LIVING HISTORY: ROBERT HURTIG
Ruston resident recalls his World War II experiences and looks back at nearly 100 years of life | PAGE 7
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APRIL 13, 2017
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VOLUME 91 • ISSUE 19
Aviation department celebrates 50th anniversary JOHN STACK Staff Reporter | jes062@ latech.edu
Shreveport-based rock band The Seratones played the last set of the inaugural Makers and Music festival.
Photo by Ashley Kober
Railroad Fest rocks Ruston BRYN YOUNG Staff Reporter | bjy001@ latech.edu uston was treated to a plethora of culture as the inaugural Railroad Festival brought local musicians, artisans and chefs together to showcase the art and food that makes Louisiana and Ruston unique. The festival was kicked off by The Chug 5K race at Lincoln Parish Park at 8 a.m. April 8. The race was a coordination effort between Railroad Festival and the Ruston High School Cross Country team with proceeds going to the team. Railroad Fest continued with the Maker’s Fair starting at 10 a.m. with artists, food trucks and creators sharing their creations at the Historic Fire Station in Downtown Ruston. Cydney Smith, owner of Smallish Things, crochets various items from scarves to cup cozies in a myriad of colors and patterns. Smith said the Maker’s Fair helped creators like her get attention for their businesses and crafts. “It’s going to be really good to get my name out there,” Smith said. “I thought about trying something like Etsy first. But I wanted to do a craft fair so I’d have a lot of local people interested.”
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The crafts were paired with music as well, as both the Louisiana Tech Jazz Ensemble and Rustonbased band, Hank Dammit, performed at the Historic Fire Station in prelude to the concerts at Railroad Park at 3 p.m. The music rolled onward with a mix of genres and sounds from rock, jazz, soul and more. The concerts feaPhoto by Victoria Arnold tured bands from all Rosalynne Love sold t-shirts and coffee mugs that featured her original deover the South including J.A.M. Brass signs during the Maker’s Fair. Band from New Orleans, Supernaturals Maker’s Fair in the fall of 2015 and hosted the from Monroe, Goofy Boots of Greenville, Mis- event twice more in 2016. Mitchell said the sucsissippi, and headliners Louisiana Soul Revival cess of those events urged him to bring together featuring Doug Duffey and The Seratones from a large event to help better portray the culture Monroe and Shreveport, respectively. and community of Ruston. The Railroad Festival is the creation of Ruston resident Josh Mitchell, who started the Ruston > see RAILROAD FEST page 6
To mark 50 years of flying here at Louisiana Tech, the aviation department will have a celebratory weekend. The Aviation Festival (AVFEST) 2017 Awards Banquet will be at the Davison Athletics Complex April 29. Brock Blackwell, a senior in professional aviation and a Spanish double major with a minor in aviation management, said he is looking forward to the event-filled weekend. “AVFEST is a great opportunity for professional aviation and aviation management students to meet alumni of the program who are currently in the field,” Blackwell said. “Speaking with these aviation professionals helps guide Louisiana Tech students and hopefully give them an idea of what they want to do in the future.” He said there will be a great State of the Industry meeting April 29 where the alumni and faculty answer any questions that students or parents have about the aviation industry. “Getting a personal perspective from people who were once in your shoes is invaluable, and learning about all the different job opportunities that are out there is really amazing,” Blackwell said. “The best part is that everyone gets to learn more about aviation through meeting alumni while they eat great food at our jambalaya cook-off and the Burger Burn at the airport.” Jordan Lyons, the chair of the department of professional aviation, explained all that is going to occur at AVFEST 2017.
> see AVIATION page 6
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2 • The Tech Talk • April 13, 2017
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Nursing program showcased at gala ANDREW BELL Staff Reporter | agb022@latech.edu
The Louisiana Tech nursing program was honored for its excellence at a heralded awards gala, including individual awards to its faculty and staff members. The Louisiana Nurses Foundation and Louisiana State Nurses Association presented the 16th annual Nightingale Awards Gala at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge April 1. The Division of Nursing was represented by Donna Hood, director and professor; Nancy Darland, professor; Norlyn Hyde, instructor; and Caleb Faul, current nursing student and president of the Louisiana Association of Student Nurses. Tech’s nursing program was awarded as the Nursing School of the Year for Undergraduate Degree Programs for the second consecutive year. This award was determined by a panel of judges in nine different states. The nominations addressed the program’s commitment to selecting, retaining and educating future nurses, innovation in nursing education and faculty and student involvement in
their professional organizations. the award for Outstanding Community Donna Hood said that she is most Achievement by a registered nurse, and proud of the nursing program for their Deborah Spann, Tech nursing alum, who advancement and received the award progress beyond exfor Registered “Considering that Nurse of the Year. pectations. any and every “It is such an Hood expressed honor to receive this her thoughts on undergraduate recognition at the nursing education the fellow faculty state level,” she said. members that won program in the “I am so proud of individual awards. state of Louisiana the excellent work “Deborah can be nominated Spann is an exof our faculty and students who go cellent example for School of the above and beyond of the caliber of Year, I think it what is required.” nurses who graduspeaks volumes Nurses from ate from our proacross the state that the Tech nursing division has gram,” she said. were nominated for received this honor two years in a “She demonstrates the 16 categories row.” excellence as a of awards that were lifelong learner presented, as well as and is a passionNorlyn Hyde three inductions into ate nurse leader. the Louisiana Nurs- Instructor of Nursing Her amazing work es Hall of Fame. with emergency Tech nursing faculty who received nurses across the state impacts the care awards included Nancy Darland, nurs- of us all. Nancy Darland does a phenoming professor, who was the recipient of enal job taking her passion for nursing
care of women and children and linking it with needs across the state. She is a true champion.” Darland said she greatly appreciated the award she received and the fact that she was nominated by her peers. “It is truly an honor to be nominated by one’s peers,” she said. “And it’s even more special to bring home a Nightingale award.” Darland said her appreciation for the event was influenced by its background. “The event was named after Florence Nightingale,” she said. “He was one of the earliest professional nurses whose research and practice continues to impact the profession today.” Hyde summed up the importance and quality of the awards that nursing program received. “Considering that any and every undergraduate nursing education program in the state of Louisiana can be nominated for School of the Year, I think it speaks volumes that the Tech nursing division has received this honor two years in a row,” she said. “It’s a testimony to the quality of our students and education.”
