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THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 VOLUME 95 ■ ISSUE 10

HOUSING GUIDE Looking for your future home?

Check out The DT’s Fall Housing Guide in this week’s special section.

SECTION B

SPORTS

OPINIONS

ONLINE

Tech football set for homecoming game against West Virginia.

Student analyzes living, learning in Lubbock.

Check out The DT’s playlists on Spotify.

PG 5

PG 4

ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

3 5 4 3 5 5

CAMPUS

President’s Select makes connections amid pandemic

AUTUMN BIPPERT/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Isabelle Naylor, a President’s Select member, answers questions during a Texas Tech campus tour at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 in the Free Speech Area. Due to COVID-19, Tech campus tours had to be adjusted to ensure the safety of those involved. BOTTOM: Naylor points out public art during a Texas Tech campus tour.

By MALLORY ROSETTA Managing Editor

When students are on campus, they often see groups of high school students and their parents carrying red plastic bags with Double Ts. President’s Select has been giving tours to prospective Tech students for decades, and, like most organizations, has had to make adjustments to this program due to COVID-19.

Montana Chandler, a senior history major from Ralls and president of President’s Select, said the organization serves as the university’s recruiting system, or ambassadors.

It is their duty to recruit students to come to Tech.

Campus tours have been given since Tech first opened, and it was traditionally the Saddle Tramps’ job to provide the tours, Chandler said.

Since then, the job has transitioned into more of a larger-scale effort from different offices of the university.

“The primary offices that we do that through are the Office of the President, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Texas Tech Athletics,” she said. “So those are our three primary forms of recruitment. The most well-known ones that people know us for are the daily tours where we have our visitors with red bags and our tour guides walking backwards; kind of a staple image that people think about when you think about President’s Select.”

Mason Leachman, a senior Russian language and area studies and public relations major from Albuquerque and vice president of President’s Select, said campus tours resumed on Sept. 21.

There are several safety measures in place to make sure the tour guides and visitors who come to campus are protected, Leachman said. These precautions include requiring tour guides and visitors to wear face masks at all times.

“While they’re actually giving the tour, since they’re yelling, we do require them to wear a face shield as well since that’s not a very effective way to kind of project your voice,” Leachman said. “We also have microphones on them – they’re called chatterboxes – and people will probably be hearing them all around campus just because they’re so loud now.”

Additionally, Leachman said there is a limited number of guests allowed to come to campus. The number of people who can be seated in the presentation room for the pre-tour admissions presentation is also limited.

Each prospective student who comes to visit is allowed to have one guest with them during the pre-tour presentation. After the presentation, visitors are allowed to bring the rest of their family on the tour, Leachman said. Each group also completes a pre-tour temperature check and COVID-19 symptom

screening via QR code.

“We tried to implement measures that really keep the tour experience fun and exciting; everybody’s excited to come see a college when they’re interested in applying to (the) university,” Leachman said. “And so, keeping it fun and exciting for our guides as well. They really did miss giving tours over the summer and then kind of the end of spring, so this is kind of a way that we can have the

best of both worlds.”

While the number of people who can sign up for tours has been limited, Leachman said there now is an additional time visitors can sign up to tour the campus. Before the pandemic, there only was a 9:15 a.m. tour and a 11:15 a.m. tour. Now, a 2:15 p.m. tour has been added to the schedule.

SEE TOURS, PG. 3

RESEARCH

COVID-19 pandemic affects campus research activity

By ADÁN RUBIO News Editor

From having to end abruptly due to pandemic-related campus closures to reopening under new health protocols, most research activity at Texas Tech has been affected by the risk of COVID-19 in different ways.

As the fall semester progresses, continuing these projects and considering other health precautions are tasks Tech students, faculty and staff have worked to complete.

Joseph Heppert, vice president for the Tech Office of Research and Innovation, said the campus closures resulting from the pandemic were sudden and caused multiple changes in how different facilities operated. But with time, members of the university can better determine how to work around the risk of the virus whether the number of COVID-19 cases stabilize or increase in the future.

“I think as we begin to understand a little bit more about how the virus spreads and a little bit more about how to try to keep research staff and students safe while they’re working in on-campus conditions,

we started to be able to turn that around,” he said.

In addition to implementing precautions, such as wearing face coverings and social distancing in facilities where research is being conducted, looking ahead at the possibility of the number of COVID-19 cases may require some planning.

Considerations have been made in the event of an increase in virus cases in the community, Heppert said.

“We’re still working to make sure that people follow protocols to keep those individuals from the community as well as themselves safe as they’re working,” he said. “Again, if we saw any kind of dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in the community, we would again start to rethink some of those things and help people think through the risks versus the benefits of carrying on some of those studies.”

