Tech Talk 12.18.14

Ashlee Ford crowned Miss
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and
GOLD
PAGE 8
Gibsons Natural Grocer

PAGE 3
Check out Rustons latest natural product source
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WWW.THETECHTALK.ORG
VOLUME 89 ISSUE 9
Ruston walks through a

winter wonderland
NEWS SERVICES
Rustons annual
Christmas parade
once again brought
Christmas cheer
to the community
She said the decorating process is

not easy.
Each house began decorating
around 4 p.m. and will continue to decorate until 8 p.m., she said. The decorations are so elaborate. It really gives
that home away from home feeling.
Jordan Collis, a member of Sigma
Kappa, said her chapter was aiming for
a specific theme.
Dr. Yuri Lvov, professor of chemistry

and T. Pipes Eminent Endowed Chair in
Micro and Nanosystems at Louisiana
Tech University, has been named a 2014
Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Lvov is one of only two academic
inventors from Louisiana institutions
to earn the NAIs Fellow distinction for
2014.
Election to NAI Fellow status is a
high professional designation accorded
to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific
spirit of innovation
in creating or fa- Dr. Lvov
cilitating outstand- continues to
ing
inventions
that have made a distinguish
tangible
impact himself as a
on quality of life, researcher
economic development, and the and inventor,
welfare of society.
and LouisiLvovs groundbreaking work in ana Tech as
n a n o m a t e r i a l s , a nationallyincluding
nano- prominent
assembly of ultrathin films, bio research
and
nanocom- university.
posites, ordered
nanoshells, organ- LES GUICE
ic-inorganic com- Tech President
posites and clay
nanotubes
with
controlled release of chemical agents,
has earned him international acclaim
and recognition.
I am very happy to be just the second Louisiana professor elected to this
prestigious national academy, Lvov
said. The academy selection committee consists from the world top scientists and innovators, and to be screened
by them means a higher visibility for
Louisiana Tech University. This is recognition not only for my research, but for
all Louisiana Tech efforts in innovative
science and engineering technologies.
Lvov is among the pioneers of polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer assembly a
nanotechnology method which has
resulted in a number of industrial applications. His research on composites
with clay nanotubes allowed for anticorrosion, antimicrobial and anti-aging fictionalization of polymers. Lvov has 12
U.S., Australian and Japanese patents,
and has published 220 papers which
were cited 13,200 times.
Dr. Lvov continues to distinguish
himself as a researcher and inventor,
and Louisiana Tech as a nationallyprominent research university, said
Louisiana Tech President Les Guice.
> see CHRISTMASpage 10
> see CHEMISTRY page 10
TOP: Local children ride in a float

during the parade,
an annual event
that circles the
entirety of downtown Ruston.
BOTTOM: Santa
Claus and Rudolph
drive through Ruston at the citys
annual Christmas
parade.
Photos by Brian Blakely
Sororities kick off Christmas on the lane

CATHERINE BURKE
Staff Reporter
Lights, garlands and blow-up snowmen
dress the outside of houses throughout
Ruston, but there is more to Christmas than
just dcor. Decorations go deeper than what
meets the eye for some organizations and
families.
Victoria Pardue, one of the coordinators
for the Panhellenic Councils Christmas on
the Lane, said decorating builds friendships
and is a good time as well.

Its a time each sorority spends decorating their lodges, she said. The girls can get
hot cocoa from the Panhellenic lodge, walk
around to see other lodges and meet members of other sororities.
Gabby Rangel, the other coordinator for
Christmas on the Lane, said the yearly decorating is great for every house on the lane.
It really gives us the chance to build
Greek unity and appreciate one another
during the holiday season, she said.
Chemistry
professor named
to fellowship
NEWS
2 The Tech Talk December 18, 2014
www.thetechtalk.org
Tech offers many study abroad options

MICHAEL HOGE
Staff Reporter
Students at Louisiana Tech
who are interested in visiting
other countries such as France
or Spain while studying have the
option of doing so through the
Study Abroad Program.
All students are welcome to attend the trips, but a cap is set.
We try to limit to about to
about no more than 20 and try
to keep it small because in many
ways, it is topic specific, said
Jonathan Donehoo, coordinator
of foreign studies.
Jeremy Mano, a senior architecture major, said he took a
French class before doing the Paris, France, study abroad program.
Sometimes it was difficult
because some of the vendors
didnt know as much English, and
I didnt know as much French,
Mano said, but I was able to
communicate slightly with them.
Each study abroad trip has different focuses, Donehoo said. For
example, the Paris trip is art and
architecture oriented.
We go to a lot of museums,
architectural firms, agencies and
Photo by Carter Carroll
Jonathan Donehoo is the coordinator of foreign studies at Tech. He is in charge of overseeing the study
abroad programs offered by the school.
other places we want to relate to
what were teaching, Donehoo
said.
Matthew Barkley, a senior architecture major, said he enjoyed
the interdisciplinary nature of the

Paris trip.
Cross-pollination between the
two disciplines was rewarding,
Barkley said. Id love to do it
Tech English professor

releases first book
again. Its the kind of thing thats

hard to fit into college more than
once, but Id love to do it again.
Donehoo said the trips allow
students to learn a language by
immersion into that culture.

Anybody can come and do
this,
Donehoo said.
Any student
in any major
could find a
program that
could
suit
their needs.
Interested
students can
visit with Donehoo at his
office, George
MANO
T.
Madison
Hall, Room
127A,
or
email him at jdonehoo@latech.
edu. Other contacts for study
abroad include Karl Puljak, director of the School of Design,
kpuljak@latech.edu, for the Paris
program; and Paul Nelson, an assistant professor of modern languages, pnelson@latech.edu, for
the Madrid program.
The deposit deadline for these
trips is today with the full payment due Jan. 12, 2015.
Email comments to
mph027@latech.edu.
STEEPLES GLEN APARTMENTS
RUSTONAPARTMENTS.COM
LACY CAMP
Staff Reporter
suffering under Communist rule.

Through his mother and his own
childhood memories, Smith was able to
Exploring his grandfathers life turned collect the information needed to bring
Louisiana Techs English professor Gen- details into his writing.
aro K L Smith into a first-time author.
My mother would receive letters
I wanted to explore his life and how from her father, half sisters and half
he had to deal with living in communist brothers about the details on what is
Vietnam, Smith said.
going on with them in Vietnam and the
In his book, The Land
hardships they had to
Barons Sun: The Story
endure, Smith said. I
of Ly Loc and His Seven She had to live
still remember certain
Wives, Smith transformed
aspects of my life all
the life of his grandfather with the idea that the way until I was 18
into a book of poetry that her family was
months old and when I
digs into the life of Ly Loc,
left Vietnam when I was
the main character in the still suffering
3 years old.
story.
As a kid, Smith stayed
I think its an interest- under Communist updated on Vietnams
ing subject, Smith said.
situation through artirule.
During the Vietnam
cles, books, newspapers
War, Loc served as the
and magazines.
major commander for the GENARO SMITH
I saw similarities
South Vietnamese Army, Tech English professor
with my family in rewho took the task of degards to other families
feating North Vietnam
that were going through
with the United States help, but failed.
the same tribulations the starvation
As Smith explored further into Locs and being poor, Smith said. Its not like
life, he discovered more facts.
a separate incident that occurred with
For the first 30 years of my life, I my family, it was all of Vietnam going
didnt know that my grandfather had through the same thing.
seven wives at the same time and from
When reading The Land Barons
them, he had 27 children, Smith said.
Sun, Smith said he hopes the readers
Through Smiths poetry in the book, can understand and learn more about
readers get a close look into the time the history.
Loc spent in the reeducation camp and
I hope people get history out of it,
his familys future family members Smith said. The history of Vietnam,
who were able to escape to America how life was before and after the war
and those who were left behind in Viet- and how good they have it here in Amernam.
ica. So hopefully they can take that away
My mother was the only one out when reading the book.
of those 27 children who came to the
United Sates, Smith said. She had to Email comments to
live with the idea that her family was still lmc074@latech.edu.
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December 18, 2014 The Tech Talk 3
Gibsons opens in Ruston offering organic food

