02.09.23

LONG LIVE TEXAS TECH

The year is 1923. Across the United States, history was being made. In New York, Babe Ruth hit the first home run in the Yankees Stadium first game. In California, the Hollywood sign was born.

In West Texas, Texas Technological College was created by legislation to become home to over 40,000 students.

Texas Tech would not be what it is today without its students. Students who become part of Raiderland have molded the university and campus into what we see today.

The love, loyalty and pride each student has for the red and black bleed into our everyday lifestyles.

Students’ interests and commitment to the university keep the tradition alive. Every game day, for example, the Saddle Tramps carry on the tradition of wrapping the Will Rogers and Soapsuds statue.

Without the students, there would be no tradition.

A student, Jim Gaspard, created our beloved mascot Raider Red inspired by the Dirk West cartoon. Today, Raider Red is an iconic mascot known around the nation.

The lyrics we sing after every victory or special event were written by R.C. Marshall, a Tech student. Marshall wrote the song as part of a contest in The Toreador. A music student, Carroll McMath, wrote the Fight Song we sing during each game.

A recent addition to Tech’s legacy is the Black Cultural Center. Black students lobbied for the creation of the center. Without their efforts this historic addition would not exist.

Thank you to the Texas Legislation for creating a school in West Texas. With each class that enters the university we are what makes Texas Tech what it is.

EDITORIAL BY ARIANNA FLORES Editor- in-ChiEf

Wind engineering a breeze for Horn Professor

By MARIANNA SOURIALL Editor s AssistAnt

An F4 tornado struck a local elementary school in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1989, collapsing the gymnasium in the process. In the same gym were 20 children. A supervisor moved the children into a secure environment after receiving instructions off the weather advisory notification, instructions provided by Texas Tech alumni Kishor Mehta.

Born in India, Mehta completed most of schooling before coming to America in 1954 to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering. Under the instruction of his father, Mehta originally was to complete his schooling in America and return to India to start a construction company alongside his father.

“Of course, when I was in

SPORTS

Michigan working on bachelor’s and master’s, he [the father] passed away,” Mehta said. “I had not really known much about construction, but what he had also told me, and I followed that, was once I get my degree, get some experience in construction in the U.S.”

Mehta began working at a construction site in Arizona at the Grand Canyon. It was there Mehta met his wife.

With aspirations of starting a family, the couple moved to Austin where Mehta became a teaching assistant at the University of Texas.

“My professor told me that Texas Technological College in Lubbock was going to start their research program in civil engineering,” Mehta said. “So, I came to Lubbock.”

Following a tornado, Mehta said it became evident that not much was known around the country regarding

tornadoes and their impact.

Therefore,

civil engineers joined Tech’s new research program studying wind as a primary natural resource.

unknown situation because people had done it in wind tunnels, but the wind tunnel wind is always artificial, and you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get.”

must be to withstand certain windspeed primarily in accordance with the enhanced Fujita scale in which Mehta made contributions to.

we teach and educate them,” Minor said.

MEHTA

“I could’ve gone into mechanical and chemical engineering, and I would’ve been just fine,” Mehta said. “But we got a unique opportunity in Lubbock.”

Throughout Mehta’s time at Tech, several contributions to the wind energy field were made by him. Mehta assisted in creating a safety guide for public offices to use in case of a tornado and to take documentation of damage for future investigation use.

“My particular contribution was that we should have a full-scale building tested in high winds in the field,” Mehta said. “That was an

For 10 years, researchers worked alongside Colorado State university as Tech gathered numbers in the field to be replicated in the wind tunnels at Colorado state. Despite minor conflicts, the data was eventually finalized.

“What is unique about it, the data that we produced in the late 1980s, early 1990s is still being used all over the world by researchers because when they have a new wind tunnel, they want to duplicate the data that was obtained at Texas Tech, at the field site. When they do that, they can say that their wind tunnel is calibrated,” Mehta said.

The work conducted by Mehta assists in determining how strong a building

The goal was to put the Texas Tech wind program on the map and it is now known around the world.

KISHOR MEHTA TECH ALUMNI

Colleague and civil engineer Joeseph Minor said Mehta projected an image of professionalism that set a standard for faculty and students that enhanced the image of the department.

“He once characterized the role of faculty by saying that we are educating our students to be professional engineers; hence, we should treat them professionally as

Among other accomplishments, Mehta is a Horn Professor in civil engineering and former director of the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center. He was the first person from Tech to be elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering and led several international conferences for wind engineering.

“There is no other country like the United States where it doesn’t matter where you come from. You are recognized because of the work you do and because of who you are, not because of the heritage,” Mehta said. “Even though Lubbock is a fairly conservative city, I have had no problem with the recognition by the people, and I am very happy and thankful for the people of Lubbock.”

