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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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Awesome wins gold Byy Elliot Toneyy Reporter Awesome Eagle is awesome, or at least that is what the judges at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship decided last month in Orlando, Florida. Tech’s mascot earned first place during the annual dance and cheer team competition at Disney World. The competition consists

of judges viewing a two-minute video showing the mascot active in their community and a 90-second skit of the mascot exhibiting school spirit. Awesome Eagle, who earned second place last year, defeated mascots from University of Delaware, Villanova University, Morehead State University and Northwestern State University to claim this year’s title. Awesome Eagle agreed to an interview with The Oracle with

the stipulation the reporter would not reveal his/her true identity in accordance with Tech tradition. “I have always been interested about our mascot since freshman year,” Awesome Eagle said. “After the last mascot graduated, I tried out and ended up becoming the new Awesome Eagle.” UCA is an annual competition for high school and college students. Tech’s women’s cheer team won fifth place and the coed team placed third. Kendyl Seals | Contributor

One million voices rise

This Issue: Opinion - 2

Greek life opposes proposed ban bill Byy Kellyy Camera Reporter Members of Tennessee Tech’s Greek life came together in a written resolution opposing a state bill banning fraternities and sororities in Tennessee. Rep. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, originally proposed the bill in the House of Representatives and Sen. Reggie Tate, D-Memphis, is the cosponsor. HB 2042 would only ban organizations of a social nature.

Tech can’t breath

News - 3

Activist speaks about social

HB 2042: Fraternities and Sororities As introduced, prohibits fraternities and sororities, other than professional fraternities and honor societies, from being recognized by, associated with, or operating on the campus of, any state institution of higher education. Amends TCA Title 49.

Entertainment - 4

Throwback to the Golden Girls

Sports - 5

Marcelo Gonzales | Managing Editor

Walk-on earns fullride scholarship

According to DeBerry, he proposed the bill in light of several cases of hazing, underage drinking, and sexual assault have come against organizations across the country over the past several years. The bill would eliminate all organizations on July 1, 2018.

The bill has been given national attention from publications such as TIME magazine and Cosmopolitan magazine. Six national organizations, who represent nearly every Greek organization in the country, put out a joint statement of opposition to the bill. Other Tennessee universities are speaking out about this as well, according to their university newspapers. Members of the University of Tennessee’s governor relations met with DeBerry in order to discuss the bill and other alternatives to solving these issues, and the Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Memphis, Darrel Ray, put out an official statement against banning Greek life. Tennessee Tech is currently the only university to present a written resolution about the bill to the Tennessee General Assembly, as far as Preston George, who wrote the resolution, knows. George is a SGA freshman senator and a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma at Tennessee Tech. Katelynn Cammack, a senator of the College of Agriculture and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon at Tech, helped him present the resolution to organizations around campus and to SGA. “We know how much positivity the Greek Life brings not only to the

See GREEK, Page 3

SAGE (Students Advocating Gender Equality) and TTU’s Women’s Center join eﬀorts to increase awareness for the #MeToo and VDay movements, focusing on gender parity and women’s rights.

SGA senator resigns Research stirs internal amidst allegations backlash among faculty Byy Marcelo Gonzales Reporter Students and faculty plan to protest Tech’s administration handling of a controversial research project of emissions as media coverage increases. A group of Tech students, professors and staff members have scheduled a rally on Tuesday Feb. 22 to protest recent developments on the glider kit research, called into question by the Washington Post and the New York Times. The rally is scheduled to take place at Centennial Plaza between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., right before “Chat with the President,” a biannual event organized by Tech President Oldham in which he answers questions about Techrelated issues. Glider kits, accord-

Byy Zach Fowler Beat Reporter

ing to the Environmental Protection Agency, are remanufactured trucks with the engine of old trucks and new chassis. This remanufacturing tactic has created a loophole used to circumvent new EPA emission standards and regulations. In 2016, the EPA decided to close this loophole through changes to their legislation. Scott Pruitt, EPA chief administrator, was against this decision and took action to repeal it. In order to do this, Pruitt wrote a petition requesting the sanction on glider kits to be lifted, using a Tennessee Tech study as evidence that glider trucks are not any more harmful to the environment than any other truck. Julia Gruber, president of the Tech chapter of the American Association of University

Professors and associate professor of German, is the faculty member organizing this rally. “Colleagues should be outspoken to as to distinguish ourselves from this corrupt leadership,” she said. The story made national news at the end of the fall semester when the International Council on Clean Transportation posted an article calling Tech’s study “sketchy work presenting partial information as though it’s serious and credible.” The aforementioned glider kit study was supported by U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-TN, and Tech President Phil Oldham. The document, available on the EPA’s website, does not provide the complete study

