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COMMUNITY DAY: Tennessee Tech University open house By KAYLA CLOUSE Beat Reporter
Ashton Breeden | The Oracle COLLEGE SHOPPING - The majors fair and open house was held in the Hooper Eblen Center and the Fitness Center’s east and west gyms during Community Day on Saturday, Oct. 3. Perspective students could learn about various majors, meet with academic advisers and join student organizations. Students could also meet with financial aid advisers.
Tennessee Tech welcomed more than 700 prospective students and their guests at Community Day Saturday, Oct. 3. Community Day offered students, freshmen and transfers, an opportunity to explore an academic fair in which 63 interactive tables were set up in the Fitness Center ’s west and east gyms and the outer concourse of the Hooper Eblen Center. Students received information on the application process, such as eligibility for scholarships and financial aid. Student Admissions representatives provided an entertainment tour, which provided students with stories, facts and a brief history of Tech’s campus. The tour included information about housing options in the residence halls. Lunch was to be provided on Centennial Plaza; however, unfavorable weather relocated the outdoor student luncheon inside Memorial Gym. “With it being rainy, you’re not going to get a good feel of what’s it’s like being a student at Tech,” said Jim Gray, associate director of Admissions. According to admissions counselor Jake Gipson, more than 700 prospective students registered for the event, not in-
cluding their guests. Gipson predicted more than 2,000 visitors during Community Day, but this goal was not met. “I think the weather may have kept a few prospective students from showing up, and it may have hurt our numbers,” said Gray. Tech accommodated to the Community Day visitors by providing free ponchos. Benjamin Fox, a prospective freshman from Riverdale High School, said the rain didn’t ruin his experience touring Tech. “I think Tech’s campus looked great even while it was raining outside. It’s a beautiful campus,” said Fox. “I’m hoping to major in agriculture business, and all the professors I have talked to seem to know the answer to my questions even if I don’t really know what I’m asking. The faculty has been so helpful, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the campus. The free stuff is really nice, also.” The Admissions Department spent $40,000, half of its budget, to finance the advertising costs of Community Day. “Eighty percent of students that come to campus for a visit end up enrolling,” said Gipson, “so it’s safe to say that the advertising pays for itself.”
Murphy Hall to reopen in Fall 2016, renovations continue as scheduled By ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer Construction on Murphy Hall is scheduled to end in mid-December of 2015, though students will not live in the building until the 2016-2017 school year. Construction started on Jobe and Murphy Halls in January 2015, forcing the students who had lived in the building to vacate after just one semester of living there during the fall of 2014. “Had we needed the space, like we had in past years,” said Charles M a c k e , Macke director of Residential Life, “we would have opened up for January.” Freshman enrollment at Tennessee Tech is down by 15 percent from 2014, according to Tech’s Fall 2015 enrollment census. In past years, students lived in overflow housing while the residence
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The plumbing and the piping was so bad that if you had a leak, then you had a hard time finding a good place to cut that leak. —Charles Macke Director of Residential Life halls were being completed. However, because of the drop in enrollment, Tech has no students living in overflow housing and no one to move into Murphy once renovations are completed. “I’m upset that nobody will be able to live in Murphy next semester,” said sophomore Jacob Donegan. “But the reason they aren’t opening makes sense.” Donegan had hoped to live in Murphy in the spring of 2016. Students in Tech’s Honors Program lived in Murphy Hall until January 2015. Jobe Hall is serving as honors and business housing for the 2015-2016 school year. When construction first
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began in January, students from Jobe and Murphy were relocated to alternative housing arrangements. Construction on Jobe was finished July 2015, allowing the residence hall to become available to students. “Jobe is the bigger of the two,” said Macke, “so we worked on getting Jobe done first and then Murphy.” Renovations include a new study lounge and a renovated multipurpose room. These rooms sit in the intersecting corners of JobeMurphy and are accessible to both dorms. The renovations to Murphy Hall will match the renovations made to M.S. Cooper-Pinkerton,
Ellington-Wharf and Jobe Halls. Murphy’s tile floors will be replaced with wood, a kitchen will be added to the first floor and all study rooms will be updated. “The goal is to make the building be less institutional,” said Macke. Renovations to Murphy Hall have extended behind the walls. In addition to redecoration, the residence hall’s plumbing was replaced. The bulk of the remodeling work was in the plumbing. “The plumbing and the piping was so bad that if you had a leak, then you had a hard time finding a good place to cut that leak,” said Macke. “It was really bad.” By the time construction is finished, Jobe and Murphy Halls will share two new rooms. The tentative goal is to eventually turn the two buildings into a residential village, though no official plans have been made. “This isn’t set up to be a village yet,” said Macke, “but we’re going to be ready for it when it happens.”
