The Oracle- November 21, 2014

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Friday, November 21, 2014

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Teen placed into custody for carrying gun on campus LUCAS MCCOY Beat Reporter On the morning of Nov. 20, police were alerted to a young male reportedly carrying a handgun on Tech’s campus, and police quickly took control of the matter.

Around 8:49 a.m., the Tennessee Tech po-

lice department got a call from someone who said a student saw a male who appeared to have a handgun. The caller said the individual walked through the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing parking area.

According to a University campus alert sent to all students, faculty and staff said the suspect did not enter any campus buildings.

CARPOOLING:

Tech Campus Police, Cookeville Police Department and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.

Tony Nelson, campus police chief, apprehended the 16-year-old male suspect near Peachtree Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Street.

The suspect did not resist arrest and com-

Bill for $1 SGA student fee The solution for until Dec. 2 meeting parking problems? tabled

By MATTHEW PHILLIPS

Students spearhead carpool initiative to combat overcrowding in campus parking lots, group leader encourages students to participate

By CHARLI BRAY Beat Reporter Parking issues are nothing new. However, two Tech students are working on a new solution for the lack of parking spots on campus.

It is called the TTU Carpool Initiative, and the purpose is straightforward.

“Do you really care that your car gets to campus, or do you care that you get from where you live, to class on time and back on time?

That’s all that really matters,” said TTU Carpool Initiative founder and civil engineering student Darryl Turner.

Turner is working on a way for students to carpool to class and, therefore, conserve parking spots.

“It started with me thinking that there are literally too many more cars than there are parking spots,” said Turner. “There are 5,600 commuter students for about 3,000 parking spots.”

To help with the technology side of the initiative, Turner reached out to a computer science student at Tech.

“Darryl contacted me about it a while back and I met with him and another colleague to discuss the idea,” said Maverick Peppers, lead developer for the TTU Carpool Initiative’s web service. “I’m interested in practical applications and creating services that are useful for everyday life, and Darryl’s ride-sharing solution can solve the parking problem we have at TTU. So I told him I was down for the idea.”

Turner is not only looking for a change in the parking situation on campus, though.

Through his research, Turner realized that there is another issue at hand that is possibly larger than too few parking spots.

“I sent out a survey and got about 150 results. I got some really good data to see what people thought about carpooling and one of the biggest things that stood out

Zack Warfield | The Oracle HITCH A RIDE- Nicholas Foster gets into a car with Mariah Worley Thursday afternoon. They share a ride together to try and eliminate the over flux of cars on campus. to me was that someone answered ‘my biggest issue is trust,’” said Turner.

Turner is looking to create a carpooling service, but he is also interested in sparking a change of mind for the students of Tech to diminish the trust issues students have with riding with new people.

‘‘

and hang out in person before actually getting into a car with each other.

“I had to really think about what the problem is, and that led me to getting right down to it. It’s an issue of trust and networking. If I can solve that I can solve a whole bunch of other

It started with me thinking that there are literally too many more cars than there are parking spots. There are 5,600 commuter students for about 3,000 parking spots.

,,

—Darryl Turner, TTU Carpool Initiative Founder

“The reason that most carpools fail, we think, is that they go out to this huge group of people and just say ‘hey, look at these rides’, and you don’t know these people whatsoever. You can’t get trust through a computer screen,” said Turner. “There are actual psychological, sociological and even chemical aspects of trust that you can only get really in person.”

Turner’s solution to the problem of lack of trust is to organize events that will bring people interested in carpooling together to meet

things,” said Turner. “It’s the social aspect of it that’s the biggest challenge that we are trying to face.”

Turner and Peppers are still in the process of planning the first networking event for the carpool initiative. After the trust issue is addressed through the organized events, the actual carpooling will begin.

“Opening up new means for transportation will help students get to class. I’ve had friends text me they’re skipping class because they couldn’t find a decent park-

ing spot. Who can blame that decision? I’ve done the same thing,” said Peppers. “Also, students will meet new people and make new friends which is a big influence on how well your college experience goes.”

Although, according to Turner, carpooling would help to alleviate the current parking problem, some students are not yet sold.

“I really like the idea of it and I like the motive behind it, but I think that it is a short-term Band-Aid and not a long-term solution to the parking problem,” said senior Emilee Gettys. “They are going to have to add parking or more students will have to start walking or biking to campus.”

Carpooling has many benefits, not just for those participating, Turner claims.

“We know this isn’t going to work for absolutely everyone, but it benefits everyone. If you have more people carpooling and your schedule is that truly unique, well congrats, we just alleviated the parking problem for you also,” said Turner. “It really benefits everyone.”

See

“Carpooling,” >>Page 2

Two business majors arrested on public intoxication charges

By ELISSA LONGFELLOW Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech students Ian Bland and Caleb Lee Tinch were arrested shortly before 3 a.m. Nov. 11. Both students were visibly intoxicated when Officer Chris Melton arrived on the scene.

According to the report, Bland attempted to flee the scene after crashing his car into a brick retaining wall on West Seventh Street in Cookeville. When other officers arrived, Bland ran and Officers Melton Bland and Charles Teeters followed them. Officer Neil Taylor apprehended Bland near the Tech baseball fields.

Following the chase, Bland was Read More Online

@

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returned to his car and consented to a blood test at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

“I advised Bland of his Miranda rights in verbal form and Bland stated that he understood his rights,” said Teeters.

“Bland was unable to process any questions Tinch that I posed so the interview was stopped.”

Bland was transported to CRMC where they drew blood and then to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office where officers searched him and found a green leafy substance that was believed to be marijuana. He was charged with evading arrest/foot pursuit, driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance.

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plied with the officer’s requests to hand over the gun.

The suspect is currently unnamed and in custody and reports claim he has no relation with the University.

Tinch, the passenger in the car, had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet when Officer Josh Ward took him to the PCSO. While waiting to be admitted, Tinch became unruly and spat on one of the deputies.

“While I was completing paperwork, Tinch began to act out and was cursing at the deputies,” said Teeters.

Deputies were forced to use a chemical agent to subdue Tinch when he refused to comply with orders to calm down. Eventually the deputies, along with the help of Officers Herrick and Teeters, were able to subdue Tinch and place him in a cell.

Bland is an international business and cultures major, and Tinch is a basic business major at Tech.

Beat Reporter

The Student Government Association has proposed a bill that would install a $1 increase per student fee, per semester. The proposed bill, known as “The SGA Operating Act of 2014,” would use the increase in student fees to fund an operating budget for the SGA, separate from other University funds.

Currently, the SGA does not have its own funds for miscellaneous purposes, and applies for S.O.L.O. funds.

The SGA is not eligible for Chapter 606 Student Monies Allocation Committee funds.

According to Tech’s website, Chapter 606 is a committee that makes spending recommendations for student projects, activities and scholarships based on written requests submitted by students and student organizations.

If the bill passes, the operating budget would allow for student-only access to the S.O.L.O. funds and Chapter 606 funds, eliminating any conflict of interest where both the SGA and students would receive funding through the same medium.

The fund would be used for SGA operating activities, such as, but not limited to: bill implementation, pro-

motion for campaigns, providing a means of funding for SGA delegations to the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, and other miscellaneous activities requiring travel, providing refreshments during committee meetings, a homecoming float or any event that promotes the SGA. “I think there is an explicit need for the SGA to get from underneath all of the oversight that comes with sharing money with administration,” said Alex Martin, senator for the College of Business, and author of the proposed bill.

“I can’t tell you how many bills I’ve seen the SGA pass Martin that never came to fruition.”

However, the bill was met with controversy during Tuesday’s meeting. Many senators voiced their displeasure for the bill, believing that if the bill made it to the student body, it would be viewed as beneficial only to the SGA. Even students attending the meeting voiced their opposition.

See

“Student Fee,” >>Page 2

Drake Fenlon | The Oracle CROSSWALK- Students use a cross walk at the intersection of William L. Jones Dr. and Dixie Ave. With the passage of Tuesday’s bill, campus crosswalks will be improved.

Crosswalks to be improved

Senate passes bills to improve crosswalks and bring Goodwill Inc. donation bins

By MATTHEW PHILLIPS Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech pedestrians may see new crosswalks in the near future.

The Student Government Association passed “The Pedestrian Crosswalk Improvement and Addition Act of 2014,” a new bill that would improve the condition of current crosswalks and create new crosswalks on campus in an effort to avoid traffic accidents involving pedestrians.

“I feel like the crosswalks we have now are adequate,” said Darius Berry, junior. “It’s more a matter of people using them correctly.”

Some of the locations mentioned when discussing the bill were Willow Avenue, where many students cross from their apartments daily,

the commuter lot behind Tucker Stadium and on West Seventh Street near the nursing building and residence halls on the same street.

“The Goodwill Act of 2014,” another bill that senate passed, will give students an opportunity to donate anything they no longer need at the end of the semester. The bill would bring Goodwill trailers to the parking lots of New Hall North and Ellington and Warf during dead week.

“I believe that Goodwill trailers are a good idea because students always have things that they would throw out or just not use anymore,” Kierna Mason, senior. “If they could give it to a good cause, to someone who could make use of it, then why not?”

Both bills passed the senate unanimously.

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NEWS

Friday, November 21, 2014

tntechoracle.com Contact us: oracle@tntech.edu

>> Campus

Flu shots available at Health Services clinic events Continued Students are encouraged to make appointments with the health services clinic on campus @ tech to receive flu shots. Most college students are at a higher risk of contracting the flu virus due >>

“Carpooling”

from Page 1

Turner and Peppers plan to make the carpooling initiative exclusively for students.

