The Oracle - 092716

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

RACLE Volume 101 | 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

Literature class performs marathon reading to fund raise for trip to New York By MARANDA TANKERSLEY Beat Reporter Students of the English Department performed a marathon reading of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” Saturday at the Talon Theatre in Foundation Hall. The reading was comprised of students of the Topics of American Literature class and event attendees took turns reading portions of the novel in order to raise funds for the class’ trip to New York City during fall break. “I had the idea for at least a year, year and a half before this semester to have a class that would visit New York City and to structure a literature class that would make use of New York City,” Ted Pelton, English department chairperson, said. The class covers literary works written by the “beat generation,” focusing on authors Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsberg and William Burroughs, who were all living in New York City at the time, Pelton said. According to Britannica, the beat generation was a social and literary movement located in communities in San Francisco, Los

Angeles and New York City in the 1950s. Members of the generation “advocated personal release, purification, and illumination through heightened sensory awareness that might be induced by drugs, jazz, sex or the disciplines of Zen Buddhism.” The class’ trip is mostly funded by an EDGE Creative Inquiry grant, which Pelton said, are used to help students develop better critical thinking skills. For his class, they are focusing on the question “to what extent does urban environment generate creativity?” Though while the majority of the trip’s funding comes from the $5,000 EDGE grant, students are required to pay for their flights. The fundraiser’s goal of $1,200 is for extra expenses the class may need. With the help of library circulation desk supervisors, student Carolyn Shafer said she was able to pass along the pledge sheet throughout the library staff to gather $210 in pledges. “I think we’ll reach our goal, but that isn’t our largest concern at the moment. We just hope everyone read-

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S.O.L.O. fund decrease causes lowered cap for organizational requests By ASHLEY MOYERS Beat Reporter

Maranda Tankersley l The Oracle “ON THE ROAD” - Tom Pelton, English Department Chairperson, reads from Kerouac’s “On the Road,” during the marathon reading Saturday.

ing “On the Road” will enjoy themselves,” student Joseph Hargis said. Pelton’s itinerary for the trip focuses on areas that Kerouac and other beat authors spent their time at. The class has planned to visit Kerouac’s apartment, Riverside Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and an

appointment to look at Kerouac materials in the Berg Collection at the New York Public Library. The total amount of donations have yet to be determined, but Hargis said that the marathon reading took an estimate of 11-12 hours to complete from cover to cover.

This semester’s S.O.L.O. general fund has decreased by roughly $70,000. Each semester students are charged a fee of $20 to fund the two SGA accounts. 85 percent of the fee goes toward the super fund and 15 percent of the fee goes toward the general fund. The SGA super fund is used to pay for the concert each semester, whereas the general fund is used to supply S.O.L.O. applications. When compared to previous semesters, the general fund would typically have $80,000- $100,000 to last the entire semester. For the fall 2016 semester however, the current total for the general fund is $20,0920.50. Because of the general fund’s decease, pertinent aspects such as the S.O.L.O. cap amount have been affected. Each semester an organization on campus can request a certain amount of money to support an event the group is sponsoring. In previous years, organizations could ask up to

$2,500 per semester, but with the recent decrease in funding the new cap amount is set at $500 per semester. Each organization can either ask for the cap amount or present two applications to SGA per semester, regardless if they hit the full cap amount of $500. SGA treasurer, Hope Duke, addressed these factors of the funding decrease at last Tuesday’s SGA meeting. “Due to enrollment being down 10 percent, a record breaking amount of summer S.O.L.O. applications, and a culture of being fiscally irresponsible, we are lower on funds than previous years. It was kind of the perfect storm,” she said. Regarding summer S.O.L.O. applications, the money used for spending comes from the fall semester funds since the spring semester funding is “at the end of its rope,” SGA president, Alex Martin, said. In previous years, SGA has often used money from both the general fund and the super fund to pay for things throughout the semester. See “S.O.L.O Fund” >> Page 2

Cardboard City camp out shows reality of homelessness By OLIVIA HOFFMAN Beat Reporter Tech’s Residential Life and Cookeville Rescue Mission are in the process of planning Cardboard City, a chance for students to understand the reality of homelessness. For the past six years, students and volunteers have gathered on Main Quad to sleep in cardboard boxes through the night and donate supplies to the Cookeville Rescue Mission. This year’s slogan for Cardboard City is “Think Outside the Box,” which encourages students to think about what home-

lessness looks like. Tisheika Snow, New Hall North hall director, has one major goal for the event. “My goal is to change the stereotype of what homelessness looks like. It’s not always people sleeping under a bridge; it can be people that are constantly moving. Homelessness can be caused by mental illness or people that just lost their jobs and ran out of money,” Snow said. The Cookeville Rescue Mission provides dental care, health services, ministry, housing, meals, laundry service, referrals to jobs and a hair salon for the homeless. They are open 24/7 all days of the year.

“For 40 years, the nonprofit Cookeville Rescue Mission has provided emergency, temporary shelter for the homeless … lasting from three to 30 days for men, women and families in need,” according to Cookeville Rescue Mission’s website. Activities like face painting, corn hole and board games are provided for participants. A hands-on service activity for students and volunteers is preparing hygiene kits for the homeless, which can only happen if there are enough donations of hygiene products. The Cookeville Rescue Mission also judges how well students

build their cardboard “home.” “There are no rules as to how much cardboard you can bring, but we will provide duct tape if you bring donations,” Snow said. Tech’s Service Learning Program also is playing a role in the event. Michelle Huddleston, Service Coordinator, has a couple activities planned. “I hope to have one of my volunteers doing face painting with phrases like “I heart service” or something related to service,” Huddleston said. “We will also be there with hot dogs that you can pay for with canned items and donations for the Rescue Mission.”

