“42” is a beautiful and heartbreaking look at a baseball icon’s journey to shatter racial stereotypes and forever change baseball.
“42” tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play in Major League Baseball. General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) breaks the MLB color line by signing Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team in 1946, when prejudice was a prominent issue.
Signing Robinson stirs up controversy and trouble for Robinson and Rickey, which forces both to turn the other cheek and exercise an honorable amount of restraint.
From a historical perspective, “42” has a vast majority of even the tiniest details down pat. The clothing, cars and overall story prove to be historically accurate. The film works to portray Robinson’s impact on MLB history in an equally accurate and appropriate light.
“42” gives a look into the prejudices and injustices that were prevalent during that time. Boseman and Ford portray their characters almost flawlessly. Boseman not only looks the part but acts the part of Robinson.
Boseman looks arguably as close to Robinson as possible, and Ford’s abrasive-but-soft representation of Rickey holds true to Rickey’s reputation. Supporting characters offer a solid background, with Lucas Black, Christopher Meloni and Hamish Linklater playing supporting roles.
“42” is both an inspiring tale of working to overcome injustices and a heartbreaking story of the evils of the world.  The film proves to be filled with many moments of triumph that often outweigh the heavyhearted scenes.
“42” puts a much deserved spotlight on Robinson and all those involved in supporting him and their work in breaking the infamous MLB color barrier in a heroic look at history.
“42” is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including language.
 

2013 is shaping up and becoming a great year at the movies. This summer is jam packed with must-see movies. As an avid moviegoer, I am ecstatic to see what will happen at the movies this summer.
“Iron Man 3”
Set after the events that occurred in “The Avengers,” Tony Stark faces a powerful enemy: the Mandarin. Based on the trailer, we are in for a darker and less humorous “Iron Man.” It looks to be as intense of a movie we have seen from Marvel yet. I expect Ben Kingsley to deliver an outstanding performance as the film’s villain. “Iron Man 3” hits theaters starting Wednesday, May 1.
“The Great Gatsby”
Based on the hit novel of the same name, the movie finds a Midwestern war veteran Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) discovering himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). The trailer makes this film look incredibly promising, and I hope it does not disappoint. “The Great Gatsby” is set to be released Friday, May 10.
“Fast and Furious 6”
I have loved this series from the very beginning, and I can even forgive the “Tokyo Drift” sequel. The trailer makes this film look more action-packed than past films. “Fast and Furious 6” crashes into theaters Friday, May 24.
“The Hangover 3”
I have been waiting for this movie since the second sequel’s hot mess of a release. It’s no secret that the second was not as good as the first. Allegedly this one is supposed to be like the first, and based on the trailer, I’m buying into those rumors. “The Hangover 3” opens Friday, May 24.
“Man of Steel”
If there is one film that has me the most excited, it is this one. Ever since seeing the teaser for it last year I have been anxiously waiting. The full length trailer was  not a disappointment, and this reboot of the “Superman” series looks very promising to become a hit series. “Man of Steel” flies into theaters Friday, June 14.
“Monsters University”
If you were kid when “Monsters, Inc.” came out, then you are excited for this long-awaited sequel. Technically it’s a prequel, but whatever, this movie is happening, and I am a happy guy. “Monsters University” jumps into theaters Friday, June 21.
“The Heat”
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in a movie together as police partners just seems like the perfect comedy movie of the summer. I love both actresses dearly, and I’m really hopeful this movie will deliver the belly laughs. If it doesn’t, I will still love it. “The Heat” arrives in theaters Friday, June 28.
“White House Down”
While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman (Channing Tatum) springs into action to save his child and protect the president (Jamie Foxx) from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders. Viewing the trailer, the film resembles “Olympus Has Fallen” which came out earlier this year. The film looks to be as action-packed as “Olympus,” and Tatum looks to be the driving force behind all of the action. “White House Down” blasts into theaters Friday, June 28.
“The Lone Ranger”
The classic tale of Tonto and John Reid comes to the big screen in this highly anticipated release. Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice. Its looks to be a great action-packed movie with Western ties. “The Lone Ranger” rides into theaters Wednesday, July 3.
“Grown Ups 2”
The hilarious cast from the original “Grown Ups” is back for a whole new movie of laughs. Everybody is back, minus Rob Schneider, and based on the first trailer there are plenty of laughs still to be had. The gang all gets together after Larry (Adam Sandler) moves his family back to his hometown. “Grown Ups 2” arrives in theaters Friday, July 12.
“RED 2”
This is an awaited sequel to come out as well. The original “RED” was one of my favorite movies of 2010. The cast of old-timer assassins is just the right blend of badass and funny.  If the trailer is any indication, moviegoers will be just as satisfied the second time around as the first. “RED 2” will be released Friday, July 19.
There are more films that did not make my must see list. Sorry Star Trekkies, but there are plenty of films to see this summer at the movies.
All trailers and film descriptions can be found on fandango.com or comingsoon.net.
 

