n7 n6

A student’s hometown continues to Is Toy Story 3 a repeat with a new

change before her eyes. Turn to cast? Turn to page 6 to reconnect
page 7 to discover the aftermath with a childhood film.
caused by the Gulf oil spill.

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The student voice of Louisiana Tech University RETURN

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Park Place residents

Bikes to bear decals question cleaning fees

Complete with newly registered decals, summer students lock up their bicycles outside of Tolliver Hall.
By ZACH BEAIRD
zcb001 @latech.edu
Bike riders on campus are
being urged to register their
bicycles and purchase a $1
decal at the traffic office to
help protect students’ prop-
erty and aid Tech police in
the removal of abandoned bi-
cycles from campus.
Student, faculty and staff
bike owners must have a Tech
ID or valid driver’s license
along with the make, model,
color and serial number of
the bicycle to purchase a
decal. Failure to comply
could result in the impound-
ing of the bike which can only
be returned by its registration
and $1 fee.
In an effort to get bike reg-
istration off to a quick start,
the traffic office allowed free
registration during summer to
students who registered
within the first two weeks of
the quarter, which ended
June 16.
Mona Cannon, clerk chief
for the traffic office, said
around 50 decals were
handed out during the two
weeks and that the opportu-
nity to register for free will
come around again for stu-
dents returning in the fall.
Amy Day, a senior archi-
tecture major, was one of
roughly 50 students to re-
ceive a free decal. Day said
Photo by Sean Zhou
whom it can be returned to.
Tech Assistant Chief of
Police Bill Davis said that the
new decals will also become
an effective method of re-
moving abandoned bicycles
from campus.
“There are bikes chained
to racks and rails all over
campus that have no owner,”
said Davis, “Several of them
are even missing parts like
wheels and seats.”
The use of the decals will
provide officers with a way
of detecting the discarded
bikes. The officers will then
have the authority to im-
pound the bike making more
space available and less
trash.
“It’s common to see bikes
chained to trees or street
signs because of an aban-
doned bike chained up on the
Over 50 decals were handed out the first few weeks of rack,” said Davis. “This will
open up more space on these
summer session, kicking off the new bicycle registry. racks so students are guaran-
she was not upset over the to identify stolen bikes and teed a place to lock their
new regulation but was con- return them to their owners. bike.”
fused about its purpose. “The serial number in- Davis said there are also
“I didn’t understand why creases the chances of re- plans to put more bike racks
they would want to impound covery for a stolen bike,” said in heavily trafficked areas
my bike,” said Day. “I went Hermes, “It’s a win-win situ- such as Dudley Circle, Tol-
ahead and got it, though, just ation for everyone.” liver Hall and George T.
in case.” Hermes explained that if Madison Hall.
Tech Police Chief Randal someone is suspected of Hermes said the new reg-
Hermes said these new having a stolen bike, the se- ulation can only make Tech a
measures are meant to be rial number can be entered in more bike friendly campus
beneficial to both students a database that will provide and asks that any student
and police. The registration officers with the name of the who has not registered their
of a bicycle will allow police bike’s registered owner to bike to do so immediately.
assessed by housing
By PATRICIA MALEK
pam012@latech.edu
After cleaning their Park
Place apartments and heading
home for the summer, some for-
mer residents of the on-campus
apartment complex are now
protesting the amount of the
cleaning fees charged by uni-
versity housing.
Melanie Peel, director of
residential life, provided current
numbers.
“Of the 956 residents in the
apartments, around 400 re-
ceived charges for cleaning fees
ranging anywhere from $10 to
a maximum amount capped at
$100,” Peel said. “Of that 400,
less than 40 have disputed dam-
ages to date.”
Because they signed a
waiver, students who chose the
express checkout option to
drop off their keys without an
in-person checkout by a student
housing services employee will
be not able to appeal, however.
They must pay whatever clean-
ing fees university housing de-
cides are appropriate.
Candiss Hamric, a senior
nursing major, said she spent an
entire day cleaning her apart-
Latin-inspired Zumba
class fires up Lambright
By CRYSTAL MCCANTS
csm035@latech.edu
Latin-inspired Zumba aerobic
dance classes are now being
given at the Lambright Intramu-
ral Center.
At 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. every
Monday and Wednesday in the
aerobic room at the Lambright
Center participants have the op-
portunity to dance for one hour
and burn up to 1000 calories.
Zumba is a cardiovascular
workout, as well as a dance
course. It has rapidly spread
across the nation in recent years
and is now in Ruston.
Abril Rocio Armendariz-Diaz,
certified Zumba instructor, has
taught several courses in areas in-
cluding jazz, flamenco, tango and
ballet, but chose to teach Zumba
in Ruston to bring a new and dif-
ferent exercise option.
Armendariz-Diaz said she is a
volunteer instructor, and does not
receive payment from Tech.
“My gratification is the smiles
of those who attend each class,”
said Armendariz-Diaz. “I do this
because I am convinced that we
ment. Hamric said she dis-
tinctly remembered wiping
every piece of laminate furni-
ture, including cleaning the in-
sides of her dresser drawers.
“I am pretty close to immac-
ulate,” Hamric said. “We
scrubbed all day long.”
Hamric said she was not
happy when she saw a $20 fee
charged for cleaning the furni-
ture in her bedroom on her bill
and also said she was surprised
at the amount of the fee for
what she considered a small
task.
“That is a bit much for wip-
ing something down,” Hamric
said. “I do not think it took that
long, and if you were to assess
it by a wage rate per hour, it
would be exorbitant.”
Cleaning fees for individual
areas shared by all residents in
an apartment were charged to
each resident. For example,
while the fee for cleaning a toi-
let is listed as being $10, the
total amount actually collected
for cleaning that toilet would be
$40 in a four-bedroom apart-
ment. A Tech Talk reporter al-
lowed Alanda Ballard,
> see CLEANING FEES page 3
should all give something back to
our community.”
Ashlynn Shell, recreation su-
pervisor of Ruston Parks and
Recreation, said “It is a positive
influence on the wellness of the
community, and it has been ex-
tremely well received. Our certi-
fied instructor, Abril Rocio
Armendariz-Diaz, brings such a
high level of energy to the class
that it is contagious. I am thrilled
to be able to offer Zumba
through RPAR.”
Armendariz-Diaz also teaches
classes at RPAR Tuesday and
Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday
at 9:30 a.m., in addition to the
Zumba classes at the Lambright.
According to
www.zumba.com, “The routines
feature interval training sessions
where fast and slow rhythms and
resistance training are combined
to tone and sculpt your body
while burning fat. Add some
Latin flavor and international zest
into the mix and you’ve got a
Zumba class.”
“The Zumba program fuses
> see ZUMBA page 3

Kappa Sigma Fraternity relocates
due to Research Park land expansion
By QUENTIN ANDERSON
qaa001@latech.edu
Tech’s recent moves to ex-
pand its campus eastward re-
sulted in the Epsilon-Gamma
Chapter of Kappa Sigma Frater-
nity having to relocate and move
out of its long-term residence
on West Texas Street.
During the summer and fall
of 2009, Tech was purchasing
land east of the main campus
for the university’s expansion
projects, particularly its technol-
ogy research park and in Octo-
ber 2009, Kappa Sigma was
informed by Tech officials that
the school was interested in pur-
chasing the land their house sat
upon as well.
Collin Ellis, Kappa Sigma
chapter president and a senior
kinesiology major, said it was not
a surprise when the university
signaled its intent to purchase
their house and was met with lit-
tle resistance.
“I knew our lot would be in
Tech’s future plan,” Ellis said.
“[Their] intention was to expand
the campus. Our lot was in the
area they wanted to expand
[into]. They made a reasonable
offer and we accepted it.”
Ellis said the main concern
among the other fraternity
brothers was the prospect of en-
tering a new school year without
a house.
“When we first heard the
news that Tech had bought our
house we knew it was going to
be a difficult transition into the
next school year,” Ellis said.
Now, the fraternity calls their
new location on West Barnett
Springs Avenue home and Ellis
said his fraternity brothers are
excited to go into a new school
year with a new house.
“Being in the situation we
were, without a house, everyone
was happy with the move be-
cause we [have] a place to go for
next year,” Ellis said. “[Because]
> see KAPPA SIGMA page 3
Greek Life office space to become new eatery
By QUENTIN ANDERSON
qaa001@latech.edu
Greek organizations have
been making their frustrations
known to administrative offi-
cials after the school an-
nounced plans to replace the
current Greek Life office in
Tolliver dining hall with a yet-
to-be revealed new addition to
Tolliver’s dining options.
Brad Anders, Tech’s Inter-
fraternity Council president
and a senior biology major,
said the office’s prime real es-
tate in Tolliver will be hard to
duplicate somewhere else.
“That office is right in the
middle of the daily shuffle in
Tolliver during school hours,”
Anders said. “No matter where
else it’s built, it probably won’t
be as prominently located.”
Jasmine Brown, Tech’s Na-
tional Pan-Hellenic Council
president and a senior biology
major, said while she under-
stands the advantages the stu-
dent body would see in the
addition of a new place to eat
in Tolliver, the subsequent relo-
cation and possible temporary
absence of the Greek Life of-
fice will affect the student
body.
“There will most likely be a
negative affect because the
Greek Life office was in a cen-
tral location and easy for stu-
dents to stop by,” Brown said.
Brown, also a member of
Delta Sigma Theta who still
regularly operates the Greek
Life office during the summer
despite a relatively small Greek
presence during the summer
sessions, said the office has
been most effective due to its
location in Tolliver, but no mat- Submitted photo
ter where it moves to in the fall, Greeks at Tech have packed their centrally located
it should remain in a central lo-
cation and be available and office in Tolliver Hall in preparation for a new location.
broadcast to all students. life.” is also located in Tolliver.
“Wherever we are, the of- Barry Morales, the director “We want to keep Greek life
fice should be better adver- of student affairs, said he is still close to student affairs be-
tised,” Brown said. “And that’s not sure where the Greek Life cause it will improve Greek op-
for all Greeks. Plus, more peo- office will end up when the portunities for students if we
ple should be aware that the move is complete, but that the keep a close relationship,”
office is there to assist people preference of his office is to Morales said. “If the Greek
with any questions or concerns keep the Greek Life office near
they may have about Greek the student affairs office, which > see GREEK LIFE page 5
2 • The Tech Talk • June 24, 2010

