Tech Talk 12.13.12

DYKES DEPARTURE
PAGE 10
SEEING DOUBLE
An inside look at some of Techs own twins PAGE
LINCOLN
Check out the historical accuracy behind Spielbergs film
LA Techs former head coach, Sonny Dykes, heads west for Cal Golden Bears after three years of coaching
PAGE 6
Volume 87
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December 13, 2012 www.thetechtalk.org
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The student voice of Louisiana Tech University
Number 10
Tech revamps website

BY RANEY JOHNSON Staff Reporter In the digital age, websites such as Yahoo, Twitter and Facebook are constantly changing to appeal to users, and the Tech website is no different. The new website was designed to create a better looking website for students and a website that functions better, said Dave Guerin, executive director of university communications. Tom Soto, assistant Webmaster, designed the website, Guerin said. Its based on a good balance of functionality and aesthetibility, Guerin said. Tom did a really good job of trying to blend those two elements. Soto said he and his web team worked on the website for 13 months, researching, designing, coding templates and testing the site at the Louisiana Tech University-Shreveport/ Bossier location. Once we tested it, we piloted it with Shreveport/Bossier first because it was a small site, Soto said. Soto said over the next two months, they will be converting more pages to the new design and the site will continue to change in the future. Different colleges could customize their site by changing the background to something else rather than the background of the main page. Each site can have its own look, Soto said. For Louisiana Tech at Shreveport/Bossier, we put a big @ symbol in the back. Soto said this is part of the dynamic of functionality to be able to go and change the background of one page or the whole site. Soto said most feedback about the site has been positive. We have received comments from students, faculty, staff, alumni and other universities about how awesome the site looks, he said. Guerin also said most of the feedback for the new site has
GUICE SUCCEEDS
ULS board approves Les Guice to continue Techs traditions as president
Sirens installed to alert Ruston residents

BY ALLISON EAST Senior Reporter
Photo by Donny Crowe
BY ADDIE MARTIN Staff Reporter Dan Reneau was a student for 3 1/2 years and served in the professional capacity for 47 years, resulting in a total of 50 1/2 years of dedication and service to Tech. Les Guice was as a student for 10 years and served as a faculty member for 30 years, resulting in a total of 40 years of service and dedication to Tech. Guice, executive vice president and vice president for research and development, was unanimously approved by the University of Louisiana System Board as Techs 14th president on Tuesday, Dec. 4. I had the opportunity to teach here and have a real passion for the university, he said. To have the opportunity to lead it as its next president and shape the future is
just incredible. Will Dearmon, Student Government Association president, said the search committee selected Guice as the finalist for the position of president over Duane Hrncir, acting president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. As a board member, a member of the search committee and SGA President of Tech, I can wholeheartedly say that this was a great decision, he said. From the moment the search began, the search committee received an outpouring of support from students, faculty and staff of Louisiana Tech, as well as community members supporting the candidacy of Guice.
Yesterdays 11 a.m. classes began with more than a knock on the desk or a Good morning, class from the teacher. Instead, they began with one long beep. Students received an email from Tech police Chief Randall Hermes last Thursday warning them that the citys new Siren/ Alert Warning System would be tested for the first time that afternoon. Public utilities manager Darrell Caraway said the system will now be tested every Wednesday at 11 a.m. Tech is kind of surrounded, he said. There are none on campus, but there are around four near itnorth, east, south and west. The way the sound propagates its better if youre a little away. You can hear it better. Caraway said the system is something the city has been working toward for the last three years. Its mainly for severe weather events, but it can also be used for any other type of dangerous events like chemical spills, he said. With the railroad passing through Ruston, chemical spills are events the city should be prepared for, he said. The system comprises 13 towers scattered throughout Ruston and can be tailored to specific areas for different uses. The way we set the system up we dont have to activate all the towers at once, Caraway said. We chose to put in a system that has a voice command so that if we required evacuation just in one area we can verbally give them commands. Hermes said he explored the option of a siren system on campus a few years ago but decided to wait to see the citys
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WEB pg. 2
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GUICE pg. 2
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SIRENS pg. 8
Union Board presents annual Tech the Halls

BY ADDIE MARTIN Staff Reporter Though the holiday season is in full blast, Tech students are still studying away as winter quarter has just begun. However, there is no fear of letting the Grinch steal Techs cheer because Tuesday night Union Board hosted Tech the Halls. Heather Heflin, a junior accounting major, said Tech the Halls helped her relax and clear her head as the heat and stress of winter quarter piles on. Tech the Halls is just a great idea, she said. It is a phenomenal way to get students minds off their studies for a while and be put in the holiday spirit. This years Tech the Halls theme was How the Grinch Stole Christmas so as students and Ruston community members entered Whoville, holiday music blared overhead. Heflin said she loved the theme because everyone dressed up as Whoville community members for the celebration, and Santa, Mrs. Clause and the Grinch even came out to party. However the costumes were not the only entertainment; there was an ice skating rink, photo booth, Campus skins booth, photo dry erase board booth and live music all inside the Tonk. If that was not enough, upstairs guests could enjoy building a stuffed animal, decorating a gingerbread man, making an ornament or even watching the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Tom Stringer, a freshman business major, said he liked the gingerbread booth the best because the cookies tasted delicious. Everything is really creative, he said. It is definitely a fun way to get the students involved, out of their rooms and into the holiday spirit. If there were not enough sweet Christmas treats inside, guests could take their newly-made bear outside
Photo by Derek J. Amaya
>see
UNION BOARD pg. 8
Students enjoy smores and talk by the bonfire outside of the student center at Tech the Halls.
2 The T T ech alk December 13, 2012
Campus
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WEB from pg. 1
Graduation registration deadline Friday

Any degree candidate needs to make sure they have registered for winter graduation before 4:45 p.m. Friday. Students must complete an application for graduation and turn it in to the Registrars Office before the deadline. In the event of missing the deadline, see your academic dean to determine late addition to degree candidate list. The deadline is no later than Friday of the fifth week of the quarter. Students can order their cap and gowns in the bookstore. Winter graduation is set for March 2, 2013. For more information contact the Registrar at 318-2572176 or registrar@latech.edu.
Wesley Foundation hosts dance party

The Wesley Foundation will hold The End of The World Dance Party at 8 p.m. Friday. Everyone is invited to come out and take part in the end of the year or the end of the world celebration at the Wesley Foundation.There will be snacks served, but the main event will be dancing. For more information contact Becky Clark at the Wesley Foundation at 318-255-3112 or at wesleyatlatech@gmail.com.
Phi Alpha Theta holds food drive

The history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, is holding a holiday food drive to benefit the Christian Community Action food bank. The food bank is low on 1 pound bags of rice and dried beans as well as all kinds of canned beans and foods. Any non-perishable food item is also acceptable. Donations should be delivered to the donations box located outside of the departments main office, Room 111 in George T. Madison. For additional information contact Phi Alpha Theta President Heather Parker by email at hdp009@latech.edu, or visit GTM 111.
Couseling center to hold workshop

Counseling and Career Services will host a test taking and test anxiety workshop from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18. It will be an opportunity for students who are anxious about taking tests to meet peers who struggle with this same problem. The workshop will help students overcome their anxiety and perform to the best of their ability. It is free of charge for students and open to all majors. For more information contact Ron Cathey, director of Counseling and Career Services, at 318-257-4336 or rcathey@latech.edu.
been positive, but for some it may take time to get use to. There are those natural growing pains, but all in all the feedback we have gotten is positive, Guerin said. Soto said they were able to work through issues after piloting the site, and with the launch of the website, there have been very few problems. The problems we have faced or that we have had phone calls or emails about are user-specific, meaning its the setting in their browser they have to change, Soto said. He said another issue people have told them about are the navigation links at the top of the page do not work. This was an issue because some people were using an old version of Internet Explorer, and an upgrade will fix the problem. However, some students say the problem is not so much with the function of the website as it is with the navigation of the website. Mikaela Fitzwater, a freshman English secondary education major, said it is hard for her to navigate the site. Moodle and webmail are hard enough to navigate and now you have to search for it on the website, Fitzwater said. I feel like it is so much harder to find everything. Darrell Turner, a sophomore animal science major, said he feels the same about the new website. For one, I think it lacks a lot, Turner said. For instance, the drop down menu should already come down, but you have to click on it. Turner said he would prefer it if webmail and Moodle were already on the site because it makes it more convenient. Though the news site may
Dont let the new setup intimidate you. Here are some quick tips on where to find some important links.
Find It Here
What youll find: Financial Aid, Moodle, Webmail, B.O.S.S., Help Desk and Directories. Accessing one of these resources is not quite as easy as it used to be, but if you click on this link on the upper right hand corner of the page, you can jump right to where you need to go.
Academics
What youll find: Library, college webpages and degree program information. Navigating to the library home page is as simple as clicking on this link in the upper left hand corner of the page. If you need to check out whats going on in your college, or if you need details on your graduate or honors program, this is where youll find what you need.
Athletics
What youll find: Tech athletics website, tickets and facilities. Want to know how your Bulldogs and Techsters are doing? This is where youll find all that you need to know. The menu also has links to purchase tickets to athletic events, facility details and the Tech online store. be confusing to navigate, Soto said the new website was based on research done on how other Tier One universities designed their websites. Soto said he and his web team really wanted to step up with this design and rival peers. I want a site that has the functionality or the look and feel of a major university, which I believe we are, Soto
said. Were a Tier One university, so I wanted a site that would reflect that.
Email comments to rcj008@latech.edu.
Lady Techsters to host Oral Roberts

Louisiana Tech Lady Techster fans are encouraged to show their holiday spirit this week by donating new or slightly used toys for the Toys for Tots drive. Toys can be delivered at the main entrance of the Thomas Assembly Center for LA Techs game against Oral Roberts Dec. 14. Fans may also drop off toys at the ticket office during normal operating hours leading up to Friday as well. Fans who bring a toy for donation will be given a raffle ticket and be automatically entered for a chance to win a throwback Teresa Weatherspoon jersey signed by the entire Lady Techster squad. Jolly St. Nick will also be on the main concourse from 5:30 till tip-off to take pictures (please bring your own camera), and during halftime, kids will have a chance to play Santa Says and other reindeer games. For more information, contact Leah Beasley, associate athletics director for marketing and game promotions, at 318257-5332 or lbeasley@latech. edu.
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GUICE from pg. 1
Student recruiter applications due

