LYDIE WORKS OUT HER ANGER | PAGE 4
GUEST CRITIC DIGS NEW BAND | PAGE 3
A SALUTE TO THE SENIORS | PAGE 5
More stories and exclusive content at tntechoracle.com The Oracle will return, in print and online, Jan. 31, 2014
THE
Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | 38505 | Est. 1924
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RACLE
Fit vote passes After a heated election, students approve a $100 fee increase for new fitness and intramural facility. PRESS RELEASE
people with disabilities, senior citizens and other users with specialized needs. It will cost approximately $40 million and the building could be built within 16-24 months if all goes smoothly, according to David Mullinax, director of TTU Campus Recreation. Building plans are still flexible, and students are welcome and invited to give input on the plans. During the three days of voting, Fitness Center employees and graduate students were at the voting
“It’s going to be a magnificent space and it’s an investment in their campus for them and future generations of students.” The location of the building has not yet been decided. The University is in talks to purchase several plots of land along Willow Avenue, and the unrenovated portion of Tech Village is slated for demolition. The fitness center is one of several large construction projects planned. Over the summer, the
Fifty-two percent of more than 3,300 students voted earlier this week to approve a $100 fee per semester to build a new fitness center at Tennessee Tech University. The vote was the product of a bill passed unanimously by the Student Government Association that called for a referendum about the building. Plans for the fitness center will include six gyms, a climbing wall, a weight room three times the size of the existing one and more aerobics space. The current building It’s going to be a magnificent space and it’s an opened in 1991 when the uni- investment in their campus for them and future versity had approximately 6,000 students on campus. generations of students. Now that there are nearly 12,000 students at Tech, the —David Mullinax, space is too small to meet Fitness Center Director demand and accommodate hundreds of intramural teams, fitness classes and stations and floating around university will begin expanother activities. campus talking to students sion of the intramural parkThe proposed building about the vote. ing lot to stretch behind the is designed to accommodate “We talked to a lot of stu- Averitt Baseball Complex an anticipated growth of at dents one-on-one and once and the other half of Tech least 15,000 students in the they understood what we Village. A science complex is next five years. It will also were trying to do, they sup- also planned and fundraising have specialized spaces for ported it,” Mullinax said. efforts have already begun. veterans returning to school,
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Volume 97 | Issue 9 | Free in single copy | November 22, 2013
Interfraternity Council sponsors Angel Tree By SARAH REESE Copy Editor Tech’s Interfraternity Council is sponsoring an Angel Tree on campus this holiday season and is encouraging students, groups and organizations to sponsor a child. Ben Toline is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and serves as the vice president of philanthropy on IFC’s executive council. Toline is responsible for organizing the Angel Tree on campus. “I am super excited to get our campus involved in the Angel Tree program, because it is a charity that with one simple act of kindness you are directly influencing a local child’s life”, Toline said. “Many of us cherish childhood memories from Christmas. By sponsoring angels, we can make sure these children can have the opportunity to have Christmas memories worth cherishing.” Those who would like to become involved with the Angel Tree should select a tag from the Christmas tree in the RUC lobby to support a child. Gifts can be dropped off between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Dec. 3 in the Tech Pride Room. IFC will be sponsoring a wrapping event in conjunction with Late Night Tech Night. Westlee Walker, IFC Vice President of Administrative Affairs, said
Drake Fenlon Nathan Cole picks an ornament off of IFC’s giving tree. Each ornament has a list of gifts to buy for children in need. the event will have many activities for students or volunteers. “It’s a drop party for people to bring their gifts in,” Walker said. “We are going to have an ugly Christmas sweater contest, a DJ, free food and door prizes. We will decorate Christmas ornaments and wrap the donated presents, also.” Walker said IFC is excited to get involved with the Putnam County community. “Being on IFC council is
about the betterment of fraternity men, leadership in our university and community involvement,” Walker said. “Any chance we have to get involved in the Cookeville community and help out, we love to take it.” The Angel Tree program is being sponsored in conjunction with Cookeville’s Life Care Family Services. “It’s not a Greek thing; we’re just sponsoring it,” said Toline. “It’s such a great charity.”
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Ellington Hall, Warf Hall to Awesome Eagle to compete at national championship Tech’s mascot will compete against four other mascots from across the close over break for facelift country at the 2014 Universal Cheerleading Association Mascot National By AARON VICK Beat Reporter Ellington and Warf Residence Halls are set to close for renovation at the end of the semester. Much like MS Cooper and Pinkerton Halls renovations last year, Ellington and Warf will have completely refurbished rooms and hallways. Andrew Moneymaker, coordinator for Capital Quad, said the new look is already in place at MS Cooper and Pinkerton and is better than the old design. “It’s cleaner looking, it’s nicer looking,” said Moneymaker. “It’s due time to ‘spread the love’ to all the other buildings.” Moneymaker also said the renovation is part of a project to renovate all the older residence halls on campus. “This is gonna be another 6-year project of a building going offline every year until it’s done,” said Moneymaker. One might think the closing of a residence hall would create in a shortage in housing space and would yield
a limited amount of RA positions available. However, Moneymaker said this loss in housing space would not significantly affect either of these areas. “It doesn’t really affect it as much as everybody thinks mainly because in between the fall and spring semesters, we are always going to lose RAs [for various reasons].” Moneymaker also said Residential Life placed several graduating RAs in Ellington and Warf so when it comes time to close the building, there will not be much of a transition. Five senior RAs will be graduating, leaving only three other RAs to be moved to other halls in the spring. Moneymaker said the renovations will take place in the spring because there are less residents in the halls during the spring semester than in the fall semester. Therefore, housing space will not be a problem, despite the halls closing. Ellington and Warf renovation will begin at the end of the fall semester and will be finished by August of 2014.
