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MUSIC REVIEW

WikiLeaks Assange loses his extradition appeal in UK

PAGE 7 PAGE 2
MOVIE REVIEW

FLORENCE & MACHINE

THE
How does the bands new album stack up?

THE RUM DIARIES

Gonzo fans get another chance to see his work on the big screen. - PAGE 7 A&E One student gets his 15 minutes of fame on MTVs Real World. - PAGE 2

Volume 86

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November 3, 2011 www.thetechtalk.org

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The student voice of Louisiana Tech University

Number 8

Hit-and-run driver in police custody

PATRICK BOYD Staff Reporter A 22-year-old Tech student was charged with hit-and-run driving Friday in the case where a female student was hit in a campus pedestrian crosswalk. Brittain Travis White, a junior electrical engineering major, told police that he was involved in the incident that occured about 7:20 p.m. Oct. 26 in the crosswalk near Mitchell Hall. As she was crossing the road to go to the Unity Step Show, part of the Homecoming Week festivities, she was sideswiped by a car, police said. A Tech police officer saw the accident and rendered aid to the student while White left the scene, police said. The student suffered several broken ribs and a punctured lung, and she is now recovering in a Shreveport hospital. Police have not released the victims name. Tech Police sent out notifications Thursday describing the suspected vehicle, a 1996 or 97 Mazda Millenia, to law enforcement in surrounding cities as well as to students. White turned himself in to Tech police about 2 a.m. Friday. According to the police report, White said he was going to the step show in his 1999 Mazda Millenia and was running late to pick up a friend. As he came through Tech Drive driving south, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye and swerved. White did not think he hit anyone and continued on his way to pick up his friend, according to the police report. He attended the step show, and it was there that he learned a girl had been hit in the crosswalk. Clearly this was an accident, said Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes. The decision he made at the time was not the best, but he did the right thing by turning himself in. A hit-and-run offense, which has several different levels, is a felony and has charges of up to $5,000 and 10 years in prison. Since White left the scene after hitting the student, the crime was elevated from a traffic offense to a criminal offense, Tech police said. White was taken to the Ruston Detention Center where he is being held. These kinds of things happen, Hermes said.

Drivers have to be very careful on these streets when they are encountering pedestrians. Hermes said pedestrians should never assume that a car is going to stop, even if crossing at designated crosswalk. Make some indication with the driver of the car to make sure that they are going to stop before crossing the road.

Email comments to gpb009@latech.edu.

Dawgs unite for Homecoming

2010 Lagniappe gets top award

MOLLY BOWMAN Staff Reporter Techs 2010 Lagniappe staff has been featured as one of the best yearbook staffs of 2010 in the 25th edition of Balfour Yearbooks 2011 YearbookYearbook. The 2010 yearbook on the RISE rose to the top in ranking and was recognized for elements such as layout, cover design, photos and theme. Mary Brown, adviser for the 2010 Lagniappe staff, said they have been recognized in the past but not this highly. The Lagniappe has been honored by Taylor/Balfour Publishing for many years running, but we were very excited to be in the top five percentile this particular year, Brown said. Some Tech students like Jared Harper, a senior mechanical engineering major, said this award reiterates what they already knew about Techs yearbook. I know they have great photography, strong article writing, great presentation and structure, Harper said. The award is only just representation for what I already knew. Brown said this high achievement for the 2010 staff is because of the editor-in-chief and sports editor for the 2010 book, Kevin Allen. He was completely dedicated to his staff and to the Tech and Ruston communities, Brown said. He deserves much of the credit for the success of the book as well as the theme. Brown said she thinks the

Photo by Dacia Idom

Preston Strickland, a senior sociology major, marches with Techs Band of Pride around Joe Aillet Stadium, leading the football team through a sea of red and blue tailgating activities before Saturdays Homecoming Game against San Jose State University. PATRICK BOYD Staff Reporter From dippin dots and dunking booths in Centennial Plaza to a win over the San Jose State University Spartans, school pride was in the air at Tech during Homecoming Week. With a full roster of events, Between Gods and Men, the Best Will Win Homecoming Week, put on by the Student Government Association, brought students on Techs campus together for all the festivities. Homecoming Week was great this year, said Tashashama Nard, student activities director for SGA. We had a lot of participation from the sororities, fraternities and non-Greek organizations. Nard also said new events such as the block party and stroll off were successes as well. We had a lot of participation this year because we broke the prize money into three different categories: sorority, fraternity and non-Greek, she said. This gave more organizations a chance to win the money. To kick off the week on Sunday, students participated in Paint the Town, where they went around to businesses to advertise for Homecoming and show support for the football team. Other highlights of the week included Tuesday evenings Techs Got Talent show in which students showcased their singing, dancing, poetry and piano playing abilities. All the performances were great, said Abby Hill, a junior speech pathology

fact that the book was not really complex was what made it so appealing to readers. I think the simplicity of the design and all black and white photos made this book a classic, Brown said. We had a strong staff that worked both individually and together to make this a cohesive product for Tech students. Browns job was to work with the students and make sure the book flowed together well and appealed to all readers. My role as adviser was to help the students make each section of the book work in unison with the others and to produce a product for all Tech students, she said. One that hopefully tells the story of that particular year very well. Anamaria Torres, editor-inchief for the 2011 Lagniappe, said they are looking to revamp the yearbook this year. The Lagniappe last year turned out really well because we did a really simple cover and just a simple book, Torres said. This year we are going try to go really big and make it different by giving it more of a magazine feel. Although this years staff is going to be making some changes for this yearbook, they also want to keep some things the same. We want to keep the simplicity and how everyone likes the opening black and white, Torres said. We want to be remembered for those things. Torres said this years staff is

> see HOMECOMING page 7

> see LAGNIAPPE page 2

Scars sanded away in student art project

AMIE ROLLAND Staff Reporter No one wants to sleep with a fat girl. You are what you eat. Thunder thighs. These scarring words and phrases can be found carved into a brand new table that stands alone behind the F. Jay Taylor Visual Arts Building. Ashley Feagin, a third-year photography graduate student, has made her most recent idea, Devour: Daily Consumption and Restoration Project, open to the public. Devour began Oct. 18 and will continue for 30 days. Each day Feagin meets students, and they have lunch around the table where they carve words and discuss their impact. Lunch dates for each week are posted on the projects Facebook page. For the past couple of weeks, Feagin said she has seen a variety of people of all shapes and sizes from all over campus come to check out her project. Feagin said she chose this project because she wanted to do something physical while still touching on personal issues. I decided to do a piece about the emotional scarring that happens through words, specifically about weight and your physicality, she said. Students carve hurtful phrases into the table, and at the end of each week Feagin said she will sand down the table to try to remove the words. She said she spent hours sanding down the table after the first week, and some were so deeply carved that they could not be erased. Still knowing that those words will be there is almost symbolic of how you can overcome stuff, but it still weighs heavy on you, she said. Matt Knopps, a first-year studio art graduate student, said he stopped by for lunch to see what the project was all about. He said more interactive events should take place on campus similar to Feagins project. It adds to community involvement, he said. I really like this kind of stuff that can bring the student body together in a project. Knopps said he was interested in how unique the table

Photo by Jessica Van Alstyne

> see SCARS page 3

Ashley Feagin, a photography graduate student, made this table for her Devour project. The project encourages students to eat lunch with Feagin and carve something about how food affects their lives into the table, which Feagin then sands away.

