American Maton

Sniper
Moves On
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Read our
review of the
controversial
new war
movie.

Pitcher Phil Maton gears up for his

last season with the dogs.

Page 11

The

Tech Talk
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JANUARY 23, 2015

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VOLUME 89 ISSUE 11

Attendees of a rally
in support of the victims of two terrorists
attacks on French
soil gather in New
Yorks Washington
Square Park with
signs that proclaim
Je Suis Charlie (I
am Charlie).
Photo courtesy of AP

Tech students speak out on

Charlie Hebdo office attacks
KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter
The city of Paris stood still last week after a terrorist attack.
The French government said it was a radical Islamist group
who attacked the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie
Hebdo.
Twelve people were killed and 11 were injured in the attack.
The news of the attack shocked people around the world
including French students at Tech.
Arthur Manahade, a freshman When I read
computer science major, said he found
about the attacks,
out about the news via Facebook.
I do not know how to describe all I could do was
what I was feeling, he said. It was cry.
hard to believe at first because the terrorists were French citizens.
VALERY JUNIQUE
Valery Junique, a French teaching French teaching assistant
assistant, did not want to believe the
news when he saw it.
Every morning, I wake up and
read the news from France, he said. When I read about the
attacks, all I could do was cry.
Junique said this is not something that happens in France.
This was the first time in history this has happened, he
said. It was an attack on our freedom.
While there were students concerned about what was
happening in France, some students were concerned about
Americas reaction to the event.

Tiffany Easter, a sophomore political science major, said

she thinks the U.S. needs to address what happened.
We are allies with France and I think we should show our
respect, she said. Our president did not join the other leaders
in France.
Easter said she thinks President Barack Obama is just dancing around the topic of radical Islam.
Us not saying anything makes it look like we are
unconcerned with our allies, Easter said. I really think we
should show some support.
Junique said although what happened was a tragedy, the
French people are now rallying together.
There is the whole Je suis Charlie thing, he said. It means
I am Charlie but it does not just represent the newspaper, it
represents the French people as a whole and we are in this
together.
Four million French citizens walked the streets of Paris for
peace Sunday.
Junique said this is the first time in history where the French
are uniting for a cause like this.
People did not even celebrate like this after the second
world war, he said. It just shows how strong the French really
are.
Junique said even though the event is a big deal, the only
thing they can do now is move on.
This whole thing just shows that people can attack us, but
we will not change for them, he said.

Email comments to kec029@latech.edu.

Tech
announces
Quality
Enhancement
Plan
JOHN SADLER
Editor-in-Chief
Most Tech students will
agree: speech classes are something to take senior year, rather
by choice or by inability to get
into the class, and with 79 percent of Speech 110 and 87.5
percent of
Speech
377 being
made up of
juniors and
seniors, according to
Tech, the
numb officials ers
seem
to
agree.
These
KING
numbers,
coupled
with
the
rising demands for communication skills in the job market,
led Tech to develop Blue Fire, a
Quality Enhancement Plan that
will change how communications skills are taught at the university.
Jim King, vice president for
student advancement, said the
program will give students the
skills they need not only to make
it through college, but through
life.
Our students are bright.
How do we complement that?
he said. Developing these
(communication) skills seems
consistent with what we are trying to do academically.
The QEP is part of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools accreditation reaffirmation process. Every 10 years
a new QEP is instituted; the last
QEPs product was the Bulldog
Achievement Resource Center.
The program will initially
consist of two courses, COMM
101: The Communication Experience, and FYE 100: The Experience. The standard Speech
110/337 classes will still be
available to take as classes.
The courses are designed
to help all aspects of students
communication skills, from intercultural communication skills
to presentation skills.

> see QEPpage 10

NEWS

2 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

www.thetechtalk.org

Aviation students pursue dreams

FREDEDREIA WILLIS
Staff Reporter

aviation.
Tech has a great flight
program and we really
It is common for chil- have to hand it to the staff,
dren to be asked what they OBrien said. The instrucwould like to be when they tors and department do
grow up.
everything in their power
Many say their dream is to make sure students are
to fly, but even at a young learning in a professional
age, some Louisiana Tech and safe environment.
students truly meant it and
Tech owns a fleet of 13
have pursued their child- Cessna airplanes and conhood fantasy of becoming ducts both ground and flight
a pilot.
training to give
C o n n e r
students profesOBrien said his
sional
training
first time flying he
and experiences.
was a bit nervous,
Flight operabut flying out of
tions are headBrown Field in
quartered
at
southern CaliforRuston Regional
nia was a flight to
Airport in the
be remembered.
Louisiana Tech
I was only
Flight
Opera15 years-old at
tions Building.
the time, said
Nicholas Cox,
OBRIEN
OBrien, a fresha senior profesman professional
sional aviation
aviation
major.
major, said he has wanted
When I took off I had to be a pilot since the fourth
Mexico on my left, the Pa- grade, and Techs aviation
cific Ocean out in front of department prepares him
me and the U.S. to my right. to become a skilled pilot by
OBrien said it was the creating a professional and
most exhilarating thing he supportive atmosphere.
had done up to that point in
My first solo flight I was
his life.
so nervous not having my
From then he knew be- instructor in the plane, he
coming a pilot was what he said. But my instructor was
wanted to do.
in my ear the entire flight
Tech provides the train- encouraging me and helping for students whose ing me to remain calm.
dream is to become a pilot
Cox said it takes a great
by offering programs and leader to be a great instrucsupport through Techs de- tor and Techs ultimate goal
partment of professional is to produce the best pro-

Photo by Bobby Dunn

Nicholas Allen, a senior professional aviation major, is a flight instructor for Louisiana Tech at the Ruston Regional Airport.

fessional pilots who can not

only fly well but can instruct
and encourage others.
Callie Billingsley said she
wants to be a pilot because
she has a strong desire for
traveling and experiencing new heights, and flying
guarantees both.

The first time I flew in

a small; private aircraft was
the day I knew my desire
for flight could be made
real, said Billingsley, a professional aviation major. I
was amazed at being able
to touch the controls and
feel the movement of the

airplane as well as the outstanding beauty of the earth

that anything over 3,000 feet
guarantees.
Billingsley said being a
pilot is not far out of reach,
it simply takes effort.
It will be the best decision of a persons life,

whether they are in it as

a hobby or a profession,
aviation can lead students
to people and places they
never thought possible, she
said.

Email comments to
flw005@latech.edu.

Seminar helps students

dress for the workforce
KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter

tant to dress for success

from the very beginning.
Employers notice even
Studies show it only takes the smallest details of your
seven seconds for someone outfit, he said. If students
to establish an impression of know how to dress before
another person upon meet- they go, it can make a huge
ing them for the first time.
difference.
To maximize the positive
Jordan Crume, a senior
impact
a
first
marketing major,
impression would
said she thinks
have on future
these seminars
employers, students
are
very
attended a seminar
beneficial.
to learn how to
This seminar
dress professionally
gives you an
for job interviews.
idea of how you
C a s e y
should dress for
Beckley, a Kohls
interviews, she
representative from
said. It is from
the Monroe store,
a
professional
taught the seminar
BECKLEY
standpoint so it
on what employers
makes it even
look for when they
better.
are interviewing potential
Crume said she thinks
employees.
students
should
take
When you go for an in- advantage of the resources
terview, you are marketing Tech has to offer.
yourself, she said. You are
There are seminars for
responsible for your own ca- students to attend and the
reer experience.
Career Center, she said.
Beckley said it is imporDuring the seminar,

Beckley not only told students how to dress, but also

what employers look for in
interviews.
Employers look for certain skills, she said. They
want to know how well you
work with others, about your
communication skills and
how you plan and manage
projects.
Beckley said students
should always be confident
because they are marketing
themselves for the position.
Ron Cathey, director of
Counseling and Career Services, said the seminars are
designed to prepare and
encourage students in the
often-overwhelming experience of seeking an internship and employment.
The seminars are designed to provide students
with confidence, poise and
professionalism, he said.
These qualities are what
employers are looking for.

Needs enthusiastic, ambitious and friendly

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Email comments to
kec029@latech.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

No calender
events

Womens basketball: Rice vs. LA

Tech at 6 p.m.