Former Red Raiders help create Super Bowl history

By JAMES KEITH Editor s AssistAnt the game.

Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC championship game and the Philadelphia Eagles victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Patrick Mahomes and Zech McPhearson will be added to the ever-growing list of Red Raiders who have played in the Super Bowl.

While Texas Tech has seen many former athletes appear in the big game over the past 14 years, the connection between Tech and the Super Bowl dates back to the first iteration of

Two Tech alumni appeared in the first Super Bowl, as Donny Anderson played for the Green Bay Packers while E.J. Holub played for the Chiefs. During the game, Anderson knocked out Chiefs defensive back Fred Williamson with an accidental knee to the head, taking part in one of the first memorable Super Bowl moments.

Anderson continued his Super Bowl run the following season, appearing in the second round of the eventual football spectacle, this time scoring a touchdown en route to his second Super Bowl championship. Anderson also tacked on six punts for 248 yards.

Red Raiders made appearances in the next two Super Bowls, first with Bake Turner of the New York Jets, whose victory in Super Bowl III led to the eventual NFL-AFL merger. The following season, EJ Holub would get his redemption with a Chiefs Super Bowl victory, marking four straight years that a Red Raider won the Bowl.

During the 1980’s former Techsans made another stretch of appearances through the likes of Curtis Jordan with the Washington Redskins in 1983, Ted Watts with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1984 and Maury Buford with the Chicago Bears in 1985. All three won the Super Bowl, granting three more championships to Red Raiders.

In 1988, then Washington Redskins’ running back and former Red Raider Timmy Smith set the Super Bowl rushing record with 204 yards, a record that stands today. The Redskin won in convincing fashion to the tune of a 4210 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Continuing with Tech Super Bowl records, Lin Elliot tied the most extra points made during the big game with seven for the Dallas Cowboys in 1993. Dallas

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II received a frame and medal during his induction into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor at Jones AT&T Stadium, Oct. 29, 2022.

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador Ahead of his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, Michael Crabtree receives an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute from Kirby Hocutt, Tech’s athletic director, after the first quarter at Jones AT&T Stadium Nov. 26, 2022.

routed the Buffalo Bills by a score of 52-17.

Anthony Lynn became the second Red Raider to win backto-back Super Bowls after Donny Anderson, winning Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII with the Denver Broncos.

Tech wouldn’t see another Super Bowl representative for another seven years, with the drought ending thanks to Dylan Gandy and the Indianapolis Colts.

In 13 of the past 14 Super Bowls Red Raiders have made appearances, including a 12year streak from 2009-2021 where alumni went an even 6-6 over the stretch. Notable players during this period include Graham Harrell as a backup for the Packers; Wes Welker who made appearances with both the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos; Michael Crabtree who appeared with the 49ers; Danny Amendola, who had multiple appearances with the Patriots; and most recently, Zech McPhearson with the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes II, who is preparing for his third appearance in four years with the Chiefs.

Following his victory over the 49ers, Mahomes became the first Red Raider to earn the accolade of Super Bowl LIV MVP.

Over the course of Super Bowl history, 18 different Red Raiders have earned the right to call themselves Super Bowl champion, with some claiming multiple titles. Whether McPhearson increases that list to 19 or Mahomes adds to his growing legacy, a Red Raider will once again hoist the Lombardi trophy Sunday.

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador Zech McPhearson pumps up the crowd during the game against the University of Texas at El Paso Sept. 7, 2019, at Jones AT&T Stadium. McPhearson would go on to play as the corner back for the Eagles.

@MariannaS_DT

@JamesKeithDT

Black History

Sheryl Swoopes calls Tech, Lady Raiders home

By MARIANNA SOURIALL Editor’s AssistAnt

For many student athletes, the United Supermarkets Arena (USA) is merely the beginning of a star-studded career; it is a pit-stop on the path to success. However, for No. 22, it is home.

The USA is home to a decorated resume holding multiple Olympic gold medals, an induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame and a National Championship title. While many kids of the ‘90s had a dream to “Be Like Mike,” Lady Raiders had a different dream: Swish like Sheryl Swoopes. From the age of 7, Swoopes could be seen with a basketball in hand. Swoopes went on to play throughout high school in Brownfield. Staying in the area, she attended college

By KIERRA EYIUCHE digitAl ContEnt MAnAgEr

On the first day at my new school, while already carrying the burden of having to make new friends, I recall being asked to introduce myself to my classmates. I was instantly laughed at the moment I uttered my last name — Eyiuche.

I cried to my mother that evening and begged her to change my last name to Lewis like hers. The same embarrassment was found when my peers would ask, “Why does he talk like that?” regarding my father’s accent; they were not used to someone who was so different from them.

