By ELIJAH FARIAS Staff Writer
Saving money in college can be challenging at times, but different options are offered to make it easier for students throughout the school year.
Campus Cash is a free app available for download to all students and residents, offering coupons to use at some local businesses.
“It’s a big tool to help people save money so they can better afford and save for textbooks or their tuition,”
Alex Florea, president of
Campus Cash, said.
Tech is one of six universities across the country that partners with Campus Cash and has been for approximately 23 years. Florea said their goal was to help students save money and provide deals at restaurants, retail stores or anywhere else students may find themselves.
“Who doesn’t like to save money? And it doesn’t cost them anything,” Florea said. “It helps the local businesses. It helps the local students and even the residents, faculty and staff.”
Florea said when using the app, students are not only saving themselves some money but also are directly helping the economy by supporting local establishments.
Tony Garcia, owner of One Guy from Italy on University Avenue, said being part of Campus Cash has been a great way to attract new customers to the business. With students coming from all over to Lubbock, many people don’t know about the shop, so offering coupons in Campus Cash is a great way to bring them in.
“To be on their platform
has definitely been very helpful for us and very successful, just because we reach so many people in a very short amount of time,” Garcia said.
Now with Campus Cash for almost three years, Garcia said it’s been a pleasure helping students save money, knowing that what is saved can go toward other expenses like gas, tuition or books.
“It’ll help students save in the long run because it’s great added value to what they’re buying, because they’re not paying full price on whatever they’re buying,” Garcia said. “Whether
it’s us or some of these other products that they’re buying, they’ll definitely help them save money.”
Campus Cash offers booklets once every semester on campus with the same deals in the app to use at businesses around Lubbock.
Florea said he was once a student and understands the value of trying to save money while in college and said the goal will continue to be helping students.
“If we can help students start off their careers without getting into debt and just being more aware and finan-
cially responsible, then we’re helping out the community and the future generations,” Florea said. If students have suggestions or problems within the app, Florea said the best way to contact them is through email or phone, which can be found on the Campus Cash website.
The app is free to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or students can pick up a copy of the booklet on campus at the beginning of each semester.
By AYNSLEY LARSEN Managing editor
Freshman year often brings copious amounts of questions — from both students and family members — as incoming first-years start their college journey.
Sarah Ford, Undergraduate Admissions associate director of Visitor Center & Operations, answered some of the most-asked questions her and her team receive from incoming students and their families.
Here’s some of her advice:
What is the average class size?
Texas Tech claims a 21:1 student-to-teacher ratio for most classes throughout a student’s college program. However, for entry level or base requirement courses, those class sizes will be larger.
How do I change my major?
Students wanting to shift majors at any point in their college career should contact the academic advisers for both their current field of study and the one they are wanting to switch to.
From there, students will receive assistance in switching degree plans and can ask questions about
how the change will affect the duration of their college timeline. How do I get involved?
Tech claims over 550 student organizations, which can be a daunting list for students looking to get involved and make connections.
Ford advised searching for student’s interests on TechConnect to help narrow down some of those choices. Posted flyers and calendars at the University Recreation Center can offer students information on intramural sports, group fitness classes and various other organizations.
With the range of options, Ford said there is something for everybody who wants to get involved. University websites are also a helpful tool for finding interesting, like-minded groups and people in a student’s early weeks of college with just a quick online search.
“Don’t just stay in your dorm all year,” Ford said. Where do I go for questions about my financial aid or scholarships?
The Undergraduate Admissions office and Visitor Center are in West Hall, located on the right-hand side of Broadway as stu -
dents drive into campus toward Memorial Circle.
In the same building, students will find the Student Financial Aid & Scholarships office, which accepts walk-in appointments.
Also in West Hall is Student Business Services, which can answer students’ questions about tuition, payments, loans and more.
Ford said a student’s scholarships will not be reflected on their bill or payment plans until 10 business days before the first day of classes. Do I get an automatic parking spot at my residence hall?
No. Each first-year student bringing a car to campus and living in the dorms should purchase a parking pass for their dorm’s designated lots.
Cars parked in places different from the lot designated on their parking passes are at risk of being ticketed.
What does transportation look like when I no longer live on campus?
Parking permits can be purchased for commuter lots when students no longer live in on-campus residence halls. These passes do have to be reapplied for and repurchased each
year, however, and spots in specific lots are not guaranteed.
