PAGE 5

Learn about Techs karate teams winning streak at nationals

PAGE 9 PAGE 7

GREEK WEEK
See what all happened and get the recap of the week.

THREE STOOGES
Is the new movie as funny as the old series?

Volume 86

T ech T alk
April 26, 2012 www.thetechtalk.org

The

PRSRT STD NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE RUSTON, LA PERMIT NO 104 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

PAID

The student voice of Louisiana Tech University

Number 21

Student voters approve SGA fee

HANNAH SCHILLING Staff Reporter Only 7 percent of the student body participated in SGA elections April 18 and 19. During these elections, the enhancement fee, renewing the $20 fee and adding on a new $30 fee to full-time students tuition, passed with 83 percent approval. James King, vice president of student affairs, said the amount of voters that participated is a normal number. We historically have seen 10-12 percent even in the most hotly contested races, he said. Students need to be involved in governance. Taylor Michiels, a freshman accounting major, said he thinks more advertising would have helped. I understand the candidates were unopposed, Michiels said, but a couple of flyers here and there wouldnt hurt. All candidates were unopposed, and have been elected. Scott Hunter, a sophomore architecture major, said he noticed this as he clicked on the bubbles beside the candidates names on election day. There werent many options to vote for, Hunter said. You could vote, or you couldnt. Some students are not so happy about the fee and voted against it in the election. I didnt vote for it because of things like the 3OH!3 and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus concert, Hunter said. Im not sure how money is transferred around, but the concert cost $80,000, and only about 1,200 people went. They lost so much money. Kayla Johnson, a junior kinesiology major, said she questions how money is transferred as well. I feel like they are always upping tuition, she said. So why do they need more money? Even though she had some questions, Johnson still voted for the fee. Expanding parking space for parking is needed, and improvement on facilities is needed, she said. Michiels voted against the fee because the projects listed didnt affect him. The new features would be nice, Michiels said, but I didnt feel like they would affect me as much as I would like since I dont do intramurals or have parking issues. According to King, the first project the fee will tackle is the demolition of Neilson Hall and Caruthers Hall, then new parking facilities will begin this summer along with sidewalks and more lights down Tech Drive and Alabama. Some of the improvements will be seen finished as early as Fall Quarter. I feel like I am aware of whats going on around campus, Johnson said, and I need to know whats being brought to the table and how the campus will change.

Rustons leaders discuss future

MEAGAN LEE Staff Reporter

Photo by Shradha Sharma

At IFCs second annual Swamp Ball tournament April 21, Union Board played against Landons Arms at the lower intramural field.

Second Swamp Ball successful

AUSTIN VINING Staff Reporter Twenty teams of five to seven players gathered April 21 to participate in the second annual Swamp Ball hosted by Greek Academy, a branch of the Interfraternity Council Christian Scott, a sophomore biology major, said Swamp Ball is a mud volleyball tournament hosted by Greek Academy to raise money for different causes. Med-Camps of Louisiana was chosen to be the recipient of the money raised this year, he said, which was more than $1,200. Med-Camps is a summer camp that focuses on catering to the needs of children with disabilities. Scott said he was pleased that the group was able to raise so much money for Med-Camps. Some people dont have the same opportunities as others, and being able to contribute to helping them out is great, he said. The first Swamp Ball was held April 15, 2011, and was at a location off campus. Greek Academy was very excited to be able to have the event on campus this year, Scott said. We paved the way for future years and found what works and doesnt work, so I know it will only get better, he said. Greek Academy is a program designed to create future leaders within the fraternity system, Scott said.

I joined to help better myself and get new ideas to bring back to my fraternity, he said. Its given me experience as a leader, time management skills and a greater sense of what being a leader is. Christopher E. Rayner, a senior human resources and political science major, is the one who initially had the idea of Greek Academy. Mr. (Ron) Cathy, director of career services and Counseling Services, and I began to cultivate the program in summer 2009, he said, The first program started fall 2009. The purpose of Greek Academy is to develop the character of young Greek men, Rayner said. He started the program because he said he felt there was a lack of leadership and unity among young fraternity men, he said. The guys did an exceptional job, Rayner said. I believe the cause chosen was very admirable on the academys behalf. He said the number of members have grown due to the Swamp Ball project. Everything they learned during Greek Academy was projected in all aspects of the event, Rayner said. Jayde Hughes, a junior speech pathology major, said a fellow Orientation Student Leader and past Greek Academy member, Nick Rangel, suggested they get a team together.

> see SWAMP page 3

Bookstore entrance presents problems

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter Many people would agree that opening a door with full hands is difficult, but to do the same from a wheelchair or with crutches, the task would seem nearly impossible. Some buildings on campus have powered doors to give easier access to those with disabilities, but there are a few buildings that are still missing the silver trigger button by the door. The Barnes and Noble Bookstore is one building that does not have power doors. Handicap doors are not required to be power doors, Sam Wallace, director of facility and support services, said. They are only required to be accessible to people with disabilities. Wallace works with architects who design buildings and renovations to ensure each project is in compliance with government laws and codes. The building is leased to Barnes and Noble by Tech and has its own standards for how the store should be designed, but Wallace oversees that the designs adhere to codes and laws. He said the entrance meets state fire codes and the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but it is hard to disabled or handicapped students. Sophomore kinesiology major, Lauren Africa recalled struggling with the bookstore doors when she was using crutches during fall quarter. It was completely inaccessible, she said. I couldnt do it myself. Africa was using crutches after having knee surgery and said besides having her hands full, the weight of the door did not al-

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Email comments to hms017@latech.edu.

The doors at the bookstore have not been converted to power doors and this has posed as a problem for many disabled and handicapped students.

Prominent leaders in Ruston gathered at time date place to discuss Techs future with the growing City of Ruston. The Future of Ruston: The Progress and Development in Ruston and How it Will Impact the University was hosted by the Tech University Senate. Featured speakers of the forum were Tech President Dan Reneau, Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth, and Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ryan Kilpatrick. Many topics were covered in the two-hour forum including population trends, community demographics, accountability issues, new education mandates, and how the community is preparing for the future. Tech University Senate President David Szymanski said, however, that although all of these topics were discussed, it was decided that the first forum should address the future of the City of Ruston and its relationship with Tech. Both Reneau and Mayor Hollingsworth gave due credit to each other, mentioning how important the university and the citys alliance is. Each group is crucial to the other. Focus was put on Techs business incubators at Tech Pointe, perhaps one of the brightest spots for the future of the city and the university. These are the future of business for Ruston, Kilpatrick said. Since they are partnered through Tech, both the university and city will benefit from a successful operation. He went on to explain that Ruston will not only receive sales tax and other benefits from the success of these businesses, but it will also start to grow because more businesses mean more jobs and more people. The education levels provided by the school district and the two universities in the parish provide great learning opportunities, Bell said. Love said the upgrades in the city will only continue to make things better. The forum was followed by a question and answer session where faculty and staff could voice their questions and concerns to the city and university leaders as well as an informal reception. The university senate thought this would be a great opportunity to take a proactive approach to help current and potential faculty and staff learn more about the City of Ruston, its plans for future development and its school system, Syzmanski explained. The future of Ruston seems to be looking up for both the city and the university. Bright things lie ahead. This can assuredly be seen to come from the teamwork of a community which is dedicated to wanting the best.

> see BOOKS page 8

Email comments to mdl024@latech.edu.

2 The T T ech alk April 26, 2012

Campus

Sigma Kappa hosts annual Kickin Grass

Sigma Kappa will host its annual Kickin Grass to Cure Alzheimers Kickball tournament at 10 a.m. May 5 at the Ruston High School Girls Softball Fields. There must be 10 players on a team. The cost is $12 per person and a commemorative T-shirt will be included. Team sign-up sheets are due Monday to any member of Sigma Kappa. Pike Productions will be providing music. There will be jambalaya dishes on sale for $3. For more information contact Jordan Toepfer, vice president of philanthropic services, at 337-853-6288 or jet032@latech.edu.

Dawgs 4 Dogs debuts at Tech

GRACE MOORE Staff Reporter
Dawgs 4 Dogs was hosted by Tech students Wednesday where their canine friends wore neck bandanas that read, Adopt me and I will love you forever. The Applied Organizational Communication class required its five students to choose a single topic, increase understanding for that issue and make a measurable impact. Our goals are to raise awareness for spaying and neutering cats and dogs, and the adoption of them, said Bryan Babcock, a senior speech communication major. Along with these efforts, we hope to establish a dog park in Ruston. In preparation for this event, the class contacted several businesses for donations. Rustons 4 PAWS organization offered seven dogs for adoption or foster care, as well as student coupons for discounted spaying and neutering. Greco Pet Supplies of Baton Rouge and the Houston Humane Society donated dog food, dog treats and toys to fill doggy bags for each new owner to get them started. In addition, the Ruston Sonic Drive-In restaurant donated hot dogs for the events attendees. Babcock said the class also met with Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth and Wes Barton, the director of Parks and Recreation in Ruston, to move closer toward its goal of implementing a public dog park. There was a petition at the event students could sign to support the cause. Ashley Birch, a senior speech communication major, is of the five in charge of the event. We are just trying to make the city aware that this is a problem, and it needs to be addressed, she said. The class chose approximately five potential locations for the park. Its initial idea was Cooktown Park, Babcock said, but the class is still exploring each option thoroughly. We are in the process right now of writing a proposal to get the park established or get it in motion, he said. The Ruston community doesnt really show awareness for animals in our area. Though the students primarily work as a group, Birch said each student was responsible for contacting certain organizations to make this event possible and progress further in establishing a park. David Miller, a senior mechanical engineering major, said he thinks the City of Ruston is lacking in several areas, moreover for pet owners, which is reason to build a dog park. I think it doesnt really feel welcoming for dog walkers, he said. Beyond the prospective dog park, Birch said the key issue remains the lack of spayed and neutered cats and dogs around Techs campus and in Ruston. Obviously the cat population at Tech is very large, so we encourage off-campus students to take in the animals on campus to give them shots and a good home, Babcock said. The local agency, 4 PAWS, is a non-profit organization that aims to limit the number of stray and mistreated dogs in the Lincoln Parish area, by rescuing and adopting them out to better homes. Ruth Logan, a 4 PAWS board member and volunteer, said she has eight foster dogs and has been fostering dogs for approximately four years. She said too often animals are abused, neglected and thrown away. The most important thing is for people to be aware of the problem, she said. Without organizations like 4 PAWS, several dogs would be euthanized each year to control the growing population of strays, Birch said. I think pet owners need to understand the responsibilities of taking in an animal, she said. And if everything fully aligns, you should adopt or foster animals.

BFA presents senior photography exhibit

The 2012 BFA Photography Exposition Reception will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at the Enterprise Center. The exhibition, which will be open from April 27 until May 16, will feature the work of 11 senior photography majors. The theme for the exhibition is Fictional Truths. Fictional Truths addresses important issues like aging, faith and family. For more information on the reception or exhibition contact Dorene Kordal at dorene@latech.edu or (318) 257-3890.

