111121

THURSDAY, NOV 11, 2021 VOLUME 96 ■ ISSUE 13

LA VIDA

SPORTS

Read how the School of Music is preparing to introduce a new degree in commercial music.

With basketball under way, read about the new transfers on the both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

It is OK to set boundaries in various areas of your life. Read how consent and boundaries go beyond just sexual activity.

OPINIONS

ONLINE Tune in to the publication’s Facebook Live of the Student Government Association’s town hall on at 7:30 p.m Nov. 15.

PG 3

PG 5

PG 4

ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

3 5 4 5 5 2

TRADITION

BACKING BAND

THE

Band to fundraise for new uniforms before centennial celebrations

By MATEO ROSILES Editor-in-Chief

Being one of the most recognizable groups on campus and the Texas Tech culture, the Goin’ Band from Raiderland is asking the Red Raider community to help it fundraise enough money to purchase new uniforms for its over 350 members.

Joel Pagán, director of the Goin’ Band, said the uniforms are built to last 10 years; the current uniforms are in their thirteenth year. He said, currently, the band is having to mix and match pieces of the uniforms in order to perform this season.

“We’re to the point right now where we’re literally cannibalizing different uniforms to create uniforms,” Pagán said. “For people, because some of them are so old at this point, that some of the jackets are bad. And so we’re having to take parts from one of the others to kind of make a complete uniform for individuals.”

SEE BAND, PG. 2 KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador

The Goin’ Band from Raiderland marches onto the field during pregame on Sept. 11, 2021, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LGBTQIA+

Men’s basketball program Professionals discuss transgender struggles, welcomes new transfers rights in State of Texas

By KAITLYN SALAZAR Sports Reporter

The Texas Tech men’s basketball program has gained multiple new additions to its 2021-2022 roster throughout the past year.

After a visit to the NCAA Championship in 2019, the program has received eight new additions will give Tech a chance to make it far in both the Big 12 and the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Kevin Obanor, a 6-foot-8 senior forward from Houston who previously played for Oral Roberts, scored 1,309 points and secured 684 rebounds in his three years at ORU, according to Tech Athletics. According to ORU Athletics, Obanor shot over 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from three last year.

Obanor helped the Golden Eagles reach the Sweet 16 in the 2021 NCAA tournament by completing three double-doubles, according to Tech Athletics. After the season, he went through the NBA draft process before he decided to return to college and enter the transfer portal before signing with Tech.

Davion Warren is a supersenior guard from Buffalo, New York, according to Tech Athletics.

Warren spent his first two collegiate seasons at Olney Central College, where he averaged 13.6

By TANA THOMPSON Staff Writer

KATIE PERKINS/The Daily Toreador

Mylik Wilson dribbles down the court at the game versus North Florida on Nov. 9, 2021, at United Supermarkets Arena. points per game and scored 20 in his final game.

He transferred to Hampton for the second half of his collegiate career, averaging 21.2 points during his senior season, according to Tech Athletics.

“It’s a town for Texas Tech,” said Warren. “That’s for sure.”

Daniel Batcho is a redshirt freshman forward from Paris, France where he played for the Centre Federal du Basketball, ac-

cording to Tech Athletics. During the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament, he helped the U18 CFBB team to a runner-up finish, scoring a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Before redshirting last season at the University of Arizona, Batcho signed with the Wildcats as one of the top prospects in the 2020 class, according to Tech Athletics.

SEE BASKETBALL, PG. 5

From not being able to participate in sports, to being seen as mentally ill or struggling to find housing and healthcare, transgender people face several issues regarding their gender identity.

Matt Hernandez, graduate assistant for peer education and the Office of LGBTQIA Education and Engagement, said there have been many hurdles trans people have to navigate.

“They’re oftentimes identifying as trans is seen as a mental illness, which is not true, obviously,” Hernandez said. “So when we think about gender, there’s not one such thing as a perfect man or a perfect woman, we all experience gender in different ways. The perceptions that some people have about trans folks in particular, are negative ones.”

Hernandez said there is still an unacceptable amount of violence against the transgender community.

“I was just looking at an article from the Human Rights Campaign, and it said this year alone there

were 44 transgender people who were killed as a result of transphobic violence, and that is unacceptable when it comes to, you know, people dying just because of who they are,” Hernandez said.

Lauren Mcleod, the vice president of the Gender and Sexuality Association, said transgender individuals face a little bit of discrimination from students and potentially healthcare providers in the area.

Right now, there’s only two trans medicine specialists in Lubbock, Mcleod said. Currently , 43 percent of transgender adults are un-insured and 19 percent of transgender people have been refused health care services by medical professionals, Mcleod said.

“One thing that we do is we work to build safe provider lists,” Mcleod said. “So we contact therapists and surgeons and primary care providers and dermatologists and things like that. We see, you know, who is comfortable treating trans patients who welcome LGBT patients in.”

SEE LGBTQIA+, PG. 3

HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

HSC to help nursing shortage through new program

By NALANI NUYLAN

burnout in the hospitals, she said.

News Reporter

Third-year accelerated nursing student Kersten Gates said she remembers when COVID-19 was first being talked about and how everybody said it is going to be fine.

Within a month, the virus went from being a flu to something serious. Gates found herself being more careful around her patients and making sure that she was screening them.