MICHAEL HOGE
Staff Reporter
Residents around Ruston who enjoy natural and
organic foods can rejoice over the opening of a new
grocery store to buy these products.
Gibsons Natural Grocer, located at 1305 Commerce
St., opened for business on Saturday, Dec. 6 and has
already experienced a boom of customers.
Brian Warren, owner and manager of Gibsons, said
his store fulfills a need for non-GMO (genetically-modified organisms) products in Ruston.
The products we sell here are all natural, no pesticides, no hormones. A lot of customers want nonGMO, he said.
Warren said when he began to eat healthier foods,
he realized Ruston had a need for a grocery store to
support a healthy way of eating.
We present foods in the way they are supposed to
be, he said.
He said the foods are grown using natural fertilizers
and nothing is scientifically altered.
If we find an item that
doesnt match our standards,
Some of the
we take it off our shelf, Warproducts you
ren said. We worked pretty
can find all over hard to make sure that there
any of those items out
town, but to find arent
there.
them all in one
Warren expressed his surprise at the amount of supplace is
port from the community,
convenient.
originally intending to not
announce the stores openJEANNIE TINKER
ing. Yet there has been of a
A customer of Gibsons
steady stream of customers
natural grocer
due to word of mouth and
through the stores Facebook
page.
We had over 300 customers the first day, he said.
Im thankful for that.
Jeannie Tinker, a customer, said she heard of the
store through friends and Facebook.
Some of the products you can find all over town,
but to find them all in one place is convenient, she
said. Theyve got a great selection too.
Warren also plans to expand his business to reach
with Tech students by accepting Tech Express.
I do want to cater to Tech students, Warren said.
Ive seen quite a few student- athletes come through.
I hope that by taking Tech Express thatll enable the
general student population to buy cleaner foods,
Warren feels he is offering a broader choice in the
area of organic products.
The people that typically shop in natural food
stores do not shop at Walmart, he said, I think Im
offering a niche product. Im a supplemental store basically.
Warren named the store after his grandmother as
suggested by his wife since he could not think of a
name. He said it fits perfectly, as his grandmother lived
to be 104, always ate from the garden and stayed active.
The grocer is also a multiple generation effort as
Joyce Elmore, Warrens mother also works at the store.
I think its turned out great and hes done a wonderful job getting all this going, she said.
Brian Warren, owner and manager of Gibsons Natural Grocer, plans to expand his new business to Tech students by accepting Tech Express in the near future.
Email comments to mph027@latech.edu.
The newly opened Gibsons offers a wide variety of healthy and organic products for students and the community of Ruston.
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www.thetechtalk.org
4 The Tech Talk December, 18 2014
Insight
The
TechTalk
FROMTHEEDITOR
America cant ignore the race conversation
MANAGEMENT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John Sadler
MANAGING AND
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Cody Sexton
NEWS EDITOR
Ray Patterson
SPORTS EDITOR
Jared King
FEATURE EDITOR
Kelsy Kershaw
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Wynnifred Sanders
ASSOCIATE
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Ellie Moslander
PHOTO EDITOR
Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brian Blakely
Carter Carroll
Colin Fontenot
Jaclyn Perry
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Taylor Loftin
ADVISERS
Dr. Judith Roberts

T. Scott Boatright
ADVERTISING ADVISER
Dr. Reginald Owens
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Michael LeBlanc
JOHN SADLER
Editor-in-Chief
ace has been at the forefront

of American news lately.
With the recent deaths of
black males Michael Brown, Eric
Garner and Tamir Rice (among
many others), large protest movements by people of many races and
ethnicities have sprung up around
the country.
Holding signs with the hashtag
phrase #BlackLivesMatter, the
marchers are protesting the perceived indifference they say too
many police officers have for the
lives of black men.
Its not only cops. I remember when it came out that Michael
Brown had stolen cigars from a convenience store prior to being shot.
It soon became one of the issues
played up by the media.
Should he have robbed a store?
Well, no. But it seemed as if these
people were excited to finally have a
reason to call him a thug. Until this

incident, I was unaware stealing cigars was a capital offense.
The situation made me very
aware of something many refer to
as white privilege.
Its a term that seems to anger
many white people. It can be seen,
by some, as an attack. As in, How
dare they say I had things handed to
me? I worked for what I have.
Nobody is saying white people
have things handed to them. It
would be ignorant to assume you
would have a good life just because
you are white. But things are different for non-white races in this country.
In the aftermath of these incidents, I read quite a few articles
about race relations, and one thing
stood out to me.
There were many articles detailing the talk that black parents have
with their sons. The talk entailed
how to act around police without
fear of retribution.
The points were the same. Dont

wear a hoodie, dont put your hands
in your pockets, dont talk back.
Be prepared to be humiliated.
I never had that talk with my parents. I was never afraid when dealing with police.
It never entered my mind that
some people might be, unless they
had done something wrong.
That is white privilege.
This isnt an attack on police. It
is a criticism, yes. But it is strange to
me that so many people get angry
when the police are criticized.
Not being able to criticize our
lawkeepers is a pretty scary thought.
And until everyone, regardless of
race or socioeconomic status, can
encounter police without fear, we
should keep criticizing.
John Sadler is a junior journalism

and English major from Extension
who serves as editor for The Tech
Talk. Email comments to jts040@
latech.edu.
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Michael LeBlanc
LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT

Dear Santa: a college students wish list
DEPARTMENT HEAD
Dr. Reginald Owens
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tech Talk subscriptions are $25 a

year. Mail to: Tech Talk Subscrip
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
examination periods, by the Jour
nalism Department of Louisiana
Tech University. Publication office
is in Keeny Hall, Room 139.
POSTAL
Second-class postage paid at Rus

ton, La. Postmaster: Send address
changes to The Tech Talk, P.O. Box
10258, Ruston, LA 71272.
CONTACT US
NEWSROOM 318.257.4946
ADVERTISING 318.257.4949
EMAIL techtalk@latech.edu
JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT
CODY SEXTON
Managing Editor
ear Santa,
I know its been awhile
since Ive written to you.
I think the last time I did was
when I was five. I asked for a complete set of the Power Ranger action
figures (thanks for coming in clutch
with each Rangers corresponding
Zords, by the way).
However, I come to you once
again in hopes that my selflessness
for not asking for anything for the
past two decades has racked up a
fair amount of good karma points.
My silence has been due to a
combination of my parents stepping
up their present game and those vicious rumors that you are not real.
But recent events like Aaron Carters return to music has shown me
Christmas miracles exist.
This year Santa, I come as a college student on the cusp of graduating asking for a few simple things.
First, I would like an insulin
pump for the purpose of mainlining caffeine directly into my blood
stream. This will help with my remaining all-nighters.
Second, a magical wardrobe (not
like the portal to Narnia, clothing)
that will always fit and shape itself
to the manic highs and lows my
bodyweight has been subjected to.
Next Santa, I would like prosthetics for the missing limbs I have had
to auction off on the Black Market
to pay for school books I use no
more than three times a quarter.
Also, I would like for Netflix to
add either Big Bang Theory or
Friends to their show lineup so
when Im so overwhelmed with
work I just quit, Ill have something
good to watch.
Fifth, (Im almost done, Santa. I

promise) I would like for hackers to
use their powers for good. Instead
of leaking nude photos of beloved
movie stars, can they instead crash
the servers of the federal student
loan offices? Thatd be swell.
And last, but not least Santa, I
would like assurances from you that
upon graduating I get a job using
the degree for which I have worked.
Please Santa, I ask this one big favor.
God forbid I am unable to find employment and am forced back into
the service industry. I would rather
be subjected to the CIAs rectal feeding (oh, excuse me allegedly) than
wait tables again.
Happy Holidays!
Cody
Cody Sexton is a senior journalism

major from Seattle, who serves as
Managing Editor for the Tech Talk.
318.257.4427
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 and
classification or title. We will not
print the telephone number. View
points 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.
FOR A RANEY DAY
Rest in peace Stephen Colbert

RANEY JOHNSON
Contributing Editor
Whenver I give an answer to the
question, why did I choose journalism as a major, I usually reply Stephen Colbert.
After repeating this same answer
over the past three and a half years,
I have come to the realization the
answer is not really truth but instead
truthiness. The meaning of the latter
word is preferring facts one wishes to
be true rather than facts known to be
true or as Colbert put it, truth that
comes from the gut, not books.
I chose to believe Colbert was a
real journalist. I also chose to believe
he majored in journalism with no sort
of factual backing. Why? Because
my gut told me he was a journalism
major.
So when I applied to Louisiana
Tech, my chosen major was a given.
However, through a Google
search my first year as a journalism
major, I was informed Colbert was
not a journalism major but instead a
theater major. My world came crashing down. Why was I in journalism?
I now created some more truthiness by telling people I chose journalism because The Colbert Report
turned me on to journalism and

news.
When I learned the real Stephen
Colbert was going to take over for David Lettermen on The Late Show
after Letterman retired, I was more
than excited. Although I would now
get to see the real Colbert, I was going to see the last of the fake Colbert.
Then, I realized it was the fictional
Colbert who was my influence.
I always told myself I would work
as an intern for The Colbert Report
my senior year, but it seems that
dream is now dead as of today.
So, after I knew my chance of
ever working for my favorite fake
news show was gone, I had a new
dream of taking over for Colbert and
creating the Raney Report.
Knowing this dream would never
come true had more to do with my
belief that a black man would never
get to replace Colbert than with my
total lack of television experience.
Then, truthiness reared its ugly
head in my life again when I learned
former Daily Show correspondent,
Larry Wilmore, was taking over after
Colbert left. A black man truly was
taking over.
I do not regret following my gut in
becoming a journalism major. I have
definitley made a lot of wonderful

friends and had many great experiences because of the choice.
It makes me happy to know my
time is ending in college around
the same time my hero is ending
his show. His show helped me get
through middle school, high school
and college.
I will definitely miss the fake Stephen Colbert who America has come
to love, but I have hope the real Stephen Colbert will gain even more
love.
Now, I will create one last bit of
truthiness in honor of my hero. When
people inquire about my plans after
graduating, I will tell them I plan on
working for Stephen Colbert on The
Late Show with Stephen Colbert not
because it is factual but because I
choose to believe it.
So, farewell to my hero, fake Stephen Colbert, and I hope everyone
watches his last show tonight. Maybe
he will finally give us an answer to
the question, George W. Bush, great
president or the greatest president?
Raney Johnson is a senior journalism

major from Shreveport who served as
editor for the Tech Talk. Email comments to rcj008@latech.edu.
Are
colleges too
politically
correct?
ell-known comedian Chris

Rock has stated that he will no
longer visit college campuses
because he finds them too conservative.
Rock has been in the comedy industry
for many years and has visited a number
of colleges throughout the years, but he
is not happy with the feedback he has received recently.
Known for more of his mature and
racy comedy, Rock said he believes
many students are becomingoffended by
what he says.
While deeming colleges too conservative is not the correct term, but students are definitely aware of what crosses the line.
This is definitely not a bad thing and
while Rock may be offended because
students have not responded well to his
comedy lately, it is because students may
be starting to take issues very seriously.
Rock said this is because students are
too scared to offend anyone and makes
this seem like a bad thing. He said because of this, his jokes are not effective
on college students anymore.
Comedians have the right to say what
they want without having to be scared
of offending anyone, within reason. Colleges and universities also have the right
be concerned and socially aware.
If Rock no longer wants to tour colleges because he believes he will no
longer receive the reaction he wants,
he is entitled to do so. He should not be
frustrated with students for their views
though.
Rock also is wrong for using the term
too conservative when referring to colleges today.
He said they are not politically, but socially conservative.
Not in their political views - not like
theyre voting Republican -- but in their
social views and their willingness not to
offend anybody, Rock told New York
Magazine.
By socially conservative, he seems
to mean students are going out of their
way not too offend anyone. The example
he uses is they even ignore race altogether.
Colleges really have not become
more conservative, but more progressive.
If colleges begin to lose comedians,
such as Rock, because of this new way
of viewing society, then this can only
show students minds are set on something else.
Maybe this means students have become more aware of the fact that certian
things should not be the butt of jokes.
It is not like college students completely lack a sense of humor. Just because Rock thinks so does not mean this
is true. Of course students enjoy a good
laugh, but there are certain things to be
laughed at and not to be.
Rock may see his comedy as a way
to lighten the mood and make people
feel better about certain issues by turning them into jokes. Maybe this way of
thinking in comedy is starting to become
unpopular because it is no longer funny.
Whether students enjoy his acts or
not, Rock will still remain popular and
maintain an audience. Because he chose
to no longer tour campuses, he is only
hurting himself by losing this audience.
This could be viewed as a good thing
because of the stance college students
are taking on issues. Students can still
see Chris Rocks comedy acts, just not
on their own campus.
www.thetechtalk.org
World
W&NBRIEFS
WORLDNEWS
Belarus censors
online media
MINSK, Belarus (AP)
The Belarusian parliament has
approved a bill that would allow authorities to shut Internet
media if they carry content
deemed illegal.
This move is part of the
authorities efforts to further
tighten control over media
ahead of Novembers presidential election, in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is expected to
seek extension of his 20-year
rule.
Swiss scientists
build new robot
SWITZERLAND (AP)
Swiss scientists demonstrated
how a partially paralyzed person can control a robot by
thought, a step they hope will
one day allow immobile people
to interact with their surroundings through so-called avatars.
Similar projects have been attempted in other countries but
have not been successful.
Notable Egyptian
actor imprisoned
CAIRO (AP) An Egyptian court on Tuesday upheld
a conviction against one of
the Arab worlds most famous
comedians, Adel Imam, sentencing him to jail for offending
Islam in popular films.
Nation
Militants attack Pakistani school

