MONDAY, AUG. 23, 2021 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 1
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL EDITION LA VIDA
SPORTS
OPINIONS
ONLINE
Tech Fraternity and Sority Life welcome newcomers into their orginzations during Rush Week.
We l l s t o a n n o u n c e s t a r t i n g quarterback for the first football game on Sept. 4 shortly.
Editor-in-Chief welcomes students back to campus and provides updates about the publication.
Catch the latest Matador Beat podcast on our website.
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PG 9
PG 4
ONLINE
INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU
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Mascot Milestone Raider Red celebrates 50 years of traditons, history on Tech campus By TEA MCGILVREY
F
L a Vida Editor
rom cartoon sketches and papier-mâché to winning a national championship, Raider Red’s legacy has grown over the last 50 years alongside its founding organization, the Saddle Tramps. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the beloved mascot, the university will host several events including the receiving of the national championship ring and a recognition ceremony. The Texas Tech Federal Credit Union will sponsor a Raider Red statue expected to be unveiled in 2022. Originally named Ol’ Red, the mascot began as a cartoon in the Lubbock Avalanche journal by the late Dirk West in 1971. That year, the Southwest Conference banned live mascots from traveling to away games which limited appearances of the Masked Rider to home games only. Red Raider Committee member and Saddle Tramps sponsor Chris Snead said this transition opened doors for the initial creation of Raider Red as something larger than a cartoon. “Jim Gaspard took those drawings and brought a costume to life when he was a student here in 1971,” mascot coach Bruce Bills said. “The first (Raider Red) was a papier-mâché, and it was a heavy head. They would stuff pillows and clothes and just gather whatever they could find but for the most part since the 90s, the image has kind of remained the same.” Up until the 90s, the student selected to be Raider Red were
responsible for making their own mascot head as part of a Saddle Tramps tradition. Snead said there have been many iterations of Raider Red since his debut, about as many versions of the mascot have existed as members who served in the program. Early in the program, the Saddle Tramps were responsible for funding the Raider Red organization, dealing with costume design and maintenance. I t wasn’t until the 00s that the campus took on the financial responsibilities of maintaining Raider Red’s legacy. “Over the years it just grew to where the university saw it needed a little bit more support,” Bills said. “In 2005, it was in partnership with the Center for Campus Life, the Spirit Program and the Saddle Tramps that we introduced the High Riders to the Raider Red organization.”
ECONOMICS
Today, mascots are required to participate in the spirit organization either as a Saddle
Tramp or a High Rider and typically work a s Raide r Reds assist a n t b e f o r e they can tryout to become the next year ’s mascot. It takes three to four as-
sistants a year to help Raider Red stay hydrated, manage crowds and keep track of the over 350 events that Raider Red attends each year, Bills said. He said the organization extended the role of Raider Red to all genders because being Raider Red is not about the student in the suit, it is about representing the university and its traditions. He said Raider Red is supposed to be Tech’s number one fan, and people recognize and adore him for being a friendly West Texas cowboy. “I’ve always been a show off, so I’m a little bit unique because my personality is not very different from Raider Red’s,” the former Raider Red and NCAA national champion said. “I like to dance and have fun, you know, make people laugh and smile so becoming Raider Red wasn’t that different for me.” According to tradition, the identity of the mascot is kept secret from the public. Only those who work within the spirit organization know who’s behind the head to protect the magic of the character, Bills said. The former mascot said it is really common for people who are more introverted to audition for Raider Red because of the anonymity of being inside the costume. It is a lot easier to interact with people behind a mask. “You know, it’s difficult to interact with strangers, but as Raider Red it’s your job, so even outside the suit I feel like I definitely have gained a lot more
confidence,” the former Raider Red said. “I’ve done 30 plus cheer camps where I work with middle school and high school mascots and you see the confidence in their everyday life, not just in the suit.”
Jim Gaspard took those drawings and b ro u g h t a c o s t u m e to life when he was a student here in 1971.” BRUCE BILLS MASCOT COACH The national champion said being Raider Red is like flipping a switch from being yourself to becoming the “larger than life” Raider Red. Bills said one of the most essential parts to Raider Red is his signature cowboy walk which the team calls the Raider Red swag. Through the last 50 years, Tech has maintained the tradition of Raider Reds signature West Texan look and personality despite the many iterations. “I think a lot of things make him unique. The big hat, the guns and the boots are just kind of iconic for him and West Texas and Texas Tech in general,” Bills said. “You know, the student has to personify that and bring it to life with the waves and tip of the hat, always being polite especially with the ladies, just that general West Texas friendly person magnified with a big cowboy hat.”
