sor one major event on campus each semester.

Vertical Horizon is expected to be on stage for at least an hour before the Goo Goo Dolls performs. Ochsenbein expects the concert to last until 11 p.m. or later.

Although the concert is quickly approaching, uncertainty about how tickets will be distributed still exists. SGA is currently considering two separate methods.

“Students will either have to have an active swipe card to get in the concert, or they may come show their student ID and get two tick-ets–-one for themselves and one for a friend,” Ochsenbein explained.

If it is decided that students may pick up tickets before the con-cert by showing their Eagle Card, then the concert will be open to all students, one friend of each Tech

student, and fac-ulty and staff. Ochsenbein said that the decision should be made within the next two weeks.

With such a large event taking place on campus, safety immediately be-comes a primary concern to most students and faculty mem-bers. SGA is planning to have 20-30 police of-fi cers on duty at the concert.

“There will be law enforce-

ment on the scene, but it’s still a place for students to have fun,” Ochsenbein stated. “We have to make sure everyone is acting ac-cordingly.”

There may possibly be several unexpected surprises at the con-cert.

SGA is considering passing out free refreshments at the concert, such as pizza and a drink or food that may be catered by Chartwells.

Ochsenbein’s reasons for at-tending the concert seem to be end-less.

“Basically, the students just need to show up,” Ochsenbein said.

More information about the concert will be available in coming weeks.

Signs will be put on buildings with price tags to say how much things actually cost.

“We want stu-dents to realize how much things really cost around here,” Phillips said.

Volunteers will be operating booths

and educating students. They will be asking for donations.

“If we can get students to do-nate any amount of money,” said Phillips, “that would be great, but money is not our fi rst objective. It’s education.”

Some of the booths that will be

Annual Programs has put to-gether a celebration to educate stu-dents on how much it really costs to run Tech for a day. They got the idea from other universities around the South.

The celebration will start at dead hour March 1 on South Patio. It will be carnival-themed with food and games.

“Everything is free for students, and Greeks will be able to earn par-ticipation points to put towards their Greek Week total,” Philips said.

The celebration is called Tuition Runs Out Day and exists to show students what day Tech has used all of their tuition money.

Annual Programs plan is to ed-ucate students and build awareness on campus. They plan to make this an annual event.

ENTERTAINMENT

THE OORACLEVolume 94 | Issue 13 | Free in single copy | February 25, 2011Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | 38505

IN THIS EDITION

More content on www.tntechoracle.com

SPORTS

Women’s basketballthree games from

NCAA tournament bid

INSIDEPell Grant may be reduced

Page 3

Page 5 Page 6

Courtesy of Warner Music Group

SOLO Bill concert set list released

FRIDAY FORECAST

WINDYHIGH 52, LOW 31

See “Tuition,” page 2

John Rzeznik, lead singer; Mike Malinin, drums; and Robby Takac, bass of the Goo Goo Dolls will perform in the Hooper Eblen Center.

INDEXNews.......................2-3 Opinion ...................... 4Sports ........................ 5Entertainment ............ 6

Tuition money to be exhausted next week

There will be law enforcement on the scene, but it’s still a place for students to have fun.

“Sean Ochsenbein

SGA President

Crop shortage affects Dining Services

By JULIE GRAHAMStaff Writer

It takes $4.60 to operate Tech for one second. If students’ tuitions and fees were the only things oper-ating Tech, the money would run out March 1, and Tech would no longer be running.

Most of the funds to run Tech come from alumni dollar gifts and state help. Only 22 percent of fund-ing is from student tuition and fees.

“We want to educate students to show them where their tuition dollars are going,” said Kristie Phil-lips, Annual Programs director.

Tomato availability at Tech dining facilities limited due to winter weather and fi xed food budgetBy GERI ANNA WILSONStaff Writer

Preparations for the Student Organizations Life Opportunity concert hosted by SGA are in full swing, but do students actually know the details? Finally, there are answers.

The concert will be held at 7 p.m. April 5 at The Hooper Eblen Center, which has a seating capacity of 10,200. The Hoop will be opening its doors at 6 p.m., and the concert should begin around 7 p.m.

“We’re expecting about 3,000 to 5,000 people,” said SGA president Sean Ochsenbein, “and faculty can come, but they will probably have seating in the back where students won’t be.”

He also said that fl oor seating will be fi rst come, fi rst serve.

East Tennessee State University has held similar concerts in the past. Most of Tech’s planning for the concert is based on the prior experi-ence and success of ETSU’s concerts.

SGA has made a contract with Amer-ican alternative rock band, the Goo Goo Dolls, and Verti-cal Horizon, a rock band from Wash-ington, D.C. to per-form at the Hooper Eblen Center. Earlier this semester, when students were asked to vote on which band they would most like to see perform, the Goo Goo Dolls was not the fi rst choice.

“The number one band the stu-dents chose was actually Maroon 5,” Ochsenbein said, “We put in a bid for them, and it looked like we were going to get them. Then they decided to do a European tour, and we did not have the kind of money to fl y the entire band over.”

SGA is paying for the concert with money from the Student Or-ganizations Life Opportunity Fund. Last year, students on campus vot-ed and passed a rule requiring each student to fi nance the SOLO fund by charging a $20 fee each semes-ter. The fund enables SGA to spon-

Let’s Talk About Movies: Academy Awards preview

By EMILY WEINZETLStaff Writer

Freezing weather in California, New Mexico and Florida has sky-rocketed national produce prices this month, but the fi nancial storm fi nally reached Tech’s campus just last week. The national produce shortages and price increases oc-curring this winter are forcing certain areas of Dining Services to make some adjustments.

Students who ordered at the omelet bar at the Fresh Grille in the RUC Marketplace last week may have noticed the sign explaining that due to increased prices, to-matoes would not be available for breakfast.

“This is the fi rst time I’ve seen produce [price] skyrocket in almost

10 years,” Sam Holm, Dining Ser-vices director, said. “In the early 90s, we literally had to take lettuce off the salad bar. The salad bar didn’t exist for a while because of some freezes in California and further south.”

