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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 VOLUME 95 ■ ISSUE 26

LA VIDA

SPORTS

Flatland Cavalry to perform at virtual festival.

Peery speaks on recruiting, decision to join Adams.

Military children deserve appreciation.

OPINIONS

ONLINE Keep an eye out for our top trending posts of the week.

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ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

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VACCINE

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

People who received the COVID-19 vaccine are monitored for 15 minutes after receiving their vaccine on Jan. 7, 2021 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was put on pause due to a rare blood clot found in six people who received the vaccine.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine on pause

By JAVIER BACA Staff Writer

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being put on pause after several people developed blood clots due to the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson is the only vaccine that requires one shot to obtain the full effect of the vaccine.

Katherine Wells, director of Public Health for the City of Lubbock discussed what will happen at the vaccine clinics in Lubbock now that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been put on halt.

“We stopped offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the vaccine clinic,” Wells said. “Anybody that had a scheduled appointment was offered a Moderna vaccine instead. It also cut back our walk-

ins, we’ve been advertising that we could accept as many walk-ins as possible, but we can’t do that this week.”

Wells said no one in Lubbock has experienced a blood clot from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The vaccines are being held in storage right now; however, they will not be distributed until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration say it is safe to do so, Wells said.

“We did a lot of outreach to providers in case anybody presents at the doctor’s office, the doctor will know the treatment that’s needed,” Wells said.

Wells said side effects to look for include shortness of breath, numbness and an upset stomach.

These symptoms will not occur immediately after the vaccination but will show up six to 14 days after the vaccination.

Dr. Ron Cook, a Public Health Authority, described what a blood clot is and why they are dangerous.

“A blood clot is where all of our platelets and other things in our blood stream come together to form a mass, so we don’t bleed out,” Cook said. “The reason we don’t bleed out when we cut our finger is because blood clots develop in the tiny capillaries, so we don’t bleed anymore. In this particular case, it appears the immune system creating antibodies because of the vaccine go a bit awry and then you develop blood clots in places you aren’t supposed to have blood clots. In most of those places they were talking about the blood

clot occurred in the cerebral venous sinuses, which are the blood vessels that drain blood from the brain.”

Cook said these blood clots are dangerous because it can cause increased pressure in the brain and it can cause stroke-like symptoms, which can be concerning.

The cases where people developed blood clots in their brain occurred in six people out of the 7 million doses, Cook said.

“That is less than .8 percent per million doses,” Cook said. “That is really rare; however it is good to pause and make sure it is safe. That is what the FDA and the CDC are looking at. This should not give people a scare, but it should give people confidence that we are monitoring all of these vaccines that are under emergency use authorization.”

The FDA will investigate these cases where a blood clot was formed after taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to a news release from the FDA on April 13. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will remain on pause until the investigation of these cases are complete.

As of right now, these cases seem to be extremely rare, but it is important that Johnson & Johnson holds its vaccine as COVID-19 vaccination safety is a number one priority, according to the news release.

Remote interactive evaluations have informed the FDA’s decisionmaking to make certain the quality of a drug and to determine the scope of future inspections, according to the news release. @JavierBacaDT

FOOTBALL

Tech football optimistic going into spring

By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor

Texas Tech football’s spring game is set to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Head coach Matt Wells will be heading into his third spring for Tech, and a combination of experience, returners and new mentalities have created optimism for Red Raider football.

“I think we’re in a good spot right now heading into the spring game,” Wells said. “I can’t honestly say that I think we’ve had a bad practice or a poor practice.”

The Red Raiders, come the spring game, will have had over a month of practice under their belt before showcasing their talents to the Lubbock crowd.

And although Wells has become more than comfortable at the helm, other moving pieces within the program have ruffled the foundation of Tech football.

The first came in late December, when Tech moved on from its former offensive coordinator, David Yost, and moved on to Tech legend, and former TCU coach Sonny Cumbie as its quarterback coach and new offensive coordinator.

This came nearly a month before the Red Raiders’ three-year starting quarterback, Alan Bowman, entered the transfer portal;

he later announced his decision to transfer to Michigan, according to Bowman’s Twitter.

February was quiet for Tech, who looked at its several quarterback options including junior Henry Colombi, who started several games for Tech in the 2020 season, Tech’s highest rated quarterback recruit in program history in freshman Behren Morton, a Lubbock-based redshirt freshman in Donovan Smith, the second-year San Angelo quarterback Maverick McIvor and Parker McNeil.