2 The T T ech alk November 3, 2011

Campus

Musician gets taste of Real World

REINA KEMPT Staff Reporter Freshmen are usually worried about their first midterm and projects, but Taylor McMahon has even more on his mind as his music career starts to take off. McMahon is a freshman communication design major whose childhood hobby took him further than he imagined. His song Rhyme and Rhythm was featured on MTVs Real World last week, and he said he could not be more excited about it. He took piano for eight years but became more interested in sports when his family moved from Shreveport to Lake Charles. After a serious sports-related injury, he decided to lay his jersey down and pick up the guitar. The guitar was something his father played for him and the interest in it rubbed off. Growing up, my dad played the guitar, but it was always just a lot of fun, McMahon said. I remember going into my fathers room as a little kid, he would always play for me. As he got older and improved his guitar skills, his childhood friend, Charity Vance, was featured on American Idol. After coming back from American Idol, she looked for a studio to record her music and found the Zod Lounge in Nashville, Tenn. Vance gave a song that McMahon created to the producers at Zod Lounge, and they found him to be a future star. They called his agent with nothing but praise for the young guy and insisted on working with him. A few weeks later, he was in Nashville working with them. McMahon was sent to Nashville to

Study abroad interest meetings held today

Techs School of Architecture and the department of history will take a trip to Berlin, Germany, during the first 6-week session of summer quarter 2012. An interest meeting will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. in George T. Madison Hall, Room 213 to provide more information. Students going on the trip will earn six hours of GER credit. For more information contact Damon Caldwell, an assistant professor of architecture, at 318-257-5259 or caldwell@ latech.edu. The department of foreign languages will be taking a trip to Costa Rica from June 3-30, 2012, in which six hours of Spanish can be earned. An informational meeting will be held at 4 p.m. today in GTM, Room 219. For more information contact Anne Reynolds-Case, an assistant professor of Spanish, at 318-257-5497 or arcase@latech.edu.

PAWS to host 5K run, walk this Saturday

Pet Assistance Welfare Society of Northeast Louisiana will host Strut Your Mutt, a 5K run and one-mile walk/run at 8 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln Parish Park at Pavilion 5. All money made from the run/walk will benefit the new PAWS Spay-Neuter Services Center. Check in and race day registration begins at 8 a.m. The 5K starts at 8:30 a.m., and the one-mile walk/run starts at 9:30 a.m. Snacks and goodie bags will be provided for dogs and their walkers. Tickets are $25 and T-shirts will be available while supplies last. For more information contact Samantha Luttrell, humane education director, at 318-3970007 or pawsnela@yahoo.com.

one that you really like. I have always been opposed to love songs because they are overdone, McMahon said. I wanted to make it more of a relationship with someone you enjoy being with rather than the usual love songs. McMahon said the song was originally intended to be on last seasons Real World: Las Vegas, but the producers felt the vibe went well with a beach setting. MTV decided to hold the song until the show moved to the sandy shores of San Diego. He said he hopes to work with MTV in the future, but for now, he has a few projects available to the public. McMahon now has an extended play (EP) titled Memory Music. An extended play is a musical recording that contains more than a single but is less than a full album. He said he named the EP that because he writes music about his memorable past. My friend asked me why I write music, McMahon said. I said that I write music about things that mark my journey and othPhoto by Dacia Idom ers journeys so they can relate to my Taylor McMahon, a freshman communication design major, plays his guitar at Black music. Thats how I came up with my Box before an interview. His song Rhyme and Rhythm was featured on Real World EP name. McMahon said he also has a ChristSan Diego, Episode 5 on Oct. 26. mas song called Deck the Halls comstart his career as a singer and musician, excited. I told the first person I could, ing out within the month, and his music and he said his agent said this was the which was my roommate. can be found on iTunes. He is also in the best move for him. He said Rhyme and Rhythm is a process of having his music selected by McMahon said his agent has been song about relationships, but its not Pandora Radio. essential to his success. His agent was the usual love song that you would hear McMahon said he does not plan on the person who gave him the call that from a young singer. slowing down any time soon. He said he would change his career. He said he is not into writing exag- can see himself forming his own band in My agent is awesome, and he knows gerated love songs about feelings he has the future but is not certain about it. a lot of people, he said. He called me never felt. This particular song is about to tell me about MTV, and I was so having fun and hanging out with some- Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.

Top Dawgs hope for successful Idea Pitch today

REINA KEMPT Staff Reporter Tech will host its annual Top Dawg Idea Pitch from 5-8 p.m. today in the Student Center, Main Floor. The Top Dawg competition consists of 21 teams that will present ways to solve problems with creative, innovative ideas. Each team will deliver 3-5 minute pitches about their ideas and have their concepts rated by a panel of professional judges. In addition, the student body can visit each teams booth and vote for their favorite ideas using Bulldog Bucks, which are similar to Monopoly money. The teams with the most bucks and the best ratings from the judges will move on to the Top Dawg New Venture Championship in the spring to compete for cash and prizes. Business professionals will mentor the winning teams before the New Venture Championship. Bulldog Entrepreneurs sponsor helpful business planning seminars to help these teams as well. Brandon Lawrence, a senior business major, said the Idea Pitch is more than just a competition. It is not just a project, Lawrence said. It is something you can take from Tech and take to the world. He decided to do his business venture on a Ruston parking solution after reading an article in The Tech Talk that presented parking as an issue in Ruston. His venture includes a multi-story parking garage between downtown Ruston and Tech. The ability to have a parking spot available will bring more people to the area, Lawrence said. When more people come to the area, it opens up opportunity for more businesses to develop in the downtown area. Plus, students wont be searching 20 minutes for a parking space. Debbie Inman, coordinator of entrepreneurial studies, said the event has been going on for four years and is a great experience for the students. It started in 2008 as the need to talk about students ideas before they enter the Business Plan competition which has been held since 2001, she said. The ideas needed more development, we thought to do an idea pitch first. Inman said the winners of the Idea Pitch will advance to the Business Venture competition where they will create an investment deck, which is a PowerPoint of the crucial information that goes into their concept of starting a business. Inman has been hosting practice pitches with the participating students for the past few weeks to help them prepare for the idea pitch. The competition is just a really good way for students who are thinking about taking their idea to the next level to get some real feedback, she said.

Laura Birou, an associate professor of management, will be one of the judges featured in the idea pitch. She said if students want to impress her, they have to be passionate about their projects. Everybody wants to own their own business, but they dont understand how hard it is, Birou said. Only the people who are passionate about it will succeed.

Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.

Opera workshop slated for weekend

Techs department of music will hold its fall opera workshop, Taking the Lead, at 4 p.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. Saturday in the Recital Hall of Howard Center for the Performing Arts. This workshop provides students a chance to perform in a full stage production while improving their music and drama skills. Admission is free and one hour of course credit is available for MUEN 234 and MUEN 434. For more information contact Lisa Maxedon, an assistant professor of music, at 318-2572061 or lmaxedon@latech.edu.

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LAGNIAPPE from pg. 1

2012-13 OSL interest meetings begin soon

An interest meeting for any students who are interested in becoming a 2012-13 orientation student leader will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in Davison Hall, Room 213. If the first meeting conflicts with students schedules, there will be two more meetings held Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in Davison Hall, Room 213. Applications will only be available at meetings. For more information contact Travis Napper, director of orientation and special programs, at 318-257-3036 or tnapper@latech.edu.

trying to instill a sense of pride for Tech in the yearbook. She said they have picked a theme that will represent the diversity and unity within the university. We want people to know that this is Techs book, not just this department is involved in this or that, Torres said. We want to make sure that is carried on from last year. I think we had a really good spread of stories from different people and the different things that were available on campus.

Email comments to mmb041@latech.edu.

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The Ruston Daily Leader is seeking a part-time journalist to work 10 to 20 hours part-time journalist to work 10 to 20 hours per week. Responsibilities include writing per week. Responsibilities include writing news articles, taking photos, clerical work news articles, taking photos, clerical work and page design. Students working on and page design. Students working on their degree or college newspaper pretheir degree or college newspaper preferred. Send resume ferred. Send resume and writing samples writing samples to laura@rustonleader.com. to laura@rustonleader.com.