The Backdoor Playhouse will be performing “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of The Marquis de Sade” by Peter Weiss, or “Marat/Sade” for those who would like to refer to the show without taking three years.
This production, directed by Mark Creter, is literally insane and features insane asylum inmates putting on their own production about the French Revolution.
“Marat/Sade” is free to Tech students, $12 general admission, $10 for seniors, and $5 for non-Tech students. There are only three more opportunities to see the show, being tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tech Activities Board, which we know and love for their free stuff and Late Night Tech Nights, will be hosting the Spring Awakening Festival tomorrow at Sherlock Park with the assistance of Res Life Villages and SEAC, the Student Environmental Action Coalition. The Dirty Guv’nahs will be performing along with James Wallace and the Naked Light and Kory Wheeler and friends. The festival will take place from noon to 9 p.m. and will feature local food and artists. This event is also absolutely free!

Tech’s Gay Straight Alliance will host its Second Chance Prom: Last Day in Pompeii for all students who didn’t get the “ideal” prom experience.
According to the Facebook event page, this free event “gives every student, faculty, and staff member a chance to re-live (or enjoy for the first time) the prom experience while reinforcing the value of and strengthening the relationship between the diverse elements of the Tennessee Tech community in a fun, friendly environment!”
The prom will be held in the multi-purpose room of the UC from 7-9:30 pm on April 26 and the dress code only requires that each attendee is comfortable in what they’re wearing.
Looking for something a little more intense? On May 4, Tech will host SLAMFEST 2013 presented by Hruska Law at 7:15 p. m. Wrestling talents Diamond Dallas Page, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Rikishi and more will be in Memorial Gym along with a former cast member of AMC’s widely popular “The Walking Dead”.
Floor seats are all sold out, but there are plenty of tickets left for the event. General admission is $10 and for students and faculty with a valid Tech ID they’re only $8.
 

Cars may not be welcome in the heart of campus if President Phil Oldham’s vision for a pedestrian greenway moves forward.
“Increasing green space is just one element being considered as we look at what is best for everyone on campus in terms of parking, traffic, safety and aesthetics,” Oldham said. “In general, the campus Master Plan emphasizes the greening of campus through the relocation of automobiles and related parking areas to the campus perimeter. This enhancement will allow for the development of a pedestrian-oriented campus.”
Oldham said Tech’s campus has long anticipated a Science Quadrangle, a set of buildings envisioned to be a key element of a renewed and transformative Master Plan for the campus.
“As the Flight Plan team works on how our campus of the future will look, we have the opportunity to break ground in the near future on the first building in that vision – the Science Building,” Oldham said.
Plans call for the Science Building to be located in the current Capital Quad parking area.
“It will allow us to take down Foster Hall which opens up new opportunities for green space in the parking area behind the Roaden University Center,” Oldham said.
Oldham said the changes are being considered definite.
“The Science Building was on the list for state approval for several years as part of our Master Plan, and we are now committed to moving forward,” Oldham said. “We are currently in the concept stage of how that building will be incorporated and how the surrounding area will be transformed.”
The planning of the Science Quadrangle and green space are not the only changes likely to come to campus.
“At this point, the [Flight Plan team] is still working to refine ideas and prioritize them,” Oldham said. “When we begin the fall 2013 semester we will share those with the campus.”
Students, faculty and staff can expect to see changes being put it into place within the next 18 months.
 “If our funding sources are identified as planned, the groundbreaking on the Science Building could take place as soon as fall of 2014,” Oldham said.  

A definite timeline for project completion has not been set by the University.
“Modernization will not come without increased funding, so the timeline is open-ended and will depend on our ability to find new sources of revenue,” Oldham said.
Oldham said the changes will have a large effect on students, faculty and staff.
“Any changes to the physical layout of campus should enhance our mission of serving students and providing the best educational experience possible. The changes must address the needs of all those groups in terms of parking and safety, as well as their desire for a comfortable and welcoming campus,” Oldham said. “Our goals for any change, including changing campus infrastructure, are to build on our strengths that differentiate us from other universities and to best serve our students.”
“I’d like students to know that Flight Plan is relevant to their future,” Oldham said. “When we improve this campus and the student experience, we increase the value of every degree we award. The physical changes are a relevant part of a bigger effort to define your university for the future.”
 

Kappa Sigma fraternity brother, John Cameron Null, 19, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., was arrested Friday after allegedly being involved in a dispute with a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Null is charged with reckless endangerment, arson by setting fire to a vehicle and public intoxication.
According to a report by Cookeville Police Officer Brandon Tayes, the incident happened late Friday night, and a witness there said, “someone put a flaming piece of rolled up paper in the gas lid of a car.”
Tech student Ryan Scott said, “We were all upstairs just hanging out when someone ran inside, and said that there was someone trying to light a car on fire.”
According to the report, several TKE members told officer Tayes it was Null, a member of Kappa Sig.
According to the report, Jacob Warren, a witness, told Tayes he saw Null get out of a gray Ford Ranger and put the flaming paper in the gas lid of an innocent party’s car.
Null then got back in the truck and drove north of the incident location and began talking to people on the sidewalk, Warren said, according to the report.
Warren stated that the burning object came out of the gas lid and was put out, the report said.
According to the report, Tech Police were in the area at the time of the incident and stated that they witnessed a group getting ready to fight.  They drove over toward the group, and the Ford Ranger drove off.  

