Sidelines - Online 11/20/2013

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SIDELINES

11// 20 // 2013 E D I T O R I A L LY INDEPENDENT

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How we remember a fallen president

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Emily West >> Editor-in-chief

Amanda Gambill >> Managing editor

Stacy Busch >> Online Editor

Chris Bishop >> Online Director

Mamie Nash >> News Editor

Sinclaire Sparkman >> Assistant News Editor Daniel Jansouzian >> Assistant News Editor Bailey Robbins >> Features Editor

Maranda Faris >> Assistant Features Editor

Claire Osburn >> A&E Editor

Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E Editor

Lauren Mandrell >> Assistant A&E Editor Sam Brown >> Sports Editor

Connor Grott >> Assistant Sports Editor Quint Qualls >> Opinions Editor Christine Craft >> Designer

Cat Murphy >> Online Photo Editor Kyle Bates >> Print Photo Editor

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NEWS

Fr ate r n it y k ic ked of f Gr e e k Row a fter s eve r a l in fr a c ti o n s After more than 40 years of campus involvement, Sigma Alpha Epsilon will lose its right to participate in Middle Tennessee State University Greek life after this semester. “It is disheartening to report that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter has been closed effective [now]. This decision was made by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Tennessee Beta Alumni Commission, the chapter’s governing board, based on a history of behavioral challenges within the organization,” said Dan Kelley, assistant vice president of Center of Student Involvement and Leadership. In August, the Tennessee Beta Alumni Commission placed SAE on health and safety management. The fraternity’s website acknowledges infractions that broke SAE and university rules. SAE has been on probation since the beginning of the semester as a result of a social event that involved alcohol in April 2012. In addition, the website indicates there were infractions involving alcohol dating back to 2011. According to Brandon Weghorst, SAE’s national communication director, the alumni involved with the commission did not see the fraternity improving or meeting their standards

after multiple offenses. SAE’s national headquarters states their mission is to promote the standards of friendship, scholarship and service to become “true gentlemen.” After their findings, the alumni decided to discontinue further participation of the fraternity. “The chapter has been involved with several offenses,” Weghorst said. “The alumni hold the charter, and they have to make sure the students meet operation standards, which they found they were not.” However, the current members view the loss of their charter in a different perspective, according to the fraternity’s president. “SAE didn’t get banned from MTSU. We closed our doors on our own accord. The brothers of this chapter joined under a certain mindset of what they wanted out of SAE,” said Tyler Curly, SAE president. “But with a very liberal minded campus, and a strict national headquarters, we were no longer able to do the things we wanted. So we shut it down, rather than to keep breaking petty rules and have campus or nationals pull our charter. If we were at a SEC (Southeastern Conference) school, we would be thriving and well.”

The university’s office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is cooperating with SAE’s national and regional headquarters to remove them from their house on Greek Row. Students will have to live somewhere else after winter break.

The group broke hazing, alcohol and event regulations in February 2011, according to the fraternity’s website. The chapter was placed on probation in March 2011 until May 2012. SAE could no longer recruit or play intramurals through December 2011.

“MTSU had nothing to do with SAE being removed from campus, and at some point, they will be able to return. However, no one knows for sure when,” said Allison Commings, director of MTSU’s Fraternity & Sorority Life.

“It’s in the final stages of paperwork,” Weghorst said. “We cannot comment on the specifics of their claims because we are not aware of all of them, but it is unfortunate that these young men will lose the rights and privileges of being active.”

SAE started at the university in 1969, and as of last spring, reported they had 53 members. Their return to campus could take years, and revolves around when the university and the commission allow them back.

For those currently involved in the fraternity, they will go inactive until they are alumni and cannot participate as a group under their fraternity name while still in college. As for new members, Weghorst said the group has two options.

“At this time we do not know what the plans are for the house, but the university will begin considering options in the near future,” said Donald Abels, coordinator for MTSU Fraternity and Sorority Life. According to the fraternity’s policy, alcohol is not allowed on SAE’s property, whether it is a chapter or colony, the term used to describe a prospective chapter. This includes the university’s SAE house on campus.

“New members could either lose their potential membership and try to become a part of a different fraternity,” Weghorst said. “Or the new members will become a part of SAE and could not use their membership until they are alumni. Regardless, they cannot operate under SAE as a student organization any longer.” Cole Hodge // Contributing Writer Emily West // Editor-in-chief Photo by Kyle Bates.

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NEWS This allows the lab to have up to 48 children registered at one time, and 36 kids are registered in the program this semester. “We used to just be full time; 24 children, that’s it. Now that we’re part time, we can give a service to possibly 48 children. It lets the parents choose what works best for them,” said Zona Frazier, one of the lead teachers in the program who has worked there for 28 years. The lab has three people working full time, two whom have been there for more than 20 years. The program also employs a part-time cook, whose salary is covered by the lab’s funding. The rest of the staff includes work study and scholarship students. Two to four of these students are in the Lab at all times throughout the day. Although the Child Care Lab is a structured day care service, it also provides for educational and healthcare majors, who observe and volunteer for their classes.