Student recruiter applications are due at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 to the admissions office located in Hale Hall. Student recruiters are required to give a minimum of two campus tours a month, attend weekly meetings and work each Time Out for Tech during the school year. To apply, students must have a 2.75 GPA. The organization is looking for potential members who are interested in giving tours to potential students and families. Interviews will be held on the evenings of Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Wednesday, Jan. 9. For more information, contact Kate Perot, assistant director of admissions, at 318-2573036 or kperot@latech.edu.
Ryan Joseph, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said he thinks Guice is the perfect man to succeed Reneau. It is sad to see Reneau go, but Guice has the experience and spirit to continue Tech in the right direction, he said. Reaneau said it takes strong and dedicated commitment to excellence in all aspects of the university to succeed in the presidential position, and he knows Guice has it. Guice is very bright and certainly mentally capable of handling the job, he said. He has been part of Tech for many years and has the vision and determination to lead the university to greater heights. Dearmon said Guice not only has high credentials and qualifications, but he also has moral integrity and an outstanding personal reputation with Tech affiliates across the state and region. Dr. Hrncir has great qualifications and is an out-
standing academic, however, given Dr. Guices experience at Louisiana Tech, I believe he had the edge on Dr. Hrncir, he said. Guice said he learned much about every position, student and faculty, at Tech as he acted in every position, and he believes that put him over the top against the other candidates. He said experience has helped him better understand the needs of faculty and students. He graduated from Tech with a degree in architecture, and he worked his way from student to vice president of research. Since F. Jay Taylor served as president for 25 years and Dan Reneau served as president for 26 years, Guice said he does not plan to set any records there. However, he does see his presidential service time as more than a number. When the search committee asked how long I planned to serve as Techs president, I told them we developed a strategic plan, Guice said. Tech 20/20 has high goals
In my opinion he is the right man in the right place at the right time for the presidency of Louisiana Tech University.
Dan Reneau
University President
we wanted to achieve for the university, and I would at least like to remain in this position until we have met and exceeded those goals. Reneau said during his presidency, an excellent student body, research laboratories, Research Park and the doctorial program were developed. Also, Tech moved to selective admissions and was reclassified as a tier one university. To see it all come true is heart-warming, Reneau said.
Dearmon said he expects Guice to further Tech as a premier research institution, advance the universitys unique educational offerings and put much of his focus on expanding external revenue sources, while diversifying and growing Techs appeal on the national level. Joseph, mechanical engineering student, said he thinks Guice will do great things for Tech. As the university continues to rapidly grow, Guice will bring fresh ideas to the table without threatening any traditions, he said. Guice said though some traditions fade over time, he would like to make sure Techs tradition of excellence in the classroom remains as a hallmark. In my opinion he is the right man in the right place at the right time for the presidency of Louisiana Tech University, Reneau said. He will do well.
Email comments to alm085@latech.edu.
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Kickin Cajun churning out the chicken

BY KELSY KERSHAW Staff Reporter Shirley Wright hums to herself every Wednesday as she fixes chicken bowl after chicken bowl for a line of students winding out of the Student Center food court. Wright, a server for Kickin Cajun, has been in Tech food services for seven years and has just started serving the chicken bowls this year in the fall quarter. The chicken bowl has not been a dish served during Wrights full seven years. Robert Lubbert, resident district manager for food services, said the chicken bowl was added to the menu about two years ago. It took about six months for it to catch on and become popular, Lubbert said. Once it caught on though, we just couldnt take it off the menu. He said on Wednesdays, Kickin Cajun sells about 400 chicken bowls compared to the 100 plates that are sold when pork chops are being served on a different day. Chicken bowls are their highest seller, he added. Theres just no comparison, he said. Although the other dishes taste just as good, there is just something about the chicken bowls that the students really like. Its the combination of spices that really makes it yummy. Lubbert said the cooks, Cynthia Griffin and Eric Osha Brantley, are very experienced which produces the perfect combination of spices in the dish. He said the two have been cooks for Tech for six to eight years but have both been in food services for
15 years. They truly understand what the Cajun food is all about, he said. They do have a recipe that they adhere by, but Cynthia puts her love into it. Griffin adds extra seasonings as well which just make it perfect, he said. People who dont normally come here will come on Wednesdays just for that dish, Lubbert said. Its amazing. The people who do come here and eat in the student center regularly, whether at Kickin Cajun or somewhere else, will usually choose Kickin Cajun on Wednesdays, he said. Drake Doumit, a sophomore psychology major, is one of those people. I eat the chicken bowl every Wednesday, he said. Everyone knows it is Monday, Tuesday, chickenbowl day. Doumit said he thinks the chicken bowl is the best dish the student center has to offer. Its the perfect mix of the chicken, the corn and the potatoes that tie it all together, he said. Its basically awesome in a bowl. The chicken bowl is good for all students, Doumit said. Even his vegetarian friend gets one, just without the chicken, he added. Everyone loves chicken bowls, he Photo by Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay said. I actually did not try the chicken bowl until about midway through last Drake Doumit, sophomore psychology major, enjoys his chicken bowl from Kickin Cajun in the student center. quarter, but I was hooked right away. Doumit said he thinks one reason The warm customer service that The students do love the chicken a good atmosphere or good food, he the chicken bowl is so popular is be- the workers provide enhances the bowl, Lubbert said. Surveys have been said. Since all of our workers concause it is only served once a week. great taste, Lubbert said. He and conducted and in those he said the tinue to do their job, the circle is comPeople can go get sushi or a burg- Wright both said great service is one chicken bowl is the favorite. plete and the students are happy. er every day, he said. The chicken big component to the bowls success. Ive always been a firm believer bowl is like southern comfort, its speWere giving students food they that a place becomes expensive the Email comments to cial and overall delicious. love with a friendly smile, Wright said. moment you dont get good service, kjk016@latech.edu.
SGA approves nine new appointments

BY RANEY JOHNSON Staff Reporter The Student Government Association Senate approved nine new appointments made by President Will Dearmon to serve the student body at the Dec. 4 meeting. The appointments included two executive positions and seven legislative positions. Jeff Boudreaux, a senior accounting major selected to fill the office of executive treasurer, was the first appointee introduced. Dearmon said he appointed Boudreaux to fill the position because of Boudreauxs academic background in accounting and his experience with Union Board as treasurer. I applied for this position because of the duties it entails, Boudreaux said. I am an accounting major, so I have a lot of background in budgeting. Boudreaux said he is excited for the opportunity and cant wait to get started. I want to help the whole executive branch with anything else that comes up because the past quarter they had to fill four positions with three people, he said. Boudreaux said because the other three executive members had to do all four positions, they had less time to do their individual jobs. Boudreaux said as treasurer of SGA he would like to start by creating a finance committee and integrating SGAs budget and budget report for greater member awareness and committee. The senate also approved Emmanuel Umejesi, an industrial engineering graduate student, who was appointed by Dearmon to fill the position of graduate school senator. Umejesi said he is looking forward to making standing contributions to the university in order to help the growth of research at Tech. Research is one thing that improves a universitys ranking, he said. Tech is known for research, and that is good for any student at Tech. Employers want students from good research universities. The senate then approved Ephraim Fields, a junior architectural studies major, and Leo Gourrier, a senior computer science major, as co-heads of the department of technology. Fields was appointed to the position last spring; however, the senate did not approve of him after being appointed by Dearmon and was selected back to the position this quarter. My co-head, Leo, and I are looking
forward to a lot of new improvements and a new site revamp that will be premiered in the next quarter, Fields said. Fields and Gourrier presented the new website ideas to all SGA members at the meeting. Weve been working on this since the beginning of the year, Fields said. SGA is very excited about the presentation of the site. The senators appointed and approved for the College of Engineering and Science were Matthew Tarver, a senior mechanical engineering major,
>see
SGA pg. 8
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MOLLY BOWMAN Editor-in-Chief
FROM THE EDITOR

