The Tech Talk 12.15.16

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BULLDOGS The Bulldogs will face off against Navy in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

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Tech Talk THE STUDENT VOICE OF LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

DECEMBER 15, 2016

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VOLUME 91 • ISSUE 9

UTeachTech adds new classes for winter

A CITY OF LIGHTS

MORGAN BERNARD Staff Reporter | mrb056@latech.edu

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Photo by Ashley Kober

he city of Ruston lit up the downtown area for the Christmas holiday season. The decorations include hundreds of white lights, ornaments and a 33-foot tall Christmas tree

in Railroad Park. The city spent $115,000 on the project.

Louisiana Tech’s UTeachTech program is a fairly new addition to Tech that combines the majors of engineering, science and education. With more students joining the program and more funds being collected, UTeach decided to add even more courses to its curriculum this winter quarter. The two new courses are Perspectives, which is a class on the history of mathematics and science, and Functions and Modeling, a hands-on math class. Chris Campbell and Glenn Larson are master teachers, or head professors, of the UTeach program. They said they are excited about the new courses and what the future holds. “We are ready to see our first students graduate after taking these courses,” Campbell said. “I think the students from this program will improve the process of teaching in our schools.” Campbell said he enjoys the new courses from the professor’s point of view and he hopes that the students enjoy them as well. According to Larson, the Functions and Modeling class consists of a new way to learn and apply math. “This math course is all about how you relate what you see in real life and apply mathematics to it,” he said. “There is more inquiry into thinking how mathematics works rather than just using it.” Larson said Perspectives is a history course that focuses on math and science, and how they have both changed over time. Because the course includes the combination of history, math and science, the UTeachTech program decided to put a twist on how the course was presented. The class is taught by four professors and two master teachers. “Being taught by various professors provides students with perspectives from different disciplines,” said Don Schillinger, dean of the College of Education. Schillinger said the course is a representation of what they want within their program. “Having this Perspectives course and being taught in different ways just further reinforces our ideas that we want for UTeach,” he said. Schillinger said the Perspectives course is an advantage for the professors to learn new things as well as the students. “The students are so involved in the learning process,” he said. “This class is an opportunity for everyone to share their ideas and learn from each other, both professors and students.”

> see UTEACH page 7


NEWS

2 • The Tech Talk • December 15, 2016

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BLAST brings holiday cheer to children in need KAILEE COURTS News Editor | kec029@latech.edu Louisiana Tech students are teaming up to bring holiday cheer to children by hosting a toy drive that will benefit the Children’s Methodist Home in Ruston. BLAST, Black Leaders Actively Serving Together, consists of members from different organizations on campus coming together to serve the community. BLAST consists of Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Tau Pi, United Afrikan American Men, Society of Distinguished Black Women, Alpha Phi Alpha, Upsilon Phi Upsilon and the Black Student Union. Victoriane Manning, toy drive coordinator, said this is the first year BLAST has come together for the toy drive. “As BLAST members, we are always trying to find new ways to serve,” she said. “This year we wanted to help bring joy to the kids.” Manning, a junior kinesiology major, said all toys go directly to children at the Children’s Methodist Home in Ruston. “We wanted to give back locally and we thought this was the perfect way,” she said. “Toys are not expensive, so it is easy to make a child smile.” Manning said she encourages all college students to find some way to give back this holiday season. “We may all come from different backgrounds, but we are all blessed to be able to attend this university,” she said. “We should also help bless a child, even if it is just getting them a dollar store toy.” Manning said members from each organization will be going to the children’s home Saturday to deliver the toys to the children. Damascus Jacobs, a senior biology major, said the toys will go to local kids.

Photo by Danny Do

Black Leaders Actively Serving Together (BLAST) gathered in the student center to collect toy donations for the Methodist Children’s Home. “It is always nice knowing where the toys will go,” he said. “I love being able to help anyway I can.” Jacobs, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, said he enjoys seeing students give back. The members of BLAST want to encourage everyone to find a way to give

back this holiday season. Alexis Harvey, a junior political science major, said people should donate as much as they can. “Every thought and action counts,” she said. “We were blessed to be able to come to college. Why not bless someone else with a simple gift?”

Harvey, a member of the Society of Distinguished Black Women, said the toy drive will show the kids that someone cares. “Toys are not expensive, but the kids will not care about that,” she said. “They just want someone to care about them, and that is what we are doing.”

Students obtain degrees from Remote printers create new the comfort of their own homes options for Tech students STARLA GATSON News Editor | sjg021@latech.edu

said she enjoys online classes because they allow her to complete her assignments at a time that is convenient for For many, obtaining a college degree her. “It’s nice being able to complete my can be difficult due to distance or careers. However, numerous universities, assignments on my own time, to a cerincluding Louisiana Tech, partner with tain extent,” she said. “The biggest posidistance-learning programs to allow tive for me is not feeling rushed.” Nolan said taking the course online students to obtain college degrees from not only gave her the freedom to decide the comfort of their own homes. Tech partners with Global Campus, a when an assignment would be done, but also how it should be national program that done. functions as the uni“I like that I don’t versity’s gateway to “If you live halfway around the world or only have to do things one online learning. certain way,” she said. Through Global a few miles from cam“However, on that Campus, students can obtain a certifi- pus, you can now experi- same token, it opens up the door for major cate of completion, a ence the academic and procrastination bebachelor’s degree or cause you are allowed a master’s degree in career benefits of many more independence.” subjects such as busi- Tech academic and lifeAvery Maness, a ness administration, long learning programs junior communicaindustrial engineertion major, said her ing, English, history without the barriers of experience in an onand health informat- time, location and even line course has been ics. positive because it Les Guice, presi- without leaving your has allowed her to dent of Tech, said employment.” create her own time through the online frame for completing degree program, stu- LES GUICE the coursework. dents can take ad- Louisiana Tech president “It is good because vantage of all the you to have to set university’s academic deadlines that are all on you to combenefits at their own convenience. “If you live halfway around the world plete,” she said. “But a negative factor or only a few miles from campus, you is that the class is seriously always on can now experience the academic and your mind and you are panicked that career benefits of many Tech academic you may have missed something.” Maness said though her online and lifelong learning programs without the barriers of time, location, and even course experience has been positive so without leaving your employment,” he far, she prefers taking courses in the traditional setting. said in an online statement. “Taking completely online courses In addition to offering full degrees through Global Campus, Tech students would be a hard no for me,” she said. can also take online courses through “Interpersonal interaction, meeting the university without enrolling as an people in your classes and having a routine of going to class are all key compoonline student. Alex Nolan, a junior nursing major, nents of the college experience.”