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Championships in Orlando, Fla. in January. By RICHARD MOSLEY Beat Reporter Tech’s very own Awesome Eagle recently received a second place bid to the 2014 National Cheerleading and Dance Team Competition. This is the fifth time Tech has entered this competition since the 90s. Although Awesome hasn’t placed in national competitions until recently, he did participate in a few competitions in the 90s. Awesome placed in a national-level competition for the first time in 2012. This will be the third time Awesome has competed at the national level. In the past two years, Awesome has placed both second and third. “It only makes sense to win first place this year,” said a spokesperson for Awesome Eagle. There are two divisions for which any mascot across the nation can qualify.
Mascot division IA covers the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools and will have 10 mascots competing. These include Auburn University’s Aubie, UT-Knoxville’s Smokey, and Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger. The open mascot division covers the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and has 5 schools competing, including Tech’s Awesome Eagle, University of Delaware’s YouDee, WU Shock from Wichita State, Wiley D Wildcat from Wilmington University, and Roomie the Lion from Southeastern Louisiana University. In order to enter this competition, mascots must submit a video that counts for 50 percent of the total score if offered a bid. The video is judged based on five categories: game situations, crowd involvement, cheer band and dance integration, campus activities, and com-
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munity involvement. The open mascot division gives out five ranked bids. Awesome Eagle received the second place bid this year. The other 50 percent of the final score comes from the finals competition, held at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. during Martin Luther King weekend in January. There, the mascots will have to perform a live 90-second skit. During the finals, mascots are required to use props, but cannot use more than ten. “I can’t tell you this year’s theme just yet because I don’t want the enemy to be reading The Oracle and getting in [Awesome’s] plans, but I can let you know it is going to rock the competition right out of their fur,” said Awesome’s spokesman. Awesome Eagle will be competing at the National Cheerleading and Dance Team competition Jan. 17-19, 2014 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Drake Fenlon Over the past two years Awesome Eagle has placed second and third, but now he now aims for first as he travels to Orlando, Fla. in January. He will compete in the UCA Mascot National Championships.
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NEWS Page 2 | November 22, 2013
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Oracle alumnus cites 50th assassination anniversary Tech graduate speaks to students about The Oracle and the Kennedy assassination By SARAH REESE Copy Editor Nov. 22, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a story only The Oracle reported in Putnam County on the day of his death. Tech alumnus Harold Freeman was serving as the copy editor for The Oracle when the assassination occurred. He visited the Office of Communication Thursday and shared his experiences at Tech with several journalism students. Freeman told the audience his story of how The Oracle came to report the assassination to the Upper Cumberland. “Nov. 22 was a publication Friday for The Oracle,” Freeman said. “Another editor and I stopped for lunch on our way to the HeraldCitizen’s office and printing plant. At the restaurant, the lady at the front asked if we had heard. We asked her, ‘Heard what?’ and she said, ‘The President’s been shot.’” Freeman told students about the trip back to campus. Kennedy was assassinated at 1 p.m. and The Oracle went to press in just a few hours. “We did not have the advantage of the Associated Press or any wire service for that matter,” Freeman said. “We were just a campus newspaper. “We got a reporter, a sports reporter, to sit in front of the TV and radio and put together a story,” Freeman said. “We ran into an Oracle student ad salesman and he
said he had been sitting in the lounge listening to student opinions and comments. He gave us a story on student reaction.” Freeman said by 6 p.m. The Oracle staff has compiled a paper and printed 1,000 extra copies. The 3,000 total copies were brought back to campus and handed out to the 3,300 students enrolled on campus and the people of Cookeville. “The Herald-Citizen was only published two or three times a week,” said Freeman. “That made us the only paper in town to have printed the news the day of.” Freeman said the newspaper staff put a picture of Kennedy on the front page, as well as a picture of Derryberry. “We took a picture of Derryberry with the flag at half-mast,” Freeman said. “Of course, that was when Derryberry Hall was still occupied President William Derryberry.” Freeman’s journalism experiences did not end when he graduated from Tech. Freeman graduated with a math degree and physics minor and spent several years teaching children in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps. He was eventually drafted and served time in Vietnam. Years later, Freeman became a state reporter for The Augusta Chronicle in Ga. He later took a position as an editor with The CourierJournal in Louisville, Ky. He retired from his career and still resides in Louisville with his wife, Linda.
Food pantry celebrates one year
events @ tech
By CAYCE MCDONALD Beat Reporter A year after the idea was conceived, the Tech food pantry has become a consistent and secure food source that benefits dozens of students. “There are a lot of students and employees of Tech that do fall under the poverty line,” said Kaitlin Salyer, assistant coordinator of University Services, the department that organizes the pantry. “I think that this is a good resource for them to use.” Located in the cafeteria of Foundation Hall, the food pantry has been largely successful thanks to ample food donations from various groups. So much food has been donated that in one year that the panty has outgrown its location. Salyer said an abundance of food is a good problem for a food pantry to have. “I have been more than happy with the amount of donations that have come in,” said Salyer. “We’ve had them come in from different student organizations, local churches, faculty and staff, and students, in general.” The pantry also benefits from the donation of perishable items. Fresh eggs from the Tech farm are regularly donated, and Stevens Street Care Center donates bread. Salyer said being able to provide more fresh food to those in need is one of the long-term goals of the pantry. The pantry gives two bags of food to each student in need of assistance. Also, one bag is given for each additional family member. Not only is the pantry providing food bag to students, the pantry has opened its doors to Tech employees, including third party company employees. “We started small with students and, now that we have seen that we have the monetary donations and the food donations coming in, it just seems like the logical idea to go ahead and open it up
November
22 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
All-Star Instrumental Symposium Bryan Fine Arts Building
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
TTU Jazz Ensembles Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
23 1:30 p.m.
