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SGA implements age requirement for entrance to S.O.L.O. concert By ANNALISE FREITAG Beat Reporter The Student Government Association revised the S.O.L.O. Concert Ticket Policy, setting a minimum age requirement for attending Tech’s S.O.L.O. concerts. SGA President Bobby Adams addressed the senators about the revision during a Sept. 22 SGA meeting. Adams said all full-time Tech stuAdams dents (undergradu-
ate students with at least 12 hours, and graduate students with at least nine hours) will continue to receive two S.O.L.O. tickets each, and that their Eagle Card is required at the ticket pickup and at the door of the concert. Tickets will be handed out to full-time students for two weeks; after that, Adams said, part-time students, faculty and staff may purchase a ticket for $15. This is different from previous S.O.L.O. concerts, where no identification was needed at the door, so tickets could be sold or given to friends. Another big change this year is the implementation of a minimum
age requirement to attend the concert. According to Bobby Adams, all attendees must present either a valid Eagle Card or photo ID to verify they are either 18 or older. Any individual below the age of 18 who is not a full-time Tech student will not be admitted to the concert. Adams said this change was because “a young man at the last S.O.L.O. concert, who was not a TTU student, had to be taken to the hospital, and Dr. Oldham said ‘No more.’” Brittney Phillips, a graduate student in the educational psychology and counselor education program, said she is disappointed in the new
one ticket policy. “I understand their reasoning,” Phillips said, “I just wish they didn’t block everyone out.” Phillips also said her husband and friends now cannot attend the concert because they are not Tech students. Jacob Adams, a Tech alumnus, also said he is unhappy with the changes. “It seems like, from my understanding,” Jacob Adams said, “that it will be difficult if not impossible for me to get a ticket. So as an alumnus, I am disappointed.” “We’re trying to create a better environment; we’re trying to make
the concert a safer place,” said SGA Vice President Nick Russell. “We’re not trying to take away anything, we’re just trying to make it better.” Bobby Adams also reminded the senators that S.O.L.O. concerts are hosted for Tech-affiliated students, faculty and staff, and these new procedures will ensure only those Tech-affiliated people benefit from this concert. Full-time students can pick up their tickets during the first two weeks of October at the SGA office on the first floor of the RUC. The S.O.L.O. concert is Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Tech renames South Hall to Oakley Hall By ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer & REBECCA FINLEY Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech celebrated the renaming of South Hall to Oakley Hall Friday and Saturday with several events. The weekend of Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 was dedicated to honoring Millard V. Oakley and wife J.J. Oakley, as they renamed Oakley Hall after the two donors. While the two are both big supporters of education, Millard Oakley is also a part of the Tennessee Tech foundation board, according to Kristin Wells, director of university development. “Mr. Oakley’s leadership on our foundation board, as well as with our College of Agriculture and in other areas around campus, has been immeasurable,” Wells said. The weekend’s events included the naming ceremony and grand reopening, building tours and displays, a picnic and a historic costume fashion show, the Brenda Waters Memorial Pavilion Dedication and a fall festival. “No one has done more to advance Tech than J.J. and Millard Oakley,” said Kevin Braswell, vice president of university advancement, “and we are very pleased to
Child falls from RUC staircase, renovations ongoing By ERIN GILLILAND Staff Reporter
Jim Dillon | Guest Contributor RIBBON CUTTING - Millard Oakley cuts the ceremonial ribbon in front of Oakley Hall, formerly known as South Hall. The building was under renovation for a year and a half until it reopened to the students. The renovations cost $4.6 million. name the former South Hall in their honor.” The couple are huge supporters of education in this region and have made several generous donations to Tennessee Tech in the past. The university’s appreciation to the Oakley family is also shown through the Millard Oakley STEM Center and the J.J. Oakley Health Services Center. “We’re glad to be here today,” Millard Oakley said
at the ceremony, “and it’s quite an honor to get your name down where President Bell and Everett Derryberry can see those names.” Renovations to the over 80-year-old building has cost $4.6 million, President Oldham mentioned during his speech. The building was built in 1931, and has since been restored in 1954 to double the size of the building. Oakley Hall had been
under the current renovations for almost a year and a half until it was recently completed. “It’s a rare occasion when university campuses have donors that support the University in a manner that dictates the naming of a building,” said Wells. “That sort of dedication requires a commitment that goes well above and beyond most support seen on campus.” At the end of the ceremo-
ny, Oakley Hall was opened for a reception and tours of the newly renovated building. Featured inside were displays detailing both the history of the university and the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology, which are based in Oakley Hall. Wells said, “The gifts that the Oakley family has given to this university can change the direction of some of our programs for future students to come.”
After a summer away from campus, students were surprised to see caution tape on the railings of the spiral staircase in Roaden University Center when classes started last month. The caution tape was put in place during the summer when a 2-year-old boy fell through the bars of the railing after an event held in the RUC. The child was briefly knocked unconscious by the fall from the second floor to the first floor. The university is planning on adding one of two barriers to the railings as a preventative measure to keep such accidents from happening again, as well as to comply with building codes, which have changed since the RUC was built. “There’s nothing wrong with the railing,” said Jack Butler, associate vice president of facilities. “The spacing is just too wide for current code.” See “RUC” >> Page 2
Cookeville welcomes new nightclub By HAYDEN MCMILLEN Beat Reporter After four months of remodeling, Cookeville’s new nightclub was met with anxious goers, hip-hop hits and a full dance floor on Thursday, Sept. 24. Club Lava opened its doors to around 1,500 people with an entire new remodel from the old Rodeo Bobs. “Lava is like a fire. People get hyper and want to go crazy,” said club owner Kero Yacoup. “I’ve been to a club in New York called Lava Night Club, and it’s crazy. I just wanted something like that. We are going for a nightclub theme.” The club features a new dance floor, remodeled bars and a heated and cooled smoking room. A new VIP booth offers couches, a personal server and a free first bottle of liquor. Other features have made an impact on people flow and traffic. The new bar Read More Online
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allows guests to have more mobility and less traffic compared to Rodeo Bobs. There are now two entrances to increase flow and allow security more management. One entrance is for ages 21 and up and another for under 21. Club Lava will offer special deals, including beer and liquor special and ladies’ nights. Yacoup said there would hopefully be more specials in the near future. “Sooner or later we will have concerts, like Juicy J, other bands and stuff like that,” said Yacoup. Although Yacoup’s new lavathemed nightclub features many New York and hip-hop elements, some individuals seem to miss the country feel of Rodeo Bobs. “I was upset with Club Lava, because they said they would play country until, a niche genre found, literally one and a half songs were played,” said Chelsey James, junior agriculture busi-
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ness major at Tennessee Tech. “I feel like that was just a slap in the face considering everyone that showed up early was expecting there to be country played. I understand that they don’t want to be like Rodeo Bobs, but they should give their customers what they want or it will not be successful.” Yacoup said there would be some line dancing and country music, because it is a country town. The club owner has been around night clubs in Nashville for six years and owns two other hookah bars in town. His theme may not be what some individuals were hoping for, but only time will tell. Employees at the new venue were optimistic after the club’s first appearance. “It was good. Customers were generally happy,” said bartender Rachel Kolodziej. “I think people are excited to have somewhere to go and dance.”