Alumna serves soldiers overseas

CampuscBriefs
AWS applications out MSSA holds student
for Executive Board paper competition
The Association for
Women Students is seek-
ing applicants to serve on
the Executive Board.
Applications will be
reviewed the first two
weeks of fall quarter.
AWS is an organiza-
tion in which all female
undergraduate students
belong.
Each member is as-
sessed a fee of $0.50 per
quarter, which is used for
activities and programs
benefiting women stu-
dents.
The Executive Board
is the governing body for
AWS and meets once a
month to review requests
for funding.
For more information
contact Linda Griffin,
dean of student develop-
ment, at 318-257-2445 or
The annual under-
graduate student paper
competition, organized
by the Mid-South Socio-
logical Association, is ac-
cepting papers.
The competition is
open to students in the
mid-South region and un-
dergraduate students
who are members of the
MSSA.
A $50 prize will be
awarded to the best orig-
inal sociology paper.
The winning authors
are presented a certifi-
cate of merit at the 2010
MSSA Annual Meeting.
Papers must be sub-
mitted to David LoConto,
vice president of MSSA,
by June 30.
For more information
contact LoConto at 256- Submitted Photo

lgriffin@latech.edu.
SAT selling Tech wel-
come buckets for $25
The Student Advance-
ment Team is selling wel-
come buckets for $25
until Aug. 27.
With the Tech logo on
one side, the buckets
hold various types of
candy and snacks, two
beverages, a pencil, pen,
highlighter, Scantron
sheet and note cards and
can be used as a trash
can once emptied of
goodies.
The Welcome Buck-
ets will be hand-delivered
to on-campus residents
prior to fall quarter 2010;
off-campus residents can
pick them up at the Mar-
bury Alumni Center on
Tech Drive.
For more information
contact Jackie Kitching-
ham, coordinator of ad-
vancement programs, at
782-5621 or dlo-
conto@jsu.edu.
Women soccer team
to of fer free clinics
Tech’s soccer team is
offering free clinics from
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. every
Tuesday and Thursday
during the summer.
The clinics are offered
at the Lady Techster Soc-
cer Complex located
across the street from the
Charles Wyly Athletic
Center.
It is open to girls ages
8-12.
Head Coach Kevin
Sherry and the Lady
Techster soccer team will
be heading the one-hour
sessions.Members of the
Lady Techster’s team, in
an effort to contribute to
the local community, will
help teach the essentials
of soccer to the partici-
pants.
For more information
contact the Tech soccer
Tech Alumna Sgt. Arnikko Walters assists young Afghani children at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
By TAYLOR STEPHENS
tds026@latech.edu
Soldiers take care of Amer-
ica, but Sgt. Arnikko Walters
takes care of the soldiers.
Walters is serving in Kabul,
Afghanistan, as a human re-
sources officer in the U.S. Army.
Walters graduated as a mar-
keting major from Tech in 2007,
after first wanting to be a
lawyer and then an accountant.
Walters said Tech did not
necessarily influence her deci-
sion to join the reserves, but she
ended up joining to finish pay-
ing for college. She said she
was surprised the reserves were
willing to help her even though
she wanted to remain in school.
In her job overseas, Walters
must ensure service members
stay focused on their missions
whil overseas and are not bur-
dened by external sources,
such as financial issues, rede-
ployment, transportation and
supplies.
“During this deployment, I
“
truly enhanced my capabilities with the organization that has “I know what I am fighting
as a soldier.” been helpful to her while she for,” Walters said. “I am giving
Walters said volunteer work has been deployed. this country the ability to stand
is important to her as a soldier “Cyprus Cares sends me on its own. I know what I am
and a person. care packages and e-mails and defending. I am defending my
“I volunteered with the local supports not only me but my freedom and the freedoms of
school for girls,” Walters said. entire unit as well,” Walters the human race. I know that I
“With this proj- said. “There’s a am part of a team, which is not
ect we were drive held that only the U.S. Army, but the U.S.
able to reach collects bed- Military.”
out to the local sheets for or- Walters said it is an honor to
population and phanages that I know she is a part of history.
show them that want to be in- “It is easy to read history
we care about
their problems;
“During this deployment, I have volved in as well
as supporting
books and hear stories from my
peers and leaders about their
we support their matured in terms of my work re- troops who service, but to have your own
efforts to give don’t have basic story and experience brings it
young girls the sponsibility, my leadership skils supplies like toi- to reality,” Walters said. “Now
opportunity to letries.” that I have served overseas, it
have a decent and, most of all, my iniative.” Walters said puts things into a whole new
education.” she was also perspective as to the men and
Walters said glad to be a part women who risk their lives so
her work with Sgt. A rn ik ko Wa lte rs of the Army others can enjoy freedom.”
young Afghani when it cele- Walters said she celebrates
women is not US Army Human resources officer brated its 235 those who serve and have
the only volun- birthday June served, especially in commem-
teer work she has done. 14. The army’s birthday is a oration of the Army’s birthday.
“I’ve been volunteering my time to celebrate the establish- "I salute everyone before
whole life, but I really picked up ment of the organization, which me,” she said. “As well as all
on it when I went to Tech,” was created to defend the na- who are present with me an-

Adventure begins here!

318-255-7950 or online office at 318-257-4778 or have matured in terms of my Walters said. tion. swering the call of duty that
at www.latech.alumni.org. ksherry@latech.edu. work responsibility, my leader- She said when she returns Walters said serving in the gives freedom to our loved
ship skills, and most of all, my home from overseas, she plans army means another day of ones, our fellow Americans and

IfM names new director LINCOLN PARISH PARK

initiative,” Walters said. “I have to continue her volunteer work freedom for America. those who need help.”

By CRYSTAL MCCANTS Louisiana native and cares personally about the

csm035@latech.edu state’s success.
“Dr. Null has a unique perspective on guiding a
Randy Null is the new director in the Institute technology-based academic research center be-
for Micromanufacturing and new professor of cause of his years in the microelectronics and se-
biomedical engineering. curity industries,” Napper said. “His management
Null said he is extremely excited to join the IfM and technical expertise align perfectly with op-
and Tech. portunities and directions in which Tech is grow-
“I am working with the IfM to develop a strate- ing.”
gic plan that will focus on strengthening our ties According to the IfM website, the institute car-
to industry in order to help generate economic ries out leading-edge research and development
growth in Louisiana and the nation,” efforts in microsystems and nanosys-
Null said. “Given my background, we tems for biomedical, biological, environ-
will also increase our efforts in the areas mental, chemical and information
of homeland security and national de- technology, among other applications.
fense.” The institute also seeks to contribute
Null has served in executive positions economically to the state and the nation
with the Department of Homeland Se- by being a top resource developing in
curity, the Transportations Security Ad- commercially-feasible nano and mi-
ministration, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Intel crosystems.
Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. Nanotechnology is the branch of en-
According to an article by Jeannette gineering dealing with things smaller
Futrell, administrative assistant for the than 100 nanometers. Likewise, micro
IfM, as director of the Institute, Null will NULL technology focuses on features near one
provide leadership in research and de- micrometer; IfM specializes in both.
velopment that improves energy systems, cyber- As an applied research facility, the IfM con-
space security, medical technology and tributes to the economic development of
fundamental nanotechnology processes, to name Louisiana and the nation through the invention
a few. and realization of specific types of micro and
Although born in Sonora, Texas, Null is from nano systems, which aligns with Null’s objectives.
Louisiana and earned a bachelor’s degree and Null has been named distinguished professor
doctorate in chemical engineering from Tech. by Entergy/Cordaro, serves on the Technical Ad-
Stan Napper, dean of the College of Engi- visory Board of Pixel Velocity Inc. and is the
neering and Science, said that although Null has founding owner of Cogent Solutions, LLC, of
spent 30 years outside of the state, he is a Phoenix.