Erin Gilliland | The Oracle ONGOING RENOVATION(Above) The Murphy Hall lobby is currently used as a storage area. Eventually, the lobby will be the home to a ping pong table and new furniture for all residents. MURPHY: RENOVATED FOR THE LONG HALL - The hallways in each building are being refurbished with new carpet and a fresh coat of paint. Erin Gilliland | The Oracle
Jack Butler addresses SGA about new furniture on Centennial Plaza and reduced greenery By ANNALISE FREITAG Beat Reporter In a Sept. 29 SGA meeting, Associate Vice President of Facilities Jack Butler fielded questions about the new furniture on Centennial Plaza and notably less greenery. Butler asked for senators’ input on the nearly completed plaza and new furniture additions, who said they like the furniture on the
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plaza. Twenty white Adirondack chairs and five shaded tables, each with four chairs, were placed behind Derryberry Hall, and 12 benches were added throughout the plaza. “We don’t want to overdo it on the furniture though,” Butler said. “The whole point of the plaza was to have it open and useable for students for whatever, and it looks like it’s being successful in that manner.” Butler also mentioned that
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brought in to relocate 18 trees from the patio to other places on the fringe of campus. Natalie Hughes, a human ecology major, said she would use her hammock more if there were more locations on campus to do so. “I used to use my hammock on campus,” Hughes said, “but I’ve only used it once this semester, and it wasn’t even on Centennial Plaza; it was over by Johnson Hall.” Senators also commented that students would appreciate more
greenery as opposed to more brick and concrete. “College is suffocating enough,” sophomore Sara Rogers jokes, “let alone taking away my source of oxygen.” Butler said adding more greenery is in the Master Plan for the campus. The plan includes planting trees along every road on the interior of campus and adding more trees to the major parking lots at Foundation Hall, Volpe Library and west stadium.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
>> Reviews
Science is the real star of Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’ By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor It’s been awhile since two really unique and exciting things happened at once: A movie came along that actually used realistic properties and functions of science to explain its problems, and a great Ridley Scott film was made. Actually, this is probably the first time these two things happened alongside each other, and in the wake of Scott’s newest film, “The Martian,” neither could be more exciting to see take place. Although the past three years have seen the release of somewhat realistic space films, including 2013’s “Gravity” and 2014’s “Interstellar,” “The Martian” takes viewers through certain tropes with a new, heavily realistic spin. Mark Watney is a botanist on a manned mission to Mars that goes awry. A storm hits his crew, and they’re forced to evacuate the planet as Watney is struck by a radio antenna and left behind, presumably to die. However, he makes it and vows to make it back to Earth alive, with or without NASA’s help. This is the basis for “The Martian,” director Ridley Scott’s
adaptation of the New York Times-bestselling book of the same name. The movie runs on this simple premise: a sort-of “Cast Away” on Mars, albeit a little more dire since our hero is millions, not thousands, miles away. Watney is a cocksure character who has a ton of heart, and Matt Damon plays him perfectly. We never really think he’s too cute to be stranded, because there’s always a calmness to his actions – never a “look at me!” tone that bleeds through his dialogue. The balance of acerbic one-liners and emotional gait Damon gives the role, along with the eerily upbeat and electronic score by Harry Gregson-Williams, really makes each complicated explanation of how Watney is surviving easier to swallow. Watney eventually gets help from his friends at NASA, played by a particularly varied cast. Actors and actresses such as Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sean Bean fill out the NASA employees who act as the Earthly counterpart in “The Martian’s” lengthy and thrilling journey. They act as a suitable buffer against the “Survivorman” aspect of Watney’s scenes on Mars. Although the characters are played by well-known stars, those portraying them never get the proper chance to shine through with their own mo-
newsweek.com THE FIGHT FOR REALISM - Ridley Scott consulted James L. Green, the director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA, in order to make the science in “The Martian” more accurate. ments. Wiig is just there playing jittery once again, and Sean Bean doesn’t get much air to breath as most of his dialogue guides other characters to make choices that serve the plot. This extends to the crew that leaves Watney behind, including such names as Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan and Michael Pena, who get their moments to shine but are just there to say they’re there. However, what really makes the movie enjoyable isn’t its star power but its blatant gushing love for sci-