ASSOCIATED PRESS
PESHAWAR, Pakistan
(AP) Taliban gunmen
stormed a military-run
school in the northwestern
Pakistani city of Peshawar
on Tuesday, killing at least
141 people, mostly children,
before Pakistani officials declared a military operation
to clear the school over.
The overwhelming majority of the victims were
students at the school,
which instructs grades 1-10.
Pakistani Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif condemned
the assault and rushed to
Peshawar to show his support for the victims.
A Pakistani military
spokesman, Asim Bajwa,
said 141 people died in
the attack 132 children
and nine staff members.
He declared the operation
over and said the area had
been cleared. An additional
121 students and three staff
members were wounded.
He said seven attackers,
all wearing explosives vests,
died in the assault. Bajwa
described an assault that
seemed designed purely to
terrorize the children rather
than take anyone hostage to
further the militant groups
aims.
Their sole purpose, it
seems, was to kill those in-
Man arrested in
church burglaries
BOSSIER CITY (AP)
Bossier City police have arrested a 27-year-old man on
burglary charges for breaking
into at least five churches over
the past several weeks. Some
of the stolen items included
computers, food, and tools.
Adoption bill for

gay couples fails
BATON ROUGE (AP) A
proposal that would allow gay
couples and other unmarried
couples to adopt children together in Louisiana has been
defeated 9-2 by a House committee Tuesday.
First arrest made in

BP oil spill case
NEW ORLEANS (AP) In
the first criminal charges related to the deadly explosion on
the Deepwater Horizon rig in
April 2010, the Justice Department arrested Kurt Mix and
charged him with two counts
of obstruction of justice for
allegedly destroying evidence
sought by federal authorities.
A BP engineer intentionally deleted more than 300
text messages that said that the
amount of oil leaking was far
more than what the company
reported, the Justice Depart-
AP Photo/ Mohammad Sajjad
A Pakistani girl injured in a Taliban attack in a school on Tuesday is rushed to a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.
nocent kids. Thats what
they did, he said.
The horrific attack,
claimed by the Tehreek-eTaliban, a Pakistani militant
group trying to overthrow
the government, sent dozens of wounded flooding
into local hospitals as terrified parents searched for
Man unable to use arms;

jailed on gun charge
ASSOCIATED PRESS
STATENEWS
red light in Trenton and

was pulled over. They say
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) inside the car police offi A man who cant use cers found a stolen handhis arms because of a spi- gun in a seatback pocket
nal condition is being held and a prescription bottle
in jail while facing a gun of codeine. All four men
possession charge his law- were charged after none
yer calls shocking.
of them took responsibilBail was lowered Tues- ity for the items.
day for Marcus Hubbard,
A state judge agreed
who has been jailed since during Tuesdays hearing
his arrest in Trenton, New to lower Hubbards bail
Jersey in Aufrom $100,000
gust.
to
$35,000.
Defense
But
Turner
lawyer Carosaid
shell
line Turner
continue her
said the case
efforts to have
against HubHubbard freed
bard,
who
without bail.
injured his
Po l i c e
spine in a car
said the gun
accident and
was
stolen
may
have
from AnchorLou
Gehage, Alaska.
rigs disease,
Turner said
shocks the
the other men
conscience.
arrested
in
H o w
the car with
could (he be)
Hubbard
held for four
told police it
months on a
didnt belong
HUBBARD
gun charge?
to him and he
Turner said
shouldnt be
during the bail hearing. charged.
He cannot move his arms.
Prosecutors acknowlThey are useless to him.
edged Hubbard has no
Hubbard, whos from use of his hands but said
Salem, New Jersey, has he still could be guilty of
been hospitalized in pro- a crime.
tective custody since his
Turner said prosecuarrest, The New York tors are misstating conTimes reported. He wore structive possession laws,
a back brace in court on which allow charges for
Tuesday and had difficulty someone who isnt posstanding, the newspaper sessing an item but can
said.
and intends to exert conAuthorities say Hub- trol over it himself or
bard and three other men through other people, The
were in a car that ran a Times reported.
their children.
My son was in uniform in the morning. He
is in a casket now, wailed
one parent, Tahir Ali, as he
came to the hospital to collect the body of 14-year-old
Abdullah. My son was my
dream. My dream has been
killed.
The attack began in the

morning when the gunmen entered the school
and started shooting at
random. Army commandos quickly arrived at the
scene and started exchanging fire with the gunmen.
The prime minister vowed
that the country would not
be cowed by the violence

and that the military would
continue with an aggressive operation launched in
June to rout militants from
the North Waziristan tribal
area.
The fight will continue.
No one should have any
doubt about it, Sharif said.
NEWS
www.thetechtalk.org
Matthew Flanders, a
freshman computer
science major, played
Christmas carols at
Tech the Halls.
Tech
The
halls
CODY SEXTON
Managing Editor
Louisiana Tech students and Ruston locals were transported to the fictional land of
Arendelle when they entered the TONK for
Techs annual Tech the Halls.
The Frozen-themed Christmas party
was hosted by Union Board. Amber Bell, a
senior marketing major, was in charge of organizing the event.
We wanted to try something different,
she said. Frozen was a big thing this year
and we decided to go with that theme.
Bell said even though Union Board works
for the students of Tech, Tech the Halls was
open to the community of Ruston as well.
The TONK was dimly lit by hanging
Christmas lights and a Christmas tree students could hang decorations on.
Trey Courts, a sophomore family and
child studies major, was a Union Board
member helping students to choose which
ornament he or she wanted to hang on the
tree.
I like the family atmosphere this year,
he said. Its a nice mix of family and college students.
Booths were set up in the TONK for different crafts such as making ones own flavor of chapstick or personalizing a leather
bracelet.
Some students came just to enjoy free
food, including waffles and ice cream and
hot cocoa.
Tech the Halls included a performance
by the Regal Blues. Dressed in Santa hats
and red skirts, the Regal Blues put on a
quick holiday dance for the crowd that did
not waver even through technical difficulties
with the music.
Bell said Union Board decided to bring
back a popular craft from a previous Tech
the Halls.
The flipbooks were big last time, she
said. People liked that.
Megan Green, a freshman health information management major, said she enjoyed the Union Board event.
Making the flipbook was a lot of fun,
she said. It (Tech the Halls) was nicely