With any cancellation or postponement of research activity, Heppert said there are different steps, such as properly shutting down laboratories and ensuring certain experiments are brought to a safe conclusion, that need to be taken.

When campus facilities closed during the spring semester, Heppert

said plans needed to be implemented to allow researchers to initiate these cancellations and make arrangements to have researchers periodically return and make sure the environments were safe.

There are some experiments that are dependent on constant data collection, so not being able to revisit those projects could hinder the research, Heppert said. There were a lot of logistics in diminishing the intensity of campus research activity to ensure researchers and human subjects were kept safe.

“At the same time, as we started to come out the other end and plan for coming back to campus, we needed everyone to think carefully about how restarting research didn’t necessarily mean going back to business as usual,” he said.

In July, Heppert said the decision was made to allow undergraduate students who might be volunteering in labs to return to engage in research. Undergraduate students being able to participate in campus research activity is another factor that would be considered if more restrictions needed to be implemented in the event of increasing COVID-19

RYAN MCCULLAR/The Daily Toreador

Ben Barr (left) and Roberto Mendoza (right) study membranes and the correlation between cancer and proteins, in the Experimental Sciences Building I, on Oct. 15, 2020. case numbers.

Regarding a possible cancellation of in-person activities on campus and how research activity could be impacted as a result, Heppert said a lot of research sponsors still were willing to support Tech activities during the shutdown of campus in the spring despite changes to how research was being conducted.

“So, that was a very positive

thing,” he said, “and I think there was a recognition that it was important for us to sustain the frontline individuals, who are, primarily, graduate and undergraduate students, who were involved in that research. We’ve created some policies that initially were careful about who we let come back into the laboratory.”

SEE RESEARCH, PG. 2

2A OCT. 22, 2020

NEWS

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

HEALTH

TTUHSC doctors emphasize precautions for Halloween

By HANNAH ISOM Staff Writer

With Halloween a little over two weeks away, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided guidelines and suggestions to celebrate the holiday safely while COVID-19 continues to spread.

In addition to the health guidelines people have been hearing over the last several months amid the pandemic, there might be other things to think about to stay safe.

Dr. Richard Lampe, professor and chairman in pediatrics at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, said everyone will continue to hear the usual: wear a mask, wash hands and social distance. He said following the rules the CDC has set is the best way to keep safe this Halloween.

“Rules are there for a reason, and they are to protect yourself but to protect your friends as well,” Lampe said.

Dr. Eudys Briceno Brito, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Tech HSC, said carrying hand sanitizer everywhere

is a helpful tip when going out this Halloween along with reminding loved ones to keep their masks on.

When deciding whether to go out with a large group or not, Lampe said thinking of how it could potentially affect loved ones could be an important aspect to consider.

High-risk activities during Halloween include crowded costume parties hosted indoors, indoor haunted houses, hayrides with people not of the same household and more, according to the CDC. These high-risk activities should be avoided.

“Large gatherings between people without masks in Lubbock in October of this year are almost guaranteed, (and) with the current infection rate and the number of patients in the city, are guaranteed to spread the virus,” Lampe said.

Dr. Erika Radford, assistant medical director in Tech Student Health Services, said there is no safe way to celebrate Halloween if it is with a large group.

Additionally, Radford said wearing a cotton or

surgical mask under a Halloween costume mask is potentially dangerous, confirming the CDC suggestion not to wear two masks.

Wearing two masks can affect circulation and could potentially affect the way a mask filters air.

“There are safe ways to celebrate Halloween,” Radford said.

Carving pumpkins and having mask decorating contests within the workplace are two lower-risk activities in which individuals can safely celebrate Halloween, Radford said.

Small, private get-togethers are the safest option, only if everyone follows the CDC guidelines of wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands and being outdoors, Lampe said. This way, people still can dress up in crazy costumes but still follow the CDC guidelines.

If a large group is insistent on socializing, Lampe said meeting virtually is the best option. It still is possible to have costume contests and hang out together virtually.

“Think of some new and more innovative ways to celebrate Halloween,” Lampe said.

The corn maze is one way people can celebrate together in a safe, masked, socially distanced way, Lampe said.

The idea of decorating a pumpkin, carving out the middle and playing cornhole with pumpkins outside with everyone wearing masks is another suggestion.

Going to an orchard or a pumpkin patch and sanitizing one’s hands before and after frequently touching apples or pumpkins is another way to celebrate the holiday, according to the CDC. Halloween-themed scavenger hunts, going to a oneway, walk-through haunted forest or corn maze, hosting an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends and neighbors or walking from house-to-house admiring the Halloween decorations from a distance are other ways to take part in the festivities, according to the CDC. Regardless, Lampe said the most important thing to remember when going out this Halloween is staying

RESEARCH

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Overall, Heppert said he is happy about being able to allow researchers to work again on campus in some capacity.

