Tech rowing paddles past obstacles for team growth
By GRACE HAWKINS L a Vida Editor
What started as a small group of Texas Tech students passionate about rowing has quickly evolved into a devoted team competing in regattas and facing the challenges of funding, equipment and competitors.
The Tech Rowing Club, started in May 2024 by student Xavier Lewis, consists of 18 members — five women and 13 men — and is aiming to expand to about 30 members.
Braedyn Canny, the team's treasurer, is one of the five women rowers. Canny, a sophomore astrophysics and mechanical engineering major from Tuckerton, New Jersey, said her goal is to get more women on the rowing team.
“The problem is that sometimes we don't technically have enough for a four (a boat with four rowers and a coxswain),” Canny said. “When your membership is as low and circumstances can change at any moment, it’s a possibility that the women won't get to race at all.”
The team started doing regattas (rowing competitions) in October.
Michael Bohr, captain of the team and a junior engineering student from Houston, said they already have seen a vast improvement. In November, the team secured a winning medal in a race against Baylor.
However, as the team continues to succeed, its members are seeking new equipment, Canny said.
Because of the high cost of the sport, the team uses hand-medowns from other schools to keep
its operation costs lower. Although the team does have a membership fee ranging from $50 to $250, it doesn’t receive any financial contribution from Tech.
“We get our boats as a donation from other clubs, so we don't often get the most top-of-the-line boats.
I think that our first eight-person boat was from 1993,” Canny said.
“It came from UT, and UT gave it to A&M, and A&M gave it to us.”
Hoping for Tech’s support and more members joining the team, Bohr said he wants to see more equipment to ensure safety as the team continues to grow.
“I would like us to eventually have a boat house because currently our boats are stored outside,” Bohr
said. “I was out there working on the boat the other night and was greeted by three coyotes. If there was a boat house, that wouldn't happen.”
Nonetheless, Bohr said he loves the sport and is passionate about being in a team environment and helping fellow rowers grow. The beginner-friendly team has seen growth in members who are new to the sport.
Despite the sport being physically and mentally demanding, Canny said she remembers just starting out rowing and thriving on words of encouragement from team members.
“When I first joined, I felt like I was horrible, but compliments
LEDA works to increase city’s post-graduation retention rates
By LOGAN NEAL Staff WritEr
Lubbock Economic Development Alliance is striving to secure and expand its impact on college students through focused programs and marketing strategies that promote student retention in the Hub City after graduation.
LEDA is an organization that works closely with both existing and prospective businesses in Lubbock, with the goal of promoting economic and community development. According to its website, LEDA works to provide data regarding the city’s economy, market the community, and address workforce-related issues among other objectives.
John Osborne, president and CEO of LEDA, said the college atmosphere in Lubbock provides a multitude of necessary additions
to the local economy.
“The fact that they eat and shop, they’re getting their haircuts, they’re going out with friends, doing all the things that college students do brings all this money,” Osborne said. “Businesses love a young generation also because that’s your workforce. It’s also your future CEOs, and you all bring a fresh set of ideas and solutions to challenges.”
With one of the largest demographics in Lubbock falling within the 20-24 year old age bracket, according to the 2023 Census Bureau records, the development of the city’s economy and community is largely dependent on the input of the college population.
In recognizing the importance of fostering and maintaining a strong college centric culture, LEDA has made keeping students in Lubbock post graduation a
priority. Osborne said it is the goal of the company to create an atmosphere that is appealing to young adults even after their collegiate careers are over.
“The City of Lubbock and LEDA have focused tremendously on improvements to our community that fall in line with what these younger generations are looking for and want, and we’re as fast as we can trying to develop those assets,” Osborne said.
Jillian Guinn, the social media coordinator of LEDA, said one of the ways the company hopes to reach college-age adults is through social media. The goal is to use these platforms to highlight different appeals Lubbock may provide.
“Through our socials, I really try to give a realistic view of what life in Lubbock is like, whether
from team members and coaches–from Michael specifically,” Canny said. “Words of encouragement are definitely what our team runs off of because there's not much else.”
Rowing on Buffalo Springs Lake, surrounded by the canyon and a sunset-painted sky, is an experience unlike any other, Bohr said.
“You're in the middle of a canyon on the water and the sun's either going up or it's going down, so you're catching the West Texas sky, with people you care about, doing something you love,” Bohr said. “It's like you're one with the boat and you're one with others, It's like you guys are a car and you're revving an engine.”
