THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2020 VOLUME 93 ■ ISSUE 5
LA VIDA
SPORTS
Freshman makes viral TikTok about COVID-19 meal package.
Scott set to represent Tech at U.S. Open.
Football provides unique game experience.
OPINIONS
ONLINE Be on the lookout for our coverage of the At’L Do Farms over the weekend.
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PG 6
PG 4
ONLINE
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PROFILE
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Joey Martinez touches up the Patrick Mahomes mural on the Now We Taco’N building on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at the corner of University Avenue and Main Street. Martinez originally finished the mural on Sept. 8, 2020.
Tech alumnus honors Mahomes through artwork By MALLORY ROSETTA Managing Editor
Art always has been a part of Lubbock local Joey Martinez’s life. From the time he was 12 years old and started painting over gang graffiti to make his neighborhood more positive, Martinez said art always has been one thing he is passionate about. When Albert Gutierrez, owner of Now We Taco’N, approached Martinez and asked him to paint something in one of the empty spaces on the outside of his res-
taurant, he agreed. Martinez said Gutierrez wanted either a picture of Patrick Mahomes or Texas Tech men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard but left it up to him to decide. “I had been searching for images, and I came across an Oakley ad with Mahomes, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’d be awesome,’ you know. I mean, it wasn’t him like dressed in uniform, it was just like (him being) more of a person. It had a really hip look, and I wanted people to feel connected to it in some way or another,
like, just know that he’s here in Lubbock, and he did his thing,” Martinez, a Tech alumnus, said. “It’s just a really cool image and it’s like I said, it’s hip, it’s modern, and, you know, I think the Tech students could relate to it somehow or another.” Gutierrez first met Martinez three years ago when Now We Taco’N still was a food truck, he said. He heard about some of Martinez’s work and introduced himself, and the two became friends shortly after. The reason Gutierrez said he
wanted to have something painted on the side of the restaurant was for the community to enjoy while also driving business. “I’ve seen upwards of 500 people already stopping just snapping pictures and stuff,” Gutierrez said. “I hope it’s eye opening. I hope it helps our community understand that that’s not graffiti, you know. It’s a beautiful piece of art, you know. Something like that can light somebody’s day. Somebody’s just walking by who’s having a tough day or whatever, they look at it, and it puts a smile
on their face.” Gutierrez gave Martinez a location for the painting, so he said he had to figure out what would look best in that spot, have the best composition and stand out. “I Photoshopped the image inside of the area, and I was like, ‘You know what, that looks great. It looks great the way it is, and that’s what I’m going to go with.’ I showed it to (Gutierrez), and he approved it, and I just went from there,” Martinez said.
SEE MURAL, PG. 5
CAMPUS
Renovations on Weeks Hall near completion By HANNAH ISOM Staff Writer
The addition of workspaces on campus continues to be an issue Texas Tech focuses on. Although, with the near-completion of one building’s renovations, more workspaces will be provided for members of the campus community. Weeks Hall, a campus building currently under renovation, was opened in 1957 as a women’s dorm
and operated through 1991 before closing, Sean Childers, Tech associate vice president for operations, said. The hall has been closed ever since, used on and off over the years as storage. Weeks Hall is one of the entrancepoint buildings, matching Sneed Hall, and creates a certain architectural appeal, Childers said. Several years ago, when Tech needed office space for student services, Weeks Hall came up on the radar. “There was discussion of, ‘Do we
tear down Weeks and then rebuild it as brand new, or do we just renovate the existing hall?’” Childers said. After doing a full study on the building and finding everything structurally was good about the building, Childers said Tech made the decision to renovate it instead of tear down. The thought process when renovating Weeks had to consider how the university could create a collaborative environment where students and faculty can intermingle and share
ideas and bring forth communicative projects, Childers said. In the spirit of that idea, the decision was made to gut the whole thing, creating vast open spaces with cubicles, glass cubicles, offices, break rooms and study spaces, Childers said. Additionally, the space is filled with vibrant colors, different furniture styles and an overall modern feel, hoping to draw students into the space to study, meet with advisers or just hangout, Childers said.
“We didn’t want to create something that we already have on campus, we wanted to create something that drew people to it,” Childers said. Larry Phillippe, managing director of Tech Student Disability Services and ADA coordinator, said the department has been struggling for some time with space and is excited they finally will have the room to provide students with the resources they need.
