THURSDAY, AUG. 27, 2020 VOLUME 95 ■ ISSUE 2
LA VIDA
SPORTS
Professors host classes outdoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Former Red Raider Josh Jung ready for MLB career.
Updates coming to the opinion section.
OPINIONS
ONLINE
INDEX
Be sure to look for the weekly Raider Rundown on Monday on our Instagram @dailytoreador.
PG 3
PG 5
PG 4
ONLINE
LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU
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SYSTEM
Tech System, MSU Texas partnership requires legislative action By ADÁN RUBIO Staff Writer
Four institutions have made up the Texas Tech System for over a decade. But with the upcoming legislative session, multiple steps have been taken to ensure the addition of a fifth member to the Tech System family. Midwestern State University, a liberal arts institution based in Wichita Falls, has been perceived as a prospective member of the Tech System for several months. Scott Lacefield, executive director of media relations and communications for the Tech System, said there were discussions regarding the partnership before MSU Texas received the initial invitation on Feb. 14 to join the Tech System. “Our leadership here at the Texas Tech University System began having preliminary conversations with MSU Texas leadership back in the fall of 2019,” he said. The MSU Texas Board of Regents moved that MSU Texas President Suzanne Shipley enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Tech System on May 14. The agenda and webcast of the meeting can be found on the MSU Texas website. The MSU Texas Board of Regents later authorized Shipley and MSU Texas Regent Chair Caven Crosnoe to execute the MOU on Aug. 6, according to the MSU Texas website. The Tech System Board of Regents authorized Tech System Regent Chairman Christopher Huckabee to do the same on Aug. 6. The agenda and webcast of the meeting can be found on the Tech System website. “Executing a memorandum of understanding enables leadership from Texas Tech University System and MSU Texas to begin the process of working with local state legislators to introduce legislation seeking approval for MSU Texas to become the fifth member institution of the TTU System,”
Lacefield said. Approaching the legislation with the proposed partnership is the next step in making the partnership official, Lacefield said. “The MOU would become operative if legislation is passed by the 87th Texas Legislature that convenes in Jan. 2021,” he said. “So, that’s very much the next step now that both entities have approved leadership to execute the MOU to move forward.” The timeframe of when the bill will go into effect may vary, Lacefield said. But once the legislation is passed, MSU Texas will become the fifth official member of the Tech System. “If legislation is passed, the bill could have an immediate effect in June 2021 when the governor would sign the bill, or it could have a [Sept. 1, 2021] effective date at the latest,” he said. Debbie Barrow, director of board and government relations at MSU Texas, said the bill’s drafting process will now begin. “I help [Shipley] in working with our legislative people,” she said, “and so we spoke with our local legislator, Representative James Frank, and his staff this week and formally asked if he would look at sponsoring the bill that would make us a part of the Texas Tech System, and he graciously accepted and said yes.” Members of MSU Texas feel really good about this sponsorship, Barrow said. “Our local state senator is Pat Fallon, and he actually just was selected to run for a U.S. Congress seat,” she said. “So, we’re a little uncertain, right now, as to what’s going to happen with our senator seat, but we’ll just work on that when the time comes.” As different steps are taken to make the partnership between the two entities official, one may wonder why efforts were made to establish a partnership in the first place.
SEE MSU TEXAS, PG. 3
PHOTOS COURTESY of AJ Lopez III & Kathleen Floyd
TOP: The entry way to Midwestern State University’s campus. BOTTOM: The front of Hardin Building is shown with a Midwestern University State sign in front.
CAMPUS
Professors host classes outdoors to prevent spread of COVID-19 By NATALIE CERVANTES L a Vida Editor
Before students returned to campus, many professors thought of how their classroom would look. Some professors decided to move their classrooms outside this semester to slow the spread of COVID-19. “I decided that being outside would be the best option for class,” Kurt Caswell, creative writing and literature professor at the Texas Tech Honors College, said. “It is a much safer environment for avoiding transmission of COVID-19.” When Tech was sent home in the spring, professors had to plan for the return to campus, Caswell said. In hopes of meeting face-toface outside classes had become an option. “An indoor classroom space is definitely more closed in,” Caswell said. “An outdoor classroom allows us to set chairs 6 feet apart and have more ventilation.” Outdoor spaces are less risky than indoor spaces because it is easier to keep people apart and allows for more ventilation according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. “I believe having class outside will work well,” Sidney Deatherage, a senior kinesiology major from Joshua said. “Lubbock weather is my only concern, but I am sure the professor will move online if it is a problem.” It is nice to be back in-person to see professors and other students, Deatherage said. Tech made an effort to make classes in person and it seems to be going well.