Seeing the shift from the hospital before COVID, Gates saw

We believe that as a state institution, we have a responsibility to the state of Texas to do as much as we can to address the nursing shortage

MICHAEL EVANS DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING

“I think nurses, to an extent,

were a bit burned out before COVID hit,” Gates said. “It’s a really hard job, I mean, I’ve seen that firsthand. Patients are just getting progressively sicker. I mean, you’re taking care of someone like, their life is in your hands.”

COVID-19 burnout, along with other factors, are causing a nursing shortage in the health care industry on the local and national level.

In a 2019 report from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, the demand for nurses will surpass the supply by nearly

57,000 individuals by 2032.

“We believe that as a state institution, we have a responsibility to the state of Texas to do as much as we can to address the nursing shortage,” Michael Evans, dean of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, said.

“So we’ve added programs, we’ve added more students, faculty, we’ve added different sites in program locations.”

Students in the nursing program can choose to pursue a bachelor’s of science in nursing, a master’s in nursing, nurse practitioner

programs and a doctoral program.

The HSC also has an accelerated nursing program for students who already have a bachelor ’s degree. The program takes 12 months to complete 61 credit hours, according to the Accelerated Nursing website.

“We’re really proud of that point,” Evans said. “It gives a midcareer person who wants to make a career change. A lot of people said, ‘that’s what I want to do. I want to make a difference in the world.’”

SEE HSC, PG. 3

2

NEWS

NOV. 11, 2021

BAND

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 With a fundraising goal of around $150,000, the band will need around 500 uniforms, Pagan said.

However time is of the essence, Robin Phillips, director of development for the College of Visual & Performing Arts, said. The university hopes to place the order in time for the band

HSC

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Evans said during COVID-19, the number of applicants for the program doubled. These students range between 30 to 50 years old, many of whom are transitioning from real estate and banking to nursing.

Gates is one of these students. Previously, she worked for non-profits in fundraising and program planning with her Health Sciences degree.

Before applying to the program, Gates said she worked as a certified nursing assistant in a local hospital when she and her husband moved to Abilene.

“I was kind of like, ‘You know what, this is a fresh start, like, let’s just see what I can do here,’” she said. “I found out about Texas Tech’s accelerated second-degree program, and my husband was super supportive and was kind of

to receive the new uniforms by the Charter Centennial Celebration in 2023.

“The timeline for having the uniforms fabricated is about a year given possible supply chain issues,” Phillips said. “We just we do want to ensure that the funds are in place so we can get the process moving and make sure our band looks their best ideally by 2023.”

Philip said the band will also receive nearly half of like, “This is your time to do what you always wanted.”

The accelerated program pairs a student with a professional nurse for a year, allowing students to get hospital experience while they study.

Since she started working in the hospital, Gates said she found she loves working with patients; however, COVID made her quit her job so she could focus on her studies.

At some point during the pandemic, a student encountering COVID became a matter of when, not if, Gates said.

“You just had to kind of accept that risk being in that setting,” Gates said with a shrug. “It’s just kind of life now, as weird as that is to say, just is what it is.”

Texas Nurses Association CEO Cindy Zolnierek said the State of Texas is approximately 20,000 registered nurses short. On Oct. 11, she testified to the state Senate

the funding for the total cost of the uniforms from The Office of the President as well as a third of the funding from the College of Visual & Performing Arts.

“The J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts supports each of our units in its major initiatives and endeavors; as the Goin’ Band is a part of our School of Music, we are privileged to have the opportunity to support

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

the campaign for the Goin’ Band’s new uniforms,” Interim Dean Genevieve Durham DeCesaro for the College of Visual & Performing Arts said in a statement provided to the publication.

According to the 2011 edition of La Ventana, Tech’s student-led yearbook, the last time the band was fundraising for new uniforms, the old uniforms were turned into pillows for donors to purchase.

Graphic by: Abbey Douglass

to increase funds to help with the nursing shortage.

Zolnierek was advocating to increase the funds

Anna Whitlock Henry had made over 100 unique pillows, according to the yearbook, and was sold at $100 apiece. However, Pagán said it was a timeintensive project and will not be happening again this time around.

“Aspects of the uniform can be repurposed to as a sort of tribute to our higher level are some of our special donors, let’s say to this campaign,” Phillips said. “The

feedback we’ve been getting from alumni and you know, former band members, TTU alumni fans is that is very valuable to them.”

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and Red Raider Fans can make a contribution of any amount to the fundraising on the Goin’ Band from Raiderland’s website, www. depts.ttu.edu/music/goinband, under the Uniform Campaign tab.

given to the Faculty Loan Repayment Program from $3 million to $6 million.

“Legislators, they nodded,” Zolnierek said. “I think they received the main point that there are so many needs.”

Previously, the funding from the Faculty Loan Forgiveness came from whatever was left over from the Physicians Loan Repayment program. This program helps nurses returning to school pay off their tuition expenses so they can become faculty and teach more nurses.

On the collegiate side, Zolnierek said TNA is partnering with the Texas Association of Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs to address the shortage and what they can do to help students.

To h e l p w i t h C O V I D burnout, TNA hosted several virtual info sessions and support groups to help nurses working COVID

shifts. Zolnierek said nurses can get three free months of anonymous artificial intelligence cognitive behavioral therapy through the Peer Mentor Program.

“There’s research to accept that can random controlled trials that show that it’s as effective as medication or face to face therapy,” Zolnierek said. “I went and tried it, it was very just very interesting.”

With the Food and Drug Administration approving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11, both Zolnierek and Gates said the public can help nurses by getting vaccinated.