BASKETBALL
“I would like to leave behind a team that's going to see growth and improvement,” Bohr said. “Something that I could come back to in 10 years and look at it and, ‘I was a part of that.’”
The team utilizes the rowing machines at Tech’s Rec Center every weekday and gets out on the water at Buffalo Springs Lake two to three times a week.
For more information about the team, visit its Instagram page or website.
The team is focused not only on expanding its equipment and resources but also on building a strong foundation and a legacy for rowing at Tech.
@GraceHawkinsDT
McMillian’s character promotes team morale
By CORY WHITMAN SportS rEportEr
Most post-game conferences with head coach Grant McCasland detail where the Texas Tech men’s basketball team can improve. However, on Jan. 18, the conference went beyond its traditional routine.
Behind a broken-up voice and watery eyes, McCasland detailed not what his team learned from him but what he and the Red Raiders absorbed from super-senior guard Chance McMillian.
McCasland said his heartfelt reaction to McMillian stems from hard work in practice, games and in life.
“He’s really inspirational for me because I hope that I’m like Chance,” McCasland said on the verge of tears. “Not just as a coach, but in life. The reason why our team is winning is because of him.”
be the head coach of the program.
McMillian is in his second season as a Red Raider, previously attending Grand Canyon University for three years.
While at Grand Canyon, McMillian averaged seven points per game off of 20 minutes per contest.
Since moving to West Texas under McCasland, McMillian has nearly doubled his points at 13 per game and averages 31 minutes per matchup, according to Tech Athletics.
McMillian said the belief McCasland has instilled in him has elevated his game and frame of mind while at the Red Raider program.
McMillian committed to transfer to Tech just 21 days after McCasland was announced to
“It tells me that he really trusts me with the team,” McMillian said. “So I’m gonna try and do my best with my part to make sure the team is straight no matter what it is, off the court, on the court. No matter what it is.”
ROBERT LOOPER/The Daily Toreador
From front to back, Texas Tech students Michael Bohr, Blayne Bradford, James Simmons and Braedyn Canny, row a five-man boat on Buffalo Springs Lake Feb.6 2025.
ALESSANDRA RIOS/The Daily Toreador
The Lubbock Economic Develpment Alliance is working to revitalize the city’s downtown landscape through studentretention programs intended to invite post-graduates to move to the Hub City.
Professors advance heart research with AHA funding
By AYNSLEY LARSEN News editor
Three Texas Tech professors received funding from the American Heart Association to support the research of cardiovascular diseases and events, the leading cause of death in the United States. Each was awarded $200,000 over the next two years by the 2025 AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award to support this research at universities, according to the AHA website.
Tech was the only institution to claim three separate awardees in the category out of 18 total winners.
While their next two years of research will be partially funded by the same organization, the professors’ fields of study could not differ more.
Within Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, assistant professor Indrajit Srivastava and his team in the Srivastava Lab are working to develop an afterglow technology that would illuminate plaque
buildup in individuals’ arteries.
“We use nanotechnology, and we developed these new types of nanosensors that can help us visualize the tumors better, help us visualize plaques better,” Srivastava said.
He likened the plaque buildup in arteries to drainage and blockage in piping found in homes. This blockage, Srivastava said, can form with a lack of exercise and excessive indulgence in “super saturated fats,” leading to limited blood flow.
In the current cardiovascular research space, fluorescent lighting shines a laser, activating a temporary target dye, on these atherosclerosis plaques to generate light from problem areas during surgeries.
This illumination, however, has its limitations. Prolonged exposure to the laser can cause burns, but current illumination technology only lasts for short bursts of time and may fail to attach to smaller, but still dangerous, plaque concentrations.
Srivastava’s platelet-
like afterglow technology would fill this present gap and benefit both the detection of these plaques and their removal during surgery.
“With this afterglow, since you close the laser, there’s nothing to excite anymore, not even the blood, not even the tissue. So everything will be pitch dark. The only thing which will be lighting would be your plaques with the dyes attached to it,” Srivastava said.
On the opposite end of campus, Andrew Shin and his lab are diving into an avenue of research that would help prevent certain cardiovascular diseases rather than detect them.
Shin, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences, is using his funding from the AHA award to explore what he called a potentially controversial hypothesis.