University offers affordable child care on campus Alex Beecher // Staff Writer Photos by Micah Harris. The university offers child care services to students and university affiliates who wish to provide their child with affordable care without compromising the child’s experience. The Child Care Lab has maintained a three-star rating since its opening in 1981, meeting the standards of the Department of Human Services. This means the Lab exceeds the requirements of the DHS and goes beyond a regular structured day care service. The Lab is located in the center of the Womack Lane Apartment complex on campus. Children must be three to five years old and potty trained to be accepted into the program. No more than 24 children are accepted each day due to state regulations. Because of this limit, the Lab continues to have a waiting list. The program has improved on this issue by allowing parents to choose if they want their child to be registered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Tuesdays and Thursdays or full time.

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“That’s what really sets us apart,” said Nancy James, the director of the program. “We have wonderful small group connections because of these students that we wouldn’t be able to have otherwise since the extra help is out of the budget.” Staff members pride themselves on the warm environment they provide to the children. “It’s a job we love doing,” Frazier said. “I love seeing the smiles on the little kids’ faces once they have accomplished something.” Children who attend are met with openness and are allowed to learn through play and interaction with their peers. The staff follows the Little Treasures curriculum closely, but they prefer to work all the learning in through fun, according to Frazier. Karetha Ramsey, a senior finance major and mother of three, used the program for her now 9-year-old son and currently has her 4 year-old daughter, Paris, enrolled. She said that she is pleased with the program and plans to register her youngest once he is old enough. Ramsey preferred the Lab’s services to other daycares because its of flexibility and convenience. Children get two snacks and a warm lunch every day, which are included in the daily fee. University students have first priority in registering their children and have the lowest price offered at $27 daily. Professors have second priority and pay $29. Anyone else who wishes to enroll his or her child is accepted last and is charged $31. “Our goal is to prepare the child to get ready for kindergarten or school such as recognizing names, colors, shapes and getting along with their peers,” Frazier said. “Once you see you achieve that goal, it makes you feel really good about yourself and that child.” She encouraged parents interested in the program to come see the Lab for themselves and to not take the high rating at face value. Other programs are available for those who cannot afford the fees at the Child Care Lab.

NEWS

Local business offers seasonal job opportunities for students Mychal Wilson // Staff Writer

Photo by Cat Murphy.

Continued on page 16

Caitlin Salhany (XO) Jump Andrea Segroves (ADPI) Liz Shaughnessy (XO) Jordan Smith (XO) Lyndsey Spurlock (ADPI) Tasha Storie (KD) Caitlyn Taylor (ADPI) Taylor Thompson (AXO) Tabitha Tucker (AXO) Miranda Villanueva (KD) Macy Vincent (AOPI) Madison Walley (ZTA) Amber Wade (ADPI) Shelby Wade (AOPI) Taylor Ward (KD) Chlow Wims (ZTA) Mary Whitnel (KD) Kayla Williams (ADPI) Joanna Wilson (AXO) Bethany Wolaver (AXO) Jessica Woodruff (XO) Caylor Wrinkle (ZTA)

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Christina Mahan (AXO) Tandra Martin (ADPI) Natalie McCleary (AOPI) Shelby Melton (KD) Samantha Mercer (ADPI) Anna Miles (XO) Chandler Miller (XO) Virginia Miller (ADPI) Sydni Miller (AOPI) Olivia Mitchell (AXO) Brooke Morrow (KD) Morgan Murphy (ADPI) Katherine Myers (ADPI) Kilee Nunez (ADPI) Macy Oldham (XO) Erika Ose (KD) Rachel Osteen (ADPI) Olivia Oversteet (AXO) Nola Pass (KD) Shannon Pelynio (ZTA) Kelley Peters (AOPI) Lindsey Pierce (ADPI) Kelsey Poore (AOPI) Kiersten Potts (ADPI) Karianne Prince (AXO) Samantha Pulido (KD) Zoe Rall (AXO) Jamia Richmond (ADPI) Emily Riddle (AOPI) Paige Roach (ADPI) Chasity Robbins (ADPI) Courtney Rodman (KD) Morgan Sager (ADPI)

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Lauren Foley (KD) Katherine Gaitley (ADPI) Hannah Gallivan (XO) Rachel Gallivan (XO) Faith Gallagther (AXO) Taylor Gray (XO) Ginny Hadley (ZTA) Sarah Hardison (ADPI) Allyson Harvy (ZTA) Sarah Hagood (ZTA) Laken Hibdon (ADPI) Hannah Holladay (ADPI) Leah Hollingsworth (XO) Meredith Holt (ADPI) Megan Hutson (XO) Whitney Hyder (AXO) Alyson Jackson (XO) Emily Rose Jacobsen (AXO) Ashley Johnson (AOPI) Cassandra Judkins (ADPI) Meagan Klein (ZTA) Kaitlyn Kelly (ADPI) Taylor Kelly (XO) Lindsey King (XO) Morgan King (AOPI) Lindsey Kneeland (XO) Kassidy Kominos (ADPI) Jessica Kubalak (XO) Carlee Lane (KD) Brittany Lee (KD) Lindsey Lewis (XO) Olivia Lovell (KD) Rachel Maddox (AXO)