Hayden McMillen | The Oracle
LAVA LAMPS - Club Lava opened its doors for the first time on Thursday, Sept. 24 to more than 1,500 people.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2015
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Campus police upgrades to new patrol cars events @ By SARA SHANKS Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech Campus Police got an upgrade over the summer by adding some new patrol cars to their fleet in order to keep campus safe. The two new patrol cars are driven by Lieutenants Sandy Thompson and Michael Lambert, who alternate between working the day and night shifts on campus. The patrol cars offer new and better features that the older Ford Crown Victorian patrol cars do not, making the cars more accessible for the officers. “The interior for our new patrol cars is custom made to fit the officer’s gun belts and to make it easier to get in and out as quickly as possible,” said Elizabeth Clemens, secretary to the campus police chief, Tony
Nelson. “They also redesigned the back seat to make it recessed back so they have more leg room to move around.” The new patrol cars also have brush guards installed to help protect the cars in case of some accidents on campus. “The reasoning for the brush guards is because last semester when an officer pulled over a suspect, they thought it was be funny to back up into our patrol car and drive off,” Clemens said. Clemens said they caught the driver after they drove off. Another feature on the patrol cars is the engine. All of the older patrol cars have a V8 engine whereas the newer cars only have a V6. Clemens said the reasoning behind the change was because Tech isn’t involved in
a lot of high-pursuit chases, so there isn’t a huge need for a bigger engine. “A good thing about having a smaller engine is that it will help increase our fuel mileage,” Clemens said, “which will help keep the new cars in better shape longer.” With all the new features, campus police hope to stay up-to-date with current events on campus. The new cars will be easier to maintain and should have a longer life here on campus. Some students, however, do not see a need for new patrol cars on campus. “I don’t understand why we need newer cars; the cars they had seemed fine,” said Kayla Tucker, a sophomore majoring in nursing. “Tech Police doesn’t have to drive or do much with the cars, so wouldn’t the older cars do just fine?”
Previous to getting the new patrol cars, the university would purchase refurbished patrols in order to keep cost down, but there is a downside to buying older, refurbished cars. “When buying the refurbished cars, we would then take on all the baggage and years of work that came with those cars,” Clemens said. “By getting brand new cars this year, we will be able to keep them here on campus for much, much longer.” Another way Tech Police is keeping their cars in better condition is that the cars stay on campus at office. Campus officers do not take them home like other municipal law enforcement officers do. With upgrading the patrol car, Tech Police also redesigned the logos printed on their patrol cars. The
logo was designed by the president and executive vice president of Students Affairs and the Tech Police Chief to make it more visible as a police vehicle. “They also decided to redo the logo because of upcoming centennial this year,” Clemens said. “Another reason was to use Tech’s color so students could recognize it as a campus patrol car.” While some students may not see a need for the newer patrol cars, others have noticed a change in the new cars. “I have seen the new cars drive around campus and they look really nice,” said Heather Fletcher, a freshman Tech student. “They remind of an actual police car which is good because I know a lot of students don’t think Tech Police is a real police office.”
Golf cart stolen from student living in Tech Village apartments By WILLIAM WEBB Beat Reporter On the morning of Sept. 20, Officer Jeffrey Bulakowski was patrolling around the dorms on the west side of campus when he noticed a fully enclosed Club Car golf cart that had been taken from an apartment at Tech Village. According to the police report, Bulakowski found the cart with the driver’s side door open and left turn signal on with no key in the ignition. Bulakowski also noticed the cart had been vandalized and said there were shoe prints on the back storage compartment and a cracked area on the front passenger side windshield. He said the roof had been pushed down and the driver’s side door hinge was not secure. “I was familiar with the vehicle because a student with a disability drives one,” said Bulakowski. “It is usually parked by a Tech Village apartment.” According to reports, Bulakowski found paperwork in the glove compartment identifying the owner of the vehicle as a student who lives in Tech
>>“RUC” Continued from Page 1 Current building codes state that the railing supports must not be wide enough for a 4-inch sphere to pass through them, according to Thompson Fabricating LLC. Tech officials are currently deciding between a set of thin cables and a gray Plexiglas barrier. The university has not had a chance to update the railings since the code was changed. “That’s one of the things when you have an aged campus,” said Butler. “When things are built in a certain time, and they’re built to code, and then they change the codes.” The two choices for the
Village. He then sent Sgt. Robert Kincaid to knock on the owner’s door, and also asked TTU dispatch to call the owner. Neither attempt was immediately successful in reaching the owner of the vehicle. Bulakowski was able to put the door hinge back in place in order to move the vehicle. The report also noted that he pushed the roof back into place to prevent it from warping anymore. Around noon that day, contact was made with the owner and Sgt. Bobby Hunter met with the owner and the owner’s parents to let them retrieve the golf cart. The owner didn’t tell police that anything was missing from the vehicle. According to campus police, the golf cart seemed to be running fine when the owner drove away in it. The decision was made to do extra patrolling around Tech Village for the next few days as a precaution, according to campus police. Around 3:30 a.m., on Sept. 22, Lt. Sandy Thompson was patrolling near Tech Village and noticed the golf cart was missing from the breezeway where it is usually parked. Thompson checked with other officers in an attempt to pinpoint a time when the vehicle was removed, ac-
remodel are partially installed in the first floor of the RUC so students and faculty can see what they look like. Tech faculty will likely decide which barrier to use within two weeks; though it is likely the cables will be chosen over the Plexiglas. The cables are unlikely to change the appearance of the stairs, and are slightly more cost-effective than the Plexiglas. Soon after a decision is made, a local contractor will begin work on installing the new barrier. Once the renovations have started, students can be assured the construction will not interrupt foot traffic on the stairs. The improvements to the stairs should be finished within two months.
