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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

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Tech celebrates Homecoming 2016 with haunting theme By SHELBY SAVAGE Beat Reporter

Tennessee Tech is celebrating its annual Homecoming festivities Oct. 17-22. This years theme is “Haunted Homecoming.” This year’s celebration will be unique to other years in two ways. Greek life and Student Organizations will be in two divisions each working to reach a $50,000 goal to help sponsor a Habitat for Humanity house in the Cookeville area. If the Greek division reaches its goal the funds will be used to build a house during Greek Week 2017 according to the homecoming

informational packet. If the student organizations reach their goal a date for a house build will be set. Another change is the pep-rally and lip sync have been replaced with the Golden Eagle pep-rally at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. The official location is to be announced. The annual parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. The parade includes homecoming floats from different organizations across campus. The route begins at the Hobby Lobby parking lot and continues down Dixie Avenue to campus. After the parade, the floats are parked at Tucker Stadium until after the

game. Students had the opportunity to vote for Mr. and Miss Tennessee Tech Thursday, Oct. 13. The 15 candidates represented Greek and student organizations from across campus. The winners will be announced during half time of the homecoming football game, Oct 22. The Golden Eagle football team takes on Southeast Missouri for the homecoming football game this year. In addition to the announcement of Mr. and Miss Tennessee Tech, the organization with the most event points will be announced at the game.

Haunted Homecoming 2016 Event:

Place:

Time:

Banner Contest

10-11:30 a.m. - Oct. 17Tech Pride Room

Habitat Fundraiser

TBA

TBA - Oct. 18

Canned Food Drive 8-11 a.m. - Oct. 219

Hyder-Burkes Pavilion

Spirit Day

RUC Lobby

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. - Oct. 21

Golden Eagle TBA - Oct. 21 Pep Rally Homecoming 10:30 a.m. - Oct. 22 Parade TTU vs 1:30 p.m. - Oct. 22 Southeast Missouri

TBA Dixie Ave. Tucker Stadium

Haslam announces Tech board of trustees members By HAYLEE EATON Managing Editor Governor Bill Haslam announced eight members of the new Tech board of trustees Oct. 13. A majority of the new board members have notable resumes both in the Cookeville area as well as the nation. One notable member of the board is Capt. Barry Wilmore. Wilmore is an electrical engineering major from the class of 1985. He is currently a captain in the U.S. Navy and a former commander for the International Space Station. He successfully completed two space missions in 2009 and 2014, logging over 167 days in space. Wilmore also severed as capsule communicator for the Atlantis during the last flight of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s shuttle program. Another notable member on the board of trustees is Millard Oakley. Oakley is a former member of the Tennessee General Assembly and is currently a board member for the First National Bank of

Tennessee. Oakley also is known in the Tech community for donating Hartsaw Cove Farm to the university in 2015. Wilmore He is the namesake for Oakley Hall, the home building for the college of agriculture and human ecology, and the Oakley STEM Center on campus. Other members of the board include Dr. Barbara Fleming, Trudy Harper, Tom Jones, Purna Saggurti, Johnny Stites and Teresa Vanhooser. Fleming is a biology major from the class of 1971. Fleming is currently a physician with the Internal Medicine Clinic at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Fleming has also received the Surgeon General’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal for Contributions to the Health of the Nation. Harper graduated from Tech in 1983 with a degree in electrical engineering. Currently, Harper is an independent director of the

InfraREIT board of directors, and serves as consultant and a member of the board of stakeholders at Tenaska Inc. She was founder and president of Tenaska Power Services Company, the power marketing affiliate of Tenaska. Jones is an electrical engineering major from the class of 1986. Jones is currently co-owner and general manager of Research Electronics International. Jones is a former instructor of math and electrical engineering at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida. Saggurti is currently a managing director and chairman of Global Corporate & Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York City. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Tech. Saggurti is a member on the board of the Tennessee Technological University Foundation, and cochairman of the Finance Committee of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative of the World Bank and the United Nations. Stites is currently a managing partner of XI Investments, a

real estate developer in the Upper Cumberland. Stitles represented the 6th Congressional District on the Tennessee board of regents from 2014-2015. He is a former member of the Tech College of Business board of trustees. Vanhooser graduated from Tech in 1980 with a degree in industrial engineering. She is currently a senior consultant with Seabrook Solutions, LLC. Vanhooser is a former deputy director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. While at the center she served as deputy manager, acting manager and manager of Ares Projects, which paved the way for development of NASA’s Space Launch System. Haslam also appointed members to the governing boards for Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University and the University of Memphis as a part of the FOCUS Act passed earlier this year. The transition from the Tennessee board of regents allows Tech to provide more opportunities to its students.

