MTSU
SIDELINES
1// 29// 2014 E D I T O R I A L LY INDEPENDENT
Remembering David “Ritt” Chittwood Pgs. 4-5 How to find the best sushi in Murfreesboro Pgs. 8-9 Do you think you could live in your van? Pgs. 12-13 Could you be the next “Wolf of Wall Street”? Pg. 14
Adrenaline rush Pgs. 10-11
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3 NEWS 6 A&E 10 COVER 12 Features 14 OPINIONS 15 SPORTS S T A F F
Emily West >> Editor-in-chief John Coulston >> Assistant A&E Editor
Amanda Gambill >> Managing editor Sam Brown >> Sports Editor
Quint Qualls >> News Editor Connor Grott >> Assistant Sports Editor
Daniel Jansouzian >> Assistant News Editor Robert Allen >> Opinions Editor Taylor Davis >> Assistant News Editor Laurel O’Neill >> Designer
Bailey Robbins >> Features Editor Cat Murphy >> Photo Editor
Claire Osburn >> Assistant A&E Editor
Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E and Features Editor
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Maranda Faris >> Copy Editor Leon Alligood >> Adviser
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NEWS Baldwin Gallery reopened Monday By Chelsea Newton // Staff writer The Baldwin Photographic Gallery, 50 years old, now has a new home in the John Bragg Mass Communication building. The new exhibition space opened Jan. 27 with a lecture by guest artists and a reception. The initial exhibition showcases the works of photographers Jerry Uelsmann and Maggie Taylor. Retired MTSU photography professor, Harold Baldwin, launched the effort to find a new home for the gallery after the gallery was forced to vacate the McWherter Learning Resource Center – it’s home for many years - as renovations were made to the building. Baldwin made a $100,000 donation to the university in order to fund renovations for the gallery in the Mass Comm building. In an interview, Baldwin’s hoped more students will now have an opportunity to be exposed to works of fine art photography. “I needed some help to show them some professional work, you know complicated and enticing photographs for students to see professional work,” Baldwin said last week, sitting outside the new gallery space as preparations for the opening were being completed.
Baldwin said he hopes to encourage the growth and recognition of MTSU’s photography program and provide an experience far beyond “every-day” photography. “Well, I’m hoping to get a little more of an establishment that is known all over. It’s an idea that we can say we have a program that we have been operating for 50 years, we’ve got a lot of experience, and we can bring in and get the top photographers in show here. So that is, that’s the ultimate goal – it’s for the students,” Baldwin said. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @news_sidelines. To contact the news editor, email Quint Qualls at news@mtsusidelines.com.
Photos by Cat Murphy and John Coluston.
“So, what I did was to go ahead, and I started scheduling professional photographers to show up here, and one of the first ones was Ansel Adams and then progressively went on to more and more people, and eventually the program was getting some notoriety for having some nice shows and we were getting really known beyond MTSU and so it continued to grow.”
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NEWS RIM student’s Inspiring story remembered By E.R. West // Editor-in-chief Recently, David “Ritt” Chitwood, was in his digital audio technology class when the professor asked the students to stand and sing.
was contagious. He was the most enthusiastic person about life. He never let his difficulty get in his way.”
Chitwood, 28, left paralyzed and in a wheelchair from an auto accident that nearly took his life and his mind, couldn’t stand. But he didn’t take offense. Chitwood smiled and told the class: “I am mentally standing.”
Allyson Gelnett, who graduated in 2011, was one of Chitwood’s classmates. She met him and his mom as he was rolling out of Ezell Hall one day.
The response from the blondheaded man with shoulder length hair surprised recording industry professor Trevor de Clercq. “And I thought [what he said] was a great outlook on life. We should all be mentally standing,” de Clercq said. On Friday morning, Chitwood’s voice was snuffed out, the result of a tragedy at the corner of Greenland and Middle Tennessee Boulevard. Chitwood was struck by a dump truck, and he died after being rushed to St. Thomas Rutherford. This weekend, students and faculty are remembering the man who had seemingly persevered hardships to find his way toward a career in music production. Students often saw the junior recording industry major rolling in his wheelchair across campus and in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building. He had been accepted into the RIM’s highly competitive candidacy program a little more than a year ago. “The department and the faculty are numb to hear of his passing,” said Beverly Keel, department chair. “He was always optimistic, and that 4 SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
“He always used to tell me ‘keep on, keeping on,’” Gelnett said, “And despite everything that happened to him, he never had ounce of negativity. He put the spotlight on everyone else, and he used to tell me how proud he was of me. When really, I was the one who proud of him.” ‘Everybody loved Ritt’ Nothing in Chitwood’s life was simple. His father passed away in the early 90s when the he and his brother were young, leaving him with his mother Margie and his brother William “Beau” Chitwood.