SEE CLASSES, PG. 3
RYAN MCCULAR/The Daily Toreador
LEFT: Kurt Caswell teaches a class in one of the outdoor classroom areas. The outdoor classrooms are new for the Fall 2020 semester; they are intended to help slow the spread of COVID-19. TOP & BOTTOM: The chairs in the outdoor classrooms are at a proper spacing to ensure social distancing.
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NEWS
AUG. 27, 2020
WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM
CAMPUS
Tech cotton researcher develops COVID-19 protection By ADÁN RUBIO News Editor
When thinking of COVID-19 defenses, one may not think about a fiber that can be found across the state. For one Texas Tech professor, cotton is a key component to developing effective masks. Seshadri Ramkumar, professor of advanced materials in the Tech Department of Environmental Toxicology, has been researching the use of cotton in filtration processes for many years. With the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he now is using his knowledge of filtration and cotton fibers to develop more efficient masks. After COVID-19 cases started to appear across Texas and other parts of the nation in the spring, Ramkumar said he regrouped with his international collaborators and started focusing on cotton’s filtration capability for particles, such as COVID-19 particles. “And that’s what Texas Tech should be doing: being a public institution to be of service to society and the entire world, and that is what we’re doing,” Ramkumar said. “But my research did not just start because of COVID. Twenty-two years, this is what I’ve been doing at Texas Tech.” To protect oneself from the virus, Ramkumar said simple face coverings may not be efficient. “The work is focused toward how to improve face coverings toward efficiency while all the way not compromising the comfort,” he said. There are different categories of face masks including filtering facepiece respirators, such as N95 masks, surgical masks and any kind of face covering, Ramkumar said. Each of
MANDI MCDONALD/The Daily Toreador
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, a professor for the Department of Environmental Toxicology, displays his invention called the FISOR filter on Aug. 19, 2020, at the Reese Technology Center. these categories work differently when protecting one from virus particles. One challenge when developing a mask with filtration properties is figuring out a way for air to go through the mask. “Your filter may be an efficient filter. If you keep adding layers or you make the pores smaller, then you will be able to trap finer particles,” he said. “But when you keep on adding layers, then the comfort aspect becomes difficult.” When adding a filter to a face covering, Ramkumar said the covering’s filtration efficiency will be better. “We have come up with a new category called FISOR, which is a filter component added to your face covering,” he said. Another challenge that needs to be dealt with
is being able to optimize the thickness and weight of the filter, so there is a balance between filtration and breathability.