Building on an idea pitched by fourth-year graduate student Fereshteh Dehghani, Shin’s lab is investigating a trend in branched-chain amino acids — protein nutrients of-
ten used for muscle growth — and their impact on reward functions in the brain.
“Physiologically or pathophysiologically, what has been shown in the last 30 years is that, as (someone) becomes repeatedly exposed to eating this yummy, tasty food, it rewires the brain, so that later on it increases your proclivity to go for this yummy food next time,” Shin said.
This reinforcing effect has been explored in sugars and fatty foods, Shin said, but little is known about the effect of protein.
BCAAs often are found in protein powders and bars, Shin said, and have previously been found to benefit chronic conditions associated with “muscle wasting.”
“(BCAA is) touted as sort of the natural medicine to increase your lean mass, induce appetite suppression, burn off your fat, promote your muscle recovery after workout,” Shin said. “So it’s been touted as the magic nutrient, until now.”
Although the hypothesis has not yet been proven, Shin expects the research
NATIONAL
to bring attention to potential negative effects of these widely used BCAAs. These effects could include reward functions leading to obesity, the “overconsumption of palatable food” and cardiovascular diseases.
Shin’s lab is working on mice trials where the team manipulates the diets of 180 mice, introducing varying concentrations of BCAAs in their food, and examines the brain’s response to the protein and the mice’s desire to seek more of the “palatable food.”
In yet another variation of cardiovascular research taking place on Tech’s campus, Peter Keyel, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is working to define the role of a protein in the blood in the prevention of strokes and heart events.
“DNA is one of the most toxic molecules out there, believe it or not,” Keyel said. “If it’s in your nucleus, if it’s in your mitochondria, it’s fine, but once it gets out of those, that’s a major alarm signal.”
Two proteins help re -
move DNA in the blood, Keyel said, one of which is DNASE1L3. The absence of this protein has been linked to lupus and an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular events.
Keyel’s current research is seeking an answer to the question of whether the loss of DNASE1L3 “drives an increase in stroke, brain permeability and other atherosclerotic issues.”
Also in a mice trial stage, Keyel’s lab is able to delete the protein from a mouse’s genetic model and examine the effects on the animals thereafter.
Keyel also received a research grant from the AHA in 2023, which funded a project examining causes of microcalcification and arteries hardening.
“You’re looking at cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death,” Keyel said, “and so this work helps us get closer to reducing these and developing some of those mechanisms that will help us drive treatments and improve people’s lives.”
@AynsleyLarsenDT
Budget cuts place financial aid at risk
By ALLIE SCOTT staff writer
Roughly $370 million in financial aid is disbursed to 76 percent of Texas Tech students, and their access to this resource could be at risk after recent budget cuts in the Department of Education.
The Department of Education cut 89 contracts, worth $881 million, Monday, according to a post on the Department of Government Efficiency’s social media. While only budget cuts have been made, President Donald Trump said his initial campaign was to abolish the
United States Department of Education.
Should he do so, Tech students may see a severe effect on FAFSA applications and student loans, Brooks Gustafson, associate director of outreach and engagement at Texas Tech’s Financial Aid and Scholarships, said.
The Department of Education is responsible for administering Pell Grants, federal student loans and the loan repayment and forgiveness program. Thirty percent of college students in the United States rely on federal loans to pay their tuition, according to the National Education Association.
“One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states,” Trump said in October 2023 in a video posted to Forbes Breaking News.
Trump’s proposal included reallocating funds to school choice initiatives, such as charter schools. This policy changes how schools receive funds by introducing elements of competition.
Eliminating the Department of Education would give educational governance back to the states. This would allow for more tailored needs and preferences to regional areas and could help address
and decentralize specific educational challenges. However, abolishing the Department of Education will be a difficult task as Trump will need an act of Congress to do so. It is unclear if he will have enough support from lawmakers.
Federal student aid programs would not simply disappear, rather they would be administered to other agencies. They could possibly be transferred to the Department of Justice or Department of Labor or Department of Treasury, said Kevin Welner, director of National Education Policy Center in a statement posted to U.S. News on Feb. 4.
“That money (FAFSA) is funded by the Department of Education, so if that were to happen, that would be a big thing that would affect our students in a big way,” Gustafson said. “How students are eligible for federal aid and state aid and university aid is all through FAFSA.” The financial aid that students receive includes scholarships, grants, work studies and loans.