University apartments receive makeovers

By CRYSTAL MCCANTS able to be given to updates with- in a different way, according to

HAVE AN OVERWHELMING NEED TO

csm035@latech.edu out disturbing residents, said Sam Speed, assistant dean of
Peel. student life.
Changes are being made to Last summer, some indoor Speed said funds are spent on

EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS?

one of the commons in phase
one of University Crossing.
Sofas, loveseats and chairs are
being replaced in Caruthers A, B
and C, as well as being freshly
painted.
Melanie Peel, director of res-
painting was done, the steel rail-
ings were repainted and bal-
conies and sidewalks were power
washed.
According to Peel, the new
furniture will be delivered mid-
July, while painting and mainte-
various repairs in the residence
halls.
“Oftentimes, students don’t
see the money that is spent on
repairs and basic upkeep,” Speed
said. “Once that is addressed,
Allow Lincoln Parish Park to be the catalyst for your outdoor adventure!
there is very little, if any, money

With a 10 mile mountain bike trail, RV & primitive campsite area,

idential life, said these changes nance will be done between left for cosmetic repairs.”
are being made to ensure that the conferences scheduled through- Students are the driving force

apartments continue to remain in
good condition and up to the
housing department’s standards.
“For many years the tradi-
out the summer. All is scheduled
to be complete prior to the first
day of fall quarter 2010, which is
Sept. 3.
lake with beach area & rental pavilions with amenities, you’re sure to have a memorable
behind decisions that are made,
along with the administration
outdoor experience. Come claim your adventure today.
leading each particular endeavor.
Student requests are taken into

tional halls did not have an ade-
quate repair and replacement
account, so those facilities did
not receive the attention needed
to stay updated,” Peel said. “With
the apartments, a budget is set
aside specifically for maintaining
that standard of quality.”
Every summer, a different
area of University Park will be
updated. By closing one area
each summer and not allowing
12-month leases in the closed lo-
cation, more specific attention is
Although this process is
planned to continue at a different
common at University Park each
summer, it is not known exactly
what will happen.
No plans are being made to
add new residence spaces, but
Caruthers and Neilson Halls are
scheduled to be demolished.
Funds are not set aside for the
traditional residence halls in the
same manner they are for Uni-
versity Park apartments because
the funds for UP were procured
FOR RENTAL RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
account and much is done to
make it happen, said Peel.
Christy Jackson, a senior en-
gineering major, said she is ex-
cited about the changes.
“It’s good that the housing of- www.park.lincolnparish.org
fice is taking measures to main- Winter 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Spring 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
tain the new apartments,”
Jackson said. “Those are really Summer 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Autumn 8 a.m .- 7 p.m.
nice apartments that should be (318) 251-5156 • 211 Parish Park Rd. Ruston, LA
kept nice.”
“I can’t wait to see what
changes will be made next sum-
mer.”

Alumna earns first
WIA fund award
By ZACH BEAIRD
zeb001@latech.edu
Tech alumna Marla St. John was awarded the chitectural and interior design.
first Women in Architecture fund award June 1.
St. John was only one of many hopefuls for go into a professional environment,” St. John
this award and was pitted against female gradu- said.
ate architecture stu-
dents from all across
the nation but pre-
vailed in the end.
“I found out I won
a day before they
publicly announced
it,” St. John said. “Of
course I was thrilled
to find out I was get-
ting this award.”
To win this award,
applicants were
asked to submit an
essay answering why
there is such a signif-
icant difference be-
tween the number of
female graduate stu-
dents and licensed fe-
male architects.
According to the
WIA fund, women
currently make up 50
percent of graduate
students in architec-
ture, but only 15 per-
cent of women are
licensed practitioners
in the field itself.
In her essay, St.
John wrote, “there is
a fundamental differ-
ence between female
and male personali-
ties and roles that can
be seen in business in
general as well as in
architectural firms
.Women are typically Marla St. John, Tech alumna, received the caring for a family,
more organized and first Women in Architecture fund award.
look at things in more
detail, while males think on a broader scale. the ARE,” St. John said. ”You can’t take the exam
These differences are in no way a bad thing, it without multiple study materials.”
takes both kinds of thinkers to run a firm.”
The WIA said St. John’s essay was well-writ- now plans to begin preparing to take her ARE in
ten and thoroughly discussed the topic given.
St. John attributes much of her success in re- completed within the next year.
> CLEANING FEES from page 1
co-owner of American Maids
in Ruston, to walk through her
Park Place four-bedroom
apartment, and Ballard was
given a copy of the cleaning list
distributed to students. She
wrote a bid for $200 to clean
any Park Place four-bedroom
apartment.
“We clean apartments like
this all the time,” Ballard said.
“I think $400 for one apart-
ment is ridiculous.”
Sam Speed, assistant dean
for student life, said Tech, as a
government entity, must accept
the lowest bid for services, so a
contractor who believes they
have the lowest price should
offer a bid. He also pointed out
> ZUMBA from page 1
hypnotic Latin rhythms and
easy-to-follow moves to create
a one-of-a-kind fitness program
that will blow you away,” as
stated on the Zumba website.
“Zumba fanatics achieve long-
term benefits while experienc-
ing an absolute blast in one
> KAPPA SIGMA from page 1
being without a house could be
detrimental to any fraternity on
such a small campus.”
Brad Anders, Tech’s Intrafra-
ternity Council president and a
senior biology major, said there-
was relatively little that Kappa
Sigma could have done to fight
the university’s land grab.
“Eminent domain laws give
the state the right to take prop-
erty for state interests as it sees
fit,” Anders said. “And, as a
state university, they had an in-
terest in expanding the campus
east, toward Trenton.”
Anders said he was proud of
the way Kappa Sigma handled
the relocation process, espe-
cially since the sale, relocation
and purchase of a new house
was completely independent of
university and IFC assistance.
“All fraternity housing issues
are conducted within the frater-
nity,” Anders said. “Kappa
Sigma received no funding from
the IFC for this.”
Samuel Wallace, director of
facility and support services in
the comptroller’s office, said
the university’s purchase of the
Kappa Sigma house is the be-
ginning of a much larger ex-
pansion in advance of
construction for the research
park.
“Ideally, we want to develop
down Arizona Street and past
the old BCM location,” Wallace
said. “From Keeny [Hall] to
downtown will be in the re-
June 24, 2010 • The Tech Talk • 3
ceiving this reward to her education at Tech. She
graduated Tech with a master’s in architecture in
2008 as well as a bachelor’s degree in both ar-
“Tech laid the foundation for me to be able to
Robert Brooks,
assistant professor in
architecture, was one
of St. John’s teachers
during her days at
Tech.
“She was a hard-
worker and consci-
entious builder,”
Brooks said. “And
she was always a
pleasant and person-
able student to
teach.”
For winning the
inaugural award, St.
John will receive
COLLEGIATE
study materials for
the Architecture
Registration Exam,
or ARE, which allows
architect licensure.
St. John said the ma-
terials will be valu-
STATION
able as she begins
studying for her
exams.
However, apart
from her effort to ob-
tain her architect li-
1/2 Page
cense, St. John also
holds a job as a de-
signer for North
American Land De-
velopment while car-
ing for her family,
including her 4-year-
Submitted photo old daughter Mia.
“I have to juggle
working a full-time
job and studying for
ON FTP
With the reward from the WIA fund, St. John
July and hopes to have the seven section exam
that contractors often raise the
price for completing the job
Peel also provided informa-
tion about the use of funds col-
within a short time frame. lected from students for
Even though a company cleaning fees.
called CMLP completed the “Any fees collected from
cleaning tasks, Peel said it was residents with fines are placed
university housing that decided in an account to cover repairs
the amount of fees for each and replacements for the
task. She said checkout apartments, for example, pay-
processes and damage and ing a cleaning company for
cleaning fees at universities their services,” Peel said.
around the country which were Speed pointed out another
similar to Tech were re- factor he believes should be
searched. considered in fee appeals.
“We compiled the informa- “I think the thing we also
tion to come up with our sys- have to speak to is they were
tem,” Peel said. “Our given advanced notice what
coordinators, along with the the charges would be, so it is
student staff who checked the not like they were left in the
apartments, compiled the fees dark,” Speed said. “Things
and sent them out the first were given to them before
week of June.” checkouts.”
exciting hour.” the class.
Armendariz-Diaz, a 31-year- “There is a buzz around Rus-
old lawyer from Chihuahua, ton about Zumba, and every-
Mexico, moved to Ruston with one is talking about it,”
her husband, who is pursuing a Walpole said.
doctorate in engineering at Walpole describes Zumba
Tech, and two sons. as a high-energy Latin dance
Blair Walpole, a Zumba par- aerobic class. The continuation
ticipant, said having a Latin in- of the class will depend on par-
structor brings authenticity to ticipation this summer.
search park footprint.” park is going to improve their
Wallace said the develop- degree and their overall educa-
ment of the research park will tion,” Wallace said. “It will be a
provide long-term benefits that place for students to work. This
will far outweigh temporary will be where the cutting edge
headaches like the Kappa of ideas are improving the edu-
Sigma housing shuffle. cation and reputation of that
“For students, this research education for our students.”
Follow us
on Twitter!
twitter.com/thetechtalk
Monday Student Special
All U Can Eat:
$3.95 Spaghetti,
Sauce & Garlic Bread
* meatballs $1.00 each, drink not included
Dine in only
251-2222 • 101 N. Trenton, Ruston, LA 71270
PG 4 Edit:Layout 1 6/23/10 3:36 PM Page 1