I think it is absolutely paramount that we have people like him and other scientists who are really doing this work
KANTI JASANI
PRESIDENT OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL TEXTILE CONSULTING Although, Ramkumar said data from one set of tests through international collaborations shows filters using cotton as an integral component have promising results. Tests
continue to be conducted. In addition to research regarding personal protective equipment, Ramkumar said he has and will continue teaching a graduate-level course this fall that focuses on personal protective equipment and its use combating infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Whether it be through his research or teachings, Ramkumar’s work has allowed him to meet different people within the cotton and textile industry. Kanti Jasani, president of Performance & Technical Textile Consulting, said he has known Ramkumar for over 20 years. “He is a very dedicated person doing everything he can in the cotton textile industry, promoting that industry,” he said. In addition to research
in using cotton for masks, Jasani said Ramkumar has utilized cotton for other issues, such as developing a wipe for the oil and medical industry. “Now, the opportunity came for him to utilize the same technology for developing masks,” he said, “and I think it’s absolutely the most critical thing right now in the COVID-19 situation that it is available to as many people in the world as possible.” Developing masks is the number one precaution amid the pandemic, Jasani said. Although, for people to obtain masks, one must have the knowledge to properly make them. “[Ramkumar] being involved with nonwovens for many, many, many years becomes a really important ingredient for a mask,” he said. In addition to Ramkumar, Jasani said there are multiple researchers and institutions working toward similar research goals. “I think it is absolutely paramount that we have people like him and other scientists who are really doing this work,” he said. Kater Hake, vice president of agricultural and environmental research at Cotton Inc., said Cotton Inc. funds research, such as Ramkumar’s research, and other labs. There are three roles Cotton Inc. plays: promoting the use of cotton as a fiber, which is the biggest role, being the only organization doing largescale cotton textile research and funding research to solve U.S. production problems. “We’re funding about 280 different university or USDA labs,” he said. “[Ramkumar] would be just one of those, [Noureddine Abidi, Leidigh Professor in the Tech Department of Plant and Soil Science] would be another, [Eric Hequet, Horn professor in the Department of Plant
and Soil Science] would be a third, and actually there’s quite a few at Texas Tech who we’re funding.” Ramkumar impacts how the use of cotton is perceived in the textile industry, Hake said. “One of the important things that Ram does is he connects the university to the growers,” Hake said, “and so, he doesn’t miss an opportunity to interact with growers and relate to them and talk to them.” During the pandemic, Hake said people are getting an increased awareness of personal health and safety, which may warrant more people to want to wear a mask for protection. “What [Ramkumar] is doing is he’s strengthening cotton’s connection with growing concern,” he said. “Cotton has always had a strong role in personal safety and health because of its moisture management, and [Ramkumar’s] a real leader in that area.” Ramkumar is having an impact in his field, Hake said. Ramkumar will play an important role in making sure cotton can contribute to combating the pandemic in the long-term. Regardless of the current progress of the cotton filtration research, the end result is one aspect some people may be hopeful for. “What I hope will come out of this research is that people will really understand the importance of face masks, and people will utilize face masks as much as possible if not within the household, the moment they step out of the house,” Jasani said, “and this technology that Dr. Ram has developed and many others have developed, many other industries have developed, are able to control COVID-19 and hopefully limit it and get rid of it.” @AdanRubioDT
NEWS
WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM
MSU TEXAS
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Location in the state is one reason Lacefield said the Tech System considered MSU Texas as a potential fifth institution. In addition to Lubbock, the Tech System is represented in Amarillo, Abilene, San Angelo, Midland-Odessa, the Permian Basin, El Paso and Dallas. “Wichita Falls and the folks at MSU Texas very much consider themselves a part of north Texas,” he said. “But at the same time, when you kind of look at their location, I think it makes a lot of sense. I think, also, it’s just an opportunity to partner with a reputationally strong liberal arts leader in Texas.” MSU Texas’ campus culture also aligns with that of current members of the Tech System, Lacefield said regarding another reason why MSU Texas was considered. For those of the MSU Texas community, consideration of the partnership took place across different events. After receiving the invitation from the Tech System, Barrow said MSU Texas hosted different forums with members of the campus and local community to discuss the partnership. She has been a part of discussions with the MSU Texas Board of Regents since February, which is when Shipley was asked to gather information from university constituents, faculty, staff and students about how they would feel about the partnership. “We had four conversations that were specifically for faculty and staff,” Barrow said, “and they were scheduled at different times that would allow individuals to take part, and it was really just an