Womens tennis:

Job and Internship Strageties for

Beginners at 10- 11
a.m. at the Career
Center.
Swim club
meeting at 7 p.m.
Lambright.

No calendar
events

The Last Night at

the Ballyhoo opening night at 7:30
p.m. at the Stone
Theatre.

Mens basketball
home game Western Kentucky vs. LA
Tech at 6 p.m.

Nicholls State vs.

LA Tech

www.thetechtalk.org

NEWS

January 23, 2015 The Tech Talk 3

New living facilities coming soon

ALEX HEARD
Staff Reporter

Guidry, a senior Art major at Tech. Guidry knows that it

is hard to really settle in when living conditions are so unpleasant.
Louisiana Tech dorms are to become much more bearWe need places where we feel at home, places we can
able in the foreseeable future.
settle into and want to actually be there, Guidry
The university is designing facilities to resaid.
place dormitories with construction set to begin
King says he and his associates will definitely
February of next year, said Jim King.
lend an open ear to the students on what they
King, vice president for student advancement,
would want in these new halls.
understands that dormitory living at the univerWe are going to build these facilities resity has not been that enjoyable in the past and
sponding to students different needs and deneeds to change.
sires, King said.
These new facilities will have different ameSeveral Tech students expressed their needs
nities, King said. to help students have a much
and desires for the new residential facilities.
more pleasant residential life on campus.
If the bathrooms had bathtubs, I do not
Living space is one of the more unpleasant
know how they could get any homier, said Sarfeatures of the current dormitories at Tech.
ah Hermann, a freshman pre-med major.
They will be suite-like accommodations,
Herman also believes the current living arKING
King said. We want to give them a much more
rangements at Tech are not fun to be around.
homey feel, one that our students can enjoy.
The rooms need thermostats, said Thomas
A homey feel is one of the main things students believe Johnson, a senior graphic design major.
the current dormitories lack.
Room temperature is something Johnson feels is one of
We need places to live that we can enjoy, said Laura the things that make the dormitories so uncomfortable.

It is almost impossible to work uncomfortably, Johnson said. The current dormitories thermostats are set on
whatever the school decides on, and many times those temperatures are not ones that students enjoy.
The new residential halls will address the issue of whole
floors having to share a single bathroom.
There will be no more than two people sharing bathrooms, King said. We understand communal bathrooms
is probably the most criticized feature of the current dorms
and we want to fix that.
These new halls will have areas for students to interact.
In the communities will be new and exciting service
areas, King said, a Tolliver-esque environment but in the
residential halls instead.
Students across Techs campus have different majors;
therefore, some must stay up late to complete all the work
their major requires them to do.
They should have places that stay open late, said
Madison Butler, a freshman medical technology major. A
place like Canes or Zaxbys, for the students who wish to
eat while they do their engineering homework.

Email comments to amh072@latech.edu

Wasserman
to write
second book
FREDEDREIA WILLIS
Staff Reporter

ies born of a culture of

nuclear fear between 1979
and 1991, Wasserman
Along with artists from said. I will be looking at
New York, California and a local reaction to a global
Colorado, Louisiana Techs concern, which produced
new art historian received a new types of art responsprestigious grant from a na- es.
tional organization to supHe said his book will
port his upcoming book.
touch on global concerns
Andrew
Wasserman, like the end of the Cold
an assistant professor of War, the rise of nuclear
art and architecture his- proliferation as a military
tory, has been awarded a tool.
Creative Capital
The book also
Warhol Foundawill note how the
tion Arts Writers
rise of nuclear
Grant.
power itself creWa s s e r m a n
ated uneasy resaid the grant
lationships
in
would be used for
several American
a second book
cities.
project he is in the
Saul Zalesch,
very early phases
associate profesof working on and
sor of art history,
he is excited about WASSERMAN said it is very imbeing able to work
pressive Wasseron the project
man has received
with the grant.
this grant from the Warhol
The grant will give me Foundation.
the opportunity to travel to
We are delighted that
a number of different ar- Wasserman has joined us
chives and libraries to really this year at Tech, Zalesch
dive into the book project, said. I have been here for
Wasserman said. The nice 20 years and his interest
thing the Creative Capital begins where mine basicaland Warhol Foundation is ly leaves off. It has been a
they are really interested perfect fit for our program.
and sponsoring new work
He said Wasserman
and ideas.
brings bold and new methWassermann said the odologies and new apfoundation is really giving proaches to art history.
people a chance to exWith his grant he is goplore new topics, which for ing to make our program
a number of reasons have so much stronger, Zalesch
not been explored in the said. We are excited the
history of contemporary foundation found his proart.
posal one of the most deThe grant is designed to sirable.
support writing about conHe said Wassermann is
temporary art, as well as to fresh from graduate school
create a broader audience and brings new approachfor arts writing.
es, which probably will beThe program also aims come the norm in art histo strengthen the field as a tory and that he will make
whole and to ensure critical the department more of an
writing remains a valued attraction for incoming and
mode of engaging the vi- current students.
sual arts.
Wasserman said he is
The grant will support excited about this project,
research on Wassermans and that it is a really good
new book, Bang! Were All opportunity to work toward
Dead! The Places of Nucle- publication.
ar Fear in 1980s America.
I will be investigating Email comments to
public art in American cit- flw005@latech.edu.

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www.thetechtalk.org

4 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

Insight
The

TechTalk

FBI misunderstands free speech

MANAGEMENT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John Sadler

MANAGING EDITOR
Cody Sexton

NEWS EDITOR

Ray Patterson

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Cody Sexton

FEATURE EDITOR

Kelsy Kershaw

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Wynnifred Sanders

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Anna Whitaker

PHOTO EDITOR

Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jaclyn Perry
Colin Fontenot
Devin Dronett
Carter Carroll
Brian Blakely

ADVERTISING MANAGER
Taylor Loftin

ADVISERS

Dr. Judith Roberts

T. Scott Boatright

ADVERTISING ADVISER

Dr. Reginald Owens

ADVISER/PRODUCTION MANAGER
Michael LeBlanc

The Bottom Line

FROMTHEEDITOR

JOHN SADLER
Editor-In-Chief

n Jan. 15, FBI director James

Comey sent a letter to the
New York Times accusing it
of allowing the paper to be used by
al-Qaeda in an article published on
the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
What was the passage he was so
incited about?
In an article written by Eric
Schmitt, Mark Mazzetti and Rukmini
Callimachi, the Times printed the following paragraph: A member of Al
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who
spoke to The New York Times on the
condition of anonymity, said the joint
timing of the two operations was a
result of the friendship between Mr.
Coulibaly and the Kouachi brothers,
not of common planning between
the al-Qaeda group and the Islamic
State.
Comey called the papers decision to publish the al-Qaeda members statements anonymously mystifying and disgusting.
How, exactly, are they disgusting?

Im not sure what Comey thinks

the protocol is for interviewing alQaeda members should be, but the
way this interview happened was
the anonymous source contacted
the Times over a secure messaging
system.
There was no person-to-person
contact, and no names were requested by the Times.
An alias would probably have
been given if the source were asked.
Now, anonymous sources are a
touchy subject in journalism. Avoidance of their use is preferable because they can raise questions about
the credibility of the quotes.
And anonymously quoting an enemy combatant is an even touchier
subject.
Almost always, the source is playing the publication to get out the information his organization wants out.
As such, extreme care must be
taken when quoting sources from
groups such as al-Qaeda, especially
anonymous ones.
But the Times did take care.
The information was integral to

the story, and Comeys misguided

outrage assumes Al Qaeda members
have no information we could possibly need.
Refusing to publish information
helpful to the point of the story just
because the source is ideologically
opposed to the publications country
is not good journalism.
In fact, it would be shoddy journalism. Journalism, if done correctly,
is not about the advocation of ideas
(op-ed writing excluded, of course).
It is about the distribution of information. So the public can be informed.
It is entirely possible to report
something without condoning it.
The Times did not condone Al
Qaedas actions or statements. It reported the facts.
Comeys knee-jerk reaction
shows its a damn good thing he has
no actual power in this situation.
John Sadler is a junior journalism major from Extension who serves as editor
for The Tech Talk. Email comments to
jts040@latech.edu.

