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FEBRUARY 12, 2015

WWW.THETECHTALK.ORG

VOLUME 89 ISSUE 14

Tech selects
Whos Who
for 2015

The Counseling Services and Career Center held their biannual

Career Day on Feb. 5

KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter

Career Day comes to campus

Photo by Brian Blakeley

ALEX HEARD
Staff Reporter
Some 800 students attended Career Day held Thursday,
Feb. 5 in the Student Center at Louisiana Tech.
During this biannual event sponsored by the Career
Center and Counseling Services, Tech students patrolled
booths set up by more than 100 different companies seeking employees.
If you go to Career Day, you are one step ahead of
several other graduates, said Reghan Lopez, a Louisiana
Tech alumna.
Lopez said she was so nervous that she almost decided
not to go, however, due to what her parents may have said,
she decided otherwise.
The first conversation is always the hardest, said Lopez with her parents advice in mind. But each one after
that gets better and better.
Lopez said she saw an employer booth for engineering
majors and thought even though she studied finance, she
may as well give it a shot and break the ice.
I had a great conversation with an employee who lived
in the Houston/Katy area, Lopez said. Later on into the
school year, in May, I was offered a summer internship.

Lopez said she was eventually offered a full-time position at the companys headquarters in Houston, and she
credits the success shes had to the event.
Since I had a great conversation at Career Day, my resume was passed through, Lopez said. I was given the
opportunity to show them why they should be looking for
someone like myself.
Ron Cathey, director of Career Center and Counseling
Services at Tech, said the opportunities that the event offers to students is too great to pass up.
Career Day is an interview, which is why we stress students to show up dressed professionally, Cathey said.
Cathey said what employers learn about students at
the event cannot all be read on a piece of paper students
would normally only turn into them.
The one-on-one, face-to-face conversations here are
invaluable, Cathey said. Employers catch confidence and
energy not seen on a resume.
Lopez said the company she was hired to intern was not
searching for someone with her major, nonetheless, she got
the job because she decided to attend Career Day at Tech
and converse with a company she later on would join.

Email comments to amh072@latech.edu

The Louisiana Tech Student Government Association has chosen 23 seniors to be named Whos Who
among Tech students.
Barry Morales, the faculty adviser for SGA, said
Whos Who recognizes graduating seniors that represent the university.
It is a recognition award
for students who have ac- This is somecomplished much during their thing I can
times at the university, he
carry with me
said.
Morales said students were for the rest of
chosen based on their applica- my life.
tion, academic transcript and
their performance during an
JUSTIN HUCKABY
interview.
The award is a top honor, Whos Who recipient
said Colby Ashley, the academic affairs cabinet member
for SGA.It is given to students who represent the university through academics and social involvement, he
said.
Ashley said for students to be eligible they must
be a graduating senior, have obtained more than 100
hours, have a good GPA, and be involved on campus
and throughout the community.
The whole application process is long and tough,
he said. It was hard to narrow down the list when so
many people applied and were qualified for the award.
Justin Huckaby said he is honored to receive the
title along with other top students.
I was ecstatic when I heard I had been named
Whos Who, said Huckaby, a senior biomedical engineering major. This is something that I can carry with
me for the rest of my life.
Huckaby said he is thankful for this award to honor
his hard work and dedication throughout his time at
Tech.
From a long-term viewpoint, the whole process
involves hard work and dedication to my studies, he
said. Honors such as these are not easily obtained.

> see WHOs WHOpage 10

Mardi Gras season is not just for locals

CATHERINE BURKE
Staff Reporter

Mardi Gras may be the most anticipated holiday in the

state of Louisiana.
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and reflects the
practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before
the Lenten season begins in the Catholic faith. Time off
from school, excessive King Cake and parades galore are
only a few of the components that make Louisianans go
crazy during this period.
But do people outside of Louisiana feel the same way?
Morgan Nall, a sophomore biology major from Monticello, Arkansas, said she thought Mardi Gras was just a

big party.
I really did not know much about Mardi Gras
before I came to Louisiana, she said. It is definitely very interesting. Its a cultural thing Im
not used to.
Genah Alawami, an ELS program student
from Saudi Arabia, said she was in the dark
about the holiday.
I had not heard of Mardi Gras until coming
to America, she said. I still do not know too
COONTZ
much about it except for that people over-party.
Alawami said she plans to get the full Mardi
Gras experience this year.
A few friends and I plan on going to New Orleans for

Mardi Gras this year because we have never experienced it, she said. Im excited to see what they do
and what it is all about.
Callen Coontz, a sophomore nursing major from
McKinney, Texas, said she loves how big Mardi
Gras is in Louisiana.
I didnt know too much about it when first coming to Louisiana, she said. I think the whole thing
is so fun and festive. Everyone gets so excited and I
love the energy around it all.

> see MARDI GRASpage 10

NEWS

2 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

www.thetechtalk.org

Wesley Foundation holds Relationship Talks

CATHERINE BURKE
Staff Reporter

few questions each person involved needs to

ask themselves before they make the commitment.
The Wesley Foundation began a series
Brandon Bryant said the talks are a mesof relationship talks at the start of the new sage everyone needs to hear.
year to educate its members and Louisiana
Everything Scott had to say was so great
Tech students on how to maintain healthy and really moving, said Bryant, a freshman
relationships.
cyber engineering major. He brought up a
Kaiti Lammert, a Wesley staff member, lot of good points and I plan on applying
said the main purpose is to teach
some of the things he said to my
young people how to develop good
own relationship.
relationships.
Nicole Rusck said the whole
Were trying to give the basis
idea of a healthy, Godly relationand lay the foundation on how to
ship is something everyone should
go about relationships centered
strive for.
on God, she said. We started off
I listened to this talk two years
basic, talking about normal friendago and it really saved me from a
ships and tonight we progress to
bad relationship, said Rusck, a juactual dating relationships.
nior communication studies major,
Scott Wright, the speaker and
Hearing it all again, it makes even
director of the Wesley Foundation,
more sense.
said he hopes to really get his mesRusck said Wright talked about
sage out to the students on cama
lot
of truth everyone might not
LAMMERT
pus.
want to hear, but needs to hear.
The main purpose is to define
The worlds idea of relationdating from a Christian perspective, he said. ships is so opposite of how it should be,
There are no definite guidelines about dat- she said. I really liked how Scott said that
ing in the Bible, so I hope to answer some we are not called to pursue other people, but
questions people may have tonight.
to pursue Christ. Everyone needs to continue
Wright said the progression from friends to wrestle with their relationships and conto romantic partners can be very difficult at tinuously better it to be good and pleasing
times.
to God.
The big thing is how to move from being
just friends to dating, he said. There are a Email comments to cjb066@latech.edu.

Photos by Brian Blakely

ABOVE: Students listen to

Relationship Talks
at the Wesley.
LEFT: Scott and Marcie Wright,
leaders at the Wesley, speak
about dating and maintaining
Godly relationships.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY
Mardi Gras holiday begins
at end of classes.

SATURDAY
Mens basketball Louisiana Tech
vs. FIU at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY
No calender events.

MONDAY
Univesity Closed: Mardi Gras
Holiday.

TUESDAY
University Closed: Mardi Gras
Holiday.

WEDNESDAY
University reopens at 8 a.m.
but no classes.
Softball: Louisiana Tech vs.
Grambling State at 6 p.m.

THURSDAY
Classes Resume at 8 a.m.
BOSS early registration begins
for sophomores at 9 a.m.
Black History Month Lecture at
Lincoln Parish library at 6 p.m.
Womens Basketball: Louisiana
Tech vs. Charlotte at 6:30 p.m.

