there were more than 250 runners. They were able to donate more than $1,200 and 300 canned goods to the TTU Food Pantry.

Eat.Glow.Run. is open to all who wish to participate.

The race will be chip-timed, but everyone is welcome to complete the course at their own pace.

“The event is for everyone. It’s parent’s weekend at Tech, so bring your family,” said Marshall.

Registration is available up until the event begins, but registering by Sept. 27 will guarantee you receive a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt.

Runners will be given two glow-in-the-dark bracelets and refreshments after the race. Anyone can purchase two glow bracelets for $1 and a glow necklace for $1.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers. Gold medals will go to the top male and female in each age category: 15 and under, 16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55 and up. There will also be a best-dressed competition, and the winner will receive two tickets to Dollywood.

Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5-

Ben Hay | Guest Contributor GLOW SHOW- Jordynn Holm, Hilary Barker and Kimmy Manning warm up before the 2013 Eat. Glow. Run. race.

Register at eatglowrun.weebly.com

A Guide to a Better Semester Step 1-

Ben Hay | Guest Contributor BIRD ON THE RUN- Awesome Eagle (above) made an appearance at 2013’s Glow Run in full neon attire.

Listen to WTTU. Win the lottery.

Buy a Boat.

Listen to WTTU on your Boat.

Marry a Mermaid.

88.5 FM- WTTU - The Nest

Streaming 24 Hours a day on the TuneIn App

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 5

Friday, September 26, 2014

Inside the Game <<

TENNIS

FOOTBALL

Football enters unfamiliar territory against UNI

By CHAYCE GAW Beat Reporter The Tennessee Tech Football team (1-2) will wrap up their three-game road stand with this weekend’s game as they face the Northern Iowa Panthers (1-2) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday.

The Panthers are ranked 10th overall in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches’ poll and are coming off a 46-7 win against Northern Colorado.

“There’s no weaknesses at all, they look like an Indiana State offense, which we struggled with, and their defense is similar to TSU’s.

They’re ranked for a reason,” said head coach Watson Brown on the Watson Brown Show.

Tech lost last week’s contest to rival Tennessee State 10-7 in Nashville, Tenn. For the second week in a row, Tech’s offense has failed to score any points.

Even though Tech didn’t pull out the win, Brown seems confident in his team’s ability to turn around their struggles.

“We were better Saturday.

There were some offensive things better Saturday, they might not have shown, but there were. We’re getting close,” said Brown.

The Golden Eagles’ defense scored the lone touchdown against the Tigers when senior safety Austin Tallant returned an interception in the first quarter.

Tech’s defense only allowed three points off a 26yard field goal, as the Tigers also scored their only touchdown off an interception return at the end of the first quarter.

They were led defensively by senior safety Marty Jones who had eight total tackles and a forced fumble.

Jones is working extra hard this week to prepare for the Panthers and their highpowered offense that is averaging 31 points per game this season.

“There really isn’t any time off this week, it all starts with a really physical practice Tuesday because they’re a team that will try to come out and run the ball all over you,” said Jones.

The Panthers have a strong running back in David Johnson. Johnson rushed for 173 yards and a touchdown in their game against Northern Colorado last week.

“Defensively, he’s the focus of this weekend’s game plan, and we need to stop him to have a chance to win the game,” said Jones.

The atmosphere will be very unfamiliar to the Tech

By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor The Tennessee Tech softball team begins their fall schedule Sept. 28 in a doubleheader against the Kennesaw State Owls and the Motlow State Lady Bucks. The action takes place at the Tech Softball Field. The Golden Eagles’ contest with the Owls starts at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a game with the Lady Bucks at 2 p.m. The only other home contest will be on Oct. 3 against Roane State.

Tech wants to build from last year’s conference success. The Golden Eagles ended the season with a 1512 record in the Ohio Valley Conference and have won 13 of their last 16 regular season games. The team also made a deep run in the conference tournament, which was high-

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle IN THE TRENCHES- Safety Marty Jones battles a Tennessee State blocker during the recent installment of the TechTSU rivalry on Sept.20. team, as they will be playing inside a dome.

“Talking to other people who have played them in there, you can’t hear yourself speak,” said Brown about the conditions inside the UNI Dome.