Photos by Jessica Van Alstyne

Above: Puppies at Dawgs 4 Dogs were dressed to impress the students. Below: Students were more than happy to pet puppies in between classes. The Dawgs for Dogs pet adoption opportunity was held Wednesday in the Quad.

AIS to host 13th annual India Night

The Association of Indian Students will host its 13th annual India Night at 6 p.m. May 5 in the Student Center, Main Floor. The event will feature a variety of Indian cultural shows and authentic foods. Admission is $12 for students and $15 for the public. Tickets can be purchased at the International Student Office, located in Tolliver Hall, Room 229. Seating is limited. Reserving tickets in advance is recommended. For more information contact Purnima Kharidehal, general secretary of AIS at 617-4163033 or ais@latech.edu.

Email comments to gmm008@latech.edu.

Typing for ten back at Techs campus

Typing for Ten is back and time is money. Faculty, staff and students who participate will earn $10 cash up to two times. Tech ID is required. The Center for Secure Cyberspace invites you to come by any weekday until May 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. either in the Student Center or Tolliver Hall. Contact Rachel Parks with questions or comments at 318257-3475 or rparks@latech.edu

Union Board Spring budget examined

AUSTIN VINING Staff Reporter

Gun and knife show opens Saturday

The Ruston Civic Center will host the event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 120 tables have been sold to vendors from at least four different states. There will be a wide variety of guns, ammunition, knives, coins, archery items and security systems available at the Gun and Knife show. Those who attend will be able to buy, trade, or sell items at the show. Admission is $7 per person. The Civic Center is located at 401 N. Trenton St. For more information call the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce at 318-255-2031.

4th Annual SOCA 5K to be held in Ruston

Techs School of Architecture is hosting its 4th annual 5K at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mays Chapel Church, 501 W. Line Ave. The race is being held to improve the impoverished neighborhood of South of California Avenue (SOCA). After the race ends a block party will be held at Duncan Park, 1311 Arlington Street. Race day registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and only those wishing to run or walk the race may participate. For more information contact Kevin Singh, Community Design Activism Center employee, at 318-257-5267 or ksingh@latech.edu.

After Union Boards spring concert, Dont Trust Me resonated in many students minds as more than just the title of the second single released by headlining band, 3OH!3. Union Board budgeted $80,000 for its annual spring concert, which featured bands Shayliff, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and 3OH!3. Union Board President Jeff Boudreaux estimated less than 7 percent of Techs student body was in attendance. Jason Greer, a College of Business senator in the Student Government Association, said he is familiar with controlling student-allocated funds because SGA and Union Board use similar strategies. Every time we have a bill that comes to vote, we have to step back and attempt to justify if we can spend the students money flat out, he said. We have to decide if enough of the student body will benefit per dollar spent. An event such as the spring concert has the potential to attract a much larger percentage of students, Greer said. Greer said with an event of this stature, he does not quite understand where each portion of the budget went. I dont believe Union Board can rationalize the large amount they spent on their biggest event, spring concert, in terms of attendance, Greer said. Bryan Babcock, a senior speech major, said he would like to see Union Board put forth more effort to find out what students want and what is going to benefit them. Its a student-driven organization, and theyre here to make decisions for the students, he said. Union Board does what they want as an organization and not necessarily what the students want, Babcock said. I would like to see Union

Board venture out from that and do a poll or maybe a survey to get what students would actually want to see, he said. Jeff Boudreaux, president of Union Board, said Union Boards funding comes solely from a student assessment fee, which charges full-time undergraduate students $10 per quarter. Other students are charged an amount based on the number of hours they take. Boudreaux said approximately 1,200 people attended the concert with roughly twothirds being Tech students. Compared to other universities like Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Union Boards budget is very limited, he said. After speaking with the president of ULMs CAB (Campus Activities Board), their organization has a budget of $400,000 each year, Boudreaux said. One can only imagine the budget of LSUs related organization. Union Board is faced with the difficult task of providing entertainment to a very diverse student body, he said. The quality and diversity of the programming that we sponsored this year has been collectively the best compared to that of recent years, Boudreaux said. In this manner, Union Board aims to appeal to the largest variety of students possible, he said. Our history of sponsoring diverse entertainment throughout the year in addition to the fall and spring concerts creates an overall well-balanced collection of programming, Boudreaux said. As a result, he said, Union Board cycles through multiple genres in order to cater to the interests of most students. It is impossible, Boudreaux said, to please every student with one concert.

3BR 3BA 4BR 4BA UNITS AVAILABLE

Washer & Dryer Microwave Dishwasher Refrigerator w/ Icemaker Self-Cleaning Oven
FREE Wireless High Speed Internet

Central Air & Heating

Individual Security Systems

Pet Friendly
24 Hour Emergency Maintenance

Cable TV Availability Walking distance to campus & downtown Ruston

Email comments to acv001@latech.edu.

Gilbert Realty 611 South Vienna Ruston, LA 71270 (318) 251-9106

April 26, 2012 The T T ech alk 3

Debate team picks up individual wins

CHAD MERRITT Staff Reporter Though they were taking on the added adversary in a stomach bug, the Tech Debate Team still managed to do well in competition. The International Public Debate Associations National Tournament was held at Sam Houston State University April 12-15. Tech competed against 71 universities from across the United States and four foreign countries teams. Dr. Web Drake, the IPDA Governing Board Chair, said this tournament is the largest tournament of the year, and that this tournament was the largest tournament in its history. Trey Avant, a senior political science and sociology major, placed the highest among Techs debaters. Avant won the fifth top speaker in the nation for team debate, and placed in the top four in team debate. Being that I started on the debate team at the beginning of the year, now that I am one of the best debaters in the nation means a lot, he said. A wide range of topics were discussed at the tournament this year, ranging from issues like hydraulic fracturing methods and US/Syrian relations to topics like sports and why the movie Bridesmaids should

The resources of Techs students, from their critical thinking skills to their interpersonal skills, makes them very well-rounded as competitors.
Shane Puckett
professor of speech

have won more Oscars. David Hyde, a senior biomedical engineering major, says there is a topic for everyone. Many people think its a bunch of tough topics, but really, the topics are broad enough for any interest, Hyde said. Hyde, who placed top sixteen in the nation, said debating the topic of whether herbivores or carnivores were right was his favorite topic during the tournament. Yelling at someone because you think herbivores are better than carnivores is pretty awesome, Hyde said. Members of Techs debate team ranked highly among other schools, beating out schools

such as Tulane, Texas A&M and Rice. Kristin Farquharson, a senior political science and sociology major, won fourth best speaker in the nation at the tournament. She said the progress she has made since she joined the debate team makes her proud. Its really cool to see that in a couple months Shane could make me the fourth best speaker in the nation, Farquharson said. Shane Puckett, director of debate, said he is proud of how far Techs debate team has come. The team has accomplished so much in the past few years, Puckett said. The resources of

Techs students, from their critical thinking skills to their interpersonal skills, makes them very well-rounded as competitors. Although the debate season just ended with the national tournament, Techs debate team is already beginning preparations for next season. The debate team is open to any student willing to participate, regardless of past participation, knowledge or skill. I was pretty bad when I started debate at the beginning of the year, Avant said. And now Im the forth best in the nation, which is really cool.

Email comments to cam059@latech.edu.

Sigma Tau Delta presents sixth annual Shakespearit

KALEB CAUSEY Staff Reporter Klingons, cheering competitions, and Nirvana were not around in William Shakespeares time, but thats what someone would have seen if they were at the Shakespeare Birthday Festival held on Tuesday. Sigma Tau Delta, an English honor society, has put this event on for the past six years in the Shakespeare Garden in the center of George T. Madison Hall. The theme for the sixth annual event was Shakespearit and featured fourteen performances by various students and faculty members. Missy Wallace, a second year English graduate student, said Shakespearit was an expression of different spirits found in Shakespeares writings. The ghosts that appear in his plays, enthusiasm for the bard and his work, and the alcoholic beverages are appropriate aspects when considering Shakespearit, Wallace said. The festival featured events involving renaissance music, a rewriting of a popular Nirvana song to involve Shakespearit, puppeteers and presentations relating Shakespeares writings. Dorothy Robbins, faculty advisor to Sigma Tau Delta, said the festival never has a dull moment by having students and faculty members read Shakespeares sonnet sequence in the breaks between performances. We welcome audience members to partake in the sonnet reading, Robbins said. There are times when we have 200 people crunched into the garden and other times where we only have a dozen. She also said that no matter how big or small the crowd, people enjoy the opportunity to participate in the festival. Matt Rich, vice-president of Sigma Tau Delta, said that his favorite part is the sonnet reading. I enjoy listening to people read the sonnets, as well as reading them myself, Rich said. Its a way for academics to be more accessible and its a more conversational way of learning without lectures or a notebook. Wallace said that her favorite part was the faculty presentations from English professors. The music and sword fighting are crowd pleasers, Wallace said. However, I love hearing the English professors talk about aspects of Shakespeare I never considered. Kenneth Robbins, director of the school of performing arts, was one of the speakers in Tuesdays festival and gave a lecture titled Zombies & Other Dead Things. It was a fun piece to work on and was most unusual, K. Robbins said. I had a lot of fun and I hope the audience did too. D. Robbins said the festival was started as a way to make Sigma Tau Delta more known on campus. We needed an identity on campus, D. Robbins said. So we thought, what better way than to honor an icon of English. Larkin Culpepper, a junior speech pathology major, said her favorite event was the puppet show taken from A Midsummer Nights Dream. All of the English professors did a great job of engaging the audience and keeping them

laughing, Culpepper said. She also read one of Shakespeares sonnets during the festival. Reading a sonnet gave me more of perspective of how Shakespeare felt when he wrote and read his work, Culpepper said. D. Robbins said that the event could relate to anyone who stopped by for a performance or sonnet reading. There really is something that everyone can take away from the poems, music, and talks, D. Robbins said.

Email comments to ktc013@latech.edu.