“This is an exciting transition because Tech will be assuming full authority for its future and how we can best serve our own students. The TBR held the oversight over six universities and made decisions based on the collective good for those universities. However, students at those universities have different characteristics and needs. Now we have the opportunity to make decisions that best fit and serve our students,” President Phil Oldham said. The board consists of 10 seats with the two remaining seats filled by a faculty and student representative. The selection process for the faculty appointee will be completed by the end of the semester according to Christy Killman, president of the TTU Faculty Senate. The board decides the selection process for the student seat after they take up governing responsibility The board of regents will transfer governing responsibility after Haslam calls a first meeting according to a release from the Governor’s office. The inaugural meeting is planned for April 2017.

Campus crime increases based on Clery Act findings By MARANDA TANKERSLEY Beat Reporter Nine out of 10 campus crimes tracked under the federal Clery Act increased in 2015, although overall rates are slightly decreasing. Increased crimes in 2015 include: • Domestic violence from zero to 17 reports, • Rape from one to six reports, • Fondling from zero to five reports, • Stalking from six to nine reports Those reports are required to be disclosed in compliance to the 2014 Violence Against Women Act addition to the Clery Act. Marlene Hall, Tech’s Clery Act and Title IX compliance coordinator, believes the crime rate raises are because of increased reporting and recent Clery Act amendments. The Clery Act requires Read More Online

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tntechoracle.com

all two and four year colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disclose campus crime statistics and security information to students and employees, according to the 2016 Annual Security Report. In 2015, 85 crimes were reported at Tech in comparison to the previous year with 33 crime reports. Within those 85 reports, there were 17 domestic violence reports, nine stalking reports, six rape reports, five fondling reports and three dating violence reports. Also reported in 2015 were 22 burglary reports, 11 aggravated assaults, five hate crimes, five motor vehicle thefts and two robbery reports. Although those numbers appear to be high, some of the 2015 statistics are lower in comparison to 2013’s reports. In 2013, there were 29 reported burglaries, seven more than in 2015, five dating violence reports and two

CONTACT:

robberies— two more than and the same as last year. Members of Tech staff, including Hall, continue to do the most they can to comply with the Clery Act and make Tech a safer environment for students. Hall sends out mass emails to campus staff, including faculty and student organization advisers, and requests any reports they may have received from students. “Tech has nurtured a community of which there’s confidentiality if it’s asked for, but many times the faculty member or adviser will suggest to the person to call the police or Title IX, so a lot of the times things have already been reported to me,” Hall said. However, Tech police officer Lt. Michael Lambert believes students need to be more aware of their surroundings instead of focused on their electronic devices to ensure their safety and others’.

“What they don’t realize or come to understand is that they’re setting themselves up to be an easy target for those type of people who want to take advantage of them,” Lambert said. Other security methods the ASR lists include “blue light” emergency phones throughout campus, text alerts, security cameras and emergency contact information. Procedures for reporting crimes or sexual misconduct are also included in the ASR. “Our crime rate doesn’t fluctuate a whole lot—up or down. I like to think we have a relatively safe campus,” Lambert said. For more information about crime statistics and Tech’s security policies or suggestions on future security methods, visit the 2016 ASR at https://www. tntech.edu/studentaffairs/ police/annual-securityreport, or contact Marlene Hall at mhall@tntech.edu.

Crimes:

Percent:

ReporƟng Comparisons 2013 & 2015

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NEWS

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

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>> Campus

Tech Tuba Ensemble celebrates 50th anniversary with annual Octubafest By BRYAN BOWEN Beat Reporter Tech’s 50th annual Octubafest celebration that pays homage to the sounds of the tuba and euphonium, kicked off Tuesday, Oct. 14. “Octubafest is the tuba studio’s annual celebration and a way to show the community that tubas are more than ‘oom-pahs,’” Tech tuba professor R. Winston Morris said This year also marks Morris’ 50th year of teaching at Tech. Morris founded the Tech Tuba Ensemble

(TTTE) in 1967. In that time, it has an enviable record of 27 recording projects (the most recent recordings on the Mark Records label were submitted and accepted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to be included on its “Grammy Entry List.”), eight Carnegie Hall appearances, two World’s Fair performances, numerous national and international conference engagements, a 49-year history of performances from Preservation Hall in New Orleans to the Spoleto Festival in Charleston to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and is responsible for the composition and

arrangement of more music for the tuba than any other single source, according to the Tech website. Morris has also gained a Guinness world record for the largest collection of tuba-related items in the world. “It [Octubafest] is something the studio does every semester to celebrate the work and rigorous standard we have set for ourselves. Chamber groups, recitals and ensembles preform for each other in support for one another. It is a way to show everyone why we have these awards.” Michael Barton, a music education major, said.