Recently, TNA has seen a rise in workplace violence due to nurses’ anxiety and the fact that they cannot see their relatives in the hospital.

“If you get a chance, thank a nurse,” Zolnierek said. “They’re exhausted, and they’ve never gone through anything like this, and they’ve continued to show up and provide care.

No matter who you are, no matter how you treat them, they treat everybody the same, because of our ethic.”

@MateoRosilesDT

@NalaniNuylanDT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Security staffing at Travis Scott show unclear, chief says HOUSTON (AP) — Organizers of the Astroworld music festival have not provided investigators with clear records about private security personnel working the grounds when a massive crowd surge during headliner Travis Scott’s set led to at least eight deaths, Houston’s police chief said Wednesday.

It was up to Live Nation Entertainment, the show’s promoter, to secure two mosh pits in front of the stage Friday night at the sold-out festival of 50,000 people, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference.

He described staffing records handed over by organizers as “just not good” but emphasized that he was not placing any blame.

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

LGBTQIA+

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Along with discrimination regarding healthcare, Hernandez said transgender people may have questions about their safety in residence halls and bathrooms on campus.

“In West Texas, I think there are a lot of common experiences that people may have when it relates to being trans when it relates to being LGBT, or holding any minoritized

status,” Hernandez said. “They have the opportunity to live in a residence hall, the West Village, that is the only place where that is available, regardless of gender. And so that’s a really big step forward that we’ve made as a university.”

R e c e n t l y, t h e r e h a s been legislation around transgenders competing in sports, which can also be seen as discrimination.

Hernandez said legislation restricts high school stu-

LA VIDA dents in public education from competing in sports that are consistent with their gender identity, and that they default to anatomical characteristics.

“Male students compete with men, female students compete with women,” Hernandez said. “And that’s where the entire nature of this legislation is coming from, that if you are born male, that you must compete with other males and other men. Not all males identify as men, if that

makes sense. So you can be born female, but still identify your gender as male, because those don’t always align with each other.”

On the Tech campus, there are a number of resources to help transgender students.

Jody Randall, director for the Office of LGBTQIA education and engagement, said the department takes responsibility for strengthening the climate and sense of community.

“It is not uncommon for

Page 3 Thursday, NOV. 11, 2021

students, faculty, staff, alumni and even community members on occasion to reach out about identifying as transgender and or needing some support or suggestion in navigating certain spaces more often,” Randall said.

McLeod said they also probably worry about who it’s safe to come out to and who it’s safe to share their story with.

Hernandez said the Student Counseling Center provides the safe haven support

group for transgender and nonbinary students.

“It is facilitated by a licensed counselor in a confidential manner, where students who identify as trans or nonbinary can go in and share about their experiences and walk through that with a licensed staff member who is trained on navigating those issues and helping students in finding their path to wellness,” Hernandez said. @TanaThompson DT

ACADEMICS

School of Music develops commercial music degree

By TOLUWANI OSIBAMOWO Copy Editor

Buddy Holly, Josh Abbott, Natalie Maines and Lee Ann Womack make up just a portion of musicians who got their start in the South Plains region.

After about three years of planning, the Texas Tech School of Music formed a partnership with South Plains College to offer a four-year commercial music degree for students interested in music production and performance.

Lisa Garner Santa, interim director of the School of Music, said there has been an interest in forming a partnership with South Plains College’s commercial music program for decades.

The Tech School of Music has not capitalized on the university’s location in the home of Buddy Holly, Garner Santa said, and this degree provides a way for students to explore their talents in the world of commercial music.

“So if someone wanted to develop the skill to be the gigging guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, singer in Nashville, in LA, in Las Vegas, in

New York, what would be the skill set that they would need?”

Garner Santa said. “And so this is what makes it really, really different is the application of this skill, not just the acquisition of the skill.”

Students in the BAACM program will begin the first two years of their studies at South Plains College, completing the associate’s degree for Applied Arts in Commercial Music, where they will have the necessary technology for hands-on experience, including recording, audio, video and sound production and design.

Garner Santa said the degree also includes a capstone project, where students must organize a performance at a local venue from start to finish, and an internship with a local commercial music business, like The Cactus Theater.

“This is opening up the door to those with interest in rock, in metal, in country, in bluegrass, in hip hop, in sound design, in recording technology, all of those things can see a path within this region, within this area,” she said.

In addition to upper-level classes centered on specific

instruments or ensembles, the 3000- and 4000-level Tech classes build on the recording technology and informatics training students will receive at SPC, Garner Santa said.

Christopher J. Smith, professor and chair of musicology in the School of Music and director of the Vernacular Music Center at Tech, said he is glad there has been more receptivity to a partnership between the two colleges.

“So philosophically, I think it’s much more inclusive, and much less this sort of elitist, false elitism, this false hierarchy,” Smith said.

“So it’s good pragmatically, it’s good for recruitment, it’s good for the students, it’s good for both institutions, and it’s also, I believe, the right thing to do.”

The Vernacular Music Center gives students the opportunity to learn traditional music from around the world, from music of the African diaspora to mariachi. Smith encourages students to learn about a variety of different instruments to perfect their own craft.

This diversity in instruction, as well as the increased

freedom students have in the genre of music they want to pursue, breaks down certain hierarchies in the music world that separate more artistic music from commercial music, Smith said.

“And so, we like to think of us (Tech), of the third and fourth years as sort of building from a real strong, solid, technical and professional foundation, sort of enriching that in terms of skills, especially music theory skills, but also just, like, being a global citizen, understanding that, you know, this is one place and there’s a lot of other places around the world where music happens,” Smith said.