The event is planned to begin at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5 and last until 7 a.m. If students plan to stay the night, the event will end around 7 a.m. In the case of rain, the event will be located in Memorial Gym. Snow advises students to bring a blanket. “I want to inspire people to go out and make a difference on campus and in the world. I also want to make aware volunteering opportunities in the community,” Snow said. Volunteer forms can be found at cookevillerescuemission.org for anyone wanting to volunteer in the future.

ROTC cadets expand skills in Fort Benning training courses By CADET LUKE HORNBY Guest Contributor

This summer, three Tech Golden Eagle Battalion cadets added their accomplishments to the Long Purple Line by earning their wings and graduating from two of the Army’s premier training schools: the Fort Benning Air Assault School and the United States Army Airborne School. The three cadets earned their respected qualifications while training with other cadets and soldiers from across the armed forces. Cadet Andrew Whittenbarger, a sophomore Chemical Engineering major, attended the Air Assault School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Where he trained in three phases that involved rotary wing aircraft. Read More Online

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Phase one involved learning helicopter capabilities as well as hand and arm signals and basic pathfinder operations. Phase two involved sling load operations on helicopters. In phase three, the focus was on rappelling, in which the final stage included rappelling out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. “My favorite part was meeting other cadets and soldiers all across the United States and making new connections,” Whittenbarger said. Cadet William Nakamoto, a senior accounting major, and Cadet Harrison Scott, a sophomore engineering technology major, both attended the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. The U.S. Army Airborne School is also a three-phased course of instruction.

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The first week, ground week, consists of learning the proper procedures of how to jump out of an airplane and how to hook up a parachute harness. Cadets also learned how to land a jump, which is called a parachute landing fall (PLF). The second week, tower week, is an accelerated ground week. Cadets performed a mass exit out of a 34-foot tower, which consisted of four people jumping out right after another. Cadets also trained utilizing the swing load trainer (SLT). The SLT required students to jump from a 12-foot high platform while attached to a harness, and drop whenever the instructor decided to let them fall. The third week, jump week, as the name implies, consists of five

Cadet Sarah Sholly l TTU ROTC GOLDEN EAGLE BATTALION - Cadet William Nakamoto and Cadet Harrison Scott completed summer training at the U.S. Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. jumps out of either a Lockheed C-130 or Boeing C-17 transport aircraft, with four jumps occurring during the day and the fifth jump at night. “My favorite part was the night

jump,” Scott said. “It was both exciting and scary at the same time, due to the fact that you could only partially see everybody else and the ground with the limited light provided from the moon.”

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NEWS >>“S.O.L.O. Fund” Continued from Page 1 “Using money from both funds has happened in previous years, but is not condoned by executive council,” Martin said. Possible solutions to this problem were discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting. One possible solution was to transfer money from the super fund to the general fund. The other possible solution was to increase the student fee each semester. A current senator, Samuel Broady, does not agree with the practice of borrowing money from the super fund. He is in the process of writing a bill with other senators to prevent this act from taking place in the future. “We shouldn’t take money from other accounts thinking it’s helping. It’s like trying to pay off one credit card with another credit card. You aren’t solving the problem, you’re just moving the debt to another account,” Broady said. A bill has not been approved or put into affect regarding solving the financial crisis, but Duke is determined to make adjustments. She said that senators are not aware of the amount available in the general fund, despite giving away money at almost every meeting. “I want to keep senators fiscally responsible so I plan to display the amount we have in our account at every meeting,” she said. Attempts were made to contact the Office of Student Affairs, but they refused to release documentation regarding the general fund or S.O.L.O. applications.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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Family weekend brings events to campus events @ tech Family Weekend will begin September 30 and continue until October 2, letting students’ parents have a chance to visit campus. Events will be held all weekend, including a tailgate at Tucker Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

By JACIE BOWMAN Beat Reporter Family Weekend for all Tech students and their families is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 – Sunday, Oct. 2. This is a weekend that families of students can come visit and experience life on campus through events that Tech has planned. “We want to invite all Tech families to attend Family Weekend 2016. Most events are free and open to all to attend,” according to the Family Weekend webpage. Events are planned for

the entire weekend, starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Parents and families are welcomed by the Tech Parent Association to stop by the Welcome and Check-In table in Roaden University Center 1st Floor Lobby. The official Family Weekend program with event details is provided 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Oct. 1. Parent Association Gold and Legacy members must RSVP to pick up their two tickets to the Tech football game. “When I was in ROTC we [ROTC] went to the foot-

ball tailgate together to eat and play corn hole,” Megan Storey, former Tech ROTC cadet, said. Groups such as ROTC, sororities and fraternities at Tech get together for this weekend. Among the events are Family Weekend Food Drive, the Art Exhibit, Family Weekend Movie featuring “Finding Dory,” Family Weekend scavenger hunt, live reptile exhibit, iCube Innovation Center open house, lunch and music on the Plaza, Multicultural Affairs fall fling, magic and ice cream show, Golden Eagle Walk, Family Weekend tailgate,

Tech football game, Family Weekend golf and the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. “Our chapter does their own thing so it was fun. Everyone then goes to the football game together,” Briana Hayes, member of Kappa Delta Sorority, said. Tickets can be purchased online and at the event sites. Events that cost money are the Tech football game, Family Weekend Golf and the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. Details on Family Weekend 2016 events are provided on Tech’s website at www.tntech.edu/parents/familyweekend.