Football vs Austin Peay Tucker Stadium
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Stephanie Veal, voice, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
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1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Samantha Grissom, clarinet, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Ryan Ramsey, saxophone, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Photo Services Students organize food in the Tennessee Tech’s food pantry due to large amounts of donations from the surrounding community. to them,” said Salyer. Coordinators have many goals and ideas to ensure the long-term success of the pantry. “In the future, we would like to see more baby items,” said Salyer. “We would like baby food and things like that. We have discussed have basic toiletry items. Fresh food is a big one. We always are coming up with new ideas. I think our biggest task at this point is just getting the word out.” Those in need of assistance from the pantry are asked to fill out an online application, which allows for the pantry volunteers to distribute
the appropriate food items to each individual. The Tech food pantry is a way to connect those who are at risk of going hungry to those who have a passion for helping others. “I think one of the coolest things is seeing how excited the people get when you give them all those bags of food,” said senior music business major Kolby Denham, who volunteers at the pantry. “They get so excited, and that’s pretty neat!” Food is distributed each Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Snowglobes shake up TAB Tuesday By LEE WHITEHEAD Beat Reporter The Tech Activity Board and the Office of Communications & Marketing’s Photo Services teamed up last week for the annual Snow Globe Giveaway. The giveaway was on the first floor of the RUC lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday of last week. Students had their pictures taken, printed, and placed into their own custom snow globe. “The thing that sets this year apart from other years is the amount of snow globes that were given away,” said Katie Williams, coordinator
of student activities. TAB bought over 1,500 snow globes for this year’s giveaway, which cost $4,000 (just under five percent of TAB’s annual budget.) “We’ve been doing this ever since I’ve been here, so probably eight years,” said Williams. “When we first started, we would order around 100 snow globes, and now it is one of the biggest giveaways we do all year.” “The only giveaway that draws more of a crowd than the snow globes are the BuildA-Bears,” said Williams. The Build-A-Bears event takes place in the spring. Williams said TAB’s budget comes from a fee of almost $5 that is added to every student account. All of TAB’s
giveaways and various other student activities come from this budget. Kevin Anderson is a graduate student working in the Student Activities Office. Anderson said TAB is putting out online applications this week for a spot on the TAB committee. “There is a committee chair in charge of giveaways,” said Anderson. “They basically decide on the weekly giveaways, and the special giveaways like the snow globes and Build-A-Bears.” For more information on TAB giveaways or how to apply for the TAB committee, visit the Student Activities Office in the RUC or go online at tntech.edu/ studentactivities/tab.
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Aubry White, piano, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Brittany Sluder, voice, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Alex Nelson, saxophone, Senior Student Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
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7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
TTU Horn Choir Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
26
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
SGA Town Hall Meeting Derryberry Auditorium
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The University Orchestra Wattenbarger Auditorium, Bryan Fine Arts Building
28
All Day
Thanksgiving- No Class
29
2 p.m.
Tommy West Barrel & Poles Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion: Main Arena
30
All Day
Tommy West Barrel & Poles Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion: Main Arena
29
2 p.m.
Tommy West Barrel & Poles Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion: Main Arena
December
02
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
United States Department of Justice Chapter 7 Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion: Multi-purpose Room
04
8 a.m.
Putnam County Retired Teachers Quarterly Meeting Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion: Multi-purpose Room
ENTERTAINMENT tntechoracle.com
Page 3 | November 22, 2013
‘The Best Man Holiday’ is a winner
James Wallace livens up quiet Poet’s crowd
By JAKE THREET Entertainment Editor
By SARAH TOWNSEND Guest Critic
Fans have been waiting 14 years for the sequel to the 1999 sleeper hit “The Best Man”. I, too, am a huge fan of the movie, but I’ve been waiting a shorter amount of time than some, because I didn’t watch the original until years after its release. When the news broke back in 2011 that Malcom D. Lee was developing a sequel to his successful predecessor, I was instantly filled with excitement. As time progressed, all nine original cast members joined the project and it was a go. The sequel, “The Best Man Holiday” opens with a quick recap leading up to the time of the current film. It helps those moviegoers who may not be familiar with the original see how the group of friends got to the point from which the new movie opens. From there, we dive right into the present day lives of every cast member and quickly see what each have been up to in the time since the first film. The first hour of the film jumps right into establishing the plot and getting everyone back together. From there, all hell breaks loose. Secrets, deceptions, and deep emotions all come out to play. Don’t let the commercials fool you, this movie is not all lollipop, rainbows, and filled with laughter. There is laughter, and it’s abundant at times. There is also plenty of drama, gut-wrenching moments that will drive a knife into your heart, and feel good moments that will warm your soul. My favorite thing about this film is the way that it feels real. It is unafraid to show a mixture of raunchy comedy, foul language, and devout faith all wrapped into one film. I appreciated that, maybe more than anything else, because it felt genuine to me. That is real life. That is how people react, deal with, and grow from events in his or her life. The relationships and the trials and tribulations this group of friends goes
Courtesy of IMDB
“The Best Man Holiday” opened in second place at the weekend box office with over $30.1 million.
through shines through like a real life experience. The film deals with relationships between spouses and friends in an exceptional way, yet shows their imperfections beautifully. It was wonderful to see the entire original cast reunited and back in action. Each character is so different in his or her unique way. The chemistry between all of them is still incredible. I know it’s hard to imagine nine cast members all having great chemistry, but it was true in 1999 and it is true now. Terrence Howard’s character, Quentin, is my favorite. Just when you think the drama is getting too high or the sadness is too much, he is there to hysterically lighten the mood. Monica Calhoun gives a strong, uplifting performance that stole my heart and emotions in the movie, and when you watch you will see why. I could go on about everyone else, but that could be a separate article in itself. They are all marvelous and, when watching the
film, you will see why. It is hard to write this review and not give away the details, plot, and ending. I will say this, though. From beginning to end, the film is absolutely outstanding and is pure joy to watch. It is everything fans wanted and more for the sequel, but there a lot of surprises in store that ultimately help this group of friends story evolve into something wonderful. Sure, there are things that audiences may see coming with hints of foreshadowing in the film, but, when it’s all over, that was really the only way to end this movie correctly. From a fan of the original, I give this film an A- rating. If the ending is set up like I think it’s supposed to, I cannot wait to watch what happens next with this group of friends. I recommend watching the first film before going to see the sequel because it will make you appreciate this new film so much more. “The Best Man Holiday” is rated R for language, sexual content and brief nudity.