CLASSES
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 It takes time to adjust to the new classroom protocol, Deatherage said. Although, it feels good to be back on the Tech campus. “Having class outside is going good, everyone seems to like it,” Bryan Giemza, humanities and literature professor at the Tech Honors college, said. “It is the safest option regarding minimizing the risk of COVID-19 for everybody.” Some course subjects this semester work well with the outdoor setting, Giemza said. The subjects go over the natural world and trees, so it fits well with the class’ environment. “In fairness, I enjoy the outdoors,” Giemza said. “There were concerns about the Wi-Fi connection, but it seems to be working well outside.” The Honors College values teaching, Giemza said. The college understands the importance of delivering the same experience as previous semesters in a safer environment. “When asking permission from Michael San Francisco, [interim] dean of the Honors College, he was very understanding,” Giemza said. “I could also say to him the environment wouldn’t change the curriculum of the course.” Callie French, a freshman human sciences major, from Lubbock, said the professors are very helpful, and they have given her confidence that the semester will go well. “My initial thoughts were that having class outdoors was going to be really distracting,” French said. “It was also stressful because it’s summer in Texas.” After her first outdoor class, French said it was easy to pay attention, and the weather did not feel too bad. “The professors are very understanding,” French said. “They are willing to work with us and help us out as much as possible.” It feels safe to have class outside, French said. It is
open-forum conversation.” During these faculty and staff conversations, which each had about 60 to 75 attendees, questions regarding the partnership and what it would change were answered, Barrow said. “We also then hosted two community conversations where anyone in the community could come, whether they’d be alumni, friends of the university, donors,” she said. “We had just a lot of different people who came.” Shipley also had meetings with the MSU Texas faculty senate, the staff senate and student government in the early part of 2020, Barrow said. Several other conversations were planned between Shipley and other groups until COVID-19 became present in the United States. “Once everything shut down right after spring break, we realized that we needed to have other ways that we could communicate,” she said, “and so, we did have a virtual town hall where our [MSU Texas Board of Regents] chair and vice chair took questions, and we sent out information and received email questions.” A lot of feedback was received at the town hall, Barrow said. Regardless, understanding how people felt about the partnership was a part of the plan moving toward the MSU Texas Board of Regents meeting on May 14. “What they had originally said was by our May board meeting, they had intended to decide whether there was enough support to move forward,” she said. “So, when we met in May, they felt like there was enough support to move forward.” Even at the May board meeting, Barrow said people
provided public comments via emails, which they read aloud. In addition to impacting how conversations were hosted, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how MSU Texas and the Tech System have cooperated over the past few months. The pandemic has strengthened the relationship with MSU Texas and the Tech System, Lacefield said. Conversations with MSU Texas have been beneficial for Tech System universities. “They’ve been a part of a lot of conversations with leadership teams across our four institutions and System leadership,” he said. “We greatly appreciate the collaboration with President Shipley and the MSU Texas leadership team during the past several months.” With everything the pandemic changed and affected, Barrow said the Tech System helped MSU Texas address different issues. “The Texas Tech System reached out to us early in the pandemic and invited us to participate in their leadership phone calls that they made when they were talking about addressing a lot of the things that happened,” she said. Members of MSU Texas felt good about how Tech System members made them feel like part of the team, even though the partnership between the two entities is not yet official. “It helped us recognize what it was going to be like to be a part of a system and not just out here on our own,” she said, “and so, I believe for us an administration, it was just another sign that this was a good decision, and I think the [MSU Texas] Board of Regents recognized that as well.”
not too uncomfortable, and it is a safe option with regards to COVID-19. “I think a lot of the stuff that’s in place right now is helpful and preventative,” French said. “But the uncertainty of it all is still scary.” If students do not get what they need in the classroom because of the barriers of the new environment and protocols, the class will be moved to an online format, Caswell said. “I am impressed that Tech took the initiative to put up outdoor learn-
ing spaces around campus and make them available,” Caswell said. As the fall semester continues, one may wonder how long the outdoor classes will last. There is a lot of innovation going on right now, Caswell said. And I think some methods will stay long term if they are useful. “The best way to function right now is with a little discomfort,” Caswell said. “The changes made in the classroom are safer for everybody.” @NCervantesDT
AUG. 27, 2020
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Photo courtesy of AJ Lopez III
