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MAY 12, 2016

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VOLUME 90 • ISSUE 23

Tech professor publishes second edition of textbook REBEKAH BARNES Staff Reporter | reb033@latech.edu

Photo by Avery Bryan

Students rush to grab balls while playing “hungry hungry hippos” on one of the inflatables at Spring Fest.

Spring Fest comes to Tech ISABELA PALMIERI Staff Reporter | ipa001@latech.edu Crawfish, live music and inflatables is not the usual scene for the Louisiana Tech campus, but with finals approaching, Union Board’s annual Spring Fest offered students just that.

This year, Union Board combined their usual Spring Fling with KLPI’s Mayfest and put together Spring Fest on May 6.

Kailee Courts, the Spring Fest cocommittee head, said when planning for Spring Fest, she and her co-committee head Zach West tried to bring in attractions they would like to have as students.

“Everybody loves the street signs, so that was something we had to bring back,” she said. “We try to think of what students coming in would like. This year

we couldn’t get rides so we went for inflatables instead. We have a hungry-hippos game, which I am so excited about.”

Spring Fest brought crawfish, jambalaya, inflatable games and live music to the Tolliver parking lot. Courts said Spring Fest is her favorite event of the year.

“We are here at school all the time,” Courts said “You pay a little bit of your tuition for this, so why not give the students something where they can take a break from their busy lives and have a little fun?”

Courts said the reason she joined Union Board was to be able to provide Tech students with opportunities to have fun.

“As Union Board members, our job is to bring entertainment to the campus,” Courts said. “Anytime that we can do

that, anytime I see students coming out and having fun, it makes me very happy.”

Sam Hussein, president of Union Board, said Spring Fest gives the students a chance to celebrate the end of spring quarter and get together with their friends before the school year is over.

“It is a really good event to have at the end of the year,” he said. “It brings everybody together one last time before everybody goes home for summer. They can come out and hang out on the hill, eat some crawfish, listen to good bands and enjoy the last few weeks of school.”

Kimberly Garb, KLPI’s general manager, said KLPI and Union Board were both impacted by the state’s budget cuts, affecting their annual spring events.

> see SPRING FEST page 6

QEP to be introduced Fall 2016 JENNA PRICE Staff Reporter | jmp073@latech.edu Louisiana Tech will launch a communication-enhancing program in Fall 2016 designed specifically for incoming freshmen.

This program, part of the Quality Enhancement Program, will address the lack of communication skills possessed by graduates entering the workforce.

As part of the staff at the BARC, Stacy Gilbert partici-

pated in the work groups which collaborated together to create the QEP. Gilbert said the QEP was created to strengthen the skills employers look for most in graduates.

“Work employers felt one of the things college students need coming out of college was the enhancement of oral communication skills,” Gilbert said. “The focus of this plan is communication but with a partnership

with the First-Year Experience course.”

Gilbert said the FYE course will replace university seminar and will broaden the content taught in the course.

“This FYE course is no longer a college survival course; it’s a life-surviving course,” Gilbert said. “The FYE course will use communication language to connect classes so that students can build on these skills throughout their college career.”

Over the last three quarters, Gilbert and instructor of communication Lisa Merritt have been co-teaching in order to give a trial-and-error run of the companion course offered by the QEP. The QEP can be broken down into four components: companion courses, BARC COMMons, professional development of faculty, and Blue Fire Mentors.

> see QEP page 6

After designing systems used at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Randall Barron is using his experience and knowledge to further the field of cryogenics.

Barron, a professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, has co-written the second edition of his textbook “Cryogenic Heat Transfer” with Gregory Nellis from the University of Wisconsin.

Barron became a professor at Louisiana Tech in 1965 after teaching at Ohio State University.

“At Ohio State I was teaching full time, I was working in industry part time, I was writing a book and we had three kids,” Barron said.

He wrote his first textbook, “Cryogenic Systems,” in his 20s, which was the first book in cryogenics teachings. He said his new edition focuses on the problems scientists encounter when using low temperatures which can affect oil wells, space stations and racecars.

“It’s intended to provide information for practicing engineers and for classroom work as well,” he said. “But the main idea is to look at these very special problems in heat transfer in cryogenics.”

Ray Radenbaugh, a physicist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said the information in this book is extremely valuable to students.

“This is the best all-around heat transfer book I have seen as well as one that uniquely covers all areas important to cryogenics,” Radenbaugh said.

He said heat transfer is one of the most important problems in the field of cryogenics, and Barron’s book covers topics rarely explained in other textbooks.

“I want to have the entire book on my shelf,” Radenbaugh said. “I will turn to it very often in my research.”

Steven Scriver, a mechanical engineering professor at Florida State University, said the book is readable enough to be used in education, but is extensive enough for practical use as well.

“I teach a course in cryogenics at Florida State and occasionally a training course to the industry,” Scriver said. “‘Cryogenic Heat Transfer’ would be a valuable resource for this class.”

Barron said the writing process has changed since his first book, when he typed out all 1,000 pages four different times after edits were made.

“I drew up all the pictures and used an ink lettering set for the figures,” he said. “The second time, the process was very different. Now all the graphs are drawn electronically.”

He said his wife reads everything as he writes, and said she is concerned because she is beginning to understand some of the more technical aspects of his work.

“To me it’s interesting to find out things that aren’t generally known,” he said. “In order to write something where other people understand it, I have to understand it very well, too. It’s a challenge.”

NEWS

May 12, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 2

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Alumni association hosts Give4Good campaign event STARLA GATSON Staff Reporter | sjg021@ latech.edu The North Louisiana community was given the opportunity to support Louisiana Tech’s current and future students during the “Bulldogs Give4Good Day” event.

On May 3, the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association joined the Community Foundation of North Louisiana’s “Give4Good” campaign for the first time.

Give4Good is a 24-hour giving challenge to raise funds and increase support of various nonprofit organizations in North Louisiana.

Elaine Poynter, Tech’s director of annual giving, said all donations made for Tech will go toward funding scholarships for the university’s students.