Although the stadium presents a challenge, the Golden Eagles are excited about the experience.

“I don’t know how many

By LEE WHITEHEAD Beat Reporter

After being on the road for several weeks, Tennessee Tech women’s volleyball team will finally get a chance to play on their home court.

The Golden Eagles will take on Eastern Illinois Friday, followed by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday.

The match against Eastern Illinois will be held at 7 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center. The Eastern Illinois Panthers are 6-7 overall on their season, while the Golden Eagles have a record of 15-11. This will be the first Ohio Valley Conference matchup of the season for both teams. The Panthers are currently ranked fifth in the OVC standings, five spots ahead of the Golden Eagles who sit at 10th.

“We’ve had a rough preconference,” said head coach David Zelenock. ”But as I just

of our guys have played in a dome before, but this one in particular is smaller and built to be really loud. I don’t think getting excited will be a problem whatsoever,” said Jones.

After their game against the Panthers, the Golden Eagles will return to Tucker Stadium to face the Murray State Racers Saturday, Oct. 4.

Tennessee Tech freshmen Eduardo Mena and Carlos Tejas each grabbed flight championships while away with the tennis team at the Purdue Fall Invitational last weekend in West Lafayette, Ind. Mena, a native of Madrid, Spain, won his first three matches before taking the Flight D title back to Cookeville. The final match win Sunday, a 7-5, 6-1 victory against the University of Chicago’s Sven Kraz, was Mena’s first championship win as a Golden Eagle since moving to the United States in August.

While his principal goal remains winning the OVC title as a team, Mena has a few personal goals of his own.

“My motivation was that if I won the Flight D, maybe next tournament I will get to play against better opponents,” said Mena.

Playing in Flight E, Tejas also took home his first championship since joining the team in August. He took the crown in the final match with a win over Butler

University’s Tommy Marx with a final score of 6-0, 5-7, 6-2.

Tejas said his motivation was maintained by keeping his eye on the prize.

“Normally they don’t have trophies, so when I was walking (to the court) and saw them I was like, ‘Man, I gotta get that trophy!” said Tejas.

The Murcia, Spain native said the trophy stays in his dorm room to help feed any additional motivation.

Kenny Doyle, head coach for the men’s tennis team, said he was proud of the two freshmen in their performance last weekend. “(They) played well and competed well, and it was a good first tournament for Carlos,” said Doyle.

Although finishing the weekend 0-3 in the Flight A division, team captain and junior Alex Arovin says he is happy to be on a team that supports each other during both wins and losses.

“Of course I am proud of my teammates,” Arovin said of Mena and Tejas. “They are my brothers, and everybody is proud of their brothers.”

The Golden Eagles will be in tournament play Sept. 27-Oct. 2 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s AllAmerican Championships.

SOCCER lighted by a dramatic win over Jacksonville State. The team was only eliminated after rain delays canceled the consolation round.

“We finished on a Liberatore bittersweet note last year because we did awesome,” said sophomore pitcher Danielle Liberatore. “I think this year we are out to get it (OVC title).”

This year’s fall schedule includes some tough competition for the Golden Eagles.

Tech will travel to Ole Miss to take on the Rebels and the Jones Community College Lady Bobcats on Oct. 11.

A week later, the team will be in Knoxville, Tenn. to face the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, which will be the closing weekend for Tech’s fall schedule. For senior Erica Tuck, going back to Knoxville will be like a homecoming.

“I am from Knoxville,” said Tuck. “It is always a

fun time to go and play over there.”

Head coach Bonnie Bynum believes the tough schedule will be a way to see where the program is.

“I think it is a great thing.

I think we have set ourselves up to really see what we are going to need to work on for the spring,” said Bynum.

“Obviously they are the kind of opponents we are going to be facing day in and day out once we get to our spring schedule.”

Tech will have some familiar faces returning this fall. The team had only three players graduate after last season.

“We do have a lot of experience. We only lost three players last year. They contributed quite a bit, but we have the bulk of our team returning,” said Bynum. “We have got some new people who I expect to step in and fill those roles and do a good job.”

A combination of newcomers, a drive to improve and a competitive schedule should make the fall season interesting for the Golden Eagles.

told the girls we are 0-0 now.

It’s nice to be able to have a fresh start.”