Science building construction slated for 2017 A new Integrated Science Building, set to be finished in 2020, will provide junction of east and west sides of campus with an Academic Quad containing outside sitting space and a pond. Parking will be displaced from main commuter lot to behind Tech Village. By MICHAEL LOUTHAN Beat Reporter Tech is introducing the construction of a new $90 million science building to the school’s campus by the year 2020. The new Integrated Science Building will be located where the main commuter lot is currently. This lot between, Stadium and Peachtree Avenue, will be turned into an Academic Quad with large sitting areas of grass and a retention pond. The location of the new science building and its alignment with sur-

rounding buildings will help join the eastern and western halves of campus. This location will help tie in future expansions westward to the heart of the campus. Since the commuter lot will be displaced, the parking lot behind Tech Village will be added on to, creating 1,368 total new parking spaces. The commuter lot currently accommodates 859 cars. Claire Stinson, Ph.D. and Vice President for Planning and Finance, says that planning for the building will take place this year. “These buildings don’t go up in a hurry,” Stinson said. “There will be

about two years of construction.” Before breaking ground, the new parking lot behind Tech Village will be completed in place of the commuter lot. The west perimeter lot project is expected to start this month and reach completion by fall 2017. The ground breaking for the science building is also projected to be early fall 2017. Stinson hopes for the completion of the project by the fiscal year 2020. More information about the Integrated Science Building and the 2014 Master Plan can be located on the Flight Plan page of the Tech website.

RUC renovations pushed back to deal with budget issues By JASON WILLIAMS Beat Reporter Tech’s remodeling project of Roaden University Center has been delayed by budgeting and bid problems. The project was bid out and came in over budget, according to Christine Daniels. “We are working to bring the project within budget and will rebid. A new date has not yet been set,” Daniels said. The bid target for this project is $4.8 billion according to Daniels. The student lounge on the ground floor will give more seating options for students, according to Daniels.

“On the ground floor of the addition, the space will be open with a variety of different seating options,” Daniels said. The lounge will feature tables and chairs so students can eat or study, and “soft furnishings for lounging and hanging out with friends.” “This space has been envisioned as a meeting space, casual ‘graband-go’ dining,” Daniels said, “and a more welcoming/functioning entrance (not just a corridor) on that busy side of the UC.“ Students seem pleased that more dinning room will be available. “I am glad they are adding more places to eat down here,” Brittany Lashae said. “It always seems like Which Wich is always too full to get a seat, and this seems like it will be a

CORRECTIONS SEPT. 13

T

he story “Damon Wayans Jr. wins Fall S.O.L.O. Concert vote,” Wayans Jr. was referred to as one of the four Wayans brothers. Wayans Jr. is actually the son of one of the Wayans brothers, Damon Wayans Sr.

I

n the story “Upcoming changes effect Homecoming,” the incorrect form of effect was used in the headline. The correct form should be “Upcoming changes affect Homecoming.”

T

he wild art “Belegrath at TTU,”had a misspelling of the society’s name. The correct title is Belegarth.

chill area.” There will also be a pedestrian bridge added on the second floor of the University Center, but no start date is known at this time. “The pedestrian bridge will lead from Centennial Plaza along the west edge of the University Center to the second floor, Dixie Avenue level, entering into the new addition portion of the project,” Daniels said. This should give students easier access to the second floor and Dixie Avenue. The Tech Master plan calls for repair of the University Center due to the low rating the building received during a Building Envelope Investigation by Richard Rinks and Associates in June 2013. The building has several issues on the western facing facade and ad-

joining areas that need addressing. Once the project bid is approved and work begins, the western side of the University Center will be shut off to students. The parking lot at the rear of the building that is now fenced off will continue to be closed to students until the company in charge releases it back to Tech, according to Jack Butler. Along with these additions and expansions, the Master Plan also mentions Tech’s ambitions to place an “amphitheater with a north side stage and bandstand…to provide a conclusion to the Peachtree Mall prior to encountering the end of Johnson Hall.” The plan also states “replacement of the University Center could also be a viable option.”

HALLOWEEN CENTRAL

September October

27 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Voter Registration Drive RUC 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Film - Chisholm ‘72: Unbought & Unbossed Derryberry Hall Auditorium

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

University Orchestra Bryan Fine Arts Auditorium

8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Damon Wayans Jr. Hooper-Eblen Center

28

All Day

Last Day for Refund Campus Wide

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

Attacca Quartet Wattenbarger Auditorium

29

All Day

Arendt Fiber Art Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Career Day Hooper-Eblen Center

30

All Day

Family Weekend Campus Wide

1 All Day

TTU Preview Day Campus Wide

All Day

Family Weekend Campus Wide

6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Football vs. Eastern Kentucky Tucker Stadium

2

All Day

Family Weekend Campus Wide

3 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Studio Piano Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium

4 All Day

Hayes Sculpture Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

ARN Chorn-Pond -Survival Through Music Derryberry Hall Auditorium

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

Jazz Ensemble Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium

6 AREA’S LARGEST SELECTION Costumes Props Masks Makeup Decorations Acessories

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

Career Readiness Resume Workshop Tech Pride Room RUC

7

All Day

Hayes Sculpture Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

8

All Day

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus <<

NEWS

Alpha Phi Alpha & Phi Mu fundraise for March of Dimes Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Mu raise money for March of Dimes through a bake sale and donations of diapers, baby food, and other baby supplies. The fraternity and sorority’s goal was exceeded in their last fundraiser of Community Service Week. By BRITTANY McGEE Beat Reporter Members of Tech’s Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Mu conducted their bake sale in the name of March of Dimes. Not only were they selling baked treats for $1, but they also were accepting diapers, baby food, and other sorts of baby material donations. “Participating in the March of Dimes, a march for babies, has been a thing throughout my high school career. My high school always tried to donate, so when the Alphas had a great idea to ask us, of course I wanted

to act upon it,” Phi Mu member Alexis Miller said. With this being the last community service event of the week for the Alphas, a goal was set at $75. “My fraternity itself gives tens of thousands to the organization, all chapters in Tennessee, including the alumni chapters,”Alpha Phi Alpha member Wolfgang Bronner said. “Our goal today was $75, and we exceeded that goal by collecting $100 in money and donations.” According to its website, www. MarchofDimes.org, March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization whose mission states that

they are here to “improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.” The headquarters is located in White Plains, New York, and that is where all of the money and donations are expected to be shipped to. “It’s one of the Alpha Phi Alpha’s national programs and all proceeds are mailed to the headquarters in White Plains, New York,” Bronner said. The fraternity/sorority duo were in the University Center lobby for 3 hours collecting money and donations. With Dead Hour at Tech being scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Greeks were ex-

pected to have a high walk through volume since they were in the center where most of the campus dining options are. “I love the Alphas, they care so much about their causes and are always willing to help out. They are some very outstanding young men,” said Phi Mu member Julia Sanderson. With Community Service Week coming to an end, the Greeks feel as though they have made a difference in their community, along with the help of their fellow Golden Eagles. “We achieved more than expected from the help of the generous faculty and students here at Tennessee Tech,” Miller said.

Intramurals kicks off semester with new sports and rules New sports have been introduced to Tech’s Intramural line-up, including punt pass and kick contests. In the Spring, students can look forward to inter tube water polo and pickle ball. A new app has also been initiated to help keep track of game schedules and line-ups.

By ALEXIS STALEY Beat Reporter Tech’s intramurals are underway for fall 2016 with dramatic advancements. “The new sports this fall include punt pass and kick contest which starts on October 3. Registration is open and ends on Sept 28. New sports in the spring include inter tube water polo which starts Feb 20 and pickle ball which starts April 3,” Makayla Cordell, a graduate assistant, said. Cordell’s job consists of putting in 20 hours a week supervising all the student workers including referees, pavilion workers and spectators. Cordell also is in charge of setting up and breaking down all fields and the new pavilion. “We keep everything running smoothly

in between and during games,” Cordell said. “Our most exciting new sport is inter tube water polo. Unlike most of the other sports this one has zero restrictions for all athletes because Tech does not have a polo team,” Cordell said. Along with new sports added comes stronger rule enforcement. “You must have your eagle card and show it before participating in any game,” Cordell said. “Our biggest change is our sportsmanship rule. This rule is based on a 1-5 scale and can cause a team to not make playoffs if they have averaged a score below a three,” Cordell said. “This gives teams incentive to not have poor sportsmanship throughout the game and we can already see that is helping keep the game under control.”

‘‘

The new app is a great addition and in the long run it will help once everyone gets on board with it. Right now there is a lot of confusion with the app because of how new it is. It’s hard to get people to do things different that what has been done all the years before. — Makayla Cordell Intramural Graduate Assistant

The new pavilion is open and was created to keep everything intramural related in one organized place. “It is so much easier and efficient to access all the things we need now that they are located at the fields. It also provides a place for the teams to check in and concessions are sold to the players and spectators throughout the night,” Cordell said.

,,

A new app called REC IT was created to keep the games and schedules in line. “The new app is a great addition and in the long run it will help once everyone gets on board with it. Right now there is a lot of confusion with the app because of how new it is. It’s hard to get people to do things different than what has been done all the years before,” Cordell said.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

>> Reviews

Roger and Marion Moore dog park offers shelter, off-leash fun for canines By STEVEN STOIK Guest Contributor Putnam County residents can gain membership to the community’s first off-leash dog park. The park is located on Gainesboro Grade, next to the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. For $25 and proof of vaccination, spaying or neutering, any resident of Putnam County can receive a yearly membership card to enter the park from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Roger and Marion Moore Dog Park, a 10-acre plot of land known as the P.E.T. Care Campus, is a joint venture between non-profit organization Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals and the Putnam County Animal Shelter. The P.E.T. Care campus itself sits directly adjacent to the animal shelter. Park hours will change in October and restrict visiting hours until 5 p.m. Interdisciplinary Studies major Caylin Kerr visited the large dog park with her brindle-colored shelter mix named Norris Friday afternoon. She said she was allowing her pet time to exercise and exhaust some of his energy before she left for work that day. “We come here probably four times a week, honestly,” Kerr said. “There’s a ton of space here. I think about him a lot whenever I’m gone. I didn’t want to have a dog who just sits in the window while I’m at work. I don’t know whether he’s bored or