“And I’m pleased that you know, both undergraduate and graduate students as well as other research professionals had the opportunity to come back and fully use the laboratories and the creative spaces on the Texas Tech campus,” he said.

In the event of closures to campus facilities, research can be affected in different ways.

Lou Densmore, associate program director for research at the Tech Center for the Integration of STEM Education and Research (CISER), said when considering remote access, lab work is almost impossible to conduct.

Regarding efforts to better provide different research opportunities for students, Densmore said there are different challenges institutions face.

A misunderstanding and, in some areas, a complete lack of trust toward science

safe is a team effort and being part of the team means washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing.

For more information

regarding the CDC recommended guidelines for participating in Halloween activities visit their website.

are national issues that can hinder positive change amid the pandemic.

“People are trying to now come up with as innovative a solution as they can to really try to engage society,” he said.

Moving forward this semester, people may be concerned with potential COVID-19 case increases impacting their work.

For research activity associated with CISER, Densmore said multiple aspects of research, such as who was allowed in certain facilities, were impacted when the pandemic began.

In addition, Densmore said there have been other efforts within CISER to promote engagement in research.

“The scholars set up an emerging research website where they talk about their research,” he said.

Levi Johnson, director for the Tech Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences (TrUE), said, amid the shutdown of campus, working with the Office of Research and Innovation and Heppert was a way to determine the proper time to get undergraduate researchers back in labs and

creative spaces to continue their research activity.

Regarding efforts to continue supporting undergraduate researchers during this semester, Johnson said TrUE implemented an undergraduate research and creative arts project funding program. This program has been reworked in different ways.

One change was to use a funding model based on a stipend instead of a requirement that funding is allocated to an undergraduate researcher as an hourly wage, Johnson said. The student does not have to be hired as a Tech employee.

The second change was allowing a faculty mentor to request funding on behalf of the student researcher, Johnson said. Previously, the student would have to find a faculty mentor, put together an application and have a mentor write a letter of support.

“The application, we hope, is a lot less work to basically qualify for that funding than it used to be, and that we can get that funding out faster,” he said.

@HannahIsomDT

@AdanRubioDT

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LA VIDA

OCT. 22, 2020

3A

CAMPUS

Tech alumni share stories on Dairy Barn impact

By NATALIE CERVANTES L a Vida Editor

Built-in 1926, the Dairy Barn is symbol of history for most people of the Texas Tech community. Through the years, the Dairy Barn has been a creamery, a classroom, a vacant space and an event place. Tech unveiled its most recent renovations to the Dairy Barn last week.

“The Dairy Barn means so much to my family,” Matt Wilson, Tech alumni of the class of 2001, said. “My grandfather worked in the Dairy Barn creamery for part of his tuition in the late 1930s.”

In the late 1930s, the Dairy Barn was operating, Monte Monroe Tech Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library archivist and Texas state historian, said. Many students were working there to pay parts of their tuition.

Jay Harbin, Wilson’s grandfather, attended Tech as an agriculture student from 1938- 1942, Wilson said.

At Tech, Harbin met Wilson’s grandmother Dorine Griffith.

“My grandfather worked nearly all day while also being a college student,” Wilson said. “My grandma was a home economics major, and they would have to make

TOURS

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “So, we’re still able to see a large volume of people, but now we do make them sign up, and we do cap registration at a certain point,” Leachman said.

Maky Haynes, a junior honors science and humanities and communication studies major from Shallowater and treasurer and recruitment officer for President’s Select, said the tour route is slightly smaller because the groups do not go into the buildings, like the College of Media & Communication or the Rec. From a tour guide standpoint, Haynes said she would

Photo Courtesy of Southwest Collections/Special Collections Library

The image shows the original Dairy Barn in 1926. The barn has undergone multiple renovations. On Oct. 15, Tech unveiled its new renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. go visit is to go see the Dairy had risen, and they were time to see each other.”

The floors were uneven, Griffith would sometimes Barn and tell the stories my having difficulty on where and they had to pour concrete sneak out of her dorm room to grandparents had,” Wilson to hold lessons,” Tolley said. to even out the surface, Tolley make time to see Harbin after said. “I can’t wait to go see “The barn was nothing like it said. The weather was somehe was done working, Wilson the renovated Dairy Barn looks like today.” times a problem, especially in said. Her dorm room at Tech when we come to visit.” the winter, but overall it was There were times when had a curfew, but sometimes an adequate space. she would have to break curfew the Dairy Barn was vacant, Tolley had about 30 hours of just to spend time talking with and there were plans for it lessons per week., he said. As him since he was busy working to be demolished, Monroe Our alumni are very admissions went up, the busier said. But it was repurposed at the Dairy Barn all day. passionate about that the music program got and the The two were amazing throughout the years. It was more space they needed. people who loved each other even used as a classroom building. For them, “I remember my students that is a symbol of and Tech, Wilson said. The space for some years. would refer to the barn as Retired music professor the university.