With certain food budgets to maintain, Dining Services has seri-ously been considering which areas can afford reduction.

“We try to limit it. We still have tomatoes down in Backyard Burger and other places,” Holm said. “But you don’t have to have tomatoes on your omelet—it’s not going to be the end of the world. We just try to ad-just to keep some of our costs in line because we have an overall budget we have to maintain.”

But as tomato prices triple across the country, jumping from $12-$15 to $40 per case, it’s not just Tech that’s affected. Driving the huge heightening in price is not only the law of supply and demand but ship-

ping costs that increase as compa-nies are forced to ship produce from further south, sometimes even from South America.

“We’re usually one of the last ones to [be affected] because of our volume,” Holm said. “Usually, you’ll see the supermarkets be af-fected quicker. With stores like Walmart and Kroger, tomatoes are already through the roof.”

The freeze is even causing larger corporations like Wendy’s to make cutbacks.

Wendy’s issued a statement to the Orange County Register saying, “We are now serving tomatoes on our hamburgers and chicken sand-wiches upon request only. The deci-sion was diffi cult to make, but nec-essary.”

See “Tomato,” page 2

History months not treated equally on campusBy BRITTANY RITZMANStaff Writer

Each year, February rolls around on campus with count-less posters featuring famous Af-rican-American accomplishments throughout history and advertising guest speakers and movie events.

In fact, of 45 students inter-viewed across campus, 32 knew that Black History Month is recog-nized in February, and 11 had at-tended Black History Month events hosted on campus. However, of those same 45 students, only four of them were aware that October is recognized as Gay History Month, and no one had attended any cam-pus events that honor it.

Though these numbers refl ect how little information is available on campus regarding Gay History Month, strides are being made to bring Tech’s gay community into a more positive and recognizable light.

“A lot of people will only see the part of the gay community that

fi ts stereotypes, and that really hurts our image,” Jamie Barrett, Lambda Association president, said.

Lambda, also known as the Tech Gay Straight Alliance, was formed on campus several years ago but had very little recognition until Fall 2010. On its website, the organiza-tion states that a student does not have to be gay to join or show sup-port but does need to have an open mind. Unfortunately, there can be drawbacks, as fellow students may raise questions about the decision to support a notoriously homosexual organization.

“It takes strength to be open to criticism and questions when you show your support,” Alex Friend, freshman psychology major and Lambda member, said.

Lambda began as the “Eclectic Society,” a club to promote diversity and acceptance on campus. When a student fi rst approached Ed Bouch-er, dean of students, about starting an organization for gays on cam-pus, Boucher informed him that he would have to fi nd a faculty advisor to be an offi cial campus organiza-tion.

The student returned to Bouch-er’s offi ce and told him that he was having diffi culty fi nding a sponsor because faculty members who were homosexual were nervous about be-ing so open about their sexuality, and faculty members who were not homosexual were afraid that they would be seen as such.

See “Lambda,” page 2

The biggest thing is, we have to let people be themselves. Usually, they’ll fi nd their own place to belong.“

Ed BoucherDean of Students

Concert date set for 7 p.m. April 5 at The Hooper Eblen Center

Page 2 | February 25, 2011 www.tntechoracle.com

NEWS Athletic Advising Offi ce gets face liftFitness Center adds new equipment

Nursing students utilize learning simulators

More stories at www.tntechoracle.com

OTuitionCONTINUED from page 1

931-372-3031

Advertise with

THE ORACLE

ttuoracleads@gmail.com

Spring Semester publication dates:Feb. 25

March 18, 25April 1, 8, 15

Students offer opinions about library renovationBy JACKSON CRESSWELL& WILLIAM SHECKLERStaff Writers

The Angelo and Jennette Volpe Library has been hard-pressed getting everything updated, ready and up to speed. While students have been scurrying about to their classes, workers have been diligently updating the li-brary in order to create a bet-ter place to learn for everyone on campus.

The renovation project is touted as transforming the original library into the Learn-ing Commons. According to the Learning Commons web-site, “The learning commons will be a modern, collabora-tive learning environment, a place to study, snack, surf, re-search, get tutoring and much more.”

W&O Construction is the company replacing the car-pet, painting the walls, add-ing ceiling tiles, and installing more electrical power supply throughout the library.

“I know it is a hardship on some of the students now,” said David Taylor, W&O con-struction superintendent, “but when this is completed, it will be a really updated library for them. The main fl oor will have many new fi n-ishes, and it’s increasing the electrical/IT everywhere. It will be really convenient for the students.”

Construction on the li-brary has been marred with

Counseling Center to hold spring break safety workshopBy SARAH DEROSSETTStaff Writer

A whole year’s intake of alcohol could happen in one week.

Tech’s spring break is March 7-11, and the Tech Counseling Center will be holding a workshop March 3: “Spring Break 2011: Be Care-ful Out There!”

“This workshop cov-ers everything from how to treat your sunburn to alcohol safety,” said Cynthia Bryant, Counseling Center assistant director.

Sophomore Kristen Tack-ett said, “Spring break is that one week in the year where you can totally let loose. This is the week when students leave all their stresses behind and vacate to the sun, surf and parties.”

According to FITSNews.com, “Last year was Ameri-

controversy since beginning last semester. Many faculty members expressed frustra-tion with Tech’s decision to discard books in favor of an eventual student lounge and meeting area. Students have also been voicing their con-cerns with complaints about everything from unreliable printers to crowded study ar-eas.

Administrators are not oblivious to the criticism. The Jan. 11 edition of “Tech Times” warned library-go-ers that until the Commons opens in August, “Students and faculty can expect some construction noise.”

“There’s plenty of other places on campus to go to hang out,” said John Shell-hammer, senior engineering student. “The library should be a library.”

Popular opinion is that the library’s facelift is being implemented to appeal to prospective students. How-ever, students from other area colleges seem less than impressed.