The Hardin Building tower is located on the Midwestern State University campus in Wichita Falls. MSU Texas will become an official member of the Texas Tech System after legislation is passed at the 87th Texas Legislature. With the possibility of the partnership becoming official next year, Barrow said MSU Texas can get different opportunities. Whether it be items MSU Texas can save money on just by purchasing with other universities or the collective knowledge that can be obtained from other institutions, Barrow said the partnership can benefit MSU Texas. “I think for us, it is the fact that higher education is changing so quickly, and it has so much, even in the last 10, 15 years,” Barrow said. “We just see the benefit of being a part of a larger group.” The partnership also may pose one obstacle if it becomes official, Barrow said. “We’re so used to having our own board, and so, I think that’s the part people are having a hard time adjusting to,” she said. “But we really believe
that, in the long-run, it won’t be a negative because we believe that the individuals selected by the governor to oversee the institutions will still consider our university just as important as the individuals who currently serve on our board.” MSU Texas hopes to have a representative on the Tech System Board of Regents who is from Wichita Falls or is connected to MSU Texas in some way, Barrow said. Despite this one difficulty, Barrow said she feels good about the conversations between members of MSU Texas and the Tech System. Everyone from the Tech System has been really welcoming. Adding a fifth institution to the Tech System can be beneficial, Lacefield said. “I really don’t see any hardships that would come with the partnership,” he said. “I think it has gone extremely well, and
I think it really benefits both sides. From the Texas Tech University System administration side of things, I really don’t see any [hardships].” Dr. Tedd Mitchell, Tech System chancellor, said in a statement after the MOU execution on Aug. 6 the partnership between the two entities can impact all institutions within the Tech System. “A partnership with MSU Texas and the Texas Tech University System has the opportunity to advance all institutions within our system and support the betterment of higher education in Texas,” Mitchell said, according to the statement. “MSU Texas is a leading liberal arts university, has a tremendous reputation across the state and is committed to offering an affordable and accessible education for its students.” @AdanRubioDT
OPINIONS
Page 4 Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020
COLUMN
@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com
Updates coming to the opinions section M
any things around campus have been changing ever since we have gotten back to campus. With the move to online and hybrid classes, we here at The Daily Toreador have done the same. Earlier this week, we announced that most of our content will be moving to our website, dailytoreador.com, and will be only printing once a week starting next week. This, in my opinion, allows us to get stories out faster to our readers and gives us more creative freedom when it comes to print publications this semester. It also means we have to get creative with our social media and online content and how we deliver it to our readers.
Mateo Rosiles is a junior journalism major from Lubbock
With that being said, I am proud to announce that The Daily Toreador opinions section is getting a new podcast, The Matador Beat. This podcast will be an opinion-based podcast featuring various editors and staffers here at The Daily Toreador. We will be all about Tech focusing on the student life and anything that is impacting student life at the moment. Our first podcast will be launching on Spotify next Monday, Aug. 31 and coming soon to the iTunes podcast. The topic of our first
episode will be all about the first week of classes and what we thought about it. Find it at The Matador Beat playlist on Spotify Monday morning. Also, don’t forget to catch our weekly video, The Raider Rundown hosted by Madeline Diffee, where she will go over what happened the prior week and what’s to come. Be on the lookout for it on all of our social media. Since we are talking about all things COVID-19 related all the time, I felt that it was appropriate to hear from fellow students during this time. We want them to give students advice and encouragement during this stressful time. That is why I am proud to announce a project where guest columns/ letters
will be published online or in-print written by student leaders around campus and athletes. This project’s goal is to remind students why following the safety measures are important, but rather coming from us or Tech, they are hearing it from their peers. As Texas Tech produces and sends more athletes to the professional stage, the sports section will be covering their respective journeys and keeping up with the professional path of Tech’s top-tier athletes. The sports column will also extend to sporting events that don’t exactly pertain to Tech, as all major sports are starting to get back underway. The sports section will be sure to keep you informed on
all big moves, trades and events in the world of sports. There will also be some specialty sports opinions that will be published on this page once sports here at Tech get underway. The final new thing that is coming to the opinions section is our weekly Spotify playlist that will be curated by our Managing Editor, Mallory Rosetta. These playlists will be updated frequently and are perfect for your walk to class or your bus ride to campus. There will also be many more playlist, coming to our Spotify account in the future. Find our Spotify code at the bottom of the paper. I am excited to see every student back on campus and looking forward to my staff and I putting out some fan-