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Career Center offers two helpful seminars

Techs Career Center will host two seminars, Writing an Effective Resume at 3 p.m. and The Successful Interview at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Education Center located in Keeny Hall, Room 337. These seminars will be presented to help students gain useful skills on how to format an efficient resume and handle an interview correctly. Attendance at the resume seminar is required for a resume review. For more information contact Janice Grisby, coordinator of Career Center Services, at 318-257-4336 or jgrigsby@latech.edu.

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November 3, 2011 The T T ech alk 3

I believe...success stems from originality

AMIE ROLLAND Staff Reporter This is the seventh in a nine-part series on what different individuals believe based on the collection of essays titled This I Believe II. The book serves as the common read for freshman seminar classes as part of the First-Year Experience program. Conformists might be labeled as followers who stick to the majority and lose their individual identity. The noncompliant, however, stray from the norm, express their individuality and succeed in their own ways. I believe in people and individuals ability to make a positive impact, said Sam Speed, assistant dean of student life. Speed said in the educational process, he watches students grow and develop on a daily basis. He also said he too often sees students trying to fit a particular mold instead of making their own way. They want to run themselves through a copy machine and become what someone else is instead of being an original, he said. Speed emphasized the importance of people recognizing their own talents, strengths and interests rather than conforming to someone elses. Know you and embrace who you are in that path in life, he said. The more you do that, the more youll be fulfilling lifes purposes. Speed views failure as lacking originality, while some people think failure comes with individuality. Regardless of the publics opinion, Speed said a person has contributed to society by

Photo by Dacia Idom

Sam Speed, assistant dean of student life, believes individuals find success by being original. Since Speed works with students, he said many students feel the need to mimic successful people around them, but he suggests students tap into their own potential to create something beyond the norm by which they are surrounded. finding his individual purpose. Speed said it is crucial for people to realize it is acceptable to be different. I think that is the part of life we fail to embrace, he said. Speed said he notices the conventionality among students, which motivates him to come to work every day to help students find their own interests. You see untapped potential, and all youre doing is shaking that potential and giving it room to breathe and come out, he said. Speed said although expressing oneself is important, it is also compelling to be creative and think beyond the boundaries. He said he is already

teaching his 13-year-old daughter to think outside of the box. At one point, he said his daughter wanted to be a doctor and soon after she changed her mind and decided she wanted to own a dance studio. I asked her why she couldnt have both, he said. Speed said he asked his daughter why she could not have a clinic where dance was the antidote for someones illness. He said your dreams do not have to be limited to one achievement. Stop thinking inside of a box and create something thats for you, he said. Dont just look at whats out there; create something thats bigger than whats out there. Speed said having kids and learning to direct them toward the right path made him realize that there is a lot more to life than material possessions. I want them to be happy, satisfied and have a purpose in life, he said. Speed said he has known a lot of people who thought they found things that made them happy but were not truly satisfied. He said it is unrealistic for students, especially freshmen, to come to college knowing exactly what they want to do in life. Thats really what its about, not finding that exact thing but going out and searching for it, he said. Speed said the world is so caught up in the success and advancement of the next best invention that we overlook the people around us. What about building better people and helping someone else out? he asked. Speed said people get too absorbed in doing rather than living, and they forget what they are trying to become. Were not human doers, he said. Were human beings.

Email comments to asr017@latech.edu.

>

SCARSfrom pg. 1

was when decorated with so many different words, new and old. He said the words gave the table character, especially after being sanded down. It was just negative comments before it was sanded, he said. Now you look at it and think wow, I like the way this looks because its not perfectly sanded down. A sign explaining the project clings to the wall beside the table letting people know it is OK to inscribe on the table. Knopps said people should be aware that the table is being damaged for a reason. Put it together as a cohesive thing, and it becomes more than vandalism, he said. Laila Al-Agha, a senior graphic design major, said she has visited the table numerous times and said she likes to enjoy more than the visual aspect of the project. When I carved mine, I did it in a nice handwriting, she said. Its part of this piece, but I also want to make it aesthetically pleasing, she said. Al-Agha said she is not modest about writing on the table but has noticed some students hunched over carving, choosing to be alone. She said she has been spreading the word about the project in hopes that more people will participate. Even if they dont participate, they should come see whats going on, she said. Feagin said this project is a different type of art. She said it is public art, and she has never seen anything done like it since she has been a student. I kind of feel like an artist now, especially since Im tapping on such personal issues, she said. I feel like art is most successful when it is so personal that it becomes universal.

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Email comments to asr017@latech.edu.

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4 The T T ech alk November 3, 2011

FROM THE EDITOR

Real drug war goes unnoticed
sk your doctor for the magical pill that will make all of your aches and pains disappear! TV ads for prescription medicines essentially suggest this if youre feeling down in one way or another, just ask your doctor, and hell provide a simple solution. What he and drug companies wont tell you is that many prescription drugs are more dangerous than scheduled narcotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released figures Tuesday that suggest FDAapproved medicines are more powerful than most realize. More people die in America every year from prescription drug abuse than die from heroin and cocaine combined, reads the lead of a Fox News article about the subject. This rate is four times what it was a decade ago. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), the number of prescriptions for powerful painkillers has also increased fourfold. Just a few weeks ago, the CDC released other astounding numbers: the use of antidepressant drugs has skyrocketed 400 percent since 1988. An estimated 25 percent of women ages 40 to 59 take antidepressants, and 11 percent of Americans over the age of 12 took them between 2005 and 2008. Though I have no doubt that some people seriously need antidepressants and other prescription meds, many U.S. doctors have become drug dealers in the process. Its not hard to find one of these pill mills in which you simply tell the doctor what drugs you want and get a prescription. All you have to do is pay for it. The problem with this epidemic is that American society tells us its all OK. Popping pills is fine if the FDA approved it, right? Granted, getting a prescription does not mean you have to get addicted. But many of these drugs are addictive even when taken as prescribed. While thousands are dying each year due to legal drug use, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder continues to fuel the so-called drug war to our south by providing Mexico with guns and then cracking down on a completely natural medicine here. According to CBS, documents show that Holder was briefed on the Fast and Furious operation in May 2010. The now-notorious government activity was intended to be a sting operation to catch arms smugglers before guns cross the border into Mexico. Instead, our government allowed guns into the cartel-ridden country, and at least one U.S. official was killed by the very guns that were never supposed to leave the U.S. Holder has also committed the federal government to cracking down on medical marijuana dispensaries and has maintained its scheduling status that basically asserts that weed is as dangerous as heroin. However, numerous studies have shown that the natural plant is not dangerous, and marijuana has never killed anyone. These continue to go ignored by our government. The actions of Holder and information from the CDC point to one thing: a hypocritical stance and confusion on an actual drug war. If U.S. officials really want violence in Mexico to stop (or at least dramatically decrease), theres a simple solution: eliminate the black market under which the cartels and smugglers operate. If U.S. officials really care about Americans health, legal drugs would be a bigger concern than they appear to be now. But as President Barack Obama demands the FDA produce more drugs for us to consume, its quite clear that the government would rather feed us its synthetic pills than confront the real drug war. How else will drug companies make their money? Kelly Belton is a senior journalism and political science major from Houston who serves as editor-in-chief for The Tech Talk. Email comments to belton. kelly@gmail.com.