KEIERA BELL Staff Reporter | klb072@latech.edu Louisiana Tech is steadily taking steps to upgrade its campus and the students’ experience. The computing center has created a system for remote printing stations on campus, which gives students the power to send a print job to any station on campus. Earnest Miles III, who has his master’s in science and information technology cyber security, said the remote printing system was one of his first assignments when he started working at Tech’s computing center. “My task was to look at replacing our current system, which at that point was Go Print, and replace it with Paper Cut, a software that runs in the labs and runs the remote print stations,” Miles said. He said while they were evaluating some of the features of the new software, they realized it had the capability to do remote printing. Miles is a member of the Academic SerMILES III vices group under the management of Mark Shoemaker, with whom he discussed the workings of the remote printing feature before making it accessible to students. “To this point, we’ve had 45,097 pages printed and 11,371 total print jobs sent to the remote printing stations since it has been known on campus,” Miles said. He said so far, the system has proved to be very successful and effective — especially with the positive feedback through emails and in person. One student who has given positive re-

views about the remote printing is Emily Gregg, a senior family and child studies education major. “The remote printing stations are pretty lit and very convenient,” Gregg said. She said the remote printing is more convenient than the lab because the “24hour lab” isn’t always open, which becomes inconvenient to everyone who is rushing to print. “I always use the remote printing instead of going to the lab now,” Gregg said. “You can send your work to the printer from home and just pick it up immediately on your way to class.” She said she would recommend other students to use the remote printing more because it is an easier option. Miles said the remote printing stations in Nethken Hall, Bogard Hall, Tolliver and Prescott Memorial Library will make things faster for students during the week. He also said the lab consultants will be shown how to use the remote printing to help students. Carlos Shaw, a senior computer science major and lab consultant, said the computer lab would normally become extremely packed during any weekday between noon and 5 p.m. “I would suggest students use the remote printing because while I’m working there would usually be lines of people trying to print things out,” Shaw said. “They would sometimes have to either cancel their print jobs or leave it for fear of being late to class.” He said people tend to try to print work right before class starts, which becomes hectic for the lab consultant working at the time or coming in. However, Shaw said with this new system he feels students will be more satisfied with printing on campus. “Once everyone becomes accustomed to remote printing, I think they’ll use it more instead of coming to the lab,” Shaw said.


NEWS

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December 15, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 3

Social Media, cyberbullying and the law SOCIAL MEDIA S

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STARLA GATSON News Editor | sjg021@latech.edu Part one of a four-part series on the effects of social media on society While the invention of social networking sites has solved many problems related to long-distance communication and creating outlets for self-expression, these websites have also introduced a larger issue — cyberbullying. Because cyberbullying is a relatively new offense, a set of unique laws and statutes have been made to clearly define and restrict it. A Louisiana state statute defines cyberbullying as the spread of any electronic textual, visual, written or oral communication with the intent to abuse or torment someone. Bill Davis, Louisiana Tech’s assistant police chief, said though cyberbullying and online harassment are punishable by law, most of its restrictions apply only to minors. “Cyberbullying, as the statute goes, only really applies if the victim is under the age of 18,” he said. “So for most Tech

students, it wouldn’t apply.” Davis said there is often no easy way to decide what can be considered cyberbullying or harassment, especially if no threatening comments have been made. “You reach a gray area on things like Facebook and Twitter because you can basically say what you want,” he said. “But when you get into saying things that aren’t true about a person, you get into defamation. If you’re just saying things like ‘that person’s a jerk’ or ‘that person is a loser’, it’s not considered defamation; it’s just your opinion about someone.” Betsy Flowers, a victim of online harassment, said she thinks social networking sites and applications often allow people to say whatever they please without punishment or realizing the effects of their posts. “I definitely think social media has made harassment worse because someone can just hide behind a computer screen and say whatever they want, then delete it and pretend it never happened,” said Flowers, a sophomore nursing major. “But the person on the receiving end still feels it the same way.” Davis said when online harassment is reported on Tech campus and legal action cannot be taken, student affairs intervenes. Consequences vary depending on the severity of each case and can range from community service to expulsion. Les Guice, president of Tech, said

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though the university has not had many reported cases of social media harassment, he takes each case seriously and investigates them thoroughly. “Although we haven’t had frequent or widespread issues with social media harassment or cyberbullying, we know that social media has become a preferred mode of communication for our students and that the potential for online harassment exists and occurs,” he said. Guice said he believes the best way to prevent online harassment is to educate students about each of their differences

Student publication strives to uphold First Amendment rights

Winter quarter signals season of preparation for SGA

KACIE KAUFMAN Staff Reporter | kjk019@latech.edu

KACIE KAUFMAN Staff Reporter | kjk019@latech.edu The return to school for Winter Quarter signaled the beginning of another season of Student Government Association activities and preparations on Louisiana Tech’s campus. The members of the SGA of Tech came together Dec. 5 to meet and discuss a variety of matters, from the organization’s budget, its agenda for the quarter and its efforts to incorporate new members. Brett Hooks, a senior sustainable supply chain management major, said the organization had not run a deficit for the first time in several years during Fall Quarter 2016. He said this had enabled the group to increase its impact. “I believe we have accomplished more this year than we have in years past,” said Hooks, the organization’s treasurer. Hooks said the executives and members were active and creative in the organization, and were breathing new life into its outreach. He said the organization had the opportunity to send members to Baton Rouge to view state government in action, and even as far as New Hampshire last year to view the primaries. “SGA has a hand not only here in just the university but we also have a hand in higher education policy across the state and across the nation,” he said. Thomas Breaux, a senior sustainable supply chain management major, said the organization was making a difference through a number of ways, with programs such as matching funds. At the meeting, the organization voted to match funds for the National Society of Black Engineers, which raised money through a recent fundraiser at Raising Cane’s. The money will help to contribute to helping the group attend an upcoming convention. “We really do have the student body in mind when it comes to everything,” said Breaux, a senator for the organization. “Whether it’s for help-

and backgrounds. “The most powerful tool we have to combat social media harassment and cyberbullying is education and creating opportunities to openly and constructively discuss our differences,” he said. “A university campus is one of the most diverse and culturally rich populations you can find anywhere in the world. But for that population to truly become a community, it must embrace both its similarities and differences and find ways to grow together without fear of harassment or reprisals.”