The service will require a valid Tech I.D. number in order to ensure the safety of students carpooling.

Although this would be the first service of it’s kind for Tech, other universities have been utilizing carpooling for some time.

“I’ve used the iPool service in the capitol district of New York. It reduces traffic time, pollution, cost and parking. It works wonderfully,” said Taylor Prince, sustainability student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

Turner and Peppers are confident that carpooling will work just as well for Tech.

“With the size of the city, the number of commuter students and campus scheduling, your trip is not nearly as unique as you think it is,” Turner said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, this guy lives two streets down from you, you already drive past him, he also has a 9 o’clock class, why don’t you just go ahead and ride together?’ That’s less competition for parking spots.”

Turner and Peppers hope to launch the initiative as soon as possible, and are in the process of planning the first event.

“We want to launch as soon as possible, but it is a community based thing,” said Turner. “Logistically, it’s perfect. It is just convincing people why it is.”

To anyone interested in helping with the parking issue on campus, Turner says this, “Let us tell you what we think, and we think you’ll agree.”

To stay up to date on the progress of the initiative, students can “like” the TTU Carpool Initiative page on Facebook.

to close proximity and high exposure to other people.

By HAYLEY GREENHOUSE Beat Reporter Flu activity is low in the United States but is expected to increase in the coming weeks, according to the FluView report for the 20142015 flu season.

College students are at a higher risk of coming down with the flu due to confined living spaces and always being around other people.

But according to a study researched at the University of Buffalo, the majority of college students do not get vaccinated.

Tech students voiced why they believe other students do not get vaccinated, or why they choose to get vaccinated or not.

“Some people haven’t had the flu, so they think they won’t,” said Brooke Norris, nursing major and advocate for the flu shot.

Macy Wright, another nursing major, believes the price of the flu shot offered at Health Services influences students’ decision of receiving the flu shot.

“It is $18 at the Health Services,” said Wright.

“Some people are struggling and can’t afford that.”

Elizabeth Pulley, an engineering major planning on getting her flu shot soon, believes some students just don’t think of the flu shot as a priority.

“College students just don’t care,” said Pulley.

Some students’ history plays a role in receiving the flu vaccine.

Elementary education majors Sierra Hill and Hailey Cobble have never received the vaccine and plan on never getting it.

Cobble’s reasoning for not getting the flu shot is one of many people’s concerns regarding the flu shot: the

fear of getting the flu from the shot itself.

Unlike Hill and Cobble, pre-pharmacy major Jordan Hileman has received her flu vaccine this year and has her whole life.

“I was raised to get one (flu shot) every year,” said Hileman.

Sarah Smith, lab-coordinator of Whitson-Hester School of Nursing, addresses why a flu vaccine should be a priority to Tech students.

“College kids are always in groups and in groups you are sharing germs. You are at risk without the flu vaccine,” said Smith.

Smith also addresses some student’s concerns.

She identifies Cobble’s fear of getting the virus from the vaccine as one of the biggest misconceptions of the flu vaccine.

Smith explains that the flu vaccine contains strings of an inactivated virus that produces an immune response that comes with some side effects including a low-grade fever.

Even the nasal spray, an alternative to the vaccine shot, has side effects of nasal congestion and a runny nose.

Smith also noted the flu shot takes two weeks to fight the virus, and if someone who received the flu shot but gets sick could have been exposed to the flu prior to receiving the shot.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone over the age of 6 months to get the flu vaccine, and asks college institutions to remind students to get the flu vaccine.

Even though Smith recommends getting the flu shot to Tech students, everybody is responsible for their own health.

“It is your own health

November

21 All Day

Michael Aurbach sculpture exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

7:40 a.m. - 5 p.m.

UT Extension and IRS Income Tax Seminar Multipurpose Room RUC

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

TTU Wind Ensemble Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building

22 All Day

Michael Aurbach sculpture exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery Drake Fenlon l The Oracle

THRU WITH THE FLU- Registered Nurse Kim Williams administers a flu shot to senior Adam Webb. Students can get flu shots at the health services clinic for $18. Appointments can be made online. Eagle cards are required to make an appointment or be seen by a healthcare professional. and everybody has the potential of spreading germs. A professor shouldn’t have to say ‘wash your hands’ unless it is a part of the curriculum,” said Smith.

She does support investing in flyers or reminders that are already in the bathroom around campus reinforcing the concept of washing your hands.

Smith’s advice for students who do have flu symptoms or are diagnosed with the flu: “Don’t go to class, and let your professor know why. You increase the risk of spreading (the flu) if you do.”

According to the CDC, flu symptoms consist of: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle

and body aches, headaches, fatigue and vomiting or diarrhea.

Most insurance plans and Medicaid cover the vaccination, but if not insured the flu shot is offered at a variety of places around town, including Tech Health Services for $18 and an appointment is needed. Walgreens Pharmacy offers the vaccination for $31.99 but is 10 percent off with a Walgreens prescription savings club and no appointment is needed.

Andy’s Pharmacy offers the shot for $20 and no appointment is needed. CVS offers the vaccination for $31.99 with a 20 percent off coupon when vaccinated and no appointment is needed.

Howard beats Hill at Throwdown Thursday

By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor Tech junior Tyler “Hercules” Howard squared off with Tim Hill in last night’s main event fight at “Throwdown Thursday” in the Hyder-Burks Pavilion.

Howard won by a unanimous decision after six rounds of hard-fought leather swapping.

Although the fight lasted longer than Howard may have wanted, he said after the fight that he was prepared for a lengthy bout.

“I definitely went in there with the mentality that I was going to fight six rounds. I always go in there with that mentality,” said Howard.

“I thought in my head if I

caught him clean it was going to knock him out because usually it does. Some guys just have a good chin—they can take a good shot, and he could. All the props to him.”

The match remained close until the very end.

Coming out swinging in every round, Hill gave the local, up-and-coming prospect a bit of a scare. Hill opened the second round with a quick, bunch-punch technique that cornered Howard into an even quicker defense. The Tech student remained patient, however, as he got the better of his opponent in the end.

“After he threw those flurries, you could see that he got tired,” said Howard. “I just thought to myself, ‘Just catch everything, roll with

>>

it and don’t get caught with anything stupid.’ If he’s only hot for the first 20 seconds, I still have two minutes and 40 seconds to win the round.”

Hill continued to deliver several shots late in the fight including a few uppercuts.

Howard was bent, but not broken, as he finished the “throwdown” with his hand raised in victory.

The match was tallied

by Judge David Hudson as a close 59-55 finish.

Howard says he will begin training for his next fight, an ESPN 2 showdown in Vegas, if he and Prize Fight Boxing promoter Brian Young can get the bid. In the meantime, Howard will trade hits to opponents to his textbooks as he prepares for finals at Tech.

“Student Fee”

Continued from Page 1 Even students attending the meeting voiced their opposition.

“He (Martin) saw the bill as a way to get more for the SGA, and to put the SGA above the students,

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Men’s basketball hosts University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Hooper Eblen Center

7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

Jordan Frazier, Junior Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building

23 All Day

Michael Aurbach sculpture exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

24 All Day

Michael Aurbach sculpture exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Southeastern Louisiana University Hooper Eblen Center

25

All Day

Michael Aurbach sculpture exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

University Orchestra Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building

26

All Day Event

Thanksgiving Holiday- No Classes Tennessee Tech University

27

All Day Event

Thanksgiving Holiday- No Classes, university offices closed Tennessee Tech University Jordan Pace l The Oracle

HERCULES - Howard and Hill battled for the winning title during Thursday night’s match. The fight went to six rounds before Howard was declared the winner.

Howard now plans to focus on finals for classes at Tennessee Tech. His next match will be in Vegas.

and that’s not what it’s for,” said Victoria Rand, a freshman student at Tech. “It’s made up of students who are students. That’s the flaw in the bill: not that the SGA wants money, but the intent behind it.

The students, themselves, are smart. If they read the bill, they would figure it out.”

After several minutes of heated debate, the bill was tabled until the last scheduled meeting of the semester.

“I always appreciate any senator bringing forth a bill,” said

Emily McDonald, SGA president.

“I’m glad it was tabled so that the senators can talk to their friends and fellow students, to see if it’s something the students really feel is needed. We represent them, and if this $1 fee would help them, then that’s great, but, if it won’t help them, then we don’t need to implement it.”

The last scheduled meeting of the semester is Dec. 2 at 9:15 p.m. in the Tech Pride Room in RUC. All of the student body is welcome to attend.

The Oracle staff thanks you for your readership. Have a great weekend!

28

All Day Event

Thanksgiving Holiday- No Classes, university offices closed Tennessee Tech University

9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Annual Holiday Festival Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville

2 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Hyder-Burks Winter Classics Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion

28

10 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

Hyder-Burks Winter Classics Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Women’s basketball hosts University of Georgia Hooper Eblen Center

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Friday, November 21, 2014

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Campus <<

NEWS

Tennessee Tech Kappa Sigma chapter turns 50 Tech’s first social fraternity Kappa Sigma celebrated its golden birthday this year. The fraternity invited alumni to participate in the celebration. Active council members met former chapter presidents and members.

By JARED ANDERSON Beat Reporter It has been 50 years in the making for Kappa Phi Delta, Tech’s first social fraternity.

Founded Oct. 17, 1964, Tech recognized KPD as its social fraternity Feb. 23, 1967.

KPD was chartered as Kappa Sigma’s and Kappa Mu chapter May 2, 1969, making it Tech’s first national social fraternity.