IN OUR OPINION

BP return to Gulf drilling is too soon

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

Seven billion and counting
MARY TIMMONS Associate Editor he 2011 Halloween season brought candy, costumes and an increase in the earths population. On Monday, as estimated by the United Nations, the Earths population reached and surpassed a population of 7 billion. According to the U.N. website, by 2043 the human population could rise to 9 billion. In 1998, the population had just reached 6 billion and has grown rapidly since. Will this moment define history for humanity? Many question whether or not society is getting too big and endangering the well-being of this planet. As soon as the news of the population increase came to light, the Internet flooded with articles and blogs on what this means for the human race and how to prevent the population increase. Many people believe humanitys chances of long-time survival are low, the argument being that earths resources are limited, making it unable to sustain human population forever. The earths resources were limited long before our population reached 7 billion. While some believe the Earth is limited, others find it to be a bountiful place that can provide for any number of people. If Earth had everything we needed and enough to go around, maybe wars would have turned out differently. Scientists have known for a long time that the Earths resources were going to be limited. Maybe this should have been of more concern before the population reached 7 billion. Regardless of what anyone believes and thinks about this world and what it can and cannot provide for its people, Im left to wonder why it all even matters? Honestly, there is only one sure way to prevent population increase. So, unless everyone in the world just stops having babies, the option to decrease population is pretty much out of the question. Society can slow down population increase by regulating pregnancy, but who wants to be told they can only have x number of kids? We wont know for sure what will happen to humanity, so all we can do is guess and see where that leads us. What does this population increase mean for human survival? As of right now the world is still thriving even with its population constantly on the rise. I would say its nothing to worry about at the moment. All things will eventually come to an end, even people. Maybe this is just the beginning of our end. Im not trying to spark conspiracy theories or doomsday predictions, Im only writing about how ludicrous it is that we are making a big deal about the earths population now. Im also confused as to why 7 billion is such a significant number. Why didnt the world make a big deal when the population passed 6 billion? It just seems somewhat ridiculous that this number was headline news on several websites. Is there any exact number of people that the world can hold? Whether individuals should worry about it in the future is all up to them. Personally, Im going to accept the fact that all things eventually come to an end. Im going to continue to live my life until I cant anymore without the worry of what is going to happen if there are too many people in the world. Mary Timmons is a senior journalism major from Logansport who serves as associate editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to mnt005@latech. edu.

n April 22, 2010, more than 205 million gallons of oil spilled from BPs Deepwater Horizon rig, causing an explosion that killed 11 people and created an insumer mountable amount of damage along the coastline and in the Gulf. However, 554 days after the incident, BP has retured to the Gulf of Mexico. The company has received its first permit to resume drilling in the Gulf since last years oil spill. The Obama administration approved BPs plan to drill up to four or five exploratory wells farther away from the coast, in the Kaskida Field about 250 miles southwest of New Orleans. Overall, the companys outlook has been positive. The company said in a news release, We are pleased to have received a permit to drill. BP characterized the decision as another milestone in our steady return to safely drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the U.S. governments Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said the BP project had met enhanced safety requirements and standards established following the tragedy in the Gulf last year. BP has met all of the enhanced safety requirements that we have implemented and applied consistently over the past year, Michael R. Bromwich, the director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, said. In addition, BP has adhered to voluntary standards that go beyond the agencys regulatory requirements. However, despite BPs move forward, the oil spill distaster has remained a burden for the company. BP along with Transocean, the rig operator, and , Halliburton, the cement contractor, received safety and environmental citations from the Interior Department. Not only could the 15 separate violations force the companies to pay $45.7 million, but they could both face potential criminal charges as well. In addition Edward J. Markey, the senior Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, disagreed with the situation. Comprehensive safety legislation hasnt passed Congress, and BP hasnt paid the fines they owe for their spill, yet BP is being given back the keys to drill in the gulf, he said. BPs problems were not only in the U.S., but abroad as well. In Russia, tensions between the TNK-BP joint venture led to the departure Maxim Barsky, the Russian deputy chief executive and heir apparent to the chief executive, Mikhail Fridman. This was the cause of a corporate shake-up from BPs plans to establish a partnership with another Russian company, Rosneft, earlier this year. Overall, the Tech Talk staf f is a bit skeptical of BP being allowed to resume drilling within the Gulf of Mexico so soon. The staf f believes the company should have taken more precautions to prevent last years oil spill. We hope BP takes the initiative to ensure the safety of the environnment, animals, coastlines in the Gulf and its own workers in the future.

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THE TRUTH AS I SEE IT

America: Land of the semi-free
TAYLOR STEPHENS Contributing Editor ments way of realizing the Internet should have had regulations when its popularity first started rising. However, now that the Internet is such a vast area of information, restricting what can and cant be allowed by Americans to view is next to impossible. The government runs the risk of starting a constitutional war with proponents of the First Amendment. Of course, the Twitter and YouTube dangers are merely a scare tactic at the moment, but if this bill gains momentum, there is a very real possibility that the censorship of the Internet could reach far beyond copyright infringement. This bill is intended to prevent websites from other countries that allow the posting of pirated material or material that infringes upon copyright laws, but that doesnt mean that it has to stop there. Give the government an inch, and theyll take a mile. Lets be honest, this is the Internet eras version of McCarthyism. Since the attorney general could be given free reign to block websites from American computers that he deems infringing upon copyright laws, he could play judge, jury and executioner for all home Internet connections in America. Similarly, during the 1940s and 50s, then U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy started a movement during the Second Red Scare to censor the threats of communism from American soil. During this time, thousands of Americans lost their jobs or were imprisoned just for being suspected of supporting communism. Generally, people targeted were government employees or entertainment personalities, but even people who owned small business in down-home America were targeted. Though the PIPA most likely will not be that extreme in practice, the fact that one elected official controls the content an entire nation can view is not what the Constitution promises. Whats more, a letter that was jointly sent to the members of Congress from the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and NetCoalition says that the organizations would prefer to have a chance to review the bill as professionals before it is voted on by government officials. Regardless of whether or not a professional agrees with what the bill proposes, the potential of the bill gives too much power to one person. The Internet has become too strong a force to just snuff out this late in the game. Whether or not there should be stricter regulations remains to be seen, but giving power to one elected official is definitely not the answer. Wheres Edward R. Murrow when you need him? Taylor Stephens is a senior journalism major from Bossier who serves as contributing editor for The Tech Talk. Email comments to tds026@latech. edu.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ADVERTISING MANAGER ADVISERS ADVERTISING ADVISER PRODUCTION MANAGER ADVERTISING PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT HEAD Kelly Belton Mary Timmons Amber Guyotte Naomi Allison Sherelle Black Sarah Brown Anna Claire Thomas Dacia Idom Rebecca Spence Dacia Idom Jessica Van Alstyne Kyle Kight Raven Thissel Dr. Elizabeth Christian Judith Roberts Dr. Reginald Owens Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc Dr. Reginald Owens

he online freedom you hold near and dear could be at stake. A new Internet protection bill could protect you more than you might want. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives released a new version of the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) that could potentially censor websites such as YouTube and Twitter. According to DemandProgress.org, under what Demand Progress is deeming the Internet Blacklist Bill, the U.S. Department of Justice would force search engines, browsers and service providers to block users access to websites that have been accused of copyright infringement without a day in court. Basically, PIPA will force many website owners to be responsible for content posted on their domain, which is bad news for websites that post user-generated content like YouTube and Twitter. I see this bill as the govern-

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Arts&Entertainment
MOVIE REVIEW

