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Find out how Techs Concrete Canoe team kept afloat

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Do you have what it takes to survive

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

The alumni walkway moves toward completion.

BOOT CAMP?
The
April 13, 2012

PAGE 3

Volume 86

T ech T alk
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The student voice of Louisiana Tech University

Number 19

SGA student voting to begin April 18

Candidates announce uncontested positions
HANNAH SCHILLING Staff Reporter When students go to vote April 18-19, they may notice the ballot is slightly empty this year. The reason? All candidates running for the Student Government Association are unopposed. Meet your new SGA president, Will Dearmon. Im very excited, Dearmon said. This is a great opportunity to serve the student body on a large level. Dearmon said the reason he is running for president is simple: He loves Tech, and he wants to serve the students. I want to maintain the prior commitment to servitude and figure out a way to make SGA more stable and more in touch with the student body and make unheard voices heard across campus, Dearmon said. Clint Carlisle, current SGA president, said DearIdeas for Louisiana mon will do a great Tech, she said. Its job filling the posigoal would be to tion of president. talk to students and I have had the find 100 ideas that opportunity to work benefit more than with Will in many one student group, capacities, Carlisle not including SGA, said. I have witand have a lasting nessed firsthand his impact on our uniPRESIDENT passion and deterversity. mination to make a East said she Dearmon positive impact on wants to change the our campus. I beway people view lieve Will has what the vice president it takes to help adposition as unapvance our university proachable and she in a positive direcencourages all stution. dents to come visit Dearmons vice and talk with her. president is Allison Student feedEast. back is vital, East Its a lot of emo- VICE PRESIDENT said. Students are tions, East said. the reason were East Im beyond excited here. to get to work, comKe w ay n e t h i a n pletely shocked and Riser will be takhonored to be able ing the position as to represent the SGAs new secrestudents and a little tary. disappointed that I cannot wait to theres not an actual get to work with the race. fellow executives East said she has and plan out next ideas that she has year so itll be aweSECRETARY waited two years some, Riser said. Riser to try, and its great Riser said his foto finally get the cus is to make SGA chance. more accessible to students. One of my biggest plans for next year is implementing a program called 100 Great > see CANDIDATES page 7

Proposed fee to enhance campus appeal

HANNAH SCHILLING Staff Reporter

Students will get a chance to vote whether or not to add $30 to their tuition April 18-19. The enhancement fee will apply to full-time students and will be adjusted for part-time students based on the number of hours the student is taking, according to James King, vice president of student affairs. Its multifaceted, King said. Its going to touch a lot of areas on our campus. Some of the possible projects include the demolition of Neilson Hall, Caruthers Hall and Hutcheson Hall in order to create green space for intramural fields and outdoor classroom space, construction of two parking facilities, continuation of the alumni walkway, construction of a banquet facility and the expansion of the field house. Everyone wants to improve parking, King said, and every-

one wants the alumni walkway to continue. The fee is modeled after the 20 for 20 fee, which was voted on and passed by students in 2002. The students agreed to pay $20 for 20 quarters in order to increase parking and purchase land. There have been acres of land purchased which we have built apartments and swimming pools on, King said. Tech would look completely different today if not for that fee. Although most of the students twho voted to implement the fee are now alumni and do not get to live in the new apartments or swim in the new pool, and the Student Government Association president Clint Carlisle sees the opportunity for Techs future. Very few times do we as students get the opportunity to impact the present and future of our university with one vote, Carlisle said. Ten years ago, the student body saw a need. They also saw an opportunity to significantly improve our campus. Carlisle also listed more benefits that will come from the fee, such as construction of organizational offices and meeting spaces, the increased value of a Tech diploma and with the construction of the field house, a possibility of switching athletic conferences.

Our alumni have donated millions of dollars towards the construction of the field house and countless other things, Carlisle said. It is time to do our part as students to continue building the flagship university of North Louisiana. The state will not fund the projects, so it is up to the students to come up with the rest. Without student participation, the projects will not happen. The SGA put on a town hall meeting March 29 for students to voice concerns and ask questions about the fee. Only five students showed up to ask questions, and David Hyde, a junior biomedical engineering major, wonders why. Today was just bad timing, Hyde said. A lot of people have tests tomorrow, and Mr. Tech was tonight. People in general dont understand how the money is clenching up, like TOPS and other scholarships. Students dont understand how they could be paying more soon. The students who did attend got to voice concerns, and ask questions such as How will the fee work? and Where will the kids we convince to come here with our awesome campus live? My main issue is if it is

> see FEE page 7

Tech Police issue four drug-related citations

AUSTIN VINING Staff Reporter Over the course of 10 days in late March, Tech police issued four citations for either simple possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia. From a law enforcement standpoint, weve been a lot more aggressive, Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes said. On March 18, 19-year-old Terrell Dedeaux was issued a citation through summons for simple possession of marijuana, Hermes said. During the investigation Dedeaux voluntarily produced a small amount of marijuana from his room in Cottingham Hall. Hermes said 18-year-old Samuel Hallack was also issued a citation through summons for simple possession of marijuana after police were called to his room in Mitchell Residence Hall a after he voluntarily handed over a small amount of marijuana, cigarette wrapping papers and a blunt. Theyre going to smoke; theyre just more reckless and careless with it, Hermes said. They dont learn how to smoke marijuana or drink when they get to Tech. They know from high school. Another student living in Mitchell Residence Hall, 19-year-old Corwin Petteway, was under investigation March 23, but police only found residue, Hermes said. After responding to another call March 26, police were given a small bag of marijuana by Petteway, which led to him being issued a citation through summons for simple possession of marijuana. During the March 27 investigation of 19-year-old Taylor Albrittons apartment in Sutton Commons, Hermes said he called the Ruston Police Department to have a K-9 unit brought in to search. Hermes said the investigation turned up a pipe and Albritton was issued a citation through summons for possession of drug paraphernalia. Prevalence & Frequency of Adult Marijuana Use by Age 18

> see CITATIONS page 7

Graphic by NORML & SAMHDA

Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder of 17-year-old Martin

PATRICK BOYD Entertainment Editor ALWAYNE GREEN Staff Reporter In the previous issue of The Tech Talk, a personal column about Trayvon Martin titled Putting the hood in hoodie, led to an immediate backlash and an overwhelming response from readers. The column was published Thursday, March 29, and by the next morning it had generated more than 300 comments on The Tech Talk website, and thousands more emails and Twitter and Facebook mentions that were overwhelmingly negative and some even threatening. The nationwide furor behind this incident began when Sanford, Fla. neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-yearold Martin claiming self defense February 26 and was not initially charged or arrested. Zimmerman was charged cerning the Trayvon Martin case were for all involved, he said. Despite all Wednesday with second-degree mur- incorrect, not attributed and lacked the controversy, students learned some der in the incident. balance, the newspaper staff and jour- object lessons here. The most imporIt is extremely rare for nalism departtant lesson is that we have a publication of any size to ment stand by to be careful about what we get the type of response we the editors right say and how we say it, esgot on this one particular to freedom of pecially when racially sensisubject, said Dr. Reginald speech. tive issues are involved. We Owens, chairman of the We have no learned, too, of the tremenjournalism department. problem publishdous power of social meOn the afternoon of ing someones dia. March 30, one day after opinion, Owens The week the column publication, the column was said. In this colwas published, the Trayvon pulled from The Tech Talks umn, my main Martin incident was the website. concerns were No. 1 talked about topic on It was a hard decision to the factual errors Twitter and third on blogs, ZIMMERMAN MARTIN pull the article, but we felt it coupled with the according to a special reto be in the best interest of lack of balance. port by the Pew Research all those involved, Owens said. Owens said in this case the newspa- Centers Project for Excellence, an orIn its place, the journalism depart- pers editing and review process failed. ganization that tracks these trends. ment issued a statement saying, The He said the journalism department is Social media played the major role department and the newspaper take reviewing their editing process. in spreading word of the column viralresponsibility for allowing the article to In the midst of this hurrah, we ly and showed how social media allows be printed without proper review. need to realize The Tech Talk is a class, for people to not only read the news, Although the statement noted that a laboratory experience, and this inci- but also to respond to it, said Judith some of the facts in the column con- dent has served as a teaching moment Roberts, Tech journalism instructor

and Tech Talk adviser, whose research area is social media and the news. When news happens, people in general want to give their opinion about the issue, Roberts said. Twitter is one place where they can express their thoughts. Roberts said breaking news is often released through Twitter whether it is by someone on the scene or by a news outlet. Information can be disseminated as quickly now as it is written, she said. More than a billion tweets are written weekly on Twitter, and each tweet can be retweeted in an instant. Roberts said most of the hundreds of tweets on The Talk Talk column were actually retweets. No doubt, Trayvon Martins death has sparked nationwide outrage and the Tech population, though not as outspoken, have weighed in on this na-

> see MARTIN page 7

2 The T T ech alk April 13, 2012

Approaching Graduation... Family first, future second

GRADUATION
S E R I E S
GRACE MOORE Staff Reporter This is the third in a fourpart series on different students approaching graduation in May. Each student has a unique journey through college, and this series highlights four individuals who are approaching the end of their journey. For a long time, I just wanted to be a waitress and a cheerleader. Those were my five-year-old aspirations. Thank God, Im going to be a nurse instead. Allison Ambrose is a 31-year-old nursing major who will graduate from Tech this May, approximately 15 years after her high school commencement. She said she attended Tech in 1998 for one full school year, then left to get married and start a family while taking classes periodically throughout the next few years. I wanted to come back, but then I decided to have a baby, Ambrose said. I made sure they were taken care of before I decided to come back. Ambrose has three young children, ages three to 10, and she has to work her studying habits around her young ones. I cant study at home for sure, she said. I get distracted with little people wanting me to play board games and help them get snacks. Even if my husband is home, they want mama. She said she does not believe she could have returned to school if there was not support at home. Single parents have a much more challenging life, and she is thankful her husband completely supports her ambitions, she said. Hes a computer nerd, Ambrose said with a smile. Hes good to have around. Of Ambroses proudest accomplishments, she named her family as No. 1. Nobody else can take credit for that, she said. Regardless of her time and effort put into family, she said someone often receives the short end of the stick. Time is a huge issue, she said. I want to try to be the best at everything. I know its not attainable, but I dont like to do things half-way. She said she noticed a generation infected with laziness upon her return to academia. Students in her classes would protest assignments they did not have the time to complete because they still maintained their party lifestyle on weekends, she said. I have three kids and a full plate, and I can get my stuff in on time, Ambrose said. Ive only missed two days of school in two years when my son had surgery. Ambrose holds a sort of motherly role in her nursing classes, she said. Ive always been kind of drawn to taking care of people, Ambrose said. Her cellphone often goes into a buzzing frenzy with classmates asking questions before class, and she is commonly volunteered for different tasks, she said. I know that I could not have been in this program right out of high school, Ambrose said. Kudos to the ones who can, but I was still thinking like I was invincible back then. Most people are unaware of her age, she said. I guess Im still young at heart, she said. No one has offered me a walker yet. In addition to her leadership role in the classroom, Ambrose was president of the Student Nurses Association. The association coordinates with various organizations like St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and the March of Dimes. We were just trying to really involve the community with the campus, Ambrose said. It

Campus
Wesley presents dinner theater

The Wesley Foundation will host its eighth annual murder mystery dinner theater fundraiser for two nights at 7 p.m. April 20-21 at Trinity United Methodist Church. The mystery being performed will be Murder, You Must Be Kidding, a comedy written by Pat Cook. A mystery dinner is a popular type of dinner theater in which the play is a murder mystery, and diners are invited to solve the mystery as they eat and watch the play. The tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and children 10 years old or younger get in free. For more information contact Becky Clark, assistant director of the Louisiana Tech Wesley Foundation, at 318-2553112 or wesley@wesleymail. com.

