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Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | 38505
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Volume 94 | Issue 3 | Free in single copy | September 24, 2010
Counseling Center to Alcohol banned at greek events present Dangers of Binge Drinking By BRANDON GOODWIN Sports Editor
All alcohol has been banned at greek life parties and events for an indefinite time period, due to Tech fraternities violating basic policies. According to Mark Ochsenbein, director of student activities, these violations took place during three greek parties last Friday night at the houses of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi and Kappa Sigma. Ochsenbein arrived at the SAE house around 11 p.m., as the party was beginning. “It’s good to go check to see what’s going on and see if we’re following policies and procedures,” he said. “And if we’re not, we need to fix it.” All parties must be registered through the Greek Life Office and, according to coordinator Katie Williams, all three of the parties Friday night were registered correctly. “There are times I do go out and times I don’t,” Ochsenbein said. “This was the first one [of the year.]” The number of people allowed to attend the party is determined by the number of members throwing the party. “[The parties] are all by guest invitation only,” Ochsenbein said. “It should be considered an exclusive party.” When Ochsenbein arrived at the SAE house, he observed people entering the party who were not on the guest list. “People were there that shouldn’t have been there,” Ochsenbein said. “It’s very critical that you control who’s coming in and who’s not. If you don’t know who people are that are coming in, you don’t know what might happen.”
By BAILEY MORGAN Staff Writer
The Counseling Center will host a workshop on the dangers of binge drinking at 11 a.m. Nov. 4 in the RUC Tech Pride Room. “The workshop will cover binge drinking,” Patricia Smith, counseling center director, said, “but it will be more about alcohol and alcohol poisoning.” Some topics set for discussion include symptoms of alcohol poisoning, how to calculate blood alcohol concentration, and what to do if a friend passes out after consuming alcohol. “One sign of alcohol poisoning,” Smith points out, “is if your friend is taking eight breaths or less per minute, that friend needs medical help.” Smith will also present a Number “friendship pact” at the workof breaths shop and ask students to sign it. per minute The pact involves stipulations to indicate about alcohol responsibility. “The pact means that when alcohol we are going out, we are going to poisioning watch out for each other,” Smith said. The friendship pact also contains conditions for friends to call for help if any symptom of alcohol poisoning exists and to not be angry if a friend seeks help for the pact signer if they are in danger. “If you’re a good friend,” Smith said, “you are going to watch out for your friends and not be afraid to call for help.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s BAC to 0.08 percent or above. A man can typically reach this BAC by consuming five or more drinks in two hours, and a woman can reach this by consuming four or more in a two hour period. Smith will define what constitutes a single drink at the workshop. “Yes, people do drink,” Smith said. “If you do decide to drink, be responsible. Obey the laws, know what your body can handle, and don’t drive.”
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Ochsenbein said that after having their identifications checked, attendees are then verified on the guest list. “If they’re not on there, they’re not supposed to come into the party,” Ochsenbein said. “That was a violation. We’re going to fix that.” According to Ochsenbein, there were too many people in the party who were not on the list. “I closed that party right then as a result. “When I was trying to turn people away from the SAE house, they were showing up at the Kappa Sig and Sigma Chi houses,” Ochsenbein said. After leaving the SAE house, Ochsenbein went to the Kappa Sig and Sigma Chi houses. However, the same violations were taking place at those parties as well. “There was no control,” he said. “They’ll say there was control, but there really wasn’t.” He also said he observed underage drinking at all three parties. ”As a result of all the infractions that I saw, I froze everything,” Ochsenbein said. “We’re not going to have any more parties with alcohol until we get all this figured out.” Ochsenbein said the policies that they follow now have been in place for years, but they are going to look into alternatives. “Our parties aren’t terrible “Animal House,” out-ofcontrol deals, but there were some policies that weren’t being followed,” Williams said. “We’re going to have to figure out an easier way for the fraternities to follow those policies and make it safer for our chapters and for our students.” “We’re looking at other
universities and their policies and procedures to see how they are doing things,” Ochsenbein said. “We might adopt some of [those] if they
make s e n s e and will help us do our job here.” The Greek Life Office makes sure that everyone in the greek community is aware of these policies. “The rules have been made available to them,” Williams said. According to Ochsenbein and Williams, the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity is already on probation for a similar incident. He said that violating policies and procedures or state laws are grounds for a
chapter to be put on probation, typically a ban on alcohol events for a period of time, community service, and even a ban from Homecoming events. Ochsenbein believes it is unfair for the entire greek community to take a black eye for these incidents. “Even though alcohol gets 100 percent of the attention, it’s a very small part of all the things that the greeks do,” he said. “It puts a blemish on it,” he said, “but they’re doing great things on campus. “Our girls are doing great in our sororities. Our sororities are breaking records on how great their grades are.” Ochsenbein and Williams held a meeting with the heads of each chapter Wednesday night to discuss the ban and to offer any clarifications that were needed. “There’s no organization that’s perfect,” Ochsenbein said. “We’ll figure it out, and we’ll be better for it. “They can continue to do the parties as long as there is no alcohol. If they feel like they can’t do that, [the parties] will be cancelled until we can figure this out.” Ochsenbein also addressed rumors of why the parties were shut down. “There were absolutely no kegs,” he said. “Kegs are not allowed. They all know the rules.”