November, 3 2011 The T T ech alk 5

Depp film only mildly funny

REBECCA SPENCE News Editor Based on the Hunter S. Thompson novel, The Rum Diary starring Johnny Depp, was a hangover that never seemed to go away. The box office gave the film a 5.9 out of 10, which I believe is just a tad generous. Personally, I would give it just 5 out of 10 stars. This is the second film based on a Hunter S. Thompson book that Depp has starred in and has been able to give tribute to his late friend and confidant. The film takes place in Puerto Rico in the late-Eisenhower era in which, Depp plays Paul Kemp, an unpublished novelist who has moved from New York to Puerto Rico to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Hired by Richard Jenkins who plays E.J. Lotterman, the editor-in-chief of the San Juan Star, because he was the only applicant. Lotterman expects Kemp to bring spark and fire into the chaotic, careless newsroom as the new horoscope writer. Kemp soon finds out that Puerto Rico in 1960 is coming into an extravagant real estate boom. After being confronted by Sanderson, played by Aaron Eckhart, a former San Juan Star writer suspiciously turned millionaire, Kemp has a chance to get in on the action. He soon Depp. This probably is a result of Depp and Thompsons friendship in the later years of Thompsons life. He was able to emulate many of the mannerisms that I would have expected Thompson to display when he was alive. He is very convincing as a new journalist, as are the other members of the drunken staff of the San Jose Star. The scenery in this movie is beautiful; the colors of almost every scene jump out at you in detail. Beaches and the locals provide for a splash of culture. Everything about the scenery and cinematography entices the viewer to watch and envision themselves in Puerto Rico circa 1960. My main problem with this film is the amount of predictability. Even without having read the novel, it is easy to predict what is going to happen next. I also despise the random drug-tripping scenes. I understand this was Thompson we are talking about here, but this book was written in his prehallucination and pre-alcoholic days. The film shows that Thompson began and showed interest in narcotics, but I think the scenes pertaining to this film added a little bit too much to the already obvious alcoholic tendencies of Kemp in Puerto Rico. The movie is titled The

FilmDistrict

The Rum Diary HHHII

finds himself in a mess that not even he can comprehend with culture clashing and Chenault, Sandersons fianc played by Amber Heard. Kemp finds himself debating between using his words to help or to harm Sanderson and his group of American entrepreneurs. Having skimmed over Thompsons book, this film captures the essence of his rambling and extended explanations of events. This factor sometimes can be a little tedious and boring because the movie seemed like it was going to end at various points yet continued. The acting in the movie is almost on point, especially for

Film curtosy of FilmDistrict

Johnny Depp embraces the character of Hunter S. Thompson for the second time in his film career. The film is not only filled with rum and other liquor but also trashed hotel rooms as well as many other shenanigans that Thompson experienced.

Rum Diary, and obviously alcohol plays a big role. Because of this, I feel as if The Rum Diary was mildly funny and very entertaining, especially from a journalism

standpoint. For all of the regular people out there, it may be a peek into the world of Thompsons gonzo journalism styles and a mildly entertaining flick to watch over the weekend, if

not for the story line, but for the acting skills displayed specifically by Depp and Heard.

Email comments to res022@latech.edu

MUSIC REVIEW

Ceremonials full of expression

MARY TIMMONS Associate Editor Florence and the Machines debut album Lungs gained popularity in the U.S. a year after its original release in 2008. Will Ceremonials follow the same path? United Kingdom native and lead singer Florence Welch has proven that she can break into the American music industry with The Dog Days are Over. Florences newest album, Ceremonials was released Tuesday and hopefully becomes equally as successful as its predecessor. The single from her first album has been performed on numerous television shows and nominated for many awards. There is no doubt in my mind that her musical talent will continue to grow and thrive. The new Florence album, like Lungs, builds its tones off strong beats and amazing vocal talents. Shake It Out, the albums first single, is definitely not one to miss. Though some of the beats and tones are similar to Dog Days, be sure to listen to it all the way through to gain a full stay with the same genre without selling herself short. Her voice is too amazing to be overpowered by the typical American pop genre. Listeners of Florence knew she was talented from the beginning. With this album, I think she is really using her talent to express herself. With no restraints, Im sure Ceremonials will attract the attention of anyone who listens to current hits. Its not the perfect album, but it does come close. Dont get me wrong, I still enjoy many of the songs from Lungs, but her newest material can really captivate me. Florence and the Machine has presented the listener with well-written songs that radiate the ears. I feel that by the end of 2011 Ceremonials will be among the most popular and most listened to albums of the year. If youre the type of listener who enjoys indie music with a European twist, you should most definitely give the album a chance.

Films bring social issues, stigmas to the forefront

NAOMI ALLISON News Editor What would it feel like to be a 25-year-old living with cancer? Or experience segregation on a daily basis? Often, comedy mixed with a harsh dose of personal experiences and reality, seem to be a reoccurring theme in movies. Yet, what makes The Help and 50/50 so powerful, is that they manage to sharply capture real-life experiences and create riveting, colorful plots that make light of dark, disturbing and even controversial topics. In The Help, director Tate Taylor explores racial tensions between African-Americans and whites during the civil rights era. Set during the 1960s in Jackson, Miss., he illustrates how at vicious height of the Jim Crow laws, blacks and whites co-existed on a daily basis. He reveals that the segregation between both races wasnt just a constant state of denial, but a grand illusion. When Skeeter, an aspiring author, decides to write a book describing African-American maids perspectives on the wealthy Southern families they work for, her ideology, friendships and community begin to fall apart. However, despite

RCA Records

Ceremonials Florence and the Machine HHHII appreciation for her style of music. One of the best things about Ceremonials is the way Welch and her fellow band members have worked and made their indie style of music stand out just as much as Florences vocals. A variety of instrumental talent can be heard by the end of the first track. Drums, pianos and strong choir backup vocals make the album reminiscent of her first. Despite being similar, I enjoy Florences style of music and it is great to have new material to enjoy. One thing I find intriguing about the artist is her ability to

Summit Entertainment / Touchstone Pictures

Email comments to mnt005@latech.edu.

the discouragement of others, Skeeter continues to pursue her book. She collaborates with her best friends housekeeper (Ailbeen), and eventually causes more women to come forward to share their stories. Not only does her perspective on life change, but she matures as well. In 50/50, Adam Lerner is a successful writer at a public radio station in Seattle, whose life comes to a crashing halt when an oncologist reveals he has spinal cancer. Considering his young age, beautiful girlfriend, and healthy lifestyle, Adam has a difficult time accepting his new reality. Yet with no other options, he decides to confront his fate. He starts

chemotherapy and begins to fight for his life. He breaks the news to his parents, friends and Rachel, who all support him, but deal with it in different ways. For example, Rachel decides to break up with him. To escape reality, Adam later begins seeing Katie, an attractive doctoral student, who helps with the physical and psychological side effects of chemotherapy. Eventually, as time passes, Adams vitality, health and innocence begin to fade. He matures and comes to terms with his life and illness. He begins to appreciate what he has, and realizes that he took his former life for granted. One fascinating concept throughout both films is that all of the characters undergo crises that cause them to question society and the world around them, reflect about their own lives, and explore their relationships with others. By confronting the white elephant in the room and facing their deepest fears, they gain more insight. In return, audiences are able to grab a slice of wisdom before finishing up their popcorn and leaving the movie theater.