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TAB giveaways return to Tuesday giveaways After budget cuts in 2014, Tech Activities Board is back to Tuesday giveaways for the 2015-2016 school year. Last year, TAB hosted events once a month. By REBECCA FINLEY Beat Reporter After an entire year without a weekly TAB Tuesday, the Tech Activities Board has decided to bring the Tuesday giveaways for 2015. Last year, TAB faced budget cuts that led to changes in how the organization used funds. Instead of having weekly TAB Tuesday giveaways, TAB limited them to once a month. TAB decided to use the funds to hold bigger events in place of the weekly giveaways. More Late Night Tech Nights were held over the course of the year compared to what are usually held, said TAB Homecoming chairman Mason Johnson. “A lot of people were upset that we stopped doing (weekly giveaways),” said Kristen Creager, TAB president. “So we decided to bring them back and manage money in different areas.” Every Tuesday during dead hour, TAB will hold giveaways in the lobby of Roaden University Center. The cost of the item will determine the amount of each item. Usually,
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All Day
William Ruller Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.
Career Prep Presentation: Fast Enterprises RUC Tech Pride Room
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
TSBDC Presents: Creating an Effective Marketing Plan Johnson Hall 218
6:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Free Film: “The Hunting Ground” Derryberry Hall Auditorium
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. TTU Volleyball vs. Jacksonville State Hooper Eblen Center
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Cumberland Quintet Wattenbarger Auditorium
30 All Day
William Ruller Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Graphic Packaging Information Session RUC 371
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Information Session RUC 370
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
ADTRAN Information Session Bruner Hall 207
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William Ruller Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Career Day Roaden University Center
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
TTU Cyber Eagles Meeting Bruner Hall 207
300 to 500 items are given to students on a first come, first served basis. TAB is open to new ideas for giveaways, and students are welcome to attend meetings and give suggestions. Items for future TAB giveaways are determined based on popularity from the previous semester and whether or not new ideas are brought forth. Katie Williams, director of student activities, said TAB started in 1974 under the name University Programming Council. In 2007, the name changed to Tech Activities Board. TAB Tuesdays have been happening since 2010 and continue to be popular among students on campus. “We host TAB events to give students an opportunity to have fun, and get away from the stress of college,” Creager said. “Our events also give (students) a chance to meet other students or hang out with their friends.” Every semester, students have a student activities fee of $5, which goes toward TAB and other programming events. For this reason, all of TAB’s events and giveaways are free to students. “We have money from the students, so we give back to the students,” said Johnson.
AAUP Meeting RUC 370
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
College of Engineering Fall 2015 New Faculty Research Seminar Prescott Hall 225
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Engaging Customers on Facebook Johnson Hall 218
7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Holocaust Panel RUC Tech Pride Room
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
TTU Brass Arts Quintet Wattenbarger Auditorium
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All Day
William Ruller Painting Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
All Day
Family Weekend Campus Wide
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cording to reports. “I checked with Sgt. Kincaid and Officer Bulakowski,” said Thompson. “Sgt. Kincaid checked and it was there at (around 1:30 a.m.). Officer Bulakowski advised he had checked it within the past hour and it was there then as well.” Thompson then spoke with the owner of the vehicle who said it was still there when he went to bed at around midnight that night, according to reports. Later on, Bulakowski said he spoke with an individual who said he saw the golf cart on Sept. 20, the first night the vehicle was stolen. According to reports, the individual said he saw two people hit a vehicle with the golf cart. He said they then abandoned the golf cart and ran toward Browning and Evins Halls. According to reports, campus police took the information to the Cookeville Police Department to have the vehicle entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). A spokesperson for campus police said the golf cart was located again on the evening of Sept. 24, but no further information could be released. The investigation is still ongoing.
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TAB GiveawAy Schedule
All Day
Upper Cumberland Rodeo Club Open 4-D Barrel Race Hyder Burks Pavillion
>Sept. 29 - Cell phone megaphones
>Nov. 3 - #TechYeah bracelets
>Oct. 6 - Flashlights
>Nov. 10 - Homecoming T-shirts
>Oct. 13 - No Giveaway: Fall Break
>Nov. 17- Dry Erase Memo Boards
>Oct. 20 - Caramel Apples
>Nov. 24 - Highlighter/Post-It Duo
Community Day Hooper Eblen Center
>Oct. 27 - Clear Umbrellas
>Dec. 1 - Snow Globes
www.tntech.edu/calendar
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COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3
Features <<
NEWS
Festival of Voices brings more than 430 students to Tech campus By PAIGE STANAGE Beat Reporter The seventh annual Festival of Voices had a record-breaking number of student participation at the Sept. 25 event held in the Bryan Fine Arts Building’s Wattenbarger Auditorium. Craig Zamer, professor and director of choral activities, said more than 430 high school and college students participated in the vocal workshops and concert. Senior Tennessee Tech Chorale member DeAnna Etchison said the festival has come a long way since its start. The first couple of fes-
tivals only had about three or four high schools participate compared to the seven that performed Friday night, said Etchison. “I’ve been a part of this festival for the past four years, and it just continues to grow larger,” said Etchison. “It’s a nice thing to see more students come out for the vocal workshops and concert.” Etchison said the number of high school participants grew this year in part because of additional funding from the S.O.L.O. program on campus. She said this helped get the word of the festival out to more groups than usual. “Hopefully the extra
promotion of the festival also makes it more open to the Tech students on campus,” said Etchison. The high school choirs and Tech’s chorale and concert choir performed a variety of songs, including multiple Latin pieces, a few gospel and one African piece, which had a drum beat that accompanied the singing. The concert concluded with two songs performed by the nine combined choirs. One piece, “Lift Your Voice in Praise and Thanksgiving,” originally composed by G.F. Handel, was arranged by Festival of Voices guest conductor Brad Holmes.
Holmes is the director of choir programs at Millikan University in Illinois. According to his website, Holmes has conducted more than 230 festival choirs. “I enjoyed working with Brad Holmes because he offered emotion with the music,” said Hannah Shepperd, Summit High School student. “All directors offer different perspectives and I took a lot away from his.” Zamer said he has been trying to get Holmes as a guest conductor for years but the schedules have never worked out until this year. “I like working with the high school students,” said
‘‘
I’ve been a part of this festival for the past four years, and it just continues to grow larger. It’s a nice thing to see more students come out for the vocal workshops and concert.
—DeAnna Etchison Senior Tech Chorale Member Adam Cox, Tech Chorale member. “I participated in the festival whenever I was in high school, so it’s fun being on the other side.” At the end of the festival, Holmes addressed the audience with how pleased he was with all of the choirs and Tennessee Tech.
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He also offered the audience some advice in reference to the last song of the festival, titled “I Will Sing.” “When things get tough, figure out how to sing,” said Holmes. “When it’s too hard, reach into your soul and sing from it.”
