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Friday, September 27, 2019
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Volume 104 | Issue 2 | Free in single copy
Tech’s primary news source since 1924
Fraternity suspension lifted By ABBY DYKES & MIRANDA MAYNARD
Reporters
Tech officials lifted a six-day suspension against Phi Gamma Delta members last week and assigned them a remediation plan after deeming a videotaped incident a “juvenile prank” and not hazing. The “incident” at the chapter house on Sept. 11, involved Phi Gamma Delta members forcing a new member into a shower with a bag over his head, according to documents obtained by The Oracle from an open records request. “The incident was a juvenile prank played by a few members to celebrate another’s birthday,” headquarters executive Rob Caudill said in a Sept. 19 email to Oracle staff. Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FIJI, has been on campus since 1981 and currently has 80 members, including 35 new members, FIJI President Landon Al-
“The Chapter leadership must inform all members that throwing brothers or new members in the shower as a prank must cease immediately. This directive is in place in perpetuity.”
- Todd Rotgers, Phi Gamma Delta national officer lison said. The five-point remediation plan, sent to Tech officials from FIJI headquarters on Sept. 17, includes an
prevention programs and completing a workshop. “The Chapter leadership must inform all members that throwing brothers or new members in the shower as a prank must cease immediately. This directive is in place in perpetuity,” Phi Gamma Delta national official Todd Rotgers said Sept. 17. The alleged victim’s mother emailed headquarters Sept. 12 concerning the investigation. “I am aware that someone has raised concerns about last night and the allegations of hazing. However, that could not be further from the truth,” the mother wrote. “We knew it was going to happen and told the boys to send us pictures.” A 20-second Snapchat video obtained by The Oracle reveals a man with his hands tied behind his back, his head covered and his ankles tied together. He is being forced into a shower by what appears to be three
“end shower prank activity,” attending multiple hazing
See FRATERNITY, page 2
Tech’s online courses
remain cheaper than TN eCampus courses By EMMA KENNER
Reporter
Despite increased fees, taking online courses at Tech is still cheaper than taking the same courses through a similar statewide program Tech officials said. This semester, a 40% fee for online courses became the topic of discussion among many students who were unaware of the fee. “The difference is with Tennessee eCampus you pay 100% of the tuition rate plus the online fee. With Tennessee Tech’s online courses, it is counting your tuition rate as half of 12 hours so you don’t pay that additional tuition fee so they really are less expensive even though you are paying an extra online fee,” Claire Stinson, vice president for planning and finance, said. President Phil Oldham and Stinson addressed the questions brought up by students at Chat with the President on Sept. 19. Oldham sponsors the event every semester to connect with students and address questions about Tech. At the event, Oldham said Tech bases the online fees off of those provided by TN eCampus Tennessee eCampus, a secondary online educational tool offered by Tennessee Board of Regents, launched in 2016 to provide more options in obtaining a degree online. The online campus offers over 500 different degrees and are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Some students were not aware of the additional fee. “I truthfully didn’t even realize there was an extra fee until a friend mentioned it to me,” junior Emily Price said. The additional fee for online classes has risen $14 since 2015 which is almost an 11% increase according to the Tech website. Some students believe this additional fee increase diminishes the convenience of online courses. “I know students who take online classes because of the convenience but adding an extra 40% onto the cost takes that convenience away,” sophomore Lacey Lee said. Lee questioned why the fees are in place since online classes “require no extra effort from the school.” “The online classes are the exact same set up as the iLearn page for each class and there isn’t an extra fee to have iLearn,” Lee said. Will Byrum, a graduate assistant from the bursar office, said this additional fee is to cover infrastructure and resources required to deliver online courses and to fund the development of new online courses in See ONLINE, page 2
Kyle Davis | Contributor
Members of the College of Agriculture prepare for this year’s Fall Festival at the Hyder-Burks Pavillion taking place this weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tech to celebrate Fall Festival By ALEXIS AGEE
Reporter
Nearly 500 people are expected to attend this year’s Fall Festival at Tech’s Hyder-Burks Pavilion this weekend, an organizer said. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. HyderBurks Pavilion is located on Gainesboro Grade less than two miles west of Tech and belongs to the College of Agriculture. Students use the facility year-round to raise livestock, grow vegetables and conduct events such as the festival. Dr. Dennis Duncan, director of Tech’s College of Agriculture, said the festival originated about six years ago in a former agriculture concentration called agritourism. Agritourism experts focus on inviting residents of urban areas to experience rural life on the farm. “I think it’d be a great opportunity for Tech students
“It was a joy seeing kids’ faces light up because of the activities and prizes and things they were able to get at the fall fun festival.”
- Kyle Davis, former Agritourism Association President
to come out and see the festival,” Duncan said, “and it’s fun to watch the kids.” The festival is family oriented, free to the public and includes events such as free pumpkins, a hay maze, face painting, rubber duck races, an observation bee See FESTIVAL, page 2
Nursing students go to Cuba Quarterly board of trustees
meeting highlights rankings By LOGAN STALEY
Co-Managing Editor
Photo provided by Dr. Melissa Geist
The students are participating in a home health visit, Chelsea Pickett, a senior nursing student, is on the right in a green shirt talking with the patient.
SEE STORY ON PAGE 2
Tech’s enrollment, retention rates and the naming of two buildings and a lecture hall are highlights from the quarterly board of trustees meeting on Tuesday. University President Phil Oldham gave his report on university statistics and rankings. Tech ranked No. 135 among 400 national universities in the U.S. News and World Report Oldham said. Tech is one of three Tennessee universities to be ranked on this list. “Among Tennessee public universities we rank second in the state in terms of student retention rate—the rate at which students come back after their first year,” Oldham said.
77 percent of first year Tech students come back for the next year. Tech students graduate on average with $16,532 of debt and an average starting salary of $55,200 which is the best for any public school in Tennessee Oldham said. The trustees approved the names of two buildings on campus and a lecture hall. They named the Learning Resources Center in honor of Horace M. Jake Jeffers who was an educator from Scott county and a life-long supporter of Tech. They also named the Alumni Center the Varsity Building. The Lab Sciences Lecture Hall was named in honor of Harry Stonecipher, a 1960 Tech graduate who went on to become the President and CEO of Boeing Co., who was also a supporter of Tech.
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