tastic content this semester. As always, the opinions section is an open forum to the student body to submit guest columns. Please email opinions@dailytoreador.com or myself if you are interested in writing a guest column. Remember to check out our website at dailytoreador.com for all breaking and daily news coverage. Also, be sure to follow our Facebook (The Daily Toreador), Twitter (@ DailyToreador, @DT_Photo and @TheDT_Sports) and Instagram (@dailytoreador) to stay up to date on what is going on at Tech. As always, stand united under the Double T and sing the Matador song with pride. Strive for honor evermore, long live the Matadors. @MateoRosilesDT
COLUMN
Tech’s reopening plan presents challenges Now that the almost five-month spring break is coming to a close for returning students, it’s important for us to look to the 2020 Fall semester for how the policies the Texas Tech administration have been strategizing will be implemented. In the midst of a hopefully once in a lifetime event like a global pandemic, just about every school has had to readjust in major ways. While many other colleges and universities across the country have already decided that they will continue with onlineonly instruction from the spring semester; Tech is
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EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Chase Seabolt (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com Managing Editor Mallory Rosetta managing@dailytoreador.com News Editor Adán Rubio news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Natalie Cervantes features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor Zach Richards sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor Mateo Rosiles opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Autumn Bippert photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Madeline Diffee online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Emma Sipple online@dailytoreador.com
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Richard Baskervlle is a junior journalism major from Arlington
among the list of schools that have remained firm on their decision to try to retain a sense of normalcy on campus with in-person and hybrid instruction. These classes have protocols in place to promote social distancing, and they possibly could be the detriment of the Red Raider community
as a whole.
After announcing in early June, the plan to return to campus for the fall President Lawrence Schovanec launched the Texas Tech Commitment initiative and website that outlines the plan for CO-
is the case of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school made national news when it reversed the plans for in-person instruction back to remote learning after only one week of classes due to a major increase in positivity rate which spiked above a safe amount. This example is concerning for Tech students because UNC Chapel Hill implemented most of the same protocols as us which couldn’t hold up in trying to stop the spread of the virus. The blame for their situation can’t rest solely on the failure of their administration and their plan, but some of the blame must shift to those who are ignoring safety protocols like the face covering mandate and maintaining social distancing. UNC Chapel Hill points to images sur-
facing of large groups of students on or near their campus not wearing masks being a large contributing factor. While I do have more faith in the Red Raider community as a whole to be responsible and follow protocol, just being on campus the week before classes even begun you could see that some people might not be willing to make the sacrifice. The most problematic aspect of this situation is the nature of the virus which can leave many asymptomatic, and those who will get symptoms could be as late as 14 days from exposure. All it would take to put Tech in the same situation as UNC Chapel Hill is someone who tests positive walking into one of our buildings, ignoring protocol, spreading it and creating a cluster of
the virus. This virus has put us all into quite the predicament which has no doubt made 2020 one of the most interesting years for all of us. I believe that Tech’s plan is as solid they could make it while still trying in-person instruction. If the plan were to fail, I think it would be because of negligence and the unwillingness to follow the guidelines. I want us to make it through this semester and for the spirit of the campus to remain intact and not be evaporated by moving back to remote learning. So, I am closing with a call to action for all Red Raiders and the Lubbock community as a whole to mask up, maintain social distancing and stay safe. @DailyToreador
COLUMN
Cooperation needed for Tech’s reopening plan As we all start to get settled in for the semester, many of you are likely wondering what Texas Tech has done to ensure that the possible spread of COVID-19, is kept to an absolute minimum. However, many of you might be surprised at the lack of safety in specific facilities. As stated on the Center for Disease Control website, there is a whole slew of rules and regulations that must be followed in order to ensure that we maintain a virus-free environment (It would seem at the surface that Tech is following most, if not all of the regulations. I went to a few areas with heavy student foot traffic in order to see how much Tech is really following these rules. The most obvious first location to discuss would be the Student Union Building, as it is a popular area for students to be passing through or
