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THURSDAY, SEPT 16, 2021 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 5

LA VIDA

SPORTS

The Meat Bowl Quiz Team took home gold this year. Read how receiving the win was “movie-like” for those there.

Football is gearing up for its’ final non-conference game of the season. Here is what you need to know about the upcoming game.

The Texas Tech campus is full of spirit but the Goin’ Band from Raiderland deserves more appreciation than it currently gets.

OPINIONS

ONLINE See more of the photos from previous and upcoming football games and tailgating around campus.

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PG 3

PG 4

ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

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CULTURE

Tech kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

By HANNAH VENEGAS Staff Writer

Texas Tech students gathered to celebrate El Grito at Urbanovsky Park at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept.

15. “El Grito” is the cry for independence, which Mexico gained in 1810.

Students waited in line to assemble a plate of authentic Mexican food in the park. Mary Harris, a worker who was handing out food, said she had not quite expected such a large gathering of Tech students.

“We did expect a big turnout, but we didn’t expect quite so many people to get in line for food,” Harris said, “We actually only had enough food for 200 people, and we are well over 200 people.”

For many people, these types of events bring new traditions to life and a new appreciation for the culture of many people.

Near the food tent, there was a group of Hispanic Student Society volunteers making a traditional Mexican craft. According to Alesi Hernandez, a fourth-year construction management major from Odessa, they were making Ojos De Dios (God’s Eye). These wooden crosses with yarn woven in between are made to ward away bad vibes while praying.

I t ’s n o t j u s t f o r t h e aesthetic. I hope people learn that we are really proud of who we are.

CYANNA MORENO SECOND-YEAR STUDENT Uriel Villegas, a fourth-year member of Hispanic Student Society from Denver City, Texas, reflected on the importance of showcasing Latin heritage.

SYDNEY BANOVIC/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Ballet Folklorico dance group from Lubbock High School, performs dances to traditional mariachi music from Mexico in dress representing the various states of Mexico. RIGHT: The flag of Mexico being waved at El Grito in Urbanovksy Park on Sept. 15 for Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16.

El Grito originally comes from Mexico and is called El Grito de Delores, or the Cry of Delores. The cry recites the heros of the Mexican War of Independence.

“I would say is just to inform people that Hispanics are here at Tech and then we also celebrate our culture here,” Villegas said. “The way I experienced it with, like, the U.S. independence and stuff like that, I like both. And I mean, I think it’s pretty cool and I think it’s informative to other people that, like, how we celebrate our Independence Day and how we present our Latin countries and stuff like that.”

The Lubbock High School Baile Folklorio dance team also danced to traditional Mexican folk songs.

For many, this reminded students and faculty of their own culture. Cyanna Moreno, a secondyear pre-nursing major from Austin, wants students to engage and appreciate the dancing and food with an open mind.

“I really hope that they learn that, like, this is a really big part of our culture and how we celebrate each other, where our families are from, even if we were born here, we

are descendants from these places as well and them learning what we are about and what we really celebrate,” Moreno said. “It’s not just for the aesthetic. I hope people learn that we are really proud of who we are.”

Hispanic students like Anterian Gee viewed this event as a little piece of home and a great way to immerse themselves in activities from Latin countries. Gee, a fourth-year creative media industries student from Dallas, heard about this event from his Hispanic media professor and told him that he would enjoy this celebration.

Gee said he was most excited to see the salsa dancing since he is a part of the Hispanic Student Society and he salsa dances a lot.

“I love seeing different types of salsa dancing from different cultures and different Hispanic cultures as well,” Gee said.

El Grito is one of many events that will be going on during Hispanic Heritage Month. Jade Silva

Tovar, senior director of Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said there will be a poster and website with a list of all events published

by Sept. 16.

These celebrations are important for students from all over to get a glimpse into the Hispanic culture and for Hispanic students to feel welcome.