See GLIDER, Page 3

Freshman SGA senator Alijah Lott resigned last week amid allegations that his prior non-Tech related incidents make him unfit to be a senator. In a four-page impeachment, fellow freshman senator Preston George claimed Lott violated the code of conduct clause of the SGA constitution. Lott, who was appointed to the senate in the fall, resigned which voided any impeachment proceedings. “I just didn’t feel like going through that entire process, so, I resign,” Lott said. “I had confidence that I would not have been impeached, I’m fit for office and I would have explained that further but just having to go through that entire process and having the entire senate just pick through my life with a fine-tooth comb and stuff like that was just too much.” “I just want you to know that I do, personally, feel victimized and bullied and that’s just how I feel,” Lott said. Any officer can be removed from office if they are found guilty of a crime or any crime that would reflect dishonor upon the SGA, according to Article X, Sec. 3 of the SGA constitution. For an impeachment complaint to be succesful, George would’ve had to be able to prove that previous inci

dents have made Lott unfit for office. At the time of publication, SGA records weren’t available in order to show if similar complaints had succeeded in the past. Following Lott’s resignation, George refused to verify that he had authored the complaint when he was asked by The Oracle and referred further questions to Baylie Bodiford, SGA’s public relations representative. Bodiford refused to discuss the document, which contains the signature “Preston George” and the original signature. She also refused to comment on Lott’s claims of bullying. “The person who turned in the paperwork has also remained anonymous. Also Alijah Lott isn’t a senator, he resigned, so there is no impeachment and no “senator” Lott,” Bodiford said. However, Lott verified that George did submit an impeachment complaint, although Lott said he never received a copy. “I’ll be implicated for that [my past], I’ll be that person instead of who I came to college to be. I feel like I tried so hard to be the person I always wanted to be and that we had just screwed all that,” Lott said. Lott said he plans to run for office again in April.

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OPINION

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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Tennessee Tech can't breathe Byy Andrew Smith

But this is about willfully changing federal law in ways that will harm humans and the environment, Guest Contributor all to save some dollars for a company that is only a We have all heard of fake news, but what about small portion of the US trucking industry. fake research? Last year, Tennessee Tech published Despite demands from the Tech faculty senate the findings of a “study” conducted by an unnamed for an external investigation, President Oldham has grad student in a letter to Congressperson Diane launched his internal investigation to be chaired by Black. The communication was signed-off by Presi- someone directly subordinate to him. dent Oldham and VP Tom Brewer, before finding Despite demands to suspend Brewer and sever its way via Black to the Environmental Protection ties with Fitzgerald, it seems the internal investigaAgency (EPA) under Scott Pruitt, where the incon- tion will produce more fake results and attempt to clusive data has been used to inquiet public outrage. fluence policy and allow polluIn an email sent last Thursday, Our wings have tion. President Oldham implies that we Subsequent reports criticizshould curtail meaningful debate been clipped by the on this topic to protect the confiing Tech and its study appeared tired old narrative dentiality and objectivity of the from leaders in the trucking ininvestigation, all the while giving dustry, respected environmental where human greed interviews to the media saying that groups, the attorneys general of crushes global need. the investigation could “exonerate other states, news sources like the innocent.” the Washington Post, NPR, and Meanwhile, trustee Oakley and Tommy Fitzgerthe New York Times, and finally by experts in the ald give massive amounts of money to the gubervery EPA which is using our suspicious data to jusnatorial bid of Diane Black, who will ostensibly be tify fewer restrictions on polluting trucks, includone of Oldham’s bosses, if she is elected. Faculty, ing those made right here in Tennessee by Fitzgerald staff, students, alumni, and community -- we must Glider Kits. Even though the data and methodology used by demand a real external investigation, supervised by Tech have been thoroughly debunked by experts, an outside body such as the Tennessee Higher EduTech refuses to renounce it or take action against cation Commission, and including vetted experts in those responsible for it. Unfortunately this is true the academic study of vehicle emissions. The result for us is that Tech can’t breathe. The because of a cozy relationship between Fitzgereagles can’t soar. Our wings have been clipped by ald (who requested and sponsored the study), the the tired old narrative where human greed crushes Tech administrators named above, Tech trustee Milglobal need. What is happening at TTU is outralard Oakley, Congressperson Black, Pruitt, and the geous, and sadly, we have seen this coming. Trump administration. From the FOCUS Act that separated us from This is not only a case of academic integrity beBoard of Regents accountability to repeated proming undermined to make a buck, but of our universiises of increased privatization, Tech under Oldham ty aligning itself with the big business, anti-regulahas drifted further and further away from our roots tion ideology of a far-right government.If this were as a regional university with a compassionate camabout profit alone, that would seem shady enough.