“This is huge to us. This place means so much to us to see the guys who really started it is really exciting and it boosts the morale of the members here now,” said President Aaron Brooksbank.

Kappa Sig has been located at 525 North Walnut Ave. since September 1966 with the new Kappa Sig house being built in 2001.

One highlight of the day was when the current President of Kappa Sigma, number KM 662, got to meet the first president of Kappa Sigma, KM number one, a milestone for both Presidents getting to meet in the Kappa Sig house.

“It’s been a great experience. When we got it started in 1964, we never had any

idea what it would to turn into and what it is now,” said founding member Ronnie Young. “At that time, fraternities were illegal at Tech, so we had to be underground for the time when I was here, and then I graduated in 1966.”

One reason for starting this fraternity was to keep members on campus during the weekends to have something to offer after football games and other events. Tech was known as a suitcase college, also known as a commuter campus. So not much has changed over the years at Tech because students still leave to go home on weekends.

“It really means the world to us it’s the 50th reunion of what started this place. If not for these guys and what they did we would not be here and it’s just a real honor to see,” said Vice President Storm Beeler. “Some of the younger guys get to see our founding members and just to see how they still care about it after 50 years. We are talking guys that have been here and nothing has changed.”

One of the reasons they wanted to have it before Homecoming week was to

Jared Anderson l The Oracle

KΣ - Kappa Sigma hosted a reunion for the alumni of its chapter. Formerly named Kappa Phi Delta, alumni of the fraternity and active members reunited to celebrate the fraternity’s 50 year anniversary.

make the week more special.

“We just wanted to have our own thing with just the brothers and the older brothers. Even though there is a

gap generation, they are still our brothers. You can see the sparkle in the eyes and it really hits the younger guys,” said Beeler.

Kappa Sigma released a book, composed by Pete Fleming, documenting their past and how it all came together in making this more

than just a social club on Tech’s campus.

“We all talked about it and sat there one day, and Pete said, ‘I can write all this stuff down’ and so we did.

Everybody started drawing information off one another,” said founding member Robert Hobbs.

They were able to find old minute books to help aid in the making of this book.

This book help set up an alumni network that helped former member reconnect with former brothers they lost contact with over the years.

“It’s very emotional to see so many nice young men that have been affected by our original efforts to start a little fraternity. It’s quite impressive to see how things have grown and materialized and hopefully learned something through Kappa Sig,” said Hobbs.

The fraternity also has a wall inside the Kappa Sigma house that all the former and current brothers of the fraternity signed to document this day of celebration. It was a very proud day for the founding members seeing what all Kappa Sigma has done over the last 50 years.

SGA constitution: Revisions are finalized to prepare for student vote

By DANIELLE DAVIS Beat Reporter Revisions to the Student Government Association have been finalized and are ready for a student vote.

The Constitution Revision Committee, a group made up of five members of the student government, started revisions earlier this semester when an SGA committee felt that the old constitution was not fully effective for Tech’s growing student body.

“It is always hard to anticipate

future needs,” said Senator Nick Russell, College of Engineering.

“We did out best to meet the needs of the students currently and for the future.”

The revised constitution changes the make up of the senate, including changing the number of freshman senators from four to eight, and changes the number of senators from each college. The old constitution stated that there be one senator for every 250 students in each college, and the new constitution states that there be one senator for every 350 students.

“The Constitution was in need

of many revisions since it had not been updated in many years,” said SGA President Emily McDonald.

“With the new revisions, SGA will continue to meet the current and future needs of the students.”

The revision also changes the minimum QPA from a 2.0 to a 2.5 for all branches of the SGA. One of the biggest changes to the constitution was to the S.O.L.O. amendment, including a change made allocating the SGA fee that students pay each semester. Currently, of the $20 fee, $15 goes to the superfund, which pays for the S.O.L.O. concert and other major events on

campus, and $5 to the general fund, which provides funding for student organizations.

The revisions change the distribution of the fee, giving $17 to the superfund and $3 to the general fund. This reallocation of funding will allow S.O.L.O. to bring bigger name artists to Tech in the future.

In the former constitution, S.O.L.O. had a set rotation schedule that was replaced by a new system, which allows students to vote on the genre and the artist each semester.

“I just ask students to keep letting SGA know what changes you want to see on campus so we can

keep working to make this a better place to go to school,” said Russell.

“SGA would like to get feedback from students so we can identify the needs of students so we can address them effectively,” said McDonald.

After passing through the SGA, the new constitution was sent to the Administrative Council where it was approved at a Nov. 12 meeting.

The final step before the new constitution can take effect is the student vote, which is set to take place from Dec. 2 until Dec. 4.

“I hope the student body will vote to approve the changes to the SGA Constitution,” said McDonald.

ADPi hosts pie a Pi to raise money for philanthropy

ADPi LOVES PIE- Sisters of Alpha Delta Pi sorority took pies to the face to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House charities. Students could pay $1 to smash a chocolate or vanilla pie in the face of an ADPi sorority member. This event was a part of ADPi’s Diamond Days campaign to raise additional funds for their philanthropy.

Photos by: Drake Fenlon

Page 4 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

NEWS

Friday, November 21, 2014

>> Campus

Music department purchases Steinway pianos with anonymous donation

By KIM BIGGS Asst. Managing Editor Recently, Tennessee Tech’s music department was able to purchase 25 Upright Boston Steinway pianos with money donated anonymously.

The $200,000 donation allowed the department to replace all pianos located in the Bryan Fine Arts Building.

Jennifer Shank, interim dean of the College of Education and chairwoman of the music department, said the department was shocked at the magnitude of the donation, and excited about the effect it will have on the students as well as instructors.

“I was incredibly happy for our students to do something so wonderful,” said Shank. “A Steinway piano can last upward of 50 years, and to have the wonderful pianos for all the instructors to use just meant so much for all of them to have when they are practicing.”

Each piano cost $8,000 individually plus shipping, said Shank. Five of the 25 pianos were purchased with technology that will allow students to compose music

pieces with the aid of a computer, said Shank.

Instructors have also reaped the benefits from the donation. Eight instructor pianos were replaced with the money from the donation. Adjunct faculty instructor Paul Thurmond said some instructors who have received the new pianos in their studios have been very well received. Thurmond had a chance to play one of the recently purchased Steinway pianos.

“The action is terrific,” said Thurmond, “as is the sound.”

With the new pianos added to the program, students are embracing the new technology. Music major Courtney Anderson is already enjoying the new pianos in the practice rooms of BFA. “They (Steinway pianos) sound better in my opinion,” said Anderson. “One of the reasons I like them is because you have a good piano in every practice room. You aren’t fighting someone to get a good piano anymore.”

Shank said pianos are required for all music majors.

Most major-specific classes require music students to know how to play piano.

Students also study and practice using the piano, said Shank.

The department chose the Steinway brand purposefully. Tech’s music department is trying to be specifically a Steinway school.

Meaning, Tech would be one of around one hundred schools in the country to be completely Steinway based.

The old pianos will be given to the University surplus, if the pianos are needed.

If the pianos are not needed on campus, they will go to an auction through the state of Tennessee, if the state chooses to get rid of surplus materials, said Shank. Currently, the University does not need the pianos due to the purchase of the new Steinway pianos.

“It’s important to have equipment that will last and maintain its value,” said Shank. “Steinways, by far, are the best pianos in the world.

It allows our students to not only have the best equipment to play on but will last the longest.”

Zack Warfield l The Oracle

KEYS TO FUTURE- Michah Hughett practices on one of the new Steinway pianos in a Bryan Fine Arts practice room Thursday. The purchase of the pianos is part of the department’s goal of being an all Steinway campus.

Fall Graduation 2014: Where are they headed next?

By KELLY MILLS Beat Reporter Graduating. It’s the last event that seniors have to do at Tennessee Tech. You hopefully passed all your exams, unless you’re waiting for that one professor who doesn’t post the grade until the day of graduation. You sit in a seat for two hours, listen to a guest speaker and then watch hundreds of people that you’ve never even seen the four years you were on campus walk across the stage.

But then you get that diploma and you’re excited; all your hard work, late nights, good grades and exams are over because you just graduated. You have made so many great memories and friends, but after all the excitement is over and you pack up from college to head back home, what do you do next?

“I have an internship with Governor Haslam after I graduate,” said Courtney Walker, a graduating senior majoring in agriculture with a concentration in business.

“I’ll also be attending Lincoln Dunn School of Law to get my juries doctrine. I would really like to be an attorney one day.”

Courtney has attended Tech all four years and has lived with her brother Westlee Walker for three.

“We have been living together for 20 years except for my freshman year when I went to a different school,” said Westlee Walker, a graduating senior majoring in agriculture.

Westlee went to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville his first year Walker of college but decided to come to Tech with his sister.

“I felt like I could be a bigger fish here,” said Westlee. “I felt like I could help Tech and make a bigger impact here.”

After graduation, Westlee will be going to Washington, D.C. to work as an intern with a media firm that overlooks all the media in the District of Columbia. After his internship he, will be going to live in Africa for a year to teach 4-H to children.

When asked about what the student’s plans were for graduation and how they were going to decorate their caps, Courtney said, “We are going to be putting ‘You are my gift’ on the top of them. Westlee will have ‘You are’ with a map and a fleur-de-lis on it, and

I’ll have ‘My gift’ with a quatrefoil and crown on it.”

She went on to explain that when they were younger and they got in a fight, their mother would have them stand facing each other with their noses and toes touching, and they would have to say “you are my gift” about 50 times.

“I think we are the only brother and sister that are graduating together,” said Westlee.