Equal pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter to speak at Tech Ledbetter will share her experiences concerning gender-based pay inequality By TALLULAH GILLIAM Copy Editor
Photo by Jason Wallis
Pay inequality will be discussed by Lilly Ledbetter, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act namesake, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Derryberry Hall Auditorium. The presentation, expected to last about 40 minutes, will be followed by a question and answer session and a reception. “I’m certain that students will relate to her and enjoy her, as well as learn something that will benefit them as they pursue their future careers,” Diana Lalani of the Women’s Center said. This is a Center Stage
event hosted by the Women’s Center and the communications program. It is free and open to the public. Current figures show the average woman makes around 78 cents for every dollar her male contemporaries earn. This affects everyone, every family, every community. Families are dependent on a woman’s income now more than ever. “College students are shocked because there are equal pay laws on the books, but they are not always adhered to,” Ledbetter said. “I can’t fault these students, as I was once so trusting.” Brenda Wilson, communications program di-
rector, suggested bringing Ledbetter here to Lalani at the Women’s Center equal pay event two years ago. Tech is one of several institutions, including Harvard and Georgetown, to which Ledbetter has been invited. Ledbetter worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Gadsden, Ala. from 1979 to 1998. For most of those years, she was an overnight area manager, a position dominated by men. While her salary was comparable to her male counterparts when she began, a disparity formed and grew over the years. By the end of 1997, as the only female with her title, she was making between 15 and 40 percent less than
the men in the same position. Ledbetter learned of the disparity when an anonymous co-worker put a note into her mailbox at work that listed the pay of Ledbetter and three men in her position. Due to Goodyear’s pay confidentiality policy, which she signed, this was the first proof Ledbetter had of the pay inequality she had suspected for years. “Goodyear acknowledged that it was paying me a lot less than men doing the same work,” Ledbetter said when speaking to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Edicatopms and Labor in 2007. See “Ledbetter“, page 6
Quiz: Could you pass the U.S. Naturalization Test?
Football opens OVC play at SEMO
IN THIS EDITION Page 2
OPINION Page 3
SPORTS
Backdoor Playhouse prepares for performance Page 4
ENTERTAINMENT
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OPINION
Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu. Include your name, e-mail 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 content. www.tntechoracle.com
Page 2 | September 24, 2010
Could you pass the test?
What determines citizenship?
The following questions come from the U.S. Naturalization Test, according to www.usgovinfo.about.com. They have been rewritten in multiple choice form.
Which of these powers is given to the states? a. provide education b. create an army c. declare war d. make treaties
Editorial Editor
Which right is not reserved solely for American citizens? a. vote b. apply for federal job c. serve in the military d. run for office When was the Constitution written? a. 1607 b. 1764 c. 1776 d. 1787 Which of these men was a writer of the Federalist Papers? a. Thomas Jefferson b. John Jay c. Thomas Paine d. John Q. Adams Answers: 1. a, 2. c, 3. d, 4. b
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, A few points about the inflammatory article written about UT. Mr. Goodwin can bash UT all he wants. Go for it. But, if The Oracle is seeking to find new readers and keep the two they have, then I would not try to alienate the Tennessee fans at Tech. I would have hoped that The Oracle sports editor would have displayed a little common courtesy and sense. I know that none of us go to
the University of Tennessee. I get that. We attend Tennessee Tech, and we are all Golden Eagles. However, Mr. Goodwin failed to see that Tennessee has a strong fan and alumni base in the Upper Cumberland. If The Oracle is seeking to attract more advertisers, then do not alienate businesses whose heads are alums of Tennessee. Did Pearl cheat? Yes, and he admitted it. Calipari at Kentucky has cheated twice,
EMILY BOOKER
not admitted to it, run two programs into the ground, and has subsequently got a free pass by the NCAA. And his joke at the end was clever, clever in the sense that joke has been told time and time again. You have your opinion, Mr. Goodwin. I have mine as well. Let’s just hope this stunt doesn’t cost you the readers you have. Casey Elrod cwelrod42@tntech.edu
I was born lucky. I didn’t have to fill out paperwork or take a test or hurdle red tape to become an American. I was just born on American soil. Should being born in this country guarantee you citizenship? I always thought so. The Constitution makes mention of a “natural born Citizen” and says that you have to be one to run for the office of president or vice president. The Fourteenth Amendment, to ensure that former slaves received citizenship, clarified “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Considering how muddied the waters of Constitutional law can be sometimes, this one seems pretty clear cut. But the recent conversations on illegal immigration and “anchor babies” has made us take a second look at what seemed to be a simple right. The millions of illegal immigrants in the United States produce hundreds of thousands of American-born children each year. These children qualify for benefit programs, including welfare, Medicaid and education. And upon turning 21, they can sponsor the rest of their family to become American citizens. It’s surely a burden
on the taxpayers created by illegal actions. That is why some feel that children of illegal immigrants should not receive automatic citizenship. Only those born here legally or those who go through the legal channels should receive the benefits of being an American. After all, many countries don’t have birthright citizenship. Many in Europe require at least one parent to be a citizen as well. A bill introduced to the house in 2009 is calling for birthright citizenship to only be granted if one or both of the child’s parents are legal immigrants or citizens. It currently has 92 co-sponsors. By taking away the citizenship of the child, the government would prevent many illegal immigrants from having a sponsor for citizenship down the road. But America has birthright citizenship for a reason. It was created to ensure that everyone received the rights laid out in the Constitution. If everyone in America had to take the citizenship test to become a citizen…well, let’s just say I have doubts about how many of us would pass the test. Is illegal immigration wrong? Absolutely. That’s why it’s called illegal. Is it a problem? Absolutely. But taking away citizenship of children born on American soil does not solve the problem. A child should not pay
Gruwell teaches tolerance and development SARAH TOWNSEND Asst. Editorial Editor
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for the sins of the parents. Illegal immigrants should be prosecuted for breaking the law. And perhaps more importantly, business owners who employ illegals should be prosecuted. Numbers indicate that immigration to the United States remained the same this year as last year. This made headlines because for years, the number of immigrants sharply increased every year. People will always come to America to seek freedom and amnesty, but most come for the opportunity for a better life. The recession has made America less attractive. Without people hiring illegals, there would be virtually no illegal immigration. It is not “anchor babies” who keep illegals here, but jobs. Once we take citizenship away from children with illegal parents, we set a precedent of denying citizenship to others who aren’t ideal. And how many generations does this affect? My ancestors travelled here when American Indians ruled the land. I doubt we filed the proper paperwork, so I guess I’m an illegal by proxy as well. Taking away an American’s citizenship is taking away his rights and freedoms. What about taking away your right to vote if one of your parents commits a felony? How about not being able to get a passport, get a federal job, or receive any financial aid? Children born on U.S. soil deserve birthright citizenship. It’s not completely fair. It creates problems and costs taxpayer money. But it is a clear-cut American right.