October 2006 car accident left him paralyzed in his first semester back as an MTSU student. The accident caused him to go into a coma for six months, and he was paralyzed from the chest down. “Recovery from that accident was 100 percent self-sufficient,” said David Evans, Chitwood’s uncle and mother’s brother. “The journey was just incredible. His love for music … he was great.”
According to his brother, the Nolensville native graduated from Middle College High School in Williamson County in 2003. His band the Deep Fried Trio evolved into the Deep Fried Five when he and his band mates entered college.
Days before he was in his first car accident, professor Melissa Wald remembers him clearly from her survey of audio technology class.
After that, he came to MTSU for three years, but then went to Ave Maria College in Naples, Fla. He then returned to Tennessee to pursue his love for music.
She was later notified that he would be withdrawing from class, but not for academic reasons. His car accident was too serious for him to return and attend class. Wald kept in contact with his mother, and doctors were uncertain that Chitwood would live.
From there, Chitwood’s life had even more unexpected turns. He found himself wheelchair bound after an
“I remember he made a 100 on his first survey of audio technology test,” Wald said. “I told him that he was smart, and his score was rare.”
“He had suffered a lot of brain damage, and he couldn’t remember that he was the kid that made the 100 on that test,” Wald said. “But he would always smile when I said it.” The accident also meant that he could no longer play in the Deep
Fried Five, and he started making electronic jams and placing it on his SoundCloud account. According to his cousins, they loved to listen to his beats, and Chitwood managed to mix music with theology. “His experience with music is what I will always remember him by,” Evans said.
music player and friend of mine.” In 2011, Chitwood used hippotherapy, or horse therapy, which helped him with his rehabilitation. He found a horse through an Alabama veterinarian in Robertsdale, Ala., who helped him connect with a mustang horse named Top Notch.
Despite his inability to stay in the band, he still supported and made efforts to see them play shows when he could.
According to Guy Busby, the journalist who profiled Chitwood and his horse for the Mobile Press Register, the two were a match made in heaven.
“Everybody loved Ritt,” said Alex Dilley, the bass player of the band. “We have known each other since high school, and he was great
Brasfield was responsible for training the horse to respond to various commands, and without knowing, she had trained Top
Crime Briefs VANDALISM Honors College parking lot Jan. 23, 5:19 p.m. Complainant reported that her vehicle was vandalized. BURGLARY Shardt Hall Jan. 23, 2:37 p.m. Complainant reported that a ring and necklace was stolen from her dorm room last semester. TRAFFIC Greenland Drive parking lot Jan. 23, 1:44 p.m. Complainant reported that her vehicle was struck while parked in the Greenland Drive parking lot.
NEWS
Notch for Chitwood and his rehabilitation. “Chitwood was just an inspirational person, and the two of them were wonderful,” Busby said. “His mom was very involved in his therapy, and he and his mom were trying to look forward to the future.” Once he re-enrolled into the university for the third time, he never let his disability get in his way. He had been back for four semesters on campus. His academic adviser, Olivia Young, watched him as he struggled, but was excited when he finally reached his goal.
ASSAULT Orchard Lot Jan. 22, 9:10 p.m. Victim reported that a vehicle struck him while he was walking on the sidewalk. ASSAULT Campus Recreation Center Jan. 22, 6:36 p.m. Victim reported that he was assaulted in the Recreation Center by an approximately 5-foot-9-inch, muscular black male wearing a tank top and maroon shorts. TRAFFIC Normal Way Jan. 22, 6:06 p.m. Witness reported observing one vehicle strike another and then leave the scene.