“We will be sitting next to each other, and we will be graduating with each other.”

There are many memories that students make in college. You find your lifelong friends, your bridesmaids and your groomsmen. You learn how to manage your drinking time, your studying time and you learn that the hardest thing you will ever do is study for a test.

“I think that one of my favorite college memories was when my best friend turned 21,” said Kristi Pine, a graduating senior majoring in accounting. “My best friend started at Cinco’s and ended at Cinco’s.”

Pine attended Tech all four years of college and is planning on getting her master’s at Lipscomb University in Nashville for accounting.

“My biggest fear is going there and not

knowing anyone. It’s like I walk into the library here and I see all my friends, and we can get a table and talk and study.

When I go to Lipscomb, I’m going to walk in and not know anyone. It’s going to be a major adjustment,” said Pine.

Many other seniors Pine are experiencing the same fear of not having their support system, such as their friends, when they leave the University.

“My fraternity is my support system,” said Terry Keys, a graduating senior majoring in accounting.

Keys has a job as a loan officer at a bank back home in Macon county after he graduates.

“I think my biggest fear is just experiencing life on my own with no help and just seeing where life takes me… I guess you could just say the unknown,” said Keys.

Graduation will take place at 10. a.m.

Dec. 13.

Chain-link fence replaces wooden barriers at Roaden University Center construction

By BRITTANY LYNCH Beat Reporter & ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

David McMinn l The Oracle

CAGED IN- Two students walk through the newly assembled chain-link fence Thursday night on the south side of the RUC.

The yellow caution tape that surrounded the Western ground floor parking lot of the RUC has been replaced with metal chain link fences.

It has reduced the number of 30-minute parking spaces available behind the building in addition to making the walk in and out of the building more cumbersome for some students.

“I think it is an inconvenience and I think it should get done soon, but I’m glad that they’re working on it,” said Madison Stephens, a junior biochemistry major. “I’m glad that they’re taking the time. To put forth the effort.”

“It’s highly inconvenient to students. I know it’s a safety concern, but it makes me feel like I’m walking through a prison,” said Hannah Daugherty, a junior animal science agriculture major.

The fence was placed because the brick facing on the RUC’s side had been fall-

ing off. Director of Grounds, Roads and Walks Kevin Tucker said the fences were a safety measure to prevent injury to pedestrians.

According to Tucker, the chain link fence installed immediately. The temporary barricades were put up for traffic but also for all safety reasons.

When asked about the need to block off the spots regarding the bricks falling, Tucker said, “It’s the moisture problem causing the brick problem.

Chuckles with Cheeny

Created by: "Cheeny the great"

Friday, November 21, 2014

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 5

Winter <<

LIVING

Colder weather brings seasonal drinks, goodies to Starbucks

By ELLEN CONTI Beat Reporter

The cold winter weather brings warm holiday treats worth trying to the Starbucks on Tech’s campus. The creamy Chestnut Praline Latte along with the even more nutty Pecan Tart make up two of the new items on the seasonal menu.

Decorated with the holiday spirit, the shop welcomes that festive appetite along with friendly workers to help order.

This hot drink is filled with espresso steamed milk along with different flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices. It also is filled to the top with whipped cream and sprinkled with spice praline crumbs. This light and fluffy drink tastes perfect all stirred with the toppings or left just the way it is

served.

Lovers of pecan pie, this snack is for you: with a buttery crust forming a gooey pecan filled center, this snack could fit in your palm. The inside also consists of honey, spices, brown sugar, tree nuts, soy, wheat, milk and eggs.

For a tall size, the drink has 290 calories at a cost of $4.70.

Along with the snack consisting of 330 calories at a cost of $4.09. Since this is offered on campus, students can use their flex dollars to buy this quick breakfast or afternoon snack under $10.

If you enjoy the smell of a cinnamon scented candle, the first impression of this drink will make your mouth water. The whipped cream tends to cool the drink down, giving a delicious hot/cold mix. The sprinkled crumbs at the top could be

left out because the flavoring of the actual drink has enough love in it.

Shaped like a small flat hot tub, this snack tastes like the Kellogg’s Brown Sugar Cinnamon Poptarts. After each bite the snack does not crumble and fall apart, it stays together nice and neat. This snack would taste better heated up for 1525 seconds in a microwave.

This snack together is too nutty, but separate they are amazing. Although the Chestnut Praline Latte consists of chestnuts and the Pecan Tart consists mostly of pecans, the two together is repetitive. The latte would taste better with the Gingerbread Loaf, which is another holiday special. The tart would be better washed down with a simple Starbucks Holiday Blonde Roast coffee to compliment it.

How to beat

BLACK FRIDAY in Cookeville, Tennessee

With Black Friday sales starting earlier and earlier each year, Shelbey explains how to most successfully shop your way through this Holiday season’s busiest shopping day

By SHELBEY ASHBURN Beat Reporter Drake Fenlon | The Oracle COFFEE TALK- Chemistry Senior, Matt Mifflin tries to maintain chemistry with English and History major, Elizabeth Ann Foster in the RUC Starbucks, Thursday during dead hour.

Don’t let your relationship go cold Winter Date Ideas

By ZACK WARFIELD Beat Reporter

Winter is upon us. As the temperature drops, passion is on the rise as couples head indoors to bundle up. One of the hardest things for men to do is figure out where to take girls out on a date, and since it is cooling down date spots are getting harder to find.

Now that it is cold, we men have to think outside of the box, but women are not actually hard to please. If something sounds cheesy…go for it.

You could take your date to several different coffee shops around Cookeville and taste test. This allows for good conversation as you talk about the different flavors of coffee and hot chocolate you drink.

Cookeville is also close to the mountains and has several outdoor attractions to visit.

“I think a good cold weather date would be going for a hike in the mountains with your significant other, and then at the end of the day enjoying a meal cooked over a campfire together,” said Tyler Rye, mechanical engineer major.

If you are not willing to get out to the mountains then you could also light a fire in the fireplace and make your date a nice home-

cooked meal. Baking is also a great idea.

Women love when a man is willing to get in the kitchen, break out the mixer and beat the eggs. Trust me, my wife is so excited when I bring up us baking some cookies or a cake together. Plus, your house will smell amazing.

Another great idea is knocking out your holiday shopping together or at least helping her do hers. You may not find it super fascinating but women love a self-sacrificing man.

Walk around with a smile on your face and hold her hand and her bags.

If you decide to go see a movie, make sure to see the movie first, then go eat dinner.

This way you have something to talk about while eating instead of struggling to think of something to break the ice.

With the cold weather creeping in, apple picking is a great idea. There is an apple orchard on Buffalo Valley Road. The two of you can bundle up and walk the orchard picking apples as you go, then you can take those apples and bake a pie.

Hopefully after reading this you have a few ideas to impress that special someone.

Make sure to bundle up and have plenty of blankets and HotHands. Remember to be yourself and focus on her, and you will be sure to have a great time.

Black Friday falls on November 28 this year but some stores are taking the sales to a new level by opening on Thanksgiving Day and even earlier. Cookeville has several department and clothing stores which plan to offer large discounts and flash sales to shoppers.

Most franchise stores such as Sears, JC Penney, Old Navy, and more will be opening up on actual Thanksgiving Day. Old Navy plans to open at 4 p.m. while JC Penney and Sears will be opening at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Old Navy is planning to hold a special Black Friday pre-sale to card holders on Saturday Nov. 22 which is nearly a week away from Black Friday.

“The Black Friday sale will be that the entire store is 50% off. Old Navy Card holders, and anyone who opens an Old Navy Card, get that same sale this upcoming Saturday in advance,” said Old Navy Employee, Will Hearn.

Kohl’s is a popular attraction for Cookeville Black Friday shoppers. Lines often wrap to the road and once inside, can wrap half way around the store.

Black Friday shopper and Cookeville resident, Emily Young said, “Last year I waited outside to get into Kohl’s an hour before they

opened their doors. Once I was inside I noticed some cook-wear on sale that my mom really liked. Right before I got to the stand, a woman started loading all of the cook-wear into her buggy. She was blocking off the entire stand so no one could get to it. I managed to squeeze my way over and get one of the sets and she acted offended that I took one of the probably 20 sets that were on display. It can get crazy!”

Despite the hustle and bustle of the larger retailers, local stores will be keeping their Black Friday sales casual and at regular hours.

Luxe Boutique is keeping their hours normal by opening up at 10 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. on Black Friday.

“We are doing a flash sale on Black Friday which is exactly what we did last year and it turned out great,” said Luxe Boutique Employee, Jordan Poston.

Instead of opening early in the morning, Caravan, a new local men, women, and home décor boutique will be offering extended hours to shoppers on Black Friday.

Whether you’re shopping at department stores or local, you can bet that most of Cookeville’s retailers will be offering some type of deal throughout all hours of Black Friday and even on Thanksgiving Day!

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Friday, November 21, 2014

OPINION Photoshop, selfies and us >> Think Free

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

We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and clarity.

KIMMY MANNING Opinion Editor

Hey, millennials, let’s collectively throw away everything we’ve ever heard and seen in the media. Oh, wait, we were raised on it.

Social media is in our bloodstream, privacy is out the window, our expectations just reached Mount Everest and suddenly none of us are as good as the figure on the front of a magazine.

Photoshop.

Yep, I said it. That ugly word we somehow both adore and talk bad about behind its back.

We love feeling and looking great, but we hate perfection becoming the standard and normal equaling excellence.

Women see paper-thin bodies, long Rapunzel hair and a tan mistaken for a beachfront glow. Men see a cut body, a defined face and women on both arms. To be honest, it’s all way too unrealistic. Yet it’s our new minimum American Dream standard.

