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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 23

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SPORTS

The Tech Climbing Club reaches new heights while welcoming new students.

The softball team will compete in its first game at Rocky Johnson Field for the first time this season.

Social media users should not use the platform to find humor in conflicts.

People with tattoos share their experiences in the workplace and breaking the status quo by being inked.

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Tech experts give context over conflict in Ukraine

By TEA MCGILVRAY

Digital Content Manager As anti-Russian protests swarm the world, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders to move in on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv last week in an attempt to capture Ukraine.

What is happening right now?

According to AP news, the United Nations general assembly convened for its first emergency session since 1997 voting 141-5 that Russia is demanded to stop its offensive and immediately withdraw all troops.

Among the few countries that supported Russia were Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Syria.

In the last week, about 870,000 people have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion but that toll is soon expected to reach one million, according to AP, potentially becoming Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. The shelling and bombing of regions in Ukraine have damaged pipes and electricity lines leaving hundreds of thousands of families without drinking water or basic supplies.

“Putin’s latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and unprovoked.

He rejected repeated efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and North Atlantic Treaty Organization wouldn’t respond. And he thought he could divide us at home. Putin was wrong.

We were ready,” President Joe Biden said in the State of the Union address on March 1.

Though there is no plan to engage with the Ukraine conflict, the U.S. alongside other NATO countries have placed sanctions against Russia as they wait to see if Putin will continue to push West.

The U.S. has taken actions to isolate Putin and the Russian government from the global economy and resources by interfering with Russia’s central bank, closing off American airspace from Russian flights, devaluing the Russian currency and limiting Russia’s access to technology, according to the State of the Union address.

“Things are changing by the day.

New sanctions are coming, every couple hours something new happens you know? This war could go on for a while or it could be over in a day or two,” Michael Noel, professor of economics, said. “How much this affects the U.S. economy really depends on two things; how long this war goes on, and how deep the United States wants to apply sanctions to Russia that not only hurt Russia, but also hurt the United States.”

How did we get to this point?

During a panel hosted by Ph.D. student Kyle Rabel, panelists Alan Barenberg, Frank Thames, Eric Hammersen, Anthony Qualin, Erin Collopy discussed the history and context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Collopy, associate professor of Russian language literature and culture, said one key contributing factor that led to tensions rising between the two countries is Putin’s influence over mainstream media and lack of freedom of the press.

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OPINIONS

ONLINE

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Tech raises the barre for dance education students

By TANA THOMPSON la vida editor

Ballet is defined as an artistic dance that uses set steps and gestures. It has become known to benefit both physical and mental health.

Texas Tech students are offered ballet classes, and Ryleigh deMontalvo, a first-year dance student from Dallas, said ballet is the reason she has been successful in her field.

“Everything you learn in a dance can be applied to an aspect of life. From teamwork to being able to learn complex information in a short period of time and being able to apply it either physically or mentally, dance helps teach you how to live life,” deMontalvo said. “I also think ballet and dance is something that you can pick up and start at any point in life.”

For most ballet students, they began taking ballet at a young age and continue to pursue it throughout their college career.

“I actually started taking ballet at 18 months old because I wanted to be in class with my older sister who was taking it and I would proceed to cry until they let me dance,” deMontalvo said. “I think that every child should be put into dance at a young age. It

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

Students stand on one foot and relevé while holding the barre during the Ballet III level class on Feb. 24. helps with all aspects of life, such as memory, balance, coordination and a sense of expression that is important to all young children.”

Kyla Olson, the associate professor of practice and interim head of dance, said ballet classes are offered every semester and

are taught by faculty.

Ballet classes are open to all majors, Olson said.

“Any students actually can take the placement juries and be placed into a technique class or register for our lower level classes. We have an introductory

to dance technique course that’s offered every fall that any student can register for,” Olson said. “And that automatically allows you to take Ballet I, which is typically offered in the spring semester. So we do try to offer dance classes for non-majors but because we

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Men’s Basketball

Red Raiders finish undefeated in USA

By BISHOP VAN BUREN Sports editor

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

The student section dress in Hawaiian and beach theme for the final home game against Kansas State at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 28.

Texas Tech’s men’s basketball team secured an 18-0 home record with a victory over Kansas State on Monday, Feb. 28, its first undefeated season inside the United Supermarkets Arena in program history. The last time Tech went undefeated at home was during the 1995-96 season (13-0).

“I want to thank the best fans in the nation, our Red Raider nation was unbelievable,” head basketball coach Mark Adams said after beating KSU. “The United Supermarkets Arena is the best arena in the country, and you put 15,000 in there and it makes it more special.”