ence and engineering. When Watney uses completely valid science as a solution for how to grow crops, you can’t help but think it’s pretty darn awesome. The movie takes all these explanations and little discoveries in many doses, as most of the problems Watney and even the bigwigs at NASA encounter are solved through good old-fashioned skills and personified education. If you even have the slightest interest in science or engineering, “The Martian” is very much your cup of tea. It’s the thinking man’s space adventure movie, but not one
devoid of thrills. The film’s 3-D really takes the action-packed moments throughout to some cool places. It doesn’t revolutionize 3-D, but the movie uses it in many smart ways, such as materializing the water Watney creates for his crops as tiny droplets it looks as if the audience can touch. Another sequence makes a startling explosion that much more terrifying and urgent by throwing debris at the audience’s faces. It’s the dichotomy between the hardpressed logical thinking of the movie’s quieter problem-
solving scenes and its few but very memorable and tense set pieces that make it a visual and intellectual treat. Ridley Scott hasn’t made a movie like this in a long time: a really inspiring and roiling romp that combines two elements and great performances and makes it all work exceptionally well. Deep down, Scott still knows how to treat space-based movies right. “Alien” and “Blade Runner” are surely more atmospheric and moody offerings, but I think “The Martian” is a great version of a simple vision. Scott could have made another ghostly s masterpiece, but he made a winning and intrinsically familiar formula into something that has so much of its own personality it’s hard not to give in and revel in its merriment. Whether it inspires future careers in engineering or botany is one thing, but “The Martian” is a great time on so many levels. I feel that its release date is indicative of how it should be taken as a movie. It just missed the summer popcorn movie window, but it instills the same ideas on the outside while being insulated with a hardy and rational nature. What it does right, it really does right; whatever it tries that’s new, it conquers that as well, with a full heart and a level heart.
De Niro and Hathaway ‘The Splat’ welcomes all forms of ‘90s Nick nostalgia charm the audience with By ERIN GILLILAND and“We “The Wild Thornberrys.” are getting ready to Staff Writer their dynamic chemistry bring back some of the ones Nickelodeon recently re- they’ve told us multiple times By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic When my mom suggested we go and see “The Intern,” I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had not, and still have not, seen so much as a trailer for it, so aside from her rough description, I had no idea what it was going to be about. All I knew was that it starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, and I’m always willing to give them both the benefit of the doubt. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I do know I wasn’t expecting to like this movie so much. It’s the story of a widowed retiree named Ben (De Niro) who wants something to do with the rest of his life. As it stands, he passes his days taking yoga classes, cooking dinners for one, spending time with his grandkids, and attending at least a funeral a month. He’s happy, but the routine is becoming stale. As such, when he reads a flyer posted by an online clothing company in search of senior interns, he jumps at the opportunity. “About the Fit,” or ATF, was founded by Jules Ostin (Hathaway) at her kitchen table 18 months before the events of the movie. She’s a genuine self-made woman: caring, hardworking and full of passion for her job. Still, as is the case with many workaholics, her personal life is strained. She’s a great mother and her daughter Paige doesn’t seem to mind the fact she works late, but her relationship
with her husband is suffering. He resents her success, even though he won’t admit it. In light of this, Jules begins a struggle with the decision to hire on a CEO for her company to take some of the workload off her shoulders. It’s not hard to imagine, then, how she may have forgotten that she signed off on the senior intern initiative. Enter Ben, who is basically Santa Claus in a Brooks Brothers suit. Although Jules is initially reluctant to accept help from a septuagenarian who doesn’t even have a Facebook page, she soon allows herself to admit she can’t do everything on her own. One thing I liked so much about this movie was the fantastic chemistry between Hathaway and De Niro. In one scene, they talk about their interests and take turns gushing over their shared love of Billie Holiday. That moment between the two of them is just so believable, and it works because the characters are more than the tired old tropes of “stressed career woman whose every problem is solved by a man” and “old person who makes dated references that no one gets.” They seem like actual people, and that’s really refreshing. The movie isn’t without its flaws – at points, it seems rushed and some characters remain underdeveloped – but it’s a sweet, feel-good movie that actually tries. All in all, “The Intern” is the perfect movie to see with your parents or grandparents: you won’t be bored and they won’t be scandalized.
