THURSDAY, SEPT. 2, 2021 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 3
LA VIDA
SPORTS
Read how the student regents incorporates her student life into her roles of being the student representation in the system.
Texas Tech will face the University of Houston on Saturday in Houston. Read about what you need to know about the game.
C h a n c e l l o r Te d d M i t c h e l l submitted a guest column welcoming MSU into the system.
OPINIONS
ONLINE See all the slide shows our multimedia staff have put on our website showcasing the varying facets of campus life.
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ONLINE
INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU
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SYSTEM
Midwestern State joins Tech system
By MATEO ROSILES Editor-in-Chief
WICHITA FALLS — Almost 20 months after receiving a formal invitation by the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System to join the system, Midwestern State University joined on Sept. 1, becoming the fifth institution. Formal Welcome The Board of Regents convened at 9 a.m. to start the day of festivities hosted at MSU. The regents formally welcomed MSU into the system. “It truly is wonderful to be joined by all of you today on the beautiful campus of MSU Texas in Wichita Falls as we welcome the Mustang family into the Texas Tech University system on this truly historic day,” Michael Lewis, chairman of the Board of Regents, said. C h a n c e l l o r Te d d M i t c h e l l brought a Resolution of the Board to be approved commemorating the day. He also thanked those who helped create the partnership between the system and MSU. Chairman Lewis thanked those who made this day possible and read the founding mission of Tech written by President Paul
Horn, first president of Tech, and the Board of Directors for Texas Technological College, the former governing body of Tech prior to becoming an accredited university. “‘Any system of educational philosophy or administration is faulty and places the welfare of the school above that of the individual student.’ This sentiment is infused in the with a sense of service and mutual benefits which wills down and reforms the values and culture of Texas Tech University System,” Lewis said. It was with Horn’s and the Board of Directors’ vision of Texas Technological College that Lewis welcomed MSU as the system’s fifth institution. Lewis then to showed a video message of Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas congratulating MSU in joining the system. “This partnership will help ensure that both Midwestern State and Texas Tech System will continue to flourish and build on their legacy of excellence,” Abbott said in the video. “Working together, we will continue to establish Texas as a leader in higher education.” The MSU Culture Located in Wichita Falls, near the Texas-Oklahoma border, MSU
has a small community feel but with the added bonus of city life, Alexis Thomas said. “Everybody knows everybody,” she said. “So it’s very comfortable and like, homey.” As a third-year early childhood education major at MSU, Thomas said she is excited for MSU to be joining the system. Giving the over 5800-student university some publicity is an advantage she said she hopes to see. Smaller classes are a part of the MSU campus culture, Tyler Seelman, a third-year psychology and sociology major at MSU, said. “I have two classes and max, 30 people in both,” he said. Activities are constantly happening on MSU’s campus, Seelman said, almost daily. However, MSU has something on campus that no other institution within the system has — a lake. Thomas said it’s a cool place to sit and relax. “Sometimes, like at night, when like the sun (is) setting, we go walk around to like clear our heads,” Thomas said. “It’s a nice place to go and get away.” MSU also has a can-do mentality when it comes to problem solving, Chancellor Mitchell said,
REGENT
Student regent incorporates her student life into her role By TEA MCGILVRAY L a Vida Editor
Fourth-year health science student at Angelo State University, Keaghan Holt was appointed as the 16th Student Regent on June 1. In addition to being selected for Student Regent, Holt has received several national championship awards for ASU cheer and has achieved Dean’s list honors in three semesters. ASU President Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. said Holt is active in virtually every facet of student life, according to a news release from the system. As a Student Regent, Holt said that her job acts as a bridge between the students within the Texas Tech University system and the Board of Regents. Holt will serve as a non-voting member for her term, however she keeps up with all of the campuses so she can accurately present on behalf of the student body and represent over 57,000 students. “It has been so much fun. It is definitely a different side of the system and the university, which has been very eye opening and educating,” Holt said. Campus visit specialist and RAMbassador advisor, Hannah Hoelscher, said RAMbassadors work under the office of admis-
KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador
Keaghan Holt at the Sept. 1 Board of Regents meeting where the regents welcomed Midwestern State University into the system in Wichita Falls. Holt, a student at Angelo State University was appointed on June 1 to be the new student regent of the Texas Tech University System by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and will serve a one-year term on the Board of Regents. sions to give campus tours and hosts a variety of events for ASU that encourage students to get involved. Holt is famous on the ASU campus because she is so outgoing and involved, she said. “Keaghan is one of the friendliest people I have ever met. She always wants to make sure everybody is taken care of, and everyone is having a good time,” Hoeschler said. Her friend and co-worker, Haley Russell said the two met
their first year during move in and that as long as she’s known her, Holt has always been the friendly and outgoing type. Holt is always waving to people and saying hello and talking to every student on campus that she can. As the Tech system transitions back into normalcy she said she hopes that students go out, open up and get involved in campus.
