The Oracle - 111015

Page 1

THE

1000 N. Dixie Ave. | Cookeville, TN | 38505

O

IN THIS ISSUE:

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

RACLE

News News News Entertainment Entertainment Opinions Opinions Sports

Volume 100 | Issue 8 | Free in single copy

The primary news source of the Golden Eagles since 1924

> Aziz Ansari masters Netflix.

Serving Tennessee Tech weekly during the fall and spring semesters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

> Volleyball upsets Belmont.

>>Page 4

>>Page 2

100 years later : An Oracle Series

“Happy Birthday TTU!”

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015

Tennessee Tech celebrates Centennial Homecoming By KIM BIGGS Managing Editor & REBECCA FINLEY Beat Reporter

1966 Eagle Yearbook

1991 Eagle Yearbook

CHEERS FOR 100 YEARS (Above) A 700-pound, 40-foot Golden Eagle was erected by students during Homecoming for the 50th anniversary of Tennessee Tech University. HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY TTU - (Right) In 1990, Tech celebrated its 75th anniversary as a university. The theme during the 1990 Homecoming was “A flash from the past.”

Tennessee Tech University is celebrating the Centennial Homecoming with a week packed with student events. “Happy Birthday TTU!” is the theme for this year’s Homecoming celebration. Each year, Tennessee Tech’s Homecoming week is full of events, and the Centennial Homecoming is no exception. However, students will see changes in the 2015 Centennial Homecoming activities. Homecoming week will include a banner competition, field games, a canned food drive, a lip sync competition and the Homecoming parade, which will occur Saturday, Nov. 14 morning before the Homecoming football game. “Our overall goal is to get more people from campus involved,” said Kristen Creager, Tech Activities Board president. On Monday, Nov. 9, banners were submitted and will be judged on creativity, appropriate theme and quality of artwork, according to the 2015 Homecoming information packet. Banners were made be each organization competing in Homecoming and will be displayed in the Roaden University Center throughout the week. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the field games will be held at the intramural fields beginning at 5:30 p.m. The field games will consist of tug of war competitions as well as obstacle courses. According to the 2015 Homecoming information packet, teams can consist of 10 members with one optional coach. If multiple organizations are participating in Homecoming together, the team is required to have at least one member from each organization on the team. Field games replaced the skit night event held in prior years. Creager said she believes this is a positive change for the Centennial Homecoming. “More people can participate in the field games, and they require less preparation,” said Creager. The canned food drive will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Canned goods must be split into at least four different varieties of food, according to the 2015

Homecoming information packet. Cans must be 25 ounces or less, have a label, must contain food products and cannot be dented, according to the 2015 Homecoming information packet. No event will be held Thursday, Nov. 12. The lip sync competition, which is replacing the pep rally event from previous years, will take place in Memorial Gym Friday, Nov. 13, beginning at 6 p.m. The lip sync performances will be judged based on the organization’s creativity, costumes and the overall performance. Performances are based on the themes chosen by each organization. Each organization is allowed to have a maximum of 15 people onstage, including singers and backup dancers. According to the 2015 Homecoming information packet, props are permitted during the performance. The lip sync competition replaced the pep rally event held in previous years, after numerous injuries during the rallies. “We replaced pep rally with lip sync because of the safety concerns that have occurred over the last few years,” said Creager. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Centennial Homecoming parade will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Dixie Avenue. The parade will start in the Hobby Lobby parking lot and will go down Dixie Avenue. At the end of the parade, the floats will be parked at Tucker Stadium until after the game. “The floats are always awesome, and it is something that the whole community enjoys,” said Mason Johnson, Homecoming chair of Tech Activities Board. “People from all over Cookeville get involved, not only by watching the parade, but also by being in the parade.” The Golden Eagle football team will take on Austin Peay for the Homecoming game. In addition to the Homecoming events, voting for Mr. and Miss Tennessee Tech will take place Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Candidates are allowed to campaign before and during the election process. However, candidates will not be allowed to set up booths on the ground floor of the RUC or the library. During the game, the winners of the Homecoming court will be announced, as well as the winning organization of Homecoming.

SGA passes bill to implement sanitation wipe stations in Volpe Library By ANNALISE FREITAG Beat Reporter The Student Government Association passed two bills at the Nov. 3 meeting, which were aimed at students’ experience at Volpe Library. The bills proposed adding sanitation wipe stations around the computer work areas and adding microwaves. College of Business Senator Kate Shelton proposed adding sanitation wipe stations after noticing how dirty the desks and keyboards can get with use. Read More Online

@

tntechoracle.com

“There’s a lot of traffic through the library,” Shelton said, “and a lot of people eat at the computer area and desk area, so more often than not, it’s pretty messy and germy. Hopefully, adding sanitation wipes will stop the spread of viruses.” Lydia Cantrell, College of Arts and Sciences senator, said she supported the bill because she carries sanitation wipes in her backpack for this very reason. “When I pull out my wipes to clean the keyboards,” Cantrell said, “I make a lot of friends because they’re like, ‘Wow, what a

CONTACT:

great idea because these are disgusting.’ I think this bill is great. I don’t have to share my wipes anymore.” Shelton also mentioned that though the custodial staff cleans the keyboards twice a day, it does not take long for them to get dirty again. SGA President Bobby Adams also stood and explained to the senators why he supports this bill. “I’m a huge germophobe, especially after taking microbiology,” Adams said. “Even if you use the hand sanitizer, it’s a onetime thing. You don’t kill all

the other germs around you, so they just get back on you, your face and your food. Some people may be lazy, but for germophobes, it’s a do-or-die kind of thing.” College of Arts and Sciences Senator Brett Windrow proposed adding microwaves to the library so students can have more food options without having to buy from a restaurant on campus. Freshman Senator Emily Jones noted one major disadvantage of public microwaves. “I live in a dorm, and whenever someone on my

floor microwaves something, you can smell it through the whole hallway. I feel that might be distracting for people trying to study in the library.” Cantrell mentioned another drawback of microwaves. “Another thing to think about,” Cantrell said, “is people using the microwave too long or not Cantrell knowing how to use it and setting off the fire alarms. They’re going

to make the entire library hate them for having to evacuate.” Windrow took note of the senators’ concerns and said there will be some kind of precautionary system so students do not use the microwaves improperly. Vice President Nick Russell defended the bill though, saying, “We shouldn’t let the irresponsibility of a few take away the right to make food in the library.” Both bills were passed with only a few abstentions, and are now in the process of being implemented.

news - 931-372-3285 - oracle@tntech.edu | advertising - 931-372-3031 - ttuoracleads@gmail.com

facebook.com/tntechoracle

@tntechoracle

@tntechoracle

TUESDAY 62/42 °F

WEDNESDAY 71/48 °F

THURSDAY 58/39 °F

Page 2 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

NEWS

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

tntechoracle.com Contact us: oracle@tntech.edu

>> Campus

ASME and SHPE hosts TTU TTU Sports Hall of Fame to welcome inductees alumni to speak on career By Beat Reporter advancement opportunites MEGAN WILLIAMSON

