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Oldham and Stinson address campus about parking changes By HAYDEN MCMILLEN Beat Reporter
Isaac Wright l The Oracle PRESIDENT OLDHAM AND PARKING - President Philip Oldham addresses students, faculty and staff at the open parking forum Thursday, March 24.
THE FIT:
To address the issues of timing and finances concerning the new parking conditions that will be implemented this fall, a forum was held by President Phillip Oldham and Claire Stinson, vice president for planning and finance, Thursday, March 24 that was open to students, faculty and staff. For the past two years a committee composed of faculty, staff and students have worked with a consulting firm to fix immediate cam-
pus parking needs. “We knew we were going to have to do something to create a different parking alternative on campus,” said President Oldham. “The current situation just will not sustain long term either through access parking or through financing and current parking structures.” The forum proposed the immediate actions taking place. Because of current needs of the almost 860 lost parking spots the $14.2 million project will accommodate 1300 new parking spots for faculty, staff and students. Aside from finances
the main concerns proposed at the forum were the west perimeter parking lots that will offer the majority of new parking spots. Several questions were proposed to Oldham and Stinson that are still being determined by university officials. These issues included monthly payment plans for faculty and staff, event parking on campus, availability of parking zones for students, faculty and staff and shuttle route schedules. The University is still determining the details for these questions. Although issues are still
being determined, Stinson said that in order to prevent further issues one of the goals is to keep parking at no more than 80 percent at one time. The new project has had some negative views as far as its proposal to the student body. Alex Martin, junior, finance economics major, addressed the issue. “I really think that SGA dropped the ball as far as informing students as far as what was going to happen,” said Martin. “We could have more input into this issue and at the end of the day fought more for students.”
ResLife to begin renovation in Maddux and McCord
Renovations to install an HVAC bullet system
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It’s a real positive thing, and once it gets finished it will be a good improvement for the Hoop and the Fit. —David Mullinax, Fitness Center Director
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By ANNA MCFARLAND Beat Reporter Mistaken by many students as a walking bridge from the Tennessee Technological University Hooper Eblen Center to the Fitness Center, the exterior renovations between the two buildings are installing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning, HVAC, bullet system independent of the rest of Tech’s campus. Fitness Center Director David Mullinax said the new heating and air system will operate for the Hoop and the Fit only, which will allow for more efficient and cheaper use of the system. “We’ve needed to be independent for a long time,” said Fitness Center assistant director Suzann Hensley. The end result of the renovations will be a two-story entrance area with a walk-through covered area at the Fit’s entrance on the first level and the boilers on the second level. The second level will not be accessible. The renovations will also enable the pool heating system to be heated by gas rather than steam. The Fit’s indoor pool will then be available year-round rather than closing for 20 days each year. “It’s a real positive thing, and once it gets finished, it will be a good improvement for the Hoop and the Fit,” said Mullinax. The Fit’s entrance will be under construction until October or November, during which time students can use the pool patio deck entrance to access the inside of the Fit. The Fit will celebrate its 25th year of operation this summer, and improvements and enhancements to the building are necessary to maintain a positive facility for the students, faculty, staff and the community to use.
By ANNA MCFARLAND Beat Reporter Maddux/McCord Hall will close for renovations beginning in the summer of 2016. The $5.8 million renovations on Maddux/McCord will be completed in fall 2017, including new HVAC units, plumbing, flooring, doors, paint, bathroom upgrades and new furniture. During the renovations from Fall 2016 to Spring 2017, residents currently living in Maddux/McCord will be relocated to either Cooper/Dunn hall, also the temporary home of the Engineering Village, or placed in another room or apartment on campus, said Josh Edmonds, assistant director of operations. The funds for all renovations come from student housing fees, and the newly renovated buildings cost more per year than the non-renovated, said Residential Life Director Charlie Macke. “We’re an auxiliary service,” Macke said. “It means we don’t get any money from the state or any money from the university.” Macke The renovations to Tech’s residence halls are more expensive every year, and have been costing around $6 million. Because the renovations cost more each year, student fees will continue to increase in attempts to cushion the cost. “Every year our price goes up a little bit, between 3 to 5 percent, because everything goes up,” said Macke. Despite the yearly increase, studenthousing fees do not come close to covering the cost of renovations. ResLife has a payment plan in place to pay off multiple state-funded bonds, but the department claims the renovations are necessary and beneficial. In addition to the increase in student fees, Edmonds explained the prepayment of $100 to reserve a room on campus that is only refundable if the student is eligible
The Oracle M&M - Maddux/McCord Hall will undergo renovations beginning in the Summer of 2016. The Engineering Village will be relocated to Cooper/Dunn Hall. to cancel the application by specific dates. For the fall academic year applications, the cancelation must be complete by May 1, for spring applications the date is Dec. 1, and for summer applications the date is May 1. “That’s the unfortunate part of things is we’ve gone from fairly debt-free, outside of the two new buildings, to now having a higher debt,” said Macke. ResLife’s renovation budget is also suffering from the decrease in freshman students living on campus because of the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which allows qualified students to attend a community college free for two years. “It has had an effect on us,” Macke said. Freshman and sophomores make up nearly 60 to 65 percent of students living on campus, according to Macke. He claims ResLife was down approximately 300 students from last year’s resident numbers, and the money the department is bringing in does not cover the cost of the loans. According to Edmonds, the numbers have decreased from 2,268 in fall 2014 to 1,938 in fall 2015. “I have seen an effect of the Tennessee Promise in Browning/Evins and Cooper/ Dunn,” said ResLife Assistant Coordinator Gregory Pateras. “Numbers are down, which makes some residents have double rooms by themselves or gives the resi-
dents to buy out their rooms.” Many students in residence halls are unaware of the cost increase, including three-year resident Abi Dye. “I actually don’t remember ever hearing about an increased fee for living in a dorm,” Dye said. “Although I wish we didn’t have to keep paying fees because it is already expensive as is.” Dye currently lives in Cooper/Dunn but plans to live in a renovated hall next year. “I’m excited about it because the dorms are a lot nicer over there, and there is a kitchen, so that I can cook whenever I want to,” she said. According to Macke, the most costly part of the renovations is the behindthe-scene aspect, such as HVAC units, plumbing, air conditioning and operating systems. Other improvements include new flooring, doors, hardware, paint and furniture. “I think the renovations are absolutely a positive thing for campus, residents and promoting TTU,” said Pateras. “Some of our non-renovated halls are showing their age.” ResLife plans to continue renovations until completion in 2021, despite the lack of student fees for funding. Macke claims the construction could be forced to pause if numbers continue to decrease drastically.