“Pell Grants are one of the biggest federal programs that we have and that is something a lot of students get, so absolutely, there is a lot of money that students get here at Texas Tech that
By ELIJAH FARIAS Staff Writer
The smell of paint fills the room as hip-hop beats through headphone speakers. Canvases are spread across the floor and rough sketches line the walls.
Daniel Mensah, a firstyear graduate student majoring in painting from Ghana, pulls inspiration from his work space to incorporate hip-hop and graffiti into his artwork.
“I’ve been a strong passionate person about art, like almost every art. I just enjoy creating stuff,” Mensah said. “My specialty is more in spray paint, and I do a lot of graffiti and see how well I could bring it into the exhibition space.”
Mensah’s work uses a variety of silhouettes and colors to emphasize his messages and stand out from other artists.
“Despite me knowing how to paint acrylic, oil, watercolor and all those mediums, I wanted to find something unique,” Mensah said.
Growing up in the ‘90s, Mensah said he was inspired by American music and apparel, becoming heavily influenced by the culture.
“It was very interesting trying to copy the Western culture and especially American culture and what they do,” Mensah said.
Mensah credited hip-hop music with having the biggest impact on him, his art, and how he interprets hip-hop and his own culture. Albums like Good Kid, m.A.A.d City by Kendrick Lamar, 4:44 by Jay-Z, and artists like Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne had a major impact on Mensah’s life.
Through his love of hip-hop, Mensah said he discovered graffiti and wanted to find ways to use it in his artwork. Graffiti drew him in because it allows people to send their messages quickly in different locations, he said. Mensah first practiced graffiti in Ghana and embraced the culture that came from that art form.
“Knowing how illegal it was, because it was
STUDENT ORGANIZATION
vandalism, people were just going out of their way to destroy people’s buildings, which I’m not in support of, but I love the graffiti culture,” Mensah said. “I like the way you would have to hide to do it and try to create a piece.”
Despite any criticism Mensah receives about his art, he said he uses it as inspiration to improve his craft and lets it impact him in different ways.
“I don’t really call it negativity because I grew up on negativity,” Mensah said. “If you’ve been a kid like I have been, once you’re doing arts, they see you as a bad child, and you don’t want to learn, and your friends are doing science and why are you doing this. So I always take it as a flip to it.”
Mensah received a bachelor’s in fine arts in 2017 from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.
Mensah took some time off for work before being inspired by a friend to continue his education and pursue a master’s at Tech.
“I took it upon myself to
Student incorporates hip-hop, graffiti into art
come and see how I could progress, and I feel like it’s been such an amazing journey for me so far,” Mensah said.
Andrew Martin, a professor of art at Tech’s School of Art and Mensah’s former teacher, said he was a terrific student and artist. He said Mensah’s dedication and energy to his work was extremely high, and it is a delight he’s part of the graduate Master of Fine Arts program.
“He doesn’t only do
what you would call graffitioriented work, he does easeltype or stretched canvases and that kind of work as well,” Martin said. “And he’s very good at all of that but it’s unusual, I think, to have somebody that has those sorts of combinations of interests and skills.”
Mensah said one way he’s trying to change people’s perception of graffiti is by incorporating elements of it into his pieces for exhibitions.
“I’m in a space where I’m
“I
Masked Bakers serve love with pastries
By CHRISTIAN JETER Staff Writer
In campus kitchens filled with the scent of freshly baked pastries and sweets, the Masked Bakers utilize their love for baking to support underprivileged individuals.
By using the kitchen labs located in the College of Human Sciences, the organi-
zation brings its own ingredients once a month to bake a plethora of goods. After the baking is complete, the food is donated to either of two care facilities: Mi Casita Care Center or Lakeside Rehabilitation. Claire Pittner, the social media manager of Masked Bakers and a third-year nursing and human science major from Austin, said baking is a
selfless activity that requires a lot of care during preparation.
“I truly think baking is an expression of love, because it’s time that you take out of your day to provide for somebody else,” Pittner said.
In preparation for donation, the Masked Bakers prepare dishes such as cookies, pastries and Rice Krispie treats.
“Last semester we cooked this little pumpkin-shaped apple pastry. We coated them with cinnamon sugar, then we made our own caramel sauce and drizzled it on top, and they became a fan favorite,” Pittner said.