The quarterback battle was a hot topic of discussion, as Tech’s calling card seamlessly resides in who is under center.

But quickly, Tech football landed an impact transfer, and what would be their sixth quarterback on the roster: Oregon transfer Tyler Shough, who officially signed with Tech March 22.

“Once he got here, and we got the green light, I don’t think you’ve seen a player that’s been at our facility more than he has,” Cumbie said.

“In terms of studying, in terms of watching film ... You have to run him off the practice field.”

Shough led the Pac-12 in passer efficiency for the Ducks while leading an upset over No. 13 USC in the conference championship game.

His move to Tech put him atop the quarterback battle, but his work ethic, ability to absorb information

and leadership on and off the field is what has caught the eyes of not only teammates but coaches as well.

“He’s drinking from a fire hose, and he’s handling it very, very well,” Wells said about Shough.

Senior receiver McLane Mannix added, “I think he’s fit in really well. He’s a natural leader, he’s got a really good arm and a really smart football player. He’s out there making plays from day one.”

But as the quarterback battle pushes forward, other areas of Tech football are settling down.

Especially from the older players.

In a news conference, Wells singled out junior receiver Erik Ezukanma, senior linebacker Colin Schooler and senior linebacker Krishon Merriweather in particular.

“All three of those guys are AllBig 12 performers,” Wells said.

Even those who work against the bunch have taken notice.

“Erik Ezukanma, that’s hands down an All-Big 12 receiver right there,” senior defensive back Adrian Frye said. “He’s blooming into the receiver he was supposed to be.”

Ezukanma had a standout season for the Red Raiders in 2020, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, yards per catch and receiving touchdowns, according to ESPN. A big aspect of Ezukanma’s success came from his health, playing

JAKE VAN HORN/The Daily Toreador

Quarterback Tyler Shough, a junior Oregon transfer hands the ball off to sophomore running back, Chux Nwabuko III from Hutto, Texas. The Red Raiders’ spring football game is at 1 p.m. April 17, 2021. all 10 games for Tech last season alongside only nine other players that registered offensive yardage on the season.

Injuries hit Tech at nearly every position throughout the season, including the receivers.

Mannix, who was sidelined all season due to injury, is ready to come back, though.

But despite the uphill battle, it was an easy decision for Mannix to return to Lubbock for another year, he said, and now he is ready to play.

“It kind of messes with your mental when you’re injured all the time,” Mannix said. “I feel like I’ve gotten back to myself, one hundred percent and healthy.”

The Nevada transfer earned a rotation spot for Tech in his first season in 2019 as a junior, playing inside in all 12 games, according to Tech Athletics. But since, Mannix has only appeared in three games in limited action.

SEE SPRING, PG. 6

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NEWS

APRIL 15, 2021

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COVID-19

Researchers analyze effectiveness of masks

By BAO PHAM Staff Writer

With Governor Greg Abbott’s removal of the mask mandate in early March, people are neither required nor penalizable for not wearing one in public. However, one recent research analysis made by Texas Tech researchers has shown how having a mask on can greatly reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus to others.

On April 1, an article was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health by Tech Professor Seshadri Ramkumar and his student assistant. The article mentioned two-thirds of the states in the nation have seen a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases after three to four weeks with a mask mandate. Ramkumar, who is working in the Department of Environmental Toxicology, said this analysis was conducted in April 2020, a month after the pandemic was first announced in the U.S “We conducted this research for nearly nine months, and during this time, only about 32 states issued a mask mandate,” Ramkumar said.

For this research, Ramkumar and his assistant investigated the trend from before

the states enacted a mask mandate, and then continue to follow it after the mandate was in effect with hopes to see a possible difference in the number of cases before and after the mandate. The result showed 66 percent of the states showed a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases with a mask mandate active, Ramkumar said. The lowering trend for new COVID-19 cases can be easily seen over time in many states with a mandate.

“Not all states show this, but the majority of these states were able to do that,” Ramkumar said. “We could see the change in 21 days, and if you continue to watch the trend after the mandate, the numbers went down. After nine months of research, we have concluded that wearing a face mask is an important measure against the virus.”

Ramkumar said the result of the analysis serves as a reminder for people about the importance of wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Although vaccinations are readily available for most Texan adults now, it can be good to remember that it only helps to ward off the symptoms of the virus.

“If you are vaccinated, then you are protected after a certain period, depending on the type

of vaccination,” Ramkumar said, “however, the immunity does not mean that you may not carry the virus. You may be protected from the virus, but you still carry the risk of spreading the virus to other people when you talk, cough or sneeze for example.”