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Kristina Amsler (ZTA) Asia Bailey (AOPI) Kacie Barlow (AXO) Kelley Benson (AOPI) Regan Best (ADPI) Katherine Bibee (ADPI) Emily Bleuze (ZTA) Andrea Brink (AXO) Chandler Broadbent (AXO) Emily Brown (XO) Alana Burns (AOPI) Kelsi Carter (AXO) Chelsea Cates (AOPI) Cayla Clark (KD) Katie Clark (AOPI) Korby Clements (AOPI) Haley Cobb (AXO) Stacey Coker (AOPI) Kelsey Crumbaugh (KD) Abby Davis (XO) Taylor Debord (ADPI) Courtney Delay (ADPI) Kelsey Dempsey (ZTA) Aubrey Denton (ZTA) Desiree Destefano (ADPI) Destiny Destefano (ADPI) Ally Donnell (AXO) Katherine Driver (ADPI) Rachel Earthman (AOPI) Alisha Everette (ZTA) Brooke Faulkner (XO) Haley Ferrell (AOPI) Sarah Fitzpatrick (ADPI)

Applications can be filled out online or at the Murfreesboro office at 237 W. Northfield Blvd., Suite 104. Online applications for SMX are found at greatjobs.com where applicants create a profile and fill out applications.

Wages vary from $10.50 for day shifts, to nights at $11.00 and up to $12.50 for weekend nights. Work shifts are offered 24 hours a day

“We even do a big dinner for Thanksgiving for all of the people working through us,� Dunning said.

Students can find the most job opportunities through SMX Staff Management, a staffing company, strives to fill more than 3,000 remaining positions at the Amazon Fulfillment Center. Positions through SMX are short-term jobs, but seasonal workers are sometimes hired full time, said Shawn Dunning, account director for staff management.

and will be available until Christmas. SMX offers a variety of incentives in addition to hourly wages to its recruits. This year the staffing company is offering $30,000 in incentives to include gift cards for perfect attendance, televisions, iPads and other electronic devices.

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For students who need to work and earn some extra income during the holiday break, many local businesses are hiring and holding job fairs for temporary help, specifically focusing on student workers.

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opinions and undeserved opportunities God’s placed in my life and the anticipation of graduating in May.

Mamie Nash

Season of Thankfulness

//News Editor Thank you, Lord, for movie nights with Steven. For my beautiful infant daughter, my family and my pug. Thanks for Sidelines, teacher and taskmaster. And thank you for my home and the lives of those I love.

Daniel Jansouzian

//Assistant News Editor

Emily West

//Editor-in-chief I am thankful for two inspiring parents, my gracious managing editor, each and every section editor, writer, photographer and designer who make this publication possible, my two best friends on opposite ends of the country, the Winton to my West, colorful sticky notes on my desk, cans of Sun Drop, a mysterious fox ornament, newsroom snuggles, my friends at MT10, WMTS, WMOT, a God who continues to love me and an adviser who provides wisdom and advice I do not deserve.

Amanda Gambill

//Managing Editor I’m thankful for the wooden house surrounded by trees where I was raised. I’m thankful for my dad who built the house, and my mom who made

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it a home. I’m thankful for my love, Robert, who swept me off my feet to a new place. I’m thankful for beautiful words and soft sentences, whether shouted or said, whispered or written.

First of all, I am thankful for God because without Him I would not be here. He gave me life, a beautiful family, friends, awesome people I work with at Sidelines and my other jobs. And for this small list and so many other blessings in my life, I am eternally thankful.

Stacy Busch

//Online Editor

I’m thankful for the seasons and how they change.They help keep in mind that change is inevitable and that you can adapt to those changes easily if you let yourself.

Chris Bishop

//Online Director

I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the redemption and salvation found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am also thankful for my beautiful fiancee, my family and friends, the exciting

Sinclaire Sparkman

//Assistant News Editor

The inspiration I gain from the people I work with on campus is deserving of the utmost thanks. In both the SEA and at Sidelines, I am constantly amazed by those who give of themselves to help others, for almost nothing in return. I love all of you, and I’m thankful for your gracious support.

Claire Osburn //A&E Editor

I am thankful for alcohol, as

it makes time spent with the extended family infinitely more enjoyable. I am also thankful for the ambience of fall and rock and roll. But most importantly, I am thankful for the people in my life who have my back and my crazy awesome Sidelines family.

Noel Heath

//Assistant A&E Editor

I give thanks for coffee, cats, colors, food and friends. The people and experiences I’ve encountered during the last year have been beautiful, and I can say honestly that I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m thankful to be surrounded by love and positivity and can’t wait to share it.

Lauren Mandrell

//Assistant A&E Editor

This year, I am thankful for anyone that laughs at my jokes because they’re just bad. And also, I’m thankful that I have been able to be a part of such a wonderful team at Sidelines.