“Just last week he was telling me how excited he was about all his new audio equipment,” Young said. “He had overcome so much. When I saw other students struggle, I would point him out to other students. If he could do it, anyone could.” In 2011, Chitwood’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, and she lost her battle in 2012. His brother William “Beau” Chitwood survives him. Taylor Davis, Daniel Jansouzian and Cat Murphy contributed to this story. To contact the editor, email editor@mtsusidelines.com.
money and products were stolen. DRUGS Nicks Hall parking lot Jan. 21, 2:21 a.m. Authorities arrested Justin Crowder, 28, for simple possession of marijuana. THEFT Gracy Hall Jan. 19, 12:07 a.m. Complainant reported that her textbook was stolen. ALCOHOL Faulkenberry Drive Jan. 18, 1:37 a.m. Authorities arrested Joseph Leming, 18, for underage consumption.
BURGLARY Saunders Fine Arts Building Jan. 22, 9:23 a.m. Complainant reported that the first floor vending machine was broken in to and that SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com 5
A&E
Todd Shoebox exhibit brings international recognition By Natalie Shipley // Staff writer An international exhibit with works from Spring Hill to Sweden opened in the Todd Art Gallery. The 3D exhibit, “Shoebox,” showcases sculptures of all shapes and sizes, ranging from metal to various stones. All the pieces have one element in common: they all fit inside a shoebox. Artists were allowed to use any shoebox, with sizes ranging from adult cowboy boots to baby booties. “I did not want to use hard numbers for the dimensions of this show,” Snyder explains. “It’s up to the artist to find the shoebox to accommodate their work.” Allowing artists the choice of a shoebox size appealed to the art department, as they explored the idea for the exhibit. Even though the shoebox concept disqualified some artists’ work, it gave others room to get creative. “We put a prospectus together, which outlines the criteria of what we’re looking for in a show,” said Eric Snyder, the gallery curator and department of art coordinator. Snyder also used various exhibition websites to reach out to artists. Students played a big part in recruiting the artwork. Snyder decided they must reach out to find art contacts around the country, moving state by state and acquiring a contact for every congressional and senate seat in the United States.
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Photo by Natalie Shipley.
“I knew we needed to find as many contacts as possible for the sources to get our exhibit publicized properly,” Snyder said. The students found more than 500 contacts. Snyder has great expectations for the future of the Shoebox exhibit. “I hope to build the show over the next several years,” he said. “Hopefully we can bring an artist featured in the exhibit to MTSU and have them participate in our lecture series and spend studio time with the students.” In addition to the exhibit, a slideshow is featured in house, as well as online. The slideshow includes the work of the award winners and all onsite gallery pieces. “We are cramped for space, but we had artists who deserved recognition, so we decided to feature their work on the art department’s webpage with MTSU,” Snyder explains of the exhibit’s online expansion. The Shoebox exhibit is open from now until Feb. 14. All events are always free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To contact the A&E editor, email Claire Osburn at ae@mtsusidelines.com.
A&E Instagram is perhaps the best social media outlet the Internet has to offer. It doesn’t have the drama of Facebook or the clutter of Twitter, but it still preserves their best quality: pictures. It’s perfect for keeping up with your favorite human beings and advertisers haven’t fully gotten their hands on it yet. So before the beloved Instagram is ruined, let’s do our best to preserve. In that spirit, here’s who not to follow, and who not to be.
Cat Obsessed Sure, cats are sweet and they do cute things from time to time. But we can all agree that the Internet does not need a daily reminder of this fact. The urge of pet parents to document every minute can be satisfied by clicking away, but saving the actual posting for the priceless moments.
Foodies While some Insta food looks good enough to eat or imitate, a daily lunch update is a bit much. That’s more Pinterest’s area of expertise due to the ability to link recipes. The especially drool-worthy grub should have upload priority.
Worst Instagramers t o Fo l l o w By Claire Osburn // A&E Editor Follow us @ae_sidelines
Baby Mommas and Daddies Babies are cute. But over-posting photos of them should be left in 2013. Think of all the embarrassment that future adult could be saved when the naked pictures inevitably surface .
Wanna-be Meteorologists Smartphones in 2014 come equipped with a weather app, rendering a temperature screen shot redundant. Avoid the cliche sunset posts, too. While a tie-dyed sky is cool, it’s even better as an occasional treat.
Selfies Instagram is littered with selfies. Some cute and original, some vain. But for the most part, the badly angled picture taking style isn’t post worthy. The beauty of modern photography is the endless possibilities for creativity.
Couples This selfie counterpart is “aw” inducing in moderate amounts, but cringe worthy when abused. Finding that special someone is great, but so is saving the relationship from the social media over-share.