Tech lost a nonconference match up against Western Kentucky in three sets Sept.

23. The Golden Eagles played tough in the first set, losing 18-25. The Hilltoppers dominated the next two sets, outscoring Tech 20-50.

“Going into conference play, we are going to take what worked and learn from what didn’t,” said Ellen Conti, senior outside hitter for the team. “We can only go up and we are ready for that challenge!”

The match against the SIUE Cougars, which will take place at 4 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center, will be the Golden Eagle’s second conference matchup of the season. The Cougars’ average 11.86 kills per set, which is slightly higher than the Golden Eagles who average 10.62 kills. The Golden Eagles, not to be outdone, average 2.14 blocks per set compared to the Cougars’ stat of 1.68 blocks.

“We’re going up against, in our opinion, the best two

teams in the conference,” said Zelenock. “We’ve got two seniors still at the bench for injuries, so as it stands we will have a lot of freshmen out there, and probably be a little jittery.”

The two seniors out for injury are Conti and defensive specialist Allison May. “We’re used to playing on the road and we’re used to having fans yell at us, so playing at home will take some getting used to, honestly,” said Zelenock.

The Golden Eagles will play 8 of the next 17 conference games at home, with the conference tournament location to be decided.

“I love volleyball, and now that conference games have started I will get a chance to watch and cheer on some of my friends at home games,” said Maddi Everts, a junior on the women’s golf team.

“We’re all excited to play back on a familiar court,” said Conti. “Now that it’s conference play, it makes everyone more competitive and ready to prove ourselves in the OVC.”

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball hosts EIU and SIUE

Mena and Tejas earn titles at Purdue

By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor

SOFTBALL

Softball begins challenging fall with double header at home

SPORTS

Soccer begins OVC play after difficult start to season

By BEN CRAVEN Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech women’s soccer team is trying to shake off a couple of tough loses from this past weekend as they prepare to start conference play this weekend against Murray State University and University of Tennessee at Martin.

After battling through five weeks of nonconference opponents, the Golden Eagles will begin their Ohio Valley Conference campaign with the first OVC matchup of the season Sept.

26 at Murray State. This is also new head coach Steven Springthorpe’s first time seeing an OVC opponent since he took over the position in January.

“The conference is now coming upon us, and from all of our perspectives, it’s all about the conference. It’s about trying to win a conference championship,” said Springthorpe. “It’s about making the conference tournament, and we’re all on the same page right now. We’re all zero and zero.”

Springthorpe sounded confident despite the two tough losses suffered at the hands of Wright State and Evansville.

“We shouldn’t feel great about what happened. We need to learn from that and prepare for this upcoming weekend,” said

Rob Schabert | Asst. AD of Sports Info BATTLE FOR THE BALL- Senior Kate Phillips races a Georgia State player for possesion of the ball during the Sept. 5 match.

Springthorpe. He also talked a little bit about focusing on defense as a focal point going forward.

Another big key to the Golden Eagles squad has been Taylor Blazei. She already has one goal, two assists and seven shots on goal so far this season and shows no signs of slowing down.

“Taylor Blazei is somebody that other teams are keying on,” said Springthorpe. It is clear that she is an integral part of the offense and will be a huge asset as the Eagles move into conference play.

Although the Eagles

have struggled throughout the beginning of this season, spirits still remain high among the players. As he tries to make the most out of his first season with the team, Springthorpe weighs in on what he believes is one of the team’s biggest assets.

“From the start of the preseason, the team has had an overall good work ethic.

We may not do everything correctly, but it’s not from a lack of going out and trying,” said Springthorpe. “Right now, we’re still trying to find out who we really are, and what our style of play is.”

Brown prepares team for historic game

Shea Haile |The Oracle

Head coach Watson Brown watches over the Golden Eagles as they practice for their next contest against Northern Iowa Brown could make history with a loss in Iowa. If Tech loses, Brown will gain the title of the losingest head coach in the history of college football with a record of 128-200-1.

Page 6 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

OPINION

Friday, September 26, 2014

>> Think Free

Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu oracle@tntech.edu.. Include your name, email address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Tuesday.

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When can we afford to be healthy?

KIMMY MANNING Opinion Editor

It’s full of neatly stacked recyclable boxes, plant based nutrients, and gluten free ingredients – it’s the organic aisle. It's the aisle that also screams the lovely reminder that I am a poor college student living on ramen.