Dairy Barn played a large the Tolley barn,” Tolley said. part in their life, and it is nice Richard “Dick” Tolley said “The barn looks different to have the barn still be a part he taught trumpet lessons LYNN B. WHITFIELD now, but I am happy it is still in the Dairy Barn from of Tech.

SOUTHWEST COLLECTION there for everyone to enjoy.”

“My whole entire family about 1963 to 1966.

Tolley was a professor at ARCHIVIST “At the time, the admisgoes to Tech, and one of our the school of music from 1951 favorite things to do when we sions for the school of music to 1991, he said. He is happy rather give a tour with a mask and microphone than not give a tour at all.

“You’re still getting to hang out with the students, make those meaningful connections with the groups being a little smaller. I think that’s actually a fun benefit of this tour drifting a little bit smaller is getting to have those connections, but overall it really hasn’t changed that much,” she said. “We’re still getting to do our job and hang out with future Red Raiders …. We just have a few layers of protection in between us.”

Applications for President’s Select will open in January or February, Haynes said. Interested stu-

dents may email presidents. select@ttu.edu to get their name put on a list. Once the list is complete, Haynes will reach out to them for recruitment events.

Recruitment for President’s Select may look different this year, with many events going online or conducted over Zoom, Haynes said. Students have to go through a three-round interview process and six weeks of training before they are officially members.

“We haven’t quite decided how many students we are bringing in next class. It’s just how many people are excited to be part of President’s Select and

seem like they would add to our team, but I don’t think we’re going to cut down on any of our numbers due to COVID,” Haynes said.

P r e s i d e n t ’s S e l e c t trained their last member class via Zoom, Haynes said. If COVID-19 continues training will stay online.

“We are still super excited, and we still want a ton of people to apply because more people that apply, the bigger our tour guide organization can be, “Haynes said.

For more information about President’s Select, visit ttu.edu/administration/ president/presidentsselect/. @MRosettaDT

to see how much the school has grown, including the music program and the Dairy Barn.

“The Dairy Barn was one of the first four buildings on the Tech campus,” Monroe said. “The barn had many purposes and holds a lot of history.”

When Monroe thinks of a person associated with the Dairy Barn, the first person who comes to mind is Arch Lamb, he said. His efforts and memory have saved the Dairy Barn many times.

Lamb was one of the main advocates for the Dairy Barn.

He’s also the founder of the Saddle Tramps, Monroe said.

When there were threats many would think of him and his reasons to save the Dairy Barn.

“There are so many times when the barn was falling apart, and there were threats to tear it down,” Lynn B. Whitfield, a Southwest Collection archivist, said. “The alumni would then rise and refuse the tearing down of the building, so it is a big deal that it’s renovated.”

The Dairy Barn was marked as a Texas Historical Landmark marker in 2016, Monroe said.

“Our alumni are very passionate about that building,” Whitfield said. “For them, that is a symbol of the university.” @NCervantesDT

OPINIONS

Page 4A Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020

COLUMN

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Student analyzes living, learning in Lubbock T

exas Tech has always been a part of my life. Since I was a little boy, I remember looking up to Tech and her students wishing I could be a part of that world one day.

When it was time to start applying to colleges, I only had one on my mind and was the only one that I applied for. Being from Lubbock and getting to attend the college I loved since I was a child has its perks, but also it has its downside.

Lubbock is just boring.

There is nothing to do and not much has changed over the years. Finding things to do in Lubbock has been an uphill battle I have been facing since I was in middle school and high school.

We have movie theaters, shopping districts, and enough restaurants to last you for a long time but that’s just it. The only amusement park we have is Joyland, which I haven’t been to since

Mateo Rosiles is a junior journalism major from Lubbock.

I was in fifth grade and the South Plains Fair.

In high school, I remember talking with friends trying to think of what to do on a Saturday. I remember us wishing that we were 21 because there was more fun stuff that 21+, college students could do.

Now that I am 21, I can say that we were definitely wrong in wishing to be 21.

There is still nothing fun to do.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make some of the most incredible memories that I still think about now and then. Getting to go to the Drive-In theater on dates or with friends coffee shop hopping late at night during

midterms and finals season with friends are just some of the memories I have.

It also means that I know the best place to get coffee from, Tova or Sugar Browns, and I know the best holein-the-wall Mexican restaurant. So it does have its perks from being here.

Lubbock is also a sleepy town, something that locals have dubbed living in a big town with a small-town feel.

It’s a perfect place to live and raise a family but not to go to college.