To reach herd immunity, at least 70 to 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated. Even though the process is going well right now, Texas is nowhere near that number, and Ramkumar said it is important that people take precautions until we reach that point.

It is also important to note that this research analysis was done prior to 2021 when vaccines are still in testing phases and not yet readily available to the public. James Ayodeji, a doctoral student and Ramkumar’s assistant in this research, said that vaccines became first available for testing since around November 2020, while the research had already been going for quite a while, meaning that the factor of vaccines did not interfere with the analysis.

“Our analysis provides data from when people are still without the vaccine,” Ayodeji said.

“It will still be useful now when people are already vaccinated.”

The research not only focused on the number of cases

the mask mandate helped lower, but also how wearing a face mask properly is crucial in warding off the virus. Ayodeji said there were exceptions in their research that does not seem to see a decrease in the number of cases despite having a mandate like California or Texas. One of the possible factors for this is that people did not have their masks covered their nose and mouth as instructed, leaving the air flow directly into them, carrying the threats of the virus.

“Wearing a mask is one thing, but wearing a mask properly is also important,” Ayodeji said. “If you don’t wear it right, you are still openly exposed to the virus

as if you didn’t.”

The two researchers also mentioned masks made from cotton or materials blended from cotton can be more effective against the virus than normal face coverings. Both researchers said it is greatly important to have a mask on whenever people go outside, as well as to have an effective mask on properly.

This research was conducted when the mask mandate was still in effect in Texas. However, a decision made by Governor Abbott during March has removed this mandate entirely. In the biweekly COVID-19 news conference hosted by the City of Lubbock, Mayor Dan Pope mentioned that the city plans to

keep the course and encourage people to wear a mask rather than enforcing it.

“Texas and Florida are leading the country in the way we’ve responded to this, and I see no reason to change – I doubt the leadership of our council will have any reason to change to a different direction,” Pope said.

With the research result showing the significance of wearing a mask, it can be better for people to become more aware of this analysis and decide for themselves if they want to put on a mask to protect themselves and their loved ones or not, especially when there is no requirement for it. @BaoPhamDT

COVID-19

Lubbock experts discuss COVID-19 variants

By HANNAH ISOM news editor

As the Lubbock Public Health Department continues to vaccinate citizens, the COVID-19 variants throughout the United States present a new threat. Lubbock experts discussed the variants and whether the vaccine protects against them.

Dr. Ron Cook, Lubbock Public Health Authority, said the coronavirus is a RNA virus and is made up of spike proteins. The spikes are made up of three different moieties, three little puzzle pieces as Cook called them.

Sometimes when the virus replicates one of the puzzle pieces changes its shape, this is called a mutation, Cook said.

“It still fits together, but it changes just a little bit, and our immune system is so efficient that we make antibodies that fit that one type of spike protein,” Cook said. “So, when that one little piece changes, then it sort of evades the immune system.”

The way to stop mutations is to stop replication, the vaccine is a vital part of stopping replication, Cook said.

For now, the vaccine seems to be effective on

the California and U.K. variants, but the more the virus replicates the higher the chance the vaccine will not affect it, which Cook said is why people should get the vaccine.

“Our concern is that if it continues to replicate, if we don’t stop it, then we’re going to have some new variant that our immune system hasn’t seen even when we’ve got the vaccine,” Cook said.

Though the variants do not seem to be deadlier than the original coronavirus, Cook said it is still important to respect the virus by getting the vaccine and continuing

to wear masks until herd immunity is achieved.

Cook explained how herd immunity works and the role the vaccine plays in it.

If an individual that is infectious goes to a group of 10 people, if they all have the vaccine the virus stops at the infectious individual, Cook said. However, if an infectious individual went to a group of 10 people and only one of them has the vaccine, it is likely the virus will spread to those nine people, who will then spread it to another group of individuals.

Dr. Victor Test, a pulmonologist at the Texas

Tech Health Sciences Center, discussed mutations.

Mutations change the protein of a virus and viruses continually mutate to survive, Test said. They want to be more infective but not more lethal.

“If they’re very infective and very lethal and very rapid and onset then what happens is the epidemic dies out,” Test said. “A virus could evolve and be more infective and actually be less of a problem.”

In Texas, the percentage of variants is still low, and the vaccine seems to protect against them.

The vaccine gives more immunity than a previous COVID-19 infection, Test said.