From a very young age I struggled with accepting my African culture. I grew up in a small town with my American mother and stepfather. I had little exposure to my Nigerian biological father. Although my father managed to introduce me to some of our culture, I went most of my life without being completely immersed.

Throughout my early days in school, I was not exposed to oth er peers who also pos sessed strong African attributes, such as a last name like mine, and received negative reactions to my differences.

In possessing my father’s last name, those around me continuously mocked and misinterpreted my name and culture, causing me to conform to their likings, dismissing my Nigerian culture.

The thought of being different petrified me.

People constantly butch ered my name and did not take the time to learn the correct pro nunciation. They would make up their own dialects for my last name such as “ee-YOU-che” or “ee-YOU-chee” despite multiple corrections. Some faculty called me solely by last name daily and failed to pronounce it correctly.

Eventually, I enabled igno rance toward my culture to take

for two years at South Plains before transferring to Texas Tech.

It is at Tech where she became one of three women’s basketball players to have their number retired following the National Championship title in 1993.

In a previous interview with The Daily Toreador, former head coach Marsha Sharp said, “We knew we had the chance to do some special things, mainly because we had the National Player of the Year,” regarding Swoopes’ time at Tech.

The championship title

would become a milestone in Red Raider history celebrated by many.

“I love the fact that we were able to win a national title,” Sharp said. “It was one of the highlights of all of our lives and careers.”

Swoopes, as a member of the Houston Comets, became the first person in WNBA history to hold three Most Valuable Player awards. She also received five WNBA first team nominations and won four straight championships from 1997 – 2000.

As an evergreen figure in Tech history, Swoopes’ accomplishments are something to share with all West Texas.

“Red Raider nation celebrates so many memories and lifetime experiences that we all felt with the ‘93 championship team,” athletic director Kirby Hocutt said. “So, to have

that team back and to be able to recognize them 30 years later has been truly special. It is exciting for everyone here, and it is great to have them back.”

Despite a career that took her around the world as part of the United States Women’s National Basketball Team, West Texas still holds a special place for Swoopes. Her love for Tech keeps her coming back, even appearing at the Tech versus Baylor game commemorating the 30-year anniversary of the National Championship.

“It’s always great to be able to come back,” Swoopes said. “This is home, and to be able to celebrate with not only my teammates, but for a lot of Lady Raiders that came back this weekend, it is truly an honor to be here.”

Finding acceptance for my culture

place as I was ultimately tired of repeating myself.

In speaking to journalism major Oluwatomisin Alausa and Tech alum Toluwani Osibamowo, who were both given native names at birth, I found that ignorant occurrences happen frequently among native names and is a common belittling act toward African cultures.

“In kindergarten, my mom tried to teach my elementary school teacher my name and she could not pronounce it,” Alausa said. “My mom broke it down for her and told her it’s “Toh-meesee,” but my teacher coined the name Tomisin so I’ve been going by the name Tomisin at school for as long as I can remember.

“She just didn’t take the time to learn it and as a teacher that’s so important, because you are marking that kid’s identity for the rest of their lives,” Alausa said.

nunciation of my name, and the [announcer] still messed it up,” Alausa said.

It is common for a person who carries cultural differences

get scared, and so I just wouldn’t even bother a lot of the time.”

Moments such as these have a great impact on one’s life experience and have the power to influence how you define yourself. Osibamowo and Alausa chose to define themselves through the beauty of their names.

Osibamowo shared her first name, Toluwani, which means “She belongs to God.”

Alausa also shared her first name, Oluwatomisin, which means “God is enough for me.”

“It’s a constant reminder that God is enough for me and will always be enough for me,” Alausa said.

“It was just so embarrassing to have to teach people how to say my name,” Osibamowo said. “It really wasn’t hard if you just looked at the letters and sounded it out, but people just see a bunch of letters in an order

As I got older, I began to explore and embrace my cultural differences carrying myself in a more confident manner. I talked about and expressed my Nigerian culture more in high school. I no longer hid the fact that I like Afrobeat music, I spoke Igbo and Pidgin frequently and marched through my school calling myself “the Nigerian princess”

In attending Tech, the love for my culture has grown stron-

I visited the Black Cultural Center for the first time last week and met Uriel Onye, assistant librarian in multicultural services and fellow Nigerian, who inspired me to write this. When I realized he was Nigerian, I told him my father is also Nigerian. Evoking a sense of pride, Onye said, “No, you are Nigerian.” He encouraged me to ask my father what my native name was since I did not receive one at birth and only went by my American

Later that day, my father wrote, “By right for been my

first daughter you are the princess of the family. In our tradition we call you Adaobi, or Ada.”

From that moment, everything clicked. My life came full circle.

I spent first through 10th grade begging to change my last name. Now it’s my favorite attribute about myself.