Counseling Center receives grant for suicide prevention By KAYLA CLOUSE Beat Reporter Tech was awarded $278,466 for the Garrett Lee Smith grant for suicide prevention funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It lasts for three years and aids prevention work in Campus, State, and Tribal communities. With the assistance of the Office of Research, Christina Mick, assistant director of the Counseling Center, purposed
the grant to fund the #hopestrongeagles suicide prevention program. The grant will allow Tech to provide many new resources to faculty, staff and students. Tech will have its own suicide prevention hotline, give lethal means reduction education, and increase Tech Counseling Center staff training in suicide prevention. The grant will also help the Counseling Center reduce stigma and discrimination on social media by use of the hashtag, and reach out to veterans, LGBTQ, and freshman to increase awareness
and education. “There are a lot of students using the Counseling Center,” said Mick. “We’re pretty booked up, and Tech students have been a great resource for breaking a stigma and that it is OK Mick to seek help.” Question Persuade Refer is a tool to help give those who are suicidal the resources they need, said Mick. Since 2012, more than 1,000 faculty, students and staff have been
trained in this technique. The questioning step involves taking every threat seriously, no matter how small it may seem. Persuading involves listening to the person who is having the problem and offering them hope for their situation. Referring is staying with the person and seeking help immediately. “We use the same model (QPR) for people who have been sexually abused,” said Gretta Stanger, director of Tech’s Women’s Center and associate professor of sociology and political science. “I think it is wonderful
Tech received the grant because they already had been giving students and faculty training on suicide prevention.” Mick offers 90-minute training sessions to Stanger become a QPR Gatekeeper to anyone who wants to gain the knowledge and skills. There are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses per year, and one in 10 college students has made a plan for suicide, according a
study conducted by Emory University. “I don’t want to say it is challenging getting community support, but it takes a lot of time getting all the signatures you need to write the grant as well as reapplying for the grant,” said Mary Benedict, former Prevention Services Specialist at a confidential agency located in Middle Tennessee. “The agency I worked for received all of their grants from SAMHSA; they like to see the statistics of what we were doing and whether it was working or not.”
Quinones visits campus to speak on changing American ethics in society ABC correspondent John Quinones came to Tennessee Tech to talk with students about changing ethics in America. Quinones stressed the importance of a positive mindset for students. By MEGAN WILLIAMSON Beat Reporter John Quinones, seventime Emmy Award winner and ABC correspondent, spoke to Tennessee Tech students about how he overcame discrimination as a child and the importance of embracing ethics and diversity in America. Students filed in one after the other Sept. 22 and filled the seats, eager and anxQuinones ious to hear what Quinones had to say. Born in poverty in San Antonio, Texas, Quinones grew up in a Spanishspeaking household and went to a school where kids were paddled for speaking Spanish. Early on, he was discouraged from attending college and pursuing a job that wasn’t woodshop or mechanic based. However, he was encouraged by a 10th grade English teacher to pursue reporting for his high school newspaper. He knew he had to overcome his accent and shyness in order to achieve his goals as a reporter, so he joined a
drama class where he eventually worked through them. His message to students about overcoming obstacles in school and life was simple: “Don’t let negative messages that society gives us keep us from shooting for the stars,” said Quinones. John Quinones later became ABC’s first Latino correspondent and host of “Primetime: What Would You Do?” Quinones’ show features hidden cameras that capture different scenarios, which concentrate on how we, as a society, react when faced with cultural differences. These cameras focus on how people react when surrounded by “actors” who are engaging in cultural stereotypes, such as saying, “All Muslims are terrorists.” The show has run on ABC for eight years and is scheduled to be air again next year. Quinones’ main point with the show is to stand up when you feel something is wrong. People react to stereotypes all around us, and it’s society’s job to react and stop the bullying of other people from different cultures. “Whenever you see something disturbing, and there is a voice in the back of your head telling you to do something, do it,” said
Quinones. Tech’s Multicultural Affairs office partnered with the Student Success Center to bring Quinones to campus. Robert Owens, assistant vice president of minority student affairs, said he hoped that students who attended the event would take away the importance of having an open mind when interacting with people who look different. Quinones’ objective was to “inspire and motivate any students that struggle because of their religion, sexual preference and race.” For some students, such as Shelby Johnson, a freshman communication major, the lecture really hit home and showed the importance of understanding various cultures. “I’m from Sparta, Tennessee where everybody knows everybody or is related to them somehow, so we don’t really see much cultural differences in our town,” said Johnson. “When we are faced with people that aren’t like us, none of us really know how to react. Listening to Quinones talk about what he went through as a child, and how he had to overcome being discriminated against, just showed me that I need to be more conscious of the different kinds of people around me.”
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Tuesday, September 29, 2015
>> Reviews
Chvrches finds the right groove ‘The Visit’ is full of surprises By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor
By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic
A lot of synth-pop that still comes out these days feels merely like a nostalgia grab. It’s something to tide people over until they get the next actual good nugget of the genre. Most contemporary synth-pop lacks emotion, foregoing the subtlety for the hollow noise that inevitably invades its genre. A fairly new group like Chvrches can often fall subject to this, as they did on their first album, “The Bones of What You Believe.” The sounds and feelings were all there, but the lack of true passion about the genre they are a part of really detracted from the experience of what the album ended up being. When you think about what kind of music they should be making, “Every Open Eye” really highlights the evolution of their sound. Although the album lacks a hit like “The Mother We Share,” with its pounding, communal chorus, whatever excitement “Every Open Eye” exudes owes a lot to lead singer Lauren Mayberry. She is, without question, one of the brightest voices currently in pop music. Her cheerfully powerful voice backed by delightful synths and understated drums makes every song dazzlingly resplendent without creating a sense of repetition, which was somehow present on their first album. Her voice has such a small hint of emotion behind it that it really helps the dimensions of each track shine. Mayberry’s vocal performances and the inven-
When I went to the movies this weekend to see M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Visit,” I wasn’t sure what to expect, considering his track record. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Becca and Tyler are two teenaged siblings who just want their mom to be happy. The trouble is she can’t seem to allow that of herself. Loretta, the kids’ mom, has a few issues with her own parents. See, she left the house at the age of 19 to be with a much older man who would eventually become the kids’ father. Unfortunately, Loretta’s parents were right when they predicted the relationship wouldn’t work out. Embarrassed and stubborn, Loretta makes no attempt to include her parents in her children’s lives. Neither does her parents, until they reach out one day, offering to take the kids in for a week while Loretta vacations with her boyfriend. Becca, a budding filmmaker, wants to create a documentary about the experience, hoping to mend the gaps in her family’s hearts as well as her own. She readily agrees to the visit. Tyler, a 13-year-old self-proclaimed rapper, just wants to keep the peace, even if it means a week away from his phone. Loretta finally relents, allowing the kids to go, and all is well at first. Nana and Pop Pop are sweet, if a little distant in the beginning. Nana cooks like a pro and Pop Pop is ridiculously strong for a man his age. The kids warm up pretty quickly to their newfound family as Becca continues her movie-mak-
thephoenix.com LOCAL FLAVOR - Chvrches is set to perform at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works Oct. 27.