NSA unites students to address stutter

GRACE MOORE Staff Reporter For a stutterer, speaking is like a muscle. If they flex that muscle and speak more often, their speech will be strengthened. In late March, a graduate student established a Tech chapter for the National Stuttering Association to unite those affected on common ground. Adam Grzybowski, a speech pathology graduate student, said his experiences in another support group for stutterers prompted him to open a chapter at Tech. As a stutterer, I have insight that other stutterers may respond to a little bit more, Grzybowski said. I know what its like to know what I want to say and not being able to say it. Its really frustrating. He said the NSA group meetings are not a therapy session, but a comfortable setting for stutterers to share experiences, explore coping strategies and improve self-esteem. By coming to a group with likeminded people, some social pressure is taken off, said Christy Madix, the faculty adviser for the NSA. She said stuttering is no more unique than someone wearing glasses or a hearing aid. More than 3 million Americans stutter, according to stutteringhelp. org, which means more than 3 million individuals struggle with several daily activities. Stutterers struggle with things like public speaking, talking on the phone and ordering food, Grzybowski said. [Stutterers] also struggle meeting people of the opposite sex, which is intimidating enough even if you dont stutter. He said stutterers often feel like an invisible hand is grasping their esophagus. A guy back in Ohio took like eight minutes to tell us his name, he said. Bill Willoughby, associate dean of liberal arts, said he becomes frustrated when he has clear ideas formulated in his head, but when he speaks he cant get the ideas in his head out of his mouth. Sometimes I will get stuck during a lecture, but students have told me, your stuttering helps us listen to you, Willoughby said. Its a broken pattern, and that pattern helps. Unlike some, he said his stutter does not hold him back; it is not a disability. Madix said she hopes a community support group at Tech will encourage individuals with a disfluency, an umbrella term under which stuttering is categorized, to abolish personal limitations stemmed from fear. Stutters are extremely situational, Madix said. It can be caused in result of a traumatic event, neurological crises like a stroke and most commonly through genetic links. However, she said everyone is disfluent to a certain degree, but individuals with a stuttering problem cope with it 365 days a year. Whether a stutterer has a mild, moderate or severe case, every day is exhausting because of talking and thinking about speaking the entire day, Grzybowski said. I have trouble with Rs, Ws and Ss, he said, and I avoid the word lemon. Ordering lemonade from a restaurant is such a standard action, he said, but it may take him several extra seconds to put his request into words. Willoughby said, in his lectures or when talking to a small group, his stutter is trivial, but when he is caught offguard and asked to introduce himself, he has difficulties. One time, I was at a conference introducing myself, and I could not get my name out, he said. The man looked at me like I had a disease; it was horribly frustrating. Some loopholes do exist as a recess for stutterers. Oddly enough, there is no disfluency in singing, Madix said. Additionally, Grzybowski said he can speak for hours on end with a foreign accent without any stuttering. Honestly, for a kid who stutters, you would think I wouldnt talk so much, he said. Willoughby said he often connects a stutterers speech to someone speaking in English with an accent. Grzybowski said his central goal is to inspire at least one person to raise their hand in the classroom or approach a stranger. He said, if that happens, the group will be a success. Fear should not outweigh a persons decision to make their life better, Grzybowski said, and this group it to help build confidence, one word at a time. The NSA Tech chapter will hold its third meeting May 3 in Robinson Hall Room 311.

Photo by Shradha Sharma

Union Board plays Landons Arms on Techs lower intramural fields.

>

SWAMP from pg. 1

Email comments to gmm008@latech.edu.

I thought it would be a good way to bond with everyone and plus it sounded fun, she said. Hughes said she had a great time, but she wanted to play more games after her team was eliminated from the bracket. She also said she participated because it was for a good cause. I think it showed that no matter our differences, we all care about helping others, and thats all that truly matters, Hughes said. Lori McAfee, a senior business management major, was part of the winning team, Sets on the beach.

She said she decided to participate in swamp ball because of her success with the tournament last year. It always feels great to win, McAfee said, It feels even better to win Swamp Ball back to back. It was a great cause and there was a great turnout, she said. It was a really good idea, and she was happy she was able to help raise money for philanthropy, she said. Im glad it was earlier this year so we didnt have to play in the dark, McAfee said, It was windy and cold in the morning, but other than that we enjoyed it.

Email comments to acv001@latech.edu.

The Best Ice Cream in America!*

campuscore
ruston

Strawberry Skydive

TM

744 Celebrity Dr. Ruston, LA 7127 (318) 251 - 2600

t Butter Peanu

G a l ax y

TM

Chocolate 2 the X treme

TM

tter Boogie Board tter Ba Be

TM

Rustons best student housing, Campus Core is THE ultimate college living experience.
AMENITIES: Near GSU and La Tech Computer Lab with Printer Social Activities & Residence Life Programs 24-Hour Fitness Center Study Room Club House Game Room Media Center BBQ Area Resort-Style Pool Wireless Internet around Pool & Club House

*Recipient of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence

ruston.thecampuscore.com lyndstudentliving.com 1812 W Alabama Ave (318) 254-1010

Insight
REBECCA SPENCE Editor-In-Chief

4 The T T ech alk April 26, 2012

FROM THE EDITOR

Dolphins existence washing out
hen The Cove was released and won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2010, it shocked many by giving us an inside look into the worlds inhumane treatment of dolphins. This was the documentary that opened eyes into how people operate and what some are willing to put at stake when it comes to making a profit. For example, the inhabitants of Taijii, Japan, are killing thousands of dolphins in a hidden cove. They force these dolphins into a net by using harmful sonar sounds. The poachers then sell the collected dolphin meat as a falsely advertised fish meat. This meat is served in schools and contains high levels of toxic mercury. This practice is unlawful and potentially harmful to the citizens of Japan. The government presents this as an OK practice for fisherman. They are thinking only of profit, not of the well-being of harmless creatures or human beings. The documentary, filmed by Ric OBarry, the trainer of the well-known dolphin, Flipper, and his crew helped the world to see that something needed to be done in preserving one of the most harmless and man-friendly animals in the ocean. According to CNN.com, approximately 877 dolphins washed up on the northern coast of Peru this past year. Peruvian Deputy Environment Minister Gabriel Quijandria said he believes the dolphins have died from an outbreak of Morbillivirus or Brucella bacteria. According to the Medical Dictionary, Morbillivirus is a form of highly contagious measles and Brucella is an infectious virus that causes brucellosis. According to CNN, starvation or pesticide poisoning caused none of the deaths, but the decomposition state at which the dolphins were found made it difficult for marine biologists to get an accurate evaluation of most washed-up dolphins. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society has a different theory. Marine biologists associated with the organization have found many instances of head trauma. The dolphins were not of a specific age or health, which according to Sue Rocca from the WDCS, usually has to do with a snapshot problem These problems could have come from the amount of noise from boat traffic in the waters at one time, or the nearby oil drilling sonars. This type of noise is enough to knock out and kill dolphins at any rate. The WDCS is focusing on studying the effects of seismic tests on the ecosystems surrounding them. If this is an issue, a question of ethics arises for oil companies and geographers everywhere. Will they strive to switch the tests or continue to kill hundreds of harmless animals time after time again? Until regulations are set, nothing will be changed. There has to be a penalty of some sort for companies to even consider changing their ways. Even with a fine or suspension, some companies will continue to use harmful practices in order to continue making a profit. Whatever is killing these dolphins needs to be stopped, if at all possible. According to the International Business Times, certain dolphin species will soon face extinction if suspicious or random shockwaves of dolphins continue to die in this fashion. One thing the WDCS and the Peruvian Environmental Society have agreed on is the need for further investigation in this case and cases that arise like this in the future. Rebecca Spence is a senior journalism and speech communication major from Cypress, Texas, who serves as editor-in-chief for The Tech Talk. Email comments to res022@latech. edu.

IN OUR OPINION

War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing

SIE KONNEN CON CAPIRE

There is a holiday for that, too
JUSTIN FORT Managing Editor olidays are pointless. Throughout the year I take notice of certain holidays and I ask myself, Why is there a day for this? Three different nationally recognized holidays come to t he front of my mind. However, I never thought something was as undeserving of a day as 420 a day for stoners, potheads, druggies and all the other terms that apply to a specific category of people who smoke some strain of marijuana. There is no real answer to when or where this idea of getting higher than Wyly on April 20 became so popular, but many rumors have been voiced. According to an article from The Huffington Post, some people say it is the number of active chemicals in marijuana, some say it is teatime in Holland and some even say it has something to do with Adolf Hitlers birthday. It is widely accepted that 420 began in San Rafael, Calif., when local police officers began identifying smoking marijuana as a 420 in the early 70s. The history is important, but what stands out to me is the continuation of a day just for smoking marijuana. It stands out for one large reason. Eighty percent of the people I know smoke some type of marijuana and from what I have seen, they get no higher on 420 than they do any other day. People who smoke marijuana will smoke marijuana. It is that simple. They like getting high, developing their creativity and the taste of food. The last thing they need is another reason to get higher than they already do. I am not going to argue the benefits or risks of marijuana, but a day that is internationally recognized as a day to get high should not exist. Valentines Day. Bad idea. A day for couples to finally love each other like they should and single people to become more bitter than the chocolate they indulge in. There is no reason for Valentines Day. Why should someone provide you a reason or reminder to love someone? If you need one, use anniversaries and birthdays. Love is a relationship that is worked on every day. If you are at the point in a relationship where you need a day to make you simulate love for another person, you need to take that day and apply your ideas every day after that. Giving someone flowers because the world expects you to is not romantic. Personally I see it as an insult if someone shows me that I can only be special and worth rewarding one day a year. The man who wrote his wife a letter before his death is a romantic. The guy who bought a $3 card from Hallmark is not. St. Patricks Day. Thats another one. The idea is solid. Celebrate a saint and his bringing Christianity to Ireland.However, I am not familiar with too many saints who would approve of binge drinking green beer to celebrate their spreading of Christianity. Does anyone really think that is a true celebration? I hope not. Now I recognize that these are not the top holidays in America and not cancelling school or raising a flag does not overly condone them, but they are supported by the availability of drugs, the judgment of men and restaurants willingness to purchase obscene amounts of green beer. A friend of mine pointed out to me that I only have a problem with holidays that are not recognized to be Christian. I thought about that for a second, and then I disproved it. I would not support those who celebrate the life of Christ only one day a year anymore than I would support a husband loving his wife one day in February. I would not support people drinking to celebrate the life of Christ. Before the argument is even planned, I know people always say Jesus drank wine. Well, Jesus drank wine, but he did not binge drink beer. Even your doctor recognizes a difference. I see no point in setting aside days to do some obscure task. I just call those days. Justin Fort is a senior journalism and political science major from Choudrant who serves as managing editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to jwf014@latech.edu.

n September 2001, terrorists attacked American soil. According to The Washington Post, 72 days later, President George W. Bush directed Donald Rumsfeld, then Secretary of Defense, to begin planning for war with Iraq. In 2003 troops were finally sent for Iraq in retaliation to the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Centers. The objective for this war was to send troops to the Middle East in order to protect these countries from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. More than a decade later, American soldiers remain on foreign soils and it seems the priorities are unclear and that the mission is failing. Last week on CNN.com pictures of American soldiers holding the mutilated bodies of Afghan soldiers and citizens could be seen. Unfortunately, this is not the first of inhumane events that have occurred in the past year. According to CNN, footage of U.S. soldiers urinating on Afghan corpses emerged in January, and in February, Afghan riots broke out when Qurans had been burned at an air base in Afghanistan. Also, last month an Army sergeant went on a shooting rampage killing 17 Afghan civilians. We are aware that measures are taken to hide such video footage and photographs from the public for a reason. We are also not nave to the fact that there are numerous things hidden from the media for reasons. We do not always support those reasons, but we support our troops. We understand that things are hidden from the media to protect the image we have of our troops because we dont want to ever look poorly upon our soldiers. We, as average citizens, have no idea what our men and women fighting overseas have witnessed or survived. Many soldiers return home with Post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, the inability to hold a regular job and sometimes a missing arm or leg. Our soldiers often live in enemy territories and it seems some of the bad habits Afghan and Iraqi soldiers are rubbing off on some of them. It appears we are playing by their rules now desecrations and inhumane treatment. In the beginning, American soldiers set out to protect these countries. Today, after these recent events, how do you think Afghan civilians feel about having American soldiers in their country? Our soldiers have performed some heinous acts that we would normally only expect from the enemy. Are we now our own worst enemies? By 2014, President Obama has said American soldiers will leave Afghanistan for good, ending the war on terror as we know it. However, 2014 is still two years away. How many more of these heinous acts will the American military tolerate from its soldiers? How long until they realize America is finished making its impact and the Middle East and their inhumane actions are the ones doing the influencing?