“[The Learning Com-mons] sounds kind of stupid,” said Hayden Mason, com-munications major at Middle Tennessee State University. Mason, who transferred from Tech last year, insists that a new study area wouldn’t be enough to sway his decision when picking a school.

Matthew Patterson, a for-mer University of Tennessee student, who now attends University of Tennessee-Chattanooga echoed Mason’s sentiment saying, “Incoming

freshmen may really like the idea, but to make any sense, it really has to impress parents, since they are probably pay-ing the bills.”

Mason said, “I didn’t go to campus to hang out. We’d go to someone’s house or fi nd something to do away from school, like hiking. I’d study in my room, and I don’t think I ever ate on campus.

“I just don’t see the point,” he concluded.

When this project is com-pleted in August, there will be access to electrical outlets throughout the library. Ac-cessibility to outlets span from one of the 28 columns every seven feet.

A big portion of the con-struction crew’s job will be completed during Tech’s spring break. During the break, the water lines will be shut down in order to hook

one up to the new café being built. All other library con-struction will be done during regular school hours and on Saturdays.

Taylor believes that ev-erything is going rather well, and as long as they don’t run into anything unexpected, the biggest parts should be fi nished by sometime during mid-May. Right now, W&O is waiting on Tech to pick what kind of ceiling tile they would like before installing the carpet.

Another project that W&O is working on across from the library at Clement Hall is installing a new sys-tem power generator. The addition of the generator will ideally keep the computer room from ever going down due to power loss.

Construction to be completed by August

Construction supplies dominate the right side of the second fl oor when students enter the front doors of the library.

Source: Tennessee Tech University Library Facebook page

TomatoCONTINUED from page 1

LambdaCONTINUED from page 1

“So I told him, ‘Well, I’ll do it,’” Boucher said. “When it comes down to it, it’s a civil rights issue. Gay students have as much right to form an organization as anybody else on campus.

“[Lambda] is a way of saying ‘What do people who are different from us do?’” Boucher said. “‘How do they fi t into the community?’ I think it serves a very impor-tant purpose here on cam-pus.”

In 2008, the Tennessee Board of Regents awarded a diversity research grant to each TBR university to mea-sure the campus climate for minority students and diver-sity on campus.

“Overall, I think it’s pret-ty good,” Lambda treasurer Abel Howard said. “Most of us put ourselves in situations where we know we will be comfortable though.”

Lambda is currently working on the “Safe Haven” project, which will allow fac-ulty members to put a sticker on their doors to symbolize that their offi ces are open to homosexual students who need advice or counseling.

“Having a diverse cam-pus—people who don’t look like you, don’t talk like you, have a different ethnic background—is rewarding,” Boucher said. “When stu-

dents live on campus, it’s probably the most diverse setting they’ll ever live in.”

The diverse environ-ment helps prepare students for the future workforce be-cause they will almost cer-tainly have to work with those who have different backgrounds and ideolo-gies. However, the diverse campus setting also brings complications.

“How do you get people who feel like they are part of a minority to feel like they are a part of Tech?” Bouch-er said. “How do they make a connection to campus?

“We can’t be all things to all students,” Boucher said. “We have to break it down into smaller parts.”

Currently, there are al-most 200 student organiza-tions on campus to help stu-dents form connections and enjoy being at Tech. One reason it is so important that students feel a sense of belonging is measurable. Involvement on campus has proven to boost retention and graduation rates, both of which refl ect well on an institution.

“The biggest thing is, we have to let people be them-selves,” Boucher concluded. “Usually, they’ll fi nd their own place to belong.”

Other corporations like McDonald’s and Jack-In-The-Box have continued business as usual, commenting that the tight supplies have not im-pacted their restaurants.

Tech, however, is seeing some pressure. Dining Servic-es gets its produce from T&T Produce out of Georgia. The company’s website has listed ‘watches’ for spinach and arugula, stating shortage situ-

ations have not improved. In addition, The Califor-

nia Farm Bureau Federation said supplies have not only dropped for tomato crops, but also bell peppers, cu-cumbers and lettuce.

Students can expect the tomato shortage to continue until mid-April. It is esti-mated that the new crops of tomatoes will be made available at this time.

ca’s busiest spring break ever, and while travel offi cials are estimating a 10-20 percent drop in travel due to the fl ag-ging economy, our country’s annual booze fest on the beach is still an economic winner.”

Junior Katherine Cox said, “You either love it, or you hate it, but spring break is something a college student should do once.”

Junior Katelyn Hender-son said, “The fi rst thing that comes to mind when I hear spring break is fun in the sun, time to let your hair down, take chances, make mistakes, and cherish the memories.”

According to seattlepi.com, 41 percent of college stu-dents said they plan to drink alcohol and use drugs more during spring break.

“Of course, good mem-ories are made on spring break,” junior Grant Gasper said. “The fi rst thing I pack is the alcohol.”

set up are dunk tank, four-square, corn hole, and gold-fi sh toss. A food booth will have pop corn, cotton candy, a deep fryer, and more.

Tech cheerleaders and Golden Eagle will also be in attendance, as well as the Magic 98.5 bus to provide music.

Volunteers will be hand-ing out coupons, and there

will be prizes. Some of the give-away items include T-shirts, food coupons, and Tech Athletic items.

“The celebration will take place rain or shine, and everyone is invited,” Phil-lips said. “We hope to have a big turnout. I mean, what students wouldn’t want free food?”

Courtesy of Charlene McClain

Books overpower the second fl oor on December 3, 2010.