asleep.” Kerr also mentioned that she adopted Norris at the Putnam County Animal Shelter Feb. 29, 2016. “He’s literally my best friend. We do everything together,” Kerr said. “I don’t think he knew how to play when I got him. They said he was a stray, and we don’t know for sure, but it’s been good socializing him with other dogs and the people because he’s not skittish anymore.” Shelter Director Sarah Webb revealed the overall community reception has been positive. “It’s been wonderful. We’ve been given a very positive, wonderful community response,” Webb said. “Thankfully, everybody has been a good, responsible steward of the park so far.” The park features separate fenced-in areas for large and small dogs. Canines less than 30 lbs. are allowed in the small dog enclosure, while those 30 lbs. or heavier can play in a larger area nearby. There are also enclosed sections between the outer and inner gates for dog owners to de-leash their pets. It has been more than two months since the grand opening of the dog park, and the facility has been “very well used, indeed,” President of Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals Linda Westin said. Friends of Cookeville/ Putnam County Animals helped the Putnam County Animal Shelter relocate to its current location when

the new building opened in January 2015. Westin added that they help keep it a “nokill” shelter, in that they will accept any dog or cat given to them through proper procedure and will not euthanize any animal for lack of space. The only exception made is for animals too sick or injured to benefit from the shelter’s services or outside resources. The dog park had been in the organization’s plans since the new shelter opened. “We work hand in hand with the shelter, city and county to help the shelter function at its highest level. Our shelter fulfills a huge need in the community and is almost always filled to capacity. That’s why we have these huge adoption events,” Westin said. Among those events are an annual “Fur Ball” fundraiser Oct. 1st, a “Blessing of the Animals” free community meeting Oct. 29 and a tentatively planned “Howl-OWeen” pet costume parade, also Oct. 29. The park’s list of rules and restrictions that staff would consider most important is a limit of two dogs per person, requirement of rabies vaccination documentation with tags, puppies younger than 4 months can not be admitted and owners are responsible for pet’s behavior. There is another small park on the P.E.T. Care Campus called the “Hank and Beth Mannle Shelter Dog Playground,” on which dogs kept at the shelter can play while awaiting adoption.

Photo by Steven Stoik DOG PARK - Norris watches as his owner, Caylin Kerr, prepares to toss a Frisbee at the Roger and Marion dog park. Staff members believe the planning and construction of a de-leashed dog park helps the dogs become healthier, happier and less prone to bad behavior. “Anxiety and stress can develop and lead to destruc-

“This Is Us” is NBC’s latest attempt at the sentimentalyet-tolerable family dramedy genre, with previous series such as the comfy “Parenthood” and rousing “Friday Night Lights” under its belt. It marries the hearty comedy that shimmers in both of these shows and boasts a truly funny script helmed by Dan Fogelman, the writer of several animated films and the similarly bittersweet “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Fogelman clearly has admiration for the characters before anything else, and this is where the show comes together to make something effective and memorable. The focus of “This Is Us” is on characters who are each searching and expecting, some more literally than others. The heart of the show is Jack and Rebecca, played by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, respectively, a young Pittsburgh couple expecting triplets who rush to the delivery room and spend the

pilot experiencing the toils of childbirth. Through all of the pain, though, the couple is in love but visibly scared; Fogelman writes the scenes in the hospital with an unflinching rawness that lets these characters guide the rocky journey. They seem like real people, which is often hard to portray honestly in a show this emotional, but there is a sensitivity and candor to their relationship with a blue-collar relatability which paints the edges. The other characters, disparate as they seem, are all spending this same day celebrating their 36th birthday. There’s Kate (Chrissy Metz), who seems to be stuck in a cycle of unhappiness related to her weight. She battles with the lack of willpower and loneliness until she joins a support group and meets Toby (Chris Sullivan), a loudmouthed but sweet guy who seems just as stuck as she. Her brother, Kevin (Justin Hartley), is an unsatisfied actor also stuck with a role in “The Manny,” an ill-conceived series that seems to magnify his personal apathy towards fatherhood which culminates in an on-set meltdown. The two understand each other

requirements, visit http:// www.friendsofcpcanimals. org/dog-park.html. For details regarding the operation of Putnam County Animal Shelter or Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals, call (931)-526-2647.

Graduate students design past to present ‘selfie’ exhibit in Volpe Library

‘This Is Us’ pilot impresses, embarks on bittersweet ride By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor

tive behaviors or aggression. The park allows them an outlet to release pent-up energy. It provides a very happy, neutral place,” said Webb. For more information on park hours and membership

Volpe Library hosts “From Portraits to Selfies” all semester, which includes historic Upper Cumberland photos.

Photo Courtesy of tvline.com EXPERIENCED - ‘‘This Is Us’’ is the first TV series created by Dan Fogelman, writer of the ‘‘Cars’’ series and ‘‘Tangled.’’ and why they’re so unhappy - Kate begs Kevin to tell her to stop feeling sorry for herself while the two talk on the bathroom floor as if it’s a conversation they have every week. The magic of “This Is Us” is how it takes the pilot formula of forcing action on the character’s life and makes the culmination of all its stories come together. Randall (Sterling K. Brown), a business executive who’s made a respectable life for himself, gets word that his biological father, William (Ron Cephas Jones), has been found 36 years after he left Randall on the doorstep of a fire department. This is the only storyline that both feels underdeveloped but still powerful, as William never gets enough time to sit with the audience. He feels more like

a plot device to hammer the show’s overarching theme of fatherhood home, as well as a means of delivering the show’s unforgettable twist. The twist, which lurks without poking its head out, plays out with expert craft. There is almost no way to notice the subtlety of it unless you go into it knowing that it exists beforehand. That’s why it’s best to watch “This Is Us” for the journey of its characters. Rarely does a show deftly hold on to all strings in order to make each storyline feel substantial while also delivering satisfying little moments of hilarity and heartbreak. “This Is Us” takes risks in its pilot without feeling rickety, finding a firm foundation in its sincere writing and concept that could quickly make the series a welcome staple.