By KAYLA CLOUSE Beat Reporter As part of the TTU speaker series for engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers invited three bilingual guests to speak about their differing experiences getting hired and the importance of knowing a second language. Speakers Samantha Mendez, Eduardo Pereira and Daniel Perez each landed a full-time job at Cummins Filtration located in Cookeville. According to Pereira, advancing in a career requires obtaining work experiences through internships, co-ops and scientific research. “The main thing is that you get experiences you can talk about,” said Pereira. Pereira received a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University to obtain an engineering management degree through undergraduate research and maintained a 3.3 GPA. “Life is a never-ending learning experience,” said Pereira. “You train in college or university to be very good at learning new things so you can solve many types of problems.” He also said extracurricular involvement, including nonprofits, religious and student organizations, shows an employer the applicant’s willingness and disposition to work in teams. “You’re going to be working with a team and presenting with management,” said Pereira, “so if you can’t effectively communicate, your interview may not work in your favor even if you have the best work and learning experience.” Mendez is a chapter adviser and part of the national committee of SHPE as well as a full-time manufacturing employee at Cummins Filtration. She has been a part of implementing large projects and new products, such as Nissan Titan. “Research isn’t my thing,” said Mendez. “My job is hands on. I wear jeans, steel-toed boots – the whole thing.” According to a city data report from 2013, manufacturing is the third most common industry in Cookeville, closely following retail trade. The most common industry in Cookeville is accommodation and food services. Mendez said interning

is what helped her learn that manufacturing is what she likes doing. She attended a career fair where she was accepted as an intern at Cummins Filtration. Mendez described interning as a three-month interview. “You need to interview the company and interview the job, and they will interview you,” said Mendez. “They will teach you. They know you do not have experience yet.” Mendez said she believes the costs of going to a national conference are worth it. “If you have one or two hundred dollars that it takes to go, then it is worth missing class time for,” said Mendez. “Your teachers already know you’ll be gone, and you’ll be in contact with so many companies. I went to one conference and found the job I have now, so it paid off.” Pereira said he also believes it is worth the cost because you will see the competition beyond your peers. “It makes you realize that you’re on the right track or that you need to step it up,” said Pereira. The Office of Institutional Research reports the number of students enrolled as a foreign language major at Tech have decreased from 36 students in 2014 to 23 students this year. The number of engineering students has also decreased since 2014, from 2, 871 to 2,715. Perez said being bilingual has opened doors for him in his career advancement. According to Perez, speaking more than one language enables a worker to speak to a wider range of people, understand business in other parts of the world, have a more professional value in growing global business, and increases the chances of climbing the ladder in other markets. “I work as a supply chain ops analysis for Cummins Filtration, and I’m a mechanical engineer,” said Perez, “so I do not currently work in my field.” Perez said that even though being bilingual opened more opportunities for him, being an international worker limited his options. “Companies pay for fees and paperwork to get you there on a work visa,” said Mendez, “so you need to show them you’re worth the money.”

Crabtree & Crace Jewelers Crabtree & Crace Jewelers

Engagement Rings•GIA Certified Diamonds Gold & Silver Jewelry•Custom Design Citizen Watches Jewelry & Watch Repair

Paying Top Dollar

Engagement Rings•GIA Certified Diamonds Diamonds•Gold•Silver Gold & Silver Jewelry•Custom Design Citizen Watches Watches•Coins Jewelry & Watch Repair

470 Neal

470 Neal Street | Cookeville, TN Street |931.525.7325 Cookeville, TN

931.525.7325

Five former Tennessee Tech athletes will be inducted into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame at the annual Induction Banquet in the Multipurpose Room Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket office. D.J. Bleisath was a defensive end on the football team from 1999 to 2002. In that time, Bleisath was named AllAmerican by four different organizations, was a three-time first-team all-OVC player, and a national finalist for the 2001 Buck Buchanan Award for the most outstanding defensive player in all of NCAA football. He finished his career at Tech with 185 tackles including 61 tackles for a loss and 20 quarterback sacks. He was later signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent before beginning his four-year career in the Arena Football League. Manny Goodman was a three-time All-American during his time as a member of the rifle team from 1986 to 1990. Goodman was also a two-time captain and helped lead the squad to a third place finish in the NCAA championships during his junior and senior seasons. He later coached the team between 1990 and 1994. Willie Jenkins transferred to Tech from the University of Massachusetts in 2002. As a senior, Jenkins finished second in the OVC in scoring

with 19.7 points per game, and he had a team high of 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He led the team to a regular season title in 2005 while also taking home the OVC Player of the Year honors. He claimed all-OVC first-team honors in each of his two seasons and took home team MVP honors and the Golden Eagle Award twice. Throughout his collegiate basketball career, Jenkins received four OVC Newcomer of the Week and two OVC Player of the Week honors in addition to earning 12 double-doubles, 50 double-figure scoring games, and four 30-point performances. Chris Moye-Hagood made an impact on the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball record books as she helped the Golden Eaglettes to a 73-43 record from 1982 to 1986. The three-year captain finished her career with 1,633 points. However, she was more known for her passing ability and her defensive skills. She finished her career as the sole record-holder for assists in a single season with 270 assists, which still stands as the single-season record in both the Tennessee Tech and OVC record books. Frank Omiyale played as an offensive linemen from 2001 to 2004 for the Golden Eagles. During his senior year at Tech, Omiyale was named to the Football Gazette AllAmerica team and earned first-team All-OVC honors. He was drafted in 2005 by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the NFL draft. His NFL career also included time

with the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. Since its creation, the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 168 members. “The first class of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame was inducted in 1975,” said Mark Wilson, director of Athletics. “The Hall of Fame Committee is appointed by the president of Tennessee Tech, and they meet each year in late summer to early fall to select the class for induction using the established policies and procedures.” Current Tech athletes will attend the dinner and listen to the inductees reminisce about their time at Tech and offer advice about how to be successful. Kalyn Pruett, captain of the soccer team, and Whitney Robertson, a junior on the women’s golf team, enjoy this part of dinner the most. “It’s really interesting to hear about how they were successful in their sports,” said Pruett. “Some are successful professional athletes and some are successful business people, so it’s just really cool to listen to their advice on how to continue to be successful after our time at Tech.” “My favorite part about the dinner is the induction of each athlete,” said Robertson. “These former athletes were in the same seats as us, listening to the inductees of previous classes and are now where they were. They all positively impacted their sports, and I hope I have the same impact on future teams after my time at Tech.”

Chuckles with Cheeny

events @ tech October

10 All Day

TTU Art Department Invitational Alumni Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Social Media Workshop Tech Pride Room

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Project Reality Runway Multipurpose Room

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

College of Engineering Fall 2015 New Faculty Research Seminar Prescott Hall 225

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. So You Want to be an Entrepreneur Online Webinar

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Show Me How to Get Business Financing Johnson Hall 218

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

TTU Percussion Ensemble Wattenbarger Auditorium

11 All Day

TTU Art Department Invitational Alumni Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

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

The Raleigh Daily Trio Wattenbarger Auditorium

12 All Day

TTU Art Department Invitational Alumni Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Association for Computer Machinery Meeting Bruner Hall 207

Created by: "Cheeny the great" @ChuckleswCheeny

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

TTU Cyber Eagles Meeting Bruner Hall 207

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

Trombone Studio Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium

13 All Day

TTU Art Department Invitational Alumni Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

All Day

DegreeWorks Not Available Campus Wide

14

All Day

Your Hometown Neighborhood Pharmacy

305 West Spring Street • Cookeville, TN 38501

931.372.2700 HOUSE AD for new positions

10% OFF Some exclusions apply. See store for details.