According to Tayes report, Tech police were unaware at this time that the occupants in the truck were involved in the attempted arson.
“We had to close the house down because it was getting late, apparently Null got angry when some of the brothers kicked him out,” Andrew Farley, TKE President, Said. “He had not been drinking at our house, but showed up already pretty drunk.”
The Ranger was located a short time later by Tech police and all the occupants were read their Miranda Warning by Officer Melton.  

According to the report, the driver of the Ranger, Seth Wofford, and passenger, Clay Walters, were interviewed separately by police.
Both stated that John Cameron Null was with them and put the flaming paper in the gas lid as retaliation for the altercation. Walters stated that he tried to talk Null out of it, but Null insisted on doing some damage, said the report.
According to the report, Null was extremely intoxicated and very uncooperative, asking for an attorney.
 

Potential graduating seniors are up by about 100 students, or 8.7 percent, this spring in comparison to last spring.
“Including [graduate] students, there are about 1,325 potential graduating students this semester,” Denise Burgess, administrative associate, said. “It is important to keep in mind that the actual number of graduates could go down as thesis deadlines come up and final grades come in.”
Burgess said the number of graduating seniors last year was 1,219, including graduate students. The number of graduates from last fall appears to be lower than last spring and this semester.
“Six hundred and one undergraduate students finished up in the fall, but this number does not include graduate students,” Burgess said. “The total number of graduates is higher than that, but I do not have the amount of graduate students at this time.”
There will be two commencement ceremonies on graduation day, one at 9:30 a.m. for the colleges of agriculture and human sciences, arts and sciences, engineering and the school of interdisciplinary studies, and the other at 2 p.m. for the colleges of business and education.
“Right now, it looks like there will be about 500 graduating students in the morning ceremony and about 450 students in the afternoon commencement,” Burgess said. Beth Harwell will be the guest speaker for the morning commencement and Millard Oakley will speak during the afternoon commencement.
Harwell currently serves as Speaker of the House in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Oakley is the principal shareholder of the First National Bank of Tennessee and is the namesake of Tech’s Millard Oakley STEM Center.
As the date for graduation approaches, some of the graduating seniors are reflecting on their time at Tennessee Tech and looking toward the future.
“I have had a great four years here,” Casey Elrod, senior, said. “But like all good things, they must come to an end, I guess.”
Graduation will be May 11 in the Hooper Eblen Center.
 

Facebook is testing a new feature in the United Kingdom that gives users the option to pay to send messages to celebrities.
For a maximum price of £10.68, or $16.32, you can send messages to any celebrity on Facebook. The price varies from person to person. For example, messaging Snoop Lion would cost £10.08, or $15.40.
“I feel like that it wouldn’t actually get to the celebrities,” Brandon Smith, senior biology major, said. “So many people would be doing it for people like Justin Bieber that there is no way that kid could read them all. Even with the less popular celebrities, how are you going to be sure that they read it? It seems like a rip off to me. I wouldn’t use it.”
Facebook said the system they have in place of paying to message non-friends is designed to prevent spam. However, sometimes people benefit from hearing outside their immediate social circle.
“We are testing a number of price points in the UK and other countries to establish the optimal fee that signals importance,” Facebook announced. “Part of that test involves charging higher amounts for public figures, based on the number of followers they have.”
An algorithm that takes into account the number of followers someone has and the number of messages being sent determines the cost. It will be payable by credit or debit cards online. The required age for this service is 18.
The system was introduced to only 10 percent of Facebook users in Britain at the end of March with the plans of introducing it to the rest of the country soon.
 

Student Government Association executive council candidates ran unopposed in the April 11 elections, making the elections unusually non-competitive compared to other universities.  
“I think that no one [running] against us is just kind of a show of solidarity from the senate,” Clay Stubblefield, Tech’s new SGA president, said. “You [need] a year of experience to run for the executive positions. So I think they just really supported us running.”
Austin Peay State University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s student government elections all involve competitive campaigns and are prominent on campus.
“We had two debates for all members running for executive council, candidates sent out campaign flyers, it’s really competitive,” Jawaun Rogers, Austin Peay SGA chief justice, said. “The elections really make an impact on the campus.”
The UT-Knoxville elections are a week-long event in which candidates give out T-shirts, live televised debates are held, live tweeting during the debate occurs and there are opportunities for students to meet the candidates.
At UT-Knoxville, 24.8 percent of the student body vote for student government candidates. More than 130 senators run to represent their colleges, and only 70 get elected. The candidates get to use a $7,000 budget, which the school provides, to spend on their campaigns.
 “At senate meetings, we propose bills and convey information about campus news, the elections, SOLO concerts, etc.,” Emily McDonald, Tech’s SGA vice president, said. “It is the senators’ jobs to relay that information to students in their prospective college. Students had the opportunity to become aware of the SGA election process through the senators, Tech Times, Facebook, Twitter, etc. A goal I have for this coming year is to promote and improve communication between the senators and the students.”
Tech’s SGA election rules allow candidates to hang one banner in the RUC, chalk sidewalks, make buttons, make Facebook pages, etc., but since all the candidates this semester ran unopposed, there was little to no campaigning and little attention drawn to the elections.
 “We want to get students more involved and try to get people more knowledgeable in what SGA is doing,” Stubblefield said. “I’d like to think of a way to maybe have forums where students can come and meet their senators and tell them something. We are definitely looking into that. We thought about having a page on the SGA website where they can post questions and see if we can help them.”  
 

