MARCH FOR OUR LIVES
LOVE SIMON Check out our review of the latest film adaptation of a John Green novel. | PAGE 4
Read about Ruston’s efforts to support gun reform laws. | PAGE 5
The
Tech Talk
PRSRT STD NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE
PAID
RUSTON, LA PERMIT NO 104 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
THE STUDENT VOICE OF LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
MARCH 29, 2018
WWW.THETECHTALK.ORG
VOLUME 92 • ISSUE 9
Nepal Nite continues to celebrate diversity Photos by Colin Fontenot
Nepal Nite, hosted by the Namaste Nepal Association, included a Nepalese dinner and musical and dance performances.
The 12th annual event brought Nepalese culture to Tech HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter | hej006@latech.edu Nepal Nite 2018 was a night filled with singing, dancing, eating and the experience of being in a entirely different world. Hosted by the Namaste Nepal Association in the Tonk at Louisiana Tech, the evening consisted of musical performances by international students woven together into a storyline by a creative skit with an intermission for a Nepalese dinner. The annual Nepal Night gave the community of Ruston and Tech a glimpse of the Tech Nepalese students’ home and culture as well as celebrating at its close the presentation of two scholarships to two very deserving international students. Shailendra Bhattarai, Namaste Nepal Associa-
“I’m fascinated by the culture. I love the music, I love the dancing — it’s beautiful— and I love the food.” KENNY GREEN sophomore mechanical engineering major
tion (NNA) President, considered the night a success, despite a couple of unexpected obstacles. “The main idea is to show the diversity on campus,” Bhattarai, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said. “Tonight went very well. It did go a little late but we started a little late. There were some technical difficulties, but most of the people thought it was part of the act. So I’m very glad that all of the hard work of two months came together
for such an awesome two hours.” Overlooking the minor technical difficulties, the night was an upbeat exposure to Nepalese culture. The audience certainly appeared to pay no mind to the bumps in the program. A few onlookers even rose from their seats during a couple of songs in order to dance along in front of the stage and there were many enthusiastic voices from the crowd that joined in on a song they knew. Audience member Kenny Green, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he enjoyed the glimpse he received of the culture of some of his own friends at Tech. “I’m fascinated by the culture,” Green said. “I love the music, I love the dancing — it’s beautiful — and I love the food. The dancing was my favorite part of
the whole thing — it’s so expressive, it’s gorgeous. I love it.” Many students were involved in each of the performances, with a couple of the dances including American students as well. One of the dancers Shaile Malla — also one of the scholarship recipients — is so knowledgeable of the cultural dances that her movement was not the result of months of practice. “You might not believe it, but my solo dance — I did not practice it once,” Malla said. “I listened to the song many times but I just practiced about an hour before I came to tonight. And the last dance they told me from Beryl so I took the different steps from Beryl and I just followed them. I love to dance.”
NEWS
2 • The Tech Talk • March 29, 2018
www.thetechtalk.org
Railroad Fest to return to Ruston RUSTON, La. — Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet, of New Orleans, La., and Dauzat St. Marie, of Los Angeles, Calif., will headline the second annual Railroad Makers and Music Festival April 7 in Ruston’s historic downtown district. The festival will also feature bands The Good Paper of Rev. Robert Mortimer, of Greenville, Miss.; The Golddust Mannequins, of Monroe, La.; Rella, of Shreveport, La.; and Caleb Elliott, of Shreveport; and more than 100 regional makers as well as several local food trucks, said Joshua Mitchell, Railroad Fest’s founder. “The festival is a celebration of the arts and culture of the region,” said Mitchell adding that the second year will bring new and exciting surprises. “It is a music and arts festival filled with
activities and a fun experience for the whole family.” The festival is comprised of two components: the Ruston Makers Fair and Music at Railroad Park. The Makers Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Historic Fire Station and Sexton parking lots with the music portion running from 3-10 p.m. at Railroad Park. The makers’ and artists’ work range from handmade jewelry, woodwork, apparel and paintings, while the music will vary from alternative, indie and rock ‘n’ roll. “We have 140 makers this year with a wide variety of products and art,” Mitchell said. “You can find anything from paintings and sculpture to knit wears and wood products. Our makers come from all over the ArkLATex and beyond