SEE MASCOT, PG. 2
HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
Tech Athletics’ economic President reflects on experience after impact on the City of year of service to the university Lubbock businesses By MATEO ROSILES
Acting Editor-in-Chief
ARIANNA FLORES Sports Editor
The commencement of fall Tech Athletics events brings money, opportunities and development to the Lubbock economy. Not only does it bring attendees to Jones AT&T Stadium, but it brings tourists, students and locals to Lubbock businesses. Serving his third-term for the city of Lubbock, Mayor Dan Pope acknowledged the growth of Lubbock when Texas Tech was founded as the first West Texas college. When Tech opened its doors, there were less than 7,000 people in the city; now, there are over 270,000 residents, Pope said. “There is a certain attractiveness to college towns,” Pope said. “There’s just a buzz around big athletics events. You have somewhere
between 30,000 and 60,000 people coming from outside of town.” When people come into Lubbock, they spend money at businesses such as hotels, restaurants and retail. Events from Tech Athletics help stimulate spending among these occupations. President and CEO of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Eddie McBride said he knows game days are special to Lubbock. They are events that bring in people for more than just the Saturday game. “People have got to realize football game weekend is not always just Friday and Saturday, it’s sometimes leading up to and including the weekends,” said McBride. “People come into town early, especially Red Raiders who want to come back and visit their school again.”
SEE ECONOMICS, PG. 5
Leader, collaborator, friendly, easy to talk to — all words used most frequently used by those who know and work with President Lori Rice-Spearman. Born in the small West Texas town of Stanton and raised in Odessa, Rice-Spearman said she was exposed to Texas Tech at a very early age. “We used to come up here to football games and just had, from a very early age, had a deep love for Texas Tech,” Rice-Spearman said. The Beginning of a Journey Rice-Spearman said her mother would describe her as a very curious child. She spent a lot of time reading her family’s most prized possession, the “Encyclopedia Britannica.” Looking up how things worked in the encyclopedias led her to enter the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center as a first-generation college student and her career.
Courtesy of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Lori Rice-Spearman was named president of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in June of 2020 after serving the HSC as interim president. Rice-Spearman is the first female president within the Texas Tech University System. “The HSC just opened,” RiceSpearman said. “It was in the very early years. In fact, much of the space that you see today was still shelf space; and I came to the institution and I was in the very first class in my profession here at the HSC.”
After graduating in 1986, RiceSpearman said she went on to practice her degree in the lab for a while but then came back to the HSC in 1987 as a laboratory manager and clinical coordinator.
SEE PRESIDENT, PG. 7
Page 2 Monday aug. 23 2021
GREEK LIFE
LA VIDA
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Fall recruitment sign of return to normalcy for greek life By BISHOP VAN BUREN Editorial Assistant
Texas Tech students are presented with multiple opportunities to get involved with student organizations on campus, and through the years Fraternity and Sorority Life has grown into a popular outlet for students seeking companionship, entertainment and more. Garret Wahl, a secondyear business marketing major, has been a member of the fraternity Sigma Nu’s Zeta Pi chapter since last fall. “Joining a fraternity is a great way to boost your social life, academic career and network connections,” Wahl said. “You get a second family away from home with a group of awesome guys that share your same interests and help you out.” The outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 had lasting effects throughout the year. Repeated lockdowns and distancing mandates lead to the alterations of many student-involvement related events, such as the recruitment process for fraternity and sorority chapters at Tech, commonly known as Rush. Humberto Reyes, a sec-
MASCOT
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Being a mascot is exhausting, the former Raider Red said. It can be 30 degrees hotter in the suit than the outside temperature. He said it’s worth it because at the end of the day he had the chance to make people happy and represent Tech. As Raider Red the mascots are always looking for a way to push boundaries and do something bigger and better all the time he said. In the early years, Raider
ond-year engineering major from Houston, said COVID-19 was the largest reason he decided to skip last year’s FSL recruitment and wait until this fall instead. “Missing out on prom and having a distant graduation was the worst way to end high school and I knew that most social events were going to be limited my first year,” Reyes said. “So I waited a year, focused on schoolwork and studying, and now it seems like everything is back to normal.” Students looking to join one of the many chapters at Tech must do so by first deciding which of the four councils they are interested in: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PH), Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). In a typical year, the majority of men students who pursue an organization through IFC do so during the beginning of the fall semester so that they can participate in a week-long Formal Recruitment process. IFC organizes an Informal Recruitment Process in the beginning of the spring semester for students looking Red was known to be flirtatious with the ladies, today’s Raider Red has been spotted crowd surfing athletic events, taking things, and riding Limes on campus. “Really the best part is just making people smile and laugh; especially kids. Kids love Raider Red and even all ages love him. Just being able to have fun with people, that’s really the best part of it all,” he said. This particular Raider Red served from 2019-2020. He said that particularly during this time it was
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador
Sororities celebrate bid day 2019 pre-pandemic. Texas Tech fraternities and sororities hosted bid day in person for the first time in two years on Aug. 21 and 22. to join an organization in the latter half of the school year. Despite its smaller and less structured nature, IFC implemented the Informal Recruitment process in the Fall 2020 semester to best follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Wahl, the Sigma Nu member who participated in the Informal Recruitment Process last fall, expressed his opinion on the differ-
ences he experienced compared to this year’s formal recruitment process. “Informal Rush had some nice benefits, like the fact we didn’t spend two whole days walking around Greek Circle in the Lubbock heat,” Wahl said. “But seeing formal Rush for the first time this year made me wish it was something I could have been a part of. “