Tucker stadium renovations remain in conceptual planning stages By BRITTANY MCGEE Beat Reporter Tennessee Technological University is beginning conceptual planning for major renovations to Tucker Stadium. Although conceptual planning for the stadium renovations has begun, a start date for the construction has yet to be determined. Offices and locker rooms have suffered from leaking and water penetration making the renovations necessary to the stadium. Athletic director Mark Wilson said renovations to the stadium couldn’t begin until funding for the project has been raised. Currently, the Athletics Department is con-
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ducting fundraisers through philanthropic donations and avid supporters of Tech athletics. The estimated cost of the stadium renovation is $45 million, but plans for the stadium renovations are still in the works. According to the campus master plan, renovations on the western side Wilson of the stadium will include a landscaped tailgating lawn and ceremonial “Eagle Walk” toward the stadium. Wilson addressed the changes Tech fans and students will see once the renovations are complete.
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“The home side will switch for Golden Eagle Football. A typical football team likes for the home to be on the west side, but when former head coach Watson Brown came in, he wanted to go back and have the home side be the east side,” said Wilson. After the renovations are completed for Tucker Stadium, the home side will be located on the west side of the stadium. Senior track and field captain, Tiara Hymon liked the conceptual plan for Tucker Stadium. “It’s a good idea to update the stadium because it doesn’t have a modern feel. The only thing I dislike is that I won’t be able to experience competing in it,” said Hymon. Heery International, a contracting
agency based out of Atlanta, Georgia, provided the Athletics Department with a preview of Tucker Stadium after the renovations. “We would start building now if we could but we have to be financially secured. We also have to think about the upcoming seasons and get as much done as we can in the offseason,” stated Wilson. Since Tucker Stadium was built in 1966, minor enhancements have been made to the stadium including fresh coats of paint, editions to the press box and renovations to offices located in the stadium. During the renovations to Tucker Stadium, Wilson said the exterior architecture will be altered to match the Georgian style architecture across campus.
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NEWS
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
>> Campus
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Director of Hollaback! to Study abroad students maintain plans for speak on gender violence summer travel despite recent terror attack By ELISSA LONGFELLOW and street harassment Beat Reporter ‘‘I’m afraid that these attacks woman. Lalani said that she and her student workers were satisfied with the organization’s response, which was issued a week after the backlash that explained their role in the video and ensured supporters that they were listening and using the controversy to expose the issue even more. “It’s amazing to me that it’s taken this long for society to start looking at catcalling as street harassment, because I’ve always felt like it was,” said Lalani. “But people have acted like it was normal and acceptable.” According to the organization’s website, street harassment is defined as a form of “sexual and gender-based harassment that takes place in public spaces.” “(Street harassment) probably just seems like an annoyance at worst to a lot of people who don’t have to deal with it, but there are cases where it’s gotten ugly, and even when it’s not, it’s indicative of the objectification that’s been ingrained in society,” said Jake Gentry, senior environmental and sustainability studies major. “People need to be aware of its causes and effects.” Junior journalism major Erica Dial hopes to learn important information about the issue that she herself has experienced on and off campus. “I’m hoping that the event will provide appropriate ways to respond to street harassment that lets the perpetrators know what they’re doing is wrong, but doesn’t endanger the victim,” said Dial. The event is open to the public and is sponsored by Center Stage and the Women’s Center.