Five Red Raiders played their final collegiate home game in the win over Kansas State, and Adams decided to start all of those five players in honor of senior night.

“It was an emotional night to say goodbye to the seniors here for this game and then saying goodbye to the United Supermarkets Arena because I wish we could play the rest of the games throughout the year here,” Adams said.

Tech won its 17th home game of the season on Feb. 22 with a 66-42 victory over Oklahoma University. With the win, the 2021-22 Red Raiders surpassed the previous program record of 16

wins inside the USA in back-toback-to-back seasons from 201619, according to Tech Athletics.

“We talk about our players and our team and maybe myself being inconsistent at times, but one thing that is consistent is we have a great crowd,” Adams said after beating the Sooners.

“They’re wonderful, every game they show up and they’re loud and rowdy.”

In his first season as a Division 1 head basketball coach, Adams took over a roster that retained only five players from last season’s team.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen once we leave here but I know we are all going to have a memory of playing at Texas Tech DAVION WARREN SUPER-SENIOR GUARD With one game remaining before the Big 12 Championships, Adams and the Red Raiders have swept the defending national champion Baylor University as well as the University of Texas.

“You know, I got the greatest

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BALLET

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 have a lot of students to start, we don’t always get to have outside students take those classes.”

Olson said Tech is a learning institution and always embraces students adventuring outside of their own field.

“They’re able to progress through so it really just depends on each individual person. I think ballet particularly in this period is a very well known dance style,” Olson said. “It’s technically the oldest dance style, I guess, in terms of a codified system, but I think ballet is very recognizable in pop culture, and I think a lot of people see it and appreciate its value. They also like the gracefulness of ballet and I think that draws in a lot of people.”

Most students who are dance majors or have taken ballet go on to teach ballet, Olson said.

“A lot of them either work for studios or go into the school system and teach and I’m sure ballet is a component of that,” Olson said. “We have some students who go on to do nondance related careers but they still take, you know, the adult ballet classes and their local studios.

And then you know, we have a very small number of students that go on and actually pursue ballet as a profession, working with a small company or with a larger company.”

There are plethora of professional dancers who did not begin dancing until their early and late 20s,

deMontalvo said.

Yvonne Racz Key, a ballet instructor at Tech, said she teaches her classes based on anatomy to help students learn how ballet works.

“My own personal pedagogy involves employment implicating anatomy and anatomy of the body in the ballet class so you know how your muscles and your bones are working and how to activate them and access them safely, to prevent injury but also to promote strength and … to execute the technique to your best ability and everyone’s built differently,” Racz Key said.

“Also by doing that, I also

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implement a lot of musicality, because I believe that brings forth the artistry and the emotion in dance.” deMontalvo said dance, especially ballet, is over looked in many aspects of life.

“It helps everyone involved in many ways and I think it can truly help you express yourself which is something that I think is lacking in society right now,” deMontalvo said.

“If you couldn’t tell I love dance, but I want to express the importance it has on the physical and mental wellbeing of a person. It gives you a supportive community and an environment that helps you continue to better yourself which is such a positive thing.” @TanaThompsonDT

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

Annmarie Walling, a dance student from Georgetown, performing her learned skills in the Texas Tech Creative Movement Studio on Feb. 24, 2022.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

States launch probe into TikTok’s effect on health

WASHINGTON (AP) — State attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on

young users’ mental health, widening government scrutiny of the wildly popular video platform.

The investigation was an-

nounced Wednesday by a number of states led by California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont.

U.S. lawmakers and federal regulators have criticized TikTok, citing practices and computer-driven promotion of content they say can endanger the physical and mental health of young users. The platform has an estimated 1 billion monthly users and is especially popular with teens and younger children.

Last month, Texas opened an investigation into TikTok’s alleged violations of children’s privacy and facilitation of human trafficking.

“Our children are growing

up in the age of social media — and many feel like they need to measure up to the filtered versions of reality that they see on their screens,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “We know this takes a devastating toll on children’s mental health and well-being.”

Bonta said the investigation aims determine if TikTok is violating the law in promoting its platform to young people.

Government officials and child-safety advocates maintain that TikTok’s computer algorithms pushing video content to users can promote eating disorders and even self-harm and suicide to

young viewers.

TikTok has said it focuses on age-appropriate experiences, noting that some features, such as direct messaging, are not available to younger users. The company says it has tools in place, such as screen-time management, to help young people and parents moderate how long children spend on the app and what they see.

“We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorneys general are focusing on the safety of younger users,” the company said Wednesday. “We look

forward to providing information on the many safety and privacy protections we have for teens.”

