Daily Toreador The
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015 VOLUME 89 ■ ISSUE 120
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Gov. Abbott signs ‘pastor protection’ bill AUSTIN (AP) — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a “pastor protection” law that comes ahead of an impending U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. Abbott said Thursday he was proud to sign the bill, which allows clergy members to refuse officiating marriages that violate their religious beliefs. Gay rights groups say pastors already have those rights and didn’t oppose the measure. Unlike in other states this year, Texas didn’t pass contentious laws aimed at opposing same-sex marriage. One divisive proposal sought to defy the Supreme Court if gay marriage is legalized this summer. But that effort fizzled and Republicans settled for resolutions that reaffirmed their belief of marriage being between a man and a woman. Abbott said religious leaders must be secure in knowing that religious freedom is beyond government’s reach.
Cruz rejects call to drop activist in Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign is rejecting a call to drop an antiShariah activist as his state chairman for Tennessee. Kevin Kookogey, a former chairman of the Williamson County GOP, has criticized Republican Gov. Bill Haslam over the role of a Muslim staffer and a council that has advised two state departments on Islamic affairs. The Council on American-Islamic Relations says keeping Kookogey would serve as what the group called “an endorsement of anti-Muslim hate.” Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier in an email called it “completely absurd to assert that defending American law under the U.S. Constitution is anti-Muslim.” Kookogey planned to mount a GOP primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander last year, but abandoned that bid when he was unsuccessful in his effort to consolidate tea party support.
Freight train cars derail in Houston, blocking traffic HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities say a freight train derailed on a bridge over a Houston highway and at least one car fell onto the road below. Houston Fire Department officials say nobody was hurt in the accident around 08:30 a.m. Thursday. No cargo spilled. A Kansas City Southern Railway Company statement says 11 cars derailed, including two that fell from the bridge. One ended up on Old Katy Road. The Texas Department of Transportation has closed the four-lane highway in both directions. A company official says the train was hauling various kinds of freight but that no hazardous materials spilled. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. The train has a two-person crew and was bound from Beaumont to Kendleton, with two locomotives and 84 cars.
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Group therapy assists students with depression, bipolar disorder By SHASHIDHAR SASTRY Staff Writer
Students suffering from depression or bipolar disorder can participate in free group therapy sessions offered by the Student Counseling Center at Texas Tech. Developed in Fall 2009 by Marie Moerkbak, assistant director of the counseling center, the therapy group aims to provide a safe, supportive environment to students where they can feel free to express their thoughts and interact with others. People with depression have mood swings between depression and normal states only, whereas those with bipolar disorder have mood swings between depression, manic and normal moods, Moerkbak said. An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode, she said. Amanda Wheeler, staff psychologist at Tech Counseling Center, will be the other co-leader of the group this summer, alongside Moerkbak. Interacting with others, especially with those dealing with problems akin to their own, gives group members additional support, Wheeler said. Group therapy sessions offer a place where people can interact with each other in a safe environment. “I think the number one way that it helps is by just offering support to one another,” Wheeler said. “It helps knowing that you’re not the only one.” When people are depressed, they tend to isolate themselves, Moerkbak said. Group sessions are useful because they encourage
GRAPHIC BY DUNCAN STANLEY/The Daily Toreador INFORMATION AND CONCEPT COURTESY OF MARIE MOERKBAK
experience such things.” One of the topics the group discusses during its meeting sessions deals with the issue of communicating about their illness to others, Moerkbak said. They discuss things such as when would be a good time to talk to people about their illness, what is the best way to say it and how to be prepared for other people’s potential reactions. The topics for discussion are flexible, and the group discusses just about everything,
Wheeler said. The specific topic for a day simply depends on what the members want to talk about on that day. “While this is a group for people with depression and bipolar disorder, we can about talk anything ... about stresses of being a college student, about dating, about family, about finances, about anything,” Wheeler said.
Wall/Gates Residence Hall Complex undergoing renovation
Six Texas Tech players selected in MLB draft
such people to come out and talk to others in the group. Moerkbak said she has seen cases where group therapy sessions have proven to be extremely useful, and members have shown vast improvements. “These group therapy sessions also address the issue of stigma and bias and stereotyping,” Moerkbak said, “since individuals suffering from severe mental illnesses like depression or bipolar disorder often tend to
By JEREMY KRAKOSKY Staff Writer
By JEREMY KRAKOSKY
As soon as the spring final exams ended and students moved out, construction crews filed into Wall/Gates Residence Hall Complex to begin a renovation project. Sean Duggan, managing director of University Student Housing at Texas Tech, said all construction will be finished by the start of the fall semester and the residence halls will be open to students. “We’ve been planning, planning, planning all this last year. A lot of planning goes into it,” he said. “The work actually started as soon as school let out.” Associate Managing Director of Hospitality Services David Deason said despite the Sam’s Place Mini-Market at Wall/Gates being closed for the summer, it will not be subject to renovation, unlike how The Market at Stangel/Murdough was renovated last summer. “(The Mini-Market) is not typically open during the summer anyway, unless we are utilizing it for summer conferences or camps,” Deason said. “We always have summer projects that we are trying to do in one building or another. We coordinate with housing every year to try to make sure they are doing some work in the housing area as well.” Deason said changing the dining area in the Wall/Gates complex may have been in the plans before, but unforeseen circumstances have pushed back the project. “We have a five-year plan for renovations. It changes all the time, but we keep an eye on budgets and things to update our facilities as we go along,” he said. “Because of the recent fire in our catering kitchen, we have had to change the order of some of things on the five list. Wall/Gates will get on that plan. It is not currently on there.” WALL/GATES continued on Page 2 ➤➤ ADVERTISING: 806-742-3384
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Staff Writer
PHOTO BY DUNCAN STANLEY/The Daily Toreador
WALL/GATES RESIDENCE Hall Complex is currently undergoing renovations including reflooring, refinishing of wood surfaces and the replacement of sinks and windows. The project will cost about $7.8 million and is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the fall semester.
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For the first time since 2008, the Texas Tech baseball team had three players drafted in the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft. WITHROW Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Withrow was the first player off the board when he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the sixth round Tuesday, according to a Tech Athletics news release. Senior right-handed pitcher Corey Taylor was then picked in the seventh round by the New York Mets. He is TAYLOR the first Red Raider to be drafted by the Mets since 2002, according to the release. Senior right-handed pitcher Dominic Moreno was the third player drafted when the Detroit Tigers picked him in the eighth round. This marks the first time in school history that three Red Raider pitchers were selected MORENO in the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft, according to the release. Withrow was originally drafted in the 37th round by the Texas Rangers after high school and will now have the option to return for his senior season at Tech. He ended this season with a 1-1 record and a career-best 3.63 earned-run average in 13 appearances including one start. DRAFT continued on Page 4 ➤➤ EMAIL: news@dailytoreador.com