The small-town feel is most definitely true because everyone knows everyone.

No secret ever stays a secret and in a matter of days, my parents will call me to ask if I did something.

This brings me to a downside of being from Lubbock having my parents live so close to me, and I write this knowing that they will read this column. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, and I am so grateful for ev-

erything they do for me, but I need space.

For my freshman and sophomore years at Tech, I lived with them to save money, which was fantastic. I got a home-cooked meal daily. I got to be around my family who I am super close to, but when I say living on my own was freeing it was probably one of the best things I’ve done in life.

One perk I see from being from Lubbock is that I was prepared to go to Tech.

As I said, I love my parents but like all parents, they have rules that I had to abide by living under their roof which I respect.

However, living on my own, I make my own rules, and I am in charge of myself and

what I do.

Even now that I am living on my own, they still are finding out what I am doing.

That’s just the hard part, I still have to watch what I am doing because I know they will find out and ask me about it.

College is supposed to be the best time of your life and it’s a time to learn who you are. I just feel I can’t truly find myself because I am still under their watchful eye.

But that downside also has its perks. My parents love to spoil me every time they see me even though I live 10 minutes from them.

They love taking me out to eat and coming over to my place to talk about our lives. Also, it’s nice to take a break from eating ramen noodles and getting to eat a home-cooked meal.

One perk I see from being from Lubbock is that I was prepared to go to Tech.

I was immersed in Tech’s culture and it’s traditions

since birth.

I went to golf, science and engineering camps at Tech during the summer and got to meet some professors that would be my actual professors for my classes today.

Those professors showed me what other college professors’ expectations would be and the course load I would be expected to handle.

It’s also amazing to see how some Tech traditions have stayed the same since I was a little kid and seeing others evolve. I’ve also been able to see campus change and rise to be the academic powerhouse it is today.

It was also an easy transition from Lubbock High School, just right down 19th street, to campus.

So yes being from Lubbock has its perks and downsides, but I wouldn’t change one bit about my experience being from here, and I will never regret choosing to call Tech my home. @MateoRosilesDT

COLUMN

Community college aids transition to university I don’t know why, but there is a stigma of going to community college. It’s like you don’t have the mental capability to go to a four-year institution, or you’re too poor to afford a “good” education.

Why is this our view on higher education? Where does it come from? I was thinking that I was going to be labeled something less than when I chose to enroll at Austin Community College after I graduated from high school.

My original plan was to

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Nalani Nuylan is a junior journalism major from Leander.

enroll at Texas Tech after high school, but due to financial reasons I chose to enroll at ACC. I was so stressed about how my life was going to go. I just graduated, I was trying to be a responsible legal adult while still living my life to the fullest before taxes and paying off student debt became a real thing.

But after I accepted that I couldn’t afford to go to Tech for my first two years, I found that junior college was great.

I was able to continue an internship I got over that summer for a year. I was able to pay for my own education, with a study abroad trip all by myself with the income I earned from my internship.

I made valuable friendships and got to spend pre-

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If I went to Tech right away, I would have missed out on all those opportunities.

Most importantly, I’ve learned to be okay with not being okay and giving myself the space and grace of feeling whatever I need to feel. Allowing yourself to go through the motions is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

I know that change, es-

pecially right now with so much uncertainty with the election and the pandemic, is scary. I came from comfort and structure to this new and unpredictable chapter of my life. But with everything that’s going on, you will get through it.

Everything in my life up until now has taught me something and was all the more valuable for it. Community college was a good way for me to get prepared for university while making the most of the other priorities in my life.

For example, because ACC is focused on student growth, the faculty are so invested in their students.

From transferring from personal finance to family matters, ACC always had a resource that is offered to students.

University has taught me how to care for and nurture myself when the world is not in the best shape. I had to learn to find a new foundation for myself and get used to the new campus, lifestyle, pay-

ing rent, while maintaining my health and happiness.

As far as workload, I think ACC brought more work than Tech. I don’t know if it is because of the pandemic, or the number of students to a class, but I remember being stricter with myself in time management at ACC due to the amount of homework I had and what I was involved outside of classes.

However, my time at Tech has presented me with challenges of being a better planner and having more responsibility, especially since I live off campus.

I’m not saying for everyone to go to community college then university (though I highly encourage it). Nor am I saying that a four-year institution is an opportunity to blow-off your academics.

I’m saying to embrace the new and unexpected, even thought it might hurt.

Life is not a problem to be solved, it’s a journey to be lived, so live it. @DtNalani

Houston, Lubbock poses similar lifestyles Evan Ray is a junior DMPC major from Sugar Land.

Opinions Editor Mateo Rosiles opinions@dailytoreador.com

Digital Content Manager Madeline Diffee online@dailytoreador.com

with trauma on my mind, in the middle of a global pandemic.