“That sort of puts a premium, an emphasis, on everyone getting vaccinated who is willing and able because the more infection there is in a community the more likelihood you’re going to get a variant,” Test said.

The U.K. variant has been exploding in the

northeastern U.S. and seems to be affecting younger individuals more, but Cook said this could be because these individuals may not have had the opportunity to get the vaccine yet.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, five variants have been identified in the U.S. These include the U.K. variant, the South African variant, the Brazilian variant and two California variants. These variants seem to be more infectious, but not more deadly. Lubbock has confirmed cases of one of the California variants, Cook said.

If a student wants to get vaccinated, United Supermarkets will be hosting a vaccine clinic at the United Supermarkets Arena every Thursday in April, and the vaccine clinic located at Lubbock memorial Civic Center Exhibit Hall will continue to host vaccine clinics until May 1, Cook said. @HannahIsomDT

Page 3 thursday, April 15, 2021

LA VIDA

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Flatland Cavalry to perform at virtual festival

By MADELEINE HALL Staff Writer

The sixth annual Lubbock Lights Festival will be hosted on April 16 by Texas Tech.

This year’s festival will be virtual and taking place via pre-recorded stream for the second year in a row due to COVID-19.

The Lubbock Lights Festival began in 2015 to celebrate the musical roots and creativity of the South Plains, Dóri Bosnyák, the lead administrator for the Presidential Lecture and Performance Series, said.

“Every year we highlight a couple of artists from the area or who went to Tech and are inspired by the musical traditions of the South Plains,” Bosnyák said.

Lubbock is well known for its musical history and has been called a shining light of music and referred to as “the heart of Texas music” according to Texas Monthly Magazine in 2016.

“The music that comes out of this town is some of the most vibrant and interesting (music) that happens in the entire state, so having a music festival that focuses on the amazing creativity that comes out of this town is really perfect and impactful,” Scott Faris, a record producer and recordist as well as the owner of Amusement Park Studios in Lubbock, said.

Typically, the Lubbock Lights Festival is a week-long event in which the featured artists come to Tech and visit music classes of all levels and discuss what it means to be an artist, the songwriting process and more, Bosnyák said. At the end of the week, a concert is hosted in the Allen Theater at the Student Union Building for everyone where the artists perform and answer questions.

Previous artists featured by the festival include Terry Allen, Wade Bowen, Lloyd Maines and more, Bosnyák said. Maines helped start the festival and has participated in and helped run it every year since.

This year the festival will be hosted virtually for the second year in a row due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Last April, Bosnyák said she had originally decided to cancel the event because of COVID-19.

“The artists we had lined up were all female for the first time, and four days before the event, they reached out to me and said that they were so honored and had been looking forward to performing that they wanted to do a stream instead of canceling the event,” Bosnyák said.

The artists recorded themselves performing in their homes, so there could be a virtual Lubbock Lights Festival, Bosnyák said.

“With it being virtual, we

had about 6,000 people watch the stream, whereas the Allen Theater can only hold 900,” Bosnyák said. “We had an amazing turnout.”

This year’s virtual stream will consist of a 90-minute, pre-recorded stream to provide the high production value that a studio session provides, Bosnyák said.

The festival’s featured band this year is Flatland Cavalry, a band with a special connection to Lubbock as four of the six members attended Tech where they formed the band.

“I met Cleto, the lead singer and songwriter for Flatland Cavalry, when he was a freshman and came to record in my studio,” Faris said. “I knew in a few years he would be really great. Sure enough, two or three years later, he reached back out to me and asked if he and his band could record their EP at the studio.”

The band then went on to record their two full albums at Amusement Park Studios as well as their performance for the Lubbock Lights Festival this year, Faris said.

“It was such an honor working with the band again,” Faris said. “I think so highly of them, they’re phenomenal musicians and are just at the top of their game right now and playing so brilliantly.”

Their first album, “Humble Folks,” was number two worldwide on the iTunes charts and earned the band the spot as the number one band in

Texas in 2016, Bosnyák said.

“Because they were all students and stayed in Lubbock while they developed their sound, the band’s original fan base was and still is in Lubbock,” Bosnyák said.

The band’s return to Lubbock and Amusement Park Studios for the festival was a sort of homecoming, Bosnyák said, as their EP came out six years ago.

“I’m so excited that Flatland Cavalry is performing this year,” Jasmine Cabrera, a freshman music major from San Marcos, said. “It’s really cool that they’ve brought in this band that a lot of college kids know and love, especially Tech students.”

