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1000 N. Dixie Ave. | Cookeville, TN | 38505

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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

RACLE Volume 101 | Issue 4 | Free in single copy

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

> Against Me! releases new

studio album.

PAGE 4

Wayans Jr. and Lynn bring humor to the Hoop in comedy S.O.L.O. Concert

By ASHTON BREEDEN Copy Editor & CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor

Damon Wayans Jr. and Na’im Lynn entertained students at the Hooper Eblen Center Tuesday, Sept. 27.

When doors opened at 7 p.m., students had to present not only their tickets to enter but also their IDs to verify they were at least 18. After that, their bags were subject to search by members of both Tech and Cookeville police.

Students voted in early August for this semester’s S.O.L.O. artist.

“We’ve never worked together so this is going to be fun for me,” Lynn said.

Lynn opened for Wayans

at 8 p.m. He stayed very topical and the jokes he delivered on the debate seemed to hit hard with the audience.

Much of Lynn’s material was explicit, but he mixed tame jokes with it all. The majority of his standup material comes from personal experiences.

“That’s what comedians do, we take real life experiences and we exaggerate them,” Lynn said.

There was a short break between performers. Wayans went on around 8:45 p.m.

“What I like to do with the crowd is I like to bait them in and kind of like make them laugh at stuff I’m sure they’d normally never thought to laugh at,” Wayans said.

Wayans used his first few jokes to connect with the audience. Wayans used his dad and family in jokes which worked. A good ma-

jority of the audience looked uncomfortable with some jokes, which was probably the intent because Wayans said that he would “ideally be a shock comedian.”

“I make sure I have fun.

Even if they’re (the crowd) not having fun, I’ll have fun,” Wayans said.

Wayans mentioned he is working on a few new projects including: his comedy special, a pilot for a show he co-wrote with Jake Johnson, a movie he sold to Fox and a cartoon concept that he will be designing characters for (he could not identify to whom he sold to).

Around 1,900 tickets were distributed to students SGA President Alex Martin confirmed.

The rest of the tickets were sold to the public the day of the performance at $10 according to SGA Vice President Miranda Stoltz.

Ashton Breeden l The Oracle LAUGH UNTIL YOU CRY - Damon Wayans Jr. brought his unique brand of comedy to Tech for the fall 2017 S.O.L.O. concert.

General election voter registration open until Oct. 11

By HAYLEE EATON Managing Editor The deadline to register to vote in the 2016 general election is Oct. 11.

In this election cycle voters will have three to four Tennessee centered areas in which to cast their vote.

The 99 seats that make up the Tennessee House of Representatives, half of the seats in the state Senate, all nine of the Tennessee seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as specific local elections will be on the ballot Nov. 8.

In addition to these local elections, residents will also be casting votes in the presidential election.

Many members of the collegeage and younger generations have yet to register to vote because of various reasons, but most feel like their opinions won’t matter.

People and organizations around campus are working to help end that train of thought.

“I want to make it clear that though your voice doesn’t feel like it matters because of the Electoral College or because of the state you

live in, voting is the only thing that could change that,” Elizabeth Rein, President of the College Democrats, said.

“Voting is the best way to be the change you wish to see. Listen to your representatives, vote for the people who support your beliefs and ideals, and change things for the better.”

Prospective voters in Tennessee have a few ways to register to vote.

One option is in person.

Applications can be pickedup and filled out at any county election commission offices as well as during a transaction at any Department of Health (WIC program), Department of Human Services, Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Department of Mental Health, Department of Safety (motor vehicles division), or Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

The other option available is to register by mail.

Applications can be printed or picked up from any county clerk’s offices, public libraries or Register of Deeds offices and mailed to the voters’ respective election commission.

Students are also given the

opportunity to register through group-sponsored drives on campus. The College Democrats and College Republicans at Tech are in the stages of planning a voter registration drive before the state deadline.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, Tennessee is one of 39 states that will soon have online voter registration, but no indication has been given on when the process will begin.

“I feel like they [the state of Tennessee] are trying their best to inform voters, but I still feel that a large majority of voters aren’t using their right to vote,” Elizabeth Webb, President of the College Republicans, said.

“I think moving the process online is an excellent idea. I feel like more people would register if they didn’t have to leave their house.”

Tennessee has released an app that can help voters with information such as polling hours and sample ballots called GoVoteTN. Once residents are registered there are two ways they can vote on Election Day. The first option is to vote in person on Election Day at your

‘‘

Voting is the best way to be the change you wish to see. Listen to your representatives, vote for the people who support your beliefs and ideals, and change things for the better.

-- Elizabeth Rein President, College Democrats

designated polling location.

The other is to absentee vote either in-person or through a mail in process.

In-person absentee voting, usually referred to as early voting, happens at county election commission offices from Oct. 19-Nov. 3.