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Letter to the editor: Shine a light on the unethical actions of the administration

By Julia Gruber

pus culture. The top administration has apparently lost the intellectual and moral integrity to lead an institution of our stature, all for the sake of profit, politics, and pollution. Andrew William Smith is a member of the Tennessee Tech faculty, the Faculty Head of the Treehouse Environmental Village, a local Presbyterian pastor, and a lifelong environmental activist. This editorial represents his views alone, and not those of his professional positions, which are listed for context and identification.

Should Greek life be banned from college campuses? HB 2042 is a bill proposed by Sen. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, stating that “fraternities and sororities shall not be recognized or otherwise permitted to associate with, or operate on the campus of, any state institution of higher education.”

Guest Contributors We will have a rally this coming Thursday, Feb. 22 from 10:30-11 a.m. on Centennial Plaza. We are inviting colleagues, staff and students as well as the community. Then attend the "chat with the president" to ask the hard questions. What is happening at TTU is outrageous. The top administration has apparently lost the intellectual and moral integrity to lead an institution of our stature, all for profit, politics, and pollution. Any notion of "keeping it quiet" to protect our colleagues has been lost; colleagues should be outspoken to as to distinguish ourselves from this corrupt leadership. Shine the light on the unethical practices, then work and pray for a change in the administration. TTU made it on the front page of the New York Times this past week - and it wasn't good news.

“I think I disagree. I think that people benefit from it, you know, you gain social experience and you’re able to work as a team.” -Heather Bertram, freshman, math

“I see where they’re coming from in that sense. There’s been a lot of problems, I haven’t heard of anything happening here, but hazing and stuff like that happening at other schools. So, I understand why they’re proposing that, but I think outright banning them is a bit heavy-handed. They could probably do some more regulations or just stricter rules to keep a closer eye on them would be a better idea first.” -Thomas Koper, freshman, computer engineering

Managing Editor- Marcelo Gonzales Asst. Editor of Layout/Design- Carolina Hatfield A sst. Editor of Social Media- Cameron Fowler Asst. Editor of Social Media- Miranda Maynard Business Manager- Lauren Herrera Distribution Manager- Abbey Markus Copy Editor- Emmerson Meurett Sports Editor- Nick Rogers Entertainment Editor Editor-- Beth Biles Faculty Adviser- Vanessa Curry Thanks for reading The Oracle Read more @ tntechoracle.com

“I’ve never heard of this rule before because I’m an international student. For this, actually I don’t think banning the social one is good. There’s more chance or more opportunity. So, maybe focusing on each different major is good, but it’s not an excuse to ban a social one.” -Wei Hsu, freshman, general business

“I think if the bill passes and Greek life goes away, they’re [Tenn. colleges] going to lose a lot of attendance because there’s going to be a lot of people want to leave. People look past what a lot of Greek life does. This homecoming, we donated more than anybody else even close. Stuff like homecoming, all the events Tech does, they’re going to lose. A lot of people don’t appreciate all the stuff we do… If it did pass, Tech would lose out on a lot.” -Colton Dotson, sophomore, mechanical engineering, Kappa Alpha

THE Tennessee Tech University TTU Box 5072 Cookeville, TN 38505

“I think being in a sorority or fraternity gives you a really good chance to make social connections just on a basic level, like you come here and you don’t know anybody, you’re automatically into a sisterhood. It’s like a family, and so you automatically have friends in there that are there for you no matter what.” -Jenna Luna, freshman, micro-biology, Alpha Delta Pi

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VOICE YOUR OPINION Opinion: 931-252-7459 Marcelo Gonzales

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of Tennessee Tech University’s employees or of its administration.

NEWS

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

What is love? GLIDER: From Page 1,

Page 3

Tech will remain silent until end of investigation

and notes that none of the trucks passed the nitrogen oxide test. The research took place in its entirety at the facilities of Fitzgerald Glider Kits, America’s biggest glider kit manufacturer, and no other institution has corroborated Tech’s study as of the publication of this issue. On Aug. 7, Tech announced a partnership with Fitzgerald Glider Kits to create the Center for Intelligent Mobility at Fitzgerald’s new facility which would be located in White County. A New York Times investigation found that Fitzgerald had contributed $225,000 to Black’s gubernatorial campaign, both paying for Black’s participation and Tech’s study. Backlash at Tech reached a boiling point when Christy Killman, Tech faculty senate member, wrote a letter to Oldham requesting the immediate suspension of the research and the start

of an investigation on possible academic misconduct. Killman declined to comment. Oldham later sent an email declaring that Sharon Huo, Research Integrity Officer, had been appointed to spearhead the internal investigation on research misconduct. Additionally, he indicated that Tech had suspended no employees and they would not be releasing any further statements during the investigation. “Often advocacy groups and stakeholders engage in emotional and heated discussion related to their differing interests and beliefs. Our mission is clear: To add to the body of knowledge with results that promote sound decisions and informed choices,” Oldham said. “Students need to know what’s going on. We need to work together to protect our university,” Gruber said.