tive synth-pop instrumentals dance around each other for the entirety of the album’s run time. Track 9, “Playing Dead,” sees Mayberry give herself to the song and the song itself give back to her. She sings, and then is immediately sampled. The album’s fifth track, “Clearest Blue,” pounds with a subdued alarm-like synth that persists throughout the track until it veers into a triumphant and dance-y outro intensified by Mayberry’s repetition of the line “Shaped by, clearest blue.” That’s not to say that Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, the other two members of Chvrches, don’t create some playful and equally genial sounds. What sets “Every Open Eye” apart from most synth-pop out there, and even from Chvrches’ first album, is the music being created by everyone in the band. All three members present the album as a group effort, and although it’s just three people, it sounds like a packed studio crafting noises. Track 7, “Empty Threat,” starts without warning, operating on a simple yet nimble disco beat, while the next track, “Down
Side of Me,” has a muddy and solemn drum and bass progression. Every song builds on the last in ways that often flip-flop, until the eclectic energy leads to the solemn 11th and final track, “Afterglow,” in which the gleaming melodies fade away for a final three minutes of another moving vocal performance while synth-pop strings swell in the background. As the swells develop, we’re left wondering where the past 40 minutes went. The closest thing to a hit Chvrches yields on “Every Open Eye” is the second track and first single from the album, “Leave A Trace,” which works as a broad testimony for Chvrches’ work so far. It is an infectiously driving and determined synthpop track as there has been in quite some time. Mayberry’s spright gives us what is an astute three minutes of bliss and unabashed emotion that synth-pop needs. Three minutes turns into 30 minutes that continually make a case for Chvrches’ talent, and before you know it, “Every Open Eye” escalates into the poster child of universal yet personal jumpy pop.
sf.funcheap.com RETURN TO FORM - “The Visit” marks M. Night Shyamalan’s first return to horror films since 2002’s “Signs.”
ing endeavor in the hopes of finding out what exactly caused her mother to cut off contact with these people. However, it doesn’t take long for things to take a turn for the bizarre. For instance, Nana and Pop Pop insist the kids stay in their room after 9:30 p.m. Becca, hungry for more of Nana’s excellent cookies and assuming the rule won’t apply if she only steps out for a moment, leaves the room anyway. She is greeted to the sight of Nana projectile vomiting while pacing the entryway. From there, Becca and Tyler come to realize just how strange their visit is going to get. The best part about this movie is that, despite its outthere premise, it manages to be believable. This is mostly due to the great chemistry between its actors. Becca and Tyler, played by Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould, respectively, are a refreshing addition to the ranks of movie siblings who live only to torment each other. The great thing about these two is that, unlike most movie siblings, they actually behave like real kids. They bicker and tease each other, but they have each other’s backs. There are no unnecessary argument
scenes that would only serve to take away from the plot. In short, they behave like actual siblings. The other highlight of the movie is Nana herself, played by Deanna Dunagan. She perfectly balances the line between harmless old lady and Wicked Witch of the West. I don’t believe anyone else could have pulled off the line, “Would you mind getting inside the oven to clean it?” with such sincerity without bringing the movie into straight comedy territory. Don’t get me wrong; the movie is funny. Tyler’s attempts at rapping, Becca’s pretentious film snob monologues, and Nana and Pop Pop’s more over-the-top scenes got laughs from everyone in the theater. As the girl behind me put it, “Grandma’s got no chill.” Still, the movie manages to get laughs while still making the audience care about the characters. We want to see Becca and Tyler get what they want. We want to see Loretta happy. Overall, Shyamalan did a wonderful job. This won’t make me forgive him for “The Happening,” but I won’t hold it against him too much.
Taylor Swift dazzles fans in Nashville By KYLE GOSSETT Guest Critic Friday was the night thousands had been waiting for when the doors of Bridgestone Arena opened for Taylor Swift’s first of two concerts in Nashville. After impressive opening sets from Vance Joy and HAIM, music played over the loud speaker as the lights began to dim. After “Feels So Close,” a song by rumoredboyfriend Calvin Harris, the lights shut off and the giant boom box onstage began to light up. The foundation of the building seemed to shake as the crowd of 15,000 began to scream. Amid the busted eardrums and smoky stage lights, Taylor arose from underneath the stage as the opening sounds of “Welcome to New York” began to play. “Hello, Nashville! I’m Taylor,” she said as the crowd erupted in a feverish scream. “And I think it is safe to say that I have been looking forward to playing to you tonight since the beginning of this tour.” Those words began the rest of the show, which saw her singing her recent hits “Blank Space” and “Style,” all on a massive catwalk that went from one end of the arena floor to the other. Other classic songs got remixed to fit the sound of the show. “We Are Never Ever Getting
elle.com CELEBRITY CELEBRATION - Notable guests on Swift’s “1989” tour include Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Beck, St. Vincent, Fetty Wap, Lisa Kudrow and Ellen Degeneres. Back Together” got a heavy metal remix which saw Swift playing the electric guitar so well Joan Jett would be proud. “Love Story” received an ‘80s inspired remix, with the music sounding like something you would find on a Madonna or Cyndi Lauper album. Halfway through the show, the giant catwalk was raised and Swift strapped on an acoustic guitar to play “You Belong With Me,” which turned in to a massive sing along for the whole crowd. Although the majority of Swift’s shows are light and carefree, the show took a serious turn when Taylor gave an emotional pep talk of sorts to the crowd. “You are not the opinion
of someone who does not know you,” Taylor said. “I wrote this song when I was trying to find happiness, when I wanted to be clean.” With that, Taylor launched into “Clean,” one of her strongest songs to date. There were also surprises along the way that would make any music fan scream. A fourth of the way through the show, Taylor brought rising country singer Kelsea Ballerini out to sing her No. 1 country hit, “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Midway through the show, the dads in the crowd got excited when Swift brought out Steven Tyler for a rendition of “Don’t Want to Miss A Thing.” Toward the end of the show, as she sat at a piano, Swift began singing
“When You Say Nothing at All,” and soon enough Allison Kraus was onstage with her violin. Vocally, Swift has never sounded stronger. Her range has become quite impressive, and her performances of “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “Out of the Woods” showcased how much the star has learned in her 10 years in the spotlight. The 25-year-old songstress has sold out four world tours, but this version is the artist’s largest spectacle yet. The larger than life theatrics, booming pop beats and a revolutionary, state of the art stage make it easy to see why Taylor Swift is the pop icon she has become and why she is the ultimate inspiration to millions worldwide.