The Lubbock Lights Festival stream with Flatland Cavalry will consist of performances of 10 to 12 songs, including one from their new album being performed for the first time, Bosnyák said. There will also be interviews about their songwriting process and what it means to them to be musicians from Lubbock.

The festival’s stream will be free and available on multiple platforms for viewers to tune in, including YouTube, Facebook and the Lubbock Lights Festival website at 8 p.m. April 16.

The stream will also be shown on KTTZ Channel 5 at 9:30 p.m. April 16 and again at 5 p.m. April 18.

“I’ve already planned my evening for Friday, so that I

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Cleto Cordero, lead vocals for Flatland Cavalry, performs at the Raider City Limits event hosted at the Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center fields. The band will be performing on April 16 at the Lubbock Lights Festival. can watch the stream with my friends,” Cabrera said. “I’m sure we’ll be singing along the whole time. I can’t wait.” @MadeleineHallDT

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, April 15, 2021

COLUMN

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Military children deserve appreciation A

pril is a wonderful month for awareness and appreciation. From autism awareness to Arab American Heritage Month and one I have always known, Month of the Military Child.

This month is designated to recognize the sacrifices military children make while their parents or parent is serving in our US military. It may be a small community that acknowledges this month, but as someone who is a part of this community, I fully understand the great lengths military children go through.

When applying to Texas Tech, in my application essay, I told my story of growing up not having a true place to call home. The case is for a lot of militaryaffiliated people. I have moved seven times in just my 19 years of living.

For others in the military, they can move even

Chyna Vargas is a freshman journalism major from San Antonio.

more. While parents are just doing their job, children have no choice but to leave the environment they have to become accustomed to. Best friends were just established, the school was getting a little easier, but they have to leave and start over.

There are perks to moving to a new place. Especially moves that are out of the country, but there is fear lurking around the move. Every time a child is moved, they have to relearn everything. In some cases, as well, they do not have much time because they moved mid-school year.

Anxiety is normal when growing up, but for mili-

tary children, it was always prevalent. It is unavoidable. By not knowing where you will be in the next three to four years, not only adds pre-determined stress but adds disappointment you will not grow up with the rest of your friends who are staying.

It is a routine. It gets old very quickly but has to be done. The dependents of military sponsors have very little say on what they want, which causes stress even within the households.

While there is a community of people who go through it all together, no one wants to go through it at all. In school, children would ask, “How long are you here for?” regarding when they were moving next. Some say they were not leaving but most have a time frame.

The clock ticks away then and eventually the day arrives, and best friends say

bye and go to another place to repeat the same process.

This happens frequently between the ages of 4 to 18.

As it is a commonality in the military, over time it does get easier. Even now during this era of social media, staying connected is part of continued friendships. What differentiates military children and those who are not, is that military children will remain friends but have to put in the extra effort.

In most cases, military friends do stay friends.

That may the best part about this whole situation. Best friends remain best friends because of the niche community called the military.

There are even chances if their parents serve in the same branch, you meet again at another station or base. It happens more often than you think.

So, third-graders who

met in class reunite again as high school sophomores.

While time has passed, their friendship has not.

The same case can be for my current roommate. We met in eighth grade and even though I moved, we reunited

I have moved seven times in just my 19 years of living. at Tech after five years.

That is the wonders of the military. It is proof that it is the children who nurture these relationships.

At a young age, they were forced to overcome obstacles. Whether that it was starting at a new school, dealing with their parent on deployment, or being in a new place.

Even though this tradition is internally celebrated, it is still important to

know about this community.

While over 1.3 million serve in our military today, there are twice as many dependents who are scattered all over the world.

Those children end up being incredible people because of the knowledge they obtained growing up. While they are dependents, they have learned independence and how to function in many different types of situations.

The month is to applaud the children of the military.

They may be exhausted from moving, starting over, saying bye to their parents and friends frequently, but they persist.

Nonetheless, it is those characteristics they developed being in the military that make them special.

This is why there is a month to salute all of them for the challenges they have to face. @ChynaVargasDT

COLUMN

Pandemic novels provide insight, future hope Toluwani Osibamowo is a junior journalism major from Plano.

A pandemic is no new phenomenon. When COVID-19 hit last year, aside from the practical health guidelines, the average person had no idea how to deal with something of this magnitude.

Then came contemplation

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on previous global health crises and the chilling idea of a plague as explored in literature. Book recommendation lists started floating around as the quarantine bound us to our homes, with titles like, “The 20 Best Pandemic Books to Read During Coronavirus” and “Eerily prescient 2020 plague novels.”