leased the names of the shows that will be aired during the ‘90s-themed programming block, “The Splat.” The Splat is not its own channel but rather a block of programs airing on TeenNick from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. EST. The programming block features shows and commercials that originally aired on Nickelodeon in the 1990s. The current list of 14 shows includes “All That,” “The Angry Beavers,” “Are You Afraid of the Dark?,” “CatDog,” “Clarissa Explains It All,” “Hey Arnold!,” “Hey Dude,” “Kenan & Kel,” “The Ren & Stimpy Show,” “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “Rugrats,” “Salute Your Shorts”
they want to have brought back,” Nickelodeon’s president of content and development Russell Hicks told Variety in early September. The “they” Hicks referred to are the now-adults who grew up in the ‘90s, known as ‘90s kids. This group is The Splat’s target audience. Nickelodeon plans on taking viewer opinion into account during The Splat’s run. This means the current program list is already set to change, depending on what viewers want to see. The Splat’s social media presence has been strong since the block was announced on Sept. 12. The Splat has already gained 95 thousand page likes on Facebook and 66.1 thousand Twit-
grmdaily.com PRIMETIME - “The Splat” was previously named “The ‘90s Are All That” when it beat the ratings for basic cable shows. ter followers in the month since it was announced. According to The A.V. Club, The Splat will also air commercials and promotions from the ‘90s and host theme weeks. The first theme week will reintroduce “Nick or Treat!,” a Halloween-themed programming block that originally aired every Hal-
loween from 1992 to 1997. The new programming block is an attempt by Nickelodeon to gain viewers previously lost to streaming services like Netflix, says Variety. Because of this, the shows will not only be aired on TeenNick but will also be available on The Splat’s website.
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OPINIONS
Sticks and stones: Why words can hurt the most ‘‘ ,, KATE TREBING Opinions Editor
S o m e conversations we don’t want to overhear. The ones so full of obnoxious superciliousness that your lips curl of their own accord. The conversations that fill your stomach with a raging inferno and leave you with a really good story. Some people get into fistfights. Some people write strongly worded letters. Imagine a world full of clones. Everyone looks alike, dresses alike, has the same values and even shares the same personality. I would probably channel my inner “Twilight Zone” damsel in distress and run screaming to some no-way-out hotel room on the highest floor. It’s the bleak idea of monotony that drives me crazy. I don’t want to live in a world full of
the same people; I have seen the beauty of variety, and I couldn’t adjust to a world devoid of that. So when I heard some nasty comments barely concealed in a classroom full of Middle Eastern students, I was more than a bit befuddled. Now, I grew up in a small town, and I have come to accept that a large portion of the public is often prone to be narrow-minded when it comes to races and religions other than their own. We are only human, and we do tend to fear the unknown, whether we want to admit to this or not. But people should also have the decency to respect those around them and keep their opinions to themselves. Didn’t your mother ever tell you that if you didn’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all? When I began my first semester two years ago, one of the first things I truly appreciated about our campus was the large number of international students we hosted. I
Diversity and prejudice can stem from any divide... I am not saying you need to agree with these people or believe in the same principles. What I am saying is that you need to show a little more respect.