The organization directly interacts with residents rather than drop food off at care facilities, said Hannah Zisk-
rout, a fourth-year honors science and humanities major from Houston, who is also the president of the organization.
“We distribute ourselves, and we talk to the residents of wherever we’re serving,” Ziskrout said. “We just get to know them and put a smile on their faces while we donate the baked goods.” Ziskrout also said there is a
special level of devotion that goes into baking food and immediately donating it to those who need it.
“There is something very personal and caring about making our own food from scratch and then giving it to underprivileged communities,” Ziskrout said.
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
JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador
Daniel Mensah poses for a photo in his First Friday Art Trail exhibit Feb. 7, 2025.
seeing how well I could move graffiti from just being on walls and outdoors into like an exhibition space,” Mensah said. He hopes his art style can inspire people, Mensah said. Specifically younger kids, who feel skeptical about getting into art.
want them to go for it and really do what they have to do. Learn the rules and break the rules,” Mensah said.
COLUMN
Formula One furthers push into U.S. market
The United States and Formula One have had a troubled history. With low attendance, controversial races and venue locations, it was always a hard market for Formula One to cater to. Recent efforts, however, have seen a massive expansion into the U.S.
In the past 10 years, the States have seen two more races added to the Formula One calendar, with the Haas Racing Team moved to Miami and the addition of the Cadillac Racing Team in Las Vegas slated for 2026.
This recent effort has been under development for a long time, and much of it is due to how the brand shifted to younger audiences and its push to bring more research and development to major American automobile brands.
Formula One has pioneered how many people now view athletes when they’re off the field of play with its “Drive to Survive” series on Netflix. It allowed younger audiences to understand the drivers more as characters, with motivations and desires for their careers.
Daniel Riccardo gained sudden fame in Texas and did a number of commercials with other prominent athletes
such as Josh Allen.
This boosted interest can be seen with the recent additions of the Miami and Las Vegas Grand Prix, two cities known for their nightlife and fast-paced environment, fitting right in with Formula One.
In the case of Las Vegas, Formula One spent around $500 million to properly pave roads, set up grandstands and close down the iconic strip for race weekend. This sort of investment cannot be justified unless you are confident in its success.
This surge into the U.S. markets comes at a chaotic time for the sport with established drivers going to different teams. Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes after the end of his contract with Ferrari sent shockwaves through the community. This, paired with the many new drivers coming in from Formula 2, has made this upcoming season one to keep an eye on.
Behind the scenes, the teams themselves also have started to look in the U.S. for engineering breakthroughs and development. Haas F1 Racing saw itself in turmoil in 2022 with the war in Ukraine, as it was originally based in Russia, and found a new sponsor with MoneyGram and made the decision to move back to its roots in the United States.
Red Bull also looked toward the U.S. with its deci-
sion to partner with Ford Motor to create the hybrid power units for its 2026 cars in development. This announcement came the same year as General Motors announced its plan to compete in the 2026 season under the Cadillac name.
One major reason for potential stagnation was showcased by Red Bull dominating the 2023 season, failing to secure first place in only one of the 20 races that year.
Viewers are less likely to tune in to a sporting event if one team is always taking the field by storm, especially considering the shortening attention span of younger audiences.
In response, Formula One has utilized social media as a major marketing tool to get viewers to watch these races, but it’s not a strategy that can hold out for long.
Fortunately though, the 2024 season was a return to the glory days, with teams such as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes putting up a fight to challenge Red Bull and drawing massive audiences for the American races both in ticket sales and viewership.
Paired with the social media side of things and the transition to manufacturing and development to the U.S., this push by Formula One is one that many other major sport divisions could look to when it comes to expanding into new markets.
Temperamental weather
COLUMN
Valentine’s
February marks hearts in one way or another, but it seems there is a spike in resentment toward the holiday. Is there a way to change the public sentiment toward Valentine’s Day, or is it just stuck with the hatred attached to it?
The holiday began as a day to honor St. Valentine, who was dedicated to officiating weddings during the Roman Empire reign. Nowadays, however, it seems people have different ideas of what Valentine’s Day really stands for.