TTU Art Department Invitational Alumni Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery

All Day

DegreeWorks Not Available Campus Wide

All Day

Homecoming Campus Wide

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Homecoming College of Engineering Tent Events College of Engineering Tent

1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

TTU Footbal vs. Austin Peay Tucker Stadium

www.tntech.edu/calendar

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3

Features <<

LIVING

Mistletoe Market features shops and boutiques ‘‘ By KATELYN MOSER Beat Reporter

For those who were ready to kick off the holiday season, the 13th annual Mistletoe Market was hosted by Leslie Town Centre Friday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event included 50 different merchants and boutiques that gathered under one roof to distribute holiday items, outdoor sportswear, cosmetics, food, jewelry and other gift ideas for the holiday season. Featured boutiques

included A Spice Above, BeautiControl, Mary Kay, The Berry Basket, Earthwares, Loxx Salon and Spa, Broast and more. Grade-A Catering was also involved with the event, providing shoppers with salads, soups, deserts and sandwiches. It was Broast Tennessee Coffee Roaster’s first year involved with Mistletoe Market and provided free coffee to patrons. Broast provides coffee from all over the world such as Kenya, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala and Colombia. “The Peru medium gives you a chocolate-y finish along with the Guatemala brand.

They both taste like Hershey bars,” said owner and Tech alumnus, Zach Buckner. “I started roasting green coffee beans on a small roaster and moved to larger batches. It’s been neat getting to be a small business involved with an event like this.” Local boutiques came together to offer a wide variety of gift ideas for the approaching holiday season. “We have ornaments, fireside flavor coffees that you just mix with hot water which makes it really convenient for someone who may live in a dorm or wherever,” said Rhonda Chaffin, owner of LauRes Gift Shop.

“We have clothing, carry bags, a little bit of everything.” Debbie Smith, event director of Leslie Town Centre, expressed how Mistletoe Market contributes to the community along with providing customers the easiness of gift shopping. Mistletoe Market contributes to the “Together We Care” program where $500 is awarded to patron nonprofit organizations. “The Cookeville Regional Foundation received the award last year,” said Smith. “The money was focused to those with cancer, raising money to help those going

Mistletoe Market is always the first weekend of November. It’s a fun way to do some Christmas shopping, with ideas all under the same roof for your convenience.

- Debbie Smith Leslie Town Centre Event Director

through treatment. Treatment is pricey and this award helps that program with providing support with income and other necessities.” Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter also held a silent auction to raise money for food and other

,,

needs for the local animal shelter. “Mistletoe Market is always the first weekend of November,” says Smith. “It’s a fun way to do some Christmas shopping, with ideas all under the same roof for your convenience.”

Atwood discusses book and human rights in keynote lecture Margaret Atwood, the Fall 2015 keynote speaker and author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” spoke to large a audience in Derryberry Hall Nov. 3. Atwood discussed her novel and how she intertwined her work with topics such as feminism, political corruption and social issues. Atwood also discussed that her novel doesn’t just belong to her. It belongs to the readers who shape the meaning and interpretations of her work as they read. By ALEX BRUMBACK Beat Reporter Margaret Atwood, a celebrated author, traveled to Tennessee Tech to discuss her novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” human rights and how the two intermingle in a lecture, Tuesday, Nov. 3. “Being a writer is a cross between being a gambler, an entrepreneur and a magician,” said Atwood. “Being a writer is also like being a 23-year-old country singer. Most have day jobs.” Center Stage paid Atwood, this semester’s keynote speaker, $27,000 to speak about her personal ex-

periences as a writer, her influences and the social issues highlighted in her work, such as feminism and political corruption. [Editor’s Note: Michael O’Rourke, an English professor at Tech, mistakenly sent an email to the entire English Department including the students, commenting on students’ inability to hold focus and the influence of extra credit on the attendance to the various author talks.] “The Handmaid’s Tale” is dystopian fiction compared to modern stories such as “The Hunger Games” in that it takes place in a possible but unlikely future in a world worse than our own.

It focuses on the female role in society. Atwood wrote about “handmaids,” women whose role was to reproduce with ruling class married males in a time of declining birth rates and who have a lower status than the men’s wives. “If a woman’s place is in the home and they’re all out of the home running around like squirrels, how do you Atwood stuff them back in there?” Atwood asked. “Simple. Dial history back 100 years, take away

their jobs, their money, and their recent rights to vote and speak freely.” Atwood’s work has frequently been called prophetic. She said one question she’s asked most frequently is whether she considers the novel prophetic herself. The answer is no. Atwood believes there are too many shifting variables for any person to predict the future. However, she does believe a person can make a good attempt at an educated guess. Prophetic or not, her award-winning works are admired by readers and critics alike.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” has been adapted into a film, an opera production, a ballet performance and a graphic novel. Atwood collaborated the most on the film adaptation, leaving the other works to blossom into their own creations. “When you (don’t collaborate) you’re saying, ‘Make this you’re thing,’” Atwood said. “I like to think of it as job creation, letting other artists take hold of it and run with it.” Atwood continued the lecture by pointing out that her works aren’t fully hers, as no book is fully the writer’s.

It also belongs to its readers, who will further shape its meaning and interpretations. “The writer writes it and then lets go and waves bye to it at the train station as it takes off to its journey into others’ hands,” Atwood said. Sarah Foy, an English major, said she’s been a huge fan of Atwood’s poetry since she first encountered her work in high school. “I like it because it’s simple and modern” Foy said. “It’s on your level. She often writes about everyday life, like her dogs and what she sees outside her window. I think it’s enjoyable, because it’s so easy to follow.”

Homecoming Event Schedule WHEN

WHAT

WHERE

>Nov. 9: 10 a.m.

Banners

Tech Pride Room

Field Games

TBA

>Nov. 11: 8 a.m.

Canned Food Drive

Tech Pride Room

>Nov. 13: 6 p.m.

Lip Sync

Memorial Gym

>Nov. 10: 5:30 p.m.

>Nov. 14: 10:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade

Dixie Avenue

DIRTY LAUNDRY?

WE WANT IT!!! SELF-SERVE OR BUNDLE SERVICE • COINLESS ... USE DEBIT/CREDIT/CASH STUDENT DISCOUNT • BIG SCREEN TVs • FREE WI-FI

You've never seen a laundromat like this!! 502 N Willow Ave Next to Domino's Pizza

931-528-9274

Page 4 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

>> Reviews

‘Master of None’ filled with hilarious honesty from Aziz Ansari By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor More and more, comedians are starting to embrace television as an outlet to complement their material, and more accurately, their psyche. This has happened with Louis C.K. and his FX series “Louie,� and Jim Gaffigan’s “The Jim Gaffigan Show� on TV Land. Television works incredibly well as a medium that turns comedians’ everyday thoughts into a 22-minute episode. That’s why it’s no surprise the format is a natural fit for the comedy of Aziz Ansari, best known for his role as Tom Haverford on “Park and Recreation� and his engaging live performances. The actor-comedian specializes in delving into today’s culture and why we date each other like we do and why we behave so crudely. His comedy dares to go deeper into these issues rather than settling for a cheap sex joke here and there. Netflix’s “Master of None� is Ansari’s first stab at a sitcom, and the many issues he brings up onstage and in his book “Modern Romance� become fully realized, leading to not just an often affecting and hilarious show but also contributes to what Ansari wants to accomplish with his comedy. Ansari stars as Dev, a