to share their passion in downtown Ruston. You can find something for anyone on your list. “In addition to the fair, we have six amazing bands that will take the stage at Railroad Park that evening. Corey is a Jazz funk musician from New Orleans that tours frequently with New Orleans legends Galactic. And Dauzat St. Marie will come back home to play a performance everyone will enjoy.” Mitchell said Railroad Fest, sponsored by Dr. Navneet Sharma of Green Clinic and Hampton Inn of Ruston, is a family-friendly event where everyone is encouraged to come enjoy the “beautiful” downtown Ruston. “This is a special event every year and there isn’t another time to catch all of these talented artists in
one place like this,” Mitchell said. “As Ruston’s first music festival, this is a great opportunity to fully enjoy the new stage at Railroad Park. There will be plenty of activities and games for the kids and big kids to enjoy. Devine Wine and Spirits and The Keg Package will be serving adult beverages on Park Avenue. There will also be food trucks set up on Park Avenue.” The Makers Fair portion will be free, Mitchell said. However, the entry fee to Music at Railroad Park is $8. Anyone is welcome to volunteer for the festival and receive free admission. Those interested can email railroadfestival@gmail. com. Follow updates on Railroad Makers and Music Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photos courtesy of Joshua Mitchell
Corey Henry and The Treme Funktet, of New Orleans will keep it funky at Railroad Park during the music portion of the 2018 Railroad Music and Makers Festival April 7 in downtown Ruston.
Getting to know the nontraditional students of Louisiana Tech JENE’ FLOWERS Staff Reporter | jmf059@latech.edu As Louisiana Tech’s enrollment increases every year, so does the diversity of the student population. Across the country, there’s a surge of non-traditional students -- and Tech’s campus is no exception. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a non-traditional student is classified as any student over the age of 24. The age criteria is set because of life circumstances that can make degree completion more difficult and is based off of data of enrollment patterns, financial and family status and high school graduation status. Traditional students enroll in university directly after high school while attending as a full time student and complete their degree in four years. “When I left school, I never felt like I was finished,” said Shawn Hood, Administrative Coordinator 3 and assistant to the management department head. Leaving in 1980 to care for her children, Hood later re-enrolled and graduated in the class of 1989. With her experience as a non-traditional student and working in a position where she’s observed students for the past 29 years, she has noticed generational social changes. “Depending on where I was stationed, I attended different classes to further my education,” said Carolyn Chadwick, junior computer information systems major. She was able to get transcripts to transfer to Tech
summer quarter 2017. Carolyn and Devin Chadwick are Army veterans who transitioned from their military occupation speciality code into college. Devin, a graduating senior also majoring in CIS, is the assistant director of technical operations for the financial aid office. Differences between traditional and non-traditional students go beyond the surface. “There aren’t as many financial aid opportunities for non-traditional students,” Carolyn said. Because of their student classification, Carolyn and Devin were not eligible for scholarships like the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. “I notice that a lot of students are always on their cell phones,” Devin said. In the classroom, he is aware of a difference in attitude among younger students. “Sometimes they don’t seem to take it as serious,” he said. With more life experience and out of pocket costs, he feels as if there is a difference in maturity and priorities. “A lot of people refer to me as the class mom or call me auntie,” Carolyn said. When she is in the classroom, Carolyn notices a difference in how interactive a class is based on its size. In smaller classroom settings, she says students are more interactive. As a word of advice, Devin encourages students to ask more questions and not be afraid of getting a question wrong. “Unless you get something wrong, you’ll never understand the process of getting something right,” Devin said.
Writers, Designers,
Photographers OPEN TO ALL MAJORS
All interested parties please email mleblanc@latech.edu
You can view previous issues of The Tech Talk on I S S U U . C O M / L A T E C H T A L K The Tech Talk is published by students in the Louisiana Tech University department of Communication and Media Studies
UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
• Good Friday (Easter Break)
• Softball vs. Southern Miss 12 p.m.
• Easter Sunday
• Easter Break
• It’s YOUR Money 5-6 p.m. Business Building 101
•Baseball vs. Little Rock 6 p.m.