NEWS

www.thetechtalk.org

February 12, 2015 The Tech Talk 3

Tech students are on the heels of success

FREDEDREIA WILLIS
Staff Reporter

be creating different designs, patterns and styles to fit the attractions and interests of different
While some students dream people and ages.
of producing their own designer
We went to Bogard Hall and
sweatshirts, Tevin Curley and Mi- printed the idea out in aluminum,
chael Perkins entered the TOP used cushion from a Koozie and
DAWG Idea Pitch competition shaped and bent the clip to our
with only 10 minutes to spare.
liking, Curley said. It is just a
With hopes to go into business prototype, but we are proud of
with their new and unique prod- it.
uct, the team created a detachDebbie Inman, coordinator
able heel clip, which is designed of entrepreneurial studies, said
to be a cushion for
when students parthe back of the shoe
ticipate in the TOP
We
want
this
to protect the ankle.
DAWG Idea Pitch
Curley said he product and this
competition it helps
and his teammate idea to be as big
them to develop
grabbed a flyer the
their ideas.
day of deadline and as possible.
Students learn
turned in their idea
if the problem their
with 10 minutes to MICHAEL PERKINS
product solves is
spare, but they knew TOP DAWG winner
really one their pothey had entered the
tential
customers
perfect idea.
want to be solved
We went into the competi- and customers will pay money
tion to win, said Curley, a junior to solve that problem, she said.
computer information system Students begin to learn how
major. We knew we had the edge much value their product proto win because our idea was ac- vides to the customer.
complishable compared to ideas
Inman said students particilike making antigravity.
pating in the TOP DAWG events
Curley said when they went boosts their resume, build skills
to the competition he knew they and use these skills in entreprehad a really good chance of plac- neurial ways as they develop
ing first because their idea was their new ventures.
not expensive and did not just
The teams next competition
sound good; it was tangible.
is the TOP DAWG New Venture
The cushion clips to the back Championship, which will be held
of any type of shoe, including April 24.
heels and is designed to be worn
Perkins, a senior computer inwith no-sock shoes as well.
formation system major, said he
The team said they will soon and his teammate did a lot of re-

Photos by Debie Inman

Tevin Curley, left, and Michael Perkins, right, display their TOP DAWG winning product the Heel Clip

search before settling on the Heel

Clip idea, but he is glad they decided to stick with it.
Perkins said they will be working on getting the clips manufactured, coming up with an official
name and then developing a
website to start sales.
We want this product and

idea to be big as possible, he

said. We want to push this product as far as we can go with it and
become successful.
Perkins said he believes the
Heel Clip will do well because it
is different and it is not only to
make a fashion statement, but
there is an actual purpose by

helping support the ankle.

Our goal is unlimited, but we
are taking it one step at time,
he said. We want to go about
everything in order and a correct
professional manner.

Email comments to
amh072@latech.edu

Tech garners national ranking recognition

ALEX HEARD
Staff Reporter

publications analyze the data and reach

the conclusion that Tech ranks among the
top institutions nationally, Guice said. We
Hard work by the Louisiana Tech faculty have seen a significant number of these
has seemed to pay off.
publications recently recognize
Tech has recently been ranked
the value and return-on-investNo. 8 in a list of the 50 Most
ment of a Tech education.
Underrated Colleges in America
Tech also earned a spot on
by the Internets largest business
U.S. News & World Reports list
news and information website,
of the Top 120 Public UniversiBusiness Insider.
ties in the nation.
Tech was the only higher eduTech was one of only two
cation institution in the state to
public universities in the State of
make the list. Nationally, Tech
Louisiana to earn a U.S. News &
ranked higher than other promiWorld Report Tier One National
nent universities such as Texas
University ranking and ranked in
Tech University, University of
the Top 40 in the nation for gradArizona, Auburn University and
uating students with the least
GUICE
Virginia Tech.
amount of debt.
Tech President Les Guice said
We also hear from many
he was happy to hear the ranking.
employers and others who visit our campus
We are always pleased when national that recognize that this is a great environ-

ment for preparing students for success in rated higher rather than underrated, Parker
their chosen professions and in life, Guice said. Our ranking could only go higher if
said. I am pleased with the commitment more students came here.
of our faculty and staff who dedicate themParker said one of the deciding factors in
selves to student learning
where a person attends coland success.
lege is how much entertainBrooks Parker, a junior A degree from
ment the universitys residing
finance major, said he is not
city is. He said he once athere
is
extremely
surprised by the ranking.
tended a college where one
Tech is a top-notch uni- valuable and has
could get a good education
versity, Parker said. A de- proven to take
and truly have a good time.
gree from here is extremely
I was once a student at
valuable and has proven to alumni far in life.
the University of Mississiptake alumni far in life.
pi, Parker said. Many more
However, Parker said the BROOKS PARKER
people across the nation
university could be ranked junior finance major
have heard of Ole Miss and
even higher if Ruston were
want to go to school there
more attractive to prospecbecause of how much fun it
tive college students.
is. Tech has that kind of potential.
If Ruston had more attractions, such as
housing and nightlife, then even more stu- Email comments to
dents would attend Tech and we could be amh072@latech.edu.

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www.thetechtalk.org

4 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

Insight
The

TechTalk
MANAGEMENT

The truth isnt optional

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John Sadler

MANAGING AND
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Cody Sexton

NEWS EDITOR

Ray Patterson

SPORTS EDITOR
Jared King

FEATURE EDITOR

Kelsy Kershaw

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Wynnifred Sanders

ASSOCIATE
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Ellie Moslander

PHOTO EDITOR

Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Blakely
Carter Carroll
Colin Fontenot
Jaclyn Perry

ADVERTISING MANAGER
Taylor Loftin

ADVISERS

Dr. Judith Roberts

T. Scott Boatright

ADVERTISING ADVISER

Dr. Reginald Owens

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Michael LeBlanc

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Michael LeBlanc

DEPARTMENT HEAD

JOHN SADLER
Editor-In-Chief

rian Williams is a liar.

The host of NBC Nightly
News has recently come under fire for his falsified account of
the downing of his helicopter by a
an RPG while he was reporting in
Iraq.
Williams has recently come out
saying that he has misremembered the supposed events of
2003. How you can misremember
being shot down in a hostile territory is beyond me.
What is even more beyond me,
however, are the plethora of commenters on social media who do
not understand this is a huge problem.
Williams has been put on six
months unpaid leave, a step that
should lead next to his inevitable
firing.
Many people, however, do not
see it this way. Some claim that
lying is rampant, so there is no
reason for Williams to be held accountable. Others simply do not
want to see him punished because

Dr. Reginald Owens

PUBLICATION

The Tech Talk (USPS 535-540) is

published Thursdays of the regular
school year, except in vacation and
examination periods, by the Jour
nalism Department of Louisiana
Tech University. Publication office
is in Keeny Hall, Room 139.

POSTAL

Second-class postage paid at Rus

ton, La. Postmaster: Send address
changes to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box
10258, Ruston, LA 71272.

CONTACT US

NEWSROOM 318.257.4946
ADVERTISING 318.257.4949
EMAIL techtalk@latech.edu
JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT
318.257.4427

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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 and
classification or title. We will not
print the telephone number. View
points should be mailed or brought
to The Tech Talk office, 139 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. Emails should be sent to
techtalk@latech.edu. You can also
submit letters online at
www.thetechtalk.org/home/
lettertotheeditor/.
Louisiana Tech University is committed to the principle of providing
the opportunity for learning and
development of all qualified citizens
without regard to race, sex,
religion, color, national origin, age,
disability, marital status, or veteran
status for admission to, participation
in, or employment in the programs
and activities which the University
sponsors or operates. For Title IX
information, see University Policy
#1445 at http://www.latech.edu/
administration/policies-and-procedures/1445.shtml.

they like him, a sort of misguided

loyalty to a journalistic icon.
David Carr, a media columnist
for The New York Times, recently
wrote, I dont know if Mr. Williams
will lose his job. I dont think he
should His transgressions were
not a fundamental part of his primary responsibilities.
Okay, but heres the thing: his
transgressions were absolutely part
of his primary responsibilities.
The only thing a journalist has
to do is report facts. The core of
our job is the truth.
Now I cannot speak for the massive amount of pressure Williams
feels as part of his job, but I can say
that a breach of journalistic ethics
like that tells me a lot about who
he is.
Dan Rather, one of the most
famous journalists of all time, lost
his job basically for reporting falsehoods about George W. Bush.
Journalists must be extraordinarily careful to screen what they
tell the populace.
It seems as if Williams decided ratings were better than actual
news, and went the route of a basic

tabloid: reporting gross exaggerations.