Spring break stats

Source: seattlepi.com

In an online survey that asked what they would pack for spring break,

440 students responded:

50% condoms

45% alcohol

23% fake ID

14% cigarettes

9% marijuana

/CROSSWORDTNTECHO

RACLE.com

www.tntechoracle.com Page 3 | February 25, 2011

NEWS

techtech@eventseventsFebruary/March

tntech.edu/calendar

25Until SundayParents and family weekend

28All dayMidterm grading begins

7:30 p.m.Brass Arts Quintet ConcertWattenbarger Auditorium

265:30 p.m.Women’s baskeball v. Jacksonville StateEblen Center

6 p.m.Friendship International BanquetMultipurpose Room

7:30 p.m.Men’s basketball v. Jacksonville StateEblen Center

7Until March 12Spring Break, no classes

311 a.m.Counseling Center WorkshopTech Pride Room

11 a.m.Lecture on Internation-al Research/EducationMultipurpose Room, nursing building

15All dayDeadline for entering 2011 scholarships into scholarweb

11 a.m.TAB TuesdaysFree cookie decorating1st fl oor, RUC

7:30 p.m.Tech Chorale in concertWattenbargerAuditorium

By TALLULAH GILLIAMCopy Editor

Notwithstanding. It’s a word used countless times in House Resolution 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropria-tions Act, which would fund the federal government for the remainder of the 2011 fi s-cal year ending Sept. 30. The question remains if higher ed-ucation and the economy will withstand the provisions put forth by the resolution.

Among many other pro-gram cuts, the resolution would cut the maximum Pell Grant award of $5,550 by $845 and lower the average award by $785.

“That’s about all I get,” said Tyler Johnson, junior turf grass management major. “It’s sort of hard to swallow.”

More than 4,000 Tech stu-dents received a Pell Grant during the 2010-11 academic year, with an average award amount of $3,788. About 15.4 million dollars has been given out, and Financial Aid expects to make some addi-tional awards to those taking summer courses, according to Lester McKenzie, Financial Aid director.

“I believe this cut could

Pell Grants may be reduced next year, subsequent years

By LOGAN NICKLESONStaff Writer

Privately owned Cum-mins Falls may be on its way to becoming a state park, thanks to support from Tech students and area residents.

The 75-foot-tall water-fall and surrounding forest located in Jackson County on the Blackburn Fork River has been named a priority for Tennessee Parks and Gre-enways Foundation, whose mission is to save the natural treasures of Tennessee.

“Cummins Falls is the eighth largest of 640 water-falls in Tennessee and the fi rst largest in private ownership,” said Kathleen Williams, Ten-nessee Parks and Greenways Foundation president and ex-ecutive director.

In May of last year, 186 acres of the northeast side of Blackburn Fork River, home to Cummins Falls, was sold at public auction to Cookev-ille resident, Dr. Glenn Hall.

Efforts to purchase Cummins Falls continueHall agreed to give Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foun-dation until June 16, 2011 to buy the land from him.

Having already raised over half the money needed, Tennessee Parks and Green-ways Foundation is primar-ily looking to Tech students and alumni and residents of Nashville, Cookeville and surrounding areas to help achieve the monetary goal of $1.3 million, according to Williams.

“There is great support in Cookeville,” Williams said. “Cummins Falls is a boost for the local economy due to tourism.”

She continued by explain-ing that support from Nash-ville was also signifi cant.

“When most people from Nashville think about hik-ing,” Williams said, “they think they have to go far away. This will be the closest state park to Nashville.”

Coordinating the fund-raising and representing Ten-nessee Parks and Greenways Foundation at Tech and in Cookeville are Bill Hedder-

ick, junior wildlife major, and Colby Paul, senior agriculture major.

“Tech students basically live down there when there is nice weather,” Hedderick said.

He also said he and oth-ers have been using means such as working booths at Tech sporting events and selling T-shirts and bumper stickers to increase aware-ness and funds, placing con-siderable emphasis on getting Tech alumni involved.

“We’re trying to raise at least $5,686, which is what an acre costs,” Paul said.

According to Paul, Tech students can stay updated and get involved via the Face-book page dedicated to the project.

Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation is currently hosting hikes at the future state park on the fi rst Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is re-quired.

For more information, visit www.tenngreen.org or call 651-386-3171.

Photo courtesy of Don Curry

Located on the Blackburn Fork River in Jackson County, Cummins Falls is the eighth largest waterfall in Tennessee.

INTERNATIONALS!Do you need help with English conversation or written papers?Go to: sites.google.com/site/expertenglish100or write me at: sheilarenee788@gmail.com tntechoracle.com

Rich Williams, higher educa-tion advocate for uspirg.org

contributed to this report.

111 a.m.TAB TuesdaysSunglasses/Backpack giveaway1st fl oor, RUC

18All dayThe Oracle returns in print and online

4Until March 6Upper Cumberland Home & Garden ShowHyder-Burks Ag Pavilion

Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation seeking help from Tech students, community to raise $1.3 million by June 16

have a devastating effect on our student population,” McKenzie said. “The Univer-sity will adapt and adjust, just as it has for 100 years, but the immediate concern is for the students currently enrolled and who may be enrolling in the near future.”

Hundreds of thousands of students across the nation would lose access to the grant entirely, and by 2017, students would see a $2,090 cut to the currently projected maximum award of $6,105.

The resolution passed through the House last week by a 235 to 189 vote, with 9 present/not voting. It still has to make it through the Senate and be signed by the president before taking effect.

“We are placed in the in-evitable position of possibly rescinding award offers based on legislation passage,” McK-enzie said.

Hal Rogers, House Ap-propriations chairman, said Feb. 15 on the House fl oor, “The resolution represents the largest reduction in non-secu-rity discretionary spending in the history of the nation. Nev-er before has Congress under-taken a task of this magnitude, but never before have we been faced with a defi cit crisis of this scale.”

The United States borrows around 40 cents for every dol-lar it spends, much of this money coming from China.

Jess Hill, senior earth sci-ence major, said, “It’s horrible. America is shooting itself in the foot. Why don’t they cut funding to the war and deal with the problems here? Ev-eryone acts like that’s not the problem with the budget, but it is.”

Rogers said, “This bill is about shared commitments and shared sacrifi ce. These cuts are the result of diffi cult work by our subcommittees to make the smartest and fair-est reductions possible. No stones were left unturned, and no programs were held sacred.”

