COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE || Page 3
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
CAMPUS UPDATES
PLAYHOUSE: Mark Creter, artistic director of the Backdoor Playhouse, in the newly remodeled theatre
Photo courtesy of the TN Tech Website
Backdoor Playhouse back in business
By LUKE JENNETTE
After a two-year renovation process, the Backdoor Playhouse at Tennessee Beat Reporter Tech is back in business. Last Thursday was the first Open Mic Night back in the original location behind Jere Whitson. The theater had a great crowd, but the people involved all want to bring back the golden days of this hidden treasure. Stories were told of a line for Open Mic Night so long that it stretched out of theater. Among those who want to see the playhouse return to its glory days is James Gribble Jr. James is a long-time participant in Backdoor Playhouse
events as a spoken word poet. He is a former Tech student and has been reading original works at the event for the past seven years. He delivered an original piece titled “Dead on Arrival” at last Thursday’s event. Afterwards, he emphasized that people need to feel comfortable to come to Open Mic Night and share their works with the audience. “Open Mic is family,” James said. He also described the environment as “welcoming and encouraging.” The Grand Re-Opening of the Backdoor Playhouse is on Nov. 9 for their production of “Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville.” There is also another Open Mic Night planned for dead week at the end of the semester.
Changes to academic misconduct take place
Board appoints chief of staff
By MARCELO GONZALEZ Opinions Editor Tech instructors are now required to file a misconduct charge against any student suspected of cheating, as the Board of Trustees reviewed Policy 217 at their latest meeting. “ The policy was somewhat inconsistently applied, the faculty could just change the student’s grade. That meant that the only recourse for the student was to appeal the grade – a ver y different claim,” Mark Stephens, chief academic officer, said Claiming that the grade was wrongfully assigned was the only option a student had if they were suspected of academic misconduct. “Now under Policy 217 we track ever y case, so if the student is caught cheating they have the opportunity to appeal the charge,” Stephens said. The changes also in-
cluded giving students an additional two days to appeal charges filed against them. “I think it’s a good change. More time means less students will miss the opportunity to appeal,” Augusta Betterton, sophomore education major, said. Dr. Stephens suggested these changes to the Board of Trustees. They unanimously approved the review. “Students and the faculty are becoming much more aware of issues of academic misconduct. I have seen a drop-off in the number of charges, so students are getting the message that certain types of behavior are inappropriate and will not be tolerated,” Stephens said. The board, led by Chairman Tom Jones, meets during the academic year to review the state of Tennessee Tech and approve changes to different policies affecting the university’s staff and students. The next meeting is scheduled
By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor Tennessee Tech’s Board of Trustees has chosen Lee Wray for the role of a new executive position approved last month. The board unanimously approved Wray, a Tech alumnus, for chief of staff during a special executive meeting on Wednesday. Wray previously served at the Office of Communications and Marketing, as well as serving as the marketing director of athletics. The creation of the position was approved at the Board of Trustees meeting Aug. 17. The chief of staff acts as an intermediary between the president and his staff, as well as a coordinator for campus projects. “Lee is a perfect candidate for this position. He knows the community well, he has great communications on and off campus,” President Phil Oldham said. In the community, Wray has served at Cookeville Cityscape and Cookeville-Putnam County Convention & Visitors Bureau, among others. “They deserve for this place to be the best it can be. I look
Wray
at it as a service to the campus and the community,” Wray said. He is also responsible for supporting the president’s executive cabinet and its agenda. “I think it makes your role as president more efficient if it’s done effectively. If it’s done right, it could be a great benefit.” Board chair Tom Jones said to Oldham. Wray earned a bachelor’s degree in English/journalism from Tech in 1981, and a master’s degree in educational psychology and counselor education in 1985. He also earned a doctorate of law from the University of Tennessee College of Law.