Photoshop is a slap-on guarantee for any magazine cover in America; an industry would not dare post something real, authentic and original. No that’s just too easy and too boring. Life needs fairy tales and falsehoods to promote unarrest-

From left to right: Courtesy of Visualistan, TIME Magazine, Some Cards, and The Elite Daily

SELFIE-CENTERED: These pictures represent the cultrual “normal” of taking selfies, and feeling the need to photoshop and edit them completely. This a new wave epidemic. ing happiness.

According to a poll created by Glamour magazine, “Nearly 60 percent feel it’s OK for a woman to tweak her personal pictures.” Tweaking may need a solid definition in this case because some of the “tweaking” I’ve seen has turned lions into kittens and Fords into Audis.

This cultural conversation is getting more vocal as many are witnessing these

changes from their phones.

There are over 70 iPhone apps that are used to edit and manipulate photos before you ever press send. The ability to recreate yourself is in the palm of your hand. Scary thought.

Editing of images used to only claim darkrooms, and now it’s in every room, on every phone, on every social media site. Originality has lost its cool.

What is this unearthed need we hold back, this desire to be seen and loved?

The amount of time we put into our appearance is adding up and equaling a sickening word: narcissism.

Nar·cis·sism: noun: The state or stage of development in psychoanalytic theory in which there is considerable erotic interest in one’s own body and ego and which in abnormal forms persists

through fixation or reappears through regression. This definition comes from the Merriam-Webster dictionary and also recommends synonyms such as egocentricity, self-interest, self-centeredness and self-absorption.

I don’t know about you guys, but I think I might have considered deleting all my photos off Facebook. Why? Because the intention is there.

I want to show people about

me, why I’m succeeding and why they aren’t like me.

Maybe without us even realizing it, it’s the undertone of many of our posts.

We edit, tweak and post to get attention we think we can’t get otherwise.

Photoshop becomes more or less a barrier of reality. We use it as a safe haven — a cushion to protect the real us — while paradoxically we are screaming the “real” us at everyone whenever we click send.

Somehow we reached this far in the conversation and still haven’t discussed that tragic s-word. The selfie.

Narcissism goes by a new name as it seeps into the mindset of many millennials and even the next generation as self-indulgence has a new cover. The overexposure of your face does not make me like you more. It makes me think that you think highly of yourself. Of course, every coin is two-sided. I write this article while I could recall 20 pictures of mine that would make the cut.

Enough with the pretend.

Say goodbye to the counterfeit. Let’s stop pretending to be people we aren’t and stop pretending other people care.

We were made to do so much more than gaze into our own reflection.

Kimmy Manning is a senior in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations She can be reached at kemanning42@students.tntech.

Hey you! Put your phone away Student shares opinions on using electronic devices to document concert experiences and to enjoy the moment.

JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor

“Wait a second, what is the sports guy doing on the opinion page?” I know.

There’s something that’s been bugging me for quite some time, and I figured this was the best platform to let you all in on what’s been grinding my gears lately.

When I’m not attending, watching or covering sporting events, you can usually find me at a concert. I love live music. I love the energy that musicians get to exchange with their fans in an unmatchable and intimate way. The only problem is, today, the energy from fans has directionally shifted from the stage to their handheld screens. The exchange has become a “return to sender” of some sorts for musicians and it’s sad.

Let me take you back to a golden age to a time far, far ago where there were fewer things to “like” on the Internet and Miley Cyrus was still battling an identity crisis with Hannah Montana.

THE

There were also fewer screens during this seemingly simpler time.

As crazy as it sounds, smartphone use has really only been commonplace within the past few years.

To echo Kimmy Manning’s editorial from two weeks ago regarding the excessive use of apps, smartphones have altered the way we enjoy life.

They have propelled the idea that if you leave your home to join a group of people or attend an event, it must be archived on social media forums like Facebook and Instagram. It’s an idea that suggests online “friends” and followers must know what you are doing, where you are, who you’re with and what you’re feeling, and it’s ruining what we once claimed to love.

Here’s a quick story. As an anniversary gift, last week my girlfriend treated me to a concert of one of my current favorite artists, Noah Gundersen. As we packed into the venue and crowded around the stage, I felt that same overwhelming feeling

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of excitement in my stomach that only live music can create. It’s a feeling of expected energy. I generally look around to see the faces of audience members who are likely experiencing the same feelings.

That night was different. Something caught my eye that I had never noticed before — white light and lots of it. People were texting, tweeting and Snapchatting so much that I couldn’t help but feel like they were missing out on what was happening onstage. In fact, it was so bad that at one point during the middle of his show, Noah called out an audience member on the front row for flashing the camera on her cellphone at his face.

It’s distracting, but above that, excessive cellphone use at concerts is just rude.

Whether they be with the purest of intentions or not, it essentially takes away from who and what you’ve paid good money to see and/or hear. I mean, can you imagine writing and practicing songs for an album, and while per-

Courtesy of Aux.TV

HANDS ON - Nowadays at concerts, most of the audience is recording the event. forming on tour, you look out into the crowd and see a sea of screens and cellphone camera flashes?

“But, Jordan, I see you share photos from concerts on social media all the time.”

You’re absolutely right. I admittedly am an offender of such acts. When I bought my first smartphone in 2012, the floodgates for a new portal of communication had opened up for me. I was photographing and recording every sin-

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Commentaries should be around 500 words and include a picture of the writer.

gle thing I saw or did. And social media sharing? Don’t even get me started.

It’s fun to document the exciting things happening right in front of you. We’ve been given the platform to document and share our every move. I get it. I’m often the world’s worst offender. I mean, I’m a journalism major for crying out loud. Of course I understand the desire. Here’s my suggestion: Next time you’re at a concert,

play or performance of any sort, take a quick photo or two, and then enjoy what’s right in front of you. I promise you, whatever you record and watch later will be far less enjoyable than what is happening before your very eyes. Put your screens away.

Trust me.

Jordan Pace is a junior in Communcation with a concentration in News Editorial. He can be reached at jmpace42@students.tntech.edu

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News content for The Oracle is provided by the Journalism 2220, Journalism 4820 and Journalism 4930 classes.

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

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 7

Friday, September 21, 2014

Think Free <<

OPINION

Courtesy of DailyMail

SMOOCHES - Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, (left) shared a remake picture of their daughter and new son-inlaw, Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald’s (right) “first kiss” photo.

Duggar’s not kissing up to LGBT community SHELBEY ASHBURN Beat Reporter We’ve all probably heard of the Duggar family by now.

The stars of TLC’s hit show “19 Kids and Counting” have shared their family traditions, lifestyle and values for over six years on national television. Throughout their journey and rise to fame, it’s no secret that the Duggars have ran into controversial situations because of their television statements and lifestyle.

Most recently, the family celebrated the marriage of their fifth child and third oldest daughter, Jessa. After marrying her husband Ben, the couple posted a photo of themselves kissing on

Facebook which “inspired” Jessa’s mother and father (Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar) to share their own kissing photo with a caption that read, “…We challenge all married couples to take a happily married picture and post it here.”

After receiving over 7,000 comments and photo replies of couples kissing and devoting their love for each other, reports began to spread that the Duggars had been deleting photo responses of gay couples. Many gay couples came forth in news articles saying that they had left photos of themselves and their partners that were later found to be deleted from the post with some people even being banned from the

Duggars’ Facebook page.

Okay, let’s get real for a moment. Do we really want to log on to Facebook and immediately see a couple’s make-out session whether they are gay or not? Honestly, my online PDA alarm is going off regardless of which gender is kissing which gender.

Back to the deleting spree. I’m a supporter of the LGBT community. Had it been me requesting thousands of people to submit photos of them making out, I would expect responses from gay couples. Would I personally delete the photos? No, but that’s me and I’m not the Duggars.

The Duggars have their own right to delete and re-

move content from THEIR Facebook page. I think by now, most people know this family does not support same-sex marriage, which is why it puzzles me that gay couples would even want to waste their time posting to the Duggars’ page.

According to People magazine, the Duggars have responded to the controversy with a quote by American evangelist Rick Warren: “Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. Second is that to love someone means that you must agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to

Manson: Married man?

ADAM WEBB Staff Writer Charles Manson and his 26-year-old lover have a marriage certificate to be wed later this month. Manson gained notoriety for leading a cult, known as the Manson Family, to carry out several murders in the late 60s.

Now he and Afton Burton, who goes by Star, and can legally, marry each other in California.

It not only astounds me that the state would let Manson get married but that the couple is allowed to have guests from outside the prison visit. On top of all of that Burton has been visiting Manson since she was 17. 17 years old. Not even the age of consent and this girl was visiting someone I would consider “crazy” for lack of a better word. I’m just glad these two love birds waited until she was well past 18 before they decided to tie the knot.

If someone wants to marry Charles Manson it’s not my place to tell them they can’t.

Really it’s not my place to tell anyone they can’t marry the person they love. I don’t know why “Star” would want to marry Manson, but maybe she sees something in him I (and hopefully the rest

Courtesy of NY Daily News

TYING THE KNOT - Convict, Charles Manson (age 80) who is sentenced to prison for life, and admirer, Star (age 26) are trying to marry. Star said to CNN, “I’m completely with him, and he’s completely with me.” of us) don’t.

My main qualm with this unholy matrimony is that some people have no problem with it because at the very least it’s between a man and a woman. Heaven forbid two men or two women who love each other get married, but if a mentally unstable murderer and his probably equally unstable fiancé want to get hitched then that’s fine.

