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SPORTS

years at Tech

Finals Frenzy

Generations of Red Raiders share world record

By MARIANNA SOURIALL Staff Writer

Often, humans tend to gravitate toward individual ism, chasing individual suc cess. The Wuensche family is a testament to what can occur from working as a team.

To break the Guinness Word Record for the most family members graduating from the same university (Texas Tech), social media played a significant role in bringing the family together.

Now after breaking the record, current students McKenna Mann, Max Simnacher, Andrew Simnacher, Sara Phy and Caroline Pierce are working to grow the Wuensche legacy. Once they graduate, they will become a part of the Guinness World Record.

The Wuensche family primarily uses its Facebook group to follow members

digitally and plan family reunions. Amber Wuensche Parker had a different use for the Facebook group.

“I read about the previous record in The Dallas Morn ing News in 2014,” Parker said. “We have a Wuensche Facebook group, and I just try to keep connected so I posted the article and said, ‘I wonder how many Tech grads we have?’ People started commenting, so it just kind of grew from there.”

Parker sought out the family’s Tech graduates at tempting to acquire all neces sary documentation required by Guinness.

“One of my mom’s family members realized my family might be able to break the world record, so she started getting documentation from everyone and submitted it to Guinness,” first-year prespeech language and hearing

major of Boerne McKenna Mann said. “Since I’m not a graduate or anything, I just thought it would be kind of cool to continue the legacy of my family and one day join the record maybe.”

Max Simnacher additionally aspires to become part of the world record as a second-year agriculture business major from Lubbock. For the Simnacher family, Tech is the foundation for many core memories.

“I’m not officially a part of it (the world record) yet, but I am going to be,” Max Sim nacher said. “I’ve always liked Tech, and my family has always been Tech fans so growing up we would always go watch the games or go tailgating.”

“I’ve always grown up around Tech as the college my family has chosen, so I felt it was just somewhere that would be a great place to go to college when it was time,” he

Andrew Simnacher said growing up in a house of Red Raiders made Tech a clear choice for him.

“My family has always gone there, so I thought it would just be really nice to continue that and have ground with all of my family on stuff that we can relate to,” Andrew Simnacher said. “It’s nice knowing you have people all over the place, but

it’s kind of also weird to think that there’s so many people that I didn’t know about that I’m related to as well.”

For the nutritional science major, Sara Phy, the award is far more than a certificate.

Phy said breaking the record was a complete shock as her im mediate family is small.

I know it means a lot to my family to just have this shared experience.

Sara Phy FIRST-YEAR NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE MAJOR

“I think for me, (family) means a lot be cause I didn’t even plan on going to Tech,” the fourth-year Lubbock native said. “It is re ally cool to just see how everything worked out, and I know it means a lot to my family to just have this shared experience.”

It was cousin Caroline Pierce, a first-year business

major from Lub bock, who assisted in connecting the family. Pierce said after much research, the proj ect started to become about showing the family’s love for Tech.

“(The world record) just really showed me how special something can be,” Pierce said. “It’s shown me how im portant it is to have that big family bond over something, and that no matter the dis tance or where you are, you can always come together.”

The family currently has 108 graduates, including 44 family members and 14 spouses.

The five current members don the red and black and will increase the number for the world record when they walk across the

Find the presents we have hidden IN

Red Raider Food Pantry is open during the holidays for students to stop by and get their necessary items.

Toreador Media director Susan Peterson is retiring after 37 years of dedication to students and The Daily Toreador publication.

Students are overwhelmed during this time of year. Final exams are a big part of why students need more study time.

Joey McGuire heads to his first bowl game on Dec. 28, 2022 as a head coach. Read about his accomplishments here.

added. Andrew Simnacher is the most recent Tech gradu ate and the older brother of Max. The nutritional science student is currently working on his master’s.

graduation stage at the United Supermarkets Arena.

JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador

Members of one family break the Guinness World Record for most family members to graduate from a single university. From the left are Max Simnacher, Sara Phy, McKenna Mann, Caroline Phy and Andrew Sinacher demonstrating school spirit under the centennial statue Dec. 1, 2022.

JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador

Family members apart of the Guiness World Record holding family jump infront of the university seal celebrating breaking the record for having the most family members to graduate from a single university. From the left are Max Simnacher, Sara Phy, McKenna Mann, Caroline Phy and Andrew Sinacher on Dec. 1, 2022.

64th annual Carol of Lights kicks off Tech’s Centennial celebration for the new year.

Kierra Eyiuche/The Daily Toreador

Red Raider Food Pantry feeds community

By NATE ZIEGNER News writer

importance. The Red Raider Food Pantry, an organi zation started by the Student Government Association and the Dean of Students office, works to make sure those needs are met.

Located in Doak Hall room 117, any student is welcome to stop by and fill out a form as well as pick up any food or toiletries, no matter their income level. Students are welcome to make a visit to the pantry three times a semester to pick up food items. If a stu dent requires more than three opportunities to get items, the pantry connects them to referrals and consultations with Raider Relief.

While operating as an oncampus resource, Red Raider Food Pantry works closely with other food pantries in the Lubbock area to collaborate on needs and resources.

co

Graduate assistant and

ordinator, Mary Oyewole, said the pantry has been expanding the types of food and sources available for students.

“Recently we began to carry toiletries as well as fro zen foods,” Oyewole said. “It is important to make sure students have a lot of choices when it comes to meeting nu tritional requirements.”

As the awareness of the pantry spreads across campus and more students begin uti lizing the resources, there are hopes of one day acquiring more space.

“Right now, we can only hold four people in the pantry room at once,” Oyewole said. “This means we have a waitlist and line at times to come in.”

The pantry specifically sees more student utiliza tion during the run-up and into the holiday season, mak ing outside donations extra important. Luckily, Oyewole said people have been assist ing in making sure those food amounts are met.

“November is the giving period and we have been see ing more and more donations

from student organizations, faculty, staff and other stu dents,” Oyewole said.

Anybody can donate food or toiletries to the pantry sim ply by emailing them at food pantry@ttu.edu to schedule a drop-off time. With a wide range of graduate and student assistants, the pantry works to reply to emails of any kind as fast as possible, even on weekends and breaks.

For specific donation needs the food pantry has an Ama zon wishlist where anyone can check to see what items are needed the most. Items purchased on the wishlist are automatically shipped to Red Raider Food Pantry. Not only physical item donations are accepted, but also monetary aid to help the pantry with funding to make the food availability possible. Both links are posted at the end of the article.

Oyewole also encourages people to keep up with and promote the pantry’s social media accounts where daily and weekly needs are posted along with recipes to help aid

COMMENCEMENT

By MAYRA LUJAN OpiNiONs COlumNist

As the end of the se mester approaches, so does graduation. Some upcom ing graduates are one se mester away while others are counting the days and offering advice for the in coming class of 2026.

Graduation for Fall 2022 will be on Dec. 1617. On the other hand, Spring 2023 commence ment schedules have been announced for May 12-13 according to the office of the Provost.

Darcy Meier, a fourthyear English and legal

in nutritional food consump tion.

While many students go home as finals end, the pantry will stay open during holiday breaks as well as through the entire summer, ensuring any student has someplace they can go if necessary.

For the upcoming months and semester, students can be on the lookout for Spring 2023 pantry hours as well as on-campus events, including a mobile food bank in part nership with the South Plains Food Bank.

The next big event for the pantry is a pop-up trailer on Jan.12 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Student Union Building plaza.

“We invite anyone to come by,” Oyewole said. “There will be treats and gift bags with food items as students navigate their return back to campus.”

Amazon Wishlist: https:// www.amazon.com/reg istry/wishlist/HRY62EY G45EO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ ws_0sl8AbQMCMBGM

Monetary link:https://

studies student, said she is excited to be done and to get a break from home work, but also nervous.

Meier will graduate on Dec. 16.

“I’m going to miss walking to class through campus when it’s pretty outside and also seeing all of the different characters in the free speech area,” Meier said.

Planning ahead, Meier said she plans to take a gap year to work and study for the LSAT and apply to law school.

A word of advice for the incoming class from Meier is to make sure to

be involved in a student organization and go to as many school events as possible and don’t forget to have fun.

Tristan Garza, a fourthyear political science and history student from Ed inburg, said he is excited to graduate.