Photo Courtesy: filmes-netflix.blogspot.com MODERN LOVE - Ansari collaborated with sociologist Eric Klinenberg to write his first book, “Modern Romance,� which was released June 16, 2015. young Indian actor who deals with everything from his heritage to pregnancy scares in New York with biting compliance. This character isn’t too far from what Ansari usually plays as he inserts his trademark high-pitched exclamations here and there for laughs while living the attuned 30-something life as he shifts around the streets of New York with his friends Arnold (Eric Wareheim), Denise (Lena Waithe) and Brian (Kelvin Yu) looking for that next relationship while pondering why everything went

wrong with the last one. The show isn’t strictly about who Dev dates and the search for love in today’s society, but also his Indian lineage, including the powerful second episode, “Parents,� involving Dev’s parents, who are played by Ansari’s actual mother and father, and the struggles they faced making enough money to enter America and start a family. This examination of their lengthy journey from then to right this second is contrasted as Dev’s father asks for help with his iPad’s

calendar while Dev insists he doesn’t have time to fix it for him. Ansari’s commitment to switch up what he wants to say with each episode supports the thesis of “Master of None,� which is a varied, nonlinear collection of musings only slightly connected through Dev’s continuing relationship with Rachel (Noel Wells), who may or may not be Dev’s first real connection of the show. Another striking element of the show is Ansari’s willingness to be honest and put his character in situations

that have wild outcomes. In the fourth episode, “Indians on TV,� Dev auditions for a part in a sitcom named “Three Buddies,� a sitcom with three ethnically varied friends living in New York City. Dev and his friend both audition and notice how every audition they take part in asks them to use an Indian accent. Dev accidentally receives an email from the head

of the network making a racist remark about having two Indians cast in lead roles. The ensuing episode is a deep look at how Indians fill roles in television and movies. It’s hard to recall ever seeing a show examine such a niche problem with honesty and hilarity. As long as “Master of None� continues to probe issues that cross Ansari’s prudent mind, every season should be filled with gratifyingly insightful episodes The title “Master of None� implies Dev is still learning how everything works while retaining not much of anything. Through the foibles of single life in New York, the struggle to adapt to today’s culture of overload seems overwhelming following Dev around. It’s no secret that Dev is pretty much Ansari, who has embraced the pop-culture savvy required to live such a trendy life while not exactly trying to prove a point about the relationships and culture, but give perspective as to how it all works. Dev may be a “Master of None,� but Ansari is clearly a master of understanding modern life while immersed in it all, and it’s refreshing to have someone reveling in the now while also taking a step back to examine what anything even means in this fragment of the 21st century.

Photo Courtesy: rollingstone.com

VISUALLY SOUND - Before the band was formed, Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez wrote “The Armory Wars,� a science-fiction comic book series from which the band bases its lyrics and themes for the first seven albums.

Coheed and Cambria craft tight return By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic

Admittedly, I know very little about the vast comic book universe tied in with the albums of NYbased progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. My roommate’s brother-in-law has some of the comics, and that’s about as close as I’ve ever come to reading them. Still, the music holds up perfectly well on its own, as proven by the band’s October 2015 album, “The Color Before the Sun.� The album kicks off with “Island,� which is the kind of song that makes you feel like the protagonist in a 2004 teen movie. I mean this in the best possible way. The music and lyrics are reminiscent of the emo-alternative style that was so common during that decade. Singer Claudio Sanchez’s voice has matured a bit since the last album, but it’s kept its signature high pitch.

Track two, “Eraser,� is a bit more aggressive. It keeps up with the early 2000s vibe of “Island,� with lyrics like “I don’t think this me is who I am.� I really like these first two songs. They’re overwhelmingly positive in their sound – the kind of music that makes you feel like taking a walk on the beach. Track three, “Colors,� is much more relaxed than the first two. It’s slower for the majority of the song, and the chorus feels a little tired. Personally, it’s not my favorite song. There’s nothing technically wrong with the track, but to me, it feels a bit too bland compared to a pair of songs that were very tough acts to follow. “Here to Mars� picks up all the slack “Colors� left behind, with a strong, guitarheavy intro and a chorus with the lyrics “There’s no one like you on Earth who could be my universe.� That’s the kind of line that’s guaranteed to make a hopeless romantic like myself swoon. “Ghost� is also a slow track, but unlike “Colors,� it works. It sounds a lot like something Brand New (an-

other great band that rose to fame in the first part of the century) would release: it’s soft, melancholy, and gentle. It’s a pretty, haunting song, no pun intended. “Atlas� carries on Coheed’s grand tradition of five-minute songs that feel like epics. It’s energetic, fastpaced and, in a word, thrilling. I’m not sure if it’s officially a single, but it deserves to be. The band introduced it last year in the form of a live acoustic recording, and for good reason. It’s the perfect representation of the album as a whole. Overall, “The Color Before the Sun� is the perfect album to put on when you miss being 14. It’s a tight, well-made record that has succeeded in bringing the band straight back to its roots, making it perfect for nostalgic fans. Every Coheed and Cambria record is totally solid, but I’d suggest this album in particular for anyone who’s just beginning to get into the band’s music. It works perfectly at being accessible without alienating the band’s solid fan base.

* % " % ' ! ! ! & $ )(&- $ )(&+ .+)&,*-&-*+. ###% %

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 5

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Reviews <<

ENTERTAINMENT

Injuries ruin promising storylines in upcoming WWE Survivor Series By KYLE ROBINSON Guest Critic There are only two weeks left for one of the most popular pay-per-views in the WWE, the 2015 Survivor Series. Many questions surround the event, which will take place Nov. 22 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, especially after the loss of current WWE champion Seth Rollins, who is out for six to nine months with a torn ACL and MCL. The WWE announced last week that Rollins will have to forfeit his title and a new Survivor Series tournament will be announced soon. This is crushing blow and marks the second time in two years that a WWE champion has had to forfeit

his title (Daniel Bryan). There has been a rumor that the WWE has contacted Cena to take Rollins’ spot, but it is only hearsay as of right now. Cena is supposed to be out until mid-December while he films his new show for Fox. The WWE will have to do something because there have been numerous injuries to top superstars Randy Orton, Rusev, Sting and Tyson Kidd, among others. The PPV will also mark 25 years that the Undertaker has been a part of the WWE, and it seems as if he will be teaming up with Kane to face the Wyatt family, which is becoming an interesting storyline all on its own. This is the sec-

ond time this year the Undertaker has had a feud with Bray Wyatt (Wrestlemania 31). The other titles that are going to be defended at Survivor Series include: the WWE Tag Team Championship, Divas, Intercontinental and United States. However, the only one that has a match set is the Diva’s championship, where Charlotte will take on Paige. The next two weeks will be very interesting to see how the WWE handles the loss of Seth Rollins, but there are plenty of options and surprise returns if the Series gets desperate. This will be one of the WWE’s toughest tasks to get the booking right which should lead to more interesting storylines.

Photo Courtesy: youtube.com DEMOLITION MAN - The 2014 Survivor Series saw the first appearance of former WCW wrestler Sting in the WWE.

‘Art Angels’ exhibits a shaky, simplistic venture into electro-pop for Grimes By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor

Grimes’ 2012 album, “Visions,” arrived to much fanfare despite the echoing electric contemplation it displayed, mostly due to its only single, “Genesis,” being a runaway hit. Grimes (aka Claire Boucher) has long-focused on making her music work as effective synth-pop and atmospheric dreampop without many frills and a lot of drum machines and keyboards. While both are already welcome additions to the genre, Grimes takes both to extremes on her album, “Art Angels.” The Canadian musician ditches most of the moodiness packed into her

previous albums, becomes unabashedly pop, and in the process confuses as to why she was so revered in the first place. Most of the tracks on the album are bursting with a repelling rather than attractive pop weirdness. Leaning heavily into this new direction seems to be Grimes’ favorite activity throughout the LP without retaining much of what makes her such an interesting addition to the modern dreampop landscape. Many of the ethereal sounds present on “Visions” are replaced with pounding bass beats and, strangely enough, guitar. What is lost is never actually found on “Art Angels,” and the venture becomes entirely determined to selling

the listener on Grimes as a pop artist. Many of the beats aren’t foreign to most ears, and can even be felt as similar to most of the structures in modern day pop music. The only difference between Grimes and her electro pop peers is her embrace of sporadic oddity throughout the album. Her eclectic use of guitar and baby-toned singing voice intercut with basic pop form is an amusing attempt at painting the tunes with a broad brush. This doesn’t seem to be her strong suit as heard on the fifth track “Belly of the Beat,” with its simple bass beat being backed by acoustic guitar seemingly leading to a bigger beat that never comes. “Pin” is an upbeat guitar-