The recent death of “America’s girl next door” Annette Funicello both saddened and angered me.  As a fan of Annette’s beach blanket movies, saying goodbye to such an iconic piece of Americana and my own childhood was heartbreaking.  As a fellow multiple sclerosis patient, I was angered by the misinformation put out by the media regarding the correlation between Funicello’s death and MS.
“Mouseketeer Annette Funicello dies from multiple sclerosis” read the headline of a Catholic.org article.
 While Funicello is now deceased, the claim that her illness caused her death is simply not true.  When asked for his professional opinion on Funicello’s disease and whether or not it contributed to her death, Dr. Harold Moses, Jr., who did his residency at the famed Mayo Clinic and is now Vanderbilt University’s assistant professor of Neurology, said, “I think she likely had primary progressive MS She also likely did not die from MS but from complications most likely related to infection.”
It is important to note that while, as Moses predicts, Funicello likely had primary progressive MS, that is only one of the two main types of MS.   Primary progressive MS steadily worsens after a person is diagnosed, and it only affects 10 to 15 percent of MS patients.  The other 85 to 90 percent of MS patients have what is called relapsing-remitting MS.  With RRMS, a person has periodic attacks of symptoms, or relapses, followed by partial or complete recovery, or remissions.
Many turn to the media for their education about the disease. Sharon Osbourne became an ambassador for MS when her son Jack was diagnosed with it last year.  Her status as talk show host, and wife of rock music legend Ozzy Osbourne hardly gives Sharon the credibility to speak on medical matters.  

It’s understandable to be frightened when your child is diagnosed with a disease you can’t understand or predict, but carrying on as if it’s a death sentence is ridiculous, especially since, as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation reports, “MS is neither contagious, nor fatal. People with MS have a life expectancy that is not really any different from the general population. The leading causes of death in the MS community are heart disease, cancer and stroke. MS tends to affect quality of life, not quantity of life. There are unusual variants of MS that can be very aggressive and potentially shorten life, but these are not the norm.”
While MS can cause such symptoms as fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, vision loss, tremors and vertigo, it’s important to note that not all symptoms affect all MS patients, and symptoms and signs may be persistent or may cease from time to time.  

It’s also important to note that Funicello lived for 25 years post-diagnosis. Since being diagnosed in 2009, I’ve noticed a few twinges of numbness, and I’m not as nimble as I used to be.  But neither issue kept me from joining others and walking five miles April 13 to raise awareness for my disease.  Through having MS, I’ve learned to more carefully monitor my diet, reduce my stress level, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.  Doing these things not only decrease my likelihood for MS flare-ups, they make me happier and healthier in general, which is something we all should strive to be, disease-stricken or not.
 

The 2013 Boston Marathon runners had a love for running and a goal to finish the race. They did not expect to make history. They ran for the sheer adrenaline rush, for the ones who can no longer run, for the ones they love.
Monday, April 15, 2013, also known as Patriot’s Day, is another date to add to the history books for terrorism in America.  Two bombs exploded near the finish line shortly after the first runners crossed the finish line at approximately 2:50 p.m. EST.
The Boston Marathon took place in honor of the Sandy Hook shootings: 26 miles for 26 lives. Little did they all know, three more lives would be lost and more than 150 added to the wounded list.
Many would say this was a cowardice act and wish the same type of tragedy on the guilty. I happen to agree. Would that actually be of any help? I realize it would not, so instead I turn to something different: compassion.
The victims need prayer. I want to lend a hand to anyone in pain so much that it hurts when I cannot. If I could go, I would, but I know I would be in the way. The best thing I can do is pray.
The challenge I propose to all of us is to pray every day for the victims. Pray for the doctors to have wisdom as they treat the victims. Pray for the three families who lost their loved ones.
Simply pray.
No words can wipe away the nightmares the victims experienced. No amount of hugs can make the images of carnage disappear.
Many people will question why God didn’t protect those runners or the innocent bystanders. I only have one answer. When God gave the earth to Adam, in Genesis, he gave it to him to guard and protect. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, it opened their eyes to the knowledge of evil. Because of sin 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombings, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, Columbine and many other tragedies occured.
According to Ephesians 6:12, our battle is against the spiritual forces of evil, not flesh and blood. Whatever we do, we can’t blame anyone for what has happened, let alone people who only look like the ones we want to blame.
The blame game only hurts us. We have to find a way to help. This is why I issued this challenge to pray.
We have to stop worrying about who did it and just pray. It is the only way we as a people will find any semblance of peace. Let the authorities take care of who, what, when and why. Pray.
Do this to honor the dead both in the marathon and Sandy Hook. Dedicate your day to praying for the families of this nation who have lost loved ones to heinous acts of terror, including the men and women who died to give us the right to pray openly. Then don’t just stop with one day; make it a habit. This is the only way America as a whole will begin to heal.
 