“We’re just trying to get the word out about how important scholarships are,” Poynter said. “Private support has always been a part

of students going to Tech, and it’s more important than ever these days.”

Tyson Baldwin, director of the Tech Athletic Club, said the fundraiser is especially important to the university because of Louisiana’s current issues with higher education funds.

“This is important for the well-being of Tech’s students and athletes, especially with what’s going on in the state with TOPS,” Baldwin said. “This will help to give students the same opportunities that I was afforded when I was a student.”

The Alumni Association also set up booths with food, games and music in Centennial Plaza to attract students’ attention and gain their support for the campaign.

“We want students to put pictures on social media, talk to their parents and to any alumni they know,” Poynter said. “We would also love to talk to some

students who are some scholarship students and find out what it means to them. We just want them to get to know us and know what the foundation does for them.”

Jessica West, a sophomore agricultural business major, said she volunteered to be a part of the event because she wanted an opportunity to help fund scholarships for students who may not have the opportunity to go to college without them.

“It means a lot to me personally because I have scholarships,” West said.

“So coming out here and seeing all these people come and support us is really cool.”

Les Guice, president of Tech, said he was glad to see the university’s involvement in this year’s event.

“We’re so excited to have everybody out here participating,” he said. “This is to get everybody in support of giving to a good organiza-

Photo by Avery Bryan

Debra Dicki (left) and Cole Nelson (right) play a game of corn hole at the Give4Good event hosted by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. tion that is, of course, Louisiana Tech.”

Poynter said she was pleased with the response to the campaign and said

her expectations for the first year of the event had quickly been exceeded.

“Our goal was $5,000, and by noon we were close

to $9,000,” she said. “We definitely hope to do this again, so if you missed us this time, be sure to look for us next year.”

Tech Eco-car team competes in Detroit JENNA PRICE Staff Reporter | jmp073@ latech.edu

Photo by Brian Blakely

The competition’s winning robot (above) was able to track movement and fire nerf darts.

Robotics competition held at Tech PAYTON POTTER Staff Reporter | jmp073@ latech.edu Computer science’s annual robotics competition took place Friday in the student center, with an estimated 100 participants and a room full of spectators.

The featured competitions included an original design contest and a race through a maze. Each of the nine robots in the maze category had to find its way out of the maze within a minute.

Ben Choi, who oversees the robotics competition, said the 15 design projects all brought something unique to the competition.

“Students just go haywire and create all kinds of amazing projects,” said Choi, an associate professor of computer science. “I’m really impressed by the performance of the students.

Each of them is really distinct.”

Nathan Ruppel and his

team designed a card shuffling and dealing robot for the competition. Ruppel said several components go into making the machine operate.

“What we do is randomly select which of those servos runs at a certain time,” he said. “If we want to deal five cards out, we pick a random number between one and six. Whatever that number is, we run that servo to deal one card out. We will do that five times, that way we have a random card that comes out at each time.

The whole thing can also turn. If you want to deal with four people, it would turn 90 degrees to deal out those five cards.”

Ruppel said although his team did not start the project when it was assigned, they still created their shuffler with hard work and late nights.

“The project was assigned about two months ago,” he said. “We had a lot

of ideas going through our head, but we didn’t actually start building it until two weeks ago. This whole week we have been working on it as often as possible.”

Graduate computer science student Oledele Sowemimo and his team created a robotic car controlled with hand motions made in front of a sensor.

“If you are within 100 meters of the car, you can actually control it,” he said.

“It transmits a signal to the accelerometer and the accelerometer controls the RF motor. Then the transmitter detects the direction that you are actually moving your hand.”

Choi said the students who participated in the robotic rendezvous learn while building their projects.

“This is an amazing project,” he said. “They do things by themselves. While doing the project, they are learning. They have a lot of fun with it.”

one of the reasons people join the team is because people love to use their hands.”

Theriot said the team struggled because After a 22-hour drive to Detroit the Shell did not approve the diesel car model Louisiana Tech Eco-car team competed until November, pushing production back for the ninth consecutive year in the Shell an entire month.

“We only had only about four months Eco-marathon Americas 2016 held April to work on the car,” Theriot said. “The 22-24.

According to the Shell website, the Shell diesel car was not finished until we got to Eco-marathon Americas 2016 is a com- Detroit, whereas in previous years it would petition to design, build and test the most be finished two weeks before. Also having energy-efficient vehicles created by partici- to train the new members slowed us down pants from 124 high schools and colleges quite a bit. It put us behind the whole year.”

Michael Swanbom is an engineering representing seven countries.

Although the Tech eco-car team fell professor at Tech and has served as one of the faculty sponsors since short of completing a valid the team was created in 2008. run, they were one of two Swanbom said Tech has alteams to successfully pass “One of the ways created the most aesinspection for the UrbanCon- reasons people thetically appealing cars at cept, Compressed Natural the competition, but creating Gas category. The team was join the team is good-looking cars is not the also one of six teams to pass main goal. technical inspections in the because people “Our strength has been the UrbanConcept, Diesel cat- love to use their appearance of our vehicles,” egory.

Swanbom said. “We were all Xavier Theriot led the hands.” disappointed with the outteam as car lead and team come of this year, but really manager. Theriot said Murgood lessons came out of it. phy’s Law played into the MATTHEW The personality of the team unforeseen and unpredict- MCHENRY is optimistic which is not unable complications which engineering major common for a young team.” prevented a valid run for both Theriot said Tech’s eco-car the cars.

“If anything can go wrong, it will go was able to aid the competition because it wrong,” said Theriot, a senior engineer- is one of the few that passed inspection.

“You’re helping to shape the future ing major. “Everything that worked here at Tech did not work in Detroit. We ran into a of the competition,” Theriot said. “Even though my run is invalid, we did something lot of problems.”

Matthew McHenry has been a part of no one else in the world could do.”

Swanbom said the students do not rethe eco-car team for two years and was the electrical lead and diesel car driver as a ju- ceive course credit for all the hours they nior engineering major. McHenry said this put into creating a car from scratch.