Is anyone else tired of skipping the organic aisle, because I’m pretty sure that until I have a 6-figure salary I will not be worthy of walking that ground.

Constantly, magazines, television, my friends, my parents all want me to promote a healthy life style. Not just for me, but as a whole.

Let’s face it – we’ve all tried dieting. Unfortunately, dieting nowadays just means eating right. It’s crazy to think that it is more normal to eat “wrong.” Boy do I eat wrong.

The reason why?

Because I cannot afford to eat “right.”

Just a couple weeks ago I was nitpicking through the avocados at Kroger when I finally eyed the right one, I mean an angel would have picked this avocado for guacamole at its next dinner party. It was pristine. As I reached for a bag to place it in, I glanced at the label – organic. Agh, it was too good to be true. As I placed the beauty of a vegetable (or fruit?) back down, I said to my fiancé, “Hey, we can't afford these, let’s get the nonorganic ones.” Yeah, the fake ones.

Why are we punished for eating healthy? I can only afford the genetically modified, barely natural, and completely cheap produce.

Is it just me or do you feel trapped into fake eating?

Not to mention, a lot of our food intake is from processed machines. Most of my meals weren’t created from scratch before me. What I consider to be scratch is my

Kimmy Manning | The Oracle

REAL DEAL - The certified organic produce section at the local grocery store, Kroger, in Cookeville, Tenn. peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and even that doesn't cut it.

Since farming, produce and agriculture are not my areas of expertise, I outsourced to those who know their stuff.

The first person I interviewed was Tech graduate, Kaila Raulston, with a degree in Agricultural Science.

“Organic food costs more because it is harder to produce,” she said, “and supply and demand doesn't match up for it.”

She then began to repeat the familiar thoughts that arise as I’m standing empty handed in the produce section of Kroger.

“When I go into the store and I have the option to buy ‘organic’ grapes for $4.99 dollars a pound or grapes for $1.99 dollars a pound, then I'm gonna get the ones for 1.99 a pound,” said Raulston.

“Especially when the ‘regular’ grapes look better or just

as good as the organic ones.”

Preach.

Is it crazy to think that the cheaper items in fact look more desirable and delicious than the produce that’s organically grown by the soil of the earth? Does it really look better or are we

“I can only afford the genetically modified, barely natural and completely cheap produce.” just tailored to think genetically modified and pesticide covered food is the standard visual?

In our talk, Raulston had mentioned that we always want our produce to look, “pretty,” and to have an extended shelf life. Whereas, organic produce can only last so long – making its demand even smaller.

It seems as though we are in a vicious rut. We are in a cycle in which it would take a whole army of people to convert to eating organic and locally for the supply and demand to change. Even then, the margin of change would just apply to locals.

Tech Graduate, Kayla Staelens, with a degree in Agricultural sciences interjected a similar truth, “You are better off buying from a local farmer or farmer’s market.”

However, even at local farmer’s markets, prices are still substantially more than what is generally offered at a grocery store. There are a few good perks says a Tech Agricultural student, Kelly Bonin, “By supporting your local people you are in return supporting yourself,” she said.

True, you are supporting your local economy, well-being, and most certainly not your wallet. It

seems to almost be a perfect circumstance minus the nonexistent cash it requires from me.

So where does this whole ordeal have a place on campus? Well, that’s where the journalist in me wanted to seek answers. As far as the dining options on campus go, I can only think of three places that serve “healthy” food, and even then – that’ s just my perception, which I’m realizing now is way off.

The cafeteria offers fruits and vegetables, probably mass-produced and genetically modified, seeing as the, “hey look at me,” organic sticker is not on them. The other option is Which Wich that offers a limited variety of vegetables that can be placed on a sandwich. Lastly, Au Bon Pain, which gives the illusion that healthy food is available, but by looking at the nutritional facts, I was deceived.

Besides those three “nutri-

tious” options, I’m stuck with fried food, fake sugars, and who knows what.

To see what Chartwell’s had to say on the matter, I spoke with Sam Holm, the Director of Dining Services at Tennessee Tech.