laden track that fails to sound complex or exciting with the melding of electronic and acoustic. This track sounds like something made in the late ‘90s but devoid of the intentional brightness of the era. The interplay between both instruments works, but both are too simple to create anything hugely impressive. Grimes’ voice remains alluring, soft and the perfect sonic side dish to most of the music happening on the LP. Her voice is essentially another instrument, and it’s easily the most pleasing and well-realized one on “Art Angels.” It can reach those piercing high notes and sing along with beats impeccably. The album’s first single, “Flesh Without Blood,” has a driving

chorus defined by her angelic screams, which is catchy from the song’s start to its finish. Grimes’ voice rules over the piano-led track “Easily,” a short and vocally memorable tune that works as another weird snippet over the course of the mostly misguided instrument-focused pieces. Even as Grimes leans heavily on the dance-inspired beats here and there, a couple instances pop up that really work. “REALiTi” foregoes most of the instrumentation lamenting “Art Angels” for a foot-tapping bass, again mixed with careful vocals. Whenever Grimes showcases her voice, which is essentially on every track, it’s a highlight amongst the disappointing attempts to instill pop indul-

gence. While a noticeably peppy album, these brief glimpses of Grimes’ welcome spins on the pop genre are truly what make the album tolerable, albeit with imbalance. “Art Angels” isn’t a major improvement on any of Grimes’ other work; it’s more so something she tried to tackle for the first time on her own. Each lyric she sings with fragility comes across as wonky along with the simplicity of guitar and refusal to become creative with the electronic style she fails to apply smoothly. Altering the problems could prove striking given Grimes’ obvious talent, but for the moment, “Art Angels” is a middling exercise in electro-pop.

Jon Foreman plays with all the hours in a day on ambitious yet intimate ‘The Wonderlands’ By ABBY PIERCE Guest Critic On Oct. 23, Jon Foreman gave his fans the final installment of “The Wonderlands,” the Switchfoot frontman’s second solo EP compilation. It has been 10 years in the making and consists of songs that never quite found a home on a Switchfoot album. “The Wonderlands,” like his last project, is in four parts: “Sunlight,” “Shadows,” “Darkness” and “Dawn.” His first solo release represented the four seasons. Foreman now focuses on giving each hour of the day a unique melody. He calls it his “opus of light and darkness.” The idea developed from the artist connecting certain songs to certain times of day. Some songs feel as if they should be played first thing in the morning, late at night, when the sun is set-

ting and so on. His poignant voice reaches fans again but this time with more heartwrenching, thought-provoking pieces. Jon, with 24 producers, diligently composed a soundtrack for an entire day. The first EP, “Sunlight,” starts with the track “Terminal” (11 a.m.). As the melody strolls in, the ethereal plucking of the guitar simulates the sun rising. You can picture the twinkling of night shifting to day as Foreman’s voice slowly creeps in over the beat. The songs on this EP gradually get lighter until it peaks at “You Don’t Know How Beautiful You Are” (1 p.m.). The album then slinks back into more mellow and serious tracks. “Shadows” is a more reflective set of songs that address death and fear with blatant honesty. While “My Coffin” (6 p.m.) is comparatively upbeat, it is not exactly

lighthearted. The sureness of death is not something most of us want to think about, but somehow Foreman can write a song about such a sinister thing and make it beautiful. “Shadows” is the holding place for insecurities and those times in life when we shrink into sadness, when the sun is setting on times of peace in our lives. “Darkness” houses the sleepy songs, but the lyrics are more hopeful. Those hours of the night all look the same, therefore the songs on the EP have similar tempos and melodies. While this can be repetitive, it supports the theme of the project. The EP finishes with “Inner Peace” (5 a.m.). The opening line reads, “Inner peace is hard to find.” Foreman has a knack for hitting right to the heart but not offending. Instead, it stirs something up inside you. Finally, “Dawn” jumps right into “Inheritance” (6

Photo Courtesy by breathecast.com TICKING AWAY - Jon Foremon previously experimented with concepts based around time by releasing an EP for each season in 2008. a.m.), a sweet love song with cheery strumming. The song picks up after the first line, much like the instant the sun crosses over the horizon. It represents a new day. Darkness is gone. We made it. Each

song sounds like the peaceful stirring you feel when you open your eyes and realize a whole day is ahead of you. Jon achieved greatness yet again. Each song creates the right frame of mind to

match the gradients of light and darkness. He composed an earnest journey for the listener to take. Thankfully these lost souls found a home in “The Wonderlands.”

Saturday Nights

Join us for Cosmic Bowling 10pm - 12 midnight. Bowl to the music! DJ provided & great light show!

Gift &HUWL¿FDWHV $YDLODEOH

*URXS 5DWHV $YDLODEOH

ELUWKGD\ SDUWLHV RWKHU VSHFLDO HYHQWV

Sunday & Monday Special! Bowl 2 games per person at regular price, get the 3rd game free! All day long!

VISIT OUR: RESTAURANT • PRO-SHOP • GAME ROOM

545 Neal St. • Cookeville, TN • 931-528-5551

Q ZDOQXW DYH ¼ QH[W WR 'RUN²V %RRNVWRUH

sandwiches & wraps

new breakfast items

7(&+ ',6&2817

2)) WXHV WKXUV HYHQLQJV ¼ 2)) DOO RWKHU WLPHV WITH VALID TECH ID

931¼526¼6058 8AM - 8PM MON - THURS ¼ 8AM - 6PM FRI ¼ 11AM - 6PM SAT

Page 6 || THE ORACLE || COOKEVILLE, TN

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

OPINIONS

>> Think Freely

Is family life the true price of higher education? KATE TREBING Opinions Editor One of my worst fears as a young child was becoming a workaholic. I had seen “A Christmas Carol,” and I was terrified of falling into the same mindset that had ensnared Scrooge. Anyone who is familiar with the story knows that Scrooge did not begin his life with his infamous crusty heart; he became bitter only when he began to believe the misconception that hard work and earning a living were of greater importance than family and friends. In the end, Scrooge finally realized how important the people around him were, but he had already lost so much precious time and countless loved ones. As a child, I found it hard to believe anyone could fall prey to the Scrooge mindset. As a college student, I am trapped in a nightmare in which I cannot save myself from the same fate. College changes a person. I began two years ago with a steadfast exercise routine and fairly healthy diet. I could not keep up with these beatific standards for even two months into my first semester, but I learned to adjust and make compromises. The same concept applied for my time spent with family and friends. Schoolwork came before fun outings on the weekends, and my family understood that.

John Leech, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843) WAKE-UP CALL - The ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge's partner Marley pays a late night visit to Scrooge. He warns Scrooge to change his lifestyle before he loses all of his loved ones. But as any busy college student can tell you, soon enough part-time jobs, lengthy papers and group projects devoured those leisurely

weekends. You find yourself committed to more than you think you can handle, but somehow you are surviving. Like some microscopic

bacteria, you are thriving in an extreme environment. Isn’t this the true purpose of college? We are told that we need to broaden our horizons,

Getting married young, a lifelong adventure MEGAN WILLIAMSON

independent. How can we learn independence if we don’t first reject the safety of dependence? Growing pains, my mom calls them. They’re necessary, but they hurt like hell. Of course, she wouldn’t want me to use colorful language. Sorry, mom. I know a lot of students who somehow have the ability to balance school, work and family. They are human powerhouses, and I would love to bottle up their essence of awesome and use it as a perfume. But that just wouldn’t be feasible, or sanitary, so I will have to come up with my own solution. We have all heard that college is the time of your life when you develop habits that will stick with you forever. This might be bad news for me, considering my erratic eating habits and lazy exercise routine. It also poses risks for my future family life. Am I setting myself up for future heartbreak by chasing ambition instead of family ties? Scrooge’s story ends well. He wakes up with a new appreciation for the world around him. He saves Tiny Tim’s life just by being a part of it. He is forgiven and accepted back into a family. But he has already lost the love of his life and countless friends along the way. I don’t want to wake up one day and find that I’ve lost more time than I can make up. Kate Trebing is a junior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.