Anna Leigh Martin | Contributor

The Tennessee Tech Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) was on Centenial Plaza Feb. 13 asking students to write what they believe love is on a chalk board. Taylor Anderson, anelementary education major, wrote that she believes love is "never ending."

Marcelo Gonzales | Managing Editor

United Campus Workers held an event on Thursday to protest the recent outsourcing of jobs outside of the Cookeville community. "This is bad for our economy, only benefits big corporations and it harms locals," Lucas Patterson, SGA senator, said.

Speaker discusses social activism among colleges Byy Kate Trebingg Beat Reporter Activism in an educational setting is just as important as learning to read, write and calculate numbers, civil activist Andre Canty told Tech students Feb. 8. “When it comes to education, revolution should be as taught as the other R’s,” Canty said during his presentation “Reading, Riting, Rithmetic, and Revolutions: The Four R’s of Education.” The speaker said he believes critical thinking and social justice should be integrated into the classroom so students are prepared to work for the change they want to see. “When you see something, you have revolution on your mind, you have dramatic change on your mind,” Canty said. Canty spoke on Tech campus as a guest of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He also spoke about his involvement in civil protests against Forrest Hall on Middle Tennessee State University’s campus. The Tennessee Historical Commission convened Feb. 16 to consider MTSU’s petition for the name change of Forrest Hall following protests from a committee of campus and community members. The ROTC building was named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and founding member of the Ku Klux Klan. Canty said Forrest Hall was even more significant because of the timing during which it was named. “It was a direct response [to the Civil Rights Movement],” Canty said. “It wasn’t erected immediately after the Civil War, it was erected in 1958.” This was four years after Brown v. Board of Ed-

ucation, in which the United States Supreme Court made segregation illegal in public school systems. Canty said he organized a group of activists at MTSU as an undergraduate in 2006 after learning the origin of the building’s name. It wasn’t until Canty graduated and returned to MTSU’s campus as a mentor to student activists in 2016 that MTSU President Sidney McPhee and the Forrest Hall Task Force agreed to file a name change request to the Tennessee Historical Commission. Canty listed his mentorship of the MTSU student activists as his proudest achievement to date. “The victory is not about policy Emily Easterly | Contributor change. It’s about people changing Andre Canty, right, spoke to Tech students on Feb. 8 and engaged in conversation with their own lives and thinking they students following his discussion about activism in an educational setting. can do something about it. That’s same. We all gotta fight,” he said. what I’m proud of,” he said. Canty said a rapid response team could aid stuTrevon Covington, a junior in biology and president of Tech’s chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, said Can- dents in addressing future conflict. These teams ty’s perspective is relevant to everyone on today’s would prepare for possible scenarios both on- and off-campus. college campus. “Sometimes you can’t avoid what’s gonna hap“I believe this event will help bring students of color and whites together in unity. This is some- pen, but you can tackle what happens afterwards,” thing that everybody needs to know, especially in he said. Canty is the former president of 100 Black Men a time in this country where division is on a high of Greater Knoxville, a former youth teacher for the rise,” Covington said. Canty also encouraged discussion about social, Odd Fellows Scholars Program and writes for The racial and religious differences. Knoxville Writers Guild, The Knoxville News Senti“Whether you’re working-class white, women, nel and The Huffington Post. He is currently running LGBT, immigrants, all these issues are one and the for election to the Knox County School Board.

drinkers or GREEK: Binge philanthropists?