“This year’s theme is ‘esper-

anza,’ embracing and advancing Latinx futures,” Tovar said. “Our hope is that we are able to talk about how we educate folks about the Latinx culture and Hispanic culture and how we embrace who we are and be proud of that, and also how do we advance who we are through career trajectories and other educational opportunities.” @hannahvenegasDT

FOOTBALL

Brooks, White provide offensive consistency

By BISHOP VAN BUREN Editorial Assistant

The Texas Tech football team’s 55 rushing attempts this season rank last in the Big 12 conference, according to Big 12 sports, yet the Red Raiders remain undefeated two games deep into the season.

When Tech does run the ball, the team has only averaged 6.3 yards per attempt so far this season, a figure that ranks second in the Big 12. Baylor is the only team with a higher average (7.5), but with their 88 rush attempts this season, the team is tied for the best in the Big 12 along with TCU, according to Big 12 Sports.

Third-year running back Xavier White’s 52-yard run in the third quarter of Tech’s contest against SFA on Saturday was one of many long runs that showcased Tech’s running efficiency. The former receiver commented on the play and attributed his explosiveness to his experience lining up against defensive backs as a receiver during

his first season at Tech.

‘When I made that change from receiver to running back, they said I can catch like a receiver but run like a back,” White said. “(It helps) with having those long runs and that breakaway speed.”

It’s always a balancing act in terms of running backs and with the receivers and tight ends.

SONNY CUMBIE IFC PRESIDENT Tech trailed SFA by a score of 13-7 at halftime, but their defense forced a 3-and-out to begin the second half and gave Tech’s offense the ball back with 13 minutes and 50 seconds left in the third quarter.

It took second-year running back Tahj Brooks two plays to reach the

end zone, starting the drive with a 13-yard run and ending it on the next play with a 67-yard touchdown run.

Those two runs counted for 80 of his 103 total yards in the contest against SFA, his second-ever and second-straight game with triple digit rushing yards, according to Tech Athletics.

White’s 52-yard run came on the following drive after another stop by Tech’s defense and set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown for his teammate Brooks. White said he and the rest of the running backs feed off each other.

“Whenever I make or break a long run, I want to score, but I know for sure that when Tahj (Brooks) comes in, I want to get him in,” White said.

“I want him to finish.”

Tech’s offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie said he attributes the long plays to his running backs’ mentality.

“As far as the backs, (it’s good) to have great patience and great vision to set those things up, and once they see a crease to obviously explode,” Cumbie said.

SEE FOOTBALL, PG. 5

KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador

Third-year running back Xavier White gets tackled on Sept. 11, 2021, at Jones AT&T Stadium. White’s 52-yard run in the third quarter helped lead the Red Raider to victory over Stephen F. Austin.

Page 2 Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021

STUDENT ORGANIZATION

LA VIDA

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Tech’s Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team on recent win and future

By TOLUWANI OSIBAMAWO Copy Editor

On Aug. 15 in Reno, Nevada, the Texas Tech Meat Science Quiz Bowl team faced off against Texas A&M in a sudden death match at the Reciprocal Meat Conference. Chandler Sarchet, a graduate student studying beef quality at Tech, had watched as the team he coached wound up in a tie with the Aggies.

As the moderator on stage asked the tiebreaker question, Sarchet said he heard someone hit their buzzer to answer early and swore it was a member of the Aggies’ team. He hung his head, convinced Tech had lost, until Tech team member Gregory Matocha answered the question.

“The lady — it felt like forever — who was moderating goes, ‘That’s correct,’ and everybody just kind of went wild,” Sarchet said.

“It was absolutely crazy, just, you know, almost movie-esque, truthfully.”

That Sunday, the Tech Meat Science Quiz Bowl team won its ninth national championship, its second in three years. The Meat Science Quiz Bowl is an annual competition in which several major schools from around the nation compete in academic trivia about meat science.