T T ech alk
The student voice of Louisiana Tech University

The

MANAGEMENT

THE REEL RUNNER

Slapstick for a new generation
PATRICK BOYD Entertainment Editor Should Have Gone Straight to DVD, it was a pleasant surprise to see a movie that actually contained some reasonable merit, but also something they could actually relate to. Slapstick comedy has flown the coop in our movies as the situational comedy setup has seeped in and left good ole poke em films (no pun intended) by the wayside. I know when I approach comedy, and my personal preference is the situational comedy, I forget about slapstick and the magical attributes it holds. Slapstick is like an externalized version of witty wordplay, using movement and the body to create concepts without even speaking a word. As Mo, Larry and Curly hit each other with rubber hammers and poked each other in the eyes more times than even a mathematics major could count, I realized that the way I was watching the movie was probably quite different from the reactions of my older counterparts in the room. I was not particularly intrigued with going to see The Three Stooges as slapstick is not my preference when it comes to humor (born and raised on I Love Lucy and All in the Family.) I was pleasantly surprised though and forgot what can be done with slapstick humor. When the Three Stooges came out in the thirties, they did not so much rely on a storyline, but in situational moments fragmented to create a whole. There was very little contextualizing and the purpose of watching it was for pure entertainment value, or so I can gather by watching clips of it on YouTube. The humor was conveyed in a way in which it was all about the moment, there was no manipulation behind it and seemed almost effortless unlike a lot of comedy today (anyone on Saturday Night Live minus Kristen Wiig.) Growing up in a generation where we want the screen to reflect reality, it can be hard for this concept to transfer into our time. We want our lives to be entertaining and glamorous, hence reality television and Snooki, and anything outside of this makes us consider its importance. While we want escapism, we are very reliant on a storyline as well, preferably one with a happy ending. The new Three Stooges movie blended these ideals and is like a post-modern version of slapstick, if that can even exist. By combining slapstick and a situation, we get something unique that audiences of all ages can relate to. Patrick Boyd is a senior journalism and English major from Choudrant who serves as entertainment editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to gpb009@latech.edu.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITOR ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ADVERTISING MANAGER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE ADVISERS ADVERTISING ADVISER PRODUCTION MANAGER ADVERTISING PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT HEAD

he other day, I went to go see the new Three Stooges film, and while pondering the aforementioned, I realized two things about the state of American cinema. First of all, matinee showings have to be designed solely for grandparents to take children to. (Im not sure why I was surprised as I was attending a showing at 4:45 on a Monday afternoon.) As I was sitting in the theater by myself before the movie started, I was beginning to feel a lot like Tom Wingfield from The Glass Menagerie, when several grandparents (or who I assume were grandparents) trickled in followed by their children (again assuming) like miniature sized groupies. While Im sure most of the grandparents in attendance are used to taking the children to see something like Ice Age 9: I

Rebecca Spence Sherelle Black Justin Fort Molly Bowman Amie Rolland Anna Claire Thomas Reina Kempt Patrick Boyd Rodney Seay Jessica Van Alstyne Sumeet Shrestha Shradha Bhandari Raven Thissel Rod Waynick Dr. Elizabeth Christian Judith Roberts Dr. Reginald Owens Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc Dr. Reginald Owens

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a year. Mail to: Tech Talk Subscriptions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272.

PUBLICATION
The Tech Talk (USPS 535-540) is published Thursdays of the regular school year, except in vacation and examination periods, by the Journalism Department of Louisiana Tech University. Publication office is in Keeny Hall, Room 146.

POSTAL
Second-class postage paid at Ruston, La. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272-0045.

WRITE TO US
The Tech Talk welcomes letters to the editor. However, we reserve the right not to print anonymous letters. We also ask that each letter be accompanied by a telephone number, address, classification or title. We will not print the telephone number. Viewpoints should be mailed or brought to The Tech Talk office, 146 Keeny Hall, by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to a Thursday publication. Letters should be mailed to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272. E mails should be sent to techtalk@latech.edu. You can also submit letters online at www.thetechtalk.org/home/lettertotheeditor/.

CONTACT US

NEWSROOM 318.257.4946 ADVERTISING 318.257.4949

April 26, 2012 The T T ech alk 5

Bluetooth idea named Top Dawg project

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter Nine student companies brought their innovations before a panel of judges for a chance to market their ideas to actual businesses in the 10th annual Top Dawg New Venture Championship. The New Venture Championship focuses on each companys presentation to market an innovative idea. The companies that competed on April 17 were finalists from the Top Dawg Idea Pitch that was held last November. Its a great opportunity to further market our idea, said Sean Griffin, a senior marketing major. Griffin and his company, Haptic Unlimited, won first place in the competition. Haptic presented a handheld Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for computers and tablets called Firebrand. The idea earned the company a $4,000 prize. Griffin said the money would be used to patent the idea and to tour and market it to actual businesses. Though the invention sounds like the wireless keyboards and mice that already exist, he said the difference is in the size and design. Firebrands design is much like a video-game controller and is small enough to fit in anyones hands. Griffin said texting inspired the functionality and efficiency of the design. Typing on the handheld keyboard is like texting on a cellphone, he said. He said some research has shown that most people can text faster than they can type, making his texting feature a more efficient way to work. People can work faster and get more done, Griffin said. They can do so much more and be comfortable. Haptics innovation did not only earn the top spot in the competition, but it also won first place at the El Dorado Gone in 60 Seconds Pitch on April 19. A few of the ideas the Firebrand was compared with were the use of algae as a biofuel production method, a magnetic outlet plug that does not produce sparks and a wheelchair that is steered with brain signals. There were some awesome ideas and presentations out there today, said Christopher Taylor, a senior computer science major and CEO of Bulldog Entrepreneurs. Taylor said he found the magnetic outlet plug interesting because the company found a way to eliminate the emission of sparks when the magnet was in contact with the outlet. The plug is the same idea as the magnetic chargers on Macbooks, he said. Its great to see everyones

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Brandon Lawrence, a senior in business management and entrepreneurship, talks about his New Venture Investment plan Ruston Parking Solution. New Venture Investment Deck is a set of Power Point slides with notes pages that startups use to get investors excited about their new venture concept.

hard work and developed ideas at the competition, Taylor said. Blue Green Innovations earned second place and $1,500 for their idea of using algae as an improvement in biofuel, and I-Chair was awarded third place and $500 for their brain-signal navigation wheelchair. The funds for the awards were donated by local businesses and members of the community willing to invest in the development of the ideas of the contestants. The student companies had been developing their ideas since the fall quarter, and those who placed in the competition will use their awards to continue their developments. Taylor said Bulldog Entrepreneurs has started to recruit for next years competition and are encouraging students with innovative ideas to sign up next fall. The money came generously from the Bulldog Entrepreneurs and the Innovation Enterprise Fund, Griffin said. Now we can use the award to talk to prospective investors.

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

Tech karate team members win national title

REBECCA ALVAREZ Staff Reporter The Tech karate team has been under the radar in past years, gaining little attention around campus, but that has not held the team back from fighting their way to being one of the nations top programs. The team recently traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to compete in the 2012 National Karate Championships held March 29 through April 1. Preparation for a tournament like this requires dedication and effort, said Loren Todd, president of the club team. The teams hard work paid off when all nine members placed in at least one of their events. Each member competed in different divisions of each event based on the color of the belt he or she has earned. Every event varied in the number of participants from as little as four to as many as 11. With each member placing in at least one event, the team earned a total of 15 individual awards and four team awards. Todd placed in three of her events as a brown belt, earning fifth in kata, or forms, fourth in weapons kata and second in team kumite, or sparring. Among the awards were four national titles in individual events and two national titles in team events. JaVorius Canna, a senior business management and entrepreneurship major, won the national title in two of his events for the brown belt division: koshiki, or competition fighting, and kumite. Winning the national title was kind of surreal, he said. But going into the competition I knew I was prepared, and I knew I could win. Canna said he worked on techniques and combos leading up to the tournament to build his confidence. He said the physical preparation was intense, but the real challenge was staying mentally prepared. It was a battle to make sure I didnt get over confident when I would win, he said. Canna will be tested to earn his black belt in December. He and the team continue a winning dynasty that began in the 1970s. Todd said the team has traveled to the tournament every year since the 1970s and has consistently earned national champion titles. In the last five years, Tech karate has earned the team of the year title three times. The programs success can be credited to each members efforts. In order to qualify for the National Championships, each member had to place in the top four in his or her events at a state or regional tournament. To produce the necessary results, the team had to commit to a continuous training schedule. We are constantly training, Todd said. We practice and compete in tournaments yearround even in the summer. The team practices five times a week and is coached by Buster Cotten, a sixth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Two practices are offered through the Kinesiology department beginning karate course. The other more advanced practices are held in the evenings three times a week. The next big tournament Tech karate will prepare for is the World Championships that will be held in July in Dallas. This will be the second year Canna will compete in the World Championships. He won a world title last year and said he is hoping to gain yet another title to bring back to Tech. Oh, World, Canna said with a chuckle. Theres going to be some tough competition, but I know we can win.

Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

Ross Todd, a senior history and English major, faces off against Thomas Faulkner, a junior BFA major, during their practing hours.

LETS BE FRIENDS!

STAY CONNECTED TO TECH NEWS, LIKE THE TECH TALK ON FACEBOOK

915 East Georgia Ruston, LA 71270 318-255-1688

Medical Center
Family practice and acute care Accepting patients of all ages In-house lab and x-ray
Benson A. Grigsby, M.D.
Benson A. Grigsby - Family Practitioner

NORTHWOOD

Special Student Rates

for Summer Storage
Space is limited, CALL NOW!