Early last year, after federal regulators ordered TikTok to disclose how its practices affect children and teenagers, the platform tightened its privacy practices for users under 18.

As its popularity has swelled, TikTok has come under a barrage of criticism from state officials, federal regulators, consumer advocates and lawmakers of both parties. Republicans have especially homed in on the company’s ties to China.

TikTok is owned by Beijingbased ByteDance.

“TikTok threatens the safety, mental health and well-being of our kids,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the senior Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said at a hearing Tuesday.

Late last year a similar coalition of state attorneys general began an investigation into the Instagram photo-sharing platform, owned

by Facebook parent Meta Platforms, and its effects on young people. The action came after former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen revealed internal company research showing apparent harm to some teen users of Instagram.

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Joe Biden asked Congress to bolster privacy protections for children, including by banning advertising targeted at them and with measures aimed at reducing the promotion of content that contributes to addiction.

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CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 going on for a long time, and people who have access to other forms of media can see,” Collopy said.

This disinformation, or historical distortions and cynical lies as Barenberg, refers to it, are the foundation of Putin’s justification for invading Ukraine, professor of history Barenberg, said. Putin has claimed several ideas which Barenberg disagreed with; the idea that Ukraine has no claim to sovereignty and the justification of invasion for the purpose of the denazification of Ukraine.

Though the Russian government has a large influence over its citizens, Barenberg said it’s important for people to remember that this conflict is not as simple as Russia against Ukraine. Several cities being targeted by the Russian military are primarily Russian speaking populations.

“There are many, many families that straddle both sides of the border. Russians who have relatives in Ukraine who are under threat. So it's a situation that's creating a terrible amount of grief and worry and hurt for so many people,” Barenberg said. “It's also really important to recognize that many people in Russia oppose the war. Thousands of people have been arrested for protesting against the war, and this is in the context of a state where anyone who goes out to

demonstrate, even standing on the street with a sign will be arrested and may very well be tortured in prison, so there are huge risks also for Russians in opposing the war.”

Thames, a professor of political science, said another false justification for this conflict is that NATO had promised at the end of the Soviet Union that NATO would not expand, something that has been of concern for the Russian government since 1990.

Aside from economic attacks, NATO countries have said they will not be putting troops on the ground.

How will this most likely impact the upcoming months?

The United States does not have many economic ties with Ukraine, so the effects of this war on the U.S. will come from the impacts on Russia’s economy, Noel said.

“The first main effect from this is going to be that oil prices go up, and they have. Oil prices have shot up $30 in the last few months, as the lead up to this event was well known,” he said. “ So right now our gasoline prices have shot up, and they are poised to go up another 60 or 70 cents just based on the increases in crude oil prices that we've seen already.”

It takes time to see the impacts of war on inflation, but Noel said people can expect to see these impacts in the next month or so. Another unexpected result of this conflict will be inflation on fertilizer because

Russia is a large producer of ammonia.

What differentiates this war from others that the U.S. has been involved in, for example the Iraq war, is that in this situation Russia is not the one being bombed so its actual exports are not being effected but rather the production and distribution aspect, Noel said.

“There's a lot of sanctions like that (which) are designed to be inconvenient, and inconvenient meaning, quite frankly, making it more difficult for the Russian people, which would hopefully change public support for the war in Russia,” Noel said.

Some additional changes people may notice are the boycotting of Russian products, though these decisions are not occurring at a federal level, in some parts of the United States it may be more difficult to find Russian vodka. Similarly, Russians will have a harder time accessing American products and media.

Noel says actions like pulling products off the shelves or not showing American movies in Moscow theaters are more so symbolic actions rather than real effective sanctions.

“It's very symbolic, and it doesn't really do anything.

Most Russian vodkas are actually made in the United States so that they're in some sense applying a sanction to the wrong group of people. You may be closing down a factory in Tennessee instead,” Noel said.

“The financial restrictions are a little more difficult because

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

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UKRINFORM

local news agency

GLOBAL GIVING

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VOSTOK SOS

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SAVE THE CHILDREN

humanitarian aid to kids

SUNFLOWER OF PEACE

U.S. based medical nonprofit

CARLOS GONZALEZ/The Daily Toreador

The panelists provided several options for Americans who are interested in supporting Ukraine; fighting disinformation by seeking out reliable sources, donating to organizations which support Ukraine and contacting U.S. representatives in order to urge them to provide aid. they make it more difficult for the Russian Government and the Russian army to fund itself.

So those are more significant.”

During the panel, the panelists discussed some possible but less likely scenarios which many Americans are wondering like the implication this war would have on the world order and the possibilities of a larger scale world war.