Citibus transportation drives routes around campus and through several nearby student living housing complexes. These bus rides are free for students. Students can download the GoPass app for information on bus routes, timing and bus stop locations. Do campus dining halls have options for people with dietary restrictions?
Over 30 dining locations are available on campus, Ford said, and each offers a range of food options. Every location will have special dietary options — vegan, gluten-free, etc. — for students.
“Whatever special dietary needs you have, we will have something for you,” Ford said. For students’ additional questions, university websites and campus resources are available to make the transition to college easier. A list of student resources and contact information is available on the Campus Access & Engagement website at https://www. depts.ttu.edu/access-engagement/about/studentresources/.
By ALLIE SCOTT News editor
Texas Tech’s student ID, also known as the RaiderCard, is a tool that can be used across campus. It allows access to residence and dining halls, academic buildings, the Tech Library, transportation options and various campus events, according to the Tech ID website.
Functions of a student’s RaiderCard are listed below.
Dining
Dining bucks and meal plans also are tied to student IDs. When grabbing food on campus, if students swipe their student IDs as payment they receive varied discounts, according to the Tech Hospitality Services website.
• 50 percent discounts: The Market at Stangel/Murdough Complex
25 percent discounts:
• 23 at Sneed at Sneed Hall Burkhart Cafe at the Burkhart Center
• The Commons at Talkington Hall
• Corner Market at Stangel/Murdough Complex Daybreak Cafe at Stangel/Murdough
Complex • Fazoli’s at Stangel/ Murdough Complex Fresh Plate retail at Wall/Gates Hall
• Ol’ Red’s at Wiggins Complex
• Raider Exchange at West Village Sam’s Express
• Sam’s Place Murray
• Sam’s Place Poolside
20 percent discounts:
• The Break at the Student Union Building Boar’s Head Deli at the SUB
• Chick-fil-A at the SUB, Rawls College of Business, Ol’ Red’s
• Einstein Bros. Bagels at Talkington Hall, Rawls College of Business Pizza Hut at the SUB
• Raider Pit BBQ at the SUB Sam’s Place at the SUB
• Starbucks at Honors Hall, the SUB
• SUB To Go at the SUB Transportation
Student IDs also cover transportation needs. Students can ride Citibus options for free — both on- and off-campus routes — according to the Tech Transportation and Parking Services website.
Fitness
At the Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation and Aquatic Center, an ID grants access to all fitness equipment, most group classes, intramural sports and the leisure pool, according to the Tech ID website.
On-Campus Printers
Throughout campus, students will find WEPA printers, which also are usable with student IDs. Printing costs 10 cents per page for black-and-white
single-sided, 18 cents per page for black- and-white double-sided, 40 cents per page for color single-sided and 50 cents per page for color double-sided, according to the Tech IT Technology Support website.
Library A student ID also functions as a library card for students to check out books and reserve study rooms.
Student Wellness Center
At the on-campus Student Wellness Center, a student ID is required for check in at the clinic, appointments and receiving medication at the Student Health Services Pharmacy.
Labs Raider Cards allow access to use the Advanced Technology Learning Center computer labs located at the Library, SUB, Gordon Hall, Carpenter/ Wells Hall, Coleman Hall, the College of Media &
Communication, the Kinesiology and Sports Management building, the Graduate Center and Doak Hall, according to the Tech IT Technology Support website.
Athletics To gain free access to all athletic events, including football, baseball, softball and basketball games, students must present their student ID with the student’s photo.
@AllieScottDT
By AVERY MENDOZA News reporter
The Texas Tech IT Department urges students to upgrade from Windows 10 before service ends on
Oct. 3. According to the IT Department, all university-owned computers no longer have Windows 10 installed and, to avoid further technical diffi -
culties, students should upgrade their personal devices to Windows 10 as soon as possible. Students who find difficulties in upgrading or have incompatible de -
vices can reach out to IT services for assistance and alternatives. Additionally, students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive a one-time free download and instal -
lation of the Windows operating system through IT services.