done. There was a lot to do.
The evenings highlight was the Builda-Bulldog where students could make their
own stuffed bulldog.
Throughout the evening, the line for students to make their own bulldog was half
the length of the TONK,
However, the line to make a personalized
replica of the Tech mascot was rivaled by
the wait to meet the Tech the Halls guests
of the evening.
The stars of Frozen, Anna and Elsa,
employees of Enchanted Entertainment,
made an appearance for those who are fans
of the hit Disney film. Some children were
more excited about the arrival of the Arendelle royal family than they were of Santa
Claus.
Pictures with Anna and Elsa were the
big thing for the evening, Bell said. We
knew that would be fun.
Children lined up to meet the queen and
princess some even dressed up as little Elsa
and Annas themselves.
In previous years, Tech the Halls included more physical activities. Two years ago,
the event had ice skating.
However, this year the event included a
mechanical bull fashioned as a reindeer.
Students appeared to be in the Christmas spirit whether they were standing in
line singing along to holiday songs, recreating the iconic dance to Jingle Bell Rock
from the movie Mean Girls when the song
played or sitting at a table with friends eating.
Abbie Machowski, a junior marketing
major, said she liked the music better this
year than in previous years.
I also enjoyed the creative use of the
Frozen theme, she said. The food was
good, too.
Emily Jones, a senior civil engineering
student, said the event helped make it feel
like Christmas.
It helped bring the Christmas spirit of
joy and cheer to campus, she said.
Email comments to cls068@latech.edu.
ABOVE: Students lined up as

Union Board members helped
them make stuffed animals
including bulldogs, monkeys
and bears.
BELOW: Emily ORear (left), a
sophomore family and child
studies major, and Taylor Young
(right), a senior finance major,
build their bulldogs.
Characters Elsa (left) and Anna (right), from the

Disney movie Frozen, pose for a photograph
with Natalie Tidwell.
All photos by Colin Fontenot
www.thetechtalk.org
Arts Entertainment
Lights, Camera, Ballyhoo
Stone Theatre to perform Alfred Uhreys Tony
Award-winning The Last Night of Ballyhoo
LACY CAMP
Staff Reporter
The timeless events from Alfred Uhrys
play The Last Nigh of Ballyhoo are coming to life in the Stone Theatre.
The School of Performing Arts completed auditions and will perform The Last
Night of Ballyhoo Jan. 28-31 and Feb. 4-7.
One of my goals for the show is that I
want each of the cast members to be able
to fully create the world of this play and
bring these characters to life, said Paul
Crook, an associate professor of theater
and the plays director.
The cast of the production will include
Kaitlin Fouquet as Boo, Maggie McAdams as Reba, Ashley Davis as Lala, Courtney VanEaton as Sunny, Kevin Keeler as
Peachy, Johnny Marley as Joe and Trey
Clark as Adolph.
The biggest thing I look for in auditions
are actors who have an understanding of
the character that they are auditioning for
and have the charismatic draw on stage
that makes you want to pay attention,
Crook said. I also want the actors to kind
of command the stage and be aware of
their body gestures and voices on stage.
Winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best
Play, Uhrys The Last Night of Ballyhoo
is set in December 1939 in Atlanta.
During this time period, Adolf Hitler
was invading Poland and Gone with the
Wind was premiering in Atlanta, but Atlantas elitist German Jews were more concerned with who was going to Ballyhoo
than the problems in Europe.
Ballyhoo is a party that is an equivalent

to a Cotillion (a social gathering), Crook
said. It was held specifically for the Jewish
community and it was one of the series of
parties around the South.
The series of parties were usually held
in Atlanta, Mobile, Alabama; Nashville,
Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina,
Crook said.
The parties were always hosted by
young, well-to-do emperors (high class
Jews) of the Jewish society, Crook said.
People would travel from city to city and
go to these parties.
The plot is primarily about Boo, a worried widow mother, who fears her unpopular daughter Lala will not find a socially acceptable husband and Ballyhoo is her last
chance to find a suitor.
The New York Post categorized The
Last Night of Ballyhoo as a powerful and
delightful comedy in 1997.
The story and the characters are funny
and it is a well written script, Crook said.
It is something that I think that the audience will enjoy.
Although the play is comical, Crook said
he hopes to produce it in a way in which
the cast and audience will understand the
underlying message.
The story that they (the cast) tell is specific to them, Crook said. There are so
much broader meanings that the audience
can take away about family, relationships,
heritage and knowing who we are. I want
them to be able to do that.
Email comments to lmc074@latech.edu.
Photo by Devin Dronett
The plays director, Paul Crook, briefly speaks with students before they audition.
Photo by Devin Dronett
Freshman communication majors Kaitlin Fouquet and Olivia Willcox audition for the play.
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www.thetechtalk.org
MORE TALK
Miss
BLACK
&
GOLD
pageant
Alpha Phi Alpha

fraternity hosts annual
scholarship pageant
KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter
The annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship pageant was held last
Thursday in Howard Auditorium.
The pageant was organized by the Eta Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi
Alpha.
Friends and family members came to support the eight girls who competed.
Doris Skinner, contestant number 4 Agap Skinners mother, drove
from Tallulah to watch her daughter compete in the pageant.
This is her first time competing here and I am very excited to watch
her take the stage, Skinner said.
The contestants were judged in three different portions including
swimsuit, talent, evening gown and on-stage question.
The judges, Ashley Jackson, Preston Strickland and Martina Penn,
were all Tech graduates.
Jackson has judged the Miss Black and Gold pageant before.
This is my fourth time judging this pageant, Jackson said. The chapter does a great job putting everything together.
She said her favorite part of the competition is the talent portion because it is always a surprise.
The contestants danced, sang, and performed spoken word.
All three judges said they look for confidence and clarity while the contestants are on stage.
Strickland said even though this is his first time judging, he knows what
to look for.
The audience members were able to vote for their favorite contestant
by putting money in buckets when they walked in.
The peoples choice winner was Victoria Wade, a senior finance major.
The contestants voted for Ashante Sibley, Miss Congeniality, a freshman fashion merchandising major.
Chasity Price, a junior accounting major, was crowned Miss Black.
The title of Miss Gold went to Aprell Williams, a clinical kinesiology
major.
Ashlee Ford, a junior biology major, was crowned Miss Black and Gold.
Ford said she is honored to have been chosen to represent this title.
My mom surprised me by being here tonight, she said. I am excited
to represent this title.
Ford said she has loved spending time with each of the contestants.
Each contestant received a yellow rose for their participation.
The flower is the official Alpha Phi Alpha flower.
The brothers of the fraternity circled around Ford and sang their fraternity hymn.
It is always nice to be able to be a part of this pageant, Jackson said.
I hope to be able to come back and judge next year.
Email comments to kec029@latech.edu.
TOP: The eight contestants performed the opening routine in the pageant.
MIDDLE: Contestant number 1, Ashlee Ford, was crowned after winning the Miss
Black and Gold Award.
BOTTOM: Contestant number 5, Victoria Wade, performs during the talent segment.
RIGHT: All eight contestants after the event outside of Howard Auditorium.
Photos by Carter Carroll
Design by Kelsy Kershaw
NEWS
www.thetechtalk.org
Out with the old, in with the new