4 • The Tech Talk • June 24, 2010

Insight
FROM THE EDITOR
My last perspective on politics
O
f course, my first year of
college was marked with
change: new friends, a
new apartment and a newly dis-
covered independence. I was a
Republican with deeply rooted
Southern Baptist beliefs, or in
other words: another white 18-
year-old male with a hangover
and a blue “Bulldogs for Bush”
T-shirt that matched my Frat-
tastic Polo hat. Up until this
point in my life, each year
yielded yet another yawn. As a
freshman journalism major, I
rarely thought past the weekend
much less outside of the box.
My last quarter of my first
year, I took Dr. Richardson’s
POLS 201 class: another pre-
requisite for journalism, and the
catalyst for declaring a double
major in political science. By
the third test I felt aware, edu-
cated and no longer conformed
to a party identification that had
been passed down to me
through an umbilical cord. The
more I learned the more opin-
ions I developed, and looking
back, the class interrupted my
blissful ignorance. My political
identification began to grow in
a different direction from my
family.
The only thing keeping me
from joining the Democratic
Party is that I am opposed to
abortion. But I am not one to
lance traweek
give a candidate’s stance on
abortion much thought when it
comes to national elections, es-
pecially the president.
While abortion and local
politics are insignificant in the
grand scheme of my party
identification, I am an inde-
pendent because I am an issue-
based voter.
Before the 2008 presidential
election, I looked at the pros
and cons of each ticket and
based my vote on who I thought
would be for the betterment of
our country. A specific party af-
filiation seemed arbitrary, con-
sidering my convictions are far
too complicated to permit such
a narrow view of my voting de-
cision. As an independent, I take
pride in my beliefs, which I hold
in high regard. After spending
14 years in the public school
system, I garnered a better un-
derstanding of those different
from myself.
During the 2008 campaign, I
noticed my family becoming
more interested in politics, es-
pecially when one of their own
came to the dinner table wear-
ing an Obama T-shirt.
After returning from an in-
ternship in D.C. with Congress-
man Rodney Alexander, I
realized the world is bigger than
this Southern bubble. I keep my
mind open to new cultures,
races, concepts and ideals.
Working in a Republican’s con-
gressional office on Capitol Hill
for two months is likely to make
or break any independent. But
my time there did little to sway
me to one side or the other.
During the internship, there
were things I liked and disliked
about the direction of the Dem-
ocratic and Republican parties.
This is my 50th and final
Tech Talk to be a part of.
Through my political columns
the past two years, I tried to
center them to evoke thought,
considering the average student
is subjected to enough opinion
journalism masquerading as
news. I put my perspective in
this small box on Page 4, in
hopes others will think outside
of theirs too.
Lance Traweek is a senior jour-
nalism and political science major
from Monroe who ser ves as editor
for The Tech Talk. E-mail com-
ments to jlt044@latech.edu.
WALKING TOWARD THE SUN
Texting & driving; no LOL-ing matter
creech…slam…bam! It
S all happened in that order
or at least that is how I re-
membered it.
As I left Dallas last Sunday
morning, pondering over all the
items on my to-do list, I sud-
denly felt myself and car spin-
ning in a whirlwind I had no
clue when or how would end-
the scariest moment of my life
to say the least.
My first flat tire experience
is one I will never forget, yet
never want to forget.
After the shock wore off
from last Sunday’s accident
which involved me losing con-
trol of my car and hitting the
guardrail alongside Interstate
635 in Dallas I found myself
consumed in the “what ifs.”
What if I had not been in the
right lane and created a huge
pile up causing injury to others
and myself ? What if my failure
to maintain control caused a
death?
One thought in particular
could have predictably been a
possibility. How would I have
reacted to the blowout and los-
ing control if I had been talking
on my cell phone or, even
worse, texting and driving? Re-
alizing how lucky I was, I began
to recall a celebrity’s recent ef-
Emily Lafleur
forts promoting safer driving.
Oprah Winfrey’s new move-
ment has caught much atten-
tion as she initiated the first
ever National No Phone Zone
Day on April 30. Winfrey has
managed to pull at America’s
heart strings as she features
friends and families who have
lost a loved one due to a car ac-
cident involving cell phone
usage on her weekday talk
show, noting that many of these
fatal accidents could have been
prevented.
Celebrities and various com-
panies have jumped on this No
Phone Zone bandwagon by
signing the No Phone Zone
pledge accessible on Winfrey’s
website.
There are three different
pledge options all promising no
texting and driving, and the
other two state one will use
hands free device when making
a call or pull off the road to
make a call.
As cellular devices have be-
come more popular than ever, I
think it is time that the risks as-
sociated with driving and cell
phone usage become well-
known as well. According to the
Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, cell phone usage among
drivers makes drivers four times
as likely to get into a crash.
You, as well as I, have prob-
ably texted while driving at
least once in the past month.
Effective Aug. 15, if caught tex-
ting and driving Louisiana, mo-
torists will face a primary
offense up to $175 and a fine
up to $500 for second and fol-
lowing offenses.
The new text banning law is
similar to the previous passed
in 2008, but the new one allows
police to pull drivers over di-
rectly suspected of texting. I
hope it is not naïve to believe
that Americans can learn and
practice safe driving. Some-
times you just have to say or
text “ttyl.”
Emily LaF leur is a senior jour-
n a l i s m m a j o r f r o m La k e C h a r l e s
who ser ves as associate editor for
The Tech Talk. E-mail comments
to edl003@latec h.edu.

In Our Opinion THE TRUTH AS I SEE IT

A witch of a columnist
Coming to the Cup rom copygirl to most con-
Taylor Stephens After resigning from the UPI,

he United States continues to have its Fernando Torres is the golden boy to watch F troversial face in the news,
and it only took Helen
Thomas gave a speech to the
Massachusetts Institute of Tech-

T fair and not so fair share of natural and

non-natural disasters. From terrorist at-
tacks to oil spills, the States have just about seen
it all and it keeps on coming with no end in
sight.
On the foreign front, all that seems to appear
on the news lately is a bomb exploding here,
people dying over there. Is peace a concept
that no one can grasp?
Other countries always appear to be blam-
ing their problems on the United States or other
countries. Everyone is always at each other’s
throat and blaming the other for current or past
dilemmas. Will there ever be a day when we
can all get along and stop hurting innocent peo-
ple?
However, there is one thing that seems to
put all our problems aside and bring all of us
together: soccer.
On June 11, the world was able to come to-
gether and watch as numerous countries com-
peted in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
And it is still not over.It is expected to be the
most watched television event in history, ac-
cording to the Christian Science Monitor, with
32 teams and 736 players registered.
According to breakingentertainment-
news.com, Spain and Argentina will vie for the
big prize, and England will most likely be the
team to drop out early.
on Spain’s team as the top goal scorer. The Por-
tugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is also one to
watch out for along with David Villa of Spain
who has great positioning skills and top-notch
Thomas nearly nine decades.
The columnist turned chief
of United Press International
has never been an easy-going
reactions. reporter, and she liked to make
However, the United States’ biggest rival is, it known. She was relentless and
of course, England, who they have not played demanding as a reporter, and
against in 60 years since the 1950 tournament she terrified foreign diplomats as
in Brazil, but that anniversary was broken on a member of the UPI. Even
June 12. The United States set foot on the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro
would not talk to her.
green against England once again in Rusten- In 2006, Thomas, then a
burg. A horrible mistake from England’s Robert chipper 85 years old, confronted
Green gave the United States the advantage former president George W.
they needed to get the tie with England. The Bush about the Iraq war, accus-
final score was one to one. Who knows what ing him of killing not only inno-
the future will bring with this rival, but whatever cent Americans but innocent
will happen the world will most likely be tuning Iraqis.
in. This cup will last for a whole month and end In 2009, Thomas complained
on July 11 with the championship game. about President Barack
According to The Christian Science Moni- Obama’s lack of transparency
tor, The tournament’s final match, on July 11, to the press and said not even
“is forecast to draw the biggest audience of any former president Richard Nixon
sporting final in history, surpassing the 715 mil- was as controlling of the press
lion people who watched the 2006 champi- as President Obama.
onship game.” On May 27, in her “crown-
Even though conflict is a word that the entire ing” achievement as one of the
world is too familiar with, it is still refreshing to most feared and disliked jour-
see that we can unite for a classic game of soc- nalists in the United States,
cer and forget about our problems, at least, for Thomas said the Jewish people
a month. needed to go back to their
“home” of Poland and Germany
while subsequently telling them
to “get the hell out of Palestine.”
In what was probably the
best move she made in her en-
tire career, Thomas retired June
7 and issued an apology on her
website, which covered her
deepest regret and how sorry
she was and blah blah blah.
Her apology came too little,
too late.
Have worse things been said?
Sure, but that does not make
what she said any less of a slap
in the face to those who suffered
and had family that suffered
through the Nazi regime in
Poland and Germany.
Obama called it a shame that
she ended her “celebrated” ca-
reer on such a controversial
note.
Really, Obama?
You will sit with two Joe No-
bodies and have a beer, but you
will not call out Thomas for the
witch that she is?
Do not feel bad for Thomas.
She knows what she is doing.
nology and said, “I censored
myself for 50 years when I was a
reporter. Now I wake up and ask
myself, ‘Who do I hate today?’”
I do not believe the sincerity
of Thomas’ apology. This is
what she does. She says things
that she never should and then
tries to avoid repercussions by
immediately covering her tracks
with an apology.
Based on her previous
quotes, Thomas knew what she
was doing and meant everything
she said in her interview. There
would have been more grounds
to believe her apology had she
not done this type of thing be-
fore.
Be realistic, Thomas: Not
one of your apologies has been
sincere since 1950, which is say-
ing something for someone who
has spent nearly a century riding
her broomstick around the
world striking fear into the
hearts of foreign diplomats.
Taylor Stephens is a junior jour-
nalism major from Bossier City
who ser ves as managing editor for
The Tech Talk. E-mail comments
to tds026@latech.edu.