Voters will need to have a form of state or federally issued photo identification to vote on Election Day or during the early voting period.

According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website, to vote through the mail-in absentee process, voters will need to write out their name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, the address the ballot should be sent

,,

to, the election in which they want to participate and the reason for absentee voting.

This list can be sent, with the voter’s signature, to the local county election commission’s office until Nov. 1.

If voters are registered, but have never voted in person, absentee voting is limited to the inperson early voting period.

For more information on how to register to vote in Tennessee, residents can visit GoVoteTN.com or download the GoVoteTN app that is available for both iOS and Android.

Out of state students can visit Youtube.com/howtovoteineverystate for more information on their state’s process of registration.

Office of Creative Inquiry takes submissions for undergraduate student journal Journal of Creative Inquiry gives students the chance to gain experience in submitting to a peer review journal. The journal is a part of Tech’s five-year Quality Enhancement plan known as EDGE.

By MARANDA TANKERSLEY Beat Reporter

The staff at the Office of Creative Inquiries is accepting submissions of research and creative projects for the Journal of Creative Inquiry until Friday, Oct. 7.

Students of all majors are encouraged to submit manuscripts, digital artifacts or other creative works for both online and print publication, assistant editor Jacob Kelley said.

“The submission process for the Journal is through an online system, ” Kelley said.

Students can create an account on the Journal’s website in order to submit whenRead More Online

@

tntechoracle.com

ever he or she is ready Kelley said.

Students whose work is submitted must first fit certain criteria, including being an undergraduate student, having at least 50 percent of the content written by the student if a faculty member is involved and having no more than two submissions each cycle Kelley said.

The submissions are free of charge, and each student who submits research receives a personal copy of the Journal once it is printed Kelley said.

“I think I have some good quality work worth publishing, but I’d want to revise it before submitting,” senior art major Dustin Jackson said.

“The electronic copy of the Journal

CONTACT:

should be available Dec. 5 and the print copy is expected to be available in the spring,” Kelley said.

The Journal’s mission is to educate students on how to submit manuscripts and participate in a peer review process, to encourage circulation of ideas and to increase undergraduate involvement, according to the Office of Creative Inquiry’s website. “[Creative inquiry] is taking an idea or question and giving some creative aspect to that to have this end product, which can include research or artistic works,” Kelley said.

The Journal of Creative Inquiry is part of Tech’s five-year Quality Enhancement Plan, also known as Enhanced Discovery

through Guided Exploration (EDGE), according to the Office of Creative Inquiry’s website.

“The QEP is designed to improve students’ critical thinking and real world problem-solving by using active learning strategies,” according to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges page on Tech’s website.

“I think that’s really awesome that even undergraduate students can have published work, because I know not all universities can offer something like that,” Megan McCoy, a senior chemical engineering major, said.

For more information about the Journal of Creative Inquiry and how to submit, visit https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/JCI.

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Page 2 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

NEWS

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

tntechoracle.com Contact us: oracle@tntech.edu

>> Campus

Eighth annual ‘Haunted Half-Marathon’ returns to Cookeville events October 15 marks the eighth annual Haunted Half-Marathon for Upper Cumberland area. The race begins at 7 a.m., beginning and ending on Tech’s Main Quad. 400 to 500 contestants are expected to run the race wearing costumes.

By JACIE BOWMAN Beat Reporter The eighth annual Haunted HalfMarathon is coming to Cookeville Oct. 15.

Starting at 7 a.m. the race is scheduled to begin and end in the Tech Quad.

“TTU has a beautiful campus and the finish in the quad is a picturesque ending to the race,” Race Committee Member Brant Wheeler said.

The Upper Cumberland Haunted Half-Marathon started

years ago to promote health and wellness in the Upper Cumberland area.

Each year 400 to 500 runners participate. Runners travel to Cookeville from out of state to participate.

“I always ran when I was a student at Tech and even now that I have graduated I still travel from Nashville every October to run the half-marathon,” runner Lindsay Caroline said.

Benefiting WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS and supporting local programming, runners are asked by the Haunted Half staff to dress up in Halloween costumes.

“We’ve had everything from an Egyptian pharaoh to mice. Even the support team on bicycles along the course get dressed up in costumes,” Wheeler said.

Awards are given out to the top three overall male and female runners, the top three male and female masters runners, and the top three male and female in each group.

The Haunted Half has volunteers that awards are given out to as well.

These awards are Best Volunteer Group Award, Best Water Station Award, and Heart of the Run Award.

Wheeler said that these awards

are given out to show appreciation for all of the support.

Free showers are available after the race at the Tech Fitness Center.

Race bibs are needed for admittance.

“My sorority volunteers every year. We all wake up early to go out there and offer water and cheer on the runners at different stations throughout the course. It’s a good way to start out the fall season,” Ayla Jones, a member of Delta Gamma, said.