Big Event to be held @ 9 a.m. Saturday

Photo by Jessica Van Alstyne

Allison Ambrose, 31, in her everyday outfit - scrubs. Ambrose, a mother of three, will graduate from Tech this spring with an associate of science degree in nursing 15 years after her high school graduation. was definitely hard work, but thats something that I think is important. Her post-graduation plans are not yet set in stone, though she plans to continue her education eventually, she said. Ive put in a lot of time, so I want to enjoy the fruits of this degree and then well see, Ambrose said. Im not sure what specialty, but I have always had hospital emergency room work in the back of my mind. Ambrose said she could handle almost any bodily fluid, which makes her fit for most emergency room protocols; however, vomit is her one weakness. Vomit is definitely not my favorite thing, she said. Theres something about vomitthe act of vomiting and the smell of it, but I have cleaned up more vomit in this quarter than I have in quarters past. I think God has a sense of humor. Nursing can be a very challenging job, she said. Its a lot different than most jobs given that she has the potential to kill someone. While in the nursing program, Ambrose said she was taking the vital signs of someone elses patient one morning at 7 a.m., and by 10 a.m. he was dead. We learn just how fragile life is, she said. Death just kind of sits there and taunts you sometimes when youre in the hospital where everything is a reality. Its not sunshine and rainbows all the time. Age is frequently accompanied by wisdom, and Ambrose said she is unquestionably on the path God laid out for her, though she wishes some of her current knowledge had been present with her as a teen. She said to slow down, find yourself, and live off mom and dad as long as you can. Ambrose is a mother first and a student second, and she said her family support has been, and is, what keeps her in motion. Im definitely proud of this degree because Ive worked my tail off, she said. As for the diploma, she said, she will make sure it doesnt get colored on.

Techs Student Government Associations community service project, The Big Event, will be held Saturday. Participating organizations will assist local residents by raking, washing windows and doing other yard work. Participants should arrive at Joe Aillet Stadium by 9 a.m. All of the tools necessary for the assigned job will be provided. Lunch, as well as a Big Event T-shirt, will be provided for all volunteers after the event is over. For more information contact Allison East, SGA sophomore class senator, at 601-8312588 or ace007@latech.edu.

EWB hosts dodgeball tournament

Email comments to gmm008@latech.edu.

Vandalism raises security concerns

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter

Vandalism in a laundry room at the University Park apartments has residents questioning their security. On March 20, the snack vending machine in the laundry room located on the bottom floor of Thatcher Commons A was broken into for the second time this year. Rachel Crooks, a freshman speech pathology major, said she was concerned when she noticed the damage as she was doing her laundry a few days after the crime. No one knew exactly what happened, she said. When I did find out, I wondered why people werent too concerned. Campus police received a call at 3:12 a.m. March 20 from a student who reported someone had broken into the machine. When police arrived, they found the snacks in the machine were stolen, but there were no signs of tampering with the money box inside the machine.

Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes patrols around the University Park area, said theft is only an occasional crime but there have been no burglaries or evthroughout town. idence that suggests anything threatenThe 24-hour operating schedule in ing the safety of apartment residents. the laundry room makes it an easy tarSomeone isnt going to break into get for theft and vandalism crimes. It is a car and steal a purse if he sees the usually vacant especially in owner of the car in the front the later hours of the night. seat, he said. Likewise, Hermes said this was the someone isnt likely to vansecond time the vending madalize the laundry room chine in Thatcher had been when people are in it. vandalized. The first occurThere are no suspects in rence was reported at 7:45 the case, but Hermes said it a.m. Feb. 13. could have been a student. The crime occurred bePossibly even a student from tween midnight and 7 a.m. in the same apartment comboth instances when there plex. is usually no one using the Students were reported laundry room, he said. to have entered and left the The vandalisms have parroom to tend to their launHERMES ticularly alarmed students dry between midnight and 3 who study during the late hours of the a.m. night. The fact that there were students in This should be taken more serious- and out of the room means it was likely ly than it has been, Crooks said. What a student who could have done it, he if someone came in and tried to hurt said. It only takes a second to break someone doing their laundry? that glass and take everything. Hermes said there will be increased He said the police department is

working on getting more cameras to increase surveillance around campus, specifically around the apartments. The Tech Police Department is waiting on designs for the camera set up. Once the designs have been submitted, the police department will estimate the costs and open the project. University Park buildings are first on the list to have new cameras installed once the bidding process is complete. The current student technology fee will cover the cost of the purchase and installment of the new cameras. I wish we could have had them a year ago, Hermes said. The cameras really act as a deterrent and will reduce what little crime we have on campus. Crooks said she is glad cameras will be installed around the University Park apartments, but still believes there should be a stronger sense of urgency. The bigger picture is that someone could have been hurt, she added. You never know.

Engineers Without Borders will host a dodgeball tournament at 6 p.m. April 19 in the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center. This tournament is a way to bring people together to have a good time and benefit a worthy cause. Entry fee is $5 per person, and there can be teams up to five members. Money raised from entry fees will go toward EWB and their travel funds, which they plan to use to enhance thirdworld countries. For more information contact Jade Tolbert, president of EWB, at 985-237-9863 or jad066@latech.edu.

Second Swamp Ball tournament nears

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

Swamp Ball II is coming to Techs campus April 21 at the upper intramural fields. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. The Greek Academy is hosting the tournament to benefit MedCamps of Louisiana, a week long summer camp for children with illnesses and disabilities. Teams are five-on-five and shirts are $10. For more information contact Austin Vining, at 318-2250678 or acv001@latech.edu.

College of Business will offer fast-track to MBA

AUSTIN VINING Staff Reporter

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The College of Business has streamlined the masters of business administration prerequisite requirements for non-business majors to help students meet their academic and career goals. Tim Bisping, associate dean of graduate studies in the College of Business, said students often find themselves working in a business environment after graduation regardless of their academic background. Because of this, business management skills become a crucial factor in career advancement for many people. To assist non-business majors in pursuing their career goals, the College of Business has developed a fast-track program designed to help non-

business majors meet the prerequisite requirements for the MBA program, he said. Bisping said the program allows students to take nine hours of online, self-paced courses designed to provide the business background necessary to pursue an MBA. Once the online courses are completed, the students only need to complete Math 222 or an equivalent course in order to meet all of the prerequisites for the program. If three fast-track courses are completed in the summer, students beginning the MBA curriculum in the fall quarter can complete the program in as little as one year, he said. James Lumpkin, dean of the College of Business, said the new program is an invaluable tool for non-business majors who wish to develop advanced

business skills. I suspect when students take a look at the fast-track option and the benefits of earning the MBA, this new program will be in high demand, he said. The new program will create more opportunities for nonbusiness majors, said Terry McConathy, executive vice president and dean of graduate studies. It was very innovative of the College of Business to have moved forward on that, she said. Once this is advertised and made known, I think enrollment will rise. McConathy said she doesnt believe she should be in the business of making it difficult to get into graduate school. McConathy supports the new

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April 13, 2012 The T T ech alk 3

Alumni walkway strives to finish

KALEB CAUSEY Staff Reporter

Since 1994, Louisiana Tech has laid approximately 80,000 bricks with alumni names engraved on them, except for those graduating after the year 2000. Jim King, vice president of student affairs, said plans to expand the red-brick walkway with the names of Tech graduates could start as early as this summer. He said bricks of graduates from 2001 will be laid within the next few weeks. Recent Louisiana Tech graduates should not worry much longer because their alumni bricks will be laid soon. With the current Louisiana state budget and the governors hold on purchasing, its going to be tough, King said. Our best bet is to start this summer, and thats our goal. King said he estimates there are 20,000 bricks that still need to be laid to catch up with current graduates. Tech President Dan Reneau said the bricks are a symbol of someone being a true member of the Tech family. I have two bricks, my wife has a brick, my daughter has two bricks and my son has a brick in the plaza, he said. Its a huge source of pride for our family. Reneau said he has high hopes for the 44,000 graduates that he has seen graduate since he became president in 1987. Reneau said the bricks mean a lot to him since he laid the brick for Techs first ever graduate, Harry Howard. Ben Nelson, a 2010 graduate, said he is excited to see his brick and hopes the process will start on time. It means a lot to me and it is something to show for all of my hard work, other than my diploma, he said. Its something that I can bring my kids back to one day and show them. Kate Perot, a 1997 graduate, said her

brick means a lot more to her because of her non-traditional process. I got married while I was a sophomore at a university that I had no intention to graduate from, she said. I always knew I would come back to Louisiana Tech. Perot said after she was married she moved to Philadelphia and did not return until her husband received a coaching job at Tech in 1988. She then went on to get her degree in 1997. My degree and my brick mean so much more to me because I did it in a very non-traditional way and did it with a family, she said. I still love to show my brick. Its something that I just cant explain, like my own piece of immortality thats here forever. King said the bricks for the 2001 graduating class will be placed between the Student Center and Tolliver Hall. Its our next big project after the new addition to the Lambright is finished, he said. Reneau said the plan is to expand the walkway across Wisteria Drive, continue past Hale Hall and eventually end up at the Marbury Alumni Center on Tech Drive. There are some new laser engraving technologies that have come out recently, King said. I have a few proposals on my desk for machines and from companies with the machines that would speed up the process of engraving the bricks. King also said the funds have been secured through the 20 for 20 student fee, but they are just waiting to start. I live for the day when every student who has ever graduated from this great university has a brick on our campus, Reneau said.

Submitted photo

Email comments to ktc013@latech.edu.

Bricks will soon be laid for students who graduated in the year 2000 and after. These bricks will be located between the Student Center and Tolliver Hall.