“We have a hard time hanging onto juyear was a rebuilding year for the team.

“Seven of the 12 we took to competi- niors and seniors because studies in school tion were new to the team,” McHenry said. come first,” Swanbom said. “This team sets “We would show them how to use all the them up for their career. This is their mismachines, and they would get nervous. But sion of love.”

UPCOMING EVENTS FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

• Friday the 13th

•University Spring Choir Concert 7:30 p.m.

• No events scheduled

• Midnight breakfast with President Les Guice in the TONK 10:30 p.m.

• Midnight Mocha with LA Tech BCM

•No events scheduled

• No events scheduled

• LA Tech vs. Rice 6 p.m.

NEWS

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May 12, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 3

Human ecology hosts recruitment event REBEKAH BARNES Staff reporter | reb033@ latech.edu

lot of psych classes.”

The group’s recruiting project is part of Amy Yates’ Professional Issues in Human EcolThe School of Human Ecology ogy class, in which students do is looking for students who want to group projects and prepare for spring clean their majors. life after graduation. Flournoy On May 4, “Star Wars Day,” they said the group projects are the School asked students to join their most challenging part of any force and gave out gift cards and class in her major. homemade Wookie cookies in the Katie Brumfield, a senior plaza. fashion and merchandising Cassidy Gunmajor, said her major is like a sallus, a senior nucreative business degree with trition and dietetan emphasis on retail and event ics major, said the planning. school is recruit“Human ecology is so inviting undecided stuing, and it’s really like a big famdents and those ily,” she said. “It’s really fun, but who are looking not in the sense that it’s easy. to change majors.

BRUMFIELD We do a lot of group projects.”

“I think human She said they do awareness ecology is a good events for the School of Humajor for anyone,” Gunsallus said. man Ecology every quarter, “We have nutrition and dietetics, and they have been planning family and child studies, and fashthis event since the second ion and merchandising. It’s a great week of classes, meeting twice major if you have a heart that wants a week. to help people.”

“A lot of work went into She said she did not start out as planning this,” she said. “We a human ecology student when she Photo by Brian Blakely was a freshman, and she is happy Students spin the prize wheel and enjoy free smoothies during the School of Human Ecology’s “Star Wars Day.” went around to local businesses and asked for donashe changed majors. tions, so it’s a community “Everyone in human ecology event as well.”

Jackie Flournoy, a junior secondary eduShe said the classes go beyond home has a passion for what they’re doing,” she She said the date and Star Wars theme said. “I personally didn’t have the passion I cation major, is also pursuing a concentra- economics.

“Not many people know about human happened to fall into place, and she is haphave now in my original major, but I found tion in family and consumer sciences.

“I’ve always loved to sew and cook,” ecology,” she said. “It’s not just food, nu- py they did. it through human ecology. I think everyone “It’s really been a lot of fun,” she said. who puts time into getting a degree should Flournoy said. “I do a lot of that on the side trition and sewing; it’s more involved than anyway at home, and I just want to teach that. You learn about how families work. “I’m just thankful to Dr. Yates, and Star feel that way about what they’re doing.” kids how to do it.”

There is a lot of theory in it, and you take a Wars.”

Students ‘get played’ at Cyber Storm Competition KEIERA BELL Staff reporter | klb072@ latech.edu In a world of advancing technology, it is possible to encounter technical difficulties which need to be fixed by a computer scientist or cyber engineer, especially if “The idea that technology was to teach includes being us different hacked.

Louisiana techniques Tech’s computand give us er science and ways to test cyber engineerour abilities ing degree programs hosted in a psuedoits 2016 Cyber world enviStorm comperonment.” tition May 5 in the Tonk where MITCHELL students both BRANDONE competed in junior cyber challenges to engineering major test their coding skills and took their final exam.

Jean Gourd, an associate professor of computer science and cyber engineering, said the event consisted of eight teams of students who competed against each other to test their skills in cyberspace defense, attack and adaptability.

“Other than being their final, the point of this competition is to have students experience real, fastpaced problems like they would in everyday life or working at any company,” Gourd said.

He said the difference between this year’s Cyber Storm and the past six was the number of students participating. Gourd said every year they learned what worked and ways to make the event better and more fun for students.

“We evolved from just defending and attacking where students were trying to either hack someone else’s system or protect their own from being hacked to include different challenges like capture the flag and scavenger hunts where they have to find clues in order to move on,” Gourd said. “All these challenges have focal points for the

students to make them think on their feet while working with others.”

Mitchell Brandone, a junior cyber engineering major, said the Cyber Storm competition was for sophomores taking the Computer Science 442 or Cyber Engineering 301 class.

“We spent the entire quarter preparing for this competition,” Brandone said. “The idea was to teach us different techniques and give us ways to test our abilities in a psuedo-world environment.”

He said at the beginning of the competition they faced multiple problems. Brandone said they were supposed to have seven team members in all, but one did not show and Gourd pulled two, which dropped them down to a four-person team. He said another problem they faced was their server not wanting to work within the first half-hour.

“This competition is a lot more stressful than I imagined,” Brandone said. “We’re facing real-world problems and it just goes to show how things don’t go as expected.”

Tina Boutin, a freshman general studies major, said she had never been to a Cyber Storm competition before, but was there to support her brother.

“This is my brother’s first year competing, and to be honest, I didn’t know it started until I heard the computer speak,” Boutin said.

She said the event was really useful because it represented the students’ final and thought it was a good way for them to show what they have learned. Boutin said she did not know this kind of contest happened at Tech and thought it would give students a taste of what to expect working in their field and having to fix certain computer problems.

“Anyone who is interested in technology should come see what happens at Cyber Storm competitions,” Boutin said. “I don’t know much about any of this, but watching them prepare for this and actually competing is very intriguing.”

Joseph Hardy, a junior computer science major, attempts to complete a challenge.