From Page 1,

university itself, but to the community same organizations. She said whether around it,” George said. an organization is at a school can ofHis resolution cites all of the good ten affect their decision to attend. Inthings Tech’s Greek life does, such as coming freshman may decide to attend raising over $131,000 for local and na- an out of state school in order to partional charities in 2016. All the orga- ticipate in Greek life, Cammack said. nizations signed the resolution, except George emphasized he intends to for Kappa Delta and Alpha Delta Pi, personally see the resolution through who were prohibited from signing ac- to the state government. He wants to cording to their national bylaws. personally read the resolution to the Cammack said members of the EduTech’s campus will cation Administration This is not something be negatively afand Planning committhat's just gonna be fected by the loss tee who are curre ntly of Greek Life. Acassigned to the bill. thrown away cording to her, 78 “This is not just - George Cammack something percent of members that’s just of Greek life particgonna be thrown away, ipate in other organizations on cam- something that we did to make ourpus, and 13 percent hold leadership selves feel good, this is something that positions. is going to be given to those members “We try not to only show support to show that Tennessee Tech does not for our charities, but we also want to stand for this bill,” he said. build leaders, and give them the sucCammack said the best thing stucess they need to go through with dents on Tech’s campus can do is to their career,” she said. bring up the positives of Greek life. George also said Greek life is a The media often brings up the negagreat way for freshmen to be integrat- tive aspects of these organizations, ed into campus and to have a support but people need to know what Greek system, and Greek life has become a life has to offer campuses and why it home away from home for many of its should not be banned, she said. George members. said it is important to call representaAccording to Cammack, people tives to let them know there is opposisay they chose to come to Tennessee tion to the bill. Tech specifically because of Greek life. The bill currently is not on the calLegacies, students who have parents endar, but George said it is expected to who have been in Greek organizations, be soon. The General Assembly meets are common and they want to be in the this session until late April or May.

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Police Reports

Stolen trash receptacles reports rise Byy Austin Emerson

Beat Reporter

University Police Chief Tony Nelson says a rash of trash can thefts on campus needs to stop. As many as three large purple trash receptacles were reported stolen from campus in recent weeks, he said. “We’ve had two or three instances where trash cans were taken by individuals, those have been recovered,” Nelson said. “If we could just get ev-

eryone to leave the trash cans where they are at we would certainly appreciate it.” The receptacles are valued at about $400. Those caught taken the containers could face criminal charges. “If you’re caught you can be charged with theft, its misdemeanor theft,” Nelson said. Anyone with information about the theft of any stolen property from campus, may contact the campus police at 931-372-3234.

Man with bat banned from campus Byy Garin Delon Beat Reporter Campus police banned a man from returning to campus after they responded to suspicious activity Feb. 13 in the University Center. Students reported seeing a man, later identified as Brandon Bandy, running through campus caring a baseball bat and hitting himself while grunting. When police arrived to the University Center, they disarmed the individual, started questioning him and asked for identification. Bandy said he was caring the bat as a weight while he worked out and was not harming himself with it. He

became agitated and refused to show identification stating that his wife, who works for Chartwell’s Dining Services inside the cafeteria, could identify him. “You’re going to see what six foot and 270 pounds can do,” Bandy said to the officers, while hitting himself in the head and chest with his hands. Bandy approached his wife, the police officers said his actions were a cause for concern and he should leave the building. His wife told her husband and he left without further incident. Police said if Bandy is seen on campus again, they plan to arrest him for trespassing.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Revisited: Golden Girls, 33 years later Byy Beth Biles Entertainment Editor

“Thank you for being a friend, travelled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant.” A television staple since it’s premier in 1985, Golden Girls has earned its place in the American pop culture canon. But the real question why has the show remained so popular over the years? “The Golden Girls,” is considered one of the best written shows of all time and there hasn’t really been anything like it since the show’s finale in 1992. It probably wouldn’t see the light of day on today’s NBC. If you think about it the series is essentially a comedic narrative on death. It’s the main characters figuring out how to spend the time they have left now that their husbands are gone and their children are off living their own lives. So, if you think about it, it’s strange that “The Golden Girls” become such cult favorite. For all intents and purposes, the sitcom is essentially about four elderly women sharing a house in a retirement community. However what draws people in are the women’s personalities. The show features characters who are fiercelyindependent with sharp and biting senses of humor. The show writers weren’t afraid to let their characters be mean. The insult driven banter between Rose, Dorothy, Sophia and Blanche is cutting. At times, the dialogue between the women may seem vicious but in my opinion it actually illustrates the bond between the housemates.

goldengirls.wikia.com

Left to Right: Estelle Getty (Sophia), Bea Arthur (Dorothy), Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose).

Each resident has their own charm and brand of comedy. Rose Nylund, played by Betty White, is a wonderfully airheaded dingbat who is always prepared with an abnormal anecdote from her life in St. Olaf, Minnesota. Blanche Devereaux, played by Rue McClanahan, is the lusty southern widow always talking up her latest exploits. Sophia Petrillo, played by Estelle Getty, is the mother of Bea Arthur’s Dorothy. The oldest in the house, her no-nonsense inappropriate humor comes from her advanced age and old-world attitude. Lastly, Dororthy Zbornak, played by Arthur, has the most dry and world-weary

sense of humor. Many times, she seems the most bitter as she’s the only divorcee of the group. However, it’s not just the leading women that make the show stand out. The show has longevity because it is unconventional. In its 177-episode run, “The Golden Girls” tackled issues that even some modern sitcoms would be weary to touch including: a loved one cross-dressing/ potentially being transgender, the 90s HIV/AIDS epidemic and homosexuality. It also introduced the world to the idea that women over a certain age can still live full lives. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia have

just as many adventures as me and my twenty-something roommates have and they honestly probably and more fun. They approach aging with confidence and a determination to make the most out of their lives. I can only hope to be as cool as these fictional women when I am older and I will continue to re-watch this show for years to come. Thanks to the procrastination gods that you can now available to stream on Hulu. So, grab a slice a cheesecake and settle down because these old women are wild.