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OPINIONS
Take the heat or get out of the kitchen Why stress is a necessary evil for college students:
College students juggle a precarious balance of work, study and social time. Do we need to slow down or sit down and stop complaining? KATE TREBING Opinions Editor
I am running out of time. October is speeding toward us, and I feel as if I am on a runaway train speeding through life. The days slip into weeks, and I don’t seem to be able to stop and catch my breath. I like to keep myself busy, but how far can I push myself before I am overloaded? Before I fumble this juggle of priorities, and the whole act comes crashing down? College students face a unique dilemma. On the surface, we go to school for a living. We are studying for a better future, ideally for our dream career. If you are lucky enough to love your major (if not, maybe you should consider changing), then you enjoy many of your classes. We live a life of privilege: the privilege of a higher education. But there is a flip side of this coin. The fact is most college students probably work harder in this period of their lives than they ever have before and ever will again – except, of course, grad school and parenting newborns. We juggle full-time class schedules with work-studies, internships, part-time and even full-time jobs. Including class time, many of us put in
Courtesy of CartoonStock.com NO TIME TO UNWIND - Many students find themselves too busy to follow recommended stress managing techniques.
40 hours minimum of work each week, and then we go home and study for another two or three hours before we crash into our beds past midnight. Is it any wonder why we daydream about sleep and fuel our marathon schedules with too much sugar and caffeine? We hate this life, but we also love it. The late nights and early mornings, the constant rush, a million things to do and only 24 hours in which to get it all done. We are in limbo, caught between the freedom of childhood and the responsibility of adulthood. I still leave my dirty laundry in a heap on the floor, and I miss the days of Disney movie marathons.
At the same time, I crave responsibility as the stimulant that pushes me to do more than retreat within my shell and waste away my college years. The second that diploma is in our hands, we will become full-fledged college graduates, ready to take on the world and launch our careers. That’s our plan, anyway. But let’s not kid ourselves. That dream job – or really any job – is going to require a lot more than a slip of paper with a signature, regardless of the 4, 8 or 12 years we put in to earn it. We have to put in our sweat equity if we want to get one foot in the door. And so, we stretch our-
selves a little bit further. We enlist ourselves in various campus organizations to expand our skill set and gain professional experience. We work that part-time job over the weekends to save money for student loans. We volunteer in our community. We keep up with our workstudies. We try (less and less frequently as the year progresses) to keep our bodies in shape, and we squeeze in a few hours here and there for friends, hobbies or possibly sleep. But hey, we’re young! We can take the stress. We can handle this. In the end, we’ll probably wish we had done even more. Some say college is the best time of your life; I think they probably majored in Greek life (No offense, my sorority and fraternity friends. I tease you because I love you!). Point in case, college is no walk in the park. Personally, I hope my best days are ahead of me, and I’m ready to stop looking to the past to try to figure out how to live my present. So, get involved. Get in over your head. Make mistakes. I promise, it won’t be the end of the world. You will get through this semester, and you will be better for it.
Kate Trebing is a junior communication major with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.
Class held as scheduled, come hail or high water HANNAH BARGER Staff Writer The recent rain brought a virtual tidal wave of false hope to Tech’s student body, and it seems likely that next week is going to bring more of the same. Freshman wanted to know, would class be canceled? Tech shuts down when the weather gets bad, right? More experienced students crossed their fingers and shook their heads. Let’s face it: Last semester’s “Snowmageddon” spoiled us. Only six months have passed since the elements granted students a second spring break, and already the event has become the stuff of legend. And it truly was legendary. Except for the few brave souls working the cafeteria, campus did in fact shut down. Of course, there is absolutely no way a few inches of rain would or could cause the same result. And yet we hold out hope. I foresee a trend – check the popular app Yik Yak whenever the weather forecaster calls for rain and you’ll see reports from a guy who knows a girl whose friend’s neighbor says class is canceled. You’ll cross your fingers when you see it even though you know there’s no way it could be true. We’ll do it, but why? Why are we like this? Do we not pay to be here? As long as that’s true, shouldn’t we get the most out of our money? The answer to that is “probably,” but who cares? Just think back to when you were a kid, waking up at 3 a.m. to stare at the TV, hoping against hope that your county’s name would tick by on
Harley Davidson |The Oracle SNOWPOCALYPSE 2015 -
Commuters braved the icy roads to get to class.
the list of snow days. Even if it didn’t, wasn’t the thrill worth it? Even if it wasn’t, that fleeting feeling of intense hope right before you see the results is comparable to waiting to see if you won the lottery. So by all means, hold out hope. Think of it as holding onto a piece of your childhood. On the other hand, this constant up and down can become grating for students who’ve heard this routine a hundred times before. For these students, the constant barrage of “Will class be canceled today?” is like beating a dead horse – nothing will change the fact that no matter what we say, we’re all going to get soaked. I, for one, am an optimist. So here’s hoping that wet shoes are listed under excusable reasons for absence from class. Hannah Barger is a sophomore in English with a concentration in writing. She can be reached at hebarger42@students.tntech.edu
I've got bills: Tuition debt up for debate ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer
If you’re reading this, there’s a very good chance you’re a college student. And if you’re a college student, there’s a very good chance you’re going to graduate owing money. A lot of money. Twenty-eight thousand dollars, to be exact. According to The Institute for College Access and Success, 69 percent of college graduates owe $28,400 when they leave school. Don’t worry though, Tennessee students graduate owing a measly $25,000. I understand college degrees are important. In today’s society, they’re crucial if you want a good job. Besides
THE
that, college is important for the growing opportunities it presents. College forces you to think differently and learn how to live on your own. But if a degree is so important, why am I being punished for pursuing one? According to a survey by the One Wisconsin Institute, it takes 21 years for students with bachelor’s degrees to pay off their loans. That means most students are in their forties by the time they pay off their loans. You will probably have children and a house before you pay off your loans. It’s not like Tennessee Tech is overpriced. In fact, according to TICAS, Tennessee Tech students graduate with an average debt of $17,000.
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‘‘
I’m not saying tuition needs to be free ... But if it can be done for free, why can’t it be done at a more affordable price?