Photo by Jonathan Shaul

SGA president Mackenzie Potts addresses fellow SGA members at the first meeting of winter quarter.

ing with matching funds so that people can go to different projects, or just making our campus better through safety week.” Brittany Kastner, a senior secondary education chemistry major, said one of the main focuses of Winter Quarter, aside from preparing for upcoming events in the spring, was putting the Who’s Who competition together. The program will accept senior applicants, who must then undergo a selection process that considers GPA, campus involvement and interview performance at a later stage. “It’s a really high honor because normally you have to be very involved on campus and have a very high GPA to be able to be chosen for Who’s Who court,” Kastner, director of internal affairs for SGA, said. Kastner said another important aim of SGA for the quarter would be strengthening the group through organizational activities and bringing in the new members who were selected last quarter. “I’m in charge of all group bonding events, so I’m looking forward to SGA getting closer as whole,” she said. Kastner said being a member of SGA had been an excellent opportunity for her. “You get to represent this school that gives so much back to you,” Kastner said. “I just love getting to meet administrators and figure out what they see for the future of Tech as well as students. And SGA is the kind of organization where you get to make those ideas possible.”

In its years as “the student voice of Louisiana Tech University,” The Tech Talk has had little problem -- if any -with prior restraint from the university. However, censorship has emerged as an issue at a growing number of other campuses nationwide. According to an article from Poynter, many incidents of censorship have recently occurred involving the student press, from the University of Missouri to Wesleyan University. The article said censorship ranged in form from dismissing faculty members to the threat of a decline in truly student-run publications. Donald Kaczvinsky, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Tech, said that censorship was a complex issue, especially in the current tumultuous climate following the presidential elections. He said Tech had helped to prevent forms of censorship from happening thus far by supporting the student-run journalism newspaper and free speech on campus. “At Tech, we have a policy of free speech, and college is exactly the place to debate and discuss some of these difficult issues as long as it has is done with respect for others,” he said. Kaczvinsky said The Tech Talk benefitted the campus in a number of ways, from providing relevant news to allowing the students involved in the program itself to gain skills in areas such as research, communication and critical thinking. “A student-run newspaper allows free expression without necessarily either speaking for the university or a particular group,” he said. “The students speak for themselves and are not a mouthpiece for the university. It also encourages the kind of diverse views and fact-based reporting that is getting to be uncommon in social

media outlets.” Les Guice, university president, said the student newspaper on campus served as a source of diverse opinions. “Listening to the views of others is an important aspect of a university environment, and I believe that begins by listening to the views of our students,” he said. “A student-run newspaper is one of the best ways to capture those views.” Guice said that Tech’s publication provided a strong foundation and framework for journalism and learning at the university. “The Tech Talk has been a cornerstone of our journalism program for decades and it has been run by our journalism students with mentorship from journalism faculty,” he said. “Our faculty have done an excellent job of ensuring that The Tech Talk maintains its purpose as an educational tool and a student voice.” T. Scott Boatright, a newspaper adviser to the journalism curriculum at Tech, said in the role of overseeing the learning process of students, faculty and advisers to the program worked to support student’s ideas and creativity. “If a student comes up with a story idea that is viable that they want to do, we are not going to censor that idea,” he said. “We may help them and advise them in directions they want to take with it, but unless there is any kind of libel involved or anything unethical, we aren’t going to stop it.” Boatright said that the administration had also allowed the newspaper to operate without censure. “We have had an issue from time to time over the years where they’ve addressed some concerns, but those have always been handled,” he said. “They’ve never quashed or had punitive actions against the newspaper, against The Tech Talk, even if they didn’t agree.”


4 • The Tech Talk • December 15, 2016

The

TechTalk

THE DAILEE KAILEE

MANAGEMENT

Being OK with the unknown

NEWS EDITORS

Caleb Daniel Starla Gatson Amber Harrington Kacie Kaufman

PHOTO EDITOR

Brian Blakely

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kailee Courts

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Colin Fontenot Jonathan Shaul Ashley Kober Danny Do

ADVISERS

T. Scott Boatright Dr. Judith Roberts

ADVERTISING ADVISER Michael LeBlanc

PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael LeBlanc

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Michael LeBlanc

www.thetechtalk.org

KAILEE COURTS News Editor | kec029@latech.edu

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hen I started college, I had everything planned out: I was going to get a degree in journalism and hopefully work at a news station after graduation. Now, I am two months away from graduating and I have no idea what I am going to do for the rest of my life. And you know what? That is OK. Not knowing what you are going to do for the rest of your life is not the end of the world. As millennials, society tells us we are supposed to graduate from high school, attend university and then get a job. And that job is supposed to be a high salary job with lots of benefits and have an office with a view, but what if that’s not what I want? What if I spent four years learning so many different things that I have no idea what I actually want

to do? What if I don’t want to get a desk job right after graduation? What if I don’t want to go to graduate school just to put myself further in debt? I’m here to say it is OK not to know what the rest of your life is going to look like right now. I am 23 and while it feels old to me now, I’m not going to think that in 40 years. These are the years where I am allowed to be wild and figure out who I want to be in life. The best advice my mom could’ve given me was, “Do what makes you happy, even if it means making someone else mad, because at the end of the day you are the only one who will be with you until the end.” I spent most of my college career stressing about what is going to happen next. I have been kept awake at night by the fear that whatever I do will not be the right thing. I am over living with that anxiety because I know whatever I will

do will be the right thing as long as I am happy. So for now, I am going to do things that make me happy, even if it means working odd jobs to pay the bills after school. Now more than ever, I think young people need to know you do not always have to have everything figured out. That is what the rest of your life is for. So if you are like me and are having an identity crisis because you don’t know what to do, take a moment to breath and figure out what makes you happy. Spend these years searching for whatever it is that you are passionate about and stick with it. Because in the end, you are going to be the only person who has been with you from start to finish. Kailee Courts is a journalism and French major from Lake Arthur who serves as layout designer for The Tech Talk.