Photos by Brian Blakely

Team R.O.B. works to solve a problem.

www.thetechtalk.org

4 • The Tech Talk • May 12, 2016

The

TechTalk

FROM THE EDITOR

MANAGEMENT

Looking forward

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Rachel Maxwell

MANAGING EDITOR

RACHEL MAXWELL Editor-In-Chief | ram049@latech.edu

Caleb Daniel

NEWS EDITOR

Blake Branch

FEATURES EDITOR John Sadler

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ellie Moslander

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Payton Potter

SPORTS EDITOR

Matthew Valcho

PHOTO EDITOR

Brian Blakely

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Colin Fontenot Devin Dronett Jonathan Shaul Ashley Kober Avery Bryan

ADVISERS

T. Scott Boatright Dr. Reginald Owens Dr. Judith Roberts

A

s my first quarter as editorin-chief of the Tech Talk comes to a close, I don’t know quite what to feel.

I am beside myself that I am losing some of the best friends I’ve met in college. As some of my fellow Tech Talkers graduate or move on to new adventures, I cannot imagine next year without them.

I would have drowned this past quarter without the help of the two below me on this page, and the thought of doing this without them in the fall terrifies me.

If I wasn’t so excited for them to be moving forward in their own lives, I would beg them to stay

with me in our little corner of the Keeny basement.

When I am able to look past the fact that I’m losing some great people, I get excited to come back in the fall with fresh ideas of my own and a new staff that I know I will become close with as well.

I have learned so much from this experience already, from the typos that somehow always make it past all the eyes that scan pages before they go to print, to the critical emails, to the positive feedback, to the sleepless nights laying out pages. I cannot wait to see what next year has in store for me.

I am halfway through my college career. Everyone says it but it really does go by so fast. And if

I’ve learned anything, it’s that you never know what’s in store next.

If you had asked me when I got to Tech what I thought my life would be like at the end of my sophomore year, I would have never imagined that I’d be doing the things I am doing, learning the things I am learning, or saying goodbye to as great of friends as I have found recently.

But then, that gives me even more hope that the next two will be just as unpredictable and fun as the past two have been.

All I know for sure is that I’m grateful for my time so far.

Rachel Maxwell is a sophomore journalism major from Benton who serves as editor-in-chief for The Tech Talk.

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To learn is to change

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ELLIE MOSLANDER Entertainment Editor | emo012@latech.edu

I

’ve grown up living in many different places, meeting many different people, and I truly believe this is what fueled my interest in becoming a journalist.

Coming to Louisiana Tech, I honestly would have never thought I would have found such a home here as I have.

I have learned so much from the faculty members and the students I have worked alongside.

Growing up and moving around, I always associated change with loss and negativity, but as my time at Tech comes to an end, I realize one of the biggest lessons I have learned in this real of academia is how change has shown and proven to me it is much more than this.

Change does not mean the end of anything, but is merely the opportunity for a new beginning along with new opportunities.

I remember last year as many of my friends graduated and moved on to a different stage of life, I felt left somewhat alone in

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 providing 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 Univer­ sity Policy #1445 at http://www. latech.edu/administration/policies­ and­procedures/1445.shtml.

my college career; but with the beginning of the 2015 school year, I realized I was mistaken.

This final year has been one of the best years of my life. I have grown in many ways and accomplished things I never believed I could, because of the people surrounding me and guiding me along the way.

As amazing people left me, I realize they left encouraging and inspiring me to strive to be the best I could be.

As they left, others walked in.

College may be academically focused and while we all can learn from the classes we take, the learning experience goes well beyond the classroom to the people you encounter and the things you do. Academics is merely the opening point.

The impact these people and this place have had on me will remain with me no matter where I go.

This is not the end, but a journey and one I will cherish and learn from throughout my life.

These people have become my family.

Rachel Maxwell, you saved my life and through the stressful late nights of putting what we saw as endless papers together, you have become one of my best friends.

John Sadler, you have guided me as a reporter to where I am today; thanks for everything fam.

Devin Dronett is the real MVP, always being my accompanying photographer to many stories we had to cover.

And all the other friends who I have encountered, I love you fam.

You will all go far, we will all go far.

And everything will continue on. Our stories don’t end here, but begin here.

Our stories may never merge again, but we will always remember what we learned here.

College is a truly beautiful thing, as it is a collaboration of minds working together but in different ways all striving for one goal– the real world, it awaits us now.

Ellie Moslander is a senior journalism major from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who serves as entertainment editor for The Tech Talk.

JOHN THE ROCKS

I remember JOHN SADLER Feature Editor | jts040@latech.edu

I

remember sitting on the porch of my aunt’s house when I was young and regaling my mother with plans to be the world’s first archaeologist/paleontologist/ cactus farmer. I think author might have been thrown in there too but I can’t be sure.

I remember dreaming about being a novelist in high school and jotting down notes for cringeworthy novel ideas. I remember talking with my parents about how to turn writing into a marketable skill and settling on journalism.

I remember coming to visit Louisiana Tech. I met the faculty of the journalism department and they gifted me with “Columbine”

by Dave Cullen. I still haven’t read it.

I remember assuaging my father’s fears about the future of the industry. He told me how proud

he was of me when I published my first story in The Tech Talk. I felt happiness and relief.

I remember my sister backing me up with trepidation. She kept me sane by calming me down when the stress of college got too much. My goal is to be like her in life.

I remember sending the girl I was dating a photo of my first review in The Tech Talk. It was a piece on The Flaming Lips’ album “The Terror.” She told me she was proud.

I remember making lifelong friends in this department. I moved in with one and we fought like an old married couple. A lot of people thought we were. The other tore up the French Quarter with me on numerous occasions.

I love them fiercely.

I remember trips to conferences, cities and festivals. I saw Kanye West in a crowd of 100,000. I saw Anders Osborne in a dark warehouse in New Orleans. I met

Anderson Cooper wandering the French Quarter.

I remember being excited at the prospect of reading “Blood Meridian,” my favorite novel, in a college classroom. I just finished a 45-page thesis on it.

I remember sitting on my couch in shock when I was accepted to the Master’s program in journalism at the University of Missouri. I called my sister and we said half-sentences to each other over the phone until the shock wore off. I move there next month.