I didn’t allow my experiences to prevent me from loving my African culture or finding out who I am.

Neither should you.

“Your name is the only thing you have and the one thing that is unique to you,” Osibamowo said.

“And for people to not know it or continually not say it right or not try to say it right is very dehumanizing, especially as a person of color.”

I am Kierra Adaobi Shanice Eyiuche. Who are you?

@KierraEyiucheDT

TECH BLACK HISTORY FACTS: LUCILLE S. GRAVES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT ENROLLED IN 1961.

HORTENSE WILLIAMS DIXON WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM TECH IN 1970.

SPRING 2023

CAREER

TEACHER JOB FAIR

March 21st

10 AM - 1 PM | Civic Center

ALL MAJORS JOB FAIR

March 22nd

12 PM - 4 PM | SUB Ballroom

BIG 12 VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR

March 22nd

10 AM - 5 PM | CareerEco Online

NON-PROFIT JOB FAIR

April 5th

11 AM - 2 PM | SUB Courtyard

REGISTER HERE:

Jacob Lujan /The Daily Toreador

Sheryl Swoopes, the first Texas Tech basketball player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, makes an appearance at the Texas Tech versus Baylor women’s basketball game, inside the United Supermarkets Arena Jan. 28, 2023.

Kierra Eyiuche is a second-year CMI major from Wichita Falls

I didn’t allow my experiences to prevent me from loving my African culture or finding out who I am. to encounter a lack of interest from those who are unfamiliar with the matter.

This is home ...

SHERYL SWOOPES National Basketball Hall of Famer

FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE

TWITTER POLL COLUMN

Zodiacs suggest romantic affinity

Madison

COLUMN

Tech oil rig draws ethics debate

Whether it is obvious or not, Texas Tech is an engineering school. With an entire key dedicated to the practices within engineering, Tech has made it a mission to ensure their students build a skillset to set them apart from other universities.

According to the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering’s website, the undergraduate program is ranked fourth in the nation.

Recently, the Department of Petroleum Engineering opened the Oilfield Technology Center for students to gain hands-on experience. This spring, engineering students can visit the center to work with a real, full-scale oil rig. Although the department is working with exciting tools and giving an advantageous education, it seems no one wants to talk about it.

Originally, I took a trip to the Terry Fuller Petroleum Engineering Research Building to find more information about this new oil rig and what its use means for the environment.

I spent time walking around the building to see if anyone had an opinion on the new oil

rig. Coincidentally, I ran into Talal Gamadi, associate chair for undergraduate studies and assistant professor.

Dr. Gamadi guided me around the building but had no official comment on the oil rig’s academic benefits or environmental implications. Despite there being several students in the building, most of them were not within the Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Drilling for oil is inarguably horrible for the environment. Water and air quality are threatened by the process of drilling or related methods, according to The Wilderness Society. The development of fossil fuels continuously leaks toxic substances into the soil and drinking water.

While Lubbock’s tap water is in compliance with EPA standards, it has traces of arsenic, lead, chromium 6 and disinfection byproducts according to Hydroviv, a water filtration company website.

area, is it worth adding to our water crisis?

With a persistent use of these fossil fuels, our world is heating up. Climate change is inevitable, whether you believe it or not. Continuously drilling for oil on any land possible also threatens wildlife. Not only are these creatures displaced from their habitats, but oil spills make the situation much more direct in terms of toxicity.

Fortunately, the Department of Petroleum Engineering is aware of these implications and aims to teach its students an ethical approach to the industry. In fact, the Oilfield Technology Center is in pursuit of newer alternative energy sources like geothermal drilling.

Geothermal energy could be the largest untapped renewable energy source to date, according to Matt Houde in a TEDx conference. Geothermal energy aims to use microwaves to drill deeper into the Earth’s crust since mechanical equipment cannot withstand the tough surface.

While the news is promising, we cannot ignore the fact that oil is inevitably bad for our livelihood. So yes, the first oil rig to be built on a satellite

campus may perpetuate this endless cycle of harming our environment, but it also sheds some light on finding newer energy sources that are more reliable than wind and solar energy.

Knowing this information, it would be ideal to trust the Department of Petroleum Engineering to work toward the future. Unfortunately, no one from within has the willingness to share any bright news about the program. With such little information about something that has contrasting implications for our world, how much longer should we wait to question the project’s validity? Thankfully, our education is a top priority and students can transform textbook ideas into real-life action. However, does it come at the expense of feeding into manufacturing resources we know damage our world?

@MalachiMatsDT

“What’s your zodiac sign?” is a dreaded or favorite question, depending on whom you ask. For some individuals, this question is utilized for romantic prospects.

What if their crush’s zodiac sign is what that random TikTok user said is a compatible match?