SEE RENOVATION, PG. 3
BASKETBALL
NCAA approves college basketball season to start in late November By ZACH RICHARDS
practices. Therefore, they are expected to begin Oct. 14. There Sports Editor also will be no scrimmages or exThe NCAA Division 1 Council hibition matches at all during the voted in favor of a 2020-21 college season. The NCAA also passed basketball season on Wednesday, that the regular season schedule according to CBS Sports. The would be reduced from 31 games season is set to begin on Nov. 25. to 27 games. Matt Norlander, a senior writNon-conference games still er and analyst for CBS Sports, are being determined, according t o N C A A’s A n d y said the NCAA voted to keep recruitKatz, but the Division 1 council has ing visits banned recommended a until Jan. 1. I n r e g a r d t o The regular season minimum of four p r o g r a m s c h e d - schedule would be non-conference uling, Norlander reduced from 31 matchups for the regular season. said teams would games to 27 games. The NCAA is be able to begin practice as early expected to reas Sept 21 for up NCAA DIVISION 1 COUNCIL lease more news to 12 hours per in the coming days regarding basketweek. For fullblown practices, the NCAA still ball and winter/spring sports anrequires a 42-day stretch prior nouncements. to the start of the season for @ZachRichardsDT
MANDI MCDONALD & AUTUMN BIPPERT/The Daily Toreador
LEFT: Junior guard Davide Moretti passes the ball during the Texas Tech vs. Kansas men’s basketball game on March 7, 2020 in the United Supermarkets Arena. RIGHT: Sophomore guard Chrislyn Carr drives down the court during the women’s basketball game against Texas Christian University on March 1, 2020 in the United Supermarkets Arena.
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NEWS
SEPT. 17, 2020
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CAMPUS
Law school deans reflect on COVID-19 impact By ADÁN RUBIO News Editor
Law students across the country have faced a variety of challenges from March onward as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The Texas Tech School of Law has seen multiple changes to ensure the education process is effective. Throughout the United States, different universities implemented certain precautions for their law schools, which involved declaring fall 2020 classes to be all online or utilizing a hybrid method of course delivery, according to the U.S. News and World Report website. Some law school applicants will not be able to visit a campus in which they are interested. At the Tech law school, students, faculty and staff may see a variety of changes to how they operate. Wendy-Adele Humphrey, associate dean for academic affairs at the law school, said the transition to distance learning in March was huge for the entire law school community. People within the law school embraced the situation the pandemic caused as much as they could, Humphrey said. Although, a plan for education delivery during this fall semester was started as soon as possible before the summer. “We prioritized in-person experience, which is consistent with what the university did as well,” she said. Hybrid courses and alternating-attendance courses are other options the Tech School of Law have utilized,
Humphrey said. “One thing that we thought was important for our law students was to provide them with a level of flexibility,” she said, “and so, we allowed our students to opt out of attending in-person, and so, our courses are livestreamed.” The American Bar Association is an accrediting body Humphrey said has standards regarding class attendance, which have not been changed in light of the pandemic. With almost all courses having a live stream option, Humphrey said students displaying COVID-19 symptoms still can participate in class. Education delivery also may depend on different aspects, such as the size of the incoming class. Danielle Saavedra, assistant dean of admissions at the law school, said there were a lot of conversations in March regarding Tech School of Law enrollment this fall. The staff made sure to temper expectations, as one did not know if students were going to try to defer and start next year or were going to withdraw and start again some other time. “The class in general was determined to be here inperson,” she said. Even with the option to opt out of in-person classes for the fall, Saavedra said only 11 students chose this option. She said she believes a majority of students were tired of isolating, and the opportunity to attend law school in-person gave a slight sense of normalcy. “But we actually ended
up with an increase in our application pool of almost 25 percent, which was huge,” she said. “Most of the nation saw their application pool about flat if not a little bit below, but we were one of four schools in Texas that saw an increase between 20 and 29 percent, so it was a great year for us and applications.” The law school admitted about the same number of students that are typically admitted in previous years, Saavedra said. This means the school’s selectivity percentage was lower, which is great for law schools. “Our class ended up at 156 students, which we shoot between 150 and 160, so that was perfect,” she said, “and it was especially perfect with everything going on, COVIDwise and the precautions that we were taking because that group of 156 actually split into three sections.” Within that class of 156 students, about 35 percent were students of color, Saavedra said. Although, increasing diversity continues to be something the school works on. In addition, Saavedra said the school’s average Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score increased from 155 to 156, which was the first time the school hit 156 since 2012. The school’s average grade point average also increased from 3.43 to a 3.56, which is the highest the school has been at since at least 2007. There have been other shifts regarding both entrance and qualifying exams, such as the LSAT and bar exams
RYAN MCCULLAR/The Daily Toreador