Hannah’s top holiday movie picks By HANNAH BENJAMIN Entertainment Critic This time of year is huge for the movie industry. As someone who slings popcorn at our local theater, I can tell you personally how many people flock to our doors for family time and quality entertainment this time of year. These movies have generated a lot of buzz and will surely keep us busy at the local Highland 12, but more importantly give you all something to do during our beautiful five week break that can’t come soon enough. “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Opening this weekend is “Catching Fire”, the second in “The Hunger Games” series, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth. In this riveting action movie based on the books, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s Hunger Games win is shortlived. The evil President Snow is outraged as their
unconventional victory has kicked up a rebellion in some of the districts of Panem, and organizes a special 75th Hunger Games, selecting past victors to compete in yet another fight to the death. The film opens November 22nd and is rated PG-13 . “Frozen” This Thanksgiving, we have Disney’s kid-friendly “Frozen”. In this film, the fearless Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer in an epic, magical journey to stop her sister Elsa, who has trapped their town in an eternal winter with her icy powers. This film opens Thanksgiving, November 27th, and is rated PG. “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas” Just in time for Christmas, we will be treated to a number of fabulous movies, but none seem to generate as much buzz as the new Tyler Perry movie, “A Madea’s Christmas.” In this continuation of the series, Madea gets coaxed into helping a friend give her daughter a surprise visit in the country for the
holiday season. As the small rural town gets ready for its Christmas Jubilee, new secrets are revealed and hilarity ensues while Madea dishes out her own brand of holiday cheer. This film opens December 13th and is rated PG-13. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” In this sequel to one of the most quotable comedies of all time, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) returns with the whole gang to help launch the country’s first 24-hour news network in New York City. With the 70s behind him, Burgundy will have to fight to stay classy in unfamiliar territory. This film opens December 20th and id not yet rated. With so many films coming out this season, being bored is not an option this holiday! Honorable mentions to this list include “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “American Hustle,” “47 Ronin,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Stay safe and have a wonderful break!
What do you get when to mix a Nashville band and a Monday night at Cookeville’s Poet’s on the Square? Under normal circumstances, you get a spotty and less-thanenthused crowd of twentysomethings. However, James Wallace and the Naked Light’s Monday evening show was a delightful exception that awakened a sleepy audience. Phantom Farmer opened with soulful and smooth lyricdriven acoustic tunes and ended with an unexpected yowl. The solo project of Joel Mcanulty, also a Tennessee songwriter, did not disappoint the many who had gathered to hear rising talents, James Wallace and the Naked Light. Currently touring as a quartet, James Wallace and the Naked Light began their journey in a room full of eager Cookevillians drinking in every word and chord. Although their recent album, “More Strange News from Another Star”, features a saxophone player and was seven members strong, it is safe to say that the set captured the essence of what makes their album appealing to a diverse group of listeners. “Worst Things Have Happened” could be considered the defining track of the album. The video which featuring the band’s touring van can be described as a striking and
Courtesy of No Country for New Nashville
James Wallace and the Naked Light members (above) performed at Poet’s on the Square for more than an hour. eerie visual representation. It was released last week and can be viewed on vimeo. While classified as indiefolk, this label doesn’t quite do their sound justice. One part storytelling and two parts instrumental prowess, “More Strange News from another Star” is a fine example of seasoned songwriting. They stay true to their Nashville roots with hints of gospel influence while employing the use of unexpected musical devices. For example, the band would sing into the receiver of a repurposed rotary telephone, which gave some of their songs an unexpected, nostalgic twist. I often enjoy Nashville musicians, but many of them have a similar sound and keep simplistic lyrics. James Wallace’s lyrical style was anything but simple. What would begin soft and serene would end in a wild energetic frenzy from all members, jumping
and
howling the chorus. The highlight of the show was definitely when they played “Saved At The Bottom” from their first album, which was a rare treat as it is so infrequently played, several members were unsure of their parts in the song. This did not take away from the magic of the melody and front man Wallace’s half-sung, half spoken tale which spun together images of nature and misfortune. Find their music at jameswallace.bandcamp.com where you can hear the new album. Check out their 2009 album titled “I Smile All Day I Smile All Night” or catch them on their ongoing tour and buy one of their records. Tomorrow, James Wallace and the Naked Light are playing in Knoxville at Pilot Light. They will make their next appearance in their homebase Nashville at the Stone Fox with The Soil and the Sun.
‘Hunger Games’ fashion goes on sale By KIMMY MANNING Entertainment Critic Combine bright colors, vivid details and a dash of Nicki Minaj’s o b s c u r e selection and you’ve got yourself an outfit from the Capitol building. Yep, I said it; straight from the scenes of the “Hunger Games.” Why does this seem relevant? Well, fashionmerchandising company “Net-a-porter.com” is launching a high-end clothing line known as Capitol Culture. It is a collection of clothing designed by “Catching Fire” costume designer Trish Summerville. Fans of the series will soon be able to shop for outfits that are inspired by Effie, Katniss and some of the other prominent characters. Summerville’s collection will include “ready-to-wear clothing, jewelry, and leather goods, a mix of designer items inspired by the movie and original pieces designed by Summerville herself,” according to Entertainment Weekly. Also, according to the teaser on Net-A-Porter’s online page, this new line will include “laser-cut leather, streamlined silhouettes and dramatic eveningwear.” In addition to the rise of popularity concerning outfits in the films, an auction was held this week. Over 200 wardrobe pieces created by Judianna Makovsky from the first film were up for sale by Blacksparrow Auction to raise money for the MakeA-Wish Foundation. Items such as Katniss’s “Girl on Fire Gown” and her custom made distressed brown leather jacket began with the highest starting bids, at $10,000
and $5,000, respectively. Other merchandise included Effie’s reaping suit (starting bid $2,000), Peeta’s training uniform (starting bid $600), and the black and white uniforms worn by the Peacekeepers (starting bid $600). “Fashion plays an important role in The Hunger Games series and is especially prevalent in Catching Fire,” said Holli
Rogers, a fashion director of Net-a-Porter. “Fans of the franchise will see the film reference in the collection,” Rogers said in a recent press release. As the premier of Catching Fire began today, so the clothing line, Capitol Culture plans on publishing its website to all. For more information, visit http:// www.net-a-porter.com/ capitolcouturecollection.