In a country that does not know
how much it does not value actual
journalism, Williams was one of
the holdouts of credible reporting.
And it fell apart.
In the aftermath of this, Williams claims of floating dead bodies and Superdome suicides he
witnessed during Katrina have also
come under scrutiny.
His flagrant exaggeration of the
Iraq events, and his refusal to truly
own up to his mistake (cmon, misremembered?) does not exactly
breed confidence in these other
events.
Journalism is about truth, or, at
least, it should be.
Williams statements were basic
ratings pandering, and it shows he
has an obsession with his journalistic self-image.
We need journalists who tell
stories, not make them up.
John Sadler is a junior journalism major from Extension who serves as editor
for The Tech Talk. Email comments to
jts040@latech.edu.

WORDS FROM THE 100 ACRE HOOD

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a

year. Mail to: Tech Talk Subscrip
tions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA
71272.

The Bottom Line

FROMTHEEDITOR

Im black 365 days a year, not just 28

WYNNIFRED SANDERS
Multimedia Editor

was talking to a friend the other

day and he or she asked me, Are
you looking forward to February...its your month. Although
this statement irritated me, it got
me thinking. Why does society try
to restrict us to whats printed on a
calendar?
Ive always honored my heritage, but at the same time hated the
month in which it is scheduled to be
celebrated. I guess you can say its
a love/hate relationship.
You see, February is jam-packed
with so many different events such
as the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, Valentines Day, the Grammys and the
Oscars, it has become socially acceptable to put your culture on the
backburner.
It seems more important to remember who won best new artist
than to know that Zora Neale Hurston got a B.A. in anthropology in
1928 from Barnard College, where
she was the only black student and

the schools first black graduate.

On one hand, Ive felt mixed
feelings about the fact that the observance of Black History Month
was confined to a month and not
just that but the shortest month of
the year. I should be proud we even
have a month when some groups
arent even awarded this privilege.
But it seems like I, along with
my fellow African-Americans, am
so caught up in the whirlwind of life
that we only acknowledges the battle fought for us when the calendar
tells us to. This is not what those
who paved the way did.
They went against the status
quo to defy what society said was
right to do what was right. They
didnt do it for the future recognition, but they deserve at least that
much for their commitment and
sacrifice.
On the contrary, why shouldnt
the title of Black History Month
be removed when it cant even be
appreciated for the 28-day period?
Most people dont even know it
originally started out as Negro His-

tory Week in celebration of Abraham Linoln and Fredrick Douglas

birthdays, but was expanded in
1976 when President Ford saw it
as a way for African Americans to
honor the often-neglected accomplishments of their own in multiple
arenas of history.
Ultimately, the way I see it is
that by subjecting ourselves to only
celebrating our people during this
month we are not commemorating our heritage.
History is not just the decades
that have passed, its every day we
live. Every day I wake up and look
in the mirror Im Black. No matter the year, month, or day that is
never going to change. Everyday I
make history in my own right.
So to me there is no set Black
History Month, Im black 365 days,
not just 28. Are you?
Wynnifred Sanders is a senior political
science and pre-law major from Bossier City, who serves as multimedia editor for the Tech Talk. Email comments
to wls019@latech.edu.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Until next time...
RAY PATTERSON
News Editor

his is it.
For all intents and purposes, this is the end for my time
here at Louisiana Tech.
My God, how sneaky time can
be.
I began my career as a hopeful
nursing student.
And now, as surely as I write
these words, I depart as a professional journalist.
A career in nursing just wasnt
in the cards for me. And, up until
four years ago, I had never given
journalism a thought as a potential
career path.
One thing I recently learned is
that truth is something which cannot be created, it can only be discovered.
It took a year, but I discovered
the truth about my future, and it
started at The Tech Talk.
I am incredibly grateful for the

journalistic rearing I received at the

hands of our esteemed faculty.
Starting at the top with Reggie
Owens, who somehow always has a
story idea literally, always.
The man is an incredible
thought-provoker and an even better person.
Then there is Judith Roberts,
who has been nothing short of an
immaculate educator and person.
Mike LeBlanc, God bless him,
for putting up with me through the
summer quarter. We knew it was
going to be an uphill battle and
because of your dedication and patience, we pulled it off.
And Scott Boatright, who took
me in with open arms when I
changed my major to journalism.
I simply dont have room within
these lines to tell you all have grateful I am to have had you as one of
my teachers.
One aspect of our paper which
is the most frustrating and also the
most rewarding, is the fact that we

all share a wide array of opinions.

From left to right and everything
in between, the Tech Talk staff is a
proverbial melting pot of ideas and
cultures which makes it a catalyst
for thought.
This atmosphere only exists
because of the outstanding faculty
and the amazing people who comprise the entire makeup of the journalism department.
I will forever be in The Tech
Talks (and the department of educations) debt. A large part of who
I am at this very moment is a direct result of my education at Tech,
and I am proud, honored and lucky
to have the privilege of carrying a
Tech diploma with me for the rest
of my life.
From the bottom of my heart,
thank you.
Ray Patterson is a senior journalism
major from New Orleans who serves
as news editor for The Tech Talk. Email
comments to rcp022@latech.edu.

Museums
are sick of
the stick
If you were planning on taking that
all-elusive perfectly positioned selfie
at your favorite museum this summer,
you may be disappointed with the results.
Several museums in New York City,
including the Museum of Modern Art,
the Smithsonian Design Museum and
the Guggenheim, have all banned its
visitors from using the newest manifestation of one of Americas most
narcissistic pastimes: the selfie stick.
The selfie stick is a telescoping
device that will extend up to four feet
from arms reach allowing its users to
add perspective to their selfies.
The device has become popular
with museum visitors because it allows them to take photos of themselves with pieces of art and statues
with a wider perspective than the
length of ones arm will allow.
Of course, it is not hard to imagine
the inconvenience dozens of people
walking around museum exhibits
wielding four-foot long sticks could
cause.
Not to mention the additional
reaching ability could allow some visitors to reach across barricades and
touch pieces of art with the sticks
something museum staff members
are trying to keep from happening.
The selfie stick is just another victim on the long list of items museums
have banned their visitors from using
on their premises. Museums banned
the use of flash cameras long ago because of the adverse effects the bright
flashing lights had on the exhibits.
Tripods have also been banned from
museums because of their obtrusive
nature. Umbrellas have not escaped
the ban list either. Wet umbrellas have
been seen as potentially damaging to
artwork for years and, as such, have
been banned from most museums, as
well.
While selfie sticks may be banned
from many museums these days, selfies are not.
The museums still want people to
document their visits by taking selfies
and uploading them to social media,
but social media could be what fuels
Americas passion for selfies.
The selfie craze has gotten out of
control. More and more people are
falling in love with themselves each
day and are taking selfies and posting
them to social media in order to get
likes, comments and retweets.
These young people are infatuated
with taking pictures of themselves,
documenting their every waking moment on social media networks like
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The museums are not concerned
about the selfies or those who take
them or which social media network
they choose to post their photos to,
but they are concerned about the
safety of their visitors.
Some museums believe selfie sticks
could be used as an offensive weapon
and could put other museum visitors
in danger.
Considering most selfie sticks are
made of lightweight aluminum material and weigh less than a couple of
pounds, it does not seem as though
they would do much damage to a person or an exhibit. The only real damage being done is to the society of
young individuals who are obsessed
with selfies not the selfie stick.
So if you are going to be taking
photos at the Met this summer, you
may have to rely on a much more oldfashioned device: your arm.
Dont worry. It may not have Bluetooth, but it will get the job done.

www.thetechtalk.org

World
W&NBRIEFS
WORLDNEWS
Egypt orders arrest
of three soccer fans
after stampede
CAIRO (AP) Egyptian prosecutors have ordered three soccer fans
detained for 15 days and
have released 18 others on
bail in the wake of a deadly
stampede outside a Cairo
stadium. The fans are accused of attacking policemen, damaging police cars
and terrorizing the public,
an official said Tuesday.

High wind scraps

the SpaceX launch,
rocket landing
CAPE
CANAVERAL,
Fla. (AP) Dangerously
high wind kept a deepspace observatory grounded Tuesday and put off a
radically new landing test
of the booster rocket.
SpaceX called off its
sunset launch with just 12
minutes remaining in the
countdown because of
gusts of 115 mph several
miles up strong enough
to damage the rocket in
flight.