Octubafest’s 50th celebration includes 20 performances ranging from recitals to concerts. All the music for the event is written or arranged by Tech alumni and performed by students and alumni in the Bryan Fine Arts building. Several of the performances during the Tech Tuba Ensemble’s 50th Anniversary Celebration are free admission and open to the public. Performances are scheduled to continue throughout the week and are planned to end Friday with a wind ensemble performance at 8 p.m.

Tech experiences 3.5 billion in budget cuts for 2016-2017 fiscal year By HAYLEE EATON Managing Editor Tech experienced $3.5 million in budget cuts for the 2016-2017 year. These cuts can be connected to drops in enrolment numbers and unexpected loss of 56 international students. Each fiscal budget is based on numbers and information from the year before so the decrease in funds and enrollment was expected in areas, but not in others like the loss of more than 50 international students. “Out of state tuition is right at $25,000

a year. So each one of those students brings in roughly two and a half times that of our domestic students,” Senior Associate Provost Mark Stevens said. At that tuition rate, losing 56 international students equals a loss in university funds of around $1.4 million “Another really serious problem that has affected our enrollment of international students from other areas, specifically from South America, is the rapidly depreciating currencies in those countries. A lot of our Brazilian students have left because the tuition cost in the real has almost doubled,” Stevens said.

The Tennessee Promise program also played a role in the decease of funds and enrollment, but the university anticipated the change, according to Claire Stinson, vice president of planning and finance. The budget cuts will affect both instructional and non-instructional departments and offices campus wide, but jobs for faculty and staff should stay secure. “There are no layoffs, none at all,” Stinson said. Christy Killman, president of the Tech Faculty Senate and department chairwoman for Exercise Science, Physical Education

and Wellness, gave examples on how the budget cuts would affect her department, at an American Association of University Professors meeting Oct. 6. “Each college had to find their deficit in different ways. We [The College of Education] met with Dr. Stinson, the president and our committee and talked about what would be the most amicable fair to cut. So what we did was cut from operational and adjunct budgets,” Killman said. Everyone is encouraged to attend the Budget Committee Meetings to learn more about the current budget situations at Tech.

New in-state zoning eligibility may increase student enrollment rates By HAYLEY DAVIDSON Beat Reporter Tech’s new in-state zoning program, “Eagles Reach,” expands to a 250-mile radius from Tech and includes 13 neighboring states. Eagles Reach is allowing students that live within the designated area to receive reduced tuition, which is causing higher numbers in student enrollment. The cost per year to attend Tech is approximately $17,507 for in-state students compared to approximately $33,371 for

out-of-state students. The requirements for the Eagle Reach program are that the students must have graduated from a non-Tennessee high school in a county that falls within a 250-mile radius of Tech and the student must meet the admission requirements. The Eagles Reach program doesn’t give the students in-state tuition but it does reduce the out-of-state tuition by 49 percent, giving out-of-state students almost the same tuition as an in-state student. Students taking 15 hours who live out-

of-state would pay $12,603.50 for tuition, but with the Eagles Reach program the students who are eligible would pay $6,355.00 The 13 states that have high schools eligible for the Eagle Reach program include: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. The widening of zoning area has reduced the amount of true out-of-state students causing the tuition revenue to go down even though the student enrollment is hardly changing.

Provided by Tntech.edu

ZONING- “Eagles Reach” ensures students within a 250-mile radius will receive in-state compensation.