U.S. Ambassador visits Tech campus to discuss foreign policy ground and his dedication toward working in the field he is in, he is certain that Williamson will reach those who are anticipatLouisiana Tech’s alumni John Clint Wil- ing their future career choice with a politiliamson held a lecture April 4 in Wyly Au- cal science or history degree. “We would like to expect a greater turnditorium to express his point of view on the nation’s new president and the new out than the ‘Starving the Beast’ film to give the students a chance to voice their administration. U.S. Ambassador Williamson, a Ruston opinions and concerns about the recent turn of the foreign policy,” native, received his bachMhire said. elor’s degree in political “The Obama adminOne of Williamson’s science from Tech in 1983 istration could have topics was the national and his law degree at Tu- been more aggressive security process that has lane University in 1986. He occurred within the first was the College of Liberal about executing their Arts’s 2010 Alumnus of the plans versus the Trump 100 days of Trump’s presiadministration could dency. Year. He slightly comJeremy Mhire, an asso- lean off of aggression.” pared and contrasted the ciate professor of political administration science at Tech said, “He John Clint Williamson Obama with Trump’s administra(Williamson) frequently U.S. Ambassador tion and how both sides visits Tech to speak to stuhandled keeping America dents on how he made it to where he is despite what he has gone secure from foreign attacks. “The Obama administration could have through.” Mhire has known Williamson for seven been more aggressive about executing years and felt it necessary for Williamson their plans versus the Trump administrato come and start off the series the history tion could lean off of aggression,” Wildepartment has planned for the remainder liamson said. After his lecture there was a question of the quarter. The title of the first series is called and answer session for students and fac“America in the Age of Trump: A Foreign ulty members who wanted to gain a better Policy and National Security Perspective,” understanding for themselves. Some students were more curious about which emphasized what President Donald Trump has put in place for our nation’s how someone like them could achieve their main goal of working in Washington, safety. The beginning of the title will stand, D.C., to make a difference. Others, including those who were not however, the subtitle will change throughout the quarter as the school year comes affiliated with political science, asked questions to see if there could be a betto an end. Because Williamson is currently a Dis- ter solution to how foreign affairs are betinguished Professor of Practice at Ari- ing handled by the current administration, zona State University and Senior Director such as the Israel-Palestine issue. The history department will continfor Law and National Security at the McCain Institute for International Leadership, ue with the annual International Affairs Mhire saw it fit for him to initiate the series. Speakers Series by holding another lecture Mhire feels that with Williamson’s back- April 21. TIFFANY WILKINS Staff Reporter | tmw048@latech.edu
Photo by Jonathan Shaul
U.S. Ambassador John Clint Williamson visits students in the first talk of a series titled “America in the Age of Trump: A Foreign Policy and National Security Perspective.”
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April 13, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 3
Students seek alternative ways to pay for school RAHEEM PROCTOR Staff Reporter | rjp020@latech.edu Every college student is not fortunate enough to have their full tuition paid, waived or assisted. There are those who earned scholarships and grants to take care most of their tuition while in college. There are those who have to take out full loans or pay completely out of pocket just to chase a dream. Then there is the case for students who join the military. Such is the case with Zaiquise Marshall, a senior computer information systems major, who joined the military as a way to pay for school. “Everybody has their own reason for doing great things,” Marshall said. “As a poor college kid, I made the decision to join the Air Force National Guard.” The Tallulah native said joining the military was always a big time goal for him, but he had a little encouragement to help make that decision. “I could not afford to pay for college, so I needed help,” Marshall said. Most military programs provide some type of tuition assistance for those servicemen and women who plan on obtaining a degree. Aside from helping pay tuition, the military also leads to jobs and can even guide those that are undecided in a new direction. “When I returned to school from military training, I was a changed person,” Marshall said. Marshall emphasized how his mindset changed from wanting to pay for school to wanting to serve, protect and fight for his country. Devin Dunn may sympathize with Marshall by saying that the military does indeed change people. They wake up earlier. They eat faster. They have an extra seriousness about life that some people find
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David Dunn, a retired veteran who served in Iraq, is set to graduate this upcoming May from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. intimidating. In the military, a person is given a target and then trained on how to obtain the target or objective. They are trained to always achieve an objective, even back in civilian life. “I knew what I had to do coming into college and my primary goal has always been to graduate,” said Dunn, a senior graphic design major at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Dunn actually started out in the military, is a retired veteran having served in Iraq,
An evening with the arts: Russian ballet comes to Tech JOHN STACK Staff Reporter | jes062@latech.edu On April 26, Louisiana Tech will present An Evening with the Arts beginning with the jazz ensemble playing a few sets at about 6:30 p.m. followed by an evening of Russian ballet at the Howard Auditorium. The event will be highlighted with the Russian National Ballet bringing the timeless tradition of classical Russian ballet to the Howard Center for the Performing Arts stage with “Cin- “What we’ve derella.” done with An Don Kaczvinsky, Evening with dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said the Arts is to try that this will be an en- to make it much more of a celsemble to behold. “What we’ve done ebratory evening with An Evening with coordinating the Arts is to try to make it much more of with our LCTA a celebratory evening events.” coordinating with our LCTA events,” Kac- DON zvinsky said. “This KACZVINSKY time there will be a Dean of the College jazz ensemble playing of Liberal Arts at the foundation at about 6:30. They’ll play a couple of sets and then we will bring some alumni in and then carry them over to the Howard Auditorium for an evening of Russian ballet.” He said when the group came in before, it was a fantastic show and sold out. Mark Guinn, professor and director of the School of Performing Arts, spoke with