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A RUNNER’S RAMBLINGS

Scoreboard Season

PUBLICATION

The Tech Talk (USPS 535­540) is published Thursdays of the regular school year, except in vacation and examination periods, by the Jour­ nalism Department of Louisiana Tech University. Publication office is in Keeny Hall, Room 138.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Tech Talk welcomes letters to the editor. However, we reserve the right not to print anonymous letters. We also ask that each letter be accompanied by a telephone number, address and classification or title. We will not print the telephone number. Viewpoints should be mailed or brought to The Tech Talk office, 138 Keeny Hall, by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to a Thursday publica­ tion. Letters should be mailed to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272. Emails should be sent to techtalk@latech.edu. You can also submit letters online at www.thetechtalk.org/home/ lettertotheeditor/. Louisiana Tech University is com­ mitted to the principle of provid­ ing the opportunity for learning and development of all qualified citizens without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status for admission to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities which the University sponsors or operates. For Title IX information, see University Policy #1445 at http://www.latech. edu/administration/policies­and­ procedures/1445.shtml.

KACIE KAUFMAN

News Editor | kjk019@latech.edu

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elcome to scoreboard season. It’s the season of football heading into playoff games and the rise of keeping careful score in daily life. It’s the season for giving — and in turn, receiving. The safety and, indeed, the peace of the holiday seasons is dictated by an ability to give equally. We spend hours carefully crafting an appropriate set of rules for giving, equating affection and status for a higher price tag and more careful selection. Acquaintances are carefully relegated to Secret Santa circles and price limits. Families play the game of praying they draw their favorite cousin’s name in the yearly pool for gift giving, all the while hoping their name is received by one of the members of the wealthy branch of the family. Those in a relationship take a calculating look at where the relationship is and where it may be going. Is this a partner whose gift

will be found on a frantic search on Dec. 24 or one whose present will be lovingly wrapped weeks in advance? Especially at this time of year, past wrongs are carefully added up and considered in deciding what gifts to get others. A recent fight could lead to a present most likely destined for re-gifting at a White Elephant exchange in the near future. The cheapest way to spread cheer is sought out, especially for those near the bottom of our Christmas list. Black Friday reductions and Cyber Monday deals promise discounted holiday spirit, and in turn draw crowds to stores and websites. People would rather pay half the price for the full personal credit of giving a gift. This deal-hunting is all part of the process of attempting to make sure we each receive exactly as much as we give. Price limits are set and adhered to, and any deviation from this is strictly discouraged.

The ideals of perfect reciprocity and fairness have been touted for generations, yet they remain unattainable. So, consider this: perhaps the greatest gifts to give are acceptance and a gift given in genuine good spirit. The world will never be completely without some sort of inequity, and inherent unfairness is simply a piece of the human condition. Instead of aiming for an even playing field for all, make sincere giving the goal, sans the painstakingly crafted personal scorecard and careful calculating of what may be received in return. In the words of Pindar, a poet from ancient Greece, “Every gift, though it be small, is in reality great if given with affection.” However, for those who insist upon maintaining fairness and keeping a running tally — happy calculating! Kacie Kaufman is a journalism major from Loveland, CO who serves as news editor for The Tech Talk.

GUEST COLUMN

Growth, change and success LES GUICE Louisiana Tech President

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ne of my primary responsibilities as president is to communicate with our alumni, political leaders and the broader public. I love to talk to them about Louisiana Tech and I usually begin by bragging on our outstanding student body. Not only is this the largest student body in Tech’s history with a Fall Quarter enrollment of 12,694, the overall quality of our students is at an all-time high, by any number of measures. From success in the classroom to volunteerism and leadership to school pride and post-graduation success, this is an outstanding community of students. Along with our students, we also have outstanding faculty and staff made up of people of diverse backgrounds who share a common sense of purpose — to provide our students with educational experiences that are second to none. And I have seen their commitment to our

students in many ways. We are at a special time in Tech’s history — a time of growth and a time of increasingly important impact in our community, state and nation. I believe that it is Tech’s responsibility as a national public research university to provide strong and visionary leadership for greater educational attainment and economic prosperity of our region. We are seeing those impacts as more advanced technology businesses emerge and expand along the I-20 corridor, from Shreveport to Monroe, and right here on our campus. Just recently, one of the fastest growing companies from Silicon Valley has opened operations in Tech Pointe, primarily to gain access to our talented students and graduates. Companies like these are looking for talent from a variety of academic disciplines including communications, business, art, and computer science. Our campus is growing also as we add new academic, athletics

and residential life facilities, expand parking and pathways, and enhance campus aesthetics and safety through lighting and tree planting. We are preparing for future generations of students to enjoy more “pleasant walks and noble trees.” Our Ruston community, led by Mayor Ronny Walker, is also making many improvements throughout the city to make Ruston more attractive and supportive of our campus goals. I am truly proud of our entire campus community, the Tech Family, who have shared the vision for a greater future for our institution and who work every day to make it a reality. It is always exciting and inspiring to be part of something bigger than ourselves and something that will have a lasting impact on those who Tech serves. Thanks to all of you for being part of this incredible community of teachers and learners, and for allowing me the privilege to lead and represent you.