Ruston aims to share roads with bikers

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter

The city of Ruston recently erected signs on Bonner and Monroe streets to initiate its new Share the Road campaign. The campaign started in response to the absence of bike lanes throughout the city. Lewis Love, city administrator and public works director, said the program requires cyclists and drivers to share lanes on city streets. Bikes and cars have the same rights to the road, he said. Roads will be shared because the layout of the roads will not allow the necessary changes for bike lanes to be added. The campaign is a part of the Ruston 21 plan that Love said is for the citys progression. Older roads, like those downtown, were constructed narrowly and without sidewalks because the roads were meant for cars, Love said. Consequently, changes to the roads are harder to execute, especially changes that require more space. Richard Aillet, director of engineering services, said bike lanes would require more space because the roads would need to be wider. State laws require that road lanes be 11 feet wide in order to be safe for cars. Streets would have to be four feet wider to allow for a bike lane. Ruston streets only meet the minimum width for car lanes. He said adding four feet to each side of every road will be difficult, and Share the Road is the best alternative to bike lanes. Wed love to cut out bike lanes, Aillet said. But how do you trace out bike lanes when the roads werent cut out for them? Love and the project committee said the roads that will be marked for the camPhoto by Jessica Van Alstyne paign are part of a national cycling road The Share the Road campaign, part of Ruston 21, brings har- system. Love said the system marks certain mony to cyclists and drivers on the roads.

roads along highways and interstates to allow cyclists to travel across the country safely. Many roads in Ruston are part of the national system, which makes it easier to mark roads for the campaign because committee members will not have to decide which roads are usable for the program. Love said this will reassure cyclists that they can commute through town without worrying about any rights to the road, no matter how busy they may be. Eduardo Lopez, a junior physics major, said he is pleased to hear the citys efforts in addressing the issue. Lopez said he regularly rides his bike around campus and through Ruston. I ride wherever the wind takes me, he said. The campaign is great news for cyclists who like to ride. Because there are no bike lanes, Lopez said cyclists have had to base their routes on how drivers react to sharing the road. Lopez said he tries to avoid some two-lane roads because drivers are more aggressive and instead prefers one-lane roads. Traffic on one-lane roads is more patient, he said. Two-lane traffic doesnt seem to like to share. The campaign will give cyclists a number of secured and marked routes to utilize once more signs are installed. Until the signs are installed, Lopez and other cyclists will have to be careful of the roads they choose because many motorists are still unaware of Share the Road. Signs like those on Bonner and Monroe streets will gradually appear along some of the main roads in Ruston within the next year. Aillet said once the signs are up cyclists and drivers will have to get used to sharing the road. Wed love to have that nice bike lane on the side, he said. Everyone is just going to have to learn to play nice.

Honors Program accepts applicants

MEAGAN LEE Staff Reporter

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

Techs Honors Program encompasses about 800 students who are eligible for the 21-hour series of advanced classes and currently has close to 600 students who actively participate in the program. Many honors students are recruited out of high school according to their composite ACT score. Some students, however, apply for the program well past their first quarter of school. Rick Simmons, Honors Program director, said there are not a lot of upperclassmen who come into the program, but he does see a few every year. Sometimes people get missed, he said. Its really easy to take all of the freshmen that attend honors orientation, but for the three orientations after that I really have to go through all the lists and pick out who is eligible and try to get them into honors classes. Simmons said they miss about 2 to 5 percent of students per year who should be enrolled in the honors program. I think the reason we dont have more apply for the program is because by the time they realize its here theyve completed a year and done so many of those general education classes that they just dont think

> see HONORS page 7

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Insight
REBECCA SPENCE Editor in Chief

4 The T T ech alk April 13, 2012

FROM THE EDITOR

Hunger Games kills at box office
The Hunger Games hit the big screens March 23 and resulted in the birth of the newest science-fiction series phenomenon on the silver screen. In the box office, the series blasted Twilight out of the water and could be held to the standards of the Harry Potter series. According to the Box Office Mojo, The Hunger Games grossed an estimated $155 million while the final Harry Potter movie grossed $169.2 million. Having read both of the series, I say Harry Potter triumphs due to its longevity and creation of a magical outside world. The books were long enough to keep you busy and there was always another one right around the corner. The plot development through the seven books was mind-blowing to me. Throughout the times I read each book, I was able to make new connections and relive the magic as if it were the first time I picked it up. The movie, although lacking some crucial points, establishes that same spark. The Hunger Games is a shorter book series with nothing to look forward to after the third book. The series, because it is based on life in Panem, a postapocalyptic North American continent, is relateable to people of this time and age. I have only read this series once, but I must say if the books were longer, I would be a bigger fan because of the time invested in the series. When you start the seven-book long or eight-movie long Harry Potter series, you are making a time commitment. This story in its entirety will take a chunk of time to read or watch, and fans acknowledge that. In The Hunger Games, I knew there were three approximately 300-page-long books in the entire series, so I looked at it as lighter reading, something to pick up here and there. The commitment of reading a 700-page novel was not at stake. With many fans of both series spending time on social media sites and the Internet, popularity can be determined by Internet mentions. According to Forbes. com, 4 percent of social media buzz for The Hunger Games talked about seeing midnight shows. This ties amount of Harry Potter fanatics posting about midnight showings. According to Forbes.com, social media sentiment for both films is and was overwhelmingly positive, but The Hunger Games engendered the most negative talk, at 3 percent of all conversation. Only 1 percent of conversation surrounding Harry Potter was negative. The one series that has received close to these numbers in the science fiction world is Twilight. I have read the first book and half of the second in this series, and I have watched the first two movies. This simplistic writing, without much substance to the plot and overall theme of the series cannot compete, even number-wise, with Harry Potter and Hunger Games. According to Forbes.com, 7 percent of conversation involving Twilight was negative. This is a little more than double the amount of negative conversation involving The Hunger Games. So with Twilight out of the question, can the girl on fire compete with fans of the boy who lived? Rebecca Spence is a senior speech communications and journalism major from Cypress, TX, who serves as editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to res022@latech.edu.

IN OUR OPINION

Should the enhancement fee pass?

REFLECTIONS IN THE RYE

Go make me a sandwich
MOLLY BOWMAN News Editor
s I was flipping through a recent issue of Time Magazine that centered around women becoming the richer sex, naturally, as a woman, I was intrigued. The article explained in depth about how women are starting to gain more power and make more money than their male counterparts. This shift from the norm has caused men to take more responsibility in the home and women to become Americas breadwinners. Women have been battling kitchen grime, couch stains and eager children for decades. Its about time men started taking over some of the dirty domestic work. Before World War II, it was the common culture for women to be bound to the domestic sphere while men entered the work force. Because of the high demand needed for extra hands in factories to manufacture tools for war, millions of women were able enter the working world to help keep the economy afloat. Typical, men only calling for women when they need something, right? After the war ended, men were in need of work and women had to surrender their jobs and return to their domestic lives. Although women were pushed back to the kitchen, this opportunity to work like men ushered in a new mindset, that women have the same capabilities as men. From here, women have made their steady climb to reach the top and we are almost there, if not already. Today, women comprise almost 60 percent of college students and earn the majority of masters degrees and doctorates, according to Time magazine. Women are becoming the frontrunners in education and taking high-level positions that were once dominated by men. From the most recent statistics in 2009, almost four out of 10 wives brought home more money than their husbands, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a 50 percent increase from 20 years before. Imagine what could happen in the next decade to come. Because of this increase, it has caused more men and husbands to step back and take care of some of the household needs, a task that women were once confined to. As a woman, I still get the occasional jokes from men telling me to make them a sandwich or go back to the kitchen. But little do they know, women are on the rise and on the way to directing those same jokes at them. Or are they? Have the tables turned yet? Are women allowed to say jokes to men that confine them to domestic duties? I dont think this time has come yet, but it is definitely in the near future. Men were never associated with doing the mundane housework like women once were. Women might be gaining more power than men but because of our history in the home, men still seem to have the upper hand. Men are always correlated with being in charge and I think its going to take some time for women to really gain that psychological image that men still seem to have control of. Long has been Laurel Thatcher Ulrichs saying well-behaved women seldom make history but I think those times are changing. History is being made right now by women at a consistent pace, and we can only climb higher at this point. Women, start handing over your spatulas and reaching in the far corners of your closet for your briefcase and suit because theres something cooking in the female mind of America.

n less than a week, the student body of Louisiana Tech University will vote on a proposed enhancement fee. With organizations like SGA stating their beliefs on the new fee, The Tech Talk staff would like to define its position on the matter. Like many groups of seven or more people, our staff is split on the issue. We do not all agree on the amount that would potentially be charged or the lack of benefits for current students. However, we are able to agree on one thing: We support the new proposal, if only in theory. As we understand it, the new fee will charge fulltime students an additional $30 per quarter until the current prospective projects are completed, and the Student Government Association will have control over a portion of these funds. That is as far as we agree. Beyond that, the staff is cautiously skeptical of what the SGA will do with these funds and if they will truly be utilized for a majority of students. We have faith in Techs future SGA leaders. The potential problems that may arise due to a lack of control are not reasons to decline a proposal with benefits that greatly outweigh any harm. However, this is not an issue the staff will debate because it is not yet even an issue. For now, we support the passage of the proposed fee and will express reservations if and only if the fee is misused. Allow our future SGA executives and senate members the chance to serve our student body with more funds. If that risk were not taken ten years ago, this SGA and ones before it would not have been able to make the strides they have. When all prospective projects are complete, the enhancement fee will be revisited if the SGA members in office at the time choose to. It is not only SGA members who will decide, but students enrolled at the time will either vote to increase or remove the fee on the years spring election ballet. Pass the fee. Allow SGA to succeed or fail.

Molly Bowman is a junior journalism major from Shreveport who serves as editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to mmb041@latech.edu.

Caruthers Hall is one of the buildings that may be torn down with the funds from the present 20-20 fee.

SARCASM WITH AN AGENDA

Bill a step back in time
KELLY BELTON Contributing Editor tion, climate change and cloning are good for students. However, they inaccurately claim this will foster critical thinking skills. If anything, this law discourages the abstract thinking necessary for scientific and technological innovation. Additionally, it is unclear whether the law would allow for teachers to be punished for teaching creationism, something that clearly violates the First Amendments Establishment Clause. Neither the state board of education, nor any public elementary or secondary school governing authority, director of schools, school system administrator, or any public elementary or secondary school principal or administrator shall prohibit any teacher in a public school system of this state from helping students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught, the bill reads. This leaves much room for subjectivity in a realm that should be protected as purely impartial. Just because the bill reads as unbiased does not mean it will work that way in reality. Not surprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union is actively opposed to the Monkey Bill. The state also faces opposition from its largest teacher association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Association of Biology Teachers, according to articles from USA Today and the Washington Post. I, who was taught evolution in a public school, find it hard to grasp proponents understanding of critical thinking. Real critical thinking does not involve allowing state-employed teachers to critique scientific theories that contradict their own beliefs. Instead, it requires one to sort out his private religious beliefs and reconcile them with what is largely regarded as scientific fact. The theory of evolution has no religious agenda. This law, though it claims to have no religious purpose, seeks to undermine the scientific evidence and support for evolution. As executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State Barry Lynn stated in Wednesdays L.A. Times, this bill allows teachers to interject their religious viewpoints if they contradict evolution. I can understand the idea behind trying to find holes in theories, but if nationally-renowned scientists with doctorates cannot put forth viable and accepted alternatives to evolution, I doubt 15-year-olds and their science teachers can. And while proponents claim the law has no religious purpose, its also unclear as to whether the Monkey Bill has any real secular purpose, something the Supreme Court has looked to in similar cases. In fact, Gov. Haslan is quoted in the L.A. Times as saying, I dont believe that [the law] accomplishes anything that isnt already acceptable in our schools. I do not doubt that most public schools allow for a reasonable discussion on scientific hot topics already, even in Tennessee. This law is a simply retrogressive attempt to bring back the good ol days, in which no one challenged deeply held beliefs. Faith, in its truest form, requires critical thinking at the individual level that cannot be mandated by the state. Kelly Belton is a senior journalism and political science major from Houston who serves as editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to belton. kelly@gmail.com.