Women of Worth meetings gives guidance in finding campus niche Multicultural Affairs Office provides women on campus with Women of Worth program to give encouragement. By JACIE BOWMAN Beat Reporter Women on campus who are afraid to be different group together throughout the semester to uplift one another in an organization known as W.O.W. Women of Worth is a program provided by the Multicultural Affairs Office. For over three years, they have been helping women learn to walk with confidence, uplift one another and understand that there are many different women in the world. W.O.W is open to all

women at Tech and not just the women who are currently involved in multicultural affairs. “People become afraid of joining events within other groups and they tend to miss out,” Corinne Johnson, student affairs associate, said. The Multicultural Affairs office workers want all women on campus to attend. The purpose of W.O.W is to help all women find their place in college. Women of Worth are planning to address issues such as girl talk, health, sisterhood and empowerment

at their regular meetings. “I am always there in support as a professional guideline during the meetings. I think it would be interesting to see more students of other groups,” Elizabeth Ojo, Ph.D., a minority student affairs assistant director, said. W.O.W’s next meeting is planned for Oct. 28. The group plans to invite an etiquette speaker to give tips on how to carry themselves properly, communication, and eating, according to the W.O.W schedule. For more information, contact tncopeland42@students.tntech.edu.

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Campus <<

NEWS

Completion of Volpe Library roof repairs expected within the month By MICHAEL LOUTHAN Beat Reporter

Tech officials began renovations on the new roof for the Volpe Library due to leaks inside the building. “There have been problems since day one with this building and the roof and we’ve had significant problems with leaking through the roof,” Doug Bates, dean of the

library, said. Construction crews have been working this past week to replace the aging roof on the Volpe Library. Numerous leaks through the roof are creating a hassle for library officials. “I could go upstairs and show you areas where we’ve had to put piping to catch the water that comes down and ruins tiles. Every time it rains we have to go upstairs and circle the third floor looking for leaks. It’s been a

significant problem,” Bates said. Students have also been affected by the noise associated with the roof work on the library. “I would’ve chosen a different time to work on the roof then during school. It’s hard to get work done in the quiet area when there’s a constant banging on the roof,” student Connor Logan said. Tech officials believe that the project will be done within the month.

Michael Louthan |The Oracle ROOF CONSTRUCTION- The repairs to Volple Library are expected to wrap up by the end of October.

Speech & debate team provides opportunities to build speaking skills Tech’s speech and debate team meets for two-hour practices on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The team is looking for members of all majors to compete in both partner and individual events in upcoming tournaments. By

OLIVIA HOFFMAN Beat Reporter

After an “exceedingly fantastic” 20152016 season, one of Tech’s speech and debate team coaches said he wants that same momentum in upcoming tournaments. The team won 98 individual awards and nine team awards last season, which consisted of 10 tournaments, said Jacob Metz, assistant coach. Tech’s speech and debate team competes in both individual and debate events at about five tournaments each semester. “We compete in both NPDA and IDPA

debate, as well as individual speech events. Students sign up for which events they want to compete in. There are about a dozen students focused on debate and about half a dozen focused on individual events,” Metz said. NPDA, or National Parliamentary Debate Association, debates allow competitors to work with a partner and give them 15 minutes to prepare their argument. Heavier topics are usually covered in this arena, such as politics, philosophy and value systems. IPDA, or International Public Debate Association, debates are where competitors compete one-on-one, but are allowed

30 minutes to prepare their arguments. This style of debate combines heavier topics with “topics that you can talk about with you friends, such as sports, pop culture and entertainment,” Metz said. Individual events range from persuasive and informative speaking to poetry interpretations and extemporaneous speaking. There is also a category called afterdinner speaking, which incorporates humor into the competition. The team is open to all majors and currently there are majors ranging from engineering to political science to communication. Participation in this team gives mem-

bers life skills Metz said. “We obviously want to win awards, but that’s just icing on the cake. All these events are based on skills that are necessary to have no matter what job you have later in life. This teaches you how to research quickly and efficiently, construct arguments, think on your feet, and condense information and concepts,” Metz said. The debate team practices Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. for about two hours. Individual speech competitors have one-onone practices with coaches. For more information, email Metz at jmetz@tntech.edu.

Fall graduates can pick up graduation items at October Senior Salute By ASHLEY MOYERS Beat Reporter Graduating seniors can pick up their caps and gowns at Senior Salute Tuesday, Oct. 18, and Wednesday, Oct. 19. The event is scheduled to take place in the Tech Pride Room Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students only need to attend one of the two days. They are invited to stop by and take

care of all their graduation needs at once, according to an email sent from Debra Walker, an administrative assistant in the Office of Student Affairs. At Senior Salute, graduates receive their cap and gown for free, and the sizing will be based off your height. “We take into account the shoes you will be wearing during the ceremony, because it can affect the size gown you need,” the assistant manager of the university bookstore, Angela Hehnen said.