Downtown adding fun for students W

e all want where we live, our home, to be a beautiful place not just to ourselves, but to all of those who happen to come to our neck of the woods. The city of Ruston has been long overdue for an overhaul, and over the two years since Mayor Ronny Walker took office, that has started to happen. And many Louisiana Tech students consider that a good thing. Walker’s Moving Ruston Forward initiative was started to bring added allure to the downtown area, with Tech students admittedly a target. Part of that initiative started this fall with the introduction of Loyal Blue Weekends, designed to promote the Ruston-Tech relationship through a series of downtown events leading up to tailgating at Joe Aillet Stadium prior to each of the four home games played by the Bulldogs this season. Each weekend began with a Rock the Railroad event on Friday night at Railroad Park with children’s activities, a pep rally and live music on the Railroad Park Stage. Home game Saturdays offered downtown shopping and a new feature what is called the Tech Trolley. For two hours prior to game time, the trolley (actually a bus) runs from Railroad Park to Tech’s Davison Athletic Complex, transporting fans to tailgate and game day activities on campus. The trolley also ran from the DAC back to Railroad Park for one hour after each game. Even better, Railroad Park helped set the stage for even more concerts and events in the future with the addition of a permanent cover to the performance area. Ground was also recently broken on Phase 1 of the Rock Island Greenway biking and walking path. The approximate 1-mile Phase 1 segment runs between West Kentucky Avenue and the Interstate 20 service road is a key portion of Walker’s proposal for a network of biking, walking and jogging trails throughout Ruston, something considered appealing by many Tech students. Also appealing for us is the upgraded downtown Christmas decorations featured hundreds of white lights twinkling throughout the downtown area as well as the 33-foot tall Christmas tree made up entirely of lights standing in Railroad Park. The city of Ruston has also purchased an artificial ice skating rink that also features a 16-foot-by-14-foot “Ball of Joy” ornament lighted ornament through which patrons walk through to enter the rink. Many Tech students were also pleased to learn of the plans to try and renovate Ruston’s old Heard Building near Railroad Park to an indoor food court, complete with seating and as many as eight restaurant choices. And again, all that effort is bringing the “Town and Gown” relationship between Tech and the city of Ruston is a good thing. The Tech Talk believes the downtown area plays a significant role to Tech students and appreciates the city’s efforts to show it cares about Tech students and are trying to find ways for us to enjoy downtown Ruston.


December 15, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 5

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ON OUR

RADAR MOVIES

HERE’S SOME MOVIES TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THIS WINTER

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY A GROUP OF UNLIKELY HEROS BAND TOGETHER ON A MISSION TO STEAL PLANS TO THE DEATH STAR, THE EMPIRE’S ULTIMATE WEAPON OF DESTRUCTION. OUT FRIDAY

COLLATERAL BEAUTY WHEN A SUCCESSFUL NEW YORK ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE SUFFERS A GREAT TRAGEDY, HE RETREATS FROM LIFE. DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS HE WRITES LETTERS TO LOVE, TIME AND DEATH. OUT FRIDAY

It’s all ‘A Sense of Place’

Photographers showcase Lincoln Parish-themed photographs KEIERA BELL Staff Reporter | Klb072@latech.edu

On Dec. 6, the Bank of Ruston held the opening reception for its annual holiday art exhibit and showed visitors they should all have a sense of place. With the help and creativity of Kate Hilburn and Patricia Tate Jones, the exhibit was named “A Sense of Place” to display images from around Lincoln Parish. Hilburn, a photographer and artist, said this was the first time she and Jones had a hand in the bank’s art exhibit. “As a photographer, it’s usually my own work that I have sought to exhibit,” Hilburn said. “However, I am very interested in photographic images—their meaning and intent—and so I was interested in how a community would respond to a call for their interpretation of what ‘A Sense of Place’ meant to them.” She said she worked with her friend Jones to put together the elements they thought would be accessible so artists, photographers, citizens and students within the area could send in entries. With 240 photos entered, 55 were selected to be shown at the exhibit. One of these photos belonged to Rachel Lee, a freshman communication major. Lee said she had never participated in an exhibit like this before, but she does take part in the Peach Festival contest every year. “I will definitely be involved

Photo by Ashley Kober

Kristen Weeks spends some time admiring Jenn Kilpatrick’s photo titled “Melting.”

in more events like this because I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback for my picture,” Lee said. “Also, having my work recognized by others is amazing, and I think people appreciate artists who share their work.” She said being a part of this exhibit was really exciting for her because she loves taking pictures of different things for fun. She said she also likes when people tend to take something from her photos. “I hope this exhibit helps people to become inspired to go out and try different forms of art themselves and just have fun like I do with my photography,” Lee said. Hilburn said she likes to think the photographers were

challenged to look at their hometowns in a different light and search for unique stories to tell visually. She said having an exhibition of those images and sharing it with the community, had her hoping it would offer people an opportunity to see their area with new eyes. “I think this art exhibit is a great way to bring the community together and show them different places within Lincoln Parish from an artistic perspective,” Jeff Hankins said. Hankins, a history professor at Tech, said he tries to attend all art events in Ruston to support the community’s artistic talents. “The Bank of Ruston is doing a great service to the com-

‘Hairspray Live’ hits the small screen SARAH SEMON

Staff Reporter | sks033@latech.edu

“ H a i r s p r ay Live” hit the small screen We d n e s d a y, RATING Dec. 7 on NBC. “Hairspray” is only one of the many live musical productions the television channel has put on, but it was by far one of the best. Everything from the costumes to the set was colorful and electric. The entire vibe of the musical was contagious and made you want to dance and sing along. Tracy Turnblad, the main character, was played by Maddie Ballio. Ballio had no prior professional theater experience but no one would ever be able to tell by seeing her performance in “Hairspray.” She was definitely the standout star of the show and her booming voice and boisterous attitude brought the musical to another level. Ariana Grande, whose career started on stage, played Penny Pingleton. Her background in theater definitely showed in her performance. Her one-liners throughout were well delivered and perTELEVISION

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munity by letting everyone participate in something to show what they feel expresses the essence of the parish, and then having the exhibit within the bank,” Hankins said. He said he only knows a few of the artists who took part in the exhibit, but he can see they are all excited about their work being seen. Hilburn, like the photographers, said she was very happy with the results of the event and hopes everyone has something to take away from the exhibition. “I would like for people to look at the collection of images and be reminded of the place in which they live—how it looks and who is a part of it,” Hilburn said.