have known Cookeville most of my life, but I had never realized how many countries our student body represented. I appreciate the variety we have on campus, and the different viewpoints we all bring to class discussions. And imagine the bravery required to be a global traveler while studying for a degree. These students are transplanted out of their home countries and cultures, and they face a hefty learning curve that comes with learning a new language and adapting to new customs. On top of all of this, they have to keep up with their schoolwork just like the rest of us. I try to keep that in mind in my classes. Is it too much to ask others to do the same? I also understand that worldwide unrest and international threats have influ-
enced many to put up their guard around people who they feel may represent the ideologies to which they are so wary. To that, I say, haven’t we learned our lesson from history? During World War II, did we not allow fear of our enemies to turn into suspicion of our fellow countrymen? We turned on our own Japanese-American citizens and shuffled them into our own very watered-down form of concentration camps. Why? Because we feared the homeland they had left (some had never even stepped foot on Japanese turf), and we assumed their loyalty lay with their ethnicity. I digress. To clarify, I am not only advocating on behalf of one group of people. Diversity and prejudice can stem from any divide. Race.
Religion. Gender. Body type. Yes, I am pulling all of those hot topics off the shelf. I am not saying you need to agree with these people or believe in the same principles. What I am saying is that you need to show a little more respect. I sincerely believe that one will never be able to, nor should they feel entitled to, sway another in their beliefs without first allowing that person to advocate their own views. This reverence must work in both directions, or it does not exist at all. Perhaps I am making a mountain out of a molehill. The comments I heard were little more than obnoxious and ignorant statements made by a jealous boyfriend. They were rude but harmless. The harm in those kinds of comments stems from the
seeds they plant in the minds of those under informed and impressionable. When we say things we don’t mean, we still put out the idea into the minds of those around us. Ask any causal browser of the local news – these wildfires have a way of spreading. I do not understand how one isn’t able to see the beauty in a variety of skin tones, the unique personality in each one of us, the history and upbringing that shape who we are today. There is splendor in chaos, beauty in disorder, and loveliness in imperfections. And there is an undeniable, awe-evoking brilliance in the uniqueness of our race: humankind. So take warning, students. You never know when your thoughtless ramblings will find their way into the campus newspaper. There are ears everywhere. Kate Trebing is a junior communication major with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.
Seeing the man behind the badge 'The Hunting Ground' sheds
light on campus rape epidemic
ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer Earlier this week, I found myself parked in a church parking lot at one in the morning. Like any college student, I had found myself dealing with the stresses of college and decided to get out of the house and go for a drive. I was parked in the lot, talking on my phone, when a patrol car pulled into the parking lot and turned on the lights. No one looks forward to having a police officer approach their car. No one thinks about taking a drive and says, “I really hope a cop pulls me over!” In fact, if I see a patrol car driving beside me, I instinctively slow down. That being said, the officer made the experience … enjoyable, if you can call it that. I suppose with all the negativity toward police in the last year, I expected him to be more assertive and callous. Maybe I was expecting to see a gun. I certainly wasn’t expecting what he ended up doing. He quietly asked me if I was all right. He asked me my name and said, “That’s my name too!” He asked me if I was a student, where I was from. He did everything he could to make me feel comfortable. He chatted with me about schoolwork. After he had made sure I was OK, he asked me if I was in trouble.