Students practice social distancing during a lecture on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in the Texas Tech School of Law. The school’s staff has implemented multiple changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. respectively, Humphrey said. The modality of the LSAT has shifted to an online format, Humphrey said. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) moved LSATs to this remote and abridged three-section format, which is known as LSAT-Flex, according to the LSAC website. This format will be utilized through November. Regular updates regarding the issue also can be found on this website. “The bigger issue is the bar exam, which is the comprehensive exam law students have to pass to be licensed in any state,” Humphrey said. “It varies from state to state with what has happened with that bar exam.” Typically, bar exams are administered in July, Humphrey said. But because of the pandemic, there was uncertainty with how they will be administered. In Texas, July in-person exams were canceled, and bar exams were administered on Sept. 9 and 10, according to the State Bar of Texas website. An online bar exam has been approved for Oct. 5 and 6. Some states shifted into an all-online format and some have continued to use an in-person format with socially-distanced examina-
tions, Humphrey said. Some states, not Texas, are allowing diploma privilege which allows graduates not to take any bar exams. The next chapter after passing the bar exam can mean a lot for law students as they search for the new careers. Even amid the pandemic, Tech law students can utilize different resources to prepare themselves for this chapter of their lives. Paula Smith, assistant dean for career and professional development at the law school, said the law school typically would provide inperson resources aimed at career development, such as one-on-one career counseling and workshops. That is just one aspect of career development efforts at the Tech School of Law. “And then the other side is actually the job search process, and students can find jobs in a variety of ways,” she said. “One of those is the on-campus interview process, and we have employers who come, both in the fall and the spring, to interview our students here for jobs everywhere.” The law school also maintains an internal job opportunity board for student and post-grad jobs, Smith said.
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“Because of the timing, a lot of our students in March have already accepted summer employment, and some students did not have a job at that point in time,” she said. “The majority of the students who have already accepted employment for summer kept those jobs.” Some summer jobs were shortened, and most of them were conducted virtually, Smith said. This fall semester, Smith said the number of job postings for students and recent graduates is less compared to previous years. “By this point last year, the number of jobs that we had posted for students and graduates would be running around 200 at any point in time,” she said, “and now, we are running about 100 to 125, so it’s almost cut in half for the number of active job postings that we’re seeing on our system.” The number of on-campus interviews also is about half of where it was a year before, Smith said. Some big-city employers have decided to do on-campus interviews in February and March. A few in-person interviews have been conducted this month in a large conference room, so students and employers could social distance. A majority of on-campus interviews are virtual along with other career development resources, Smith said. “We’re still doing all of our regular workshops and our individual student meetings, but they are not live,” she said. Although, for career counseling, Smith said students will have the option between in-person or remote services. Along with staff-to-student communication, the need for distancing may impact interactions among students. Sofia Chapman, associate dean for student life and director of diversity at the law school, said student activities were greatly affected in March amid the start of the pandemic. There are about 30 to 35 student organizations at the Tech School of Law. Typically, during the week, organizations will host their meetings in-person, Chapman said. “They’re only hosting virtual events, so no gatherings,” she said. Regarding the importance of student organizations and activities amid the pandemic, Chapman said it is beneficial to have healthy outlets and to take a break from studies and stress. “I think it’s important to keep it up, just from a student development perspective and a student support perspective,” she said, “to continue to engage our students in ways that will help them in terms of who they are and in terms of their identity.” @AdanRubioDT
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RENOVATION
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “We are currently on the third floor of West Hall, and that can really be a challenge for students with mobility impairments,” he said. When designing the layout of Weeks Hall, Phillippe said the department was able to give input as to what they wanted in the space. For example, they asked for more individual study spaces and computer labs with access to multiple types of technology. These two resources will be beneficial for SDS for a couple reasons, Phillippe said. There are many students at Tech with ADHD, so having a quiet place where they can study without distraction is important, Phillippe said. Additionally, students who suffer from visual impairments benefit from closed caption TVs, which are helpful when taking exams. Both are resources the space in West Hall could not accommodate. “They did a tremendous
job of building in accessibility for all of our students,” Phillippe said. The TECHniques Center Student Training Program, which is recognized as one of the best in the country, also will have more room in Weeks Hall, making it easier for students to come for drop-in tutoring, Phillippe said. SDS will occupy the entire first floor, Phillippe said. One wing will be the main SDS office, while the other wing will hold the TECHniques Center. Another student service finding a new home in Weeks is the Tech Graduate Center, Maryellen Baeza, assistant director of the Graduate Center, said. The staff is ready for a new space that is more accessible. Right now, the Graduate Center is in the basement of the Administration Building, which can be difficult to get to, Baeza said. The Graduate Center will be located on the third floor of Weeks Hall once it is able to make the move. There were a couple of important factors that went in
WEEKS HALL
INCLUDES: •
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Student Disability Services will be located on the first floor, and it will occupy the entire floor. The Graduate Center will be located on the third floor of Weeks Hall. Campus writing centers will be relocated to Weeks Hall soon. Study space and classrooms will be included for Human Sciences.