My Oscar Winners What to see, who should win, who should lose and who was snubbed. Byy Cameron Fowler

Carolina Hatfield | The Oracle

Dr. Becca Klaver reads spoken word poetry at the Backdoor Playhouse during the Bird is the Word event sponsered by the English Department.

Best Actress appears to be swaying in Frances McDormand’s direction. Her Assistant Managing Editor portrayal of an angry, ruthless mother In past years, the Oscars seemed like defending her daughter after her brutal a sure thing. The movie taking place in rape and death deserves praise. It’s a realHollywood, about Hollywood would ally honest, powerful turn that rises above ways have an edge, such as “La La Land” the misguided writing she’s given. Sally or “Argo.” But last year’s envelope snaffu Hawkins as a mute janitor who falls in proved the ninety-year-old award show love with an amphibian creature in “The still had the potential to surprise. Perhaps Shape of Water” is equally as captivating. that mentality is what makes this year’s They both deliver great performances ceremony that much more unsure; going that rise above the movies themselves. into the show, there is no clear frontrunHowever, the one true, defining perner for several key awards. This can only formance comes from Margot Robbie help the show, not hinder it. in “I, Tonya.” Tonya Harding is a person The most crucial award of the night society didn’t know it needed to consider is Best Picture. It has always been the cor- reconsidering, but here we are. Robbie’s nerstone of the hours-long trek through portrayal of the former superstar figure self-congratulatory presentations and skater and first woman to land a triple writing. This year, there are a few strong, axel is nuanced and sad. It’s as deftly great films among a sea of OK-to-medio- written as the entire movie, and is one of cre ones. Unfortunately, the latter has oc- those performances that truly elevate the cupied more space in voters’ minds this movie into something exceptional. time. “The Shape of Water” and “Three As always, there are movies I believe Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” are were snubbed, or those nominated that the two battling out the top award, with have no chance of getting ample love this Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” being a year. Chief among those is Paul Thomas distant third. Anderson’s “Phantom Thread,” which Having seen all I am shocked even got as the movies nominated, many nominations as it If you love “Dunkirk” is the strondid. It’s the second-best ger and most exciting of movies, you owe film of last year in my eyes. those three favorites. “The it to yourself not Beautifully and delicately Shape of Water” has a to take stock in told, the movie is one of good heart with a unique Anderson’s best in a career atmosphere, but the cen- these awards, but of great movies. tral romance fell flat for treat them as an If you just see one me. “Three Billboards” annual bout of movie that got nominated is a disaster of misplaced entertainment. this year, let it be “The Florassumptions and tones ida Project.” The film netwhich crash together as ted a Best Supporting Actor half-hearted political commentary. The nomination for Willem Dafoe (who’s sure performances in “Three Billboards” are to lose to Sam Rockwell), but deserved so stronger than the writing and filmmak- much more. It’s as honest and emotioning, and I’ve an idea that they will be ally arresting as any film I saw last year. heavily honored. The story it tells, of young children livBest Actor will be a lifetime achieve- ing in poverty beneath the shadow of ment award for Gary Oldman, mostly Disney World, is heart-wrenching, funny for good reason. His portrayal of Win- and full of touching and profoundly sad ston Churchill is borderline schlocky, moments. It’s a stream-of-consciousness but it’s the kind of full-steam commit- yarn on poverty and the relationship bement the Oscars love. His performance tween innocence and desperation which simply cannot not be matched to that of is the most complete vision offered from Timothée Chalamet in “Call Me By Your 2017. It’s a masterpiece. Name.” He is revelatory in that film, a Oscars will come and go. The quesyoung actor bringing honesty to a char- tion of their relevance has been amplified acter enraptured by love in a very specific in the past few years, and with dropping time. There’s also Daniel-Day Lewis in viewership numbers, maybe this is a dis“Phantom Thread,” whose acting is sub- cussion worth having. The Oscars are a dued but chameleon-like as Day-Lewis is fun, albeit self-serving awards show dedwont to do in any given film. Last but not icated to not-so-subtle marketing and the least is Daniel Kaluuya in “Get Out,” the mercy of its voting members every year. audience favorite and easily the movie That fact will never change. If you love people saw most out of all the nominees. movies, you owe it to yourself not to take Maybe Oldman needs recognition, stock in these awards, but treat them as but this is an Oscar tradition of which an annual bout of entertainment. View I’m frankly tiring. It’s en vogue to give them as a jumping-off point for watching veteran actors an Oscar for a subpar per- movies, a past-time full of more delight formance just to praise their career. Old- than any awards show can offer. man, like DiCaprio before him, has this award locked away.