In conjecture with the Windows update, the IT Department is rolling out network updates across
95 buildings on campus. Updates will occur from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Network outages in buildings will last up to an hour after they begin.
game 37. Adrenaline junkies who leap into water from great heights
41. WWE champion, ___
Rousey
43. Composer, ___ van Beethoven
44. Ear canal, e.g.
45. Backyard storage
47. Of far eastern Russia
49. Prophesied
51. Colored, i.e. hair
54. Wild talkers
55. Government agents, briefly
56. Waves protector?
59. Baby potatoes
61. Organization known for its disaster relief
63. Perfect-game spoiler
64. Dog breed, informally
65. “How was your day?” response
66. Cutting, as a pie
68. Stick-on decoration
69. Prepare, as beans in Mexican cuisine
73. Those born in late July
76. “Insecure” creator, Issa ___
77. Popstar, Christina ___
79. Spell caster
80. Downhill racers
DOWN
1. One with plenty of dough?
2. Alias abbr.
3. Soft on rules
4. Insult
5. Tadpole’s mother
6. Small dollop
7. Nine-digit ID
8. Style for a research paper, often (abbr.)
12. Gradually introduce 14. 2000’s animation, “The Road to El ___” 15. 2204 lbs
16. Patches up again
17. Noisy naysayers
18. Hyphen-like mark
19. Speak about 20. Matched duo, in cards
21. Staple of the Burning Man festival
22. Supplied with a crew
23. What’s housed in the gallbladder
25. Dawn on
26. Cutting calories
27. Active military conflicts with combat
28. Marks that won’t wash out
29. Wrestling icon, ___ Flair
31. Young Sheldon-esque
33. H.S. subject, for short
38. Dahs’ counterpart in Morse code
39. Sony’s 2001 actionadventure game following this boy and Yorda as they escape the castle
40.Grassland in southern Africa
42. Buenos ___ (Argentina’s capital)
43. Religious period 40 days before Easter
46. Borders of a shape
48. Pub spots
50. “Obviously” slang
52. Engrave
53. Boldly adventurous
57. Bundle again, as hay
58. Main language of the Middle East
60. Trendy carry bag
62. Tarnish one’s reputation
64. Psychedelic drug, briefly
67. Queasy on a road trip
70. Brother, en français
71. Harder to find
72. “The Golden ___”
73. Word preceding Vegas and Angeles
74. Self-esteem
75. Sharers’ possessive
78. Island necklace made of flowers
By CHRISTIAN JETER L a Vida Editor
Students suffer from inconsistent sleep more than the average person, which can negatively affect basic cognitive functions.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sleep is critical for proper health and can affect mental and emotional capabilities. Poor resting patterns can have shortterm effects such as limited reaction and processing times, as well as impairments to conversations and note-taking.
“Sleep varies more in young adults than it does any other age group,” said Joaquin Gonzales, an associate professor in kinesiology under Texas Tech’s Department of Kinesiology and Sports Management.
Gonzales leads a research team that studies
how fragmented sleep patterns can affect blood flow. He said a previous investigation showed students gain significantly less sleep than the national average.
“The study we did last year on keeping a regular sleep schedule found, on average, about six hours of sleep for students,” Gonzales said.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep for adults, and eight to 10 hours for teenagers.
Gabriel Narvaez, a second-year doctoral student studying exercise physiology from El Paso who performs data collection and analysis on Gonzales’ team, said students get such little sleep due to a variety of factors that affect their scheduling.
“They (students) generally do have more going on. They have, however,
many classes during the semester, they might work, some might have kids or they’re in a relationship,” Narvaez said. “They are getting pulled in a bunch of different directions, so their sleep is probably going to suffer a lot more based on that.”
Varying sleep can impair the ability to focus, react and reason, Narvaez said.
“Sleep affects your attention, reaction time, critical thinking and things like that,” he said. “So, if sleep is inconsistent, all those other variables are also going to be all over the place,”
Cayla Clark, a Tech alumna who works as a graduate teaching assistant at Texas Woman’s University and formerly studied vascular health and sleep patterns at Tech, said impairments can affect daily activities, such as speaking and taking notes.
“If your reaction time is impaired, then it’s going to take you a lot longer to even just process simple things,” Clark said. “When you’re having a conversation with someone, or when you’re trying to write something down, all of that is slowed
down, and it takes you a lot longer to do those things.”
Aiming to keep sleep as unchanging as possible is key, Narvaez said, though it may vary between people and their responsibilities.
“I would just recommend trying to be as consistent
as you realistically can,” Narvaez said. “Sometimes it’s not really feasible but just try to sleep as consistently as you can, whatever that might look like on an individual basis.”
By ALLIE SCOTT NEws Editor
The Texas Tech Career Center provides a range of services and resources for students seeking employment from their time at Tech through post-graduation.