•No Calendar Events
• Women’s Tennis vs. Arkansas State - 2 p.m. • Baseball vs. FIU - 6 p.m.
•Baseball at Grambling 6 p.m.
www.thetechtalk.org
3 • The Tech Talk • March 29, 2018
The
TechTalk
ISSUE ON THE TABLE
MANAGEMENT
Partisanship killing productivity
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Starla Gatson
BRYN YOUNG News Editor | bjy001@latech.edu
MANAGING EDITOR Morgan Bernard
NEWS EDITOR Bryn Young
SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Bell
PHOTO EDITOR
Colin Fontenot
ADVISERS
Michael LeBlanc Dr. Judith Roberts Megan Smith
ADVERTISING ADVISER Michael LeBlanc
PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael LeBlanc
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Michael LeBlanc
SUBSCRIPTIONS Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a year. Mail to: Tech Talk Subscrip tions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272.
T
he first political parties in the United States came into being with the nation itself. As long as there have been issues to fight over, we have fought with each other tooth and nail. According to Pew Research Center, the divide does seem to be growing. In 1994, the left and right varied only 15 percent on 10 key values. As of 2017, Democrats and Republicans vary 36 percent on the same 10 issues. This divide can be seen in the turmoil that riddles social media and news outlets (looking at you, Fox News). This divide is more importantly making its way into how politics are handled on Capitol Hill. How many times have there been genuine bipartisan efforts made to fix
POSTAL Secondclass postage paid at Ruston, La. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA 71272.
CONTACT US NEWSROOM 318.257.4946 EMAIL techtalk@latech.edu ADVERTISING 318.257.4949 EMAIL techtalk@latech.edu DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES JOURNALISM CONCENTRATION 318.257.4427
whom they dislike.” Often times, we oppose the other side because they are the other side. Maybe we should start listening more and discussing our differences rather than being angry. You should not dislike an idea merely because it comes from the mouth of someone with a different political label. Remember, ideas should be measured on their value and content. So, next time you are in a debate with someone across the political spectrum, listen. The ideas they have come from an experience different than yours, and you will never begin to understand what you have in common if you focus on the differences. Bryn Young is a sophomore communication major from Mountain View, Arkansas, who serves as news editor for The Tech Talk.
HANNAH’S PHILOSOPHICAL PONDERINGS
PUBLICATION The Tech Talk (USPS 535540) is published Thursdays of the regu lar school year, except in vacation and examination periods, by the Journalism Department of Loui siana Tech University. Publication office is in GTM, Room 165.
various problems in this past year? The answer is not many. With a Republican-dominated government, we have seen less and less olive branches and far more arrows flung across the aisle. On healthcare reform, Republicans intentionally did not hear any proposals from their Democratic counterparts. As we see these fights of partisanship playing out it leads me to wonder: how is it harming us as a nation? A civil discord is what makes America so great. We are able to discuss the problems that plague us through compromise. If each issue becomes an us versus them argument, it makes America weaker as a whole. As it says in Federalist paper No. 70, “Men often oppose a thing, merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those
Morality HANNAH JONES Staff Reporter | hej006@latech.edu
H
ow is what is morally right or wrong determined? Those who are religious have their own list of rules to follow, written or unwritten. Nations have laws (often influenced by religion) for the sake of order if not morality. What an idea — does morality govern order? It is often viewed that when laws are broken and non-existent, a world will fall into chaos. But is that truly the case? There seems to be an interwoven emergence of order in the presence of morality. Or is it the case of the opposite, that order and rules bring about morality? Which came first, the value of human life or “thou shalt not kill”? It seems as though every person has a moral code, and most would agree this is the case. However, in the specifics, it appears everyone has a different take on that moral code.