both a degree of reverence and rhapsody about the return of the Russian National Ballet’s return and production. “And in the tradition of Russian Ballet it will have fabulous dancers, sumptuous costumes, beautiful lighting and some of the most gorgeous scenery to grace the Howard stage this season,” Guinn said. “Make your plans now to attend.” Cherrie Sciro, coordinator of theater and professor in the School of Performing Arts, said she has been delighted in arranging this event. “We immediately grasped at the opportunity to bring the RNB back to Louisiana Tech,” Sciro said. “This ballet company has been credited with inspiring young dancers from around the world with their technique, grace and all around enchantment.” She said the Louisiana Tech Concert Association is honored to be hosting the Russian National Ballet for the second time in Howard Auditorium. “When this inspiring ballet company first debuted on Howard stage, over one thousand people saw their performance of Swan Lake and there was still a line of hopefuls lined up at the door to get tickets,”Sciro said. “Their stellar performance was seen by a sold-out house and ended with a spontaneous standing ovation.” She said “Cinderella” will no doubt continue their reputation with its euphoric music, flawless footwork and the hilarious stepsisters. “The New York Times said, ‘The ballet was deliverance,’ and people all over the country describe the performance as passionate, perfectionist and awe-inspiring,” Sciro said. “It feels really great to know that we can bring this sort of entertainment to Tech to share with our student body. This is one event you will not want to miss.”
and is set to graduate this upcoming May. “I honestly believe going active and serving prepared me for college, because I do not believe I would have been ready for college coming fresh out of high school,” Dunn said. A great number of college students do a reserve program in which they must complete basic training and then are allowed to return back home, which is when most go back to school. Kerry Fuselier recently joined the National Guard and plans to return to Tech
in the fall. “I just felt like I need to hit the reset button on my life, school and even my pockets,” Fuselier, a sophomore nursing major, said. He will return from a program in which he graduated with honors and an extensive job training curriculum. “It makes me more motivated to come back,” Fuselier said. “I wasn’t doing terrible before, but now I know if I use what I learned that I’ll do way better than I ever have.”
4 • The Tech Talk • April 13, 2017
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hen I was a sophomore, I took business law. It was an interesting class which aimed to help us better protect our assets. Nevertheless, it lasted from 6 until 9 in the evenings, and we all get vexed from time to time. As the class waxed into its second hour and the teacher went on and on as the clock just tick-tick-ticked away, my mind wandered and then I suddenly remembered a project for a communications class: Social Norm Violations. “... and though maybe not immoral is still illegal here,” the professor concluded. Then she proceeded to reinforce with an illustration. “So, let’s say that there’s a good prostitute; that she ...” My hand went up. The professor nodded. “Yes?” Ingenuously, “What do you mean by a good prostitute?” She was caught off guard.
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lected her thoughts. After class I apologized for catching her off guard like that, for going into Socratic inquiry in her class; but it was late, I was tired, and my mind tends to wander when fatigue sets in. She was all right with it; said that she understood (her father, another professor who also happened to be my adviser, had told her of my early a.m. hours being a morning soul). I asked if she would mind if her father proctored her tests for me in the mornings from now on; she gladly agreed. Did I plan that out beforehand? Was that the efficacy of my questioning all along? Why do they call an orange an orange but they don’t call a banana a yellow? Moot points. It was a good move ... Whatever that means. John Stack is a senior journalism major from Meridian who is a staff reporter for The Tech Talk.
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She hemmed, she hawed, (I do not know whether she did this as a result of wondering why I would ask such a question, what I was up to, or just how to answer it at all; it made no difference) and then finally: “She looks good; has many steady, regular clients; makes a lot of money; is healthy, etc. So, the ...” My hand went up again. She quirked a brow and sighed. “Yes?” “All of those things which you just said concerning a good prostitute ...” “Yes?” “Those are just secondary qualities at best; some are even tertiary and quaternary. Those are just attributes: she is none of those things. So again, I ask, what is a good prostitute?” A vein visibly throbbed in her forehead. A paroxysm of uncertainty swept her face. I let it go at that. “Don’t worry about it. You were saying ...?” She wasn’t sure anymore. The class did resume, after a moment and a few snickers; she finally col-
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TIFFANY WILKINS Staff Reporter | tmw048@latech.edu
I
believe I speak for majority of the student body here at Louisiana Tech when I say that “adulting” is not a walk in the park for our daily lives. Many of us are full-time students while working, holding positions in organizations, joining new organizations that appeal to our interests and trying to balance our personal lives. Some students have already started building families and have to experience early parenthood while others are already working at internships for their future careers. Our lives are moving at a fast pace with different agendas we are set to go by, yet the task becomes very stressful when you only receive an average of three to five hours of sleep per night. Being a procrastinator, I place myself in a situation to go to sleep at an indecent time and then complain about not getting enough sleep the previous night.