WANTED: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What's on your mind? Politics, campus concerns, life after college? We want to hear it all! Send your opinions to

Guest Critic

Some people might say getting married young is a bad idea. "Oh, you're not ready yet!" or "You've barely even lived, how can you even know you want to spend the rest of your life with this person?" are two things I hear whenever someone finds out I am getting married at age 21. When I asked students in some of my classes about what age they thought was a good age to get married, 23 out of 30 students said the best age to get married would be around 24 or 25. "I just think people need to get out there and live before they decide to settle down," said junior Lydia Triplett. "For me, I want to know how to live on my own before I decide to take that step in case something does happen later on down the road, and I find myself alone." However, there are many perks to getting married at a younger age instead of waiting until you have a successful career. You learn the hard lessons of life with someone. You don’t really get to waste a lot of money because you probably aren’t starting out with much. You also get to share important milestones together such as buying your first car or building your first house together. Even the National Marriage Project’s 2013 report showed that the most satisfied 20-something year olds are married. There has to be something to young marriage then, right? According to an article on msn.com, one woman believes getting married

so we test our endurance and push our limits. We learn to survive on less sleep and more caffeine. We can juggle five projects at once while carrying several jobs. We are overachievers, not by choice but by necessity. This is what will prepare us for our future careers. But there is a price for survival in this fast-paced world. We sacrifice not just our free time but also our childhood innocence. Maybe some can revert back to their younger, less responsible selves when they reconnect with their family. I think I’ve lost the ability. Every semester chisels out some new angle to my personality, and I can hardly recognize myself as the naive teenager who began as a pre-vet major. My family is changing, and I seem to be growing in an opposite direction. There is no feeling as lonely as the realization that you have become a stranger to your own family. My mind reverts back to Scrooge. I realize with shame that he would have done exactly as I have. He would approve of sneaking away to some isolated pigeonhole and avoiding family in order to work ahead for the week. He would compromise time with his loved ones in order to further his career by taking on extra responsibilities. He would choose to sacrifice more than he can make up time for, just to reach his own selfish goals. Yet, isn’t this selfsufficiency what our parents wish for us? They raised us to be strong, innovative and

kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu

Abby Pierce | The Oracle EARLY START - Many little girls dream of getting married at some point. Should it matter whether that is at 21 years old or 59 years old?

young was the best thing to happen to her. "When you are young, you are not so much set in your ways," said Mary Sauer, author of the article. "It is easier to adjust to living with another person. You also have a built-in support system while figuring out what career paths you want to take." Both of my parents were young when they got married, and the same goes for my fiance’s parents. Both sets of parents have been together for over 20 years and are still happily married. “I never dreamed of getting married so young (age 19), but when you find the one you love, you just really want to settle down and start your life with them,” said Diane Brewer, my fiance’s mother. Research over the last several decades has

demonstrated that women who postpone marriage are less likely to divorce, more likely to attain economic stability for themselves, and more likely to express satisfaction with their family and work commitments, according to an article on the CNN website. However, I don’t think it can be assumed all women or men who wait longer to get married are doing it to give themselves better odds of a lasting marriage or so they will be more satisfied with their work commitments. Yes, I think waiting could be smarter for some individuals while they work toward becoming a doctor or lawyer, but wouldn’t you like to have that support system to come home to and tell about your day? Having someone with whom you can experience

the ups and downs of life seems like a better way for you and that person to grow together, which would lead to a healthier and stronger marriage. I’ve been with my fiance for over five years now, and if I weren’t in this relationship, I probably wouldn’t feel the same way about marriage as I do. I find myself constantly telling my friends to go out and live life and enjoy it because someday you’ll find someone to settle down with and your views may change. My decision to get married at a young age is based on my own opinion on how I want to begin my life outside of college. Megan Williamson is a senior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at mlwilliams44@students.tntech.edu

$

10 OFF

TUX RENTAL✳ 55 North Walnut Avenue • Cookeville, TN 38501 email: cityboytuxedos@gmail.com ✳

see store for details

Christie Jenkins Joann Long Owners

410 E. Spring Street, Suite M1, Cookeville, TN 38501

(931) 644-6968

TECH DISCOUNT Monday Tech nights for all Tech students

Bring valid Tech ID

COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 7

Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu oracle@tntech.edu.. Include your name, email address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Friday. We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and clarity.

Think Freely <<

OPINIONS

Rule No. 32: Enjoy the little things Coping with devastating news and feigning strength is not easy but loving your family regardless feels effortless. Preparations begin for a hard-fought battle. KIM BIGGS Guest Critic I can’t force myself to say the word. The word that has been ringing through my head all day. It stings and bites even thinking about it. Saying it makes it a real, concrete truth. It burns my tongue when the word begins to swell inside of me. I can’t speak, but I manage to produce briny tears making my face shine and burn red. Fighting for life isn’t a novel concept to my grandparents. In fact, my grandfather has been in the ring six times with this deadly opponent. The first time was with an infamous adversary, stage 4 lung cancer. Even though I was 6 years old, I knew he would survive. I knew he would fight. I’ve never met a person as hardheaded as Vernon Biggs. He argues about price-matching chicken breast at the local Macon county supermarket. Why wouldn’t he fight for his life too? I didn’t think for one second he would be knocked out of the ring, but my grandmother, Nana, is different. She’s soft and tender. She melts at the sight of her grandchildren and loves the concept of love. How will she fare in the ring? Sue versus liver cancer. Unimaginable. She is invincible. Of course, she has a few health problems but nothing this serious. I see the mischievous twinkle in her eye as the nurse, Melinda, administers pain medication intravenously. It makes me queasy thinking about it much less watching the process from her bedside. She still has her defiance and wit. That’s for sure. The hospital gown is a

Photo Courtesy: Darlene Biggs BLOW OUT THE CANDLES - Vernon and Sue Biggs celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September 2015 with their children and grandchildren. Some of their younger grandchildren helped Vernon and Sue blow out the candles on their anniversary cake. foreign object on her body. It doesn’t fit; it’s coming off where the neck ties. Sue belongs in a classy, silk nightgown, one that makes her soft when you hug her. Normally, she smells faintly of baby lotion and lavender, but the hospital replaces that smell with a sterile, impersonal stench. A scent that makes her like every other patient in this miserable hospital. Sitting at the hospital, I look at her. Not her appearance or her surroundings, I look at her, Sue Biggs. The sweet countenance that has impacted the 40-plus members of our family. She’s a little kid lying in a hospital bed with a 75-year-old body.