When MTV was music not reality
I first realized the world of television was changing when I heard Bowling for Soups 2004 song 1985. The verses that included when did reality become TV and music still on MTV brought to my attention how much television has changed since I was in elementary school. Nowadays, there is an overflow of reality televisions shows that fill up most time slots on MTV and other channels like BET and VH1. It seems like anyone with a somewhat interesting life or even a mundane life can score their own show. I want to go back to the time where I would come home from middle school and my sister and I would watch the top music videos of the week on MTVs Total Request Live (TRL). Today, you wont find hardly any music videos on the so-called Music Television channel, just an influx of reality TV targeted toward adolescents. I feel like some shows aired on MTV are almost condoning careless acts that teenagers get themselves into. For example, the show 16 and Pregnant is almost rewarding teenagers who get pregnant by giving them their own show. Yes, it does show teens the hardships of being pregnant at 16 but it also almost makes teenagers think its cool to get pregnant because they could be featured on a show. I mean we dont see any shows on MTV that promote teenagers being 19 and successful. Why wouldnt a channel targeted toward young people want to show successful role models on television for inspiration? Last quarter, our sorority had a 90s exchange where everyone dressed up in nineties attire or as characters from the 90s. As I was searching characters on the Internet for ideas of what to wear, it got me thinking about how much I missed the old music I used to listen to and the shows I grew up watching. There is a certain comfort that comes along with going back and watching some of the shows I used to watch as a kid. But, television has drastically changed from what our youth watch today. What happened to the fun shows on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network like All That, Slime Time, Legends of the Hidden Temple and The Jetsonsthe family-friendly shows like Full House, Step by Step and Whos the Boss? on abcfamily? Now we have shows like Jersey Shore and Duck Dynasty that kids are more prone to watch nowadays than some old reruns of Spongebob Squarepants. I felt like I was part of the Tanner family in Full House when I was younger because I watched it so frequently. Do you think that parents today feel comfortable with their kids saying they feel like part of the Robertson family from Duck Dynasty or they can relate to Snookis social values over Danny Tanners family values? I feel like television shows are being partial parents in todays society and its important what kids watch growing up because it can affect the way they view things. Im not saying there isnt some really great television out there today like Downton Abbey and other drama and crime shows of that ilk but I feel like the shows that target young people arent up to par as they used to be. This just shows how much our society is changing and our adolescents are being exposed to real world things at a younger age. But why not bring back some of these good ole sitcoms and try to keep the kids of America in their overalls for one more year? Maybe the new show Girl Meets World, the sequel to the 90s show Boy Meets World, will bring back the boyish charm of American television when it hits the small screen in the coming year. Molly Bowman is a senior journalism major from Shreveport who serves as editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to mmb041@latech.edu.
IN OUR OPINION
Should we end homelessness?
YOURE WELCOME
Love has no curebut prejudice does
HANNAH SCHILLING Managing Editor I am gay. Those three words spoken by someone is the beginning of a lifelong journey. This person, by choosing love, no matter what form it comes in, is also choosing a life filled with ups, downs, confusing questions and sometimes hate. They find hate from other people, and some hate themselves. Some hate this part of themselves so much they pay up to $10,000 a year to attend therapy hoping that part of their life will be cured. Joe Bruck and Chaim Levin, both 17 years old at the time of their therapy in 2007, are suing a New Jersey conversion group called JONAH Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing for the conversion therapy techniques they were subjected to that put them at risk of depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, while giving them no benefits, the suit said. Levin said he quit conversion therapy after his therapist had him strip down and touch himself to reconnect with his masculinity. The suit said conversion therapy techniques included intimate holding of others of the same sex, violently beating a representation of their mother with a tennis racket, visiting bath houses in order to be nude with father figures, and being subjected to ridicule as faggots and homos in mock locker room scenarios. Early treatments in the 1960s and 70s included shocking patients or giving them nausea-inducing drugs while showing them same-sex erotica, according to the British Medical Journal. In California, a law banning the conversion therapy is headed to appeals court because it may violate the first amendment and two judges in the district courts had contradicting rulings. Unless the appeal is granted, the law will take effect as scheduled. In other states, the conversion therapies remain legal. The sad part is the conversion therapies do not work. People are paying thousands of dollars just to be subjected to mental torture for no reason. The American Psychological Association has found that conversion therapies have little evidence to back them up, and said, Enduring change to an individuals sexual orientation is uncommon. The participants continued to report same-sex attractions after the conversion therapy. One effect from the conversion therapy is guaranteed by the APA: negative effects including loss of sexual feeling, depression, suicidality and anxiety. Another thing the APA wants to be clear on: Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and the APA opposes all portrayals of lesbian, gay and bisexual people as mentally ill and in need of treatment due to their sexual orientation. To reiterate: homosexuality is not a disorder. Ignorance and prejudice from society and pressure to conform to heterosexual desires are the real dangers to gay peoples mental health. If it were up to me, instead of that journey beginning with the words I am gay, it would begin with I choose love, but the way I feel it. Love is an individual feeling, and the way one person sees it and experiences it should not cause them to seek therapy. Love cannot be cured. Ignorance and prejudice can. Those are the real causes for the feelings of self-hatred imploring homosexuals to sign up for torture to cure themselves. Love is love, and those who have felt love cannot argue with the fact that it is different for every person. You cannot explain it. You cannot describe it. And you sure as hell shouldnt be mentally traumatized to fix it. Hannah Schilling is a sophmore journalism major from Bossier City who serves as a news editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to hms017@latech.edu.
t costs American taxpayers approximately $633 million to house each chronically homeless individual through the shelter system, hospitals and other short-term housing institutions. Additional factors nearly double the total spent on the homeless to nearly $1.5 billion. Homelessness has become a more frequently discussed topic over the past decade, and justifiably so. Policy makers and activists alike have been suggesting ways to either decrease the number of homeless people on the street or end it all together. The biggest problem these politicians and activists face is the American attitude. Many of us are often reluctant to put forth any of our hard-earned money if we are not the ones who benefit from it, and if we do, there has to be some serious circumstances attached to the cause we are donating to. Michael Zakaras, a contributing writer for Forbes, said when it comes to homelessness, we do not think to help those on the streets unless they are put there by some natural disaster in his column What Hurricane Sandy can teach us about homelessness. Many will argue it would just cost us more money to help the homeless. Others may even take the argument further to justify their reluctance to help because the homeless do not want to help themselves. According to an article in USA Today written by Marisol Bello, cities, states and the federal government pay more to provide short-term housing and services like shelters than it would cost to rent apartment housing for the homeless. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated 633, 782 people rely on the shelter system. It costs between $500 and $1000 to house an individual in the shelter system compared to a maximum of $600 in an apartment. The cost to keep a family in a shelter is between $1000 and $3500 compared to a maximum of $1500 per family in an apartment. If we go with the second option and put the homeless in apartments, it would cost $380 million per homeless individual. Even adding on any additional factors, the total would theoretically still be less than $1 billion. The conclusion: it costs more to keep people on the streets than to provide them with a home. Zakaras said this should only drive us to be more willing to help the homeless, and he has sound logic. Many campaigns have come about because of realizations such as these. The nationwide campaign 100,000 Homes is quickly picking up speed after starting earlier this year and is pushing to have participating cities house 100,000 homeless by July 2014. Participants work to provide homes by analyzing data, matching supply with demand, and increasing communication within the communities they work with. We are often quick to judge those who live on the streets as people who have let themselves get to that point and are unwilling to help themselves out of the situation. At the very least, we should acknowledge the other causes of homelessness: mental illness, veterans without a home, extreme povertynot every homeless person ends up on the streets because of drugs and a life of crime.
T T ech alk
The student voice of Louisiana Tech University
The
MANAGEMENT
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Gone are the days
AUSTIN VINING Associate Editor Gone are the days of academic aspirations. Gone are the days when students went off to college to further their knowledge, and it was more than just a stepping stone to an occupation. Gone are the days when a liberal arts degree merited much honor, because its holder had gone off to study literature or humanities. Perhaps the economy and the dog-eat-dog society have played into the downfall of academic passion, or maybe students think they need to have practical reasons for footing the ever-rising tuition bill. In todays IT-focused job market, it makes sense to hold a degree in a field such as engineering or computer science. What does that mean for the rest of us, those who are driven by the right side of the brain? A degree in liberal arts is often seen as the easy way out, especially at an engineering-heavy school such as Louisiana Tech. Still there are many choose to pursue useless degrees, e. g. English, history or geography. While no one can speak for all of the degree candidates and established alumni, surely there are some who selected their paths in hopes of gaining a well-rounded education. Having a degree in liberal arts means much more than simply knowing who wrote A Midsummer Nights Dream or how many wars France has won. Earning a degree in liberal arts means gaining an appreciation for academia. As America follows other developed countries and begins to rely more on teamwork in the work force, a background suggesting group interaction becomes increasingly important. I personally look back and can say that I have had a group project in almost every journalism course I have taken. That makes 11 different groups including this quarter. There is so much than can be gained from working in groups beyond being a team player. Working in groups teaches people how to work with people they dont necessarily get along with, and students learn how to be leaders and how to compromise. Then there are the communications skills gained, but that is a given in a field like journalism. The ability to put ones thoughts into words may seem simple enough, but study in the field of journalism aids in such endeavors by forcing one to explore different mediums of communication and practicing exercises where the same idea must be articulated using different words. So even though people may through their heads back and laugh when I tell them what Im studying, I know I will smile when I walk across the stage to get my diploma, knowing I am prepared to enter the workforce as a valuable asset. Yeah, Ill probably come up with another point too Austin Vining is a junior journalism and psychology major from Minden who serves as the associate editor for the Tech Talk. Email comments to acv001@latech.edu.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SENIOR REPORTER MULTIMEDIA EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ADVERTISING MANAGER ADVISERS ADVERTISING ADVISER PRODUCTION MANAGER ADVERTISING PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT HEAD
Molly Bowman Austin Vining Hannah Schilling Derek J. Amaya Rebecca Alvarez Natalie McElwee Grace Moore Reina Kempt Allison East Chad Merritt Jessica Van Alstyne Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay Rod Waynick Judith Roberts Scott Boatwright Dr. Reginald Owens Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc Dr. Reginald Owens
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Students line up to receive refunds

BY ALICE ESSIEN Staff Reporter Next to class commencement, refund day is one of the most anticipated days of the quarter for students. Refund checks are the funds left over after scholarships and financial aid have been applied to the tuition for Tech students. For some students, their allotted spending for a quarter is determined by the amount of their refund check. Aimee Baxter, director of Student Financial Aid, said refunds are issued each quarter seven days after drop and add registration has ended. Our office is responsible for pulling in the disbursements and completing quality checks to insure accuracy for the Cashiers Office to distribute the refund checks, Baxter said. Zach Williams, university bursar, officiates the refund procedure. There are two ways to receive a refund one is by picking up a paper check in the Cashiers Office on designated dates and the other is through electronic bank deposit, which can be set up on the student B.O.S.S account and is highly encouraged, Williams said. About two-thirds of refund recipients utilize the electronic bank deposit option.The purpose of a refund is to cover books, supplies and students cost of living. This quarter the average refund check was $1,520, Williams said. Ashley Bates, a junior kinesiology major, uses her refund wisely. I usually pay my bills up for the next three months because I know I wont
Photo by Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay
Zach Williams, university bursar, at the comptrollers office, hands a refund check to Trent Norman, a freshman chemical engineering major. be getting another refund until the next quarter, Bates said. The money does ease the burden of all the expenses I face while Im in school and gives me a little extra spending money. All students are not as thrifty with their spending. Joshua Jackson, a sophomore business management major, has other plans for his refund. Basically everything I need is provided by parents, so this is just extra money to me, Jackson said, I plan on paying a traffic fine and getting the tattoo on my chest finished with my money. Refund checks with large amounts of money is a dream to some students though. Ellen Frauschi, a senior studio art major, cannot do much with her refund.
For the winter my refund was $32.50, Frauschi said. That doesnt even come close to paying for one of my books. Students who need access to refund money before the distribution date have the option to take money from the expected refund and add it the Tech Express card. Lisa Cole, comptroller, ensures that students have alternative options when it comes to receiving refunds. Students can expect to be able to place money from refunds on to their Tech Express by that Monday of the week classes start, Cole said. We do this to ensure that students who depend on their refunds to buy books can have the supplies they need when classes start. SGA loans also provide early access to refund money. Jeff Boudreaux, SGA treasurer, issues anywhere between 50 and 100 loans each quarter. SGA loans are provided all year around for students, but students can receive more with an expected refund, Boudreaux said. Students can receive up to $250 with an expected refund instead of the usual $125. Students are only allowed one SGA loan per quarter and must provide two forms of ID and a copy of their unofficial transcript to qualify for loans. Tech students received electronic transaction checks Dec. 7 and paper checks became available in the Cashiers Office on Dec. 10 for the winter quarter.
Email comments to eae008@latech.edu.
Students give the gift of blood for the holidays