OPINION
Send letters to the editor to 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.
Page 4 | November 22, 2013
tntechoracle.com
Tech’s registration process causes anxiety attacks JESSICA WILSON Guest Opinions Writer
When I’m having a bad day, I like to take a time-out and drive down a country road with my windows rolled down and Kings of Leon turned up. I climb into my brand-spanking new Jeep Grand Cherokee and cruise along until I feel relaxed. Then, the words “check engine soon” light up in red on my dashboard, and I suddenly realize I’m still driving my ’04 Pontiac Grand Prix that has a door that won’t unlock and is on the verge of breaking down every day. Talk about a dose of reality. The depressing fact that always diminishes any dream I have of owning a Grand Cherokee in the near future is that I don’t have a cool $30,000 to spend on a new car right now. I go to school full-time, and going to school full-time means working limited hours. Sadly, working limited hours does not add up to buying a new car. After all, $30,000 is a lot of money, right? Ironically enough, the bill that I have racked up at Tennessee Tech University since the fall of 2010 is just a few
dollars shy of being $30,000. According to Eagle Online, my total charges for attendance thus far at TTU come to $29, 340.89. Cha-ching. With the amount of money I’ve forked over to Tech for things like books, parking tickets and food combined with the student loans I’ll be paying off for years to come, you’d think I could at least register for classes each semester without having a nervous breakdown. For crying out loud, I could buy my dream car with the kind of money I’ve handed over to Tech! The registration process at Tech is so incredibly skewed that freshmen and sophomores are getting Monday and Tuesday registration times when they are signing up for classes like Biology 1010 and Psychology 2010, which are auditorium classes with 300 spots. On top of that, they have multiple years left of college to enroll in 3000 and 4000 level classes. This leaves juniors and seniors with Wednesday, Thursday and even Friday registration times to sign
up for core classes that have 15 to 20 spots and are only offered in the spring semester every 17 years. Okay, maybe it’s not every 17 years, but that’s how it feels. I have always been told that registration times are assigned randomly. In my opinion, a registration time that could leave a student needing to go to school an extra semester or two shouldn’t be left up to a random, luck-of-the-draw assignment. Reid Christenberry, chief information officer of Tech’s ITS department, said the registration times aren’t random. They are set up by the Registrar’s office on a priority system that is supposed to ensure each major has the classes available for their students to make academic progress on schedule. If their priority is to send juniors and seniors into fits of rage and panic over not getting the classes they need, they are successfully accomplishing their mission. There are few things that irritate me like being forced to beg for a permit to get into a course that I pay thousands of dollars to take each semester. There are also few instances in life when having seniority is a bad thing. With Tech handing out Monday registration times to
Letter to the Editor As a former Marine and exercise enthusiast, my first reaction to hearing of new plans to place a new FIT Center under construction was “hmm… cool.” I have been using the facilities for many years now with complete satisfaction. That reaction only lasted seconds until I then considered the other issues that in my opinion should take priority over this venture, namely parking. For years now, I have had to deal with an insufficient and inefficient parking situation. In order to make it to class on time, I am generally required to start looking for parking nearly half an hour in advance of my class. Most weeks, I burn at least a couple of gallons of high priced fuel, circling around and around parking lots in search of a vehicle leaving a space. I have had grades lowered, had less time on tests, and have had to deal with dirty looks from classmates, all due to tardiness
freshmen, it is clear that seniority means nothing to them. In my opinion, the most logical way to organize registration would be in relativity to graduation; the closer a student is to graduation, the earlier he or she gets to register. Sure, I’ve dropped nearly $30,000 on Tech in the last four years, as opposed to Mr. Freshman’s $5,000, but I love taking that Thursday night registration time over his Monday morning. Having altercations with department secretaries is exactly what I need a couple of weeks before finals. Not. The unfairness of Tech’s registration process is something I’ll never understand. There is no reason it should be so difficult. Tech is constantly marketing for more students, but they don’t have room for them all. They punish the current students by increasing enrollment but leaving the class sizes the same. More students should equal more teachers and bigger classes. It isn’t rocket science. It is common sense. We pay thousands of dollars to these people, so the least they could do is ensure an anxiety-free, simpler registration process for the students.
caused by having to park on the complete opposite end of campus from my classes. I have also had to pay several fines when the only parking left is in a faculty spot. In my opinion and that of nearly every student I converse with, TTU needs to consider this parking situation a priority. People can always modify their own personal free time to use the FIT facilities during a time of less student/alumni frequency. Unfortunately, most students cannot modify the time they have between classes just to find efficient parking. Additionally, the creation of more parking spaces is a drastically less expensive venture than that of constructing a new FIT center. I vote to put this FIT Center venture off until the parking situation is resolved.
Mike Gelembiewski magolembie31@students. tntech.edu Senior Music Business
Over commercializing Fitness is a failing of duty Christmas? SARAH DINGWALL
LYDIE-CLAIRE BROWN
Michael Brady Inc.
Assistant Opinion Editor
New design for the future Tech Intramural Sports and Fitness Facility coming to campus upon TBR approval.