Bailey Robbins

//Features Editor

I thank the stars for the bright, blue eyes that ease my worries, the family who continues to support my life decisions, the friends who care to ask why, the love I have for moments that leave me thirsty for more and a dream to keep on dreaming.

opinions //Assistant Features Editor

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my family. I am also thankful for the opportunity to work with Sidelines and all the friends I have made on staff who stand by me no matter what I do.

Quint Qualls

//Opinions Editor

I am thankful for the scientific principle of entropy, which states that all things are moving toward chaos. Order and stagnation make me bored and depressed. Introducing a little bit of disorder into my life often makes things a little more interesting, at least interesting enough to keep me interested.

Sam Brown

Connor Grott

//Assistant Sports Editor

Lauren Harrison

Kyle Bates

I’m thankful for my family. They mean the world to me. They have always supported me and have helped me to find who I am. I’m also thankful to all of those who have answered a call to serve, be it in the military, the emergency services, the medical field or the teaching profession. Thank you all.

What am I thankful for? I am thankful to even be typing this for the paper right now. I’m thankful for having great friends that support me and for an amazing family that raised me to be who I am today.

//Print Photo Editor

I am thankful for the opportunities I have been granted by attending MTSU. I am very thankful for family and friends, old and new, that have been very supportive. I am thankful for the opportunity that I was granted to film a documentary in Italy this past summer.

//Sports Editor

More than anything I’m thankful for the people that fill my life. I have the best family in the world, the best friends in the world and get the chance every day to work with people that brighten my life as well as

behind every great man is a great woman. I say if there is anything great in this woman, the man standing by her deserves a lot of the credit.

Cat Murphy

//Online Photo Editor

I am thankful for my brilliant, tenacious, long-suffering husband, who is both grounding and lifting in my life. They say

//Copy Editor

Christine Craft //Designer

I am thankful for changing leaves, cool fall rain, magical waterfall hikes and above all my God, family, friends and spunky pup that continuously choose to stand by my side despite my insanity. Here’s to a life full of untold spontaneous adventures and the determination to never ever grow up.

Your turn. For what are you thankful?

Maranda Faris

my future. It’s not what you do, it’s who you do it with, and I’m especially thankful for the great people in my life.

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COVER A WHITE HOUSE TREASURE Morgan Massengill //Contributing Writer

ELISABETH TAYLOR When Elisabeth Taylor’s principal at Hobgood Elementary in Murfreesboro broke the news that Kennedy had been killed, her fifth-grade class became quiet.

THE HAUNTING MEMORIES OF AN ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT How the nation reacted to JFK’s death On Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, a day that for Baby Boomers resonates with the same raw force of emotion that today’s college students remember from 9/11. The Boomers are many of today’s professors, administrators and university staff. For them, the violent death of the president of the United States, with some aspects played out in real time on television, was a line of demarcation, a waypoint where life never seemed the same as before. Students will always remember where they were on the day the airliners crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, and those more than 50 remember that Friday before Thanksgiving in 1963, when a speeding bullet took the life of Kennedy, his blood staining the first lady’s pink Chanel suit. The unforgettable images did not stop for days: Walter Cronkite wiping away tears as he announced the president’s death; the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV; the horse without a rider in the funeral procession; John Jr.’s salute; the hundreds of thousands who came to pay tribute.

“We had just come back from lunch,” said Taylor, a technical clerk at the university’s audio/visual services department. Taylor recalled thinking of the letter she’d written to Kennedy a year prior to his death. She had received a reply, enclosed with his photograph, after a few weeks of writing him. This moment came back to her when she was told her had been killed. Yet, Taylor said that she was too young to process all the jumbled emotions she was feeling. “I knew something big had happened,” Taylor offered. After school that day, life went on as usual. Taylor’s parents didn’t mention the assassination. Her parents went on with their weekend date plans. This meant that Taylor and her brothers were shuttled to their grandmother’s home in Nashville. Taylor’s grandmother, Toy Sanders, did not discuss the assassination with the children either but remained glued to her rocking chair in front of the television set that weekend. “It must have been too cold to play outside because my brothers and I were inside watching the funeral procession,” she said.

Their impact remains in the memories of those days when our teachers and administrators and the clerks at the bookstore were children themselves.

Taylor remembered watching footage of Jack Ruby shooting Oswald. The weekend’s televised images provided a surreal view of the world that Taylor said she did not comprehend.

Sidelines presents a sampling of JFK remembrances gathered on campus, prompted by the 50th anniversary of that haunting day in Dallas.

“I knew at that moment that it was a sad time,” she said.

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COVER After the assassination, the decade only became more violent as the civil rights movement gained momentum. Half a century later, Taylor still treasures her letter from the White House and the photo of a president she will never forget.

openly expressive of it, but they were pretty subdued. My dad seemed worried. He had been a World War II veteran and so in his mind this was a bad sign when people going around shooting presidents.” Then came the weekend after the shooting. “I remember that the whole weekend after that. The only thing on the TV was pretty much about the president. To an 8-year-old that’s a little distressing — no Saturday morning cartoons? But I think that sort of gave me some idea of what the gravity of it was,” McClain said.