Questions, submitted from industry professionals and academics, range from topics like meat cooking methods to biochemistry to history. Teams stand on a stage and buzz in to answer questions in quick succession.

“This is probably the most pressure-packed competitive event that I’ve ever been associated with,” Miller said.

Mark Miller, San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo Distinguished Chair and

professor of meat science at Tech. He serves as the faculty advisor for the team, leaving the more hands-on coaching role to graduate students.

Miller said he tries to keep the team as studentdriven as possible. Aside from working out transportation costs for competitions, he said he is the “bad cop” of the quiz bowl team.

“I give them the barometer, or the thermometer reading that says, ‘You guys are probably looking at about sixth place. You are not anywhere close to what our teams have been in the past that have won this thing. And so you really need to do this and this and that,’” Miller said.

Still, Miller said the success of the team comes entirely from the students.

The team strives for honor, pursues excellence and works together in unselfish collaboration, he said.

“And that's why I think Texas Tech should be so proud of being the national champion quiz bowl team, is because it's truly, in my opinion, showing the heart of a champion in Texas Tech,” Miller said.

Graduate student Sarchet started as a quiz bowl competitor in his first year at Tech in 2017, then again in 2018, until Tech’s eventual championship win in 2019. After being on a winning team, students are no longer allowed to compete, but they may take on a coaching role for a new class of competitors.

Sarchet became a coach along with two other graduate students, but when they graduated, Sarchet was left as the only graduate coach for the team.

“It’s so much worse being the coach,” Sarchet said. “I get to sit there and hope that I taught them everything

they need to know.”

As coach, Sarchet teaches the material and gives students practice questions. At the beginning of the year, the team met twice a week to practice, but as the competition drew near, students were practicing five or six days a week.

Sarchet, like many other students on the quiz bowl team, also has competed in meat judging at Tech. He describes meat science as the little brother of meat judging.

“It’s a really broad competition that is kind of like condensing all four years of your animal or meat science undergraduate and being able to be asked any of the smallest details from your lectures that you pulled or you have pulled,” Sarchet said.

It was absolutely crazy, just, you know, almost movie-esque, truthfully.

CHANDLER SARCHET GRADUATE STUDENT Shae Lynn Suttle is a fourth-year animal sci ences major from Idalou and Sarchet’s fiancée. The two met while Suttle was on the junior varsity quiz bowl team and Sarchet was on the varsity.

Growing up on a farm where her grandfather was a cattle rancher, Suttle said her interest in meat science began in fifth grade.

She joined her high school’s chapter of Future Farmers of America, and the team would visit the Texas Tech Meat Lab where she met Mark Miller at a young age.

“The same way high

Tea Mcgilvray/The Daily Toreador

The Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team studies all aspects of meat science. The team competes nationally learning trivia about the history of meat agriculture, the science of meat and meat cooking. The team won the tie breaker question against Texas A&M thus winning the national championship title. school quarterbacks get recruited to come and be on a team at a college level, there are kids that get recruited to come and do meat judging,” Suttle said.

Suttle said meat judging is the gateway to the entire industry of meat science. The experience of being on the quiz bowl team, she said, provides students with exposure to professionals as well as friendships along the way, even with students from other schools.

“Once I do graduate and go start my career, we’re all friends, you know, we compete against each other, but we maintained a friendship that’s competitive and encouraging, but just building that family, and the reason Tech’s program is so special is because of the tradition and our mindset that we teach our students, you know, this isn’t about you, this, you’re a part of something that’s bigger

than yourself,” Suttle said.

Gregory Matocha, who answered the competitionwinning question at nationals, now works as an operations management associate at Cargill. Matocha had already graduated by the time he competed in August, but said he considered the quiz bowl team family and wanted to be back in that competitive environment.

At nationals, Matocha said he had been buzzing in to answer questions but was getting them wrong. He said in that low moment, before that final question, his nerves made his mind go blank, but he remembered some words from motivational speakers.