Courtesy of NBC

Maddie Ballio made her television debut as Tracy Turnblad. fectly timed. She brought the comedy element to the serious racial and acceptance issues the production touched on. Kristin Chenoweth is no stranger to musical productions as she starred in the musical “Wicked” as Glinda. Chenoweth’s portrayal of the overbearing mother of Am-

ber Von Tussle, Velma, was as cringe worthy and ridiculous as Velma Von Tussle is. Dove Cameron, who played Chenoweth’s daughter, was not anything special. She did a good job, but with such a great cast she was overshadowed by the other performances. Derek Hough is one of

the best dancers in Hollywood, but there was no prior evidence that his singing skills matched his dancing skills. I for one was pleasantly surprised by his performance. He brought the over-the-top personality of Corny Collins to life. Garrett Clayton played Link Larkin, and his character was not given enough screentime. In the “Hairspray” movie, Zac Efron, who played Link Larkin, was the main face of the film other than Tracy, but the live production cut Clayton short. Clayton did a wonderful job of playing the sweet stud. His musical, dancing and acting talents brought the character to life. Jennifer Hudson played Motormouth Maybelle, and although her role was very small, she gave a big performance. Her songs “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and “I Know Where I’ve Been” were some of the best in the show. NBC made a very smart decision by choosing to reinvent “Hairspray.” The racial and acceptance issues the show touches on are still relevant today and becoming more relevant in the recent years.


A&E

6 • The Tech Talk • December 15, 2016

www.thetechtalk.org

Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, Tech Choir perform an American spiritual DILLON NELSON Staff Reporter | djn005@latech.edu Eclectic sounds of uplift and Americana filled Howard Auditorium the night of Dec 8. New England-based folk group Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem joined forces with the Louisiana Tech Choir for the revivalstyled “American Spiritual.” The songs performed for the concert ran the gamut of American musical influences and included intermittent spells of storytelling from the band members. Rani Arbo, lead singer and fiddle player, said she and her band like to set these types of concerts up whenever they find local tal- “It sounds ent which is able to fantastic set itself apart. She having 30said allowing local talent to join them plus singers on stage makes for backing our a great way to truly connect with the songs up, and communities in the we thought towns they visit. Louisiana “We love looking for local choirs Tech’s choir wherever we go,” prepared well Arbo said. “It sounds fantastic having 30- and performed plus singers backing beautifully our songs up, and tonight.” we thought Louisiana Tech’s choir ARBO prepared well and RANI lead singer/fiddle performed beautifully tonight.” Andrew Kinsey, bassist and banjo player, said the band used this concert to debut several songs from the band’s recently released Christmas album, “Winterstrong,” live. He said the band’s goal when writing and composing songs for the album was to make them hard to pin down as exclusively Christmas songs. “It’s a subtle difference, but we want to seem more like we’re singing in the general spirit of Christmas rather than singing Christmas songs,” Kinsey said. “Instead of making sure we cover all the classics and merely entertain the audience for a couple of hours, we wanted to perform songs that would linger outside of the concert and get people through the holidays.” Miranda Howland, a sophomore elementary education major, said she wanted to make the most of the solo she was allowed during a performance of “Oil in my Vessel,” which was the last song of the show. “I just added as much soul as I could,” she said. “To do that, I really just tried to listen to the lyrics and connect with what they were trying to say.” Bethany Cardenas, a junior vocal performance major, said the band’s greatest attribute was how cohesive their style and

Photo by Brian Blakely

Rani Arbo, Andrew Kinsey, Scott Kessel and Anand Nayek perform during the “American Spiritual” performance at Howard Auditorium on Dec. 8.

sense of showmanship is despite the wide range of influences they attempt to draw from. She said she noticed how especially comfortable they were on stage together. “They were always looking at each other and making sure they were in sync as much as possible,” she said. “They also took time in between songs to tell little stories which I think really helped prep the listener and enrich the songs.” Cardenas said this event allowed the choir to perform in a more contemporary manner than it usually does. She said her favorite part of the night was getting to join in on the composition the band created from Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Crossing the Bar.” “Out of all the songs performed tonight, this song had the smoothest melody,” she said. “The poem and the way it was performed was also just really moving and a good way to help end the night.”

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December 15, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 7

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WEEKLYHOROSCOPE www.horoscopes.com.net

Aries March 21 – April 19 The key today is action, Aries. There’s a great deal of force pressuring you to get the ball rolling. One of these forces may come from a romantic interest waiting for you to make the next move. You may have many projects on the table and be unsure where to focus your energy. Don’t feel like you need to concentrate on any one thing. They key is to maintain balance among all. Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 Ignite the fire in your heart, Taurus, and make it burn more brightly than before. Keep in mind that you may need to make compromises in order to be on the same page with your lover in the way you relate emotionally. Make sure everyone gets a chance to be on center stage. Don’t hog the podium. Maintain a working balance by letting others have their turn in the spotlight. Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 There are a couple important issues that you may need to resolve, Gemini. Take an active role in the department of love and romance. Feel free to be aggressive about having your needs met. Make sure you’re comfortable with the situation or else stand up and change it. For you, the day is all about taking action. Strive to create peace through honest assertiveness. Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 You should enjoy a good mood today, Cancer, and you will find that things will go well for you in general. Perhaps the only sticky situation that could arise is one that stems from an aggressive approach in the department of love and romance. This impatient urge or petty argument by one or both parties may result in an all-out war. Try to maintain a level head in all situations. Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 Circumstances of the day may result in some tricky situations for you, Leo. You could be caught between a rock and a hard place. The instinct to make war or peace with any given issue is making you restless. On the one hand, you may want to smooth things out in a reasonable manner. On the other, there is a part of you that is eager to declare all-out nuclear warfare. Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 Things should go well for you today, Virgo. Your romantic nature is piqued. You will find that an aggressive approach toward your loved one is just what’s needed to jump-start the relationship. If you’re single and looking for love, this is a good day to get out and ask