really important for him to maintain Raider Reds enthusiasm and confidence to make people feel good, he said. As an administrator and coach Bills said he is honored to be a part of the 50th anniversary and be able to reconnect with former mascots and hear the tales of Raider Red back from 1971. “It’s tremendous, there are so many people that you have to look at for this, the Dirk West family, Jim Gaspard for bringing Raider Red to life, the multitudes
of Raider Reds who have continued the tradition from when it was one person a semester to four people a year,” Snead said. “I mean it is unbelievable the number of people that have been involved and touched this program because anywhere along the way this could have just fallen by the wayside after Jim Gaspard made that initial papier-mâché head. It was accepted, it was wanted and from that time it has grown into what it is today.” @DTMcgilvray
Women hoping to join a sorority at Tech could find one through the PH Fall Formal Recruitment Process. IFC and PH have implemented similar recruitment processes that include potential new members formally meeting each sorority, except PH does not offer any recruitment processes in the spring. Because of this, PH decided to conduct it’s entire Fall 2020 recruitment process online through teleconferencing rather than any official in person events to avoid any COVID-19 breakouts. Morgan Reindhart, a second-year public relations major from Austin, said she was interested in rushing last fall but decided against it. “With a pandemic going on I honestly felt it was smartest to avoid large gatherings at all costs,” Reinhardt said. “I know last year’s Rush was mostly on Zoom but I still felt it’d be best to wait until student life was back to normal.” The remaining of the two councils involve cultural fraternities and sororities, with the NPHC consisting of historically African American fraternities and
sororities while the MGC governs multicultural organizations that encourage all ethnic backgrounds. Both the NPHC and MGC use a recruitment process known as Membership Intake, which involves organizations hosting tabling events, community service events, and other programs that encourage potential new members to engage with the current chapters members. With the informal nature of Membership Intake, the NPHC and MGC didn’t need to make changes to the structures of their recruitment processes as severely as IFC and PH. While both councils continued normal recruitment operations without making significant structural changes, they still encouraged social distancing and mask usage. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a multitude of alterations and cancellations to the FSL recruitment process in Fall 2020. As chapters at Tech look to adjust to life following a pandemic, they have an influx of potential new members eager to get involved with campus life. @DTbishopvb
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech students and Saddle Tramps hoist Raider Red at a Texas Tech football game in celebration. Raider Red celebrate 50 years of being a part of the campus community.
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AUG. 23, 2021
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Page 4 Monday, Aug. 23, 2021
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
OPINIONS
@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com
The DT welcomes students back on campus H
i, Red Raiders. Welcome back to campus. I cannot tell you how good it feels to see students back on campus. I am Mateo Rosiles, acting editor-in-chief for The Daily Toreador. We are finally back in person, back on campus and back with friends; however, COVID-19 is still among us. I urge every student to do their part in helping protect
Mateo Rosiles is a third-year journalism major from Lubbock.
friends, loved ones, professors and the Texas Tech community whether that is getting vaccinated, wearing your mask or social distancing. I also want to say an ex-
tra special welcome back to those of us who are seniors or juniors. A lot has changed since you last saw the campus. Don’t worry, we at The DT have your back when it comes to playing catch up. As always, you can pick up the latest copy of The Daily Toreador every Thursday morning, where you will find in-depth packages and feature stories about your classmates and possibly even you.
You can see what stories we are producing on all of our social media platforms. Just like my predecessor, we will continue to grow our social media and online presence while creating engaging content for everyone. Catch us outside the Student Union Building every week as one of our section editors will be doing a Word on The Street and asking students hot-topic questions. Our
opinions editor will continue the Matador Beat podcast with episodes appearing every other week on our website. Stay tuned for our coverage as we start the countdown to the university’s centennials celebration and as we celebrate our 96th birthday on reporting the news to the campus and Red Raider community. My staff and I are ready to tell the stories of the campus community this year.
Feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing mateo.r.rosiles@ttu.edu or by stopping by our office in the Media & Communication Building, room 180. I would love to hear your feedback and any suggestions you may have for us. As always, strive for honor in everything you do and have a great semester. @MateoRosilesDT
COLUMN
Adjusting to the new normal on campus Hi, Red Raiders. To new students, welcome to Texas Tech; to returning students, welcome back. I am Chyna Vargas, the opinions editor for The Daily Toreador. I am new to this role, but I cannot tell you how excited I am to be a voice for the Tech community. I want to represent all students, faculty and staff and tell their stories.
Chyna Vargas is a second-year journalism major from San Antonio.
While COVID-19 is still a relevant news topic, it is not the only news we want to hear. The opinions section will be starting
an advice column this semester where students are free to ask questions to the Talking Toro. Any questions can be asked, from, “Where can I find resources for mental health?” “How do I deal with my messy roommate?” to “How do I manage a work, school and life balance?” Your identity will be anonymous and safe with us at The DT. You ask the questions,
we will answer them. The advice column will be a weekly publication, whether that is in print, on our website, podcasts or even a simple tweet. The Matador Beat podcast will continue publishing episodes every other week on our website. The opinions section plans to create new series on trending topics. One to be on
the lookout for is Women in Journalism. Keep up with our social media, as our online presence will be more prevalent this semester. COVID-19 is not a new topic, but there are new beginnings happening at Tech. At The DT, we want to capture it all. Being there for the campus community is what is most important to us.