For more information on volunteering or running for the Haunted Half-Marathon, email runhauntedhalf@gmail.com.

@ tech October

4 11 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Career Readiness Business Etiquette Workshop Tech Pride Room, RUC 7:00 p.m.

ARN Chorn-Pond Survival Through Music Derryberry Hall Auditorium

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

Jazz Ensemble Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium

5

Family Weekend Fun

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE: Family Weekend and Preview Day opened Tech’s campus up for student’s family members and prospective students Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

Activities included free food and music on Centennial Plaza, an across campus scavenger hunt, a live reptile exhibit, and a magic and ice cream show.

Various departments also meet with prospective students at a majors fair in the HooperEblen Center.

Family Weekend concluded with a Golden Eagle win against Eastern Kentucky.

Women of Worth Empowerment Group RUC 258

6

11:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Career Readiness Resume Workshop Tech Pride Room, RUC

7

All Day

Hayes Sculpture Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

10 All Day

No Class Campus Wide

Ashton Breeden | The Oracle

11

All Day

‘Shut up & Write!’ Creates Community for all Majors The Writing Excellence Studio at Tech started the weekly program, “Shut Up & Write!” to encourage expressive writing within student body. All majors welcome to come workshop literary and academic pieces with other writers and teaching assistants.

By OLIVIA HOFFMAN Beat Reporter The members of the Writing Excellence Studio at Tech (WEST) started the weekly program “Shut Up and Write!” in order to create a quiet space for students of all majors to gather together and write.

Sharon Henry, the director of WEST and English lecturer, created “Shut Up and Write!” last spring.

“I wanted to come up with initiatives to grow WEST and help drive students to success,” Henry said.

“Shut Up and Write!” takes place every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Foundation Hall Room 117 and open to all students and majors, although upper undergraduate and graduate students may benefit the

best, according to Henry.

Olivia Jolley, an English master’s student, is a graduate teaching assistant for WEST. “The library writing help looks at the surface of the paper and grammar. We like to look at ideas and structure in the paper and help students bridge ideas,” Jolley said.

The tutors in the library are available by appointment and also help with grammar and writing, but WEST members focus on structure and more in-depth ideas related to writing, according to Jolley.

The library is a typical place for students to work on homework, but Henry wants students to feel a sense of community in WEST. “Writing can be an isolating activity, so writing alone in the library can be stressful. Feedback from oth-

‘‘

“Writing can be an isolating activity, so writing alone in the library can be stressful. Feedback from other people writing in ‘Shut Up and Write!’ can be refreshing, and it’s always good to have a fresh set of eyes on your paper.”

—Sharon Henry

,,

Director of “Shut Up and Write!” er people writing in “Shut Up and Write!” can be refreshing, and it’s always good to have a fresh set of eyes on your paper,” Henry said.

WEST writing consultants also offer individual writing sessions, classroom workshops and an accountability writing group.

During the summer, WEST was

not school funded, so many individual writing appointments had to be turned down, but they are now funded and able to accept writing appointments.

For more information on WEST or to schedule an individual writing session, go to www.tntech.edu/ cas/english/west.

No Class Campus Wide

12 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Women of Worth Empowerment Group RUC 258

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Nancy Zeltsman, Marimba Wattenbarger Auditorium

13 11:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

How to Succeed in the Global Workplace Tech Pride Room, RUC

7:30 p.m.

Tabatha Easly Guest Flute & Percussion Recital Bryan Fine Arts, 374

15 6:00 p.m.

TTU vs. Eastern Illinois Tucker Stadium

18

7:00 a.m. - 10 a.m.

CORRECTIONS SEPT. 27

T

he photo cutline for the story “Literature class performs marathon reading to fund raise for trip to New York,” English Department Chairperson Ted Pelton was incorrectly named as Tom Pelton.

I

n the story “S.O.L.O. fund decrease causes lowered cap for organizational requests,” the figure $20,0920.50 was incorrect. The correct amount for the general fund is $200,920.50.

HALLOWEEN CENTRAL AREA’S LARGEST SELECTION Costumes Props Masks Makeup Decorations Accessories

Fall Health Check Fitness Center MPR

19

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Women of Worth Empowerment Group RUC 258

20

11:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Career Readiness Workplace Skills Workshop Tech Pride Room, RUC

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

TTU Brass Arts Quintet Ft. Jimmie Self & Tim Northcut Wattenbarger Auditorium

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

408 W.Jackson St. 931.261.3084 Next to GNC

Alex Neuse - Video Games as Art Derryberry Auditorium

8:15 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Civil War Band Wattenbarger Auditorium

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus <<

Fight at Kappa Sigma party leads to 12 person parking lot brawl the next morning Twelve students were involved in a dispute on Thursday, Sept. 22, after a Kappa Sigma House Party on the fraternity’s property at 525 North Walnut Ave. The fight ensued at 2:15 a.m. Friday morning.