‘‘

We have brand new caps & gowns this year that feature the new TN Tech logo. Purple is the color of the gowns this year with gold tassels. —Angela Hehnen

,,

Bookstore Assistant Manager

The gowns reflect new changes to Tech, such as the new logo that was released last semester in the spring. The class rings also fea-

ture the new Tech logo. “We have brand new caps and gowns this year that feature the new TN Tech logo. Purple is the color of the gowns this year with gold tassels.” Hehnen says. At the event seniors will also have the chance to order graduation announcements, a class ring and have your drape picture taken. Refreshments will be provided to students, such as beverages and cookies. For more information contact Debra Walker at dwalker@tntech.edu.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

>> Reviews

‘The Girl on the Train’ clumsily explores troubled relationships By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic S c h o o l and life in general have prevented me from reading Pauka Hawkins’ bestselling novel “The Girl on the Train.� I hadn’t given that fact much thought, either, until every other true crime podcast I listen to (because I’m fun at parties) started advertising for the film adaptation. The marketing team for this movie certainly knows its target audience. The premise itself is simple enough. Rachel is a divorcee with a drinking problem and a talent for sketching who watches Megan and her husband’s “perfect� (a word that is thrown around a lot in this movie) marriage from the window of her commuter train. Anna is the “other woman,� the puttogether young socialite who has everything Rachel desires, including her exhusband, her old house and a baby girl. From her seat

on the train, Rachel watches as her illusions are shattered and she is faced with the realization that the women she watches are struggling just as much as she is. “The Girl on the Train� has been compared both favorably and unfavorably to “Gone Girl,� and it’s not hard to see why. Both movies (and their source material) take long, unflinching looks at the uglier sides of relationships, femininity and mental instability. The difference lies in the fact that Rachel, Anna and Megan are sympathetic foils to Amy Dunne’s tormented cruelty. All three of these women have faults beyond and within their control, but they wish desperately to improve their lives. The other difference is that, in my opinion, “Gone Girl� is a better movie by far. Director Tate Taylor spent so much time trying to be David Fincher that he forgot to be Tate Taylor. While “The Girl on the Train� had the potential to be excellent (and is by no means bad), it suffers from random cut scenes, hard to follow pacing, minor

Photo Courtesy of fandango.com LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ - “The Girl on the Train� topped The New York Times Fiction Best Seller list for 13 weeks in 2015. plot holes and a premise that simply doesn’t translate as well to film as “Gone Girl’s.� It received lukewarm to moderate reviews, and I can’t help but think that “The Girl on the Train� would

have benefited from a longer development period and less intensive viral marketing campaign. Constant viral marketing can be great, but not if the movie can’t fully live up to its hype.

That being said, “The Girl on the Train� is a little better than average -- my arbitrary rating system gives it six out of 10 stars. The plot is exciting enough to keep me from checking my phone

every two minutes, if a little far-fetched, and the acting was excellent. Overall, any movie adaptation that leaves me wanting to read the book is a winner in my eyes.

‘Doctor Strange,’ ‘La La Land’ favorites among fall movie picks By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor

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Although it seems as if Fall will never actually begin, movies are starting to sprout up to headline the best (in my opinion) season around. It’s cold but not overbearingly so, filled with the best holidays and genuinely gives one a good excuse to stay inside. For movies, Fall is also officially the period in which we see a slew of horror movies, biographical dramas and the occasional Christmas movie that really releases around Christmas. But mixed in among those movies this year are several indie films to keep an eye on as well as a new Star Wars movie because, of course. It’s seemed that this year has been particularly underwhelming for those who love movies due to a lack of noteworthy releases in the spring and summer. However, as is the case with most years, will we see the Fall supply the last movies which 2016 will forever be known for? It’s hard to say, so I might as well just tell you all about them so you have all the facts and make the tough decision to trek to the theater yourself. Cool? Cool. In what seems like an act of sorcery, October is almost over, which means the temperature needs to hurry up and drop. While waiting for that miracle, why not check some movies slated for release towards the end of the month? Coming up this week we have “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,� the latest in Tom Cruise’s action movie marathon that’s been going for about 5 years. This is