KAILEE COURTS
Staff Reporter
Renshaw said this year she is going to try making a again, they grab it, Bouchaffra said. People grab
new resolution and will attempt to give up soft drinks. onto the opportunity and most of the time do not
I love vanilla Dr. Pepper from Sonic,
stick to it.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, talk of so I am going to try to slowly wean myHannah Spence, a junior photography
celebrating the New Year is a main topic of conversa- self off of soft drinks, she said.
major, said she thinks the reason people do
tion.
While there are people who try each
not stick to resolutions is because they get
A common tradition people take
year to make a resolubored after a while.
part in is making a New Years resolution, there are those who
The longest I have stuck to a resolution
tion where they either give something I think people
think making New Years
was until the end of May, she said. I was
up for the year or make some sort of make New Years
Resolutions are a silly
only drinking water, but I stopped because
commitment.
idea.
I like caffeine too much.
Stephanie Renshaw, a sophomore resolutions beIbrahim Bouchaffra, a
While some people attempt to make
speech pathology major, said making cause they want
sophomore biology maresolutions, there are some who do not ata New Years resolution is a way to
jor, said he has not once
tempt at all because they know they will
to start the year
start the year fresh.
made a New Years resonot stick to it.
I think people make New Years strong.
lution.
Now, I do not even attempt to make
resolutions because they want to
I only think people
a resolution, Spence said. I know I am
start the year strong, Renshaw said.
make a big deal out
probably not going to stick to it.
They want to make changes to their STEPHANIE RENSHAW
of this whole thing beTo a lot of people, the new year signifies
life and the start of the year is a great sophomore speech
cause they realize they
a time to make changes in their lives.
pathology major
time to do it.
need to make some sort
Making a New Years resolution gives
RENSHAW
Renshaw said she has made resoof change in their life,
people the opportunity to make this change
lutions before but has not always
Bouchaffra said.
and hopefully stick with it.
stuck to them.
Bouchaffra said people see the start of a new year
Each year I try something, but I have never stuck as an opportunity to start fresh.
to them because life has gotten in the way, she said.
When people are given an opportunity to start Email comments to kec029@latech.edu.
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WEEKLYHOROSCOPE
www.horoscopes.com.net
Aries
March 21 April 19
You may have a hard time getting started today, Aries.
This might be a better time to plan. Be realistic and
thoughtful in your actions. Be conscious of the steps
you need to take to reach a certain goal. When in doubt,
take the more conservative route. You will find that
there is a great deal of support for that path. Dont get
distracted along the way. Stay on target.
Taurus
Apr 20 - May 20
Bring your emotions down to Earth today, Taurus. Your
imagination may run away with you. If you dont take a
hard look at reality, you may find yourself in big trouble
later. The higher you soar, the harder you fall. Make
sure you have a working parachute. Be realistic about
your current situation and act with confidence. Make
sure you have the facts before you set goals and plans.
Gemini
May 21 - Jun 20
Try not to be extravagant today, Gemini. Youre much
better off lying low. Focus on you and what you need
to do. Dont waste your time trying to attract others
attention. Let them deal with themselves while you
concentrate on your goals and chores. Tackle all
projects with gusto. You will find that you can be very
productive as long as you stay focused and calm.
Cancer
Jun 21 - Jul 22
Today is a terrific day in which you should find that
things work very smoothly. You have a hardheaded approach that will help you get down to business and get
things done. Make sure youre on solid ground before
you take the next step upward. You have the ability to
reach the summit of many mountains, so dont waste
any time. Put on your boots and start climbing.
Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 22
Theres a serious tone to the day, Leo, so take this into
account when you get the urge to play a practical joke
on a friend. Keep things real. Stick close to home and
take care of any menial tasks. Start a garden or buy
some plants for your house. You have a disciplined
nature that will help you get things done.
Virgo
Aug 23 - Sep 22
Bring stability to your emotions today, Virgo. You have
the tendency to take things to extremes, swinging from
incredible highs to rock-bottom lows. Give your nervous system a break and calm down. Go for a walk in
the woods. Make sure that all your actions are rational
and well planned. See to it that youre in control of your
emotions before you interact with others.

Libra
Sep 23 - Oct 22
Take care of your home today, both physically and
emotionally. See that bills are paid and the bedroom
is tidy. Dont forget to clean the dust from under your
bed and the demons from inside your mind. Realize
that you might be running on someone elses operating
system that got stuck in your hard drive. Make sure you
replace it with your own software before you continue.
Scorpio
Oct 23 - Nov 21
Go ahead and act confidently, Scorpio. You will
probably find that youre more stable and grounded
in general, leaving you free to explore and take more
risks than you normally would. Your intuition may be
strong, so dont hesitate to rely on it. Make sure your
actions are clear and decisive. You have a great deal of
power, so use it wisely.
Sagittarius
Nov 22 - Dec 21
It may be hard for you to get a project off the ground,
Sagittarius. Perhaps this is a sign that it needs to stay
there. Take it back to the drawing board. Do some more
planning and testing. Make sure that your actions are
well thought out. Test the brakes before you drive down
the mountain. You will find that you can accomplish a
lot today if you stay focused and disciplined.
Capricorn
Dec 22 - Jan 19
Finish whatever you didnt wrap up yesterday,
Capricorn. Use the morning to plan, the afternoon to
execute, and the evening to relax. Be conscious of time
and your physical and mental limitations. Bring your
dreaminess down to Earth and be realistic about goals.
Take time to put the extra coat of wax on the car or
extra stitch in the fabric. That effort will serve you well
in the long run.
Aquarius
Jan 20 - Feb 18
Give it a rest today, Aquarius. Recharge your batteries.
Stick close to home and take a load off your feet.
Convince someone to give you a massage, or better yet,
go to a professional. You deserve a break. Once youre
restored, consider all the ramifications of whatever
actions you take before you start. Plan your moves
carefully. Be strong and decisive not rash and frantic.
CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Across
1. AOL, e.g.
4. Antipasto morsel
9. Parsley.family herb,
used for flavoring
14. ___ Dawn Chong
15. Birth.related
16. Little pie
17. Remove the
moisture from
19. Author Zola
20. ___ Dame
21. Female fox
23. Slaughter of baseball
24. Israeli desert region
27. Like grass in the morning
30. Namesake
32. Caviar
33. Forepart of the skull
37. Brightly colored lizard
39. Roman Catholic shrine
40. Governing bodies
42. Free laces, say
43. Employment seekers
may pound it
44. Round Table title
45. Walks with long steps
48. Aquarius musical
50. Devoured
51. Perlman of Cheers
55. Prongs
57. Sylvan
58. Nitrogen compound
60. Shire, Breton,
or Irish Draught
64. Fowl pole
65. Threepios buddy
66. Sun- talk
67. Musical sounds
68. City in West Yorkshire
www.bestcrosswords.com
69. Golfer Ernie
Down
1. Goodnight girl
2. Word after Anglo
3. Basil-based sauce
4. A single time
5. Fond du ___
6. Call ___ day
7. Large container
8. Cricket team
9. Acme
10. Titled
11. Go from place to place
12. Letters on a
Cardinals cap
13. Observe, viewing organ
18. Apr. addressee
22. Climbing vine
24. Uh.uh
25. Big birds
26. Obtained
28. What girls will be
29. Brewers need
30. Conceals
31. Horse locks
33. Partly melted snow
34. Ancient Greek colony
35. Food
36. Dernier ___
38. Leg
40. Smooth Operator
singer
41. Balanced
43. Cavity
46. Peg used on the
first in golf
47. Mischievous person
49. Washer cycle
51. Aussie hopper
DAILY U
LASTISSUESSOLUTION
Have any ideas for future comics or feedback? Email dwyer@latech.edu
Pisces
Feb 19 - Mar 20
Feel free to move forward with your plans, Pisces. This
is a great day to take action. Youve done a great deal
of data collecting and analyzing lately. Now is the time
to put that information to good use. Youre helped by an
extra boost of inner confidence and emotional strength.
Your grounded, conservative approach will be richly
rewarded. You couldnt ask for a more productive day!
WEEKLYWEATHER
www.accuweather.com
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
HIGH 52
LOW 45
HIGH 51
LOW 41
HIGH 53
LOW 39
HIGH 53
LOW 36
HIGH 61
LOW 46
HIGH 61
LOW 35
HIGH 58
LOW 43
CHRISTMASfrom pg. 1
year the tree is nothing
less than extravagant.
My favorite was a
real tree that was bird
themed, she said. It
had crazy dcor popping
out of the top and every
inch of it was covered in
some type of crazy decoration.
Paige Cooper, a senior
pre-veterinary medicine
major, said her family has
a sporty tradition of its
own.
Every year we have a
regular tree and a Denver
Broncos tree, she said.
Its a white fake tree with
all types of Broncos ornaments all over it, blue
and orange lights and a
Broncos Christmas hat
SUDOKUPUZZLE
Fill in the grid
so that every
row, every
column and
every 3x3
grid contains
the digits 1
through 9.
>
as the star.
She said her family
loves the Broncos.
Being from Colorado,
you have to love Denver,
she said. Were die-hard
Broncos fans and we
have to represent.
Victoria Pardue said
decorations are just a
small part of the holiday
season as a whole.
Decorating and parties are so much more
than just that, she said.
Traditions and family time during Christmas
are so special and meaningful to so many groups
and families.
Email comments to
cjb066@latech.edu.
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
Difficulty HARD
CHEMISTRYfrom pg. 1
>
We definitely tried
to make our lodge feel
very homey with a bit of
a rustic theme and a lot
of lights, she said. The
decorating process is so
much fun.
All students enjoy
decorating during the
Christmas season, especially of the tree. Susannah LeBlanc said the
Christmas tree is a tradition in her house.
Weve had real trees,
fake trees, a white tree, an
upside down tree, a tree
in the shape of a cross
and more. Every year is
different, said LeBlanc,
sophomore
sociology
and Spanish major.
LeBlanc said each
52. Stallion, e.g.