One of the things people are watching out for is whether or not China will see this as an opportunity to invade Taiwan.

Adjunct professor and former Army officer said if Putin is able to conquer a neighboring state that it does open that door for China, however, it is unlikely that China would invade.

Hammerson said, “I don’t

think the west is going to stand by and let this continue as it is.

They’re going to put some serious sanctions in place short of sending military troops across the border… they’ll do everything that they can to try and roll back this occupation.”

Thames said it is difficult to predict the outcome of this war because it is hard to see an endgame solution that makes sense for Putin aside from the total collapse of Ukraine and them agreeing to a peace treaty. It is doubtful Russia will be able to take over the entire country or sustain its occupation of the peripheral areas of Ukraine but this is uncharted territory.

With regards to whether the conflict could escalate to-

wards mainland America, the panelists agreed that this is an unlikely outcome as it would be much more difficult and not in their best interest to engage in combat with the U.S. “I guess the question is, what do you mean by World War? Is this a conflict that's going to change the world that's going to fundamentally alter much of the way the world works and alliances? I think, absolutely. Yes. We're already seeing that happen,” Barenberg said. “Is this going to be a nuclear conflict? I think it's unlikely but certainly not impossible. I mean, we hope that doesn't happen, obviously. But it's very hard to anticipate the course of events.” @TeaMcGilvray_DT

Black students advocate for representation at Tech

By JULES CERVERA

Columnist The representation for Black students at Texas Tech relies on the university’s effort in action and listening to the voices of Black students.

Students gave their voice to speak on the representation for Black students at Tech.

“I think one of the largest problems is that there's a lack of representation with the staff of Texas Tech. Texas Tech fails to tenure any other black professors. I mean, it's a problem all over Texas, but still at Texas Tech.” Ellie Mae Fisher, a fourth-year agricultural communications studies student from San Jose, California, said.

“There's a lack of representation for any of the students here. And then that just kind of boils down into once you don't

see anybody here who looks like you or provides any help, then we don't have anybody coming back.”

The lack of resources fails students from advancing in the institution, Fisher said, reaching out to other black students and showing them positive aspects of Tech helps grow the institution internally and externally.

“I think the largest culture shock for me was more on the opposite side of there was such a large population of minority students out here and the lack of attention to them,” Fisher said. “I think it's definitely a culture shock with the lack of want into be a diverse space, and kind of just the way that people are very complacent and comfortable in the division. Not just in Lubbock but very clearly

on the university.”

After discovering the lack of a NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) chapter, Fisher founded the chapter in July 2021 and became president of Tech’s NAACP chapter.

Fisher said the hopes of the NAACP chapter at Tech are to reach out to minority students who feel disadvantaged and expose them to opportunities at Tech.

“Honestly, I'd say it's pretty substantial,” Aliyah Efotte, a third-year honors science and humanities major from Cypress, said. “I think as a Black woman running for this kind of higher position in SGA, I think it does mean a lot, especially for you know, someone like me.

When I was a tiny, little baby senator and I just entered SGA,

it would have really helped to see that type of representation from someone like me looking forward. This process has been really challenging at times for me, but also really rewarding because it helps me see that my voice is still important.”

Being used to being the only Black woman in a room having the chance to represent those who feel like the minority in majority-filled spaces, Efotte said, means a lot.

“Of course we could always use more representation,” Efotte said. “I think we’re on a good track now”.

Coming to Tech has not disadvantaged her as a Black student, however, being a Black woman in today’s America and parts of the world is seen as a disadvantage in itself, Efotte said.

“I don't think I've been disadvantaged but there is definitely a missing sense of community belonging,” Ethan Mitchell, a fourth-year energy commerce student from Kansas City, Missouri, said. “So I think, as far as academic sense, I don't feel like I've been disadvantaged but as far as a community, yeah, I think can be challenging.”

Mitchell said the main thing in bringing more representation for Black students at Tech starts with hiring more faculty of color to expand the sense of community between instructors and students.

In his experience, Mitchell said, coming to Lubbock is the most conservative environment he’s been in and was an adjustment as a Black student.

Finding organizations such as

the NAACP helped Mitchell find a sense of community within the demographics of Lubbock and Tech.

“And for me, it kind of opened my eyes to all the other orgs. Those like myself, who are Black, that are here on campus, it's almost like, you know, there's other Black students here but it's so far and few between walking on campus, you don't see each other,” Mitchell said. “That gave me kind of the community that's happened to and within being a service-focus organization, it lets us perform those acts of service and include other students of color which they can find that sense of belonging I mentioned that we don't have.