Shadi Saeed, freshman Mechanical Engineering ma-jor, asked, “Why us? Go take it from the employers, people who are working. I really do not like this bill. I’ll have to work for the rest [of the mon-ey previously provided by Pell].”

McKenzie said, “I think anyone who has benefi tted from one of the federal aid programs should take some time this week to write let-ters—go on the senator’s web pages and submit your posi-tion on this resolution.”

McKenzie did so himself, sending a letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander after the resolution passed in the House. He also created a Facebook page for Financial Aid Administrators because of this resolution.

Rogers said, “Our sub-committees scoured the bud-get for wasteful activities and cleaned out excessive and unnecessary spending, while prioritizing the most essential and effective programs.”

Mathew Collins, fresh-man mechanical engineering major, said, “I really don’t see the benefi t. In the long run, more individuals across the country will go into debt.”

The Pell Grant reduction would essentially reverse re-cently passed legislation that would increase aid to $64 bil-lion during the next decade. Nearly $33 billion was allot-ted for the program during the 2009-10 fi scal year, how-ever, an additional $5.7 billion was awarded. The Pell short-fall was factored into the next year’s budget.

Rodgers said, “Even if we all agree a program is effi cient and needed, we can’t spend money we don’t have. The more the government bor-rows, spends and regulates, the harder it is for business to access capital, grow and create

jobs.”Eighty percent of the fast-

est growing jobs in America demand training above a high school level. Current esti-mates show America needs 22 million more degrees by 2018, however, we are on pace to be three million short because of high college costs. Rising cost will prevent more than three million college-qualifi ed stu-dents from low and moder-ate-income backgrounds from getting a degree this decade.

Norman Frese, freshman Mechanical Engineering ma-jor, said, “The idea should be to look at what’s driving the increased cost of education. If I look at it selfi shly, I’d be upset that they’re taking my money, but it’s not the gov-ernment’s responsibility to give me money. If I value my education, it’s my responsibil-ity to pay for it.”

Collins said, “It doesn’t seem fair to me that because the economy is low now that students are being punished. Pell benefi ts low income peo-ple. I don’t understand their logic on that.”

Federal Pell Grants to see a $845 cut, lowering the average award by $785 next academic year

This story continues online @ tntechoracle.com

Page 4 | February 25, 2011 www.tntechoracle.com

OPINION

Weekly. Student operated. | P.O. Box 5072 Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505

Tennessee Technological University--nondiscrimina-tory on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities including employ-ment and admission of students to the University as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and regulations based therein and published in CFR, part 86. Tennessee Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Affi rmative Action Employer.

CHRISTINE SEIBERCHRISTINE SEIBERManaging EditorManaging Editor

WILL HOUSLEYWILL HOUSLEYAsst. Managing EditorAsst. Managing Editor

SAMANTHA KENDALLSAMANTHA KENDALLAd ManagerAd Manager

DAKOTA WEATHERFORDDAKOTA WEATHERFORDDHIR JOSHIDHIR JOSHI

Ad AssistantsAd Assistants

TALLULAH GILLIAMTALLULAH GILLIAMCopy EditorCopy Editor

SARAH TOWNSENDSARAH TOWNSENDEditorial EditorEditorial Editor

CASSIE TESAUROCASSIE TESAUROAsst. Editorial EditorAsst. Editorial Editor

BRANDON GOODWINBRANDON GOODWINSports EditorSports Editor

ROSS HARVEYROSS HARVEYAsst. Sports EditorAsst. Sports Editor

CHUCK ACHESONCHUCK ACHESONEntertainment EditorEntertainment Editor

BRENDA WILSON, Faculty AdviserBRENDA WILSON, Faculty Adviser

BEAT REPORTERS:BEAT REPORTERS: Brittany Anderson, Jillian Boreing, Brendan Bowers, Brandi Campbell, China Chafin, Courtney Clifford, Olivia Clinard, Jackson Cresswell, Sarah DeRossett, Zachary Edwards, Julie Graham, Candice Goodman, Candice Griggs, Emily Haile, Elizabeth Harper, Justin Hill, Heather King, Shelby McDonald, Amanda Miller, Logan Nickleson, Justin O’Dell, Alek Peterson, Brittany Ritzman, Andy Rutherford, Will Sheckler, Logan Shrum, Ashley Smith, Niklas Trzaskowski, Katherine Vaughn, Suzanne Vaughn, Aaron Vick, Jacob Walker, Lindsey Wallace, Emily Weinzetl, Gerri Anna Wilson, Casey Woodard, Camille Woods

THE OORACLE

College experience depends on student

SARAH TOWNSEND

Editorial Editor

Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu. Include your Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu. Include your name, e-mail address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous name, e-mail address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Tuesday. letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Tuesday.

We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and content.We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and content.

CASSIE TESAURO

Asst. Editorial Editor

Ignorance breeds hate groups

Remember the last week of high school? You relaxed with friends, took pictures of everything, and daydreamed about col-lege. After all, you’d been stuck in the same building for four years.

College is still a utopi-an dream free from all the drama, rumors and imma-turity of high school. I re-member looking forward to being around people who would cough and sneeze into their elbows instead of spreading their germs like wildfi re.

The reality of univer-sity life starts to take hold after about the fi rst month here. You don’t magi-cally become adults when you get to college. After all, you aren’t that far re-moved from high school yet. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen stu-dents here sneeze into their hands and then grab door handles.

It can be so disappoint-ing when you realize that college is more like high school: part two. Part of the problem is that so many movies and televi-sion shows give us a false picture of what college will be like.

On screen, college stu-dents all look like they are in their late twenties. They have classes outside

where they sit in circles and discuss philosophy. They have dorm rooms where the fl oor tiles all match and the paint isn’t chipping.

At night, they all go to epic parties fi lled with guys who look like profes-sional athletes and girls who look like models. And without fail, at least one of those girls will take off her shirt in front of a nerdy guy.