I must say, I think I’m doing well now. Removing myself from a grief-stricken environment to my offcampus apartment has allowed me to have a clean slate of sorts. Of course, my trauma and loneliness come at me when there is a certain trigger, but now I learned how to process and cope with my emotions.

COLUMN

Sports Editor Zach Richards sports@dailytoreador.com

Multimedia Editor Autumn Bippert photo@dailytoreador.com

cious time with my family. I was able to see my younger siblings perform on the high school theatre stage, and I was able to help them with frustrating homework problems. If I had the time, I spent it helping my mom cook dinner that night.

These memories are priceless, and I am so thankful that I have them.

If I went to Tech right away, I would have missed out on all those opportunities.

Now that I am a junior at Tech, the transition from community college to four-year institution was overwhelming to say the least, and COVID-19 certainly did not help. The motivation to get up every morning and do the work I needed to do to make sure I was ready for Tech was a struggle. On top of having a family tragedy during quarantine lockdown, I wanted to quit school.

But I, along with an amazing support group around me, forced me to go to school. Six hours away, not really knowing anyone,

With the recent announcement of canceled in-person classes after Thanksgiving, many of us are excited, surprised and maybe even sad to notice that the semester is about a month away from essentially being over.

It does feel like just yesterday we were coming back to Texas Tech from summer.

This has led many to remember the first time they moved to Lubbock for college, myself included.

I was born and raised

in Sugar Land, Texas. For those of you who don’t know, Sugar Land is an area to the southwest of Houston, really only about 20 to 30-minute drive to the heart of Houston depending on traffic.

One might think that moving to such a small city such as Lubbock (at least in comparison with Houston), would throw people such as me off, or make us feel like we live in the middle of nowhere. However, this isn’t the case.

It’s true, Sugar Land and Lubbock are very different, for one, the weather here in Lubbock is dry and can get pretty cold, versus a rather humid and hot swamp-like atmosphere of the Houston area.

But again, with my own

personal experience, I end up finding more similarities than differences.

I might even know the streets names, locations and directions in Lubbock better than I know my hometown at this point.

Sugar Land itself feels very much like Lubbock in size, so that didn’t make me feel out of place. If I wanted to have fun doing some of the many activities in the city, I would have to drive out there, which again, could take up to 30 minutes.

Many of the same activities that big cities boast are

also found in Lubbock, just in a diminished capacity, you just have to keep your eyes open and look for them.

The sense of really being out in the middle of nowhere isn’t something I truly buy into either.

In Sugar Land, I grew up in a neighborhood that was pretty much right next to some train tracks, and on the other side of the tracks was a lot of farmland for miles. It would only take a short drive down the road to see fields with cows, horses and longhorns.

It feels very much the same here, again with only slight differences. Even the suburban area (which is where I grew up in Sugar Land) of Lubbock feels very familiar.

When I first moved here, I didn’t expect to feel at home, and it only took one semester to figure that out. I might even know the streets names, locations and directions in Lubbock better than I know my hometown at this point.

Being born and raised in Texas is something that I’m proud of, and it seems to be after being in many different cities and areas across the state, I’ve found similarities to my own past experiences in all of them.

Maybe it’s just how my personality or mindset is, but I’ve come to realize something; I am a Texan, and this is my home state, and I’ll always think of everywhere in Texas as home. @EvanRayDT

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Page 5A Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020

Tech football set for homecoming game against West Virginia

By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor

After nearly a month away from game day at Jones AT&T Stadium, the Red Raiders will return home at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday to face West Virginia.

The 2020 Mountaineers Prior to the season, West Virginia ranked one spot above Tech on the Big 12 media Preseason Poll with the eighth overall spot on the list. Over three months later, the Mountaineers sit at fourth in the conference through four total games and three conference games.

West Virginia trails three ranked opponents in the Big 12: first place, No. 17 Iowa State (3-1,3-0), second place, No. 20 Kansas State (3-1,3-0) and third place, No. 6 Oklahoma State (3-1,2-0).

The only loss against West Virginia this year came at the hands of Oklahoma State, falling 27-13. In the game, the Mountaineers rushed for only 68 yards on 42 attempts, according to ESPN. In contrast, they gave up 203 rushing yards to the Cowboys.

Their loss against Oklahoma State, according to statistics, was not reflective of West Virginia’s overall game so far. According to Big 12 stats. The Mountaineers have the second-leading rushing offense in the conference, and the secondleading rusher in the conference, junior Leddie Brown, who has 515 yards and five touchdowns on 81 carries.

The rushing attack for West Virginia has been the bread and butter of their offense through the beginning stages of Big 12 play, but junior quarterback Jarret Doege still poses a threat under center.