I hope as the new opinions editor I can represent all of you. Again, I am so glad to be a part of this editorial staff and start a new beginning. If you have any questions, concerns or opinions you want to share, email me at chyvarga@ttu.edu. Good luck to everyone this semester, and remember we are all in this together. @ChynaVargasDT
COLUMN
Empathy still needed in pandemic discussions It seems like a day cannot pass without a headline mentioning COVID-19 or pandemic. Of course, while we are in the midst of global tragedy, accessible and upto-date news is helpful and beneficial. It allows those who are not directly handling the pandemic to be educated and informed about such a crisis, which is essential. It is necessary to be educated
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION © Copyright 2021. Texas Tech University Student Media/The DailyToreador. 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 DailyToreador is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.
Faith Dolan is a second-year English major from Midland.
about current events, especially those that directly affect our lives. Media outlets tend to be breeding grounds for misinformation and unsolicited opinions. The American society, fundamentally partisan, has taken a global health crisis and made it a political opinion. It is valid and expected to have different opinions in general, but forming an opinion that questions the validity of the pandemic is harmful and insensitive to those who have faced loss during the past 18 months. It invalidates those who, for a long period of time, have lived in fear due to a compromised immune system and, unfortunately, a compromised public opinion. Regardless of someone’s political stance, the effects
of the pandemic should be addressed with empathy, not a raised eyebrow that opens a door to conversing about the presidential election. Thankfully, in the United States, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and beliefs. American citizens are able to exercise their beliefs and opinions in the form of voting, speech and press. Various individuals have different viewpoints and perspectives that are influenced by their personal experience, relationships and upbringing. However, invalidating the many who have suffered from COVID-19 in the name of voicing a political opinion is a result of nothing but an upbringing of intolerance and closedmindedness. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in many, many negative effects, one being a decrease in empathy for those who are suffering.
Sometimes, when presented with the number of deaths from COVID-19, one might say something along the lines of, “Well, did they have any preexisting conditions?” or “Well, were they old?” To some, the number of deaths is just a quantity that reflects the severity of the pandemic. However, the reality is the number of deaths is equal to the number of humans who once walked this earth while living, breathing and thinking, just like you and I. One’s value or right to live does not decrease once he or she is old or is immunocompromised; such a viewpoint is callous. It is worth mentioning that perhaps those who choose to view the number of fatalities as a number, and nothing more, do so as an act of self-preservation. Although denying the realities
of the pandemic is harmful and counterproductive, it is understandable why one would choose to protect themself from the immense pain that comes from the awareness of an ever-increasing
It is necessary to be educated about current events, especially those that directly affects our lives. number of fatalities. It is also worth mentioning that those whose loved ones have died from COVID-19’s most likely wish is that they were able to distance themselves from such discouraging statistics as well. Truly, the frequently used word unprecedented applies to the past year and a half. Most individuals have used
this time to understand how they fit into the unfamiliar situation. Of course, due to the inevitable wide range of opinions, this response varies from person to person, which should be respected and valued, as our freedoms listed in the First Amendment should not be taken for granted. However, the worth of one’s life should not be considered as an opinion, which applies to other social aspects as well. Although it is understandable why one would distance themself from such overwhelming numbers, it is crucial to extend empathy and compassion to those whose lives have been turned upside down due to the pandemic. As we begin a new school year, we must remember and understand every life is equal, precious and important. Empathy goes a long way. @DailyToreador
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Biden sees dip in support amid rise in COVID-19 cases WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is facing a summer slump, with Americans taking a notably less positive view of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his job approval rating ticking down. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 54% of Americans approve of Biden’s job performance, down slightly from 59% last month. While that’s still a relatively solid rating for a president during his first year in office, particularly given the nation’s deep political polarization, it’s a worrying
sign for Biden as he faces the greatest domestic and foreign policy challenges of his presidency so far. The biggest warning sign for the president in the survey centers on his handling of the pandemic. Last month, 66% of Americans approved of his stewardship of the public health crisis; now, that number has fallen to 54%, driven by a drop in support from Republicans and independents. That decline in support coincides with other storm clouds gathering over Biden’s presidency, most notably the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan as U.S. troops withdraw and
the Taliban cement their control of the country. The poll, conducted August 12-16, as news of the Taliban’s movement into Kabul was widely reported in the United States, shows Americans about evenly divided over Biden’s handling of foreign policy (47% approve, 51% disapprove) and national security (52% approve, 46% disapprove). Biden’s domestic policy agenda also faces an uncertain future on Capitol Hill, with Democratic leaders trying to mend party divisions over a pair of infrastructure bills and few signs of progress on voting rights or police overhaul
legislation. Still, Biden’s advisers believe his presidency is likely to rise or fall on his handling of the pandemic. As recently as early summer, the White House was all but declaring victory over the virus, backing the lifting of public health restrictions and encouraging vaccinated Americans to enjoy a return to normalcy this summer. Polling showed Biden winning plaudits for his approach to the pandemic not only from nearly all Democrats, but also a healthy share of Republicans. Some of that support has eroded as a dangerous new new strain of COVID-19
takes hold, worries about the virus grow and vaccination rates in the U.S. stall, leading more communities, businesses and schools to reinstate restrictions such as mask mandates that were lifted earlier this year when trends were heading in a more positive direction. Biden has implored Americans to get vaccinated and has put in place vaccine requirements where he can, for federal workers and the military. But resistance to the vaccine has proven stubborn, largely in more conservative parts of the country that are now experiencing startling increases in COVID-19 cases.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘Free Guy’ maintains box office lead following mixed weekend Four new films with major stars from Hugh Jackman to Michael Keaton opened in North American movie theaters this weekend and only the one with animated puppies fared well. But it wasn’t enough to beat out Ryan Reynolds’ action-comedy “Free Guy,” which topped the charts for the second weekend running. “PAW Patrol: The Movie,” a Paramount release
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targeted at very young kids that’s also streaming on Paramount+, earned $13 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates Sunday. It was by far the best of the new openers, which included three adult-skewing films that failed to find significant audiences: The action pic “The Protégé,” with Keaton and Maggie Q, the sci-fi thriller “Remi-
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.