The popular conception of Valentine’s only being a Hallmark holiday and solely for profit isn’t entirely unfounded, because sales seem to spike a ton during the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation, the previous record for Valentine’s Day shopping was set in 2020, raising the ceiling to $24.7 billion, and the NRF predicts the record will break again this year, peaking at $27.5 billion.
So the idea of profit isn’t wrong — the pink gets eas-
Day: What you make it
ily lost behind the green. Nevertheless, Valentine’s still can be worthwhile; it all just depends on how people celebrate.
Starting in elementary school, all the students would purchase something called Penny for Grams, which was students sending silly poems we wrote ourselves and a piece of candy to someone.
In middle school and high school, choir programs would go around serenading people in class, which at the time seemed super embarrassing. Looking back on it, however, it was a good laugh and sweet idea.
Even with love in the air, it’s harder for Gen Z to appreciate such a nice holiday. Generation X was the first generation to experience a normality in divorced parents, and with them being the parents to Gen Z, the disillusionment with love can bleed into current ideals.
This disillusionment can taint the very idea of Valentine’s Day. The Survey Center on American Life found that only 56 percent of Gen Z adults actually had a romantic relationship during their teenage years, which results in a lack of experience leading into
adulthood.
The internet also influences Gen Z’s perspective on love. Creating a fake persona or catfishing has become extremely easy, which creates an easy way to boost the fear of rejection. As the first full generation to grow up with the internet and dating apps, Gen Z has become a part of the culture to identify love with a swipe left or right. It seems as though the older generations get, the more the idea of love dies off. Valentine’s Day should be a time to celebrate those we love, such as friends, family or even a romantic partner.
Growing up should make it easier to determine what love is and what the real meaning of Valentine’s Day should be instead of resenting the pink heart balloons in the grocery aisle.
So instead of glancing at the chocolate -covered strawberries and snarling this Valentine’s, maybe buying a gift for a friend can start a new movement within the generation. Spark a new wave of romance and bring the true meaning of love back into a generation that has had such scant experience with it.
59. Combine, as traffic
1. “For Pete’s ___”
2. Barton and Bow
3. Go on the offensive
4. Oppose
5. Drink slowly
6. Biblical figure asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac
7. Like a dad joke
8. Action figures and Barbie dolls
9. Pointy weapons of war
10. “I’ve got to ___ you”
11. Like sushi, typically
12. Device that saves live TV (abbr.)
13. Alternative milk ingredient
18. Between afternoon and night
24. Like many sign-language users
25. With 39-across, Coke’s competitor
26. The boys in blue
27. Seer
29. Document used to transfer legal ownership of a property
31. Canonized fifth-century pope
32. Fibbed
33. Cert. to receive before becoming a paramedic
35. Ice planet in the beginning “The Empire Strikes Back”
36. Plant often used as a sunburn cure
37. Birds known for their irregular flapping
38. Prefix for sphere
39. Chicago hrs
42. The moon goes through eight of these every 29.5 days
44. Greek goddess of wisdom
45. “ ___ the mirror!”
46. Apply, as an image to fabric
48. Long ___ (coldweather underwear)
49. Sports venue
50. Novel
52. Eminem song about an obsessive fan
54. Their motto describes them as the “bravest” in their city (abbr.)
55. Texter’s “That’s totally crazy!”
56. “Young Frankenstein” writer and director Brooks
58. It takes forever
A playable online version of this crossword and its solution are available at dailytoreador.com/ puzzles.
Cameron Zapata is a senior creative media industries major from San Antonio.
Alex Serratti is a sophomore journalism major from McKinney.
This sense of trust was put to the test on Feb 1. when Tech was up against No. 6 University of Houston. Both Tech’s leading scorer, sophomore forward JT Toppin, and McCasland were ejected early in the game, leaving McMillian in a position to step up for the team.
McMillian ended the game matching his seasonhigh in points with 23 as well as sinking the eventual game-winning free throws late in overtime.
McMillian said his ability to stay composed and not pass any blame toward the rest of his teammates always has been imprinted in him from his mother, Judy Bowers.
“That mentality has
always been in me,” McMillian said. “I really get that from my mom. My mom goes through a lot, and she never complains or anything like that so I really take pride in that.”
McCasland said he was not surprised with McMillian’s effort and leadership shown on the floor in his absence, pinning those actions as the result of the team’s overall success.
“He always puts himself in the right position, and that’s why he’s one of our leaders,” McCasland said.
“... It’s those effort plays that Chance makes that always is the difference for us.”
Off of the court, McMillian has deep-rooted bonds with his teammates, specifically with junior forward Darrion Williams.
McMillian and Williams
are both from California and played against each other in tournaments at young ages. The duo also played against each other at the collegiate level before their paths crossed again in Lubbock.
Williams said the bond the two share has become stronger than just basketball and with McMillian’s recent success, he couldn’t feel happier to play alongside McMillian in the super-seniors final season of collegiate basketball.
“It means everything to me. He’s my best friend here,” Williams said. “Me and him got close since day one. … Seeing him do good makes me happy. I’m his biggest fan. He’s pretty old, so he should be doing that.”
Patience paves Maxcey’s journey to starter
By ANDREW GOODRICH SportS reporter
For the past two seasons, he’s sat behind the plate waiting for the opportunity to earn a solidified spot in the starting lineup.
While most would have transferred to another team, Dylan Maxcey said there was nothing more valuable than learning from the Texas Tech baseball players before him.
The junior from Friendswood was in the latter of a rotation behind two future MLB draft picks, Hudson White in 2023 and Kevin Bazzell in 2024, according to Tech Athletics. Now, he’s entering the Tech baseball season as a starter in the team’s lineup.
“I think a lot of people would have transferred out but, honestly, I don’t know if I could,” Maxcey said. “I don’t know if I would have learned more if I would have transferred out and played somewhere else.”
Over the past two seasons with the Red Raiders, Maxcey has started 39 per-
cent of Tech’s games, according to Tech Athletics.
Combined with the playing time Maxcey already has amassed, head coach Tim Tadlock said learning from Bazzell was an integral part of the budding catcher’s development.
Maxcey is in the spotlight now at a position where mistakes need to be minimal, but Tadlock said since Maxcey arrived on campus freshman year, Tadlock has had full belief in his ability to perform.
“Dylan’s always been his own guy, and has had a knack for being a baseball player and having a gamer about him,” Tadlock said. “That’s just something some guys are just born with. I think he has that.”
Tadlock’s sentiments were evident in Maxcey’s early start at Friendswood High School where he saw his name on the varsity team roster at 13 years old.
At a program that has a consistent postseason appearance record, Maxcey helped push the team to its first state championship appearance in school
history in 2022, according to Tech Athletics.
“I just never had to worry if he was doing the work or not,” said Benavides, Friendswood high school baseball coach. “As you watched him play he was able to produce in
so many situations in big situations — just his work ethic alone that solves a lot of the issues in ball players.”
Now in the starting lineup as Tech’s No. 1 catcher, Maxcey will have his chance to command his
own journey to the major leagues like those who came before him.
“I think the best decision for me was going under those guys and letting them take me under their wing,” Maxcey said, “and kind of learning from them
and understanding how to carry myself as being the guy behind the plate, potentially every day, and being able to lead a team and lead a program behind the plate.”
@AndrewG_DT
JADON CHESNUTT/The Daily Toreador
No. 13 Texas Tech’s junior Darrion Williams embraces his teammate, super-senior Chance McMillian, as the final score is set against Baylor University 73-59 at United Supermarkets Arena Feb. 4, 2025.
MAKAYLA PEREZ/The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech sophomore Dylan Maxcey (26) catches the ball ahead of game two against West Virginia University at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park April 21, 2024.
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that be fun things to do, or local businesses that you need to check out or even highlighting different companies that have a really cool company culture,” Guinn said.
Osborne said he feels even if students choose
EDUCATION
to leave Lubbock upon graduation, the longterm goal of LEDA is for the city’s culture to provide enough of an impression that Tech alumni will eventually return permanently.
“Later you want to move back to Lubbock, OK, bring that family in, and now you’re bringing
that wealth of knowledge and experience that you’ve had in other places, back to our community to help grow our community in a positive manner,” Osborne said.
After graduation, Guinn, a Tech alumna, said she went to Dallas to explore job opportunities, but felt incredibly discon-
nected from the city’s busy atmosphere. She moved back to Lubbock to once again feel the security of a close-knit community with big-city opportunities.
“It was a big city, but something about it felt like home. It felt small. Still, everyone kind of knew each other,” Guinn said. “It was like a really tight-knit community. Even though we have these big metro opportunities and amenities, it still felt personable.”