Like many people, I was reluctant to indulge my fears and sadness about the state of the world by reading books about the same things that were plastered all over the news.

But being bored to tears for months was a great motivator for me to add some pandemic books to my reading list.

Novels about pandemics, written prior to COVID-19, reveal a lot about our fears as humans and will serve as food for thought as we reflect on the past year for years to come.

The first book I read at the beginning of quarantine last spring was “The Dreamers” by Karen Thompson Walker. It follows the lives

of several people as a plague descends upon their sleepy California town.

The disease: thousands of healthy people fall into comas but while having extremely vivid dreams. The effects of the plague in “The Dreamers” were nowhere near as gruesome as an actual virus, but what seemed even more unbelievable given our realworld circumstances was how the government kept this “virus” from spreading beyond California.

Walker’s take on the pandemic story is like many others- that is, the pandemic kicks off the beginning of an apocalypse. This makes an enthralling read, but it’s also comforting to realize that with COVID-19, despite how bad things have become, the world is still spinning.

I then read “Severance” by Ling Ma, where disillusioned millennial Candace Chen watches her world collapse around her as the fictional Shen Fever pandemic turns

New York City into a ghost town. In the middle of the apocalypse, she remains a diligent corporate worker, even as her coworkers and supervisors slowly disappear.

What struck me about this book was not only the parallels between it and the real-life terror of a pandemic but also the commentary on corporate life, toxic productivity, capitalism and growing up as a child of immigrants.

In a time where Asian Americans have faced so much hatred because of COVID-19, “Severance'' provides an essential perspective.

We get to see the internal conflict between Candace’s American heritage and her Chinese heritage, but she’s also just a human being, who happens to be Asian, going through the same tragedies as everybody else.

Recently, I had to read “Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood for a class, the only speculative fiction novel

out of this bunch. From the perspective of the mysterious Snowman, Atwood walks readers through the twisted dystopia of a world where tech rules and the rich control it all.

“Oryx and Crake” is frightening in how well Atwood captures the underlying dangers of our current society.

But being bored to tears for months was a great motivator for me to add some pandemic books to my reading list.

She accurately predicted the sinister growth of big corporations like Amazon in 2003, long before we came to depend on it during COVID-19.

The book also says a lot about the way we treated other human beings in desperate times. How often were

we placated with reassurances like, “The virus only affects the elderly, the sick and the poor”?

Not only was this sentiment soon proved wrong, but it also reveals how easily we disregard the weakest among us. The existence of the Crakers in the novel, engineered to be the ideal human beings, reflects the skewed values of people in that dystopia and in real life; we place too much value on youth, health and riches.

When we think of a pandemic, our minds often lead us to imagine realities like the ones the greatest minds have created- zombies, apocalypse and terror.

The reality for us has changed drastically because of COVID-19, but if we look critically at pandemic fiction, we can not only see where we’ve gone wrong as a society, but we can reassess our values and look forward with optimism and gratitude. @TOsibamowoDT

CARTOON

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Texas COVID-19 cases count below average, deaths average A below-average number of new COVID-19 cases was reported Wednesday, while deaths matched the Texas' average, according to state health officials.

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

Even with the addition of 160 previously unreported cases added to the 3,262 new cases reported Wednesday, the total fell well short of the seven-day rolling average of

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

3,699 computed by Johns Hopkins University researchers. The 68 new COVID-19 deaths in Texas matched the seven-day rolling average calculated by Johns Hopkins.

The state estimated almost 64,552 active COVID-19 cases Wednesday, with 2,960 COVID-19 sufferers hospitalized in Texas Tuesday, the most recent total available.

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

One Texan in three has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while one in five is fully vaccinated, according to the U.S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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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Page 5 Thursday, April 15, 2021

Peery speaks on recruiting, decision to join Adams

By BISHOP VAN BUREN Staff Writer

Texas Tech basketball’s new assistant coach Barret Peery spoke in a news conference on Tuesday, April 13, for the first time since joining new head coach Mark Adams’ staff and leaving his head coaching position at Portland State.

At the beginning of the news conference, Peery gave an opening statement.

“Tremendous opportunity for me to come to Texas Tech and work for coach Adams,” Peery said.

“Coach Adams is a guy that I’ve been very close to for a number of years and i’m excited to be close to him even more, and to try to help us try to win championships at a high level.”