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A&E Tantalize your taste buds with these Boro sushi options By John Coulston // Assistant A&E Editor Rather than scarfing down greasy fries or soggy pizza in the Keathley University Center, some students try Asian Express for its premade sushi. But for a unique or more sophisticated dining experience, Sidelines has a roundup the slew of off-campus sushi options set to tantalize your taste buds.
Aya Sushi
Quietly tucked away on Northwest Broad Street, this sushi bar has the most character. The owners are more than hospitable and do anything they can to make your experience memorable. If you’re looking for a sushi roll with a kick, try the Fire Engine roll. For the traditionalists, try the Aya Roll. Fresh sushi and warm welcomes make this one of the best sushi spots in town.
Cathay Asian Bistro
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Photos by John Coulston.
When you hear the words “all-you-can-eat,” an image of lackluster Chinese buffets comes to mind. However, Cathay’s all-you-can-eat sushi breaks the stereotype with fresh rolls made-toorder all day. Next time you’re on South Church Street, make sure to try a variety of rolls with this special, including the Spicy Salmon roll and the Shrimp Tempura roll with cream cheese.
A&E Fin Fusion Sushi
Also located on South Church Street is Fin Fusion, a small sushi bar that might not seem like much from the outside, but it’s worth a visit. Pairing its cozy vibe with excellent menu items, such as the deep-fried MTSU roll or the bento box meal, ensures your first visit definitely won’t be your last.
Kroger
Naysayers ask, “Why would I go to a grocery store to buy sushi?� But, this chain sprinkled all throughout Murfreesboro doesn’t deliver the bland, premade sushi rolls that come to mind. Instead, Kroger has a sushi chef on staff making fresh rolls throughout the day. Be sure to pick up their most popular item, the crunchy crab and shrimp roll, on your next grocery run.
Lemongrass Sushi and Thai
While sushi is a mainstay of most Japanese restaurants, Lemongrass adds a Thai twist. Often raved as the best place to grab sushi, the restaurant, located on Barfield Crescent Road, offers delicious rolls and authentic Thai cuisine at reasonable prices. The work in the presentation of the roll matches its taste, making it a truly memorable sushi experience. The War Cry roll, Spicy Tuna roll and Barfield roll are some of the best, but you really can’t go wrong with any on the menu.
Samurai’s Cuisine
This hibachi grill on North Thompson Lane serves up more than just delicious entrees. They have a plethora of rolls to choose from. If you’re feeling ambitious, try the Nashville roll, which features a variety of fish and avocado. If you’re a first-time sushi eater, the Chicken Tempura roll with cream cheese is a good starting point to your sushi addiction. To contact the A&E editor, email Claire Osburn at ae@mtsusidelines.com Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at ae_sidelines.
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COVER
Double-dare her to dream bigger: A day in the life of an adrenaline junkie Bailey Robbins // Features Editor Noel Heath // Assistant Features Editor
The wind roared past Haley McKinney, a nursing major and self-expressed adrenaline seeker, as she prepared to jump from a plane into the blue sky for the first time. “You scream, and then you realize you can’t hear yourself,” McKinney beamed, recalling that recent inaugural parachuting experience. McKinney lives for moments like this. “I don’t get scared very easily,” she said, noting that she recently climbed a 100-foot cliff. At 20, McKinney has jumped from planes and hiked the Alps. She’s explored the ocean floor scuba diving, and hopes one day to dive to even deeper depths. She has skied down steep slopes and, attached to a hang glider, has sailed off other high points. She’s into trail biking and has also run a half marathon. “I basically want to do everything [and] see everything I possibly can,” she emphasized with an honest grin.
Brave Beginnings
McKinney’s tree jumping days prepared her for the sneaker-squeaking, dirt-kicking sport seasons ahead. In middle school, she played basketball. After that, she left the courts and ran to the fields for softball and soccer. She never wasted an opportunity to get up, go play and get her hands dirty. “I was a crazy kid – really hyper,” McKinney said. “I still have a lot of energy all the time. I don’t watch TV; I always want to do something.”
Breathe, don’t panic under pressure McKinney’s latest kick is underwater. In a building tucked between Floyd Stadium and Murphy Center, McKinney plopped into a pool wearing the scuba diving equipment that she acquired last semester. Her long brown hair spread evenly as she floated toward the bottom. “When I signed up for that scuba diving class, it was the Saturday before classes started,” she said calmly. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to do this.’”