Attributed Da Vinci
portrait seized in
Switzerland
MILAN (AP) Swiss
authorities have seized a
portrait of a woman attributed to Leonardo da Vinci
from a private bank vault to
return it to Italy, where police will seek to determine
its ownership and art historians its authenticity.

STATENEWS
School districts ask
for penalty waivers
for test opt-outs
BATON ROUGE (AP)
Fourteen of Louisianas
public school districts have
passed resolutions aimed at
preventing schools from being penalized for students
who skip Common Core
standardized tests, according to the Louisiana Schools
Boards Association.

Rapping Priest
wants to be known
for more than rap
BATON ROUGE (AP)
The youngest priest in
the Diocese of Baton Rouge
has a few confessions about
his faith and his music: He
didnt like the Catholic
Church as a youth, tried for
years to run from his calling
as a priest, and doesnt want
to be known only as the
Rapping Priest.
Rev. Joshua Johnson,
serving at Christ the King
Catholic Church at Louisiana State University, is 27,
and in his first year as a
priest.

February 12, 2015 The Tech Talk 5

Nation

Tier One schools

receiving more
transfer students
ELLIE MOSLANDER
Associate Multimedia
Editor

dets with academic opporunities outside of the

classroom broad-access
schools may lack. He
More than one-quarter said the goal for Tech is
of incoming freshmen at to bridge the gap between
broad-access and minor- these schools in order for
ity-serving colleges and students to have a fullfilluniversities will eventually ing education.
enroll at selective admisEducation in and of
sions universities such as itself proves the quality of
Louisiana Tech, according life, he said. One should
to an annual survey of col- not compare against the
lege freshmen.
other, because one is not
This national survey better than the other.
is part of the CooperaAlyssa Perry said she
tive Institutional Research transferred from Bossier
Program and is
Parish Commuadministered by
nity College to
the Higher EduTech because of
cation Institude
a better opportu(HERI) at UCLAs
nity for a major.
Graduate School
The majors
of
Education
offered at BPCC
and Information
were not well
Studies.
rounded, said
Ryan KavaPerry, a senior
naugh, transfer
photography maadmissions coorjor. They were
dinator for Tech,
like instant crash
KING
said
students
courses instead of
transfer for a vain depth classes.
riety of reasons,
The
UCLA
but most do for educa- survey also has observed
tional advancement.
how high school students
They find out they are beginning to prepare
have more of a quality ed- for colleges sooner and
ucation here, as every year strive to get into higherTechs awareness grows, level educational instituhe said.
tions.
Tech has been ranked
Ryan German said he
a Tier One school among believes this happens beNational
Universities cause students are in a
for the fourth consecu- time of constant change
tive year, according to U.S. and progress. Whether
News & World Reports its a technical skill or a
2015 Best Colleges list.
professional skill, were
Students tend to pursue learning more to know
degrees at higher-ranked even more, said German,
universities to get an edu- a senior professional aviacation focused on provid- tion major. And hopefully,
ing them with a broader by the next generation,
skillset, said James King, well develop to where we
vice president of student know even more earlier so
affairs at Tech.
we keep advancing!
In our region, it is
about building relationTech Univeristy Comships and helping students munications and a recent
underand the opportunites UCLA press release contribthey have, he said.
uted to this story.
King said selective
admissions
institutions, Email comments to
such as Tech, provide stu- emo012@latech.edu.

Fighting in eastern
Ukraine intensifies
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SARTANA,
Ukraine
(AP) Fighting intensified
Tuesday in eastern Ukraine
as pro-Russia rebels and
Ukrainian troops sought to
extend their gains ahead
of crucial peace talks, and
the government accused
the separatists of shelling
a town far behind the front
lines, killing 12 people and
wounding scores.
Germany, which has
joined with France to try
to broker a peace deal,
urged Russia and Ukraine
to compromise and called
on the warring parties to
refrain from hostilities that
could derail a four-way

summit Wednesday in
Minsk, Belarus.
Ukrainian
President
Petro Poroshenko said the
talks were one of the last
opportunities for ending
the fighting that has killed
more than 5,300 people.
Amid escalating hostilities, the insurgents announced a call-up of new
volunteer recruits in Donetsk, following a pledge
by separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko to
strengthen his forces In
Washington on Monday,
Obama and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel
rallied behind efforts to
reach a diplomatic resolution for how to proceed.

Multinationals to
change terrorism
ASSOCIATED PRESS
YAOUNDE, Cameroon
(AP) Nigerias Boko
Haram Islamic extremists have abducted about
30 people, including eight
Cameroonian girls, and
killed seven hostages in
two bus hijackings in Cameroon and Nigeria, Cameroon residents and a Nigerian intelligence officer said
Tuesday.
Boko Haram, who kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria last year
in an incident that ignited
international outrage, have
taken eight Cameroonian
girls hostage, said Chetima
Ahmidou, the principal of
a school in the area. The
girls range in age from 11
to 14 and come from the
town of Koza, he said.
The bus attack took
place Sunday about 11
miles from Cameroons
border with Nigeria. Seven
other hostages were slain
and their bodies scattered
near the border, said Ahmidou, whose brother was

AP Photo/Joel Kouam

People take part in a march to show support for the Cameroon army fighting against Boko Haram militants in the
city of Yaounde, Cameroon.
the bus driver and was
among those killed.
Boko Haram has fought
a 5-year insurgency against
the Nigerian government,
launching scores of attacks that left 10,000 people dead last year alone.
In recent weeks, the terror group has intensified
its assaults on neighboring Cameroon and Niger.
Together with Nigerias

other neighbors, Benin and

Chad, they have pledged to
form an 8,750-strong multinational force to confront
the Islamic extremists.
Nigers parliament voted to approve supporting
the mission. The United
Nations said a small team
of five experts from its
peacekeeping department
has deployed to provide
support.

Needs enthusiastic, ambitious and friendly

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Ideal candidates will have experience in sales over the phone and in person.
Someone that enjoys interacting with people on a daily basis in a business manner.

MARKETING MAJORS PREFERRED, BUT OTHER MAJORS ARE OPEN TO APPLY.

Opportunity to gain sales/client interaction experience,
as well as earn commission from ad sales.

Resum required. Send resums to mleblanc@latech.edu.

For more information call 257-3201 or send inquiries to mleblanc@latech.edu.

MORE TALK

6 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

February 12, 2015 The Tech Talk 7

Photos by Brian Blakely

Louisiana Tech Orientation Student Leaders practiced some

skits to perform for prospective students at summer orientation.

HOW

BOUT

OSLs

THEM

Orientation Student Leaders

make the difference today
that paves Techs tomorrow
MATTHEW VALCHO
Staff Reporter

More students
lead to campus

By playing a role in the growth of Tech, OSLs

have an indirect effect on the Tech 2020 Plan.
The Tech 2020 Plan is a blueprint for where the
When prospective students come
school will be in the year 2020. The
to Louisiana Tech, they are planning
basis of the plan is getting the stufor their future. Orientation Student There can
dent enrollment to 15,000. One part
Leaders, or OSLs, are there to lend a be no denying
of Tech 2020 is the Enterprise Camhand in that transition process.
pus plan.
OSLs are ambassadors for the uni- that OSLs play
Guice said the newest buildings on
versity. These students work through a major role in
Techs campus, Tech Pointe and the
the summer to give up-and-coming
College of Business building, are the
freshman the start they need to be the growth of
beginnings of the Enterprise Camsuccessful in college.
pus. The Enterprise Campus will be a
Hannah Francis was selected to be our school.
business park added to the east side
an OSL for 2015.
of Techs campus.
Francis, said she is ready to see LES GUICE
The new business park will house
how she can impact new students.
the offices of an assortment of differLouisiana Tech
How much we can do for the stu- president
ent businesses and corporations that
dents depends on how much we, as
will help give students an advantage
OSLs, put into it, she Francis,a sophin their education through internships
more speech pathology major. It is
and possible jobs following graduaour job to help students make connections so they tion, he said
will have the means to get involved as soon as they
For a business to be successful, they need talarrive at Tech.
ent, Guice said. Bringing partners to Tech to inAndy Cline, Orientation director , said OSLs are teract with our students is the best way for them
vital in the growth of the university.
to get the talent they need while also helping our
They basically promote the school, he said. students and university grow.
We have found that one of the main reasons stuCline said every plan the university has for the
dents come to Tech is through word of mouth. future goes hand in hand.
Whether it be through orientations, recruiting visits
Weve essentially created a cycle, he said.
or just talking to people, they help bring students OSLs help bring in the students and the students
in.
will experience college while working internships.
Les Guice, Tech President, said he also sees the
The companies will hopefully prosper using
OSLs important contribution to the school.
our graduates, Cline said. Hopefully after that
We have possible future students on our cam- our public awareness goes up, and that awareness
pus for maybe a few days and OSLs instantly have brings more students to consider our school, then
the most direct connection with these students, he that creates a bright future for Tech.
said. There can be no denying that OSLs play a
major part in the growth of our school.
Email comments to mvv002@latech.edu.