Joy Harris is a Lubbock musician and owner of Joy Harris Music, LLC. Harris is in the process of earning her bachelor ’s degree in music performance at Tech, though she said she is not currently a student.

With her passions in orchestral percussion and electric bass, Harris has been supporting herself as a full-time musician for most of her life.

She said there was a gap in the information she learned in the

File Photo/The Daily Toreador

Tech School of Music partners with South Plains College to plan commercial music degree. classroom at Tech versus out in the professional world.

“So I was getting lots of real world experience just doing everything, by going out there, playing gigs, you know, trying to build up my reputation, my business, all of that good stuff,” Harris said, “But my field of study at Tech was music performance, which is — I’m a performing musician, so it did relate, but some of the skills such as understanding copyright law, recording, studio experience, reading and writing charts, not just notated music, things like that, there was a gap between the two worlds.”

Harris also has spent a decade teaching in public schools,

primarily in Midland. She said many students she knows are interested in pursuing commercial music, but they did not consider attending Tech because it did not have a program for such a thing.

In her experience, versatility proves to be useful for gigging musicians, Harris said.

Attending both SPC and Tech, she said, will make students well-rounded and ready to enter the performing world.

“The benefit of this degree feeding into the benefit of what, like, the city of Lubbock is doing could actually provide some longevity for these students when they graduate that, you know, there’s an environment ready for them to go to work,” Harris said.

The program opened for the fall 2021 semester, and most students in the program are interested in jazz and choir performance, Garner Santa said.

“This program gives us an opportunity to reconnect with our community to provide further training for those who are already expressing a talent in the commercial music arena,” Garner Santa said. @TOsibamowoDT

OPINIONS

Page 4 thursday, nov. 11, 2021

COLUMN

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Consent goes beyond sexual activity No means no every time.

While some call it politeness and others call it boundaries, setting rules for when someone can enter a room, call during the day, talk to another person about a problem or touch you is always a consensual limit. Consent isn’t just for sex.

It’s time to remember when someone says no, no matter what the subject matter, we need to follow their boundaries and keep it consensual.

It’s okay to get mixed up on different peoples unspoken cues. It’s not okay to blatantly cross those boundaries after they have been verbalized.

Consent is not optional, no matter what is happening. From coming into a room without asking, to ranting without permission, to touching without invitation, consent should cross everyone’s

Caroline Ragland is a first-year education major from Canyon.

mind every day.

While most people would say asking before entering someone else’s dorm room, bedroom, apartment or car is just a polite courtesy, it’s actually practicing consent.

When asking before entering, we give the owner of that space authority over who can come in or not.

It may not seem like an important question for some people, but, for others, it can make a world of difference.

Many victims of abuse have struggled with unwanted visitors in their space.

A key part of abuse is destroying boundaries victims attempt to set up, and

this includes intruding on others personal space. This can be a parent that read a child’s diary, a toxic romantic partner that doesn’t allow private spaces, or a friend who overstays their welcome every night.

No matter what happened, each scenario is a type of abuse. The abuser stepped over someone’s boundaries for their own gain. While it may not seem like an important step in a conversation, asking for consent to enter another person’s space is key to creating trust in any relationship.

Consent also includes when we speak to other people. It’s important to ask for consent when talking about heavy topics. When we confide in people, our first step is to ask if we can talk about a heavy subject with them.

If a person says no, that is completely OK.

A person has the right to say no to any conversation.

Whether it be putting the individual in a tight spot between two friends, triggering a past trauma, or if the person just doesn’t feel like talking, they have the right to stop the conversation.

Our friends are not our therapists. Our roommates are not our mitigators, and, most importantly, the people around us do not exist as sounding boards for our problems. Asking for consent to speak about difficult topics is hard, but it’s necessary for growth in a relationship.

F i n a l l y, c o n s e n t c a n be broken with unwanted touching. This is an often missed step in a consensual relationship, and people tend to brush it off as not a big deal. While unwanted touching can be sexual, it also includes unwanted hand-holding, unwanted

pats on the shoulder, unwanted bumps or other type of nonconsensual touching.

It’s not okay to blatantly cross those boundaries after they have been verbalized.

People who overlook this often apply their boundaries to other people. Just because you are OK with others putting their head on your shoulder doesn’t mean someone else is. Furthermore, this is a nonnegotiable, just like every other example of consent.

No means no.

It’s easy to think someone is just being difficult in this situation, but there are a lot of reasons why someone

doesn’t want to be touched.

A person could fall on the autism spectrum, where their autism is expressed through not liking physical touch.

A person could have anxiety in a situation, and feel uncomfortable being touched. Someone could also have experienced abuse, causing them to avoid physical touch.

These don’t have to be the case either. It could just be a personal preference.

We should always be mindful of our actions and their effects on others. Consent, boundaries and actions are building blocks of healthy relationships.

We should always ask for consent when entering a personal space, talking about a heavy subject, or any physical touch. No means no, and no doesn’t have to have a justification. @CarolineEliseDT

COLUMN

Breaking the false narrative of boring Lubbock 777 is considered an auspicious or lucky number by a lot of numerologists (and by people in Las Vegas). 777 was also the flight fare for my meticulously planned trip to India. I thought to myself, “That’s a lucky fare!”