“It represents a big per sonal achievement for me. I remember all the times I wanted to and almost quit, but I’m so happy I pulled through,” Garza said.

The 24-year-old is going to continue to study for the LSAT and find a job in the meantime. He said he plans to attend law school in the future.

Some guidance Garza offers is to join clubs and meet people: “I’ve met some of my best friends here and there are a ton of great people here. I think I’m gonna miss the actual campus. It is the best in Texas if not the nation.”

Garza said.

The soon-to-be gradu ate said to take college seriously.

“Make friends and memories and stuff but don’t forget why you’re here. This can be a great experience if you do it right,” he said.

Liv Robson, a fifth-year graphic design student from Rockwall, said she is scared but excited.

“I am looking forward to not being in school any more but also being in

securelb.imodules. com/s/1422/20/form.aspx?si d=1422&gid=1003&pgid=32 07&cid=8425&bledit=1&di ds=4230

school has been familiar. I am not looking forward to leaving the place that has been home for the last five years and not looking forward to paying school loans,” Robson said.

Graduation for Robson means she has finally ac complished the goal she has been working toward and new beginnings. The 22-year-old will graduate on May 13.

Although graduation for Robson is months away, she feels the professors prepared her for gradua tion.

“We have real-world projects and they push us to improve our skills,” Robson said.

In the last semester of Robson’s program, there is a portfolio development class that helps them put their best work in a portfo lio, which is an important tool for creatives.

Some advice she had for the incoming class is to “prioritize sleep although it is a struggle. Do not procrastinate. Remember you are working towards a goal. Always remember you will not struggle with an assignment, test or project forever.”

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Red Raider Food Pantry stores food items such as canned and packaged goods. The pantry supplies students, even over break.

@NateZiegnerDT

@MaryaLujanDT

Tech, McGuire exceed expectations in first season

By JARRETT RAMIREZ SportS reporter

The curtain has been drawn on the 2022 Texas Tech football regular sea son. With that, the inaugu ral campaign for Tech head coach Joey McGuire has al most reached its end.

McGuire’s tenure opened to the excitement of Red Raider fans. Wins against Murray State and then-No. 25 Houston brought confi dence that the Red Raiders would be able to make noise in the Big 12.

During McGuire’s intro ductory news conference on Nov. 9, 2021, Tech Direc tor of Athletics Kirby Hocutt touched on the hope that the new head coach could lead the Red Raiders to be com petitive in the league.

“We wanted somebody here to lead us to the top of the Big 12 conference,” Hocutt said about the hir ing process. “Somebody who believed with every fiber in their body that they could help us achieve that, we suc ceeded in that.”

The optimism of the Tech fan base was not echoed on a national level, as the Red Raiders were picked to finish ninth place in the conference when the Big 12 unveiled its preseason poll July 7.

Despite being selected next-to-last in the poll, the Red Raiders captured a win in the conference opener against Texas Sept. 24. The victory was Tech’s first home win against the Longhorns since 2008.

That matchup against Texas was announced a sell out well before game day and it was one of two ca pacity crowds this season for Tech – the other coming against Baylor Oct. 29. It was the first time since 2018 that

Jones AT&T Stadium hosted multiple sellouts in the same season, according to Tech Athletics.

Looking beyond the 2022 season, McGuire has made a name for himself on the recruiting side of the sport.

With high school connec tions aplenty, the former Cedar Hill head coach has garnered the No. 18 2023 re cruiting class nationally, ac cording to Rivals.

During the weekly coach es’ press conference Sept. 26, McGuire touched on how gaining wins at home af fected recruiting and how the coaching staff was able to build connections with pros pects.

“We’ve been telling these guys what it’s like when you have a fanbase like we do,

whenever you can feel (the energy at) Jones AT&T (Sta dium),” McGuire said. “(The

more and more backing that ‘Hey, this is what it really can be,’ easier to believe in and

victories in Lubbock where it finished with a record of 6-1, the best home tally for the Red Raiders since 2009, ac cording to Tech Athletics. A final regular season record of 7-5 gave Tech bowl eligibility

As a whole, I’m proud of our guys. One thing we wanted to do was create a team that was going to fight.

McGuire HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

fans) showed this is real. Ev ery time something like this happens, it just gives you

they can understand where they’re coming.”’