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Michael LeBlanc

SOME RELLIE GOOD ADVICE

DEPARTMENT HEAD

Dr. Reginald Owens

A walk down the block, a child shall not

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tions, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA
71272.

PUBLICATION

The Tech Talk (USPS 535-540) is

published Thursdays of the regular
school year, except in vacation and
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Tech University. Publication office
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EMAIL techtalk@latech.edu
JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT
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ELLIE MOSLANDER
Associate Multimedia Editor

ecently in Maryland, authorities have threatened to possibly

take a couples children away
from them on the grounds of child
neglect.
When hearing this statement,
many people would feel sad for the
children, wonder what the parents
did or how they could neglect their
children.
The reason Danielle and Sasha
Meitiv are under scrutiny is for allowing their 10 and 6 year- old children
to wander around the neighborhood
unaccompanied by an adult.
Serious neglect? I dont think so.
The reason there is so much concern for these children, is because
their parents allow them to walk two
blocks and sometimes even a mile
away.
The distance is long, but if the
Meitivs believe it is reasonable allowing this and they feel their children are safe, I dont see how they

are in the wrong here.

While child neglect is a horrible
and a very real thing, in this particular situation it does not seem to be
the case.
They said they allow their children to walk around together because they feel the neighborhood is
safe and secure.
Perhaps it would be a slightly different matter if the 6-year-old was
wandering around alone, but this is
not the case.
Concerned parents alerted authorities and later on, child protective
services as well.
After a visit to the home, child
protective services told the parents
they must set up a safe parenting
plan.
If they do not sign the consent
forms the children can immediately
be taken away from them.
Taking a child away from a parent should not be taken lightly and it
must be carefully determined what is
best for the child.
In this instance, the children are

not being harmed; they are simply

being allowed to do something others may not agree with.
Even if it is unsafe for the children
to be wandering around, this is not
grounds to take the children away.
What the children are doing is not
even very unusual. Many children are
allowed to walk around in my neighborhood accompanied by a friend,
which seems reasonable.
These parents probably did not
expect to let their children go for a
walk and later on be faced with the
reality of losing their children.
Others may frown upon their
methods, but if they are not hurting
their children they should not be told
how to parent them.
They are simply giving their children more freedom and they have
the right to do so.
Ellie Moslander is a junior journalism
major from Albuquerque, New Mexico,
and serves as associate multimedia editor for the Tech Talk. Email comments to
emo012@latech.edu.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Tech Talk welcomes letters to

the editor. However, we reserve
the right not to print anonymous
letters. We also ask that each
letter be accompanied by a
telephone number, address, clas
sification or title. We will not print
the telephone number. Viewpoints
should be mailed or brought to
The Tech Talk office, 139 Keeny
Hall, by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to
a Thursday publication. Letters
should be mailed to The Tech
Talk, P.O. Box 10258, Ruston, LA
71272. Emails should be sent to
techtalk@latech.edu. You can also
submit letters online at
www.thetechtalk.org/home/
lettertotheeditor/.
Louisiana Tech University is committed to the principle of providing
the opportunity for learning and
development of all qualified
citizens without regard to race,
sex, religion, color, national origin,
age, disability, marital status, or
veteran status for admission to,
participation in, or employment in
the programs and activities which
the University sponsors or operates. For Title IX information, see
University Policy #1445 at http://
www.latech.edu/administration/
policies-and-procedures/1445.
shtml.

LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT

The real American snipers are filmmakers

CODY SEXTON
Managing Editor

dont know if anyone is aware, but

a movie about an American sniper
premiered recently. It was cleverly
named American Sniper.
The film, staring Bradley Cooper, is based on the autobiography
of Chris Kyle and chronicles his four
tours in the Iraq war.
Did yall read that correctly?
Based on.
A tricky phrase which when said,
some people think means completely
100 percent true. While many viewers believe they are getting an exact
play-by-play, they fail to realize they
have just fallen prey to the Jedi mind
tricks of Hollywood.
Notorious for glorifying war, Hollywood has found in the Clint Eastwood-directed adaptation of the life
of Kyle another way to guarantee
people shell out $10 for a movie
ticket. Because its simply un-American and borderline communist to
not watch and love a film about an
American hero who risked his life for
his country, right?
Let one thing be made abundantly

clear: no criticisms of Kyle are being

made. Those are all being saved for
those in Hollywood who know they
can secure an Oscar by making a film
in the guise of honoring a veteran by
playing up his time in the military.
Viewers are lied to from the moment the film begins when Kyles job
requires him to shoot a woman and
her child who were attempting to
bomb U.S. Marines. There is no account of Kyle shooting a child in that
moment of his career. The myriad
of dramatizations continue until the
films final scene when Kyle leaves
his family to help a soldier suffering
from PTSD. As Kyle and his soon-tobe killer head for the ill-fated therapy
session at the shooting range, Taya
Kyle, played by Sienna Miller, looks
on in concern as if she psychically
knows something is wrong. Like shes
Cassandra forseeing the downfall of
Troy. The fake baby used as Kyles
newborn daughter was honestly
more believable than half of the film.
While it is not so blatantly the
piece of anti-Muslim propaganda it
is accused of being, the film is strategically-edited and misconstrues the
truth. Like in the scene where Kyle

and his wife are watching the 9/11

attacks in horror followed by him
fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq as if the two
incidents are directly related.
By the end of the film, viewers
should have the common sense to
realize the film sticks about as much
to the truth as The Strangers did to
the Sharon Tate murder (Google it).
American Sniper paints a blackand-white image of good vs. evil in a
world of absolutes, which is not the
case. There is no black and white in
the world, as Eastwood would have
viewers to believe. Even in the short
glimpse of Kyles killer in the final
scene he is portrayed as a sketchy villain instead of a sick veteran, which
is insulting.
And for the critics of Kyle, the
probability he was a patriot with a
love for serving his country is greater
than him being a psychopath with a
bloodlust.
Have the common sense to not
believe the snipers of Hollywood.
Cody Sexton is a senior journalism and
marketing major from Seattle who serves
as managing editor for The Tech Talk.
Email comments to cls068@latech.edu.

Beware:
they can
see you
It looks like a fancy stud finder;
they call it the Range-R and law enforcement agencies have been using
them since 2012.
A recent article in USA Today describes the Range-Rs as a handheld
radar unit. It is designed to send out
radio waves that detect movement
from as far awat as 50 feet.
Even concrete and brick walls cannot stop these units from seeing you.
They can catch the slightest movements, even breathing.
Sound kind of cool? Well it is, in
theory.
Sure, the units help ensure the
safety of officers when storming a
building or rescuing hostages but they
pose possible threats on our rights
granted to us by the Fourth Amendment.
While the technology is useful
for weeding out the criminal acts of
bad guys, the road to hell is paved
with good intentions. The slightest
infringement on our rights could be
a foot hold for future, possibly larger,
infringements.
Say technology advances and offers want a further developed edition
that can see more clearly into a persons home; the precedent would already be there.
Legally, to search a persons home,
law enforcement officials must have a
search warrant. Well, no search warrants are being issued with the use of
these units.
Not only that, but these devices
have been used since 2012. The USA
Today article notes that about 200
devices have been sold to 50 law enforcement agencies at around $6,000
per unit. That is at least $180,000 that
has been spent on them thus far.
Why is it we are now in 2015 and
just being notified? Can we even trust
those who are supposed to protect
us?
While some say no, others say yes.
The nature of these units is not
necessarily a breach of privacy because they do not allow officers to
literally see in your home. They are
more of an instrument to detect heat
signatures.
Ultimately, they are tools that are
used to protect officers during potentially life-threatening situations. As
heavily scrutinized as law enforcement agencies have been lately, there
is no doubt more flack will come from
the public introduction of these units.
Policemens credibility has been
scrutinized by the media lately and
the questions these units are raising
are not going to help.
Doing things for safety reasons
does not justify invading privacy.
Where do we draw the line? Why
must privacy be sacrificed for safety?
The USA Today article mentions
other radar devices with more advanced features such as 3D displays
of where a person is located inside a
building.
Using these devices as battlefield
technology is one thing; that is what it
was designed for. However, bringing it
into civilian policing is where red line
is crossed.
In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled
that the Constitution bars police from
scanning the outside of a home with a
thermal camera unless in possession
of a search warrant. This rule specifically applied to radar-based systems.
So, basically, those whose job it
is to make sure we obey the law can
defy it, and invade our privacy in the
process.

www.thetechtalk.org

World
W&NBRIEFS
WORLDNEWS
Canadians direct
air strikes in Iraq
TORONTO (AP) The
Canadian special forces in
northern Iraq have been
helping Kurdish peshmerga
fighters by directing coalition airstrikes against Islamic State extremists work
generally considered risky
because it means they are
close to the battle against
the group.

