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Friday, November 7, 2014
RACLE Volume 99 | Issue 7 | Free in single copy
The primary news source of the Golden Eagles since 1924 Serving Tennessee Tech weekly during the fall and spring semesters
Where and
is the
> Golden olden Eagles look to reco recover
after EIU loss at home.
>>Page 10
Derryberry Eagle Eagle?
when is it coming back?
IN THIS ISSUE: 2 Calendar 2 News 3 News 4 Living Cookeville Living 5 6 Opinion 7 Opinion 8 Entertainment 9 Entertainment 10 Sports 11 Sports 12 News
Caldwell remains in Homecoming Queen race despite allegations of misconduct By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer
Controversy surrounding Homecoming Queen candidate Peyton Caldwell and her campaign team has arisen this election for allegedly using other student’s T-numbers to cast votes for herself.
Photo and editing by Drake Fenlon | The Oracle
Campus to see Homecoming without Eagle on Derryberry Eagle statue removed from top of Derryberry Hall clock tower for refurbishing and replica making of original. Separate replicas to be displayed in Monteagle, Tenn. and back on top of clock tower. SARAH TATE Copy Editor The eagle normally perched atop Derryberry Hall has been removed in preparation for next year’s centennial celebrations. Originally placed on Jere Whitson Building in 1954, the eagle was moved to Derryberry’s clock tower in 1961, but was taken down during summer to be refurbished and have copies made. The Derryberry eagle has a complicated and criminal history unknown to many students. In 1952, three students at Tennessee Polytechnic, now Tennessee Tech, traveled to the Monteagle Hotel in Monteagle, Tenn. in an attempt to procure the eagle mounted in front of the burned-out hotel. “It was pilfered in the night by a group of students,” said Mancil Johnson, archivist and associate professor in Library Operating.
According to Johnson, the students responsible revealed the eagle at the pep rally against rival MTSU, then Middle Tennessee State College. “When it first made its appearance at the pep rally, the students went wild,” said Johnson. “They thought it was the coolest thing they’d ever seen.” Though many professors wanted to see the students involved Oldham punished, Governor Frank Clement said he would pardon them should any charges be laid against them, according to Johnson. “Every institution has those little quirky tales about how they got the way they are,” said Johnson. “As legends and stories go, this is as colorful as most.” According to Tech’s magazine “Visions,” President Derryberry had tried to buy the eagle from the own-
er of the hotel, John Harton, but he would not relent. The students didn’t know about his attempts before they stole the eagle. Harton eventually sold the eagle to Tech for $500, but now some residents in Monteagle want it back. “It needed to be evaluated for its condition and to see if it needed repairs and renovations to preserve it,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “We also pulled it down to see if we could make a mold so replicas could be made in an effort to mend fences with the community of Monteagle.” According to Oldham, Monteagle has been going through a kind of rebirth of its community and trying to recapture its roots and history. The eagle at Monteagle Hotel was a symbol for their community at the time, even though the hotel had burned down. About two years ago, two residents of Monteagle contacted
Oldham in the hopes of having the eagle returned to their town. According to Oldham, one woman said the town had lost its mojo, and they were trying to get it back. Oldham, however, wanted the eagle to remain at Tech. “Clearly we’re not interested in relinquishing the eagle,” said Oldham. “It’s too much a part of the history and culture of Tennessee Tech.” Oldham presented the idea of creating replicas of the eagle, so both communities can have that historical symbol; the residents of Monteagle were excited about the compromise. Multiple replicas of the Derryberry eagle will be made. One copy is going back to Monteagle, while another will be placed back up on Derryberry Hall’s clock tower. The original eagle will be moved to RUC where it will be encased and displayed in the spiral staircase.