Tech was no stranger to

Act Texas Bowl at 8 p.m. at NRG Stadium Dec. 28.

Following Tech’s victory over Oklahoma Nov. 26, Mc Guire gave his take on how he and his team handled expec tations and what he hopes to see in the bowl game.

for a second straight year. McGuire and the Red Raid ers will travel to Houston to take on Ole Miss in the Tax

“As a whole, I’m proud of our guys. One thing we wanted to do was create a team that was going to fight,” McGuire said. “We talk about The Brand all the time, the toughest, hardest-working, most competitive team in the country, I think that’s who we are … . We’ll get ready to start prepping for whoever we play. I expect for it to be a great game and I expect for us to play at a really high level and continue to grow as a program.”

@jramirezDT

Joey

Olivia Raymond/The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire and his daughter celebrate the Red Raiders’ 51-48 win over Oklahoma at Jones AT&T Stadium Nov. 26, 2022.

Students need more study time

Over the course of the holi days, students spend a lot of time going back and forth between campus and their hometowns predominantly in the span of three weeks, which limits study time.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a lot of hours are spent driving or flying home and then, once arrived, students are spending quality time with family and friends and do not focus on school. As soon as Thanksgiving break ends, students realize they have roughly two weeks (if that) between the two breaks to study and take all of their finals and it becomes a stressful cycle of understanding the need to study while also trying to find the time.

Just today, my friend and I were working on homework and she was telling me how stressed she was and that, because of the

pressure, she didn’t even know where to begin on studying and assignments. It is similar to clean ing your room or doing the dishes: If you keep up with it at all times, it’s no big deal, but over time, if it’s been put off, it becomes so daunting that it seems impossible to begin.

Every major has this difficulty as the holidays approach because the semester is coming to a close and all the exams or final projects are placed within the same, short timespan. My major does not require a lot of test taking (thank fully), but I have papers, projects and group discussions that need to be finished by a certain deadline

COLUMN

and I do not always keep up with assignments as I used to or should.

Since it is inevitable that the breaks align in such a way, there are beneficial yet realistic goals one can set to ensure they’re prepared when it comes time to get back to school. No one has the energy and everyone I know is exhausted, counting the minutes until winter break, but I wanted to demonstrate small tactics that help with procrastination and burnout.

The biggest thing I do that has saved me countless times is making a to-do list in my plan ner, which I am sure everyone has heard of or done before. I used to hate having a planner, but I have realized creating realistic, small projects for myself to complete is simple. I get so into the basics that I write down to read 20 pages of my book, journal for 10 minutes, do the laundry or even shower (it

sounds dumb but it helps). Cutting the day into small time frames and breaks helps immensely.

Another method that’s helpful is to be outspoken. I know that whenever I set goals for myself, I try to inform others so I am held to my word. I tell my parents I am going to get all A’s.

Now I have to tell my room mates I’m not going to the bars one weekend because I need to study (and save money) and need to stay home and work. Small say ings such as these help students hold themselves accountable to what they need to accomplish.

This semester has flown by while also taking what feels like a year to wrap up, but college students are so close to the finish line and just need to push through the final stretch until it’s time to go back home and relax (for real this time).

Christmas is a wasteful holiday

There is no hiding that Christ mas is a consumerist holiday.

Christmas is known for holiday chaos in the mall, but did you know the majority of workers are crushed by inhumane workloads? According to Fast Company, a business media website, holiday gift returns are an environmental nightmare. The holiday sales rise to 8.3% between November and December as consumers buy gifts, according to CNBC. A study by Statista, a stats website, concluded between 2002 and 2020, holiday retail sales skyrocketed from 416.4 billion to 777.3 billion. This also means the demand to make more toys, gifts, products, etc.

An ugly truth about Christmas is that it hits all the major waste points. Food waste, unwanted presents, used plastic and paper wrapping end up going to landfills. More than 100 million plastic bags are sent to landfills over the Christmas period, according to Biffa, a waste management company.

I am guilty of buying Christ mas-themed wrapping paper; however, I never knew the damage it causes. An alternative to lower waste production is to purchase recyclable wrapping paper this year.