When people first think about zodiac compatibility, assumptions are made based on sun sign compatibility. However, this comparison merely scrapes the tip of the iceberg; in fact, this comparison does not explain the full-potential astrological compatibility between two people.

An individual’s sun sign is the zodiac corresponding to the day they are born. This is the common answer people provide when asked what their zodiac is. For example, I was born on May 7, making me a Taurus.

However, a sun sign provides information only about our personality traits, according to Cafe Astrology. With this in mind, there are many other factors to consider if one decides to measure a relationship based on astrology.

For starters, a birth chart contains several placements that make up an individual. Another term commonly brought up is ‘big three’; this relates to a person’s sun, moon and rising sign. Outside of this, there are other aspects of a natal chart, but the ones closely related to relationship compatibility are a person’s Venus, Mercury and Mars placement, according to Cafe Astrology.

While this sounds like a lot more information to learn about, these aspects can provide useful insight about a person.

Venus is the placement ruled by love, relationships and beauty, meaning the zodiac sign a person’s Venus is in can explain their prospects in relationships.

Mercury is the placement that describes how we communicate, another useful factor. Mars is the placement that describes passion and conflict.

The zodiac that falls in these planets of a person’s birth chart can help further explain the romantic character of an individual. For example, my Mercury is in Taurus, making me a stubborn communicator. Characteristics like these are useful in the process of understanding the romantic possibilities between individuals.

Beyond the planets I listed, there are many more aspects that share further information about astrological compatibility.

Each zodiac sign falling under each planet placement has their own meanings and explanations for how they act alongside other placements. Putting ‘incompatible’ placements together does not necessarily mean the relationship will fail, it means there may be some clash in morals, personality or outlooks. Exploring this information makes learning about a person fascinating.

People are familiar with taking personality quizzes. Reading someone’s birth chart is similar, except the findings are backed by when a person was born. With all this being said, I still believe a relationship should blossom from human interaction. Zodiac compatibility is just a fun subject that tells us more about people based off their birth.

@MaddieVidalesDT

Editor Jules Cervera opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Wyatt Adams photo@dailytoreador.com

Digital Content Manager Kierra Eyiuche online@dailytoreador.com

Editor Madison Vidales copy@dailytoreador.com

742-3393

COLUMN Student issues need urgent replies

Although oil rigs exists in the Jules Cervera

Feb. 10, 2023, marks the 100th birthday of Texas Tech.

Originally founded under the name Texas Technological College, Tech did not open for students until 1925.

Reaching this milestone for a college or university is a huge achievement, as 100 years of student and faculty excellence define the system of education.

The upcoming Tech Centennial is a time to reflect on the university’s vibrant past and celebrate the future of the school.

However, the well-being of current students is not at the level it should be. Tech should use this celebration to listen and address the issues of students today.

Here are a few changes Tech should make to strengthen the community.

One of the major problems college students face is the lack of funds. The rising cost to attend school disadvantages students not within a high-income class. According to College Tuition Compare, a university

financial website, Tech’s total cost of attendance has risen 33.39 percent since 2012. While this study is 11 years old, Texas’ minimum wage is the same as it was that year, sitting at $7.25.

Many students work to fund housing and survival responsibilities while paying for school. According to LivingCost.org, the cost of living in Lubbock after-tax median for two months is approximately $3,991. As a student employee, I can make that amount in six months. This

is not adequate to sustain a living as a full-time college student and part-time employee.

Furthermore, the allocation of funds by Tech often seems to forget the educational aspects of the school. Announced in July, the already grandiose Dustin R. Womble Football Center and Jones AT&T Stadium are undergoing renovations, a costly project of $200 million, according to sports website Fan Nation.

While sports is a vital part of Tech’s identity and monetary gain, there are many student employees and programs that deserve these funds. Working two jobs myself at Tech, one of my graduate co-workers was let go last semester due to diminishing funds. Seeing students struggle to keep a job when money is being given to athletics is disheartening as a scholar.

Tech should increase pay for all student employees and work toward retaining jobs for students as well.

Not only is working on campus efficient for many, it also allows students to give back to the university and help better the school. Without student employees, Tech would not be as successful as it is.

In addition to raising wages, Tech should lower fees for students. A major inconvenient fee students receive are parking

tickets. According to Phys.org, Tech is considered the second largest contiguous campus in the U.S. Knowing the magnitude of Tech’s size, it plays into question why parking is limited for students.

With few parking lots available for students, the struggle to find parking for class is an everyday hassle. To avoid increasing parking tickets, I park off campus and often find myself rushing to class due to the lack of spots. One might bring up the availability of parking permits; however, according to TTU Transportation & Parking Services, these passes are firstcome, first-served. Even if one has the funds to pay for a costly permit, Tech Parking may run out of permits before students can purchase them.