By MARANDA TANKERSLEY Beat Reporter
Activist Emily May will be speaking about street harassment and gender-based violence Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in Derryberry Auditorium. May is the co-founder and executive director of the organization Hollaback!, which focuses on increasing awareness about street harassment and its affects on those who face it. May has won many awards for her leadership, including one of the “12 women to watch in 2012” award by The Daily Muse, according to the organization’s website. The Women’s Center invited May to speak to Tech students. “More than anything, like most speakers, there is always several goals and one is always to highlight an issue and bring awareness to the issue,” said the Women’s Center’s administrative associate Diana Lalani. “In this case, I think that not everyone is convinced that cat-calling is harassment. It’s also important to recognize that this is just one piece of a larger harassment problem.” Hollaback! made headlines on media outlets such as CNN, Time and Jezebel back in 2014 after a video attached to the organization was uploaded of a woman walking in New York City for 10 hours, highlighting the harassment she encountered by many people she passed. The video received backlash when viewers noticed that only black people were being featured harassing the
After the recent terror attack in Brussels, Tech study abroad students remain positive about traveling and say they won’t let this situation discourage them. “As upsetting as these attacks have been, they have not yet deterred my want to travel to Europe. It is an experience that I don’t want to miss out on,” said foreign language major Rad Cuebas. Cuebas is one of 50 Tech students planning to study abroad this summer. All Tech students currently studying abroad were safe and accounted for during the attacks that affected the Brussels International Airport and the city subway March 21, according to Amy Miller, Tech’s study abroad coordinator. Whitney Carr, graduate curriculum and instruction and four-time study abroad student, said that she doesn’t want to give in to the terrorist attacks. “I think the point of these attacks is to make people afraid to travel and to spread fear. I think we need to move on with our lives. I think it’s smart to be aware of potential attacks and safety precautions. I would definitely go back, I’ve never been that person who is afraid to travel because of potential attacks,” said Carr. Carr maintains that as long as students are diligent and aware, there is no reason they shouldn’t be perfectly safe. “I think, overall, Europe is really safe. In bigger cities, no matter where you are, even if you’re in the U.S., there’s more potential to be robbed. You just have to be more aware of your surroundings, especially girls,” said Carr. One of the main concerns Tech has is student safety, especially for students out of the country. Miller says that students are briefed on safety procedures from day one. “The more you plan ahead, the more you’ll be prepared when something actually does happen,” said Miller.
will cause hate and fear to spread, and that’s something we should strive not to do.
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— Whitney Carr Graduate Study Abroad Student
Each student is required to have a personal emergency action plan in place before they leave the country. This plan makes sure the student knows where to go, what their surroundings are, and their emergency contact information. The students are provided with safety checklists and must register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This program provides students and parents with travel alerts and safety tips and also informs the corresponding embassy or consulate that students are in the country. Carr said that Tech tries to prepare the students as best they can, but “there are just some situations that you can’t be prepared for. You just have to react. Just keep yourself grounded and aware.” Currently, Tech has nine students studying abroad, five of whom are in Europe. The program’s numbers have not suffered because of these attacks. According to Miller, 50 students are planning to study abroad in the summer and 17 in the fall, numbers that are average, if not above average, for the university. Carr says that she doesn’t want these attacks to dissuade students from experiencing the study abroad program. “I’m afraid that these attacks will cause hate and fear to spread, and that’s something we should strive not to do,” said Carr. “I just hope that it doesn’t discourage students from going abroad. You never know when something like that is going to happen, it could happen here, you just never know. I just hope that students still want to travel, regardless of these situations.”
events @ tech March - April
29
All Day
John Oles, Ceramic Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
All Day
Advisement for Summer and Fall 2016 Campus Wide
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Spring Fair 2016 Multipurpose Room
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Peace Corps Information Session RUC 370
7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Emily May Derryberry Auditorium
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Brass Arts Quintet Concert Wattenbarger Auditorium
30
All Day
John Oles, Ceramic Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
All Day
Advisement for Summer and Fall 2016 Campus Wide
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
TTU Baseball vs. Kennesaw State Bush Stadium
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Spring Trumpet Festival Recital Wattenbarger Auditorium
31
All Day
John Oles, Ceramic Exhibition Joan Derryberry Art Gallery
All Day
Advisement for Summer and Fall 2016 Campus Wide
All Day
Third Installment of the Deferred Payment Plan Due Campus Wide
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Data Analysis and Visualization with MATLAB Multipurpose Room
5:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Additively Innovative Virtual Lecture Series with Amy Elliot iMakerSpace, Volpe Library
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Joint Student Recital: Brittney Herman; Rachel Lawson, Flute iMakerSpace, Volpe Library
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Hiring positions for Fall 2016 Asst. Managing Editor Business Manager
Copy Editor
Asst. Sports Editor
Staff Writer
Circulation Manager Email oracle@tntech.edu with a resume and three references.
1 All Day
Advisement for Summer and Fall 2016 Campus Wide
All Day
Last Day to Drop a Course with a ‘W’ Grade Campus Wide
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
TTU Baseball vs. Austin Peay Bush Stadium
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Tiny House Road Show Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion
www.tntech.edu/calendar
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Page 3 || COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE
Inside the Game >>
SPORTS
Softball takes two in double header with EIU The Tech softball team earned two wins in less than four hours Saturday hosting Eastern Illinois University in a double-header. When asked how important securing these two victories were for the program, Coach Bonnie Bynum replied, “Big time! We tried to get the momentum back on our side after a little bit of a rough start and I feel like we definitely did that today.� The first contest against EIU began at noon. It was a slow start for both squads with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Golden Eagles after the first four innings. However, hits started being recorded in the fifth inning. The score increased to a Tech lead of 3-1. The Golden Eagles picked off a runner attempting to steal second base for the third out at the top of the sixth inning. Tech put up two more runs to close out the sixth. EIU had one more chance to try to close the gap on what now had become a 5-1 lead in favor of the Golden Eagles. However, with one out already on the board, Tech turned a double play to end the game. The second game of the double-header began at 2 p.m. It was a game that relied much more on pitching and defense to secure a victory than the first.