Additionally, it was very important the staff was able
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Desks are placed in a newly renovated Weeks Hall on Texas Tech University campus. The desks are a part of the Graduate Center that will be located on the third floor of Weeks Hall. to expand the number of computers they have, Baeza said. Currently, they only have 12 computers but will hopefully be able to expand to 20. Baeza hopes to increase the traffic through the center when it becomes more accessible in Weeks Hall, she said. “We hope that with it being more easily accessible and
‘Nothing left in the bucket’: Wildfire resources run thin Coast fire lines: This year’s blazes have taxed the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire-fighting forces to an extraordinary degree. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with the coronavirus to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. “There’s never enough resources,” said Silvera, one of nearly 17,000 firefighters battling the California blazes. “Typically with Cal Fire, we’re able to attack — air tankers, choppers, dozers. We’re good at doing that. But these conditions in the field, the drought, the wind, this stuff is just taking off. We can’t contain one before another erupts.” Washington State Forester George Geissler says there are hundreds of unfulfilled requests for help throughout the West. Agen-
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to planning how to utilize the space, Baeza said. “We just want a good gathering space for graduate students, but we also want to make sure the facility is able to accommodate the various workshops we have,” Baeza said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Justin Silvera came off the fire lines in Northern California after a grueling 36 straight days battling wildfires and evacuating residents ahead of the flames. Before that, he and his crew had worked for 20 days, followed by a threeday break. Silvera, a 43-year-old battalion chief with Cal Fire, California’s state firefighting agency, said he’s lost track of the blazes he’s fought this year. He and his crew have sometimes been on duty for 64 hours at a stretch, their only rest coming in 20-minute catnaps. “I’ve been at this 23 years, and by far this is the worst I’ve seen,” Silvera said before bunking down at a motel for 24 hours. After working in Santa Cruz County, his next assignment was to head north to attack wildfires near the Oregon border. His exhaustion reflects the situation on the West
SEPT. 16, 2020
cies are constantly seeking firefighters, aircraft, engines and support personnel. Fire crews have been summoned from at least nine states and other countries, including Canada and Israel. Hundreds of agreements for agencies to offer mutual assistance have been maxed out at the federal, state and local levels, he said. “We know that there’s really nothing left in the bucket,” Geissler said. “Our sister agencies to the south in California and Oregon are really struggling.” Demand for firefighting resources has been high since mid-August, when fire officials bumped the national preparedness level to critical, meaning at least 80% of crews were already committed to fighting fires, and there were few personnel and little equipment to spare. Because of the extreme fire behavior, “you can’t say for sure having more
resources would make a difference,” said Carrie Bilbao, a spokesperson for the National Interagency Fire Center. Officials at the U.S. government operation in Boise, Idaho help decide which fires get priority when equipment and firefighters run scarce nationwide. Government spending on fighting wildfires has more than tripled since the 1990s, to an average of $1.8 billion annually. That’s failed to reduce the problem as climate change, drought and millions of trees killed by pests led to more fires in the Western U.S. over the same period, particularly dangerous “megafires” that burn 100,000 acres (404 square kilometers) or more. The growing severity has spurred federal lawmakers to push prevention efforts, including controlled burns, faster approval of logging projects and upgrading homes to make them more fire resistant.