It kind of provides the students another outlet to be a part of.” @JulesCerveraDT

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@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Joking about war is unnecessary A

nyone who has recently been on social media platforms, such as TikTok, most likely has come across content regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Many videos are educational and allow non-Ukrainians to get a second-hand account of what it is like to live amongst the conflict.

On the other hand, some videos make jokes about the crisis. Many individuals joke about their ineligibility to be drafted. In the event of a third World War, despite the fact that as of now, the U.S. does not plan to go to war. On Feb.24, President Biden made a speech at the White House.

He said “Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict…our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO allies and reassure

Faith Dolan is a first-year English major from Midland.

those allies in the east.”

Joking about one’s ineligibility to be drafted is fine in all cases except when there is obviously high political and militaristic tension as a result of innocent individuals’ suffering and expulsion. The Russian invasion of Ukraine should not be taken lightly and shouldn’t be used by privileged individuals to make ‘funny’ content just so they can get likes and views.

Other videos joke about the threat of another World War. While it is okay to spectate and have conversations about these possibilities, joking about it at the expense of millions of

Ukrainians is immoral, unjust and problematic.

Generation Z never lived during a World War and should consider that as a blessing.

Many Americans did not have this privilege and most likely would not be joking about a third war. In fact, any individuals who have served or are serving in the military probably would not joke about it either.

War goes beyond any content on a screen and always means death, hardship and loss for those who are innocent.

War destroys homes, tears apart families and can result in great economic decline.

There is also a common theme of TikTokers who identify as part of Generation Z and joke about how the generation cannot take anything seriously, referring to the comments left on the Instagram account that apparently belongs to

Vladamir Putin, the President of Russia.

Although the account is not verified, the principle of commenting jokes on a tyrannical president’s Instagram account is quite insensitive to those who are oppressed under his rule. Today, it can be difficult for teenagers and young adults to realize how comments and jokes are more than just thoughts that are justified by one’s placement behind a screen.

Some might respond to this by pointing out that these jokes are a type of coping method. If one is Ukranian or has loved ones directly affected by the conflict, then yes, he or she can joke as a coping mechanism. However, many of those who are joking are American and have no personal connection to the crisis. In these situations, it should not be permitted or

acceptable to use someone else’s hardship to create a humorous effect.

Even though I have no personal ties to Ukraine, I am still saddened by the state of the world. However, I choose to abstain from insensitive jokes that discount the grief and loss of those in Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine should not be taken lightly and shouldn’t be used by privileged individuals to make ‘funny’ content just so they can get likes and views.

Instead, I choose to pray and look for other ways

that I can help Ukrainian citizens. I also utilize my own hobbies and therapeutic interventions as my own coping mechanism.

It is normal and expected to have many feelings regarding this event. Individuals who have no personal connections to Ukraine but still feel helpless should not use those feelings as an excuse to joke about those who are going through unimaginable grief.

Let us use this as an opportunity to educate ourselves. Let us do everything in our power to help those who are stranded, abandoned, hungry, without shelter or in a medical crisis without the proper and necessary intervention.

Above all, let us stand with, respect and support Ukraine. @FaithDolanDT

COLUMN

International students show empathy towards Ukraine As I strolled through the aisles of Costco on one of my grocery errands, I walked past a $50 emergency kit — a big black kit that almost looked like a suitcase.

“I wonder if I will ever need this,” I said to myself.

Less than two weeks later when I turned on my go-to Indian news channel, I was appalled to see throngs of Indian students like me, lining up near bomb shelters with all of their belongings.

Just like me, they must’ve left their nests to make themselves and their families proud, in search of a better life, in search of fulfilment.

Being an international student never has been more

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION © Copyright 2022. Texas Tech University Student Media/The Daily Toreador. All DT articles, photographs and artwork are the property of The DT and Student Media and may not be reproduced or published without permission. The Daily Toreador is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

Navi Chiddarwar is a Ph.D candidate from Pune, India.

challenging: borders sealing overnight, cities locking down, wars being declared overnight, flights canceling and the list is endless. International students always face the extra challenge of fitting in culturally, socially and economically because the rules are obviously very different. Something as mundane as driving, owning a vehicle or applying for an insurance has way more red tape involved than it does for locals.

I speak on behalf of my community, everyone who is feeling like they’ve come far, far away from their

homes and families. In testing times we are no less than warriors: fighting our own battles, sacrificing our comfort and security. Having a network of friends and a strong sense of community helps a lot.