Remember last week when I mentioned that our teachers don’t have to inspire us like Sandra Bullock in the movie, “Freedom Writers”? Well I have decided to retract that statement for two reasons. First, Hillary Swank, not Bullock, played the teacher in “Freedom Writers,” and second, teachers should inspire their students to want to learn like that. If you don’t have the will and dedication to learn, technical training is useless. In this case, personal growth is
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key in the classroom. If you have never seen the movie, you should see it and decide for yourself. A new teacher, Erin Gruwell, takes on an entire class of “unteachable” students in Long Beach, Calif. Through what some call unorthodox methods of teaching, she takes her students from not caring about their education to graduating high school. Some even continue on and graduate college. She also taught them tolerance, compassion and other valuable life lessons that
didn’t necessarily pertain to a degree. It’s an inspirational film that makes it obvious why personal growth in the classroom is as important as job training. Did I mention that this is a true story and there’s a real-life Erin Gruwell? Well it is, and Gruwell will be at Tech at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Derryberry Auditorium. Tech’s Sociology Club is bringing this speaker, so students and faculty can learn from her. I suggest checking out this Center Stage event. You can decide for yourself if personal growth is a key part of education, and you may even get extra credit from some of your teachers if you are one of those people who only care about their grades.
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WILL HOUSLEY Asst. Managing Editor
BRANDON GOODWIN Sports Editor
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ROSS HARVEY Asst. Sports Editor
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CHUCK ACHESON Entertainment Editor
EMILY BOOKER Editorial Editor
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Tennessee Technological University--nondiscriminatory on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities including employment and admission of students to the University as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and regulations based therein and published in CFR, part 86. Tennessee Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.
BEAT REPORTERS: Brittany Anderson, Kyle Buckner, Brandi Campbell, Courtney Clifford, Matthew Davis, Sarah DeRossett, Katrina Dvorken, Lee Ferris, Lindsey Gore, Julie Graham, Candice Griggs, Hannah Harris, Brandon Jelson, Pavel Koshkin, Jodi Lawrence, Leasa McCall, Bailey Morgan, Justin O’Dell, Ariel Perry, Aleksandr Peterson, Jonathan Pierce, Ashlee Polk, Christina Riddle, Brittany Ritzman, Kaitlin Salyer, Ashley Smith, Dustin Smith, Rachel Stine, Evan Taylor, Cassie Tesauro, Isaac Wright
SPORTS Page 3 | September 24, 2010
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Golden Eagles begin quest for OVC title By BRANDON GOODWIN Sports Editor
Richard Nixon was president the last time the Tennessee Tech football team won an outright Ohio Valley Conference championship (1972). The members of that championship team are now eligible to receive senior citizen discounts at Applebee’s. Some of them have children who have graduated from Tech and now have children themselves. In other words, Tech is due. The Golden Eagles (1-2, 0-0 OVC) begin the OVC portion of their schedule tomorrow as they go on the road to take on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (2-1, 10 OVC). This will be the last opportunity for the 11 seniors on the Tech roster to win a conference championship. “If I leave without a ring,” said senior Henry Sailes, “it’ll feel like I’ve not done my job.” Sailes, who earned SportsCenter’s Top Play the last time Tech played at SEMO, believes the team is well-prepared for this week’s contest. “I feel confident,” Sailes said. “I feel sure that we’re going to bring home a win. In their last meeting, the Golden Eagles topped SEMO 28-16 at Tucker Stadium in
2009. Tech has won the last four in a row against the Redhawks and leads the overall series 11-7, dating back to 1991. “We’re ready to start against them,” said senior Charlie Seivers. “This could be one of the biggest games of the season. “SEMO has a good team this year. I think we’re ready to go and ready to play them.” Tech opened the season against Arkansas and TCU who are both ranked in the top ten this week. The Golden Eagles then played a weathershortened game against Lane College in which Tech won 43-0 in under 25 minutes of play. “The last three weeks have been ups and downs, but we’re excited to get to the OVC and play against SEMO who’s having a great season so far,” said Seivers. The 6-foot-3inch Knoxville native thinks he and the other seniors have laid a good foundation for the future of the program. He also knows that an OVC championship this season is Sailes not out of reach. “We’ve already done a lot around here since I first got here,” he said. “It would be amazing to leave here with a ring.” Head coach Watson Brown knows his team has a
Houck Stadium, the home of the Redhawks, was constructed in 1930 for $150,000. lot of work to do before they can begin thinking about a championship. ”I don’t think we’re as good as we can be right now,” Brown said, “but it’s time for us to jump into the league and go play. “We’ve got to step up to the plate early, or we can put ourselves in a tough spot.”
After playing two Football Bowl Subdivision teams and having a short week last week, Brown is pleased that Tech does not currently have any major injuries. “I think we’re pretty healthy, which was a major concern to me going into the season,” he said. According to Brown, the
only injury concern for the Golden Eagles is Caleb Mitchell, who is listed as questionable this week with a groin injury. “Caleb is the only questionable one we’ve got,” he said, “but he told me [Tuesday] that he thinks he’ll be ready to go.” “It’s an important game,”
SEMO Sports Information
Brown said. “We need to go win this first one.” Kickoff for Saturday’s game is slated for 6 p.m. at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The game will be broadcast on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via Magic 98.5 and Free TeamLine. For more information, visit www.TTUSports.com.