Some would say that deception is bad regardless of circumstance. But what if the lie brings peace rather than unresolvable turmoil? Or if a continued lie for the sake of excitement is worth the disappointment later in life? A commonly debated example (and spoiler alert) of this is whether or not children should believe in such things as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc. Many parents spin these tales, going to great lengths in order to convince their children of the reality of these characters. (And while there is some truth to the tale of Santa Claus, he is certainly not still alive or living at the North Pole with his elves.) These same parents teach their children not to lie on a daily basis. Is this not an inconsistency? Of course, everyone has their own perspective, but is this not the problem? Is the relativism mindset of at least most of modern civilization the very reason there is so much divi-
sion in the world? The moral codes of humankind must have something in common with which to unify humanity. Two suggested ends to the means of a moral code are: survival instinct of the individual or the preservation of human life. Some might say, why not both? However, these two appear to be at odds with one another. Survival instinct would tell a person to rid themselves of unnatural stressors — but what if that unnatural stressor is a spouse? At that moment is the point of conflict with the preservation of human life. So, which is the right one? Or is there a correct and achievable answer to the question of what unifies the morality of all humanity in regard to basic human rights? Hannah Jones is a sophomore English major from Frisco, Texas, who serves as a staff reporter for The Tech Talk.
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 publi cation. 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.
TAMARIA’S TRUTHS
Approaching a new era TAMARIA WILLIAMS Staff Reporter | tmw055@latech.edu
I
f you have not seen headlines pertaining to how black people in Hollywood have been dominating the entertainment industry and making a huge cultural impact on audiences everywhere, then you may be the only one. It is no secret that cultural excellence is in full force, which makes me wonder: are we embarking on a new black renaissance? I say this for many obvious reasons. One being that the highly anticipated film “Black Panther” has shattered many records within its first month of being in theaters. The king of Wakana continues its reign as the movie recently hit its $1 billion mark at the global box office, making it the fifth-highest grossing film of all time and the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. This year also marked the first time in history that two black directors hold the top two slots at the box
office. Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time” debut weekend gave her the number two slot at the box office behind “Black Panther.” With Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” the director won his first Oscar, crowning him as the first African American writer to win in the best original screenplay category at the Academy Awards. Sterling K. Brown became the first African American to win the award for outstanding male actor in a drama series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In addition, the “This Is Us” actor took home an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, which made him the first black actor to win the award since 1998. And of course, women’s empowerment is in full effect as up -andcoming comedian Tiffany Haddish became the first black female standup comic to host Saturday Night Live this past November. I say these now embedded marks in history because I cannot help but
to be solemnly proud to see that being black in America has not been lost, but given prominence. I uphold these cultural truths because now when we look at television, we see people that look like us that are writing their own history. I am now more optimistic than ever about what the future holds for black audiences everywhere. Of course, this would not be the first time that we have dawned on a new era, but it would be the first time that people in our generation get to experience one. The Harlem Renaissance gave us artists like Langston Hughes and Billie Holiday that we will all treasure forever. Now we have all the black girl magic we could ever need with Yara Shahidi and Issa Rae. But perhaps, this new era could serve as our generation’s Harlem Renaissance. Tamaria Williams is a junior communication major from Haynesville who serves as a staff reporter for The Tech Talk.
Student activism is a good thing
S
ince the Parkland shooting in February, students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have fought to make their voices heard, from voicing their opinions on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram to leading marches and making speeches on national television. Many teenagers across the country have followed their lead. On March 14, thousands of students and teachers walked out of their classrooms as part of the “#Enough! National School Walkout” to raise awareness about the impact of gun violence. On March 24, hundreds of thousands participated in March for Our Lives protests across the country; the turnout was so large that, according to USA Today, the event could be the largest protest in Washington, D.C.’s history. These two events, both of which have garnered national attention, were primarily organized and led by people who are not even old enough to vote. Student activism is no new concept; however, and it is not limited to gun reform efforts. For years, students have been a crucial part of social justice movements since the end of World War II and have made headlines for supporting various causes. In 1963, more than 1,000 young people were arrested in civil rights demonstrations dubbed the Children’s Crusades. In the early 1970s, high school students across the country staged walkouts to protest unequal conditions in their schools. In the midst of student-led rallies and protests, however, many quickly dismiss their efforts, stating that they are too sensitive or too young to truly understand the cause. Teenagers are urged to care more about the world around them, but are discouraged as soon as they do. This can no longer be the case. Whether one supports the cause for which they are fighting or not, though, it should be noted that the youth of America have the ability to make an impact. Student activism is beneficial not only for the students themselves but for the country as a whole. By being aware of social and political issues, the students are able to form their own set of opinions rather than blindly following those around them. We believe these students are the future of America. They will go on to be our legislators, governors, senators and representatives. Their knowledge of and participation in social and political matters from a young age can contribute to positive changes in our country. Whether or not one agrees with these students’ views, it is encouraging to know the younger generations are concerned with matters of the country and want to play a role in shaping its future. Youths have a voice and it should not be silenced; they can give us a new hope for change and a better tomorrow.