I remember a time during my freshman year that I had a Math 100 test at 8 in the morning and I did not go to bed until 5 that morning. Knowing that I planned on waking up around 7:15 a.m., I knew that my mentality would not be up to speed. I still continued to stay up to make sure that I memorized all of the necessary formulas. That experience has taught me one of the most valuable lessons ever: never take an 8 a.m. class ever again. But on a serious note, being sleep deprived while trying to be productive during the day can alter your decision making and the way you treat those individuals near you. Whenever I was sleep deprived I would have an unnecessary attitude with people who would say “good morning” to me or even smile at me. It was obvious that I did not have a good day or that sleep was not a part of my nightly activities, and I should not have been in the presence of humans.
However, it is still possible to control your actions whether you have slept for eight hours or even for one hour. As young people, ranging from ages 18-25, we are looked down upon from our elders because we are known as a lazy group of young people who have a lot of “energy.” But little do they realize that we are a replica of the older generation(s) placed in a different time period. As a 22-year-old student, even though it is not an old age (though I feel it is), it is mandatory that I have six to eight hours of sleep in order to function properly throughout the day. For those who are able to go to sleep around 9 p.m. daily, I both envy and commend you on your success with sleep. If you are willing to share your secret to going to sleep earlier at night, feel free to let me know what it is. Tiffany Wilkins is a senior communications major from Shreveport who is a reporter for The Tech Talk.
GUEST COLUMN
The impact of our choices LUCY DOUGLAS
I
have a question for you: As a busy college student, do you ever stop to consider the potential negative long-term effects of your current lifestyle choices? Does it matter that you cannot remember the last time you ate something not handed to you in a brown bag? Do the people at Chick Fil-A already know your order by heart? Is it a problem that you subsist mainly on diet soda, chips and cigarettes because you’re too stressed or busy to grocery shop and prepare a home cooked meal? Don’t even get me started about your ridiculous sleep schedule! You might be wondering why any of this matters because you’re only 20 years old and you have plenty of time to get your act together after you graduate and get settled in your chosen career, right? No! Not right! It is never too soon, nor are you too young to start taking care of yourself — to be intentional about how you honor your body. I’ve worked with teens and young adults in my practice as a family nurse practitioner who have already
developed specific health problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, autoimmune thyroid disease, digestive problems, and in many young women, dramatic hormone imbalances that wreak havoc and are often exacerbated by stress and poor lifestyle choices. All these health issues complicate what should be an exciting time of life for a college student. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep and stress management will not only help you achieve all your academic and career goals, but will also prevent early onset chronic disease. My vision and passion for true, vibrant health and joyful longevity are what led me to start my own practice. I was weary and frustrated by the paradigm of disease management that has been so prevalent in healthcare. There is little to nothing being done in one-on-one appointments with a healthcare professional that address prevention of disease. This band-aid approach continues to put everyone at risk for the devastating consequences of chronic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular
disease, which kill more people in the U.S. every year than all forms of cancer combined. What you are not being told is that these diseases are 100 percent preventable. My focus with every patient I work with is to utilize the most cutting edge labs and other tools available to thoroughly assess the internal environment, then establish an individualized, comprehensive plan focusing on prevention of disease and maximizing health and performance in every area of life. What you do today matters tomorrow, next week and 20 years from now. It will only make you better, faster, smarter, and stronger if you drink water, rest, exercise, manage your stress and eat your vegetables. Just look around you. Do you want to be a corpse with a heartbeat? No? Then start today. Be intentional and use that gorgeous frontal lobe to your benefit by thinking ahead and considering your future self. It already thanks you! Lucy Douglas is a family nurse practitioner and owner of New Beginnings Wellness Center & Spa in Ruston.
The issue of concealed carry on college campuses
T
he debate about who should have the ability to carry guns and where they should be allowed to have them has been a heavily debated issue in U.S. politics. Many people argue no one should be allowed to carry a gun in places such as schools and other publicly-owned areas. Still, others believe that some people shouldn’t even be able to own a gun period. According to the Louisiana State Police’s website, the current laws in Louisiana prohibit the concealed carry of guns on school campuses, courthouses and a number of other places. The failure to comply with these rules can result in a fine, jail time and/or suspension/ revocation of the permit. The majority of The Tech Talk believes students should not be allowed to carry a gun on campus at all, even if they have a concealed carry permit. However, a possible exception to this would be guns in the vehicles of those who have a permit. Concealed carry on campus is a concern because some college-aged students may not necessarily be responsible enough to do so. Others may find they are in the middle on the issue. Some people believe the general population should be able to carry their gun just about anywhere, but they also see the opposite side of the argument that college-aged students may not be responsible enough to carry a gun to class. Some of The Tech Talk staff believe people who possess a concealed carry permit should be allowed to carry their gun most places they want on the university campus because of the process which accompanies getting a concealed carry permit. At the point of having a concealed carry permit, the person would have passed at least one background check and gone through a short training course about the laws and procedures that come with being a concealed carry permit holder. According to the Louisiana police website, if one desires to get a permit to carry a gun concealed they must go through an accredited training course, pass a background check, submit all relevant information in the application and uphold all of the requirements which are enumerated in the guidelines for a concealed carry permit holder.