REMEMBERING IT ALL Michael Davidson //Contributing Writer

NEAL McCLAIN Neal McClain, director of library technology at the James E. Walker Library, ran fingers through his gray hair as he recalled the memories of that grim day so long ago. He was 8, a fourth grader at Carter Elementary School in Murray, Ky. “I remember that it was probably afternoon recess when we got the word. I was outdoors playing kickball, that much I’m sure of, and one of my classmates by the name of Dan Luther came out and just shouted out, ‘The president has been shot,’ and everybody stopped dead. You could’ve heard a pin drop,” he said.

The marathon of television coverage — the swearing in of Lyndon B. Johnson, the arrival of the plane carrying Kennedy’s body, the funeral — McClain remembers it all. “I was watching the TV as it happens when Lee Harvey Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby and saw that. That probably shook me up more than the notion of the president being killed because I’m 8 years old. I just watched a guy get killed on TV live. ‘Bang,’ whoa, that was different.” The lasting impression was the funeral. “I do remember seeing the funeral ... how stately it all seemed with the horse-drawn carriage and all, and the rest of Kennedy’s family that the cameras kept wanting to look at, wondering how in the world they could handle that. I guess their kids were almost too young to really figure out what it had meant at that time, too.”

The silence was followed by a mad rush inside, where McClain and his classmates hovered around the only black-and-white television in the school. “We stood around and watched that TV. By this time the network coverage was up, I think. You know they didn’t have network TV back then quite like they did today, no CNN,” he said.

“THE FUNERAL WAS THE WORST PART”

The rest of the afternoon passed as if in slow motion. Everyone was shocked by the violence had touched the nation. “We were shocked, but we were all so young so I doubt that it impacted us quite like it did the adults. The thing I remember most from the day that this happened was that several of our grade school teachers were just crying their eyes out. I don’t know that we had any men who were teaching in those days, they were almost all women, and they were just torn to pieces over it,” McClain said.

Darcy Threet //Contributing Writer

JUDY HOLT

McClain’s parents also were affected, but in a different way.

Judy Holt took a moment to adjust her glasses. She’s small with a big personality and theatrical, easily drawing a crowd of her three co-workers as she tells her story. It’s easy to tell that the women working at Phillips Bookstore really enjoy her presence.

“I think they let school out early. I remember my parents came and picked me up later that day, and they were pretty quiet. My parents were maybe not as

“I was 11,” she began. The Woodbury native accompanied her sentences with hand gestures as if to add dramatic effect. “I was in my sixth grade

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COVER classroom, and that was all that was on TV.” Her teacher, like many others that day, dropped everything and turned on the television. The kids at Woodland Elementary School watched as their teacher cried. Holt shook her head and grew quiet.

A NEW MEANING TO RECESS

“It was just that same clip over and over again; you know, the one of them in the car, just over and over again. It was awful,” she said.

Matt Applewhite //Contributing Writer

She continued to explain that she didn’t really understand the impact of what she was seeing at the time. She was young and, like most children at Woodland Elementary, very confused. She described going home and seeing her parents’ reactions. “They just kept saying they didn’t understand how something like that could happen. It was really scary,” she sighed. During that time, she said that it seemed as if everyone personally knew the Kennedys. “The funeral was the worst part,” Holt said, recalling how she watched it on television.

Roger Heinrich The sounds of kickballs humming through the sky filled the air of the frigid North Dakota playground. Children darted about the yard hoping not to join friends sacrificed in the midst of a dodgeball romp.

“That little boy in the blue suit,” Holt slowly whispered. “That was just so sad, the little boy saluting the casket as it passed by. He just held his little hand up.”

Nine-year-old Roger Heinrich took a brief pause from the recess mayhem to watch the vice principal sitting quietly within her idling car. Fellow classmates soon too took notice as the administrator sprinted into the school building. Moments later the bell rang, indicating playtime was over.

She reached for a tissue and pushed her glasses up higher. She dabbed her eyes to prevent her makeup from streaking. Holt sniffled. Standing very still, as if lost in her own thoughts, Holt wondered if John Jr. would have even been old enough to understand what had happened.

Heinrich and his classmates shuffled to their seats, curious why recess had come to such an abrupt end. His homeroom teacher stood and simply said: “The president has been shot in Dallas.”

“Just so little,” she said again, dabbing her eyes one more time.

“We didn’t know what was happening. What does this mean?” said Heinrich, an electronic media professor. “The president has been shot? What is going to happen? Is the world going to end? We didn’t know.”

All she could pay attention to was young John Jr.

She paused, and then looked up and smiled honestly. “That’s what I remember most.” Holt quickly shifted her tone, describing her feelings about Jackie Kennedy and her wardrobe. “Every girl had to have a pillbox hat because of her,” Holt said, pretending to place an imaginary hat onto her short, white hair.

Heinrich remembered school was dismissed early. The coming weekend was not normal either. Continuous coverage of the assassination illuminated the family television as the Heinrichs sat in their living room beside a picture of Kennedy and, his new widow, Jackie. Heinrich said that his father, the Democratic State Chairman of North Dakota, rarely spoke that weekend as he and his mother mourned the loss of their beloved president — their wet eyes focused on the glass tube for any developing information.