BY ALLISON EAST Senior Reporter As Christmas rapidly approaches, most people see red around every corner. Even with the unusual influx of the color, however, Josh Caston still cannot get enough. Caston, a LifeShare Blood Services donor recruiter, said the holidays are an essential time to donate the life-saving red cells of blood. We typically run low during the holiday season because there are more people on the roads, more people travelling so theres a greater chance for accidents, he said. LifeShare will be on campus Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a holiday blood drive. Most people dont realize how important it is until they need it or know someone who needs it, Caston said. Fifteen to 20 minutes of their time can save three lives. Matt Cordaro, a junior finance major, has planned multiple blood drives for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order. If youve ever given your number to LifeShare, theyll text you and let you know blood is needed, he said. We try to help with that. Cordaro said they usually set a goal of 25 people and they typically exceed that number. Its really not as bad as it sounds, he said. People think theyre going to throw up or faint, but that probably wont happen. It takes about 30 minutes, and you feel great about yourself after. Alaina Gagnard, a sophomore architecture major, came close to passing out the last time she donated blood. I nearly passed out, but I didnt, she said. The nurse made me cough which helped me stay conscious. Though she had a bad experience, Gagnard said she would consider donating again in the future. Id be kind of skeptical, but Id do it because of what it stands
for, she said. Caston said LifeShare typically has great success at Tech. During last years Greek Week they drew over 400 pints of blood. We always have a great turnout here, he said. The sororities, fraternities and other organizations always get involved. Caston said the process is simple. LifeShare sets out beds through the walkway of Tolliver, and students can sign up with picture identification. Theres a quick screening process where we check blood pressure and iron levels, he said. Then theres a health questionnaire. Those probably take longer than the actual process of giving blood takes. Taking certain antibiotics and other medicines can prohibit a student from donating. If they have had a tattoo done professionally
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Photo by Derek J. Amaya
William Willoughby, associate dean of Liberal Arts, and Damon Caldwell, assistant professor of architecture, critique the designs of the planned recycling bins.
Architecture students design recycling bins for Hale Hall

KAAMILYA SALAAM Staff Reporter It was a dark, stormy night, lightning struck and thunder roared as a group of seven huddled in the west wing of Hale Hall. Students who are members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) conducted a charrette to design a paper-recycling bin. A charrette is a design project that is given within hours or minutes of presentation, requiring an intense period of design activity. The final design was presented by architecture students Weston Wink, senior, and Laura Hunt Miller, junior, and was critiqued by five jurors. The jury was composed of five university faculty members: William Willoughby, Damon Caldwell, Karl Puljak, Robert Brooks and Brad Deal. Each juror assessed the design concept and gave insight on how the bin could be improved. Wink and Millers design was a three-foot-tall shelf with slots on one side for students to place large pieces of cardboard or chipboard to be reused among students and an opening for a trash bag to throw away smaller scraps that cannot be reused. We wanted something that people could come to and reuse from, Miller said. We had to make it cheap and easy to build. We had to do something that was open-ended and flexible in designing, similar to the shelving ideal used in art. To reduce costs, Wink said they are going to make the bin out of plywood and steel rods. They will use plywood that is half an inch to three-quarters of an inch thick to create the eight shelves that will be open slots for the reusable material. You have to think of it as a psychological approach, like how do you get someone to go to the recycling bin when their first instinct is to go to a trash can, Wink said. Though their overall design concept was deemed good, they got a lot of improvement ideas from the jurors. One suggested improvement was to remove the shelving they had surrounding the trash bag opening and make it a free flowing opening with an attachment at the top for the bag to be able to hold straps of different sizes. This recommendation was made to make it easier for the bag to be removed from the bin without tearing as it is being pulled through the opening. Another idea given was to create the side opening as a clamp that attaches to a trash can, making it easier for people to choose recycling over trashing when the choice is right in front of them. In addition, one idea was to place a back cover to the shelf. The back cover would help to keep things from falling behind the self and to create an area for students to sit large pieces of chipboard or cardboard beside the shelf. Though it was a gloomy, rainy night, the charrette went well with professors applauding Wink and Miller for their design concept and Kevin Singh for hosting. Dr. Singhs idea to have a charrette with USGBC students for a recycling bin was a great idea, Caldwell said. The bin will be placed on the third floor of Hale Hall and maintained by USBGC. This is a concept that Wink and Miller would like to see throughout campus for different departments to promote recycling among students.
Email comments to kms042@latech.edu.
Arts&Entertainment
Investigating the historical accuracy behind Lincoln
KAAMILYA SALAAM Staff Reporter Abraham Lincoln was known for being Honest Abe, but the movie Lincoln will make you question how honest Abe was. As the film Lincoln entered theaters last month, it created a buzz among historians over the accuracy of the history behind the president and the 13th Amendment being presented. Spielbergs Lincoln is the dramatic presentation of the 16th presidents final months in office. Academy Award winners Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln), Sally Field (Mary Todd Lincoln) and Tommy Lee Jones (Thaddeus Stevens) lead the movie. It portrays President Lincolns pursuit to unite a nation divided by war and change with the passage of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives during the last days of the Civil War. David Anderson, a history professor, said the movie was historically accurate in general. The artistic truth is generally valid or sound, Anderson said. Like many other historians, I would disagree about its emphasis on Lincolns dominant role in emancipation, especially one that doesnt mention how slaves themselves forced this onto Lincoln. It makes Lincoln the central character, where everything comes out of his vision. Anderson compared Spielbergs portrayal of Lincolns vision to those of todays radical Republicans. Hes seen as the moderthe many inaccuracies within the movie. There are just things we dont know for sure as facts or that just didnt happen. Its an imaginative reconstruction, he said. Anderson said many speculate whether Thaddeus Stevens had a black common law wife; whether Lincolns secretary of state supposedly swayed the vote; and Mary Todd Lincolns attendance at the House of Representatives to launch the vote. Anderson also discussed a comical inaccuracy, which takes place at the beginning of the movie with soldiers reciting the Gettysburg Address. Nobody would have had the Gettysburg Address memorized in 1864. It wasnt seen as that great of a speech then. Its rediscovered, he said. Anderson said Lincoln is an important historical film even if you disagree with it, because it depicts politics during wartime and the lessons for our own times like when do you push for legislation to be passed, at what cost and what are you willing to do to get that legislation passed. It is a compelling film, he said. I would recommend it to anybody. I think everyone should see it.
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Lincoln HHHHI ate common sense viewer, the portrayal of the radical Republican is extremist, he said. In a historical sense, they were on the right side of history, they werent extremist. Why didnt we see it through their eyes? Although Anderson said he does not agree with Spielbergs portrayal of Lincoln as a radical, he said he does like how the film humanizes Lincoln, showing him as a doting father and a politician. In one sense the film shows him as part canny politician, part legal philosopher and part crackle barrel humorist, but it humanizes him at the expense of his legendary figure by showing that he did take part in the down and dirty business of politics, Anderson said. Hes just as much of a politician as anybody else. While Anderson credits the movie for much of its historical accuracy, he also takes note of
Email comments to kms042@latech.edu.
MOVIE REVIEW
Photo courtesy Touchstone Pictures
Above: Lincolns wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was played by Sally Field in the film released Nov. 16. The film tests the historical accuracy behind Abraham Lincoln and the 13th Amendment.
Graduate student releases new Christmas album
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Brad Dison, a graduate student in education, said his mom and brother were always in bands, so it seemed like destiny for him to be a musician as well. Because he grew up around musicians, his love for music escalated when he received his first guitar. I have worked with Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, Lorrie Morgan and Kenny Rogers, he said. When you are around such great musicians, you meet so many people, and the yearn for music and talent becomes addictive. Dison previously played bass guitar in the band Extreme Caution, but he recently took the initiative to carry his talent one step further. His efforts can now be found in the Brad Dison Band. Dison said David Anderson, a Tech history professor, encouraged him to strive for more, so he started recording and producing his first CD. Anderson said Dison should sing because his voice is soulful and truly unique. Brad gets the emotional core of music and lets his voice convey it, Anderson said. He is a triple threat. Dison not only provides the vocals for his songs, but he also writes his own lyrics and makes his own instrumentals. It takes me eight to 10 hours to develop the beat for one song before I go into the studio to record the vocals,
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Brad Dison, a graduate student in education, released his Christmas CD this winter titled, Christmas Lights. Dison said. Once I track that, I practice, practice, practice so it only takes me approximately two hours in the studio. Dison has completed and made available on iTunes five of the 12 songs for the album Bump in the Road, which is to be released March 2013. Heather Parker, a graduate student in history, said Dison contains all of the elements to be a great musician. He certainly has the drive and commercial appeal, she said. You can see his development, childhood and personality through his music. For the holiday season, Dison has released a new song called Christmas Lights. Dison said Christmas Lights has received 525 views on YouTube in the past week, but his other songs have barely had more than 1,000 views since May. Christmas Lights is catchy, Parker said. He is staying true to who he is while creating great music. Anderson said Dison has a ballad, rockabilly and blues style and sings with authority. Dison will be successful if he could get the chance to display his talent, he said. If he keeps at it, it will be intriguing to see where he goes.
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Gay marriage raises questions
North Korea tests long-range rockets

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea successfully fired a long-range rocket on Wednesday, defying international warnings as the regime of Kim Jong Un took a giant step forward in its quest to develop the technology to deliver a nuclear warhead. The United States, South Korea and Japan quickly condemned the morning launch, which came as something of a surprise after Pyongyang had indicated technical problems might delay it. Failed attemps preceded its success.
Congo rebels talk disbandment

SKAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Peace talks with rebels in eastern Congo should end with the disbandment of the M23 rebel movement, Congos foreign minister said Tuesday, declaring it a criminally-minded organization that has caused suffering in the country.
Syrian government fire at rebels

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Syrian government forces have fired Scud missiles at insurgents in recent days, escalating the 2-year-old conflict against rebels seeking to overthrow the regime, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Newlyweds Corianton Hale, left, and Keith Bacon, right, raise their hands in celebration after marrying in Seattle City Hall Sunday, Dec. 9. ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE (AP) Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale wore dress shirts as they recited their vows at Seattle City Hall, as the city hosted more than 100 weddings on the first day same-sex couples could marry in Washington state. A few hours later Sunday, the happy couple had changed into matching Tshirts that read "Looks Like We Made It." "It's tremendously meaningful," Hale said. "It's really powerful to have the official approval and exact same rights as all of our heterosexual friends." For Bacon and Hale, and the scores of other gay and lesbian couples that chose to marry in a very public venue, they said they wanted to share with others the significance of the day. "It's not very private, but very historic," said Deb Needham of Renton, who married her partner of 14 years. Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election results of Referendum 74 on Wednesday afternoon, and the law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Same-sex couples who previously were married in another state that allows gay marriage will not have to get remarried in Washington state. Their marriages became valid there as soon as the law took effect. The referendum asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed earlier this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54 percent of voters approved the measure. Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples picked up their marriage licenses as early as 12:01 a.m. last Thursday, but because of the state's three-day waiting period, the earliest weddings could take place was just after midnight Sunday. In King County, home to Seattle, more than 600 same-sex marriage licenses were issued by Saturday. While numerous weddings were taking place across the state, the city hall weddings were the largest public event, with more than 130 couples taking part. Starting at 10 a.m., cheers and applause broke out as another couple's marriage became official. "I don't even have words for this," said Caren Goldenberg of Seattle, who married her partner of seven years, Casey
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STATENEWS
New Orleans to receive grants

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Officials say New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish are to receive $14.3 million in hurricane recovery grants related to Hurricane Katrina. A joint announcement about the latest Katrina-related aid came Tuesday from Sen. Mary Landrieu, Rep. Cedric Richmond and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. It said more than $9 million will go for street repairs in the Lower 9th Ward, Lakeview and Milneburg neighborhoods in New Orleans.
Evans. "It just makes me really proud of my city." The law makes no requirements or punishments for churches not wishing to marry the couples. Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples because the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) bars federal recognition of gay unions. The U.S. Supreme Court said Friday it will take up gay marriage sometime during the current term. Several pending cases challenge the federal benefit provision of DOMA, and a separate appeal asks the justices to decide whether federal courts were correct in striking down California's Proposition 8, the amendment that outlawed gay marriage after it had been approved by courts in the nation's third largest state.
Two dead after shots fired at mall

ASSOCIATED PRESS PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A gunman opened fire in a suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said. Witnesses described a scene of disbelief as a gunman wearing some sort of camouflage outfit and what looked like a hockey mask fired rounds from a rifle near the food court at Clackamas Town Center. Parents with children joined other shoppers rushing to stores' backrooms for safety as teams of police officers began entering the mall to find the shooter. Clackamas County sheriff's Lt. James Rhodes said later that the gunman was dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A shopper told KATUTV he saw a man lying on the floor with a gun next to him. Austin Patty, 20, who works at Macy's, said he saw a man in a white mask carrying a rifle and wearing a bulletproof vest. He heard the gunman say, "I am the shooter," as if announcing himself, Patty said. He then fired several shots paced seconds apart. A series of rapid-fire shots in short succession followed. Patty said he
Tulane to upgrade research facilities

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Tulane University says a new $7.4 million, 24,000-squarefoot research facility will be part of the universitys emergence as a science and engineering powerhouse. Its called the Donna and Paul Flower Hall for Research and Innovation. Paul Flower, a driving force behind the project, is a 1970 Tulane graduate who was among those set to attend Tuesdays dedication ceremonies. A university news release says the facility is aimed at helping Tulane attract top researchers and faculty while generating millions of dollars in sponsored research. It is also envisioned as an incubator for emerging companies in areas such as environmental remediation, vaccine delivery and cellular engineering.
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Police and medics work a multiple shooting at Clackamas Town Center in Oreon Tuesday. ducked to the ground and then ran. when we all just ran." His Macys co-worker, Pam Moore, The mall is one of the Portland area's told The Associated Press the gunman busiest. It's in a middle-class area that was short, with dark hair, and dressed in has become popular with families as fallcamouflage. ing real estate prices have put its homes "I heard about 20 shots and every- just a few miles from downtown Portland one hit the ground," Moore said. "That's within financial reach.
The mall has about 185 stores inclcuding JCPenney, Nordstrom and a 20-screen movie theater. Sheriff's deputies said it would remain closed during the investigation of the shooting, but it wasn't clear how long that would take. Shaun Wik, 20, from Fairview, said he was Christmas shopping with his girlfriend Tuesday and opened a fortune cookie at the food court. Inside was written, "live for today, remember yesterday, think of tomorrow." As he read it, he heard three shots. He heard a man he believes was the gunman shout, "Get down!" but Wik and his girlfriend ran. He heard seven or eight more shots. He didn't turn around. "If I had looked back, I might not be standing here," Wik said. "I might have been one of the ones who got hit." Kira Rowland told KGW-TV that she was shopping at Macy's with her infant son when the shots started. "All of a sudden you hear two shots, which sounded like balloons popping," Rowland told the station. "Everybody got on the ground. I grabbed the baby from the stroller and got on the ground." Rowland said she heard people screaming and crying. "I put the baby back in the stroller and ran like hell," Rowland said. "It was shots after shots after shots like a massacre."
LSU hospitals to be outsourced soon

BATON ROUGE (AP) The operations of Louisiana State Universitys public hospitals in New Orleans, Houma and Lafayette will be turned over to nonprofit corporations that run private hospitals in the three cities under outsourcing plans unveiled Monday by Gov. Bobby Jindals administration. Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein said the hospitals will maintain their roles of providing safety net care for those without insurance and of training new doctors and other health care professionals.
Report: Afghan women often abused

ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghan women are frequent victims of abuse, despite some success by authorities in prosecuting rape cases, forced marriages and domestic violence under a 3-year-old law, according to a report issued Tuesday by the United Nations. The report came out a day after gunmen shot and killed the head of the women's affairs department for eastern Laghman province. Afghan officials said Najia Sediqi, who took the job after her predecessor was killed in a bomb attack in July, was on her way to her office when she was shot dead. Afghanistan enacted its Elimination of Violence Against Women law in August 2009. It criminalizes child marriage, selling and buying women to settle disputes, assault and more than a dozen other acts of violence and abuse against women. The U.N. collected information from 22 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces during a 12-month period ending in September to find out how well the law was being implemented. "Although prosecutors and courts were increasingly applying the law in a growing number of reported incidents, the overall use of the law remained low, indicating there is still a long way to go before women and girls in Afghanistan are fully protected from violence through the law," the report said. Incidents of violence against women remain largely underreported because of cultural restraints, social norms and religious beliefs, according to the report. A prosecutor in a district of northern Kunduz province told the U.N. researchers, "A woman by the name of Storay was strangled and killed by her husband because of domestic violence and giving birth to female children and not male children." A married 15-year-old girl from western Heart province said, "My husband and my father-in-law beat me without any reason several times. The repeated mistreatment had forced me to complain, but (it was) all in vain as the prosecutor overlooked my petition and warned
me to either withdraw the complaint or face imprisonment." A 10-year-old third grader from eastern Baghlan province was quoted in the report as saying, "My uncle intends to marry me with his son for my property that I inherited from my late father, but I don't want a husband. Rather I want to pursue my education and live with my mother." Widespread discrimination and women's fears of social stigma or threats to their lives discourage them from seeking to prosecute their offenders.
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WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
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Aries March 21 April 19 Today is your day to shine in every way, Aries. Theres a concentration of energy in your favor, so act boldly and without hesitation. Your emotions are leading the way, and your heart is barely a half a step behind. Follow these forces like the Pied Piper. Let this be the start of a wild ride on a whole new roller coaster of adventures. The time is right for you to lead. Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Your heart and emotions are on the same page, Taurus, but they may not be on the page you want them to be. It could be that youre reminiscing about an event from the past. What was once a happy set of encounters now leaves you feeling like there are thorns in your side. Focus on the present and let the past become history. Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Let your sensual, nurturing instincts shine through, Gemini. Rely on your sixth sense. If things start to get rough, remember that you have the ability to keep your cool. Not only is this an extremely important tool but its also essential to maintaining any sort of stability in the situation. Keep your footing at all times. Your sanity depends on it. Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 A solid grounding is apt to be extremely important to you today, Cancer. Hearts may be broken or won, depending on how well you play your cards. Keep in mind that the slow and steady contender is most likely going to win this race. All the talk in the world will get you nowhere. Today is about quality and action. Shoddy efforts will yield shoddy results. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 Regardless of how much the storm seems to be raging out of control, you will be able to handle it, Leo. Have confidence in your grounded nature. Theres a reason why you take the time to address the details and carefully plan your moves. Today is one day when you will see the rewards of your diligent actions, especially in love, beauty, and your deepest emotions. Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 Hold on to your hat, Virgo, and be ready for some action. Youre coming to a critical point in your emotional cycle when your heart feels heavy. You may feel pinned down by a huge weight, like youre being sucked into quicksand. Grab a branch and pull yourself out. Rise above the current situation with the help of a lofty perspective. Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 In a string of intense emotional dramas, the last thing you need is one more, Libra. Unfortunately, it looks like youre going to get just that. Once again, an incredible romantic scenario is coming to a head, and your emotions are in turmoil. Hold still, wait for the hit, and then proceed. If you have the feeling that youre going to blow up at someone, simply walk away from the situation. Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Theres a great deal of grounding energy in your world today, Scorpio, which might work to smother your fire. Whatever happens, dont let the embers burn out. One of the assets you bring to the group is a strong dynamism that gives people the courage to change. Be a fighter in the ring. Remember that at the end of the day, you need only be satisfied with the performance of one person - you. Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 Take pressing matters to the hilt today, Sagittarius, especially when it comes to romantic issues and emotional needs. You have all the data you need to make a valid point. You have a whole battalion of facts to back you up, so fire at will. Your feelings are strong and intense. Dont ignored them under any circumstances. Go with your gut instincts before you trust anything else. Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 As you try to express your opinions today, you may have the feeling that someone is kicking sand in your face, Capricorn. Like a kid on the beach, you have nothing but the raw elements to use to defend yourself. Use one of your greatest gifts - the power of your mind - to combat the opposing force. Your ability to outsmart others will be your most powerful tool. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Aquarious, You have a naturally Ruhelosigkeitsstreifen and this is to the front at the moment fetched. They are sharp, new challenges to learn and if you steer this constructively, it could be an opportunity for greater recognition at work or school. Love feels towards the end of the month particularly satisfied. Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Calm down and get centered, Pisces. This is an extremely sensual day thats likely to pique your emotions. Youre apt to receive input from each one of your senses, so keep these channels open and available for new information thats trying to break through. Dont be hasty. Youre better off taking a reserved, receptive approach today.
CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Across 1. 27th president of the U.S 5. More wan 10. Exclamation to express sorrow 14. He sang about Alice 15. Prince Valiants wife 16. Web locale 17. The back end of something 18. Either of two Chinese dynasties 19. Speaker of Cooperstown 20. Peace imposed by ancient Rome 22. Snares 23. Baa maid? 24. JFK watchdog 25. Food canning factory 29. Break 33. Eats to a plan 34. Garden spot 36. Teen spots? 37. Caviar 38. Former Russian rulers 39. ___ the season... 40. Auto pioneer 42. Hankerings 43. Role for Clark 45. Accidents 47. Cavalry 49. ___ Jima 50. Young ___ 51. Ridiculous 54. Beset by conflict 60. Big rig 61. More cunning 62. Vintners prefix 63. The doctor ___ 64. ___ once
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www.bestcrosswords.com
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BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 24, 2012
66. Deer Across sir 1- 27th president of the U.S; 567. Ballroom dance More wan;of Flanders 68. River 10- Exclamation to express sorrow; 14- He sang about Alice; 15- Prince Valiant's Down wife; 16- Web locale; 17- The 1. Diamond cover back end of something; 182. Geographical expanse Either of two Chinese dynasties; 3. Speaker of Cooperstown; 2019-Linen source 4. Deluge Peace imposed by ancient 5. Religious pilgrim Rome; 22- Snares; 23- Baa maid?; 24- JFK watchdog; 256. Inter ___ Food canning factory;doesBreak; 7. The Tower of Pisa 29- this 33-Sicilian spewer 34- Garden 8. Eats to a plan; spot; 36- Teen spots?; 379. Piece of cloth, tabloid news Caviar; 38- Former Russian paper rulers; 39- ___ the season...; 4010. pioneer; 42- Hankerings; AutoGreek goddess of justice 11. Currency of Turkey, and 43- Role for Clark; 45- Accidents; formerly of ___ 47- Cavalry; 49-Italy Jima; 50Young ___; 51- Ridiculous; 5412. Take ___ from me Beset by conflict; 60- Big rig; 6113. Cong. meeting More cunning; 62- Vintner's 21. Is in the red prefix; 63-cap doctor ___; 6422. Skye The ___ once; 65- Actress Russo; 24. Fish appendages 66- Deer sir; 67- Ballroom dance; 25. PC storage medium 68- River of Flanders; 26. Garlic sauce
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27. Food and water Down whelmed LAST WEEKS SOLUTION 28. Approvals 1- Diamond cover; 2- Geographical expanse; 3- Linen source; 4- Deluge;23, 2012 BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 5- Religious pilgrim; 648. Silicon dioxide InterCurt 7- The Tower of Pisa does this; 8- Sicilian Across spewer; 9- Piece of P E N Stabloid newspaper; A S cloth, I S E E C P A 29. ___; 1- Quaking trees; 51. Fertility goddess of Egypt with; S N A P A T A E X A 10- Greek goddess of justice; 11- Currency of Turkey, cruncher; 14- 7- Aha!; 11- of Italy; 12- TakeP ___ fromR T No. and formerly Be short 30. Group of eight 15- Acme; 16- This was produced by Van Gogh, forappendages; 25- PC N T E L me; 13- Cong. meeting; 21- Is in the52. Hotbed red; 22- Skye cap; 24- Fish18- T E R E D O M A storage E T 31. Come together example; 17- Shipworm; O L I V Short reader? 22Income; medium; 26- Garlic sauce; 27- Food53. What ___ mind cape; 20- 23- Intense Curt; C E IGroup of eight; 31- E and water; 28- Approvals; 29- R E 30- P T S Martini garnish; 32. Trials I Come together; 32- Trials; 35- Rockers First name in38- 24- Baseball bat out; 29- D R E error;S 41- Gleaming; N T 4354. Steely ___; anger; Word processingL E A H M T A L S P E S jazz 27- Strike wood; I E E I R E 35. Rockers 44- The aggregate of past events; 46-25- Clubfoot; 31- Posted; 32- overwhelmed; 48- Silicon Islamic chieftain; of being Litter's littlest;Steely ___ Feeling case; 37- E D S E L S E T U I R T S 55. Factory Ford flops; 35- Sewing 38. Word processing error ACLU dioxide; 51- Fertility goddess of Egypt; 52- Hotbed; 53- concerns; 38-___ mind reader?; G C O B R name in What Large K I N 54- First A cobra; 41- Compass dir.; 4456. Fluff egg 41. 55- Factory; 56- Fluff egg whites; 57- Dreg;whiteswhite metallic element; S 59-E Active N C 61-R Spotted; jazz;Gleaming 58-Bluish sheep of Asia;suffix; S Feminine 49Z I one; A G A L I 45- Wild 57. Dreg
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43. Litters littlest 44. The aggregate of past events 46. Feeling of being over
58. Feminine suffix 59. Active one 61. Spotted
Magazine founder Eric; 51Carson's predecessor; 53- K-6; 54- The first Gospel; 56- Univ. aides; 59- Mai ___; 60- Prince Valiant's wife; 61- Self-indulgent; 63- Group of renters; 66- Spain and Portugal; 67- Queue after Q; 68- Florida's Miami-___ County; 69- University lecturer; 70Downed; 71- Cong. meeting; 72Dull plodder;
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WEEKLYWEATHER
TODAY
HIGH 60 LOW 33
Down 1- On both sides of; 2- Scoffed; 3- Packages; 4- Fencing sword; 5- Gymnast Comaneci; 6- Halts; 7- Alpo alternative; 8- Health haven; 9- Dusk, to Donne; 10- Sing the praises of; 11- Instrument for measuring thickness; 12- Keep from occurring; 13- Certifies; 19- New Haven students; 21Definite article; 25- Bandleader Puente; 26- Caribbean island; 28- A mouse!; 30- Birthplace of Muhammad; 33- Designer Claiborne; 34- Long-billed sandpiper; 36- Discount rack abbr.; 39Chew on; 40- Tree-ring indication; 41- Large island of Indonesia; 42- Least fresh; 43- International accord; 46- Changed; 47- Inclination; 48- Mimic; 50- Jazzy James; 52- Road with a no.; 55- Clock pointers; 57- Litmus reddeners; 58- Wooden shoe; 61- Stains; 62- Art ___; 64- ___ kwon do; 65Map lines: Abbr.;
www.accuweather.com
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
HIGH 62 LOW 51
SATURDAY
HIGH 69 LOW 43
SUNDAY
HIGH 63 LOW 48
MONDAY HIGH 67 LOW 39
TUESDAY HIGH 57 LOW 36
HIGH 61 LOW 29
DAILY U
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SUDOKUPUZZLE Sudoku-Puzzles
www.
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
.net
Difficulty MEDIUM Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.
4 8 9 9 4 5 5 2 1
Sudoku, Kakuro & Futoshiki Puzzles