That’s cheap compared to TSU, whose students have an average debt of $30,000. But it doesn’t change the fact that I will be $17,000 in the hole by the time I graduate. Dave Ramsey suggests that students work through college to end up debt-free. It’s certainly a viable option, for some people. Some people have the ability to take at least 12 hours a semester while still finding the time to work one or two jobs, finishing their homework and getting enough sleep to be a functioning human being,
,,
all while maintaining a good GPA. But why should you have to? I’m not saying you shouldn’t work hard when you go to college. The people who work their way through school are downright impressive. That’s why college degrees are so significant: They show you worked hard for four years to gain an education. But shouldn’t your college years be spent focusing on that education? Shouldn’t most of your time be devoted
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to gaining knowledge so you can become a functioning member of society? Instead, students kind of become job-zombies. If they’re not working themselves to death while they’re in school, they’re working themselves to death once they leave it. And that’s no way to live. Current job market aside (spoiler alert: it’s not great), there’s a good chance I won’t be able to buy a house or a car once I graduate. You know, those things you’re supposed to go to college for so that
you can afford them? Right now, it seems like I’m going to college just so I can pay off my student loans. At public colleges in Scandinavia, tuition is free. Free. In case you didn’t quite get that, it’s free. It’s an amazing education, too. The Atlantic calls Finland an “education superpower.” I’m not saying tuition needs to be free in the U.S. There’s no way colleges could support themselves. But if it can be done for free, why can’t it be done at a more affordable price? Erin Gilliland is a junior in communication with a concentration in journalism. She can be reached at eegillilan42@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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SPORTS
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
>>Inside the Game
The Rundown: Pace’s Perspective By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor
Shea Haile | The Oracle
THE WIZARDS SAY- Harlem Wizards “ Space Jam” Leon Sewell and “Showtime” LaMarvon Jackson play a game of Simon Says with fans.
Harlem Wizards is a big hit in Memorial Gym By KYLE ROBINSON Beat Reporter Tricks, Hoops and Alley Oops. The Harlem Wizards brought the magic when they made a visit to Tennessee Tech’s Memorial Gym Sept. 23 for an event put on by the EXPW Major’s Club to raise money for Special Olympics. The Harlem Wizards, who have been around since 1962, were looking to put smiles on people’s faces and make them laugh and get them involved during their visit. They accomplished what they set out to do and have been doing for over 60 years. Many notable members of faculty and staff participated in the event against the Wizards, including: Tech President Philip Oldham, Vice President of Student Affairs Marc Burnett, assistant women’s basketball coach and former player Allison Clark, among others. The team they played for was called Dr. Bell’s “D” Row, named after current exercise science professor Jerry Bell who has been involved with helping Special Olympics for over 40 years. Bell coached the team during the game with the Harlem Wizards. “It’s one of those things that I have never done anything like that. I’ve been to
see the Globetrotters and events similar to this, but it was really fun to play in the game and be part of the show,” said Clark of her experience playing against the Wizards. “I got to reconnect with some former teammates and some former players that have played at Tech; it was a really good experience. I think Dr. Bell and Dr. Killman both did a great job, and I think it’s an event that can get bigger and bigger in the community.” One of the biggest names to play in the game was Marc Burnett. He listed the reasons why he wanted to be involved in such an event to help the community and Special Olympics. “It’s a great thing for charity and Special Olympics, so it was great to be a part of,” said Burnett. “You know, just keeping it fun out there and not being so competitive was the main thing. It felt good to just relax. You just don’t get these types of opportunities to play on a team with the president of Tech, faculty and students. The reason I competed in this event is because of charity. That was the main reason.” This wasn’t the first time Burnet took part in an event like this, though. He said he played against the Harlem Magicians back in the day. Christy Killman, chairwoman of the exercise
science department and one of the many people responsible for putting together the event, had a lot of good things to say about the outcome of the event. “It was awesome. We sold about 550 or so tickets. We had a lot of volunteers from classes, students who volunteered and people from our department. It was a great event. It was fun and it was funny even though it is a little hot in Memorial Gym. People did not seem to mind, and everyone seemed to have a good time and had a smile on their face. It’s like the Globetrotters, but everyone is more involved.” When asked if this will be a one-time only event for the department, Killman said the Major’s Club always tries to have two or three service projects throughout the year and try to do things that give back to the community. “Even though this was a little bit of work, I think it was well worth it, and Special Olympics is definitely a worthy endeavor to try to help financially, so I do think that we will do it again.” The proceeds of the event are not yet sorted out, but Killman estimated it would be a few hundred dollars. “I’m not exactly sure how much, we still have a few things to take care of before we come up with an exact amount.”
Men’s golf places second at invitational in Murray By SARAH JACOBS Beat Reporter The Tennessee Tech men’s golf team continued its solid play to bring home a second place finish at the Murray State Invitational last week. The action started off Monday morning with the teams playing 36 holes. After the first 18 holes, five out of the six Golden Eagles playing in the tournament were in the top 10 on the leaderboard, and the team had a score of 293 to be ranked in third place. The Golden Eagles had a score of 285 to finish the second round of the day, giving the team a combined score of 578 for the first two rounds and moving up to second place on the leaderboard. Senior Bryce Kendrick played a big role in Tech’s success on the first day. His score of 74-69 – 143 found him tied for third place on the individual leaderboard. Kendrick’s second round score of 69 tied for the tournament’s lowest round for the first 36 holes. Going into the final round, Tech found itself six strokes behind leader Murray State and seven
strokes ahead of Wright State in third place. Kendrick delivered again on the second day of action. His score of 73 gave him a combined score of 216 for the three rounds. He finished the tournament tied for fourth place, and his play was good enough to earn him his first All-Tournament award. “It felt really good to finally put three good rounds together and get my first top five and All-Tournament finish,” Kendrick said. “I’ve been close before but hadn’t broken through, so now hopefully I can add a few more and maybe get a win.” Head coach Polk Brown was also pleased with Kendrick’s performance. “(I’m) proud of the way Bryce played this past week,” Brown said. “He gave himself, along with the team, an excellent opportunity to win, and I believe he will take a lot of positives from the experience.” Following one stroke behind Kendrick was senior Adam Cunningham. His scores of 76-70-71 – 217 had him tied for seventh place. Senior Mitch Thomas and sophomore A.J. Wilkerson both shot a score of 73 each round, giving them a final combined score of 219 each.
They finished the tournament tied for 10th place, giving the Golden Eagles four players in the top 10. Brown said he is happy with the team’s second place finish but knows changes need to be made to take it to the next level. “There is certainly room for some improvement out of the event from Murray, especially around and on the greens,” Brown said. “Although we finished second, we certainly believed we could come away with the victory. It is back to the grind these next few days as we get ready for SIUE.” Kendrick is also looking ahead to the next tournament. “We are mixing up the lineup a little this week and expecting good things,” Kendrick said. “There will be seven OVC teams there, and our goal will be to beat all the OVC teams and win the tournament.” The Golden Eagles are currently in Madison, Illinois, concluding the two-day Derek Dolenc Invitational at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for the first time. The next tournament on the schedule is the Kenny Perry Invitational in Bowling Green, Kentucky Oct. 12 and 13.