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ennessee passed its socalled Monkey Bill on Tuesday, prompting many to wonder if the state is headed for 2013 or 1925. House Bill 368 is intended to allow teachers to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught, according to its own language. The bill hearkens back to the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, in which a Tennessee high school teacher was convicted for violating a statute that made it a crime to teach evolution. On its face, the Monkey Bill does not seem particularly controversial. However, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam refused to sign it, which should raise some flags. State law dictates that a bill shall become law if it passes in both houses and is not vetoed or signed by the governor. Designed to promote discussion of ideas and challenges to science, proponents are not incorrect in claiming that such dialogue over ideas such as evolu-

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Arts&Entertainment
GRACE MOORE Staff Reporter For 10 days each year, hundreds of thousands of people gather at the New Orleans Fair Grounds to indulge in both unique and wellknown music, indigenous Cajun food and the craftwork of worldwide artists. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival began in 1970 and will be celebrating its 42nd anniversary this spring. The festival will be held for two weekends on the Fair Grounds Race Course at 1751 Gentilly Boulevard, approximately 10 minutes from the French Quarter, April 27-29 and May 3-6. Catered specifically toward enriching the cultural melodies of New Orleans, most of the festivals performers are prominent in surrounding communities. Some of the native groups preforming include Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Irma Thomas, Dr. John and the Lower 911, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and Soul Rebels. According to New Orleans Jazz Fest website, George Wein, Jazz Fests original designer said, This festival could only be held in New Orleans because here and here alone is the richest musical heritage in America. However, Jazz Fest embraces musical diversity and invites worldrenowned artists to perform each year. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, as well as The Grammys Best New Artist, Bon Iver, will grace the stage. Other well-known artists performing are The Eagles, Cee Lo Green, Florence + the Machine, Zac Brown Band, Ne-yo, Paulina Rubio, and Bonnie Raitt. The Beach Boys will also stage their 50th Anniversary Reunion on April 27. The festival is decorated with 12 different stages adorned with jazz, gospel, blues, R & B, rock, funk, Latin, folk and many other musical varieties. According to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, in 2004 the Wall Street Journal said Jazz Fest showcases a wider, deeper lineup of essential American musical styles than any other festival in the nation. Jazz Fest aims to yearly commemorate New Orleans musical traditions by including people nationwide. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an annual event held in this area, and is only rivaled by Mardi Gras. According to The Times-Picayune, shortly after the Mardi Gras celebration, the festival season begins in New Orleans. We can find a festival to fit out every mood, The Times-Picayune said. Food fest. Booze fest. Music fest. Arts fest. If you can eat it, drink it, play it, dance to it or ogle it, theres a festival for it in south Louisiana. To attend Jazz Fest either week-

April 13, 2012 The T T ech alk 5

NOLA festival to feature jazzy lineup

end, adult tickets cost $50 in advance at nojazzfest.com and $65 at the gate. Each ticket is valid for one single day of performances. Adults with children may purchase a $5 ticket to admit one child, age two to 10, at the gate. Jazz Fest will host daily hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the duration of the 10-day festival. This meeting of jazz and heritage, according to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation, has stood for decades since as a stirring symbol of the authenticity of the celebration that was destined to become a cultural force.

Email comments to gmm008@latech.edu.

Uncovering the business behind the box

GRACE MOORE Staff Reporter A Redbox press release from March 5 stated that more than 68 percent of Americans live within a five-minute driving radius of a Redbox kiosk. While placing more than 35,400 self-service kiosks at 29,000 locations nationwide, Redbox stepped on a few toes. According to a September 2009 article in The New York Times, Redboxs rapid growth had Hollywoods blood boiling, but in early March of 2012, the temperature reached an almost-unanimous cooling point. Furious about a potential cannibalization of DVD sales and a broader price devaluation of their product, three studios (20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and Universal) are refusing to sell DVDs to Redbox until at least 28 days after they arrive in stores, according to 2009 article written by The New York Times media reporter Brooke Barnes. On the other hand, Barry Babin, department head of marketing and analysis at Tech, said there seems to be much to admire in the success of Redbox. When the three studios cut off distribution to Redbox, it pursued alternate means. In a Business Insider website interview with Redbox, a company spokesperson, in regards to the companys nowaltered relationships with previous suppliers, said Redbox employs alternative acquisition channels, which includes major third-party retailers (Walmart). A Walmart corporate communication spokesperson was contacted in March for this story and responded in an email interview that the company does not discuss its relationships with suppliers. Redbox was renting DVDs out for $1 per night, which prompted three studios to cease DVD distribution to Redbox kiosks until 28 days after a films release into stores. While these events were emerging, Redbox sued Universal Studios Home Entertainment for violating federal antitrust laws, which aim to prevent monopolies and copyright misusage. The North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology publication said it was odd that USHE did not claim copyright infringement toward Redbox, but rather the studio threatened to end DVD sales with Redbox suppliers. According to the First Sale Doctrine in the U.S. Constitution, consumers of copyrighted items do not have the right to reproduce that particular copy, but copyright holders cannot prevent or restrict the resale or other further transfer of possession of such copies. The First Sale Doctrine alone declares Redboxs actions of purchasing DVDs in third-party retail stores as legal. Redbox does not replicate DVDs, which violates copyright infringement laws. Instead, it buys mass quantities of a single item and rents them out. These actions are protected by the Constitution. If the courts actually allow Redbox to get away with this, I hope some people do decide to compete, who actually need the money, said Elizabeth Christian, an assistant professor of journalism who teaches media law at Tech. Theoretically, engineering students could design a green rectangle and stock it with Walmart movies. Redbox v. Universal was concluded on Sept. 17, 2009. The court ruled in favor of Redboxs accusation to USHEs violation of antitrust law, but it removed the copyright misusage claims toward USHE. A press release from Redbox dated March 1, 2012, said Redboxs war with USHE is in a ceasefire. The two companies signed a multi-year agreement stating movies will appear in Redbox kiosks no sooner than 28 days after their release in retail. Warner Brothers opted for a 56-day delay, according to the Los Angeles Times, but Redbox

Photo by Grace Moore

Stephanie Manis searches for a movie at the Redbox kiosk in Walmart. Manis uses Redbox to preview movies before deciding to purchase them for a higher price.

refused. I can understand why Redbox would get mad that they want to double the length of time in our culture of wanting things instantaneously, Christian said. In the article, Gary Cohen, Redboxs senior vice president of marketing, said Warner Brothers movies will still be provided through alternate means. Additionally, 20th Century Fox has a similar agreement to that of Universal set to expire in 2013. Redbox now sells its product for $1.20 per night, plus tax. Stephanie Manis a Redbox user, said the 28-day delay for certain movies does not really bother them. Sometimes we rent a movie from Redbox we want to see, Manis said, and if we like it, then well go out and buy it. The couple said they enjoy Redbox DVD rentals as a trial process to essentially test out movies. Johnny English Reborn, starring Rowan Atkinson, is a new release in Redbox kiosks and was available for retail purchase at Walmart on February 28. It appeared March 27 in the Redbox touch-screen menu 28 days later.

Email comments to gmm008@Latech.edu.

Underwater Sunshine does not impress

NATALIE MCELWEE Staff Reporter The Counting Crows sixth album, Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did This Summer) is an album full of hits and misses, reminiscent melodies and unoriginal tracks. Fans may have been looking for the most recent album to have the sounds they have come to know, love and expect from the band. While the voices sound the same, these songs produce a different vibe. This album is a compilation of songs the band has covered at their live shows. So, if a diehard fan is looking for something new, he or she better keep looking. The CD begins with Untitled (Love Song) which has the same tune as the most memorable Counting Crows songs. It has an upbeat tempo which allows the audience to embrace the new album as part of the Counting Crows discography. As one moves through the songs, a pattern forms. High-tempo songs intermingled with low-tempo songs give the album a much-needed balance. Some of the songs covered seem too repetitive such as Meet on the Ledge. With about two lines of lyrics, one might find himself pressing next before they know it. Although the album is not the most upbeat, it does have some tracks which bring back the bands soulful sound. One of the most upbeat good things must come to an end. Irony can be found in the title of the album. One may be left wondering what the band members really did with their summer. We all know what they did not do record new songs for our enjoyment. After four years of waiting, the least the band could do is give the audience something new to hold onto, not regurgitate the same tunes they have been spitting out show after show. The originality of the Crows is what made them famous in the first place which leaves one thinking: if you have nothing original to sing, do not sing at all.

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6 The T T ech alk April 13, 2012

World&Nation
Rick Santorum withdrawals from GOP race
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) Rick Santorum cleared the way for Mitt Romney to claim victory in the long and hard-fought battle for the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, giving up his against all odds campaign as Romneys tenacious conservative rival. Santorums withdrawal sets up what is sure to be an acrimonious seven-month fight for the presidency between Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Democratic President Barack Obama, with the certain focus on the still-troubled economy. This game is a long, long, long way from over, Santorum said as he bowed out of the contest with Romney. We are going to continue to go out there and fight to make sure that we defeat President Barack Obama. Santorum had been facing a loss in the April 24 primary in Pennsylvania, the state he represented in Congress for 16 years, and where the Romney campaign planned nearly $3 million in ads against him. Romney has been the frontrunner for months and was far ahead in the race for the 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the nomination at the partys convention in August. Romneys campaign has long been the best funded, organized, and most professionally run of the GOP contenders. Despite Santorums refusal to get out of the race earlier and Gingrich hasnt officially dropped out yet Romney had already begun looking ahead with a unifying message. He told Pennsylvania supporters last week that were Republicans and Democrats in this campaign, but were all connected with one destiny for America. Obama has turned squarely to face Romney, recently assailing him by name, as his campaign has worked to paint Romney as a rich elitist who will win the nomination only because he buried his opponents under millions of dollars in negative advertising. Neither he nor his special interest allies will be able to buy the presidency with their negative attacks, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said Tuesday after Santorum left the race. The more the American people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him and the less they trust him. In response, a Romney campaign spokeswoman insisted that for Mitt Romney, this race has always been about defeating President Obama, and getting Americans back to work. But Romney still has had to wage a drawn-out nomination fight thats seen candidate after candidate try to block his path. As recently as last week, activists huddled with Santorum to try and figure out how to keep him in the race, and Gingrich was still insisting Tuesday that his campaign represents the last stand for conservatives as he vowed to stay in the race until the convention. Claiming a victory of sorts, Santorum said Tuesday, Against all odds, we won 11 states, millions of voters, millions of votes. That took its toll on Romney. It all started in Iowa, where vote counts initially showed an eightvote Romney victory giving him momentum and headlines. But weeks later after the campaign had moved to South Carolina and Romney was battling Gingrich Santorum was declared the winner. Romneys campaign left Santorum for dead as he beat Gingrich in Florida and won in Nevada. He lost three states Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri to Santorum on Feb. 7, breathing new life into the former senators insurgent candidacy and forcing Romney to compete for two more months. Santorum eventually won contests in Tennessee, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. The battle forced Romney to spend more money attacking Santorum with negative ads in big Midwestern states like Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, where he won increasingly large victories. Now, he must rise to the daunting challenge of taking on an incumbent president backed by whats expected to be one of the most sophisticated reelection campaigns in history. Longtime Republican strategist Ed Gillespie joined the Romney campaign this month to help, but the team hasnt been able to expand much beyond the small core group of loyal strategists that waged the primary. Obamas campaign has a sizeable cash advantage over Romneys, having more than $84 million in the bank at the end of February, Federal Election Commission records show. Romneys campaign had about $7.2 million. Those filings show Romney has a fifth the paid staff of Obamas campaign. He had yet to tap the resources of the Republican Party that will become available to the party nominee. Santorums exit doesnt greatly change Obamas calculus. The president and his campaign have been expecting to face Romney all along and have already been targeting him. Yet the departure of Romneys