SEE REGENT, PG. 3
KATIE PERKINS /The Daily Toreador
TOP: The eastern entrance of Midwestern State University with the Seal of the Texas Tech University System flying in front of it on Sept. 1. The system welcomed MSU officially into the system at the Sept.1 Board of Regents meeting in Wichita Falls. BOTTOM: (left) Chancellor Tedd Mitchell, Vice Chairman Mark Griffin and Chairman Michael Lewis presenting the Resolution of the Board to former vice chairwoman of MSU’s Board of Regents Nancy Marks and Interim President James Johnston of MSU, formally welcoming MSU as the fifth institution in the system which is integrated into MSU’s academics and student life on campus. From this mentality an independent culture forms, Mitchell
said, which helps foster skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
SEE SYSTEM, PG. 2
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Signs of recovery amid daunting destruction after hurricane Ida Lights came back on for a fortunate few, some corner stores opened their doors and crews cleared fallen trees and debris from a growing number of roadways Wednesday — small signs of progress amid the monumental task of repairing the damage inflicted by Hurricane Ida. Still, suffering remained widespread three days after Ida battered Louisiana and parts of Mississippi as the fifth-most-powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. Some low-lying communities remained largely underwater. Roughly a million homes and businesses still had no electricity, and health officials said more than 600,000 people lacked running water. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said he was pleased that power had returned for some people, saying it was "critically important to show progress” after the storm. But he also acknowledged that much more work lay ahead. “I’m very mindful that it’s a start, and only a start,” he told a news conference. The death toll rose to at least six after a coroner confirmed a 65-year-old woman had drowned in her Louisiana home and police in Maryland said a 19-year-old man was found dead in an apartment complex flooded by heavy rain from Ida's remnants. And the staggering scope of the disaster began to come into focus, with a private firm estimating total dam-
age from Ida could exceed $50 billion. Edwards said Louisiana was blessed to have only two deaths from Ida so far, given the magnitude of the hurricane's devastation. In southern Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, Gayle Lawrence lost two cars, refrigerators and almost everything in her garage to floodwaters. Her garage was filled with marsh grass and dead fish. Scores of other homes in the neighborhood were also flooded. “The house is solid. It didn’t even move. But when the water came up, it destroyed everything,” she said. In Jefferson Parish, hospital staff, food bank employees and other critical workers were hampered by a gas shortage, said parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng. The parish neighbors New Orleans and saw widespread destruction from Ida. Authorities were still waiting for floodwaters to recede enough for trucks carrying food, water and repair supplies to begin moving into Lafitte and other lowlying communities. “Today we’re a broken community. It won’t always be that way,” Sheng said after meeting with Edwards. Emergency officials in nearby Terrebonne Parish took to Twitter to caution evacuees considering returning home that “there are no shelters, no electricity, very limited resources for food, gasoline and supplies and absolutely no medical services.”
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SAFETY
Police explain safety on campus, in Lubbock By TANA THOMPSON Staff Writer
Lubbock has gained a reputation among students for being a dangerous place to live due to gun violence, but police say that students are thoroughly protected both on and off campus and significantly safer than some statistics may lead them to believe. Chad Beights, the Clery compliance director at the Texas Tech Police Department said there is an initiative to keep campus a safe place for students. “We have several policies and procedures in place here at Tech for our whole community to report, get assistance, or anything in the realm of needing support,” Beights said. “We have police on duty 24/7. They are always out and about somewhere on campus whether in the buildings, parking lots, or driving around. We have the blue light system on campus, and the bus system is an opportunity for students to get around.” According to the Texas Tech Police Department website, the department’s
mission statement is to provide a safe and secure environment to live, learn and educate. For example, Captain Amy Ivey said there are over 120 blue light phones that will directly contact the Tech Police Department. Ivey said they are strategically placed around the campus with blue phones in buildings, especially basements, that students can use if their cell phones are not accessible. “If the students push a button and keep walking on campus, they will come in contact with another one,” Ivey said. “When you push the button the blue light flashes and it is an automatic dial to the dispatch center here at the police department. We will dispatch an officer to every blue light phone button that is pushed, whether they wait around or they keep walking to push another one. We will send an officer to each one.” Another resource for student safety is the ‘TechAlert!’ system. According to the Office of Communications and Marketing website, TechAlert is used to communicate information and emergency alerts.