Photos by Matt Masters and Cat Murphy.

He didn’t know the gravity of the situation. The assassination was a concept he did not grasp. Heinrich said that he understood that much. The Monday after the assassination, he stopped to gaze at a poster of Kennedy. Fresh streaks of red marker poured from the president’s head — a fellow classmate’s crude attempt at humor. Heinrich said that he turned and continued his stride down the hall. Recess could not come fast enough.

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SPORTS Lightning could strike it big How the mascot could win $20,000 Lightning, MT’s mascot, is sixth in the standings for the Capital One Mascot Write-In Challenge, which could result in a $20,000 paycheck if he were to hit it big.

Strike your vote for Lightning 1. Visit capitalonebowl.com 2. Click “write-in� vote 3. Click Tennessee 4. Click Middle Tennessee State University 5. Vote as many times as you want

The Mascot Challenge, an annual event hosted by Capitol One, consists of the top 16 mascots nationwide. A committee chooses 15 of those mascots, and the other is entered based on a write-in vote from the previous year. He would have to win the write-in vote and the following year’s challenge. “I’ve created banners to be placed around campus, flyers to be distributed randomly, and constantly using Twitter to get the word out about the competition,� said Joseph Jonte, one-half of the team that represents Lightning. Between other-half Michael Foster and Jonte, Lightning is a mainstay at sporting events. Fans will see the mascot sporting a basketball uniform this time of year, as he is a staple to see in Murphy Center. With this dedication and determination, some students feel Lightning deserves the final write-in vote. “He’s an icon, and when people think of MTSU, they think Lightning. Lightning is the Blue Raider. He

pumps up the crowd, he’s energetic, and the best part, in my eyes, is the crowd surfing,� said Jessie Hindes, a freshman behavioral and health sciences major. Many universities are centered on its mascots and the tradition that they generate. Lightning does just that, whether he is aiming to boost community involvement or to make a positive impression on the younger Blue Raider fans. “MTSU has never been known for their mascot, Lightning, and it’s my job to do everything I can to improve and help the university anyway I can,� Jonte said. However, Jonte, a junior majoring in behavioral and health sciences, said being a mascot isn’t a walk in the park, or simply a strut in the stands. “Being a mascot is not easy,� he said. “It takes a lot of work, hours and dedication. I really care about the school, and I want people to see that.� Lightning impacts many at events by tailgating or standing on the sidelines with the cheerleaders. However, he is able to shine the most with the Blue Zoo. “He’s a good way to get people hyped up, especially younger fans, and is really good for the Blue Zoo videos,� said Brian Taylor, founder of the Blue Zoo. “People should vote for

him because he is at every sporting event putting in his full effort, putting smiles on people’s faces, and always giving his all, game in and game out. The school wouldn’t be the same without the mascot; we need him.� Jonte feels the same way, turning this need into a passion. He wants his post to be respected not only by the student body, but the rest of the college athletic community. “This is the first time we have really made a push to make a name for ourselves in the mascot world. We are what you would call a ‘underdog,’� Jonte said. “No one takes us seriously and expects us to win. That’s fine. It is my job to go out there and do everything I possibly can to get us to the next level. Success is not earned overnight. You have to put in the time and effort to get there. This is not about me, this is about my belief in MTSU and the potential growth and success that can come from this experience.� The contest will end Dec. 15. The winner of the Mascot Challenge is typically announced just before the start of the bowl games in college football. Lightning trails Georgia Tech, Liberty University, University of South Carolina, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy for the final write-in vote. Connor Ulrey // Contributing Writer

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FEATURES

T

Thomas Neff is a man of many firsts. He started a photography curriculum at his alma mater as a student, had his first-made documentary nominated for an Oscar and is the founder of the Documentary Channel.

H O M A S

Today, the electronic media communication professor shares his expertise with students inside the classroom, but by no means does this quiet, learning environment denote the end of Neff’s innovative, new undertakings. This summer, he became the first professor at the university to introduce a successful documentary-making course abroad that is being offered again in 2014. “I can’t say it’s the only one of its kind, but I have looked around and haven’t found anything like it,” he recalled. A student in the classroom, a professional on the streets

NE FF

Inspired by Florence, Italy’s rich, artistic history, Neff wanted students to reveal the local talent that tends to be overshadowed by legendary artists like Michelangelo. So, he posted an advertisement to Craigslist, which attracted hundreds of people — even “high-end” artists — that Neff eventually narrowed down to 10. From there, the students were in control. They split into groups of three, with a separate concept per group. Then, they hit the town and started filming within the first week. “There got to be kind of a buzz around the filmmakers,” Neff said. “I never [told anyone] we were students. We were all considered professionals on the streets.” Several months and three short films later, the 10-minute documentaries premiered at Nashville’s ARTlightenment Festival won best student documentary. Neff’s face softened sentimentally as he rocked gently in his office chair.

