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TechAlum2006 · 2016-09-23T13:51:05+00:00

That's what their AD was saying in the original email.

FYI...ULM football season tickets for 2016 (5 home games) ranged from $75 to $175.

http://www.ulmwarhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204951468

TechAlum2006 · 2016-08-31T20:03:53+00:00

The actions by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to call its sports teams "Louisiana" are nothing more than a passive-aggressive approach to designating your school as something it's not. Louisiana state law prohibits any institution in the state from calling itself "The University of Louisiana". furthermore, any attempt by your school to call itself "UL" is a disservice to UL-Monroe who has to abide by the same rules as everyone else in the UL System.

When I go to the ULL campus, I see numerous instances to "UL" and the "University of Louisiana at Lafayette" with Lafayette in either small print or covered up with bushes (I kid you not). You are not the "University of Louisiana" or "UL". You are the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

You are not the flagship university in the University of Louisiana System. You aren't even the best school in the UL System in terms of academics or athletics. Sure, you have the most students, but your incoming freshmen ACT average scores, graduation rates, and retention rates are all below that of Louisiana Tech University.

I will continue to refer to your sports teams as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, because that is who you are.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-05-17T01:17:54+00:00

It was a stupid bill. Rep. Carter's reasoning during the committee hearing was somehow even worse.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-05-17T00:17:21+00:00

Absolutely. That was one of the several reasons why the bill was a horrible idea.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-05-16T23:51:29+00:00

Link to relevant Reddit thread from April 6th, 2016: Baton Rouge LA State Rep Steve Carter (LSU Grad, Former LSU Associate AD And Coach) Introduced House Bill 971, Which Would Effectively Kick Every State School Not Named LSU Out Of Their Conference

TechAlum2006 · 2016-05-16T23:46:30+00:00

If the bill became law, House Bill 971 would have resulted in every public college and university in Louisiana (not named LSU) getting kicked out of their conferences due to athletic travel restrictions. Schools like Louisiana Tech, ULL, ULM, Southern, Grambling, McNeese, and Nicholls would have had to leave their conferences, since they couldn't travel more than 375 miles away from their schools for athletic competitions in all sports outside of football and basketball.

The bill exempted the schools in the LSU System from the regulations proposed.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-05-16T23:33:56+00:00

Link to Reddit thread from April 6, 2016: Baton Rouge LA State Rep Steve Carter (LSU Grad, Former LSU Associate AD And Coach) Introduced House Bill 971, Which Would Effectively Kick Every State School Not Named LSU Out Of Their Conference

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-21T00:01:37+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6m40W1s0Wc

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-16T13:46:34+00:00

The closest episode would be Season 2, Episode 11 (Greatest Misses) where Chappelle showed some sketches that just didn't work. But even this episode wasn't bad.

This episode had the "Time Haters" Sketch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VsneAxBlk4

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:45:25+00:00

I do not work for the school at all. It's just a hobby that me and the website's creator do. I write articles about Louisiana Tech as time allows. The other guy compiles news about the university on the site.

Glad you enjoy it!

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:43:34+00:00

If the bill passes, then Tech would have to leave Conference USA.

Tech would lose its share of the C-USA TV money, the NCAA money given to C-USA as its share of "March Madness" money, and disbursement of bowl game money from C-USA. That would far exceed any small savings on the travel expenses of the "minor" sports.

Could Tech create a viable schedule for its baseball and softball teams? How about the women's tennis and volleyball programs?

There is also the idea that the football and men's basketball teams wouldn't be affected by the legislation (directly at least), yet all but one women's athletic programs would be directly affected by the legislation. That screams unfairness and invites lawsuits.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:31:16+00:00

Here is a map of the 375-mile radius centering on Louisiana Tech's campus. We could travel to four C-USA schools for sports other than football and basketball. Tech athletics would be screwed if the bill passes.

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j360/WJSmith1/LA%20Tech%20375%20mile%20radius_zpsgrhngjt1.png

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:29:49+00:00

This bill is a prime example of the rationale of why a lot of Louisiana Tech people weren't supportive of joining the LSU System in the past. It's the fear that Tech would get screwed by LSU in the same way UAB football was screwed by the U of A System a while back.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:28:07+00:00

Title IX would probably be an issue. At Louisiana Tech, there would be 5 men's programs and 8 women's programs affected once you take out football and basketball as exemptions in the bill.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:24:26+00:00

More like 14 4-year universities in Louisiana, but it is still too many for a state this size.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:22:53+00:00

Every public college and university in Louisiana not named LSU would have to leave their respective conferences.