Sadly, due to a pervading shortage of staff, several domestic and international flights were cancelled in the past week. My flight to India with a fare of $777 wasn’t immune to this unforeseen cancellation, despite three 7s working hard to keep it lucky.

Ironically, my lucky flight was cancelled at 3 am (considered the beginning of the witch hour). Lucky or not, I

CONTACT US Newsroom: 806-742-3393 Advertising: 806-742-3384 Business: 806-742-3388 Circulation: 806-742-3388 Email: dailytoreador@ttu.edu

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Mateo Rosiles (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com News Editor Mateo Rosiles news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Téa Mcgilvray features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor Arianna Flores sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor Chyna Vargas opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Katie Perkins photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Zach Richards online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Toluwani Osibamowo copy@dailytoreador.com Editorial Assistant Bishop Van Buren bvanburen@dailytoreador.com

BREAKING NEWS Email dailytoreador@ttu.edu, call (806) 742-3393 or tweet information to @DailyToreador.

CORRECTIONS The Daily Toreador strives for accuracy and fairness in the reporting of news.

If a report is wrong or misleading, a request for a correction or clarification may be made by calling (806) 742-3393 or emailing dailytoreador@ttu.edu.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION © Copyright 2021. Texas Tech University Student Media/The Daily Toreador. All DT articles, photographs and artwork are the property of The DT and Student Media and may not be reproduced or published without permission. The Daily Toreador is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

Navi Chiddarwar is a PhD student candidate from Pune, India.

will be spending my Christmas break in a college town.

How does a student town look when most students leave it?

Is it just a town? Or a carnival of rust?

Since 777 is involved in the mix and I am a hopeless romantic, I want to believe that my time during the Christmas break would bring me a twist of kismet. This past year has helped each of us value human contact more than ever, yet solitude is equally blissful and purgatory to me. I prophesize that I am in for a big surprise that would completely change my life. If not, I would know if I want to spend subsequent Christmas breaks in Lubbock. Thanks to 777, I am winning both ways.

Solitude can quickly metamorphose into loneli-

ness. I am blessed to have a solid network of friends who each volunteered to make my Christmas happier and less lonely. That’s what these experiences teach us, don’t they? Finding our families in people who were once complete strangers. Humans sure have an excellent ability to seek and solidify meaningful relationships.

I have earned plenty of wonderful experiences in the short time I’ve lived in this little town. My family is always just a call away. I know when the time is conducive, I’ll surely be able to see them.

Lubbock, in its own way, asked me to stay with it for the holidays. Perhaps, it too is looking for a family? Perhaps, towns have hearts too?

A place is all about its people. According to the movoto.com, Lubbock is rated as the most boring city to live in America. As a new resi-

dent, this is a heartbreaking factoid, but I know a town isn’t born boring. A lack of like-minded individuals, not feeding to its residents’ tastes and fewer engaging things could be some of the reasons why a college town earns this infamous title. Are residents exempted from the onus? The answer is no.

Our town gets voted the most boring town. What can we do to change it? How can we make it a town worth staying back even during the holidays? This title is a cry for help. Our university runs in the veins of this town, we are the people responsible for its vigor and vitality. What can we learn from some of the more entertaining towns of America? What are they doing right?

The usual metrics to rate the entertainment quotient of a town include: its diversity of restaurants,

cost effectiveness, movie theatres per capita, number of dance clubs, public beaches and number of affordable restaurants with a rating of 4.5.

Lubbock, in its way, asked me stay with it for the holidays.

One of the glaring issues thatI consider a major impediment is the accessibility of these places despite their presence in the town.

Several international students or new residents cannot get around the town easily due to a sparse public transport. To assume everyone has their own vehicle could cause businesses to be setup in areas where the ac-

cessibility is low.

Such businesses automatically lose a large clientele. One could have all these wonderful places but if one can’t get there, then they’re not really serving any purpose.

For someone who is going to spend my time in this town during the holidays, I want to be able to cherish my time here. Year after year, I don’t want to be tired of Lubbock.

I believe that this town has potential to be more enjoyable, we have a lot of work to do as its citizens. No lonely lunches in Lubbock should be dreaded henceforth.

No survey should vote it the most boring town. Now that it has asked me to stay with it for holidays, let’s hope Lubbock and I both have a change in kismet.

All hail, 777! @NaviCDT

COLUMN

Strict age requirements should be enabled for concerts

Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival was cancelled after the first day due to the abundance of injuries and deaths that occurred the night of the opening show. Reports have been made that drugs were being injected into people. Tight close knit trampling of people one another.

The festival from clips and videos on the internet seemed more life-threating than enjoying. Paramedics were in the corner of photos and videos of the concert.

Whether this is a normal phenomenon for Travis Scott concerts, the end result was not worth it. The lives lost were not worth it.

According to FOX news, ages ranged from 14 of people that are hospitalized from the concert. According to ABC13, eight attendees died from the concert. One of them being as young as 14 years old.

While the culture of music festivals and concerts should be an experience for all ages, a concert and events such as such Astroworld, there should be age requirements. Not that any

Chyna Vargas is a second-year journalism major from San Antonio.

age is an appropriate age to die from a concert, but the young lives should not be in danger when they have barely begun.

The blame can go on Travis Scott or the venue that allowed such an event to be so crowded or the security. But all the blame in the world and consequences for those people will not bring those innocent lives back.

What should now be a large consideration for events such as this is age restrictions and managements for such festivals. There are age limits for alcohol and drugs and those were very much present at this event, yet minors were there and lost their lives.