Tech football schedule ranks toughest in NCAA Division I PRESS RELEASE
Watson Brown knew the schedule his team would face this season was tough. But just how tough is Tech’s 2010 slate, which began on the road at FBS No. 17 Arkansas followed by a trip to FBS No. 4 TCU in the first two weeks? Tougher than Tennessee. Tougher than Georgia. Tougher than Virginia Tech. Tougher than…everybody. According to the Sagarin college football rankings, a computerized listing of all 245 NCAA Division I teams, both FBS and FCS, the Golden Eagle schedule ranks No. 1 nationally as the most difficult. “I’m not surprised,” Brown said. “Those first two games would test any football team, and we have some really good teams ahead of us. The important thing right now is to just look ahead to the next game and try not to get caught up in those kinds of numbers. “The season really begins right now for our team, with our game at Southeast Missouri,” Brown said. “They are an awfully good football team. They haven’t played at
home yet so they’ll have a big crowd, and we better just be ready to go play.” Tech is one of two FCS teams listed among the 15 most difficult schedules nationally, with Northern Arizona ranked 12th. Several local schools are listed among the 15 toughest schedules, including Tennessee at number 10, Western Kentucky 11th, Vanderbilt 14th and Georgia 15th, but none can compare with the Golden Eagles, so far. In the actual team rankings, the Golden Eagles are listed at 155 following those two games, which is second highest among the nine Ohio Valley Conference teams. The Sagarin rankings include only games against FCS and FBS foes, so the game against Lane does not figure into Tech’s rankings or difficulty of schedule. Jacksonville State is currently the highest ranked team in the OVC, listed at 102. The Gamecocks’ schedule is ranked the 185th toughest. Tech is at 155 in the rankings, and this week’s opponent, Southeast Missouri, is next at 167. Following the Redhawks in the rankings are Eastern Kentucky (190) Austin Peay (194), UT Martin (202), Eastern Illinois (209), Tennessee
State (223) and Murray State (228). After their jaunt to Cape Girardeau this weekend, the Golden Eagles will be back in Tucker Stadium next week for their second – and final – Thursday night game of the season. Tech hosts UT Martin in a 7 p.m. game Thursday, the first in defense of the Sgt. York Trophy. “Being ranked as the toughest schedule in the nation says a lot about what coach Brown and his studentathletes have been up against early in the season, and what they will face in the coming weeks,” said Mark Wilson, Tech director of athletics. “It’s something that our fans can rally around as the Golden Eagles try to win an Ohio Valley Conference championship,” Wilson said. “It reminds our fans just how important their support will be each week and how much of a difference they can make for the football team by buying tickets and showing their support at our four remaining home games.” Tickets for the UT Martin game, as well as season tickets, are on sale at the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling 931-372-3940.
2010 Tech Football Schedule Sep. 4 Sep. 11 Sep. 16 Sep. 25 Sep. 30 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 * OVC Game % Senior Day
at Arkansas at TCU Lane at SEMO* Tenn.-Martin * at Austin Peay * Eastern Ill. * at Tennessee St. * at Murray St. * Eastern Ky. *& Jacksonville St. *%
L, 44-3 L, 62-7 W, 43-0 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 6:00 PM
& Homecoming All times Central
Tech Sports Information
Tech soccer hosts Radford Saturday By JOSEPH GWYNN Staff Writer
Tech’s soccer team will end the non-conference portion of its season with a game against Radford University at 1 p.m. tomorrow. With Ohio Valley Conference play just around the corner for the Golden Eagles, they will look to use this game to tune up some things in order to compete effectively. The team has had a productive season so far during non-conference play, playing teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Louisiana Tech to help them get better and find their strengths and weaknesses against better competition. This week should be no different.
The Golden Eagles played Radford last year and suffered a tough loss when Radford scored a goal to go ahead in the last seven minutes of the contest, leaving Tech with a somewhat bitter taste. “This week in practice, we have been focusing on our fitness,” senior forward Brooke Mayo said. “We have been focusing on being able to compete from whistle to whistle. We have barely even touched a soccer ball.” As the schedule shows, the Golden Eagles have played some very tough competitors, in efforts to help them get a “leg up”, so to speak, on OVC competition. Going into the last game, the Golden Eagles will be looking for consistency and settling in the formation be-
fore conference play. “I think that we should do well in our conference games,” Mayo said, “given that we have played some big schools already that have prepared us well.” The game this week has been coined the “Purple Out” game. Fans are asked to wear purple in support of the Golden Eagles and fill the stands. “We have the best fans in the OVC, and it really helps us get pumped up and perform when we see all of the people cheering for us and having a good time,” Mayo said. This will be the last home game for the Golden Eagles until Oct. 15, when they play against Southeast Missouri State University. Admission at the Tech soccer field is free and open to the public.