“One was a former NFL kicker and someone was asking him what happened, what goes through your mind once you miss a gamewinning kick or something, and he just goes, ‘I blame the ball and I move on and I just focus on getting the

next one right,’ so once we went to the final question, I just forgot everything and just made sure I got the next one right because that’s all that matters,” Matocha said.

While the meat science quiz bowl team may get overshadowed by meat judging and other competitions, the team’s members asserted that the Tech community should celebrate their wins as well. The meat science team’s global renown gives Tech even more to be proud of.

“This one, unlike meat judging, is a global viewpoint, because there’s 20 something nations around the world that come to this meeting,” Miller said.

“And so all of those people from companies, industry, government and universities all around the planet know Texas Tech is a place of excellence because of the quiz bowl team.” @TOsibamowoDT

@TheDT_Sports www.dailytoreador.com

FOOTBALL

SPORTS

Page 3 Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021

Tech prepares for final non-conference game

By ARIANNA FLORES Sports Editor

The Texas Tech football team will face Florida International University in their final non-conference game of the season at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 18 in Jones AT&T Stadium.

Before the game, there will be a Ring of Honor Induction for Elmer Tarbox, a former football player for the Red Raiders.

Tarbox, who played in 1935, will be the seventh member of the Ring of Honor list.

The Red Raiders head to the field with an undefeated 2-0 record after defeating Stephen F. Austin in a tight 28-22 victory on Sept. 11.

For the previous two games, the Red Raiders have gone into the half with seven points while their opponents had the lead. Against Houston, Tech was down 14 points and against SFA, Tech was down six points, according to

Tech Athletics.

“That was the goal this summer, coming into the season as undefeated (in non-conference games),” head coach Matt Wells said. “We have a goal to be undefeated in Jones, too. This is the next step in that, we’ve got two steps out of the way.”

At the end of both games, the Red Raiders were able to pull through in the second half of the game for the university to ring the bells in honor of their victory.

“Being able to finish out in the fourth quarter is something we have to do because we have lost a lot of games that were really close, so I feel like it is very important to us,” said senior defensive back DaMarcus Fields.

Sophomore running back Tahj Brooks leads the Red Raiders in rushing yards with a gain of 249 yards in two games, according to Tech Athletics. Brooks has given Tech

KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador

Head coach Matt Wells celebrates after the Red Raiders defeated Stephen F. Austin 28-22. Wells is 5-1 in non conference games while with Texas Tech, according to Tech Athletics. the most points on the roster with 12 points or two touchdowns. Xavier White follows his teammate with a gain of 92 yards and has a singular touchdown for Tech.

“Tahj is a really smart player, he also spends quite a bit of

time studying ball. He’s smart and picks up pass protection schemes … he catches the ball well, ultimately I think it’s because football really matters to him,” Wells said.

Junior quarterback Tyler Shough has a total of 394

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kansas State faces QB change The most experienced quarterbacks in the Big 12 have already been sidelined this season for very different reasons.

Skylar Thompson was off to good start in his sixth year in Kansas State’s program before a knee injury that will keep him out indefinitely. Fourth-year Iowa State starter Brock Purdy was benched in the fourth quarter of the biggest home game in program history, though coach Matt Campbell has since reiterated his “great trust” in the quarterback.

Skylar Thompson took

advantage of the extra year of eligibility given to all players because of the pandemic after missing most of last season with a right shoulder injury.

He lowered his left shoulder and bulled into the end zone while running for KState’s first TD in a seasonopening win over Stanford, then led the Wildcats to a quick TD in their second game and was on the brink of another when he suddenly crumbled to the ground.

“See him go down and it’s always gonna be a shell shock because that’s a great

guy and a great player for us,” said running back Deuce Vaughn, who was behind the quarterback when he got hurt rolling to the right.

Wildcats coach Chris

Klieman said the injury isn’t believed to be season-ending, but called it “frustrating because it’s like it’s not fair.