Chip Furr,

PA-C
Chip Furr - Physician Assistant

Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

RESTAURANT SUSHI BAR LOUNGE

TUESDAY - SATURDAY LUNCH 11 AM - 2 PM DINNER 5 PM - UNTIL SUNDAY & MONDAY - CLOSED
114 W. PARK AVENUE RUSTON, LA 71270 P 318.255.8320

Fax: 318-254-2898 Phone: 318-254-2892 2916 North Trenton St. - Ruston, LA 71270

Now accepting Tech Express (carryout only)

6 The T T ech alk April 26, 2012

World&Nation
B R I E F S WORLDNEWS

South Sudan president declares war

ASSOCIATED PRESS NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) South Sudans president said Tuesday its northern neighbor has declared war on the worlds newest nation, just hours after Sudanese jets dropped eight bombs on his country. President Salva Kiirs comments, made during a trip to China, signal a rise in rhetoric between the rival nations, who spent decades at war with each other. Neither side has officially declared war. The violence has drawn alarm and condemnation from the international community, including from President Obama. South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed 2 million people. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gave a fiery speech last week in which he said there will be no negotiations with the poisonous insects who are challenging Sudans claim to disputed territory. South Sudans military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said that Sudanese Antonov warplanes dropped eight bombs overnight in Panakuac, where he said there was ground fighting on Monday. Aguer said he did not know how many people were killed in the attack because of poor communication links with the remote area. On Monday, Sudanese warplanes bombed a market and an oil field in South Sudan, killing at least two people, after Sudanese ground forces reportedly crossed into South Sudan with tanks and artillery. Talks over oil revenue and the border issues broke down this month after violence flared. South Sudan invaded the oilrich border town of Heglig, which Sudan claims it controls. Landlocked South Sudan stopped pumping oil through Sudan in January, accusing the government in Khartoum of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of oil revenue. Sudan responded by bombing the Souths oil fields. In Khartoum, the pro-government Sudanese Media Center said that two of Sudans Darfur states began implementing a ban on shipping to South Sudan. The ban was imposed by Sudans parliament.

Social Security may deplete by 2033

WASHINGTON (AP) Social Security is rushing even faster toward insolvency, driven by retiring baby boomers, a weak economy and politicians reluctance to take painful action to fix the huge retirement. The trust funds that support Social Security will run dry in 2033, the government said Monday.

Swiss scientists build new robot

SWITZERLAND (AP) Swiss scientists demonstrated how a partially paralyzed person can control a robot by thought, a step they hope will one day allow immobile people to interact with their surroundings through socalled avatars. Similar projects have been attempted in other countries but have not been successful.

AP Photo

Sudanese armed forces raise their weapons during a visit by President Omar al-Bashir in Heglig, Sudan, Monday. Sudanese warplanes bombed a market and an oil field in South Sudan, killing at least two people hours after Sudanese ground forces reportedly crossed into South Sudan with tanks and artillery, elevating the risk of all-out war between the two old enemies. Officials in the Darfur states said they warned merchants that stern measures will be taken against any person found to be smuggling food supplies and other commodities into South Sudan, the SMC reported. Its earlier condemnation of the Sudanese incursion called for both sides to stop fighting and hold peace talks. Sudan must immediately halt the aerial and artillery bombardment against South Sudan by the Sudan armed forces, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday to reporters traveling with Obama to

Comedian jailed for offending Islam

CAIRO (AP) An Egyptian court on Tuesday upheld a conviction against one of the Arab worlds most famous comedians, Adel Imam, sentencing him to jail for offending Islam in popular films.

North Carolina. Both governments must agree to an immediate unconditional cessation of hostilities and recommit to negotiations, He repeated Obamas warning to both sides that there is no military solution to their differences.

New case of mad cow disease resurfaces in Central California

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Attention Students
Summer Work - $15 Base / Appt Flexible Schedules Customer Sales / Services All Ages 17+

STATENEWS

Man arrested in church burglaries

BOSSIER CITY (AP) Bossier City police have arrested a 27-year-old man on burglary charges for breaking into at least five churches over the past several weeks. Some of the stolen items included computers, food, and tools.

Adoption bill for gay couples fails

BATON ROUGE (AP) A proposal that would allow gay couples and other unmarried couples to adopt children together in Louisiana has been defeated 9-2 by a House committee Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) A new case of mad cow disease has surfaced in a dairy cow in California, but the animal was not bound for the nations food supply, the Agriculture Department said Tuesday. John Clifford, the departments chief veterinary officer, said the cow from central California did not enter the human food chain and that U.S. meat and dairy supplies are safe. Its the fourth such cow discovered in the United States since the government began inspecting for the disease. There is really no cause for alarm here with regard to this animal, Clifford told reporters at a hasty press conference. Clifford said the cow was at a rendering plant in Central California when the case was dis-

There is really no cause for alarm here with regard to this animal.
John Clifford
Chief veterinary officer

covered through regular USDA sample testing. Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), can be fatal to humans who eat tainted beef. The disease is always fatal in cattle. There have been three confirmed cases of BSE in the United states,.

The Agriculture Department is sharing its lab results with international animal health officials in Canada and England, Clifford said. He said the California cow is an atypical case in that it didnt get the disease from eating infected cattle feed. Eating meat contaminated with BSE is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and deadly nerve disease. A massive outbreak of mad cow disease in the United Kingdom that peaked in 1993 was blamed for the deaths of 180,000 cattle and more than 150 people. There have been a handful of cases of variant CreutzfeldtJakob Disease confirmed in people living in the United States, but those were linked to meat products in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CALL NOW (318) 450-3419

carolina ave.

First arrest made in BP oil spill case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) In the first criminal charges related to the deadly explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in April 2010, the Justice Department arrested Kurt Mix and charged him with two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence sought by federal authorities. A BP engineer intentionally deleted more than 300 text messages that said that the amount of oil leaking was far more than what the company reported, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Judge to examine case of leaked military info by private first class

ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) A military judge is poised to rule on a motion to dismiss all charges against an Army private accused in the biggest leak of government secrets in U.S. history. Army Col. Denise Lind is presiding over a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning. She said Tuesday she would rule Wednesday on They say it takes time a defense motion to to obtain documents dismiss Mannings from civilian agencase. cies and search those The defense says records for relevant prosecutors have material. been so slow in sharManning is acing required informacused of sending tion that the only remhundreds of thouedy is to throw out the sands of sensitive charges. documents to the MANNING Prosecutors say anti-secrecy website they are working diliWikiLeaks while servgently to meet their obligations. ing in the Army.

Climate controlled units on the corner of Minden St. and Carolina Ave. Call 318.680.3354 to reserve your unit!

311 Carolina Avenue Ruston, LA 71270

Gun, Knife Coin Show

BUY - - SELL - - TRADE

and

April 28th & 29th Ruston Civic Center

Produced by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Arts&Entertainment
Classic musical Pippin comes to Stone Theatre
APRIL KELLEY Staff Reporter Louisiana Techs School of Performing Arts will perform the classic musical Pippin in Stone Theater for their spring production. Pippin is directed by Paul B. Crook, associate professor of theatre, with musical direction by Lisa Maxedon, assistant professor of music. Its basically the story of Pippin, one of Charlemagnes sons, but its told by a traveling theater troupe, Maxedon said. So, each night the idea is that they have a different Pippin. Maxedon said that while they dont have a different Pippin every night, the premise of the show is that these characters are telling the audience the story of Pippin. Pippin is in search of meaning in life, excitement, different pursuits, knowledge, war, love, things like that, she said. Basically, the idea is that these players are trying to get the person who is playing Pippin to decide that there is nothing worth living for, Maxedon said. Not only is Pippin a traditional musical with songs, dialogue and dance, but there are also some Cirque du Soleil elements in Techs version as well. The director has put a sort of Cirque du Soleil concept to it, so it is disturbing under the surface, Maxedon said. Its a little dark, its a little seedy. But the actual level that the audience sees is playful at times, but then that seediness comes out every once in a while. Maxedon said she doesnt think the audience will come away learning anything about the meaning of life, but thats not really the point. Its meant to be entertaining for them. Theyll see danc-

April 26, 2012 The T T ech alk 7

MOVIE REVIEW
Stooges proves more than just nostalgic
PATRICK BOYD Entertainment Editor Like a friend who only knows one joke, yet cant help but tell it over and over, movies have reached an apex now where they are starting to repeat themselves more frequently. After hitting the repeat button again, we now have the latest offering in a slew of retro nostalgia pieces: the Farelly Brothers The Three Stooges. With movies like Martin Scorseses Hugo and Michel Hazanavicius The Artist (which won the Oscar for Best Picture this year), both look back at silent films and the importance of film preservation something that seems to have been forgotten in our time. Even before these movies came out, I would say that contemporary action films like Transformers are reflective of those spectacle films like The Great Train Robbery (1903) and other early American cinema film shorts that were viewed for the same reason someone gets on a rollercoaster: a thrill. While the thought of The Three Stooges and slapstick may not sound like it can work in the movies of today, the Farelly Brothers have taken the Stooges slaps, kicks, eye-pokes and puns and provided a movie that is not only witty but necessary. This type of humor has almost ceased to exist in film

Twentieth Century Fox

Submitted photo

ing and singing and acting and tricks done on pieces of silk that are hanging and different circus-like tricks that go on during the show, so I think theyll be entertained more than anything. Featuring a score by Stephen Schwartz and story by Bob Fosse, the directors and cast are just trying to bring this world-renowned play to life she said. People should see Pippin to expose themselves to something different, Maxedon said. If theyve never seen a musical, they need to know what it is. Its a very popular art form in the United States, and its something that originated in the United States. And this is a show, in particular, that was ground-breaking in the 1970s, and I think it would be worth the while to see what it is. Jake Guinn, a junior theater major, plays Lewis, Pippins younger brother, in the play. The story of Pippin involves Pippin trying to find his way in life, and Lewis is kind of his douchebag younger brother who kind of wants to overthrow him [Pippin] and take

over, except hes too stupid to actually do anything. Hes kind of a meathead, Guinn said. Guinn describes the show as a good time. Its just kind of a fun and silly show. Its not necessarily going to change your perspective on the world or anything but its definitely going to have people leaving having enjoyed themselves, Guinn said. Guinn further detailed different elements in the musical. The show itself is a little weird and disturbing, so theres no way you cant engage that particularly when theres such a legacy of Bob Fosse doing the choreography and it just being so strange and unique to his style and aesthetic that you cant help but really work toward that, Guinn said. I mean were trying our best as much as we can and I think were doing a pretty good job. We can only emulate what he did and thats what were trying to do. Pippin is playing in Stone Theater at 7:30 p.m. tonight through April 28 and May 2-5.