Opinion Editor
What is a holiday without it is time to teach children what family? What would the holi- it is to give instead of receive. days be without commercials Make it a family project. selling all the toys a kid could I know that I can’t afford to want? I would love to find out buy anything for my three nephone day. ews and one niece, but I can give It wasn’t all them memories that that long ago we last longer than the enjoyed holidays “Admit it, un- hard plastic toy that without obnoxless you have a will go into the next ious commercials backbone made garage sale. one right after the of steel, it is hard Memories, not other. It was a time toys, are what will to resist a kid at last because they bewhen we could Christmas.” all just enjoy our come the legacy. families; even the I am planning terrifying aunt on getting a box of who always pinches your cheeks plain ornaments and having my even after you have turned 20. nephews make ornaments for Thanksgiving and our family. I want them to underChristmas have been mightily stand that it is better to give than abused by marketing schemes to receive. I want them to have and money grubbing big compa- fun and enjoy the memories. nies who want people to go into So this is my rebellion debt over the toy that their kid against the commercialization “has to have.” They make com- of Christmas and Thanksgiving. mercials that appeal to the kids My holidays will be spent with and parents don’t have much of my family, not me spending all a chance when it comes to their my money for a few moments kids and the pleading look or of smiles until someone breaks horrendous spelling errors on their toy. their Christmas list. Admit it, unless you have a backbone made of steel, it is hard to resist a kid at Christmas. I love getting presents, too, but I also understand the need for a budget during this holiday season. Don’t go broke over me, please. I do have a solution. Maybe
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As you all know, the tinely consult about what SGA University administration has could do for them. My constituplans for a new itness center. ents believe the idea rushed and The bill, “An Act to Build a New students pressured into voting Fitness/Intramural Facility”, for something undesired: a new submitted by SGA Senator fitness center is not what the Nathan Cole but admittedly re- people want. There are many things at searched and written by SGA President Clay Stubblefield, pro- Tech that need improvement poses not only the building of a more than our fitness center. Yes, significantly larger fitness cen- we do need a new science buildter on land we have not yet ac- ing. Yes, a green pedestrian camquired, but the levying of a new pus would be beneficial both for student fee to pay for it: $100 per foot traffic, landscape aesthetic, and overall campus health. And semester. I won’t lie to you: I ini- of course, additional parking is tially voted in favor of the bill, much needed. But what about but since then every time that a larger and newer Performing a friend, neighbor, or constitu- Arts complex? Additional housent from the College of Arts and ing for the overflow of students? Or the creation of Sciences shares with me their opin“Many improve- new and innovaion on the matter, I ments can be made, tive majors, such wish that I hadn’t. but this one seems as the very sucagritourism In fact, upon exto truly be just re- cessful major, a possible tended reflection, feathering the eagle, Film Studies and the only ones who seem to feel ve- not teaching it how Production major, or to soar.” the very first univerhemently about sity departments – the new center are those students who are already Classics and Philosophy? I love Tech. It has been a involved in several different orblessing to my life, and I would ganizations on campus. It is my belief in SGA poli- love to see it grow and contics and the American repub- tinue to improve the lives of lican tradition that calls me to Tennesseans, Americans, and veto this proposal. Not only International students alike. as an individual, but also as Many improvements can be an elected representative do I made, but this one seems to truthink that a new fitness center is ly be just re-feathering the eagle, an unnecessary expense. I was not teaching it how to soar. elected to represent students of the Arts and Sciences, who I rou-
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Responsibility. That is all this Tennessee Tech student wants. I attend this university not because of the “perks” of having an Eagle Card; I attend this university to receive an education. When I first heard about the plans for a new fitness center, I had mixed emotions. After further thought, it became clear to me how unfit (pun not intended) this plan is. Our current fitness center (although crowded) CAN accommodate the current student population. In a university so focused on RENOVATION over construction (the exception being the new science building), I am astounded by the thought of raising tuition for a brand new fitness center. South Hall, Tech East Village, Evins Hall, Southwest Hall, Warf Hall, all of these building are being renovated (and for good reason.) So why in the world would the Fitness Center, just barely reaching TWENTY-TWO years old, be set aside to build an entirely new fitness center? Why not merely renovate? Beyond those complaints, let me quote from the “Act to Build a New Fitness/ Intramural Facility” SGA Bill F13-009. “A new facility… would serve as a landmark on the
Andrew Ferry Environmental Chemistry Junior
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university campus.” I’m not sure about you, but I want the “landmark” of my university to be its academics, not a foolishly built fitness center. And honestly, I don’t know if I would be proud to attend a university that considers its “landmark” to be its gym. We are bombarded by problems at this university that are all VASTLY more important than not getting the time you wanted on racquetball court #4. Classes fill up impossibly fast and then go over capacity (sometimes by an extra 10 people), we’ve been putting students in MOTELS because we don’t have enough dorm rooms due to renovations, and DON’T even get me started on parking. The last thing I want to pay $100 extra per semester for is a new gym when we have a perfectly functional, young, fitness center. Please express your opinions (either in agreement or disagreement) to any member of the SGA. For specific people to point fingers at, Nathan Cole (Senator, College of A&S) submitted Bill F13-009 with Andrea Shook (Senator, College of A&S) sponsoring.
ALLISON MILLS, HAYDEN MCMILLEN, SARAH REESE, SARA SHANKS, WILLIAM
SHECKLER, PAIGE STANAGE, SARAH TATE, SARAH TOWNSEND, AARON VICK, CASEY WOODARD, WILL WEBB, REANNA YOUNG.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of Tennessee Tech University’s employees or of its administration.
SPORTS tntechoracle.com
Page 5 | November 22, 2013
Senior Farewell:
Lindsay Blakely asked seniors to reflect on their favorite moment as a Golden Eagle Zack Ziegler, WR
“The last five minutes of the Austin Peay game, my junior year, 2011. We were up 49-7 and the coaches started pulling starters out. That was when I knew we were going to win the OVC and go on to the playoffs.” Chad Zinchini, P
“I’ve had a good senior year. It’s been fun leading the conference in punting this season.”