As desire for more is becom ing a norm, we should consider other eco-friendly gift ideas. Some examples of this are organic tea, zero-waste sustainable products for the home and kitchen, reusable bags, reusable makeup pads and biodegradable sponges.

One of my favorite eco-friend ly gifts are bowls made from co conuts and bamboo utensils. For college students, there are ecofriendly notebooks and bamboo eco-friendly pens.

On the other hand, Christmas is not only killing the planet but also the quality of air outside and

inside of your home. According to research done by Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, an interna tional Journal, they found air pol lution levels surged on Christmas Eve due to timeless traditions such as having a roast turkey dinner, candles and log fires.

Burning wood and operating coal power plants to heat our homes during the day contributes to the existing problem of air pol lution. The demand for holiday materials means the increased number of diesel trucks in use.

The same research surpris ingly found that cardiac mortality is the highest during this season and the number of asthma-related hospital admissions spike during Christmas and New Year’s.

Coincidence? I think not.

Christmas activities, such as lighting candles, increase the level of air pollution and it is extremely dangerous to our health. Some ways to move to an environmen tally sustainable Christmas is to use an electric stove instead of a gas burner. Run the HVAC system even after you are done cook ing, cut down on wood-burning, choose eco-friendly fireworks, choose beeswax or soy-based candles, properly ventilate rooms and use the exhaust hood when you cook.

These alternatives are impor tant because they allow people to celebrate Christmas in an environ mentally conscious way that does not harm anyone. Much like the spirit of Christmas, it is vital that society works to give, instead of take this holiday season.

@MaryaLujanDT

Every holiday deserves celebration

Imagine this: you move out for college to a country unlike your own. You notice decorations for an unfamiliar holiday you do not celebrate, they surround you and your schedule. Life around you alter to conform to the religious views of your peers. You feel alien ated. People might ask you where you plan to vacation to celebrate the holiday and you do not know how to answer them.

This can be what the holiday season may feel like for the reli gious minority.

Students who practice Bud dhism, Hinduism or Islam do not observe Christmas. On Christmas Day, many Jewish families do not exchange presents or hang stock ings. Therefore, adopting the tra ditional Christian interpretation of the holiday may serve to alien ate students who do not partake in such celebrations.

Some believe public univer sities need to reevaluate their holiday celebrations in a way that is inclusive and respectful of all individuals as public universities

in the United States continue to diversify in terms of race, ethnic ity, economic status, and religion.

According to the Interfaith Di versity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey, only 27% of Jewish students stated that their campus embraced religious di versity, whereas 37% of Buddhists and 38% of Hindus felt the same.

Although religion is as signifi cant to today’s college students as any other measure of diver sity, little research has been done around how universities should embrace religious diversity.

Today, more than 93% of col lege students claim they curated a friendship with an individual of different religious beliefs than their own, according to The Inter faith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey. Students are clearly committed to bridging this very evident re ligious divide. Then the question becomes: how can we successfully incorporate religious variety into narratives about inclusion and diversity?

My recommendations include ensuring campuses are inclusive environments for students from various religious backgrounds by giving them chances to engage with peers through social events,

study groups and other activities. We often see decorated trees, stockings and other Christmaslike decorations surrounding campus during the holidays. There is hardly, if any, representation for any holiday practices outside of Christianity. Tech does a good job of referring to time-off as the Holiday Break, but professors and faculty use the term Christmas Break.

Coming off football season with our homecoming week theme being Around the World, I’d personally expect Tech to be more inclusive of all religions and hold its staff to the same standard.

The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity at North Carolina State offers a TIP (“To ward Inclusive Practices”) series to address answers to some of the most pressing concerns of their campus community. They advised students, “As the holiday season approaches, we remind you to consider that you may study or work alongside others

who may not share your world view. We encourage everyone to learn about other belief systems to avoid misunderstandings and strive to be inclusive in the com pany of others. When in doubt, respectfully ask questions to find out whether and how your fellow students or colleagues of differ ent faiths and world views prefer to be included in any holiday celebrations.”

Tech received two awards in 2021 for their Insight Into Diver sity, but the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website never once mentions religious inclusiv ity, or religion at all for that matter.