An age restriction would hopefully also limit occupancy. Images that are seen from this concert show people piled on one another. COVID-19 or

not the comfort and stress these people must have endured is unacceptable.

No person any age should be fighting for their life at an event that is supposed to be fun; however, no child should be at an event that is marketed towards adults.

That concert is an example of how that is not a family fun activity.

With alcohol and drugs are all around, what parent would even want their child to be in those premises? Festivals and concerts should take into consideration of parents who put their child those predicaments and eliminate the possibility.

Venues, or whoever is held responsible of hosting the festival, should assess all the characteristics of the concert and create an age limit. It is one thing to suggest parental advisory for films or other entertainment. The same energy should be applied to concerts and festivals.

The music Travis Scott is known for is not even targeted towards children. His target market is those that who afford tickets to his concerts.

Which should have been the only people to have attended.

Families now have lost their children and in a way they may not have expected.

Regardless if parent or guardian is there to escort minors, they should still not be going to an event and especially one as chaotic as Astroworld.

Not that any age is an appropriate age to die from a concert, but the young lives should definitely not be lost when they have barely begun.

Only those who are 18 and up attending these concerts. Even then, at that age a person is still not able to drink or purchase alcohol, so they are only surrounded by those intoxicated people.

The dangers go beyond crowd stomping and drug injections, but people who are under the influence

can and will do anything they please. Children are then placed in an even more unsafe environment.

While the intention of concerts and festivals are to enjoy oneself and make once in a lifetime experiences, one’s life should not be at stake for the chance of that opportunity.

My heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones at this concert. Going to an event intended for entertainment should not be a place where you lose someone. In order to further prevent this from happening again, better regulation is needed for people who attend concerts like such.

Enforcing an age requirement for concerts or festivals as crazy as Astroworld is only a small step towards bettering the concert experience for people. Children’s lives will not be put at risk if age requirements are enforced.

The entire goal should be that no ones life is should be at risk when they are attending to just have a good time. @ChynaVargasDT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mandates drive up vaccination at college, despite leniency Universities that adopted COVID-19 vaccine mandates this fall have seen widespread compliance even though many schools made it easy to get out

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

of the shots by granting exemptions to nearly any student who requested one.

Facing pockets of resistance and scattered lawsuits,

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

colleges have tread carefully because forcing students to get the vaccine when they have a religious or medical objection could put schools into tricky

legal territory.

For some, there are added concerns that taking a hard line could lead to a drop in enrollment.

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

Still, universities with mandates report much higher vaccination rates than communities around them, even in places with high vaccine hesitancy.

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

SPORTS

@TheDT_Sports www.dailytoreador.com

LADY RAIDERS

Page 5 thursday, nov. 11, 2021

Lady Raider roster finds talent in transfer players

By CHRIS WILLIAMS News Reporter

In an off-season that saw five players transfer out of the program, including two of their three leading scorers last season, Lady Raiders head coach Krista Gerlich and her staff were forced to retool their roster heading into the 2021-22 season.

The transfer additions emphasize the program’s commitment to competing in a new era of NCAA athletics.

In April, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors ratified a one-time transfer rule that grants athletes immediate eligibility, ushering in an offseason with record numbers of student-athletes entering the transfer portal. Over 1,200 athletes are entering and exiting the portal this offseason, according to the NCAA. Not exempt from this trend, the Lady Raiders had five players of their own transfer out of Lubbock this summer. Among those leaving is senior Lexi Gordon, who de-

BASKETBALL

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Sardaar Calhoun is a senior guard from Tappahannock, Virginia, according to Tech Athletics. He started his collegiate career at Missouri State–West Plains, where he finished second in the program’s all-time records with 1,075 points throughout his two seasons.

He transferred to Florida State for his junior season, helping the team to the Sweet 16 and scoring a season-high 16 points against Miami, according to Tech Athletics.

“I’ve been to a lot of great programs, and I think this is a place that has that edge and more grit to it,” said Calhoun. “[Tech] is kind of an underdog sometimes, like they might not get as much fame on social media as other schools, but that’s what makes it good. When it’s time to play, we come to ride and we fight.”

Bryson Williams is a supersenior forward where he spent two years at Fresno State and

parted for Duke this summer.

Gordon was one of two Lady Raiders to start every game last season, the other being Preseason All-Big 12 senior Vivian Gray, and the 15.7 points per game Gordon averaged last season landed her on the second team, according to Tech Athletics.

The program, faculty and coaches immediately sought to fill these holes in the roster, landing commitments from sought after transfers with dynamic skillsets.

Headlining the group is redshirt junior guard Bre’Amber Scott, who joins the Lady Raiders from the University of Arkansas Little Rock.There, Scott played nine games before she entered the transfer portal, averaging a team-high 18.0 points per contest, according to the Arkansas Little Rock Athletics website.

Scott has experience in primetime basketball from her two-year stint at Mississippi State, which included national championship apaveraged 14 points a game, according to Tech Athletics.

Williams then transferred to UTEP where he led the team with 17.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a junior, according to Tech Athletics.

Now a Red Raider, Williams said he transferred to Tech to develop on defense “I chose Texas Tech to become a better defender,” said Williams. “My coach Mark Adams, that’s his specialty. I know he made a lot of great two-way players throughout the last couple of years, so I want to be one of those.”

Mylik Wilson is a junior guard where he spent his first two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette. Last season, he averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game.