April 13, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 5
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New season of ‘Archer’ seems promising for long-time fans Archer: Dreamland HHHHI DILLON NELSON Staff Reporter | djn005@latech.edu “Archer” started off TELEVISION as an episodic show about a group of loud-mouth spies at the now-defunct International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) agency. The show was a consistently entertaining blend of action and comedy. It has since seen its characters become coke dealers and private eyes, and though the show has matured in terms of animation and character development, this ambitious approach to the story has yielded mostly successful, yet occasionally mixed results. The premiere of “Archer: Dreamland,” titled “No Good Deed,” takes place three months after the presumed death of Sterling Archer in season 7. The episode uses only a couple of scenes to establish that Archer is actually in a coma, and enters the comatose mind of Archer after he registers the fact that his longtime servant and father figure, Woodhouse, has died. This satisfyingly gets the “how” of the season out of the way, and the new storywithin-a-story, where the
“Archer” takes on a film noir feel as the main character’s coma causes him to dream the events of the episode. rest of the characters take on new roles in a film noir plot, is smoothly introduced. The fact that it’s Woodhouse who has been murdered in this dream lends instant intrigue to the episode. This is perhaps what has been missing from the previous Archer experiments: an emotional core. Excellent banter between characters and the occasional story bombshell guided the show through middling story arcs,
but there has, at times, been a glaring lack of a purpose to “Archer.” Though I’m not sure if this story will end up mattering in the grand scheme of “Archer,” using Woodhouse as the center of the dream-story provides a welcome opportunity to progress the character of Sterling Archer. Since this is the show’s most drastic transformation yet, however, the shift from the real to the dreamy
causes everything to be a bit off-kilter and talky in a way “Archer” normally is not. Sterling, his mother Mallory and the rest of the show’s masterful ensemble, all take a little bit of getting used to in their new characters as the story sets itself up. There are a decent amount of familiar character moments which seem to indicate the characters will remain the same even as they take on technically-
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new roles. The way Krieger and Pam’s characters are translated work particularly well and contribute to the developing story in promising ways. Some like Cyril, Cheryl and Lana are not given enough time to truly shine, but it is heartening that Mallory gets a meaty role running a private firm who Archer is made to work for. It is great to see Mallory’s particular sense of droll humor
and commanding presence will have a consistent outlet this season after becoming a bit underused in recent seasons. Though there is a slow start, the season premiere manages to truly capture the “Archer” spirit with the season’s first action scene on the back of a moving truck. Action scenes, through whatever changes the writers have made, have always been one of the shows strong suits, and that remains true here. After several seasons of Sterling being somewhat sidelined by the writers, it is nice to see new wrinkles added to the show’s most intriguing character. Along with a fantastic noir-style aside spoken by this version of Sterling, he also seems to have PTSD. Though it remains to be seen whether anything will come of this in the main story, this development adds to a somewhat standard fight scene while also adding an interesting take to the well-worn, boorish character. This fight scene in this episode seems to be the show’s concept snapping into place, and the episode continues to add small twists until it ends. Though it ends with a bit of noir silliness, the door definitely seems open for this dreamseason to be entertaining and purposeful, even if it ends up as simply a dream by the end of the season.
Howard Auditorium piano student show showcases Tech talent KACIE KAUFMAN News Editor | kjk019@latech.edu
ABOVE: (left to right) Joshua Jackson, Alma Moegle, Guy Twyman, Kathryn Ebeyer and Mary Rudd all performed at the first Piano Student Showcase in Howard Auditorium. RIGHT: Kathryn Ebeyer, a junior music education and piano major, has played piano for 17 years. Photos by Kacie Kaufman
A revival of the music of Beethoven and Brahms filled Howard Auditorium as the first Piano Studio Showcase took the stage. The April 6 performance highlighted Louisiana Tech’s piano majors, who performed a selection of pieces by Beethoven and Brahms. Kathryn Ebeyer, a junior piano and music education major, played a selection by Brahms. She said although the students performed often, this was a unique showcase and the first event of its kind at Tech. “t’s always great to get an opportunity to show the world what we do, you know,” she said. “We work very, very hard, we practice all the time. So it’s just an opportunity to get to show people what we love. And this is, as long as I have been here — (and) this is my third year — this is the first time we’ve done anything like this.” Ebeyer said she has been playing piano for 17 years and felt that it was a calling for her to pursue the study. “My mom was a piano teacher, well, is, and she actually got a degree in piano performance from Tech, so I’m just kind of following in my mom’s footsteps,” she said. “I look exactly like my mom and I am just like my mom, I guess. And really, just, piano has always been a big blessing in my life and I just felt like this was where God wanted me, was at Louisiana Tech, and that music was what He was calling me to do for my major.” Ebeyer and a fellow student, Mary
Rudd, performed the final piece, a duet composed by Beethoven. “She (Rudd) is my best friend, so it’s just a whole bunch of fun,” Ebeyer said. “So, we get to practice together and all that kind of stuff. It’s hard to play with another person because you’re dealing with two different types of playing styles and all that, but it’s really fun to take two different artists and come together to make music. It’s always a lot more fun than just playing by yourself.” Steele Moegle, an associate professor of music at Tech who organized the showcase, said playing a duet was a unique challenge for the students. “To learn to play together, that in itself, that collaboration is an art form,” she said. “And then, students get to experience that and to learn from it.” Moegle said the hope was to make the showcase an annual occurrence. “I thought it came off really well,” she said. “I was happy that everybody had this experience and I think we had a pretty good crowd, a receptive crowd, which is important.” Arliss Dunn, a freshman architecture major, said the event highlighted Tech’s talent. “(It was) to share, like, what we do here and show how awesome music can be and bring people together, I guess,” he said. Dunn said although he doesn’t play music, he enjoyed the music greatly. “I am just an appreciator of music,” he said. “They are great — I could never do anything like this ever.”