you will make it

“

“ If you keep at it,

“Seeing these films they’ve come up with, I was very choked up about it,” he said between short, thoughtful pauses. “At the end, I said, ‘Wow, these films are really, really good.’” Daring to be a Documentarian Getting praised for filmmaking in Neff’s college days was not nearly as common as it is today. “[During the 70s and 80s], nobody went to film school,” he said earnestly. “It was like dropping off the edge of the Earth.” Neff’s first documentary, “Red Grooms: Sunflower in a

12 SIDELINES | Nov. 20, 2013 | www.mtsusidelines.com

FEATURES Hothouse,” was intended to be a three-minute short on Nashville native artist Red Grooms’ art exhibition. Instead, the film grew into a 21-minute film that was nominated for an Oscar. “It did get nominated, and I said, ‘Gee, maybe there’s a business in documentaries,” he recalled. For 30 years, Neff has continued to create art-orientated documentaries. Though he was an English major, Neff found a fulfilling medium through filmmaking. He took his love of telling stories from his major and married it with his love for photography. “You don’t always have to know where [the story] will take you, and that’s the fun part,” Neff passionately. “It’s like life unfolding in front of you.”

, You don t always have to know where [the story] will take you, , and that s the fun part,

a lost cause. To him, it’s about students doing what they are passionate about and being prepared to work hard for it. “I don’t know anyone who kept at it, who didn’t make it in the industry,” he said earnestly. “[Students] may not end up where they thought, [but] I never thought I’d end up in documentaries.” Whether they accompanied him to Italy or aspire to go to Paris in 2014, Neff sees the potential for greatness in all students. “[Students] hear about other film schools, and they think, ‘I can’t do that,’” he started. “But, the truth is, they can. They can, and should, go toe to toe with all of them.” Watching those who traveled to Italy and get nominated for awards is a huge feat for both students and Neff. “I look at my life, I’ve done a lot of things, but in terms of what’s really important, I’m not sure anything’s been more important than the students,” he said, expressing how their success made him feel. “I really love it.” Bailey Robbins and Maranda Faris // Features editors

While he does leave room for stories to unravel themselves, Neff still writes a detailed script for each film. In his opinion, writing a script forces the creator to create a vision, otherwise the project will be endless. “[It’s like] the old saying, ‘You don’t finish the editing, you just stop,’” he laughed. “You can edit it forever, especially a documentary.” When documentaries began to grow in popularity, Neff noted there was no place for the films to go. So, after a serendipitous discussion with his lawyer, the Documentary Channel was trademarked. Neff continued to make his own documentaries while working with the station. However, each time he tried to step away from either the channel or filmmaking, he would get pulled back in. Eventually, he was able to balance the two. “You have to do what is passionate to you,” he said. “I think if you’re really passionate about the subject, you’ll do a good job.” The entertainment industry as a crucible Though he is tucked away in a concrete, corner office of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building, Neff understands the challenges students face in the entertainment industry today. “It’s a crucible,” he said, comparing the industry to a bowl that is used to burn objects to their elemental state. He burst into laughter. “The industry burns you down to where there is nothing left.” Neff may laugh about it, but it’s not because he views the field as

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A&E now plug into the controller directly, much like an Xbox, but it is still supported for Bluetooth headsets. Speaking of controllers, the overhauled PS4 controller is lighter, wider and has an array of new features. The analog sticks are now coated with a gripping material that can be compared to a squishy version of the lining of a pickup-truck bed. The triggers are slightly smaller and are more responsive. DualShock vibration is still present alongside three new features: a glowing color bar across the top of the controller, a touchpad in the middle and a high-quality speaker.

P l ay S tat i o n 4 First Impressions In the span of a few minutes past midnight Nov. 15, the video game world heralded the dawn of a new generation of gaming. Sony’s PlayStation 4 was finally released. If you were one of the lucky ones who pre-ordered the system or sniped one early Friday morning, congratulations. Otherwise, they’re sold out across the country. I was in the bunch that managed a pre-order, and I can tell you that this system is completely worth the wait. The system is an odd, parallelogram shape with a glowing, futuristic line cutting across the top when it is on. In the back are the typical plugs for network, HDMI, power, digital audio and the PlayStation camera accessory. Two USB-ports adorn the front and

the power and eject buttons are nearly invisible on the sleek, monolithic device. It’s also surprisingly compact and light. The nearly 30-second boot-up time only adds to the anticipation the first time you turn the system on. After this initial boot, when the PlayStation is turned off, it actually enters a standby mode unless specifically told to turn off. It boots much faster from this standby mode than from a completely turned off state. Creating a profile is quick and linking it to your current PlayStation Network account is as easy as logging in and answering a few socially-oriented questions. The system can be linked to Facebook for easy social sharing and to game-oriented services like Twitch.tv and Ustream for livestream-

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ing services. The interface that greets players is far different than the cross-media bar of the PS3. All applications, games and programs are listed in a straight line along the screen with easy-to-identify thumbnail pictures. It’s very streamlined, but the lack of folder-making features and no ability to delete Sonysponsored apps is a little annoying. By moving up, players can access a variety of settings, features and profile information, such as trophies and friends lists. The “party” feature found here can create a voice-chat room used to talk to friends, even while playing different games. It’s a lot of fun to chat with someone while shooting baddies or solving puzzles. The microphones and headphones