Shopping catalogues (I’m talking to you, Target) show us another fi ctional-ized version of college.

According to the pic-tures, every single one of us will have a perfect room-mate. We’ll have huge dorm rooms with great furniture. Everything in the room will stay clean and organized. Our deco-rations will be awesome and color-coordinated. And we will always be smiling.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t look like a model in her late-twen-ties, my classes are gen-erally indoors, and my dorm room is somewhere in between functional and slap-dash.

I think that once col-lege students get through a couple of semesters, they are noticeably more adult. I’m a junior now, and in

many ways I’ve changed from who I was in high school. It’s just hard to notice these changes when we seem so immature com-pared to the mythological college world we see in fi lm and advertisements.

We are becoming adults, but it’s a slow pro-cess. We learn by trial and error. I certainly don’t consider myself a full-fl edged adult yet. I have friends in their forties that still don’t consider them-selves grown ups.

As much as the world wants us to believe that there is a set time we en-ter different stages of our lives, it isn’t true. You can’t grow up according to a schedule.

That being said, college doesn’t have to seem like a repeat of high school. If you were looking forward to something about col-lege that hasn’t happened on its own, then make it happen for yourself.

If you daydreamed about being in a soror-ity or fraternity, go check out Tech’s greek life. If you looked forward to sitting in the grass de-bating Aristotle, grab some friends and head to Sherlock Park. And if you drooled over dorm deco-ration advertisements, then grab your debit card and start shopping.

Everyone wants to tell you that college is the best four (or more) years of your life. In reality, it’s up to you to make the ex-perience everything you dreamed it would be.

Last weekend, like most weekends in col-lege, I went to a party with a friend and met a few strangers. They seemed nice enough. Just like I would any so-cial gathering, I got to talking to people about traveling and mentioned my job.

Somehow, this con-versation led to one of the young men saying that he held 100 percent hate for Muslims. He didn’t respect it as a re-ligion, and basically, all the problems caused in the world were mainly due to Muslim groups.

There are reasons why you don’t talk poli-tics and religion at par-ties, and this is one of them.

Needless to say, my friend and I were taken aback by such a state-ment. I don’t know why

I do this, but I expect a col-lege (in this case a gradu-ate) student to have more of an open mind to the world, especially someone who said they’d traveled a lot outside of the United States. I am friends with several people who are Muslim and have never been anything but kind to me and would never say such a thing about Christians, or any religious group for that matter.

Is it really so diffi cult to respect others’ beliefs? How many wars have been fought over Christian beliefs? When did gener-alizing an entire group of people based on their reli-gious background become acceptable?

Right now in Murfreesboro, there is a battle on zoning laws and other legal issues sur-rounding the building of a Mosque. This has been go-

ing on for a while, and tax-payers are the ones footing the bill. The cost has now exceeded the $75,000 bud-get, and another $100,000 has been added for poten-tial legal fees.

Don’t get me wrong. This is a big mess, and tax-payers shouldn’t have to pay for it, but this money is being wasted on both sides to pay lawyers and other fees. My question is why do taxpayers have to pay so much in defense of allowing and following the regular zoning laws? If this was a Christian church or a Jewish temple, this wouldn’t even be an issue.

My main concern is that individuals blindly follow “news” stories that bash a religion and culture they don’t under-stand. Not all Christians bomb abortion clinics and not all Muslim people are terrorists. By now, people should realize that the majority of people are not out to get anyone. There are hate groups within any culture. Don’t contrib-ute to the ignorance that breeds them.

Poll of the WeekWould you drop out of college if your Pell Grant were cut?

(See page 3 for an article about the current situation.)

Go to tntechoracle.com to vote!

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, is better known as the Blue Mosque.

Courtesy of Daniel Bouwmeester

The Tech track team will compete in the 2011 Ohio Val-ley Conference Indoor Cham-pionships in Charleston, Ill today and tomorrow.

Three Golden Eagles have had record-breaking seasons so far this year. Seniors Ash-ley Mayhew and Katherine Lynn along with sophomore Katie Lowery have rewritten the Tech record books.

“I just feel so blessed to have been able to have the career I have had at Tech,” Mayhew said. “I truly believe that God has just helped me throughout this whole experi-ence.”

Mayhew, a psychology major from Athens, Tenn., won the weight throw at the Tennessee State University In-

vitational two weeks ago with a throw of 50 feet, 11 inches. She holds the school record of 54 feet, 11.25 inches, setting that bar earlier this season, also at TSU.

“I am just so thankful for my supportive family, team-mates and coach,” Mayhew said.

Lynn, an accounting ma-jor from Cookeville, now owns the school record in the high jump after her leap of 5 feet, 7 inches at the TSU meet. The previous Tech record was 5 feet, 6 inches set back in 2004.

“I was so excited when I set the school record,” Lynn said. “I have lots of family and friends that have been sup-porting me and have made this opportunity possible.”

Lowery, a nursing major from Andersonville, Tenn., was named OVC Field Athlete of the Week twice this season

while setting the school record for pole vault. Her vault of 10 feet at Middle Tennessee State on Feb. 12 broke the previous record of 9 feet, 7.25 inches.

Wrapping up their careers at Tech, Mayhew and Lynn look to perform well at this week’s Championships.

“I hope that it is a great weekend for everyone on the team,” Mayhew said. “We have trained hard all year.”

“I am hoping to win con-ference in the high jump this weekend,” Lynn said. “I am ranked fi rst in the conference going into this meet, so I know I have a really great chance at claiming the indoor champi-onship title.”

The Championship kicks off at 3 p.m. today and contin-ues through tomorrow after-noon. For a full schedule and more information on the meet, visit www.ttusports.com.

www.tntechoracle.com

SPORTS

4th and LongBy BRANDON GOODWINSports Editorbagoodwin21@tntech.edu

With one game left in the regular sea-son, the Tech women’s basketball team has a chance to clinch an Ohio Valley Conference-record 16th regular-season title Saturday at home against Jacksonville State.