I must admit that reading the last batch of opinions by Sarah Dingwall has disappointed me.
It seems that the standards of The Oracle have fallen in recent years, and Dingwall’s articles are the perfect example. Rife with errors in grammar, punctuation, usage and generally poor style, these articles leave me puzzled as to why they were ever published. If the Assistant Opinion Editor’s writing is not up to par (it’s not, frankly speaking), where are the copy editors? “Journalism” of this caliber reflects poorly on everyone associated with the University, not just Dingwall and the copy editors.
In addition, Dingwall’s most recently published article (Reshaping a country: Why gay rights matter) was  very poorly written, filled with errors of both fact and logic and a generally offensive piece of “writing” to see published. One of the most offensive errors was invoking the Separation of Church and State.
Her position is actually advocating the joining of Church and State, despite her claims. As marriage currently works, it is a religious ceremony that is unified with a State procedure (most people are already familiar with the phrase “By the power vested in me by the State of ________, I now pronounce you man and wife,” which is commonly recited at marriages across the nation). If Dingwall really believes in the Separation of Church and State; which would be a hard belief to defend given her past theocratically-leaning articles, she would be advocating that NO United States citizens be allowed to be married, at least by the state. I sincerely ask your staff to take a very close look at all future publications. Errors of this nature should not make it to print.
They’re offensive and in plain language - just wrong.

“42” is a beautiful and heartbreaking look at a baseball icon’s journey to shatter racial stereotypes and forever change baseball.
“42” tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play in Major League Baseball. General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) breaks the MLB color line by signing Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team in 1946, when prejudice was a prominent issue.
Signing Robinson stirs up controversy and trouble for Robinson and Rickey, which forces both to turn the other cheek and exercise an honorable amount of restraint.
From a historical perspective, “42” has a vast majority of even the tiniest details down pat. The clothing, cars and overall story prove to be historically accurate. The film works to portray Robinson’s impact on MLB history in an equally accurate and appropriate light.
“42” gives a look into the prejudices and injustices that were prevalent during that time. Boseman and Ford portray their characters almost flawlessly. Boseman not only looks the part but acts the part of Robinson.
Boseman looks arguably as close to Robinson as possible, and Ford’s abrasive-but-soft representation of Rickey holds true to Rickey’s reputation. Supporting characters offer a solid background, with Lucas Black, Christopher Meloni and Hamish Linklater playing supporting roles.
“42” is both an inspiring tale of working to overcome injustices and a heartbreaking story of the evils of the world.  The film proves to be filled with many moments of triumph that often outweigh the heavyhearted scenes.
“42” puts a much deserved spotlight on Robinson and all those involved in supporting him and their work in breaking the infamous MLB color barrier in a heroic look at history.
“42” is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including language.
 

2013 is shaping up and becoming a great year at the movies. This summer is jam packed with must-see movies. As an avid moviegoer, I am ecstatic to see what will happen at the movies this summer.
“Iron Man 3”
Set after the events that occurred in “The Avengers,” Tony Stark faces a powerful enemy: the Mandarin. Based on the trailer, we are in for a darker and less humorous “Iron Man.” It looks to be as intense of a movie we have seen from Marvel yet. I expect Ben Kingsley to deliver an outstanding performance as the film’s villain. “Iron Man 3” hits theaters starting Wednesday, May 1.
“The Great Gatsby”
Based on the hit novel of the same name, the movie finds a Midwestern war veteran Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) discovering himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). The trailer makes this film look incredibly promising, and I hope it does not disappoint. “The Great Gatsby” is set to be released Friday, May 10.
“Fast and Furious 6”
I have loved this series from the very beginning, and I can even forgive the “Tokyo Drift” sequel. The trailer makes this film look more action-packed than past films. “Fast and Furious 6” crashes into theaters Friday, May 24.
“The Hangover 3”
I have been waiting for this movie since the second sequel’s hot mess of a release. It’s no secret that the second was not as good as the first. Allegedly this one is supposed to be like the first, and based on the trailer, I’m buying into those rumors. “The Hangover 3” opens Friday, May 24.
“Man of Steel”
If there is one film that has me the most excited, it is this one. Ever since seeing the teaser for it last year I have been anxiously waiting. The full length trailer was  not a disappointment, and this reboot of the “Superman” series looks very promising to become a hit series. “Man of Steel” flies into theaters Friday, June 14.
“Monsters University”
If you were kid when “Monsters, Inc.” came out, then you are excited for this long-awaited sequel. Technically it’s a prequel, but whatever, this movie is happening, and I am a happy guy. “Monsters University” jumps into theaters Friday, June 21.
“The Heat”
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in a movie together as police partners just seems like the perfect comedy movie of the summer. I love both actresses dearly, and I’m really hopeful this movie will deliver the belly laughs. If it doesn’t, I will still love it. “The Heat” arrives in theaters Friday, June 28.
“White House Down”
While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman (Channing Tatum) springs into action to save his child and protect the president (Jamie Foxx) from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders. Viewing the trailer, the film resembles “Olympus Has Fallen” which came out earlier this year. The film looks to be as action-packed as “Olympus,” and Tatum looks to be the driving force behind all of the action. “White House Down” blasts into theaters Friday, June 28.
“The Lone Ranger”
The classic tale of Tonto and John Reid comes to the big screen in this highly anticipated release. Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice. Its looks to be a great action-packed movie with Western ties. “The Lone Ranger” rides into theaters Wednesday, July 3.
“Grown Ups 2”
The hilarious cast from the original “Grown Ups” is back for a whole new movie of laughs. Everybody is back, minus Rob Schneider, and based on the first trailer there are plenty of laughs still to be had. The gang all gets together after Larry (Adam Sandler) moves his family back to his hometown. “Grown Ups 2” arrives in theaters Friday, July 12.
“RED 2”
This is an awaited sequel to come out as well. The original “RED” was one of my favorite movies of 2010. The cast of old-timer assassins is just the right blend of badass and funny.  If the trailer is any indication, moviegoers will be just as satisfied the second time around as the first. “RED 2” will be released Friday, July 19.
There are more films that did not make my must see list. Sorry Star Trekkies, but there are plenty of films to see this summer at the movies.
All trailers and film descriptions can be found on fandango.com or comingsoon.net.
 