By BRYAN BOWEN Beat Reporter Eleven individuals were arrested after a brawl late Friday night over a refused entry to the Kappa Sigma Bahama Mama party.

According to a Cookeville police report, the fight initially started Sept.

22, Thursday evening, at a registered Kappa Sig Party at their house on 525 North Walnut Ave. Cookeville resident Zaccary Anderson, along with three unidentified males, tried to gain access to the Kappa Sig party.

They were denied entry to the event by the security officers appointed by the fraternity.

According to article nine, section five of the Tech Interfraternity Council constitution and bylaws, all members and guests must be listed on the guest list and will not be permitted to

enter the event unless their name appears on the guest list. Guests must be pre-approved 48 hours before the event.

According to a source within the organization, after the party crashers were denied entry to the party words were exchanged and a small dispute took place between the party crashers and a few of the fraternity brothers attending the event.

Security, hired by Kappa Sig, was able to calm the fighting and the party crashers left the event before police arrived.

The Cookeville police report states that Robert Gwynne alleged to have sent text messages to individuals at the campus party telling them where to meet to finish the fight.

The altercation continued at 2:15 a.m. Friday in the parking lots of Brandon Avenue and Autumn Avenue.

According to the report, there were four weapons involved including a baseball bat, a golf club, an airsoft gun and a Glock handgun.

Only the golf club was used during the fight, it was later found shattered in the Autumn Avenue parking lot.

The reported Glock handgun was not fired or displayed during the brawl and was only confiscated when police arrived. The handgun owner had a concealed carry permit and was only charged with disorderly conduct.

The report also said that there were 17 people present when the officers arrived.

Twelve individuals were directly involved in the brawl, seven were arrested for public intoxication and four for disorderly conduct.

Three were cited for illegal consumption of alcohol.

The rest, not directly involved with the brawl were free to go.

NEWS

Chorn-Pond to speak on experiences of surviving the Cambodian genocide By

DARIUS BERRY Beat Reporter

Center Stage is hosting speaker Arn Chorn-Pond Oct. 4 in Derryberry Hall.

Chorn-Pond, who is a renowned human rights activist and musician, was a Cambodian genocide survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime and uses music in order to inspire change and tell his experiences as a genocide survivor.

Jacob Kelley, a student in the Ph.D. program for Exceptional Learning, stated what they want people to get out of this experience.

“Through Arn’s powerful narrative, attendees will take a journey back to the labor camp in Cambodia and will gain a better understanding of Cambodian identity at a devastating time in the country’s historical development,” Kelley said.

“In addition to the historical and cultural insight the event will provide, I hope that attendees will walk away with an enhanced sense of empathy.”

Chorn-Pond is the subject of an Emmy-nominated documentary called the “The Flute Player,” which explains his life of being a genocide

survivor along with the trials he went through during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Kelley discussed that he wants people to understand the seriousness of genocide and how impactful it can be.

“While most of us have never experienced something as destructive and impactful as genocide,” Keeley said, “we are all obligated as global citizens to provide support for those who are or have been in similar situations.”

The event will begin at 7 p.m. and will be free for students as well as open to the public.

U.S. News and World Report names Tech top tier university

By SPENCER WILLIAMS Beat Reporter For the first time, Tech moved up from being recognized as a regional university by the U.S. News & World Report’s into the national tier for annual college rankings.

Earlier this year, Tech became recognized as a doctoral institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and advanced in the national classification system for colleges and universities.

“This is great news,” said President Phil Oldham in a statement from the university.

“We knew Tech would be recognized as a national university by U.S. News, but to be ranked in the top tier this soon was unexpected.”

Oldham said that the ranking is a testament to the hard work of the university’s faculty and staff, the quality of its programs and the strength of Tech’s students.

“This is an excellent way to start our next 100 years,” Oldham said, “and we will continue striving to improve the university in the future.”

Last year, Tech was ranked 35th in the Regional, South category and has now elevated itself into the national grouping as being ranked

220th out of 310 schools. The only other public university on the list is the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, ranked 103rd in the national classification.

Other public institutions in the state listed in the second tier are East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis.

The U.S. News rankings focus on academic excellence, with schools ranked on up to 15 measures of academic quality. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes including graduation and retention rates.