According to Big 12 stats, Doege ranks fourth in the conference in total offensive output, and third in passing average per game. However, his efficiency is a key knock to his game, ranking sixth in the Big 12 despite having a high number of passing attempts.

Despite their offensive weaponry, the defense of the Mountaineers is their true calling card. West Virginia boasts a series of talent on the defensive side of the ball, including the third-leading tackler in the Big 12, senior linebacker Tony Fields II, and a tandem of top-five sack leaders in freshman defensive lineman Akheem Mesifor and senior defensive lineman Jeffery Pooler Jr., according to Big 12 stats.

The Mountaineers’ defense does not stop up front.

They also rank atop the conference in pass defense, according to Big 12 stats, and third in passing defense efficiency. Senior cornerback Alonzo Addae leads the secondary and has compiled two interceptions through four games. Addae is one of two players in the league with multiple interceptions. The Mountaineers lead the conference in rushing defense as well.

The compilation of success on all fronts has resulted in the Mountaineers statistically being the nation’s best defense, according to Tech Athletics, they allow an FBS-leading 240.3 yards per game.

West Virginia will look to maintain their defensive prowess against the Red Raiders on Saturday.

The 2020 Red Raiders Tech football is still looking for its first conference win after a rough road trip against both Iowa State and Kansas State. As a result of the poor start for the Red Raiders, they rank second to last in the Big 12 with a 1-3 overall record and an 0-3 conference record.

During the bye week, Tech and head coach Matt Wells made the decision to start junior quarterback Henry Colombi against the Mountaineers.

In limited playing time, Colombi has compiled 359 passing yards and three touchdowns, according to Tech Athletics.

The Red Raider offense has also shown flashes of

yards and a 94.6 quarterback rating from Jett Duffey, according to ESPN. Game day Info

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Redshirt freshman Sarodorick Thompson searches for an opening to run through during the game against The University of Texas at 11 a.m. Nov. 29, 2019, at the Texas Memorial Stadium. The Red Raiders will take on the Mountaniers at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Jones AT&T Stadium. potential. Out of the backfield, sophomore running back SaRodorick Thompson ranks fifth in the conference in rushing with 282 yards on 56 carries, according to Big 12 stats.

Through the air, despite being injured for the last game, junior receiver KeSean Carter still leads the conference in receptions with 21 for 215 yards, according to Big 12 stats, and he also leads the Red Raiders in scoring with four touchdowns.

Carter’s receiving counterpart, sophomore Erik Ezukanma, ranks second in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game, as he is also a tall target for Colombi standing at 6-foot-3.

The Red Raider defense is headed by junior linebacker Krishon Merriweather, who leads Tech in tackles, according to Tech Athletics. Their vocal leader, senior linebacker Riko Jeffers, has also made an impact on defense for the Red Raiders.

Tech’s defense is coming

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off an outing against Iowa State where they were on the field for 40 minutes of game time. For perspective, the Cyclones’ defense was only on the field for 19 minutes.

The bye week following the 40-minute defensive outing for the Red Raiders was well needed, and they are looking to come out strong against a run heavy West Virginia offense on Saturday.

Tech’s game against West Virginia will be a showcase of two powerful lines. Tech’s offensive line leads the league in quarterback protection, as they only have allowed three sacks through four games, according to Tech Athletics.

In contrast, the Mountaineer line leads the league in sacks per game with four.

The series history between the Red Raiders and the Mountaineers is not extensive, as West Virginia is relatively fresh to the Big 12, joining just eight years

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ago. Still, the two teams have had nine matches against each other where the Mountaineers have six total wins to Tech’s three, according to Winsipedia.

In their last match, Tech won on the road in a 38-17 victory behind 354 passing

Saturday’s game at Jones AT&T Stadium will be Tech’s homecoming game. According to Tech Athletics, this will be the third time in series history the Red Raiders have hosted West Virginia on homecoming day. The series is split, and Tech’s last win against West Virginia on homecoming came in 2012.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, and the game can also be streamed using the ESPN app.

According to Lubbock’s weather forecast, game day on Saturday is looking to have a high of 66 degrees and a low of 54 degrees.

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Sportswriter ranks new, returning players

By NICO SANCHEZ Staff Writer

Two seasons removed from being the National Championship runner-ups, Tech fans have plenty of reason to be optimistic heading into the new year. Tech men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard has put together an exciting group headlined by names like Nimari Burnett, Mac McClung and Terrance Shannon Jr. Here, I’ll be counting down the five most interesting and exciting players on the roster for the upcoming season. #5 Kyler Edwards Starting off our list is the 6-foot-4 Arlington native that has, in the wake of Davide Moretti’s departure, become the longest tenured Red Raider on the roster.

Edwards, who is entering his junior season, has come a long way for Tech in a short period of time.