Tech (21-6, 14-3 OVC) beat JSU 79-63 in their last meeting in December and holds an 11-3 lead on the all-time series record.

Tech continues to be led by junior guard Tacarra Hayes, who had 31 points and 10 re-bounds in the last game against JSU. Hayes leads Tech in four statistical categories: points per game, rebounds, assists, and steals. She also has a team-high nine games where she has led the team in both points and rebounds. In OVC play this year, Hayes is sixth in scor-ing and fourth in rebounding and assists.

Combine those numbers with the efforts of freshmen Molly Heady and Briana Jordan and junior newcomer Brittany Darling, and second-year head coach Sytia Messer’s squad is looking good headed into March’s OVC Tournament.

Tech has only lost in conference to More-head State, UT-Martin and Austin Peay. With each team, Tech has also beaten them once, making the season series with each team tied at 1-1. Tech is also 7-1 at home in conference, with that lone loss coming in its last confer-ence game against Austin Peay. Despite that loss, Tech still has a 12-2 record in its last 14 games. Coach Messer also foreshadowed late-season success way back in September.

“It’s quite a strong stretch of [early-sea-son] opponents,” Messer said. “But I’d rather face challenges early in December, so that we can fi nish strong in February and March.”

Because Tech is a relatively young team with no seniors on the roster, coach Messer

said early in the season that a big focal point was to allow the team to develop for the fu-ture. The young players have grown as the season has progressed as Messer thought, but the team has done so well that they are experi-encing immediate success.

Before the season began, Messer refer-enced a tough schedule as something that would challenge the team early but allow them to fi nish strong. After four losses in nine games toward the beginning or the season, in-cluding losses to Middle Tennessee State and Kentucky, Tech went on a 10-game winning streak.

“This schedule will be a great opportunity to challenge our young players and help us to get to the next level,” Messer said. “We feel like we’ve put together a competitive sched-ule that can help get us to the NCAA Tourna-ment.”

Tech is ranked 17th in this week’s Mid-Major poll, its third straight week at that spot. Tech is the only OVC-team ranked in the poll.

If the season ended on Wednesday, the OVC seeds, one through eight, would be as follows: Tech, Morehead State, UT-Martin, Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri State, and Tennes-see State, respectively.

The top two teams in the OVC receive two byes in the conference tournament, which begins Wednesday and lasts four days. The OVC tournament is held in Nashville at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Tech’s last championship came in 2005-06 when it shared the title with Southeast Mis-souri. SEMO later had to forfeit its share of the title due to rules violations.

For more information on all of Tech Ath-letics, visit TTUSports.com.

Women’s basketball has chance to clinch OVC titleBY ROSS HARVEYAsst. Sports Editor

ShoesShoes • Es • Es •Converse•Converse •Etnies •Etnies •Circa•Circa •Fallen •Fallen •Long Boards •Long Boards •Skateboards •Skateboards •Trucks •Trucks •Wheels •Wheels •Bearings •Bearings •Clothing •Clothing

CHECK OUT OUR GAS POWERED SKATEBOARDS!

696 S. Willow Ave • Cookeville TN

526-GLOW“Next door to ILLUSIONS”

OVER 160 Skateboards

in stock

Trio of record setters look toward OVC Track Indoor ChampionshipsBY ASHLEY SMITHStaff Writer

Messer and Hayes look on during a win against E. Kentucky.Sports Information

Racism is alive and well [cue the gasp]. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of sports.

To begin with, let’s fl ash back to Dec. 13, 2008. This is the date on which Gene Chizik was hired as the head football coach at the Uni-versity of Auburn. Former basketball star and current blabbermouth Charles Barkley spoke out openly against his alma mater for hiring a white coach over Buffalo’s Turner Gill.

Barkley made the following comments af-ter the hire: “I think race was the number one factor. I’m just very disappointed. I just thought Turner Gill would be the perfect choice for two reasons: He’s a terrifi c coach, and we needed to make a splash. I thought we had to do some-thing spectacular to bring attention to the pro-gram. Clearly, if we’d hired a black coach, it would have created a buzz.”

Really Charles? Well how does a 14-0 sea-son, national championship and a Heisman Trophy sound? Is that buzzing enough for you?

Maybe he was right. After all, Gill went 3-9 at Kansas this year. That would’ve created a big buzz.

The idea of Black History Month is ridicu-lous. There is no White History Month.

By now, you’re probably calling me a rac-ist. Those statements, however, were made by Oscar Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman.

When it comes to racism, I agree entirely with the words fl owing from the golden pipes of Freeman.

Black history is American history. Why should they be separated?

Barkley has been quoted saying that rac-ism is the greatest cancer of his lifetime.

Wrong again, Chuck.I’m quite certain that cancer is the greatest

cancer of your lifetime. How dare you compare something like

cancer, which killed over 500,000 Americans in 2007, to hate crimes with just nine killed.

Have you ever heard of Esteban Bellán,

Harry Kingman or Guy Zinn?No, but you probably know who Jackie

Robinson was.Bellán, Kingman and Zinn were the fi rst

Hispanic, Asian and Jewish Major League Baseball players, respectively.

Even on our campus, racism is evident. There are six fraternities/sororities on campus that are listed as ‘black’ organizations. Why not just call them organizations?

In the Tech Minority Affairs Offi ce, there is the Black Cultural Center. Why? I understand some minorities may be underrepresented on this campus, so why not just have a Multicul-tural Center?

Minority Affairs offers tutoring services, but only to certain minorities. The mission statement from their website: “The mission of the Minority Affairs Tutoring Program is to im-prove the academic performance of the minor-ity (African-American and Hispanic) students at TTU.”

What about the other races? What about those who aren’t a minority? Where can a white student go to receive free, personalized tutoring without having to run all over cam-pus? Why are there scholarships designed spe-cifi cally for minority students? You can’t tell race from a resume or application.

Why are there schools like Tennessee State that promote racism by calling themselves “historically black”?