Growing up near Martin, Tenn., McKinney channeled most of her childhood energy outdoors. She favored the highest tree branch over watching television and longed for wings rather than things.
On a whim, McKinney found herself in MTSU’s scuba diving program. She said the class was challenging, with instructors testing students with some of the unpredictable and life threatening challenges a diver may encounter.
“I was on a tree, and I was like, ‘I’m just going to act like I’m a bird,’” she said as she recalled the moments before she jumped. “I think I said, ‘I believe I can fly!’”
“They did it on purpose,” McKinney said. “They told us later it was so that we would be stressed out, because when you’re in the water and something goes wrong, you need to know what to do.”
(Left) Rock climbing is just one the activities that McKinney enjoys. (Right) McKinney loves her life, and she does extreme activities that not everyone is brave enough to do. Photos provided. 10 SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
McKinney lay on the ground and demonstrated how to drain a divers’ mask if it were to flood while exploring. She did an inverted backbend, raised her hands to her face and slightly tilted the bottom of the mask up and out. Surprisingly, the technique worked with ease on a number of occasions, while diving on a faculty-led trip to Florida December. “The best thing to do is don’t panic because if you panic underwater it’s not going to be good at all,” she said softly.
much, but that 10 percent of the time you better know what you’re doing. If something goes wrong, you have to know what’s going wrong and what drug you need to use.”
Leaping into the Unknown From the depths of the ocean to the shore of another country, McKinney always includes thrills in her travels.
Quick, adrenaline-inspired, yet calm responses have the best results for students learning to swim with the fish and explore an underwater world.
When she was 10-years-old, she could say that she had visited both Italy and Greece. Today, she can add 20 states, plus Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, Belgium, Denmark and Austria to the list.
Pursuing her nursing degree on the way being a nurse anesthetist requires a similar demeanor, she said.
“I want to go to every country, so I plan at least to go to a country every year,” she said. “I save all of my money to travel.”
“[I do it for] the adrenaline of it, I guess,” she said about her chosen profession. “They say that 90 percent of the time you don’t do
However, not all of her trips go according to plan. On her trip to Austria last summer, everything that could go wrong, did. Yet, she
told the story with a smile on her face. “All my flights got changed,” she laughed. “I got on my plane to Vienna in New York 10 minutes before it took off. I literally took a security guard with me and ran through the airport!” Over the course of the trip, her luggage was misplaced twice and her wallet was stolen. Then, when she thought it was over, she locked herself inside a room on the second story, and people had to climb a ladder to recover her. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is an adventure,’ ” she said. “But, it was fun. I didn’t care.”
Adventures to come In her bedroom, McKinney pointed to a map cluttered with thumbtacks. She plans to add a tack for each new destination. Next up on her list: MTSU’s study abroad trip to Fiji this summer.
COVER
climbing to scuba diving, she sometimes finds herself questioning the pursuit of her degree.
“I realized that nursing school is really hard,” she said, while letting out a short laugh. “I get really jealous, because I love to workout. I’m so jealous of all these people who do physical therapy and get to be around that.” She paused for a moment, then her face lit up. “I think I really like what I’m going to do, eventually,” she said remembering that school is only temporary. “Then, it’ll give me time and money to do other things I want. One day when I retire, I can be a backpacking leader. You got to work hard for things.” Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mtsusidelines. To contact the features editor, email Bailey Robbins at features@ mtsusidelines.com
With all that she does, from rock
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FEATURES
Home is where his van is
By Meagan White // Contributing writer The view from Michael Bouchillon’s front window is often never the same from night to night. And that’s just fine with him. Bouchillon, 20, a music business major, is not homeless, however. Well, he is homeless in the sense that he doesn’t have an apartment like most of his classmates, but he does have a roof over his head, even if it’s a 1992 cream-colored Dodge van. Bouchillon (pronounced BOO-SHON) lives in his van. His friends know it. His family knows it. His grandfather even thinks it’s “really cool.” His grandmother, well, not so much. “She thinks I’m crazy. I can go anywhere, and know that I have someplace to sleep,” he said, sitting in the back of his van, his feet dangling.