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6 The T T ech alk November 3, 2011

LAST WEEKS SOLUTION

WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
Aries March 21 April 19 Group activities and other social events should keep you pretty busy. You have a lot of people to see, calls to make, errands to run. This can be a drag, but its exciting and exhilarating as well. Youll be satisfied with the results. Some of the people should be especially congenial and might become friends. Relax and get busy. Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Career success, particularly involving writing, teaching, and other communication skills, could come your way today. You may not be aware that its coming, so it could be a bit difficult to handle at first. Still, youve been working toward this goal for a long time, and youll be glad to hear the news. In the evening, go out with friends to celebrate. Youve earned it! Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Have you been trying to learn about a subject for a long time? Have books, lectures, and documentaries on the subject been your primary form of entertainment? Whatever youve been hoping to gain from it could come to you today. If its a business advantage, youve got it. If its knowledge for its own sake, you know a lot by now. Whatever it is, bask in the glow of your achievement. Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 Some interesting dreams could come to you tonight. Dont be fooled by confusing symbolism. These dreams could shed light on business concerns youve been trying to work out. Make a list of the symbols and see what theyre trying to tell you. Then if it makes sense, act on it. Your dreams are probably only revealing what your subconscious has already worked out. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 A social event, perhaps related to business, could put you in touch with an old friend or two you havent seen for a long time. Youll have a wonderful time catching up. In fact, you have more in common now than you did before. If youre single, you might think of this person as a potential romantic partner. Go slowly, but have fun! Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 You may have a lot of professional or personal calls to make today. E-mails could flood your inbox. A lot of people could vie for your attention. Your ego will receive a much-needed boost from all the acknowledgment. Dont be embarrassed or guilty. Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then. Relax and enjoy the spotlight! Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Recent study of philosophical or spiritual matters might inspire you to express your insights creatively. Whether you choose to write, make music, or paint pictures, youll notice a difference in your style. This may not last, as its at least partially due to whats on your mind now, but make the most of it today. You might produce quality work that surprises even you. Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Is a member of your household away? Your home could be a lonely place for a while. You miss your housemate, but you also enjoy the solitude and the quiet that enables you to catch up on your projects, which may include sleep! Dreams that come to you tonight could bring insights to solutions for business and finance. Write them down in the morning. Youll want to remember them.

www.horoscopes.com.net
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 A social event could land you in the middle of a room full of writers, artists, and teachers. You might not know any of them, but dont panic. Just listen to what they have to say. Your interest could attract their attention, and you could make some new friends. You might also attract invitations to future parties like this. Accept them! Youll be glad you did. Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 If youve been reading about health and fitness and putting what you read into action, today you might suddenly feel the results of your efforts. You feel physically and mentally strong, healthy, and energetic. This could put you in just the right mood to give some extra attention to the matter. Take care not to obsess over it. Youre doing fine. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 You look especially attractive today. Your communications skills are good. While romantic matters are low-key, love relationships could still advance. Interesting conversations with your love interest could reveal parts of you that your friend finds intriguing, and bring up interests in common that you didnt know you had. Make the most of it! Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 Business acquaintances could visit you today. They might stay longer than expected, but this is positive. Youll have a lot of interesting discussions that open up doors to more promising enterprises and ways to make a success of them. If you get distracted and talk about other things, what does it matter? Relax and enjoy yourself.

BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 7, 2011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across Across 1. Low in pitch 15 16 1- Low in pitch; 5. Beancurd 5- Beancurd; 9- 14 Cavalry sword; 149. Cavalry sword Arguing; 15- 17 18 19 Sleep like ___; 14. Arguing 16- Discharge; 17- Peerless; 19- Buy 15. Sleep like ___ 21 22 alternative; 20- Baby; 21- Unit of 20 16. Discharge volume; 23- Coal bucket; 2523 24 25 26 27 28 17. Peerless Part of TNT; 29Eternity; 2619. Buy alternative Norse goddess; 3029 30 31 32 20. Baby Reassignment; 33- Minor, in law; 21. Unit ofcry; 35- Delhi wrap; 34- Owl's volume 33 34 38- French vineyard; 40- Swirl; 23. Coal bucket 41- Exaggerate; 44- Alleviate; 35 36 37 38 39 40 25. Eternity 47- Expert critic; 26. Part of TNT 49- Convened; 41 42 43 44 45 46 52- Besides; 53- Building add29. Norse goddess on; 54- Hug; 56- Ruhr city; 5830. Reassignment 47 48 49 50 51 Hot water tank; 59- Stem; 6233. Minor, inboundaries of; 64Mark off the law 34. Owls cry 65- Alcoholic 52 53 54 55 Japanese dish; 35. Delhi wrap drink; 66- Discharge; 67- Stigma; 56 57 58 38. Frenchof the taro; 6968- Corm vineyard 40. Swirl Jerry; Receiver 59 60 61 62 63 41. Exaggerate Down 44. Alleviate 64 65 66 1- Expert critic 47. Expel; 2- Immediately; 3Wicked; 4- Mar. 67 68 69 49. Convened honoree; 5Small, sassy 52. Besides woman; 6- Cheer for Manolete; 7- Thwart; 8- More 53. Building add.on gruesome; 9- Containing element 11. Actress Arthur agent; 11- Actress Kitchen 12- Double curve; #34; 10- Antiquing 55. Arthur; gadget 54. Hug 18- Cave; 22- Small children; 24- Heroic; 26- Bound; 27- Highway; 28- Black; 3113- Hwy.; 12. Double curve 56. 56. Ruhr city 32- Deuce topper; 33- Fishing reel; 35- Caribbean danceK-12 36- Mary Kay Gillette razors; music; 13. Hwy. 58. Hot water tank 39- Peter Fonda title role; 42- Soft leather; 43-57. Dweeb 45- Back pain; competitor; 37- Tear; Lubricates; 18. Cave 59. Draft org. 59. Stem recess; 48- Heavy hammer; 49- Italian sausage; 50- Pertaining to vinegar; 5146- Shady 60. Boy king Cylindrical; the boundaries of 22. Small children 62. Mark off55- Kitchen gadget; 56- K-12; 57- Dweeb; 59- Draft org.; 60- Boy king; 61- Botanist 24. Heroic 61. Botanist Gray Gray; 63- Vespa rider, perhaps; 64. Japanese dish 26. Bound 63. Vespa rider, perhaps 65. Alcoholic drink 27. Highway 66. Discharge 28. Black 67. Stigma LAST WEEKS SOLUTION 31. Gillette razors 68. Corm of the taro 32. Deuce topper BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #1 for July 6, 2011 69. Receiver Jerry 33. Fishing reel Across Mizrahi; 6- Lobby of I S A A C F O Y E R A L S 1- Designer B Y E I a theater; 11- Capp and Capone; T 35. Caribbean dance musicDeclaim; O A B A N O R A T N T S V E 14- Domestic cat; 15L E R E T E I E Down 16- Sprechen ___ Deutsch?; 1736. Mary Kay competitor Having a O A R I A G O New York city; 18A I D E D good memory; 20- Boat 1. Expel propeller; 21- Othello villain; 23N A C R E T E M P E R S 37. Tear Assisted; 24- Mother-of-pearl; 2. Immediately 2639. Peter Fonda titleHardens metal; 28- Iranian A B A D A N R A T E S role city; 30- Gives a 9.8, say; 313. Wicked Birth-related; 32- Thin fogs; 33- N A T A L M I S T S A L A According to; 36- Pale; 42. Soft leather African language group;37A S H Y B A N T U A N O N 384. Mar. honoree Auth. unknown; 39- Mystery 43. Lubricates T E Y W O R S E B R A C E writer Josephine; 40- More 5. Small, sassy woman unfavorable; 41- Clamp; 42- The M A N S E P I L L O W house of a parson; 43- Head 45. Back pain rest; 44- Ancient capital of 6. Cheer for Manolete I B E F 46. Shady recess Assyria; 47- Cloud up; 48- Busy; N N N E V E H O U Z O O G A R 49- Anise-flavored liqueur; 50I U S E E 7. Thwart Attention; 53- A seizure; 5648. Heavy hammer e.g.;ClearMed.board; C A T A L E P S Y C A S T E Brahmin, 58specialty; 59the 8. More gruesome 60- Like some symmetry; 6149. Italian sausage Fernando; 62- Golden E N T E R A S E A X I A L Actor 9. Containing element #34 Horde member; R E Y T A T A R L E A D Y 50. Pertaining to vinegar63- Dull; 10. Antiquing agent Down 1- Langston Hughes poem; 2- Room in a casa; 3- Civil-rights leader; 4- Attorney's org.; 551. Cylindrical Contemptuous; 6- Beat into shape; 7- Black-and-white treat; 8- Sun ___-sen; 9- Hot time in
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Paris; 10- Christens anew; 11- Digression; 12- Alcohol processor; 13- Sows; 19- Rewards for waiting; 22- Prince Valiant's son; 25- Forever's partner; 26- Flavor; 27- Famous last words; 28Med school subj.; 29- Common; 30- Wash lightly; 32- Waterlogged soil; 33- Absence of sense of pain; 34- Bananas; 35- Again; 37- Endoskeletal component; 38- He sang about Alice; 40- Ripple; 41- Eyeglass having two portions; 42- City near Phoenix; 43- Dispenser candy; 44- More pleasant; 45- Foolish; 46- Bonkers; 47- Purchaser; 49- Greek peak; 51- Not much; 52- Bank (on); 54- Baseball stat; 55- Touch lightly; 57- Chopper;