THE TECH TALK

The student voice of Louisiana Tech University
SARCASM WITH AN AGENDA
MANAGEMENT SUBSCRIPTIONS
EDITOR Lance Traweek Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a year. Mail to: Tech Your citizens or your money
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Emily LaFleur Talk Subscriptions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272.
MANAGING EDITOR
s the oil continues to flow Kelly BeLton in campaign financing, and Bach-

ONLINE EDITOR
SGA REPORTER
Taylor Stephens
Kelly Belton
Kelly Belton PUBLICATION
A into the Gulf, it’s politics
as usual in Washington.
Political pundits are sounding off
mann has received more than
$70,000 in her career.
Ah, a vested interest in the oil
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every day on their stance on business. I would have never sus-
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The Tech Talk (USPS 535-540) is published Thursdays of
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ident has stepped outside his government,” these politicians manded Obama do something

CONTACT US
Send address changes to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box bounds.
10258, Ruston, LA 71272-0045. She’s not alone.
In a statement representing
his organization, Republican Tom
Price, chair of the Republican
Study Committee, said demand-
ing this $20 billion from BP is
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Really? I thought it was the
government’s job to protect its
citizens. The $20 billion escrow is
specifically designed to aid fami-
lies and businesses affected by
BP’s little blunder.
You would think some of
and he demanded this fund. BP
gladly opted to create the ac-
count, as their chairman re-
minded us last week, BP cares
about the “small people.”
So while the president and BP
are trying to do something to
help those affected, I can’t help
but wonder what side some

WRITE TO US!
control.”
The RSC has 114 members.
The Tech Talk welcomes letters to the editor. However, we reserve the Let’s pray they don’t all feel this
right not to print anonymous letters. We also ask that each letter be ac- way.
companied by a telephone number, address, classification or title. We Rep. Joe Barton, of Texas,
will not print the telephone number. Viewpoints should be mailed or brought to The Tech Talk office, 146 Keeny even went so far as to apologize
Hall, by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to a Thursday publication. Letters should be mailed to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box to BP for having to create this
10258, Ruston, LA 71272. E-mails should be sent to jroberts@latech.edu. You can also submit letters online at claims fund, though he later re-
www.thetechtalk.org/home/lettertotheeditor/ tracted the statement.
these representatives would
watch what they say in support
of BP, especially with mid-term
elections coming up in Novem-
ber.
But then again, maybe not
when you realize how BP has
been there for them. Rep. John
Kline received $130,000 from BP
politicians are on.
Kelly Belton is a junior jour nal-
ism and political science major from
Houston, Texas, who ser ves as ne ws
and online editor for The Tech
Talk. E-mail comments to
keb029@latech.edu.