Five corpses found

in Greek tomb
ATHENS, Greece (AP)
Human bones found in
a resplendent ancient tomb
in northern Greece belong
to at least five individuals,
including an elderly woman
and a baby, Greek officials
said Monday.

Coen brothers lead

jury at film festival
PARIS (AP) The
Cannes Film Festival says
brothers Joel and Ethan
Coen will be the festival
jurys first joint chairmen.
The brothers will lead the
jury that decides this years
winners of the European
equivalent of the Oscars,
which runs from May 13-24.

Cosby performance
recieves applause
TURLOCK, Calif. (AP)
Bill Cosby was embraced
by fans on Sunday during
his first performance in
California since allegations
of past sexual assaults
surfaced.
The Modesto Bee reports Cosby was greeted
warmly and left with a
standing ovation at Turlock
Community Theatre. Only
one protester showed up to
Cosbys comedy tour stop in
the Central California city.

STATENEWS
Jindals statement
aimed at candidacy
WASHINGTON (AP)
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal
plans to double down on the
assertion there are neighborhoods in Western nations
where Islamic traditions
trump civic laws, a move
which appears to be aimed
at standing out in a crowded
field of potential Republican
candidates for president.

Ex-Sorrento mayor
pleads not guilty
GONZALES (AP)
Former Sorrento Mayor
Wilson Longanecker Jr.
pleaded not guilty Tuesday
to child pornography and
aggravated animal cruelty
charges, but his lawyers reserved the right to change
the plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

January 22, 2015 The Tech Talk 5

Nation

Paris begins terrorist attack trials

ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS (AP) French
anti-terror
prosecutors
were seeking to charge four
men Tuesday in connection
with the attacks in Paris that
left 20 people dead, which
would be the first suspects
charged in the countrys
bloodiest terrorist attacks in
decades.
The four men remained
in court late Tuesday
awaiting an anti-terror
judges decision on whether
to
open
preliminary
investigations against them.
The possible charges
were
expected
just
hours before the French
government was to unveil
new measures aimed at
helping head off future
attacks, giving police more
power to tap phones,
monitor Web sites and
force Internet companies
to block messages of hate
posted online.
Prime minister Manuel
Valls will present new
security
measures
Wednesday
including
efforts
to
increase
i n t e l l i ge n c e - g a t h e r i n g
against jihadis and other
radicals,
block
their
activities on the Internet,
and prevent them from
collaborating inside prisons
or traveling abroad to
fight, President Francois
Hollande said.
France is on high security
alert after the countrys

AP Photo/Francois Mori

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, center, and Patrick Pelloux, right, a staff member of
the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, arrive to lay a wreath outside Charlie Hebdo offices, in Paris on Tuesday.
worst terrorist attacks in
decades. The court case
and the arrests came as
Valls urged his nation to do
some soul-searching about
the countrys deep ethnic
divisions and declared
that fighting hatred, anti-

Semitism and racism was a

top priority.
The Paris prosecutors
office said the four men
in court Tuesday were
suspected of providing
logistical support to Amedy
Coulibaly, one of the

terrorists killed by police,

and requested they be
detained longer on weapons
and terrorism charges.
Coulibaly
shot
a
policewoman to death
on the outskirts of Paris
and then killed four

hostages inside a kosher

supermarket before being
shot dead by police. It is
not clear whether the four
suspects, all in their 20s,
were involved in plotting
the attacks or even aware
of Coulibalys plans.

Obama addresses issues Victims of Wahlberg

in his State of the Union speak out on pardon:
He isnt an exception

ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP)
Refusing to bend
to the new Republican
Congress,
President
Barack Obama unveiled
Tuesday
night
an
ambitious State of the
Union agenda steeped
in Democratic priorities,
including tax increases
on the wealthy, education
and child care help for
the middle class and a
torrent of veto threats for
the GOPs own plans.
The president vowed
to use his veto pen to strike
down the Republican
leaderships efforts to
dismantle his signature
accomplishments,
including his health care
and financial reform laws.
We cant put the
security
of
families
at risk by taking away
their health insurance
or unraveling the new
rules on Wall Street or
refighting past battles on
immigration when weve
got a system to fix,
Obama said.
The centerpiece of
Obamas
economic
proposals marked a
shift away from the
focus on austerity and
deficit reduction that
has dominated his fiscal
fights with Republicans.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Photo/Mandel Ngan, Pool

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union

speech to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill.

In a direct challenge to
GOP economic ideology,
Obama called for the
increasing of the capital

gains rate on couples

making
more
than
$500,000 annually, to 28
percent.

BOSTON (AP) A victim of one of Mark Wahlbergs racially motivated

attacks as a teenage delinquent in segregated Boston in the 1980s insists he
shouldnt be granted a pardon for his crimes.
Kristyn Atwood was
among a group of mostly
black fourth-grade students
on a field trip to the beach
in 1986 when Wahlberg and
his white friends began hurling rocks and shouting racial epithets as they chased
them down the street.
I dont think he should
get a pardon, Atwood, now
38 and living in Decatur,
Georgia, said in an interview with Associated Press.
I dont really care who
he is. It doesnt make him
any exception. If youre a
racist, youre always going
to be a racist. And for him to
want to erase it I just think
its wrong, she said.
Mary Belmonte, the
white teacher who brought
the students to the neighborhood beach that day,
sees things differently. I
believe in forgiveness, she
said. He was just a young
kid a punk in the mean
streets of Boston. He didnt
do it specifically because he

was a bad kid. He was just

a follower doing what the
other kids were doing.
The 43-year-old former
rapper, Calvin Klein model
and Boogie Nights actor
wants official forgiveness
for a separate, more severe
attack in 1988, in which he
assaulted two Vietnamese
men while trying to steal
beer.
Wahlberg, in a pardon
application acknowledges
he was a teenage delinquent
mixed up in drugs, alcohol and the wrong crowd.
He points to his successful acting career, restaurant
ventures and philanthropic
work with troubled youths
as evidence hes turned his
life around.
I have apologized, many
times, he told the AP in December.
When he was 16 yearsold , Wahlberg attacked two
Vietnamese men, while trying to steal beer.
Judith Beals, a former
state prosecutor involved in
the cases, said Wahlbergs
crimes stand out because he
violated the injunction with
an even more violent attack
on people of another race.
It was a hate crime and
thats exactly what should
be on his record forever,
Atwood said.

MORE TALK

6 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

January 23, 2015 The Tech Talk 7

Photo by Brian Blakely

TOP LEFT: Jamie Roberie, a junior psychology major, and James Hughes, a junior
history major, prepare to fold the flag after lowering it from the pole.
TOP RIGHT: Roberie and Hughes present folded flag as passerbys pay respects.