www.thetechtalk.org
March 29, 2018 • The Tech Talk • 4
New romantic comedy ‘Love, Simon’ falters in story detail Love, Simon HHHII MORGAN BERNARD Managing Editor | mrb056@latech.edu On March 16, Greg Berlanti’s “Love, Simon” was the first studio film released nationwide to feature a gay protagonist and was seen by viewers as a major step in the film industry for the LGBTQ community. Based on the novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Abertalli, this movie, in general, is relatively similar to any other romantic comedy. It consists of an amusing love story with multiple twist and turns that bring the two people together in the end. “Love, Simon,” is the story of Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) who has been communicating anonymously online with another closeted gay student at his high school. Once Simon develops an interest in this other person, known online as Blue, Simon tries to discover who he really is. Without giving too much away, the investigation of finding Blue’s true identity takes a series of rather interesting turns and ends in a surprising discovery for Simon. It also causes problems with Simon’s relationships with his friends, and himself, which leads him to coming
20th Century Fox
Katherine Langford (Leah Burke) and Nick Robinson (Simon Spier) star in “Love, Simon.” out as openly gay. While “Love, Simon” as a whole was well produced and consisted of great acting, it was a little disappointing in its lack of raw emotion. The movie did not live up to the book as it was not as detailed, which is a common occurrence when writing is put on-screen.
This film in particular did not feature all of the main moments in Simon’s story, and particularly avoided the more serious moments, which leaves a few empty spots in the plot. It did not hit the inner turmoil of the main character as strongly as the novel, which makes the humor stand out more
in the film than Simon’s unsureness of himself in coming out to his family, friends and others at school. However, the obvious humor and close friendships shown in the film make up for its lack in other areas. While the romantic mystery continues, the light humor keeps viewers interested
and amused. The characters were also super relatable, and made viewers feel like they knew them personally. Two of Simon’s best friends, Leah (Katherine Langford) and Abby (Alexandra Shipp) were a major contribution to this as they were given the more seri-
ous scenes with Simon. It was nice to see this strong friendship prevail throughout the entire film, even during major conflicts between them. The best attributes of this film were the acting skills and sound track. All of the characters’ personalities were spot on in the film compared to the novel. For a cast that consisted of mostly young actors, it was truly impressive. There were also some more familiar faces in the film such as Simon’s parents who were played by Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel. The sound track consisted of lots of fun, upbeat love songs that ranged from classics like “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston to newer tunes such as “Love Me” by The 1975. In general, it was an amazing track and is one that anyone can get into. All in all, “Love, Simon” was a great film when not compared side by side to the novel. It was a humorous, romantic mystery and coming of age story that broke society boundaries with an openly gay character and person of color love interest. I give it three out of five stars because though it lacked in its serious elements, it was intended to be more of romantic comedy, and it hits that label perfectly.
