Daily Toreador The
TUESDAY, OCT. 8, 2013 VOLUME 88 ■ ISSUE 31
Social Security judge accused of scheme WASHINGTON (AP) — A retired Social Security judge in West Virginia collaborated with a lawyer to improperly award disability benefits to hundreds of applicants, according to a report released Monday by congressional investigators. The report accuses retired administrative law Judge David B. Daugherty of scheming with lawyer Eric C. Conn to approve more than 1,800 cases from 2006 to 2010. “By 2011, Mr. Conn and Judge Daugherty had collaborated on a scheme that enabled the judge to approve, in assembly-line fashion, hundreds of clients for disability benefits using manufactured medical evidence,” said the report by the staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Stocks fall as shutdown drags on another week NEW YORK (AP) — Investors sent the Standard & Poor’s 500 index to its lowest close in a month Monday as few signs emerged of a deal to end the U.S. government shutdown and raise the nation’s borrowing limit. Senate Democrats moved to introduce legislation to raise the nation’s debt limit without the unrelated conditions Republicans have said they are seeking. The White House signaled it would accept even a brief extension in borrowing authority to prevent an unprecedented default by the United States. On Sunday, speaker John Boehner had ruled out a vote in the House of Representatives on a straightforward bill to increase the government’s borrowing without concessions from President Barack Obama. Lawmakers have until Oct. 17 to reach a deal on increasing the nation’s debt ceiling. Failure to strike a deal could cause the United States to miss payments on its debt. The Treasury warned last week that a default could push the economy into a downturn even worse than the Great Recession.
OPINIONS, Pg. 4
Johnson: Students can find ways to prevent illness
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Cyclist, bus collide on campus By CARSON WILSON Staff Writer
PHOTO BY CASEY HITCHCOCK/The Daily Toreador
DOUBLE T BUS No. 2102 displays a shattered windshield after a collision with a bicycling student Monday outside the Student Union Building.
Homecoming kickoff starts week of events
A Texas Tech campus bus reportedly collided with a bicyclist on campus Monday. The incident occurred on 15th Street outside the Student Union Building by the bus stop. The occurrence is being investigated by the Tech Police Department. However, the senior geography major from Dripping Springs tweeted at The Daily Toreador. “@DailyToreador hey, my name is Tyler Higgins. Got 2 stiches in my ear, cuts on my face, bruised left arm/hip/thigh/foot. Wreck em’ Tech!” he tweeted. Patrick Gonzales, associate director of the Office of Communications and Marketing, said he would not know any details yet because the incident is still being investigated. “The only thing that I can confirm right now because I have received a few calls, is
that there was an incident,” he said, “but the incident is still under investigation by Texas Tech Police Department, and until they complete the investigation I won’t have any other details for you.” A spokesman for Citibus also said he did not have any details on the occurrence. “It is under investigation, and we are still gathering the facts to determine what happened,” the spokesman said. Citibus is the public transportation provider for the city of Lubbock. The company has served Tech since 1968, according to the Citibus website. Citibus began services in Lubbock in 1932. The vehicle appeared to be Double T bus No. 2102. The bicycle involved in the incident was red. Jacob Clark, a sophomore criminal justice major from Odessa, did not witness the accident, but said he saw the aftermath. COLLISION continued on Page 2 ➤➤
Kenya to Lubbock
By LIANA SOLIS Staff Writer
Homecoming has been a tradition for many high schools and colleges across the nation for many years. Texas Tech Activities Board started Homecoming week with the annual Homecoming Kickoff at noon Monday at the Student Union Building. Brenda Hernandez, a junior international business major from Houston, is on the Homecoming committee and said the kickoff has been the same every year. “We stick to the same basic script with the president speaking, announcing the royalties and all of those things,” she said. “Our only real difference this year was that we didn’t have the band playing for us because they had rehearsals.” TAB served free food, such as hot dogs and Raising Canes, and gave away free T-shirts to all who attended, Hernandez said. “We give out free stuff at this event every year to encourage more students to come to the kickoff,” she said. “More students seem to come if they know there is free stuff involved.” The event was led by this year’s Homecoming coordinator, Eric Lee. “This year’s theme is Tech Loves the ‘90s,” he said. “Homecoming week is an exciting tradition for everyone so we’re all really excited to get started.” President M. Duane Nellis was next to speak at the event. EVENTS continued on Page 3 ➤➤
PORTRAIT BY CASEY HITCHCOCK/The Daily Toreador
KENNEDY KITHUKA, A senior cross-country runner from Thika, Kenya, who was named Big 12 Runner of the Week on Tuesday and has a large list of accomplishments, including 2013 Big 12 Champion - Indoor 5,0000M and 3,000M.
Runner blossoms into cross-country champion By SCOTT FISHER Staff Writer
Senior Kennedy Kithuka is the reigning NCAA cross-country champion and 2012 Cross-Country Male Athlete of the Year. Kithuka now is thriving in the sport of cross-country, but as a young boy in Kenya, he said he didn’t even like to run. “I ran for the first time when I was finishing up grade school in 2003 and people said I was running well,” he said. “Then I went to high school and my freshman year in 2004, I didn’t run, and
in 2005 I didn’t run. Then I started running in 2006. I didn’t run early in high school because I didn’t like to run, I just liked to play soccer at that time, and I still like to play soccer now.” At this time in Kithuka’s life, Lubbock meant nothing. All he knew was the familiar Kenyan way of life, he said. Kithuka eventually picked up running during his last year of grade school, after the local government reopened the organized sports program at his school, he said. KITHUKA continued on Page 6 ➤➤
Tech Student Democrats protest at Congressman Neugebauer’s office By DAWITT HAILE Staff Writer
Texas Tech students get lost in Corn Maize—LA VIDA, Page 3
INDEX Crossword.....................6 Classifieds................7 L a Vi d a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinions.....................4 Sports.......................6 Sudoku.......................2 EDITORIAL: 806-742-3393
Texas Tech Student Democrats protested Monday afternoon at Glenna Goodacre Boulevard and University Avenue regarding an incident U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer was involved in Wednesday at the National World War II Memorial. According to Politico, Neugebauer told a female park ranger she should be ashamed for not allowing anyone into the memorial. However, parks, memorials and other monuments taken care of by Park Services closed because of the government shutdown that took place the Tuesday before the incident, according to Politico. The episode gained national attention and
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Tech Student Democrats brought the issue back to Lubbock. Lubbock citizens, Tech Student Democrat members and students gathered outside City Bank holding signs citing the exchange with the park ranger. There were about 20 people at the scene. Their signs had several phrases, such as, “We Demand An Apology,” “Shame on Rep. Randy” and “Don’t Blame the Park Ranger.” Tochukwu Imoh, a junior international economics major from Houston, said the organization demanded an apology for the park ranger by 6 p.m. Monday. PROTEST continued on Page 2 ➤➤
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PHOTO BY BRAD TOLLEFSON/The Daily Toreador
TECH STUDENT DEMOCRATS and Lubbock citizens picket Republican Congressman Randy Neugebauer for his comments to a park ranger at the National World War II Memorial during a protest Monday outside his office in City Bank.
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