“Avenue Q” opens at Backdoor Playhouse YOUNG Beat Reporter The fun-filled Broadway musical “Avenue Q” has dropped into the Backdoor Playhouse as of last night to begin its performances for the fall show. The first performance was last night, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. This part-flesh and part-felt musical is about some of the true struggles college kids face once they graduate. Typical questions of, “What am I going to do once I graduate, or with a B.A. in English?” are asked. Later on down the road, some may look
back and ask, “Did I really think it would all turn out this way?” The first song is sung by Rod, played by senior English major Houston Fehrman, and is entitled, “What do you Do with a B.A. in English?” “The show suggests that pursuing dreams is good and it’s OK to do; however, sometimes things are going to be altered and everything might not turn out the way you thought it would, but that’s just like real life,” said director Mark Creter. See
“Avenue Q,” >>Page 8
Drake Fenlon | The Oracle PUPPETS LIVE- Braden Wahl (left) and Houston Fehrman (right) perform with their puppets during dead hour Thursday in the RUC lobby .
Progress on Centennial Plaza construction being made HALEY GREENHOUSE Beat Reporter Construction of Centennial Plaza has been in progress over a month now. Despite recent harsh weather, construction still moves forward. Centennial Plaza will be a large area able to facilitate any size gatherings. The entire plaza will be defined with seat walls and will include a stage at the end of North Derryberry Hall which will be adjacent to the building. The project is planned to be complete Spring 2015. When the project is complete, the hardscape construction will begin. Centennial Plaza will then welcome students back in the summer and fall of 2015. Read More Online
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As of right now, the contractor W&O Construction has all demolition complete, and all final brick selection has been made for pavement. Also, subgrade is being prepared and tree roots are being root pruned in an effort to save the trees from South Patio. “The contractors have made great progress in spite of the weather,” said Director of Horticulture and Grounds, Kevin Tucker. While moving forward in construction, some students still find the entrances of South Patio, Henderson Hall and the steps to Which Wich blocked a hindrance to daily routine. “It [construction] creates my walks to certain classes longer. Sometimes I’ll be walking and forget its being renovated and find myself having to
backtrack,” said communication major Hayden McMillen. Tucker says inconvenience is expected during construction progress. “What may be insignificant today seems like nothing in comparison to outstanding attributes the Plaza will provide,” said Tucker. Tucker noted that the west side of RUC is closed, not because of the Centennial Plaza construction, but because of the safety to students due to potentially falling bricks from the building. Also, the steps down to Which Wich are closed because if opens, it would require students to walk in a construction zone which is not safe or legal.
Caldwell, a member of the Phi Mu fraCaldwell ternity, had a violation turned in against her late on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to Student Government Association President Emily McDonald. McDonald went on to say that an unnamed student came forward to the Homecoming election commission with text messages and screen shots of signup sheets where students could write their T-number and password for use by Caldwell. The name of the student could not be released. The Homecoming election commission ruled for Caldwell’s disqualification after deliberating for two hours. Caldwell was then phoned by McDonald, informing her she was disqualified from the Homecoming court. The committee is made up of six members of the SGA Senate, the ex- McDonald ecutive cabinet and the executive council. “Anyone that’s disqualified is allowed to appeal any rulings the committee makes if they see fit,” McDonald said. If a candidate appeals their case, it is then under investigation in student affairs. The investigation consists of why the committee made the ruling for disqualification and attempts to find harder evidence. Other students who may have knowledge of the case were interviewed, according to McDonald. “In the sake of good sportsmanship, I hope the allegations against Peyton are false. Greed, cheating and lies are no way to acquire votes or represent this University,” said Morgan Franklin, Homecoming nominee. “As a nominee who continuously sought to abide by the rules established by student government, I am disheartened to hear anyone would so blatantly abuse the privacy of students to win a trivial contest such as this.” Franklin did not receive enough votes to be a part of homecoming court. Phi Mu President Brooke York offered no comment after being contacted. Vice President of Student Affairs Marc Burnett also was unavailable for comment. Caldwell will be a member of the Homecoming court and will be honored Saturday in the parade and Homecoming halftime ceremony.
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