Coming out of high school, Wilson was the No. 1 ranked player in Louisiana, according to Tech Athletics. Throughout his two collegiate seasons, he recorded 120 steals, 168 assists and 669 points.

KJ Allen is a sophomore forward from Los Angeles, California who was Mark Adams’ first signee after taking

pearance as a freshman.

Tech found another experienced, high-scoring guard in Lexy Hightower. Staying close to home, the Amarillo native joins the Lady Raiders after three successful seasons at West Texas A&M. She ended her Lady Buff career as a three-time All-

ERIN DIGIACAMO /The Daily Toreador

Junior guard Tatum Veitenheimer passes the ball during practice on Sept. 30, 2021.

over the head coach position, according to Tech Athletics.

Allen played at East Los Angeles College where he averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game throughout his freshman season, according to Tech Athletics.

Arms played two seasons at Mesa Community College before transferring to Northwest Nazarene, according to Tech Athletics.

He played one season for the Nighthawks, averaging 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Arms continued his collegiate career at Winthrop, where he redshirted his junior season and averaged 10.4

CLASSIFIEDS Line Ad Rates 15 words or less $5.00 per day

Bold Headline 50¢ extra (max. one line)

Classifications

Help Wanted Furnished Rentals Unfurnished Rentals Tickets for Sale Miscellaneous Lost & Found Clothing/Jewelry

Typing Tutors For Sale Services Roommates Travel Legal Notice

American and two-time Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, making her one of the most sought-after Division II players in the transfer portal. Averaging 17.3 points per game last season, she will provide experience and much-needed scoring for the Lady Raiders.

Terms & Conditions

Continuing to bolster the roster with Division I experience, the Lady Raiders landed former Arkansas forward Taylah Thomas.

Coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the 6-foot-1 senior started all 28 games while averaging 4.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, according to the Razorback program website.

Thomas will be an important front-court option for Gerlich this coming season, as she proved to be an impactful presence throughout SEC play, averaging nearly six rebounds per contest against conference foes.

Also joining Tech is former Southern Methodist guard Rhyle McKinley, who appeared in six games as a freshman.

Though her time with the Mustangs was brief, McKinley averaged eight points per game, breaking double digits four times, according SMU athletics website.

The youngest of this year’s transfer class, McKinley will

NOW HIRING

@KaitSalazarDT

Placing Your Ad

www.dailytoreador.com

There is a 15-word minimum on all classified ads. The first 2 words (max. one line) are bold and capitalized.

All ads will appear on dailytoreador.com at no additional charge. Please check your ad carefully on the first day of publication and notify The Daily Toreador of any errors.

We are only responsible for the first day’s incorrect insertion.

COPPER CABOOSE

Hiring bartenders, servers, hosts, line cooks & doormen (will train flexible hours). Free pool all day everyday.Call 806‑744‑0183.

PREMIER SPORTSPLEX Now Hiring After School Camp Counselors Enjoy a free membership to all three loca­tions while on staff.

Monday‑Friday 3:00pm‑6:00pm Apply in person at 90th and Memphis or email manager@premierlubbock.com HIRING PARTTIME local convience stores.

Flexible hours. Weekly pay. Text 806‑281‑8477 for more information.

PAID DAILY OR WEEKLY. YOUR CHOICE GREAT MONEY.

Need ASAP for landscape & handyman work.

Flexible schedule. 806‑437‑5551.

APPLY AT Mattress Sale, 5127 34th St. Hiring all positions. Must apply in person. No calls.

@DailyToreador

points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior, according to Tech Athletics.

“I’ll just say, the feeling of actual love,” said Arms. “They want to help push you to be the best you can, the best you will be. I feel like at other schools it was more of a business decision to fill the roster. I mean, it’s all business but I just feel like there was more embracement here, like they really care.”

While all eight of these student-athletes have personal goals of their own, Calhoun summarized the overall goal of the team.

“I mean, I hope to cut down a lot of nets and win a lot of games,” said Calhoun.

Deadlines

Classified Line Ads: Placed and paid for by 11 a.m. one business day in advance.

Classified Display Ads: 4 p.m. three business days in advance. Please call for rates for display advertising.

Payments All classifieds ads must be prepaid prior to publication by credit card, cash or personal check.

Checks should be made payable to The Daily Toreador.

UNFURNISHED Servers, hosts, game room. Will train, flex­ible hours. Great opportunity to make money.

College Night on Wednesday. $3 you‑call‑it whiskey. Free live trivia. Call 806‑796‑2240 to schedule interview.

look to find her place within the Lady Raider rotation and build off the success she had at SMU. Tech concluded its offseason with the signing of Tatum Veitenheimer, a junior who spent her first three years at Oklahoma.

Veitenheimer had a decorated high school career at Windhorst High School, which saw her lead the program to a 48-0 record in district play.

During her time in Norman, Veitenheimer appeared in 80 games, starting 48 of them.

As a junior last season, she averaged 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Sooners, the rebounding mark being a career best.

These newest additions to the roster will give the Lady Raiders a well-rounded roster where Gerlich can pick the final five that will be on the court.

The Lady Raiders open its season at the United Supermarkets Arena at 7 p.m. against Southeastern Louisiana, Thursday, Nov. 11.

APEX EVENT Center Hiring part time concession staff Enjoy a free membership to all locations Flexible hours Apply at 90th and Memphis or email manager@premierlubbock.com

PRE‑LEASE today. We have some won­derful 1‑2‑3 houses close to campus. Reasonable prices. Walking distance. Tech Terrace area.