FOOTBALL
Seniors look to close season with win By LINDSAY BLAKELY Beat Reporter
In Saturday’s season finale, the Tennessee Tech (47, 1-6 OVC) Golden Eagles will host winless in-state rival, Austin Peay (0-11, 0-7 OVC) at 1:30 p.m. in Tucker Stadium. Saturday is Senior Day and marks the last time 11 seniors will take the field. Tech played in 11 games this season before reaching their much needed bye week. “I’d love to get some of these guys who didn’t play two Saturdays ago back,” Watson Brown, head coach, said. “Our biggest goal this past week was health.”
The Golden Eagles went to Cape Girardeau, Missouri and trampled SEMO, 4116, while missing nine key players. Two weeks ago, starting quarterback Darian Stone had his best game of the season. Stone and the offense plan to keep the momentum rolling this Saturday against n the Governors. The Austin in Peay defense is ranked in the bottom half of all major defensive statistics in the OVC, setting up the Golden Eagles’ offensee well. Tech defense looks to continue its high level of
play Saturday, as the players are currently tied for second place in the conference with 24 forced turnovers for the season. Austin Peay ranks last in the OVC conference in scoring offense, passing offense, rushing offense, total offense, and pass efficiency. Tech’s junior linebacker,
Tra’Darius Goff, leads the conference with 96 total tackles. Redshirt junior Marty Jones is tied for second in the conference with 91 total tackles and closely follows Goff. Senior defensive end, Malcolm Mitchell, is tied for third in the conference with 6.5 sacks, as well. Mitchell ranks ninth in the conference with 10 tackles for a loss on the season. Saturday is not only Senior Day at Tucker Stadium, but it is also Military Appreciation. The Golden Eagles will be wearing new camouflage uniforms to honor the military.
Jerry King, DT
“When Coach Brown was jiggin’ in the locker room after we won the championship.”
Cory McDonald, DB
“The OVC championship two years ago was one of the best moments I’ve had. It was such a good year for Tech and such a good team. Not to mention the friendships I’ve made with my teammates throughout the years.”
Lamar Moore, NG
“In 2011, when we played Austin Peay to win the championship 49-7, and just remembering all the talks we had with Watson. He said, ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do,’ and that will always stay with me.”
Jamal Ferguson
Senior Cory McDonald runs down field to cover a kickoff in the season’s opening win against Cumberland 60-13.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Blake Adams, LB
“Winning the OVC and the bond we had together as a team, and being able to watch Coach Brown ‘Dougie’ in the locker room after receiving the trophy.” Jordan Johnson, NG
“My favorite moment was when we won the championship. I really believe it is one of the moments I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Just being a part of that year with that senior class and having the feeling of winning it and bringing it back to the city of Cookeville.”
Tech returns home after Miss State loss By JAMAL FERGUSON Sports Editor After a tough loss to the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (3-0) 90-45, the Golden Eagles women’s basketball team (1-2) will return home on Nov. 24 to play Valparaiso (0-4). The Crusaders, members
of the Horizon League, are currently winless after three games. They were preseason picked to finish last in their conference, also. The Golden Eagles’ home court stay will be short lived with only the Valparaiso game before they travel to Las Vegas for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout Nov.
29 and 30. They will continue the away games with a matchup against Alcorn St on Dec. 5 and South Alabama Dec. 7. Tech will return home to face the Lady Tigers of Memphis on Dec. 14 followed by the Florida International Lady Panthers Dec. 16.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Malcolm Mitchell, DE
“The first season when I got here and we played Oregon. I liked the fact that we got to show our talent against one of the best teams in the country.”
Wesley Sherrill, OL
“Beating Austin Peay and winning the OVC championship, since it hasn’t happened in so long here.”
Seth McDonald, LB
“The highlight of my years with Tech football is the great friends I’ve made because those friendships will last forever… and obviously winning that big ring two years ago.” Junior Javon Mckay throws down a fast break dunk in the Golden Eagles 92-39 win over Indiana-Kokomo. James Normand, OL
“It wouldn’t be just one moment. It would be the camaraderie we have especially in the offensive line room. We are a collective group that does stuff together.
James Dillon
Golden Eagles remain undefeated in the Hoop By JAMAL FERGUSON Sports Editor The Golden Eagles’ men’s basketball team (3-3) looks to put together its first streak of the 2013-2014 season on Nov. 23 with a win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee (4-2). After defeating Indiana-
Kokomo (0-6) on Nov. 21 92-39 in the Hooper-Eblen Center, Tech will take on the Panthers who are also looking to bounce back after a loss in their most recent game against DePaul Nov. 19. Tech traveled to Wisconsin-Milwaukee last season and defeated the Panthers 69-58 behind great
scoring from then senior guard Jud Dillard. The Golden Eagles have a four game home stand that started with the matchup against Indiana-Kokomo Nov. 21. The Golden Eagles’ next contest lies with Wis.Milwaukee, then in-state foe East Tennessee State comes to visit Nov. 26 from the
Eastern Time zone. Finally, Tech will face the newest inductee to the Western Atlantic Conference. Utah Valley will make its first appearance in the HooperEblen Center Nov. 29 to close out the month’s games and the home stand. Tech will spend almost all of December on the road.