She’s my protector and confidant, but she’s also my friend and partner-in-crime. She’s the matriarchal legacy of our family. Recently, my grandmother was diagnosed with a rare type of liver cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma intrahepatic bile duct cancer of the liver. In North America, only 2,000 people have it. Without treatment, the radiologist gave her six months to live. Six months. Roughly 180 days of life. With treatment, her life will be prolonged a few years. Some people shouldn’t be allowed to have cancer. Neither one of my grandparents deserve it. She asked me what we were going to do when her

hair started to fall out. I joke about tattooing her head, but I already know the real answer. I will shave my head and give her my hair. She deserves to feel beautiful. Anyway, my hair is long enough, and I can grow mine back. After all, it’s just hair. I’ve always wanted to shave my head. I can remember when I was around 10 years old; I had a conversation with her about my hair color. Her eyes moved slowly across my long hair. She was taking in the way it reflected light and shone as I tilted my head to and fro. Not long after, she dyed her silver wisps to a golden brown hue similar to mine. I wonder if she remembers that conversation now.

I want her to see me in my white dress. I want to see that twinkle in her eye caused by the cataracts slowly forming. I want her to be my flower girl. A unique twist to the typical wedding ceremony. I can’t help but feeling selfish for thinking about my wedding at a time like this. I know this happens to millions of people each year. I know I shouldn’t focus on the bad. I should focus on the 21 years of memories I have with her, but I’m selfish. I want more. I want a guarantee she will see me graduate from college and get married. I want a guarantee she will stay with me forever, providing that constant aura of protection and security

she brings everywhere she goes. Sleep and concentration evade me. Over the course of the month, my mind has raced but remained empty at the same time. These continuous thoughts have led to a small epiphany. I have no control over this nightmare, but I have the opportunity to change the experience. No, I can’t change the outcome of this disease, but I can enjoy my grandparents as much as possible. I can call them, write them and visit them whenever I want. Showing them how much I love them is free and seemingly effortless. I’m reminded of a rule, a quote rather, from one of my favorite movies “Zombieland.” Rule No. 32: Enjoy the little things. I can memorize the way their house smells when I walk into the sunroom. I will take in the taste of a Saturday morning brunch after a lazy start. I will enjoy the late night movies sitting in their bed with a Coca-Cola and extra butter popcorn. Coping with the situation isn’t easy; writing is my mean of processing the shock. This journey won’t be easy for anyone. In fact, I’m expecting it to be a heavyweightboxing match, but I’m glad I have the opportunity to continue enjoying both of my grandparents. I plan to soak up their company, whether that is six months or 60 years. Kim Biggs is a senior in communication with a concentration in public relations and news editorial. She can be reached at kdbiggs42@students.tntech.edu

Sacrificing campus health could be costing students' wealth HARLEY DAVIDSON Guest Critic There was no doubt in my mind I was dying. What had woken me up as a stabbing pain in my side had turned into my insides being torn out. I had never experienced pain like this before. Every breath was like inhaling shrapnel. After what felt like an eternity, I managed to call a friend to take me to the hospital. When I got there, I was asked for a urine sample. In the sample there was a small pebble. It turns out I was passing a kidney stone. Kidney stones account for more than half a million

THE

not blaming Tech for my poor dietary ‘‘ I’m choices. That’s on me, but college is where we set a lot of the habits that we’ll have later in life. ,, emergency room visits a year. They’re most common in people ages 30 to 40, and once you’ve had one, they’re more than 50 percent more likely to recur within 5 to 10 years and 80 percent more likely to recur within your lifetime. The main cause of kidney stones is a poor diet. As a college student who works full-time, I have a very unhealthy and caffeine-heavy

ORACLE

Est. 1924. Weekly. Student Operated. Award-winning.

Tennessee Tech University TTU Box 5072 Cookeville, TN 38505

Managing Editor - KIM BIGGS Asst. Managing Editor - HAYLEE EATON Business Manager - KIM BIGGS & HAYLEE EATON Copy Editor - SARAH TATE Opinions Editor - KATE TREBING Sports Editor - SHEA HAILE Asst. Sports Editor - JORDAN PACE Entertainment Editor - CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Critic - HANNAH BARGER Circulation Manager - LUCAS MCCOY Faculty Adviser - JON EZELL

diet: three to four sodas a day, campus fast food for lunch and whatever is open when I get off work at 11 p.m. It’s not a very uncommon diet for commuters, and Tech doesn’t help at all with the on-campus dining choices. We don’t have meal plans so we can’t get any of the healthier options offered by Tech without paying an arm and a leg to eat in the

cafe. Yes we could get a meal plan, but it’s not worth the amount it costs. Instead of expanding to healthier dining options or making meal plans more viable, Tech has decided to limit our oncampus options even more this semester by closing the Perch. This included Grill Nation, probably the healthiest of the fast food choices because you could

CONTACT US

VOICE YOUR OPINION

Advertising (931) 372-3031

Opinion (931) 372-3285

ttuoracleads@gmail.com

Newsroom (931) 372-3285 oracle@tntech.edu

FIND AN ERROR? Contact the Managing Editor Kim Biggs kdbiggs42@students.tntech.edu

(615)-818-7536 Thanks for reading The Oracle Read more @ tntechoracle.com

build your burger or chicken sandwich with whatever choices you wanted. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming Tech for my poor dietary choices, that’s on me; but college is where we set a lot of the habits we’ll have later in life. If we’re forced to take a class meant to teach us study habits and how to get connected with the local community, then we should be able to have some healthy dining choices on campus. Why is it that we can spend student tuition on a new fitness center, a bunch of trees that have yet to be planted, and on more construction than you can shake stick from

one of those unplanted trees at, but we can’t spend it on healthier options for food? I for one am going to start making healthier choices in food, and I want Tech to start looking for healthier options. It doesn’t matter much for me because I’m graduating this year, but for some other student, it might help them avoid a $600 emergency room bill and the worst pain they’ve ever felt in their life. Harley Davidson is a senior in communication with a concentration in journalism. He can be reached at hmdavidson42@students.tntech.edu

2. Originality is required. 5. The Oracle reserves Plagiarized works will not the right to edit for style, The Oracle encourages be considered. grammar, length and readers to write letters and clarity. commentaries on topics of 3. For verification, letters interest. A few guidelines: and commentaries MUST 6. Submissions must be include your name, e-mail received by 4 p.m. on 1. Letters should not address, home town and Friday. exceed 300 words. classification or title. Commentaries should be 7. Your thoughts are free. around 500 words and 4. Letters may not run Think often, think free. include a picture of the in every edition due to writer. space. kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu

News content for The Oracle is provided by the Journalism 2220, Journalism 4820 and Journalism 4930 classes. Journalism 3370 provides a majority of the photographs used.

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

Page 8 || COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

>>Inside the Game

Volleyball upsets OVC powerhouse Belmont on Senior Night By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor The Tennessee Tech volleyball team ended its 2015 home schedule in style by defeating Belmont University, the second ranked team in the Ohio Valley Conference. The 3-2 victory was the Golden Eagles’ first win over Belmont since 2010 and the first time third-year head coach Dave Zelenock has defeated the Bruins. The win was also the last home game for senior outside hitter Cody Dodd. The fans in attendance were solidly behind Dodd and the Golden Eagles, the excitement evident in the Hooper Eblen Center. The two squads went back and forth early in the first set until the Golden Eagles gained an 11-6 advantage. Tech managed to hold on to its lead until the Bruins embarked on a 6-0 run to end the set. Belmont won the set 25-21. Tech built another comfortable lead in the second set, going ahead of the Bruins 10-4. The Golden Eagles did not relinquish its lead unlike in the first set. The team con-