The Backdoor Playhouse will be performing “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of The Marquis de Sade” by Peter Weiss, or “Marat/Sade” for those who would like to refer to the show without taking three years.
This production, directed by Mark Creter, is literally insane and features insane asylum inmates putting on their own production about the French Revolution.
“Marat/Sade” is free to Tech students, $12 general admission, $10 for seniors, and $5 for non-Tech students. There are only three more opportunities to see the show, being tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tech Activities Board, which we know and love for their free stuff and Late Night Tech Nights, will be hosting the Spring Awakening Festival tomorrow at Sherlock Park with the assistance of Res Life Villages and SEAC, the Student Environmental Action Coalition. The Dirty Guv’nahs will be performing along with James Wallace and the Naked Light and Kory Wheeler and friends. The festival will take place from noon to 9 p.m. and will feature local food and artists. This event is also absolutely free!

Tech’s Gay Straight Alliance will host its Second Chance Prom: Last Day in Pompeii for all students who didn’t get the “ideal” prom experience.
According to the Facebook event page, this free event “gives every student, faculty, and staff member a chance to re-live (or enjoy for the first time) the prom experience while reinforcing the value of and strengthening the relationship between the diverse elements of the Tennessee Tech community in a fun, friendly environment!”
The prom will be held in the multi-purpose room of the UC from 7-9:30 pm on April 26 and the dress code only requires that each attendee is comfortable in what they’re wearing.
Looking for something a little more intense? On May 4, Tech will host SLAMFEST 2013 presented by Hruska Law at 7:15 p. m. Wrestling talents Diamond Dallas Page, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Rikishi and more will be in Memorial Gym along with a former cast member of AMC’s widely popular “The Walking Dead”.
Floor seats are all sold out, but there are plenty of tickets left for the event. General admission is $10 and for students and faculty with a valid Tech ID they’re only $8.
 

Tech football will host its annual spring game tomorrow at 1 p.m. and wrap up its spring practice with an additional week of practice before putting away equipment until the fall.
There was noticeable improvement in a lot of players from week one to week two of practice, Head Coach Watson Brown said.
“I’m watching individuals more than I am team stuff in the spring,” Brown said. “I feel like a lot got better from week one through the scrimmage in week two.”
The football team held an inter-squad scrimmage last Saturday after completing its first week of practice in full pads.
Brown noted that the offense performed well during the first scrimmage. There was only one fumble, and both squads were able to move the ball consistently.
“[We] run a lot of plays and eat a lot of clock - that’s what we like to do,” Brown said.
Brown felt that the defense needed to improve up front against the run but was encouraged that the younger players, throughout the defense, were getting reps and making plays during the scrimmage.
The Golden Eagles’ defensive secondary has limped through the spring due to injuries. The team does not have many of its projected starters and key players practicing, but Brown hopes that when they return they will lead the defense.
One player Brown hopes will contribute the rest of the spring and into next season is rising junior James Huguely. Brown said that Huguely has the potential to be an all-OVC cornerback for the Golden Eagles.
“James came on late last year then had a concussion and missed the last three games,” Brown said. “He is really good this spring.”
Another upperclassman Brown is hopeful to have back at the beginning of the season is two-year starting senior safety Marty Jones, who was injured in the second game of last season. Jones had been a key player for the defense the previous two full years, seeing action in every game. Jones also racked up 15 tackles in the two games he played during the 2012 season.
The defense has returned Malcolm Mitchell, Lamar Moore and Jordan Johnson up front and is looking to them to be an influence in the fall.
“I think we have a shot at winning [the OVC championship] again,” Brown said. “Personally I thought we did last year.”
On the other side of the ball, the team’s offense is hoping to put up big numbers this fall.
“The offense we’ve got this year might be better than the last two,” Brown said. “We’re real deep at running back. We could play four guys there.”
The slot receiver position also looks quite stout with returning rising junior Cody Matthews. He was the team’s second-leading receiver a season ago in many categories, including total receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Ladarius Vanlier is also back and looking to light up the secondary from the slot. Senior Zack Ziegler is out for spring practice, but he will be back for the fall.
The battle for starting quarterback is closed for the time being. Brown was happy with the performance of rising junior Darian Stone and has named him the starter.
“Darian Stone has stepped up right now, today, as our starting QB,” said Brown. “He’s done a really good job.”
You can see the Golden Eagles in action during the annual Purple/Gold Spring Scrimmage tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Tucker Stadium. After that will be a few more spring practices, then a long wait until the 2013 season home opener against Cumberland University Aug. 29.
 