The Three Stooges HHHHI today, and proves that there is still a place for it among the situational comedies like Bridesmaids, The Hangover and any other popular comedy movie. The film follows the classic Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso), the dimwitted siblings who show affection for one another by hitting each other in the head with a sledgehammer and pulling on armpit hair. After being dropped off at an orphanage at birth, the three cause chaos for the nuns who run it (among them Glees Jane Lynch, soulstress Jennifer Hudson and Seinfeld creator Larry David). Twenty-five years later, the orphanage is at risk of being

shut down, unless $830,000 is raised to save it. Mo, Larry and Curly hop at the opportunity and travel to the city to raise the funds. The situation gets even stickier whenever Sofia Vergara of Modern Family hires them to kill her husband. Surprising to say that if I tell much more I would give away a lot of plot spoilers, and yes, The Three Stooges has plenty of twists and turns to go along with the jabs. Speaking of jabs, there are many references to reality television, especially after Moe inadvertently lands a role on Jersey Shore. What we consider entertainment and comedy these days are starkly contrasted with the type of humor The Three Stooges provided in the 1930s and 40s. Not only were these scenes funny, but some were also slightly chilling, such as seeing Moe and Snooki side by side. The brilliance of this movie is its ability to not remain a situational comedy or just a routine comedy bits without a story line either. I think the Farelly Brothers may have eluded pure nostalgia and have taken a look at what comedy can do by referencing the stooges and see the new territory that can be broken.

Email comments to gpb009@latech.edu.

Email comments to ask012@latech.edu.

Distractions
SUDOKUPUZZLE
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. Difficulty Very Hard www.sudoku-puzzles.net
Go back | Print | Help

8 The T T ech alk April 26, 2012

LAST EDITIONS SOLUTION

WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
Aries March 21 April 19 Difficult as it may be for you to face all those projects youve left undone, Aries, know that youll be free to move on once theyre complete. People from your past figure prominently now. Perhaps they come forward to repay an old debt or possibly claim repayment from you. Dont abandon your dreams. Once youve cleared a path for them, theyre more likely to come true. Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 You could have a eureka! moment today, Taurus, as events from your past unexpectedly bubble to the surface of your mind and crystallize in a surprising new way. Suddenly, you have a clear understanding of how these past events affect your present behavior. You can use this new knowledge to bring about change. There is clearly a situation at work or at home that is in need of transformation. Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Sometimes its easier to tend to lifes mundane details rather than lift your eyes and see the big picture, Gemini. For example, its likely that youve grown complacent at work. Could it be that you arent at the right job or in the right career after all? Busying yourself with trivia isnt the way to avoid answering the question. Its imperative that you face it head on and make the necessary changes. Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 Change is in the air, Cancer. Whether its a dramatic change of faith or a major shift in your lifes goals, prepare yourself for a profound transformation. Its likely due to the fact that you now have more freedom to do what you want, when you want. Perhaps a financial windfall has made this possible. Take care to choose your new path wisely. It doesnt offer you the choice of returning to your old lifestyle. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 Its time to refill the well of your soul, Leo. You spend so much of your life in service to others that its only natural that you feel drained sometimes. Rather than try to push past this feeling and go on as though nothing is the matter, consider it a sign that something is amiss. Admit if youre feeling unappreciated. Youve spent too much time putting the happiness of others before your own. Its time to change your priorities. Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 You would make an excellent judge, Virgo. Youre able to consider all aspects of a situation. This is a bit of a blessing and a curse, because it can make it difficult to come to a decision. Today you could face the challenge of reconsidering past decisions. Once-binding contracts need to be reviewed and new ones created. Prior commitments need reevaluation. This is tiring but necessary if youre to move forward. Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Just because one person is no longer a part of your life doesnt mean that all people are unreliable. People change, as do situations. Its possible that this person was no longer a healthy influence on you, in which case the departure is for the best. Youre going to have to become more adaptable, Libra, because there are more changes on the horizon, especially where your career is concerned. Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 It can be hard to release old habits and beliefs even as new, better ways of thinking struggle to gain a foothold. Its time for you to do this, Scorpio. You might find it difficult to confide your feelings to another, but a frank conversation with close friends will do much to ease your mind. Theres no question that youre changing. Your friends will show you that this transformation is positive.

www.horoscopes.com.net
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 You always suspected that your job was making you crazy, but it never occurred to you that it could make you sick, too. Is it really worth it, Sagittarius? You may be asking yourself this question today. Fortunately, your talents apply to several professions. Why not take a closer look at other fields? One way or another, its clear that change is coming. You might as well be the one who directs it. Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 Just how long has it been since you indulged in a big helping of your favorite guilty pleasure, Capricorn? Its time to let the youngster in you come out and play today. Eat that chocolate, read those mindless magazines, or skip down the sidewalk. Youve been taking life much too seriously lately. Even grownups are entitled to indulge in the pleasures of youth from time to time. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 If you feel like youre trying to push a square peg into a round hole, youre probably right, Aquarius. Whether youre having personal or professional difficulties, there are times when it just doesnt pay to try so hard. In fact, its often a sign that there is something fundamentally wrong with the relationship. Try to take more of a philosophical attitude, Aquarius. If its meant to work, it will. Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Things arent always as they first appear. People you thought you knew well and circumstances that you thought you understood thoroughly now seem anything but straightforward. Has the world really changed that much or has your perception altered somehow? Its time to direct this altered vision inward. Youre ready for a change, Pisces. Perhaps its time to dust off that resume.

BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 20, 2011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across Across 1. Angry with 15 16 1- Angry with; 66. Dellas creator Della's creator; 14 10. Crew needs 10- Crew needs; 14- White 18 19 14. White poplar tree poplar tree; 15- Clairvoyant; 16- 17 15. Clairvoyant 17- Feudal estate; Editor's mark; 20 21 22 16. Editors mark 19- VCR 18- It may turn; 17. Feudal estate Engrossing; 22alternative; 2023 24 25 18. It maycatcher; 23- Thin layer; Conger turn 19. VCR alternative 24- Qualify; 26- Monetary unit of 26 27 28 29 30 31 20. Engrossing Burma; 29- Greek letters; 3122. Conger catcher ___ Lingus; 33- 32 Bran source; 3233 34 35 36 37 23. Thin layer Q; 34- Lines of Queue after 24. Qualify38- Hindu princess; 40- 38 descent; 39 40 41 42 26. Monetary unit 42- Fill to surfeit; Unit of energy; of Burma 29. Greekin a Beach Boys song; 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 43- Girl letters 31. Bran source 46- German Mrs; 4932. ___ Lingus 50- Yes, in 50 51 52 Campaigned; 33. Queue after Q Mongol tent; 52Yokohama; 5153 54 55 56 57 58 34. Lines of descent 53- Get as Cornerstone abbr.; 38. Hindu princess one's own; 57- Bluesy James; 60 61 62 63 64 40. Unit of energyIll-humored; 65- 59 59- Crews; 6042. Fill in surfeit 66- Yours, in This, to Tijuana; 65 66 67 43. Girl in a Beach Boys Ollie's Tours; 67- Path; 68- song 46. German Mrs partner; 69- "Jurassic Park" 68 69 70 49. Campaigned actress; 70- Perfect places; 7150. Yes, in Yokohama 72Shipping deduction; 71 72 73 51. Mongol tent Strikes out; Remnant; 7352. Cornerstone abbr. 53. Get as ones own Down 11. Inclined 57. Bluesy James Simple rhyme scheme; 3- Studies; 4- Indifferent; 5-58. Battery terminal 1- Baby's cry; 2Small dog; 6- Guess; 12. Make merry 61. Go (over) carefully 759. Crews Bridle strap; 8- Flat shelf; 9- Afore; 10- Inflammation of bone; 11- Inclined; 12- Make merry; 1313. Grocery, e.g. 62. Combustible matter 60. Ill-humored 21- Diner orders; 22- Coup d'___; 25- Figs.; 26- Henry VIII's sixth; 27- Casual Grocery, e.g.; 21. Diner orders 63. Magazine founder Eric 65. This, in Tijuana assent; 28- Florence's river; 30- Like breakers on the shore; 35- Describes a gently cooked steak; 64. Discounted by 66. Yours, in Tours 37- Dispatched; 22. Coup d___ 36- School orgs.; 39- Lacking humanity; 41- Exhausting; 44- Raised platform; 25. Figs. 66. Append 67. Path 45- Atmosphere; 47- Commedia dell'___; 48- Spoke; 53- Bikini blast; 54- Jai alai basket; 5526. Henry 68. Ollies partnerPersian Gulf; 56- Aromatic VIIIs sixth 58- Battery terminal; 61- Go (over) Emirate on the compound; 69. Jurassic Park actress matter;27. Casual assent carefully; 62- Combustible 63- Magazine founder Eric; 64- Discounted by; 66- Append; 28. Florences river 70. Perfect places 30. Like breakers on the shore LAST EDITIONS SOLUTION 71. Shipping deduction 35. Describes a gently BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 19, 2011 72. Remnant E R A S E D P U T C A L F cooked steak Across 73. Strikes out 1- Rubbed out; 7- Place; 10- A T E E T E R E T S O V E R little lower?; 14- Move 36. School orgs. unsteadily; 15- Aliens, for short; A T A R A R A 16- Above; 17- King of pop; 18- C A R O L E 37. Dispatched Loss leader?; 19- ___ avis; 20Down E E E I rebirth; 39. Lacking humanitySpiritualheel; 27-23- Moving;a26- A S T R R G C N R R A T L O N Cad or Tending to I U T E I C 1. Babys cry definite end; 28- Drops from the 41. Exhausting sky; 29- Cockpit abbr.; 30R A I N A L T F O X 2. Simple rhyme scheme 44. Raised platform Cunning person; 31- Bantu language; 33- Hither's partner; L I N G A L A Y O N S I S 3. Studies 34- Bro's counterpart; 37- Early E G G P O I E Y E A S P 45. Atmosphere bird?; 38- Hawaiian food; 39Needle hole; 40- Horned viper; 4. Indifferent N A E P O R M E D U L L A 41a Scot; 42- ___ favor; 47. Commedia dell___ Not formarrow; 45- Freight 43- Bone 5. Small dog T O N P E R N E E R weight; 46- A pop; 47- Not e'en 48. Spoke once; 48- "Farewell!"; 516. Guess S A N R U S S E Japanese honorific; 52- Charlotte A D I O S 53. Bikini blast ___; 53- At intervals; 56- ___ B E T W E E N T I M E S 7. Bridle strap My 54. Jai alai basket impasse; 57- 62- ___, Vietnam; A T A N L A I 58- Hardens; Colombian city; I N U R E S 8. Flat shelf 63- Directional ending; 6455. Emirate on the Persian 65- Plains native; 66- C A L I E R N S T A T E S Declares; Gulf 9. Afore Cry ___ River; 67- Aptitude; O T O E M E A T A L E N T 56. Aromatic compound Down 10. Inflammation of bone 1- And so on; 2- Actor Stephen; 3- ___ Lingus; 4- Hoarding; 5- Conger catcher; 6- Remnant; 7Go back | Print | Help
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 16 19 11 12 13 14 17 15 18 20 21 26 22 27 23 28 31 37 41 24 25 29 30 32 38 42 33 39 43 34 40 35 36 44 47 45 46 48 53 56 62 65 49 50 51 52 54 57 63 66 55 58 64 67 59 60 61