PROPOSED SPEECH
FUTURE ACEDEMIC
WOODARD HALL
ROBINSON HALL
HALE HALL
ROPP CENTER
MADISON HALL
KENNY HALL
UNIVERSITY HALL
COLLEGE OF

RICHARDSON HALL
COTTINGHAM
SOUTH HALL
MITCHELL HALL
NATATORIUM

WOODARD HALL
HARPER HALL
STUDENT CENTER
PIERCE HALL
KEENY HALL
GRAHAM HALL

This map features the current building layout for 36

buildings across Techs campus

This map features the vision administration has for campus

which is being strived for through Techs 2020 master plan

DESIGN BY KELSY KERSHAW

www.thetechtalk.org

8 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

Arts Entertainment
INSET AND BELOW: The Percussion Ensemble performed for a large audience of friends and family.

Percussion ensemble performs winter quarter concert

MICHAEL HOGE
Staff Reporter
About 200 people attended the Louisiana Tech Percussion Ensembles winter quarter concert in Howard Auditorium Feb. 9.
I love concerts more than marching, said Alex Pledger, a
freshman mechanical engineering major.
Pledger, one of the student performers,
said he liked performing in front of people.
They performed six pieces, the most visually enticing one perhaps being RE: Disaster.
RE: Disaster involved five performers
using concert toms with multiple effects. The
piece was not just merely music but an act.
At one point a performer picked up his drum and beat it
while walking around looking at the other performers, which
was completely unexpected and made it more exciting.
To contrast, Not Far From Here was more somber and
more personal, with themes about the loss of loved ones.
For Alex (Pledger) and I, it meant a lot for us because
we both lost a friend, said Chuck Szekacs, a freshman cyber
engineering major.
Szekacs performed the marimba arrangement that, in the
words of the composer, is a simple expression that loved
ones lost are not far away.
Alek Gonzalez, a sophomore music major, said that piece
was also his favorite of the night.
A percussionist has to be experienced in everything, he
said.
Another interesting piece was Tinplay, a piece with a

thematic idea of clocks, and sounded very much like the ticking and
gonging that clocks make.
Gregory Lyons, assistant professor of music, said a lot of rehearsal
goes into preparing for the concert.
Its important they get a lot of
practice in with the performance,
he said.
Lyons said that the percussion
ensemble generally performs on a
Monday night at the end of each
quarter and starts a series of concerts from each section of the department of music.
Those in attendance clearly enjoyed the performance and gave a
standing ovation at the end. A part
of the audience were friends and
family members of the performers.
I had quite a few friends and
family show up, said Pledger.
The performance lasted only for
an hour, but was well done and had a
wide variety of pieces with different
contrasts in sound.
Ob Ihr Wirklich Richtig Steht, Seht Ihr Wenn Das Licht
Angeht was a very interesting marimba piece as it required
three performers on two marimbas.
At the start of the piece, all three performers played on
a single marimba, and the coordination between the players
was great.

Photos by Brian Blakely

Perhaps the best part was the performers did not just play
the instruments, but gave a theatrical performance as well,
with not just sound but movement and lighting for a powerful
effect.

Email comments to
mph027@latech.edu.

Fall Out Boys new album sounds like a beautiful psycho

KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter
Many music artists have tried to come back
from hiatus and many of them have failed, but
this is not true for Fall Out Boy.
Two years after announcing their comeback, Fall Out Boy released their album
American Beauty/American Psycho on Jan.
20.
The album was released
just two years after the album
Save Rock and Roll and debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200.
With American Beauty/
American Psycho, Fall Out
Boy strayed away from their
earlier emo-punk and veered to a more pop
sound.
The single, Centuries, has a definite pop
vibe.
Centuries features a sample of the song
Toms Diner by Suzanne Vega and was rerecorded by American singer Lolo for the
track.
In an interview with Kerrang!, a United
Kingdom-based magazine, Pete Wentz, Fall
Out Boys bassist, said the song is a David vs.
Goliath story.
We wanted to write a song that empowered people who are a little weird, he said.
Centuries is about someone being remembered for the things they have done.
The song reached No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Irresistible is the opening track to Amer-

>

Island

American Beauty /
American Psycho
Fall Out Boy
HHHII
ican Beauty/American Psycho and is a pop
anthem about deadly love.
The song is about loving someone even if
they have hurt you.
Wentz said when he thinks of Irresistible,
an image of a man and woman comes to his
mind.
I imagine Sid and Nancy in an alley, garbage raining down on them in an eternal spiral
of romance and poison, he said. Sometimes
it is hard not to love what can hurt the most.
Continuing the trend of upbeat pop songs,
Uma Thurman is another feel good dance
track.
The title is a reference to the American actress Uma Thurman dancing with John Travolta in the movie Pulp Fiction, but the band
thought of her role in Kill Bill while writing

Photo courtesy of andpop.com

Fall Out Boy released their latest album two years after their previous effort.
this song.
The track has a sample from the TV show
The Munsters.
The song focuses on the resilience of
women and how there is something authentic,
like taking revenge or being empowered.
The chorus of the song captures the womans affection.
American Beauty/American Psycho
proves Fall Out Boys power at a time when
few rock bands can compete with the dance
tracks dominating the charts.

Fall Out Boy is teaming up with Wiz Khalifa to co-headline a summer tour with Hoodie
Allen as the special guest.
The Boys of Zummer tour kicks off on
June 10 in New Jersey and tickets are on sale
now.
Fall Out Boy has proven they still have
what it takes to make it in the music industry
after having taken a break and changing the
sound of their music.

Email comments to kec029@latech.edu.

A&E

www.thetechtalk.org

February 12, 2015 The Tech Talk 9

Students respond to Super Bowl commercials

MATTHEW VALCHO
Staff Reporter
The Super Bowl, the National Football
Leagues annual championship game, has
become a cultural phenomenon that seems
to cause the country to stop functioning for
a day.
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world attracting
millions of viewers. Due to the large viewership, the cost of a 30-second advertisement
has skyrocketed $4.5 million.
The cost is worth it for some companies
who opt to pay for a spot during one of the
most-watched shows of the year, said Bruce
Alford, an assistant professor of marketing.
If your target audience is watching,
then an ad is completely worth the price,
he said. You are communicating with a
huge audience. Not to mention that these
ads will be talked about long after.
He said those who spend the money for
a spot during the game want to make sure
the ad is effective.
Alford said the ads that cause an emotional reaction are best for business.
Commercials that go for humor or
heartache tend to stick with a viewer, he
said. If they like the ad, they will go online
and watch it again or share it with others.
Matt Beard said this years commercials
were not what he expected.
The commercials this year were not as
funny as last year, said Beard, a sophomore
seconday education major. They were
more serious or sad. That was not what I
was expecting when I sat down to watch.
Every year I expect to laugh more than I
did this year.
Nationwide Insurance became a trending topic on Twitter immediately after its

sad and controversial ad aired.