Along with the blue light phones, Beights said he would push students to pay attention to TechAlert. “Once a situation has been confirmed and deemed as an emergency, we would utilize the ‘TechAlert’ system to either send a text message, an email, or a phone call,” Beights said. “Those messages give specific details about what is taking place, and what we expect you to do as the reader. It is our way of getting out safety information.” Kasie Davis, a Lubbock Police Department public information officer said Tech students do not need to be worried about living in Lubbock. “I think the one thing that we want to explain is in Lubbock the likelihood that you are going to be the victim of a violent crime is extremely minute unless you are actually engaged in some sort of illegal activity,” Davis said. “A lot of times, the suspects know the victims. Students are in an extremely safe city.” Davis said different units within the department are constantly training to fully prepared for any
ERIN DIGIACAMO/The Daily Toreador
Blue lights will flash and contact the dispatch center at the police department once pushed. The blue light stations are available across campus to ensure the safety and security of students. It is important for stu- it comes to helping others,” type of emergency. D a v i s s a i d t h e L P D dents to be aware of their Tran said. “In regards to prides themselves in their surroundings on and off the on campus police, I have clearance rate, which is campus and to make smart not had an interaction with high within the city. decisions said Davis. One them however it does give “Last year we had a 96% way to do so is to surround me a sense of comfort that clearance rate within the yourself with people they we have them here if we city, and that is really vir- know and trust. need them.” tually unheard of whenever The Texas Tech Police Ngoc Tran, a first-year you are looking at larger chemistry major from Wich- Department, located at 413 departments,” Davis said. ita Falls said he feels safe Flint Ave., is on duty 24/7, “That is because the men on the Tech campus know- 365 days a year for student and women here at the ing that the campus police safety. To contact campus Lubbock Police Department are constantly patrolling. police for an emergency, call are so committed to their “I do feel safe on campus, 911. For a non-emergency, jobs, and they are so good because the people around call 806-742-3931. @TanaThompsonDT at what they do.” here are very genuine when
SYSTEM
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The Future of MSU During the Board of Regents’ meeting on Sept. 1, President Susan Shipley informed the board she is leaving MSU to enter retirement. As a result, the board approved James Johnston, provost for MSU, as the new interim president. The board then authorized the chancellor to form a presidential search committee to find a new MSU president. Mitchell said he hopes the committee will bring recommendations to him and the regents to consider in six months. “I will, I am very honored that the regents wanted me to apply,” Johnston said. The interim president said he will focus on dealing with COVID-19 and try to make campus as safe as possible. He hopes to collaborate more with the Health Sciences Center. The system has seen -an increase in the institutions
Graphic by: ABBEY DOUGLASS/The Daily Toreador
within the system collaborating more with each other to build programs to better serve the students. Chancel-
lor Mitchell said the academic personnel from each institution are most likely in talks on how to better collaborate with each other and with the newest edition to the system. “I can tell you that moving forward, there will distinctly be things that people are looking to bridge,” Mitchell said. About the System The Texas Tech University System is comprised of five institution; Tech, HSC Lubbock, Angelo State University, HSC El Paso and now MSU. The system formed in 1996 and was formally
established by the State of Texas in 1999, according to the system’s website. Tech and HSC Lubbock were the original members of the system, also known as the charter members, according to the system’s website. Founded in 1923 and with the first class on campus 1925, Tech was formerly known as Texas Technological College and governed by a Board of Directors, predecessor to what is now the Board of Regents, according to the Southwest Collection Texas Tech University Archives’ website. HSC Lubbock was founded in 1969, according to Southwest Collection’s website. Texas Technological College also changed its name to what it now known as Texas Tech. Founded in 1928, ASU, located in San Angelo, became the third institution to join the system in 2007, according to the system’s website. HSC El Paso was a regional location for the Tech School of Medicine that was founded in 1972, according to HSC El Paso’s website. It was not until 2017 that HSC El Paso separated from HSC Lubbock to become its own independent institution and the fourth institution to be a part of the Tech System. According to the Regents’ Rules, the system is overseen by nine regents and one student regent appointed by the governor of Texas. All members have the right to vote except for the student regent. @MateoRosilesDT
@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com
LA VIDA
Page 3 Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador
The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents and Student Regent Keaghan Holt convene to welcome MIdwestern State University as the fifth addition to the tech system Sept 1. in Wichita Falls.