Why does it happen to somebody two years in a row?”

yards to his name, according to Tech Athletics.

Junior wide reciver Erik Ezukanma, who won a Big 12 weekly award in the first week of scheduled games, has received 323 yards and has added six points to the Red Raider scoreboard with a single touchdown.

Florida International holds a 1-1 record after defeating Long Island 48-10 and losing to Texas State 17-23 in overtime, according to FIU Sports.

The Panthers have traveled to Lubbock on one occasion back in 2005, where the Red Raiders took the victory with a 56-3 win, according to

a Tech Athletics news release.

In their loss against the Texas State Bobcats, FIU had a total of 259 passing yards and 141 rushing, according to FIU Sports.

“This is a huge game and they have our attention. They are a good team,” Wells said.

“We know they beat Miami two years ago, they are very confident they’re very athletic, very well coached … we have a lot of respect for them.”

Saturday’s game will be available for ESPN+ subscribers to watch, or fans can purchase tickets online at TexasTech.com. @AriannaFloresDT

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, sept. 16, 2021

COLUMN

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Appreciation needed for Goin’ Band At Texas Tech, there are several unique school traditions. Traditions such as the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and the Masked Rider are exclusive to Tech and should be valued and appreciated by students.

The Goin’ Band is worth learning more about, for a great amount of time goes into the preparation for game day activities.

Unfortunately, their efforts are mostly unappreciated, as the time devoted to showcasing the marching band’s talent is also an optimal time to grab drinks or food from the concession stands.

Of course, one should be able to enjoy food and drinks while watching the football game, but it is possible to listen to one’s hunger cues while appreciating the mental and physical effort

Faith Dolan is a second-year English major from Midland.

exerted by the Goin’ Band.

Many individuals tend to undermine the skill required to participate in a marching band.

Arguably, watching a marching band performance is just as entertaining as watching a football game.

Firstly, playing an instrument alone can be very, very difficult, especially at the collegiate level. Finger placement, dynamic and breathing technique are just a few variables of the equation that contribute to a satisfactory instrumental performance.

While playing an instrument, musicians also have

to maintain correct posture, which involves all parts of the body from the waist up.

Holding an instrument correctly while playing it precisely involves an amount of mental and physical effort that is rarely found in other recreational activities.

While maintaining correct instrumental technique, correct posture and hand positioning, band members must also memorize a set of drills to perform with uttermost precision.

As the Jones AT&T Stadium is able to seat 60,454, the Goin’ Band must be able to perform under the pressure of thousands upon thousands of spectators.

Learning and performing drills correctly while using proper marching technique and playing an instrument is a strenuous task that should not be taken lightly, regard-

less if one is able to view the performance or not.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, one must also remember that members of the Goin’ Band learn multiple shows during the football season, which require learning several different drills and music.

Students who are able to uphold the band’s exemplary status while also balancing school should be admired and respected, which may manifest itself into watching the band’s show at least once during the football season.

Balancing academics and learning new drill and music can be challenging, especially for freshmen who are adjusting to a new lifestyle.

In general, musicians tend to be under appreciated due to the modernization of music.

This is exacerbated when

fans pay more attention to the football team than they do the band.

While at away football games, band members can expect the fans from the opposing team to not pay attention to the show, which should encourage Tech fans to support the band like they would support the football team.

The Goin’ Band, is worth learning more about, for a great amount of time goes into preparation for game day activities.

Unlike the football team, the band does not receive TV coverage and thus does not receive as much appreciation;

this fact should encourage Tech fans to take time to enjoy the band at the next home football game.

Outside of the Jones AT&T Stadium, the Goin’ Band travels to all the away football games and it was the first marching band in the United States to do so; fans should take this history into account when learning more about the band.

As the Goin’ Band currently has over 400 members, which makes it one of the largest college marching bands in the nation, the band’s efforts and talent should receive more attention from Tech fans.