High school students attending the 5th Summer Leadership School parade across Centennial Plaza last week.
AFJROTC marches on campus
By QUENTIN ANDERSON
qaa001@latech.edu
Tech campus played host to
its 5th Summer Leadership
School, the Air Force’s Junior Re-
serve Officers' Training Corps’
summer program for high school
students. This year, SLS was held
from June 12-19.
Since the summer of 2006,
the AFROTC has brought high
school cadets from across the
country to Tech’s campus for
eight days at the end of June for
military-style drills and a chance
to learn under both retired offi-
cers of the United States Air
Force and cadets currently par-
ticipating in the college-level
ROTC.
Lt. Colonel John Bartee, the
commandant of this year’s SLS
and a JROTC instructor at Air-
line High School in Bossier City,
said this year’s program brought
about 165 cadets together from
five states with 23 different
schools represented.
“Just as the name implies, this
is an intense leadership school
with a military flavor,” Bartee
said. “The goal is to give kids
leadership skills that they can
take with them to their respective
high schools, be it in JROTC, stu-
dent government or other organ-
izations.”
Bartee said the military influ-
ence is a large component of in-
stilling that discipline, with cadets
marching in unison, wearing mil-
itary uniforms and adhering to
military protocols between both
their instructors and other cadets.
> GREEK LIFE from page 1
Life office is here and working
with student affairs more col-
laboratively, we can give stu-
dents those opportunities.”
Morales said it is likely the
Greek life will move to the back
of Tolliver and join the offices
of the Student Government As-
sociation and Union Board, in
addition to the student affairs
office.
He said a move to that area
may actually be more beneficial
to Greek life on campus than
their current one.
“Union Board and SGA have
had great success,” Morales
said. “And Greek life is kind of
down here at Tech. If they’re
someplace where students are
used to coming and looking for
information, it could help
tremendously in terms of mak-
ing students more aware of
Greeks and how to get in-
volved.”
SUPPORT
BUSINESSES
that
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US!
Prior to coming to Tech, the
SLS was operated primarily at
nearby Barksdale Air Force base,
where they were exposed to
mostly active duty airman. Once
the Barksdale location became
unavailable, the SLS moved to
Tech, where they have used both
Tech and Ruston High School fa-
cilities.
At Tech, many of the cadets
are seeing potentially the next
step in their JROTC journey at
the college level and interacting
with college cadets. While on
campus, cadets were housed in
Mitchell Hall and ate their meals
in the cafeteria, which took a
break from its current renova-
tions during the SLS program. At
Ruston High School, they used
the school’s football field for
physical training and the class-
rooms for leadership training.
Cadet Captain David Car-
aveo, a cadet trained officer who
helps operate the SLS and a sen-
ior history major, said the SLS is
a good learning experience for
the cadets who want to learn.
“Many of them did not want
to be here when they first ar-
rived,” Caraveo said. “They were
terrified, but those who were
mentally strong enough to stay
have acquired a great deal of
knowledge and respect for the
uniform, the flag and their coun-
try.”
Caraveo said the cadets who
come to the SLS are the best of
their respective schools, and SLS
is responsible for “making them
better.”
Nationally, the JROTC pro-
While Greeks are still fuming
about the abrupt relocation,
some students are happy to see
new options in Tolliver to sup-
plement Java City, Bytes and
Bène Pizzeria.
Taylore Ferrell, a freshman
undeclared major, said the ad-
dition makes sense for students
and broadens their choices on
campus.
“It gives us more options,”
Ferrell said. “With our meal
plan, you’re kind of stuck on
campus, so the more they bring
to Tech, the more we can
choose.”
gram was established in 1916,
with the National Defense Act
and its primary goals upon cre-
ation were to develop a greater
sense of patriotism among
young men, improve communi-
cation skills and emphasize the
importance of physical fitness.
Since 1977, when the federal
government abolished all sepa-
rate corps for women, JROTC
has also been available for female
students as well.
Chasity Tyler, former SLS
cadet and a senior kinesiology
major, said her experience with
the SLS made her a better cadet,
motivated her to pursue ROTC in
college as well and exposed her
to a diversity of other cadets than
those at her own high school.
“I learned techniques in be-
coming a successful leader from
our cadet training officers,” Tyler
said about her SLS experience in
NLMC
5x6
Photo by Sean Zhou
the summers of 2004 and 2005.
“SLS is a great way to prepare
high school students from senior
ROTC training.”
Tyler said a typical day in SLS
is long, tiresome and fast-paced,
but she emphasized that the to-
tality of the program is reward-
ing and can yield lifelong skills
and memories.
“My favorite memory of SLS
would be riding on the bus and
singing a military cadence, also
known as ‘jodies,’” Tyler said.
“The rule for the bus is to be
seated quietly in an upright posi-
tion with your back straight and
with straight faces. If we were or-
dered to sing jodies, it was [to be]
done with no expression and no
laughing. When I would sing a
funny jodie, everyone laughed.
Of course, laughing meant a de-
merit, which is counted against
you during evaluations.”
June 24, 2010 • The Tech Talk • 5
Waggonner Center
sends student to DC
By HALEY KRAEMER
hek002@latech.edu
Ryan Land, a sophomore
electrical engineering major
student, was awarded the
opportunity to intern in Sen.
Mary Landrieu’s Washing-
ton, D.C., office this summer.
The Waggonner Center is
a Tech-based program,
which fosters citizenship, bi-
partisan understanding, ef-
fective public policy and
civic leadership among all
students, regardless of
major.
Land will gain knowledge
of the legislative process and
join the Landrieu team while
working in all different areas
of the Washington office.
The internship runs from
July 12 to August 6.
Land said that it took
about a month after he ap-
plied to hear the final deci-
sion because they were
trying to verify it with the
Senate.
“When I heard I won the
internship, it was a huge re-
lief,” Land said. “It was excit-
ing because I have never
been to Washington, D.C.,
before.”
Land also said that he did
not have anything lined up
for this summer, so this in-
ternship turned out to be a
great opportunity.
He said though he is an
engineering major “every-
body has to deal with the
government.”
Land said that he has
heard from other engineers,
and they have had trouble in
the past with the decisions
made by the government.
“I would like to know
what goes on every day in
the Senate,” he said. “I would
rather see it and develop an
opinion based on fact.”
Jason Pigg, an associate
professor of political sci-
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ence, said Land has a 4.0
GPA, and he is a member of
the Tech Linux Users Group.
“[Land] is excited about
this opportunity, and I am
pleased that we found such a
high-caliber student for our
first Waggonner internship,”
Pigg said.
Joe D. Waggonner Jr., a
former member of Congress
representing Northwest
Louisiana, was a 1941 Tech
graduate.
The Waggoner Center
was established to honor his
spirit of bipartisanship, his
trademark.
“We are excited because
they provide $3,000 which
should cover his plane ticket,
housing and general living
expenses,” Pigg said.
Last year, the Student
Government Association
passed a bill to donate
$1,000 to the cause.
The senate bill, proposed
by the College of Liberal
Arts Senators, allocated
$1,000 from SGA’s Senate
Project Fund.
He said because the Wag-
gonner Center is new, they
have not been able to set up
an internship in the past cou-
ple years.
Pigg said he contacted
Landrieu’s office this year to
set up an internship oppor-
tunity, and what is usually a
complex process turned into
a mere phone call.
Ed Jacobs, dean of the
College of Liberal Arts, said
that the ability of the Wag-
goner Center and SGA to af-
ford a student the
opportunity is remarkable.
He said the purpose of
the Waggonner Center is to
provide a bipartisan ap-
proach to politics.
Jacobs said, “[Land] is
very privileged to have this
trip paid for by the SGA and
The Waggonner Center.”
6 • The Tech Talk • June 24, 2010
Entertainment
Old toys receive new battery life in Pixar’s Toy Story 3
MUSIC FESTIVAL REVIEW
I survived a Houston music festival
Wayne Coyne, front man of the band The Flaming Lips, takes a moment to speak on
peace and love before playing “Taps”. “Taps” will be played at each one of their
shows to honor the soldiers of the Middle Eastern wars until the conflict’s end.
By KELLY BELTON
keb029@latech.edu
Despite temperatures in the
upper 90s, a torrential down-
pour on a muddy hill and hours
of driving around the fourth
largest city in the country, I was
safely in Ruston by 5:30 a.m.
Monday, June 7.
Houston’s Free Press Sum-
mer Fest was a force to be reck-
oned with as local, national and
international bands literally
took the city by storm.
As the gates to Eleanor Tins-
ley Park opened at 2 p.m. Satur-
day, flocks of folks gathered at
the park on the bayou to hear a
variety of bands, from under-
ground Ra Ra Riot to psyche-
delic legend The Flaming Lips.
In addition to Ra Ra Riot,
Saturday’s lineup included
Houston-based Wild Moc-
casins, Kid Sister and Girl Talk.
As a fan of Ra Ra Riot, I was
looking forward to their show at
6:15 p.m. To my dismay, they
played a few of their hits and
had nothing new to offer the au-
dience. Fortunately, Kid Sister
brought the crowd to their feet
with upbeat hip-hop tracks such
as “Right Hand Hi” and “Get
Fresh.”
It was Girl Talk that stole the
show at 8:45 as DJ Gregg Gillis
played mashups of pop songs
while VIP festival guests
danced wildly onstage as rib-
bons and confetti bounced
around with them.
The performance, which
lasted more than an hour, left
most in the audience, dripping
with sweat as festival-goers
grooved next to each other. The
night ended with fireworks ex-
ploding against the city skyline.
Day two of the festival
started with more humidity and
even more of that Houston
heat, but festival-goers dealt
with it – we wouldn’t miss Sun-
day’s bands for anything.
The party got started with
Uh Huh Her and Lymbic Sys-
tem’s upbeat jams in the early
afternoon and cooled down
with the melodious acoustics of
Stars, which performed hits “El-
evator Love Letter” and “Set
Yourself on Fire.”
Shortly after Stars, music-
lovers at the festival faced the
ultimate test: would they sur-
vive the hour-long downpour
that muddied the hill that
served as the seating for the
natural amphitheater?
By the time Slim Thug and
Bun B left the stage around 7:30
p.m., it was clear the crowd was
not going anywhere. In fact,
many had embraced the mud
as they slid down Mother Na-
ture’s very own slip ‘n’ slide.
By MAGGIE BULLOCK
meb036@latech.edu
It is now the beginning of one
of the biggest chapters of your
life. You are starting college. And
what is your most difficult con-
flict before you leave? Parting
with your loved ones? Not having
enough room in your car for all
the junk you are taking with you?
Or just being plain petrified about
starting college? Umm, of course
not. Your biggest dilemma is
leaving your childhood toys be-
hinds to fend for themselves.
Duh.
This is where we find our
main character, Andy, who is all
grown-up and departing for col-
lege in Disney Pixar’s newest an-
imated feature, “Toy Story 3,”
directed by Lee Unkrich. Andy is
torn between the decision of tak-
ing Woody the cowboy (voiced
by Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear
the space ranger (voice of Tim
Allen) and the rest of the gang
to college, putting them in the
attic, throwing them in the
garbage or donating them to
Sunnyside Daycare.
From there, the movie quickly
takes off with the toys believing
Andy does not want them any-
Courtesy of Pixar
more. Through a series of
mishaps, the gang ends up at
Sunnyside, certain they have hit
the jackpot. At the daycare, they
are greeted by welcoming new
toys and who appears to be their
leader, Lotso (voiced by Ned
Beatty), a big huggable purple
teddy bear. However, Andy’s toys
learn really soon that maybe the
attic or even the garbage would
not be as bad compared to Sun-
nyside.
One cannot help but contrast
the third installment to the other
SUDOKUPUZZLE
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column
and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.
Difficulty Very Easy
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Across
1. Charged particles
5. ___ boy!
9. Festoon
13. Hit with an open hand
14. Doorkeeper
Photo by Will Clifton
15. Early late-night host
16. Priest of the East
17. Trio
18. Currency of Turkey, and for-
merly of Italy
19. Extremely
21. Numero ___
The Houston skyline glowed 22. Salt Lake City hoopsters
to the right of the free-standing 23. French military cap
stage while Flaming Lips road- 25. Insult
ies prepared for the last per- 27. Actual elapsed period
formance. 31. Wild sheep of Asia
Actually, I’m not sure it’s fair 35. Detest
to call what followed a perform- 36. On ___ with
ance. The Lips don’t just put on 38. Start
shows; they host flamboyant 39. 401(k) alternative
events. 40. Israeli desert
Vocalist Wayne Coyne made 42. Hwy.
his appearance in a clear plas- 43. Audacity
tic bubble and floated, rather 46. ___ majeste
eloquently, into the sea of peo- 47. Will of "The Waltons"
ple. 48. Detestable
50. Dire warning
The legendary band per-
52. Broad smile
formed hits like “She Don’t Use 54. Edible corm
Jelly,” “Yoshimi Battles the Pink 55. Queue after Q
Robots” and “Do You Realize?” 58. Chow down
all while Coyne promoted his 60. Stinging plant
message of peace and love. 64. "The Time Machine" race
Coyne also brought out his 65. Issue forth with force
famous over-sized Styrofoam 67. New Mexico art colony
laser hands and directed green 68. Takes to court
laser lines across the crowd and 69. Earth
into the city. If you are unfamil- 70. Exclamation to express sorow
iar with said practice, no de- 71. New Age musician John
scription can do it justice; it’s 72. Italian wine city
hard to explain the awesome- 73. Alley
ness the Flaming Lips brought
to the city of Houston. Down
Those who didn’t leave 1. Land in water
Eleanor Tinsley Park in awe 2. Norwegian king
missed something. 3. Appoint
This year’s Free Press Sum- 4. Glitter
mer Fest is the first memorable 5. Baseball bat wood
festival to call Houston home, 6. Drive-___
and hopefully, they’ll keep up 7. Ages between 13 and 19
the good work. 8. Ring of color
Pixar
Toy Story 3
####$
two Toy Stories. While the third
one introduces the viewer to new
locations for the characters’ ad-
ventures, the plot of Woody and
the gang feeling abandoned, run-
ning away, feeling loved again
and making the trek back home
to Andy is getting redundant.
However, there are always the
sub-plots that give it a fresh twist.
Woody gets separated from the
group for part of the movie and
the audience is introduced to a
little girl named Bonnie (voiced
by Emily Hahn), her toys and her
imaginative world. Here, Woody
remembers what it is like to be
played with and it makes the
viewer feel like a child again, if
you are not one already. Also, the
sub-plot of Barbie (voiced by
Jodi Benson) and new character,
Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton),
is a comedic one. It is love at first
sight for these two--a life full of
dream houses, glittery outfits and
9. Spend lavishly
10. Hold off
11. River in central Switzerland
12. Mardi ___
14. Idealist
20. A collection of articles
24. Urge forward
26. Metro area
27. Thick-skinned charger
28. Having auricular protuberances
29. Pong maker
30. Enthusiastic
32. Come to terms
33. Unit of volume
34. Inactive
37. Adjust to zero
41. Chief Hindu philosophy
44. Fashionable
45. Where It.'s at
47. "H" is this type of fricative
49. Midday nap
51. 100 square meters
53. Scruffs
55. Breather
56. Swerve sharply
non-bendable appendages.
Another repeat seems to be
the character of Lotso. While
watching him on the screen, I
could not help but think of Stinky
Pete (voiced by Kelsey Gram-
mar) from “Toy Story 2.” He was
another cranky character who
was wronged by a child and is
demanding other innocent toys
do what he wants, just like Lotso
in “Toy Story 3.” Although, the
character of a plushy teddy bear
is a little more deceiving than a
farting prospector.
There also appears to be an
underlining life lesson in this third
Toy Story about being able to let
go and move on. It seems a little
deep for Toy Story so little chil-
dren may not understand it, but
older children and adults will ap-
preciate it.
Even if there seems to be a
repeat of plots and maybe some
characters, Pixar still managed to
roll out another hit even after 15
years of the release of “Toy
Story” in 1995. According to
www.entertainmentweekly.com,
“Toy Story 3” made $109 million
its opening weekend, earning the
status of Pixar’s highest-grossing
opening weekend ever. College
students, who were in elemen-
tary school when the first “Toy
Story” opened, were loyal to the
character of Andy and his toys
and then some.
Whether you are starting col-
lege, starting elementary school
or starting a family, “Toy Story 3”
is a movie for all ages. It will def-
initely make you laugh, jump out
of your seat and maybe even
shed a tear. So grab your “favorite
deputy” and go “to infinity and
beyond” with “Toy Story 3,” be-
cause Pixar did a stellar job of
closing the final story.
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
bestcrosswords.com
57. Digits of the foot
59. Legal wrong
61. Currency unit in Western Samoa
62. It may be floated
63. "___ quam videri" (North Car
olina's motto)
66. Altdorf's canton
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