53. Ford flop
54. Australias ___ Rock
56. Takes home
57. ___ on first?
58. This was produced
by Van Gogh, for example
59. Cattle call
61. Exist
62. Road with a no.
63. Director Browning
A total of 170 Fellows

from the nations most prestigious research institutions
were elected by the NAIs
Selection Committee, which
includes NAI Fellows, recipients of U.S. National Medals, National Inventors Hall
of Fame inductees, National
Academies members and
senior officials from the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office,
Association of American Universities, American Association for the Advancement of
Science, Association of University Technology Managers
and National Inventors Hall
of Fame.
Dr. Lvov demonstrates
the three-fold mission of
Louisiana Tech through his
LASTISSUESSOLUTION
Sudoku Puzzle - Hard
Sudoku Solution - Medium
More Puzzles:
More Puzzles:
impact on undergraduate
and graduate education, basic research that addresses
important global challenges
and innovations that lead to
usable technology, said Dr.
Stan Napper, vice president
for research and development
at Louisiana Tech.
Napper said this recognition from the National Academy of Inventors confirms
Lvovs willingness and ingenuity in applying nanotechnology to patentable and viable inventions.
The NAI Fellows will be inducted on March 20, 2015, as
part of the 4th Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors at the California Institute of Technology
in Pasadena, California.
The academic inventors
and innovators elected to
the rank of NAI Fellow are
named inventors on U.S. patents and were nominated by
their peers for outstanding
contributions to innovation in
areas such as patents and licensing, innovative discovery
and technology, significant
impact on society, and support and enhancement of innovation.
Louisiana Tech will be
more visible and will have the
capacity to influence national
innovation, Lvov said of his
recognition. Eventually, all of
this will improve our chances
for research funding and intellectual property licensing.
SPORTS
www.thetechtalk.org
The man.
The myth.
The legend.
Savant Intensity
Assist
Dime Blue-collar
Charisma
Bulldog Senior
Champion
Clutch
Feisty Fan favorite

Clutch
Humility
Tough Bulldog Dime
Determined Hands Vision
Defense Underrated
Speedy
Photo by Donny J. Crowe
From unknown to fan favorite

WILL TRAHAN
Staff Reporter
What do you get when you

combine hard work, talent, charisma and humility?
You get Kenneth Smith. Better known as Speedy, He has
become one of the faces of
Louisiana Tech athletics.
The point guard for the
Dunkin Dogs is in his senior
year and has made the most of
the opportunity to be something
special at Tech.
Students campus-wide know
the legend of Speedy.
He is kind of the face of
Louisiana Tech basketball, said
Ross Dies, a pre-med senior and
avid follower of Tech athletics.
Everyone knows Speedy and
that he is good. Everyone knows
that he can help the team out
when they need it. There are
plenty of good players on the
team with (Michale) Kyser and

(Raheem) Appleby and all those
guys are great, but not only is he
catchy, but he is clutch for his
team.
Smith could be described as
clutch in his last second tip-in
to beat Iona College in the first
round of the National Invitational Tournament last year at
home.
Smith has not let his success
on the court change who he was
before he became Speedy.
It is an amazing feeling the
way everyone talks about me,
Smith said. It is a nervous feeling at times though ,because
you have pressure situations ;but
I am grateful for every opportunity.
Smith is not one to get uncomfortable, but does get nervous about saying the right
things.
I want to make sure I am
making Tech look the best and

Coach (Michael) White look the
best, because I am an extension
of coach White, Smith said.
When he first arrived at Tech,
Smith had no idea what to expect from a team that went 1228 the year before.
I just bought into the system
because it was the opportunity
that I was given, Smith said.
After the first two years I believed we were pretty good and
the third year was pretty good.
This year there is pressure on
Raheem, Michale and myself to
continue what has been going
on from the years before.
Smith has been focusing on
his leadership role in his last
year and has learned from seniors past.
I am trying to be just like
(former Bulldog) Kenyon (McNeail) was, Smith said. He was
a very vocal leader and his game
on the court was fundamentals.