Volleyball returns home this week By ASHLEY SMITH Staff Writer
Tech’s volleyball team returns home this weekend to host Ohio Valley Conference opponents Austin Peay at 7 tonight and Tennessee State University at 2 p.m. tomorrow. “Austin Peay has been one of the top teams in our conference for the past two years, and Tennessee State is a team that is always full of surprises,” senior Marie Peddicord said. “We are especially tough to beat at home, and we are
all super excited to finally be at home again.” Tech has been on the road for each of its last nine matches, tallying a record of 1-8 in that span. “Although some people, looking at our record, may not think we have been playing well this season, we have actually shown a lot of potential thus far,” Peddicord said. With a 0-2 record in the OVC matches, Tech is looking to get its first conference win of the season this weekend. “We will do well this weekend as long as we play our side, play as a team and give 100 percent effort on the
court,” senior Leah Meffert said. “I think both teams will be good competition, and we will have to compete to come out on top.” “We hope to get a lot of people out at the matches this weekend because we believe that if you come to one of our games, you will definitely want to come back for more,” Peddicord said. Tech’s next home volleyball match will be Oct. 15 against Jacksonville State. All volleyball team matches are held in the Hooper Eblen Center, and admission is free to the public.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Page 4 | September 24, 2010
Rehearsals begin while renovations continue in the Backdoor Playhouse By CHUCK ACHESON Entertainment Editor The Tech Players began working on their production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” despite continued construction in the Backdoor Playhouse as part of a major renovation project. The play is a musical based on a book by the same named written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Stephen Sondheim adapted the music and lyrics for the play. “I’ve not been a big musicals guy,” Director Mark Creter said. “But the students
had such a great time with ‘Assassins’, so that opened up my willingness to put on musicals. “This is much more of a traditional outrageous comedy.” Drawing on inspiration from the work of Plautus, an ancient Roman playwright, the story follows Pseudolus as he tries to win his freedom. He does so by helping his master woo the girl next door. The play originally opened on Broadway in 1962 and since won awards, including a Tony Award for “Best Musical” and “Best Book of a Musical.”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Cast Pseudolus, slave: Senex, an old man: Domina, his wife: Hero, his son: Hysterium, slave: Erronius, an old man: Miles Gloriosus, a warrior: Lycus, a flesh peddler: Tintinabula, a courtesan: Panacea, a courtesan: The Geminae, courtesans: Vibrata, a courtesan: Gymnasia, a courtesan: Philia, a virgin: The Proteans:
Charles A. Long Lynn W. England Mary Pashley Richie “Rico” McMahon Stephen Harris Shane Cunningham Josh Winscott Colin Forsyth Caitlin Schaub Jordyn Strilecky Kristin Crawford Tabitha McBroom Necole Huey Emily Smith Elissa Longfellow Matt Wilson Adam Combs Anthony Herd
“
I can’t give enough thanks to the Center Stage Fund for making this all possible. --Mark Creter Director
The Tech production is directed by Creter with Mendy Richards handling the music direction. And, just in time for the production, the newly renovated playhouse will open its doors with several new features and updated equipment. “The first thing you’ll notice is the new sign we have above the front door,” Creter said. “Meredith [Purcell] did a great job with designing it, and it just looks great.” On the new sign, the Tech logo has been added, and the color choices create a strong contrast. In addition to the new sign, the light booth has been completely redone, with all the equipment being replaced. To accompany the new booth, a new light grid is being put up in the playhouse. And on top of all the other additions, a new sound system will cap off the changes. “I can’t give enough thanks to the Center Stage Fund for making this all possible,”Creter said. “Susan
SHOW TIMES
”
Maddox and Kurt Eisen have made the money available, and we could not have made this possible without them.” Despite the renovations, the cast has already begun work on the production, which is scheduled to open in early November. On top of the rehearsals, the playhouse has visitors almost every night as a myriad of events ranging from concerts to open mic nights fill the seats. “Andy [Smith] is in charge of the musical performances and we have plenty scheduled,” Creter said. “You can find out the schedule and plenty of other information on our Web site.” The schedule is available at http://www.tntech.edu/ bdph. When “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” opens in November, tickets are set to cost $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors, $5 for non-Tech students, and Tech students are free with their Eagle card.
Photos Courtesy of Mark Creter A new lightbooth and sign on the front door are just some of the changes coming to the playhouse.
November 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 at 8 p.m. Late Show: November 11 at 10 p.m.
Spin Dat Record With KYLE BUCKNER
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins Justin Townes Earle’s newest album takes a look into his own life.
Justin Townes Earle’s third album “Harlem River Blues” Justin Townes Earle isn’t exactly a household name…yet. Son of country hard-knock Steve Earle and named after country/folk troubadour Townes Van Zandt, Earle is just barely two years into his professional music career. After spending years battling drug and alcohol addiction, Earle decided it was time to get serious. Justin started out just down the road in Nashville, playing small coffee shops and college campuses. He didn’t gain much attention at first, but his work paid off when he was picked up by Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, who released his first album “Hard Livin’ in 2008. “Hard Livin’” received decent reviews and JTE began touring more extensively. He developed a strong following in Nashville and began performing at larger venues. “Hard Livin” exhibited Earle’s leanings toward ‘40s and ‘50s country with songs like “What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome?” and “Ain’t Glad I’m Leavin’.” JTE capitalized on the steam he’d built up with “Hard Livin’” and quickly wrote and recorded “Midnight at the Movies” in 2009. The tracks on the album were well polished and showed that Justin had gained confidence in his songwriting. Songs like “Mama’s Eyes” and “Someday I’ll Be Forgiven for This” give an air of maturity, as opposed to Earle’s previous carefree, simple songwriting style. “Midnight at the Movies” received rave reviews and catapulted Earle into the national spotlight. Continuing to gain confidence and listeners, JTE headed back into the studio almost immediately after releasing “Midnight at the Movies.” The result was “Harlem River Blues,” which was released last Tuesday via Bloodshot Records. The album release party was held at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music in Nashville, where Earle played several tracks from the new album and a couple of old favorites. I was lucky enough to be there to see
this happen. “This record is a gospel record of sorts,” Earle said as he donned his pre-war era Gibson acoustic guitar. “The songs aren’t gospel songs lyrically, but gospel music is what I was inspired by this time around.” The first song that was played off the new album was the title track, “Harlem River Blues,” a song about welcoming a baptism in the putrid water of the Harlem River. This song was obviously prompted by JTE’s recent move to New York. “One More Night in Brooklyn” is another song about the big apple, except this one is about Earle’s disdain for his first home in that particular neighborhood. In the song, he tells his girlfriend that they’re moving to Manhattan, despite the hefty spike in rent that they would incur. “I don’t care what the hipsters think,” Earle said at the Grimey’s in-store performance. “Brooklyn sucks.” Tracks like “Rogers Park” and “Christ Church Woman” are somber and set a different tone than the more gospel-inspired tracks. “Rogers Park” provides an account of Justin’s previous home in Chicago, which resulted in him being forced to leave to get away from drugs. “Christ Church Woman” tells the story of a woman Earle claims he met in Australia but who may or may not even exist. She seems more like a fantasy than a reality, if you ask me. Then again, most songs would be pretty boring if they weren’t embellished upon at least a little bit. The tracks on “Harlem River Blues” help the listener even better understand Earle’s point of view and past experiences. That’s really what the essence of songwriting is about. It’s about being able to paint a picture in the listener’s head and give them a peek into another world. Earle seems to have this on lockdown, and I think the sky’s the limit. If I were to guess, I’d say that JTE will be around for a while.