I remember growing up in the fields of Louisiana, camping near bayous and hunting armadillos for pocket change. I carry it with me.

I remember being afraid of my choice, of worrying about my future. I haven’t done that in years.

John Sadler is a senior journalism major from Extension who serves as features editor for The Tech Talk.

Should undecided voters pick their poison?

I

t seems fitting for 2016 to be an election year, and the candidates couldn’t be more controversial.

For voters who are undecided or independent it feels like there’s no candidate worthy of supporting. If this were a test, the correct answer would be “none of the above.”

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has garnered plenty of scrutiny for vulgar, verbal attacks on his fellow candidates, Muslims, Mexicans and women.

Somehow, they’ve also garnered him votes.

Those in the Trump corner point to his (questionable) reputation as a good businessman and his knack for telling it like it is (or how they think it is).

However, Trump’s status as a conservative is certainly up for debate.

Just this week, Trump said he would like to see an increased minimum wage at the state level and that his tax plan would likely involve tax hikes on the wealthy. Trump spoke out with fervor against both less than six months ago.

Politicians are allowed to have a change of heart, but Trump’s stance on key issues is as flexible as a Russian gymnast.

His Democratic counterpart, Hillary Clinton has stirred up her own delicious dish of controversy.

Clinton drew praise from her Democratic base and environmentally-aware citizens for comments about how she would, “put a lot of coal companies and coal miners out of business.”

That was in March. Last Monday, following backlash from coal miners, Clinton, changed her tune by stating we’ve got to, “Get coal to be a fuel that can continue to be sold … and mined.”

Clinton loudly opposed same-sex marriage for over a decade. In 2013, with the rising number of same sex couples and stories reaching the spotlight in popular media, she changed her mind and decided she supported same-sex marriage.

Seems legit.

No one is trying to lump honesty and politics together and the point of this editorial is not to tell you this is the most important election of all time.

As young adults, we need to collectively pay attention and search for facts and truth amidst the name calling and pandering.

It is not our duty as Americans to stand by a party. It is our duty to stand by our principles, whatever they may be, and in this election, it seems an impossible task to figure out where Trump or Clinton’s principles truly lie.

If neither candidate is for you, third-party and write-in candidates are options, as well as the less popular, not voting.

This November, the best advice for the undecided, trust your gut.

May 12, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 5

www.thetechtalk.org

TOP PICK

with John Sadler

RADIOHEAD “A POOL OF MIRRORS”

‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR’

Marvel Studios

Hero fight, done right

CALEB DANIEL Managing Editor|csd020@latech.edu In my review of “Batman v. Superman,” I said the best comic-book movies achieve a satisfying balance between complex real-world issues and classic superhero fun.

Thank God for Marvel, because they actually know how to find it.

Released only a month after DC’s subpar attempt at a hero-on-hero story, “Captain America: Civil War” expertly avoids the trap of taking itself too seriously.

Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some thought-provoking issues to sift through in Anthony and Joe Russo’s kickoff of Marvel’s Phase Three.

The story revolves around an ideological rift between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). This disagreement has two main causes: a UN hero registration act and the framing of Cap’s brainwashed friend, Bucky Barnes.

While the main conflict from Mark Miller’s “Civil War” comic series had to be significantly edited to fit the film, the core struggle of liberty and security (see my column from last week) is still present.

JAMES BLAKE ELLIE MOSLANDER Entertainment Editor| emo012@latech.edu Through his music and alluring vocals, James Blake has always done a beautiful job at invoking the emotions within us, even at the deepest levels.

With his fourth studio album, “The Colour In Anything,” he has taken this even further, playing on the same sound he always has, but incorporating something new–establishing himself as a bolder presence in the music industry.

The 17-track album is a fusion of inner sadness.

Kicking off the album with “Radio Silence,” he sets the tone of sadness through the loss of an important person in his life, most likely a lover.

These emotions are reiterated through the lyrics and the album, as it holds a melancholy feel but as is common with Blake’s music, still has the potential to maintain an upbeat tone through his use of various electronic music.

ON OUR

Cap and Iron Man’s disagreement tears the Avengers in half, culminating in the long-awaited six-on-six brawl of heroes.

In a heavily character-driven genre, “Civil War” writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely do an exceptional job of fleshing out the roles of the ever-expanding cast.

While the resolute Cap and guilt-ridden Stark are solidified as the main characters here, secondary heroes like Vision (Paul Bettany) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) are still given valuable screen time and further development.

Chadwick Boseman’s cool and mysterious Black Panther has a satisfying debut before his solo film. More exciting, however, is the introduction of Spider-Man into the Avengers universe. And not just any Spider-Man: Tom Holland’s iteration has real potential to be the best yet. His adolescent voice and worldview are a refreshing return to classic Spidey, and his comical mid-fight commentary became my favorite part of the movie experience.

Even though portions of it were spoiled by trailers, the big fight itself is easily the best sequence of the film. In true Marvel fashion, hilarious one-liners fly right along with the punches.

After considering the many serious issues

presented in the film up to that point, fans simply get to sit back and have fun during the superhero clash. In fact, “Civil War” has the most fun moments in the Marvel universe since Hulk tossed Loki around.

That is what made this “war” so enjoyable.

No civilians were in harm’s way in the big fight, and no planet was on the verge of destruction.

There were definitely compelling issues to fight for, but nothing so immediate the characters couldn’t have a little fun.

“Civil War” weaves together numerous characters, storylines and struggles in a cohesive way that is hardly ever stifling. Markus and McFeely succeed at this because they really are not doing it alone.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a treasured gift to superhero fans. Ever since Downey Jr. donned the Iron Man suit eight years ago, these movies have led the world on an astonishingly well-planned and unified journey through Marvel storylines.

Now, “Civil War” has kicked off Phase Three of the master plan, all leading to a galaxy-shaking showdown with the mighty Thanos.

“Civil War” opened up the Marvel world a little more for us, and I can’t wait to see the final product.