THE
LAUREN HENLEY Guest Critic
Erin Gilliland | The Oracle
KEEPERS OF THE PEACE - Tech's campus police station is located in Foundation Hall. He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. It has been a little more than a year since Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael’s death caused protests and riots that have continued since then, culminating in the Black Lives Matter movement. Since Michael Brown’s death, America’s police have come under attack for being too brutal. I haven’t had many experiences with the police; I’ve never been arrested, I’ve never been pulled over, so maybe my viewpoint is a little warped. But I think it’s difficult to remember that police are just people who want to protect and serve. They’re not a corporation. They’re people. They’re individuals. After all the figurative fire
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the police have come under in the last year, it’s easy to think that all they want is control over the public. After talking to the officer from the sheriff’s department, whose full name I never learned, I found it easy to remember that they’re just trying to do their jobs. Just like the folks in the military, these men and women have made a choice to protect the public with their lives if they need to. That wasn’t what I needed that night in the church parking lot. I just needed someone to talk to. That’s exactly what he gave me, and I think I’ll remember that for a long, long time. Erin Gilliland is a junior in communication with a concentration in journalism. She can be reached at eegillilan42@students.tntech.edu
I cringe every time I hear the word “rape.” In my culture as a college student in my 20s, I have been discouraged from talking about or even referring to rape. I have always thought rape is something to be embarrassed about. But as of Tuesday, Sept. 29, my entire view of rape has been changed. Take a look around you. Pick five random women in the same room as yourself. One of these women is expected to be a victim of sexual assault during her collegiate years, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. One in 16 men is sexually assaulted. Rape is a national epidemic on college campuses. I attended a free screening of “The Hunting Ground,” a film full of raw experiences of sexual assaults and abuse that have been reported on several college campuses. It was shown Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Derryberry Hall Auditorium. The documentary focused on two women from the University of North Carolina, Andrea Pio and Annie Clark. Both of the women were raped on campus, each by a student who attended the university.
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When they opened up to faculty members to receive help and guidance after their rapes, they were advised to not file a report and were discouraged from continuing their search of justice for their offenders. During this film, female and male victims stated: “My rape was bad, but the way I was treated (by faculty) was worse.” The statistics were overwhelming: more than 16 percent of college women are sexually assaulted; 88 percent of these assaults go unreported. Only 2 to 8 percent of reported cases of sexual assault are proven false — meaning 92 percent of reports are found to be completely true. The Friday following the screening, I met with Marlene Hall, our school’s Compliance Coordinator for the Clery Act and Title IX, to discuss questions I had after watching the film. Within the past year, Tennessee Tech has further advanced its quality of resources for crime prevention, intervention and victim assistance, according to the 2015 Annual Security Report, which is easily retrievable online. Our university is the first in our region to hire a full-time Clery compliance coordinator. I personally believe that
with the new addition of Hall, who has worked with several campuses including Syracuse in New York, a university in Charleston, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt, our campus has become even safer. In her small office in Foundation Hall, she made me feel like a person, not just another student of the 11,000 who attend our university. Hall listened to my concerns regarding sexual misconduct offenders, and she opened up to me with her experiences at the universities and police departments she has worked with. I highly recommend anyone with any concerns regarding Tennessee Tech’s safety to get in touch with Hall. “The Hunting Ground” made me think more realistically about rape, something I have been discouraged of believing is an actual problem universities have in our nation. If you are reading this article and ever get the chance to watch the documentary, take it. As a top critic of Rotten Tomatoes states, the stories are horrifying but essential to hear. Lauren Henley is a senior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at lehenley42@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
News content for The Oracle is provided by the Journalism 2220, Journalism 4820 and Journalism 4930 classes. Journalism 3370 provides a majority of the photographs used.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of Tennessee Tech University’s employees or of its administration.
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SPORTS
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
>>Inside the Game
SOCCER
Soccer improves to 3-0 in OVC after winning conference home opener By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor
The Tennessee Tech soccer team is 3-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play following its win against the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels Oct. 2. The game was the first home conference game of the season for the team. The Golden Eagles have won the first three games in conference play and have compiled a 5-4-3 overall record after going 2-15-2 last season with no wins in the OVC. Defense has been a large part of Tech’s success so far this season. The Golden Eagles have had four shutout wins this season, including the 3-0 win Friday night. The play of goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann has been part of the reason for the team’s improved defense. “She has been solid,” said head coach Steven Springthorpe about Naerdemann. “We have relied on her; even today (against EKU), she has made a couple of really good saves for us in some key moments. She understands the game. She knows the gamesmanship of how to play.” Junior Abi Gearing began the scoring for Tech against
Shea Haile | The Oracle
ALL OUT - Taylor Blazei races an Eastern Kentucky player for possession of the ball during a rain-soaked game at Tech Soccer Field Oct. 2. The Golden Eagles got its third straight win with a 3-0 victory. All three wins have been in conference play. the Colonels with a successful penalty kick in the 27th minute. Later in the half, Tech struck again, this time with Karigan Owens who scored a goal in the 39th minute.