someone to dance. Neaten up your appearance and wear a snazzy outfits, regardless of the situation. Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 Stand up and take action, Libra. Forces may be pulling on you from all angles, and your challenge will be to maintain a healthy balance among all of them. You have a chance to accomplish a great deal by directing your energies outward instead of inward. Other people may be punchy. Counteract this by being patient. Your contribution to the group will be appreciated. Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 You will find that you relate very well to others today, Scorpio, and your communication will prove to be quite valuable. You may find yourself in the position of arbiter simply because you have the detached mind that people need to resolve disputes. Take an active role in the lives of those around you, and see how your own life benefits from the generosity of your actions. Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 You may be tempted to shift into high gear today, Sagittarius, but you’re likely to be unsure where to focus your energy. You may be revved up and anxious to get moving, but feel lazy and unmotivated to do anything but sit back and wait for the excitement to come to you. Whatever you do, don’t retreat into a hole. Dress up and show off your outer as well as inner beauty. Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 There’s apt to be tension between your heart and your general mood, Capricorn. Your romantic nature will incline you to adopt a selfish, impatient attitude, while the prevailing tone of the day calls for peace and balance. Try to maintain an equal amount of give and take. There’s enough love to go around. Don’t feel like you need to be possessive in order to maintain others’ loyalty. Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Adjustments may be in order for you to flow easily with the energy of the day, Aquarius. The prevailing tone calls for a more outwardly directed solution to all situations. You will discover that it’s easy to start up new projects today, especially those involving creative or romantic elements. The tricky part will be follow-through. This is your specialty, so don’t worry about it. You’ve got that part covered.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Across 1. Leash 6. Clasp for a door 10. Mantel piece 14. “Quiet!” 15. Steven Chu’s cabinet dept. 16. Woes 17. Bulgaria’s capital 18. ___ fixe (obsession) 19. RR stops 20. Advocate of political suffrage 22. Detest 23. 1968 U.S. Open champ 24. Sea eagle 26. Harbor helper 30. Isolated 34. Notre Dame’s Fighting ___ 35. Final, ultimate 36. ___ Jima 37. Hot rock 38. Unaccompanied 40. Bad mood 41. Summer along the Seine 42. Turn over 43. Alamogordo’s county 44. Reprieve 46. Large rock 48. Road with a no. 49. Put in order 50. Romeo’s last words 53. Becoming gradually slower 59. Adventurous exploit 60. Are you ___ out? 61. Thoroughly enjoyed 62. Exclude

HIGH 46 LOW 30

>

FRIDAY

HIGH 62 LOW 57

63. Dork 64. Pay for 65. Minute 66. Precious stones 67. Some nobles Down 1. Flat sound 2. Ten Cnotes 3. Lace collar 4. “Clueless” catchphrase 5. Ancient Egyptian king 6. Stature 7. Actress MacDowell 8. Matches a bet 9. False show 10. Hindu Preserver 11. Neighbor of Sask. 12. Blind part 13. “___ quam videri” (North Carolina’s motto) 21. ___ rule 25. They appear before U 26. Floor worker 27. Component of organic fertilizer 28. Donates 29. Youth org. 30. Writer Fleming 31. Covered on the inside 32. “Bird on ___” (Gibson film) 33. Chopper topper 35. Cut (off) 38. Changing 39. Whopper 40. Letters on a Cardinal’s cap 42. In shape

DAILY U

43. Make obsolete 45. Attractive 46. Planks 47. Bruins legend 49. Tempest 50. ___ Rhythm 51. Actress Moore 52. The doctor ___ 54. Arrow poison 55. Name on a razor 56. Not e’en once 57. Twofold 58. Chooses

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 The prevailing tone today is a mix of conflicting energies that might put some stress on your heart. It’s nothing you can’t handle, Pisces. In fact, if anyone can make the most out of today, you can. Tap into your aggressiveness and act boldly toward the object of your desire. Make sure there is harmony among those around you and everyone’s needs are taken care of.

WEEKLYWEATHER TODAY

www.bestcrosswords.com

www.accuweather.com SATURDAY

HIGH 76 LOW 36

SUNDAY

HIGH 42 LOW 23

MONDAY

HIGH 42 LOW 24

TUESDAY

HIGH 49 LOW 35

SUDOKUPUZZLE Difficulty EXPERT

WEDNESDAY

HIGH 57 LOW 47

www.sudoku-puzzles.net LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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

UTEACH from pg. 1

Students who are in these new classes are as eager as the faculty, and are looking forward to the rest of their winter quarter. Cortney Williams, a sophomore biochemistry major, is one of these students and she said she can already see some of what Perspectives has to offer. “It’s still early in the quarter but we have already had three different professors instruct the class,” she said. “Seeing what it’s like so far, I think we are looking forward to getting more lectures.” Nicole Schubert, a sophomore math major, said she liked the teaching system of the course and the communication between the students and professors. “All of our UTeach classes are very discussion based and are about being involved,” she said. “This one is different because not only do the students share different ideas with each other, but the professors also share ideas and help each other out. Even when it’s not their lecture day, the professors are always involved

somehow in every class.” Schubert is also in the Functions and Modeling course and said she loves the math class. “It’s a really cool class because it has a lot more discussion and hands on learning than what a regular math class would have,” she said. “There is a small group of us in the class, only eight, but we still have a lot of fun and learn from each other.” Schubert said she hopes for more growth in UTeach program’s future like adding more courses and including more students. “We love being in this program together but bringing in more students with different majors, or even creating a similar program for other majors, is the next step,” she said. “We had a few history majors join us this quarter, and bringing new people in the mix definitely made it interesting. I look forward to the rest of the quarter in both classes because they both bring something new to the table every day.”