REGENT
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “It’s going to be a transition going from not being social, to having all these opportunities and the best way to get involved in campus is to do it,” she said. “It might be uncomfortable but sometimes pushing past those comfort zones is what’s gonna really
make it for you and make your experience the best.” One thing she plans to emphasize during her term is being present for the students on campus and putting students first. COVID-19 took a big toll on a lot of people’s social skills and mental health and because of that Holt said she looks forward to being open.
On a typical day, Holt said she receives lots of emails about what is going on throughout the system and does a lot of listening, watching and understanding students, faculty and the board. As Student Regent she aims to put the students first and said she wants students to be able to reach out to her so she can hear them out and
advocate for them. “I love to serve, so the opportunity to do that on a larger level of the whole system was very appealing to me,” Holt said. “I wanted to really give back to the community that supported me. We always say we are the ram family and at Tech they say the raider family.” Russell said that from
a students perspective, she wished more people were aware of the Student Regent position and knew that they have a voice on their campus and within the system. She said before Keaghan went through the process of becoming Student Regent she knew very little about the position even though she interacts with the board regularly
through the RAMbassadors. “She’s already been diving into all things Student Regent and I think she’s getting great experience from that, meeting people from all around the state and I just know this is an experience she’ll never forget,” Russell said. @DTmcgilvray
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas heartbeat bill in effect Sept. 1 banning abortions past six weeks The nation’s most farreaching curb on abortions since they were legalized a half-century ago took effect Wednesday in Texas, with the Supreme Court silent on an emergency appeal to put the law on hold. If allowed to remain in force, the law, which bans most abortions, would be the strictest against abortion rights in the United States since the high court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. The Texas law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before most women know they’re pregnant. It’s part of a broader push by Republicans across the country to impose new restrictions on abortion. At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect. What makes the Texas law different is its unusual enforcement scheme. Rather than have officials responsible for enforcing the law, private citizens are authorized to sue abortion providers and anyone involved in facilitating abortions. Among other situations, that would include anyone who drives a woman to a clinic to get an abortion. Under the law, anyone who successfully sues another person would be entitled to at least $10,000. “Starting today, every unborn child with a heartbeat will be protected from the ravages of abortion,” Abbott said in a statement posted on Twitter. “Texas will always
defend the right to life.” But protests were quick. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the law “blatantly violates the constitutional right established under Roe v. Wade and upheld as precedent for nearly half a century.” He said the law “outrageously” gives private citizens the power “wto bring lawsuits against anyone who they believe has helped another person get an abortion.” Likewise, the American Medical Association said it was deeply disturbed by “this egregious law” and disappointed by the Supreme Court’s inaction. The law “not only bans virtually all abortions in the state, but it interferes in the patient-physician relationship and places bounties on physicians and health care workers simply for delivering care,” said a statement from Dr. Gerald E. Harmon, the AMA president. In a phone call with reporters, Marc Hearron, a lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the abortion providers his group represents were still hoping to hear from the Supreme Court but “as of now, most abortion is banned in Texas.” Clinics have said the law would rule out 85% of abortions in Texas and force many clinics to close. Planned Parenthood is among the abortion providers that have stopped scheduling abortions beyond six weeks from conception. Abortion opponents who wrote the law also made it difficult to challenge in court, in part because it’s hard to know whom to sue. Abortion rights advocates
say it will force many women to travel out of state for abortions, if they can afford to do so and also navigate issues including childcare and taking time off work. The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, says if legal abortion care in Texas shuts down, the average one-way driving distance to an abortion clinic for Texans would increase from 12 miles to 248 miles. Already, abortion clinics beyond the Texas border are feeling the impact. At the Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City, there had been 80 appointments scheduled over the past two days, more than double the typical number of patients, said Rebecca Tong, co-executive director of the clinic. Two-thirds of those patients were from Texas, another sharp increase, and the earliest opening was now three weeks out. “Oklahoma has just barely enough clinics for the amount of people here,” Tong said. “If anyone is thinking, ‘Oh, they can just go out of state, it’ll be so easy,’ a lot of clinics in the Midwest and South, we don’t do abortion care five days a week.”
Late into the night Tuesday before the ban took effect clinics in Texas were filled with patients, said Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of Whole Women’s Health, which has four abortion clinics in Texas. Twenty-seven women were still in the waiting room after 10 p.m. at one clinic, leaving doctors crying and scrambling over whether they would see all of them in time, she said. The last abortion at one of her clinics finished at 11:56 p.m. in Fort Worth, where Hagstrom Miller said antiabortion activists outside shined bright lights in the parking lot after dark looking for wrongdoing, and twice called police. “This morning I woke up feeling deep sadness. I’m worried. I’m numb,” she said. The law is part of a hard-right agenda that Texas Republicans muscled through the statehouse this year ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, when Abbott is up for a third term as governor. Texas has long had some of the nation’s toughest abortion restrictions, including a sweeping law
passed in 2013. The Supreme Court eventually struck down that law, but
not before more than half of the state’s 40-plus clinics closed.