Photo by Linda Westin Tech volunteers help set up, clean up and take care of the visiting dogs.
Tech students play influential role in success of Putnam County’s “Bark in the Park” By CHUCK ACHESON Entertainment Editor The annual Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals’ “Bark in the Park” is next Saturday, and Tech volunteers will once again play a major role in the success of the event. “Bark in the Park” is a big play day for dogs and their owners to converge on the Algood City Park with plenty of activities for pooches and people in which to take part. “The event kicks off with a ‘Walk for the Animals’ pledge walk at 10:15 a.m., followed by the main event beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until 3 p.m.,” Linda Westin, president of FoC/PCA said. “A normal sized crowd is about 4,500 people.” Featuring a pirate theme this year, owners are encouraged to bring their fourlegged friend in a theme-fitting costume with contests for the best homemade costume and the best store bought. Other activities include
an agility course, lure course and a treasure hunt for dogs. Other contests include competitions for “Best Dog Kisser,” “My Dog Can Do That!” and “Owner-Pet LookAlike.” To make sure everything goes off without a hitch, organizers rely on the hard work of volunteers, many of whom are Tech students. “Tech students have always been a wonderful part of our Friends of Cookeville/Putnam County Animals events and activities, for which we are grateful,” Westin said. The volunteers work in every part of the event ranging from pet care to helping with contests. “Our volunteers work very hard and usually leave tired, but happy,” Westin added. “They leave knowing they did something great for the community and for the animals in the area.” While volunteers range from every major and walk of life, a consistent force for helping “Bark in the Park”
comes from the Tech softball team. “Each year, the entire softball team volunteers to help us set-up on Friday and then run the event on Saturday,” Westin said. “We are totally appreciative of their dedication to this event and love having them each year. “Several other wonderful teams and fraternities have volunteered from time to time, as well as Service Learning, Animal Science and Honors Program students.” This year’s production of “Bark in the Park’ will have a strong showing from Tech once again. “We are celebrating our 7th year of ‘Bark in the Park’ this year, and we look forward to the help from out Tech student volunteers again this year. “Bark in the Park” is on Oct. 2 and admission is a $2 donation. For more information about the event or how to get involved, check out www. friendsofcpcanimals.org.
ENTERTAINMENT Page 5 | September 24, 2010
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Next BIG Nashville aims to impress next weekend Local Honey with KASSI THOMAS Nashville is Music City. Worldwide, mention of our state capital evokes thoughts of good ole boys in cowboy hats whining about their lost loves and exalting their misdirected nation in a fit of patriotic zeal. The truth is that we aren’t all like this. Not everyone born and raised in Nashville grazes in the mainstream country music aisle of the record store while dressed like a character from “Hee Haw.” In 2006, a new music festival emerged in Nashville as a haven for us folks on the fringe, and
now it’s well on its way to becoming the SXSW or Bumbershoot of the Southeast. Next BIG Nashville began as a minor taste-test of what was brewing in the local indie rock scene, featuring a mere 33 bands on Cannery Row. The festival has since developed into a full-blown buffet of more than 150 local and national acts spread over four wild nights in more than 10 of the best venues around town. The “local honey,” if you will, is still drizzled over the bulk of the line-up with bands including How I Became the Bomb, The Protomen, and Glossary, while biggername regional and national acts like Yeasayer, RJD2, and Roman Candle headline the showcases. Nashville’s chronic public transportation problems will be temporarily remedied by a free shuttle for festival-goers trying to effectively venue hop from the east side’s Five Points to Elliston Place in the west end. 2008 brought the addition of a music conference, which led to this year’s transition to the Next BIG Nashville +Leadership Music Digital Summit. Two days of panel discussions with industry leaders from Pandora, Interscope Records, ASCAP, and Sony Music,
Let ’s Talk About CHUCK ACHESON Movies By Entertainment Editor
I won’t lie. I didn’t have the highest hopes for “Devil”, but I was pleasently surprised by a decent story with a good twist.
The plot follows what the commercials have laid out for us. Five seemingly innocent individuals are trapped on an elevator. However, we soon
One of these people is the devil...but whom?