Tech’s men’s golf team ended its regular season schedule with a fifth place finish at the Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted by Tennessee State University April 15 and 16.
The fifth place finish was their best score of the spring semester, and Head Coach Polk Brown thinks that his team could be getting hot at the right time as they prepare for the conference tournament.
“We’re playing some really good golf as we’re heading into the conference tournament, and that’s really encouraging,” Brown said. “This gives us a lot of good, positive momentum going into next week, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
The underclassmen on the team continued their strong spring at the Big Blue Intercollegiate, where sophomore Lee Whitehead finished ninth and freshman Bryce Kendrick finished 15th out of the 93 golfers in the tournament.
All of Tech’s golfers in the tournament finished in the top 30 of the 93 players.
Freshman Adam Cunningham finished 21st, senior Lee Maxwell 27th and freshman Mitch Thomas 30th.
The Big Blue Intercollegiate was the final regular season tournament for Maxwell and Greg Kitts. However, Brown said they are class acts, great kids and a great example to the younger players on and off the course.
“Lee and Greg have rubbed off on these younger guys and have shown them the ropes and how to handle themselves in a college tournament,” Brown said. “The younger players have learned this and are playing good golf now. Our ticket to get to the regional from here is winning the conference tournament.”
The conference tournament for men’s golf will be hosted by Morehead State University April 25-27.
 

The feeling I’ve gotten from those around campus is people are surprised the Tech baseball team beat the No. 2 Vanderbilt  University Commodores Tuesday night.
They couldn’t be farther from the truth.  
The Golden Eagles have a very talented and experienced team.  They returned five players from last season who hit .300 or better.
They have had good pitching this season with a team earned run average of 4.65.
Most importantly, they believe.
After spendiang time with Head Coach Matt Bragga this season, he fully believes his team can go toe-to-toe with anybody in the country.  The fact is, they can.
This team has shown what they can do when they piece together good baseball, like when they ripped off on a 14-game winning streak in the first half of the season.   Baseball is a game of ups and downs.  There are parts of the season where you are hot and parts where you are cold. It’s just the nature of the game.
This baseball team was hot at one point in the season and has cooled off a little, going 6-4 since the 14-game winning streak.
The good thing for the team is that they are heating up again.
They are heading into this weekend’s conference matchup against Jacksonville State University on a four game winning streak, and that is good news for the Golden Eagles.
Tech will have 12 conference games in their last 17 matchups, with the last series of the season against conference newcomer and Ohio Valley Conference leader Belmont University.
The Golden Eagles currently sit one game back in the loss column to Belmont with a 15-3 record in conference, compared to Belmont’s 13-2.
If the Golden Eagles can get hot, it would be perfect timing.
With the OVC tournament coming up, Tech could roll right into the NCAA tournament.
I can’t say for sure if the Golden Eagles need to win the OVC tournament to make it to the NCAA tourney.  They do have the big win against Vanderbilt, won two out of three against Illinois University and two out of three against Austin Peay State University.
The downside is that they were swept in the season series against an average Middle Tennessee State University team,and didn’t get to play a full series against Michigan State University.  Tech lost the only game that was played against MSU.
That’s why the upcoming games are so important for Tech.
They have a chance to make up for the early season loss to Lipscomb University  They will get to improve their already impressive conference record, and they will close the season against current OVC leader Belmont.
This Tech team has proven that it can play good baseball and play with anybody.
If they can continue to play good consistently, I fully believe that they can make a run in the NCAA tournament.  
I think this team can make it out of the regional and into the super-regional.  At that point, they are just two wins away from Omaha, and two wins against good competition isn’t impossible for this ballclub.
 

The Tech softball team went 3-2 this past week with wins over conference rivals Belmont University and Austin Peay State University.  

The Golden Eagles hosted the Bruins last weekend and played a make-up doubleheader against the Governors Tuesday.
Senior pitcher Claudia Harke got the win Sunday, which allowed Tech to take the series after a loss and a win the previous day.
“We bounced back in  its second game and really hit the ball well and played smart defense,” Harke said. “We came back as a completely different team.”
Belmont was successful in their rally against Tech in the first game winning 4-1, but the Golden Eagles held down a comeback from the newest members of the conference 3-2 in the second game.  