OPINIONS
Page 4 Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com
Chancellor welcomes MSU to Texas Tech University System
T
his year, the Texas Tech University System marks its 25th anniversary. And there is perhaps no more fitting way to commemorate two and half decades of growth, partnership and success than by announcing the latest addition to our system. On Sept. 1, Midwestern State University joins the Texas Tech University System as our fifth member institution and our third general-academic university alongside Texas Tech University and Angelo State University. MSU Texas is an ideal addition to our roster and aligns deeply with our component universities’ goals and values. They have a strong and respected history in higher education in Texas dating back to 1922, and
Tedd Mitchell is the chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
since those early days, they have been committed to offering an affordable, accessible and exceptional educational experience to their students. But you do not have to take my word for it. MSU Texas is the only university in Texas to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, and it was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report on its list of “10 Public Schools with the Most Affordable Out-of-State Tuition.” With students hailing from 44 states and 54 countries,
MSU Texas has extended its sterling reputation well outside of our state’s borders. These successes are due, in part, to exemplary leadership. President Suzanne Shipley may be retiring, but I cannot thank her enough for her service as MSU Texas’ 11th president. She has positioned this university for future success and helped pave the way for their addition to the TTU System. We know her interim successor, James Johnston, who serves as the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, will continue to lead the university in the right direction during this transitional period. This partnership development with MSU Texas was a thorough process. We were intentional on wanting a
university with a well-established, close-knit community that can partner well with us. We also looked for a university with ambition — and in this, MSU Texas has nearly a century of proof. What began as a municipal junior college housed in a high school building is today a 255-acre campus with undergraduate and graduate offerings, along with a student learning center located in Flower Mound. With its Dalquest Desert Research Station and the Wichita Falls Museum of Art, the university is the pride of Wichita Falls—a place that represents the very best in learning, research and service. And, of course, who could forget athletics and the pride of the Mustangs? MSU Texas has a proud tradition in intercollegiate athletics with near-
ly 150 postseason appearances, 57 conference titles and 15 regional championships. In this, they’ll fit right in with our constituent universities who demonstrate excellence on the field and court as well as in the classroom. A lot of folks helped bring this partnership to fruition, and my appreciation goes to Gov. Greg Abbott, state Sen. Drew Springer, state Rep. James Frank and members of the Texas Legislature for making this union a reality. The vision and dedication to higher education and to our great state by the MSU Texas Board of Regents, led by Chairman Caven Crosnoe and the TTU System Board of Regents guided this transformational partnership. What was achieved throughout the nearly two
years of conversations and discussion was also greatly endorsed by the stakeholders and alumni of MSU Texas — thank you all for your support. Part of our mission at the TTU System is to provide leadership and support services to our component universities in the fulfillment of our institutions’ missions. MSU Texas will celebrate its centennial anniversary next year, marking 100 years of educational achievements and contributions to its community, the state of Texas and the world. I am proud the TTU System family will share this occasion with the Mustang family, and that our shared resources, added synergies and shared values will help to extend MSU Texas’ success into their next century. @TeddLMitchell
ADVICE
The Talking Toro answers popular first-year questions Q: How do I avoid freshman 15? Talking Toro: Freshman 15 is common phrase to describe how much weight a new college student may gain their first year. How to avoid it may seem tricky, but doing a little bit here and there can help. A suggestion, is to walk anywhere you can! The weather here in Lubbock changes frequently, so dress appropriately for it! Walking five to 10 minutes here and there will add up and keep some pounds off. A hard thing
to do and to accept is limit how much you are eating out. It can be so tempting, but it is possible to eat healthier alternatives in a dorm. Utilize the balanced meals the campus has to offer. Limit the snacking as well. By doing all this, you are also saving money. A student fee everyone pays for is using the University Rec Center! There are fun classes every week to attend that can help you stay active. Being an adult and being on your own means tak-
Graphic by: TEA MCGILVRAY/The Daily Toreador
ing on new responsibilities, one of which is your health.