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6 • The Tech Talk • April 13, 2017
WEEKLYHOROSCOPE www.horoscopes.com
Aries March 21 – April 19 This is a good day to spend with your family, Aries, as you love to do. Try to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible and schedule something fun for the afternoon. Maybe you would enjoy an outing to a park or movie. Perhaps it would be fun to bake cookies. Whatever you decide, warmth and love will permeate the air and bring you closer together as you create wonderful memories. Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Today’s planetary energies may put spiritual matters in your mind, Taurus. You may not be thinking in religious terms. Your focus is likely to be on the state of humanity and what you can do to help others less fortunate. Make some calls or do some research online. Find out how you can get involved. If you’re short on time, a monetary gift can help you feel more connected and peaceful. Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 You may be thinking about political or social matters today, Gemini, specifically, the deterioration of the planet. You may be worried about your future and that of your children. You might try to bring up the subject at a social gathering. Someone you meet there is bound to teach you something about the issue. If you need to get further involved raising people’s awareness of this issue, do it! Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 Today is going to present not only a continuation but also an intensification of the strong energies that have been pushing you toward self-discovery. If you’ve put up some resistance, you’re going to be uncomfortable. Try to participate in the task. Question yourself. Why do you say and do certain things? If you’re honest, the rewards will outweigh the growing pains. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 Today you should be asking yourself a lot of important questions, Leo. The Universe is pushing you on your journey of self-discovery. If you resist, you aren’t going to be in a very good mood. You might want to facilitate this period with yoga or meditation. You may start a dream journal. Try to listen to yourself intuitively. You will probably find out that you already have the answers. Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 If you’re feeling unappreciated by the people around you, Virgo, try going somewhere else. Begging for attention is unattractive, and so is strutting around trying to distract everyone with your gorgeous physique or charming wit. Go where you know you’re appreciated, where
your stories will make people laugh, where you feel at home. Know that if you stay where you are, nothing you try will work.
CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 You could be in an uncomfortable situation with friends today, Libra. There may be gossip going around about a mutual friend and you will be tempted to join in. Remember that repeated stories are rarely completely true. You would hate to lose a friendship if he or she found out you said something unflattering. Be careful. The people you’re gossiping with may gossip about you later.
Across 1. Tree house 5. Does a Daffy Duck impression 10. Tribute 14. Racer Yarborough 15. Standard of perfection 16. Between ports 17. Egg 18. Actress Davis 19. Lump of dirt 20. Leak slowly 21. Period of blissful harmony 23. Dig in! 25. Pasture used for grazing 26. 50 cents 31. Vertical face of a stair 35. ___ Saud 36. Writer Loos 38. Hermit 40. Singer Young 42. Actress Scacchi 44. Mex. miss 45. Words on a Wonderland cake 47. Name on a bomber 49. Scrap 50. Artist Matisse 52. Umbilicus 54. Chem. or biol. 56. Magician’s prop 57. Republic in N Central America 62. Shoppe sign word 66. Choir voice 67. Chocolate substitute 68. Call for 69. “It’s ___ real”
Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 A close friend or colleague could receive special recognition for good works today. You’re pleased with your friend’s success, Scorpio, and grateful for your own good fortune. It seems that you also have achieved a long-term goal. While you may not be acknowledged in public like your friend, you know in your heart that you accomplished what you set out to. Your smile says it all. Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 You may have heard a juicy story about a friend lately and be just dying to share it with your entourage, Sagittarius. Be careful with this impulse! The party in question would not appreciate hearing about what you’re doing. You could unnecessarily harm someone’s reputation. Think about how you would feel if the show was on the other foot! Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 It looks as though your ship is about to come in, Capricorn. It’s likely that you will receive a letter or call alerting you to good financial news. Your mind may immediately begin to spin with ways to spend this windfall. Take care not to go on any shopping sprees. If invested wisely, this money could last a lifetime. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today you may find all your recent efforts rewarded, Aquarius. Your quick thinking and astute powers of observation have impressed others. Today you’re likely to be recognized in some way. Don’t be surprised if you end up in the spotlight, blushing at the acclaim. This is likely to give your confidence a big boost and cause you to consider other ways to advance your career.
www.bestcrosswords.com 70. Glass marble 71. Salinger girl 72. Zaire’s Mobutu ___ Seko 73. Minor, in law 74. Bridle strap Down 1. Sgts., e.g. 2. Roof overhang 3. Swing around 4. Heat of mind 5. Illuminating 6. Prefix with logical 7. Perceived 8. Discussion group 9. Killer 10. ___ Bell 11. Scandinavian capital city 12. Revolutionary Trotsky 13. Young fellow 22. Letters, e.g. 24. Lawyers’ org. 26. Of high grade 27. Belief involving sorcery 28. Come together 29. Airfilled rubber hoop, become fatigued 30. Shorthand taker 32. Distress call 33. Sign up 34. Fashionably oldfashioned 37. Smallest component 39. Phooey! 41. KO connection 43. Language letters 46. Formerly, once 48. I get it! 51. Polar cover
DAILY U
LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION
Have any ideas for future comics or feedback? Email dwyer@latech.edu
Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 If you’re a salesperson, Pisces, expect orders to roll in today. You’re unusually persuasive, making it virtually impossible for anyone to say no to you. All signs indicate you will be successful with whatever you undertake. Take advantage of this auspicious time. But be wary if you end up on the receiving end of a sales pitch. Opportunities that seem too good to be true usually are.