niscence,” which is also streaming on HBO Max, and the well-reviewed Rebecca Hall horror “The Night House.” First place went to “Free Guy,” a 20th Century and Disney release that’s playing exclusively in theaters. It dropped a miniscule 34% and added $18.8 million this weekend, bringing its global total to $112 million. The studio attributed the
strong hold to good word of mouth. “‘Free Guy’ is a movie that harkens back to the days when strong word of mouth and a really engaged star, Ryan Reynolds, combine to make for a great theatrical-first release,” said Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “It shows that a theatrical-first release even in today’s unusual marketplace can have
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legs. It feels very 2019, not pandemic-era.” The relative success of “PAW Patrol” came as a bit of a surprise, even to those involved. Although the movie is based on an immensely popular Nickelodeon series, its target audience of under 6-year-olds is a wild card. Delta variant concerns and its availability to stream at home made it even more of a moving target.
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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NEWS
AUG. 23, 2021
5
ECONOMICS
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 McBride said he has talked to many alumni who come back and shop or visit the same places they used to go to while they were students. For those businesses, it is an economic gain that allows them to re-establish relationships with these customers. Judy Wilhelm, the executive director at the Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center Network, said the local businesses benefit greatly from the different athletic events Tech offers, other than big football games. “I think we think of football being the only thing (bringing in money), but the other is the constant flow,” said Wilhelm. “It may not be as large of an event that particular day, but the other (sports) are constantly bringing in a level of interested people.” To help grow their finances, small businesses should take advantage of the potential customers they may have on the game-day weekends from other sports, Wilhelm said. “Whether it is volleyball, if it’s baseball, there is that group that follows that interest level and they’ll be coming in also,” she said.
PHOTOGRAPHER NAME/The Daily Toreador
Katie Perkins/The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech fans get on their feet to celebrate new mens basketball head coach, Mark Adams, after the resignation of former head coach Chris Beard. Beard resigned from Tech to purse the head basketball coach position at the University of Texas. The press conference took place on April 6, 2021 in the United Supermarkets Arena. “I don’t think we equate the fact that there is still a steady stream of finances coming into the city.” Due to the pandemic, several atheltic events were either canceled or a limited amount of tickets avaible for people to ourchase. This restriction on the number of people allowed inside a venue caused Lubbock unemployment to grow. For athletics, there were only a certain number of
attendees allowed at events which hurt tourism, business and the Lubbock economy as a whole. “You pinch Texas Tech out of the academic side of the university, or whether it be the athletics side, you pinch either one and Lubbock hurts,” McBride said. “The athletics side specifically. We do know we would lose ($6 million to $10 million) in sales tax that comes back to Lubbock during
those weekends. That’s more than just job losses and the revenue we lose from sales tax.” With the return of athletic events and students back on campus, McBride said Lubbock will have the chance to flourish under the game-day lights. “We are fortunate to have the students as a big part of our labor force,” Pope said. “That was a challenge last year, with so much of the
school being online (it) impacted our businesses.” Pope told a story about how he went to a restaurant and was served by a Tech student. He said he has seen the workforce re-developing with the returning of Tech students in Lubbock. Football. soccer, volleyball and golf are all money making events that Tech Athletics hosts for fans to come and see. The number of people re-
turning to the stadiums directly impacts the number of employees and sales buisness can gain throughout the season. “We (the city of Lubbock and Tech) have grown together. We are dependent on each other; our economies depend on each other,” Pope said. “The system is our largest employer in our community, so I think in some ways we are inseparable as partners.” @AriannaFloresDT
CAMPUS
Campus bookstore update includes new options for students By ARIANNA FLORES Sports Editor
The Student Union Building’s newest retailer is selling class materials and other necessities. Now called the Texas Tech University Campus Bookstore, some students may remember the store under the ownership of Barnes & Noble; however, the bookstore has transitioned to management under Follett. Mario Carvajal, store manager for the bookstore, said the transition between the two companies took just over a month to complete. “Just like most bookstores we offer new and used books, but I think what sets us apart is our digital library,” Carvajal said. “We have an ever-expanding digital library, every semester we work with publishers to transfer course material to digital.”
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Many students have become accustomed to digital textbooks because of the pandemic. Carvajal said it is important to meet the demands of students and professors. To rent physical copies of textbooks, no paperwork is required. Carvajal said they will only ask for basic information like name and phone number as well as a credit or debit card on file. Students can also stop by the store for more than class materials and shop through retail or grab a bite to eat. The bookstore has inherited the café and implemented new menu options for students to try.