Peery went on to detail the process of Adam’s courting Peery’s talents in an attempt to add Peery to his coaching staff.

“When I had this opportunity from coach to come my way about a week ago, there was not much thought or concern from me about what I needed to do,” Peery said. “I needed to get down here and be with coach.”

Peery spent four seasons as the head basketball coach at Portland State, earning an overall record of 63-57 in his first Division 1 head coaching job, according to Portland State Athletics. Peery won 20 games in his first year at Portland State for the most wins in ten years for the Vikings.

In his last and most recent year coaching the Vikings, Peery led the team

to their second straight fourth place finish in the Big Sky Conference, their best placement since 2011.

“Sitting in a head coaching position at Portland State for some people might have been a challenging decision,” Peery said. “But this was an opportunity that I had to take and I’m really excited to be here.”

Peery is a native of Payson, Utah, and spent time as a player and assistant coach for Southern Utah.

In his news’ conference, Peery spoke on the Utah area and other western states are areas where he does his best recruiting.

“My specialty is that western part of the United States for sure,” Peery said. “I think we’re gonna try and be a balanced group as we build our staff and have people be strong in certain parts of the country.”

With the recent departure of former head coach Chris Beard for the same position at the University of Texas, Tech has lost a majority of it’s players from last season to the transfer portal and/or the NBA draft process.

For example, both of Tech’s leading scorers, Mac McClung and Terrence Shannon, entered the draft portal, with McClung also entering the transfer portal.

Meanwhile junior guard Kyler Edwards also entered the transfer portal after having the third most points this past season as well as leading the team in assists.

In his press conference,

Peery spoke on Tech’s challenge of having to acquire new players to fill out a roster while praising the group of Red Raiders from last season’s team that have announced their return to Tech next season.

“Our challenge right now is like anyone’s challenge right now, it’s to continue to load a roster with high level guys,” He said. “Our momentum is fantastic right now and you’re going to see great things coming out of our offices over the next couple of weeks with the guys that we think we’re getting.”

Peery also spoke about the culture surrounding Te c h ’s n e w h e a d c o a c h Mark Adams and how it translates to Tech’s retention of players as well as their involvement in the transfer portal.

“One thing about coach, and I don’t think this will be a secret, but you need to be an all-in Texas Tech guy, it’s not a 99% deal it’s a 100% deal,” Peery said.

“Whether you see movement here or around the country, it’s kind of our environment and our situation we have going on with the portal, but we’ve got a group of guys that are really committed and really excited about the coach and what we’ve got going.”

Peery went on to detail his style and approach as a coach, detailing what he did at Portland State and what he can bring to Tech’s coaching staff.

“Part of coach Adams and I’s relationship is over the years talking ball,” Peery said. “We’ve done a lot more full court than

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maybe coach has, but a lot of our philosophies have been very very similar.”

Peery spent time as a head coach at junior colleges Indian Hills and Southern Idaho, where he compiled an overall record of 178-30 and often had one of the top scoring teams in the nation.

Including when he coached Southern Idaho to two national tournaments in three seasons, leading the nation in scoring twice.

“It’s no secret that I’ve been a very fast paced guy on the offensive end, and we’ll probably have a part of that as well,” Peery admitted. “Coach really wants to be able to play faster at the offensive end … I think you’ll see our pace at both ends of the floor go up a little bit with what coach wants to do.”

Peery will play a big role on new head coach Mark Adams’ coaching staff, as he has admitted that he and Adams have similar philosophies of fast pace play on both sides of the court, a system Tech has not ran of late.

Also, Peery appears to play a large role in recruiting after often mentioning the large group of prospects Adam’s new staff has been in touch with.

As Tech looks to rebuild it’s roster and culture after the departure of Chris Beard to interconference rival Texas, Peery seems to be playing a large role assisting new head coach Mark Adams’ in both areas.

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TOP: Mark Adams was hired as new head coach for Texas Tech mens basketball. He was welcomed in a press conference that took place on April 6, 2021 in the United Supermarkets Arena.

BOTTOM: Texas Tech fans get on their feet to celebrate new mens basketball head coach, Mark Adams. The press conference took place on April 6, 2021 in the United Supermarkets Arena.

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6

SPORTS

APRIL 15, 2021

SPRING

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Wi t h h i s a d d i t i o n a l year of eligibility as granted by the NCAA, he chose to return.

As things begin to ramp back up, though, Wells is keeping note to make sure his roster remains as healthy as possible.