Tech decided the series Sunday with a 7-4 victory over Belmont, shutting down the Bruins’ offense from scoring another run after the second inning.
Junior centerfielder Christian Gibbs helped spark the Golden Eagle hitting after being down 4-0 early in the game.
“We knew we needed to forget about the runs scored and just focus on own hitting and make every at-bat count,” Gibbs said.
The team rallied in the bottom of the second inning, scoring four runs and tying the game. The scoring continued for the Golden Eagles through the third with two more runs and capped the game off with another run in the sixth.
The team returned to the field Tuesday with make-up games against Austin Peay. The Golden Eagles split the doubleheader with a loss in the first game 7-4 and a shutout win in the second game 7-0.  

“I think it helped having mid-week games because we were able to play gamelike situations that haven’t come up in the past,” Gibbs said.
Tech will continue Ohio Valley Conference action this upcoming weekend. The Golden Eagles will take on the top two teams in the conference. Saturday, the Purple and Gold face Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, followed by a trip to Charleston, Ill. to take on the top seed in the West, Eastern Illinois University.
“We need to get wins this weekend and focus on really coming together especially before the tournament,” Gibbs said. “This weekend is going to be crucial.”
Both Harke and Gibbs expressed how important it’s going to be for the Golden Eagles to become closer as a team.
“We want to make every at-bat count and not give up errors on defense,” Harke said. “With being on the road we become closer as a team, so hopefully that can transfer over to the games.”
 

Renovations that began at the Fit last year will end this semester.
The Fit is getting a new roof this month, which allows replacement of the walking track located upstairs.
Approximately 20 years after being built, the Fit began to undergo renovations to update and expand their facilities.
“We feel like our students use [the Fit] for more than just fitness,” David Mullinax, director of campus recreation, said. “A lot of development happens here between students. You get to see people come out of their shells and bond with each other. It makes sense to me that we would want to keep our building up to date so students continue to come here and create these bonds.”
Many renovations took place this past year because of outdated equipment and technology. A major project involved replacing the plumbing in the pool. The deck and pool lining were also replaced with a softer nonslip material.
“We’ve tried hard to keep our renovations as green as possible,” Mullinax said. “Working with the Green Committee has been a tremendous help to make that happen. Most students don’t know this, but we replaced the floors in the weight room with a material made of ground up recycled tires. Our water fountains now have filtered water, and over 80 percent of the lights in this building use motion detectors. The list of improvements is massive, and it just continues to grow. We’re currently working with the Student Recycle program to recycle all of our plastic, metal and cardboard materials that pass through our facility.”
More than 2,500 students pass through the Fit on a daily basis, and more than 150 are employed there, making it the largest employer on campus.
“We don’t use any state money to run our facilities,” Mullinax said. “The revenue for this building and its employees comes directly from student fees and anything we generate through private parties and rentals.”
 

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released its annual Crime on Campus Report April 3, which showed Tech’s crime rates are up from last year’s report.
“Given that Tech has such a small department, I am very pleased with this year’s report,” said Gay Shepherd, campus police chief, said.  “I would like to have seen lower numbers in the theft categories, but that’s an issue that comes with having a small department.“

According to the report, larceny has been the leading crime category on campus in both 2011 and 2012. Tech reported 81 theft offenses in 2011 and 86 in 2012.
Several categories nearly doubled from 2011 to 2012.  Tech reported gains in assault, destruction, damage and vandalism, and narcotic offenses last year.
“The theft charges have increased because there are more and more students becoming too trustworthy,” said Donna White, administrative associate for Tech police. “Leaving bikes not chained up and electronics out in plain sight has contributed to the increase in theft offenses.”
With student enrollment down by 301 according to last year’s report, White said there are multiple reasons for the increased offenses, some of which are not explainable.  
There were 35 reported assault offenses in 2012, a 16 offense increase from 2011’s report.
“Unless the assault happens somewhere that we can directly see it, we usually do not know about it,” Lieutenant Don Frazier said.  “Since the awareness of bullying has become a major issue over the past few years, I believe the increase is due to more students reporting these offenses.”
Drug and narcotic charges and liquor law violations totaled 68, up 15 percent from 2011’s report.  Shepherd said this may because of cultural differences.
“Kids will be kids and make these drug and alcohol offenses,” White said. “We have had several students not understand the problem with these offenses due to the legalization of certain drugs in their home state or country.”
Frazier said that resident life workers have been better trained to detect offenses in the residential halls and report them. He said this is the reason for the increase in offenses concerning drugs, narcotics and liquor laws.
Destruction, damage and vandalism offenses are the second leading offense reported by Tech police.  Shepherd said the increase in this category is also due to having a small department and the inability to create a strong presence throughout campus.
According to the report, Tech’s police department has 14 certified police officers for the 10,657 students currently enrolled.
TBI’s full Crime on Campus Report can be viewed at http://www.tbi.tn.gov/tn_crime_stats/publications/Crime%20on%20Campus%202012.pdf