trolled the tempo of the period and eventually won the set 25-17. Tech went into the locker room during the intermission with momentum after tying the game 1-1. The third set belonged to the Bruins. The only lead Tech had in the third set was a 1-0 advantage at the beginning of the set. Belmont maintained a double-digit lead through most of the set. Tech lost the third set 25-13. The Golden Eagles entered the fourth set with a 2-1 deficit. Belmont played with an advantage for most of the set, but Dodd helped keep Tech in contention by scoring seven kills. Two of those kills came in dramatic fashion near the end of the set. Dodd’s back-to-back kills gave Tech a 24-21 lead. The Bruins responded with two kills of their own, but Tech’s Shaneice James gave her team the set win with a kill of her own. The Golden Eagles won the set 25-23 after erasing a 17-13 deficit. The teams forced a fifth set after playing to a 2-2 tie in the first four. Dodd scored the first two points for Tech in the fifth set. Belmont kept the last set close until Tech completed

with a 4-0 run. The Golden Eagles were flying high and had all of the momentum in their its with an 8-4 lead. The game-changing run by Tech prompted the Bruins to call a timeout. Belmont called another timeout after the Golden Eagles took an 11-6 lead on a Kennedy Wade service ace. The Bruins made things interesting down the stretch, scoring three consecutive points to close the gap to within three at 13-10, but a kill from Dodd and an attack error by Belmont gave Tech its last two points and the victory. The Golden Eagles picked up biggest win of the season and had its only senior, Dodd, shine in her final performance in the Hoop. The Cookeville native ended the night with 26 kills and 21 digs. “I am just really happy,” said Dodd. “I am so proud of teammates. I could not have asked for a better senior night.” “It was my last night to show every one what I got, I guess. I am just really happy.” Zelenock described how important it was to get a huge win in front of the home

Shea Haile | The Oracle

GOLDEN BRICK WALL - Senior Cody Dodd and freshman Shaneice James attempt to block a Belmont attack during Tech’s final home game Nov. 7. crowd after struggling to defend the home court this season. “We did not protect our home as well as we did last year so it was a little disappointing as an overall home season, but to take down the No. 2 team at home on senior night, it is a good feeling for us,” said Zelenock. “It is good

for confidence.” Defeating the Bruins has not been an easy task for the Golden Eagles, but Zelenock has noticed the gap closing. “Twice a year, they have kind of stumped on us,” said Zelenock. “We started the last couple of years getting a little better and making it more competitive, and to finally get

that win is a big deal for us.” Tech will finish its season this week, beginning at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Jacksonville State University. The Golden Eagles will travel to the University of Tennessee at Martin Nov. 13 for the last regular season game. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Women’s basketball wins first exhibition game By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor

The Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team unofficially began its season Nov. 7 inside the Hooper Eblen Center. The Golden Eagles hosted the Lady Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan College for the first exhibition game of the 20152016 season. Tech begins the season with a few new members on the roster, including freshmen Anacia Wilkinson and Brittany Cooper. Transfers Kandace Newry, Takisha “Keke” Jordan, Lindsey Jennings, Treyvonna “Trey” Brooks and Alliyah Smith are also new additions to the team. Head coach Jim Davis got the chance to play every available player on Tech’s roster in the contest. The Golden Eagles began the contest with a 14-2 run. The visiting Lady Bulldogs had difficulty maintaining possession early in the game, committing eight turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. Tennessee Wesleyan recovered in the first quarter, coming within two points of the lead. Tech had a slim 14-

12 lead at the end of the first quarter. At the beginning of the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs tied the game 14-14 after Kelsey Young completed a layup. The Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 run to take a 24-14 lead. Tennessee Wesleyan fought back to a five-point deficit at the 3:12 mark of the second quarter. Tech finished the last three minutes of the period with an 8-2 run giving the team a 38-27 halftime lead. At the half, junior Hannah Goolsby led the Golden Eagles in scoring with nine points, including two three-pointers. The Lady Bulldogs had the advantage during first half in rebounds, out-rebounded Tech 23-19 in the first half. Tech picked up where it left off in the second half. The Golden Eagles began the third quarter with a 9-0 run that included a layup by Samaria Howard, a jumper by Brooks and three-pointer by Goolsby. Tech maintained a twentypoint lead throughout the rest of the third quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tech had the lead 58-35. The

Shea Haile | The Oracle

HOWARD FOR TWO - Junior Samaria Howard goes up for a jump shot against Tennessee Wesleyan. Golden Eagles maintained its lead against the Lady Bulldogs and defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 71-52. Samaria Howard led all scorers in the game with 16 points and discussed her approach to exhibition games. “I went out there having fun,” said Howard. “It really does not count towards your record or anything. You get out there with your team, and you play to have fun.” Howard stated that

her defense needed to focus for improvement. “I need to improve on my defense,” said Howard. “That is the number one thing is my defense. I love to rebound and crash the boards so those are two things I really want to improve.” Davis pointed out his team’s rebounding as an area that needs improvement. “I do not think we rebounded very well in the first half,” said

Davis. “I told the girls before the game that was a concern. There is no way they should have been even close to us on the boards, but (the Lady Bulldogs) did a good job. They are a scrappy basketball team.” Davis complimented his team’s ability to maintain possession of the ball and limit their turnovers. “We did a lot of good things,” said Davis. “We only had six turnovers at the half, and we had six turnovers in the second half, so if we can continue that 12 turnovers in a game, that is well within our game goal.” There was one statistic that had Davis optimistic about his team’s defense. “The most important statistic is we held them to 50 shots, “ said Davis. “If we can defend and hold them to 50 shots and our opponents to 50 shots, they got to make a very high percentage to be able to score enough points to beat us. “ The Golden Eagles will have another chance to improve before its regular season begins Nov. 14. Tech will battle Martin Methodist College Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. inside the Eblen Center.

Baseball prepares for season in Purple and Gold series By SARAH JACOBS Beat Reporter The Tennessee Tech baseball team hit the diamond for its annual Purple and Gold series last week with the Purple team taking the series. The first game Oct. 27 saw the Gold team win the matchup 15-6. The Gold team was led by first baseman Chase Chambers. The sophomore was 2-4 at the dish with five RBIs, including a grand slam. Catcher Chris Brown also had a productive day at the plate going 2-5 with four RBIs. One bright spot of the day for the Purple team was Connor Goodspeed. The senior was 3-3 with four RBIs including a solo home run. The Gold team took game two of the series with a score of 7-6. Chambers was 3-4 at the plate, includ-

Jim Dillon | Guest Contributor

OUT OF THE ORDINARY - Senior third baseman Josh Pankratz delivers a pitch from the mound during the third game of the Purple and Gold series. Pankratz picked up the win in his relief effort. ing a three-run home run and a double, and swiped a bag in the game. Goodspeed was hot again for the Purple team, going 3-4 with five RBIs, including two doubles. The Purple team bounced

back in game three Friday. Matt Jones knocked in two runs to help the Purple team win the game 5-4, and senior Josh Pankratz got the win coming on in relief. Pankratz said the fall se-

ries is beneficial. “I think the Purple and Gold series is a great way to gain game-like experience that nothing else can replace because there is a lot of incentives to win, and also

creates a very competitive atmosphere that we will not feel again until the season,” Pankratz said. The Purple team wasn’t quite ready for the series to end. They held on and won

the game 5-4 to force a game 5. Ryan Flick had a big day for the Purple squad; the sophomore went 3-4 and recorded four RBIs. Flick had two doubles and a two-run dinger. For the Gold team, Tyler Brazelton and David Garza were each 2-4 at the plate. The final game of the series didn’t disappoint. Kevin Strohschein put the Purple team on his back. The freshman blasted a two-run home run to help his team get the game win and the take the series title. Pankratz also had a good day for the Purple squad. The senior went 2-3 and scored two runs. Brazelton led the Gold team with 3-4 and two RBIs. Pankratz said he is looking forward to the upcoming season. “I think the season ahead of us this year is extremely bright,” Pankratz said. “I am very confident with the players and coaches we have going in.” The Golden Eagles begin the regular season in February.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.