Photo by Colin Fontenot

ATTENTION.
SALUTE.
PLEDGE.
Photo by Colin Fontenot

To cadets, it is more than just

raising the flag, it is honoring
their country
MICHAEL HOGE
Staff Reporter

A large percentage of the population who have served in the military

respect the flag whether or not they served in a war zone Beebe said.
Seventy to 80 percent of people just dont care; a few cars will stop,
Every Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. two cadets from Louisiana Hughes said.
Techs Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps raise the flag over
Some people do not understand the importance of the flag ceremoTechs campus.
ny or that it even occurs.
Its a very humbling, very patriotic moment, said Cadet Capt.
Ive never seen it happen, I dont even know where the flag is, Nick
James Hughes, a junior history major. I think of all those who came Rizzo, a freshman biology major, said. I didnt even know they were
before me who died for the flag, I just feel so humbled
supposed to lower the flag completely.
to carry the flag.
He said he thought the proper thing to do when
A typical day involves reveille, the duty of raising
seeing the flag being raised or lowered was to stop.
the flag, around 7 a.m., and retreat, the task of lowerArthur Clark, a freshman mechanical engineering
ing the flag, usually around 4 p.m., Hughes said.
major, said he only saw the flag being lowered once.
During the week its assigned to cadets, said CaI didnt even think about it, I just kept on walking,
det Capt. Jamie Roberie, a junior Psychology major.
Clark said.
We get calls to do details, anything to do with the
Roberie said that during a flag lowering detail a
flag really.
group of students walked by talking very loud and
Roberie said every time the flag is raised or lowonly gave an apology for the disruption. Another exered, they are in uniform whether it is Air Force dress
ample is when someone tied his or her moped to the
blue or physical training uniforms.
flagpole and it interfered with their flag duty Hughes
She said when the flag is folded up on the flag desaid.
tail there are 13 folds.
Most of the population has never been in a warRoberie said she felt honored to do flag duty betime environment, Beebe said. Being in the military,
cause of the people who served before her.
I have respect for the flag, he said.
JAMES HUGHES
It really means two things as a citizen of the
He said even cities farther away from military
United States of America, said Capt. Aaron Beebe, Cadet Captain and a
bases like Ruston, support can be very high for the
an assistant professor of aerospace studies, It means junior history major
military.
that were carrying on paying respects to our flag, and
Just in Ruston people have come up to me and
as a military member, paying my respects to all those
said Thank you for your service, Beebe said.
that served before me.
Hughes said the faculty seems to be more respectful than the student
This is the first in a series of stories highlighting those in the university
population.
community who perform essential duties behind the scenes
After finishing a detail, Dr. Guice (Tech president) thanked me for
doing the detail and lowering and raising the flag day in and day out,
Email comments to mph027@latech.edu.
Roberie said.

I think of all
those who
came before me
who died for the
flag; I just feel
so humbled...

LEFT: Jamie Roberie, a junior psychology major, salutes the flag after transferring to, James Hughes, a junior
history major.
RIGHT: The Cadets of the Air Force ROTC salute the flag as it is lowered by the honor guard.
Photo by Colin Fontenot

DESIGN BY KELSY KERSHAW

8 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

Arts Entertainment

www.thetechtalk.org

Art exhibit showcases students talent

Kayla Tidwell and
Allison Walker
observe one of the
pieces in the art
exhibition held in
the F. Jay Taylor
Visual Arts Center.
Photo by Brian Blakely

MATTHEW VALCHO
Staff Reporter
The Louisiana Tech School of Design hosted its Third
National Louisiana Biennial Juried Exhibition on Tuesday
in the F. Jay Taylor Visual Arts Center.
Held once every two years, the exhibition was a chance
for not only Tech students to show off their work but also
attracted artists from around the country to present their
best to a nationally-known juror.
Naima J. Keith is an assistant curator at The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. Keith was brought to Ruston to
juror, or judge, the nearly 800 pieces of art submitted to the
School of Design.
This exhibition is a great opportunity for visitors and
students to see works from across the country and right
here at home, Keith said. It really is a chance to see whats
out in the art community.
Keith had to narrow the field of 800 pieces down to 36,
as well as pick two honorable mentions, a jurors choice and
a best in show.
Everything was essentially up to me, Keith said. I had
the floor plan for the gallery so I could start choosing based
on the layout of the room. Considering that we have many
different places represented, I really wanted to show a cross
section of all the applicants and their work.
Yoshie Sakai, a part-time video art teacher from Los
Angeles, earned an honorable mention at the show.
I had a friend on Facebook that posted about it so I
decided to enter, Sakai said. My decision seemed to pay
off pretty well.
The point of having Keith as the juror was to get a
professional and unbiased view of all the art. Despite the
unclouded judgment, a Louisiana Tech graduate won best
in show.

Diana Synatske graduated with a Master of Fine Arts

from Louisiana Tech in 2013. Her piece Camper earned
the former Bulldog a chance to have her own solo show
next year in the Visual Arts Center.
Its great news that an alum won best in show, Keith
said. It worked out well for the university.
Frank Hamrick, an associate professor of photography in
the Louisiana Tech School of Design, thinks the exhibition
is great for the school.

Its a way for people in the art community to hear about

Louisiana Tech, Hamrick said. Its also a way for our
students to get their name out there.
The exhibition is also a learning experience for art students. Events like this are a chance for up-and-coming artists to see what people are looking for in their work, he
said. Its good for a students and their future.

Email comments to mvv002@latech.edu.

American Sniper sharpshoots opening weekCATHERINE BURKE

Staff Reporter

less lives of his own

men and took out
countless deadly terrorists.
By eliminating terrorists, he put a target
on his own head and
made himself the No. 1
man to kill.
Kyle did not just
have more kills than
most, he also had more
heart.
He lost a close
friend while overseas
and made it his No. 1
mission to take out his
killer.
No surprise that the
American Sniper kills
his friends killer with a
shot from almost a mile

Clint Eastwood does it

yet again with the newest
and arguably his best film
he has ever directed, American Sniper.
The movie raked in
over $90.2
million dollars its opening weekend.
Warner Bros.
A m e r i c a n
Sniper goes much deeper
American Sniper
than this lethal career as a
HHHII
sniper.
Chris Kyle, portrayed
by Bradley Cooper, was a
Texas-raised cowboy who
answered the call to serve
his country.
away.
He always knew he had exceptional skills
Kyle battled through four long tours in
with a gun, so he figured he would use his Iraq while his wife stayed back in the states
talents to defend our nation.
and gave birth to two of their children alone.
Little did he know, Kyle would become
When he returned to the states, the war
the most deadly sniper in U.S. military his- was not over. Kyle constantly was paranoid.
tory, which earned him the nickname LegPTSD had taken over his mind and his
end.
relationships with his friends and family. He
His very accurate shooting saved count- could no longer function in a public environ-

Photo courtesy of the Washington Post

Bradley Cooper plays United States Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper.
ment.
Possibly the greatest war hero, Kyle overcame every obstacle that came his way in
Iraq, but faces his toughest battle yet. Will he
overcome it?
The patriotism, the emotions and the
realness of the fight our military men go

through is absolutely beautifully portrayed in

this film.
The straight-forward combat scenes really bring the war back here and instill a sense
of pride in those Americans viewing the film.

Email comments to cjb660@latech.edu.

A&E

www.thetechtalk.org

January 23, 2015 The Tech Talk 9

B4.DA.$$: a hip-hop throwback

JOHN SADLER
Editor-in-Chief

Paper Trails shows the dualistic opinion Bada$$ holds

about success.
Joey Bada$$, the most visWhile he appreciates the
ible member of Brooklyns Pro
money he has received due to
Era crew, has finally answered
his success, he laments the fact
the calls for an official studio
that it has turned what he previfollow-up to his two mixtapes,
ously loved into a chore.
1999 and Summer Knights.
Like Me is notable for both
B4.DA.$$, pronounced beits lyricism and its use of a prefore the money, because, you
viously unreleased beat from
Cinematic
know, reasons,
legendary producer J Dilla.
B4.DA.$$
is a masterThe song combines perJoey Bada$$
fully produced
sonal boasts, I bet my cockiHHHII
throwback
to
ness will boost her confidence/
the Golden Age
Then you gon wonder where
of Hip-Hop that
your highness went, with podisregards any
litical statements, Cats get dethought of entertaining the prevailing capitated for actin a fool/Blacks get their ass
trap trend in the genre.
sprayed just for makin a move.
In other words, this isnt Migos.
Christ Conscious is one of the stand-out
It is, however, an immensely entertaining ride that fea- tracks of the album.
tures production from The Roots, Hit-Boy, J. Dilla (RIP),
A chest-beating ode to how awesome
and members of the Pro Era crew that will stir up memo- Joey Bada$$ thinks Joey Bada$$ is, the song,
ries of the 90s boom-bap scene.
which was released as the third single, is one
Its apparent Bada$$ wears his influences on his sleeve, of the best examples of his lyrical abilities
an admirable trait that can veer into dangerous territory if on the album.
you fall into the trap of copying your heroes rather than
There are a few weak points, however.
taking inspiration from them.
All of the tracks after On & On didnt
It is a trap that Bada$$ largely avoids.
seem to hook me as much as the beginning
The sound he produces is simultaneously fresh and did.
worn, with lyricism that veers into territory both poetic
The beat on Black Beetles works well, in
and braggadocio.
theory, I think, but the faux-operatic singing
The album opener, Save the Children, begins with a in the background begins to get grating.
sample of a crowd at one of Badas$$s concerts chantHowever, the album was pretty solid as a
ing for him to come out. It segues into a funky jazz beat whole.
which Bada$$ raps over with lyrics about growing up in
On the track On & On, Bada$$ starts
crime-ridden Brooklyn.
the song by saying Mama, I just booked a
The breaks in the beat that serve to highlight his au- first-class ticket to my destiny, by the way.
totune-distorted voice are well executed. The song does
If he keeps making albums like this, he
have high notes, however. The phrase black people are has.
rumblin is repeated throughout: a mantra that highlights
the positive changes that are occurring.
Email comments to jts040@latech.edu.