The Golden Eagles were efficient in the first half, earning two goals on seven shots. The Colonels also had seven shots during the first half, but the Tech defense was able to
BASKETBALL
protect its goal. The second half was quiet until the 55th minute. Tech’s Cassidy Ortman was able to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 after scoring off an assist
from Gearing. Ortman’s goal marked the second straight game in which the sophomore has scored. Ortman’s goal was the last goal of the game. Eastern
Kentucky, despite having more Shots than Tech in the 22-15 game, never found the back of the net. The Golden Eagles were able to win convincingly despite the less than ideal conditions during the game. “You got to go about it with a positive attitude,” said Ortman about playing in the rainy and cold conditions. “If you come out negative, then you’re going to play negative.” “You have to just accept the fact that it is a muddy field and have fun with it, like slide when you want to slide,” said Ortman. Springthorpe was impressed with the team’s performance in the conditions and their start to the OVC schedule. “It is fantastic; I am happy and excited for our team,” said Springthorpe. “To start the conference with three wins, it is a good day. I am pleased with how we played in tough conditions on a tough field with the weather, the wind, and the rain the last few days. It is a quality win.” The Golden Eagles will be searching for more quality wins when they travel to conference foes Eastern Illinois Oct. 9 and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Oct.11.
FOOTBALL
Davis, Payne discuss their keys to success this season By HOLLY MORGAN Beat Reporter The 2015-2016 Golden Eagles men and women’s basketball schedules have been released, and fans will have the chance to catch both squads in action during eight double-headers throughout the upcoming season. A renovated Hooper Eblen Center also awaits Tennessee Tech fans. The men kick off their season Nov. 14 at home against Piedmont College. The team then jumps straight into tournament action with the Air Force classic beginning Nov. 16. It is comprised of two away games against Air Force and New Mexico State before returning to Cookeville to host Robert Morris and Mississippi Valley State Nov. 24 and 27, respectively. Home games continue into December with Tech hosting UC Clermont Nov. 28, Mississippi Valley State Nov. 29 and East Tennessee State Dec. 2. Arkansas is the only Southeastern Conference team on the schedule, and head coach Steve Payne expects his team to be competitive, saying they don’t schedule those games to get beat. Payne said he thinks the play of his guards, the team’s shooting, as well as defensive and offensive play in general will see improvements from past seasons. There are several players who could have a breakout season. Torrance Rowe, Josiah Moore, Anthony Morse and Ryan Martin will set the tone for the squad this season. Martin had to sit out last season because of the NCAA, and Payne anticipates him being one of the power for-
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TIME TO STEP UP - Mason Ramsey fights off defenders in last season’s opener against Piedmont International. Ramsey is one of the key players for Tech this season. wards in the OVC. Payne said he is confident in his senior class, and the team will depend on them to fill the void of players who graduated. “We lost two talented post players between (Charles) Jackson and (Dwan) Caldwell,” said Payne. “I think Ryan Martin will help offset some of that. Guys like Mason Ramsey and Anthony Morse will have to step up – they’ve got an opportunity – and then we’ll get a chance for them to show that.” Both teams have almost identical schedules in January and February against OVC opponents. There are three home doubleheaders in January against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Jan. 2, Southeast Missouri Jan. 16 and Belmont Jan. 30. February features two home double-headers against Jacksonville State Feb. 13 and Eastern Kentucky Feb. 27 to wrap up the regular season for both teams. The women also start the regular season at home Nov. 14, hosting Arkansas State. The Golden Eagles play at home the next three games against Mercer Nov. 16, Georgia State Nov. 19 and Lipscomb Nov. 22. The team’s first OVC matchup will be Dec. 31 against Eastern Illinois at home. Tech will face stiff competition in December when Clemson, Louisville and Wichita State come to town. Georgia is the lone SEC team on the schedule. Women’s head coach