The commercial acted as a PSA for parents and features a boy narrating the things
he could have done had he not died in a
preventable accident.
The reaction from fans forced Nationwide to issue a statement standing by their
ad an hour after it premiered.
The statement said preventable home
injuries are the leading causes of childhood-home deaths and their intention was
to inform viewers of this potentially lifesaving information.
The sole purpose of this ad was to
start a conversation, not sell insurance, the
statement read.
Even though they can sometimes be
controversial, Alford said Budweiser consistently makes great ads.
Every year their ad creates a reaction,
he said. Usually they make us laugh, but
this year they wanted to make us cry.
The beer company is one of the many
corporations that have earned a reputation
for having memorable commercials every
year.
Budweisers ad this year caused some
emotional reactions that fans did not expect
after their minute-long spot showed a lost
puppy making its way home to his owner
with the help of the signature Clydesdale
horses.
Alford said a memorable ad will keep a
company relevant and help people remember the companys product.
If an ad is good, it will stay relevant
thanks to the Internet, he said. Websites
will make lists of the best commercials and
that keeps people talking about a company
long after the game is over.

Email comments to mvv002@latech.edu.

Photo courtesy of YouTube

Budweisers commercial was a heartfelt clip of a lost puppy coming home, guided by the
companys Clydesdale horses.

Nationwides
controversial commercial reminded
parents to watch
for preventable
accidents.
Photo courtesy of YouTube

Taylor Swift is bringing her 1989 Tour to The Boot

FREDEDREIA WILLIS
Staff Reporter
With her enchanting and relatable song lyrics, Taylor Swift has
gained favor across campus and
students are eager for her debut
to a nearby town.
Taylor Swift released her 1989
World Tour dates and is kicking it
off in Bossier City at the CenturyLink Center on May 20.
Gabrielle Crockett, a freshman
business marketing major, said
Swift is not afraid to break societal
stereotypes rather than following
the traditional expectations for
pop artists.
She redefines her music as
she continues to challenge and redefine herself, she said. Taylors
style is unique to her new image

as a pop artist.
She is also the only
Crockett said Swift
female artist in history
does not allow competito have two albums hit
tion to inhibit her musi1 million sales within
cal integrity and status
the first week of their
because she goes by her
release.
own rules and way of
Emma Crawford, a
doing things.
sophomore communiShe evaluates curcation major, said her
rent core audience tastes
favorite thing about
and offers a selection
Swift is how involved
that hopefully the core
she is with her songSWIFT
audience will grow from
writing.
a little bit of the outer
She is different
genres of the popular spectrum, from other artists in how she has
she said.
grown into the megastar and how
Swift is a seven-time Grammy lyrically talented she is, she said.
award winner and the youngest Many other artists who stick
recipient in history of the mu- around for a long time tend to eisic industrys highest honor, the ther fade away or remain on the
Grammy Award for Album of the same level, but Taylor continues
Year.
to grow.

Crawford said Swift continues

to rise in her fame throughout
her career every year because
her songs have poetic, clever and
deep lyrics.
Every year, she is able to
come out with newer, better, more
surprising music bringing her to
the top of the charts, she said.
She is now a megastar, and she
brought herself there.
Taylor has been pursuing her
music career since the age of 14
and has been a rising star since.
Even though Swift has always
had a faithful group of fans, she
has since doubled her fame and
followers by transitioning from
country to pop music.
Natalie Songer, a freshman
pre-vet major, said she believes
Swift is different from other artists

because she is able to stay on top

of the charts in both country and
pop.
She said her newest favorite
song by Swift is the lead single
from her 1989 album, Shake it
Off.
Songer said Taylors older
music was all about drama and
middle and high school experiences, but now she has definitely
reached the college audience
by adding more meaning to her
songs.
I always see how Taylor is
connecting personally with her
fans, she said. I think Taylor
genuinely cares about her fans
and people in general.

Email comments to
flw005@latech.edu.

Jupiter ascends while box office numbers descend

MICHAEL HOGE
Staff Reporter

Jupiter Ascending is difficult to describe it can be argued as both good and

bad depending on what is looked at.
Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum take
the lead roles in this space
opera: Kunis, as a cleaning
lady unaware she is actually a princess, and Tatum,
a wolf-man hybrid who literally blasts his way into her
life as her protector.
The special effects are
absolutely terrific eye candy, portraying
space and futuristic societies amazingly.
Spaceships, extraterrestrial worlds inhabited by people, gas giants and giant
halo rings in space are all rendered by the
movies goregeous effects.
However the plot is weak and the setting
overly complex, and the producer/director
Wachowski siblings have recycled elements
of other movies into Jupiter Ascending.
They used elements from The Matrix,
as both movies deal with a protagonist who

Village Roadshow Pictures

Jupiter Ascending
HHHII

comes to find that everything they know is

completely wrong and humanity on Earth
is completely clueless to everything due to
some powerful unknown force.
The setting is also incredibly complex.
The universe is owned by the Abrasax clan,

whose members are currently at war with

each other.
Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, and
Tupperance Middleton all play roles of
three children clamoring to divide their
dead mothers empire.
Kunis is the reincarnation of their mother and all three children have ulterior motives, namely killing her.
Toss in little green men, crop circles, lizard people and a rather comical portrayal
of bureaucracy and it all comes together
for a cloudy explanation.
Bees, of all things, were a plot driving
device, an interesting choice, but one that
ultimately made no sense.
It is explained by Sean Beans character
that bees were made to recognize royalty
and it is through only this that he recognizes Kunis as royalty.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about
the entire film is the clich use of Kunis as
a damsel in distress.
Kunis does nothing for most of the film
except get kidnapped before getting rescued by Tatum.
Only at the very end does she do any

butt-kicking.
Kunis trying to express her love to Tatum was probably one of the two decent
scenes in the film.
As Tatum explains that he is a wolf and
man hybrid, she responds with her love for
dogs, which made things awkward for both
of them.
The best scene in the entire film was the
portrayal of bureaucracy, because of its basis on the 1985 film Brazil.
Watching an android programmed to
only smile slowly start to lose it with the
insane amount of red tape made it the
best part of the film, and probably the only
memorable part.
Only Redmayne acted his role well as an
evil villain who is determined to absolutely
not let Kunis become queen of Earth.
His whispering and sporadic outbursts
made for a decent antagonist.
Overall, Jupiter Ascending isnt that
great, but worth a watch for the special effects, anyway.

Email comments to
mph027@latech.edu.

www.thetechtalk.org

10 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

Distractions
WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
www.horoscopes.com.net

Aries
March 21 April 19
To those around you, you might appear to be your
usual logical, rational self, Aries. Actually, you may
be drawing a lot of your ideas and insights from deep
within your psyche. Youre probably drawing on experiences from your past, even if you arent consciously
aware of it. Even though the source is unorthodox,
whatever you come up with is likely to have a lot of
practical value.
Taurus
Apr 20 - May 20
To friends and colleagues, you may seem to have suddenly acquired acute business sense. Your experience
has joined with knowledge acquired from others to
enable you to formulate practical ideas for advancement. You may have lost faith in your goals, but now
they seem more attainable. What youve wanted for
a while could be within your grasp. You could make
some real progress.
Gemini
May 21 - Jun 20
Today youre likely to experience a heightened level
of intuition and how to use it, Gemini. This could mean
advancing a career, furthering a personal goal, or helping a friend. Right now you may be especially good
at sizing up people, and youre instinctively aware of
how to deal with them. Make use of this ability while
you can, because right now it could lead to success
and good fortune.
Cancer
Jun 21 - Jul 22
Friends or a group with which youre affiliated could
want you to help them formulate a workable plan for
advancement. Youre in just the right frame of mind
for this, Cancer, and therefore willing to roll up your
sleeves and pitch in. You might be the center of attention at some point, perhaps sharing your skills with
associates. Dont forget your own goals. They could be
advanced today, too.
Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 22
Career interests are advanced through clear, logical
thinking and the sound application of good business
sense. Financial interests look especially promising
now, Leo, so seize any opportunities for advancement
that come your way. Working with others is likely to
prove profitable, and could bring you closer to them,
too. Roll up your sleeves and go to it. The results could
surprise you.
Virgo
Aug 23 - Sep 22
Social events, perhaps business related, could put
you in touch with people in fascinating fields or
from foreign countries, Virgo. Logical thinking and a
philosophical attitude enhance your communicative
gifts, so people will be drawn to you to hear what you

say. You could make important contacts. Take notes.