Kristin Grau, a senior agricultural communications major from Grady, New Mexico, said the combination of rural and urban city dynamics Lubbock offers makes it a very easy city to settle down in.
“Lubbock as a city is a really great place. It’s easy to navigate,” Grau said. “People are so friendly. There’s plenty of things to do, but you’re also still a big part of agriculture.”
Lubbock incentivizes student teachers to stay
By AUDREY BOISSONNEAULT Copy Editor
With incentives from Lubbock Independent School District including paid residencies, early contracts and signing bonuses, a majority of Texas Tech student teachers choose to find work in Lubbock after graduation.
Tech’s College of Edu -
cation requires students to do a year of student teaching their senior year of college in which they work in classrooms for four days a week alongside their mentor teacher, said Sherre Heider, professional development facilitator for Tech Teach.
As part of Tech Teach, Most student teachers are placed in Lubbock
ISD and continue to work there after graduation.
Information from the Educator Preparation Program showed in the 2023-24 academic year, 87 students who graduated from Tech within three years of the data collection were working in Lubbock ISD. Although not as recent, more EPP data from 2020 showed
the top five districts Tech graduates went to teach in were Lubbock, Frisco, Lubbock-Cooper, Fort Worth and Northside ISD in San Antonio, respectively.
Even with no open positions within the Lubbock ISD, Donna Brasher, director of Tech Teach, said students may receive an early contract for future employment while student teaching.
“They will offer them an early contract to ensure they are going to stay with Lubbock ISD, even if they do not have an open position,” Brasher said. “They know positions are going to open up, or they will create positions so they do not lose our candidates.”
While not common, the district may offer a signing bonus to high-performing student teachers if they will come back to work in the district after graduation, Heider said.
One of the biggest ways Lubbock ISD keeps student teachers, Heider said, is with paid residencies that allow students to receive funds while
they’re student teaching.
“The paid residencies have definitely brought an incentive to studentteaching districts,” Heider said. “Sometimes, not all, the district might say, ‘I’m going to provide you a paid stipend. I would like for you to commit to teach for our district for one to three years past graduation.’”
Gabriella Degrosa, a junior education major from San Antonio, said the incentives from Lubbock ISD, specifically the paid residency, would offset some financial issues while allowing her to focus on student teaching without requiring another job.
residency,” Degrosa said. “Lubbock ISD, Lubbock -Cooper, all the ISDs basically surrounding Lubbock, are involved with this.”
Brasher said Lubbock ISD offers these incentives to Tech Teach students because of Tech’s rigorous standards, training and strong partnerships with nearby districts. In addition, a graphic shared by the Texas Education Agency indicated that Tech Teach students outperform other programs in student growth with math.
That’s a reason local and other districts seek out our candidates. There is data that shows that they are truly better than others across the state.
DONNA BRASHER TECH TEACH DIRECTOR
“One of the beautiful things with the Tech Teaches Program is that when you are a senior you can apply for a teaching
“That’s a reason local and other districts seek out our candidates,” Brasher said. “There is data that shows that they are truly better than others across the state.”
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is from filling out FAFSA,” Gustafson said.
Pell Grants are unlikely to be affected by the abolition of the Department of Education as they have bipartisan support, but Congress may vote to cut funding for federal college access initiatives, Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of the American Association of University Women said in a statement posted to U.S. News on Feb. 4. Linda McMahon, Trump’s education secretary, is a universal school choice advocate. For the last 16 years she was a trustee of Connecticut’s Sacred Heart University, according to the Connecticut Post.
“We will send education back to the states, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump said on Nov. 19 when announcing McMahon as his nominee for Secretary of Education.
Antonella Mata, a freshman political science major from Austin, said she heard about the proposal from Instagram.
“I do not think my family is capable of paying for a full education,” Mata said. “I think there is a solution if we try and look for other types of help. We could cover it, but, yes, I do see it affecting me.”
Though the timeline is unclear, the Trump administration began drafting an executive order that would start the elimination process of the Department of Education in early February. Also, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced H.R. 899, a bill to abolish the Department of Education, at the end of January. The bill is one sentence long, stating, “The Department of Education shall terminate on Dec. 31, 2026.”
JACOB LUJAN/The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech students in the student-teacher residency program are given a direct pathway to becoming a teacher through teaching opportunities and incentives to keep them in Lubbock.