Surviving with flair Bouchillon’s van appears standard from the outside, but when he swings open the rear doors, it becomes home. An insulating pad and textured carpet replace the usual car floor upholstery, while Coca-Cola signs and band posters decorate the interior. A colorful tapestry sheet blocks the side windows to deter nosey passersby. “I haven’t had any problems with the police or anything yet,” he said, flipping his shoulder-length brown hair back with his hands. He noted his friends “are very generous and don’t mind me parking at their places.” Unlike some students who might choose to cut corners to afford finer things, Bouchillon chose to move from his grandparents’ home in Franklin for a simpler, more independent life. He moved not because he had to, but because he wanted to. “I did a lot of research on it before it before I actually moved in,” he said. “I had the means, I did the research ... so I moved in.” Much has been made in the press about the phenomenon of students choosing to live in their vehicles to save rent money. A Duke University student even wrote a book – “Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road to Financial Freedom”– about his two years living in a van while in graduate school. It’s unclear how many students are trying to save expenses by taking this unusual step. Bouchillon said that he hasn’t met anyone else at MTSU who is living in a vehicle. He said that inspiration came from bloggers on YouTube. 12 SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
FEATURES
“There was this one guy,” he started. “I would watch his videos, and he was always very organized about what he was doing. I got lots of ideas from him. There are a lot of things to think about.” He reached behind himself and pulled out a small battery. “I got this,” he said, patting it. “When it’s powered up, I can charge my phone, laptop, anything like that. I’ve got a small space heater, too.” From the polar vortex to the now fluctuating temperatures appearing in the seven-day forecast, the small source of warmth is a handy piece of equipment. “It’s so intense,” Bouchillon laughed. “You’re sitting in your car, and you can start to see your breath. But I have a lot of cold-weather sleeping bags. Once I’m in there, it’s really not bad.”
Prized possessions, focused drive His most important possessions are carefully boxed up with little room for anything other than the necessities. In the corner, there’s a white board where he writes himself a to-do list: “stuff he needs to get” and “stuff he forgot.” “It takes a very organized person to live out of such a small space,” he said. “And, that’s the kind of person I am. I keep everything in its place.” Less distraction has meant more productivity for Bouchillon, who has played the piano since he was 2-years-old. He had plans to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston, but veered toward MTSU when he learned he could receive a free ride. Today, the pianist on wheels is minoring in piano, while giving lessons back home to young neighbors in his grandparents’ subdivision. “Living [in Franklin] there were many distractions,” he said. “I like that this is much simpler.” With a dream to be a rock star, Bouchillon has lowered his Xbox controller and picked up the guitar since moving into his mobile residence. “I haven’t written any new songs yet,” he added, adjusting his aviators with a grin on his face. “But, I would definitely say this [experience] will inspire a song or two – maybe even an album.” With school, music and a new van to call home, Bouchillon plans to stay on the road the next year. “I mean I can turn back,” he said calmly. “I can go 30 minutes away and go back home if I wanted if all else goes wrong. But it’s kind of exciting once you’re in here, and it’s getting to be 15, 14 degrees. You’re starting to [see] your breath inside the van, and you’re like, ‘I’ve got to warm up and survive this night.’ It’s fun.” Photos by Bailey Robbins. To contact the features editor, email Bailey Robbins at features@mtsusidelines.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mtsusidelines.
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OPINIONS
Invest in your future beyond the classroom Why you shouldn’t wait Wall Street was once synonymous with economic growth, stewardship and wealth creation. But for most today, it has become the center of corruption, greed and everything in excess, especially, in light of the blockbuster hit “The Wolf of Wall Street.” While the film is exciting, it contributes to the fear of Wall Street and investing in general. As college students, we’ve endured the effects of the Great Recession that hit hard in 2008 and heard horror stories about the stock market collapse. We’ve watched many of our friends graduate without a chance of getting decent jobs. The past four years make us leery to place bets with our money.