I don’t see how this doesn’t

affect the sanctity of marriage. This is an individual who led other people to kill people and while he may have his protestors, the state still gave him clemency to get married.

Granted California does at least permit homosexual couples to be married, but in a country that doesn’t have equal rights for everyone in every state that seems more like a drop in the bucket. I

think even if you casually attend church or if you’ve been preaching the good word since you could talk, the Manson marriage does more to disparage the sanctity of marriage than any homosexual one.

Adam Webb is a senior in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations He can be reached at adwebb42@students.tntech.edu

be compassionate.” This is a quote I actually agree with and think the Duggars responded well with it.

I see two faults for this uproar: first being the ignorance Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar had toward the initial post. There’s no way it didn’t cross their mind that gay couples would respond to their “challenge.” Maybe I’m just one of those “Facebook challenge haters” but honestly, it’s obnoxious to have a screen full of people sucking face regardless of if it’s a gay or straight couple.

Secondly, I think the controversy could have been avoided completely if gay couples would have just ignored the post. I know this isn’t realistic for everyone,

but like I stated before, the Duggars are 100 percent against same-sex relationships; it’s no secret and they have made several strong statements about it before.

Why share your life with someone who doesn’t support you?

Maybe people who post Facebook challenges and PDA selfies just annoy me in general, but I don’t think I stand alone when I say most people don’t want to see your lip locking session.

Shelbey Ashburn is a senior in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations She can be reached at srashburn42@students.tntech. edu

Letter to the Editor As a nontraditional student at TTU returning to college after dropping out in 1977, I feel Fenlon compelled to point out my observations regarding the cheating that is widespread on this campus.

During the first test in one of my classes this semester, about 75 percent of the class were cheating by using their laptops and smartphones to access the Internet and text each other.

In addition, they were looking at one another’s papers and talking. I felt the duty to alert this professor to what was happening and was told that it would be addressed during the next test. In other words, nothing was done at the time and no one suffered any consequences.

Highly concerned and feeling discriminated against, I approached the chair of that particular department. That chair contacted the professor and responded to me via email as follows: “[The Instructor] has made clear to me that [the Instructor] is aware of what has been taking place with the student use of electronics and that it serves

[the Instructor’s] purposes in instruction.” I am not sure what that means, but I must say that if it was OK for some to look up the answers during the test, why were not the rest of the class allowed to do so? In fact, we were not even told it was OK to do so.

In talking to others on campus — faculty, staff and students — no one was surprised by my observations; in fact, they have all said that cheating is a big problem on this campus. Why is this? When I was here in the 1970s, if someone was caught cheating on a test, they were immediately removed from the class and flunked that course. In addition, the parents did not threaten to sue the University if we were not reinstated and given another chance.

The University needs to stay on its toes regarding electronic use. All professors, instructors and adjuncts need to be educated in the latest technology.

Technology is advancing at record speeds, and we all need to keep up. Your students certainly will.

Barbara Fenlon is a nontraditional student majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Page 8 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

Friday, November 21, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

>> Reviews

“Dumb and Dumber To” unnecessary New Wu ain’t nothin’ to miss

By ADAM WEBB Staff Writer

By HANNAH BENJAMIN Entertainment Critic After 20 years, Lloyd and Harry are back at it again in a sequel to the smash hit “Dumb and Dumber.” Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. Harry finds out that he has a long lost daughter, and after seeing a photograph Lloyd develops a crush on her. Lloyd suggests the two go on a cross-country road trip to find her and gross hilarity ensues. “Dumb and Dumber To” managed to come in No. 1 in the box office this weekend with $36.1 million. “Beyond the Lights,” the only other big release this weekend, only managed the No. 4 spot with $6.2 million.

“Dumb and Dumber To” is everything audiences would expect. Though the jokes are a little stale, the film has its moments that remind viewers of the good ol’ days.

However, the key to enjoying this film is certainly low expectations. The plot is uncomfortable and full of crude humor, which gets old after a while. The film’s runtime is 1 hour 49 minutes, so don’t expect any quick resolutions.

Courtesy of The New Yorker

I LIKE IT A LOT- “Dumb and Dumber To” is the Farrelly Brothers first film since 2012’s “The Three Stooges.”

Though the sequel tries to recreate the buffoonery of the first film, Harry and Lloyd come off as creepy rather than hilarious. It’s somewhat unsettling to watch Jim Carrey lust after his best friend’s young daughter, and most of the inappropriate gags are not well received by audiences. There is a particularly uncomfortable scene involving Lloyd and an old lady’s nether regions that could make even the stronger stomached nauseous.

“Dumb and Dumber To” elicits some good laughs, but the Farrelly brothers prob-

ably should have let this one go. Not every movie needs a sequel, and after 20 years it can be hard to generate fresh, new material. The film certainly serves its purpose as a catchall comedy and fans of the original will enjoy it if they adjust their expectations. The film received a 26 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences scored the film at 58 percent, meaning it may truly be up to the individual.

The film is rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, partial nudity, language and some drug references.

“Mulaney” continues to disappoint

By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor There’s a reason “Seinfeld” fans have had no problem with reliving the series via endless television reruns since its finale in 1998.

Turn on the TV. It’s probably on right now.

There’s also a reason Fox’s new series “Mulaney” has been labeled a rip-off by critics. “Mulaney” has all of the elements to be a modern “Seinfeld.” Much like the 90s sitcom, the show stars standup comedian John Mulaney.

The name? You guessed it.

Original, I know.

As a fan of his work as a sketch writer on “Saturday Night Live” and his brilliantly witty standup, I was as excited as anyone for the series premier on Oct. 5. Also a fan of “Seinfeld,” I knew what to expect with “Mulaney.” The talks of the show being a replica came as no surprise. It’s a sitcom created by a standup comedian who plays a fiction-

alized version of himself living in a New York City apartment with his friends. Sound familiar? C’mon, critics. You didn’t see that one coming?

Just like its unofficial, yet obvious predecessor, the show begins with a quick bit of standup from Mulaney in front of a studio audience.

For those who may not be particularly familiar with Mulaney’s standup, I’m sure you have enjoyed his stories and shtick on his new show.

I, however, have been let down. Through the first five episodes of the first season, the majority of the material in the opening bits have all been resurfaced material from Mulaney’s own standup specials. While I know not everyone has heard his stories of prostate exams and being a “flowy, hard-opinioned” little boy, I was, needless to say, expecting something new.

The “Seinfeld” comparisons are warranted. Filling the role of Kramer, Mulaney’s counterpart is Martin Short,

who has, for the most part, remained out of the spotlight since the days of “Seinfeld.”

His character, Lou Cannon, a washed up comediannow game show host, perfectly reflects his presence on “Mulaney.” Whether you enjoyed Short’s work on SNL or in movies like “Three Amigos,” it’s clear that his role on “Mulaney” is nothing short of an attempt to get back onto television sets.

While the show has made improvements since its awfully unspectacular series premier, each episode has found a way to be disappointing and vanilla. Like I said, the “Seinfeld” rip-off talk is valid, but that’s not why “Mulaney” has been bad. Drop all the “Seinfeld” similarities and alter the characters and settings, and “Mulaney” is still bad. A combination of less than spectacular acting and a ridiculous laugh track have crippled the series thus far.

Mulaney airs Sundays at 6:30 p.m. CDT on Fox.

A decade after the death of founding member ODB, and seven years since its last album as a group, WuTang Clan has released four singles for its upcoming album “A Better Tomorrow.”

The first single, “Keep Watch,” is a combination of modern hip-hop “boomclap” beats underneath guitar and vocal samples reminiscent of the early days of the Wu. The song sounds similar to the track “Shadowboxin” from GZA’s acclaimed 1995 solo album “Liquid Swords.”

Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna and GZA all contribute verses on the track with R&B singer Nathaniel delivering the hook.

With the members of the Wu all in their 40s, it makes sense that some members’ flow might change or alter in some way. GZA’s verse in the song is still true to his style, but the 48-year-old doesn’t sound as energetic as he did on tracks like “Protect Ya Neck” and “Clan In Da Front” from the group’s debut LP 21 years ago.

The next single, “Ron O’Neal,” like “Keep Watch,” features guitar samples and Nathaniel singing the chorus as well as Method Man and Inspectah Deck spitting rhymes. “Ron O’Neal” also uses piano and horn samples in addition to record scratches and a beat that sounds like it’s coming straight from Questlove’s drums. This track also features verses from its producer RZA, as well as Ghostface Killah, to close it out. Of the four singles, this

Courtesy of Pitchfork

WU-TANG COMIN’ AT YA- “A Better Tomorrow” was recorded over a four year period from 2011-2014. is the one that sounds closest to “Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers.”

“Ruckus in B Minor” is the most disjointed single of the bunch. Here it sounds almost like the Clan recorded their verses separately and was not all together on the track. This is made evident

by Cappadonna’s verse on the track. Cappadonna’s delivery is adequate here, but his flow seems to be lacking. To counter that however, GZA’s verse reverts back to the rapper’s old flow and is a groovy return to form. The track also has some sample vocals from ODB, which is a nice throwback and is a touching reminder of the deceased member’s memory.

The main weak point of this song is the bridge, which is not that creative with its rhyme scheme. “Youngin, I can see your draws, pull your pants up, can’t even call yourself a man until you man up,” is the twice repeated

bridge sung by Method Man and while it’s a nice message, it sounds very uninspired.