the sequel to 2012’s fun-butforgetful “Jack Reacher,� a film that went by so fast that it’s hard to forget Werner Herzog played the bad guy. Cruise has had success in the past few years with surprisingly sound and engrossing action films (see: “Edge of Tomorrow�), so this might just be another win for him. Closing out the week is “The Handmaiden,� a films which received glowing reviews from Cannes Film Festival in May. “The Handmaiden� is a thriller set in the 1930s and the latest from acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. This looks to be as powerful and visceral as Chan-wook’s other films which include the brilliant “Oldboy� and overlooked “Stoker.� November houses a large amount of films, so to save time (and space), we’ll just look at the highlights. Perhaps the biggest film of November is “Doctor Strange,� the next Marvel movie which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton which releases November 4. This one looks to shake up the visual aspect of Marvel movies, which can often be one-note, by incorporating Escheresque optical illusions into the usual origin-laiden fray. Another conceptually notable release is “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,� the newest from Ang Lee who directed the stunning adaptation of “Life of Pi.� The film is the story of Iraq vet who appears at a bombastic halftime show while flashbacks show the horrors of war. Lee is releasing the film at 120 framesper-second rather than the standard 24 and 3-D in order to portray the vivid details of war therein. Reviews so far have praised the technology

while criticizing the plot, so this one’s impact remains to be seen. December closes out the season in high fashion with a couple of films that are sure to have people talking (and already do). From Damien Chazelle, director of “Whiplash,� comes the dreamy musical “La La Land,� starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling releasing December 2. This one serves up enough atmosphere for 3 movies and boasts beautifully cinematography and music. Reaction from critics suggest this one is special, and the footage released so far suggests a unique experience sure to please cinephiles and fans of musicals alike. The biggest release of the rest of the year is arguably “Rouge One: A Star Wars Story.� Fitting into the maxim that there has to be one Star Wars film a year until the end of time, “Rogue One� sets the story back when Vader ruled and the Rebel Alliance was itching to destroy the Death Star. The movie has an excellent cast (Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker and more) and the proven Gareth Edwards behind the camera, who directed 2014’s worthy “Godzilla.� You should plan on seeing this one but, c’mon, you already were. There you have it: several movies that should be firmly penned in your calendar for the rest of the year. Hopefully this made it a bit easier to parse out what’s necessary and what to skip, but truth is there’s just so much coming out it was hard to choose what to include. In any case, this season seems to be picking up the slack of 2016, so maybe it’ll end with some hope and not continue its reign of terror on all fronts.

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Think Freely <<

OPINIONS

Free Speech Week reminds public to speak responsibly KATE TREBING Opinions Editor This week marks America’s a n n u a l celebration of free speech. Students on campuses nationwide are celebrating the right to speak their minds, regardless of opposition or criticism. This is one of America’s most precious civil rights, but as is the case with many liberties, the public that it is meant to protect often abuses it. Last week, Tech’s Centennial Plaza served as an example of this practice of civil rights. The evangelical pastor John McGlone set up camp on Centennial Plaza to deliver his message to all within earshot. Since 2011, McGlone has visited Tech on an annual basis to preach his frank, and often controversial, sermons on Christianity. Throughout the years, his visits have been met with trepidation from students, faculty and staff alike. He has been known to display graphic images of aborted fetuses, call out to passersby and offend individuals within his audience with blunt accusations. All of these acts are protected under the First Amendment, meaning that University officials can do little to alter the situation. Thus, the campus public must prepare for McGlone’s visits, whether they welcome them or not. This is reflected in campus traffic

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... antagonism should not be an acceptable form of persuasion, especially in the public eye ... a wrathful message is far less deserving of public support than a reasonable discussion among equals.

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patterns, which shift to accommodate the visitor. Some students linger nearby, perhaps fascinated by the spectacle. Others choose to avoid the street preacher like the plague. I fit into the second group of people. Why do I avoid this evangelical? Do I avoid him because I disagree with his message or because I disagree with his method of presentation? As a Christian, I am always conflicted by McGlone’s annual visits. While he and I profess to follow the same God, I cannot say that I agree with his views on the religion we share. I have never felt the least bit of desire to discuss my faith with McGlone or even to confront him about the discrepancies between his message of condemnation and my understanding of forgiveness and acceptance. Perhaps this evasion is due in part to a persistent worry that my underdeveloped debate skills would render me an easy defeat in theological discussion. While I am certain that his efforts of persuasion would do little to change my own views, I see no validation in arguing to defend my own stance. McGlone is a seasoned veteran on college campuses, and I won’t delude myself into thinking I can change his staunch opinion.