The DDEI states, “The pro cess of creating a culture that allows every individual to feel as though they matter, and their belonging is not accidental, but intention ally created by those who are members of the community and how they welcome and retain new members.”

With such a dynamic mix of people, cultures, backgrounds, nationalities and ideas here at Tech, we should be doing more to include other religious beliefs within the university to appeal to all cultures on campus.

Zoe Taylor/The Daily Toreador

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Milly Latino is a sports management major from Lumberton.

@madisoncotteydt

Zoe Taylor/The Daily Toreador

@MillyLattDt

Marya Lujan is a political science major from Odessa.

Check out The Daily Toreador’s Word on the Street where we talk to attendees at the 64th annual Carol of Lights.

Madison Cottey is a media and communica tion major from Austin.

MILLY LATINO/The Daily Toreador

The Black Cultural Center opens for students to learn about their culture, connect with their community, and spend time with peers Sept. 9, 2022.

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador The Double T gets moved slowly to suspend over the walkway between the Jones AT&T Stadium and the practice facility Dec. 1, 2022.

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

KIERRA EYIUCHE/The Daily Toreador

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

CARLOS GONZALEZ/The Daily Toreador

Tech football head coach Joey McGuire prepares the Red Raiders during warm ups before the final home game against Oklahoma University at Jones AT&T Stadium Nov. 26, 2022.

Junior wide receiver Loic Fouonji connects with Donovan Smith for another touch down for the Red Raiders raising the score to 28-10 at the Tech football game versus Murray State at the Jones AT&T Stadium Sept. 3, 2022. Senior right back SaRodorick celebrates Fouonji after the touch down.

The 61st Masked Rider and Centennial Champion ride out onto the Cody Campbell Field for the first time at the game against Murray State at Jones AT&T Stadium Sept. 3, 2022.

Tech students hold Guns Up during The Matador Song before kickoff against West Virginia University at Jones AT&T Stadium Oct. 22, 2022.

Tech’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland performs during halftime at the final home game against Oklahoma University at Jones AT&T Stadium Nov. 26, 2022.

Students finish planting beside the seal. Students plants geranium in the garden beside the Texas Tech Seal during Arbor Day 2022 at Memorial Circle on April 29, 2022.

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

Student runs through flood water without shoes on to keep his socks dry on campus Aug. 31, 2022. Tech puts on a three minute firework show after switching on the lights for the 64th annual Carol of Lights Dec. 2, 2022.

Peterson says goodbye to Texas Tech after 37 years

By ARIANNA FLORES Editor in-ChiEf

The director of Toreador media, Susan Peterson, is retiring at the end of the Fall 2022 semester from the Col lege of Media & Communica tion after almost 37 years of dedication towards her staff and students.

Peterson started her career with Toreador Media as an ad vertising manager, with a staff of students and the responsi bility of selling ads for a daily printed newspaper.

One of her students on the advertising staff and current advertising manager for Toreador Media, Dawn Zuerker, said the day she applied to be a part of the student advertising staff she was late to the interview because of pouring rain.

While late and apologetic, Zuerker said she was dripping all over Peterson’s office and expected her to be angry, but instead she was understanding and caring.

“I think it was that mo ment that I realized that this woman would be a friend, would be a person that you

GIFTING

could go to in any situation, and she would still be the most positive person you’ve ever met in your entire life,” Zuerker said.

Once Zuerker saw Peterson transition into the director of Toreador Media, she said she saw a continued dedication toward student success.

“(Susan) went from really having to pay attention to like 12 students to 50-plus students some years,” Zuerker said.

Shortly after she was named director, Peterson began her masters degree at Tech in higher education.

“So (Susan) really wanted to, you know, guard herself with enough knowledge to do a great job. She didn’t just want to float through and scrape by,” the Associate di rector and Advisor of Student Media, Sheri Lewis, said.

Throughout her years in Toreador Media, Peterson has had an open-door policy both for her students and staff.

“When there have been difficult times in the news room, when we’ve struggled with certain situations in the newsroom, I was able to go

to her,” Lewis said. “ I knew I could talk to her and tell her what’s going on and knew that I had her support.”

Peterson and the business manager for Toreador Media, Kristi Deitiker, both delivered papers on a weekly basis in the spring of 2022 across the Tech campus when no one was available to do so.