WEEKLYWEATHER
www.accuweather.com
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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TUESDAY
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HIGH 83 LOW 58
HIGH 83 LOW 57
HIGH 79 LOW 62
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RAILROAD FEST from pg. 1
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“I started Ruston Maker’s Fair in 2015 and it was a pretty successful event right off the bat,” Mitchell said. “I decided I wanted to do it again. So, I did it again in spring of 2016. Then decided to do it biannually, and did it again in fall 2016. And then, what I really saw was we were kind of showcasing the arts but weren’t really getting into the whole culture scene. So I started developing what’s going on today, Railroad Festival.” Mitchell said he was also inspired by both the need to provide a cultural outlet and fill a need he saw in his hometown for something bigger to do, and eventually that vision came to fruition in the Railroad Festival “The festival kind of just took off,” Mitchell said. “I started contacting different
53. Yom Kippur observer 55. Icon 57. Exultation 58. Western Indians 59. First class 60. Smell ___ 61. Monetary unit of Lesotho 63. ___ majesty 64. Actress Moore 65. Paradise lost 66. Tummy muscles
people. I’ve been working with the city, the mayor’s office and a lot of people over in their camp and just developing Railroad Festival.” Mitchell said the idea that started with the Ruston Maker’s Fair in 2015 came together as hoped. However, he is looking to improve and expand the festival, even after its success. “To be honest, this, what has happened today, was my vision when I started Ruston Maker’s Fair,” Mitchell said. “Of course I want to expand this, but more so just quality. This has been the first time I’ve done the whole music and arts festival, so it’s a new thing to me. I’m probably gonna sit down and decompress — let everything run through my mind and for next time figure out what needs to work better.”
SUDOKUPUZZLE Difficulty EXPERT
LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9.
AVIATION from pg. 1
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“The department of professional aviation is excited for the upcoming AVFEST weekend gathering for aviation students, staff, faculty and alumni from April 2829,” Lyons said. “The weekend will begin with an alumni cocktail reception with (Tech president Les) Guice and a jambalaya cook-off social at the Argent Pavilion.” He said the event will allow everyone to eat some great food, visit with friends and network with alumni. “The other weekend activities include an alumni State of the Aviation Industry presentation, various alumni and committee meetings and a formal scholarship banquet in the Davison Athletics Complex,” Lyons said. “The awards presented include ac-
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ademic scholarships, Professional Aviation and Aviation Management Student of the Year, Flight Instructor of the Year and several others.” He said their graduate placement rate has remained at 100 percent for the past eight years, they maintain the only two AABI accredited Bachelor of Science programs in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and the state of Louisiana approved the complete replacement of the existing aircraft fleet. “This new equipment will incorporate G1000 avionics with ADS-B In/Out capability and will arrive in summer 2017,” Lyons said. As reported on Textron Aviation’s webpage, Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation
Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced it had selected the following university partners for the 2017 Top Hawk program: Eastern Kentucky University, The Ohio State University, Auburn University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Louisiana Tech University. Don Kaczvinsky, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, wanted to remind all that aside from going new places, meeting new people and traveling for free just how lucrative of a field this industry is. “We have a pipeline directly into the industry where they give a $10,000 signing bonus to graduating pilots,” Kaczvinsky said. “It’s a high -paying field where literally the sky is the limit.”
THE TECH TALK
April 13, 2017 • The Tech Talk • 7
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More Talk
THE STORY OF BOB HURTIG
Centenarian reminisces on his time as a bomber during WWII BRYN YOUNG Staff Reporter | bjy001@latech.edu uston resident Robert Hurtig turns 100 years old in a month, but it would be difficult to to tell this by meeting him. His daily trips to the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center leaves fellow patrons with the impression of a man still youthful and full of hijinks as he tells stories and often jokes about how much more he can lift than the younger men. “Whenever he walks in, he is greeted by several people and always tells a story that never disappoints,” said Tristan Salter, a Lambright fitness staff employee. Hurtig often tells the story of a rather eventful history class from his time as a nontraditional student at Louisiana Tech where he corrected a professor after a mistaken fact about World War II with information not from history books but firsthand experience. “We’re studying medieval history and all of a sudden he’s talking about World War II,” Hurtig said. “How we lost 100 B-17s in one day over the IG Farben ball bearing plant in Germany, I didn’t say a word. At the end of class, I went up. ‘Doctor, IG Farben is not a ball bearing plant. It was the largest chemical plant in the world.’” When asked as to how he knew that, Hurtig said simply, “I bombed it.” Hurtig is something of a living time capsule, filled with tales from an adventurous life. He was part of the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier navigator and fought in the European Theatre during World War II. Hurtig said his journey began with inspiration from a man joining the Royal Air Force who Hurtig and several friends met one night while on a camping expedition in Canada in 1939. “One night, a troop of orphans and their leader came by our fire,” Hurtig said. “He wanted to know if it was OK if they sat there before they turned in.”
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After praying with the leader and his group, the man told Hurtig and his friends he was leaving to join the Royal Air Force against Germany, which stuck with them all the way back home to Cincinnati. A year before Pearl Harbor, with war looming on the horizon, the friends decided to join the Army Air Corps instead of eventually being drafted. “As time progressed, it looked like war was imminent and we thought we would get our year of service over,” Hurtig said. “Rather than be drafted, you could volunteer and after one year of service, you’d be out.” Both before and after his volunteering, Hurtig found his dreams of flying for the Air Corps seemed to be impossible. He discovered he was colorblind and could not pass the tests to be a pilot but could become a bombardier navigator. Hurtig said he never considered the job but finally decided on it after seeing several friends already go into combat and many killed. Hurtig said he flew his last mission nearly 72 years ago as of April 2017. After his final mission, he moved to New Orleans and worked for his father-in-law, overseeing seven liquor stores and a coal yard and then got his real estate license in 1966. Hurtig and his wife decided to move to Ruston in the ‘60s to be closer to their daughter, Dr. Dolliann Hurtig, who is associate professor of modern languages at Tech. Robert Hurtig said they never spoke much of his time in the military after the war was over “We never talked about World War II in New Orleans, not one day,” Hurtig said. That changed, however, in August of 2015 after he received a letter informing him he was the recipient of the French Legion of Honor medal. He accepted the award in November 2015 at a ceremony held at Tech. The Legion of Honor was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and is the highest French honor for military and civil merits. “In my acceptance speech, I didn’t accept it for me,” Hurtig said. “I accepted it for all my friends that are buried in cemeteries all over Normandy and all over Europe.”