having more space and more resources that we’ll attract more students,” she said. The Graduate Center staff also hopes to hold more events, such as professional development workshops and more student life events, Baeza said. Overall, the Graduate Center staff is very excited to have more space and resources for
their students to utilize. “We’re very excited to move in and unveil a new center,” Baeza said. Additionally, Childers said both campus writing centers and Army ROTC will be moved to Weeks Hall, and Human Sciences will have study-space and classrooms in the hall. @HannahIsomDT
OPINIONS
Page 4 Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020
COLUMN
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Editor reflects on pandemic game coverage O
n Saturday, Texas Tech football competed in its first football game of the COVID-19 era. Although everything looked the same on the turf, the thousands of spectators and reporters faced a much different setting than usual. The first difference in the game day routine, from a media perspective, started before I even entered Jones AT&T Stadium. About four hours prior to arrival, Tech Athletics sent me a health screening that was required prior to entry. The screening asked basic questions along the lines of COVID-19 exposure, such as if I was running a fever or if I had any symptoms of late. Upon arrival at the stadium, I noticed masks and gloves on every parking attendant, staff member and worker. When entering, they did a mask check and also took my temperature to see if I passed standard protocol to go into the stadium.
Zach Richards is a sophomore journalism major from Dallas.
As I walked through the hallways of the stadium, there were numerous stickers, posters and stands promoting social distancing and reiterating COVID-19 protocol. At the elevator specifically, it read that no more than five people were to be inside of it at once. On the floor, there were stickers to keep us socially distanced.
I immediately noticed a difference in atmosphere from previous years. Once I reached the press box, I immediately noticed a difference in atmosphere from previous years.
The most outstanding difference was the sheer number of press box reporters. The amount had dropped significantly. Not only had the numbers dropped, but the space in between each reporter was significantly larger than past years. Everybody in the press box had masks on, and as a whole, the press box seemed a lot less lively with reduced chatter. Another big difference I noticed came from the dining portion of the press box. Last season, there was a buffet-style meal layout where media could just grab their food as they pleased and go back to their seat. Now, the portion of the press box that was home to several tables and dining options was limited to one line of tables along the back wall with event staff preparing meal plates for each respective media member. Upon waiting for food, there was signage on the floor, six feet apart,
marking where each person in line should stand to promote social distancing.
The stadium looked eerily empty for an athletic event. The area between media who wanted food and the staff was separated by a thin slab of glass that stretched along the length of the table. Each meal was prepared by a masked, gloved, staff member who proceeded to take your order, make your plate and then slide it under the glass. The only time, from what I saw, that people had their masks off was to eat food. Other than that, most everybody followed maskwearing protocol. All protocols given in regard to mask wearing, elevator limit and social distancing were followed.
There were staff members in different areas throughout the stadium to ensure a safe environment, including both on the elevator and by the dining portion of the press box. Looking out to the field from the press box, the stadium looked eerily empty for an athletic event, but it was fuller than I expected for a game in the COVID-19 era. Tech announced a 25 percent attendance cap at the game several weeks ago. Per report from Tech Athletics, there were over 11,000 fans in attendance. While walking into the stadium, pre-game festivities like tailgating and other events were abundant in the parking lots. It looked like normal game day routine, just with less numbers. As for the field, it looked a bit more barren due to the regulations of who could be on the field. Tech Athletics sliced the number of media who could be on the field and it showed, as the sidelines were rela-
tively empty. In the stands, only a small portion of the seats were filled, but enough to still make a difference. In the press box, where I was several stories above general fan seating and across the stadium from the brunt of the fans, I heard “Raider Power” chants ringing throughout. To the side of the fans stood the Goin’ Band from Raiderland, who also had limited numbers in the game. The band appeared socially distanced and smaller in size but still loud enough to make a difference. Half time served to be the same as any other year, just smaller in size and quieter in volume. In sum, from a reporters’ aspect, the press box and total atmosphere of the event was at a much lower, watered-down and controlled level.
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COLUMN
Fans adjust to new Tech gameday protocols When it comes to the college experience, football season is one of the most memorable elements for a student. The roaring cheers from the student section, blaring instruments from the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and flying tortillas all make Texas Tech’s a little more unique. But like so many of my fellow students, I started this football season in a
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Ryan Mainville is a sophomore marketing major from Plano.
place I could not have imagined a year ago — at home, on my couch. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tech decided to switch to $10 first come, first serve single-game ticket purchases for students. Typically, students enrolled in four or more credit hours are granted access to athletic events after paying a fee at the beginning of the semester. The Student Athletic Fee is $61.20 and charged per semester, according to Tech athletics. The fee was reimbursed back to students this semester. Whether due to health concerns, financial limitations or missing the sale,
many students including myself chose to watch the game from home. The experience at my home was strange. Watching alone, I found myself less engaged in the game than I remember being when I was physically there. I did not find myself cheering and yelling as I usually do.