Overall, both the football team and the Goin’ Band should be equally appreciated, as they both require intense preparation and both carry the Tech name well. @FaithDolanD_T

COLUMN

Minimum wage should be increased for students Pursuing a higher education is undoubtedly an expensive endeavor. There are hundreds of factors that a school takes into consideration in order to provide students a worthy experience.

Since the price of a college degree seems to just keep rising higher and higher, upcoming and returning students feel an obligation to obtain a job on campus.

However, the amount of money these businesses are willing to pay for students is simply not ideal. The cost of paying for college, on top of other expenses, becomes extremely expensive.

This is, of course, basic

Henry Marginot is a first-year English major from Marfa.

knowledge, the idea that students and non-students work too hard to be paid a small amount of money.

Yet, the idea of raising the minimum wage pay for students that have on campus jobs seems to be a controversial topic of discussion.

In the United States, progress has been made regarding this issue of having a fair minimum wage.

29 states and the District of Columbia now have a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage, according to the U.S Department of Labor.

Although this is fairly

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positive news, one of the states to yet to raise the minimum wage is Texas, which still has it at $7.25.

It seems that Texas will not budge in terms of raising its minimum wage above the federal wage.

The biggest push among many people is to have the starting price of minimum wage become $15 per hour.

Having the pay at $15 per hour can make a significant difference to not only residents of Texas, but specifically college students.

The pandemic really opened up everyone’s eyes on how we spend our time.

Many people have done some self-reflection on the amount of hard work they exert.

Working countless hours a day, only just to barely afford a comfortable life, can be exhausting. The exhaustion created from a cycle of

overworking oneself can only have negative reproductions.

The desired wage that many people are pushing for is for the amount of $15 per hour. Having the starting wage at $15 per hour can alleviate the financial stress students have and can give a sense of hope that you could really make a difference in paying off your debt.

The biggest concerns opponents of this $15 per hour concept have is that it could cause cuts to employees’ hours and potentially increase the prices of other goods and services as well.

It is hard to gauge a solution to these concerns as there are many advantages and disadvantages to this issue, but one thing is for certain. We should have dealt with this problem a number of years ago.

The more time we wait and argue, the less time we have to actually enact some change for a solution. Having the price of minimum wage slowly and steadily rise up after each year would have helped us reach a fair goal of financial equality today.

Students and nonstudents work too hard to be paid a small amount of money.

In California, the minimum wage price went up slowly in yearly increments, causing the state to settle on a $15 per hour

by Jan. 1, 2022, according to an article done by the

California Department of Industrial Relations.

The average student should not be having to work more than they have to at a regular starting job at a fast food restaurant or grocery store.

Many students are not lucky enough to be rewarded with a solid financial aid plan by their college or may not have savings from their family.

There are instances where because the pay is so low for these jobs on and around campus, many students often just end up quitting or scrambling to find another job.

Raising the minimum wage for jobs on and around campus can give students hope. Hope that they will be able to financially support themselves, without any added stress they cannot control. @HMarginotDT

COLUMN

Student boredom results in drinking culture When students at other colleges ask about what attending Texas Tech is like, usually, I always have a hard time answering this question. As a student attending Tech, I really do not know what there is to do other than work, school and party.

Lubbock being a boring city is relatively common knowledge among Tech students and is typically laughed off. Lubbock has been ranked as the most boring city in America by numerous different sites and real estate research blogs.

According to Business Insider, out of the one hundred most populous cities in America, Lubbock ranked 73rd in arts per capita, and music venues per capita ranked 83 rd. Lubbock also ranked dead last in the nonfast food restaurant category.

The one category Lubbock did well in was nightlife, ranked at 58 th . This perfectly paints the picture of the issue in Lubbock; there is such a lack of activities to do that residents and college students have turned to drinking as the main source of entertainment.

College binge drinking is not a new issue. A survey by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

John Ternan is a third-year finance major from San Antonio.

reported that “approximately 2 out of every 5 college students of all ages (more than 40 percent) reported binge drinking at least once in the 2 weeks prior.”