Also in theaters this week
learn each of them has a dark past filled with misdeeds. As the revelations begin, so too do the deaths until we finally learn that the devil had been among them the whole time. Let’s begin where we should with a Shyamalan production: the twist. The twist comes two fold in the form of one of the character’s revelations. We find that someone in the story is tied to a seemingly minor side character. Although the movie alludes to it heavily, in retrospect at least, it still caught me off guard. Compound that with when the devil does make his presence known, and we have
Courtesy of Media Rights Capital
among others, will take place at Belmont Uni- For those eager to reclaim Music City for the versity’s prestigious Mike Curb School of Mu- masses of southerners who don’t worship sic Business. Topics range from how to handle Garth Brooks’ entire back catalog, it’s time to touring in a recession to examining survival clear your schedule for next week and make skills of a musician in the digital age. that short trek west. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the 2010 Next BIG Nashville Music Festival will kickoff Wednesday as it traditionally has at the Belcourt Theatre, and the last of the staggering hipsters will be dragged from the final after party on Cannery Row sometime in the wee hours of the morning next Sunday. A $50 wristband will grant you access to all four raging nights. The Leadership Music Digital Summit will fill the daytime programming on Wednesday and Thursday. A whopping $300 VIP pass for Nashville’s indie elite includes access to all of the conference and festival programming, luncheons at such illustrious locations as the Gibson Showroom and Yazoo Brewery, Yeasayer will be the headlining performance at the conference. and wild nightly after parties. Photo Courtesy of Yeasayer
a fairly convincing twist. While the twist was a bright spot of the plot, the rest of the movie was average. The story was like a faulty GPS. It got you where you wanted to go, but you had to take a few detours and wrong turns along the way. Primarily, for the religious/moral tone of the film too much was left up to the “devil’s magic” to get the plot rolling. By the end of the movie, we know we aren’t perfect, and even the best of us has made mistakes. I think the direction missed a great chance (spoiler alert) with the deaths of those in the elevator. Had the characters killed each other through what seemed to be accidents, for example, someone with claustrophobia having a panic attack and accidentally killing someone else, would have hit the morality message home better. All the characters would have to deal with the revelations as the audience did, giving them a far more human side, allowing us to connect more, rather than just be voyeurs. In addition, this would have better allowed for the allusion that any of them could have been the devil rather than who it turned out to be. We get the point of the story, but it could have been more meaningful. Aside from the story, some of the writing, particularly some character lines were painful. Lines, such as “suck a butt,” were strewn throughout like little land-
• The Town - Ben Affleck’s sophomore movie as a director hits on all cylinders. A thrill ride that leaves the audience at the edge of it’s seat despite not having as original of a plot as one would hope. Still, a frontrunner for “Best Picture” at the Oscars. Grade: A • Easy A - A surprisingly clever and witty teen romance and comedy that benefits greatly from the stellar performace of Emma Stone. Not without some flaws, this movie still has plenty of charm. Grade: B+
mines that jar you out of the groove of the story. At least “suck a butt” came from the only character who could conceivably say something that stupid. But, still, it was too much. I mean, try saying that to yourself aloud, “suck a butt,” and try not to laugh. Despite my minor ranting, I found myself caring about these people and I wanted to see their story to the end. So, the writing, plot and all, did its job. The acting was pretty decent on the whole, aside from the Samuel L. Jackson wannabe played by Bokeem Woodbine. Everyone else played their part well, mak-
ing the situation seem more natural. And, one last point, the camerawork was pretty solid. Generally, the sequences were framed well to help create a desired atmosphere. The only part I didn’t get were the long pan shots of Philadelphia upside down. Either way, “Devil” is not a bad movie and is worth checking out. I have some reservations, as I laid out, and it’s not totally slamacow. But it’s not “The Last Airbender” by any means. It’s a solid middle of the road movie.
Final Grade: C MPAA Rating: PG13
New exhibit featuring jewelry on display at the Craft Center By CHRISTINA RIDDLE Staff Writer The Appalachian Center for Craft hosts many exhibitions throughout the year and is especially busy this fall semester. Trish L. Harding’s Nature, Nurture and Memory exhibit is just one of the exhibitions at the Craft Center now. “Her past work investigates nature and geometry,” Gallery Manager Gail Looper said, “while more of her recent works interpret bittersweet milestones as memories burned into the flesh with decorative patters and skin like surfaces.” Combining enamel with traditional gold snipping techniques, Harding creates jewelry that is as emotive as it is decorative, according to Looper. Harding is originally from Fall River, Mass. and is currently a studio artist and
jewelry designer. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Penn. She also received her Fine Arts Masters at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She has won numerous awards and teaches in various locations across New England. Her work can also be seen in the publication, “500 Enameled Objects.” Her work can be viewed now through Oct. 20 in the Craft Center’s North Window Gallery. The Geometric, Nurture and Traces series is also available for viewing and buying at the Craft Center. There will also be a furniture exhibition beginning Oct. 24. More information on this exhibit is to follow. Admission to the Craft Center is free, and it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about upcoming events, call (931) 372-3051.
Tech chorale performing with local high school choir Tuesday By KYLE BUCKNER Staff Writer
By MATT KNIELING. For more cartoons or contact information, check out inanimateshorts.com.
Tech’s chorale will be performing alongside the Cookeville High School concert choir and the University orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in The Bryan Fine Arts Building’s Wattenbarger Auditorium. For the last four years, Choral Director Craig Zamer has combined forces with Cookeville High School concert choir Director Michael Choate and Dan Alcott, University orchestra director, to perform a concert. “Before the semester even started, I was sitting in on Mr. Choate’s concert choir classes at CHS, teaching his students the pieces in preparation for the concert,” Zamer said. “Then school started back at Tech, so I began to work alongside Dr. Alcott on the
pieces as well.” In the past, Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G,” Hyden’s “Te Deum,” and Mozart’s “Coronation Mass” have been performed. This year, the two choirs and the orchestra will be performing a piece by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi. “In the past, we’ve performed pieces that have lasted up to a half hour,” Zamer said. “The Monteverdi piece is only about nine minutes in length, which gives both choral groups and the orchestra a chance to perform individually. The Tech chorale will perform two pieces, the CHS concert choir and the University orchestra will each perform a piece, and the Monteverdi piece will be a collaborative effort.” Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door the day of the performance.