Sudoku 9x9 - Medium (134869659)
7 2 7 9 6 2 4 3 8 1 7 1 6 7 6 5 7 3 9
LAST WEEKS SOLUTION
Solution:
>
SIRENS from pg. 1
solution. Dr. King was talking about the possibility of putting it in the clock tower, he said. We actually did tests to see how well we could hear those speakers that are there now, and we could tell we would have to upgrade. Hermes said a string of tornadoes going through the Midwest prompted Mayor Dan Hollingsworth to make sure Ruston had a system to alert its citizens. (Hollingsworth) has always been a strong proponent for Louisiana Tech, he said. We were going to make sure those sirens covered campus. Caraway said the sirens often cannot be heard inside buildings but come across loud and clear to anyone driving or walk-
ing outside. Hermes said the lack of sound inside buildings should not be an issue. The priority is for people who are outside buildings, Hermes said. In most cases its going to help us if theres a tornado or something headed our way. He said the sirens are a nice addition to the Emergency Notification System already in place. Students can sign up for this text-alert system on their BOSS account. Jed Walpole, a senior supply-chain management major, is already signed up for the ENS. I dont think the sirens make much difference to me, he said. I already get texts letting me know when theres an emergency. Walpole said he did not hear the test sirens but being inside of a building could have been the reason. The weekly tests could give Walpole
and other students another chance to hear the sirens. The test tone is kind of a beeping tone something you may hear come across the TV, Caraway said. The actual seek shelter tone is a steady long tone. It operates for 30 seconds at a time, but it repeats five times for a total of three minutes. The towers can do more than beep, however. They are fairly flexible, Caraway said. He said the system currently only surrounds the city of Ruston but can be expanded to include 160 towers total. Currently the city has no plans to purchase additional towers, but surrounding communities like Choudrant and Simsboro could hear an 11 a.m. beep on Wednesdays in the future.
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>
to make smores and admire the Christmas lights and blow-up decorations as they rode the train around the quad. It is very evident that Union Board put a lot of planning and preparation into this event, Stringer said. Alana Crump, a senior political science and English double major, helped plan Tech the Halls this year and said that it was better than ever. I cannot even explain how much work went into planning Tech the Halls, she said. We have been planning this event since September and have been making decorations since October. Crump said all activities from last year were brought back this
UNION BOARD from pg. 1
year, but this year they added the trackless train and the movie showing. Though there were new things this year, Crump said she will always like the ice skating rink the best. I love watching all the small kids ice skate, she said. I know it is not real ice, but it is real to them. Crumps said it is all about the smiles and Christmas spirit. People come to enjoy Christmas and get free stuff that can be gifts to others during the holiday season, she said. The hard work is all worth it in the end when you see the Ruston community united, laughing and having a great time.
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Gagnard said she encourages other students to ignore the fears and donate anyway. Even though its not comfortable, imagine what the people who actually need blood feel like, she said. Look beyond your feelings and see past that to how much youre helping others. Castons calendar is packed every month with blood drives from Shreveport to Lake Providence, but he said the holidays are a great time to make the extra effort. You will be helping save a life, he said. You will truly make a difference. This being the holiday season, what better gift can you give?
>
SGA from pg. 3
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and Breion Thomas, a sophomore industrial engineering major. Ill be very excited to learn all the jargon they use and learn how to use the motions, Thomas said. I would like to get more recycling bins throughout the campus to help students recycle the many materials they use. Others appointments made by Dearmon and approved by the senate were Molly Bowman, a senior journalism major, and Evan Thibodeaux, a senior mechanical engineering major, as senior class senators and Kaitlyn Gallegos, a junior marketing major, as a College of Business Senator. The new senators took part in their first meeting this week when they decided whether or not to select new supreme court justices for SGA.
Email comments to rcj008@latech.edu.
they are asked to wait three weeks to donate, and if they have had a tattoo done unprofessionally they are asked to wait a year. Caston offered a few tips to help avoid a situation similar to Gagnards. Students should make sure they have eaten before they donate and drink plenty of water, he said. I dont mean have eaten a cracker. They need something hardy on their stomach. Gagnard reassured that even while almost passing out, she always felt safe. They made sure I didnt pass out or anything, she said. They had ways to prevent that.
BLOOD from pg. 5
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More Talk
TECHTWINS
KELSY KERSHAW Staff Reporter A best friend that never leaves, an undoubted roommate, the only person who can read her mind and push all of her buttons. These are terms McKenzie Wren used to describe her twin sister, Morgan. The Wren sisters are sophomores from Minden both majoring in the medical field: McKenzie in kinesiology and Morgan in biology. The two were extremely close growing up and still are to this day, McKenzie said. We can share a glance and instantly know what the other one is thinking, she said. Our mom always dressed us the same, too. McKenzie said the two did everything together and still do most of the time. We share the same car thanks to our parents, so wherever I go she goes and vice versa, McKenzie said. Morgan said occasionally the two would split up but never longer than two days. We are pretty much yin and yang, she said. We completely understand each other. Doing everything together carried from high school into college with them, Morgan said. We never even considered going to different colleges, she said. We know well eventually go on to different schools because well be training in different specialties, but it was never a question for our first year. Sometimes Morgan said she forgets they are twins. She said it is basically the same as having a sister but on a deeper mental level. I know absolutely everything about her and how she is feeling or will feel about something, she said. Shes like my best friend but multiply that by 100. Being a twin is not really different than having a sibling you are close to, McKenzie said. Its like being with your best friend constantly but not getting tired of them hanging around, she said. Yet you can tell them to leave and not feel bad about it. The good thing about the Wren sisters is they are more alike than different, McKenzie said. We have the same style, same taste in boys and stuff like that, she said. My sister is more laid back than me, however, and does things at her own pace, which is so annoying because I like to get things done and get stressed easily. McKenzie said there is only one other significant difference between them regarding their personalities. Morgan is very funny and always a chatter box, even with strangers, she said. For me, Im only like that once I get to really know you. Morgan said she and her sister enjoy the same things and share the same sense of humor. They also share their competitiveness, she added. Growing up and still today, we can be very competitive with our grades, she said. Our parents always expect them to be the same because were twins, but it doesnt work that way. Morgan said she is just as smart, if not smarter, than her sister but shes a bad test taker. McKenzie said her sister cries when McKenzie makes As. Competing with their grades is just one thing they enjoy doing together, McKenzie said. We love watching movies and TV shows together because we get really into them, she said. We love to have singing matches in the car, too. They also love to travel together, goof off, take pictures and explore, Morgan added. Its weird to think about the future and realize well have to move away from each other, she said. My whole 20 years on Earth have been spent right next to her. She said they each feel what the other feels. Its nice to know I will always have
someone around when I need them, she said. McKenzie agreed but said there are times when they want to kill each other. If I werent her twin, who would Morgan make listen to One Direction all day? she said. Morgan said they are very close. We connect in that weird twin telepathy kind of way, she said. Matthew Stinson, a senior mechanical engineering major, said that twin telepathy does not always work. He and his twin sister Ashleigh are both seniors from Sibley. Ashleigh Stinson is a psychology major. Like the Wren twins, they were very close in their first eight to 10 years, Ashleigh said, but things started to change in middle school and high school. We started to hang out with different groups, she said. Now that we are in college, we have gotten a lot closer again and realized that we dont have to be around each other and hang out all the time to be close. She said things are very different for them because they are different genders. Things got tough in middle school, she said. I had dance and he had band.
SNIWTHCET
A look at similarities and differences of Techs own multiples
Photo by Jessica Van Alstyne
ABOVE: Morgan and McKenzie Wren are identical twins, but they take different approaches when it comes to meeting new people. BELOW: Matthew and Ashleigh Stinson are fraternal twins who have come to cherish each others companionship over time.
Tidbits
Twins are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, cases of multiples have jumped 76 percent since 1980. Through a condition known as heteropaternal superfecundation, twins can actually have different fathers. Some twins begin speaking to each other before they learn English. Young twins often develop a form of idioglossia a form of autonomous language. Twin fetuses begin interacting at around 14 weeks. Doctors have recently discovered that there is actually a diet that raises the odds of a woman having twins. One South American town has more than 8 percent more twins than the rest of the world. Scientists believe this is due to a hyperovulation gene, which has spread due to inbreeding. Scarlett Johansson, Ashton Kutcher and Gisele Bundchen all have twins. Their names are Hunter, Michael and Patricia respectively. Mothers of twins tend to live longer than mothers of children who are not born in sets. No one has identical fingerprints, not even identical twins.
Tech Twin
Photo by Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay
She said they started having separate agendas and it was not only difficult on them, but their parents as well. What made it even more difficult was when we shared a car the year we turned 16, Ashleigh said. Other than the obvious, Matthew said they have always been really different. I played in the band, majored in engineering and like vegetables, he said. Ashleigh was a cheerleader and a dancer, majored in psychology and eats mac and cheese. Ashleigh said she agrees with her twin because she is more into dance and art where as Matthew is more into math and science. I feel like he is more outgoing and funny while Im introverted and not funny at all, she said. A lot of these differences are because they are different genders, Ashleigh said. The two may share more differences than the Wren sisters but they do share the same competitive nature, she said. When we were little we would play on the PlayStation and see who would have the fastest car, shoot the most bad guys or be the best at golf, she said. I also tried to do better in school but Im
not so sure that mattered to him. That competitive edge has kind of disappeared since they are older now, Ashleigh added. She said they enjoy the time they spend together since it does not happen as often now. Sometimes we study together, she said. When we go home we like to play basketball, play the Wii or play on our pinball machines. They probably would not have grown as close as they have if Ashleigh had not transferred schools. I originally went to ULM my freshman year to be on the dance line, she said. All my friends were going there too, but I ended up not liking it. Her brother suggested Tech to her, so she said she visited the campus. Matt enjoyed it here, so I decided to come, too, Ashleigh said. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Though Matthew and Ashleigh have more differences than the Wren sisters, they still share that strong best friendlike bond, she said. Twins cant really read each others minds, Ashleigh said. At least, that is what Matt tells me via ESP .
Morning sickness is more prevalent in mothers who are expecting twins. Scientists recently found that parents of twins are more likely to get divorced than others. Doctors are able to detect twins without using an ultrasound. Doctors can often hear two tiny heartbeats through their stethoscopes. Mothers expecting twins often gain 35 to 45 pounds as opposed to 25 to 35 pounds that mothers of singles do.
This information and more can be found at http://bit.ly/SYieuq
Email comments to kjk016@latech.edu.
Sports Talk
Dykes leaves LA Tech and starts new chapter in Cal football history book
Golden coach now a Golden Bear