“I mean, she’s not only is she a boss, she’s a good friend,” Deitiker said. “I think she genuinely cares about her staff. I mean, to me it’s kind of almost up to her family.”

“I mean, you know, when you work eight to five every day, you’re with people that you work with more than you are at home. I just feel like Susan and I are very close,” Deitiker added.

When asked what their favorite memory with Peterson was, Lewis and Deitiker paused, thinking for a few minutes before both saying there were too many things to say.

Finally, after thinking and selecting one, Lewis said when a former photography advisor, Darrel Thomas, died, Peterson

made sure there were funds and space available to honor the longtime member of the Toreador Media community.

“I think that just kind of sticks out to me and that just speaks of being a good person, of course. And I think that made a lot of the people who came back for the ceremony really, really happy, and I think it just spoke a lot about (Susan),” Lewis said.

Another sentimental memory the pair had with Peterson was Christmas. Every Christmas, Peterson would give the entire Toreador staff the same gift but a different color, personalization or some sort of uniqueness.

Lewis and Deitiker said this uniqueness in gifts showed them how much thought and effort she put into those around her, giving the staff different things such as Tech mugs, gear and more.

Peterson bleeds scarlet and black, graduating from Tech, watching her daughters walk the graduation stage and be ing an avid Tech football fan.

During the Texas Tech versus Baylor football game,

Peterson was recognized as a guest coach, honored at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Deitiker said Peterson did not want to make a big deal about her departure but she and the rest of Toreador Media staff secretly made sure she would be recognized in a place she calls home.

The dedication Peter son has for Tech and the students will not change despite her departure from the position.

“She wants nothing more than for the students who come through here to

succeed and for the legacy of this publication to con tinue,” Lewis said. “I know she’s been very focused in trying to ensure the continued success for the publication and setting up the program to make sure this program continues and that it’s strong.

“I’m quite sure that if we have alumni functions, and when we celebrate our own Centennial in 2025, she’ll be here and she’ll be in red and black,” Lewis added.

@AriannaFloresDT

Holiday shopping for college students on a budget

By FAITH DOLAN Staff WritEr

As the holidays are around the corner, students may be scrambling to find gifts for their loved ones while on a tight budget. Thankfully, some students have strategies for budgeting and finding gifts that do not break the bank.

Jake Gowdy, a second-year wildlife biology student from Lubbock, said he budgets Christmas gifts by focusing on meaningful gifts.

“I get my dad a mug every

year, it is kind of like a tradi tion. I get him different ones, and it is funny,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy also spreads out his purchases to avoid spending lots of money at once.

“I focus on the bigger ones first to try to get them out of the way earlier in the month,” Gowdy said.

George Allen, a secondyear personal financial plan ning student from Haughton, Louisiana, said Texas Tech’s Red to Black Peer Financial

Coaching helps students cre ate budgets they can use.

“A lot of the time, people do not think about the little purchases, but it definitely adds up,” Allen said.

One can take time to track their expenses, Allen said.

“They can see where they can save and put that money in a better spot,” Allen said.

Allen, a student assistant for Red to Black, said he uses Excel to track the cost of each gift and to take out expenses

for rent and everything else he needs to pay for.

“I take out these expenses and then just have a set num ber of how much I would like to spend on gifts this holiday season,” Allen said.

Kiki Mena, a third-year fi nance student from Houston, makes Christmas gifts for her friends and family.

“I have been sewing and making clothes my whole life and picked up a lot more on embroidering,” Mena said.

“Then, I started making sweatshirts and sweatpants and every Christmas, I make stuff for my friends or sell it to people.”

Mena said she likes using different designs for her gifts.

“I have made a bunch with names and writing on it, and I will also do a lot of designed sets. Last year, I made sweat pants with flames on them for some of my friends and some with flowers,” Mena said.

Mena enjoys embroidery

because it is very customiz able, she said.

“You can really make it to what the other person re ally likes and what they re ally want, which is why I like them as Christmas gifts,” Mena said. “You can not only choose what kind of colors you want, but you can also do whatever they like.”

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador Susan Peterson, director of Toreador Media retires from the Texas Tech University College of Media and Communication after 37 years.

@FaithDolanDT