Call Ann at 806‑795‑2011 or come by our rental office at 4211 34th.

For the fastest and easiest service, place and pay for your ad online!

Click on the “Classifieds” link on our website to get started!

Have a question? Email:

andrea.watson@ttu.edu Phone: 806.742.3384

SERVICES MATTRESS SALE

Mattress, Furniture. Student discounts. 5127 34th Street (34th & Slide). 785‑7253.

EZ DEFENSIVE Driving New Location RIVER SMITHS Free Food Included :) Cell 781‑2931. More Informa­tion www.LubbockClass.com

6

NEWS

NOV. 11, 2021

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

MENTAL HEALTH

Understanding how to handle burnout

By MADISON VIDALES News Reporter

With midterm season over and finals week just around the corner, some students may find themselves scrambling to find the motivation to make it to the end of the semester. It is normal to have a stressful day, but ignoring signs of burnout can cross over to other aspects of mental health and our daily lives.

Signs of Mental Burnout •

Exhaustion

•

Isolation

•

Escape fantasies

•

Irritability

•

Frequent illness

•

Exhaustion

•

Isolation

According to Healthline.com

The 12 Stages of Mental Burnout 1.

Excessive drive or ambition

2.

Pushing yourself to work harder

3.

Neglecting personal care and needs

4.

Displacement of conflict

5.

No time for nonworkrelated needs

6.

Denial

7.

Withdrawal

8.

Behavioral changes

9.

Depersonalization

10. Inner emptiness 11. Depression 12. Mental or physical exhaustion or collapse

Identifying and treating early signs of burnout is important, students and a faculty member share their tips and resources to help cope with burnout.

Licensed therapist and doctoral student for the Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy program Alex Theobald, also the Communication, Civility and Ethics instructor, said identifying early signs of burnout can manifest as taking disinterest to things once enjoyed by the student.

“It is important to recognize what burnout looks like for the individual,” Theobald said. “Once you’re able to identify that and realize, ‘Maybe what I am experiencing is burnout and I’m not just lazy or tired all the time and what I’m dealing with is a psychological experience that deserves attention, then reaching out for support is critical.

Consider yourself as a glass of water. If you have a full glass, things are fine, but once it starts being empty, you have to find a way to refill it. What happens with burnout is typically those things that would refill your glass are less effective, you’re noticing there’s no return on the investment.”

Practicing mindfulness and listening to your body can help you out of burnout habits, Theobald said.

“Learning what your body needs and giving your body those things is an important baseline. When burnout happens, you’re starting to make decisions to forgo exercise, your social life, eating a healthy diet, and good rest,” Theobald said. “Think in terms of maintaining your body; ‘My body needs food, I’m going to provide it, my body needs sleep, I am going to rest.’ Another skill I would encourage students to develop is mindfulness.

Just being able to be in

KHLOE SCOTT/The Daily Toreador

Students gather in the Texas Tech Library on the third day of class on Aug. 25, to find a quiet spot on campus to study as they prepare for the Fall 2021 semester. Fall 2021 finals for Tech students start on Friday, Dec. 3 and the last day of finals is Wednesday, Dec. 8. your body in the present moment, as opposed to living in a future mindset or a past mindset.”

Aside from practicing baseline mindfulness with your personal habits and potentially seeking professional help, Theobald said that a student adjusting their academic plan to better suit them is beneficial.

“The most intense level of change to consider is changing your academic plan,” Theobald said. “Students feel the need to go full-time and figure out a solution that fits within a high-paced, high expectation model. I’ll speak from my personal experience. As a doctoral student during the pandemic, I withdrew from my program for a semester to get my health in order, I have a chronic condition. I tried doing my basic baseline habits but

it wasn’t helping. I started meeting with therapists and health professionals to try and help me but it wasn’t working. For my situation, it was very helpful. I think some students struggle to accept that reality, I know I did.”

Above all, Theobald said prioritizing your health over academics comes first to experience the highest academic potential.

“You are more important than your grades, you are more important than your performance,” Theobald said. “Your health is more important than anything you could accomplish here at Texas Tech. Without your health, nothing else matters. We want you to be healthy so that you can perform well and go on to develop a beautiful career.”

Risk Intervention and Safety Education has pro-

grams such as Raider Restart and Raider Recharge to help students with their mental health or substance abuse issues. Peer educator Carmen Dorantes, fourthyear psychology and communications major from Olton, said RISE offers these programs as well as offering to walk students to counseling.

“We offer to walk students to counseling centers.

If they are struggling with mental issues or addiction, we have programs such as Raider Restart and Raider Recharge that help with overall mental wellness,” Dorantes said.

Complex Council Health, Safety and Wellness Director Kennedy Hagan, a firstyear kinesiology major from San Antonio, said prioritizing yourself comes first to cope with burnout.

“Take time for yourself.

Even though it feels wasteful to take a nap or watch a show, you will become more productive afterward’” Hagan said.” If you do not put yourself first, you will not be successful.”

Hagan hosted a self-care face mask table with Complex Council for Knapp Hall residents and said students should partake in some forms of self-care regimens.

“We hold events like these because we want our residents to know they can take time for themselves, especially after midterms. A lot of people are not having it, so this is a good thing to do to try and relax,” Hagan said.

For handling a serious mental health crisis, the Texas Tech crisis helpline is 806-742-5555. Tech students also receive discounts for sessions at the Family Therapy clinic on campus. @MaddieVidalesDT