NEWS Page 6 | November 22, 2013
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Appalachian Center Bid big on beards before break at BCM for Craft presents Holiday Festival By SARAH TATE Beat Reporter
By PAIGE STANAGE Beat Reporter
The Appalachian Center for Craft will host a Holiday Festival this season Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will have handcrafted holiday gifts and pictures with Santa. Friends of the Appalachian Center for Craft, a nonprofit organization, have sponsored mini workshops for the festival, which include bead making and scarf marbling. The proceeds from these workshops support outreach programs for students in fifth through 12th grade. This is the center’s first Holiday Festival that will have Santa coming to visit with children. Free pictures will be available. Those pictures can be used for free personalized holiday cards. The sales gallery will have a variety of holiday pieces which include jewelry, scarves, ornaments and more. Lindsey Maestri, exhibitions and programs manager at the Craft Center, said popular items among shoppers include hand-carved wooden ornaments and hand-blown glass ornaments. Along with the pieces at
the gallery, artists of these items will be showing demonstrations to the shoppers. There will be a holiday exhibition that has a wide variety of items. These are pieces from artists that the Craft Center would not normally sell out of season. “It’s new work every year and it’s work that’s not in the gallery the rest of the year,” said Maestri. Maestri said with new workshops, demonstrations, and a Santa appearance at the festival, the Craft Center’s faculty and staff are anticipating more families this year. Gail Looper, gallery manager at the Center, said the festival has changed dramatically throughout the years. “Looking back, it started off as a more exclusive whitetablecloth event. Now, it’s grown into a more open festival for everyone of all ages,” said Looper. The festival will be open Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Along with the galleries and demonstrations, there will be guided tours of the different art studios and a special holiday menu available at the Center’s Redbud Cafe.
Students will auction off their beards to raise money for global missions Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Students will be able to bid on a beard at the BCM’s annual Beard Auction. Winners can shave the beards however they wish. Money raised will go toward students’ summer missions and projects, including trips to India, China, and New York. “Last year our BCM president had his beard shaved really badly,” said BCM director John Aaron Matthew. “He had to go into his senior engineering presentation with Dr. Oldham and a film crew, so he had to explain why his beard looked like that.” The students must keep their beard shaved in whatever fashion for 24 hours. This year participants will be wearing special shirts to inform others of why their beard may look
ridiculous. “This is important because we’re trying to do everything we can to make costs less expensive for students that are willing to give their spring breaks and summers to help people around the world,” said Matthew. Matthew said some students are putting their hair up for auction as well. “It raises money for missions so I’m willing to bid high,” said junior interdisciplinary studies major Rachel Larkins. Larkins has gone on mission trips to Haiti, New Orleans, inner-city missions, and will go to Greece during spring break. “When you go on mission trips, you have more motive to support because you know what it’s like,” said Larkins. Matthew brought the idea to the BCM after participating while in college at Louisiana Tech University. He said the fundraiser usually brings in between $700 and $1000 with 75 to 100 students bidding, but he hopes for a larger turnout. “It’s fun and exciting be-
Ben Hay Josh Howard patiently waits to see his new face as Alya Whittaker shaves his beard last year. The BCM beard auction is held every November in order to raise money for mission trips across the country and around the world. cause I have several friends who are participating,” said Larkins, who wants to give her friend either a handlebar moustache or
a beard like Seneca Crane from “The Hunger Games” movie. The BCM will accept cash, credit, or check from bidders.
NO, REALLY, WHOSE LINE IS IT? Braden Wahl (left) and Houston Fehrman (right) perform at the Backdoor Playhouse during an improvisation night, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The event is performed by the Tech Players. This is the second time the Playhouse has hosted this event. Photo courtesy of Drake Fenlon
Campus increases security in response to thefts By WILLIAM SHECKLER Beat Reporter Tech students need secure their car radios after last week’s string of vehicle break-ins. Five break-ins to student and faculty vehicles occurred last week with only high-end radios stolen from the vehicles. University Police are investigating these reports. According to police reports, most of the incidents happen around the Murphy Hall parking lots with one occurring
near Browning/Evins Hall. The radios ranged from $100 to $200. “We’re increasing patrols in order to catch the thief or thieves responsible,” Gay Shepherd, Chief of the Tech Police Department, said in response to the thefts. One police report mentioned an incident when Officer Michael Lambert was patrolling the residence halls on the Nov. 17. He noticed glass shards next to one the vehicles and, when he further investigated,
he noticed the radio was missing and the glove box had been searched. The victim stated that nothing, besides the radio, was missing from the car. Another person lost a radio because the rear door was unlocked. Another vehicle had been left behind Jobe Hall for the weekend when it was burglarized. Vehicle owners need to take precautions to prevent breaking and entering from happening, such as hiding items in the trunk. “I would recommend
that vehicle owners with anything of value in them to remember to remove or hide them out of view,” said Shepherd. “Also, try remembering to take the radio faceplate off or cover it up.” If you have information about any of these crimes or any others, call Crime Stoppers at 520-STOP (7867). Crime Stoppers pays up to a $1,000 reward for confidential information.
By DRAKE FENLON Managing Editor
phrase “Get Connected” prominently displayed. Additionally, the button pins were green commemorative America Recycles Day themed button pins. In addition to SEAC’s event on campus event, the Cookeville Clean Commission held a larger event with musical guests, games, and food in Dogwood Park on Saturday. The event was book ended by two separate community trash pickups on Thursday and Sunday. SEAC president Carolyn Huppmann said she hopes that all Tech students recycle. “It is so easy,” said Huppmann. “Tech has done a lot to help students be more eco-friendly.” Huppmann said with the bike share program, ample number of recycling bins, and water bottle filling stations spread across campus, she is surprised people still don’t recycle. America Recycles Day is an event celebrated annually across the country as a part of the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful and partially funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.
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The TTU Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) occupied South Patio during dead hour Nov. 14 as the group participated in a nationwide environmental awareness day. The group passed out pro-recycling buttons, green eco-conscious water bottles, special event t-shirts and candy to those crossing South Patio. All of this was to done raise awareness about recycling. All items passed out, except the candy, were made from post-consumer recycled materials. Visitors to the table received a water bottle along with a shirt and button. The Sustainable Campus Committee provided the bottles. SEAC purchased the buttons and shirts for the event with money applied for through the S.O.L.O. fund. Student and SEAC member Ben LaCroix designed the shirts that were handed out during America Recycles Day. The sky blue shirts feature a person listening to headphones created out of a system of roots. The bottom of the design has the