Page 4 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

>> Reviews

Bon Iver warps folk formula with eccentric, cryptic ‘22, A Million’

By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor Isolation has always been a prominent trait in Bon Iver’s music. It seems that in every piece of music they’ve made, there is always a sadness that is heard more than felt. Songs like these have the ability to push people away but the power to make them contemplate. Isolation and contemplation are married in Bon Iver’s latest album “22, A Million,” a despondent but sometimes-hopeful collection of cryptic searches for truth and maybe even God. Justin Vernon uses unorthodox instruments to give these songs an entirely different sound than previous Bon Iver albums. Whereas the emotion from earlier albums stems from the moodiness of the arrangement, “22, A Million” foregoes expected song structure for a messy, scatterbrain canvas in which Vernon often seeks answers to obscure questions, such as on the aptly titled “33 ‘GOD,’” where Vernon, quoting Psalm 22 from the Bible, asks “Why are you so far from saving me?”

Haunting inquiries like this pop up all over the album, but nothing makes more of an impression than the strange, often bizarre sonic paradoxes littered all over these songs.

Though some songs here retain the sound Bon Iver is known for, most of them adopt looping, vocal distortion and general electronic spasticity that take the ear and mind in various directions. In this way, Vernon is tying the noise to lyrics, painting a picture of uncertainty random that it may turn listeners away initially. Every song title has a number in it, perhaps to act as a sort of cryptic treasure hunt to entice those willing to dig deeper. However, from the lyrics stem a refusal to

Photo Courtesy of nme.com HOMETOWN GLORY - Bon Iver hosts the annual Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival in Eau Claire, Wiscconsin, hometown of lead singer Justin Vernon. They performed “22, A Million” in its entirety at the festival in August. explain, a constant flurry of phrases and questions asked by Vernon that seem to suggest there is no grand scheme, but just more confusion which ends up granting the album more thematics than it deserves.

The pounding blasts on “10 d E AThbREasT ” evoke “Black Skinhead” tones similar to the auditory attack present on the Kanye West track, while Vernon sings over

a snippet of Stevie Nicks warming up backstage to “Wild Heart” so sped up and distorted it sounds like it’s being ushered out of the atmosphere. This is essentially the wildest track on the album, although its flair and ambition can be felt on “____45_____,” where spurts of shrill saxophones break through Vernon’s stoic vocal delivery. Both songs represent the album at its

most distant, but others feel like core Bon Iver. “8 (circle)” is a somber dig into Vernon himself whose laid-back progression and moody synths feel right at home with the band’s previous endeavors.

While there are some aspects that are heretical, most of the songs actually feel like folk songs, above all.

The album’s most exciting prospect is the idea that the music molds it-

Shakespeare in the Park hosts Tech Players’ production of ‘Julius Caesar’

Against Me! unleashes aggressive love songs on seventh studio album

By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic There’s no real way to write a review for a 21st century punk band’s album w i t h o u t sounding like either a pretentious old woman complaining about how “punk is dead” or a middle school kid who’s mad at her parents, but I’ll do my best.

Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me! was a high school favorite of my best friend and myself. I’m sorry to say I lost touch with their music in the past five or so years, aside from the occasional shower rendition of their classic song “Thrash Unreal.” Luckily, they’ve come to kick down my door and invite themselves back into my life with their seventh studio album, “Shape Shift with Me.” Singer Laura Jane Grace, who divides her time between singing and transgender activism, describes the album as something of a collection of love songs from a trans woman’s perspective.

I was unsurprised but still excited to find that

the band’s jangly, fun-butaggressive sound hasn’t changed much from what I remember. Grace’s signature “six foot two in heels, screaming in someone’s face” voice dominates the first track, “ProVision L-3,” which discusses the bizarre and vaguely dehumanizing experience of standing in an airport body scanner. Conversely, her voice competes with guitar and drums in the second track, a fast-paced pop-punk number (pun intended) called “12:03.” It’s the album’s first memorable song, and, considering it’s only the second out of 12, it sets a precedent for the wild ride that’s to come. The song fits with Grace’s vision, sounding like equal parts high school love song and middle aged angst. “Here” appeals to listeners of all genders and ages, bringing up all the anxieties of waiting for a phone call from someone you may or may not want to speak to.

Other songs speak less of relationships and more of introspection. “Delicate, Petite and Other Things I’ll Never Be,” aside from sounding like the title of a great young adult novel,

self around the subject matter rather than stay in its own lane. It’s hard to imagine this slew of songs existing without the wild energy they possess, which speaks to Bon Iver’s seriousness when it comes to tone.

The cryptic nature of the album is often muddled, but the songs are deeply felt moments of searching with the lurking idea that there will never be an answer.

By GABRIELLA FARLEY Guest Contributor

Photo Courtesy of thekey.xpn.com CONFESSIONS - Lead singer of Against Me!, Laura Jane Grace, is set to release her memoir, ‘Tranny,’ in November. deals with, among other things, the singer’s struggles with her self-image and femininity. The line “we all want to burn on a pyre, so tell me, what kind of witch are you?” is one of my favorites of the band’s entire discography. Maybe it’s the quiet desperation in Grace’s voice, or maybe it’s the fact that Halloween is coming up.