“We don’t do a lot with certified organic. A lot of that decision is based off our volume,” said Holm, “Obviously we look very closely at how we want quality but at a fair price on down the road.”

Okay, so maybe we don’t have organic as an option, but Chartwell’s is still making efforts to provide healthy food. According to Holm, we have a dietician in the cafeteria who will figure out food arrangements and diet plans for students.

When discussing the selection of products, Holm said, “When you think were pulling bananas from South America, and tomatoes from the west coast – and they are coming all the way to Tennessee, and still in good shape. It’s a pretty incredible situation.”

So apparently the University’s food is healthy, but we are not supporting the local market, and as of now— organic is not an option.

Where does this put us poor college students who can’t afford to be healthy?

This puts us in a box, a nation-wide, and nation-ran box where we can only escape if we all decide to leave it. If we all decide to stand against our circumstances and demand real food. Let’s make real food the popular choice. Let’s restore the foods of the earth to those who live on it.

Today let’s make the conscious decision to ask what we deserve – real food at an affordable price. Mankind deserves to eat “right,” not ramen.

Kimmy Manning is a senior in Journalism/ Public Relations. She can be reached at kemanning42@ students.tntech.edu.

Suffering mental illness or gun control?

ADAM WEBB Staff Writer On Tuesday, there was a shooting at a UPS location in Alabama. It always upsets me whenever there’s a shooting or any sort of violent act like this. My heart always goes out to the victim and their families, but it seems like those sentiments fade all too quickly for most media outlets.

The debate always begins the same way, “What should the United States do about gun control?” Is it too overbearing? Is it too lenient?

Does everyone need a gun at

THE

all times? Should all guns be reserved for armed forces?

To me, there is a simple answer: do nothing. Gun control, at its core, isn’t the reason shootings like Sandy Hook Elementary, Columbine High School or Aurora, Colorado happen.

In all three of these instances, the perpetrators had a history or signs of mental illness. It seems to me the media likes to blow these events out of proportion and make a circus of the ordeal by blaming everything from video games to television to music. Basically, everything that isn’t the real source of this problem.

I consider myself to be open-minded. I think peo-

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ple are entitled to their reactions to games like “Grand Theft Auto V,” artists like Eminem or television shows like “Game of Thrones.” But I think the same people that find these entertainment

“Putting a gun inside my hand isn’t going to magically spark feelings inside me to start shooting people.” sources to be the cause of individuals shooting people to be outrageous.

I’ve logged countless hours in “GTA V,” listened to Eminem since middle school

and watched all of “Game of Thrones” in a week. Not once did I have to urge to steal a car, beat up women or torture someone for my own entertainment. The reasoning behind this is that I am a rational and responsible person. I can tell the difference between a fictional universe where the lines of the law are blurred and the real world where everything matters.

There is no reset button.

Putting a gun in my hand isn’t going to magically spark feelings inside me to start shooting people. I’ve never had any urge to cause major physical harm to anyone outside of self-defense. Violent entertainment never made

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anyone go out and commit major crimes. It may cause inspiration, but again, if the type of people who use video games and television as inspiration for committing murder, they probably aren’t the people who need to be playing or watching those things.

To sum everything up, putting more guns on the street won’t make anything better or worse in the long run. If we want to see shootings like the one in Alabama or Aurora, we should look into solving the issues of mental illness and how to identify the warning signs before incidents like these occur.

Courtesy of Pusheen Corp.

FURRY FURY - Pusheen the cat is a popular kids cartoon that has started to become violent in the media.

Adam Webb is a senior in Journalism/Public Relations.

He can be reached at abwebb@ tntech.edu

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COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 7

Friday, September 26, 2014

Reviews <<

ENTERTAINMENT

How you doin’? Twenty years after debut of “Friends” By B yH HANNAH AN AN NN NAH N NA AH B BENJAM EN E NJJA A AM M Entertainment E En nte tert rta taaiinm nmen ent Critic Crit Cr rit i ic ic

By JAKE THREET Entertainment Editor

Tw e n t y years. That’s how long it’s been since the first episode of “Friends” aired.

On Sept. 22, 1994, the blockbuster television show made its debut on NBC, and this past Monday was the official 20th anniversary for the show. It was a show that captivated audiences around the globe and became an instant phenomenon.