“THE COLOUR IN ANYTHING” This is what is so refreshing about Blake’s music. It is constantly a compare/contrast between sadness and happiness– it is always beautifully bittersweet.

Ranging from sadder songs like the album’s title base“ The Colour in Anything“ Blake sings about the end of a relationship and then to songs holding a more upbeat tempo such as “Always.”

This album is synchronized and beautifully done.

Collaborative efforts with Bon Iver in the album’s single song, “I Need A Forest Fire,” highlight the artists’ ability to work with likeminded musicians but remains true to his original sound.

The song, “Noise Above Our Heads” stands out as one of the more unique songs on the album.

Blake discusses how even through the hardest things this life has to offer color can be found in anything, representing hope.

In “Modern Soul,” Blakes talks about being at a crosswords, which this album is all about –

2016 Polydor Ltd. (UK)

being a crosswords at the end of love.

Blake shares a personal experience of a lost love and what he went through in battling letting it go or holding on to it fiercely.

I have always viewed Blake’s work as a musical canvas, as he is able to vividly portray his emotions, thoughts and music into the listeners ‘minds as if they are viewing all of these combined into one painting. And with the “Colour In Anything,” Blake tremendously portrays a canvas of sadness and loss into this world of sunshine, a fight between the night and the day.

Everyone had heard the whispers. Dark, (not-so) secret murmuring in the depths of Internet forums and the hearts of diehard fans alike. Radiohead was releasing its ninth album sometime this year. It was a tenuous proposition.

Radiohead had not released an album since 2011’s “The King of Limbs,” a perfectly passable album overshadowed by the tremendous power of the previous release “In Rainbows.”

But, still, it had to be coming.

On May 8, after a release campaign that involved scrubbing their social media presence and sending pamphlets to U.K. fans that read, “We know where you live,” the band released “A Moon Shaped Pool.”

Reviewing a Radiohead album with only three days to digest it almost seems criminal. The headspace their albums put listeners in is hard to escape from in order to swallow the lyrical and sonic content. It’s something like a nighttime peyote dream-quest in the desert, or dark tabs of acid taken in wet alleyways. Breaking out of the forced hallucinogenic mind trip reveals an album concerned with government surveillance, damaging views of modern civilization and heartbreak. So much heartbreak.

“Burn the Witch,” the album’s opener and the first released single, is an unsettling statement on government intrusion and groupthink. It begins the album deceptively with a driving string section that fades into a quiet melancholia for the next song “Daydreaming.”

In the album’s closer “True Love Waits,” singer Thom Yorke croons, “Just don’t leave/don’t leave.” The song, first released in 2001 on the live album “I Might Be Wrong,” feels much more visceral here. Yorke recently separated from his partner of 23 years, and the song’s beseeching comes across more as a resignation than an effort that could change minds.

He’s older and wiser here, and his love has left. He’s pleading with nothing.

“Glass Eyes” is the album’s highlight. Sung as a dictation over the phone (to a lover? a mother?), the song details a panic attack upon an arrival at the train station, as Yorke sings, “Hey it’s me/I just got off the train/A frightening place/Their faces are concrete grey/And I’m wondering, should I turn around?”

Radiohead is the only band still recording that can cause such a turmoil with such a weird, eerily wonderful album. Alongside huge releases such as “Lemonade” and “Views,” the quintet holds their own in popularity.

RADAR

SUMMER MUSIC HERE ARE SOME ANTICIPATED ALBUMS WE RECOMMEND TO KICK OFF THE SUMMER

“CHANCE 3”

“TIRED OF TOMORROW”

“GOOD LUCK AND DO YOUR BEST”

“WHY ARE YOU OK”

MAY 13

MAY 13

MAY 27

JUNE 10

THE NEW ALBUM BY NOTHING DELVES INTO BAND MEMBERS’ STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION.

GOLD PANDA IS BACK WITH A FRESH RELEASE OF HIS FIRST ALBUM OF THREE YEARS.

BAND OF HORSES RELEASES A NEW FOLK ROCK ALBUM JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER.

CHANCE THE RAPPER’S NEW MIXTAPE DISPLAYS THE EVOLUTION OF HIS MUSIC.

www.thetechtalk.org

6 • The Tech Talk • May 12, 2016

WEEKLYHOROSCOPE www.horoscopes.com.net

Aries March 21 – April 19 If by chance you still harbor some resentment toward someone, Aries, it will probably come out today. You might be uncompromising or even vengeful. Telling that person how you feel will accomplish nothing other than cause you both pain and regret. Vent your anger in a healthy way, such as some form of intense physical activity. Besides, this person really means what they’ve been saying. That’s right, they do care about you.

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 You don’t suffer fools gladly, and superficial fools even less so. You have a mind to teach those around you a lesson. You’re uncompromising today, and you can’t understand why others don’t have your same high standards. But are you truly as honest as you expect others to be? Remember that the quality of an artistic endeavor, in particular, is likely to be judged differently by each person who experiences it.

Gemini May 21 - Jun 20 Here is a day of challenges, Gemini. You’re a pro at questioning yourself, as you’ll prove today when you take a hard look at your accomplishments. What have you created of a personal nature in the last ten years?

Have you followed someone else’s example because you doubted yourself? Have you been eternally “almost” ready? Have you dared to jump into projects that were still imperfect? These are the questions that need to be addressed.

Cancer Jun 21 - Jul 22 If you give the impression that you’re in a reserved and introspective mood (even if you aren’t), you’ll succeed in avoiding confrontation. Today there is no such thing as a simple exchange with someone, Cancer. But even in this atmosphere, it is still a great day to evaluate your fundamental objectives a little more closely.

Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22 A challenging day is in store for you, Leo. If you’re part of a group or team or simply among friends, you may feel somewhat ill at ease. Could it be that you instill jealousy in others? There’s only one way to find out.

Clear the air by saying what needs to be said. State it clearly and directly and you’ll eliminate any bad feelings among your group.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 Sometimes dreams seem like just that - dreams. Travel, a project, or a new home could be a few of the things you’ve been trying to accomplish for some time now.