Drinking culture is a large part of American college tradition, evolving into a rite of passage on many campuses.

Alcohol has been deemed an essential element in social success in college life.

This is apparent at Tech, as bars are located on Broadway Street, less than one hundred yards away from the entrance of Tech.

With the lack of other attractions in Lubbock to hold students’ attention, many students have turned to drinking as the sole source of entertainment in a social setting.

Drinking has become the main way students choose to relieve stress from the daily stressors of school and work. Many students find themselves going out and drinking two to three times a week.

The lack of outdoor activi-

ties in and around Lubbock are also factors in this issue.

There are outdoor facilities in Lubbock such as parks; however, they lack the quality of parks in other cities throughout Texas. This can be blamed on the natural environment in the region; however, the city has done very little to combat this.

I can personally attest to this as I have attempted bike trails in the city. Mae Simmons Park has the only official non-paved bike trail in Lubbock. As someone who has ridden these trails, I can confidently say they are no where near standard quality.

Despite being poorly maintained, environmental factors left me stranded two miles from the parking lot with two flat tires. I have not attempted to go biking again in Lubbock since this experience.

The area surrounding Lubbock is not any better in providing activities for residents and students. The closest state parks, Caprock Canyon and Palo Duro Canyon, are over an hour away, inaccessible for students without vehicles. This effectively strands students in the city unless they are willing to traverse a sizeable distance.

Students effectively be-

ing stranded in Lubbock with little to do besides attending to their schoolwork or jobs, the boredom takes over. With nothing to ease the stressors of daily life, drinking becomes the main source of entertainment.

As drinking becomes a more common activity in the weekly routine of a student, going out to get drunk becomes less of a fun occasion and more of a coping mechanism against boredom.

This can lead to increased alcohol consumption or binge drinking.

With the lack of attractions in Lubbock to hold students’ attention, students have turned to drinking.

A national survey reported that over 60 percent of full-time college students consumed alcohol, and 39 percent were reported to binge drink over the past month. However, just being drunk is not enough for some students, leading many students to look for more

methods of entertainment.

Illicit drug use is a common side effect of consistent binge drinking. The consumption of illegal and prescription drugs among college students has become all too common.

This is attributed to college drinking culture and has become a greater threat to the health of students.

Polydrug use combined with alcohol poses a massive threat to the health of college students.

The effects on physical health from this activity are detrimental; however, the effects of mental health are all too real.

Binge drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain, which in turn affects mental health. Extended use of alcohol can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.

Tech has many resources for students to entertain themselves with. The Recreation Center offers services on campus such as fitness facilities, intramural sports and the Outdoor Pursuits Center.

Learn to have fun in college without depending on alcohol. The world is a beautiful place with unlimited things to offer. Find what you makes you happy. @JTernanDT

TALKING TORO

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CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 White and Brooks’ long runs had a large effect on Tech’s figures regarding run efficiency, yet the Red Raiders’ running back group has been without one of its major components: third-year back SaRodorick Thompson.

Thompson became the first running back since 2015 to lead the Red Raiders in rushing yards in back-toback seasons after rushing for 765 yards in 2019 and 610 yards in 2020, scoring 20 total touchdowns during the two-year span, according to Tech Athletics.

Thompson had started 17 consecutive games for Tech entering the 2021 season but missed the first two games of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery in April.

Tech’s offensive coordinator Cumbie commented on how he has had to adjust to distribute the workload amongst the running backs after Thompson’s injury.

“It’s always a balancing act in terms of running backs and with the receivers and tight ends,” Cumbie said.

“I’ve seen SaRodorick confident and I’ve got a pretty decent idea of what he can do.”

“We all feed off each other to make a big play, and I mean, when SaRodorick comes back, that’ll be even more,” Thompson’s teammate Xavier White said.