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SPORTS

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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Crosland earns full scholarship Byy Nick Rogers g Sports Editor Coming out of high school without a basketball scholarship, Cade Crosland knew he would have to hustle if he ever wanted to play at the college level. Hustle he did. Crosland, a sophomore communications major who joined Tech’s team as a walk-on, finally earned full-ride scholarship last month. Tech coach Steve Payne said he broke the news to Crosland one day before practice after finalizing some details. “We just felt like it was the right thing to do going forward,” Payne said. “It’s not a gift, it was very much a reward that he’s earned and one he’s going to have to continue to earn each day.” Crosland grew up in Sparta, playing high school basketball at White County High School where he helped the Warriors win regional and district titles. He also set a school record for most 3-point shots. He spent his first year of college playing for Chattanooga State Community College. He transferred to Tech, paying his own way through school while playing

as a Golden Eagle. Payne praised Crosland’s contributions to the team, especially his shooting ability. “When he got here, it was apparent that he could do at least one thing at a really high Division I level, and that’s shooting the basketball,” the coach said. Payne lauded Crosland’s selfless playing style and his ability to hustle after the ball. “He makes a play that wins games about every game,” Payne said. The coach recalled a win on the road at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville when the game was not going well for the Golden Eagles. “He beats a guy to a loose ball. He ran 20 feet and that guy ran 10, he beats him to the loose ball, and we end up getting fouled and scoring two points late,” Payne recalled. Crosland said he had another reason for being excited about the scholarship. “It was an amazing feeling. The team’s reaction is really what made it for me, they were excited for me, and to see my teammates excited for me was a really awesome feeling,” Crosland said. He said he couldn’t wait to

tell his mother about earning the scholarship. I took my mom out to eat and told her then. She was so happy for me, I mean it’s a great accomplishment, it’s what you dream about and ask God for when you’re a little kid,” Crosland said. “I was so thankful, first for getting the opportunity to walk on, and then the opportunity to get a scholarship.” Crosland averages 10.1 minutes per game and 2.7 points per game for the Golden Eagles. He scored a career-high 12 points against Maryland-Eastern Shore, helping the Golden Eagles claim the Emerald Coast Classic title on Nov. 15. Tech plays its final two regular season games at home against Tennessee State on Thursday and Jacksonville State on Saturday. After their final two home games of the regular season, the Golden Eagles are scheduled to head to the OVC tournament in Evansville, Indiana, on Feb. 28. The Golden Eagles clinched a spot in the postseason tournament with a win on the road against in-state and conference rival Austin Peay Thursday in Clarksville.

Nick Rogers | The Oracle

Tech sophomore guard Cade Crosland looks to move the ball during Tech’s home win against UT-Martin on Jan. 21.

Jeannette Waldo hired as new Tech volleyball coach

Tech football signs 20 in 2018 recruiting class Byy Nick Rogers g

Byy Alli Sparks p

Sports Editor

Beat Reporter University officials hired former Missouri State University assistant coach Jeannette Waldo to lead Tech’s volleyball team. Waldo, who also served as the recruiting coordinator for the Bears, succeeds Tech coach Dave Zelenock who resigned after five years with the Golden Eagles. In the past two seasons, the Golden Eagles finished with records of 7-22 and 4-24. The new Tech volleyball coaching staff includes assistant coaches Peter Green and Zach Weinberg. Green is beginning his 18th year in coaching. He is the former associate coach at Eastern Illinois University, another Ohio Valley Conference team. Green is responsible for game analyzation and training, Waldo said. Weinberg also is responsible for coordinating recruitment. His recruiting class in 2017 at University of Nevada-Las Vegas earned an honorable mention by PrepVolleyball, a website covering high school and college teams nationwide. The Runnin’ Rebels finished the 2017 season with 24-8 record and ranked 33 nationally, Waldo said. Waldo helped coach the Bears to their first undefeated season in conference play in 2017. She previously served as an assistant coach at Green Bay in Wisconsin for three years. During her tenure there, the team improved from a 5-21 record in 2014 and to 21-9 by 2016. Waldo said accepting the position at Tech was