Tech needs to listen to students’ grievances about parking and put compassion over greed. The university should enable free parking anywhere on campus, making it easier for students and Tech faculty to access campus.

Along with its many accolades and accomplishments, Tech is an amazing school. The centennial emphasizes how far the school has come in providing a priceless experience and higher education. However, the price of attending Tech is one that deters many from relishing in its glory. Tech must focus on current and prospective students and making college a scholarly blessing, rather than a financial burden.

@JulesCerveraDT

Zoe Taylor/The Daily Toreador

Vidales is a journalism major from El Paso.

CARTOON

Malachi Matsuda is a honors science and humanities major from El Paso.

Sydni Oviedo/The Daily Toreador

Geothermal energy could be the largest untapped renewable energy source... ”

HEAD COACH

Snider set for year one in Lubbock

By CHRIS WILLIAMS SportS editor

Craig Snider’s coaching journey began as an 18-yearold assistant at Lindsey Wilson College, a private NAIA institution in Columbia, Kentucky. Two decades and multiple coaching stops later, Snider now leads the Texas Tech softball program as its head coach, something even the Franklin, Kentucky

path … it’s not like I grew up dreaming of being a collegiate head coach,” Snider said. “I grew up on a farm in Kentucky, I thought that’s probably where I’d end up: back on the farm.”

Snider’s career certainly transcended his humble roots, as he landed assistant jobs at Centenary College, Oklahoma, Florida State and Texas A&M before being named Tech’s ninth head

to be around some decorated head coaches and get to learn from what I think are the best.”

Snider made positive impacts at each stop, notably at Florida State, where he helped lead the Seminoles to three Women’s College World Series appearances during his nine-year tenure in Tallahassee, including the program’s first NCAA National Championship in 2018.

While much of Snider’s 21-year career has been spent as a hitting coach, refining and elevating each programs’ offense, he enters new ground in Lubbock, where he’ll assume head coaching responsibilities for the first time.

“It’s a lot different when you’re sitting in this seat, I’m used to sitting in the cages all day working with hitters,” Snider said. “Now I’m in meetings and managing every aspect of the program. It’s a different challenge, but an exciting challenge.”

joining his inaugural roster at Tech in November of 2022.

Since meeting her eventual coach as a highly-touted high school prospect, Herzog said Snider’s personality and leadership style has stood out at each stop along the way.

“This’ll be my fifth year with (Snider), and he’s kind of the person who recruited me to Florida State, so just from the start we had that initial bond,” Herzog said. “I just love his teaching style … he knows how to make it fun. It’s such a family atmosphere here, I mean you walk into the field and there’s dogs everywhere, there’s kids everywhere.”

“You wouldn’t see that in a lot of places, so that’s what’s kept me drawn to him and I got this opportunity so I thought I should take it,” the two-way player added.

excited and like ‘hell yeah, let’s get this going.”

While Snider’s reputation was well-known to many players prior to his move to Tech, he made his intentions clear during their first team meeting.

set for Feb. 10 at the UT Arlington Tournament, the focus has shifted towards the product on the field for the Red Raiders. Despite leading a program that hasn’t made an NCAA Tournament since 2019, Snider isn’t settling when it comes to his

native couldn’t have predicted.

“I started when I was 18 years old at that NAIA school Lindsey Wilson and I didn’t know if this was the

TRANSFER

coach on June 20, 2022.

“I think it’s kind of neat, along the way I’ve gotten to coach for, now, four Hall of Fame head coaches,” Snider said. “I’ve been very blessed

As Snider embarks on the next chapter of his career, he brings a familiar face with him. Fifth-year senior Makinzy Herzog has spent her entire collegiate career under Snider, seeing him in the assistant role at Florida State and Texas A&M before

Through fall scrimmages and offseason practices, Snider’s impact has been felt among the returning Red Raiders. For junior infielder Arianna Villa, who has endured multiple coaching changes during her time in Lubbock, Snider’s arrival signified a sense of calm.

“When I finally met him on campus, it felt right … it felt like a fresh breath of air that we needed,” Villa said. “I remember being super

“He said a lot, but one thing that stuck with all of us is that he preached family,” Villa said. “He said that a lot of people say it, but a lot of people don’t act on it … I think that’s something that we’ve acted on and I think that’s something we’ve embraced.”

With icebreakers done with and their season opener

year one expectations.

“I think the goal is always making the tournament, let’s see if we can be one of the last 64 (teams) standing,” Snider said. “I think that this program can, I really do. I think that this team can make a run, I think this team can get into a regional and surprise a lot of people.”