This evening could be a key turning point for your
future plans..
Libra
Sep 23 - Oct 22
Ideas and insights coming from deep within your
psyche are likely to increase your effectiveness
in whatever work you do today, Libra. Your mind is
particularly practical and logical. When coupled with
an increased intuition, these abilities are invaluable.
You might be most effective working solo, but if that
isnt possible, you should still accomplish whatever
you set out to do, and do it well.
Scorpio
Oct 23 - Nov 21
Today you could attend more than one social event,
Scorpio. Some of your professional colleagues will
probably be there. Conversations are going to focus
primarily on business development and the economy
in general. A lot of useful information could result from
social contacts with others in your field. Write it all
down. You will want to remember it so you can make
use of it later.
Sagittarius
Nov 22 - Dec 21
You tend to prefer intellectual and philosophical rather
than practical pursuits, Sagittarius, but today you may
feel especially practical and more inclined to want
to get as many routine tasks out of the way as you
can. This could involve chores around the house that
youve neglected for a few days. Other members of
your household could pitch in. Go to it. You will be
glad you did.
Capricorn
Dec 22 - Jan 19
An older person youre very fond of could visit or call
and ask for your advice on practical matters. Clear and
logical thinking enhances your intuition, Capricorn,
and you might be able to put this ability to work not
only for your friend but also for yourself. Your own
interests will be advanced today in some way, so
expect a good day.
Aquarius
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Logical and focused thinking could lead to social,
career, or financial advancement. Your organizational
ability and industry are keener than usual, Aquarius.
Youre likely to be able to make sense of murky matters that might not have been clear before. Paperwork
could prove challenging, but you will be able to get
through it today where yesterday you might have
found it too daunting.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE

www.bestcrosswords.com
1. Actress Woodard
2. Doughnut-shaped surface
3. As ___ resort
4. Sickness at the stomach
5. Youve got mail co.
6. Romes Fontana di ___
7. Ball partner
8. Foursome
9. Camaro model
10. London district
11. Shade trees
12. Ultimatum word
14. Boy king
17. Consider
21. That is to say...
23. The dark
25. Baseball club
27. Not to mention
28. Star Wars princess
29. Sea birds
30. Prego competitor
31. Ginger cookie
32. Flat-fish
33. Greek portico
35. Mex. neighbor
36. Kett and James
39. Took the gold
40. Busy
41. Small battery size
46. Jewish law
48. Pro ___
49. Thrills
51. Connect with
52. Provide
54. Run of bird-song
55. Convex molding
56. Inward feeling
57. Writer Grey
58. Earth Day subj.
59. This can be guilty

Across
1. ___ impasse
5. Rat-___
9. Aha!
13. Damn Yankees role
14. Baseball manager Joe
15. Drum sound
16. Dishonest
18. Resistance units
19. Light brown
20. Abnormally enlarged
or swollen
22. Lauder of cosmetics
23. Ruler of Hyderabad
24. Prefix with dextrous
26. Trader
31. Conscription org.
34. Shivering fit
37. The end of ___
38. In spite of
42. Crazy as ___
43. Cheerio!
44. Sun Devils sch.
45. Goober
47. River in central
Switzerland
50. Fills to the gills
53. Choir members
57. Rigid airship
61. Go hungry
62. Rights org.
63. Contemplation
65. Christmas song
66. Complete reversal
67. Building wings
68. Airline since 1948
69. Female deer
70. Gin flavorer
Down

DAILY U

or not guilty
60. Haul
61. RR stop
64. Apr. addressee

LASTISSUESSOLUTION

Have any ideas for future comics or feedback? Email dwyer@latech.edu

Pisces
Feb 19 - Mar 20
You might be feeling very communicative today, Pisces.
Concentration, logical thinking, and a heightened
ability to put ideas into words enhance your own
communicative abilities. Therefore, your gift of getting
directly to the point in any matter is likely to clear
previously clogged channels, impress others, and
increase your self-confidence.

WEEKLYWEATHER

www.accuweather.com

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

HIGH 50
LOW 21

HIGH 52
LOW 34

HIGH 63
LOW 31

HIGH 48
LOW 34

HIGH 58
LOW 45

HIGH 51
LOW 26

HIGH 46
LOW 26

WHOS WHOfrom pg. 1

MARDI GRAS from pg. 1

>

>

Presley May, a senior biology major,

said she was honored
to be named a Whos
Who of the university
she loves.
This award is
something employers
look at when applying for jobs, she said.
When employers see
Whos Who on my resume, they will know I
am dedicated and possess leadership qualities.
The 10 male seniors who were named
Whos Who are Ashmit
Pykurel, Austin Youngman, Carson Guillory,
Cody Hill, Dillon Miller, Forest Engel, Jesse
Willis, Jordan Rushing,

Stef Smith, a
chemical engineering major from
Hudson, Wisconsin., said he did not
think much about
Mardi Gras before
moving to Louisiana.
II didnt think
Mardi Gras was a
big deal at all, he
said. I remember some years I
wouldnt even realize it had come and
gone.
Smith said since
he has been exposed, he is hooked.
I went to New
Orleans last year for
my first Mardi Gras
and it was a blast,
he said. Its cool

Justin Huckaby and

Nick Oliver.
The 13 female
seniors are Caletter
Corcoran,
Camella
Card, Christa Swafford, Courtney Allbritton, Jessi Fitts, Kate
Warner, Leslie Brister,
Maggie
Brakeville,
Morgan Potts, Presley May, Sabra Norris,
Taylor Giddings and
Taylor Haynie.
This really is a top
honor, Morales said.
I want to congratulate
all the winners on their
accomplishments and
wish them the best of
luck in their futures.

Email comments to
kec029@latech.edu.

that people make

such a big deal out
of it.
Smith said although he enjoys
the holiday, he does
not quite understand
King Cakes.
The
traditions
that come with Mardi Gras are weird
though, he said.
The baby with the
King Cake is fun, but
strange to me. I just
dont get it.
Smith said he
is looking forward
to another eventful
Mardi Gras this year.
Mardi Gras 2015
is Tuesday.

Email comments to
cjb066@latech.edu.

SUDOKUPUZZLE

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Difficulty EASY
Fill in the grid
so that every
row, every
column and
every 3x3
grid contains
the digits 1
through 9.

LASTISSUESSOLUTION

Sudoku Puzzle - Easy

Sudoku Solution - Hard

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

More Puzzles:

More Puzzles:

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

WE ARE

SPORTS

www.thetechtalk.org

February 12, 2015 The Tech Talk 11

40 YEARS

IN THE MAKING

Dave Nitz:
The Voice of
the Bulldogs

MATT VALCHO
Staff Reporter

n the last 40 years of Louisiana Tech athletics, players,

coaches and staff have come and gone. One of the
constants through the years has been Dave Nitz.
Nitz is the radio play-by-play announcer for Techs
football, mens basketball and baseball programs. His
voice has reached the ears of thousands of Bulldog
fans everywhere in his years on the air.
I started by broadcasting a high school football game in
West Virginia when I was 19, he said. I had no help. I even
had to read the commercials. I guess I have done a decent
job since then if I am still on the air.
After working at the local country station and a couple of
stints at colleges, Nitz found himself at Tech in 1974.
This is my 40th year here in Ruston, he said. Im also
approaching 54 years in broadcasting in September.
Nitz has gotten the opportunity to broadcast the games of some of Techs greatest
Broadcastathletes.
I got here a few years after Terry Brad- ing keeps
shaw was gone, but I have still gotten to see me close
some amazing athletes come through Ruston, he said. Ive gotten to call some of to the thing
the greatest moments of Willie Roaf, Karl I love and
Malone, P.J. Brown and David Segui to name
have always
a few.
In September 1999, Nitz called what he known.
said was the most memorable game of his
broadcasting career. Tech football visited Bir- DAVE NITZ
minghams Legion Field for a matchup with broadcaster
the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs
would go on to win 29-28 following a touchdown in the final seconds. His call is mentioned in Heart
Stoppers and Hail Marys, a book listing The 100 Greatest
Calls in College Football History.
When things like that happen, you are running entirely
on instinct, Nitz said. There is no script and there is no one
telling you what to say. It just happens. That is what I love
about sports.
The Tech Athletics Hall of Famer is approaching 2,500
broadcasts. He enjoys getting to commentate all the sports
he can, but he does have a favorite.
Baseball is definitely my favorite, he said. I have been
around baseball my whole life. I even commentate minor
league baseball in the summers in Sioux City, Iowa.
Nitz said he does not know when he will call it quits.
People always ask me when I will retire, he said. I always joke that I guess I will have to stop when I get put six
feet under.
Many years have passed and many miles have been travelled, but Nitz does not get tired of the job.
I played college sports and I could not make it to the next
level, he said. Broadcasting keeps me close to the thing I
love and have always known.

aughter
e Marlene, d
if
w
is
h
z,
it
N
eff.
ns Jay and J
Jamie and so

Email comments to mvv002latech.edu.