By RICHARD MOSLEY Guest Contributor A new photo exhibit presented by the University Archives titled “From Portraits to Selfies” is being held in Tech’s Volpe Library on the first floor. Students can attend Mondays through Fridays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and will be able to view photo collections and pieces dating back to the 20th Century. The exhibit consists of both photo services’ collection of the university and the Harding collection of the Upper Cumberland to show the evolution of photography from past to present. “Scott L. Brown and Brenna Edwards are grad students who put the exhibit together,” said Megan Atkinson, University Archivist. “They found that a common theme amongst all the photos was that there are so many because photography gradually worked its way from professionals only to the masses”

As the university Archivist, Atkinson is in charge of appraisal and preservation of archival collections. For the university specifically, she collects materials of the Upper Cumberland, ranging from a 1926 Tech yearbook to the Harding photo collection on display. “We really are trying to bring awareness to the preservation of university history,” said Atkinson. “There’s no point in the preservation of history if people don’t know the history is there.” Tech’s archives gave Cookeville History Museum pieces to use in the World War I exhibit and have pictures that match up from the World War I time period. “From Portraits to Selfies” will be open all semester and will run simultaneously with the Cookeville History Museum’s World War I exhibit that starts Oct. 1. The archives plan to hold classes later this semester to receive help from students to identify pictures in their collection.

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OPINIONS

'Brangelina' invades national headlines KATE TREBING Opinions Editor The past week has seen an onslaught of headline-worthy events. Charlotte, North Carolina witnessed the most recent acts of violence between police forces and members of the black community. The primary presidential candidates continued to sling mud and throw verbal punches in preparation for Monday night’s presidential debate. The rupture of a pipeline in Alabama led to a gas shortage throughout the Southeast. And Hollywood’s most iconic and family-oriented power couple decided to call an end to a 12-year love affair. For those who have boycotted TV, internet and basically all forms of mass communication, Brangelina is the cutesy term for the coupling of celebrity humanitarians Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This Hollywood couple is not alone in being identified by a creative mutation of surnames, but they are unique in the permanence of their identity as a singular unit. In the beginning of their romance, they were like every other Hollywood couple. Pitt and Jolie were just another pair of co-stars who had an affair that ended a marriage while serving as choice fodder for the gossip columns. What right do they have to fill headlines alongside the current events impacting our world? Perhaps these two were different because they held onto their relationship for 12 years, ushering

four children into their partnership along the way (their two oldest children had been adopted by Jolie before the foundation of Brangelina). They have balanced their roles as Hollywood aristocracy with humanitarian efforts around the globe. Somewhere along the way, they convinced us that they were a genuine unit, fit to withstand Hollywood’s marriage-dissolving battleground. They did all this despite the fact that they were not legally married for the first decade of their relationship. Perhaps their story is unique in Hollywood. However, at the end of the day the dissolution of another famous couple is not the end of life as we know it. It does not directly impact me, my family or anyone I know or have ever known. Yet these tidbits of gossip always manage to tickle our ears. They fill our newsstands alongside global crises and the international state of affairs. We can’t get enough of them. Maybe we can’t get away from the gossip because we need a distraction. What overworked, sleep-deprived parent wants to be pounded with the harsh realities facing his or her children? Instead, we like to feed our brains news-candy and hope for the best. Most of us are always on the go. We rush through life trying to keep up the break-neck pace, and we cringe when we finally get the chance to scan the news headlines. Sometimes only the gossip columns seem sensational without threatening the delicate security we construct in our lives. Yet the news was never meant

Photo courtesy of Chrisa Hickey NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY- Angelina Jolie's announcement of divorce from Brad Pitt has consistently appeared in national headlines alongside presidential campaign coverage and national crises. to cater to our sense of security. In fact, the news was meant to keep us informed and vigilant of the world around us. Yet we would rather dwell on the disruption of a celebrity marriage than discuss the issues in the world around us. I am just as guilty as anyone else. I can dish out celebrity gossip with the best of them, but I have to make a conscious effort to keep up with the latest political debate. Everyone loves a good fairy tale. We look to celebrities as fantasy figures meant to live perfect lives. We picture them as untouched by the problems that face us commoners. We look to their lives as a means of

escape from our own. Even a bad day as a celebrity is better than a normal day in the real world, right? And yet, many celebrities choose to use their fame as a spotlight on the same issues from which we endeavor to escape. Oprah Winfrey, Jackie Chan, and yes, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have all used their fame as leverage to make a difference in the world we face. Ironically, this only serves to solidify their superstar image. In comparison to the aggressive, slippery politicians vying for prime time, these celebrities seem gentlesouled and untouchably good. We root for them, and we feel their pain.