AP Photo

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum turns to his wife Karen, left, after announcing he is suspending his candidacy for the presidency, Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Gettysburg, Pa. chief GOP rival means this is the point where the Obama campaign will engage even more heavily. Vice President Joe Biden has led the political fire against Romney, and over the past week Obama has started tying his speeches about economic fairness to Romney directly, or in the coy way he chose Tuesday, warning of old, failed economic ideas from a candidate who shall not be named. Obamas speech in Florida, amid a full day of fundraising, was partly designed to draw a contrast between himself and Romney. The president is building his re-election campaign on the theme that he would help everyone succeed while Romney would cater to the rich and leave many people to struggle. This election will probably have the biggest contrast that weve seen maybe since the Johnson-Goldwater election, maybe before that, Obama told donors at a campaign event. In his 1964 race against Republican Barry Goldwater, former President Lyndon Johnson carried 44 of 50 states and won 61 percent of the popular vote, the largest share of any candidate since 1820. Romney trails Obama in organizing in some key battleground states such as Ohio and Florida, though Romney aides point to networks of supporters and volunteers that remain in place since his winning primary campaigns in the two electoral prizes. The same is true in Iowa, where Romney nearly won the January caucuses, and New Hampshire and Nevada, where he did win in the primary campaigns early days. The five are

in the top 10 most competitive since 2000, and were all carried by Obama four years ago. Other more typically Republican-performing battlegrounds Romney is eyeing at returning to the GOP column include Colorado, Virginia and North Carolina, which Obama flipped after consecutive GOP victories. So far, polling shows people tend to like Obama more than Romney. Yet the publics top issue is also Obamas biggest vulnerability. Despite recent improvements in the publics outlook, ratings of Obamas handling of the economy remain in negative territory. According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Tuesday, Romney and Obama are about even on which candidate Americans trust more to handle the economy.

Justice Department will Marines killed in Morocco release oil spill documents
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Justice Department has agreed to turn over at least 100 scientific documents that BP PLC suspects could show the federal government overestimated the amount of oil that spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from the companys Macondo well. In a court filing Wednesday, Justice Department attorneys also vowed to work with BP to resolve their dispute over the companys claims the government improperly withheld thousands of similar documents. Last month, BP asked a magistrate to order the government to turn over more than 10,000 documents appearing to relate to flow rate issues following the 2010 spill. The government estimates

4.9 million barrels of oil spewed from the well, but the company says the governments earlier

estimates may have been lower. BP faces penalties based on how much oil spilled.

AP Photo

Responders attempt to extinguish a fire caused by a bubble of methane gas escaping from a BP oil well April 20, 2010, which led to the second largest natural disaster in history.

RABAT, Morocco (AP) Two U.S. Marines were killed and two severely injured in the crash of a hybrid aircraft in Morocco on Wednesday, officials said. The Marines were taking part in joint U.S.-Moroccan military exercises located in the south of the country based in Agadir, said U.S. Embassy spokesman Rodney Ford in Rabat. Capt. Kevin Schultz, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon in Washington, confirmed that the aircraft involved was an MV-22 Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies like an airplane. The aircraft was participating in a U.S.-Moroccan military exercise known as African Lion. The Osprey was flying from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, a defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because

the matter is in the early stages of investigation. The annual exercise which began in 2008 runs from April 7 to 18 and involves 1,000 U.S. Marines and 200 soldiers, sailors and airmen. They were working with some 900 Moroccan soldiers. According to the U.S. Marine website, the exercise involved everything from combined arms fire and maneuver ranges, aerial refueling and deliveries of supplies, to command post and nonlethal weapons training. The main unit involved in the exercise is the 14th Marines, a reserve artillery regiment based in Fort Worth, Texas, but also includes members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The goal of the exercise is to train the two countries forces to work together. Further information about the crash was being with-

held until the next of kin of the killed and injured Marines were notified, said Rodney Ford, spokesman of the U.S. Embassy in Rabat. The MV-22, a joint venture of Boeing Co. and Textron Inc.s Bell Helicopter, is designed to carry 24 combat troops and fly twice as fast as the Vietnam War-era assault helicopters it was to replace. The Osprey program was nearly scrapped after a history of mechanical failures and two test crashes that killed 23 Marines in 2000. But development continued, and the aircraft have been deployed to Iraq. While the General Accounting Office questioned the Ospreys performance in a report last year, the Marine Corps has called it effective. An Air Force version of the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan in April 2010, killing three service members and one civilian contractor.

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April 13, 2012 The T T ech alk 7

Students hungry for better dining hours

CHAD MERRITT Staff Reporter
Catering such events as the 2008 Olympic Games with more than 100,000 meals per day was not a problem for international food service provider Aramark. Satisfying the dining needs of Tech students is proving to be more difficult. Many students have found problems with Aramark and the hours it operates its on-campus vendors. Jake Dicks, a freshman forestry major, said the on-campus cafeteria does not provide students with an adequate time to eat on the weekends. With only two small windows, he said. To eat on the weekends, you have to practically make time and work your schedule around eating. Techs cafeteria is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30-7 p.m. Michael Keys, cafeteria manager, said the times are set to meet the students needs. With many students going home over the weekends, the demand for food drops, he said. Food retailers on campus are open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Each food retailer on campus outside of the cafeteria is closed on the weekends, however. Sophomore architecture major Aaliyah Muhammad said she is frustrated that the cafeteria is the only on-campus meal option students have on the weekends. I switched meal plans because I wasnt using all my meals in the cafe for the week, she said. But when I have free time on the weekends, there is nothing to spend my declining balance on. Keys said Aramark and its hours meet the student needs on campus, but many students disagree and said the demand is much higher. John Hawkins, a freshman computer science major, said he thinks there should be more options available for weekend dining. It makes it difficult for people who live on campus to eat over the weekends, he said. I would pay more per quarter in declining balance if it meant I could use it on the stores around campus. Smaller neighboring universities, Grambling State University and University of Louisiana at Monroe, offer plentiful weekend hours for their dining program. Chuck Parsons, food service director for Grambling State University, said while the cafeteria at Grambling is open for roughly the same amount of time as Tech, the food retail is also open on weekends from 3-10 p.m. ULMs dining service page states their cafeteria is open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., along with the retail being open on Sunday. A report on Gramblings website states the 2010 enrollment was 4,994 and ULMs 2010 enrolment according to their website was 8,858, while Techs website states the enrollment for Tech was 11,804 in 2010. Sophomore finance major Austin Rose, who works as a cashier for Bytes, said he would be willing to work on weekends if it meant there could be more options for eating. Were forced to buy a meal plan thats unusable on certain days, he said. Rose said he thinks Tech dining should at least open Tolliver Hall and its stores to complement the cafeteria on weekends. Blythe Sealy, a senior chemical engineering major, said she makes the dining hours fit her schedule. You make it work because you have to, Sealy said. It works for me because I have a dining

plan. The completion of the new Lambright Annex will bring two new food retailers, which will be open on the weekend. Counter Culture and Provisions On Demand will be open on weekends for the rest of the school year. We will see the support we get for the new stores and go from there to determine the future hours for the store, Keys said. The opening of the new stores will offer a retail presence on the weekend, but some students wonder if that will be enough. Its better than nothing, but you still have to go out of the way to get it, Muhammad said. McAlisters was open on weekends last year, but the hours changed at the beginning of this year. Time and student contribution will determine whether or not more weekend retails will open Keys said. Students wont go hungry, Hawkins said. But its just a matter of how much extra money and effort well have to put forward to eat over weekends.

Email comments to cam059@latech.edu.

>

MARTIN from pg. 1

tional debate. The real issue is not about Martins shooting death, but it is more about race, said Samuel Speed, assistant dean of student life. I think it should be a wake up call to our country for us to look deep into why we think the way we do and be honest about it, Speed said. We all have internal biases, but when those biases take the shape of racism and takes someones life, we have really stepped over the boundary. We tend to stay on the surface of the (race) issue without getting to the root of the matter. It is an age-old problem when you look at the history of this country. It is a problem that has never been dealt with. Manaen Jack Mundi, a senior mathematics and physics major from Camaroon, said he felt horrible and bitter about how the Trayvon Martin

case was handled by Florida authorities. Its the feeling of being declared guilty of a crime that has not been committed yet because both parents are black or one parent is black, Mundi said. If George Zimmerman was black he would have been arrested on the spot. Mundi said the Martin incident provides a good opportunity for blacks and whites in the university community to talk about race. An African-American mother of three sons, Sharon Jackson, a Ruston fitness trainer, said she does not know what it feels like to lose a son, but she knows what it feels like to love a son dearly. She said the Martin case raises the fear that her sons 18-, 21- and 25-years-old can be racially profiled. Its because of everything from 400 years ago, and I think if we today would teach our children that everybody is the same then there would be more change, Jackson said. Racial profiling and white fear of African-

American men have a long history in this country, said V. Elaine Thompson, an assistant professor history. From the first black man arrival in 1619 to the 1960s, white men had been able to control black men, Thompson said. There are elements in the community that havent gotten over the fact that they cant do that anymore. And for this reason she points out that some white people became fearful of African Americans even until today. She also said there needs to a reform of the gun laws and the accessibility of education for everybody as well as more racial interaction in moving forward. We need to generate trust, friendship and understanding among the races on a broader scale, Thompson said. If Mr. Zimmermans community wasnt still [almost] exclusively white, he would never have been afraid of a black man in his neighborhood, which is a perfect example of continued segregation in the South.

There is too little factual information to give a fair analysis of the Trayvon Martin case, but there is evidence of existing racial problems rooted in our society, said Mark Melder, an assistant professor of sociology at Tech. One thing people love to trot out is that education reduces racism, which is not true, Melder said. What reduces racism is being in the classroom with people you never met before and talking to them. If groups of people from different races continue to segregate without interaction then all the racism and negative stereotypes will continue in America, Melder said. Nobody is born racist; its taught just like math, science and arithmetic, he said. Somebody teaches you racism.

Email comments to gpb009@latech.edu and ahg007@latech.edu.