“All the coffee, syrups, ingredients are ordered through the same channel as Starbucks,” Carvajal said. “They utilize the Starbucks ingredients purchased through the same channel a regular Starbucks would.” The café also offers $5-and-under grab-and-go breakfast and lunch specials. “We just wanted to offer students a cheaper option for lunch and breakfast,” he said. “ “We want to be able to offer students affordable options not just with books, but supplies and across the board.” Student organizations can request a table at the
café to host meetings and promotional events. This gives students another way to connect with one another and see the organizations the campus has to offer. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, according to the campus bookstore website. Carvajal said the bookstore will begin selling Lululemon products in the fall of 2022. “For us it’s not about just sales. It is our goal to have a clean, inviting, wellstocked store with affordable options,” Carvajal said. “But it’s more than sales. We want to be a part of the campus
culture and we want to be a part of students’ lives beyond
just selling things.”
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NEWS
AUG. 23, 2021
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CAMPUS
Tech officials talk construction, campus updates By CHYNA VARGAS Opinions Editor
Construction around Texas Tech’s campus continues as students return for the fall semester. The R-7 Pedestrian Mall construction is creating a walkway connecting the Administration Building courtyard to the Student Union Building. This allows students to safely walk across campus without worrying about cars or other oncampus vehicles, as well as adding on to the visual theme of campus architecture. The Pedestrian Mall was set to be completed by the first day of classes, Aug. 23; however, plans have changed due to inclement weather. “We have had almost 30 days of delay because of rain, so we anticipate for it to be completely finished by later in the fall semester,” President Lawrence Schovanec said. The pedestrian sidewalk, said Schovanec, will improve the look of campus. Schovanec said the area, which was formerly the administration parking lot, was the least attractive part of campus. The goal was to create something aesthetically pleasing as well as practical, said Schovanec. “The administrative parking lot was not a beautiful place, but more importantly, we were concerned about safety,” Schovanec said. “We wanted to change that.” In addition to making the Pedestrian Mall match the rest of the campus, Schovanec said trees are to be placed within the walkway. The trees are set to line the walkway, providing shade and enhancing the look of the mall. “They’re quite large, about eight-inch diameter, and we were told that those trees would be planted once it cools down,” said Schovanec. “We were planning on planting those in No-
Image courtesy of Texas Tech Operations Division
Texas Tech’s on-campus construction includes renovations surrounding Memorial Circle and the Student Union Building, as well as a plantation-bordered walkway connecting the two popular student areas. Though originally planned to be finished by the first day of school this fall, President Schovanec expects the construction to finish some time in the fall after weather-based delays. vember, so it may all come together around that time.” Texas Tech Operations has been provided with $12.5 million for the construction project on Lot R-7, allowing it to move forward with other construction, like the new Academic Sciences Building, said Schovanec. Schovanec said Lot R-7 is a minor project compared to the construction taking place in the fall semester. The Board of Regents has approved Lot R-1 as the construction site for the Academic Sciences Building project. “That new facility will be behind chemistry, in that parking lot, which is south of the science building. It will be a large structure, 126,000 square feet. Costs are estimated to be about $100 million,” said Schovanec. The building will provide more classrooms and laboratories for students in the sciences. Schovanec
said it will be a major addition to the campus. While construction around campus is underway, students still have ways to get around despite the construction areas. Brandon Richard, media relations coordinator for Tech Transportation & Parking Services, said current and future construction projects will not affect transportation. “R-1 won’t be affected at all because it’s tucked in there and not a very high traffic area anyways,” Richard said. “Lot R-7 will thankfully not be affected because we have officially moved the bus route.” Richard said the new bus routes have stops east of the SUB instead of north, where they used to be. The new bus stops are along Akron Avenue. The bus route stays along that street and does not go in front of the SUB. All updated information
regarding the new bus travel routes can be found on the Traffic & Parking website as well as the Transportation website. There, students will find resources, schedules and buildings to look out for when using on campus public transportation. “If you live at a nearby apartment just off campus, you can check out our website and see if there is a bus that brings you from your apartment to campus,” said Richard. Richard said to utilize the transportation that they pay for in their tuition. Transportation is provided for students as well as faculty and staff. Richard said that the Transportation & Parking services recently went under the Tech University Operations division, meaning that projects such the Pedestrian Mall and Academic Sciences building are not the only projects to look
forward to, Raider Rooms being an example. “These are rooms that are in various buildings on campus,” Richard said. “These are for the bigger ones, the larger classes. They
have totally renovated them. They have fancy technology, they’re mic’ed up, have TVs.” The Raider Rooms are located in the chemistry, math and Human Sciences buildings. Laboratories in the chemistry building have also been renovated. The architecture building has been updated to include the new Huckabee lounge on the southwest corner of the first floor; it serves as a place that welcomes all students, regardless of major. There are TVs, vending machines and monitors to create a comfortable learning environment. “Heaven, basically, is what I’d call it,” said Richard. There are multiple other projects that have been completed or are in the process of completion with the operations division, said Richard. This includes The Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center, The Dairy Barn and the Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre & Dance Complex. “There’s definitely going to be a huge focus on the facility side of construction projects to make this campus more beautiful and awesome than it already looks,” said Richard. @ChynaVargasDT
KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador
The view from the top of the east bell tower boasts a scenic view of Memorial Circle, which will be connected to the Student Union Building following the construction of a new walkway.