Netflix’s ‘Jessica Jones’ continues the Marvel action with season two Jessica Jones Season 2 HHHII
another super powered human whose power was mind control. He was from Jones’ past post super human transformation who ASHLEY LAMBERT had control over her for Staff Reporter | apl007@latech.edu quite some time. He was a Jessica Jones is part of master of manipulation and the Marvel Universe and quite the convincing villain part of a set on Netflix. This in his quest to control Jesuniverse includes: “Dare- sica anyway he could, espedevil” season one, “Jessica cially since she strategically Jones” season one, “Dare- learned how to resist his mind control. devil” season two, In season two, “Luke Cage” seasimilar to Kilgrave, son one, “Iron Fist” the villain was from season one, “The TELEVISION Jessica’s past. The Defenders” season continual reach one, “The Punishinto her past assists er” season one and in the discovery as most recently “Jesto why she is the sica Jones” season recluse and loner that she is two. so famously known. The individual character I enjoyed that this season series mash up to form the is centered around Jessica Defenders team and as a trying to figure out what group has a series together happened to her, how she as well as their individual got her powers, what the series separate. Netflix is organization really is and all doing a pretty good job of who is really involved. The keeping up with the timeline and is not difficult to quest into her past uncovering the dark corners as to follow. At the start of the sea- what made Jessica the Jesson I liked that the villain sica we now know. In the new season, I enseemed to be more of a joyed that the lead villain fluid concept instead of is somewhat elusive at the a specific person like in beginning and grows more season one with Kilgrave, specific as it continues. As
the season progresses and this evasive villain is more and more exposed, I enjoyed the complication and conflict it brings to Jessica and makes the show more interesting and intriguing to watch. As the plot thickens and Jones digs deeper and deeper into the group, she begins to discover more about her past and is able to begin to put the complicated pieces together. She begins the internal battle of ethics vs emotion. Her moral and ethics go back and forth throughout the season. Overall, I do enjoy that Jones is one of the more relatable characters for those who identify as the black sheep of the family, the “Jessica Jones” franchise is the least developed character. Both seasons ended the same. Her backstory is quite interesting and her powers great, yet it seems as if the creative directors cannot get past the same process of dig into Jessica’s past, villain is involved in her past, villain is eradicated, end of season. They could do better, and I hope season three will impress a bit more than the first two.
SPEAK MAGAZINE
Spring Edition C O
M
I
N
G
S
O
O
N
You can view this and all previous issues of SPEAK on I S S U U . C O M / S P E A K M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
www.thetechtalk.org
March 29, 2018 • The Tech Talk • 5
More Talk
March for our
Lives Ruston residents participate in national gun reform efforts
Photos by Bryn Young
Members of Louisiana Tech’s College Democrats joined the community in supporting gun reform efforts. BRYN YOUNG News Editor | bjy001@latech.edu
O
n March 24, people across the nation marched for gun reform and in protest of the current state of gun laws in the United States. As marchers descended on Washington, New York and Los Angeles, a group of protesters took to the Ruston Civic Center with chants and speeches in support of those larger events and the ideas they voiced. The event consisted of speeches from local students and event organizers as well as a march around the Civic Center, voter registration and a remembrance of the Parkland victims. The Ruston March for Our Lives was organized by Judith Howard and the Ruston chapter of Moms Demand Action. Howard said she felt the need to do something about gun violence and called her friends to action. “I just asked a couple of my friends if they could help me put this together,” Howard said. “I just thought, ‘I can’t not do something.’ I had to do something.” Howard said she thinks the event was successful at getting their message out as well as showing likeminded citizens in the community they are not alone. She hopes people understand they need to speak to their legislators and strive for change with their votes. “I hope people who attended got the message
that you have to be in touch with your congressmen,” she said. “They have to hear from you because they are always going to hear from the other side. There is so much money in politics and it’s easy to get cynical and lose hope that we can do anything to change the situation; but, there are more people than there are lobbyists and if people vote it will make a difference.” Howard said she is hopeful to see a movement like March for Our Lives gain traction so quickly considering it is only about a month old. She said she thinks it is wonderful that students are leading the way a discussion like gun violence. “I think it is mind-boggling,” she said. “Major change usually occurs at such a snail’s pace and this has just been at warp-speed. It’s amazing. I just hope that young people don’t get frustrated if major change doesn’t happen really quickly. I don’t want them to give up.” Speakers from both Ruston High School and Louisiana Tech spoke to the crowd about their thoughts on gun violence and what needed to change. Nik Durman, Tech student and College Democrat member, spoke to those gathered and led chants during the march around the Civic Center. During his speech, Durman spoke of the laws governing guns and the hope that future youth will not have to worry about the threat of gun violence in schools and on