The Golden Eagles were only able to put up one run in the second inning. Fortunately for Tech, they were able to hold EIU scoreless for the entirety of the game. Coach Bynum said, “I think it was a mixture of both [pitching and defense]. The pitchers stepped up and made great pitches when they had to, and when they left a little more over the plate, our defense stepped up and made a great play. So, it’s an overall team effort on that for sure.� Throughout 14 innings of play, Tech was able to hold the EIU Panthers to only eight hits that resulted in only one run scored. Tech fans Jim and Debbie Greene moved back to Cookeville 15 years ago. While looking for things to do in the area for entertainment purposes, they began attending Tennessee Tech softball games. When Jim completely retired, they began to fervently follow the program. “When Bonnie, the coach, was a freshman, we got kind of into the softball family. We know her parents well, met them through softball,� said Jim Greene. “We travel and go to as many games as possible. We are not able to travel quite as much anymore but still do when we can and always go to the regional tournaments.� Coach Bynum responded to Jim and Debbie and the general fan base in general. “That [loyal fan base] is awe-
Rugby loses heartbreaker to UNF in South Cup final By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor & SPENCER WILLIAMS Beat Reporter
Tennessee Tech’s rugby team lost the South Cup final to the University of North Florida March 20 in Atlanta, Georgia. “One of the biggest heart breaks I have ever been a part of,� said team captain Logan Simms. Tech suffered many injuries before and during the game resulting in only having three substitutes by the end of the match. “Trent Nash suffered a knee injury and then on day 2 basically everyone
was suffering from soreness or some minor injury that they played through,� said Blake Holder, president of the team. “Then, finally, there were some key injuries that were suffered during the regular season that kept them from playing in the playoffs.� Simms, Robert Buck, Jeff Alwes and Alex Harbison suffered injuries during the regular season. “We gave UNF the toughest game they have ever played, and who knows what the score would have been without so many keen injuries,� said Simms. Tech claimed the Dixie Conference Championship with an overall record of 11-3 and a conference record
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Shea Haile | The Oracle SHUT DOWN - Senior Hannah Weaver winds up for a pitch during the second game of Tech’s double header against EIU March 26. Weaver pitched six innings and gave up zero earned runs.The Panthers managed only three hits against Weaver. The performance resulted in Weaver’s second win of the season. some! That’s just a testament to how great our program has been over the past 10-15 years,� said Bynum. “We’re always competing. I think we are just a fun group to watch and that’s why the fan base so is amazing.�
With no ties to the team, other than the relationships they have made since beginning to follow the softball program 15 years ago, Jim and Debbie Greene are the epitome of what any sports program would want from their fans.
We went further than any other Tech Rugby team had gone, won our conference, and almost won the South Cup. —Blake Holder Tennessee Tech Rugby President
of 7-1 in its last 14 games. Tech got its first conference win of the season against Sewanee Oct. 24 in a close 17-12 game. The victory came a week after losing its first conference game to North Alabama. Oct. 31 the team defeated Dixie Conference enemy Lee University in a high scoring affair. Tech pulled out the 48-32 win against Lee. The team continued its winning streak against Chattanooga defeating the local opponent 24-17. Tech gained some revenge Jan. 30 when it won its rematch with UNA, 20-14. Tech’s opponents were
Securing back to back victories against the EIU Panthers gave the Golden Eagles an 11-19 record for the season. Tech’s next game is March 30, when they host Lipscomb at 5:00 p.m.
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By BRANDON BURKE Asst. Sports Editor
out scored 134-29 in its next three contests against: Sewanee, Chattanooga and Lee. The team carried the momentum into the National Small College Rugby Organization South Cup tournament. The squad won its first round match against Valdosta State, 3122, before losing the South Cup final Tech Rugby started the season ranked 47th and is expected to be ranked higher when new rankings are released in May. “It was a dream season. Only losing one conference game is basically all you can ask for besides of course
Jim Dillon | Guest Contributor ALL TOGETHER- Tech’s rugby team gathers for a huddle following its 59-7 victory over Sewanee Feb. 6.
winning them all. We went further than any other Tech Rugby team had gone, won our conference, and almost won the south cup to continue moving on. For me per-
sonally I couldn’t be happier with the season Tech Rugby had,� said Holder. The schedule for the team’s fall 2016 campaign has not been released.
A Win for Wood
Shea Haile | The Oracle " # ! " " #
TAMING THE COUGARS - Michael Wood delivers a pitch from the mound during Tech’s series against Bucknell. Wood earned his third win of the season against SIU-Edwardsville March 26. Tech took two of three games in the series with the Cougars.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
>> Reviews
Satisfying action, impressive new villain can’t save ‘Daredevil’ season 2 from feeling underwritten By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor
Matt Murdock and crew are back for another brutal, gritty season of Daredevil; the patron saint of Hell’s Kitchen, who, in the first season, successfully took on Wilson Fisk and his crime syndicate, all while tackling demons inside and out. That sounds like generic comic book fodder, but Daredevil tries to subvert the line between comedy and drama that the Marvel Cinematic Universe films treads on. It’s a fairly dark affair, with a little humor here and there but no huge bits devoted to making the audience laugh. Netflix’s original series is concerned really with only a few things: populating the show with likable leads, while creating terrifying villains who have a penchant for doing some truly gruesome things. The show’s second season, released March 18, does exactly that with not one but two new adversaries for Daredevil to encounter. Season 2 picks up
many months after the end of the first season; Daredevil is a household (and respected) name in Hell’s Kitchen, and it seems as if the city’s population is liking that he’s taking care of the rampant crime. However, nothing is ever easy for Matt Murdock, Daredevil’s alter ego, a lawyer as well as a friend to his associates, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page. The lead cast feels more natural than it did at the end of the first season leading to more emotional beats for the characters. It feels like their relationships are tenser even in the first episode, as Page flirts with Murdock, something that I didn’t dream happening, at least this soon. There is tension among the main cast, but the addition of two new characters makes things hectic but not crowded. One of the obvious problems with comic books films or television shows is the amount of characters to which the writers are given access. It seems both a blessing and curse that they could sprinkles as many random heroes or villains as they want to in the script. Daredevil invites two new and essential comic book characters
into its new season, The Punisher and Elektra, but balances them both very well. Frank Castle aka The Punisher is Hell’s Kitchen newest vigilante who encounters Daredevil in the first episode of the season. He fights for good, but it often ends in bloodshed as he prefers to use guns instead of fists to fight. It becomes clear that he and Murdock are trying to contribute to the same cause, albeit under different circumstances. During the third episode, which is also the season and the series’ best, they share a conversation about what it means to them to be a vigilante. It’s a powerful moment that feels earned even though the show’s, and The Punisher’s, legacy is fairly short. Jon Bernthal being cast as Castle is a dream, as he both looks the role and plays him with the same smart toughness that he has in the comics. The Punisher’s strength also creates an error with the show that was ever-present in the first season, however; it offsets Daredevil and makes him boring by comparison. Wilson Fisk, the villain of the first season, was so interesting and layered that he over-
Photo Courtesy: engadget.com THE HERO NETFLIX DESERVES - The show’s writers wanted to introduce The Punisher in a post-credit scene in season 1 but couldn’t because of Netflix auto-starting the next episode during the current episode’s credits. shadowed any of Murdock’s character development, and that’s exactly what happens during the second season. Both new characters, although more Punisher than Elektra, are so well-written and focused that the show kind of forgets to make the others noticeable, leading the second season to feel underdeveloped and overall a retread of the first season. Yet when there is action, the
show feels as fresh as ever. A few sequences are too good to spoil, but they really leave an impact with their impressive camerawork and wellexecuted fight choreography. Daredevil still outshines even most comic book films in this aspect, and it’s one of the reasons to keep coming back. Daredevil is going to stay on Netflix’s docket for years to come, though, and hopefully the writers can learn to
make more involving arcs for the main cast while still presenting the same incredible action sequences the show has consistently kept throughout. The fact of the matter is that Daredevil Season 2 feels like more of the same without change, but the strength of what’s new outweighs what is trying to be changed in the old. Even if it’s a disappointment, it’s still a bloody good time.
‘Shameless’ remains must-see television after six seasons By ASA COSTELLO Guest Critic Showtime has a talent for producing dramatic, crude, and uncensored stand-up comedies, movies and television series. One in particular is Shameless by Paul Abbott, which now has 1.44 million viewers tuning in each week. The show stars William H. Macy (Frank), Emmy Rossum (Fiona), Jeremy Allen White (Phillip “Lip”), Cameron Monaghan (Ian), Emma Kenney (Debbie), Ethan Cutkosky (Carl), Brenden Sims (Liam), Shanola Hampton (Veronica), Steve Howey (Kevin), Joan Cusack (Sheila), and many more. The show first aired in 2011, and Showtime is currently airing the sixth season this month. “Shameless” is an extraordinary account of events that happen to the family of two dysfunctional parents and their six children, who are known as the Gallaghers. The oldest sister, Fiona (Emmy Rossum) raises her younger siblings because of a mostly absent, but sometimes present, bipolar mother, Monica, and alcoholic, substance abusing father, Frank. Their poverty stricken lives revolve around the struggles each of them have, while living in an old house on the South Side of Chicago. In the beginning of the series, we are introduced to Fiona and her siblings who all work hard to make ends meet. Their father Frank lives off disability checks, and is often found at the local bar “The Alibi Room.” By night, if he hasn’t made it home, he sleeps wherever he passes out. Frank also has an addiction to marijuana, heroin, meth, cocaine, and any other type of drugs that he can obtain. His older children despise him and often lock him out of the house, while his younger children idolize him, as they have no other parent. Frank revisits old sexual partners and always has a devious scheme for filling his pockets with cash. Sadly, he never shares it with his family, or pays any bills. Monica comes and goes throughout the first three seasons. She has bipolar disor-
der, so we never knew what outrageous behavior she would have next. In Season 2, Monica attempts to slit her wrists in the kitchen while visiting during Thanksgiving dinner. The whole family and their beloved next-door neighbors “Kev” and “V” were present. That moment was a huge turning point in the show. First, you wonder how the children will take it, as it is extremely disturbing. Second, you wonder which of the siblings will show sign of the illness, considering bipolar disorder can be hereditary sometimes. Another extreme moment in the show is in Season 4. Fiona gets a new job and begins dating her boss. Then she cheats on her new boyfriend with his recently out of rehab brother. Fiona’s boyfriend finds out, and he fires her. At an ultimate low, she accepts cocaine from his brother and has a house party. Her toddler brother, Liam, accidentally overdoses on the drug. Liam lives, but Fiona is arrested for reckless endangerment of a child and serves a few months in prison. After she is released she spends a few months on house arrest. Around this times she has alienated her siblings because of her irresponsible actions. Fiona’s pain is raw and lengthy, as she feels maternal to all of them. In this season Fiona nearly loses herself because of the cold treatment she receives. All this touches on a bigger meaning to the show: The Gallagher’s always look out for one another. Then Debbie, the fourth oldest Gallagher, becomes obsessed with losing her virginity before she is 16-yearsold. She’s only 14. In the beginning, while Debbie’s character is developing, she comes off as the smart one. She stays out of trouble and always behaves responsibly. However, as the seasons progress, a different Debbie is revealed. It becomes painful as she is introduced to teenage life and all the not so great decisions she ends up making. In the fifth season she invites her 20- year-old ex-boyfriend Matty to her home for a small party. After he is intoxicated, she drags
Photo Courtesy: ibtimes.com THE LUCK YOU GOT - William H. Macy has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards for his work in the fourth and fifth seasons of ‘Shameless.’ him up to her room and gets comfortable after he passed out. She uses a condom, but the next day he tells her that it was considered rape because he was unconscious the entire time. Within this same season, Debbie informs Fiona that she wants to get a prescription for the pill. Before the 48 hours the pill takes to be effective, Debbie tells her new boyfriend that she is “on the pill.” Why would she be so risky? He trusts her, they have intercourse, and Debbie winds up pregnant. Almost in parallel sequence, Fiona also becomes pregnant by her new boss/ boyfriend at the diner she works at. Fiona and Debbie go through a feud, because Fiona thinks Debbie is too young to have a baby and wants her to get an abortion along with her. This is a breaking moment in Debbie’s character and for the show, because no one wants a teenage girl to be pregnant, and getting an abortion seems unethical to Debbie. While all this is taking place, Debbie’s boyfriend has disappeared to Florida and left her alone to pick up the pieces. Debbie has a power struggle with Fiona, because she is her guardian and Debbie is still a minor, but Debbie wants to have her baby and no one is going to stop her. This kind of scenario
doesn’t always happen, but there are plenty of 15-yearold mothers out there, and the struggle of being a teen mother is surreal. I can’t wait to see what kind of mother she becomes. From Season 1 to Season 6, I was drawn to this television series as I watched each character’s personality develop.
I truly enjoy how the show incorporates just enough real life scenarios with exaggerated outcomes. It makes a perfectly sad and funny account of events. Each one of them deals with their own problems, and they help one another cope with different issues that come with the average and extreme
situations they all deal with. With each season I felt like I became part of this family while they struggled and had heartwarming moments.The Gallaghers aren’t a normal family, yet they deal with real life complications just like any other low income family would. I grew to feel sorry for some of them at different times, and angry with them when they are clearly making a bad decision or a mistake. Many times I wondered how the characters continue with their lives, due to all the outrageous events they deal with. Even with all the drama, the show still incorporates just as much humor, which keeps me laughing along the way. Between evading the law, child protective services, welfare fraud investigators, and making money for the bills, food, and rent each week, running drugs, dealing with addictions and illnesses, scamming, stealing, and running bootleg businesses, as well as avoiding Frank (who only looks to them for money or ways to make it), one never knows what kind of twisted adventure “Shameless” will take them on.
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OPINIONS
European attacks dominate the media field KATE TREBING Opinions Editor Last week I wrote an editorial praising the triumph in Brussels, Belgium at the capture of ISIS terrorist Salah Abdeslam. The morning that article was published, Brussels International Airport was bombed. The irony of an editorial heralding victory on the same day of this tragedy seems both ill-timed and tragic. Given the short time frame, one must naturally conclude that the fleeting victory triggered the ensuing tragedy. While the world has closely followed this week’s updated reports in Belgium, we somehow managed to overlook the suicide bombing at an Iraq soccer tournament Friday, March 25. ISIS claimed responsibility for the suicide bomber who walked into a soccer tournament in al-Shuhadaa stadium about 30 miles south of Baghdad. According to the Washington Post, Iraq officials estimated the casualties of the bomb to be anywhere from 29 to 41 confirmed dead and roughly 60 to 100 injured. This death count rivals the 31 confirmed killed in Tuesday’s Brussels attack, yet the world seems to have its eyes fixed firmly on central Europe. To be fair, Belgium is a vital center of international affairs. As the center of European Union headquarters, the city
of Brussels is teeming with the world’s most influential leaders. Additionally, the number of those injured in Belgium was three times the count in Friday’s attack. One event seems carefully planned, while the other appears to be yet another random act of senseless violence. However, these facts do not undermine the significance of the attack in Iraq. Compared to the coverage of European terrorist attacks, the crises of the Middle East seem almost shrouded in mystery. Perhaps most of us have grown weary of keeping up with the seemingly endless string of violence in these warridden countries. Perhaps we have simply grown accustomed to skimming the headlines for our news fix. Whatever makes front page scans into our brains. All else is sent to junk mail. But if we dig deeper than the surface issues, we can grow to understand the true matter of events at hand. For instance, one of the factors behind ISIS’ increased violence is due to the weakening power of the group at its source – the Middle East. Iraq’s army is taking back its cities. In fact, the Iraqi people have been oppressed by ISIS just as surely as Europe has. ISIS’ founding leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, actually spearheaded the extremist group after his tactics of brutality toward non-sympathetic Muslims was condemned by fellow extremist, al-Qaida leader
HAIDAR HAMDANI - Associated Press THE FACE OF GRIEF - Friends and relatives of the victims of the Iraqi suicide bombing on March 25 mourn their lost loved ones. Osama bin Laden. Now, as the Iraqi army takes back their country, ISIS strikes out even more fiercely in a desperate attempt to gain some leverage. Are we making ground in this fight? ISIS’ second in command was killed this week by U.S. special forces as they attempted to capture him for questioning. Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, who was considered to be the sixthmost-wanted terrorist in the world, is actually the second high ranking member of ISIS which U.S. special forces has taken out this month. These
facts are encouraging, even triumphant. But we do not see them broadcast as front page news. This could be for security reasons, but chances are that most ISIS members are well-aware of the extermination of their secondin-command. No, it is us the public who are unaware. Keeping up to date on global matters takes work. We don’t have the luxury to focus on just one localized issue at a time. Rather, our mental scope needs to broaden so that we can take in various perspectives and contemplate the thread that connects each
issue to one another and to us. Take for example, President Obama’s recent visit to South America. The purpose of this excursion was to build foreign relations, specifically with Cuba. He arrived on Cuban soil as the first sitting U.S. president to visit since 1928. Many in Washington criticized this effort to open communication with the Communist country, especially given the timing of the attacks in Belgium. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was among those to urge President
Obama to return to the United States following the events Tuesday morning. But the president defended his stay by musing that “the whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people’s ordinary lives.” On the surface, his visit might seem callous, illtimed and inappropriate. He was visiting a country with a heavy record of antiAmerican sentiment, on a day when the rest of the world was focused on Belgium to offer their support. Yet the president was also opening doors to trade with a country which has been isolated for more than 50 years. He was already treading eggshells given the delicate circumstances of a fragile alliance, and he made a statement, however indirect, about the capability of a democratic nation to govern itself in the face of turmoil, despite the pilot being absent from the cockpit. This week has been a frenzy of headlines. Major disasters, however unwelcome, do have a tendency to draw people to the news. We need to be informed, not just when disaster strikes or a presidential election is on the line. No news may be good news, but let’s be realistic. There is always news.
Kate Trebing is a junior in communication with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.
Reminder to appreciate the art of cosplay ASHTON BREEDEN Guest Critic Seeing someone in cosplay can be startling at first, but after you think about the time and effort it took to make their costume, you can really appreciate their dedication. Cosplay is like sports are to many people. A way of life. A way of living. According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, Cosplay is “the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game or TV show).” Cosplayers should not be viewed as weird or freaks. They should be viewed as artists for their hard work and dedication to their costumes and fandoms. Not only can cosplaying be time-consuming, but it also calls on the person’s imagination once in awhile. Those who cosplay are often viewed as odd by people who do not understand the practice or why people dress up as flamboyant
THE
characters from, often foreign, shows and movies. What most people don’t realize about cosplay is that it can take months to create a costume. Most cosplayers that you see often create their own clothes and props to portray their favorite character for conventions dedicated to some particular genre. Cosplay comes in all shapes and sizes. Crossplay is when a member of one sex dresses as a character of the opposite sex, like a female dressing as Red from the popular “Pokémon” series, without making their costume more feminine or masculine. Genderbend cosplay is different. A cosplayer that genderbends a character usually completely redesigns their outfit to match that of the sex they identify with. For example, a male that likes the character Sailor Moon from the anime “Sailor Moon” may redesign her uniform so that he can dress up as the princess of the moon, or in this case, prince of the moon.
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There’s also cosplayers that put a spin on beloved characters, like creating a steampunk version of the Batman villain The Riddler. The possibility of cosplay is infinite. Most anime conventions even hold cosplay contests, which are very similar to Halloween costume contests but with more intense competition. Some people dedicate their lives to cosplay. The term professional cosplayer is not an uncommon phrase to hear in fandoms. Names like Jessica Nigri and Ginny McQueen are thrown around with awe and respect for their work. Some cosplayers even idolize them. So instead of staring and snickering at people dressed headto-toe as a Power Ranger, respect their work. Everyone has their own quirks and shouldn’t be judged based on them. Ashton Breeden is a junior in communication. She can be reached at asbreeden42@students.tntech.edu.
Photo courtesy: CHRISTIE CRAIG COUNTRY KITTY - College student Christie Craig has been cosplaying for three years and now creates her own costumes. This one is her original design.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Features <<
NEWS
Circle of Sisterhood LIP-SYNC - Phi Mu participates in Panhellenic Association’s philanthropy, Circle of Sisterhood, in a lip-sync battle between the sororities on Tuesday, March 22. Circle of Sisterhood, founded in 2010, is an organization that raises money to help young women around the world gain access to education. Since its inception the organization has helped women and girls in more than 17 countries around the world. The Panhellenic Association at Tech has participated in many events to help raise funds and awareness for the Circle of Sisterhood over the past few years including coffee shops and talent shows. Emily Easterly | The Oracle
Bass fishing team wins Carhartt Classic Exhibition with limited motor access By ASHLEY MOYERS Beat Reporter Tennessee Tech’s bass fishing team was victorious at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Exhibition. Matt Allen, the president of the bass fishing team, and Caden Watson, a first year freshman secured the win for Tech’s bass fishing team. The two students began their journey for the exhibition by packing their bags and heading to Lake Hudson in Oklahoma for their shot at victory. Once they arrived to the competition, Watson and Allen were ready to get started for the competition. Allen and Watson were on their boat ready to start the practice round when they hit a standing piece of timber which forced
them to only use the trolling motor on the boat. The trolling motor is a less powerful motor, which is more quiet when steering the boat. With the team’s boat debilitated, the students were forced to fish near the ramp of the lake rather than ride across the lake. Meanwhile, the team’s competition had access by boat to the entire lake. “Quitting wasn’t even an option, especially after driving that far. We knew it was going to be a tough tournament. We thought if we could focus and fish hard then we could still have a chance to win,” said Allen. Even though the team was restricted to the ramp area of the Lake Hudson while the competition was moving to deeper water, Tech’s team was able to stay in the competition with one of their first fish. “We didn’t realize how big our fish actually were until we put them on the scales and
‘‘afterQuitting wasn’t even an option, especially driving that far. We thought if we could focus and fish hard then we could still have a chance to win. - Matt Allen
President TTU Bassmasters Team it said 18-1. That’s when it kind of set in that we had won,” said Allen. They caught four bass weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce, during the competition. Allen was ecstatic about the victory. “I feel like it was a long time coming, for myself and the team as a whole,” said Allen. “We have a lot of really good guys on the team, and I’m surprised that a big win had not happened until now.”
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Fellow team member, Dylan Fehr, who has been on the team for the past three years said, “Matt deserved to win this tournament in his last semester at Tech. Matt is an awesome guy, and a great president for the club. You better remember his name because he is going to do big things.” The bass fishing team will be competing in more national championship qualifiers in April and May.
Alpha Phi Alpha to host annual step show to benefit Cookeville Regional Cancer Center Organizations competing in the step show raise money for their national philanthropy through projects outside the step show. Many chose to host spirit nights at local restaurants. By REBECCA FINLEY Beat Reporter Alpha Phi Alpha’s annual step show competition will be held Thursday, March 31 in Derryberry Hall Auditorium. Every year, Alpha Phi Alpha holds a step show competition that raises money for Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s Cancer
Center. In 2014, an alumni member died of cancer, making the Cancer Center a close connection to the fraternity. Wolfgang Bronner, Alpha Phi Alpha president, said, “The Cancer Center really helped him out a lot, so we make it a point to donate to them every year when we do the campus wide step show.” Aside from small, organizational changes there was one big change to the step show that was made this
year. Each organization competing was asked to raise money for their national philanthropies. Organizations hosted individual spirit nights at restaurants in town where part of the proceeds were donated to their national philanthropy. Laney Elrod, Phi Mu sorority member and team coach, said, “I think that sometimes we all get caught up in the big competition of step show, so I love how APhiA di-
Rahman to speak on U.S. foreign policy in Middle East By KORY RIEMENSPERGER Press Release Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States, will speak at Tennessee Tech University April 4 at 7 p.m. in the Bell Hall Auditorium. The topic of Rahman’s talk, “Crisis in the Middle East: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Kurds vs. ISIS,” will detail political ties between the autonomous Kurdistan and the United States. The ambassador will address her government’s position on a wide array of political, security, humanitarian, economic and cultural matters. “The political relationship between the United States and Kurdistan is a major foreign policy issue,” said
Michael Gunter, a professor of political science. “Kurdish fighters are our main boots on the ground against ISIS. This talk is a fantastic opportunity for our area to understand their point of view.” Rahman was born and lived briefly as a child in Iraq and Iran in the mid-1970s before moving to Britain in 1976. Before her career in public service, Rahman worked as a journalist Rahman for 17 years. She began with local newspapers in London and worked her way to writing for The Observer and the Financial Times. Prior to her U.S. appointment in 2015, she served as the Kurdish High Representative to the United Kingdom. “Iraqi Kurds consider the
United States the most important post for their diplomats,” said Gunter. “We granted the Kurdish people de facto independence and have been supporting their interests ever since.” Her late father, Sami Abdul Rahman, was a veteran of the Kurdish freedom movement, joining the Kurdistan Democratic Party in 1963 and playing a critical leadership role in the Kurdish and Iraqi opposition to Saddam Hussein’s regime. He was killed, alongside his elder son Salah and 96 others, in a 2004 Iraq suicide bombing. Rahman graduated with an honors degree in history from the University of London in 1987. A question and answer session and reception will follow the ambassador’s remarks. The entire event is free and open to the public. Bell Hall is located at 10 W. 7th St.
rected it more toward our individual philanthropies this year.” Step routines are required to be between 12 to 20 minutes long, so organizations usually get an early start when it comes to practicing. In the past, organizations have started practicing three to four months in advance. “I’m excited for everyone to see what we’ve been working so hard on for the last four months,” said Elrod. Over 700 tickets are being sold
for the event, and will be on sale Monday, March 28 until Thursday, March 31 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Roaden University Center. Bronner said he expects a soldout show because of the amount of tickets already sold and the excitement that has been expressed by everyone planning on attending. Doors will open at 6:06 p.m. and the show will start at approximately 7 p.m.
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