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PRESIDENT
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 While in the position, she said she was able to work with students and help establish relationships with other communities and hospitals around the state. “It really just deepened my understanding and commitment to the role of the HSC in the communities that we serve,” she said. Earning her doctorate in diagnostic laboratory sciences and moving up the faculty ranks to becoming a dean within HSC, RiceSpearman said she realized she loved when she was able to pull people together from various backgrounds to collaborate on a problem. COVID-19 In 2019, the then-chancellor of the Texas Tech University Systems and president of the Health Sciences Center, Tedd Mitchell ,appointed Dean RiceSpearman of the School of Health Profession as the first provost of the HSC. Rice-Spearman said at that time, the HSC had five schools and provided over 25 percent of the health care professionals for the state of Texas. “We had to have a position such as a full-time provost to start pulling the schools together to get the synergy between the schools and all the campuses,” Rice-Spearman said. One month later, the newly appointed provost and chief academic officer was named interim president of HSC after Mitchell decided to move to overseeing the system full time. This allowed the Office of the Provost and Office of the President to find the energy between the two, Rice-Spearman said. It was challenging; however, a bigger challenge laid before her. “That was a hard decision. It was the right decision,” she said. On March 14, 2020, RiceSpearman made the decision to halt in-person instruction at the HSC. She said
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Booster shot needed for individuals who recieved J&J vaccine Probably at some point, but health officials still are collecting the data needed to decide. Wi t h b o o s t e r s b e i n g planned in the U.S. as early as the fall for those who got the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, recipients of the single-dose J&J jab might be wondering just how well their protection is holding up. All the vaccines used in the U.S. — including the J&J vaccine — still are doing their job of preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. “I don’t think there’s any signal that the J&J vaccine is failing at its primary task,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Despite continued protection against severe disease, U.S. officials are planning to offer Pfizer and Moderna boosters eight months after the second shot based on evidence that effectiveness against infection wanes over time.
she wanted to make sure everyone is safe while also proving health care services and educating students. HSC officials were watching the coronavirus before it impacted the Lubbock community, she said, and they pulled together a team quickly. At 9 o’clock every morning, the administrative teams from every campus in the system would meet on Zoom to see what they could do help better serve their communities. “What most people don’t realize is, faculty of the Health Sciences Center are the physicians who have been serving the frontlines of COVID, but they also were serving in population and public health, and they were the county health authorities in the communities where they serve,” Rice-Spearman said.
It really just deepened my understanding and commitment to the role of the HSC in the communities that we serve.” LORI RICE-SPEARMAN HSC PRESIDENT In an op-ed entitled, “The Difference TTUHSC Makes in Your Community,” RiceSpearman said during the personal protective equipment shortages, the HSC produced and distributed more than 465,000 vials of viral transport medium to help combat COVID-19. A joint effort between the HSC and Tech led to 12,000 N95 masks being decontaminated for health care organizations. 10,000 face shields and other PPE equipment were donated to local businesses. However, COVID-19 was not the only one making history within the Texas Tech University. Madam President On June 5, 2020, Chancellor Mitchell announced
Rice-Spearman as the ninth president of the Tech Health Sciences Center but also as the first female president within the system. During June of this year, she celebrated her one-year anniversary as president. “What I learned through this experience is that collaboration is what I call the cradle of innovation,” she said. President Lawrence Schovanec of Tech said to lead a university, one must understand that one challenge or crisis will be replaced by other one. The way Rice-Spearman responded to COVID-19 while serving as interim president made her the best candidate for the job. Darrin D’Agostino, provost of HSC, said RiceSpearman is a collaborator by nature. “She’s naturally somebody that people want to talk with,” he said. “She’s very approachable and because of that, she has all the characteristics of an amazing leader.” D u r i n g t h e s y s t e m ’s August Board of Regents meeting, Rice-Spearman brought before the board the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan for the HSC. “Our efforts, specifically during the past year, led to a new vision to transform health care through innovation and collaboration, setting the direction of our approach to the future,” she said during the meeting. HSC is dedicated to transforming health care, fixing the broken pieces of the health care system and moving forward, she said. Rice-Spearman said when visitors come to campus, they always mention there is a special feeling about the institution. She said it’s an honor for her to be a part of that it and leading her team to creating that special environment. “I think it all goes back to the commitment of our faculty, our staff, our values-based culture and us understand the mission of this university,” she said. @MateoRosilsDT
AUG. 23, 2021
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FILE PHOTOS/The Daily Toreador
TOP: Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec, Tech Health Sciences Center President Lori RiceSpearman and Tech System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell at the Tech System Luncheon. Rice-Spearman said collaboration is key to advancing health care and is collaborating with Tech on new academic programs. BOTTOM: Marissa-Anne Melakin, Junior League of Lubbock member, talking to President Rice-Spearman, on the right, about fabric masks. The HSC donated 10,000 face shields and other PPE equipment were donated to local businesses.