I met a white student once who was born in South Africa. He was denied African-Ameri-can scholarships because he was white. This is the epitome of ridiculousness.

Until we remove these labels of white and black, or any other color, racism will fl ourish.

Morgan Freeman said, “I am going to stop calling you a white man, and I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man.”

Amen, Mr. Freeman. Amen.Have something to say about this column?

Send your responses to oracle@tntech.edu or visit our website at www.tntechoracle.com.

Let’s get touchy: Racism in sports and on campus

Golden Eagles are just three games away from earning NCAA tournament bid

Page 5 | February 25, 2011

It’s that time of the year again, when Hollywood gets together for a night of celebration and commemo-ration. Heading into this year’s show, three movies, “The Social Network,” “The King’s Speech” and “Black Swan” have separated them-selves from the pack.

Following major wins at the Brit-ish Academy of Film and Television Arts ceremony earlier this month, “The King’s Speech” appears to be the appointed one going into the weekend.

Despite “The King’s Speech” status, I think this year’s show will be full of surprises ranging from the winners to whether Banksy appears for the ceremony.

Best Picture

Conventional wisdom suggests that picking “The King’s Speech” is the smart money, as it took home the BAFTA equivalent. However, I am going to stick to my guns and continue to support “The Social Net-

work” for a couple of reasons.Normally, when praise lauded

onto a fi lm includes the line ‘this movie defi nes a generation,’ it can be written off as schlock. With “The Social Network,” however, this line couldn’t be truer. As a generation that becomes more technologically adept every day, we experienced these changes as they happened. Where were you when poking start-ed? I know where I was.

As “The Social Network” de-fi nes my generation, it offers con-nections to previous and future gen-erations as well. In the fi nal scene, when Mark Zuckerberg attempts to friend his ex-girlfriend, we have all had that moment. Whether it was via Facebook or trying to call that special other only to hang up at the sound of their voice, we see a bit of ourselves in Zuckerberg even if we would rather not.

Add in the fl awless technical el-ements of the movie, pacing, sound and camera work, and you have just a few of the reasons why this movie was the best of last year. Unfortu-nately, “The Social Network” is still an outside shot to take home the big one, although we could see the

American voters rally to the Ameri-can fi lm as the British did for “The King’s Speech.”

Leading Actor

Even if “The Social Network” can pull off and Arcade Fire-like up-set, I don’t think there is any doubt that Colin Firth will taking home this award. Firth did an excellent job as George VI and again has the BAFTA bump.

Winning in back-to-back years is quite rare, so Jeff Bridges doesn’t seem that likely. In addition, “True Grit” really lacked making a big splash in the Oscars pool despite being another great Coen Brothers movie.

I would really like to see Jesse Eisenberg win this prize, as he man-aged to really defi ne himself in the role of Zuckerberg, breaking away from being ‘that other Michael Cera.’

Supporting Actor

Even though most times the supporting role awards are decided by party-line voting, I would look

for Christian Bale to take this one away from Geoffrey Rush.

Bale’s impeccable job as the drug addicted Dicky Eklund echoed through the industry especially when you contrast this role with the fact most people only know him as Batman.

Leading Actress

The fi nal movie of the big three contenders will get its fi rst win here with Natalie Portman for her work in “Black Swan.”

Playing the troubled Nina Say-ers, Portman makes her descent into becoming the Black Swan palpable. The whole way throughout the mov-ie, her demeanor changes sublimely in both overt and covert fashions.

While the other contenders of-fered great performances, the paled in comparison to Portman who also had the benefi t of playing a role fa-vorable for the Oscars.

Supporting Actress

Despite not making a big splash in the pool, “True Grit” did enough

to make Hailee Steinfeld the favorite for this category.

Once again, I think the Acade-my will break away from party-line voting, despite the status of “The King’s Speech” as the chosen one. Steinfeld did an exceptional job of-ten taking over scenes with a com-manding performance. Plus, the Academy likes to look outside the box with this award.

Best Animated Feature Film

“Toy Story 3.” Is there really any debate needed? When is the Academy just going to change this category to ‘Best Pixar Film?’

Directing

As numerous movie pundits have pointed out, Tom Hooper won the Director’s Guild Award for “The King’s Speech,” so he should be the obvious choice by the Academy.

David Fincher did an outstand-ing job with “The Social Network,” but this award is nearly as sure of a lock as “Best Animated Feature Film.”

www.tntechoracle.com Page 6 | February 25, 2011

ENTERTAINMENT

Let’s Talk About Movies: Academy Awards promise surprises

Photo Courtesy of Columbia Pictures and The Weinstein CompanyJesse Eisenberg delivered a powerful performance as the world’s youngest billionaire, but it doesn’t seem like that is enough to derail Colin Firth from taking home ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role.’

By CHUCK ACHESONEntertainment Editor

COUPLES WELCOME

Engagement Rings• GIA Certified DiamondsGold & Silver Jewelry • Custom Design

Citizen WatchesJewelry & Watch Repair

Crabtree & Crace Jewelers

470 Neal Street | Cookeville, TN931.525.7325

Paying Top DollarDiamonds•Gold•Silver

Watches•Coins

NEW

near Tech

5$12 Inch Subs

&Large Pepperoni Pizza

T-Mart1205 N. Willow Ave.

(Across From Hooper Eblen Center)

931-528-5592

By MATT KNIELING | Matt Knieling is a stunningly prompt and professional illustrator, who had this comic done months before yesterday. Find more of his comics at inanimateshorts.com or on Facebook at tinyurl.com/mattartfb.

Photo Courtesy of Paramount PicturesJeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld both have a chance at Oscars for their performances in the Coen Brothers remake of “True Grit.”

CORRECTIONCORRECTION

In “Open Mic Night returns to the Playhouse...,” in the 2/18/11 edition, names of performers Brooke Mayo and Kory Wheeler were misspelled. The next Open Mic Night is April 28. The Oracle regrets the error.

OO