Q: How do you get a professor to like you? Talking Toro: There are ways to get a professor to like you without seeming like a teacher’s pet. For starters, introduce yourself after a class. That way, they can put a name to a face and keep you in the back of their mind. Speak up in class. It can sometimes feel scary, but professors are here to help you, not make fun of you. Raise your hand and answer that question if you know it. It shows you
care about the class and are paying attention. Go to office hours if need be. Even the smallest questions can be answered in those designated times. Professors love to help and probably prefer if students utilize office hours. Making good grades, or trying to, is also a good way for a professor to get to know you and like you. If your grade came down from an A- to a B+, the professor may help you out and round your grade up. If the professor sees effort
from you and knows you care about class, the professor will notice and give you credit where it’s due. Editor’s note: The Talking Toro is a new addition to the opinions page. Feel free to ask questions you want to get advice on and The Talking Toro will answer them here. Whenever you see the bull, advice will be given. Ask questions to opinions@dailytoreador. com and be on the lookout for future Toro advice. @DailyToreador
COLUMN
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Social media has sparked numerous conversations from many people around the world. Many people have rallied against social media, commenting on the negative ways it can affect our actions and minds. Others have supported this new technology and have praised its ability to have people connect with strangers and stay up to date with their peers. As a new college student, social media has been a very positive and helpful resource so far. It has given me the ability to connect with new people and present myself to an online community. As someone who has grown up with social media since it’s early creation, my feelings toward it have fluctuated. Using apps in the past had always been a recreational activity on my part. I mostly used an app like Instagram to follow my favorite celebrities or watch videos of home-cooked meals. Since recently turning
Henry Marginot is a first-year English major from Marfa.
18 and becoming a fulltime college student, my dynamic with social media has shifted. It’s easier to notice all the helpful aspects it has to offer with this new lens of adulthood. Your first day on a college campus can be very daunting. You are in a large space that you are mostly unfamiliar with. Fortunately, you are not alone in this situation. There are other students in the same boat that you can connect with, thus providing new relationships through the power of social media. These students get to truly see who you are from what you share publicly with the world. This gives you an opportunity to create a larger social circle of individuals
that share things in common with you. Not only does social media give you opportunities for social connections during college, but grants you professional connections as well. Being able to make business connections early on in your academic career can be very important to some students. Social media can give you opportunities like meeting people in a field of work you are interested in. From there, it can provide help your chances of employment and beyond, according to an article done by World Scholarship Forum. Many large companies and small businesses use social media to promote their brand and operation. The more you engage with them, the more you show what makes you a promising applicant. Not only is there the connections side of social media as a student, there is also the news side of social
media. When you follow your school’s current social media, it keeps you up to date with the campus area and special events. On Twitter, you could find out that your school is doing a student meet-up at a certain location, which you may not have known.
It has given me the ability to connect with new people and present myself to an online community. There is also another helpful side to this. If there is a situation where your college has breaking or important news, you’re able to catch it right away. It’s through this power of instant access that we are able to do these things. Even with the points stated earlier, it is hard not to see social media’s nega-
tive implications at times. With so much content arriving within the palm of your hands, it can be overwhelming. This is when social media becomes a negative resource. However, it is important to note that social media should just be used for the positive parts and in small doses. There is too much good social media has to offer, which helps outshine its inherent flaws. Social media can be a great resource as an upcoming college student. There are many ways it can be used, whether it be connecting to new people that share your interests, building yourself in the world of networking for business reasons or just having the ability to receive important news pertaining to you. If you are a student and haven’t tried social media out, it may help you in more ways than one. @HMarginotDT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Afghans face current hunger crisis, adding to Taliban’s challenges The U.N.’s stockpiles of food in Afghanistan could run out this month, a senior official warned Wednesday, threatening to add a hunger crisis to the challenges facing the country’s new Taliban rulers as they endeavor to restore stability after decades of war. About one third of the country’s population of 38 million doesn’t know if they will have a meal every day, according to Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N.’s humanitarian chief in Afghanistan. The U.N.’s World Food Program has brought in food and distributed it to tens of thousands of people in recent weeks, but with winter approaching and a drought ongoing, at least $200 million is needed urgently to be able
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to continue to feed the most vulnerable Afghans, he said. “By the end of September, the stocks which the World Food Program has in the country will be out,” he told reporters at a virtual news conference. “We will not be able to provide those essential food items because we’ll be out of stocks.” Earlier, U.N. officials said that of the $1.3 billion needed for overall aid efforts, only 39% has been received. The Taliban, who seized control of the country ahead of the withdrawal of American forces this week, now must govern a nation that relies heavily on international aid and is in the midst of a worsening economic crisis. In addition to the concerns about food sup-
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.