“Friends” is my favorite show of all time, comedy or drama. Anytime it is on television, I’m more likely than not to leave it on that channel. With that being said, I was on the cusp of 2 years old when the show premiered 20 years ago. I wish I had been able to follow the show from its premiere all the way through its run, but that obviously did not happen. I really got into it right before the final season, having become familiar with it, as I got older.

At that time, the DVD sets were just beginning to come out, so I didn’t have time to watch the entire series before the final season.

Nonetheless, I watched the final season from beginning to end as it aired.

I know that does sounds like a terrible time to be-

Courtesy of Hello-Berlin

WE WERE ON A BREAK- In the first season, each of the main six cast members received $22 thousand per episode. By the final season, they each were earning $1 million per episode after they banded together during contract negotiations.

gin watching a show, but it was actually what made me so enthralled with the series. It was the best decision I have made pertaining to TV. The remaining seasons came out on DVD after the final episode of the series concluded. I quickly snatched them up and watched the entire series and by the time I was done, the final season

had made its way to DVD as well. I re-watched it to conclude my binge watching and from then on I was hooked. I have never looked back. Well, I have looked back as I will probably watch it until the end of the time. However, I have only watched the series finale twice. I have yet to make it through the finale since then because, well, I get a little emotional.

One of the most important things a television show can do is connect with the audience. For me, this show was extremely relatable. I like to think I connect with each character on some level. I’m the same level obsessivecompulsive, competitive as Monica, and I have the high maintenance intuition of Rachel. Like Phoebe, I can be kooky as hell, not

to mention I sing “Smelly Cat” really well. I’m as awkward as Chandler, love food as much as Joey and will probably marry three times like Ross.

I almost blame this show for the abundance of coffee I drank as a young kid. Central Perk, the centerpiece for a lot of the show’s great moments, felt real to me. Drinking coffee felt like a way of life

I was missing out on, so I joined. It wasn’t for me, turns out. I need a real-life Central Perk in my world.

I wouldn’t drink any coffee, but I would sure go for a good scone. Someone get on that.

The show’s insanely catchy theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” still gets stuck in my head to this day. I’ve also been known to dance around my living room when the song comes on, but that’s a different story. It’s ironic that the show title theme was “I’ll Be There for You” because in times when I needed a laugh, it was there for me.

For 10 years, six people made television audiences laugh, cry and sometimes scream. The series attracted over 20 million viewers each season it aired, which is unheard of for a series nowadays. It’s still popular today and can probably be seen at almost any hour in syndication somewhere.

“Friends” was more than a show for me. It was something more special. Granted, people who watched the show from beginning till end probably appreciate it much more than me. I’m just glad that I was introduced to it because if it were not for that show, I would not appreciate and follow television like I do today.

Thank you to the cast of “Friends” who have been there in the worst times, the best times and anytime in between.

Album Review: “Tyranny” “The Maze Runner” full of action

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

By HANNAH BENJAMIN Entertainment Critic

T h e Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas has returned to the sound of his 2009 a l b u m , “Phrazes for the Young,” this time with backup band The Voidz.

“Tyranny” is the name of the new album and like Casablancas’ “Phrazes for the Young,” this is a drastic departure from garage rock of the Strokes.

The album opens with “Take Me in Your Army,” a slow, melancholy opening and something rarely heard from the Strokes or even Casablancas himself. The track serves as a sign of what the listener can expect from the rest of the album: the unexpected.

Where the opener of the album is slow and has Casablancas practically mumbling into the mic, the next track, “Crunch Punch,” is more upbeat and has more drive than the previous track. It also features more traditional instruments than “Take Me in Your Army,” which could almost pass as a Smashing Pumpkins song.

The first single from the album, “Human Sadness,” clocks in at almost 11 minutes and has a mellow bass line and more of Casablancas’ mumbling. The song eventually does pick up the pace around the halfway point but suffers once Casablancas starts screaming indiscernible words over heavily distorted synths and crash cymbals. For an 11-minute song, however, it does a decent job of using its time wisely.

In perhaps one of the most popular releases of the month, “The Maze R u n n e r ” slammed into the number one position in the box office at $32.5 million.

Based on the novel by James Dashner, and starring Dylan O’Brien and Kaya Scodelario, the movie keeps the plot fresh and audiences on their toes.