Cumbie said he is excited to have a healthy running back core to utilize in the offense.

“Once we get (Thompson) back and going full speed, I’m excited about the possibility of all those guys and being able to get them on the field at the same time,” Cumbie said.

Tech will look to improve to 3-0 when it hosts FIU at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.

Running back Xavier White said he hopes to see Red Raider fans pack the Jones AT&T Stadium for their second home game.

According to ESPN, over 55,000 fans packed Jones

AT&T Stadium for the Red Raiders’ home opener against Stephen F. Austin, and of those, 12,000 were students.

To Wells, last Saturday’s crowd was eye-opening.

“Thats the best crowd we’ve had since I’ve been a head coach at Texas Tech,” he said. “This was awesome - they stayed ... Season ticket holders, everybody, they helped us win the game in the fourth quarter.”

Tech’s campus will now reload to host another match against FIU. Their last before conference play begins, and the Red Raiders will travel to Austin to play the Longhorns. @BishopVB_DT

SEPT. 16, 2021

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Texas Tech running back Xavier White breaks free from a Stephen F. Austin defender during the Red Raiders’ home opener. Tech football will now look to garner its third-straight victory on Saturday when they face Florida International.

Quick Hits About The Red Raiders, FIU • The game between Tech and FIU will be the first meeting between both teams since 2005, when the Red Raiders won 56-3.

• The last time Tech played FIU, they went on to win their next five games.

• Tech football will enter the contest having won its last 13 non-conference matches.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vaccine boosters remain topic of debate WASHINGTON (AP) — Influential government advisers will debate Friday if there’s enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — the first step toward deciding which Americans need one and when.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence its advisory panel will consider. The agency struck a decidedly neutral tone on the rationale for boosters — an unusual and careful approach that’s all the more

striking after President Joe Biden and his top health advisers trumpeted a booster campaign they hoped to begin next week.

Pfizer’s argument: While protection against severe disease is holding strong in the U.S., immunity against milder infection wanes somewhere around six to eight months after the second dose.

The company gave an extra dose to 306 people at that point and recorded levels of virus-fighting antibodies threefold higher than after the earlier shots.

More important, Pfizer said, those antibodies appear strong enough to handle the extra-contagious delta variant that is surging around the country.

To bolster its case, Pfizer pointed the FDA to data from Israel, which began offering boosters over the summer.

That study tracked about 1 million people 60 and older and found those who got the extra shot were far less likely to become infected soon afterward. Pfizer said that translates to “roughly 95% effectiveness” when delta was

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spreading, comparable to the protection seen shortly after the vaccine’s rollout earlier in the year.

The Israeli data, also published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, cannot say how long the boosted protection lasts.

The FDA’s reviewers, however, suggested they would mainly look to research on how the vaccines are working among Americans, saying that “may most accurately represent vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. population.”

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TOP LEFT: Texas Tech Coed cheerleaders lead cheers from the sidelines of Jones AT&T Stadium at the home opener of the 2021 season on Sept. 11, 2021. Cheerleaders along with the Pom Squad lead the stadium in the popular school chant, “Raider Power” as well as leading the fans in the school’s Fight Song and the Matador Song at the beginning and end of each football game. TOP RIGHT: Trumpet player from the Goin’ Band from Raiderland performs the Matador Song during the pregame show. Before every game, the Goin’ Band marches to the stadium from the School of Music Building, located behind the Student Union Building. BOTTOM LEFT: Texas Tech students attend the game in body paint that spells out “Wreck ‘Em” at the first home game. Located on the south and south eastern side of the stadium, the student section attracts students and student organizations to the stadium to cheer on the Red Raiders victory. BOTTOM RIGHT: Texas Tech’s costumed mascot, Raider Red fires the opening shots, surrounded by the Saddle Tramps, on the Double T in the center of Jones AT&T Stadium during the pregame show. Raider Red helps fire up the crowd during the game as well as throwing t-shirts into crowd.