plies, civil servants haven’t been paid in months and the local currency is losing value. Most of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves are held abroad and currently frozen. Mohammad Sharif, a shopkeeper in the capital of Kabul, said that shops and markets there have supplies, but a major concern is rising food prices. “If the situation continues like this and there is no government to control the prices, that will cause so many problems for local people,” he said. In the wake of the U.S. pullout, many Afghans are anxiously waiting to see how the Taliban will rule. When they were last in power, before being driven out by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, they imposed dra-
conian restrictions, refusing to allow girls to go to school, largely confining women to their homes and banning television, music and even photography. But more recently, their leaders have sought to project a more moderate image. Schools have reopened to boys and girls, though Taliban officials have said they will study separately. Women are out on the streets wearing Islamic headscarves — as they always have — rather than the all-encompassing burqa the Taliban required in the past. The challenges the Taliban face in reviving the economy could give Western nations leverage as they push the group to fulfill a pledge to form an inclusive
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government and guarantee women’s rights. The Taliban say they want to have good relations with other countries, including the United States. Many Afghans fear the Taliban won’t make good on those pledges and also are concerned that the nation’s economic situation holds little opportunity. Tens of thousands sought to flee the country as a result in a harrowing airlift. But thousands who had worked with the U.S. and its allies, as well as up to 200 Americans, remained in the country after the efforts ended with the last U.S. troops flying out of Kabul international airport just before midnight Monday.
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ATHLETES
Page 5 Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
Tech football honors past, present walk-ons By ZACH RICHARDS
Digital Content Manager According to the NCAA, Division 1 — FBS programs have a limit of 85 full-ride scholarships to disperse throughout their entire program. However, the average Division 1 football team has upwards of 118 total athletes; so where does that leave the difference? The remainder of non-scholarships athletes within the program are deemed “walk-ons”. These members of the team do not get scholarships. But from there, they are not kicked off the team, or anything of the sort. In fact, it is often the opposite, as walkons use every second of practice to strive toward finally getting put on scholarship. Its not rare that these walk-ons turn the corner and peak as elite talent at both the college and NFL level, either. Think of household names such as J.J. Watt, Antonio Brown, Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson and several more; their common feature? They are all walk-ons. But lets zoom into Texas Tech, and some of the former, and current walk-ons within the program. Among the most recognized is former Red Raider walk-on Baker Mayfield, who took to the lights under former head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who now is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. Mayfield
is on the Cleveland Browns. Currently in the Red Raiders’ program, and among one of the most decisive positions for the team is offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Sonny Cumbie. The recently instated Cumbie, who joined the Red Raiders’ coaching staff in 2021 after a four-year stint with TCU, once padded up for Tech in the early 2000s. But despite having one of the most standout performances in Tech football history, Cumbie started on the opposite end of the spectrum. In 2000, the 19-year-old Cumbie enrolled at Tech and walked on to the football team; shortly after, he was placed on the scout team, where he remained for the entirety of the 2000 season. However, prior to the 2001 season, he received a scholarship to be part of the list of scholarship athletes within Tech’s football program. But his job was not done yet. Entering the season, he was a third-string quarterback behind even more Tech standouts: Kliff Kingsbury and BJ Symons, who both rank on the top-10 list in Tech history of passing yards. Kingsbury comes in 2nd all-time with 12,429, and Symons ranks 9th alltime with 6,378, according to sports-reference. Waiting patiently, Cumbie had many opportunities before his starting spot in 2004 due to the sheer number of blowouts Tech football was
inflicting, but in the same year, it was no cakewalk to earn the starting spot. Cumbie earned the starting spot over highly ranked JuCo product Robert Johnson and eventually led the Red Raiders to 7 regular season wins, was a national leader in passing yards, as well as total offense, and even had Tech football ranked in the top-25. At the peak of his collegiate career, the Cumbieled Red Raiders defeated Aaron Rodgers and No. 4-ranked California in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. A career-high, 520-yard passing outing with three touchdowns and game M.V.P. honors solidified Cumbie’s name in Red Raider, and NCAA history, all as a once, walk-on athlete. “The thing that tops my memory bank as a former football player is the day that the head coach called me into his office and told me, as a walk-on, that I had earned my scholarship” Cumbie said. Now, Cumbie gets to see other members of the Red Raider football program work and achieve the same honors as he once did. “That was Sonny’s, a little bit of his story; being a walkon for so many years.” Tech head football coach Matt Wells said. And less than one week before Tech football’s first game of the 2021 season, the program announced four