No, I don’t try to escape this man’s notice because I see his argument as superior to my own. I simply cannot imagine that he would allow another speaker to be right or to have anything of merit to say, if it does not agree with his own message. His tactics for spreading this radicalized form of the gospel are reminiscent of a belligerent politician. Any grains of truth his message may have are overshadowed by his method of deliverance. I know that I am not the only Christian on campus that feels this aversion to the evangelical’s message. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I feel that the God I know is being inaccurately represented by a messenger of condemnation and intolerance. To be fair, I would like to propose the theory that his sermons are not all fire and brimstone. Perhaps he has good intentions and sees his message as a form of “tough love.” Even with these allowances, he is undeniably working against himself by creating a barrier of stubborn selfrighteousness. His audience might be entertained, they may even feel impacted, but they are not likely to find the core Christian concepts of mercy and love hidden within a pretentious, accusatory speech.

We are all aware that Tech is a public university. Our common grounds are public space, and our Constitution’s First Amendment protects both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. An open-air preacher has just as much right to our campus commons as a tuitionpaying student. But just because a speaker has the legal freedom to proclaim his or her message does not mean that he or she is entitled to our attention. Each year, McGlone’s messages are rewarded with abundant attention from every branch of Tech’s community. Students, faculty and staff cluster near the evangelical, close enough to observe while far enough away to offer anonymity. Even those like myself, who choose not to take the bait, gratify the message by gossiping about them with peers. Perhaps if we all chose to ignore this man’s antagonistic debate tactics and verbal sparring sessions, he would feel no need to return to our jaded campus. This is my second year as a member of Tech’s press. In two short years, I have observed University media gratify this speaker’s radical message by offering him a generous share of publicity. This is only natural, as these evangelicals are undeniably

newsworthy to an otherwise quiet small-town university. The role of the media is to raise awareness of events such as these that concern the public as a whole. So although I would rather ignore this man, I cannot deny my responsibility as a journalist -albeit an opinionated one. This man shows only one side of Christianity, a vengeful side that I have never personally experienced. McGlone’s message cannot go unanswered by those who know better. I believe that the factors in our lives which anger us have only as much power as we allow them to wield. We have a choice to either gratify those factors or to deny them the chance to get under our skin. However, antagonism should not be an acceptable form of persuasion, especially in the public eye. Whether this is sourced from a religious zealot, or from the high-profile politicians who guide the future of our nation, a wrathful message is far less deserving of public support than a reasonable discussion among equals. Free speech is our right as Americans. It entails the freedom to express whatever we believe, in whatever manner we choose. I support this 100 percent. But I am flabbergasted by the belief held by some that the most effective manner of communication is one of accusation. Our civil liberty is also our great responsibility.

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

China's Yulin Dog Meat Festival compromises ethical standards LINDSAY MILLS Guest Critic Each summer, my Facebook feed blows up with outrage against the Yulin dog meat festival in China. Petitions to stop the event are circulated and thousands comment to denounce it. Protestors say that although it is a cultural tradition, it should no longer be practiced. After all, just because something is traditional does not mean it is ethical. Enslavement, genital mutilation and racial discrimination were all traditions at one point. Perhaps the Yulin would say it is their own personal choice to eat dogs. However, I would argue that is too weak of a justification. After all, a father could abuse his child and say it was his own personal choice, but we as a society have decided that the victim’s suffering is more important than an individual having the choice to inflict pain. Similarly, a dog’s suffering is more important than an individual’s choice to eat dog meat. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has stated that humans do not need to eat any meat to obtain proper nutrition. Therefore, eating dog is not a necessity. It can only be justified by reasons of pleasure from taste. I would argue that the pleasure people get from the taste of dog meat does not justify the suffering the dogs undergo. What gives humans the right to kill a dog for the sake of pleasure? In fact, what

THE

gives humans the right to kill any animal for the sake of pleasure? Humans can thrive on plants and grains alone, particularly in a modern society with unlimited access to food. Therefore, eating animals is not a necessity, and consumers justify it because of taste. I would argue that killing an animal for pleasure is not justifiable. The pain an animal experiences is much more important than the few seconds of pleasure from eating its flesh. Much like the Yulin dog meat festival, eating meat in America is a cultural tradition. However, that does not make it ethical. Although some might say it is their own personal choice, the victim’s suffering is much greater and needs to be considered above the convenience of another. The suffering an animal goes through at a slaughter house is much greater than the inconvenience of substituting a veggie burger. If you wouldn’t eat a dog, why eat a cow, pig or chicken? Given the choice to show mercy, why choose to inflict suffering? Consider not only the dogs in Yulin but all the cows, pigs and chickens in America. Let us use the Yulin festival to examine our own morally questionable traditions. Let us reflect on how each of us treats animals. Lindsay Mills is a junior in environmental and sustainability studies. She can be reached at lemills42@students.tntech.edu