CROSSWORDPUZZLE

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Goober; 8- Absolute; 9- Boris Godunov, for one; 10- Bark; 11- Benefit; 12- Vive ___!; 13- Former French currency; 21- Cream cake; 22- Did penance; 23- Senator Specter; 24- Goatlike antelope; 25- Shade; 29- Crazy as ___; 30- Lobby of a theater; 32- Place side by side; 33- Aden native; 34Income source; 35- Cruise stops; 36- Surplus; 44- Uncommon; 45- College area resident; 46Film on copper; 48- Bahamanian island; 49- Coup ___; 50- Author Calvino; 51- Animal trap; 52Oscar de la ___; 54- K-6; 55- Atomizer output; 59- Hwy.; 60- Dusk, to Donne; 61- Concorde, e.g.;

WEEKLYWEATHER
TODAY
HIGH 85 LOW 64

www.accuweather.com
SATURDAY
HIGH 85 LOW 64 SUNDAY HIGH 84 LOW 62

DAILY U

Email feedback to dwyer@latech.edu

FRIDAY
HIGH 85 LOW 66

MONDAY HIGH 92 LOW 66

TUESDAY HIGH 92 LOW 67

WEDNESDAY HIGH 92 LOW 63

>

BOOKS from pg. 1

low her to open the door wide enough. She said she often needed help from others, and sometimes when there was no help available, she would struggle to get through the doors. One of those door buttons would have been really helpful, she said. Katie Tuminello, a sophomore architecture student, said she agrees power doors are necessary at the bookstore. There are plenty dis-

abled students who need help getting in, she said. Itd be a good investment because there wont always be someone there. But Wallace and Linda Griffin, dean of student development, said power doors are not always helpful and can be hazardous because the timing on the doors could be short and close on those who enter. Griffin said help is always available to those who need it and that power doors are not a priority since there have not been any complaints about the accessibility of the bookstore.

If there are any concerns or complaints, the issue will be investigated to see if any changes will be necessary, said Wallace. While there will not be any changes made to the bookstore any time soon, Griffin said there will be power doors on new and renovated buildings We are confident about accessibility to the building, she said. We are bound by federal mandates that require that our buildings be accessible to all students.

APARTMENT APARTMENT rentals rentals

rentals
1 & 2 BR/1 BA apts. 1 & 2 BR/1 BA apts. 2br/2.5 ba Condos W/D, wifi, Condos 2br/2.5 basec. sys. W/D, wifi, sec. sys. W/D, wifi, sec. sys. 318-242-0003 318-242-0003
Summer leasesBA apts. 2br/2.5 ba Condos 1 & 2 BR/1 available

Looking for the perfect summer job or internship

Make sure your resume STANDS OUT from the crowd! Get your FREE professional resume review (a $20 value)

318-242-0003

Visit WriteMyResumePlease.com/TechTalk today!

Email comments to rha014@latech.edu.

OPEN AN ACCOUNT TODAY

Federally Insured by NCUA

together we thrive
03/12

975 Tech Dr, Ruston 800.522.2748 / www.lacapfcu.org

More Talk

April 26, 2012 The T T ech alk 9

e0k2Week re 2 1 G
ks gai Gree throu n unity
NATALIE MCELWEE Staff Reporter

petition h com g

Photo by Cody Bryant

Above: Members of Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Mu, Delta Chi and Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrate placing first in Greek Weeks Songfest. The four groups came together and performed a themed dance that not only won first but the Viewers Choice Award. hands-on with the planning for Greek Week. We are informed once everything is set in stone. We should be involved. Greek Week, an annual event that takes Vicks said he thinks the planning for Greek place every spring quarter, is a time for all Week, as well as other Greek functions, Greek organizations on campus to come to- should be a group effort. gether, compete with one another and raise I do understand the more people youre money for deserving causes. dealing with the harder it is to plan for someThe weeks competitive events kicked thing, he said. I think there should be a off around lunchtime April 16 in Centen- council composed of the presidents where nial Plaza, as a mass of onlookers gathered everybody has an equal input. When we all around two tables of food. One man from come together in the planning process, I feel each fraternity was to consume two and a like thats when the barriers are broken. And half pounds of hamburger meat, two pounds thats when were able to actively and realisof cheese fries and half a pound of bread, all tically come together. Its one thing to show provided by Dawg House. Although no one up and another thing to actually be involved. was able to complete the one-hour challenge, Thats why I like the idea of Songfest. Sigma Nu came the closest to finishing and The group who took home the title of took home the points. Songfest champions included Phi Mu, Pi KapOne member of each sorority sat in front pa Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Chi. of a pie at the eat-off and had eight minutes Wednesday started out with a cook-off to devour the whipped cream and oreo-filled known to all as Greek Chef. At Greek Chef, tray. After much cheering and close competi- people could sample entrees, such as alligation, Sigma Kappa devoured the competition. tor balls, made by the members of the fraAshley Vorenkamp, a Greek Week chair ternities and desserts, such as cheesecake, for Kappa Delta, said she was pleasantly sur- courtesy of the sororities. prised by the girls part in the eat-off this year. Phi Mu and Sigma Nu took home the prize Last year, they had a hot dog eating com- for their cooked confections. petition for the girls, she said. I thought it The culinary competition was followed by was an awesome change to go from hot dog a fraternity flag football tournament and a soeating, which is kind of disgusting, to pie eat- rority water polo tournament. ing. I was impressed they could consume that Sigma Nu claimed the prize for flag footmuch pie in eight minutes. ball and Kappa Delta saw a victory in water To conclude Mondays festivities, Jack polo. Lengyel, former head footThursday began with ball coach of Marshall UniPenny Wars, where Greeks versity, spoke to the Greeks competed to see who could in Howard Auditorium Cencollect the most pennies ter for the Performing Arts. with the least amount of silLengyel spoke of the tragic Greek Week gave me ver coins or paper money. plane crash which took the the opportunity to bond Zandria Mims, a senior lives of 75 people on a footarchitecture major and Alball team from Huntington, and build relationships pha Kappa Alpha member, W. Va. He then explained with members of other participated in Penny Wars how he took the football sororities and fraterniand said she thinks it is a program under his wing and unique way of raising monhow it is possible to over- ties that I may not have ey for a good cause. come difficult circumstances had otherwise. I like Penny Wars, she in life. said. It is a competitive Brooks Gray, Greek Week Zandria Mims way of raising and donating coordinator for Pi Kappa Phi, senior architecture major and money to MedCamps. said the speaker was a good Alpha Kappa Alpha member MedCamps of Louisiana addition to Greek Week and is a non-profit organization a good way to motivate the which hosts a series of sumstudent body. mer camps free of charge I thought the speaker was great, he said. for children in Louisiana living with mental He had tons of great advice for the Greeks and physical disabilities. here. Just the fact that he saw the tragedy Thursday closed with a volleyball tournaand was part of the rebuilding of the foot- ment hosted at the Delta Chi and Sigma Nu ball team shows everyone that difficult times fraternity houses. dont end everything. Things can always get After a long afternoon of diving in the better. sand, Phi Mu and Sigma Nu took home the A campus-wide scavenger hunt continued title of volleyball champions. the events on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in To kick off the last day of the week, stua win by Delta Chi and Kappa Delta. dents traveled to South Campus for a series One of the most talked-about events of of relays known as Farm Games. the week, Songfest, occurred Tuesday eveZach Pettis, president of Sigma Nu, said ning. he enjoyed participating in the Farm Games For the first time, Greek Week held Song- and Greek Week as a whole but thinks some fest, a competition where different fraternities changes should take place in the future. and sororities paired up to perform skits and I think there should be a leaderboard so dances for an audience and judges. we can see where each organization stands Trevor Vicks, president of Omega Psi Phi, throughout the week, he said. said Songfest was a step in the right direcThe women of Kappa Delta and gentletion to unify all of the Greek organizations on men of Sigma Nu saw victory at the farm that campus. afternoon. The good thing about this Greek Week is After a long day at the farm, the Greeks we are actually mandated to work together headed over to Argent Pavilion to find out the through the Songfest, he said. I think thats much-anticipated results of the week. the best part about it because we all have to As the students gathered together for the come together to create something, and its last time that week, the results were revealed. been an experience working with the Greeks. Kappa Delta and Sigma Nu were named the Its one thing to be amongst them, but its champions. another thing to work with them and make Greek Week gave me the opportusomething happen. nity to bond and build relationships with Vicks said while Greek Weeks purpose is members of other sororities and fraternito bring unity to the Greeks, more needs to be ties that I may not have had otherwise, done for that unity to be achieved. Mims said. I look forward to maintaining Throughout my years at Tech and my those relationships outside of Greek Week. years being Greek, I do see an improvement in the black organizations to want to be in- Email comments to volved, he said. I will say that were not nkm003@latech.edu.

Photo by Cody Bryant

Above: A Sigma Kappa member, Chynah Benton (right) pours silver coins into Kappa Deltas (left Kaylan Percival) bucket to counter the amount of money already raised.

Photo by Grace Moore

Above: Lori McAfee, a member of Phi Mu, leads her sorority to a victory in Greek Weeks volleyball tournament. Above: Blair Trahan, a freshman business management major, cooks hamburgers for Greek Weeks Wednesday event, Greek Chef.
Photo by Sumeet Shrestha

Right: Christianna Potter, a junior biology major, participates in Greek Weeks last event, Farm Games. Potter competes in a sponge relay to try and gain points for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Photo by Cody Bryant

Techsters look for sweep

ANNA CLAIRE THOMAS Sports Editor The Lady Techster softball team will need to be prepared to be battle-tested when it comes to this weekends home series. With just six games remaining in Western Athletic Conference play, the Techsters have a tough task at hand with the upcoming series against the Wolf Pack. The Techsters are sixth in the Western Athletic Conference standings and just one game back of the Nevada Wolf Pack with the critical three-game series set for 6 p.m. Friday and a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. Saturday will also mark the Lady Techster Boys and Girls Club Gameday benefittting the Boys and Girls Club of America with promotions galore. The promotions set for the 1 p.m. game Saturday include the chance for fans to win two free Kindle Fires with the purchase of a $1 raffle ticket and the return of Techster bingo with prizes ranging from signed Tech memorabilia to free Smoothie King coupons as prizes.

Sports Talk

10 The T T ech alk April 26, 2012

Promotions set for Techster, Wolf Pack showdown

With a 6-8 mark in conference play, Tech is in need of a good showing on the diamond this weekend in order to gain some momentum heading into the last half of the WAC schedule and into the conference tournament. The Techsters will need a combination and timely hitting and good pitching in order to knock off the Wolf Pack in a game between two conference teams vying for better positioning in conference play. Techs team batting average is .238 with junior infielder Melanie Goff leading the way with a .388 average on the year. Junior pitcher Michelle Jones, who has a 12-11 record on the year with a 2.88 earned run average, will take to the mound for the Techsters. All the festivities will begin at noon Saturday with the first game scheduled for 1 p.m. followed by the second game of the doubleheader. Fans can follow all the action on Gametracker on latechsports.com or they can also watch to all the action on LATech All-Access.