I clearly remember my first day in Lubbock when I stepped onto American soil with nothing but a few hundred dollars, three luggage bags and lots of dreams. I was scared and nervous but a representative from the Texas Tech international students office put me to ease and made me feel welcome. International students can make use of several resources the university offers to build a network, get help or simply to make friends.

The Office of International Affairs is equipped with a lot of assistance for

students who feel lost and confused in a new country.

The staff members are cordial and go out of their way to help students. All one has to do is check their newsletters regularly, subscribe to their mailing list or simply call them to get information. It is easy to be led astray, to be confused and to feel out of place but we must realize there’s ample help available.

Every international community has its own clubs across different schools on campus and they can be a great place to seek help or even to socialise.

I also am of the opinion that every international student must be aware of what is happening back home by staying abreast with news updates and alerts, it always helps to stay informed and aware.

We at The Daily Toredor strive to cater all student cohorts alike. Should international students feel like their voice needs a platform to be heard, I, as a columnist, would be more than happy to convey any message on behalf of the international students fraternity.

In testing times we are no less than warriors fighting our own battles, sacrificing our comfort and security.

Alternatively, we also look forward to guest columns and letters. They can be an excellent way to convey any message to a

fairly large audience.

As a woman who lives far away from the safety net of her family, friends and culture, I cannot begin to count the number of times I have felt the need to just feel secure and taken care of. I am glad I worked hard in the first few months to make enough friends and create a community who loves me, respects me and improves me.

I cannot fathom what my friends in Ukraine are going through right now. All I know is that they all want to live, that they’re all in it together.

And through this column, I wish to let them know that I will keep them in my prayers of safety, that I will vicariously fight this battle with them and that they are not lone warriors. I am with them. @NaviCDT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas primary sets up Abbott-O’Rourke race as midterms begin AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will face Democrat Beto O’Rourke after voters in Texas opened what could be a lengthy, bruising primary season poised to reshape political power from state capitals to Washington.

Both easily won their party’s nomination for governor on Tuesday. Abbott is now in a commanding position as he seeks a third term, beginning his run with more than $50 million and campaigning on a strongly conservative agenda in America’s largest Republican state. That leaves O’Rourke facing an uphill effort to recapture the magic of his 2018 Senate campaign, when he nearly ousted Ted Cruz.

“This group of people, and then some, are going to make me the first Democrat to be governor of the state of Texas since 1994,” O’Rourke told supporters in Fort Worth, where in 2018 he flipped Texas’ largest red county.

“This is on us. This is on all of us.”

Abbott said, “Republicans sent a message.”

“They want to keep Texas on the extraordinary path of opportunity that we have provided over the past eight years,” his campaign said in a statement.

The GOP primary for state attorney general was more competitive. Former President Donald Trump’s endorsement wasn’t enough to prevent incumbent Ken Paxton from being forced into a May runoff. He’ll

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face Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the nephew of one president and grandson of another, after neither captured a majority of the votes cast. While Paxton won more votes than Bush on Tuesday, his failure to win outright could raise questions about the power of Trump’s endorsement as he seeks to reshape the party in his image in other primaries later this year.

Democrats faced challenges of their own. Nine-term U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was trying to avoid becoming the first Democratic member of Congress to lose a primary this year. He will instead head into a runoff against progressive Jessica Cisneros.

The primary season, which picks up speed in the summer, determines which candidates from each party advance to the fall campaign. The midterms will ultimately serve as a referendum on the first half of President Joe Biden’s administration, which has been dominated by a pandemic that has proven unpredictable, along with rising inflation and a series of foreign policy crises. The GOP, meanwhile, is grappling with its future as many candidates seeking to emerge from primaries, including a sizable number in Texas, tie themselves to Trump and his lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

Tu e s d a y m a r k e d t h e state’s first election under its tighter new voting laws that, among other

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changes muscled through by the GOP-controlled Legislature, require mail ballots to now include identification — a mandate that counties blamed for thousands of rejected mail ballots even before Election Day. More than 10,000 mail ballots around Houston alone were flagged for not complying. Technical issues also caused problems in Texas’ largest county: Paper jams and paper tears in voting machines would take a couple days to work through while counting, said Isabel Longoria, Harris County’s elections administrator.

Several voting sites around Houston were also short-staffed, she said, causing tensions in some locations.

“Democrats and Republicans bickering with each other, stealing each other’s machines, hiding each other’s paper,” Longoria said. “At the end of the day, they were able to help voters.”

The primary also tested Republican efforts to more aggressively court Hispanic voters. Counties along the state’s border with Mexico, long a stronghold for Democrats, were on track to smash Republican turnout levels compared with recent elections.

That was the latest warning sign for Democrats who are trying to hold the line with Hispanic voters who swung toward Trump in 2020.