Tetsuo and Youth:

Lupe Fiascos latest
album is his best one
JOHN SADLER
Editor-in-Chief
Lupe Fiasco is a hit-ormiss rapper for me, with
none of his releases after
his debut Food and Liquor
having the same punch as
the album that brought him
on the scene.
H i s
new
album, Tetsuo
and
Yo u t h ,
h o w e v e r,
is (for the
most part)
a welcome return to form.
The album begins with
the violin-centered instrumental Summer which
leads into Mural, an almost 9-minute track in
which Lupes impressive
verbal gymnastics are put
on display.
Lupe has always been
pretty damn good at impressive wordplay and Mural doesnt disappoint. This
song, like all the good Lupe
songs, requires more than
one listen to wrap (heh)
your head around.
Lupe mentions the video game Contra, the band
Queen, The Smiths frontman Morrissey, the X-man
Gambit and Count Chocula
here, as well. Its a kind of
nerd hurricane of pop culture references.
Adoration
of
the

Atlantic Records

Tetsuo and Youth

Lupe Fiasco
HHHII

Magi is the best song off

of the album. If Mural
displayed Lupes wordplay
skills, then Magi puts him
up the next level.
Take a look at this verse:
Why you ready to die?
You just a baby/Why them
tears up under your eyes?
You just a baby/Keep your
head up in the sky, you
just a baby/Quit chasing
money, never mind, you
just a baby/These Magi
adore you/Why you wanna
be born again? You just a
baby/Why you playing in
the streets? You just a baby.
In order, Lupe is referencing Ready to Die by
The Notorious B.I.G., Tha
Carter III by Lil Wayne,
Nevermind by Nirvana,
Born Again by Black Sabbath, and Illmatic by Nas.
Dont believe me?
Go look at the albums

again, and remember Lupe

keeps saying you just a
baby.
The album was not without flaws, though.
One, it was too long.
Three songs sat at around
nine minutes, and while I
do not have a problem with
long rap songs in general,
these tended to lean into
boring territory.
Its impressive to be able
to keep a concept going for
nine minutes, but it has to
be something people want
to continue to listen to.
Two, the Ab-Soul feature
on They.Resurrect.Over.
New is god awful.
I dont know why Lupe
decided to let him have the
last word on this album.
If he was going to let
someone besides himself
finish the album up, then he
should have at least made
sure the verse wasnt terrible.
Third, and perhaps most
pressing of all, what the hell
was up with the banjos on
Dots & Lines? I thought
my Shovels & Rope album
had somehow gotten into
my playlist.
Regardless of the faults,
Tetsuo & Youth is a pretty
solid album, and better than
anything Lupe has put out
in years.

Email comments to
jts040@latech.edu

Photo courtesy of Brewerypost.com

SPEAK
MAGAZINE

is avaliable digitally on issuu

Go to issuu.com/speakmagazinemedia
or download the issuu mobile app
and search for SPEAK Magazine

www.thetechtalk.org

10 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

Distractions
WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
www.horoscopes.com.net

Aries
March 21 April 19
If youve been thinking about studying astrology,
numerology, or other occult sciences, Aries, this is the
day to start. There may be a school or teacher that
youve been considering. By doing this, you could open
doors to new knowledge, meet new friends who share
your interests, and steer your life in a fascinating new
direction. Pick up the phone and take the first step.
Taurus
Apr 20 - May 20
A woman you meet at work might point you in a new
direction, Taurus. You should investigate all possible
options. This could be a new intellectual interest, a
technological skill, or possibly a new and more lucrative
source of income. It may involve an unusual field,
but dont worry about that. The world is changing, so
what seems unorthodox now could be commonplace
tomorrow.
Gemini
May 21 - Jun 20
A friend from far away could contact you by phone,
email, or even in person, Gemini. This person might
bring great news that suddenly turns your life in a new
direction. This could involve a new intellectual study
or possibly a new circle of friends. At any rate, you
will certainly enjoy catching up and hearing what your
friend has to say.
Cancer
Jun 21 - Jul 22
You might try to learn a new computer program today,
Cancer. You could find it a little confusing at first, but
as you continue to learn, you will find that it makes
things easier for you. You should master it more quickly
than you thought. This may sound minor, but it will
improve your productivity from now on, leaving you time
to explore other possibilities or attend to important
matters.
Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 22
Today you may stumble into an unexpected new
friendship, Leo. This could come as the result of a
social event or an introduction by a close friend.
You will discover new rapport the likes of which you
havent experienced in a long time. You could spend
hours trading ideas. Make sure you exchange contact
information. You will definitely want to stay in touch
with this person.
Virgo
Aug 23 - Sep 22
A group meeting of some sort, perhaps job related, could
take place in your home today, Virgo. Whatever business
the group has planned should be taken care of quickly
and then you will be able to hang out and socialize. You
might discover new aspects of your guests you didnt

know existed. This could prove very enlightening for all

concerned. Your bond with them will definitely improve.
Libra
Sep 23 - Oct 22
A phone call from a close friend or love partner could
bring a thrilling surprise your way today, Libra. An event
has occurred that you either gave up on long ago or
never dreamed of. This news could necessitate your
spending a lot of time on the phone or computer making
contacts, but thats OK. You will be so happy that this
happened that you wont mind the time you spend on it.
Scorpio
Oct 23 - Nov 21
If you own property, you might discover that its value
has increased far beyond anything you dreamed of,
Scorpio. This might involve real estate, but it could also
involve other resources like stocks, bonds, or family
heirlooms. What you choose to do with this information
is up to you, but you will probably decide to hang on to
what you have. Its just nice to know its valuable.
Sagittarius
Nov 22 - Dec 21
A surprising phone call or email could come your way
today from a friend you havent heard from in a long
time, Sagittarius. This should make you happy, as youve
probably been wondering what this person was doing.
Some business changes may have occurred for your
friend, but possible new opportunities might also be in
the cards for you. Hear what your friend has to say, think
about it, and decide later.
Capricorn
Dec 22 - Jan 19
Today you may take up the study of astrology,
numerology, alchemy, or other occult discipline. Your
intellectual abilities are particularly sharp, Capricorn,
so you may want to combine them with your tendency
toward mysticism. This should keep you busy for much
of the day, but you need to watch out for intellectual
overload. You dont want to forget what youve learned.
Take notes.
Aquarius
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Theres someone youve wanted to meet for a long time,
Aquarius, and today you might have the opportunity to
introduce yourself. This could be a potential romantic
interest, a teacher youve wanted to study with, or
someone interesting you might like for a friend. Sparks
are apt to fly between you. Dont hesitate, for this
encounter could affect the rest of your life in some
profound way.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Across
1. ___ Beach, Florida
5. Boldness
10. Bicycle
14. Hgt.
15. Central Florida city
16. Came down to earth
17. Actor Auberjonois
18. Attended
19. Actress Kedrova
20. Bewhiskered
22. Immoderately vehement
24. Actor Kilmer
25. Guadalajara gold
26. Flavorful
29. Marseille Mrs.
32. Pisa place
36. Dies ___
37. Takes care of
39. Never, in Nuremberg
40. In spite of
43. Gangsters gun
44. Golf club
45. Designer Cassini
46. All My Children vixen
48. Small batteries
49. Perfect places
50. Sun Devils sch.
52. Actor Byrnes
53. Lords estate
57. Spirit
61. Goddess and sister
of Ares in Greek mythology
62. Modern bank card
64. Disturb
65. Capital city of Peru
66. Accustom
67. Harpers Bazaar
illustrator
68. Suggestive look