“We (Career Center) help with everything you need for your career. I think of us as a one-stop shop,” said Allison Faudoa, associate director of the Career Center. “It’s important to take advantage of the opportunities available to you.”
Students who work on
campus are limited to 20 hours per week, which Faudoa said gives students enough time to still be in class and do homework.
She said on-campus jobs tend to be more flexible with students’ schedules and time commitments.
“On-campus opportunities are amazing and something that I would highly recommend, especially for students starting out because they are so good at working with students’ class schedules,” Faudoa said.
Students can search for jobs through Hire Red Raid-
ers, a job platform specifically for Tech students. The website has a dedicated page for campus employment where employers post available positions.
In addition to Hire Red Raiders, the Career Center offers the College Career Program, a competitive internship initiative that collaborates with both campus and Lubbock partners. Through this program, students are matched with budget-approved employers and placed in a paid on-campus job.
“You’re paid through us, but you’re gaining valuable
internship and mentorship experience,” Faudoa said. “It’s one of the best programs we offer, and I highly recommend it.”
The Career Center offers hand-on support for students at every step of their professional journey. These services include resume and cover letter reviews, interview preparation, help finding professional clothing and assistance with finding employment, Faudoa said.
Even jobs that are not directly related to a student’s major help build transferable skills, Faudoa said. Profes-
sionalism, customer service, technology and leadership skills are developed through work experience that can benefit students in any career path.
“When you work on campus, one of the things that makes it stand out is that you’re able to find on-campus opportunities that potentially align with your major and what you want to do,” Faudoa said. “And that opens up so many doors, especially if you can find things that are related to what you want to go into. That is going to help you set the foundation
for your career, internship.”
One upcoming opportunity is the Career Center’s ice cream social at the Wiggins Complex from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 25, the first day of classes. The event will allow students to meet with on-campus employers who are currently hiring.
“I recommend this opportunity to students that want to meet face-to-face with employers to see what opportunities are out there. That is what is really great about attending,” Faudoa said.
College launches a new step into young adult lives: moving away from home, being by yourself for the first time and having to learn valuable lessons in not only school, but in life. Even though Lubbock seems to take on the ideal image of “seclusion
from civilization”, leaving it to newcomers to make their own fun and create new experiences. Though Lubbock doesn’t llok to have much, it still offers newcomers fun opportunities to integrate in the community. The Texas Tech campus is a great place to start during the month of August. Welcome Week is open to everyone, with the target of getting new students integrated into the Red Raider community. It opens doors to local churches, recreational sports teams and
potentially finding some friends for the rest of your college life. Each night there is an event for freshmen, but 99¢ steak night seems like a top starting place for students looking for new friends. It’s one of the most popular events in town, attracting other students and giving newcomers a bigger pool of students to connect with. Usually located in or around Urbanovsky Park, locals and students start to play around on the sand volleyball courts and pickleball courts, making a fun and inviting
environment with delicious food and inclusive games. Living in a college town can have its perks by offering more discounts than normal. If you are into go-karts, mini golf and some pretty views of the city lights, Adventure Park offers all outdoor activities for an hour at the cost of $15 with proof of student identification. If newcomers are looking for a unique experience, Adventure Park sparks thrills and friendly laughs within the gates of the go-kart track.
The fall semester seems to be one of the better times to get out and explore, with the local corn maze opening up in mid September. In order to enter, it costs around $10 to get in, with access to pumpkin patches, local food vendors and the perfect settings to encase the feeling of autumn.