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AUG. 23, 2021
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RAIDER WELCOME
Raider Welcome is two weeks of free events for new and returning Texas Tech students to prepare for the upcoming semester. Student organizations, campus departments and businesses from the Lubbock community hosted events to showcase their services and resources. More than 150 events were available to the Tech community to participate in.
TOP LEFT: Julia Raess, first-year pre-nursing major from Angleton, (left) and Lindse Heyde, first-year cell molecule biology major from Littleton, Colorado, (right) work to load wood onto trailer with Habitat for Humanity on Aug. 20, 2021. Residence Halls Association partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a Lubbock local in need. Photo by: EMILY KNEPP/ The DailyToreador TOP RIGHT: Anayansi Ramirez, Celest Menediez and Austin Garrison enjoy their ice cream at the Ice Cream Social hosted by Texas Tech Career Center on Aug. 16, 2021, at the Wiggins Complex. Students were able to get free ice cream, t-shirts and more while meeting fellow Red Raiders. Photo by: SYDNEY BANOVIC/The DailyToreador BOTTOM LEFT: Wesley Foundation members pose with Raider Red for a picture at the Raider Welcome Block Party on Monday, Aug. 17, at the Tech Wesley Foundation. Photo by: KHLOE SCOTT/The DailyToreador BOTTOM RIGHT: Tech student peers up at the bell tower while on the bell tower tour hosted by Saddle Tramps and High Riders on Saturday, Aug. 21, in the east tower of the Administration Building. Photo by: KATIE PERKINS/The DailyToreador
SPORTS
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FOOTBALL
Page 9 Monday, aug. 23, 2021
Wells to announce starting quarterback soon By ARIANNA FLORES Sports Editor
Multiple Red Raiders have practiced throughout the preseason for the opportunity to start in the opening game of the year. The to-bedetermined starter will don the scarlet and black at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4 in Houston’s NRG Stadium and face the University of Houston with his fellow Red Raiders. At the final preseason scrimmage on Saturday, head coach Matt Wells said he will announce the starting quarterback in the next few days. With the starting quarterback position ready to be filled, there are multiple contenders on the roster eager to be named. Junior quarterback Tyler Shough transferred to Texas Tech from the University of Oregon where he played for three years, according to Tech Athletics. In 2020, Shough helped the Ducks to the Pac-12 Championship. As a sophomore, Shough started in seven games and finished the season with a 5-2 record while at Oregon, according to Tech Athletics. The Chandler, Arizona, native stands at six foot five, weighs 225 pounds and has experience in high-intensity games at his previous school. “I really love it here, I love Lubbock. The people — the food is awesome, so since I got here in March, I have enjoyed everything,” Shough said. “The quarterbacks have really embraced me since day one when I got here. Whatever we are doing in the meeting room or on the field, the competition is always fun.” Senior quarterback Henry Colombi is a familiar face on the Red Raider roster.
ERIN DIGIACAMO/The Daily Toreador
ABOVE: Tyler Shough, junior quarterback from Chandler, Arizona makes a pass during the Texas Tech fall scrimmage on Aug. 21st, at Jones AT&T Stadium. RIGHT: Henry Colombi, senior quarterback from Hollywood, Florida, makes a pass during the Texas Tech fall scrimmage. Colombi transferred to Tech from Utah State where he spent three years as an Aggie, according to Tech Athletics. Head coach Matt Wells was Colombi’s coach for two seasons at Utah State. Colombi became the
I feel good about the quarterback depth. I am not gonna lie. I am very, very happy.” MATT WELLS HEAD COACH starting quarterback during 2020 after former starter Alan Bowman was injured. Colombi appeared in six games over the course of the year, according to Tech Athletics. During his time on the field, Colombi earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection after other Big 12 coaches voted for him in the Offensive Newcomer of the Year list.
Wells said he hopes the starting quarterback position will happen naturally, but he knows there are some competitive advantages to waiting to announce the starter. Freshman quarterback Behren Morton from Eastland chose to come to Tech despite having offers from B a y l o r, K a n s a s , Te x a s Christian University, Texas A&M and five other schools, according to Tech Athletics. “Young Behren, he is a talent. You know, can go play anywhere. I feel like under Shough and Colombi, he is learning from them every day,” junior wide receiver Erik Ezukanma said after the scrimmage. Redshirt freshman Donovan Smith did not reach the field during his true freshman season due to a preseason injury, according to Tech Athletics. The Frenship High School alumni threw 25 touchdowns during his senior year in 2019 and also had eight interceptions with
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328 pass attempts. “I’ve done it before in my career with young quarterbacks, a couple unique situations. They are fighting. They are fighting for the (number) two job — three job, they all are,” Wells said. “Behren and Donovan are both right there, neck and neck. They both have scrimmaged well.” Based on the two younger quarterbacks’ performance at the final preseason scrimmage, Wells said he felt like they both had good outings. “When a guy has mobility like they both do and the ability to get out of pressure, I think that it is a little more indicative of what quarterbacks can do,” Wells said. “I feel good about the quarterback depth. I am not gonna lie. I am very, very happy.” Fans can catch the season opening game on ESPN and see photos of the last preseason scrimmage on The Daily Toreador’s website. @AriannaFloresDT
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