the street. “Now, some of our fellow Americans believe their right to own a gun is necessary in order to protect themselves and the lives of the ones they love,” Durman said. “Let me make clear, we have no quarrel with these law-abiding citizens. For their unease and apprehension is both reasonable and understandable in these tumultuous times. Yet the leisurely laws governing firearms in this country have allowed for individual with insidious intent to inflict pain and suffering amongst once peaceful communities, Parkland among them.” Durman said he found the event important and invigorating as it showed the liberal population of Ruston there are others in the community who think like them as well as helping others get involved in politics. “It was invigorating, solemn and unifying,” he said. “It was the first step in hopefully many to establish a liberal and democratic presence in the city of Ruston. The jury is still out on if we were successful on being heard. As far as the amount of people that showed up and if the speeches, I’d it was successful. One extra person who was not engaged in political activism is a victory.” Durman expressed he wished there were more pro-gun people at the rally so there would be an actual discussion on the issues. “I was disappointed that more people didn’t show up from the other side of the aisle,” he said. “Fortunately there were at least two guys there that called me out on at least one detail of my beliefs. I’m going to go back and research it, see if the details hold up and if not then revise my beliefs. That’s what the other side is for. If just we are here than it is a bunch of people with the same beliefs talking to each other.” One of those two was Ruston resident Brad West, who held a sign saying “pro guns and facts” during the march. He said he thought the March for Our Lives was a good thing but was misguided and illinformed. “It’s fine, I think it’s misguided,” West said. “(It’s) a lot of people that don’t know a lot about guns. They may have grown up around them but they do not go and purchase a gun and see what the background check process is like.” West believes that current gun laws being passed are not going to stop gun violence and are too vague in most instances. “Banning assault rifles, you cannot do that because it’s too vague,” West said. “Most of the laws that people want to pass now for common sense gun control want to get rid of ARs, AKs and fully automatic weapons. You cannot get those. Then people go to semi-automatics. Most pistols are semi-automatic. Most gun crime is committed with a pistol. Saying that the assault rifles are the issue. It’s not the issue. The tool is not the issue. If you are going to get a gun illegally, you’re going to get it illegally.”
www.thetechtalk.org
6 • The Tech Talk • March 29, 2018
Making the transition Preslee Gallaway took the road less traveled by in becoming one of the premier pitchers in the Conference USA ANDREW BELL Sports Editor | agb022@latech.edu
Photo by Donny Crowe
Gallaway named a 2nd Team All-Conference USA selection as a sophomore, while leading the Lady Techsters to a C-USA Championship and an NCAA Regional appearance.
From a single Division I scholarship offer to one of the best pitchers in her conference: that’s the transition Louisiana Tech junior pitcher Preslee Gallaway has made during her time as a Lady Techster, and she is not done yet. The former 2nd Team All-Conference USA selection is from Pilot Point, Texas and attended Pilot Point High School. She found herself considering Tech in her recruitment process in 2015, after being recruited at the infamous Ronald McDonald Tournament in Texas. She then attended a hitting clinic put on by none other than Tech head coach Mark Montgomery to solidify her interest. “When I got there, he told me he really liked my swing,” Gallaway said. “After that, he told me I should come on a visit. Later on, I found out that he was actually watching me at the Ronald McDonald Tournament during my specific game. So then I came and looked at the campus and it just made me feel at home on the first visit and that was that.” Gallaway was recruited as a utility player after mainly playing third base and shortstop in high school. Little did she know, huge changes were to come after Tech pitching coach Mike Forsythe noticed something while watching her practice. “I think it was the first or second practice at Tech,” Gallaway said. “It was the first time Forsythe was trying to look and see what I had, and once he saw that he could build onto what I had and better me as a pitcher, he realized that I had a lot of drive to just want to be on the field.” Forsythe saw potential in Gallaway as a pitcher, but noticed one flaw that, if solved, could allow Gallaway to blossom on the mound. “What Forsythe saw was a kid who had a mechanical issue that, if she fixed it, could really go forward,” head coach Mark Montgomery said. “She had great forearm strength