Looking for something artistic and some live music? The first Friday of every month, local artists, vendors and musicians gather in downtown Lubbock and host the First Friday Art
Trail. It’s a good scene to sit around, look at new pieces every month or just enjoy food while
VOID Interactive has released its tactical shooter game called Ready or Not onto consoles. The game has players taking on the role of a SWAT officer in the fictional city of Los Suenos tackling a variety of scenarios modern SWAT officers deal with throughout the United States. These scenarios include your typical drug busts and house raids, and there are those that have much darker and chaotic tones. Ready or Not has done a great job in telling these tragedies as they unfold in front of the player’s eyes. Some of the missions in the game have players tacking active shooter situation where suspects are mixed in with civilians and the goal is to prevent more deaths and deal with the perpetrators how your team see fit. Throughout these missions, players will hear people calling
out for them, the ringtone of a phone and an occasional random gunshot. These audio help players progress through the mission, but prompts suspense as to what the sound came from and how they will impact the team. When players stumble across a sound’s origins, it leads into the visual aspect of these tragedies. Players may find the person calling out in a nearby room and can rescue them, or the person might be one of the gunmen and will open fire on the team. Players will locate the ringing and discover a bomb they need to defuse, or it leads to a body holding a cell phone with the implication that someone on the other side is trying to reach out to the deceased person. These audio and visual cues start to play a direct impact on gameplay as players begin to react to every noise they hear and every small clue they come across, which creates even more tension. Hearing a phone ring has the team rush into a room in an attempt to locate a bomb. Each cry for help has players preparing to breach the door with guns drawn. A gun firing
and how they reacted. The first time audiences view and play through the mission, the story sits uncomfortably in their mind knowing that much of what they witnessed has some basis in reality. Depicting dark themes in video games is difficult to pull off as they are first and foremost games people play. Ready or Not has done a great job in this regard in balancing entertainment and storytelling . Players are able to witness and interact with the story as these events unfold and are left to contemplate on the horrific scenario that was based on tragedies seen in our world today.
By TY KAPLAN SportS Editor
Ashlee Villarreal stood in the center of the United Supermarkets Arena on June 1 in front of aspiring Lady Raider basketball players from third grade through eighth grade. She introduced herself as the director of operations for Texas Tech women’s basketball and began telling the girls how day one of the youth dribbling camp would run.
The sporadic laughter and glowing smiles from the elementary and middle school students took Villarreal back to her childhood. Nearly 20 years prior, she sat on the same baseline, legs crossed, listening to National Championshipwinning head coach Marsha Sharp give dribbling lessons. Villarreal graduated
from Tech in 2017 after serving as a graduate assistant for the women’s basketball program. Prior to her return on May 9, she had been away from Lubbock for seven years.
So, when Tech head coach Krista Gerlich called Villarreal in April about an opening as the Lady Raiders’ director of basketball operations, all Villarreal needed to hear were the words “come home.”
“I’ll never forget the day when Krista called and said, ‘Hey, it’s time. What do we do to get you home?’” Villarreal said.
“It was just a no-brainer to come back and get to work for her (Gerlich), who’s a legend herself, here in Lubbock, Texas, and in the women’s basketball world.”
As director of basketball operations, Villarreal is responsible for plan -
ning and coordinating recruiting visits, handling travel logistics, working with the team nutritionist and budgeting.
“You kind of are the network for everybody,” Villarreal said. “You always gotta be on your P’s and Q’s, so you know what’s going on.”
She served in the same role at Central Michigan University in 2018-19 and Georgia Tech from 20192024. However, Villarreal said the first door never would have opened if it wasn’t for the sisterhood of Lady Raider basketball.
In 2017, when Villarreal was a graduate assistant at Tech, she worked under former assistant athletic director and director of basketball operations Melissa Mains. At the time, Villarreal said she still was considering pursuing a career as a coach, but watching the way Mains contributed to women’s basketball inspired a shift in interest.
As the relationship between the two progressed, Mains said she saw herself in Villarreal.
Mains previously had worked as the director of operations at Auburn University for women’s basketball alongside Sue Guevara and Nell Fortner. The Auburn coaches eventually became the head coaches of Central Michigan and Georgia Tech, respectively, during Villarreal’s time with the programs.
“People can give you opportunities and open doors, but it’s what you do with the opportunity that matters,” Mains said
of connecting Villarreal with Guevara at Central Michigan for her first job. “And she’s blown the doors off.”
The two remain in contact, and Mains said Villarreal will occasionally call for advice, but also to just chat as friends.
“She’s my forever mentor,” Villarreal said. “I always said I’m gonna be like Melissa Mains one day.”
built, but Mains said she reassured Villarreal that the Central Michigan coach would help kickstart a very successful career.
People can give you opportunities and open doors, but it’s what you do with the opportunity that matters.
Villarreal left for Central Michigan at 22 while still completing her master’s degree. Between the distance from home and minimal time spent learning the ropes, Villarreal said she was nervous and unsure about taking the jump. It didn’t take much convincing from her mentor because of the trust
“The most important thing is who you surround yourself with,” Mains said she told Villarreal. “You need to take advantage of this opportunity. You need to step outside of your comfort zone, because these are people that will take care of you.”
Although she spent only a year with Guevara, Villarreal said her time with the Chippewas was unforgettable.