I don’t have a rating system on this column. At the risk of sounding like that annoying old lady I mentioned above, I think art

is totally subjective, and my opinions are my own. Still, if I were to, say, come up with an arbitrary rating system on the spot, “Shape Shift With Me” would receive four and a half gold foil star stickers out of five. The album isn’t perfect, but of course, what album is? Grace is nothing if not an amazing, underrated lyricist, and the rest of the band follows her voice wherever it may lead.

Whether you’re an angry young kid or a bitter retiree, this album is for you.

Tech Players perform “Julius Caesar” in the Dogwood Performance Pavilion as a part of the annual Shakespeare in the Park. Performances continue Oct. 4 and Oct. 6-8 at 7 p.m.

This is English professor Mark Creter’s seventh Shakespearean production at the park. He said this is the first time he’s directing “Julius Caesar,” but 24 years ago, he played the role of Mark Antony.

“Julius Caesar is one of those, for many students, first time they are introduced to Shakespeare.

You either read [it] or Romeo and Juliet,” Creter said. “I think for a lot of people, they will come to the show. It’s one that they know and people like it.”

Business management major Benjamin Meadows said he has “never seen a

Shakespeare play before, so I think this will be a good, entertaining experience for me.”

This is the 13th year of Shakespeare in the Park, and Creter said people really enjoy sitting in the grass with their picnic and wine as they enjoy the show.

With this being Creter’s 26th production as director, he said his goal “is to have the show ready by the final dress rehearsal” so everyone enjoys it no matter what day they choose to attend.

The production uses Elizabethan attributions of engaging the audience in the opening scene as they perform in the grass, but everything else will be performed onstage.

Creter said the costuming isn’t the traditional togas, but will have sashes to correlate with the time era.

The show is free to the public, and it is advised to bring chairs or blankets for the performance.

Please recycle your copy of The Oracle once finished.

Thank you!

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 5

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu oracle@tntech.edu.. Include your name, email address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Friday.

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Think Freely <<

OPINIONS

Student on the street: Millennials offer candid opinions on presidential debate Half of Millennials consider themselves as political independents, which is the highest level of disaffiliation recorded for any generation according to a “Millennials in Adulthood” Pew Research Center survey. Tech students state their opinions of the presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and express what they want to see from them in the second presidential debate Sunday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The polls are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in all precincts in Putnam County according to the Putnam County Voting Information website.

‘‘

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I would like to see how they expect to use their economical mindset about bringing jobs back to America ... when they bring jobs back to America, it costs more to pay the workers, and the cost of the product would skyrocket compared to what it is now.

- Logan Phillips, marketing major

‘‘

I want to see the candidates talk about the real issues instead of just bickering at each other. This election seems much more of a juvenile structure, and I think they forget that they’re candidates for running an entire country.

I would legitimately want to see Trump and Hillary agree on one thing because one thing that scares me the most is how polar opposite and extreme our division is.

,,

,,

- Austin Jackson, criminal justice major

,,

- Bennett Johnson, biology major

- Micalah Soileau, sociology and criminal justice major

‘‘

[I want to see] more intelligent conversation. I’m registered to vote, but I do not think [the debate] will sway how I vote.

Hopefully Trump will chew out Hillary. I just want to watch [the next debate] out of enjoyment.

,,

,,

‘‘

‘‘

I want to see less bickering between the candidates and more of them answering the questions and stating what they plan on doing. They focused on Foreign Policy, but I’d like for them to go more in depth.

,,

- Jessica Nabors, graduate student

- James Winstead, engineering technology major

Reporting by Gabriella Farley. Farley is a senior in communication. She can be reached at gafarley42@students.tntech.edu.

American frustration may override the facts KATE TREBING Opinions Editor Monday night’s presidential debate was the most-viewed in the history of American television. A global audience of 80 million people clustered before their TV screens to watch Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton match wits with Republican candidate Donald Trump. The career politician versus the celebrity billionaire: this year’s campaign certainly has been American history in the making.

For the presidential debate was not simply a match of wits between two unlikely opponents.

It offered to viewers worldwide a snapshot of the double-sided American psyche.

Clinton was prepared and cool-headed, as one would expect from a veteran politician.

She represented the status quo international diplomat. Trump, however, was an active volcano. Cool and professional one moment, fiercely defensive and assertive the next, Trump seemed to be at once unaffected and self-important. He embodied the outspoken, self-assured American stereotype.

To my amateur’s eye, Trump seemed to have made a terribly messy impression for this first debate. His statements were disorganized and tangential, such as his claim that Clinton “couldn’t bring back jobs,” owing in part to

THE

her support of her husband’s approval of NAFTA while in office as President during the 1990s. Trump claimed that NAFTA was “one of the worst things that ever happened in the manufacturing industry,” although the Congressional Research Service proclaimed “the net overall effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy was fairly modest.”