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FRIDAY
HIGH 64 LOW 42

SUNDAY
HIGH 71 LOW 54

MONDAY HIGH 74 LOW 55

TUESDAY HIGH 73 LOW 52

WEDENSDAY HIGH 72 LOW 34

British High Court rules against WikiLeaks founder in extradition appeal case
Associated Press LONDON WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday lost his appeal against extradition to Sweden to answer sex crime allegations, but may now take his protracted fight to Britains highest court. British High Court Judges John Thomas and Duncan Ousely rejected Assanges claims that it was unfair and unlawful to send him to Scandinavia to be questioned over the alleged rape of one woman and the molestation of another in Stockholm last year. The 40-year-old has denied wrongdoing, and insists the case is politically motivated by those opposed to the work of his secret-spilling organization. After the judgment, Assange lawyer Mark Summers said he could not say whether or not his client planned to attempt an appeal to Britains Supreme Court. His legal team has 14 days to decide whether or not they plan to keep fighting the extradition. Wearing a gray suit, Assange flipped through pile of documents and shook hands with supporters as he appeared in court to hear the verdict. The court said that, for the time being, Assange would remain held on bail, under virtual house arrest at a supporters lavish country estate. In their ruling, the appeals judges rejected arguments put forward by Assanges legal team who said the decision by Swedish prosecutors to seek Assanges extradition was disproportionate. In any event, this is self evidently not a case relating to a trivial offense, but to serious sexual offenses, the judges said. Assange would not take questions as he left the court-

room, but supporters indicated that his prospects appeared bleak. Assange has said the sexual encounters were consensual and his lawyer Ben Emmerson had previously argued that the allegations would not be considered crimes in England an argument dismissed by the appeals judges.

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November 3, 2011 The T T ech alk 7

Homecoming 2011
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HOMECOMING from pg. 1

major and talent show committee head. I really enjoyed the student body coming together and showing their Bulldawg spirit all week. Wednesday night, there was a step show in memorial gym. The step show was great, said Alexis Brokenberry, a sophomore business management/entrepreneurship major. Each show was very entertaining from beginning to end. Brokenberry participated with Alpha Kappa Alpha in the step show. This was my first year as a greek so it will always be a memorable year for me. Friday night, at the pep rally for the big game on Saturday, Shane Rich and Morgan Broussard were announced as the 2011-12 Homecoming King and Queen. I was shocked when I heard my name called out as the queen, said Broussard, a junior marketing major. I felt honored to even be on the court, and never expected this outcome. Broussard is involved in Kappa Delta Sorority, Orientation Student Leaders, Circle K, and many other organizations. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to represent Tech as queen, she said. Homecoming was such a great experience, and one of the best parts of the week was seeing all the students and alumnis Tech pride at all the events.

Email comments to gpb009@latech.edu.

All photos by Dacia Idom

Morgan Broussard and Shane Rich, the 2011 homecoming queen and king, stand on the field after being introduced. In addition to the winner, the 2011 court included: Nick McDonald, Dana Birdwell, Sarah Jo Thomason, Skyler Breaux, Molly Catherine Smith, Matt Rich, Hannah McHalffey, Kewaynethian Riser, Jeff Boudreaux, Abby Hill, Bryan Wally Babcock and Daniel Dupuy.

Above: Tech students pack the floor of Memorial Gym last Thursday during the NeedtoBreathe concert. The band wrapped up the night with an acoustic set, singing without any instruments or microphones.

Caroline Doughty, a sophomore general studies major, turns the Tech seal into a stage as she dances to music played by the disc jockey during the Organizational Cook-Off in Centennial Plaza.

Lexie Kennedy, Callie Watts and Taylor Fritz represent Alpha Chi Omega during the Organizational Cook-Off. Students tasted food, ranging from lamb to Oreo balls, as different Greek and nonGreek organizations put their cooking, grilling and baking skills to work.

Chance Meyers, a junior mechanical engineering major, represents Acacia fraternity with style as he withstands hours of physical and psychological torture in a suit. The competition continued until one persons hands were the only ones left on the clock tower. Different letters do not separate the sisters of Kappa Delta and those of the Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha as they strut together at the Homecoming Unity Step Show. Several fraternities and sororities united Oct. 26 for a night full of soles stomping the stage.

Sports Talk
Dogs set for Battle of the Bone
SARAH BROWN Co-Sports Editor After a 38-28 victory over the San Jose State Spartans, the Bulldogs are seeking to advance their threegame winning streak against the Fresno State Bulldogs at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Head coach Sonny Dykes and his Bulldogs hope to get a victory against a 3-5 Fresno State team that is placed third in Western Athletic Conference standings. Dykes Bulldogs are tied for second with Hawaii, standing 3-1 apiece in WAC play. Nevada is first in the WAC with a 3-0 record. Although Fresno State stands 2-1 in conference play, Saturdays battle will be a true test as to which Bulldog is fiercer. Fresno State is coming off a bye week, and prior to that, a tough loss at Nevada. This matchup has head coach Sonny Dykes and his squad ready to secure their fourth straight win. You want to play significant games in November, Dykes said. Here we are in November with four games left against quality teams. The outcome of these games will be meaningful, and you want to get to a point where every game played in November means something. Moving on to Fresno, people look at their 3-5, but they have played really good football teams in Ole Miss, Nebraska, Cal, Nevada, etc Theyve lost close games to quality opponents and are really improving as a program. They are playing much better now than they were earlier in the season, especially offensively. Dykes is also aware of Fresnos tough defense and special teams. It starts with their front seven, Dykes said. The D-line is one of the better fronts well face. They are big guys inside and their linebackers are extremely active. They have a really good punt returner and blocked a lot of field goals, so they do a lot of good things on special teams as well. This will be a challenging game for us, but one that we are excited about. Its nice to win three in a row, and we are starting to come together as a football team. Dykes said as far as his defense is concerned, he doesnt have to tell them much before the game to get them prepared for what they need to do. They know our formula: play well and play hard, Dykes said. Expect something good to happen, and make good things happen. Thats exactly what theyve done, and its a tribute to their character. Weve played some of the best offenses in college football early on and gave up some touchdowns, but the guys kept believing in their technique and the coaching staff. They continued to work hard and do things the right way, and it paid off. We cannot lose our edge. Sometimes, you go out and play well a couple of weeks in a row and lose yourself. We have to be a mature team and not lose our edge. Junior defensive back Chad Boyd said the Bulldogs main focus is taking one game at a time. We make sure to only worry about the game coming up, Boyd said. Thats what our mentality has been the last couple of weeks and it has paid off for us. We have a tough test this weekend, against a great team, so we have to come out playing our best and hopefully we get a win. Despite the fact the last three games against Fresno have resulted in losses, Boyd said Tech has looked beyond that. We think about it, and it gives us a prediction of how this game might be, just knowing the skill set of their team, Boyd said. We are very similar in terms of size and speed, so it probably is going to come down to who wants it more and we just have to execute.