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

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN || PAGE 6

SPORTS

>> Inside the Game

Women’s golf places 7th at Mississippi tournament By AUSTIN CLAY Beat Reporter While students were enjoying fall break, the women’s golf team finished seventh and the men’s golf team finished 12th in their tournaments Oct. 10 and 11. The women’s team competed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at the Golden Eagle Jam. The men’s team played in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at the Kenny Perry Invitational. The women’s team was led by sophomore Hollee Sadler who scored 230 overall finishing in a tie for 19th. “I hit my irons pretty well and scrambled well around the greens, but my putting and driving needs to improve for this coming tournament,” Sadler said. “I think I hit more trees than I hit fairways and that is not good.” Sponsor Southern Mississippi won the jam scor-

ing 880 through three rounds, while Tech scored 934. Sadler says the short game needs to be better going into their last tournament of the fall season. “We have to be able to save par when we miss a green, and definitely need to make pars when we hit the greens,” Sadler said. For Tech, senior Lydia Triplett and junior Allyson Dunn both shot 234 tying for 27th. Central Arkansas’ Emma Svensson placed first in the tournament, shooting 211. Sophomore Matthew Giles, who shot 224 finishing 25th overall, led the men’s team. “I played well the first two rounds on day one, I was really driving the ball well, which allowed me to be more aggressive and fire at pins,” Giles said. Giles says he strugg led the last day.

“I didn’t hit many fairways, and at that course, you really get penalized for missing fairways,” Giles said. OVC rival Eastern Kentucky finished on top at the invitational, shooting 860, and Western Kentucky’s Billy Tom Sargent placed first overall with a score of 208. Junior Alexander Riddle finished second for the Golden Eagles scoring a 227 tying for 32nd. Giles says there’s a lot that this team needs to improve on, but the potential is there. “We are very young, but I know we have a lot of talent and good players capable of shooting quality scores,” Giles said. Both teams travel instate Oct. 17 and 18 for their next matches. The women will play in the Memphis Intercollegiate, while the men will play for the F&M Bank Intercollegiate sponsored by Austin Peay.

Thomas Corhern | Tech Athletics TECH COMPETED AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE JAM IN HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI Sophmore and Mechanical Engineering major, Hollee Sadler lead the team at the Golden Eagle Jam. She lead with a score of 230 and finished 19th overall.

Soccer Shutout THREE-WAY TIE: With the win against Southeast Missouri Friday, Oct. 14, Tech moves into a three-way tie for the most shutouts in the OVC conference. The other two teams in the running are Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri. The Golden Eagles set the tone for the entire game with an early 12th-minute goal by Nora Viscek(19). Tech also had 14 shots on the goal. Meanwhile the Redhawks only had 7 shots on the goal. Marcus Hanson | The Oracle

Golden Eagles score late to win against UT Martin By MARCUS HANSON Sports Editor

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Tech’s soccer team was able to swing a win with a late game score by freshman Nora Vicsek. She scored in the 81st minute of the game. This is Vicsek’s third goal of the season and her second game winning shot of the season. Michaella Keyes made the first shot of the game at the 39th minute. University of Tennessee at Martin’s Saphyra CoombsJames retaliated with a score in the 55th minute, making the game 1-1. “It’s always tough playing on the road in conference and it’s something that we have struggled with over the last few years, so to come into a tough place to play against a quality opponent, and come out with a win was important for us,” Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said. “It was a hard-fought conference game, especially against a team that was hungry trying to stay in the hunt. I’m proud of our team and happy with our player’s efforts.” “I’m excited that both of our goals came from two of the players we targeted this afternoon,” Springthorpe said. “Nora had a nice strike from the top of the box, and in the first half, Michaella had a beautiful ball that went far post. It was great that our forwards capitalized on their opportunities, and at the same time, it was great that our defense stepped up. Once again, I’m proud of our team and their efforts.” Tech has three matches remaining in the regular season. Tech will be home for the next two games. Hosting SIU Edwardsville at 3 p.m. Friday, and Eastern Illinois Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday’s match is also Senior Day.

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