“Necklace,” a song about the group’s appreciation of their own bling, is the most distinctive of the four singles. Featuring similar piano samples, as found on “Ron O’Neal,” this track also has a vibraslap that is very far out of left field, but with the spacey, chilled beat of the song, it simply just works. There’s also a brass sample in addition to a bongo neat to aid the simplistic beat.

The track is a bit of a hodgepodge, but it’s so different and interesting that it’s impossible to not bob your head to the beat.

If these four tracks are anything to expect of “A Better Tomorrow,” then new Wu fans and even fans of yore should have no problem finding something to enjoy.

“A Better Tomorrow” drops Dec. 2 on CD and digital download.

“Salem” deserves more hype

By SHELBEY ASHBURN Guest Critic Witches, Puritans and a dose of history is what you’ll find on WGN America’s latest television series, “Salem.”

The TV show recreates historical stories told from the Salem witch trials with a twist of fiction and drama.

Salem first aired April 20, 2014. The earlier episodes tell the story of the witchstricken town and showcase some of the earliest historical documents of witch killings in Salem. The first kill-

ing starts early in episode two when historical Puritan, Giles Corey, is “pressed” to death with stones for pleading innocent to his accusation of being a witch.

From the first episode, I noticed the storyline followed the documented history of Salem and turned historical people from the 18th century into characters. Although actual people from the time period are referenced (even main actors) there is still some fiction and dramatic plots throughout the show that keep it adven-

turous and interesting.

The show creates an interesting spin by making most of the wealthy town leaders into the witches who do the persecuting to the innocent and poor. A lot of wellknown figures from the witch trials are also given different roles in the show. Tituba, who is historically known to be an African slave wrongly accused of witchcraft plays a powerful witch who hides herself to the Puritan community in the show.

These fictional twists really give the show character without destroying the true documentations of the Salem witch trials.

Many scenes involve frightening characters, such as unmasked witches, zombies and demons. Several episodes will give you that “I want to look but I don’t” feeling, especially when you know a freaky witch is fixing to pop out.

The show also contains a lot of blood and violent occurrences. Among the traditional hangings, people are also burned and stoned to death.

Exorcisms, voodoo, black magic and strange witchcraft are just some of the practices you’ll see in episodes.

Overall, I think the show deserves more hype. The storyline does a great job of incorporating the historical people into characters. Most episodes are based off actual documented stories. The added fiction and twists keep me coming back for more.

Salem has been renewed for a 13-episode second season, set to air sometime in 2015 on WGN America.

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 9

Friday, November 21, 2014

Reviews <<

ENTERTAINMENT

“The Walking Dead” intensifies Pink Floyd releases final album

By BRITTANY LYNCH Guest Critic

By LUCAS MCCOY Guest Critic

The ever-popular AMC show, “The Walking Dead,” is back for its fifth season.

Walkers, gore, mystery and all our favorite, and not so favorite, characters have returned in the new actionpacked season. As the season enters into its last two episodes the suspense and interest is really heating up.

Throughout this new season, the change of characters is quite interesting.

Rick, who has gone from a clean-shaven pretty boy in the first season to insanely hot bearded man in this one has piqued my interest.

However, Rick has now bit a man’s throat out and he is none too happy about being locked up in Terminus, but that soon to proves to be short lived.

The rest of the cast has progressed as well. Carol and Tyrese have tried to get past their traumatizing encounter with Lizzie the Freak. Admit it — that child was wrong from the start.

But we all got through that by looking at the flowers.

Glenn and Maggie are still annoyingly in love but it still bothers me that Maggie still doesn’t even seem fazed that Beth is gone. “Not dead, just gone,” as Daryl Dixon said, the other heart throb of the show. Every girl wants to be that angel wing shirt he keeps wearing.

We’ve found out that Rosita and Abraham are… involved, so to say. Although that whole match seems absolutely creepy. Eugene

After 20 years of no new music, Pink Floyd has released their last album, “The Endless River,” and it sounds like typical Floyd. The album has been dedicated to the memory of Richard Wright, the band’s keyboardist who died of cancer in 2007.

Although “The Endless River” sounds very much like their 1994 album, “The Division Bell,” the album features motifs and sounds that resemble their previous albums, yet they keep the music fresh. It’s invigorating to see Floyd make good new music after a 20-year hiatus.

My biggest qualm with “The Endless River” is that it is mostly instrumental.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good instrumental, but as I listened to the tunes, I was waiting for David Gilmour’s vocals to shine through like the hero emerging from the fog.

The first track, “Things Left Unsaid,” opens like the trailer music to a space epic, and then a minute into the track, it feels like you are cast on a boat lost at sea, and you have perfect tranquility as your friend. Wright’s keyboard work on this tune is solid and sets the mood for the following songs.

The album really takes off with the track “Sum.” Wright’s keyboard riffs are trance inducing. As you become entranced, Gilmour grabs you from your zone with his distorted slide guitar and throws you into a head-bobbing groove as Nick Mason’s thunderous drums pound away. “Sum” bleeds into “Skins,” which is

Courtesy of Collider

DEAD FOLKS WALKING- In its fifth season, “The Walking Dead” is enjoying its highest rated season yet. The premiere episode garnered 17.3 million viewers. doesn’t help the matter as he checks out the “Self-Help section.”

Michonne is silent as ever but more comfortable with the group than she used to be. Although I believe we can all agree that we want to see more of that sword against some Walkers.

The list goes on and on about who’s doing what and some are just too painful to mention. After escaping from Terminus, the gang has to fight to survive again.

Scrounging where they can and keeping out of more trouble, which is proving to be physically impossible for this group.

The whole series takes

tons of twists and turns that no one sees coming. I don’t even think the writers or actors have any idea what is going to happen.

Some mysteries are solved, like the ones with Beth, (Way to go Maggie.

Daryl and Carol figured that out before you ever did, and Carol has just been put back into play for what, two episodes?) but then we get five new questions in place of our answer.

The way this season is playing with major flashbacks and scary plot twists, I believe we can make the assumption that there is going to be a huge cliffhanger for the fall finale in two weeks.

“Peter Pan” lands in Cookeville

By KAYLEE GENTRY Guest Critic “What’s the tempo, Captain?” That seems to be the trend for “Peter Pan,” performed by the Cookeville Children’s Theatre at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center.The play wasn’t a slow waltz, but it wasn’t a fast tango either.

Act 1 drags its feet with background information.

Many of us have grown up with “Peter Pan” or have at least seen a version of it, so we know whom Peter is and how the Darlings learn to fly.

However, for those who have never seen one of the movies or a play, it is an important part of the story.

This is the first “Peter

Pan” play that I have watched the actors fly across the stage though. It was fun to see several of the actors lift off the ground and fly through the air.

Act 2 picks up the play and runs with it. We get to see the pirates and Indians perform wonderful choreography and much better songs than the first act. We get the meat of the story since this is the longest act. Princess Tiger Lilly gets kidnapped and saved, leading to an alliance between Peter, the Lost Boys and the Indians. Captain Hook develops a few plans to get rid of Peter Pan and finally gets to his last plan that did seem to be the best, if Peter didn’t have such great friends like Tinkerbell.

The last act is perhaps the shortest, and it is a bit of a letdown. Yes, the big fight scene takes place in this act, but once the Darlings go home, Wendy grows up. This is a fact that we all must face, but for this play, it doesn’t necessarily end on a happy note. If the play had ended at the last song of “We Will Grow Up,” it would have been fine. It continues for about three more minutes and in those three minutes, it destroys the hope for Wendy and her continuing adventures in Neverland.

“Peter Pan” was a good play, but it would be better with a slightly different ending. The play will continue through Nov. 22 with a matinee at 2 p.m. and a performance at 7:30 p.m.

Courtesy of The Guardian

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL- Pink Floyd returns after twenty years with their 15th and final album.

Mason’s major contribution to the album. It’s about a two and a half minute drum solo with various dissonant sounds in the background.

The album’s closing track “Louder Than Words” sounds like classic Floyd.

It is the only song on the album to feature a lead vocal by Gilmour, with the lyrics written by his him and his wife. The song features unexpected chord changes and pleasantly strange chord progressions that are synonymous with their music. Gilmour’s Stratocaster sounds smooth as ever and reminds me of a “Comfortably Numb” tone.

The album took about a year to record and was compiled from old tapes of the three Floyd members playing together during the 1993-‘94 sessions.

Even though I wasn’t around during Floyd’s heyday, I have waited a long

time for this. They won’t make any more music since Wright died in 2007. There won’t be a tour to promote this album, according to Gilmour.

Roger Waters, founding member and bassist, is also not on the album, and hasn’t been a member of Floyd since his departure in 1985.

Syd Barret, the founding member, also will not be on the album because he died of health complications due to pancreatic cancer and type-two diabetes in 2006.

I was raised on the progressive rock masters growing up. To this day, their music speaks to me like no other music ever has, so I’m sad to see Pink Floyd call it quits after a nearly 50-year career. But I am happy to see that after all these years, the group still has the chops to write groovy tunes. I hope this album brings a new generation of Floyd fans.

“How to Get Away with Murder” excites

By SARAH TATE Guest Critic Many new TV shows premiered this fall, but “How to Get Away with Murder” has been a standout in the line-up. Fair warning: there may be some spoilers below.

“How to Get Away with Murder” isn’t the typical legal drama that viewers are used to seeing. It combines drama, romance, thrill and suspense into one program without it seeming overbearing or like it’s trying too hard.

The show stars Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, a defense attorney and criminal law professor at Middleton University, a prestigious law school in Philadelphia. She, along with five of her students, defends her clients against homicide charges, for the most part, while teaching the way of the law.