>CANDIDATES from pg. 1

One of my proposals will be to make good use of SGA office hours, Riser said. Instead of being in the office, members would actually go out into the crowd, mostly around lunchtime, and talk to students about their opinions. Another question on voters minds is why more people did not run for the positions. I believe we have far too many positions within the organization, Carlisle said. Compared to other SGAs around the nation, we are one of the larg-

est. I am in favor of downsizing, but in order to do that, the constitution must be modified which poses a lot of hurdles due to strict timelines. East agrees that the constitution is the problem, but for another reason. The way our constitution is currently structured, it was rather difficult for anyone else to run for an executive position, East said. As excited as I am, I do wish that more people would have shown interest. Riser said the position of secretary has never been opposed as long as he has been at Tech.

I think not a lot of people want to be secretary because its not an easy position, Riser said. The secretary has to keep all of the SGA records, keep up with member attendance and office hours, be extremely organized and even has to handle the not-so-glamorous impeachment process, but I am happy that I will be able to do all of this next year. Carlisle said because the candidates are unopposed, instead of a presidential debate, there will be a meet and greet. The candidates are still encouraged to reach out to the students with the same fervor

as if they were running, Carlisle said. The candidates will still be on the ballot, though the positions are unopposed. The only thing students will need to make a choice about on the ballot April 18-19 is the enhancement fee. One good thing about running unopposed, Riser said, is that now the election can focus more on getting the student body to vote for the upcoming enhancement fee bill that will be on the ballot.

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>

from pg. 1

CITATIONS

Somebody from a resident in a dorm will smell something burning, Hermes said. There isnt supposed to be any smoke in a residential dorm. Tech police respond to these calls, talk to residents and deal with what they find, he said. Students charged with simple possession of marijuana have to pay a total of $1,001. Offenders are enrolled in classes, put on probation and sentenced to community service, Hermes said. Students have to go to criminal court, and if found guilty, they are sent to judicial affairs, which could determine any university-related penalties. Amber Peterson, a senior elementary education major who serves on the behavioral standards committee explained the process students go through

when sent to behavioral standards. When a student is sent to behavioral standards, they essentially come present their case to a group of faculty and students who will then issue sanctions, which can vary from probation, suspension, expulsion, mandated counseling or community service, she said. The Student Government Association president, Clint Carlisle, appointed the students to the behavioral standards committee, Peterson said. These students must be upperclassmen members of SGA. Samuel Hallack, a sophomore psychology major, said Tech police are doing their job, but she doesnt agree with the laws behind his incident with the police. I totally abhor it, he said. Probation on marijuana is a waste of taxpayers dollars. The reputation and lives of thousands of people over the past 80 years have been ruined, he

said in reference to marijuana being illegal. Hallacks roommate Franz Hill, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, agrees with Hallacks ideas promoting the legalization of marijuana. It should be legalized, hands down, he said. Its less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. If its illegal based on harm everything from aspirin to McDonalds should be illegal. Hill said Hallacks incident with the Tech police was unnecessary. It was ultimately a victimless crime, and it didnt have to go to the degree it actually went to, Hill said. Theres a lack of respect of rights when you live in the dorms, Hill said. It feels like you cant be comfortable in your own environment. Other students at Tech have differing opinions on the marijuana legalization issue, including College Republicans member Logan Clark, a junior

economics major. There are enough synthetic drugs right now that theres no reason that marijuana should be on the market, Clark said, With diseases such as Glaucoma, there are substitutes that can be used for treatment rather than marijuana, he said. Clark said he acknowledges that there are no physiological addictions that come from marijuana use, but he said he has seen people do crazy things to get it. Ive seen what it can do to a family, Clark said. Ive seen people sell their houses and cars and lose contact with their families. He said there should be some sort of a reward for students for turning over information to the police. I know several students who would turn someone in for a free meal, Clark said.

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>

HONORS from pg. 3

its worth it, he said. Simmons said he would love to see upperclassmen expressing interest in the program, even if they are close to graduating. Even if youre not sure you can finish the 21-hour sequence, if you can do a good bit of it there are ways to finish it, Simmons said. He also acknowledged that upperclassmen that might not have had the correct requirement scores in high school, but have improved their academics since college would be more than welcome to talk about joining the program. Your ability to do the work here really means more than your ACT score, Simmons said. If you qualify for the program, you dont even need the score if youre doing the work.

Simmons has an open-door policy and welcomes all students interested in the program to stop by his office in George T. Madison Hall. Besides being a strong resume tool, the Honors Program has benefits. Marguerite Hogue, a sophomore studio art major, is an Honors Program student who is only a few classes shy of finishing the series. I really like the smaller class sizes, she said. It makes for a more intimate environment and establishes a sense of accountability. Hogue said she also enjoys the recently opened honors computer lab and having the advantage of early class registration. Hogue said being in the Honors Program has carried a lot of weight with professors and employers. I think they feel that I am more cred-

ible because of it, Hogue said. I think that future employers will take it not only as a sign of my commitment to my education, but also to excellence. Hogue recommends others to participate in the program. Honors classes often require more work, but the benefits I have received have made up for that, she said. The Honors Program is something that all students who feel they have the academic ability to be pushed farther than the average student should consider looking into. What I regret is that some of the ones who were eligible dont take advantage of the program, Simmons said. Students will come to me later on and tell me they wished they had gotten into it.

Email comments to mdl024@latech.edu.

Birdwell said she plans to work parttime next year while finishing her MBA. Ive had companies offer me part-time jobs or internships because Im able to do this, Birdwell said. I was also told there would be a chance for me to go on full-time once I graduate. Business is something that is applicable in any field, she said. In order to be successful in any business or industry you have to understand how business works.

>

MBA from pg. 2

program wholeheartedly and finds it a good opportunity for non-business majors. In todays economy you cant do much without an advanced degree, Patrick Blunt, a graduate student pursuing an MBA, said. Blunts undergraduate degree is in construction engineering technology, and he said business is very different from engineering. Its a big switch, but Im getting used to

it, he said. Blunt said the prerequisites are important because they get you prepared to take the advanced business classes. Dana Birdwell, a senior marketing major, said getting a masters in business administration gives you a competitive edge. Birdwell said she is currently an undergraduate student, but she is working concurrently to complete her masters degree program. By starting on my graduate degree now, I wont have to take as many classes next year, she said.

Email comments to acv001@latech.edu.

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8 The T T ech alk April 13, 2012

LAST EDITIONS SOLUTION

WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
Aries March 21 April 19 Career matters couldnt be going better right now, Aries, especially if youre in one of the communication fields, including writing, publishing, teaching, the Internet, or mass media. Your financial situation is probably improving very quickly, and youre making contact with congenial, intriguing people who share your interests. Youre also becoming more aware of the changes going on in the world and doing your part to help them along. Bravo! Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Have you been planning a trip by air, Taurus, perhaps to a distant place associated with a specific spiritual tradition? Warm places like Egypt, Mexico, or Israel could be especially appealing now. You could be going with a group of friends. If you havent been considering such a journey, think about it. You might receive some surprising insights and revelations from such a trip. Start planning it now. Go for it! Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Some vivid, inspiring, and intense dreams or visions could come your way today, Gemini. They could involve paranormal figures, such as angels. Make sure you keep a record of them, as your higher self is trying to tell you something. Make a list of all the images you can remember and analyze what these images symbolize to you. You could come up with some profound insights about the world and yourself. Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 Love and romance should be flying high for you now, Cancer. If youre single, you could soon form an incredible relationship. If youre already involved, the spiritual and emotional bonds between you and your beloved should grow by leaps and bounds. The lines of communication are wide open. Make use of them and you may find the kind of love of which most people can only dream. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 You should be feeling physically strong, healthy, and energetic today, Leo, although you could also be a little lightheaded. You could experience the sensation of wandering around in a daze with your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds. Achieving balance wont be easy, but you should be able to manage it today. Concentrate on activities that involve spiritual or imaginative faculties today. Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 In future years, you might remember today as one of the best days of your life, Virgo. Romance should be going beautifully. You could exchange deeply felt words of love with your partner. The future looks bright, and you should be full of enthusiastic plans for pursuing what you really want to do. You should also be feeling especially strong, energetic, healthy, and ready to try anything. A journey could be coming up soon. Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Happiness reigns in the home as friends and family members gather for a long-awaited reunion, Libra. Or you could be hosting a gathering of friends and acquaintances interested in the arts or psychic or metaphysical matters. Discussions should be intense but fascinating nonetheless. A young visitor could come up with some unexpected insights and revelations that blow everybody away. Write down whatever impresses you the most. Enjoy your evening. Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Group activities, perhaps with a social, ecological, or humanitarian focus, could take place today somewhere in your neighborhood, Scorpio. You might decide to attend with your romantic partner. You could encounter some friends in the process, and all of you could well be caught up in the excitement generated by those in the spotlight. Listen well and think about what you learn today. It might make a difference in your future.

www.horoscopes.com.net
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Your values could undergo a complete turnaround today, Sagittarius. Recent developments in the world, your community, among your circle of friends, and within you could make you realize, like it or not, you and everyone around you is going through a transformation. This might be a little disconcerting, but its a positive development. Take things one day at a time and see where they go. Youll probably like it! Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 Spiritual and psychic matters come to the forefront today, Capricorn. You could be greatly inspired to express yourself creatively. You could also be quite surprised at the wisdom you find within yourself. A gathering of friends, perhaps for the purpose of discussing metaphysical subjects, could bring this to your attention so blatantly that it becomes hard to ignore. Dont cling to the shore. Flow with the current. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Are you contemplating a move of some kind, Aquarius? Perhaps youre thinking about relocating to be closer to members of a group with which youre affiliated. You might also be considering a move to a community where spiritual and metaphysical values are not only discussed but also lived. Make a list of your options, if that helps. Youre in a transitional period right now. You need to be practical. Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Communication with friends, siblings, and neighbors should be open, congenial, and supportive today, Pisces. A gathering could open the door to new friendships, interesting discussions, and other group activities that you might enjoy. The only downside could involve mental overload. You might learn so much today that you cant keep track of it all. Take notes so you can maintain a record of everything that particularly impresses you.

BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 18, 2011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across Across 1. Ladies of Sp. 14 15 16 1- Ladies of Sp.; 5. Bridge positions 5- Bridge 10. Ballet leap Ballet leap; 14positions; 1018 19 14. Chain piece Chain piece; 15- Bobbin; 16- Suit 17 15. ___; 17- Broadway opening; to Bobbin 21 22 23 16. Suit to ___ Monetary unit of 20 18- Flavor; 1917. Broadway opening 22- Appetite; China; 20- Ramble; 24 25 18. Flavor 24- Become an ex-parrot?; 2519. Monetary unit of26- Ruhr city; Sault ___ Marie; China 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 20. Ramble Shannon; 32- Suit 29- Singer 22. AppetiteDe-intensify; 37- Get 36 fabric; 3637 38 39 24. Become an ex.parrot? stuck in the mud; 39- Prince 25. Sault ___ Marie Adding Valiant's son; 4040 41 42 26. Ruhr city 43- Bambi's aunt; vitamins, say; 29. Singer Shannon 43 44 45 44- Idolizes; 45- Biblical 32. Suit fabric birthright seller; 46- "Of course!"; 36. De.intensify Pink Floyd; 4946 47 48 49 48- Barrett of 37. Get stuck in the mud 50- Salt Nicholas Gage book; 50 51 52 39. Prince Valiants son Building Lake City athlete; 5240. Adding vitamins, say add-on; 53- Dexterously; 5756 57 58 59 60 43. Bambis aunt 61- Copied; 62- 53 54 55 Fortified place; 44. Idolizes of information; 64Single piece 61 62 63 64 45. Biblical Pavlova; seller Ballerina birthright 65- Female 46. Of 66- Uneven; 67- Rich soil; course! child; 65 66 67 48. Barrett of Pink Floyd singer; 68- "No Ordinary Love" 49. Nicholas Gage book 69- Leases; 70- Feminine suffix; 68 69 70 50. Salt Lake City athlete 52. Building add- on Down 53. Dexterouslyforce; 2- Receiver Jerry; 3- Organization to promote theater; 4- Superficial; 5- First 1- Close with 11. Sewing case 54. Capital city of Western Samoa 57. Fortified place name in cosmetics; 6- On ___ with; 7- Brillo rival; 8- Carry; 9- Snow 55. Dweeb conveyances; 10- Member of 12. Milk source 61. Copied Chamber of Commerce; 11- Sewing case; 12- Milk source; 13- Start of a counting the Junior 13. Start of a counting rhyme 56. Dextrous, lively 62. Single piece of information Baffled; 26- "Barnaby Jones" star; 27- Sweatbox; 28- Mar. honoree; rhyme; 21- Cacophony; 2321. Cacophony and shoulders sculpture 64. Ballerina Pavlova tapes; 30- Abrasive mineral; 31- Covered on the 57. Head33- Bluffer's ploy; 3429- Band's sample inside; 23. Baffled 58. A party to 65. Female child Moan; 35- Affectation of sophisticates; 37- Night spot; 38- ACLU concerns; of Judah 26. Barnaby Jones star 59. Son 41- Actress Christine; 66. Uneven 42- Indication; 47- Embrace; 49- Golfer Ernie; 51- Born before, senior churchman; 52- Chair 27. Sweatbox 60. Appoint 67. Rich soil designer Charles; 53- Crones; 54-28. Mar. honoreeWestern Samoa; 55- Dweeb; 56- Dextrous, Capital city of 63. Freight weight 68. No 57- Head and singer Ordinary Love shoulders sculpture; 58- A party to; 59- Son of Judah; 60- Appoint; 63lively; 29. Bands sample tapes 69. Leases Freight weight; 30. Abrasive mineral LAST EDITIONS SOLUTION 70. Feminine suffix 31. Covered on the inside BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 17, 2011 S I A M C Y D S E D A N 33. Bluffers ploy Across Down 1- Former name of Thailand; 5E L B E E R I E O R I B I Dancer Charisse; 8- Four-door; 34. Moan 13- Dresden's river; 141. Close with force P L E A P E P S N I V A L Ashtabula's lake; 1535. Affectation of sophisticates Small antelope; 16- Entreaty; 172. Receiver Jerry T E N N E S S E E A C E Enlivens, with "up"; 18- Growing 37. Night spot in snow; 19- State in the SE A G A L O T C A T A R R H 3. Organization to 38. ACLU concerns United States; 21- "___ Ventura" T A K E I N O R C A S E S was played by Jim Carrey; 22promote theater 41. Actress ChristineTurkish title; 23-aAuction unit; 24- E L I A S O R A L H E F T Inflammation of mucous 4. Superficial membrane; 28- Deceive; 30C E R T I T U D E 42. Indication "Jaws" boat; 31- Paris possessive; 32- Inventor Howe; 5. First name in cosmetics A Y A H S H O E E R U P T 33- Like some history; 3447. Embrace Heave; 35- Freedom from doubt; 6. On ___ with D O C B T E N P A S T O R 38- Indian nursemaid; 41- Foot 49. Golfer Ernie covering; 42- Blow one's top; 467. Brillo rival E R T E I ER 47- Bingo 51. Born before, senior VIP;49- Gratuity;call; 48- Flock D O U C A U W E M A H E R L D leader; 51- Floor T R A T E 8. Carry covering; 52- Actor Wallach; 53churchman Song syllable; 54- Seasoned; I M E A N I L I E R I M E 9. Snow conveyances 57- That is to say...; 59- Netman Nastase; 60- Hoar; 61L I I I 10. Member of the Junior Chamber 52. Chair designer CharlesGeorg; 62- ___ Fein; S O Y T E S E N N O N C N Conductor 63- Getting ___ years; 64P A E E E S E T 53. Crones Check endorser; 65- Shoebox of Commerce letters; 66- Denomination;
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Down 1- Divided, anatomically; 2- Forbidden by law; 3- Eastern Algonquian language; 4- Intend; 5Summit; 6- Exclamation of fright; 7- Profane; 8- Musical composition; 9- Author Jong; 10- Varied; 11- Attorney's org.; 12- Goose egg; 14- Big name in printers; 20- Beethoven dedicatee; 25- Legal rights org.; 26- TKO caller; 27- DDE's predecessor; 29- "From ___ according to his abilities"; 30- Betelgeuse's constellation; 33- Or else; 34- "His and ___"; 36- Queue after Q; 37- "Til ___ do us part"; 38- Append; 39- ___-hoo!; 40- Sharply; 43- IUD part; 44- Controversial; 45- Threepronged weapon; 47- Skullcap; 48- Communion plate; 50- Jalopy; 51- Lobster state; 55- "Night" author Wiesel; 56- Archer of myth; 57- AOL, e.g.; 58- Extinct bird, once found in New Zealand;

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Concrete canoe team wins first

KALEB CAUSEY

>

FEE from pg. 1

used, can it be used in a more fee manner not just limited to construction, Hyde said. I also dont like that the field house is first priority. Why not have that on the ballot and let the students choose?

Kaitlyn Stevens, a freshman civil engineering major, said she will be casting her vote in favor for the fee. It will be beneficial, Stevens said. I like the green space idea, and tearing down the old buildings. The fee would increase

each full -time students tuition by $30. To vote, go to www.latech. edu/vote April 18-19 and voice your opinion with just a click.

Email comments to hms017@latech.edu.

Staff Reporter

The American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe team won first place at the ASCE Deep South Regional Conference competition. The competition was held at the University of Tennessee at Martin and took place March 29-31. This was the competition for the Deep South Conference. Michele Schwarzlose, a senior civil engineering major, is team captain and project manager. She said preparing for this competition was really tiring. Trying to build something that will eventually float out of concrete can be really challenging and frustrating at times, she said. Before we can even think about building the canoe, there is a whole lot of design and testing that has to happen. Schwarzlose said the team spends a lot of time testing concrete mixes, materials and different proportions. She also said mathematically determining what kind of stresses the canoe will be under takes up a lot of time as well. I think the most nervewracking part of this process is when we first put the canoe in the water, Schwarzlose said. This is usually at our regional competition since we are usually running on a very tight deadline to get everything ready. Kailey Dupre, a sophomore civil engineering major, is the team aesthetics leader. She said there are a few categories the teams are judged on. Dupre said they were judged on aesthetics, a presentation, a technical paper and the final product. They also had to race the canoe in five different races,

Submitted photo

Techs COES 2012 Concrete Canoe team holds its design. The team won first place for design and functionality.
which made up a fourth of the total score. Both Dupre and Schwarzlose said there are many benefits competing in the concrete canoe competition. Dupre said this event has really helped her learn how to communicate with others and work with a team under the pressures of a deadline. Schwarzlose said the project has helped her by preparing her for a potential career in civil engineering. This experience and competition has really helped me by giving me a hands-on and slightly real world project where I can apply all of the concepts and theories that my professors taught me, Schwarzlose said. Its also helped me get interviews and summer jobs because potential employers like to see that you are involved in a team project that relates to your major. Dupre and Schwarzlose said the races are the most exciting part of the competition. There were five total races in the competition. Four of the five races consisted of just two paddlers and the final race was a four-person team. There were two 200-meter races and two 600-meter races, both of which had a mens and womens team competing. The final race was a 400-meter sprint that with a team of two women and two men. The Tech team won first place overall by winning first in the technical paper, final product and the co-ed sprint. The team also placed in the other two sprints. Techs team will travel to Reno, Nevada, for the National Concrete Canoe Competition from June 14-16. Schwarzlose said the team is looking forward to competing on the national level. Were all really excited about getting to visit Reno, she said. We just need to do a bit of fundraising before we can make our travel arrangements.

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More Talk

April 13, 2012 The T T ech alk 9

Better Health through Boot Camp

Photos by Sumeet Shrestha

Tech students get in shape by eating well and getting active

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter t was quiet until the whistle blew. A large crowd darted in every direction to stations where they jumped, squatted and sprinted as many times as they could in three minutes. Gasps for air and the thumping of their feet on the firm, dusty ground suddenly broke the peace in Hideaway Park. For Emily Creech, Lealand Hage and Lucy Douglas, this was just another day of getting healthier and stronger. No pain, no gain, said Creech, a senior accounting major. Creech, Hage and Douglas are just three of the 55 participants in the spring quarter boot camp sponsored by the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center. Tech students and Ruston residents participate in the program, and while they might not have much in common, they all share a mutual goal: to improve their health. Boot camp is a quarter-long exercise program instructed by Lambright fitness staff. Participants commit to limit-pushing workouts three times a week and a suggested meal plan that promotes the production of lean muscle. Some participants are veterans to the program and return every quarter to continue improving their fitness and healthy lifestyles. Creech first participated in the boot camp last fall quarter and is participating again this quarter. I noticed I had gained weight since high school and realized it was time for a change, so I joined, she said. According to a recent study done at Ohio State Universitys Center for Human Resource Research, the freshman 15 theory is a myth. College freshmen gain an average of 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. Research also showed that

students gain an average of 12-15 pounds lenges her every day. over the course of their college careers. If I want to look good and be healthy, its Although the study disproves the fresh- worth feeling like youre having a heart atman 15 as a myth, its authors still encourage tack, she said with a chuckle. healthy lifestyles to prevent health problems Newcomers to the program, like Hage, later in life. said feeling healthy is the daily goal and moJeff Nugent, fitness and wellness gradu- tivation that encourages them to continue to ate assistant at Lambright, and Cash Little- confront the challenge of change. field, group exercise instructor at Lambright, Hage, a junior electrical engineering madirect the boot camp sessions. jor, said even though he has only been exLittlefield and Nugent ercising with the group for suggest that when time and two weeks, he can already money are short, it is best sense changes in his health. to eat with portion control Its intense and its a in mind. challenge, but it can be Looking good isnt College students done, he said. just exercise, Littlefield Time constraints also said. Its 90 percent in the need to realize theres put exercise and eating kitchen and 10 percent exhealthy on the backburner an urgency to get ercise. for Hage. Creech signed on to a healthier. There are He said heavy math full quarter of workouts and engineering workloads and a personal agreement no excuses. College have taken up most of his to change her eating habits. time for the past two and She said the most dif- students cannot wait a half years, but since this ficult thing about getting to do this and need quarter has a lighter workhealthy is balancing her load, he decided to begin time between work, class- to get a grip. Later on his journey to a healthier es, exercising and making lifestyle. might be too late. healthy meals. All it takes is just one I eventually got into a step, Hage said. Signing routine, and it got a little Lucy Douglas up for boot camp was my easier, Creech said with an former nursing first step. encouraging tone. Two weeks later, Hage assistant professor Every morning she has a is putting one foot in front fruit smoothie for breakfast. of the other. When lunch hour comes He attends every boot around, Creech has a light, healthy lunch camp session with the goal to test his limits. packed to fight the temptation to eat fast Although he has not fully committed to food. Finally, at dinnertime, she treats herself the suggested meal plan for the program, he to a balanced and filling meal. is making time to make healthier meals using Eating healthy is only the start, she said. some of the recipes, he said. Creech said exercise is a daily priority He knows he will reach his goals as long now that she has found a program that has as he continues to make changes, he added. helped her improve her fitness and still chalDouglas, a Tech alumna and a former as-