Tech’s 31-29 win at Murray State in Saturday night’s OVC football opener helped the Golden Eagles make some noise in the conference standings (3rd at 2-2, 1-0). The win didn’t come easy, though. Trailing 14 points in the second half, the Racers found a way to make it a game late, missing a home comeback tie by just a failed two-point conversion. But, still, a win is still a win. Here’s my rundown of last week’s win. Playmakers When he named him the starting quarterback in the spring, head coach Watson Brown must have had a hunch that Jared Davis was ready. After struggling at the start of last season, it looked like all Davis needed was a little confidence to light his fire. Through four games this season, it appears as if the flame is still hot. So far, Davis has completed 81-of128 passes for 1,040 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. On the ground, he’s added four rushing touchdowns on 75 yards. Against Murray State, he was 26-of-40 for 264 yards, a pair of passing TDs and a pick. He also led the Golden Eagles in rushing with 63 yards and a score. Not bad. You can’t overlook Maleek Hall’s performance. His 10 tackles (nine solo), which were second on the team Saturday, were im-
pressive, but his three pass breakups were enough to catch some eyes. The attention really came, though, after Hall blocked an MSU field goal and extra point, which tabbed him as the OVC’s Special Teams Player of the Week. Don’t forget senior Tra’Darius Goff, either, as I’m sure MSU’s offensive line won’t be for a while. Saturday night, the preseason all-OVC middle linebacker led both teams with 14 tackles (eight solo) while wreaking havoc in the Racers’ backfield throughout. While he came up just short on several sack attempts, he was finally able to grab one in the fourth quarter. Along with a forced fumble, his big night named him the OVC’s Defensive Player of the Week. Play of the Night Yes, QB Jared Davis was responsible for three touchdowns, but the play that likely saved the win fell on his head’s up effort. Facing a 3rd-and-2 near the goal line, Davis jumped to catch a high snap and battled for possession amid pressure from MSU’s defensive line. Without Davis’ presence of mind to secure the ball, the Racers would have been in perfect position to scoop up the fumble and run for 90 yards for a score or at least put them in favorable territory. Instead, Davis took a 12-yard loss, allowing John Arnold to kick a 31-yard field goal and give the Golden Eagles an 8-point lead, which forced the Racers to earn a touchdown and the twopoint conversion that later
Home football games feature new tailgating competition for students By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor When Golden Eagle football fans go to cheer on their team, they may also want to check out the promotions the Athletics Marketing and Corporate Sales Department are initiating. The department coordinates different events; for instance, T-shirt giveaways, drawings for prizes and themed events for the community and student body are used to encourage fans to attend Tennessee Tech games. The department creates themes for several of its events but also has a theme for the entire year. “Our theme this year for fall and spring is ‘Soar With Us,’” said Leveda Dexter, director of corporate sales and marketing. “So that is kind of our overall marketing scheme that we are going with this year.” One new aspect the department added to the Tennessee Tech football gameday experience is the new tailgating contest for student organizations. Dexter Except for Homecoming, student organizations will be able to compete in two competitions during home games. In one competition, organizations will be judged based on the tent, table, attire and number of people they have at their tailgate. There is a different tailgating theme for each game. For the home opener Sept. 19, the theme was Purple Pride. Saturday’s game against the University of Tennessee at Martin will have a Red, White and Blue theme. A Black-Out theme will correspond with Golden Eagle Blackout IV Oct. 17 against Jacksonville State University. The final home game of the season Nov. 21 will have a Harvest/Fall theme before the Golden Eagles play Tennessee State University. Along with being judged on tailgate theme, students can also compete in different contests every week, including a hamburger-cooking contest Oct. 3, a pumpkin carving contest Oct. 17, and a Fall-Ath-Alon (minicontests) Nov. 21. The Homecoming
failed and ultimately resulted in the win for Tech. Rose Something appeared to be missing while looking at Tech’s stat line. Allowing just 60 rushing yards was impressively low, especially after giving up games of 266, 446 and 261 in the previous three. Forcing four recovered fumbles and three sacks was also an improvement over last weekend’s blank in both columns. Offensively, you obviously can’t ignore Davis’ numbers, but what’s a good QB without a great supporting cast? Brock McCoin reached the century mark again with 108 receiving yards on 14 catches, but Jordan Smith, who’d sat out while redshirting in 2014, found his former glory with 78 yards and two TDs on five catches. Thorn The Golden Eagles keep coming up empty on third down. Against MSU, they were 1-of-13. You can’t expect to win too many games with that, but somehow, they’ve overcome to win two. On the year, Tech is 12of-50 on third down for a low 24 percent. On defense, Tech has to find ways to limit opposing playmakers. Yes, it stopped the run last week, but the pass game burned Tech on several occasions. And by several, I mean KD Humphries’ 43 completions for 491 yards and three TDs. If Tech expects to be competitive in the OVC, especially with its remaining schedule, that can’t happen again.
game Nov. 14 will not have any contests and the tailgate competition will be put on hold, but Tennessee Tech athletics still encourages students to tailgate. In all competitions, first place will receive 10 points, second place will receive five points and third place will receive three points. Points from the theme competition and the other contest that day will be combined. After all the games are completed at the end of the season, the organization with the most points will have its choice of receiving a customized tent or cooler. Prizes will also be available for the second and third place finishers. In addition to promotions for the student body, the department has also brought back some events that have been successful in the community the last few years. Military and Public Safety Appreciation Night will be Saturday, Oct. 3. Family Weekend and Community Day will also be Saturday. “We have a lot going on that (this) weekend,” stated Dexter. “We are also recognizing our football legends.” The Golden Eagle Blackout IV will be Oct. 17. The newest Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame members will be recognized at the Homecoming game Nov. 14. The Hall of Fame induction is scheduled for Nov. 13. The last home football game of the season is against TSU Nov. 21 and will also be Senior Day and Take a Kid to the Game Day. Children with an adult, who has paid for a ticket, will have free admission. Because of the multitude of promotional events for football season, planning begins a while in advance. “We will start planning out weeks in advance; in fact, we do planning meetings,” said Dexter. “We do two a year. For football, for instance, we set pretty much our promotions schedule in line back in March.” The department also distributes duties among students in their internship program. Staci Imel, an intern in the department, explained some of her daily activities. “Basically, what I do is I just come in the office and whatever they need for that day, whether it is getting stuff ready for the games or getting stuff ready for promotions for the games,” said Imel. “On game days, I show up and we help get everything organized for the tailgating, and all of the promotions that we are doing for the game.” The department is also setting up tables at home soccer games with sign-up sheets where fans can sign up for a chance to receive Tennessee Tech gear. The department is currently working on events for volleyball home games.