The touchpad is completely responsive and accurate when used in a game. It can also be depressed and used as a button. The color bar on top changes colors in response to things in the game such as damage, alarms and other events. It also allows the standard controller to be used like a PlayStation Move controller for those into motion gaming. Although I could say a lot more about this system, be assured it has a lot more to offer than a revamped controller and interface. The games are stunning, with “Killzone: Shadow Fall” looking like a PS3 pre-rendered cut scene during gameplay. Features, such as play-while-you-download and linking to your Vita for remote play, are all efficient and amazing. While it may not have much of a launch lineup in terms of games, it has the power to extend into the future and features that any gamer would totally appreciate. Keep your eye on the PlayStation 4. It’s cutting edge. Logan Barnes // Staff Writer

A&E

N O V E M B E R t h e m o n t h o f fa c i a l h a i r For years men have dedicated the month of November to the cultivation of their facial hair. The month has even been dubbed "No Shave November."

Karl Marx furthered this tradition by choosing November as the month he and his men would grow out their beards to piss off the bourgeoisie. While this tradition may have a slightly sullied history, good comes out of it. This month has also come to be known as "Movember," a holiday started by men in Australia in 1999 to raise funds and awareness for men’s health. Men sport mustaches in solidarity.

Fellas aren’t the only ones, who participate in the annual "No Shave November" celebration, though.

However, this form of facial hair became mainstream when beatniks and hippies began growing out their facial hair in protest of societal norms. Since then, men have been experimenting with facial hair, using it to express their personalities. A task that is infinitely easier than it used to be due in large part to the invention of razors.

More and more ladies are partaking, instead choosing not to shave their legs or armpits for the duration. That being said, as a fellow female, I cannot condone the neglecting of good personal hygiene. Beards on men work; hippie-style body hair on women, not so much. If you really want to participate, help the cause.

Although shaving has been done for centuries, it has since evolved into an elaborate manscaping ritual, done with various maintenance tools from electric razors to moustache trimmers. Before, men were forced to rid their faces of hair with various sharp objects. Ouch.

So, whether your face is bedecked with a beard, muttonchops, a goatee, a soul patch, a moustache or stubble, revel in the fact that November not only supports it, but encourages it. Looks like this trend is here to stay. Cheers to beards.

Alexander the Great was a known advocate for clean-shaven faces, saying beards were a battle risk. Since then, bare male faces have

Claire Osburn//A&E Editor

s h a v e

“No Shave November” can be traced all the way back to the philosopher Plato, who designated time every year for him and his students to work on their beards. He believed that facial hair was a way to emulate the gods and turn boys into men.

come to be associated with youth or a pretty boy look. Although, let’s face it, not everyone can pull off facial hair.

n o

While modern day guys like to participate in the name of style, comradery or laziness, that was not always the case.

Throughout history, beards have been grown in the name of royalty, philosophy, religion, mourning, honor, masculinity and attractiveness. There have been many famous pioneers of the beard, from Shakespeare to Abraham Lincoln, who was the first president to rock a beard, leading to a long history of beard-wearing leaders.

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jump From page 5

Two-week positions are available during the beginning of December for those who want to wait until classes end. “You never want to graduate without any work history,” Dunning said. “I try to mentor young people. They always ask, how can I become an account director? It takes some time because you have to build a resume.” Dunning himself began his working career as an intern and worked his way up to his current position. “You don’t want to just be

a college student,” Dunning said. “You want to actually do internships. You want to actually work and build some type of skills so when you graduate you have some work experience to help you get into the workforce.”

tions, said Lt. Monica Seiler of the Murfreesboro location. Collection centers and stores also have a need for short-term employees.

Other large retail outlets need help too, as Kohl’s and Home Depot that are filling seasonal positions through the job search site snagajob.com. UPS and T-Mobile are filling temporary positions through monster.com. The Salvation Army also needs bell ringers to help collect donations and offers both volunteer and hourly wage posi-

LOCATIONS:

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MURFREESBORO: 1250 W. Clark Blvd. 750 S. Church St. 4051 Franklin Road SMYRNA: 769 Nissan Drive

Since 1951, Ascend has served more than two generations of Middle Tennessee families. Members have

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access to their funds from our four Rutherford County financial centers, from our mobile app, electronic

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account access, and fee-free access to ATMs worldwide. And, over the past nine years, we’ve given back $50 million to those same folks in bonus dividends and loan interest refunds. When you want to continue your education. When you need a more reliable vehicle. When you need a local checking account. When you need convenient ATM access. When you need us, we are here.

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Federally insured by the NCUA. Membership is limited. Ascend Federal Credit Union, its tagline “Raising Possibilities,” and the Flying-A logo are marks of Ascend Federal Credit Union. Copyright © 2013 Ascend Federal Credit Union. All Rights Reserved.

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