sistant professor of nursing, is also new to the boot camp program this quarter. While she might not know what the program has in store for her, she has already mastered a different boot camp. What I do today will affect me in five, 10 and 20 years, she said. Its not a diet or a short-term thing, its a lifestyle. She said she changed her lifestyle approximately two and a half years ago when her doctor gave her a wake-up call with the displeasing results of laboratory blood work. That day Douglas started her personal boot camp. She made the time to exercise every day no matter how tired or busy she was. She took the same approach in changing her diet. Gluten, sugars and saturated fats rarely find their way into her diet nowadays, she said, even when she is tempted or too tired to cook. I just turned 50; look at me, she said with a large smile. Whats even better is that I didnt starve myself. I eat a lot but I just eat the right things. Douglas has lost 55 pounds since she made changes in her lifestyle. Many rewards came with the changes. Being able to fit into smaller sizes was one reward, but she said the greater reward was the clean result from her next laboratory test. Douglas said she wishes college students could look at her and see how the lifestyle changes she has made have really benefited her and realize how important it is to lead a healthy life. College students need to realize theres an urgency to get healthier, Douglas said. There are no excuses. College students cannot wait to do this and need to get a grip. Later on might be too late.

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

Lealand Hage (Left), Emily Creech (above), and Lucy Douglas (right) participate in Boot Camp, a quarter-long exercise program instructed by Lambright fitness staff.

Dawgs prep for spring game

DEREK J. AMAYA Sports Reporter Thirteen practices and three scrimmages later, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have successfully been through spring training 2012 and are set to play in the annual T-Day spring game. The spring game will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Joe Aillet Stadium. With many players improving since the loss in the San Diego Poinsettia Bowl, this will be the last chance until summer camp for players to prove to head coach Sonny Dykes why they deserve a starting position. Ive been really pretty pleased with the way our guys have practiced up to this point, Dykes said. You can tell theyve put a lot of work in the offseason and theres a lot of carry over from the bowl game as well. I think were light years ahead of where we were. Many players such as redshirt sophomore linebacker Rufus Porter, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jacarri Jackson and sophomore quarterback Zach Griffith look to continue to impress coaches like they have throughout spring. (Griffith) has really been a pleasant surprise, Dykes said. Hes the guy that probably has improved as much as anybody this spring. Ive been really pleased with what he is doing. Zach sees an opportunity and is working his tail off to make the most of it. Replacing linebackers Adrien Cole, Dusty Rust and Jay Dudley is no easy task, but linebackers coach Jeff Konz said he has faith in Porter and redshirt junior Solomon Randle, who he said have been impressive this spring. We lost a lot of talented guys in our three seniors, Koonz said. Through the Theres some good young talent, Koonz said. The thing we always talk about is special teams and the linebackers are the big guys that can run it. The first chance they get on the field is special teams. All of those guys are trying to work their way up the depth chart and its through special teams. According to his coaches, Jackson has been surprising thus far with how much he has improved since the season ended and looks to continue his success in the spring game. This is supposed to be my year of stepping up, Jackson said. I know I have big shoes to fill in losing major players like Taulib Ikharo. I know I have to step and play my part in the offense. Jackson did not get much playing time last season and said he wants to prove he can be a starter in college. I really want to build that confidence with Colby, Jackson said. The same confidence that Patton has. I want to show that I can be that go-to guy. Dykes said first string and second string will get a chance to play and he wants to see the offense play without mistakes and the defense create turnovers. Youre always disappointed in some guys, the way they play in the spring game, and theres always pleasant surprises, Dykes said. Sometimes a guy gains a lot of confidence from a spring game. Ive seen guys that have had just average practices that all of the sudden have a good spring game and carry it over to the fall. Thats what a spring game is all about. For more coverage on football follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Sports Talk

10 The T T ech alk April 13, 2012

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

with ANNA CLAIRE THOMAS

Isham leaving a blessing in disguise?

ts been an eventful past few weeks in the world of sports. Tiger found his game (and lost it in a weeks time), Sean Payton was suspended for his bounty hunter ways and apparently Baylor has a problem with excessive texting. With the headlines aplenty, Ruston had its own breaking news of some sort that garnered some attention, but not as much as you would expect. It was thought to be an unrealistic April Fools joke when BleedTechBlue.com posted the news of quarterback Nick Ishams departure from the Bulldog football team April 1. Generally the news of a player leaving the team is not all that unheard of in college sports. But the highly touted Isham rolled into town last year with great expectations from Tech fans and coaches alike despite being an undersized true freshman that most people couldnt pick out of a crowd. If were all being honest, he just didnt look like a college quarterback. Even after a dreadful start to last seasons football schedule, Isham was believed to be improving as a Division I football player, even though his play stretched from one extreme to the other when he would throw a 50-yard touchdown pass one series only to turn around and throw a pick-six the next. With the fans becoming restless after a 2-4 start to the season, head coach Sonny Dykes made a move to make Colby Cameron his quarterback during the Utah State game and the starter for the remainder of the season. As we all know, the Bulldogs flourished with Cameron under center, finishing out the remainder of the schedule with an 6-1 record and storming through a conference schedule that led to Tech hoisting the Western Athletic Conference Championship trophy at seasons end. Also the Dogs earned a berth in the Poinsettia Bowl against newly renowned football powerhouse Texas Christian University. With Cameron only a junior in 2011, it was a no-brainer for Tech football fans for him to be the starter in 2012 with Isham backing him up. Not so fast, my friends. April 1 brought news of Ishams departure from the team without much explanation or reaction from his teammates, coaches or the fans. Its college football, though. I guess changes are made and fans and teams have to adjust to the situation. But for a guy who caused so much stir on the message boards when signing to play for the Dogs, it was almost as if the entire Tech nation was just uninterested in the news. Regardless of the publics opinion, the Bulldogs depth chart just got a bit shorter in the midst of their 2012 spring season with Cameron in the lead role and a now well-improved Zack Griffith taking the snaps as the backup. Griffith was even said to be the most improved player this spring by Dykes. So, even with all the hoopla surrounding him when he joined the Tech family, the sky didnt fall when Isham left, and things are looking up for us next season. Maybe Ishams departure is a blessing in disguise for Tech. For someone who came to Tech with so much hype, it just never really panned out in his shortlived career with the Bulldogs. Anna Claire Thomas is a senior journalism major from Monroe who serves as sports editor. Email comments to act013@latech.edu.

Photo Courtesy of Media Relations

Senior Colby Cameron practicing in order to prepare for Saturdays spring game. spring, Ive been pleased with how the (new players) worked and how theyve really tried to press through every day try to get something better and make them a strength in the defense. Koonz said competition has been fierce between the linebackers, and the positions are still up in the air.

Email comments to dja014@latech.edu.

Left: Freshman Noah Riche throws the javelin to place fourth in the hometown invitational.

Bulldogs, Techsters shine at hometown Jim Mize Invitational

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Senior track star Chelsea Hayes set a new facility record after placing first in the long jump competition at the Jim Mize Invitational last weekend in Ruston.

Bottom Left: Freshman Charla Craddock sprints the 100 meter dash to place sixth in the competition.
Photo by Donny Crowe

Techsters try to surf past Hawaii

REINA J. KEMPT Associate Sports Editor The Lady Techsters softball squad has started to turn heads as they are now tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference and are currently on a three-game winning streak in conference play. A win against No. 14 Hawaii may be the confidence booster needed to finish conference strong. The Techsters will travel to Hawaii to play a three-game stretch starting at 11 p.m. CST on Friday and continuing Saturday at 7 p.m. CST and 9 p.m. CST respectively. Though the softball team will head to the sandy shores of Hawaii, they wont be able to take a vacation due to the importance of this series. Upperclassmen like Janna Frandrup, a junior infielder, said she remembers beating them on the Lady Techster Softball Complex last spring and feels like they can pull another upset. Last year we took one win from them and it felt amazing, Frandrup said. It was the best feeling in the world knowing they went to the World Series, so taking the win would definitely boost our confidence. After downing the defending conference champions New Mexico State 6-2 last Friday and finishing them off in a doubleheader on Saturday, the Techsters look to continue their winning streak against a tough Hawaii team. Head coach Sarah Dawson said their offense has to be preand play the game. As Dawson stresses the importance of offense in this game, she said she will look toward junior transfer Goff to be a huge factor for them. This is just Goff s first year at Tech, having moved from Grossmont College in California but she currently has the highest batting average at .388. Goff said she is aware that though she is a newcomer, she is still a leader on this team. Keeping the underclassmen leveled can be difficult to do in big situations like this but Goff has stepped up to the plate. I just tell the freshmen not to worry about it, Goff said. When youre out on the field, its to have fun. When youre at the plate, its just you and the pitcher. She said shes excited to play against a nationally-ranked team. Every time weve played a nationally-ranked team, we have come out stronger, Goff said. I feel like we come out with a different intensity when we play against a top team. She said intensity is essential in any sport in order to succeed and the Techsters are looking to turn up the heat against an equally hot Hawaii. The three-game series against Hawaii will be available to watch on Gametracker for the Techsters fans who would like to see these two teams battle.

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Junior pitcher Michelle Jones knocked off New Mexico State in one of the Techsters three victories in last weekends series sweep. Tech returns to action at 11 p.m. CST Friday against Hawaii. cise in order to match the offense of Hawaii. Techs current team batting average is .243 while Hawaiis is .277. Tech will have to focus on getting more hits. Junior infielder Melanie Goff, sophomore outfielder Erin Kipp and Frandrup are the three players on Techs squad with a batting average over .300, and they will need to step up and play their best games in order to come out on top. Their (Hawaii) biggest thing is their offense and they get homeruns so we need to make them chase the ball, Dawson said. They are the type of team to chase the ball and get ground outs or pop ups is what we need to win against them. To be solid defensively, junior pitcher Michelle Jones will need to head into the Hawaii games with confidence, as she will be throwing against someof the top offensive Hawaii players like Jessica Iwata, Leisha Li`ili`i and Sarah Robinson. Dawson said she sees the competitiveness in her players when playing a team like Hawaii. Having a fierce match against them every year gives Dawson the edge on knowing what to expect from this Hawaii squad, she said. Every game starts at zerozero no matter who we play, Dawson said. Our kids get excited to play them. We know their pitchers tendencies so we gear our offensive workouts for the type of pitching we will see. So we just have to go out there

Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.