He continued throughout the night by backing his arguments with exaggerated evidence, such as his assertion that Clinton has been unsuccessful in defeating ISIS although she has “been fighting ISIS [her] entire adult life.” Yet a Jordanian named Abu Musab alZarqawi founded ISIS only as early as 20032004 (according to reports by CNN and CNBC journalists). He insisted that he also had a factchecker on his Web page, when in fact the NPR fact-checkers followed up on the claim and found no such element on his website.

To be blunt, Trump laid his credibility on the line. As a journalism student, I have learned the importance of accuracy. Getting the facts straight is crucial to building one’s rapport with the target audience. To me, this seemed to be the missing link to Donald Trump’s arguments during the first presidential debate.

I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Coming from a family of staunch Republicans, someone in my position hopes to find some of her core values within the platform of the Republican candidate. And although I struggle to see beyond the brash exterior, 43 percent of registered voters have

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no trouble siding with Trump (NBC News and The Wall Street Journal).

What draws Americans to Donald Trump?

Could it be his unconventional approach to politics? He has an outsider’s perspective that grants him an audience beyond the normal binds of American politics. He is uncouth and often unkind, but he says what he means, and many Americans seem refreshed by that.

However, this cannot be the final line in our choice for the next president. We should not choose a candidate simply based upon our frustration with the current system.

The point I am trying to make is not about whether or not his goals match up with yours or mine. Undoubtedly, agreement upon a common goal is vital to choosing a candidate, but it is not the only consideration. How effective can a president truly be if he or she cannot back up claims with evidence?

For example, yet another statement found within Trump’s 10 Point Plan to Put America First, is to “ensure that other countries take their people back when we order them deported.”

This would require all involved countries to cooperate with America’s demands. While it is true that we are a superpower, the authorization of such a claim would require absolute cooperation with all countries involved. This is possible, but not by simply strong-arming our allies into submission.

As much as Trump supporters have asserted his fresh take on politics is exactly what our country needs that very same approach may

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be the demise of our international relations.

This is a vital point of interest. The United States of America is undoubtedly a first-world power. We are a highly independent and selfsufficient people. We have a leading voice in global affairs. But with that strength also comes our greatest weakness. We rely upon other countries for our own economy’s sake.

We depend upon them just as they depend upon us. We cannot simply make demands and wait expectantly.

I have striven to see Trump’s proposals from every angle and understand his appeal to the masses. I have concluded that his appeal lies in his differences. He does not belong to the Washington crowd, and he is comfortable with this. Are we the people eager to send him into office simply because we want to disrupt the system?

I am not advocating Clinton’s side over Trump’s. Instead, I want to remind readers of the consequences of our choice. Trump is sensational. He is the underdog, the outsider poised to cause trouble and act as our angry mouthpiece. But will these qualities be fit for a leader? Before we vote one side over the other, we must remember to choose based upon who is qualified to uphold office. He or she will represent our nation to the world.

Kate Trebing is a junior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@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.

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

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN || PAGE 6

SPORTS

>> Inside the Game

Golden Eagle football wins against EKU in overtime thriller

By MARCUS HANSON Sports Editor Tech starts this week 2-3 for the season and 2-1 in the OVC after a huge victory against EKU in an overtime thriller.

“It’s a great win,” said Tech head coach Marcus Satterfield, “but we also know that it’s just one game.

The mental toughness and confidence we’ve been trying to build on our team finally showed tonight. We played far from perfect and we played a really good Eastern Kentucky team. We’re going to be playing that team for championships a lot in the future.”

Eastern Kentucky started the night off with the first touchdown at 11:02 in the first. After a couple of turnovers, quarterback, Michael Birdsong, was able to rush into the end zone. Getting Tech on the board with 27 seconds remaining.

Tech continued their show of strength in the second quarter with another touchdown, by Dontez Byrd, with

Marcus Hanson | The Oracle TECH TOUCHDOWN - Tech’s wide receiver Dontez Byrd, Junior, catches the second touchdown for Tech, bringing the score to 14-13. Tech finished the game 33-30 in overtime.

9:51 remaining. However, EKU wasn’t going to take it lying down. EKU’s Bennie Coney passed 27 yards to Ryan Markush for a touchdown at 04:53. Tech wasn’t done yet. A 42-yard field goal attempt, by Nick Madonia, was good. Bringing the score

to 17-13, with Tech leading going into the half.

In the third, EKU did a good job defending by preventing any Tech touchdowns. A strong EKU offense also took advantage with a 26yard pass into the end zone

by Coney to Devin Borders.

With Tech down by three they responded with another field goal from the 26-yard line.

With the score 20-20 going into the 4th, Tech scores the first touchdown at 6:37.