walk-ons scholarship spots. Junior tight end Henry Teeter, sophomore linebacker Bryce Ramirez, sophomore offensive lineman Aaron Casto and senior defensive lineman Troy Te’o were all honored. “It’s heartwarming. I Can’t even put into words; it’s just, everyone lights up when it happens. You know what all the walk-ons are gong through, and it’s just nice to know that burden is lifted off of them and their families.” Teeter said. They really took a leap of faith on me and let me just walk on the team last fall, I am grateful for that.” As much as it means on the field, earning an opportunity to play for Tech football is one thing, but the financial baggage also lifted off scholarship athletes opens up a new dimension. The act of awarding walkon athletes with scholarships has been steadily trending upwards in media popularity throughout the years. As Cumbie referenced, his announcement came within the office of his head coach. For Tech, on the other hand, the news came at the heart of Jones AT&T Stadium. The announcement of the four latest scholarship athletes was heard as the football program, trainers, coaches and staff all cheered at the news. Tech football posted the reaction as well on its socials. “It’s one of the best days to
KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador
Former Texas Tech football walk-on, and current Tech offensive Coordinator, Sonny Cumbie, watches his players at the spring football scrimmage on April 17, 2021, at Jones AT&T Stadium. The Red Raiders will now prep for their season debut against Houston at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4. ever be a head coach … To see dreams realized and goals met for those four young men.” Wells said. “We have a lot of walk-ons that come here as non-scholarship players that are very well deserving and hard workers but those guys have just kind of risen above a little bit,” The emotional moment trickled down to the rest of the team, and Wells said he hopes it serves as an inspiration to the rest of the walk-on
athletes that Tech houses. But throughout history, Tech has made sure to give walk-on athletes the chance to shine, Cumbie said. “You think about the walk on program for Texas Tech … I think that’s what makes the school great as well, it’s really an every man and every woman school, and people can come here and you see the success stories a lot,” Cumbie said. @ZachRichardsDT
FOOTBALL
Tech football set for season debut By ARIANNA FLORES Sports Editor
Fans will fill NRG Stadium at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4th to see Texas Tech football face off in the Texas Kickoff against Houston. The Red Raiders have faced the Cougars on 32 separate occasions, and have 13 wins, 18 losses and a singular tie, according to UH Sports. “It’s football, no matter where it is performed at. Whether it is inside or outside, NFL stadium, high school stadium, we still got to play with the same mindset and the same techniques and
come out with the same goal, going 1-0,” junior lineman Tony Bradford Jr. said. Tech has stepped on the field four times to face Houston since the disbandment of the Southwest Conference in 1995, and has held a 3-1 record since then, according to Tech Athletics. This will be the teams’ fifth time playing one another. Tech will see some familiar faces in the contest, such as Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen, who was the former co-offensive coordinator for Tech from 2005 to 2007. “The thing that gives me confidence is the amount of
games played by the guys we are playing with on both sides of the ball whether here at Texas Tech or at other schools,” Wells said. “Houston has done a nice job of upgrading their roster and they have gotten older too.” Sonny Cumbie, the firstyear offensive coordinator for the Red Raiders learned from Holgorsen when he was the starting quarterback for Tech in 2004. Keith Patterson also worked under Holgorsen while the pair of coaches worked at Big 12 opponent West Virginia in 2012, according to a Tech Athletics news release.
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Head coach Matt Wells named junior Tyler Shough to be the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. “We know what we are capable of, and we are just excited to go out there and prove it, and really just prove it to ourselves,” Shough said. “They (Houston) are obviously a great team; they have a lot of guys coming back on both sides of the ball so they are really experienced.” The Texas Classic will be aired on ESPN for viewers to watch while listeners can catch the home opener on the Texas Tech Sports Network. @AriannaFloresDT
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Welcome to the system
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TOP LEFT: Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec taking notes at the Sept. 1 Board of Regents meeting where the system welcomed Midwestern State University into the system. MSU is located in Wichita Falls and is home to almost 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. TOP RIGHT: Michael Lewis, chairman of the Tech System Board of Regents listens to a presentation being given by the interim president of MSU on the Sept. 1 Board of Regents Meeting. The Board of Regents are comprised of nine members and a student regent who are appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. BOTTOM LEFT: Chancellor Tedd Mitchell speaks at the Sept. 1 Board of Regents meeting where MSU was welcomed as the fifth institution in the system. Representatives from the Tech System, Tech, Angelo State University, Health Sciences Center Lubbock and El Paso were present to aid and welcome the MSU leadership to the system. BOTTOM RIGHT: Tech President Lawrence Schovanec welcomes James Johnston, interim president of MSU, to the system on Sept. 1, 2021. Johnston was named as the new interim president of MSU at the Board of Regents meeting.