“The Maze Runner” opens with a mysterious ascending box containing Thomas (O’Brien). He is lifted up to an area called “The Glade,” the heart of a giant maze filled with boys who don’t remember anything about their past lives.

Thomas has nothing but strange dreams and the clues he finds in the maze to piece together his former life and find a way out. The impending threat of the mysterious maze creatures combined with a “Lord of the Flies” dynamic among the boys heightens the drama and makes “The Maze Runner” an intense sci-fi action flick.

The film does an excellent job of keeping things a mystery. The audience is just as confused as Thomas as he maneuvers his way through life in the maze. The drama intensifies with each attack on the boys and pressure builds as they appear to run out of time. O’Brien, originally of “Teen Wolf” TV series fame, displays complex emotions and captivates audiences right off the bat. The intricate relationships between the boys that want to leave and the ones who don’t want change are well developed.

Courtesy of JulianCasablancas.com

CHECK THE VOIDZ- Band members Jeff Kite and Alex Carapetis were previously involved with Casablancas’ first venture into solo material, forming two of his “Sick Six” band.

The following track, “”Where No Eagles Fly,” is the closest Casablancas and The Voidz come to sounding like The Strokes. The groovy bass line sounds a lot like the line from the Strokes’ 2005 song, “Juicebox.”

Casablancas’ vocals sound similar as he reverts back to the crooning style he uses with The Strokes. It’s a solid throwback to what made Casablancas the musician he is today and will most likely be a favorite among fans of The Strokes’ early work.

Later in the album, the track, “Nintendo Blood,” blends everything from earlier in the album. On this track we hear Casablancas’ crooning style as well as him shouting into the microphone. The track has synths and keyboards paired with a drum machine, making it sound like a traditional synth-pop track. Later on, however, it starts to sound more like

Daft Punk with Casablancas’ voice sounding more like the French robotic band.

Overall, “Tyranny” shows what Casablancas wants to do with his solo career and other side projects. While it’s nice that he has more creative input here, the album is difficult to put into one category. Some songs sound more synthpunk. Others could come straight from a 1980s movie soundtrack, while another flirts with the metal genre.

If you enjoyed “Phrazes for the Young” and were hoping for an album with more of that sound, you should enjoy most of what you get here. If you were hoping for more of a “Strokes Two” from Casablancas and The Voidz, you may be disappointed.

The best solution is to listen to this various blend of tracks and decide for yourself.

Courtesy of MoviePilot.com

WHICH WAY- The sequel in the book series, “The Scorch Trials” is scheduled to be released on September 18th, 2015.

Though individual character development is kind of weak, the group dynamics are powerful and well thought out.

The biggest issues with “The Maze Runner” stem from the original plot, which has more to do with the author of the series than the actual movie. Dystopian futures are hot right now and everyone involved is cashing in. The film has all the elements of a sick future society including a young hero who must face adversity to uncover the real truth. Just because it fits in with a certain genre doesn’t mean that “The Maze Runner” isn’t a good film, but it certainly makes it harder to distinguish itself.

Coupled with the rising popularity of these films, “The Maze Runner” leaves

many questions unanswered.

Depending on the audience, this can be a good or a bad thing. Plans for a sequel have already been announced and the ending deliberately (and rather annoyingly) points to another film. However, there is a lot of buildup to a huge reveal and is ultimately disappointing to audiences who haven’t read the books.

Overall, “The Maze Runner” is an action packed pick-me-up for the month of September. The film’s premise is unique enough to give audiences something new and wanting more.

“The Maze Runner” is rated PG-13 for thematic violence and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images.

Page 8 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

NEWS

Friday, September 26, 2014

>> Campus

continued from page 1

Neon Trees light the night for Tech students and members of the community

1

2

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle

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Dillon James | The Oracle

1. Sophomore education major Jacklyn Zimmermann hugs Awesome Eagle during the S.O.L.O. concert.

4

2. Lead singer of Neon Trees, Tyler Glenn, sings for Tech students and members of the community Tuesday night.

3. Neon Trees lead singer walks out on stage to perform their opening song, while donning a TTU foam finger.

4. Slow Hands, also known as Ryan Cavanagh, warms the crowd up with his disc jockey skills before Neon Trees took the stage.

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle

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