More Talk
OILY WOES HIT HOME
Tech student, Lafourche Parish native
desires preservation for local way of life
hen BP’s Deep
W Water Horizon rig
exploded
began gushing oil
into the Gulf of
Mexico two months ago, communi-
and
ties all along the gulf were forced to
begin dealing with a new, sobering
reality. Leslie Carey, a freshman
French major, has witnessed the ef-
fects of this new reality this summer
and is worried about the future of
Galliano, her hometown along the
Bayou Lafourche.
“Whether or not we have a hur-
ricane, if they do not stop the oil
very soon, we will lose our way of
life,” Carey said. “It will get into the
marshes, and we will not have
seafood, which is one of our main
industries besides the oil fields. Our
culture will die.”
Carey did not go home for the
summer because of the oil spill, but
went home to help her older sister,
Jennifer Galliano, with her five chil-
dren. Carey said Jennifer’s husband
was killed in February by a drunk
driver just days before their fifth
child and only son, Will, was born.
She said she knows she is both
needed and appreciated at home in
Galliano, but said she does miss one
thing about being at Tech, though.
“I miss my independence,”
Carey said. “I am glad I am here,
and there is no other place I would
want to be at the moment, but I
want my own time.”
One of five children herself,
Carey said her childhood along the
bayou was a good one.
“It was always fun,” Carey said.
“I do know how to crab, and as for
peeling the boiled seafood, I can do
that of course. I have been doing
that since I was little.”
Galliano is a small town split in
half by the Bayou Lafourche and
lying just north of Grand Isle, one
of the first places where oil from the
Deep Water Horizon rig began
washing onto beaches. The banks
Local artists display their opinions and reactions outside of a tattoo parlor in Galliano.
of the bayou in Galliano are lined
with fishing boats with colorful nets
draping their masts, and the two
main roads running parallel to both
sides of the bayou are lined with
seafood shacks with hand-painted
wooden signs hanging outside ad-
vertising every type of seafood
imaginable. From all appearances,
fishing is both literally and figura-
tively at the center of life in Gal-
liano.
Carey said numerous family
members fish for either fun or profit.
She said she never shrimps with
nets because it is mostly the men in
the family who do the shrimping,
but said she goes fishing and crab-
bing.
“August is actually the best part
of shrimp season, but since it is so
Residents of Grand Isle display white crosses representing
facets of life lost or damaged due to the oil spill.
hot, they would probably be doing
really well right now, too,” Carey
said. “I was looking forward all year
to coming back during the summer
and crabbing all summer.”
Carey said worrying about an oil
spill was not something she would
have ever expected to be doing a
few months ago.
“I never worried about it,” Carey
said. “There had been oil leaks, but
it was never something like this
where the oil just flowed. A tanker
would leak some oil, but they would
just pump it out.”
The closing of much of the Gulf
of Mexico to fishing, especially the
area around nearby Grand Isle, is
the reason Bayou Lafourche is lined
with empty fishing boats and most
of its seafood shacks are now
June 24, 2010 • The Tech Talk • 7
A clean-up crew rakes oil
clumps from Grand Isle
State Park shoreline.
closed, but oil
has not been
seen in Gal-
liano. Carey
said the threat
of a hurricane
has her espe-
cially worried
because of
the oil,
though.
“I have
not seen it in
the bayou
because the
bayou flows
s o u t h -
wa rd , ”
Carey said.
“If there
was a hurri-
cane, though, we would
probably just be wiped out because ABOVE: Leslie Carey holds
if we were flooded with that oil, it her nephew as she visits fam-
would just kill everything.”
Carey said flood waters have ily while home for the summer
come within two inches of the top in Galliano.
of the levies surrounding Galliano
during past hurricanes.
Despite the devastation caused
by the recent BP oil spill and the ad- brother-in-law both work in the oil
ditional worries the spill has added industry, agreed with Edison
to the hurricane season, oil is still Chouest and was opposed to the
the economic center of Galliano. drilling moratorium.
In this town of approximately “I do not agree with it, because
8,000 people, the largest employer so many jobs here revolve around
is Edison Chouest Offshore, an oil the oil field,” Carey said. “If the
service company and shipbuilder drilling companies cannot drill here
with a workforce greater than the they are going to move off to the
population of the town. This fairly coast of Africa or somewhere else
large international company’s main where they can get oil, and they will
headquarters are in this small Gulf not come back in six months if they
Coast town. have gone and set up somewhere
Edison Chouest Offshore is also else.”
one in a group of offshore service Like the community in which she
companies which filed a federal lives, Carey appeared to be torn be-
lawsuit June 9 challenging the le- tween her love of fishing and the re-
gality of the six-month moratorium alities of the economic impact of
placed by the Interior Department oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
on offshore drilling. When asked if she will return to
The companies contend that the this part of the state upon gradua-
ban is not based on facts and goes tion from Tech, Carey hesitated be-
against federal law governing off- fore answering.
shore lease development, while the “I am planning to, unless some-
Interior Department has said it is thing happens to this area,” she
necessary until new safety stan- said.
dards are developed. “I do not know if this area will be
Carey, whose brother and livable when I graduate.”
Alongside Bayou Lafourche shrimping boats are at a complete
standstill.
8 • The Tech Talk • June 24, 2010