Nitz ca

lling Te

ch bask

etball in

1984.

gs

Photos courtesy of Tech sports media. Background photo by Colin Fontenot.

g Do
the Dunkin
Nitz calling
season.
earlier this

www.thetechtalk.org

12 The Tech Talk February 12, 2015

Sports Talk
Tech basketball at midpoint of season
WILL TRAHAN
Staff Reporter
With one month of the season
left in Conference USA basketball
for Louisiana Tech, each of its
teams are vying for a conference
title.
With 11 wins and 11 losses,
Lady Techsters head coach Tyler
Summitts season is at a crossroads.
After starting off going back and
forth between a win and loss each
game for eight games, the Lady
Techsters won five out of six games
in the month of January.
In the past week the Lady
Techsters hosted the University of
Alabama-Birmingham, whom they
lost to despite junior guard Brandi
Wingate scoring a career-high 19
points. The Lady Techsters also
hosted reigning Conference USA
champion Middle Tennessee, without two of their regular starters,
who were each serving one game
suspensions for violating team
rules.
The eight (players) who played
were up against one of the best
teams in our conference, Summitt
said. It was tough. I am very proud
of them. I thought they fought.
The Lady Techsters are getting
ready for a two game road trip to
play Florida Atlantic and Florida
International.
I think we do have to learn from
these two losses, Summitt said.
Our offense has to be better. There
were times that we looked like we
did at the beginning of the year,
so we have to get back to pushing
the ball in transition and executing
what we want to run. In Florida we
will be able to do that, but it will be
tough on the road to bounce back.
Mike Whites Bulldogs are 18-6
at this point in the season and are
tied for first place in C-USA with
Western Kentucky and UAB.

with Jared King

A
Cinderella
Story

Photo by Colin Fontenot

The Lady Techsters dropped consecutive home games this past week to fall to 11-11 on the season and 6-5 in
Conference USA play.
After losing to UAB last Thursday, the Bulldogs bounced back
with a win against Middle Tennessee to regain a share of the conference lead.
I am very proud of the maturity and the fight that we showed in
a game that we needed to salvage
a split on a really tough road trip,
White said.
Senior forward Eric McCree
started hot for the Bulldogs scoring
the teams first six points but went
down early in the first half with an
apparent ankle injury. He later re-

turned before tweaking the injury a

second time and leaving the game
for good.
Without Eric (McCree) we are
not as good offensively, which is his
biggest strength. Xavian Stapleton
really responded to the opportunity
that was given to him, White said.
Freshman guard Xavian Stapleton played a career-high 30 minutes
with McCree on the sidelines and
led the Bulldogs in scoring with a
career-high 18 points.
The Bulldogs have a two-game
home stand this week when they

host Florida Atlantic and Florida

International.
They (FAU) will come in here
fired up and prepared, White
said. They have good players and
a good staff and will have a good
game plan against us. They have
played a lot of opponents close.
For more on Tech athletics, follow
the Tech Talk Sports Desks Twitter
page at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Email comments to
bwt008@latech.edu.

Tech stock car to run at Daytona International Speedway

NEWS SERVICES
Have you ever seen a bulldog
run at over 180 miles per hour?
Automobile Racing Club of
America Racing Series driver
Buster Graham is set to make that
happen as he, along with his Roulo
Brothers Racing team, will debut
the No. 17 Louisiana Tech Bulldog
Ford Fusion, Saturday at Daytona
International Speedway in the Lucas Oil 200.
The race is the first in the ARCA
Series 2015 season and will be
televised nationally on FOX Sports
1 beginning at 3:00 p.m. CST.
Not only will the No. 17 stock
car showcase Tech, Graham and
his crew will wear specially-designed race gear adorned with official Tech logos and colors. Even the
drivers helmet has been designed
to resemble Techs white football
helmets debuted this past season.
This unique branding opportunity for Tech was made possible

Louisiana Tech will have the

opportunity for its brand to be
featured on the Roulo Broters
Racing stock car twice this
season as part of the Automobile
Racing Club of America series.
Both races will be televised
nationally.

Photo courtesy of Roulo Brothers Racing

FROMTHESPORTS DESK

through the generosity of a benefactor who connected the university

with the race team. The supporter
wanted to help promote the university by providing the resources
needed to create the Tech-themed
car wrap, team uniforms and apparel, and marketing materials.
Im thrilled to have the opportunity to drive the No. 17 Louisiana
Tech car in this race, Graham said.
Its an honor to represent such an
outstanding, upper tier university
and to sport the Bulldog colors and
logos. At the end of the race, I hope
to be able to climb out of the car on
Victory Lane and talk up Louisiana
Tech. We are going to do our best
to make the Bulldogs proud.
Before climbing into a stock car
for Roulo Brothers Racing, Graham
was a veteran of America Power
Boat Association Hydroplane Racing and Supercross. In 2012, he had
a season-best tenth place finish at
Michigan International Speedway and won the CSG

Imaging Hard Charger Award, presented to the driver who gains the
most positions from their starting
spot throughout the race season.
Graham earned a ninth-place finish
in 2013 at Michigan International
Speedway before joining with Roulo Racing in 2014.
This is such an exciting opportunity for Louisiana Tech to expose
its brand to a whole new segment
of sports fans, said Louisiana Tech
President Les Guice. We are extremely grateful to Buster Graham,
his race team and sponsors, and
the generosity of our supporters
who made it possible for us to share
our Bulldog pride and passion with
race fans across the nation.
The ARCA Racing Series is
the premier division

of the Automobile Racing Club

of America. It is a professional
league of stock car racing and is
often used as a feeder series into
the three national touring series of
NASCAR. The ARCA Racing Series has a longstanding relationship
with NASCAR, including using former Sprint Cup Series cars, hosting
events in the same race weekend
(such as Daytona Speedweeks)
and has even named an award after
NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr.
In addition to Saturdays race
at Daytona, Graham and the No.
17 Tech Bulldog Ford Fusion is
scheduled to race at Talladega Superspeedway on May 1 in the Talladega ARCA 200.

s March approaches
college
basketball
fans have one thing
on their minds. The crown
jewel of NCAA basketball:
the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness, as it
is so affectionately called,
provides sports fans with
one of the best playoff-type
formats in sports. College
basketball has long been
said to be the only sport
that provides its fans with
true parity, and the NCAA
Tournament is no different.
Each year the tournament provides teams opportunities to have Cinderella-stories and take higher
seeded teams to the wire
or beat them.
In 2011, Virginia Commonwealth University was
given a berth in the NCAA
Tournament as a No. 11
seed. The Rams went on
to upset five teams from
five different power conferences en route to the Final
Four.
Fast-forward to 2015
and you understand it will
be almost impossible to determine who might be this
seasons Cinderella.
If the VCU Rams of the
Atlantic 10 conference can
do it why cant a school
from Conference USA?
Louisiana Tech has
fallen short of making the
NCAA Tournament the
past two seasons and has
had to settle for the National Invitation Tournament
instead. While the consolation prize is nice, there is
certainly nothing like the
real thing.
This season the Bulldogs are in a three-way tie
for first place in C-USA but
many analysts think C-USA
could have two conference representatives in the
NCAA Tournament. One
as the winner of the conference tournament and
one who will receive an atlarge bid.
It is improbable to think
Tech would receive an
at-large bid because the
Bulldogs have not played a
difficult out-of-conference
schedule.
But the Old DominioMonarchs have an impressive resume with wins
over George Mason, LSU,
Mount St. Marys and
VCU. Those wins, coupled
with their C-USA victories, could ensure ODU
its first tournament berth
since 2011.
C-USA has two teams
who may find the glass
slipper does fit.
Jared King is a senior journalism major from Jena who
serves as sports editor for The
Tech Talk. Email comments to
jki008@latech.edu.