The lack of fans may have an effect on the actual game as well. There’s also a sense of pride and school spirit when coming back to campus on Monday after a win over the weekend. That feeling seemed rather dim this week, perhaps a result of not watching the game beside thousands of my classmates. The attendance at this year ’s home opener was 11,157 fans, according to
an announcement made at the game. With Jones AT&T Stadium mandated to only reach 25 percent capacity this fall, it’s a bleak contrast to the 54 percent of fans who were reported by Tech athletics at last year’s opener against Montana State. For those at the game, the lack of fans was produced noticeable differences in the atmosphere. I talked to Brent Beitel, a sophomore sport management major, and he noticed the students weren’t as rowdy and sense people were unsure if they were supposed to cheer. The lack of fans may have had an effect on the actual game as well as well. On Saturday, Tech defeated Houston Baptist by just two points after they went into the game as 41.5 point favorites according to BetMGM. While the lack of noise inside the stadium likely gave both teams the chance to communicate
more clearly, it also may have been a disadvantage to Tech as the home team. Beitel said he sat right behind the Houston Baptist bench, and he could hear their players loud and clear, so the Tech players on the field could probably hear them as well. The crowd noises normally drowned them out, but since it wasn’t a packed stadium, Tech wasn’t able to feed off that energy they normally have, Beitel said. The protocols on game day are new adjustments, the fans wishing to attend in-person have had to account for. To enter the stadium you must wear a face covering, according to Tech athletics. Social distancing is encouraged while you are seating and walking around the stadium. Student cooperation seemed to go well for the Red Raiders’ first game. Beitel said he thought students followed protocols well for the most part.
There were some people without masks, but he felt safe since there was a comfortable amount of distance between everyone. The next chance fans will have to see a game in Lubbock is Sept. 26 when the Texas Longhorns come to town. For what many believe is Tech’s biggest rivalry, this game is a great chance for students who want to witness a game in-person. While there may only be a fraction of the fans present as there was last season, there’s still nothing quite like game day in the Jones. Even in the midst of a pandemic, there’s still plenty of opportunities for students to witness these games that are remembered for a lifetime.
@RyanMainvilleDT
COLUMN
Personal tailgating poses potential risks I was covering tailgating on Sept. 12 at the Texas Tech football game against Houston Baptist University for a story and multimedia assignment. It was not what I expected it to be. Before I went to cover tailgating at the game, I looked at the new regulations set in place to tailgate at a Tech football game. Below are some restrictions that I had noted. According to the updated safety measures at Jones AT&T Stadium, Tech sponsored tailgating was not permitted. Personal tailgating was permitted as long as there were no more than 10 peo-
ple. All tents and tailgating groups were required to be at least 10 feet apart. I expected to find many groups of families and friends tailgating without a mask, celebrating the Tech football season’s first game. However, there were very few groups tailgating at the game. There were a few expectations that were met, though. As I expected, there were individuals not wearing masks who were celebrating the first football game. Nearly all of the tailgaters were immediate family members or close friends. None of them wore a mask considering the fact they were eating and drinking. All of the regulations set in place by the updated safety measures at Jones AT&T Stadium were being followed. My plan was to get the
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fan’s perspective of why they choose to tailgate amid the pandemic. After talking to some tailgating parties with my mask on, of course, I had concluded that most of them were tailgating because it was tradition, and if the opportunity was presented, they were not going to miss out on it. In my opinion, their decision to tailgate was OK. It was safe considering the majority of tailgating parties only included immediate family. They also significantly separated from other tailgating parties. The tailgates were no different from hanging out in a person’s backyard to watch the game. The only difference was they were close to the stadium. If Tech allowed for fans to attend the game, small tailgating parties should continue to be permitted. Tailgating means a lot to
the families who come as a tradition, and if they are willing to follow the protocols that are in place to keep them safe, they should be able to.
There were few expectations that were met though. My concern was not for the safety of the tailgaters. They were in a safer environment than most Tech fans at the game. My concern was more for the safety of the individuals in line waiting to enter the stadium. Although Tech has iss u e d l i m i t e d c a p a c i t y, many people are, upon entrance, not wearing masks and are in close proximity to each other. There is no policy en-
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forcing fans to wear a mask while outside the stadium, but it is encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wear a mask while in close proximity to others. I understand the circumstances that may cause an individual not the wear a mask outside to the heat while walking Jones stadium. But in order to keep everyone safe, individuals should choose to wear a mask when they are close to other individuals. Especially if they don’t live with or know the individual standing in close proximity to them. Overall, if Tech is permitting fans to attend the game while following safety measures, tailgating should be permitted while following safety measures.