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Page 6 | September 24, 2010
Parking initiative safeguards faculty spots By ALEKSANDR PETERSON Staff Writer
There is plenty of parking to go around. It’s just that not all of it is convenient. That’s what Police Chief Gay Shepherd thinks. In the past, students have nonchalantly slipped into faculty spots when they thought the occasion called for it, but this semester they will find the way blocked by orange cones and a posted guard. “Convenience is the biggest problem with our parking,” Shepherd said. “Parking is here. It’s just not really convenient.” Faculty members, who pay $50 for their parking permits, don’t seem to relish the idea of losing their spaces to students who forgot to set their alarm clocks. So now a parking lot warden stands guard behind Henderson Hall eight hours a day. The initiative, however, did not come from the University police. The
motion for stricter parking enforcement actually came from the President’s Office after frequent complaints from instructors and administrators. “What we’re doing is simply enforcing the campus parking policies,” President Bell said about the change. The action was primarily handled by the Building and Grounds Committee after discussions with the Faculty Senate and University police. “We got 11,000 folks coming to school here,” Shepherd said. “We can’t all park at the door.” The first guard hired by campus police lasted two days before he quit. Adam Jernigan, the current guard, doesn’t seem to have strong feelings toward his position in either direction. “It’s a job. Basically you sit out here in the sun for eight hours,” Jernigan said. “I don’t believe in going into debt, and this was available, so I did it.” Worst case scenario: students will have to park next to the intramural fields across Willow Avenue. But Shepherd said that’s
Ledbetter CONTINUED from page 1
“But they said it was because I was a poor performer and consequently got smaller raises than all the men who did better.” She earned a Top Performance Award from Goodyear in 1996. The now seventy-yearold grandmother of four spent eight years in court over the matter and was awarded around $3.3 million by the jury, which the judge reduced to the $300,000 statutory cap on punitive damages and mental anguish.
However, Goodyear appealed to the Supreme Court. They voted 5-4 against Ledbetter because she did not file her claim within 180 days of the first discriminatory paycheck. In our view, the court does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination,” said Justice Ruth Ginsburg in the dissent she read from the bench. The dissent went on to challenge Congress to “do something about the injustice.” Congressman George Miller led the House Labor and Education Committee in meeting the challenge, creat-
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September
24 All day Last day for 25% refund
27 7:30 p.m. Charles Ruggerio Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
Brandon Goodwin
Adam Jernigan spends his days keeping watch by the entrance to the faculty parking lot.
a “perfect place to park.” The CATS bus stops at the intramural fields and takes students as far as the RUC. The new system isn’t foolproof, though. Shepherd says students still try to park in the faculty lot from time to time. Jernigan reports illegal parking in his area to the police, who in turn drop by to
write tickets. “I hate to do it. Students are struggling to go to school these days,” Shepherd said. The ultimate penalty for illegal parking is having your vehicle towed, though Shepherd says this is usually a last resort. During a typical fiscal year, the campus police collect
around $200,000 in parking fines alone.
By DUSTIN SMITH Staff Writer
28 11 a.m. TAB Tuesday Water Bottle Giveaway RUC, 1st floor 11 a.m. Career Fair Tips
EDITOR’S NOTE: As of press time, the official number of students attending Tech is 11,538.
ScholarWeb now accepting applications ing the act. Ledbetter said, “It would have been hard to demonstrate to the EEOC or a jury that the first $100 pay difference was discrimination. It was only after I got paid less than men again and again, without any good excuse, that I had a case that I could realistically bring to the EEOC or to court.” The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 changed the law so that workers could sue for pay discrimination within 180 days of any discriminatory paycheck. “The Ledbetter bill will allow redress for workers with the energy and willpower to seek redress in the courts,” Kim Gandy, National Organization for Women president, said, “but we have a long way to go before we have fair pay for women and laws with real teeth.” Ledbetter continues to be discriminated against by Goodyear because her retirement pension is based on her income while she worked there. Ledbetter tried to drive home a point for young people when she speaks before them. “The day you retire starts the first day you go to work.”
events @ tech
scholarships to submit an application. With just one application, students become eligible for all scholarships for which they meet the criteria. Current students should use their T Number to apply online. Future students can use their T Number, if they have one, or the admissions username they created when applying online for admission.
also available on ScholarWeb under the forms link. Other helpful resources are available here as well, such as a financial aid estimate form Many students don’t and a letter of recommendaknow that they can apply for tion form. 2011-2012 scholarships this Unfortunately, Tech’s early in the semester. scholarships suffered due to Tech offers more than 400 the recent budget cuts. different scholarships and “Last year we awarded awards millions of dollars to about three to four million students each year. The deaddollars,” Chambers said. “We line for scholdid have arship applito reduce cations is Dec. pretty much We do encourage students to apply 15, but most all of our early. In the past, we’ve had so many students don’t admission students try to apply on Dec. 15 that it know that they scholarships. can apply today. crashed the system. Most of our Even prospecscholarships tive students got reduced -- Kelly Chambers can apply now. by at least Scholarship Manager “We do $1,000, and encourage stusome prodents to apply grams were early,” Scholarship Manager ScholarWeb allows stu- cut altogether. But for the Kelly Chambers said. “In dents to enter their personal upcoming year, 2011-2012, it the past, we’ve had so many information such as major, looks like we’re going to be students try to apply on Dec. ACT score and GPA, which in a better situation budget 15 that it crashed the system. will narrow down the pro- wise.” You don’t want to be one of spective scholarships for Awards are not given on those students who waits un- which they are eligible. a first-come first-serve basis. til 11:30 pm on Dec. 15, and Some departments may Anyone who applies by Dec. then the system crashes, and require additional informa- 15 is considered. you don’t get in your appli- tion with the application. Stu“It’s better to do it early cation. If you do it now and dents should visit the check- and get it over with,” Chamyou have a problem, there is lists link on ScholarWeb to bers said. “Who wants to plenty of time to fix it.” see if their major requires ad- worry about applying for It’s easy to apply. Stu- ditional forms. scholarships in the middle of dents should visit ScholarA paper application, finals week, right?” Web, Tech’s scholarships which can be turned in to website, at www.tntech.edu/ the scholarships office, is
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THE EDUCATED BAGEL Opening soon! Will be featuring: breakfast, lunch and takeout specials at 20 N. Cedar
7 p.m. Lilly Ledbetter Derryberry Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Tech Chorale and University Orchestra Concert Until 4:30 p.m. Last day of Hans Gindlesberger photography exhibit Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
29 7 p.m. Freedom Writers: Erin Gruwell Derryberry Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Trumpet Studio Recital
30 11 a.m. Counseling Center Workshop Tech Pride Room 11 a.m. Interview Success Tips 4:30 p.m. Career Services Happy Hour
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