“This is a collision sport, and bodies can only handle so much … We keep a rep count on live reps, I take into consideration guys coming off injuries, I take into consideration guys that are true freshman versus guys that are a fifth or sixth year senior.”

There have been a few spring injuries for the Red Raiders, including one with Tech’s starting running back and lead rusher for multiple seasons, SaRodorick Thompson.

The junior back had shoulder surgery the w e e k o f A p r i l 4 , We l l s said. He will be out for an extended amount of time and through the summer but will be back in practice in August.

A c c o r d i n g t o We l l s , Thompson is currently in rehab, and it’s hard to say whether it will be the first, second or third game of the season that he returns, as everyone heals differently.

“It was a freak deal in practice, barely got g r a z e d . ” We l l s s a i d .

“Nobody’s ever seen it …

The (other) guy barely hit his shoulder.”

But in his absence, others have stepped up.

“I’m confident in all the rest of the running backs,” Wells said.

He continued to point o u t s o p h o m o r e Ta h j Brooks and senior Xavier White as backs who have been standout out this spring. He also said senior Chadarius Townsend has picked up his play within the past week.

“I’m very confident in that room; that’s a deep room at running back for us right now,” Wells said.

“But certainly SaRodorick is the leader in that room.”

The confidence is evident within Tech football, and at

the foundation is a change in mentality.

A tougher, more focused outlook seems to be at the forefront of the Red Raiders’ optimism heading into next season, with more experience across the board.

“Its year three in the system for most of us …

We’re really old; juniors and seniors, so we have really no excuse to get the job done when it comes down to it,” defensive lineman Nelson Mbanasor said. “You can’t take one day off in this program.”

For Frye, the mindset is the biggest thing they have changed in his tenure in scarlet and black, he said.

“I feel like that mindset is the biggest thing that we’ve changed,” Frye said.

“Refuse to back down …

N o t e v e n a b e n d d o n ’t break mentality, we refuse to bend at this point.”

Change was imminent s o m e w h e r e f o r Te c h football, garnering a combined 8-14 overall record, and a 5-13 record against conference opponents dating back to 2019.

The Red Raiders have yet to eclipse a final placement of eighth in the Big 12 at the conclusion of the season, either.

But this year could be a turning point for Tech.

“Times where guys can shut it down or kind of hit on cruise control at the end of spring, our guys aren’t doing that,” Wells said. “A lot of work to do, but I’m excited.”

And after a few underwhelming seasons, some Tech players are using it as fuel moving forward.

“There’s a pretty big chip on our shoulder … I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this next fall,” Mannix said.

But the 2021 football season is months away.

And for now, Tech focuses on day-to-day tasks, with the highlight of the spring coming on Saturday at the annual spring game.

Although it will not be a full-fledged game, Wells said, it will be competitive, and a chance to look at

players in a live setting with fans.

“First and foremost, I want them competitive.

It’ll be exciting to be in front of a lot of fans again. Our guys will feed off that energy,” Wells said. “Saturday will be another big test for a lot of guys, but again, limited reps, and so need to see guys shine and take the next step.”

There are several players battling for numerous positions for the Red Raiders, but as alluded to earlier, perhaps none more enticing than the battle under center.

Wells said the spring game will be a higher stake event to look at his quarterback race, which is filled and competitive.

“I think certainly in any live setting you put a little more stock in those reps,” Wells said. “I think you put a little more evaluation and maybe it’s a little more important when you get in live scrimmage reps, but every day is important.”

But the 1 p.m. Tech football spring game is just the culmination of several events for students, Lubbockites and surrounding participants to get involved in.

What is coined the “Fanfest” by Tech Athletics will begin at 11:30 a.m. outside the West Stadium Building to Jones AT&T Stadium, according to Tech Athletics. There will be inflatable games for the kids as well as live music and concession items.

Following, Tech will host its semi-annual equipment sale. Excess Under Armour t-shirts, shoes and other equipment will be sold, according to Tech Athletics, this will take place directly inside the suit entrance, and span to the concourse.

Doors for the sale will open at noon.

This will all lead to the spring game, which is free of charge, according t o Te c h A t h l e t i c s , parking will be in the commuter lots west of Jones AT&T Stadium. @ZachRichardsDT

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TOP: Junior quarterback Tyler Shough hands the ball off to sophomore running back Tahj Brooks during spring football practice. BOTTOM: Junior quarterback Tyler Shough throws a pass during spring football practice. The Red Raiders will play the spring game on Saturday, April 17, 2021.

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