Perhaps Donald Trump should call on Jackie Chan for lessons in public image. Everyone needs balance in life. This extends beyond diet and exercise or work and downtime. We need balance in our news as well. No, it isn’t healthy to bury our heads in the sand and ignore all signs of a troubled world. But there is no shame in seeking brief respite in the pages of US Weekly. The key is balance. Kate Trebing is a junior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.

Insider's Guide: How to eat vegan in our small town LINDSAY MILLS Guest Critic “Whoa, you’re vegan? That must be impossible where we live!” It may seem daunting to avoid animal products, but I can assure you it’s easier than one might think. Okay, we don’t have a vegan restaurant around every corner like Portland, Oregon, or a fully vegan restaurant at all for that matter, but fear not! Cookeville offers a plethora of vegan options if you know where to look. For someone that doesn’t prefer salads, I find it easy to stuff my face in good vegan food. First stop: fast food. I frequent Taco Bell like you wouldn’t believe. Next time you’re there and you’re not feeling the subpar beef, opt for a vegan burrito! My go-to is the 7-layer burrito, fresco style. By requesting fresco style, you are saying no dairy. And, if you’re wanting a lil’ extra: ask for potatoes. If you’re craving french fries, the fries at Wendy’s, Burger King, and Chick-Fil-A are vegan and delicious. Think you have to give up pizza to be vegan? Think again! At Papa John’s the original hand-tossed crust is vegan, so order all veggies with no cheese and you’re good. Plus, the garlic dipping sauce at Papa John’s is vegan. If you’re going out for dinner, a good choice from Olive Garden is pasta. Pick your pasta

THE

and top it with the kid’s tomato sauce and eat all the buttery breadsticks because those are actually vegan. Other great restaurant options are Mexican and Chinese places. Personalize your burrito at Blue Coast or get a huge taco salad. Get veggie fajitas or a bean burrito from Cinco Amigos and fill up on rice, veggie sushi, and hibachi vegetables at the Super Hibachi Buffet. Fuji also has great veggie sushi, try the sweet potato roll, and a tofu bento box. If you’re in the mood for some more local grub, check out Seven Senses or Damascus. Seven Senses has a vegetarian/vegan menu, and the Middle-Eastern restaurant Damascus offers several vegetarian and vegan items. Another place to try out is House of Thai. It’s right beside campus, and they have several vegan dishes. Want a drink and a light plant-based dinner? Father Tom’s Pub offers an awesome selection of drinks, and for dinner you can get the bruschetta without cheese and the sweet potato fries. Need a quick, healthy lunch stop? Swing by The Turn Around and go to town on their awesome vegan options! Get a juice or smoothie, a wrap or soup, or one of their insanely delicious vegan burgers. If you love coffee as much as I do, then you’ll be glad to hear that Starbucks makes it super easy to get your caffeine fix while avoiding dairy! Get a latte with soy, coconut, or almond milk. My go-to drink is a cold-brew

ORACLE

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Photo courtesy of Public Domain ACCIDENTAL VEGAN - Taco Bell is among the restaurants in Cookeville that offer options for vegans and vegetarians. with soymilk. If you’d rather spend some time in a local coffee shop, the coffee at Poet’s is wonderful! Plus, they offer soy and almond milk, and quite a few vegan-friendly snacks. If you’re scared about taking the plunge to veganism, don’t be. I promise it’s not as hard as you may think it is to be vegan in our small college town. Cookeville does a pretty great job at catering to a plant-based diet. Sure, you might have to put in a little more effort,

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but you will be happy that you did! Thriving on a plant-based diet is wonderful for your health, for the environment and for billions of farm animals. Join the growing number of compassionate advocates and help us make the world a better place! Lindsay Mills is a junior in environmental and sustainability studies. She can be reached at lemills42@students.tntech.edu.

2. Originality is required. 5. The Oracle reserves Plagiarized works will not the right to edit for style, The Oracle encourages be considered. grammar, length and readers to write letters and clarity. commentaries on topics of 3. For verification, letters interest. A few guidelines: and commentaries MUST 6. Submissions must be include your name, e-mail received by 4 p.m. on 1. Letters should not address, home town and Friday. exceed 300 words. classification or title. Commentaries should be 7. Your thoughts are free. around 500 words and 4. Letters may not run Think often, think free. include a picture of the in every edition due to writer. space. kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu

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Tuesday, September,27 2016

THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN || PAGE 6

SPORTS

>> Inside the Game

Tech wins OVC season opener against Jacksonville State By MARCUS HANSON Sports Editor

“It feels great to get that first win and be standing on top at 1-0,� head coach Steve Springthorpe said after a 2-1 win against OVC rival Jacksonville State University Friday. The game started off slow in the first half, with no goals from either side. However, Jacksonville State went into the lead with Cheyenne Carden scoring the first goal of the game at 56:25. The goal was just out of the reach of goalie Kari Naerdemann, who managed four saves throughout the rest of the game. Tech was not going to let this deficit slide, responding with two goals made in quick secession of each other, just under three minutes to be exact. Karigan Owens made the first goal at 60:58, and the second was a head shot made by Kalyn Pruett assisted by Owens at 63:18.