Similarly to her first job, Villarreal said she talked with Mains to mull over the decision. Villarreal expressed her worries of being in a new city with new coaches at such a young age, but said Mains never shied away from reminding her of how capable she is.
“She thinks ahead before things even happen,” Mains said. “Nobody else ever really knows that there was an issue, because she’s already taken care of it.”
Villarreal said she has further aspirations to one day be an administrator for a collegiate conference or work in an administrator role for a pro team, but for now, she is at peace being back in the city she loves.
“It just feels normal. It feels right at home,” Villarreal said.
“I was just heartbroken,” Villarreal said of taking the next step to Georgia Tech. “I didn’t want to leave Central Michigan. I felt like I wasn’t there long enough, but when Nell Fortner (Georgia Tech head coach) calls, you go.”
@TyKaplanDT
Friday:
By TY KAPLAN SportS Editor She slashed a Big Tenrecord 25 home runs on a .455
Texas Tech softball’s 2025 transfer portal class stands atop Softball America’s rankings for the second consecutive season.
Following its first appearance in the Women’s College World Series and runner-up finish in the championship on June 6, head coach Gerry Glasco emphasized the need for pitching depth and additional power bats. He added far more than that.
Below is a full list, according to Tech Athletics, of the incoming transfers for the 2026 softball season:
Jasmyn Burns Catcher Ohio State University
Jasmyn Burns kicked off Glasco’s unparalleled offseason, joining Tech off a career season in which she earned NFCA First-Team All-American honors as a Buckeye.
Williams Infielder University of Florida
The daughter of 12-year NBA veteran Jason Williams, Mia Williams was a NFCA second-team All-American in 2025.
She made an appearance in the World Series with the University of Florida amidst a season in which she blasted 19 home runs and 18 multi-hit games. Defensively, Williams totalled 18 double plays as a second baseman.
Kaitlyn Terry Pitcher/Utility UCLA
At the end of the season, Glasco said ace pitcher NiJaree Canady would not throw more than 200 innings again. Kaitlyn Terry will ensure that. The five-star University
Pitcher/Utility
career strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA. Desirae Spearman excels as a two-way player, posting a program-record .430 batting average in 2025, while also producing a top-five on-base percentage in the country.
Taylor Pannell
Infielder
University of Tennessee
Taylor Pannell was the fourth transfer with World Series experience Tech picked up as the former Volunteer reached the semifinals before losing to Oklahoma University in 2025. She slashed a .351 batting average with 34 walks to her 21 strikeouts en route to being named an NFCA Second Team All-American.
Lagi Quiroga Catcher/Utility
University of California
Although primarily a catcher, Lagi Quiroga has played a multitude of positions on defense, allowing her to start all 58 games in 2025. She blasted 62 hits, 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 44 RBI’s during her sophomore campaign to lead the Golden Bears to a third-consecutive 35-plus win season.
By CHRISTIAN JETER L a Vida Editor
Script Raiders members challenge themselves to transform writing limitations into nuanced storytelling through 10-Minute Plays, an exercise in condensed playwriting.
“It’s a creative exercise to get you thinking about how you can work with limitations rather than seeing them as hindrances,” said Justin Gonzales, president of Script Raiders.
10-Minute Plays, which are a subsection of the Texas Tech student organization’s Readers Theater event on Aug. 22, challenge playwrights to produce full-length stories despite having specific writing requirements and a shorter development time.
Unlike standard performances, which have little to no requirements, playwrights writing for 10-Minute Plays will be given a prompt and genre as a subject and will be required to include a specific dialogue quote and character at some point in their piece.
write in there somehow, it’s likely not going to be the type of thing you’d normally write.”
Gerardo Rodriguez, the author of Bromantic, one of the upcoming performance’s shows, said 10-Minute Plays grants an opportunity to see how writers can overcome challenges and restrictions and still produce something great.
“It’s interesting to see what somebody can do or think of when they have so many limited resources,” said Rodriguez, a thirdyear theater arts major from Plainview. “It shows what creative people can do and it’s not that hard if you just put your head to it.”
Gonzales said writing certain elements, such as character personalities, can help to transform a scene into something greater.
It’s interesting to see what somebody can do or think of when they have so many limited resources.
Gonzales, a fourthyear university studies major from East Tawakoni, said these requirements help writers challenge their own creative processes and establish something new.