Tennessee Tech football signed its 20-man 2018 recruiting class Wednesday, Feb. 7. The class includes five players from Cookeville High School, the brother of a current TTU football player and the son of university president Phil Oldham. Two signees enrolled early and six signed in December. The full list of 2018 signees is as follows:

Alli Sparks | The Oracle

New TTU head volleyball coach Jeannette Waldo (center) with assistants Peter Green (right) and Zach Weinberg.

an “easy” decision because she felt welcomed and can see the volleyball program’s potential. Although the 2018 season begins as a rebuilding year, Waldo said she is excited about the opportunity to teach a new group of athletes. “They are excited to learn things they haven’t heard taught this way before. Volleyball is not a complicated game, you teach it a little differently depending on where you are and what you want to accomplish,” she said. “So what we are doing now is a little different than what they have done in the past and I think that’s exciting because in the past they haven’t had the results they are looking for,” Waldo said. Waldo earns a salary of $66,260 per year.

1. Josh Lee, LB, Kathleen, Ga. 2. Bailey Fisher, QB, Tiger, Ga. 3. Bryce Martin, TE/OL, Cincinnati, Ohio. 4. Seth Carlisle, ATH, Lafayette, Tenn. 5. Jack Warwick, LB, Alcoa, Tenn. 6. Jarquzes Hicks, DB, Cookeville, Tenn. 7. Nathan Counts, OL, Lebanon, Tenn. 8. David Gist, RB, Cookeville, Tenn. 9. Brian Thompson, DB, Nashville, Tenn. 10. Bradley Clark, WR, Lakeland, Fla. 11. Schaefer Almoyan, OT, Clarksville, Ga. 12. Jarrett Key, LS, Livingston, Tenn. 13. Bryson Garrett, OL, Knoxville, Tenn. 14. Aidan Raines, S, Mt. Juliet, Tenn. 15. Jeremiah Edwards, WR, Nashville, Tenn. 16. Michael Scavo, LB, Cookeville, Tenn. 17. Sam Oldham, H, Cookeville, Tenn. 18. Cade Smith, QB/ATH, Cookeville, Tenn. 19. Drew Martin, QB, Franklin, Tenn. 20. Tai Carter, ATH, Spring Hill, Tenn.

Busy month for Golden Eagle track, basketball teams By Britney Beaty and Nick Rogers g

The Golden Eagles are scheduled to play their final two games of the season Thursday against Tennessee State and Jacksonville State at home on Saturday. After their final two home games, the Golden Eagles are scheduled to head to Evansville, Indiana, to play in the OVC tournament.

Oracle Staff Track and Field Tech’s track team beat six school records and ranked 9th in the South Region at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Khemani Roberts placed 1st overall and tied for 2nd-best in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in the high jump event with the school-record mark of 1.75m. Na’Asha Robinson’s time of 23.70 in the 200m dash set a new Tech record and currently is the fastest time in the OVC and is tied for 48 -best in the country. Purity Sanga placed 4th overall in the 5000m run, 3 -best in the OVC and broke the school’s record with a time of 17:02.18. Sharnique Leonce, Micayla Rennick and D’Airrien Jackson also beat school records during the invitational. The Tech track team will be participating in the OVC Indoor Championships from Friday, Feb. 23 to Saturday, Feb. 24 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

Women’s basketball

Kendyl Seals | Contributor

Tech guard Kajon Mack dribbles past a Southeast Missouri defender in Tech’s 76-65 victory on Jan. 25.

Men’s basketball Tech’s men’s basketball team is 1712 overall, 9-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play, with a 1-3 record in their past four games. The Golden Eagles lost to Jacksonville State 82-65 on Feb. 8 and lost to Belmont 75-70 on Feb. 10. Tech de-

feated Austin Peay 86-80 on Thursday, clinching a spot in the OVC tournament before losing to Murray State 7565 on Saturday. Seniors Aleksa Jugovic and Curtis Phillips Jr. lead the team in scoring, averaging 15 and 14 points per game consecutively.

Tech’s women’s basketball team is 6-21 overall, 3-13 record in Ohio Valley Conference play, sitting 11 th in the OVC. The Golden Eagles picked up a 6058 victory on the road against conference foe Jacksonville State, then losing three straight games to conference opponents Belmont at home, Austin Peay on the road, and Murray State on the road. Four scorers are averaging over 10 points per game- Jordan Brock, Yaktavia “Shug” Hickson, Kesha Brady and Mackenzie Coleman. Brock, Coleman and Hickson each average over 11 points per game. Tech is back in action on Thursday at home against Tennessee State on Feb. 22. Their final game of the season is at home against Jacksonville State on Feb. 24.

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