Jim Davis said the team understands that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog when it comes to playing larger programs. Strength comes in numbers, and Davis expects the team’s depth to help make this season successful. With a lot of new faces on the team, there could be up to 12 players who experience a breakout season. Three players to keep an eye on are Samaria Howard, Mariah Dean and Hannah Goolsby. Davis is proud of how hard his players have worked, saying they are more competitive with each other in practice and show a high level of enthusiasm. A great work ethic, great attitude and good team chemistry translate into wins, and Davis anticipates this season will be a fun one to play and watch. Both head coaches want to see a rise in the number of Tech students who attend basketball games this season. “I would like to encourage students to come and support our basketball teams,” said Davis. “We go to other universities and their student sections are packed. I want that to happen at Tennessee Tech. I don’t want anyone to be better than Tennessee Tech at anything, especially that.” The first chance to witness the Golden Eagle basketball action will be Oct. 27 at the third annual Purple Palooza in the Hooper Eblen Center.
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RAINY NIGHT IN COOKEVILLE - Jared Davis hands the ball to Ladarius Vanlier during Tech’s conference match up against UT-Martin. Vanlier had 118 yards rushing in the game.
When it rains, it pours; football loses to UT-Martin By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor Rain and wind made for some ugly football Saturday night at Tucker Stadium, and the Golden Eagles’ performance in the 31-17 loss to conference rival UT Martin made things even uglier. The Skyhawks controlled possession for nearly twothirds of the game, while putting up 476 yards of total offense and forcing eight sacks on defense. “We got exposed (Saturday), and (UTM) deserved to win the game, but it was one of the worst games we’ve played,” said Tech head coach Watson Brown. “We didn’t expect this. We just played awful. We didn’t make any plays, didn’t execute well. Things happened that haven’t happened in the first four games.” Skyhawks quarterback Jarod Neal picked apart the home defense throughout the night, beginning with two quick passing scores in the first 10 minutes. Tech QB Jared Davis didn’t exactly
mirror Neal’s performance, especially not in his first two series, but he was able to bounce back from a sack and interception and create some rhythm on touchdown passes of 20 and 8 yards to receiver Brock McCoin to tie the score at 14-14 before the end of the first quarter. Trailing by 11 after two more Neal TD passes, the Golden Eagles gathered a surge at the start of the fourth quarter on a 67-yard score from senior Ladarius Vanlier, but the burst was brought back after a holding call negated the score. UTM notched the final score on an early fourth-quarter field goal, controlled the game clock and line of scrimmage and left Cookeville after handing Tech its first home and OVC loss of the season. “It was surprising to me that we would play that poorly,” added Brown. “We all are. I think the kids are. The epitome of the game, here it is we get back within a touchdown and have a (67-yard) touchdown run, and we hold and bring it back. Even when
there was a good play, we seemed to mess it up.” Davis struggled in the contest, passing 8-of-34 for 76 yards, with negative rushing numbers after being sacked eight times. Vanlier led the Golden Eagles with 118 rushing yards on nine carries, while Brock McCoin led receivers with 69 yards and two TDs on six catches. Senior linebacker Tra’Darius Goff completed another career game with a season-high 18 tackles. The Golden Eagles (2-3, 1-1 OVC) face a quick turnaround this week, as they travel to Eastern Kentucky (2-2, 1-0) in a Oct. 8, 6 p.m. CDT kickoff with the Colonels, who are coming off a near overtime upset of the Kentucky Wildcats last weekend. “This is the stretch,” said Brown on Saturday. “Now we have a game in five days. The team has to understand where they are and just keep fighting their butts off. And I think they will. I really do. They’re disappointed, but if they weren’t disappointed, I’d be in real trouble.”