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

with ANNA CLAIRE THOMAS

Saints fans: biased or unwilling to accept facts?

Photo by Tiana Phillips

The Lady Techsters softball team will square off against the Wolf Pack of Nevada at 6 p.m. Friday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lady Techster Softball Complex. Other promotions include an appearance by Tech XX with the chance for fans and kids alike to get their picture taken with the Bulldog mascot, face paint and a jumper for kids and hot dogs with donations benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of America. After losing two of three games to Brigham Young University last weekend, Tech will return to their home field for the second consecutive weekend for the first time this season as Nevada will travel to face off against the Techsters this weekend.

Email comments to act013@latech.edu.

Dudley closing out record-breaking season

DEREK J. AMAYA Sports Reporter It is the bottom of the ninth under the Friday night lights and Tech is three outs away from winning the game. Head coach Wade Simoneaux signals for his closer to come in and save the day. With fierce intimidation, junior closer Caleb Dudley enters. Pitching coach Brian Rountree discovered the Texarkana, Texas, native when he was playing in New Iberia for his high school team. I got to see Caleb play for the first time while he was playing in a tournament there, Rountree said. Back then he played shortstop, and then I saw him come in and pitch. I said, Man! This kids got a good arm; hes really athletic and could fulfill this position. This guys future in college is going to be on the mound. Dudleys parents and uncle set him up to play T-ball when he was 4 years old. Baseball became his passion and he chose to continue with his career at Tech. I signed with a junior college out of high school, Dudley said. Coach Rountree started to recruit me. I came up and visited here and fell in love with the coaching staff and school. Dudley has gone on to make a name for himself in the record books. He broke his previous record from last year with 12 saves in a single season and broke the career saves record with 20 and he has plenty of baseball left to be played. He is third in appearances with 74. When hes made an appearance, Techs record is 45-31. He also has made 21 appearances so far this season and his career earned run average is 4.56. It feels good, he said. You kind of feel in a sense that youre leaving your mark. You always want to make an impact on a team and school. Im proud to be in the position I am in. Head coach Wade Simoneaux knew he was getting talent when he recruited Dudley as a pitcher. Little did Simoneaux know Dudley would solidify his name in the record books. He deserves every record hes broken, Simoneaux said. Hes a good kid in the classroom. Hes a good kid on and off the field. It couldnt happen to a better guy. Hes going to get a couple more opportunities here down the stretch. Dudley still has one more year of eligibility left and looks to continue to solidify his numbers. However, he has a nonchalant attitude about the records and just wants to finish his time as a Bulldog with a degree. Id love to carry on a career in baseball, Dudley said. The odds of that happening are slim to none. Its very rare. Plan A is to get my education and if baseball works out, it works out and I hope it does. He says having the pressure of being the closing pitcher does not faze him anymore and continues to motivate him to play with confidence with every appearance on the mound. After a few years you get used to it, Dudley said. Theres a lot of pressure in closing down games. Youve got three outs until the end of the game. Its nerve wrecking at times. But I love the pressure and adversity, and I think I strive in those situations. Dudleys superstition is being clean cut before every game. Hes clean-shaven tonight and seems luckier than ever. The first batter is out at first. A fly ball goes to the second hitter. Dudley strikes out the last batter. Another save earned by the closer.

Photo courtesy of Media Relations

Email comments to dja014@latech.edu.

Junior pitcher Caleb Dudley is breaking records while making a name for himself on the diamond.

Track & Field preps Sports injuries becoming scary for Golden Eagle reality for more college athletes Classic Sunday
ALWAYNE GREEN News Reporter REINA KEMPT Associate Sports Editor As the conference championship is right around the corner, the Tech track and field squad will warm up at the Golden Eagle Classic Saturday at Southern Miss. With a winning season coming to an end, sophomore sprinter Trey Hadnot said he is focusing on the Western Athletic Conference Championships and advancing on to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hadnot is still an underclassman, but his results would not show it. After suffering a mild pull on his hamstring, he will most likely have to rest his body for the important meets. Hadnot said he looks forward to seeing some of his teammates succeed at the Golden Eagle Classic and represent Tech. As of right now Im suffering a hamstring injury, but my teammates are going to hold it down, Hadnot said. Were all taking each tournament and preparing for the WAC. The Techsters came up big at the Southeastern Invitational last weekend. These ladies recorded 18 top-five finishes and five event wins. Senior Chelsea Hayes continued to impress as she won the long jump with a jump of 21-9 (6.63m). The 4x400m relay team of sophomore Taneka Henderson, sophomore Aldresha Bailey, freshman Reyna Anderson and freshman Diamond Every also won in the event. The men excelled as well, with freshman Joshua Cox winning the javelin and freshman Noah Riche placing third. Sophomore Kendall Hayes placed first in the hurdles and senior Alwayne Green won the 800m run with junior Jermaine Morris finishing second. Hadnot did not compete last weekend in the LSU Alumni Gold meet, but said he had faith in his teammates to do their part. I tell my teammates to work hard in practice and it will show on the track, he said. You have to take care of your body and you will perform well. After a big showing, Tech is going into the weekend Classic with big expectations.

Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.

year, Sherry said. Its like American football, if they have four quarterbacks and all four are injured, they are screwed. An athletes worst nightmare is to become injured. He said one of the first questions a coach asks the Not knowing whether youll be as good as you ever were trainer when an athlete gets hurt is, How long will it take or, in some extreme cases, if you will ever be able to for them to recover? compete again. Sherry said he is limited with the number of athletes Nataliya Panova, a senior accounting major and vol- on his squad, and every time a player is out, it hurts the leyball player, said troubles with her injury started in her team. He also said as a coach there isnt much he can do freshman season at the University of Houston. to help an athlete recover from an injury. It was the very beginning of spring season, someI help by having them involved in the practice so time in January, Panova said. We were lifting weights they can be in daily communication with the players so in the gym, and while pushing up the they wont be looked on like strangers, weights, my shoulder started burning Sherry said. And mentally it keeps a lot. them motivated to continue doing the Two months later she transferred to rehab. Tech where she played one season, but Keith Bunch, head athletic trainer, she said the pain in her shoulder be- It is devastating menagrees with Sherry and Panova that came too unbearable. As a result she an athlete may recover physically, but was administered a regular MRI, then tally to an athlete to go there is usually a gap to be filled with a MRI with ink, which revealed she had from a state of being mental rehabilitation. Bunch said his a torn rotator cuff. Within a couple staff is not trained professionally to very physically active days she had a surgery. help athletes recover mentally but they I never fully recovered after that in a sport to being what do try to be as supportive as possible. surgery, Panova said. I didnt start I think the biggest thing in trying hitting the ball again until about 12-14 they might consider to deal with mental aspects is being months later. encouraging to the student athlete and completely debilitated During the rehabilitation phase, she getting them to see the small things we said she didnt get the kind of support and removed from that see as progress, Bunch said. she was expecting from her team- sport. Another problem some athletes mates. However, she said she remained may face is cardiac-related illness. positive with the support of her coach Bunch said each athlete at Tech is reand kept hoping the future things Keith Bunch quired to have a medical checkup at would be better. She said she soon had head athletic trainer spring physicals before they can start to accept the dreaded defeat. the season. He said regular check-ups The worst for me was two years throughout the season would be great ago when I realized I could not be as but the practice is not popular within good as I used to be, she said. Its still hard even today, the athletic community. three to four months since my last season. Every day I I think if you havent had a heart condition in the past think about it, wishing I could have one more season. six months since youve had that physical, I dont know Panovas disappointment of being injured is some- if there is any research to support developing one within thing Kevin Sherry, the head coach of the Tech womens the last six months, Bunch said. soccer team, said he shares with his athletes when they Many people on the outside world of an athlete may get hurt. never understand the life of an injured athlete. However, Its frustrating and it is something you have to live Bunch said he knows how an injured athlete feels from with, Sherry said. The coach is like a player; we feel working with them. almost the same emotions that the players feel. It is devastating mentally to an athlete to go from a Sherry said it is really disheartening and difficult when state of being very physically active in a sport to being star players get injured. He further explained that if an what they might consider completely debilitated and reathlete cant overcome injury problems at the college moved from that sport, Bunch said. level, its simply time to move on. We had five strikers, and all five were injured last Email comments to ahg007@latech.edu.

n my time as a student at Tech, I have been in the press box of almost every home game for every sport covering teams that I am also interested in as a diehard supporter. With that said, as a Tech student sitting in the Tech press box covering a Tech game, its hard to not let your emotions get involved when a team youve followed for so long wins reaches the peak of success in various sports, even at the professional level. Because of this, I guess you could say I moonlight as a sports fan. Actually, its probably the other way around if Im being honest. As a sports writer, the idea of being impartial or unbiased is a fine line that many walk, especially when you have serious ties emotionally to certain teams or athletes for various reasons. This has never been more evident than the recent scandals surrounding the New Orleans Saints. For a team that brought back so much hope to a city and state with their Super Bowlwinning season in 2009, a dark cloud now rests over the entire organization. This is because of the bounty scandals surrounding the team, coaches and players after league officials found evidence supporting the notion that the Saints paid players to purposefully hurt the opposition. Not to mention the recent allegations against General Manager Mickey Loomis claiming he participated in a SpyGate-like scandal in past years dealing with listening to the radio call of the opposing teams. I was a Saints fan long before I was a writer so its hard to look at the controversy from an impartial viewpoint and point fingers when I truly want to believe none of it is even remotely true even though evidence may prove it to be true. Its difficult to put your feelings as a fan on the backburner when you have a responsibility as a journalist to report the facts and be unbiased. As a sports writer and a fan, its a constant balancing act regarding your true feelings toward a situation, even if it is nice to sometimes forget about the facts for awhile, sit in the stands like the average Joe and scream obscenities to the opposing team with the rest of the sport fanatics. Anna Claire Thomas is a senior journalism major from Monroe who serves as sports editor. Email comments to act013@latech.edu.

UPCOMING ATHLETICS

BULLDOG BASEBALL
vs. Hawaii - 4/26 6 p.m. vs. Hawaii - 4/27 6 p.m. vs. Hawaii - 4/28 3 p.m.

vs. Nevada - 4/27 6 p.m. vs. Nevada - 4/28 1 p.m. vs. Nevada - 4/28 3 p.m.

LADY TECHSTER SOFTBALL

LADY TECHSTER TRACK & FIELD

at Golden Eagle Classic 4/28 All Day Hattiesburg, Miss.

MENS GOLF

WAC Championships - 4/305/2 Henderson, Nev.