Photo by Brian Blakely

UTeachTech, a program that combines the majors of engineering, science and education, is led by several Louisiana Tech professors. Top left to right: Chris Campbell, Jeffery Hankins and William Deese. Bottom left to right: Stan McCaa, Lee Sawyer, and Glenn Larson.


www.thetechtalk.org

8 • The Tech Talk • December 15, 2016

LA TECH GARNERS AWARDS AS BOWL APPROACHES The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will face No. 25 Navy at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 23 in the Lockheed Martin at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will air nationally on ESPN and can be listened to locally on Z107.5-FM. This will be Tech’s third straight bowl game. The Bulldogs have won the last two and are 4-3-1 in bowl games all time. Navy leads the series record 2-0, winning 37-23 in 2010 and 32-14 in 2009.

Overall Record: (8-5) Points per game: 44.1 Players to watch: WR Carlos Henderson is the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year as well as Special Teams Player of the Year. He’s caught 72 passes for 1,406 yards and 17 touchdowns and has also returned two kicks for scores as well as rushing for two more TDs. Defensive Lineman Jaylon Ferguson is ranked fourth in the nation and leads C-USA in sacks with 14.5 for a loss of 89 yards on the season, while also registering 45 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. Ferguson also forced four fumbles this season and recovered two.

Overall Record: (9-4) Points per game: 37.4 Players to watch: QB Zach Abey. After standout starter Will Worth was broke his foot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game against Temple, Abey got his first career start in Navy’s last game against Army (the Midshipmen lost 21-17), running for 73 yards and two scores while adding another 89 yards on 6-of-10 passing. On the season Abey has connected on 13 of 23 passes with four interceptions and rushed for 298 yards and four scores on 45 carries.

Photos courtesy of Tom Morris / LATech SportsPix.com

Bulldog Head Coach Skip Holtz was named C-USA Coach of the Year, as selected by a vote by the league’s 13 head coaches. ALEX HEARD Staff Reporter | amh072@latech.edu This holiday season has been rather giving to the Louisiana Tech football team. Not only did Tech capture its second Conference USA West Division title, the Bulldogs placed one player on the USA Today Sports Freshman AllAmerican team, while 13 others were named to the All-Conference USA football team with seven being first team selections. Those seven first-teamers consist of four offensive studs, two defensive players and one special teamer. Ethan Reed, a freshman guard, anchored Tech’s offensive line and became only the fourth Tech player to net All-America honors as a freshman in the program’s 114-year existence. Carlos Henderson, a junior receiver, earned two spots — one as a wide receiver, where he amassed 1,406 yards and a league-high 17 touchdowns, and a second as kick returner, where he averaged 30.4 yards per return and broke away for two touchdowns. He is joined by Trent Taylor as a first-team receiver. Taylor, a senior receiver, recently broke the single-season C-USA record with 124 catches. Taylor became only the fourth Tech player in school history to register two 1,000-yard seasons in a career. Taylor produced 1,570 yards and 10 touchdown receptions this season and holds the program record with 315 career receptions. Ryan Higgins, a senior quarterback, was also named to the first team after throwing for 4,208 passing yards and 37 touchdowns on the season. Higgins leads the conference is passing yards, passing yards per game and passing touchdowns and is also the conference-leader and ranks third nationally in total offense, averaging 374.3 yards per game. Darrell Brown, a senior offensive tackle, earned a spot on the first team after protecting Higgins’s blind side on Tech’s nationally-ranked offense. On defense, Jaylon Ferguson and Xavier Woods were also named first team All-Conference selections. Ferguson, a sophomore defensive end, ranks fourth in the nation and leads the conference in sacks with 14.5. Ferguson also forced four fumbles this season and recovered two. Woods, a senior safety, accumulated a leaguehigh five interceptions on the season, which ranked ninth nationally. He also totaled 81 tackles, 6.5 of them for loss, with three sacks on the season. In addition to his athletic accolades, Woods was also named to the 2016 C-USA All-Academic Team for the third consecutive season. Furthermore, Tech placed four players on the second team: two offensive linemen, (senior Joseph Brunson and sophomore O’Shea Dugas), a defensive player (senior linebacker Jordan Harris) and a kicker (junior Jonathan Barnes). Barnes once again was a Lou Groza semifinalist for the best kicker in

Senior quarterback Ryan Higgins was named to the C-USA first team after throwing for 4,208 passing yards and 37 touchdowns on the season.

Junior reciever Carlos Henderson earned a spot on both C-USA first and second teams. the nation. Players were not the only ones to receive awards as Head Coach Skip Holtz was named C-USA Coach of the Year, as selected by a vote by the league’s 13 head coaches. Under Holtz this season, Tech won seven straight games to win the C-USA’s west division and completed the season with a 6-2 record in conference play. Despite losing big-name stars from last season (such as Kenneth Dixon, Jeff Driskel and Vernon Butler) and returning nine starters on offense and defense, Tech’s offense did not miss a beat under Holtz. Tech leads Conference USA and ranks third

nationally in passing offense (359.8 yards per game) and is second in the league in total offense (516.1 yards per game) and scoring offense (44.0). The Louisiana Tech offense ranks fifth in the FBS in scoring and has scored 44 or more points in seven of its wins, including six straight at one point. Entering the bowl game, single-season school record for points scored, passing yards and total offense could all be broken. Tech currently has an 8-5 record and is going bowling for a third consecutive year. No – they are not throwing balls at pins, but instead are heading to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl to face No. 25 Navy. Navy had signature wins this season against then unbeaten Houston (who was ranked No. 6 at the time) and Notre Dame, who they beat for only the fourth time in 53 years. Navy’s triple-option offense gave opposing defenses’ fits as they averaged 327.5 rushing yards per game. Tech’s run defense (134.4 yards per game which ranks 30th nationally) is significantly better than their pass defense (283.6 yards per game which ranks 121st nationally) and Navy seldomly throws so we shall see if Tech can slow down Navy’s ground attack. However, Navy is averaging 39.1 points per game so a shootout may be in store. Tech plays Navy at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas, on ESPN.


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