Republicans are betting

that the Texas primaries will be the first step toward them retaking Congress in November, pointing to Biden’s low approval ratings, inflation and anger about the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Russia’s war with Ukraine could also have deep political implications.

Monica Carter, who voted at a polling station in River Oaks, one of Houston’s wealthiest neighborhoods, cast her ballot in the Republican primary and said she thought rising rates of crime in many parts of the country are “out of hand.”

“The police force needs to be reinforced,” said Carter, 66.

History is also on the GOP’s side. The party controlling the White House has lost congressional seats in the first midterm race every election cycle this century except in 2002, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The fight over the GOP’s future is much fiercer than it was 20 years ago, though.

U.S. Rep. Van Taylor of North Texas, for instance, became a target for some on the right after he voted to certify Biden’s electoral victory and to create an independent commission to investigate the Capitol insurrection. The Republican was forced into a runoff after facing four primary challengers who largely refused to accept Biden’s victory and tried to minimize

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the mob’s Capitol attack.

National Democrats say Trump’s outsize GOP influence and an economy roaring back from the pandemic may help them counter political precedent. Still, disagreements between the party’s progressive and more moderate congressional wings helped doom Build Back Better, a sweeping, Biden-backed spending and social programs package.

Cisneros is among the Texas progressives who could secure Democratic nominations in House districts blue enough to all but guarantee they’ll be headed to Congress. A 28-year-old immigration attorney who supports Medicare for All, Cisneros nearly toppled Cuellar during Texas’ 2020 primary.

Cisneros has been endorsed by progressive stalwarts Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who campaigned with her and with Greg Casar, an Austin City Councilmember who championed a $15 citywide minimum wage and won the Democratic primary for the open House seat representing Texas’ capital.

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Juan Lozano in Houston, Jamie Stengle and Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Acacia Coronado in Austin and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

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HOME RECORD

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 job in the country and it’s because we have not only a great crowd and great student section but I love our guys as well,” Adams said.

“They’re very coachable, they play hard and they respond.

It’s a perfect storm for me.”

Two of Adams’ additions in his first offseason were forward Bryson Williams and guard Davion Warren.

Williams and Warren are both in their final year of eligibility after leading their former schools in scoring last season (Hampton and the University of Texas at El

Paso, respectively), according to Hampton University Athletics and UTEP Athletics.

Williams leads Tech in scoring with an average of 14.1 points per game and is shooting a conference-best rate of 54.7 percent from the field, according to Big 12 Sports.

On Feb. 19, the Red Raiders completed their second win over the Longhorns and Tech’s former head coach Chris Beard.

Despite the game taking place in the Erwin Center in Austin, Williams said it felt like Tech had a home court advantage.

“The way our fans showed out and the way they were

screaming for us when we scored and played defense,” Williams said. “We have the best fans in the country ….

We leave our heart, blood, sweat and tears all on the floor for them. They always show out for us and we want to show out for them.”

According to Tech Athletics, Williams has scored 422 total points this season and Warren’s 308 points are the second-most on the team. Warren averages 10.3 points per game and is one of five players to play in all 30 games this season, along with the four other players honored on senior night.

“These guys are my broth-

MAR. 3, 2022

ers,” Warren said of his fellow seniors. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen once we leave here but I know we are all going to have a memory of playing at Texas Tech.”

The No. 12 Red Raiders have one game left before the Big 12 Championships take place in Kansas City, Missouri from March 9-12.

They’ll travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to play

Oklahoma State University at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“What an unbelievable arena this is, and what a great atmosphere,” Adams said after securing the 18-0 home record. “I want to thank our administration and all of their support. It’s been a special, special home court advantage and experience for me.” @BishopVB_DT

5

We have the best fans in the country …. we leave our heart, blood, sweat and tears all on the floor for them.

DAVION WARREN SUPER-SENIOR GUARD

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Cheerleaders line up along the sideline in front of the student section at the Texas Tech men’s basketball game against the University of Oklahoma at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 22, 2022.

Texas Tech students express their emotion after super-senior guard Adonis Arms scores the second dunk in a game against Kansas State University at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 28, 2022.

Tech softball to host UNT for home opener Friday, begin Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic

By JUSTIN APODACA Sports Reporter

The Texas Tech softball team will compete in the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic which will be at the Rocky Johnson Field.

Te c h ’s h e a d s o f t b a l l coach Sami Ward said her players are eager for Tech’s first series in Lubbock.