Making any one of these dreams come true possibly

means jeopardizing relationships. Your dreams could seem particularly unattainable today. Perhaps you must first do some work on your relationships before you can realize your dreams.

Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 You’ll go one of two ways today, Libra. Either you’ll turn inward and meditate in a corner or you’ll find a good friend and confide your dissatisfaction. Don’t hesitate to let your guard down and express yourself even more honestly than is typical for you. Have no worries that your problems will bore your friend.

True friends are happy to help. You’d do the same, wouldn’t you?

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 Today is going to be an excellent day for meeting interesting people, Scorpio. And there will be nothing superficial about these encounters. On the contrary, the people you are going to meet will touch you profoundly and move you deeply on an emotional level.

But don’t let yourself be seduced by ideas alone!

Practicality matters, too!

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 You can expect today to be kind of intense, Sagittarius.

Even if you’ve made a conscious decision not to let anything get you down, you may still harbor some negative emotions from the last few days. Take advantage of this time to relieve stress. Talk to someone close or go out and whack a tennis ball. An artistic pursuit, such as sketching or photography, will help eliminate some of the negative energy.

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 The little fighter that you are makes it very difficult for you to join us in the great communal river that we’re all trying to navigate, Capricorn. You prefer to travel solo, going down your private stream as you see fit.

However, these are opportune days to try joining up with others. Some events may occur to remind you of the benefits of community.

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 Be disciplined about all areas of your body, Aquarius.

Take extra care to eat healthful, balanced meals. Make sure you get enough sleep. And even though you gripe about having no time, get out there and exercise.

Don’t wait for an emergency before you take action.

You and you alone control how you feel. Your health is essential to your well-being, not to mention your life!

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Across 1. Kuwaiti bigwig 5. Little hooter 10. Driving force 14. Almost unobtainable 15. Compact stuff 16. Classic cars 17. ___ pronounce you...

18. Had 19. Univ. hotshot 20. Winter drink 22. To reiterate...

24. Tatum’s dad 27. Rotate 28. Indonesian volcano 32. New Brunswick neighbor 35. Acknowledgment of debt 36. “The Planets” composer 38. Stone marker 40. Sailors 42. Sanctimonious 44. Sign of boredom 45. It’s a trap 47. Finished, terminated 49. Golf prop 50. Narrow cuts 52. Ball-game target 54. Swimmer’s regimen 56. Destroy 57. Subsiding 60. Poem 64. Custardy dessert 65. Kidney- related 68. River to the Ubangi 69. Social standing 70. Rub out or remove from memory 71. Letters, e.g.

72. ___-Day vitamins 73. Scatter

www.bestcrosswords.com 74. Donations to the poor Down 1. Guitarist Clapton 2. Look ___ hands!

3. High-performance Camaro 4. Revise 5. Acapulco gold 6. Exclamation of surprise 7. Moon goddess 8. Discharge 9. Lack of variety 10. Refined courtesy 11. Do followers 12. Well-behaved 13. Upper-left PC key 21. Indian nursemaid 23. Mmes., in Madrid 25. On 26. I swear!

28. Hobby shop inventory 29. Some horses 30. Hearing.related 31. For ___ (cheap) 33. Keen!

34. Cary of “The Princess Bride” 37. English royal house 39. Work without ___ 41. Ceylon, now 43. Linebacker Junior 46. Division politique 48. 554, in stone 51. Steeples 53. Soul 55. Hagar the Horrible’s dog 57. Lawyer Dershowitz 58. Ruination 59. Growl 61. Genuine

DAILY U

62. Scanty 63. Congers 64. Not to 66. Peer Gynt’s mother 67. Actor Ayres

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 If you’ve been feeling deep anger, today isn’t the day to let it out but rather the day to consider its source.

Any large gatherings of family or friends should be avoided at all costs. No, this doesn’t mean you get to take the day off! Just be extra careful about your temper. A little isolation will go a long way toward easing your tension, and may give you some important insights.

WEEKLYWEATHER

www.accuweather.com

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

HIGH 83 LOW 62

HIGH 84 LOW 59

HIGH 83 LOW 60

HIGH 77 LOW 60

HIGH 76 LOW 70

HIGH 89 LOW 75

HIGH 84 LOW 68

SPRING FEST from page 1

>

“Higher education budget cuts hit both organizations pretty hard this year,” she said. “In the middle of planning Mayfest, we got the news about how bad the budgets were and we knew something had to be done.”

Garb said KLPI did not want to cut Mayfest entirely, so they chose to join forces with the Union Board.

“Mayfest is something we’ve done for about 15 years now and it’s very important to us,” Garb said. “It was proposed to us that we could combine Mayfest and Spring Fling into one event in an effort to save money and essentially save both events. Though the collaboration was out of necessity, both groups were able to work together pretty successfully to pull it off.”

Hussein said this year’s new collaboration with KLPI brought a different crowd than the past years.

KLPI brought in the bands “NDI &

Jeff ” and “Chief and the Hounds,” while Union Board brought in “Alive by Sunrise” and “Judah and the Lion.”

“It is neat to also have the KLPI crowd out here as well and to be able to work with more diverse things with the money that we have in the middle of a budget crisis,” Hussein said.

Megan Southern, a senior English education major, said her favorite thing about Spring Fest is the chance to meet new people.

“College is more than studying and books,” Southern said. “It is about the college experience as well, and Spring Fest plays part in that. I love the crawfish, the music, and all of the festivities. There’s not many opportunities outside of studying and outside of where you live to interact with people outside of your major, and this gives us the opportunity to do just that.”

SUDOKUPUZZLE Difficulty EXPERT

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION

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

QEP from page 1

>

Merritt said communication is the common thread throughout all the components of QEP. “The BARC COMMons will be a tutoring center for presentations similar to the writing center which is a tutoring center for papers,” Merritt said. “The professional development of faculty component will hopefully encourage faculty to be more engaging and Blue Fire Mentors is a program for students to learn by teaching other students.”

Communication 101 will take the place of Speech 110 and Speech 377.