Photos by Bryn Young
Hurtig received this Legion of Honor medal for his services in WWII.
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8 • The Tech Talk • April 13, 2017
Photo courtesy of Donny Crowe/LATechsportspix.com
Seniors Jazmin Britos (left) from Paraguay, Haley Ballinger from Monroe and Marta Sramkova from Slovakia played their last home match for the Lady Techsters April 9 at the Louisiana Tech Tennis Complex.
Tech tennis hosts Senior Day SARAH-KATHERINE SEMON Staff Reporter | sks033@latech.edu Louisiana Tech’s women’s tennis team served up its A-game against Grambling State University April 9 at the Louisiana Tech Tennis Complex. The match ended with a 7-0 win and was the second time in the spring season Tech has faced off against GSU. Their first game, March 10, was a 6-0 win for Tech. This was the second to last match for the Lady Techsters before the Conference USA tournament starting April 20 in Denton, Texas. It was also the last home match for the team this season.
The match April 9 was Senior Day, to honor the three players who are graduating after this season. Marta Sramkova from Slovakia, Jazmin Britos from Paraguay and Haley Ballinger from Monroe were all awarded plaques of lifetime membership by the team. With this win for Tech, Britos became only the third player in program history with 50 career dual singles victories. The senior trio helped in making this spring season the first undefeated home season for the Lady Techsters since 2013. The matches started with Britos and junior Alba Escalona Perny from Spain, who had a 6-0 win in doubles.
Ballinger and freshman Jill van den Dungen from the Netherlands teamed up for a doubles match and won 6-4. Sramkova and freshman Nadja Manjon from Spain brought in a win for doubles with a final score of 6-4, making it the eighth straight win as a pair. Britos gave Tech a 2-0 lead in singles. Ballinger was next to win and finally Perny brought in another win for the Lady Techsters. Sophomore Sonia Chen from Taiwan and Dungen both won in straight sets. The last win of the day came from Sramkova. The last match of the Lady Techsters women’s tennis regular season will be Saturday against Rice in Houston.
Bulldog Football: Holtz agrees to five-year contract extension LEADER SPORTS SERVICE Louisiana Tech University and head football coach Skip Holtz have agreed in principle to a five-year, $3.5 million contract extension, Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland announced earlier this week. The new long-term contract extension is pending the approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors. Holtz has elevated the Bulldog football program to new heights in the Football Bowl Subdivision with multiple appearances in the Conference USA title game and three straight bowl victories. Tech is one of only four FBS teams to record nine or more wins and a bowl game victory for three straight seasons, joining reigning national champion Clemson, Wisconsin and Utah. “The level of excitement for Louisiana Tech football is at an all-time high,” McClelland said. “Getting a new contract done was critical to maintaining this momentum as we strive to reach even newer heights
on the field. Skip Holtz is at the center of the class with which he has represented this movement. He and his staff have done our university is a source of pride for all of such a tremendous job over the past four our fans and friends. I am excited to know years, and we look forward to what the fu- that he and his family will remain a part of ture holds.” the Tech Family for years Since his arrival on camto come.” pus four years ago, Holtz has “I think this agreeThis past year, Holtz compiled an overall mark ment displays the earned Conference USA of 31-22 while leading the Coach of the Year honors Bulldogs to three straight university’s commitafter guiding the Bulldogs 9-win seasons and three ment to us and is a to a 9-5 overall record, consecutive bowl victories, a Conference USA West both program firsts since stamp of approval Division title and a 45-42 Tech moved to the Football for the way we are victory over No. 25 Navy Bowl Subdivision in 1989. building this academ- in the Lockheed Armed Tech has won 19 of its last Forces Bowl in Ft. Worth. 24 Conference USA games ically, athletically, It marked Tech’s first win over the last three years, tied and socially.” over a Top 25 team since with WKU for the best mark the 2005 season. in the league during that SKIP HOLTZ “I want to thank Dr. time frame. Guice and Tommy Mchead football coach “Skip’s impact on and Clelland for their comcontributions to our football mitment to me and their program have been exceptional,” said Tech confidence in our staff and what we are President Les Guice. “His leadership and building at Louisiana Tech,” Holtz said. “I mentorship of our student-athletes, and am excited to get the deal done and know
that I will be a part of the Louisiana Tech family and this program moving forward. I think this agreement displays the university’s commitment to us and is a stamp of approval for the way we are building this academically, athletically and socially. The Ruston community and the Louisiana Tech fan base have been tremendous in their support of my family, our staff and this program.” In 2015, Holtz led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 mark in Conference USA, as the Bulldogs defeated Arkansas State in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Holtz led Tech to its first ever appearance in the Conference USA title game in 2014 after Tech posted a 9-5 record and won the West Division. Tech posted a fivewin improvement from the previous season and defeated Illinois 35-18 in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Tech ranked fourth nationally in scoring offense and led the country in points off of turnovers.