www.bestcrosswords.com
69. U.Haul competitor
70. Per ___
Down
1. Action word
2. Gen. Robert ___
3. Actress Sofer
4. Summary
5. Speech sound
6. Mil. school
7. ___ Cruces
8. Norwegian king
9. Rate
10. Round of voting
11. Nastase of tennis
12. Brick oven
13. Coup d___
21. June honoree
23. Rigels constellation
26. Burn a bit
27. Bellowing
28. Singer LaBelle
29. Conductor Zubin
30. Hostess Perle
31. Adlais running mate
33. Old-womanish
34. Fabric woven
from flax yarns
35. Safecrackers
37. Actor Erwin
38. Paving material
41. Bridge declaration
42. Feeble
47. Roman general
49. Begley and Bradley
51. Below
52. Aromatic compound
53. Big name in PCs
54. Buffalos county
55. Jester

DAILY U

56. Start of a counting rhyme

57. Green land
58. Me neither
59. Make reference to
60. K-6
63. Partially opened flower

LASTISSUESSOLUTION

Have any ideas for future comics or feedback? Email dwyer@latech.edu

Pisces
Feb 19 - Mar 20
Do you feel helpless in the face of problems with
technology? If so, you might surprise yourself today,
Pisces. Some software that you use a lot could go
haywire, and you wont want to take the time to wait for
a professional. Some study could enable you to come up
with the solution on your own. Consulting a professional
could demonstrate that youre on the right track.

WEEKLYWEATHER

SUDOKUPUZZLE

www.accuweather.com

TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

HIGH 49
LOW 39

HIGH 58
LOW 36

HIGH 63
LOW 44

HIGH 63
LOW 37

HIGH 62
LOW 43

HIGH 65
LOW 45

HIGH 67
LOW 43

QEPfrom pg. 1

>

Linda Griffin, dean of student development, believes the courses will put Tech students far above their competition.
Todays university student is probably a
lot smarter than first-year students when I
started school, she said. Only one thing
is missing: the opportunity for interpersonal
relationships.
The courses are designed to be taken
back-to-back during the first year a student
is enrolled in Tech.
It is both an expansion of the communication department, and the first-year experience, Griffin said.
King said that while Tech students are
very bright, there are other skills needed to
excel in the workforce and in college.
Understanding the communication
process is what the QEP is all about, King
said. I believe my undergraduate career
wouldve benefitted if I didnt have an irrational fear of public speaking.
King said the idea for the program came

from feedback they received from businesses that showed communication skills were
one of the most sought-after skills in the
workforce.
In fact, in a survey of alumni and employers in summer 2014 showed that 100
percent of alumni said communication
skills were the most important thing a graduate should have, while 79 percent of employers agreed.
Tech president Les Guice said he is also
excited about the benefits this program will
give Tech students and graduates.
I am confident that this QEP will enhance the skills of our graduates, making
this the preferred destination for employers
and future students, he said.
Guice said the program holds up the national standards that Tech is held to.
Tech is often referred to as a leader and
innovator in education and research, and I
believe this will further enhance the institutions reputation for being out in front, he
said.

Email comments to
jts040@latech.edu.

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Difficulty HARD

LASTISSUESSOLUTION

Sudoku Puzzle - Hard

Sudoku Solution - Hard

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Fill in the grid

so that every
row, every
column and
every 3x3
grid contains
the digits 1
through 9.

More Puzzles:

More Puzzles:

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

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NEWS

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SPORTS

www.thetechtalk.org

January 23, 2015 The Tech Talk 11

New year.

New season.

New Maton.

Maton preparing for record-breaking season

WILL TRAHAN
Staff Reporter
For the past three years, every time there was a
Friday night baseball game, fans knew who was going to take the mound for the Bulldogs.
Senior Phil Maton is entering his last season in a
Bulldog uniform and is looking for great things his
final go-round.
As a freshman Maton had a 2.93 ERA and an
8-5 record and was named to the Louisville Slugger
Freshman All-American Team.
He followed that up with a 2.70 ERA in his sophomore year, which led to him being named first
team All-Western Athletic Conference.
Maton had an off year last year and posted numbers not typical to what you would expect from the
right-hander.
He is looking to right the ship this year.
The biggest thing I have worked on this year
is location, Maton said. Last year I was up in the
zone way too much. I want to be more consistent
this year and overall be a more well-rounded pitcher.
Maton is in the top 10 for a couple of records at
Louisiana Tech.
He is ninth in career strikeouts with 234 and 10th

in career innings with 270.2 at Louisiana Tech.

My big thing is doing a lot of drill work before
My goal is, honestly, that every time I leave the I pitch, Maton said. Not necessarily throwing a
game, I leave the team with a good chance to win, whole lot in the bullpen but doing a lot of weighted
Maton said.
ball throws or other drill work to fine tune my meMaton spent his first three seasons
chanics before I get on the bump.
under long time Tech head coach Wade
Maton has made a lasting impact on
Simoneaux and will spend his last season
his former teammates as well.
under new head coach Greg Goff.
Phil is a great guy on and off the
It is just really exciting knowing that
field, said Taylor Burch, a former cenwe have something special coming this
ter fielder for the Bulldogs. As a teamseason, Maton said. I think this year is
mate, he is one of those guys that you
going to be very different. I think we have
can count on all the time to do what is
a chance to make something happen and
needed or asked of him.
get into the conference tournament.
Burch said that all the younger playMaton hopes that some of the things
ers look up to Maton, and he is the type
that he does will rub off on the younger
of teammate that has a great sense of
guys that are just getting here.
humor.
Hopefully my competitiveness rubbed
When he gets on the field he is all
off, Maton said. Attacking every hitter
business and is a very hard worker that
and not being intimidated by someone
tries to master his craft each and every
who has good stats. I want them to not be
day, he said.
MATON
afraid to pitch their best stuff to everyone
and try to give the team the best chance
For more on Tech athletics, follow the
to win when you come out.
Tech Talk Sports Desks Twitter page at twitter.com/
Most pitchers have a routine that they develop techtalksports.
through years of playing baseball and Maton is no
different.
Email comments to bwt008@latech.edu.

www.thetechtalk.org

12 The Tech Talk January 23, 2015

Sports Talk
Smith sets record as Tech remains unbeaten
CATHERINE BURKE
Staff Reporter
Head Coach Mike White and
his Dunkin Dogs have had more
than an exceptional season thus
far. The team has won 22 straight
home games, the third longest
streak in school history, and has
set records while doing so.
The Bulldogs 74-71 win over
the University of Alabama at
Birmingham Blazers was groundbreaking for more players than
one. Redshirt sophomore Erik
McCree scored a game-high 26
points with two of his buckets
setting career marks in crucial
situations.
White said the crowd played a
big role in the win.
I thought one of the biggest
factors of the game was our
crowd, White said. I thought
our crowd really helped us defensively and really pulled us
through.
White said there was a bit of a
let down defensively against the
Blazers.
I just thought we were a little
bit flat in the first few minutes,
which set a tone for them being
able to execute at the level in
which they did for 40 minutes,
he said. We were not the same
team, but again, I do not want to
take anything away from UAB.
They had a lot to do with that.
They were terrific.
Kenneth Speedy Smith broke
the all-time record for career assists in the Bulldogs win over
UAB with 715 career assists.
He is a terrific passer who is
unselfish, White said. That is all
he cares about, helping his teammates get better and making the
pass that leads to the basket.
White could not have been

MATT VALCHO
Staff Reporter

Photo by Donny J. Crowe

Senior point guard Kenneth Speedy Smith passed the Louisiana Tech all-time assists record last Thursday
against UAB when he tallied his 715th career assist.

more complimentary of Smith in

the UAB post-game press conference.
People talk about his passing ability and his assists and the
steals, but what makes Speedy
speedy is his competitiveness,
he said. He is a winner and any
accolades he gets, I am happy for
him.
The team kept the wins rolling on Jan.17 with their 75-68
win over Middle Tennessee State
University in the second annual
(Mike) White Out game. Alex

Hamilton scored 30 points, tying his current season high, and

set a record for made free throws
in a game in Tech history when
he went 20-23 from the charity
stripe. Raheem Appleby was not
far behind, tallying 18 points and
Smith added to his record with 10
assists.
Hamilton was recognized for
his performance by receiving his
third Conference USA Mens Basketball Player of the Week award
and his first Louisiana Sports
Writers Association Player of the

Week Award.
Hamilton totalled 50 points
over the weekend while shooting 69 percent from the field, 100
percent from behind the 3-point
line and 86 percent from the freethrow line.
For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk Sports Desks
Twitter page at twitter.com/techtalksports.