Sports Talk
Weatherspoon scores double hall of fame honors
By SAPPHIRA BROWN
sjb026@latech.edu
Head women’s basketball
coach Teresa Weatherspoon
has been inducted into the
Women’s Basketball Hall of
Fame and the Louisiana Sports
Hall of Fame.
Weatherspoon received her
Women’s Basketball Hall of
Fame honor June 12 in
Knoxville, Tenn.
Weatherspoon had a long
productive career as a well-ap-
plauded, hardworking basketball
star. She came in as a freshman
in 1985 to play for the Lady
Techsters right out of high
school and pressure got a lot
tougher.
She was coached under the
legendary Leon Barmore, who
Weatherspoon feels taught her
and her former college team-
mates “a lesson.”
“Coach Barmore told me in
order to play on his team, I had
to defend first,” Weatherspoon
said.
During her four-year career at Tech,
Weatherspoon led the Lady Techsters to
a record of 118-14, four straight NCAA
Tournament appearances and two Final
Four appearances, according to www.CB-
SSports.com.
In 1988, she vigorously and defensively
helped the Lady Techsters claim their
third national title.
After over 18 years of playing basket-
ball and receiving various titles and
medals, Weatherspoon returned to Tech
where her most valuable teachings were
learned. Weatherspoon said she wants to
make sure that she has the opportunity to
inspire, lead and drive younger athletes.
Tech President Dan Reneau said he is
thrilled to have Weatherspoon a part of
the Bulldog family again as an ambassa-
dor for Lady Techster bas-
ketball.
“Teresa’s contributions,
both as player and coach,
have played a major part in
securing the Lady Techster
legacy in the world of
women’s basketball. Her pas-
sion and work ethic should
serve as an example and in-
spiration for every young
woman who steps in the
court,” Reneau said, accord-
ing to www.CBSSports.com.
The former WNBA and
USA Olympic team player
has touched the lives of her
athletes both on and off the
court.
“Coach ’Spoon is amaz-
ing. She makes me feel like
victory is always within
reach and all we have to do
is have drive and determina-
tion,” Brietta Thomas, senior
guard, said. “Not only is she
cool on the court, she is fun
to hang out with. I’m glad we
have a coach as well as a
friend when we need it.”
“Teresa deserves everything that she
has received because of the hard work she
put in to all that she has achieved,” Retha
Swindell, former head coach at West
Sabine High School, said, according to
www.CBSSports.com. Courtesy of Tech Media Relations
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame In-
duction Ceremony is scheduled June 24- Coach Teresa Weatherspoon watches the Lady Techsters
26 in Natchitoches. play at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Football fever strikes Dykes Tech track team members place

with new summer programs in NCAA national championship
By SAPPHIRA BROWN lease. The quartet concluded
By ZACH BEAIRD sjb026@lat ech.edu the meet ranking 15th in the
zcb001 @latech.edu nation, with a time of 3:39.77.
The Tech track team fin- As the Championship came
Tech head coach Sonny Dykes will be keep- ished satisfied with perform- to end, junior Tiana Davis, a
ing himself busy this summer while working ances and higher rankings as transfer from Barton, was the
alongside his wife, Kate, on the creation of the NCAA National meet last Techster to compete as
Pigskins and Pearls Women’s Football Clinic and came to an end June 12. she finished ranking 24th in
Luncheon as well as his own Fantasy Football Nine of the team’s athletes the women’s long jump.
Camp. traveled to the University of Not only were the athletes
Kate Dykes has begun planning with her hus- Oregon in Eugene, Ore., Sun- excited about making it to the
band for Pigskin and Pearls, an instructional day morning, after qualifying NCAA National meet, assis-
luncheon for women from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July the prior week in Greensboro, tant head coach Shawn Jack-
29 at Squire Creek Country Club. N.C. at the East Division son was also.
Coach Dykes, along with Kate, is using the in- NCAA Regional meet. Among “I am happy with the per-
augural Pigskins and Pearls as a chance to give the athletes that competed formances of our athletes;
back to the community. For $40, women will be were the women’s 4x400m tions. Though the weather however you always want to
treated to a luncheon as they are taught the ba- with alternate Antoinette conditions were not favorable, work for more. The ultimate
sics of football, and all of the proceeds from the Cobb, 110m hurdler Billy Fullwood went into the com- goal is to win,” Jackson said.
event will be donated to benefit the Boys and Walker, jumper Tiana Davis, petition with no worries. The Tech track and field
Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana. thrower Larry Jones and “It was rainy and windy, but program will have a slight
Kate and Sonny Dykes will speak at the lunch- sprinter Albert Fullwood. The this trip was a learning experi- change for the upcoming
eon and use some football players to demon- National Championships went ence, teaching me how to run school year as some of their
strate the use of the equipment and other basic underway Wednesday and through adversity,” Fullwood top athletes have extinguished
fundamentals. Also, Kate hopes that women will ended Saturday afternoon. said. their years of competition.
use the luncheon to meet and get to know some Two seniors and a junior Fullwood plans to train for The women’s side lost four
of Tech’s coaches and players. were at the start of the meet the upcoming meets to give sprinters and a thrower, and
“I feel this is a great way to make women feel Wednesday at the historic him a shot at becoming a pro- the men lost their two top
like a part of Tech football,” said Kate. “It just al- Hayward Field. Junior thrower fessional. sprinters, Fullwood and
lows them to have fun.” Larry Jones was the only Rus- After the finish of day two, Michael Coleman.
All participants in the clinic will receive a hat Photo by Ben Corda ton native to participate in day Walker did not perform as ex- “We’ll be losing one of a
and T-shirt along with the luncheon. Also, a table one’s competition. He finished pected but he still claimed a kind [Fullwood]. Al is a loyal
for eight is available for $280. Football coach Sonny Dykes has two new
22nd in the discus throw with major accomplishment before Tech alumni, and hopefully he
“We’re hoping to make the luncheon a lot of programs planned for this summer. a measured distance of he finished the year out. will stick around to help out
fun for the women,” said Kate, “We are even 162’8”. Both seniors, Kamelia Though Walker ran 13.99 in with the younger recruits we
thinking about including some hands-on activi- get on the field and practice against one another Stroy and Fullwood, raced to Eugene, he had already im- have coming in,” Jackson said.
ties to get them involved.” while receiving advice from Dykes and the a season and collegiate career proved his rankings in the With more athletes coming
Immediately following Pigskins and Pearls, coaching staff. close as they crossed the fin- country after running a per- in for both teams, the coaches
Sonny Dykes will begin the newly established He said he hopes this opportunity will make ish line in their semifinal heats sonal best of 13.74 in Greens- will try to start off another
Louisiana Tech Fantasy Football Camp. the campers see and appreciate what all goes in of the 400m. Finishing 18th boro. He is collegiately ranked great season to prepare more
Dykes will hold the camp from July 30 to Aug. to Tech’s football program. overall, Stroy ran 54.65. This 17th in the nation. athletes to make it to the
1 giving participating Bulldog fans a glance into Dykes will also treat his campers with a round time was one and fifty-seven Fifth year senior Antoinette NCAA National Champi-
Tech football. of golf at Squire Creek Country Club, a cookout tenths of a second from her Cobb, serving as the relay’s al- onships 2011.
The camp will provide participants with be- at his house and a selection of Louisiana Tech personal best, 53.08, which ternate, ran an extravagant leg The Lady Techsters will
hind-the-scenes knowledge of a Division I foot- gear. was ran in the quarterfinals in on the women’s 4x400m relay. have two athletes competing
ball program as well as the opportunity to build The cost of the camp is $1,500, which will Greensboro. Cobb joined trio senior Story, in the USATF competitions in
a personal relationship with my staff and me,” cover expenses including hotel, food and trans- Outstanding 400m sprinter senior Lashannda Worthy and Des Moines, Iowa. Antoinette
said Sonny Dykes. portation. and senior, Fullwood placed junior Monique Wright to beat Cobb will be competing in the
Dykes said he plans to teach participants how With the 2010 football season fast approach- 19th overall. The C.E. Byrd out other top ranked teams USATF Championships, while
to perform many of the tasks necessary to pre- ing, Kate said she hopes these two events will be alumni has had a remarkable such as 19th ranked Southern freshman Quanisha Sales will
pare for a game. This includes everything from a great way to get both die-hard Bulldog sup- career as a Techster athlete, California and 27th ranked be participating in the Junior
breaking down film and strategizing to the re- porters and beginning football fans excited and never losing a 400m WAC Southern Carolina, according USATF Championships now
cruiting process. Participants will also be able in the stands for the first home game. title, according to media rela- to media relations press re- thru June 23-27.

NO EXCUSE
Please think before you act. Call a cab or a friend before you make a decision that will endanger you as well as an innocent bystander.

THE TECH TALK