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Page 5 THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2020
Freshman makes viral TikTok about COVID-19 meal package By NATALIE CERVANTES L a Vida Editor
Tech freshman Alyssa Hollins created a TikTok sharing what she received in her initial COVID-19 meal package at her dorm. The TikTok went viral exceeding 600,000 views. “I created the TikTok for fun,” Hollins, a human development and family studies major from San Antonio, said. “I did not expect it to blow up. I was shocked.” Hollins saw other students from other schools, such as New York University, share what food they received when they were in isolation, she said so she thought it would be good to share what she had received. “I hadn’t seen a TikTok made by a Tech student,” Hollins said. “So, I thought it would be interesting.” Some items in her package include a case of water bottles, orange juice, Powerade, Topo Chico, cups, utensils, soup, gram crackers, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and boiled eggs, Hollins said. Hollins was appreciative of what came in the package
MURAL
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 The day before he painted the mural, Martinez said he went and sketched it out in the space around the time the cold front started to roll in. He went and painted the mural early the next morning, and the entire process took about three hours. Martinez wanted to get the mural done in one sitting because he wanted to give people more time to appreciate it, he said. He also knew the first football game was approaching and wanted to help get the fans excited.
and is overall pleased with the items she received, she said. “Most of the stuff was pretty cool,” Hollins said. “Some of it was a bit random, but it was good stuff.” Alan Cushman, manager of hospitality, business development, said, he saw the TikTok Hollins made. The video was well made, Cushman said. It was a good video about what was in the box. “The box that was featured in the TikTok is actually called a hydration pack,” Cushman said. “The hydration pack is the initial package students receive to kind of help them stay hydrated in isolation.” From COVID-19 research, it is known that hydration is important for individuals with COVID-19, Cushman said. So, hospitality wanted to provide an initial package to help students stay hydrated during isolation. Good sources of protein have also been provided in the package. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with COVID-19 should stay hydrated and rest.
“In addition to the hydration pack, the students in isolation also receive a daily meal delivery,” Cushman said. The hydration pack is intended for three days, and the students receive additional drinks with the meals that are delivered daily. “We are doing everything that we can to provide students with a proper meal and resources they need in isolation,” Cushman said. Hollins was moved to isolation housing after testing positive for COVID-19, she said. Hollins received her daily meals from hospitality in isolation housing and requested for her hydration packs to be delivered, she said. “It was an entire process,” Hollins said. “I found out I was exposed, and then I did everything I was supposed to.” When found out she was exposed, she said. She made an effort not to leave her dorm room and have minimal contact with others. Hollins went to get tested, and her results came back positive, she said. Her roommate, who was featured in the TikTok, had
to get tested as well. “Alyssa tested positive, and I tested negative,” Grace Capre, Hollins roomate said. a freshman political science major from San Antonio, said. Carpe, a freshman political science major from San Antonio, said Hollins and her were required to isolate, but she was not relocated to isolation housing. “I still received isolation meals,” Carpe said. “I also received my own box like the one in the TikTok.” The meals were left at the door daily, Carpe said. They were good and had the nutrients a student needed. “The TikTok we made was for fun,” Carpe said. “It was really weird that it went viral because we weren’t expecting it to.” Overall the experience of having a viral TikTok was exciting, Hollins said. There was mostly positive feedback, and it was fun making the video. “I think the food packaging was pretty good,” Hollins said, “and having a viral TikTok is really cool.”