Email comments to
cjb066@latech.edu.

Former Louisiana Tech football coach returns to Ruston

NEWS SERVICES

Gotch
leaps into
record
books

this work and have Rick join the Tech Family.

A college coaching veteran of over 30 seaLouisiana Tech head football coach Skip sons, Petri has made coaching stops at Ole
Holtz announced Thursday that Rick Petri has Miss, Miami, South Carolina and Kentucky
joined the staff as the teams defensive line among others throughout his career. He joins
coach. He joins the Tech family after holding a Tech program that is coming off an appearthe same position at Duke the last four years.
ance in the Conference USA Championship
This marks Petris second stint at Louisi- Game and a Zaxbys Heart of Dallas Bowl win
ana Tech after serving on the Bulldogs staff in over Illinois.
1992, the programs fourth season in Division
I am fortunate to be coming into a proI-A (now FBS).
gram that is building on accomplished sucIt is exciting to come back to Louisiana cess, Petri said. This is not an instance where
Tech, Petri said. My wife and I
you perceive the success coming in
both have fond memories of our
the future, it is already there. Just like
time here even though a few years
the new end zone facility, you see
have passed and it is always excitthe building coming along and you
ing to come back and see a place
see the construction taking place. I
where you have been, to see how it
think it is important that we have a
has changed for the better and you
situation where we are already buildcan easily see the good things that
ing on that success, not just talking
are happening. The staff has been
about the type of success we want
very welcoming and Coach Holtz is
to have. It is an exciting time to be at
obviously one of the best in the busiLouisiana Tech with being a memness. I am excited to spend some
ber of Conference USA, the teams
time with him and learn from him
we get to play and the opportunity to
PETRI
because you are always learning and
recruit quality people. The program
adding to what you do and what you
is surrounded by quality people,
believe in. It is an exciting time for both my people that enjoy football and want to continwife and me.
ue building the program the right way. It is an
Petri joins the Tech staff after spending the exciting time to be a Bulldog.
last four seasons as the defensive line coach at
In both 2012 and 2013, Dukes defensive
Duke where he helped the Blue Devils to 28 front that was guided by Petri, was spearheadwins over four seasons including the 2013 ACC ed by ends Kenny Anunike and Justin Foxx.
Coastal Division title and three bowl game ap- Anunike, who led the Blue Devils in sacks in
pearances.
each of his final three seasons, was a two-time
Rick brings such a wealth of experience All-ACC pick while Foxx, who served as a capwith a number of years coaching in the South- tain of Dukes ACC Coastal Division champieastern Conference, Holtz said. He has onship team in 2013, finished his 45-game caturned out numerous players in the NFL and reer with 152 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and
brings a lot of experience that will help many 11.5 sacks.
of our upperclassmen continue to elevate their
Petri served on current Duke head coach
game but, at the same time, help bring along David Cutcliffes staff at Ole Miss from 1998some of our freshmen that we are going to 04, helping the Rebels to a 44-29 record and
need to contribute as we go forward. I could four bowl victories. In 2003, Ole Miss went
not be more excited about being able to make 10-3, captured a share of the SEC Western

Division title and defeated Oklahoma State in

the Cotton Bowl. While with the Rebels, Petri
coached the defensive tackles and tutored a
pair of first team All-SEC selections in Kendrick Clancy and Jesse Mitchell. Clancy went
on to be a third round pick of the Pittsburgh
Steelers in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Petri went to Durham after spending the
2010 campaign at ACC member Miami. That
year, the Hurricane defensive unit ranked
among the leagues leaders in pass defense,
pass defense efficiency, opponent third down
percentage, opponent first downs, total defense, sacks and scoring defense.
From 2005-09, Petri was on the staff at
Kentucky where he helped the Wildcats to
four consecutive bowl game appearances that
included victories over Clemson, Florida State
and East Carolina. In Lexington, Petri coached
three future draft picks in Myron Pryor (6th
round, New England, 2009), Jeremy Jarmon
(3rd round, Washington, 2010) and Corey Peters (3rd round, Atlanta, 2010).
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Petri got his start
in coaching at Pittsburg State (1977-78). He
then spent 10 years on the staff at Arkansas
State before a three-year (1989-91) stint at Ole
Miss under head coach Billy Brewer (a former
Louisiana Tech head coach). During his first
stint in Oxford, Petri coached Kelvin Pritchett, who was a first round choice of the Dallas
Cowboys in 1991 and spent 14 seasons with
the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
After one season at Louisiana Tech (1992),
he enjoyed three seasons at Miami (1993-95)
as the Hurricanes went 27-7, won two BIG
EAST championships, finished all three seasons ranked in the Associated Press national
poll and played in both the Fiesta and Orange
Bowls. In addition, Petri coached three future
first round NFL draft choices in Warren Sapp,
Kenard Lang and Kenny Holmes.
Petri is a 1976 graduate of the University of
Missouri-Rolla. He and his wife, Marsha, have
two sons, Brad and Kory.

The Louisiana Tech track

team set the pace for the rest
of the 2015 indoor and outdoor seasons after a strong
showing at the Texas A&M
Team Invitational.
Jarvis Gotch had the
standout performance of
the meet. Gotch, a redshirt
junior from Carencro, won
the long jump with a jump
of 26-2.75 (7.99m), which
broke a 41-year-old Louisiana Tech school record and
is currently ranked third in
the world this season.
Gary Stanley, the track
teams head coach since
1988, isnt surprised by
Gotchs record marks.
We knew he had it in
him, Stanley said. His
jumping coach had been
telling me and telling me
that the mark was coming,
so when he walked over
and told me what he did at
the meet, I couldnt be surprised.
Stanley gave credit to his
assistant coach Calvin Robinson for the progress Gotch
has made the last few seasons.
Coach Robinson has
done a remarkable job with
Jarvis, Stanley said. This is
the first time he has jumped
this season, so obviously you
have to think he can only get
better.
Robinson,
assistant
coach since 2012, knew
what Gotch was capable of.
There are very few people that wouldnt surprise
me with a jump like that,
Robinson said. Jarvis is one
of those few.
Another winner at the
Texas A&M Team Invitational was Bianca Jackson.
Jackson won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.59, improving her qualifying time
by .04 from 8.63.
Other notable performances came from Lady
Techsters triple jumpers
Jamelia Johnson, Danielle
Zenon and Denisha Henix
who finished fourth, fifth and
sixth respectively.
Charla Craddock finished
fourth in the 60m dash with
a time of 7.65.
The womens 4x400 relay team of Craddock, Diamond Every, Mia Adams
and Cassie Divin finished
in fourth behind teams from
Texas A&M, Baylor, and Stephen F. Austin.
I think we did well considering how early it is in
the season, Stanley said.
It was a hard meet against
strong opposition and the
thing is, it is only going to
get tougher.
Stanley called their upcoming slate of meets a
gauntlet.
We travel to some tough
places, Stanley said. How
far we go will depend on
how we gel in indoor season
and the beginning of outdoor season.

Email comments to
mvv002@latech.edu.