Twenty-one sections of Comm 101 will be offered each quarter next year.

Dean of the Liberal Arts College Donald Kaczvinsky said redesigning the Comm 101 course was a separate process outside of the QEP until the focus groups revealed the importance of students learning communications skills at the beginning of their careers.

“Comm 101 and the First-Year Ex-

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

LET’S BE FRIENDS! perience course became a natural wedding,” Kaczvinsky said. “Both courses would be co-requisites for freshmen.”

Hope Johnston is a freshman communication major and attended one of the piloted Comm 101 courses, cotaught by Gilbert and Merritt during the winter quarter.

Johnston said she originally attended the class without knowing she wanted to be a communication major.

“This class really helped me find what I wanted to do with my life and find my major,” Johnston said. “Making it required would be very helpful for all upcoming freshmen.”

Merritt said communication is a reflection of self and is important for freshmen who are in a crucial transitional phase of their lives.

“The huge part of the QEP is getting students engaged in the university, finding their place, finding out about themselves,” Merritt said.

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More Talk

May 12, 2016 • The Tech Talk • 7

Andy Tripp, cosplaying as Scorpion from “Mortal Kombat,” and Becky Tripp, cosplaying as Kitana from “Mortal Kombat,” won the Clints Comics award for best cosplay.

CONSIDERING

Photos by Devin Dronett

COSPLAY As cosplayers gather at ‘Geeks Along the River,’ we take a look at the unique subculture.

STARLA GATSON | Staff Reporter | sjg021@ latech.edu

Many people have preferred world of comics, and the next three years and enjoys the activoutlets for self-expression, and step was portraying the charac- ity for a variety of reasons. for a few of Louisiana Tech’s ters that I loved so much.”

“Sometimes it’s the challenge students, expressing themselves While Woods favors the free- of figuring out how to construct often means taking on dom of exa complicated prop or an entirely different pression she outfit that’s most enterpersona. has gained taining,” she said. “OthThese students, through the er times, it’s getting to known as cosplayers, craft, James be a part of a cosplaydress up in costumes to Ortis said for ing group with friends portray characters from him, cosplay is and taking a bunch of television shows, video about bringing pictures in character. games or comic book joy to others.

Meeting other people series.

Ortis said who enjoy the same WOODS ORTIS “Cosplay is a porthe began cohobbies never hurts eimanteau of the words splaying to ther.” costume and role play,” said Sa- share his favorite characters Hoff said she would like to vannah Woods, a senior sociol- with those around him. see more Tech students give coogy major. “Some people really “My favorite thing about co- splay a chance. go into the role-playing aspect, splay is bringing a smile to peo“I think the student commubut for some people, it’s just for ple’s faces,” said Ortis, a senior nity here probably knows a little show.” with a double major in comput- about cosplay, but I think it’s asWoods said her interest in er science and cyber engineer- sociated with anime pretty excosplay began during her high ing. “There are definitely a lot of clusively,” she said. “I would love school years when she started people out there who really care to see students here learn more collecting comic books and fur- a lot about certain characters. about or participate in cosplay, ther developed when she started When they see it brought to life, even if it’s just to try it out.” attending cosplay conventions they’re really excited because Woods said she believes the in college. for a moment, they can believe increase of small cosplay con“I’ve always considered my- that character is real. That’s ventions in North Louisiana, self really nerdy,” Woods said. “I something really special.” such as the Downtown River like dressing up in costume and Ortis said the portrayal of Market’s “Geeks Along the Rivmaking things, so cosplay was a different characters gives him an er” convention in Monroe, will perfect fit. It combines all of my opportunity to view situations bring a new appreciation for the loves.” through unique perspectives. craft and its community.

Woods said cosplay has “It’s fun for a time to act like “I’ve made a lot of friends given her not only a means of someone you’re not,” he said. through cosplay, and it brings expression, but also a sense of “I imagine it’s the same kind of people together,” she said. belonging within the cosplay thrill method actors get. It’s a sit- “When I first started, I was recommunity. uation where you can put your- ally intimidated, but once you “I’ve always felt kind of out self in someone else’s shoes, get to a convention and are of place,” she said. “And I dove and I think that’s a very valuable surrounded by people who are into the world of comics as a experience for everyone.” just like you, you realize that the way of feeling accepted. Those Randi Hoff, a sophomore things that would have held you ideas of differences making you computer science major, said back really don’t matter. It’s a special really drew me into the she has been cosplaying for super accepting community.”

Robert Grant, cosplaying as Deadpool, and Shane Dison, cosplaying as Iron Man, pose together.

Leon Evans, cosplaying as Link from “The Legend of Zelda,” wins first in kids cosplay contest.

Emily Hood from West Monroe (left) and Morgan Davis from West Monroe cosplay as Finn the Human and Cinderella.

www.thetechtalk.org

8 • The Tech Talk • May 12, 2016

Pitcher Tyler Clancy and the Diamond Dogs defeated two Top 25 teams on their way to a 30-win season for the first time since 2011.

BULLDOG

Photo by Tom Morris/LA Tech Communications

LEFT: Former Bulldog defensive tackle Vernon Butler was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.

ATHLETICS

BELOW: Following the resignation of former coach Tyler Summit due to an improper relationship with a player, former Lady Techster guard and assistant coach Brooke Stoehr returned to Ruston to take over the women’s basketball program.

A Year In Photos

Louisiana Tech athletics programs are on the rise and this season was a prime example of the Bulldogs and Lady Techters success on the field, court and course.

These photos represent some of the highlights in what was a great year for Tech sports.

Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Photo by T. Scott Boatright

Photo by Donny Crowe/LA Tech Communications

ABOVE: Guard Alex Hamilton became the winningest player in Louisiana Tech men’s basketball history as well as earning C-USA Player of the Year honors in his senior season.

RIGHT: Louisiana Tech golf upset nationally ranked University of Alabama-Birmingham in the finals of the C-USA tournament. They head to Tucson for the NCAA regionals onMonday.

Photo by Patrick Walsh/LA Tech Communications