“We are all really, really excited for so many reasons,” Ward said. “We love playing at home, we love our home field. We just got a brand new surface a couple months ago so we’re excited to be able to compete on it in front of our home crowd. And, it’s just, there’s nothing like being at home so we can’t wait.”

North Texas and South-

ern University will be competing in the tournament over the weekend.

The Red Raiders are entering the weekend 5-10 overall but are coming off a 4-2 victory over No. 18 Northwestern, according to Tech Athletics. Tech also played No. 6 CaliforniaLos Angeles and No. 16 Missouri last weekend but were defeated 2-1 in both games.

“Last two weekends, we played a lot of tough competition,” Ward said. “So it was nice to kind of get over that hump and get that first win against [a] top 25 team for the season I thought we did a good job of continuing to move forward and fight and claw and find a way to make it happen.”

Tech will play North Texas 6 p.m. Friday, 1:30

p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m.

Sunday, according to Tech Athletics. Southern University will play the Red Raiders at 4 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

North Texas comes into the weekend 7-2 overall as sophomore infielder Kailey Gamble leads the team with a .366 batting average, according to North Texas Sports. Gamble hit three home runs this season, which leads the team.

Southern enters the tour-

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nament 2-11 on the season, which included a 22-0 loss to Syracuse on Feb. 11, according to Southern Sports.

Junior catcher Mariyah Sandoval leads the team with a .368 batting average and with one home run is in a threeway tie for the team lead.

Tickets for the tournament will be sold as an all-day package and can be purchased at the box office or on the Tech Athletics website. @JustinApodacaDT

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Tech Climbing Club aims to reach new heights

By ARIANNA FLORES

Editor-in-Chief When students enter the University Recreation, they see the 53-foot rock climbing wall that reaches the third floor. For the Tech Climbing Club, this wall is the centerpiece of their sport.

The members meet for practice about three times a week and for any special traveling occasion that may occur.

The president of Tech Climbing Club, fourth-year student studying information technology, Hayden Fears said the club has been a part of Tech since the mid‘80s and developed during his tenure with 50 members.

The Kansas native said he has been climbing for three years and began his time on the wall after trying it out during his freshman year orientation.

“I’ve always kind of grown up in extreme sports (like) martial arts, competitive archery … but climbing really spoke to me on a level,” Fears said. “It was a chance to take all those skills and put it to a test.”

Fears said during his time as the president he wants to continue teaching climbers and give students an opportunity to be a part

of a community.

“We have a lot of sports (that) are very much, go to practice (then) you go home and you go compete and that’s it. In climbing, we’ve always been that kind of oddball group,” Fears said. “You know, we’re an individual sport, but at the same time, we’re still a very local and vibrant community of itself.”

The treasurer, Jade Korber, said ever since she was a child she has been afraid of heights and though she is not over that fear, she has found ways through climbing she enjoys.

“I was always kind of taught that climbing is you know kind of top or upper sport only which are two disciplines of climbing that are what you see with the full length of our indoor wall that goes up to the third floor of the Rec and I kind of stayed away from it for that reason,” Korber, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native said.

“But here at Tech I was introduced to bouldering which is a discipline that you don’t go on a rope and you don’t typically go much higher than 15 feet, which was a lot more comfortable

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John Clements a campus minister for international students at Tech from Lubbock is the oldest rock climber at vertical plains rock climbing competition, with 20 years of experience.

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Lucas Pisecco, a first-year public relations student from Houston starts his one hour and thirty minute competition at the 22nd annual vertical plains rock climbing competition at the Texas Tech University Recreation on Feb. 26, 2022. for me to do and that was something that I really enjoyed doing.

Korber, a fourth-year student said she joined the club with zero climbing experience and learned about bouldering, speed climbing and more.

“We have members that have never climbed it in their life until they join in a way I was in that position.

So you absolutely need no experience,” Korber said.

Third-year civil engineering student from The Woodlands, Rachel Dixon said she joined the rock climbing after her roommate introduced her to the club and has enjoyed the individual aspect of the sport.

Dixon said the sport is a mind game and to be successful at it, students have to believe in themselves and must be resilient when facing a certain route or height.

“If you think you can, then eventually after enough tries then you’re

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The Climbing Center hosts the 22nd annual vertical rock climbing competition, open to any person from Texas Tech students and faculty, to rock climbers across Texas on Feb. 26, 2022. absolutely correct. That you can do it,” Dixon said.

The times she meets with the club she said are relaxing and help her meet new people while working on her own love

for the sport.

“In my experience, you have a little bit more of a better bond between the team because they’re not necessarily trying to knock

each other out for different positions on the team to be able to play (here) it was just a really friendly crowd,” Dixon said. @AriannaFloresDT