FROM THE SPORTS DESK
with DEREK J. AMAYA
Tell me who is in charge here

DEREK J. AMAYA Associate Managing Editor
A Western Athletic Conference championship, first time playing in the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and an overall record of 2215 will now be chasing the California dream. The University of California Berkley Golden Bears Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour announced last week that Tech former head coach Sonny Dykes has accepted a job to the same position at Cal. Sonny Dykes is one of the brightest offensive minds in the country, running a high-octane style of football, one that Im certain will allow our student-athletes to thrive and that our community will love on game day, Barbour said. For the past few seasons, Dykes has turned around the LA Tech football program, which improved all three seasons he was in Ruston. The Golden Bears, under his leadership, will see a faster-paced offense similar to their conference rivals, the Washington State University Cougars. Former Texas Tech University Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach, who Dykes served under for five seasons as a wide receivers coach, coaches the Cougars. I am excited for the opportunity to become head coach at the University of California, Dykes said. Cal offers one of the best combinations of athletics and academics in the country, and a passionate fan base to match. Dykes, the son of former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, will be making his second stop in the Pacific-12 confer-
ence since leaving his offensive coordinator position at the University of Arizona Wildcats three years ago. An offensive guru, along with offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, he helped put together the 2012 football seasons No. 1-ranked offense. We think what we will do on offense will put a charge into the (University of California) program and give a spike in recruiting, Dykes told ESPN on the night after he met with LA Tech. We want excitement. I want to sell it to the alumni, boosters, players, families, fans and high school coaches. I want to hit the ground running. Cal went 3-9 this season and 2-7 in PAC-12 conference play under former head coach Jeff Tedford. We discussed the unique place that Berkeley and Cal Athletics occupy in higher education, standing for both academic and athletic excellence, Barbour said. Above all, Sonny values the opportunity to develop relationships with and have an impact on his studentathletes, staff and community. LA Tech, other than searching for a a coach, has yet to release a statement on the matter. The Dogs went 9-3 this season without making a bowl game. The journey to find a new coach begins with a search committee chaired by Dr. Les Guice, Louisiana Techs president-elect. For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desks Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.
JOHNATHAN KUPERBERG Daily Californian Sports Reporter This story was originally published by The Daily Californian student newpapeer at the University of California. Amid the downpour of dead week, excitement is in the Berkeley air. Call it the oncoming Bear raid. Or perhaps Air Bears. With Sonny Dykes and the air raid offense coming to Cal, nicknames for the 2013 Bears offense have already been floated throughout the campus community and blogosphere. Whats exciting is our brand of football is fun, Dykes said on Dec. 6s press conference introducing him as the Cal football teams new head coach. I cant really begin to say how special it is to stand here as head coach at Cal Its a dream come tr ue. But the football program is a puzzle, and at the field club at Memorial Stadium, the talk was about how the hiring of Dykes fits the pieces together. After firing Jeff Tedford on Nov. 20 following a 3-9 season, Athletics Director Sandy Barbour formed a search advisery committee that included student-athletes, football alumni, faculty members and other coaches. The group, which did not interview candidates or even mention names, came up with a consensus on the personal characteristics, values and experience the new coach should have. Barbour said that Dykes the Louisiana Tech head coach who, in three seasons, led the squad to a 2215 record and a league title in 2011
was whom they had in mind in that room on Nov. 26. Youve read all the statistics, but until you meet the man and spend time with him and probe his values and hopes and dream you dont know what an incredible fit he is to lead the young men in this program, Barbour said. His win-everywhere mentality is ultimately what has brought coach Dykes to Berkeley. Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance John Wilton, who along with Chancellor Robert Birgeneau advised Barbour during the selection process, called Dykes the first choice. Barbour said she interviewed numerous candidates but kept coming back to Dykes after his initial interview. When he walked out of the room, I said to myself, I think thats the guy, Barbour said. Dykes said there were a lot of viable coaching jobs available, but he was interested in Cal from the onset. Cal has a commitment to excellence, he said, A commitment to win every single day and in every single way. In recruiting athletes, he said getting the state of California is paramount to the programs success. For now, Barbour is glad that her search is over, and a whirlwind two days has ended for Dykes. Well look back at it all and say it was the best 48 hours of my life, he said. Full version online at The Daily Californian. www.dailycal.org.
This text conversation between Derek J. Amaya and John Tabor, a former sports reporter, was held at 2 p.m. Dec. 10. DEREK: Im disappointed
with fans, especially alumni, at Louisiana Tech. They acted like a school 30 minutes east of Ruston, who shall remain unnamed. They acted like a bunch of punks. The ones who they really should be tending to are the seniors. This was a great group of guys, and they did not deserve missing out on a bowl game.
JOHN: I absolutely agree.
In all honesty, arrogance finally caught up with Tech. When you lose your last two games to finish third place in the WAC, youve got to be satisfied with whatever you are offered.
DEREK: It is a shame,
too. Bulldog fans were going on Twitter and Facebook putting statuses about how they werent renewing their tickets and how ashamed they are to be Bulldog fans. It was pure ignorance. Im sure a lot of the seniors read the statuses, too.
JOHN: Im sure the play-
Email comments to dja014@latech.edu.
Email comments to jkuperberg@dailyca.org.
Fans react to Techs no-show bowl

REINA KEMPT Sports Editor This past season has been one of the best for Tech football since the 60s, from a 10-3 record to Louisiana Tech seeing its name in the Top 25 AP polls for the first time since 1999. However, the football world, especially Louisiana Tech, was left in shock and disappointment when the Bulldogs werent announced to attend a bowl game this year. Tech was once hoping to go to the Orange Bowl in Miami but lost the Western Athletic Conference championship game to Utah State plus the following game against San Jose State. Even with a sour ending, the overall seasons accomplishments were still seen good enough to end up playing for a bowl title. Despite not winning the WAC title, some thought the team would go to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis and others assumed it would head back to the all too familiar Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Dec. 2 was the day that brought players, alumni and students to tears as they would find out their season would be cut short with no bowl game. Junior kinesiology major KDarious Cash said he was highly upset when he heard the news. The first thing that crossed my mind when I heard was disappointment, Cash said. Freshman chemical engineering major Logan Corley, an avid Tech football fan, said he couldnt believe it. I was mad, like What the heck? This cant be right, Corley said. I couldnt believe it. Twitter rants and angry alumni spoke out in rage and disappointment about the abrupt ending to one of the greatest football seasons in Bulldog history. Some blame President Dan Reneau, some blame former head coach Sonny Dykes and others blame athletics director Bruce Van De Velde, but at the end of the day the elite football players of LA Tech are now just regular students heading to class and then back to their rooms with an emptiness inside of them. Its got to be the coaches, Cash said. But what did we have to lose? Corley, along with Cash, are just two of several students who seem to feel that the coaches were responsible. Hes the coach, so he had to be the one who said no to the bowl game, Corley said. The disappointment does not just stop with the fans and supporters of Tech, but spreads as far as the couldve-been opponents that felt they were overlooked as the elite force of north Louisiana football. After Tech lost the bid to the Independence Bowl, the University of Louisiana-Monroe had several fans speak out saying that Tech turned down the Independence Bowl to save face against a possible upset. Senior marketing major at ULM Taylor Jamison said he believes the ULM-Tech match up has been long awaited and Tech is running scared. I feel like theyve been running for awhile, Jamison said. An ULM-Tech game wouldve been a good one, but we definitely wouldve won. Jamison said he feels like its not the players or coaches fault that the north Louisiana face-off never happened, but was more in the hands of the administrators. Im assuming the athletic director (Van De Velde) didnt want to play us, but it looks bad for the whole (Tech) program, Jamison said. First no bowl, then the coach leaves. That will probably hurt the recruiting in the future. There is still confusion as to why Techs big year ended so small or whos to blame, but what is sure is Tech football is in need of an intervention and faith that next year will ease the woes of the red and blue.
ers read all the Internet chatter as well. I personally stayed away from going on rants on FB, message boards, etc., as much as possible. I definitely have a strong dislike for how the administration completely fumbled the bowl situation. Maybe this was the incident that will finally awaken the alumni base. I will say I dont think coach Dykes would have stayed at Tech regardless of how the last month has played out.
DEREK: Hopefully. The
alumni got a wakeup call to begin with anyway. We had the nations best offense. We deserved a bowl game. Thanks to whomever didnt make that happen. Not pointing any fingers though. There were multiple players. Dykes is a great coach. I dont blame him for leaving. Now I pose a question for you. Do you think he had something to do with us not making a bowl game?
JOHN: No, I dont. Grant-
Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.
ed, neither you nor I were in that locker room, but Im willing to bet that the conversation between administration and the coaching staff was a oneway street. And it breaks my heart for all the seniors. Those guys were fun to watch.
Bulldogs try to repeat history in Little Rock

DEVIN KING Sports Reporter The Bulldogs basketball team is starting off strong this season with a 10-2 record. They look to continue this strong play with a rematch on the road against University of Arkansas at Little Rock Monday. The Dogs played UALR earlier this year on Nov. 14 and the Dogs won 70 to 52. Junior guard Cordarius Johnson led Louisiana Tech with 17 points in that victory. Despite the Bulldogs winning, head coach Michael White and other key Bulldogs feel there are things to improve before the rematch against UALR. In the first meeting versus the Trojans, the Dogs lost in the rebound total 43 to 38 and committed nine turnovers. White said he wants to see the team improve in those areas. Sophomore guard Raheem Appleby leads the Dogs in scoring, averaging 20.4 points per game, and he well as his rebounding improvement, shares the same vision as White. White said. Weve got to do the little things The Dogs have a great outlook for like box out and doing this season, but White the scouting report, said he thinks someAppleby said. These thing else can contribBULLDOG are things that coach ute to the outcome of BASKETBALL talked about before the the season. Monday. Dec. 17 game. The play of our five A lot of the light is newcomers need to at UALR Trojans shining on Appleby, but continue to progress for fifth-year redshirt senior us to keep improving as 7 p.m. guard Brandon Gibson a whole, White said. Little Rock, Ark carries his share of Gibson, Appleby weight for the Dogs. and White have set the The last four years bar high for this season Watch the game at I didnt have someone and believe the sky is www.latechsports. to look up to and count the limit as long as they com/allaccess on, said Gibson. As a keep their focus. senior I would tell the Coach White strives younger guys to not for the NCAA tournatake it for granted. ment and winning the Johnson caught Whites eyes this Western Athletic Conference, Gibson season in the first match up against said. Myself, Raheem and others say, UALR. Who says we cant make it to the FiJohnson has been tremendous nal Four of the NCAA tournament? thus far with his defensive progress, as As a team we have high expectations to get deep in the tournament. With high expectations come different roadblocks, starting Monday when the Bulldogs visit UALR for the second time this season. Yes, they are on the schedule every year and this season we play them once home and away, Gibson said. Im sure they have a bitter taste in their mouth. Every year it seems to get better and better for me. The Dogs are coming off a sevengame winning streak, but that ended in a close one on the road at Northwestern State 89 to 83. Hamilton, Johnson, Gibson and Appleby will all need to contribute against the Trojans because the Dogs are 0 and 3 in trips to Little Rock, Ark. For more on basketball and other Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desks Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.
DEREK: They were prob-
ably the best senior class ever at Tech.
JOHN: Most definitely.
Time to move on with the program. We need to have a coach in place by the end of the week.
DEREK: Maybe Karl
Malone will coach. Hahaha!
JOHN: Or be AD. I do
think some changes need to be made in the office. Unfortunately, when the man with the checkbook has his puppet in place, whats going to change?
Email comments to dki008@latech.edu.
Derek Amaya is a junior journalism and marketing major from Metairie. Email comments to dja014@latech.edu.

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DYKES DEPARTURE

The student voice of Louisiana Tech University

Tech revamps website

Sirens installed to alert Ruston residents

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Union Board presents annual Tech the Halls

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WEB from pg. 1

Graduation registration deadline Friday

Wesley Foundation hosts dance party

Phi Alpha Theta holds food drive

Couseling center to hold workshop

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Lady Techsters to host Oral Roberts

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Kickin Cajun churning out the chicken

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FROM THE EDITOR

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Students give the gift of blood for the holidays

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