It seems like yesterday he was a freshman putting up 12 efficient points off the bench in the NCAA Championship Game against Virginia.

Now, he is coming off a season in which he averaged 11.4 points per game in 33.4 minutes per game for Tech, while having started in every contest along the way, according to Tech Athletics.

Furthermore, Edwards has logged more minutes in the red and black than anyone else on Tech’s roster with 1734, which is good for 14th on the team’s all-time list.

Last year, with a much bigger role on offense, his field goal and three point percentage took a hit, but it’s hard to believe he won’t find a way to improve his numbers with more playmaking talent surrounding him.

Edwards has played in 69 career games, and he’s seen all there is to see in the Big 12, so there’s plenty of reason for the fan base to have faith in him and his development this season.

#4 Mac McClung This ranking comes with a sort of asterisk. If junior guard McClung was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA by now, then he’d be ranked second on the list with a legitimate case for the top spot. But alas, as of Oct. 21, he has not been so lucky to get the waiver, so the following passage will be based on the assumption that he will eventually receive said eligibility.

The high-flying transfer has gone viral on social media numerous times.

How else could you describe the man who eclipsed Allen Iverson’s scoring record in the state of Virginia, according to Tech Athletics, the man who in 2019 led all Big East Conference freshmen in scoring and the man whose dunks single handedly awarded him national online acclaim?

Standing at 6-foot-2, McClung can bring an aura of flash and excitement that Tech fans have not been particularly accustomed to over recent years.

Finally, we have a name the likes of Kentucky and Texas are used to gearing up with each season, and he is merely an addition to the tough, gritty, defensive squad of players Beard is used to trotting out.

But I digress, there still is plenty of room for improvement, mainly in three-point shooting and defense, but it’s hard to see a world where his premiere slashing ability does not represent a huge advantage for Tech’s offense.

He has averaged 14.2 points per game in his collegiate career on .393 percent shooting, according to Tech Athletics. Overall, not too shabby a replacement for Moretti. #3 Marcus Santos-Silva What does 6-foot-7 Santos-Silva have in common with memorable former Tech players TJ Holyfield, Chris Clarke, Matt Mooney and

MANDI MCDONALD AND MADELINE DIFFEE/The Daily Toreador

LEFT: Freshman guard Terrence Shannon, Jr. celebrates after freshman center Russel Tchewa makes a shot during the Texas Tech vs. Kansas men’s basketball game at 1 p.m. on March 7, 2020 in the United Supermarkets Arena. RIGHT: Freshman guard Terrence Shannon, Jr. guards the ball from West Virginia players during the Texas Tech men’s basketball game against West Virginia University.

The game took place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in the United Supermarkets Arena.

Tariq Owens? They’re all grad transfers, and given the success with the aforementioned players, it’s easy to see how Tech fans can be excited about the now former VCU forward.

Senior forward Santos-Silva is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 56.9 period from the field, according to Tech Athletics. These are efficient numbers for any player. Not to mention, he has the most collegiate experience of anyone on Tech’s roster, with 1,900 career minutes logged.

He will provide much needed help in the trenches for a Red Raider team that lost its best shot-blocker in TJ Holyfield to graduation.

#2 Terrence Shannon Jr. Sophomore guard Shannon Jr. played quite well for Tech in his freshman season.

The 6-foot-6 Chicago southpaw put up 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 47 percent shooting while starting in 21 out of 29 games, according to Tech Athletics.

NBA Draft boards, such as NBADraft room, rave about Shannon’s athletic ability.

In fact, the same source references it as world class.

Shannon is a potential first round pick and will look to take the next step toward an NBA career entering his second season in Lubbock.

His biggest issue thus far has been his three-point shooting. Shannon shot a measly 25.7 percent from beyond the arc in his freshman season, and more re-

markably, never attempted more than two triples in a single contest, according to Tech Athletics.

Shannon remains a breakout star candidate in the Big 12 thanks to his physical tools, but it will be up to him to make the jump.

In the meantime, all we can do is wait and see. #1 Nimari Burnett At long last, we finally reach the finish line. Fivestar recruit, freshman guard Nimari Burnett was the crown jewel of the 2020 recruiting class for Beard and his staff.

The 6-foot-4 combo guard from Chicago will enter his Red Raider career as the second-highest recruit in team history, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

This past year, he was invited to play in both the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic, but unfortunately, both games were canceled.

His EYBL circuit numbers were quite impressive with 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, according to ESPN. His playmaking ability and defensive prowess are his biggest strengths. The bottom line is he’s arguably the highest touted true freshman the program has ever had and comes to the team with lofty expectations.

If we can see him on the floor this year at the same time as the four players mentioned prior, it will certainly be an exciting and energetic sight to behold. @NicoSanchezDT