Evan Ray is a junior dmpc major from Sugar Land grabbing a bite to eat. As with all of Tech campus, masks are required to be on, and social distancing is encouraged inside. There are lines of tape on the ground meant to direct foot traffic, as well as distance put between furniture located near the ballrooms. This helps reinforce the idea of maintaining a constant distance from other people. In addition, the water drinking fountains are closed (although the bottle filling station is still open at the time of this publication) and there are sanitization stations located at the entrances and exits. Overall, it seems like the SUB is doing an excellent job at following CDC guidelines. Interestingly enough,
a very similar experience was found at the library, with the addition of marking off every other computer in order to keep distances from one another, as well as touchless printers. Once again, a great job at following guidelines. It was especially impressive to see how the Student Wellness Center was operating. By merely standing outside the wellness center, you find a load of valuable information ranging from 24/7 mental health hotlines, to temperature screenings of everyone who enters the center. There is even a protocol from the Student Health Services, of what to do in order to get tested for COVID-19, as well as what to do after if the tests come back positive. However, there seems to be one place in particular that could prove to be a COVID hotspot, and that is the Recreation Center. After I spent only a few
minutes observing inside the center, it became clear that while everywhere else masks are required, that rule is little more then an offhanded remark. Students seem to get turned away at the front desk if they aren’t wearing a mask, however, almost immediately afterwards, can take it off. The staff either doesn’t see or doesn’t care enough to say anything, but either way, it is unacceptable. The Rec is easily one of the most populous buildings on campus at all times, with people constantly moving in and out. This is an outbreak waiting to happen and should be taken care of right away if we expect to have any more classes in person. The rest of the building has similar regulations in place as the previous buildings. I myself, personally do not like wearing masks, as they are uncomfortable and shoot hot air into my eyes depending on the
angle it’s at, and yet, I will wear a mask unconditionally. Not just to protect myself, but to protect my fellow students and peers. We all want to have a great semester here this fall, we’ve been cooped up since March and are tired of not seeing our friends and going outside. Heck, many of us even miss the classes themselves just for something to keep our minds busy. But it won’t last more then a month if we don’t come together as a community, a Red Raider community. We all know how much pride and teamwork we have when we set our minds to it, just look at any Tech student at football games. Be a team player, wear a mask, even if you hate it. Your small sacrifice will add up and matter, and together, we can have our football games, our parties and our college experience. @DailyToreador
SPOTIFY
Spotify: walking to class song highlights and code
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VID-19 procedures being implemented this semester. The website’s individual pages on the plans are pretty barren and can feel like vague, copy and paste statements which could make the implementation harder to imagine. I think the plans are best illustrated in the video series that are on the Tech YouTube channel. It goes over currently nationwide-policies for schools returning like face coverings in all buildings, bolstering of the sanitation department, reduced class sizes, and density of residence halls. These things could work, but we won’t honestly know until we have at least two to three weeks of full-on classes. A strong example which shines a cloudy outlook on this semester finishing in the same state it begins
Mallory Rosetta is a junior advertising and media strategies major from Lubbock Here are some song highlights for this weeks Walking to Class playlist on Spotify:
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- Chocolate by The 1975 - Honey Do by Rococo Disco - Cinnamon by Hayley Williams - OK by Wallows - Kyoto by Phoebe Bridges - Mariposa by Peach Tree Rascals - Choirs by Ashe - Kiwi by Harry Styles - Coffee by Quinn XCII (feat.
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Page 5 Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020
Former Red Raider Josh Jung ready for MLB career By JACK BURGESS Staff Writer
Texas Tech is a place where athletes go on to get recognized on a national, if not world-wide, scale. There have been many student-athletes that have made their name known at Tech and have gone on to make their name known even further. There is Patrick Mahomes, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola, Jarrett Culver, and next up is soon to be Major League Baseball player Josh Jung. Josh Jung grew up in San Antonio and was undrafted out of high school. Being undrafted while still having the talent to play at the next level ultimately led Jung to the decision to play ball at Tech. During Jung’s freshman season, he immediately made a major impact for the Red Raiders. Jung started all 62 games at third base while also having an above .300 batting average, per Tech Athletics. He also led the team with 24 multi-hit games and a team-high 36 walks. After an impressive freshman season, Jung garnered an assortment of accolades including Big 12 Freshman of the Year, All-Big 12 Second Team, unanimous All-Big 12 Freshman Team and Baseball America First Team Freshman All-American. Despite a riveting freshman season, he would not stop there. In his sophomore season, Jung would become a bigger threat both offensively and defensively
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador Junior infielder Josh Jung runs towards second base during the game against Florida International University at 11 a.m,.May 7, 2019, at Dan Law Field. The Red Raiders defeated the Panthers, 9-6.