EKU responds with a touchdown themselves at 1:06.

Score is now tied at 27.

With no score by either side by the end of the 4th quarter, the game continues into overtime with EKU taking possession first. Tech maintained a strong defense allowing EKU to only get a field goal at the 25-yard line.

Tech’s coaching team had a plan, helped out by the personal foal committed by EKU’s Patrick Graffree.

Within three plays tight end, Alex Carling, caught the ball for a game-winning touchdown.

Final score: 33-30.

“It feels fantastic,” said Carling, who made the gamewinning touchdown. “But it was the offensive line, it was Michael Birdsong that made the throw. I was just wide open in the end zone and made the catch.”

Coach Satterfield also said, “For our guys to give up big plays and just keep fighting and hanging in there, and get us into overtime was a great effort.”

Tech had a great offensive night, controlling the ball for 42:28, collecting 327 passing yards and 119 rushing yards, with no turnovers.

“I’m just really proud of our team,” Satterfield said.

“We have many steps to go and this is just the first step.”

The Golden Eagles now travel to Jacksonville State on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Women’s golf team placed 3rd at tournament in Illinois

By AUSTIN CLAY Beat Reporter Tech’s men’s and women’s golf teams finished up play for the month of September with tournaments in Madison, Illinois, and Gadsden, Alabama, respectively, on Sept. 26-27.

The women’s team finished third overall at the Chris Bannister Fall Classic

with an overall score of 928.

The men’s team finished 13th overall at the Derek Dolenc Intercollegiate with an overall score of 914.

“I tried to help them to the best of my ability so that as a team we could show everyone what I know we are capable of,” Charles Seals, a freshman on the men’s team from Hendersonville, Tennessee, said.

The men’s team sent

out a troop of freshmen to the event hosted by SIUE. Joining Seals were freshmen Cameron Yeary and Dabney Dickenson.

Seals wanted to seize this opportunity to shine as a freshman.

“These guys are like a second family to me so if there is anything I can do to help them I would be more than happy to help,” Seals said.

Seals scored the lowest of the freshmen with a 230 overall score putting him in a tie for 48th overall.

“I personally know I am capable of scoring much lower than I have up to this point so I’m just going to continue to grind and get better,” Seals said.

Leading the Golden Eagles in Illinois were juniors A.J. Wilkerson and Alexander Riddle who both scored 225

overall and finished 33rd.

Allyson Dunn of the women’s team accomplished her first All-Tournament selection of the year with a third place finish. With a score of 221, she missed on her career high by one stroke.

Murray State won first place with University of Alabama at Birmingham following in second.

Senior Whitney Robertson finished with

a score of 234 for second place for the Golden Eagles with sophomore Hollee Sadler scoring 235 after three rounds.

The women’s team returns to action Oct. 3-4 in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the Starmount Fall Classic.

The men’s team is scheduled to return to play Oct. 10-11 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the Kenny Perry Invitational.

Tech athletics hires a new director of sports nutrition to aid athletes

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Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics hired Anthony Paradis as a nutritionist for athletes on campus. Paradis also teaches a class within the College of Agriculture Human Ecology.

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Tech’s Athletics Department hired Anthony Paradis, a nutritionist instructor in the College of Human Ecology, as a personal nutritionist for all athletes.

Tech athletes come in many shapes and sizes, from lineman on the football team, to the lean cross-country runners, who he can give knowledge to on how to keep their bodies healthy. Tech has never had a nutritionist available to help the athletes when it came to their eating habits combined with the fast food campus dining like Backyard Burger and Chick-fil-A. Unfortunately, Paradis is not accessible to everyone on campus unless a student enrolls in Human Ecology 1030.

“You don’t have to be a nutrition major to take this class, it can be an elective. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about nutrition and reaching their own goals,” Paradis said.

Tech students are looking forward to hearing the health advice in hopes of getting their overall health going in the right direction.

“I need another class for my last semester of my senior

year, and I also use to play basketball, so I like to hear new things about what I can do to improve my health,” senior Alicia Cook said.

Since Paradis has myriad people that he works with, he says the common question is “how do I lose weight?”

“I recommend using the MyFitnessPal app on your phone to track your food intake, and when you do so honestly, the answer is usually pretty clear for most people,” Paradis said.

Paradis has a reason for his passion behind being a nutritionist.

“I want to help people become the best version of themselves with good nutrition and fitness. I enjoy helping people and taking their physical abilities to a higher level. I’ve helped people from all walks of life, including ones who have lost over 100 pounds on my programs to professional athletes who want a competitive edge,” Paradis said.

“I think he will be a good insight and second opinion on what foods are good for the body,” track and field athlete Raven Smith said.

Paradis can be found in Oakley Hall for anyone wanting more information on his HEC 1030 class, or for any athlete with a question.