“When I start something, I really want to get it done as quick as possible,” he said. “I was like, ‘You know what, I got to get this done. I can’t leave it with people walking by and it looking like a mess.’ You know, I want people to really appreciate it during the day, so yeah, I went over there, knocked it out and, you know, it was fun.” The reason Gutierrez said they decided on doing a Mahomes mural was because they wanted to do something as a tribute to him and all the good he has done for the Lubbock community. As a Tech alumnus and Lubbock local, Martinez said
he is proud to serve and honor his community through his art and is grateful for the support he has received from Tech fans and people he grew up with. “It means the world to me, knowing that people that I grew up with in Lubbock appreciate it more than Tech students…most of us are diehard fans, you know, we all have been, so that right there means the world to me knowing that I’m making my community proud,” he said. When he was younger, Martinez said he and his friends would watch Tech football games through the fence at Jones AT&T Stadium. Now,
years later, he is happy he gets to give other people the same sense of pride he feels through his artwork. “I grew up north of Tech, which is the arts and events area, and, you know, to make my neighborhood proud of me means the world to me,” he said. “I’ve got it left and right where people are just constantly approaching me and telling me how proud they are of me, you know, so it really makes me proud of my community, my friends and of course Texas Tech.” To see more of Martinez’s work, visit his Instagram @wiseone1978.
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CHASE SEABOLT/The Daily Toreador Joey Martinez (left) poses with Albert Gutierrez (right), the owner of NowWe Taco’N, in front of Martinez’s mural of Patrick Mahomes. Martinez originally painted the mural on Sept. 8, 2020.
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Page 6 Thursday, sept. 17, 2020
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Scott set to represent Tech at U.S. Open By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor
After being ranked as one of the top ten players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking back in August, Texas Tech golfer Sandy Scott has earned a spot in the U.S. Open. Scott will be the first player in Tech golf program history to be on a current Red Raider roster while qualifying for the U.S. Open. Although preparation goes into the routine of most all-world class golfers, Scott said the off-season, like the rest of the sports world, was odd. “I went home a week after the season was canceled in March,” Scott said. “I was home for about three or four months and came back to the States in July,” The Nairn, Scotland native made the trek back to his hometown where he practiced for a period of time before his country went into lockdown. When the virus hit Scotland, it caused all of the courses around him to be closed for up to 10 weeks, Scott said. “I was in the garden hitting balls into a net and just chipping in the garden and stuff,” Scott said. Scott, like the rest of the world, was forced to perfect his craft from home during the pandemic. Fast forward to the beginning of June, Scott began playing competitive golf once again. Despite the odd offseason, Scott said he was welcomed back to the United States and regained his rhythm in time for tournaments. “I’ve been back in the States for a couple of months now. I’ve had plenty
of time to get warmed up for these kinds of tests and conditions,” Scott said. “I’ve had plenty of competitive rounds with the guys to where I feel comfortable.” Now, Scott faces one of the biggest stages of his career in the U.S. Open, where he will be one of 13 amateurs in the whole tournament. The rest of the competition is littered with professional talent, including names like Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and even Tiger Woods, a group that will be just two groups ahead of Scott on the green.
THE U.S. OPEN •
•
THURSDAY: The Golf Channel will show the tournament from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. NBC will take over and show the tournament from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. FRIDAY: The Golf Channel will show the tournament from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. NBC will take over and show the tournament from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A stage like this can be nerve-wracking for many, but the lack of a crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions could potentially work in favor of some golfers. “The course will be a little bit better from that standpoint, with the spectators not wearing out the rough,” Tech golf coach Greg Sands said. “It’ll probably be easier to concentrate. We were only a couple groups behind Tiger, so I feel like that would have
been a mess in front of us if there were spectators.” Sands will be Scott’s caddie at the championship for the first time in his career. The U.S. Open Championship, based out of Mamaroneck, New York, will host 144 golfers, 10 past champions and 12 runner-ups, according to Tech Athletics. With the talent on the course, however, Scott is not accolade-shy either. The two-time All-American and two-time U.S. Amateur Championship Round of 32 golfer has had his share of success on the green. Just last year, Scott opened his season by finishing first place in The Camel Cup, shooting 70-67-65 - 202, according to Tech Athletics, while leading the Red Raiders to victory in the same tournament. The senior, at the end of the shortened season, ranked No. 16 in Golfstat and Golfweek. He also finished fifth in the Tavistock Collegiate tournament and 16th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate tournament. Now, after an NCAAgranted waiver allowed him to come back to Tech after a shortened season in Spring 2020, Scott will take on the U.S. Open. Scott’s tee-off is set at 7:40 a.m. Thursday at the 120th U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club. The event will be broadcasted on the Golf Channel from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Thursday, NBC will then take coverage from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The following day, the Golf Channel will resume coverage from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and then NBC will again pick it up to end the broadcast from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ZachRichardsDT
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Sandy Scott is a senior from Nairn, Scotland, on the Texas Tech Men’s Golf team. Scott will represent Tech at the U.S. Open on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 He is the first Tech player on the current Tech roster to qualify.