while going on to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team and the USA Collegiate National Team. Entering his junior season, Jung was expected to be one of the top players in the Big 12 and exceeded that expectation by being recognized as one of the top players in the nation, according to ESPN. He was named a nationwide All-American and was expected to be taken in the 2019 MLB draft. A successful college career, a trophy room that stretched from All-Big 12 to All-American and the tag of being one of the most accomplished Tech baseball players ever would ultimately convince the Texas Rangers to draft Jung with the 8th pick in the 2019
MLB Draft. Post draft, Jung signed a $4.4 million deal with the Rangers and achieved the ranks of Class A in his professional debut, per MLB.com. In his time with the Ranger’s farm system, Jung has been recognized as an all-around hitter who excels in putting the ball in play rather than focusing on hitting dingers every atbat. With that being said, he still has the potential to hit a good number of homeruns while posting a “contact hitters batting average” if he were to make it to the show. This facet of his game is one thing that is very attractive and could go on to make him an extremely successful player and threat for the Rang-
ers’ organization. Jung’s hitting prowess is not the only thing that makes him stand out amongst other prospects within MLB; he has always been a great defenseman with a strong arm and good instincts. Throughout his college and blossoming pro career, Jung has been tested at short-stop and most notably, third base. After several outings where he got the nod to start at short-stop, he has shown that while he has enough athleticism and baseball IQ to position one of the hardest and most demanding spots in baseball, his speed is absent and could not be up-to-par with the pro level. Jung has a better chance of reaching the show by sticking to what he does
best, manning the third base position and showing off his arm strength and decision making. After a short time in minor league ball, Jung has made his name very well known within the Texas Rangers’ organization and is now the No. 1 prospect amongst many other talented farm system players. Currently, the third base position is occupied by eleven-year veteran, Todd Frazier. Ahead of the 2020 season, the Rangers and Frazier agreed to a one-year contract deal worth $5 million. At the end of the season, could we potentially see Josh Jung being called up to the show and taking over the third-base position for the Rangers? I believe the answer could be yes. Jung has proven that he has
su do ku
Football continuing practice despite COVID-19 cases Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Texas Tech Athletics announced the completion of 1,382 total COVID-19 tests between student-athletes, coaches and staff. There have been 64 total positive cases, and of those cases, 24 remain active, including 21 within the Red Raider football program, per Tech Athletics. Despite having 21 positive cases of COVID-19, the Tech football team has announced
that they will continue to practice in preparation for the upcoming season. As a result of the minor outbreak, Tech cancelled its first real scrimmage on Saturday. They will replace the scrimmage with a standard workout, Tech head football coach Matt Wells said in a press conference on Tuesday. Although the scrimmage was cancelled, Wells explained that practice would move forward and that all safety protocols are being followed.
“We follow all of the protocols in here,” Wells said. “When you look at the numbers, there are plenty of guys to practice.” According to Tech’s safety protocols, each student-athlete with a positive test result was immediately placed into self-isolation. Also, the affected players receive daily monitoring and oversight from both University sports medicine staff and the City of Lubbock Health Department. In terms of staff members who have contracted the virus, coach Matt Wells says that there
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Today’s
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By ZACH RICHARDS
what it takes to play at the ultimate level through his success in college and in the minor league. There is also the question of whether or not we could see Jung being called up this season, which is also a high possibility as the Rangers have started the season at 11-17 and could look to a player like Josh Jung to try and give them a little push. No matter when Jung will be called up, he has full capabilities to play with the big boys and has proven it numerous times. I fully expect him to make his name known with his batting skills, defensive skills and winner’s mentality. I look forward to another Red Raider making his name known throughout professional sports.
were no full-time staff members who have contracted COVID-19, only one young assistant coach and the 21 active players. Those who have tested positive, since the recent test results, remain in isolation and will return to the team once they pass COVID-19 protocols, Wells said on Tuesday. Despite the recent jump of positive cases, coach Wells and the Red Raiders are still preparing to take on Houston Baptist as the non-conference home opener on Sept. 12.
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