Marcus Hanson | The Oracle ATTEMPTED GOAL - Tech soccer players: Nora Vicsek (19), Julia Rebollo (23), and Rachel Blow (25) attempt a goal against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. “Ultimately, the goal they scored was a cracker,� Springthorpe said of Jacksonville State’s first and only goal. “It was probably about 28 yards out and she whipped it, but I was happy with our team’s response. We

came back to score on a corner kick. We had a set piece where Karigan bent one in and we’re pretty good at that. She responded and we responded within five or six minutes, then we got another set piece goal right after that.�

“It was just very even. It was just two teams that came out for their first conference match, so there was a lot of energy. But I think we did a great job defending and we had a better second half,� Springthorpe said.

“We’ve had some upsand-downs, but we have able to respond. Against ETSU, we were down a goal and it was the same thing (Friday). We were down a goal and we responded. That’s a quality you want your team to have. You

don’t give up. You continue to fight. We had that fighter’s mentality in the final 20, 25 minutes,� Springthorpe said. Tech’s next home game is Friday, Oct. 14 against Southeast Missouri. First kick is at 3:00 p.m.

Tech football loses against UT Martin By MARCUS HANSON Sports Editor Tech suffered another defeat during their fourth game of the season. “We had crucial penalties,� Coach Marcus Satterfield said of the loss on Saturday. Even with the lack of touchdowns, Tech statistically had a better game than

University of Tennessee at Martin. Tech lead UT Martin in passing yards (274 to 269), rushing yards (104 to 97), and time of possessions (31:32 to 28:28). “We’d convert on a 3rd down then have a holding penalty,� said Satterfield. �We did that twice in the first quarter. We had three special teams penalties that pushed us inside our 10. When you do that, you’re

not going to win many ball games.� Even with the loss there, Tech athletes still had career highs. Nick Madonia kicked a career-high three field goals, and, defensively, Elliott Normand had a career-high 13 tackles. Tech’s next game is at home this Saturday, Oct. 1, against Eastern Kentucky University. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.

Jim Dillion | TTU Sports Information RALLYING THE TEAM - Tech womens volleyball team huddle up before a match.

Tech volleyball win and lose matches By HALEY DAVIDSON Beat Reporter The Golden Eagles split games this weekend in the first home weekend of the season. Tech took on Eastern Kentucky and Murray State Sept. 23-24, topping the EKU Colonels in four sets (3-1) to open up with a win in conference play and then falling against the Morehead State Eagles in three straight sets (3-0). The Golden Eagles started the game fast, grabbing an early lead against the Colonels, by winning the first set. Shealene Little, outside hitter, helped the Golden Eagles secure their win with 17 kills. Closely followed by K’Vonna Johnson and Rachel Thomas with 15 kills. Sharon Anderson, senior setter, had 49 assists, which

set up the Golden Eagles for the win. “We wanted together as a team, full of energy, ready to give it our all and apply what we had been working hard on at practice this past week,� Little said. This was the Golden Eagles first regular season game under the new light system in Hooper Eblen center. There were 586 people in attendance of the two hour and thirteen minutes season home opener. “Not only did it (the win) help us get out of that funk we were in for a while, but to be 1-0 in the OVC is a great feeling,� head coach Dave Zelenock said in an interview with TTU Sports Information. Zelenock said that changing their offense throughout the game kept EKU on their toes and helped secure the win. The second game of the weekend against Morehead

State was a tough loss for the Golden Eagles. This was Tech’s first loss in the OVC, leaving them at a record of 1-1 in conference play. Anderson hit a milestone at Saturday’s game having her 3000 career assist, having 22 against Morehead State. “It feels amazing getting my 3000 assist, it’s crazy to think that I was hurt my freshman year early in the season and now I have 3000 assists,� Anderson said. “My coach told me after Fridays game that I was only 10 assists away, so I knew I would hit it during Saturday’s game. I don’t really pay attention to people or what’s being said (by the announcers), but Shaneice looked at me and smiled and I knew that I had hit it.� Tech continues conference play this week traveling to Tennessee State and Belmont.

Honorary baseball coaches from Tech By AUSTIN CLAY Beat Reporter

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Members of Tech’s baseball team recently served as honorary coaches for local little leagues. The players coached teams at Park View and Jere Whitson baseball fields for a week. They assisted in giving pregame talks, batting practice, fielding balls and stepping in as first and third base coaches. “To be completely honest, it might be one of my favorite feelings to experience,� sophomore outfielder Alex Junior said. “Getting out there and seeing kids having fun, yet playing very competitively, reminds me of when I was younger playing at this level.� The players got the opportunity to be the one giv-

ing the baseball instructions, not taking them. “If I were given this opportunity again, it would be a no brainer. I always wanted to help coach a little league team and try to create excitement for baseball that has gone down in kids from our youth,� Junior said. The players remembered when they were younger and how much it meant to them to have older baseball players to come and talk to them. “When I was a kid I remember always looking up to the older players who coached me because I wanted to be just as good as them some day,� junior infielder Trevor Putzig said. Most of the baseball team isn’t from Cookeville, so they didn’t previously know these kids. It meant a lot to the honorary coaches to make new relationships

during this experience. “I’m originally from Louisville, Kentucky, so helping kids I’m not familiar with was a fun and exciting experience. I met some of the kids parents and they seemed to love how we interacted with their kids,� Putzig said. The honorary coaches seized this opportunity to teach the future of baseball for their own good. “I think that these kids are great kids and were very mannerly towards me and it was incredible to see these kids treating the game greatly,� Junior said. All who participated left with a good feeling of helping others. “I left with a very positive experience and just glad I could help kids enjoy the game of baseball,� Putzig said.

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