By Robert Allen // Opinions Editor According to the study, most millionaires actually don’t come from the top income earners. That’s why it is so important for us to open up investment accounts and start putting money back. Even if it’s just pennies on each dollar, you’ll thank yourself later for doing it. But most students think retirement is far enough away that we can start later and be fine. The truth is, as you get closer to retirement age, your taxes become more complicated, and your time is scarce. The time to start investing is now. You can make mistakes at a young age and still be OK. If you wait until later on and then start, mistakes are much more painful. The best part is that it’s simple to set these accounts up. You can use
However, we can’t let the past dictate our future, and we surely can’t let the greatest single tool for wealth creation pass us by: compounding in the stock market. For example, just $150 month being invested and compounded for 30 years at the average market rate return would be worth $524,244.62. No savings account will get you there. In the book “The Millionaire Next Door,” the authors’ research shows it wasn’t income that determined wealth later in life, but rather how people saved their money over time. 14 SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
online brokerage accounts such as Scottrade or E*Trade and have it set up in minutes. You can also use a more traditional route and visit your local bank or a broker dealer. They’ll set the account up for you. As advocated by Suze Orman in “The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom” (a great starter book for college investors), Roth IRA’s are typically the best vehicle to choose for investing because of their tax treatment. This means you invest money that has already been taxed (such your paycheck), and then it grows taxfree until you start withdrawing it in retirement. While it’s easy to comprehend, you may want to research the restrictions and rules for this type of account before investing. If you’re like a lot of college students, cash flow is an issue and setting up an account such as those
above may not be possible. Or, maybe you don’t feel confident in your ability to invest just yet. An alternative is to use a fake money account through websites, such as stocktrak.com, to practice and implement strategies before putting real money to work. Plus, you can spend a little time learning more about investments. That way when you do invest, you’ll be familiar with the concepts and have practice. It’s important not to let the stories of greed and corruptions on Wall Street cloud your investment judgment. Invest early and often, and you’ll reap the rewards in the long run. Want to write an opinion? Submit yours to Robert Allen at opinions@ mtsusidelines.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram at mtsusidelines.com.
SPORTS Who is “Boots” Donnelly?
Division 1-A team for their 1999 season.
By Rafferty Cleary // Contributing writer
“If it had not been for Dr. Walker,” Donnelly said, “you still would be sitting back without a stadium improvement, whatever it may be, and in my opinion that’s when the University took off.”
Despite being a little gray around the edges, former MTSU football coach and College Football Hall of Fame member James “Boots” Donnelly hasn’t stopped teaching.
In 2002, as the athletic director, he spearheaded tennis court construction and the much-needed renovation of the women’s basketball locker rooms. One of his larger contributions was creating the Rose and Emmett Kennon Sports Hall of Fame.
After leaving MTSU in 2005, Donnelly took over as CEO of Backfield In Motion, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to combine athletics and academics to encourage inner-city boys to reach their maximum potential and become significant contributors to society. “I just enjoy being around those kids,” Donnelly said. “I enjoy those guys coming up after school and showing me their report cards and that they haven’t been in trouble.” Just as he did in his days of coaching, Donnelly teaches these young athletes the message of integrity and character, something he learned as a player for the Blue Raiders.
The original Blue Raider Room had been torn down after the expansion of Floyd Stadium in 1998. The creation of the Rose and Emmett Kennon Sports Hall of Fame finally gave Blue Raider legends a home to be remembered forever. “I just enjoy being around those kids,” Donnelly said. “I enjoy those guys coming up after school and showing me their report cards and that they haven’t been in trouble.” Just as he did in his days of coaching Donnelly teaches these young athletes the message of integrity and character. It was something he learned as a player for the Blue Raiders.
Donnelly’s legacy Donnelly was a defensive back for the Blue Raiders during the mid ‘60s when he played for former coach Charles “Bubber” Murphy. After graduation from MTSU, Donnelly took the head coach position at Father Ryan High School. In two years, he had a combined 21-2 record, making him a high profile coach. Eventually, he earned an assistant coaching position at Vanderbilt University. Just one year later, Donnelly made his way to Austin Peay, where he led the Governors to a 14-7 record in two years and a number one finish in the Ohio Valley Conference. Winning became a habit for Donnelly, but he returned to his alma mater as a member of the Blue Raider coaching staff in 1979. “For us to have a chance to win championship after championship and compete nationally, I could do it easier at Middle than I could at Austin Peay,” Donnelly said. What he left behind Aside from being a pivotal part in Blue Raider athletics, Donnelly was also a builder. With the help of former university president James E. Walker, Donnelly transitioned the Blue Raiders into a
Boots Donnelly has continued his legacy of football through a new program he is the CEO of in Nashville. Photo by Rafferty Cleary. SIDELINES | Jan. 29, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com 15
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