and power but she didn’t have finish or followthrough. She stopped all of her pitches early. So what (Forsythe) said was to get her to do that, she’s going to have to take a couple of steps backwards in order to go forward.” In order for Gallaway to make progress as a pitcher, she was going to have to change what she had been doing her entire playing career, but she was up to the task. “A lot of kids don’t risk taking that step backwards,” Montgomery said. “Well, Preslee thrived. She just really went to work and bought in. Her adjustment period was much less than another kid’s would be. All of a sudden she we went from pitching 61 or 62 miles an hour to pitching 67 or 68 by her third year.” During Gallaway’s freshman year, she had a 3.43 ERA, struck out a team 2nd-best 65 batters and had a 9-3 record, while still batting in 12 games and recording a .308 batting average. After making the transition to a full-time pitcher as a sophomore, she burst onto the scene with a team high 146 strikeouts, 16 wins and 170.2 innings pitched with a 2.58 ERA. Her emergence also helped the team make a jump, winning the 2017 C-USA Championship and appearing in an NCAA Regional. “Everybody on this team tries to be the best they can be for the team as a whole,” Gallaway said. “So with me going into the pitching aspect of it, if it’s going to help my team, then that’s what I’m going to do.” Gallaway’s persistence and work ethic has garnered respect from not only her coaches but her fellow teammates, like sophomore catcher Marilyn Rizzato. “Preslee is really just the type of person where she’s going to get what she needs to get done, and she’s going to get it done as fast as she can,” Rizzato said. “It almost builds my confidence catching (for) her, because she looks so fierce and looks like she’s going to get everyone out just because she believes it, and that makes the team believe it. She’s just the definition of hard work and getting the job done. That’s Preslee.”
Diamond ‘Dogs down the Warhawks ANDREW BELL Sports Editor | agb022@latech.edu The bats were hot and the gloves were sticky for the Louisiana Tech baseball team March 21 as the ‘Dogs took down in-state rival ULM at JC Love field. Tech (17-6, 3-0) defeated ULM (11-9, 1-2) by a score of 6-1 to round off a fivegame winning streak, while doing so in impressive fashion against a much-improved Warhawks’ team, which is already one game away from matching its win total from last year. Largely responsible for Tech’s dominance was standout sophomore pitcher Tyler Follis, who threw a no-hitter, before being taken out in the top of the eighth inning due to a high pitch count. He did not allow a single hit, struck out three batters, only gave up three walks and did not allow a run until leaving someone on base, before being taken out for senior pitcher Graham Ahlrich. The run was scored while Ahlrich was pitching, but statistically is attributed to Follis because he left the runner on base. Tech head coach Lane Burroughs made the unpopular decision to take Follis out, but had his health in mind, considering his pitch count was up to 109 and they were up by a wide margin.
Photo by Colin Fontenot
Sophomore pitcher Tyler Follis pitched a near shutout through seven innings against the Warhawks, en route to a 6-1 victory. “I haven’t been a coach that long but I’ve never taken somebody out who had a no-no,” Burroughs said. “I thought I was about to get booed out of the stadium, but our fans know the game and he was at 109.
He was scattering the ball with that last hitter, but he pitched great. He gave us a chance to win, and you can’t ask for much more than that.” Not only were the Dogs filling it up from
the mound, but their batting lineup showed some impressive power at the plate, with three home runs. One of those tanks came from their C-USA Co-Hitter of the Week Dalton Skelton, who continued his 15game hitting streak with an impressive 2-4 outing. The senior hit a single and a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. “He’s been on fire,” Burroughs said. “I’m trying to stay out of his way. We don’t do much with him because when you’re on fire and rolling like that, you just kind of stay out of his way. But he’s seeing the ball really well right now for sure.” Junior right fielder Mason Robinson also continued his strong play, batting 2-3 with a single and and a solo home run. Junior left fielder Mason Mallard got in on the action with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the third inning to separate Tech from ULM for good. “We’re doing a great job of evaluating pitches at a high level,” Burroughs said. “Just seeing what’s a ball and what’s a strike, and I know that sounds elementary but our guys are doing a great job of getting pitchers in the stretch and getting runners on. I think we left a lot of runs out there tonight but I think the fact that we’re evaluating pitches very well is one reason we’re scoring runs.”