“I have a certain way of writing dialogue and establishing a world,” Gonzales said. “But when you have a certain prompt or line that you have to
“If I’m writing a scene and it’s not really interesting — what if I made one character have some sort of tick or quirk that they have to work around?” Gonzales said. “And that forces you to make it interesting and mix it up somehow.”
In addition to the other restrictions, playwrights also are given only 12 hours to draft their work before submitting it for preparation and rehearsal.
George Stern, a Script Raider who has written for past shows and a secondyear curriculum and in -
struction master’s student from Saint Catherine, Jamaica, said a set time limit forced him to produce a fully functioning script, even when he only had one hour left to write.
“Here is this absolute strict deadline with no ifs, ands or buts. You just need to sit down and write,” Stern said. “I wanted to take it on as a means of seeing if I could do it, and I was very happy that, in the last dregs of an hour, I was able to come up with a whole entire play.”
To complete his piece in such a short timeframe, Stern said he could only write what was fundamental and left out anything unnecessary.
“It’s an exercise in essentialism,” Stern said. “What’s the least you can do, and what’s the absolute necessity? Then, find the fluff that you can just let go.”
Mark Charney, the director of the School of Theatre and Dance and Script Raiders adviser, said the shows can reflect how memorable a performance was for both the author and the audience.
“10 minutes is fun because you look and ask, ‘What did I accomplish in 10 minutes?’” Charney said. “When you’re a writer, you think about what you want the audience to think about and what they will remember.”
Such short performances enable playwrights to overcome future writing challenges, said Charney.
“You’re learning to consider your audience and thinking of what conflict can be overcome in 10 minutes and can be resolved in that amount of
time,” he said. “That’s hard to do, but if you learn to do that, you can write any sort of play.”
By CHRISTIAN JETER L a Vida Editor
High temperature ailments, such as heat exhaustion and stroke, are more likely to occur when outside during the hot summer season.
According to International Affairs, the average temperature of Lubbock during June, July and August is 89.3 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can also rise to 100 F. Marcos Keefe, a fourthyear doctoral student studying exercise physiology from Hammond, Indiana, said when the temperature is hot enough, most activities have the potential to cause a heat illness.
“During the summer months, when the external heat stress is greater than the
cooler months, which have more moderate temperatures, just about any activity is going to be strenuous enough to make heat injuries occur,” Keefe said.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common ailments include exhaustion, stroke and rash. Heat stroke is the most severe of them all and has the potential for serious injury or death.
Keefe said individuals should be aware of symptoms including lightheadedness, nausea or similar physical and mental feelings when in the heat or during exercise, as these are the most common warning signs.
Bailey Palmer, a senior lecturer in kinesiology who is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist,
said exhaustion begins with excessive sweating then followed by intense thirst.
“With heat exhaustion, you do start by sweating profusely,” Palmer said. “That’s something to watch and, before you lose your thirst mechanism, you need to recognize that and intake more water.”
If it remains untreated, heat exhaustion quickly can transform into heat stroke. To efficiently remedy such ailments, Palmer said it is best to find a covered area out of the sun and begin applying cold compresses to cool the blood and body.
“Get out of the heat, find shade and compress the veins with something cold on the wrist – that will help to cool down the veins and venous return, which is the
By CHRISTIAN JETER L a Vida Editor
Texas Tech dormitories received renovations and repairs over the summer in anticipation for the academic year.
Stephanie Laughlin, the former assistant managing director of construction for University Student Housing who is now the associate managing director of projects for Auxiliary Services, said staff inspect the dorms each summer to see what needs to be renovated for incoming freshmen.
“Every summer our maintenance team of about 20 people go through every single room and every single building, and they check for everything,” Laughlin said. “They check if the sink is draining properly. They check the faucets. They
check if the beds will pull out, if the window blinds are broken.”
This year, Housing as identified and upgraded several aspects of the resident halls:
• Hulen/Clement has new carpet and will have new lobby furniture
• Hulen and Carpenter/ Wells showers received repairs to prevent leaking
Stangel has new air handlers for the air conditioning system and new supply water lines for plumbing
• Gordon received new fan coil units for cooling and heating systems
Coleman elevator landings have new flooring
Horn/Knapp laundry rooms received new flooring
Laughlin said Housing focuses on residential fundamentals, such as cooling systems and hot water. She also said repairs are prioritized when maintenance issues occur.
blood coming back to the heart,” Palmer said.