Where the show moves away from cookie-cutter legal shows is when four of Keating’s students, Connor, Wes, Michaela and Laurel, find themselves involved in the murder of Keating’s husband, Sam. The show uses flashbacks to Keating’s lectures at Middleton, where she explains how to get around the law to get what is needed to get acquitted. This plays out when the show flashes forward to Sam’s murder and how the students react.

The show does seem to rely on shock factor. Almost every episode ends on a cliffhanger, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was

Courtesy of Spoilers Guide

MURDER IN THE 1ST- “How to Get Away with Murder” is the highest rated freshman show on ABC this season. the right choice to end the episode when it was revealed the body the students were trying to get rid of was Sam’s. After the midseason finale last night, we finally found out who the murderer was, leaving us with one hell of a cliffhanger to last until the show picks back up in 2015.

Jack Falahee shines as Connor Walsh, a confident and lovable student working at Keating’s law firm.

Falahee walks the line of

Walsh’s arrogant nature and absolute terror when he finds himself involved in a murder plot with finesse. Every character brings something new to the table and adds to the greatness that is “How to Get Away with Murder.”

If you want suspenseful drama combined with a murder mystery, “How to Get Away with Murder” is worth checking out. The midseason finale premiered last night on ABC, but previous episodes can be viewed on hulu.com.

Page 10 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

SPORTS

Friday, November 21, 2014

>> Inside the Game MEN’S BASKETBALL

Shea Haile | The Oracle UNSUNG HERO-Senior outside hitter Ellen Conti,with volleyball head coach Dave Zelenock, receives the Unsung Leader Award from athletic director Mark Wilson.

Conti is recognized for outstanding leadership

By TYLER RANDOLPH Beat Reporter Earlier this year, an idea for an award was conceived by Sports Information Director Rob Schabert to recognize deserving student athletes for their intangible abilities to lead their teams on and off the court. The name for this award would become the Unsung Leader Award.

In March, nationally renowned speaker Becky Bedics came to Tech as part of an OVC initiative to increase an emergence of leadership among the athletic department, coaches and players.

The Unsung Leader Award was a link that connected the meeting with Bedics to Tech’s student athletes.

The inaugural Unsung Leader Award was given to senior Ellen Conti, a member of Tech’s volleyball team.

Despite spending a majority of the season on the sideline due to a shoulder injury, Conti still excelled in leading her team to a spot in the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2010.

“Since I’ve been injured, I can’t show my leadership the way I have the past couple of years,” said Conti.

“So I have been doing all I can off the court to lead and encourage my teammates and

Conti teach the ones in my position” Ellen was expecting to be a starter for the team, but instead has proved to play a crucial role in preparing and coaching up the freshmen that are having to step up in her place and has really embraced the position she’s in as a teacher and a “big sister” to her younger teammates.

“During practice and in the huddles I do all I can to offer encouragement and point out all the good things the players are doing so they can focus on getting better,” said Conti. “Having two younger sisters, I have always seen myself as a big sister. Now that I’m a senior, I have an opportunity to be that big sister again.”

According to the proposal for the Unsung Leader

Award, someone deserving of the award “will motivate his/her team and teammates to achieve the highest levels of performance everyday.”

Also, leaders will be those who “keep learning, growing and improving, follow through with excellence, accomplish more than expected, and inspire and motivate others.”

So far there have been two awards given out, the other recipient being senior Austin Tallant, a safety on the Tech football team. The team’s strength and conditioning coach, Casey Kramer, nominated Tallant. Tallant has shown great leadership on and off the field, especially in the weight room, motivating his teammates.

“Both Ellen and Austin, over their entire careers, have displayed leadership qualities that we desire to see out of our studentathletes here at Tech,” said Schabert.

Ellen was recognized as the September winner of the Unsung Leader Award at the men’s basketball game Nov. 15. Athletic Director Mark Wilson and Tech’s volleyball coach Dave Zelenock were there to present the award to Ellen. Austin, the October winner, will be recognized at the men’s basketball game this Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball grounds the Skyhawks 3-1 on Senior Day

By TYLER RANDOLPH Beat Reporter The Golden Eagles’ final regular season match of the year and Senior Day both took place Nov. 15, as the team battled University of Tennessee at Martin.

Before the start of the match, Tech took time to honor the seniors — Ellen Conti, Madison Keyes, Allison Man and Courtney Smith — with a time where their other teammates presented gifts to the departing players.

As for the match, it consisted of Tech trying to hold off a pesky UT Martin team that played with a lot of heart. Tech had already clinched a spot in the OVC Tournament, but the result of this game could possibly affect their seed in the tournament.

The first set would set the tone and tempo for the remainder of the night for the Golden Eagles. Senior Madison Keyes emerged as a dominant force in the first set with four kills and no errors out of five total attempts, resulting in an .800 hitting percentage. Junior Cody Dodd would also prove to be a main part of the first-set success adding six kills of her own. Meanwhile, Tech soph-

Shea Haile | The Oracle SENIOR SHINE- Courtney Smith serves during the Golden Eagles Senior Day against UT-Martin. omore Sharon Anderson tallied 11 assists and five digs in the first. Tech would go on to win the first set 25-19.

Tech would go on to win the second set 25-21 with some help from freshman Kellie Williams who added five kills to her total that led the team with eight and had a hitting percentage of .294 in the first two sets.

The Skyhawks would come out of the half with some vengeance. UT Martin would have 13 kills and three service aces that added to their rally to win the third set 25-20 to prevent Tech, who had a match-low .040 hitting percentage for the set, from winning the match in straight-sets.

However, the Golden Eagles would prove to be too much for the Skyhawks.

Keyes would continue the dominance she showed in the first set, adding four more kills and finishing the match

with 9.5 points and an errorless team-high .615 hitting percentage. Senior Courtney Smith would prevail with a team-high 22 digs in a match where the Golden Eagles would combine for 74 digs.

Dodd and Smith would both finish with solid matches and solidify their spots in winning the OVC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. The Golden Eagles finished the regular season with an overall record of 14-18 and a 9-7 OVC record, only losing two games at Hooper Eblen Center.

Tech scored a fifth seed spot in the OVC tournament, their first appearance since 2010.

A few ranks stood out nationally for the Golden Eagles. Smith finished the season ranked 25th in the nation in digs per set, while Dodd ranked 34th in aces per set.

Shea Haile | The Oracle FRESHMAN SENSATION- Mason Ramsey keeps a Piedmont defender at bay during the Golden Eagles season opener Friday night.

Men’s basketball in high gear

By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor It was a tale of two games for the Tennessee Tech men’s basketball team as the Golden Eagles split their first two games of the season. During Friday night’s contest against Piedmont International, Tech’s relentless defense and well-rounded offense fueled a historic win against the Bruins.

The 83-29 victory was the lowest point total men’s basketball has allowed in the Hooper Eblen Center since the 1947-1948 season.

Monday night’s game was a significant step up in competition for the Golden Eagles. They traveled to Los Angeles for a showdown with the University of Southern California Trojans in pursuit of their third win against a PAC-12 opponent.

In their season opener, the Golden Eagles dominated and did not relinquish the lead the entire night. The defense forced turnover after turnover, and by the end of the night, Piedmont had racked up 21. Head coach Steve Payne was impressed by the defensive clinic.

“I was pleased with our energy level and how we played defensively,” said Payne.

“We got to see some stuff. Our big guys guarding smaller guards we needed to see that, and I think they done a good job with that.”

The Golden Eagles grabbed 36 defensive rebounds, with junior Charles Jackson leading the team who ended the night with nine. On the offensive side of the ball, freshman Mason Ramsey battled his way to nine offensive rebounds and 14 points. Ramsey’s five defensive rebounds gave him a double double. The stellar performance earned him OVC Freshman of the Week, the first evercollegiate award for the Livingston, Tenn. native.

“Mason is a good young player,” said Payne. “He has got to continue to get better.

One of the things in that game (Piedmont) he was one of the better athletes on the floor. He has got to learn to play with guys who are bigger and more athletic than him, but we are excited about Mason.”

The Golden Eagles faced a different beast at USC. The Trojans had two post players to start that were 6’11. However Tech outscored USC in the paint 36-28 and out-rebounded 42-33. The Golden Eagles’ ineffectiveness from mid-range and beyond the arch proved to be their demise. The team went 1-18 from beyond the arch and made only 33.8 percent of their field goals.

“We shot it terribly at USC,” said Payne.

“I do not think we will shoot it that bad again. We shot it horribly, but we still had chances to win the game. Our shooting did not cost us the game; it could have helped us win it, but our trademark has got to be defense and ball security. Our ball security was not very good.”

Fouls were also an issue. Tech had five players to finish with three fouls or more.

This resulted in several trips to the free throw line for the Trojans, and they took the advantage, hitting over 70 percent of their free throws.

Points from the bench were scarce, unlike the Piedmont contest when the Golden Eagles received 37 points from the bench. In Los Angeles, the reserves only scored 12.

A late run by the Trojans put the Golden Eagles away 70-58. With the loss, Tech fell to 1-1 while USC improved to 1-1. Tech was led in scoring by senior post player Dwan Caldwell. Charles Jackson earned his second double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Aleksa Jugovic led Tech’s bench with six points. C o a c h Payne responded emphatically when asked if he was happy with his team’s performance at USC. “Honestly no. I was really expecting to get a win,” said Payne. “I told them before the game that we would have a chance to win this game.”

Tech will be at home Saturday against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs. The Mocs come into this season confident after being selected to finish second in the Southern Conference. They will come to Cookeville with a 1-2 record that includes losses at Wisconsin and Butler. Their match up with the Golden Eagles will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday.