Daily Toreador The
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 2013 VOLUME 87 ■ ISSUE 99
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Tech students killed in Sunday morning crash Two men were pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident at 1:40 a.m. Sunday at 1600 Kent St. Brian Jeffries, 22, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Classic with Tech student Spencer Brown, 21, down the 1500 block of Kent St. at an unsafe speed while crossing railroad tracks, the accident report stated. As the vehicle crossed the railroad tracks, it became airborne and vaulted over Avenue Q. According to the report, once the vehicle hit the ground, it continued traveling west until Jeffries drove the vehicle off the south side of the road, becoming airborne and hitting two poles in the process. The report stated Brown was ejected from the vehicle and was not wearing a seatbelt, whereas Jeffries was. It was unclear whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Approximately 50 minutes after the accident, the scene was discovered by a passer-by, the report stated. An investigation by the police department is ongoing. ➤➤egardner@dailytoreador.com
2nd major snowstorm paralyzes parts of Midwest KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — For the second time in a week, a major winter storm paralyzed parts of the nation’s midsection Tuesday, dumping a fresh layer of heavy, wet snow atop cities still choked with piles from the previous system and making travel perilous from the Oklahoma panhandle to the Great Lakes. The weight of the snow strained power lines and cut electricity to more than 100,000 homes and businesses. At least three deaths were blamed on the blizzard.
OPINIONS, Pg. 4
Orange: Music in film theme saved 2013 Oscars
Student Government hosts debate for election By MATT DOTRAY STAFF WRITER
Student Government Association candidates discussed their goals, if elected, during last night’s executive candidate forum. The purpose of the forum was to inform the students about each candidate prior to voting, which begins today. At the forum, candidates gave their introductions, then answered questions from the panel and the audience. Candidates for internal vice president, who serves as the president of the Student Senate and works with student organizations, debated first. Taylor Weeks, a junior political science major from Houston, and Jill Berger, a junior marketing major, are the two candidates for the position. One of the questions directed toward the candidates involved the lack of activity by current senators. Berger said one of the reasons senators have not been doing their jobs to the fullest is because of the lack of knowledge about the rules. If elected, she said she would create an event that involves senators coming together, once a month, in order to discuss how to write legislation
PHOTO BY BRAD TOLLEFSON/The Daily Toreador
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FORREST Stovall, Jose Barraza and Luke Cotton give their opening remarks during the Student Government Association debates Tuesday in the Matador Room in the Student Union Building. SGA elections will start today and run through Thursday afternoon.
and bills. Along with learning the correct ways to write legislation, she said she also would like to create mobile office hours, which involves senators going to their respected
By ALEXANDREA TORREZ STAFF WRITER
The Texas Tech women’s basketball team looks for another win as they take on No. 22 Oklahoma State (19-7, 8-7) at 7 p.m. today in United Spirit Arena. The Lady Raiders’ (20-7, 10-5 in Big 12 Conference play) energy has elevated after beating Kansas State. The team is now tied for second in the Big 12 standings. “Everybody has a little bit more smile,” Tech coach Kristy Curry said. “Their corners of their mouth are turned up a bit more. There is more pop in everybody’s step.” Curry said she has seen what the team has created with wins and knows the Lady Raiders have gained more confidence as they continue to play each game. “Momentum is important in this league,” she said. “There is no doubt about it. Momentum is always important.” Curry said she knows winning makes
things easier for the Lady Raiders and that the team still has to work hard to finish what it has started. “That is contagious when things are going well,” she said. “It is a lot easier every day. At the same time, you have to bring the same work ethic. We have to continue to challenge our team to improve and get better. We feel like, as a staff, we are doing that.” As the Lady Raiders prepare to take on Oklahoma State, Curry said she knows what the Lady Raiders have to look for and expects to see some urgency from Oklahoma State. “You catch them on a good day — makes them as good a team as anyone in this league,” Curry said. “Their consistency is what they’ve really struggled with a little bit, but I expect a sense of urgency. They are going to bring their best shot tomorrow night.” BASKETBALL continued on Page 7 ➤➤
Students make own versions of Harlem Shake video -- LA VIDA, Page 3
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colleges to talk to students. “I want to make sure they are engaged with their colleges,” Berger said. “Talking to students, writing effective pieces because the more engaged you are and
the more in tuned your are with what your students want, the more you’re going to want to do stuff for senate.” SGA continued on Page 2 ➤➤
Lady Raiders look to upset No. 22 OSU
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MEAGAN WESSEL, A senior retail management major from Wichita Falls, follows along as different speakers talk about what to wear during interviews at the “Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving the Hunt for that Fabulous First Job” program Tuesday in the University Career Center.
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THE WEST BASEMENT of the Administration building is being turned into a student lounge for the Graduate Student Advisory Council.
GSAC begins graduate lounge construction By CAROLYN HECK STAFF WRITER
The Graduate Student Advisory Council has started construction on a graduate student lounge located in the west basement of the Administration building. There is no set date for completion of the lounge, but the council would like construction to be finished by or before summer, said Krystle Kelley, a GSAC member and anthropology graduate student from Austin. “The interior design students are going to be working on it this semester,” she said, “working on the designs and some plans for the space. And then hopefully we can have it running, I mean, preferably yesterday. So as soon as possible.” The main purpose for the lounge is to give graduate students a place to go to relax, study, socialize and host events, said Andleeb Mazhar, a GSAC member and environmental design graduate student from Pakistan. She said she wants students to consider it a home away from home. “They don’t have any place exclusively for graduate students,” Mazhar said, “so this would be their own place where they can express themselves or just relax themselves.” One factor she said she wants to stress about the space is that it should feel removed and informal. “Psychologically,” Mazhar said, “I
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think it’s very healthy to have a place for students where it’s a different environment that’s not a classroom to meet. Like meeting at Starbucks is so popular among the students. Why? Because everybody is relaxed there.” While the members of the council have their own ideas on what should be done with the space, Kelley said it is important to give the students a voice. “We’re going to get the input of other graduate students on constructing this place,” she said, “so we’re not just going to do it based off of our own ideas. But we wanted to get input from all of the graduate students and see what they specifically want.” Some of the ideas the council has come up with for the lounge include a computer lab, a kitchen, conference rooms, book carousels and lounges with televisions and bean bag chairs, Kelley said, but the students have final say. Interior design students like Nizar Haddad, an environmental design graduate student from Jordan, have been brought in to conduct a survey to gather information on what graduate students would like to see most in their new lounge. The designers also are taking stock of the space to see how it can best be used. Both the survey and the completed floor plan propositions are to be submitted by March 28 for approval.
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GSAC continued on Page 2 ➤➤
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