8 The T T ech alk November 3, 2011

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

with SARAH BROWN

Senior running back Lennon Creer attempts to score a touchdown for the Bulldogs. Saturdays game at Fresno State will be shown on at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

Photo by Dacia Idom

Email comments to sdb035@latech.edu.

Bulldogs brace for upcoming season

REINA KEMPT Sports Reporter Despite a tough season last year that only saw 12 wins, the Bulldogs basketball team plans to start fresh as they open this season against Texas A&MKingsville. Tech will face off against the Javelinas at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Thomas Assembly Center. Although it is just an exhibition game, Bulldog fans will become aware of what head coach Mike White and his squad is made of. Tech has gone through some major changes in preparation to start anew. They have a sea of new faces that includes head coach Michael White, assistant coach Isaac Brown, Director of Basketball Operations Justin Argenal, seven freshmen and one senior transfer. There are only two seniors on the squad White said he does not want to focus on the past; the future of this team is bright. He also said that this is the hardestworking team he has ever coached. Our older guys need to lead, and our younger players need to adjust to the college level, White said. Regardless of age, they will be ready to produce at the Division I level. When looking at how young his team is, White said he knows it will take time to build. He said he looks for the younger players to grow more mentally and get stronger physically as the season proman, he will be one of the main leaders on the floor. My teammates make it easy for me, McNeail said. They put so much faith in me. I take the experience from last year I tell the younger guys to just step up and play. Dont worry about making mistakes. Junior guard/forward Brandon Gibson has been struck with injuries in the past but looks forward to a very productive season. He broke his ankle before the season started in the 2008-09 season. The injury caused Gibson to take a medical redshirt. After getting well, he tore his ACL in the conference opener against Boise State last year, which ended his season. He said he has been training very hard to prevent further injuries so he can be able to help the team out. As one of the older members for the Bulldogs, Gibson will be a big contributor to the team this season. My knee is getting stronger, Gibson said. I have been doing a lot of therapy and stretching. It has been 10 months since my injury, and I feel like Im ready. Gibson said he knows of the doubt against him because of his past injuries. He sees that as motivation to play his best. The Bulldogs are nothing less than prepared to become better as a team. They look to prove all of the doubters wrong this season with White at the helm.

Photo by Dacia Idom

Head coach Mike White and his squad are well underway in practice. The Bulldogs will open their season in an exhibition game against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 3 p.m. Sunday in the TAC. gresses. Sophomore point guard Kenyon McNeail said he likes the challenge of playing for an underdog team. The Western Athletic Conference preseason polls put the Bulldogs in last place. I like being underestimated, McNeail said. It will make us look so much better when we come out on top. McNeail said he understands that even though he is still an underclass-

Email comments to rjk007@latech.edu.

Seniors end soccer season at home, fall to Rainbow Wahine

ANNA CLAIRE THOMAS Co-Sports Editor The Louisiana Tech womens soccer team has finished their season off in heartbreaking fashion after falling to Hawaii 1-0 in overtime Sunday. The game wrapped up a season full of shortcomings and near misses for the Lady Techsters as they said farewell to seven seniors who helped build the program from the bottom up. Seniors Rachel King, Scotti Culton, Cat Buchanan, Brittany Coffinbargar, Olivia Lukasewich, Amy Quintana and Chelsea White came to Tech as head coach Kevin Sherrys first recruiting class and paved the way for future Techsters to thrive under his direction and guidance. The Techsters are losing their most productive players in Lukasewich, King and Culton. Lukasewich and Culton led the team in goals and assists respectively while King leaves Tech as the all-time leading goal scorer. While this season has not been their best statistically, considering where the program was when they started as freshmen, these seniors helped build a team that Tech could be proud of. These seven seniors were instrumental in the success of the Lady Techsters soccer team for the past few seasons, leading them to their best season in school history in 2010 and their first WAC Tournament berth last season, which was held in Ruston. After finishing the season with an overall record of 8-8-4 and going 1-6 in Western Athletic Conference play, the Techsters will look to next
Photo courtesy of Media Relations

simple change to the roster might have changed Techs football season from sour to sweet. After leaving the Oct. 22 game at Utah State at the end of the third quarter due to a clavicle injury, freshman quarterback Nick Isham was replaced by junior quarterback Colby Cameron. Perhaps that was the true turning point of the season. When it seemed like there wasnt any hope for the Bulldogs and bowl eligibility seemed as distant as 2020, the Bulldogs stepped it up and changed their momentum. Tech opened its season with a heartbreaking loss at Southern Miss, followed by a 48-42 overtime win against Central Arkansas. The Bulldogs then fell to Houston, Mississippi State and Western Athletic Conference foe Hawaii. After the brutal 44-26 beating the Warriors placed on Tech, there was suddenly a momentum shift for Dykes Dogs. The Bulldogs faced Idaho with a 1-4 record with many claiming Tech was the best 1-4 team in college football. Though several fans were skeptical of such a thing, something was sparked within the Bulldogs. Tech beat the Idaho Vandals at their Homecoming game with a stunning 24-11 win. The Bulldogs then continued in WAC play on the road, facing off at Utah State. Cameron replaced Isham at the end of the third quarter in the matchup against the Aggies. The Bulldogs pulled out a stellar 24-17 win in Utah before coming home to defeat the San Jose State Spartans 38-28 at Techs Homecoming game. Although the Bulldogs have a tough road ahead with three more conference games and one Southeastern Conference matchup at Ole Miss, Tech fans can rest assured that bowl dreams arent so far out of reach. Tech just needs to win six games to reach bowl eligibility, and the Bulldogs have a fairly good chance at achieving it the next few weeks. With the guidance of a more mature quarterback such as Cameron who appears more poised and prepared, the Bulldogs might just be bowl bound. Sarah is a senior journalism major from Madisonville. Email comments to sdb035@latech.edu.

Football season turns sweet

UPCOMING ATHLETICS
BULLDOG FOOTBALL at Fresno State 11/5 9:30 p.m. BULLDOG BASEBALL Fall World Series 11/4 6 p.m. 11/5 1 p.m. TECHSTER BASKETBALL vs. Delta State (EX) 11/08 7 p.m. BULLDOG BASKETBALL vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville 11/6 3 p.m.
Photo by Dacia Idom

The Lady Techsters huddle around the Tech emblem after their performance at the Basketball Bonanza in the Thomas Assembly Center Oct. 27.

Lady Techsters to finish preseason exhibition play

ANNA CLAIRE THOMAS Co-Sports Editor The Lady Techster basketball squad will take to the court for the last time this preseason in their final tune-up as they take on Delta State at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Thomas Assembly Center before starting their 2011-12 campaign. After defeating Arkansas-Monticello 79-52 Nov. 1, the Techsters are eager to return to the court. The Techsters will kick off the regular season against Missouri State at 7 p.m. Nov. 11, as they begin their quest for their second consecutive Western Athletic Conference title.

Senior defender Scotti Culton makes a play against Hawaii Oct. 30. The match-up was the final game for the Techster seniors. season where they will have five seniors leading the team with hopes of another successful season.

TECHSTER BOWLING Southern Classic Baton Rouge, La. 11/4-6 All Day TECHSTER VOLLEYBALL vs. Nevada 11/03 7 p.m. vs. Fresno State 11/05 7 p.m.

Email comments to act013@latech.edu.

Email comments to act013@latech.edu.