Removing outer clothing, such as gloves, socks or hats, also can quickly cool the body, said Palmer.
The CDC also recommends contacting emergency services in the event that heat stroke is occurring.
Yasuki Sekiguchi, an assistant professor in kinesiology who runs the Sports Performance Lab, which studies environmental stress and human response during exercise, said heat ailments are more likely to occur in the first couple of days someone begins to find themselves outside more often.
“Most heat illnesses happen when (individuals) start exposure to the heat, especially after three to five days,” Sekiguchi said.
In order to prepare for more prolonged heat exposure, Sekiguchi said individuals should progressively acclimate themselves to being outside, and limit strenuous activities at first.
“You just want to gradually expose yourself to the heat,” Sekiguchi said. “You don’t wanna do any crazy stuff on the first day.”
The CDC said the ideal form of acclimation is best done by incrementally increasing exposure to the sun and heat over the course of seven to 14 days.
“We try to keep everything running smoothly so you have air conditioning, hot water – those kinds of basic necessities,” Laughlin said. “And if there’s something that breaks, that goes to the top of the list.”
When choosing what needs renovations or repairs, Laughlin said Housing prioritizes what will increase student comfort.
“The first thing we think of is ‘What is in the best interest of the students? What can we do to service them? What is going to make their life more enjoyable while living on campus?’” Laughlin said.
@CJeter_DT
Student Alumni Board members are the official student ambassadors for the Texas Tech Alumni Association. SAB is a prestigious student organization made up of select
By CHRISTIAN JETER L a Vida Editor
In a warehouse where military planes used to prepare for takeoff, National Wind Institute trucks await deployment to the frontline of this year’s hurricane season — and they’re hauling radar dishes and storm instrumentation in place of military supplies.
Based out of an Air Force hangar-turnedresearch station at the Reese Technology Center, the NWI is a Texas Tech organization which specializes in collecting storm data. Rather than only broadcasting from its newsroom, the institution instead travels to coastal areas to gather information hours before hurricanes hit.
Natalie Trout, a Tech alumna and NWI research scientist, said the institute is optimistic when traveling to gather statistics, but the reality of storm preparation can prove melancholic.
“We’re driving in there, and we’re smiling because we’re hopefully about to get the best data ever,” Trout said. “But at the same time, you’re watching people put boards on their windows and evacuating.”
The NWI most recently deployed to Hurricane Ida in 2021 and Hurricanes Beryl and Helene in 2024. While tracking storms of this scale can be exciting for the institute, Trout said each trip comes with the knowledge that locals are faced with losing everything to these hurricanes.
“It’s always fun, but at the same time, we get to leave and go home at the end of the day,” Trout said. “But you’re seeing a
lot of other people where that is their home.”
By deploying directly in the path of these storms, the NWI is able to collect the most accurate data possible, said Brian Hirth, a research scientist and team leader on missions. The details of extreme weather are then processed and sent to meteorological firms to give real-time updates to citizens.
“The data we collect serves two purposes: we’re able to transmit those measurements to the folks that sponsor our project, and we’re able to distribute that information to the different public agencies, like the National Weather Service or the National Hurricane Center,” Hirth said.
Much of the collected information is also used for insurance agencies to determine what areas are the most at-risk of dangerous weather, such as wind or storm surge
damage.
To gather the necessary data, the NWI utilizes instruments called StickNet platforms. These devices use a mixture of propellers and acoustic systems to measure wind speed, direction and pressure.
Hirth said the StickNets need to be placed as strategically close to the storm as possible to get the most accurate data. This can often mean being located right where a hurricane is predicted to make landfall via the National Hurricane Center.
“We look for deployment spots right along the coastline,” Hirth said.
“We try to stay out of the storm surge but be right up where the highest winds are on the coastline.”
Researching amid the storms, Anna Thomas, the NWI’s director of operations, said it can be comforting to see rescue organizations and
volunteers working to save impacted people and animals.
“When local military or rescue services come in, there’s always people or animals that seem to be in situations where we cannot get them help fast enough,” Thomas said. “So, it’s nice when folks come in and offer services with their boats to rescue people – that part is really beautiful.”
Although the NWI doesn’t directly assist in storm evacuation or rebuilding, Thomas said the data collected still helps struck inhabitants and locations.
“It makes you really proud to be helping,” Thomas said. “Even though we’re not physically doing so in the same way (as other organizations), our goal is still to advance the science and support the community, people and rebuilding.”