Dean finds new motivation with Tech track and field

By JAMES KEITH editor S ASSiStAnt

When it comes to navigating the unknown, there is no mitigation of risk. The only guiding lights are faith and self-assurance, an experience akin to driving down a narrow road without headlights. For Caleb Dean, 1,641 miles separated him from a town he didn't know he'd call home, and a program he didn't know he'd go on to set records for. Transferring from the East Coast to the Hub City left Dean with no expectations, but sometimes going in blindly doesn't mean the vision isn't there.

Coming from Hyattsville, Maryland, senior Caleb Dean didn't get his start at Texas Tech. Dean began his track

that plan.”

The recommendation of a middleman in fellow Maryland transfer Kaithon McDonald brought about the union between Dean and Tech. Tech was unaware of Dean’s availability in the portal until McDonald had put in a word, an action Dean said was based on the two friends’ goal of attending the same school.

I call (Dean) my swiss army knife ... he is just incredible.”

WES KITTLEY TRACK HEAD COACH

Dean has found success in multiple events, but made a statement on Tech history by helping break the men’s 4x400 relay record that stood for over 18 years, clocking a time of 3:04.52, according to Tech Athletics. Dean said helping to break the record meant a lot, and hard practices and intra-team competition, as well as sharp focus helped push him to where he is now.

“We didn’t know he was in the portal, and then Kaithon had contacted us and told us about him and then we started researching him,” head track coach Wes Kittley

Courtney Lindsey, a Tech graduate student and fellow contributing member of the record breaking 4x400 relay run, went into detail about just how competitive the practices can be at the Sports Performance Center.

“It’s very competitive, but we help each other work and we help each other get better,” Lindsey said. “I like the energy we’re bringing this year, and it’s gonna continue to be a very special season.”

“Having so much support from all the fans, my teammates and everything is very important when I transferred here, some of that stuff I didn’t get at the

University of Maryland,”

Dean said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity to work with the coaching staff, with the trainers, the academic support group staff and

everything like that, I’m just thankful for everybody and they’ve made me better everyday.”

JamesKeithDT

Milly Latino/The Daily Toreador

Senior Caleb Dean begins the 4x400 relay race during the Red Raider Open in the Sports Performance Center, Jan. 21, 2023. career at the University of Maryland, where he qualified for the outdoor nationals twice in the men’s 400 meter hurdles.

Upon entering the transfer portal, the kinesiology major had not considered Tech, and shifted his focus to other programs instead.

“I heard from a lot of schools, a lot of D2 schools and D1 schools. The main school that I was trying to go to was the University of Florida, you know, (but) that didn’t work out and that was God’s plan honestly,” Dean said. “I’m excited to be at Tech … I’m proud to be here, I’m thankful to be here and I think God had a plan for me so I’m thankful I followed

said. “I love the hurdles and so he was a quarter hurdler, I thought, and so I knew he’d run some other things ... I call him my swiss army knife because he can run the 60 to the 400 hurdles, and he can run the 60 meter, the 200, the 400, the mile relay. He is just incredible.”

Kittley went on to describe Dean’s versatility as a dilemma, an athlete who presents so many options the coaching staff isn’t sure where to put him for the Big 12 Championships. Kittley said that he feels he’s never coached anyone with the skillset brought about by the Maryland native.

As Kittley’s self-proclaimed swiss army knife,

With a transfer cycle that involved more hurdles and turns than the tracks Dean has built a legacy on, the Tech record holder said that keeping his faith and staying consistent helped prevent any mental or physical burnout. Now holding national qualifying times in multiple events, Dean said him becoming a Red Raider was meant to be.

Criteria include:

•Junior or senior standing* in Texas Tech University and be otherwise eligible according to university regulations

•Enrolled in both fall and spring semesters for year of employment as editor*

•Enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours at Texas Tech

•Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5

•Journalism major or minor preferred

•Preference will be given to applicants with Daily Toreador work experience (or another college/university publication). Previous Toreador Media employees must have separated from the publication in good standing.

•If a junior (applying as a sophomore) must have completed or be enrolled in basic reporting/writing courses, the basic editing course and the advanced reporting course in the journalism curriculum.

* Can be waived by Toreador Media Committee

Applications available in Room 180, Media & Communication Rotunda

Applications

Wyatt Adams/The Daily Toreador

Sophomore pitcher Ranci Willis (left) and senior pitcher/outfielder Makinzy Herzog (right) go through a fielding drill at Rocky Johnson Field, Feb. 8, 2023.

ChrisWilliamsDT

Wyatt Adams/The Daily Toreador

Tech softball head coach Craig Snider observes a practice at Rocky Johnson Field, Feb. 8, 2023.

Hope Esposito/The Daily Toreador Dean prepares for the Jarvis Scott Open inside the Sports Performance Center, Feb. 8, 2023.

ASAS, 1 million chances to give back

By NATHAN KENISON Staff WritEr

In celebration of the Centennial, Texas Tech announced its campaign to reach 1 million hours of logged volunteering by end of the year. All are encouraged to record their service hours on the official TTU Centennial website.