He did all the little things and
was a great listener. Our coaches still talk about him as a role
model and he is my role model
and that is what I am trying to
portray this year.
Smith is teaching the new
guys the best way to be a big
player in this program is to come
out and have a lot of energy and
be a blue-collar guy.
The name of the school
is why we are here right now,
Smith said. You can get your
name from being a high energy
guy. I got my name from being
an energy guy out on the floor. It
is not because I can pass the ball
really well, it is because the fans
can see my effort and energy.
The biggest difference in
Kenneth Smith the freshman
and Speedy Smith the senior is
his ability to listen.
Me being a better listener
and being a better individual

with finding closure in myself is
the difference, Smith said. Being more vocal and being able to
listen to the coaches when they
are trying to tell me something I
think is the best thing about it.
Smith has not let the pressure of being Speedy change
who he is.
My game is not doing anything that is out of character,
Smith said. The pressure does
not change who I am or what I
am going to do.
Smith tells people who ask
to take pictures with him or ask
him for his autograph that he is
just like them and is no better
than they are.
He prides himself on being
humble and being what he calls
a blue-collar player.
Email comments to
bwt008@latech.edu.
www.thetechtalk.org
Sports Talk
FROMTHESPORTS DESK
Dogs Bowl Bound

Tech will battle Illinois in the Heart of Dallas Bowl
CATHERINE BURKE
Staff Reporter
After an 8-5 season,
the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs received a bid to the
Zaxbys Heart of Dallas
Bowl at historic Cotton
Bowl Stadium in
Dallas. The Bulldogs will face the
Illinois Fighting Illini
on Dec. 26.
Tommy McClelland,
Tech director of athletics,
said this bowl bid is huge
all around.
Being in the bowl
lineup brings positive attention to all parts of our
university, McClelland
said. Our student enrollment from the Dallas
area is currently growing, and playing the bowl
game there will really
help keep our name over
in that area.
McClelland said the
marketing staff has a specific goal for the game.
All year we have been
pushing the phrase This
is Bulldog Country, so
our marketing staff decided to take it to the next
level, he said. We have
a goal to sell at least one
ticket in all fifty states so
we can truly say that this
is Bulldog Country.
Trent Taylor, sopho-
more
wide receiver, said
the bowl game
is a chance for redemption.
After a devastating
loss in the conference
championship game, its
good we have a chance to
redeem ourselves against
a strong opponent like
Illinois, Taylor said. Illinois is tough coming
from the Big 10 and we
will definitely have to
come prepared for a full
four quarter battle.
Taylor said he is very
lucky to be a part of this
team.
I feel like this team
has put in all the work this
past offseason and it is
great to see it all pay off at
the end of the regular sea-
son,
he said.
Taylor
said the season
overall has been an
interesting one.
We have had great
wins throughout the season but also some very
unexpected losses, he
said. Those losses have
helped us grow as a
team.
McClelland said this
season is a true testament to head football
coach Skip Holtz, his
staff and the players.
With a new coach
comes
adjustments,
challenges and trials,
McClelland said. From
being 4-8 last year to
completely flipping that
record around, I couldnt
be more proud of this
program.
Tickets became available to students for $20
at 7 a.m. Dec. 8 and Jessi
Fitts was in line and ready
to purchase.
I got there at about
6:45 a.m. and there were
about 40 people
there, said Fitts, a
senior psychology
major. Its great this
game gives the students
something to come together for and support
with alumni and the city
of Ruston.
McClelland said tickets are still available for
the bowl game for $75
and student tickets are
still available.
We actually sold over
1,000 tickets the first day,
he said. I hope for several thousand in attendance
for the game.
For more information
or to purchase tickets,
fans can call the Tech
ticket office at (318) 2573631 or go to latechsports.com.
For more on Tech athletics, follow the Tech Talk
Sports Desks Twitter page
at
twitter.com/techtalksports.
Email comments to
cjb066@latech.edu.
Bulldogs Hamilton named

C-USA Player of the Week
NEWS SERVICES
What do you think about the Bulldogs 8-5

season on the gridiron?
We showed a lot of progress over last year. I think our
coaching staff played a big role
this year. Whatever they did in
the offseason worked.
MASON PACE
junior, construction engineering
technology
In only our second year in

Conference USA, we made it to
the championship game. Thats
a huge milestone.
MATT PARISH
senior, sociology
rier Dome, Hamilton anchored a late rally to tie

the game up, 69-69, with
For the second con25 seconds left.
secutive week Louisiana
Down 67-60 with 2:52
Tech guard Alex Hamleft in the game, the Chiilton earned the title of
pley, Florida native scored
Conference USA Player
nine straight points to pull
of the Week as voted on
the Bulldogs even with the
by a media panel repOrange before Syracuse
resenting all 14 league
escaped with the win on a
schools.
contested hook shot with
Tech may have suf2.8 seconds left.
fered heartbreaking backHe finished the day
to-back losses on the
with a team-high 20
road during the sevenpoints while also regisday stretch, but Hamilton
tering a game-high three
was still in tip-top form as
steals, assisting in the
HAMILTON
he continued his streak
Bulldog defense's strong
of leading the Bulldogs in
effort in turning Syracuse
scoring.
over 17 times.
Against Louisiana-Lafayette, the juAfter scoring a total of 47 points,
nior connected on eight field goals and Hamilton needs only 40 more to beroutinely drew fouls to get to the char- come the 38th member of the 1,000
ity stripe like he always does to total a point club at Tech.
game-high 27 points. He attempted 14
He shares this week's C-USA award
free throws marking the 11th time in with T.J. Price of Western Kentucky
his career he has attempted at least 10 University.
in a single game.
The Bulldogs return to action on
Against Syracuse in front of 19,156 Thursday at 6:30 p.m. when they host
fans wearing orange in the Car- Nicholls State.
with Will Trahan
Spare the
rod, spoil
the child
ow that the Adrian Peterson fiasco, which

has cost the running
back the entire 2014 season,
has blown over in the media,
it is time to speak up.
As a child who grew up
in the South, I firmly agree
with the old saying from the
Bible, spare the rod, spoil
the child.
I believe there is nothing wrong with disciplining
children when they have
done something that merits
correction.
Peterson did not do it the
right way and he took it too
far with the injuries he inflicted on his son.
I think the justice system
prevailed in this case and
Peterson got the appropriate punishment for his actions.
The suggestions that
Peterson should be kicked
out of the NFL or should
receive prison time are ludicrous.
Peterson grew up in Texas and was only doing what
was done to him as a child.
He was a first-time offender and has been a model of perfection in a league
full of crime.
Former wide receiver
Donte Stallworth killed a pedestrian crossing the street
in front of him while he was
driving intoxicated.
Was there a media
storm? No.
Was there any uproar
around the nation when he
settled out of court and was
back in an NFL uniform the
next year? No.
The society we live in
today looks for any situation that is considered old
school such as disciplining
your children, and attempts
to make it appear evil or
heartless.
However, when a professional athlete is caught with
drugs or driving under the
influence of alcohol, it is
seemingly the norm.
I am not condoning what
Peterson did to his child. It
is my opinion that he took it
way too far.
I do agree, however, with
the principle that children
need to be disciplined when
they are young.
I get confused when I
hear people say that Petersons crime is unforgivable
and that players such as
Stallworth deserve a second
chance to redeem themselves in the NFL.
Peterson will come back
to play next year and his actions will be forgiven by all.
The cycle will start again
until the next superstar with
a clean track record messes
up.
Will Trahan is a junior journalism major from Delhi. Email

comments to bwt008@latech.
edu.

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