Daily Toreador The
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3, 2014 VOLUME 89 ■ ISSUE 56
www.dailytoreador.com
Serving the Texas Tech University community since 1925
twitter.com/DailyToreador
About 100 brains missing from UT AUSTIN (AP) — The University of Texas at Austin is missing about 100 brains — about half of the specimens the university had in a collection of brains preserved in jars of formaldehyde. One of the missing brains is believed to have belonged to clock tower sniper Charles Whitman. “We think somebody may have taken the brains, but we don’t know at all for sure,” psychology Professor Tim Schallert, co-curator of the collection, told the Austin American-Statesman. His co-curator, psychology Professor Lawrence Cormack, said, “It’s entirely possible word got around among undergraduates and people started swiping them for living rooms or Halloween pranks.” The Austin State Hospital had transferred the brains to the university about 28 years ago under a “temporary possession” agreement. Schallert said his psychology lab had room for only 100 brains, so the rest were moved to the basement of the university’s Animal Resources Center. “They are no longer in the basement,” Cormack said. The university said in a statement that it will investigate “the circumstances surrounding this collection since it came here nearly 30 years ago” and that it’s “committed to treating the brain specimens with respect.” It says the remaining brain specimens on campus are used “as a teaching tool and carefully curated by faculty.”
Carol of Lights IN 1959 THE Carol of Lights occurred for the first time. Since its inception, the event draws more than 20,000 annually.
PHOTO BY DUNCAN STANLEY/The Daily Toreador
Howe hospitalized after another stroke LUBBOCK (AP) — Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe has suffered his third stroke since late October and was hospitalized early this week, his daughter said Tuesday. Cathy Purnell said her father suffered a “significant stroke” on Monday. Howe was stable and “a little bit alert” Tuesday morning, and doctors at a Lubbock hospital where he was taken were scheduled to do additional tests, she said. “He’s a fighter,” Purnell said. “The man is tough. He has this will to keep going, all things considered.” The man known as “Mr. Hockey” set NHL marks with 801 goals and 1,850 points, mostly with the Detroit Red Wings, records later broken by Wayne Gretzky. Purnell said therapists who have been tending to Howe arrived at her house Monday morning and discovered him nonresponsive in bed. Howe remained that way until evening, when Purnell said he recognized family members once he became alert. Howe suffered what his children called a serious stroke in late October and another in early November. He has been staying at his daughter’s home in Lubbock.
OPINIONS, Pg. 4
PHOTO BY ADRIAN ITO/The Daily Toreador
PHOTO BY ZETH ABNEY/The Daily Toreador
CAROL OF LIGHTS attendees walk around the Texas Tech Christmas tree Tuesday at the Broadway entrance to campus.
THE SADDLE TRAMPS participate in the parade during the 56th annual Carol of Lights on Tuesday at the Science Quadrangle.
Tech celebrates annual tradition By LIANA SOLIS Staff Writer
The crowd cheered and took pictures as the colored lights of Memorial Circle lit up around them. The Residence Halls Association hosted the 56th annual Carol of Lights celebration that took place Tuesday for students, faculty, staff and Lubbock residents to attend. Haley Tierce, a sophomore chemistry major from Corpus Christi, was the
NeWS editor
INDEX Crossword....................5 Classifieds................7 L a Vi d a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Opinions.....................4 Sports.......................6 Sudoku.......................3 EDITORIAL: 806-742-3393
CELEBRATION continued on Page 2 ➤➤
By KRISTEN BARTON Staff Writer
As winter sets in Lubbock and the Texas Tech campus, temperatures drop and holiday spirits rise with the 56th annual Carol of Lights tradition at Tech. On Tuesday night, more than 25,000 colored lights brightened the Engineering Key, Broadway entrance and Memorial Circle. In 1959, Professor Harold Hinn was inspired to cover the science quadrangle and the Administration building with Christmas lights,
according to the Tech Carol of Lights website. Fifty-nine years later, the tradition of Carol of Lights continues and has expanded. In 1960, the Residence Halls Association took over the event so students could witness the campus illuminated by colored lights before they left for semester break, according to the website. Craig Kuehnert, Carol of Lights director, said countless hours went into preparing for Carol of Lights. RHA continued on Page 2 ➤➤
Tech professor appointed to Beckie named semifinalist NCAA governing council for MAC Hermann award By KAITLIN BAIN
Jacobson: American racial disparities must be solved
Raiders Helping Others captain for the event and said Tech has continued this tradition for so many years because of its popularity. “It is one of those things that just appeals to everyone, from four years old to college-student age,” Tierce said. “It’s such a special tradition that we have here.” The night began with the Saddle Tramps, Raider Red and the Masked Rider walking down an aisle for everyone to see.
RHA prepares for holiday event
Brian Shannon, a Charles B. “Tex” Thornton Professor of Law at the Texas Tech School of Law, was appointed to the new NCAA Division I Council Tuesday by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. The council, according to a Tech news release, is part of the newly completed change in the NCAA’s governing body. The council will work closely with Division I legislation, developing and recommending policies to the Board of Directors and supervising and acting on many issues. These issues will include the NCAA championships, according to the release. The council consists of 40 members, one from each of the 32 conferences within Division ADVERTISING: 806-742-3384
I, four conference commissioners, two student athletes and two faculty athletics representatives, according to the release. “I am pleased and honored to have this opportunity to serve on the SHANNON new council,” he said, according to the release. “The NCAA and its member institutions have a strong historical commitment to the collegiate model. This means as future policy is developed, we must recognize and embrace our student athletes’ opportunities to develop fully not only on the field of court, but also in the classroom and in their pursuit of a college degree.” NCAA continued on Page 2 ➤➤
BUSINESS: 806-742-3388
By DAWIT HAILE Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Texas Tech junior forward Janine Beckie became a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is given annually to the top collegiate soccer player in the country, according to a Tech news release. Fifteen other players from across the nation join Beckie as semifinalists. However, in the next few weeks, the list of 16 semifinalists will be cut down to three finalists before the trophy is awarded to a single player. Once again this season, Tech is experiencing a first in program history. Never before had a Tech player been named a semifinalist for the Hermann,
FAX: 806-742-2434
according to the release. Beckie said it is an honor to be named a semifinalist for such a prestigious award. The company Beckie has on the list is incredible, she said. “You can look across the country,” Beckie said, “and see that these are the top players in the nation.” Beckie is one of only two Big 12 Conference players to become semifinalists. The other Big 12 semifinalist is West Virginia sophomore defender Kadeisha Buchanan. Beckie, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, earned her place with Buchanan and the 14 other semifinalists by scoring a season-high 17 goals to go along with her four assists, according to the release.
CIRCULATION: 806-742-3388
BECKIE continued on Page 7 ➤➤ EMAIL: news@dailytoreador.com
YOU should get a JOB delivering THE DAILY TOREADOR
apply online: www.thedailytoreador.com