Fortunately, Tech has a long history with service and several service-oriented organizations. One organization, Association of Students Acting in Service, or ASAS, has dedicated itself to providing community service

opportunities to all Tech students. Located in the Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities building, ASAS arranges events on and off campus. While open to all Tech students, ASAS places specific emphasis on substance abuse recovery via volunteering.

Betsy Contreras, a thirdyear counseling and addiction recovery science (CARS) major, said the concepts of addiction recovery and community service go hand in hand.

“A big part of recovery is giving back and educating others and that’s a big, big push within

ASAS,” Contreras said. “We (ASAS) are one of the heaviest service-minded student organizations, and I think we’re going to be one of the frontrunners helping push Tech towards that goal.”

Although the goal will be challenging, Thomas Cochran, a second-year psychology major and Service Chair for ASAS, said the key to success lies within coordination and support among the Red Raider community.

“I think we’ll have to strive for it,” Cochran said. “But I think we can break that barrier,

if we band together and give each other the opportunities.”

Many students have found civil work not only helps others, but also provides a healing experience. Cochran said involvement in his community gives him a unique sense of purpose.

“To be able to be of service has changed my life,” Cochran said. “It’s made me count my blessings twice, definitely.”

Bobby Huddleston, a thirdyear CARS major and student assistant, concurred with Cochran on the personal impact of service.

“Service, personally to me,

it means freedom and joy. To be able to go out and give selflessly of yourself without expectations of having anything in return... .I mean, just being able to give back and see that spark of hope or that glimmer of light in somebody’s face is awesome,” Huddleston said.

ASAS works closely with numerous nonprofits across Lubbock, including Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Texas and South Plains Homeless Consortium.

They student group will organize a slew of upcoming volunteer activities for the re-

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY

mainder of the semester. The contact information for ASAS and other volunteering-centric student organizations can be found on the TechConnect webpage.

Alone or with a group, the members of ASAS encourage any hesitant students to put their volunteering trepidations aside.

“I’d say just dive in. There’s not really a negative outcome,” Contreras said. “Everybody across the board is nervous when they first start, but they always come out loving the experience and ready for more.”

Founders’ Day, Commencement information announced

By ARIANNA FLORES

Editor-in-ChiEf

On Feb. 10, Texas Tech will celebrate its 100th birthday in style with several activities and memorabilia for students and more to enjoy.

Starting at 11 a.m., the first 1,000 students in the Student Union Ballroom will receive a 100th Anniversary Silver Mint Coin. Each coin is numbered and also come with its own certificate of authenticity.

“This will be a keepsake that these students can keep forever, you know, try to remember that they were a student on Texas Tech’s 100th birthday,” Blayne Beal, the director of Centennial Coordination said,“Our goal is to try to get as many students

some centennial swag on our birthday as we can.”

There also will be a DJ, cake and other festivities to celebrate Tech’s birthday until 2 p.m. This is] a fun little break for students during the middle of the class day, Beal said.

Despite being involved in centennial celebrations across the state of Texas, Student Government Association President Austin Phillips said he was most excited for the Founders’ Day celebration.

“I think the one here on campus is a really cool opportunity because it allows our students to celebrate with and allows the community members to come out and celebrate the University on its actual birthday,” Phillips said.

“I think that that’s the one that I’m really looking forward to and really excited to be a part of.”

Starting at 7 p.m., a 3D projection will be displayed on the Administration building with a six-minute-long video repeating every 10 minutes.

“The story will tell a Texas Tech story about our history and in through, you know, not only through academics but also through athletics and through our pride and pageantry of our spirit programs,” Beal said. “It’s gonna be really fun, and we certainly encourage all of our students to, find a time either Friday night, Saturday or Sunday night to come out and enjoy.”

New Regalia for ‘23 Commencement

Another surprise for the centennial celebration is specific to the class of 2023. Debunking the rumors of an all-red cap and gown, Amiee Dixon, the commencement coordinator, said the upcoming undergraduate graduating class will receive their diplomas donning a new look.

The undergraduate cap and gown still will be fully black, but the inside of the gown will be red. The stole will have the 100-logo seen across campus in statues and other memorabilia. For both bachelor’s and master’s caps, there will be a 100 on the tassel to accessorize the new look.

“We wanted our graduates of 2023 to feel special as well,”

Dixon said. “If you go online [TTU Commencement website], they’re already on sale. You can also buy from the campus bookstore, but I would just recommend that you call before to make sure that they have everything in stock.”

After 100 years, students will be a part of a momentous milestone and continue to carry the Red Raider legacy even after they leave the university.

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador New regalia for class of ‘23.

The title variations commemorate changes within the newspaper over the past 100 years.