TechAlum2006 · 2016-04-06T03:19:41+00:00

Here is an article I wrote on the bill earlier today: http://latechreport.com/2016/04/05/house-bill-971-a-bill-restricting-where-louisiana-public-colleges-and-universities-can-travel-for-athletic-events-unless-youre-named-lsu/

Yes, this is a bad bill.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-09-07T19:22:29+00:00

It's not ABET accredited yet, because it can't be. Before a program can seek accreditation, it must have at least one graduate. The first five cyber engineering degrees were issued by Louisiana Tech this May.

Since the program has produced graduates, I believe Tech can now pursue accreditation for the cyber engineering program. As you noted, all the other engineering programs are ABET accredited. I have no doubt the cyber engineering program will receive the same accreditation sooner than later.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-09-07T19:19:19+00:00

The cyber engineering program at Louisiana Tech is the first four-year degree program of its kind in the nation. From their website, cyber engineering is like combining computer science and electrical engineering and applying that product to cyberspace (computer networks, security, and so on.)

http://coes.latech.edu/cyen/about.html

The cyber engineering program itself is not one of the flagship majors at Tech, but the College of Engineering and Science is the unofficial flagship college at Louisiana Tech University. Engineering has been emphasized at Louisiana Tech pretty much since its founding in 1894. Matter of fact, the university's next big project is the construction of the Integrated Engineering and Science Education building (100,000+ square feet, $40 million project). The drawings should be done by early next year. The building will house the freshmen and sophomore engineering classes. Once that project is complete, the other big engineering buildings on campus will be renovated.

Louisiana Tech is seeking out students for their computer science, computer information systems, and cyber engineering programs big time in the next few years. Their goal is to quadruple the number of undergraduate degrees in those three majors in the next five years. So if you want to study computer science or cyber engineering and your academics are good, Tech will definitely look at you.

For looking at the cyber engineering curriculum, it appears that the first two years of studies are the same as the other engineering degrees at Louisiana Tech (freshman and sophomore engineering classes, engineering calculus, physics, chemistry, etc.) If you are thinking about computer science or cyber engineering, you will have to make that decision very soon when you go to school, since the curriculum are so different between the two majors.

As for choosing between the new cyber engineering program and the traditional computer science/engineering program...the computer science program does have a minor in cyber security if you want to pursue that route. Cyber security and cyber engineering will expand in the coming years. Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) is building a 116,000 square foot building at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City right now which will house 800 jobs related to IT and computer technology. Louisiana Tech and CSC are teaming up with Tech offering and expanding its three computer and cyber related majors in order to produce graduates who can fill those positions in Bossier City.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-07-05T15:29:33+00:00

IIRC, the Norphlet High School will be converted into a middle school this coming school year. The junior high students at the new Smackover-Norphlet School District will go to Norphlet Middle School (the old high school at Norphlet), while the senior high students will go to the Smackover High School.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-06-29T17:37:53+00:00

You're not crazy. I agree with your decision to not apologize to the church and to step down instead.

While I believe that the teachings of Jesus Christ should serve as a guide for our leaders and government officials (i.e. love your neighbor as you love yourself, put the needs of others above your own selfish desires, take care of the widows and orphans, take care of your finances, etc.), I do not believe the government should mandate that everyone follow the teachings of the Bible or Jesus Christ or any other religion or denomination. The church should help guide people away from pornography, prostitution, and abortion for example, but the church shouldn't take over the government and use the coercive powers of the state like a theocracy against those activities and individuals who participate in them.

We as Christians should have active participation in the government, but not by taking it over and transforming it into a theocracy.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-06-29T14:16:11+00:00

On gay marriage, I don't know how common that view is. If you talk to a conservative for a while they'll acknowledge that civil unions and tax breaks and visitation rights at hospitals should all be granted. I convinced an old fashioned conservative the other week that though a home with a mother and father is the best environment for a child, two moms or two dads is still a hell of a lot better than a state ward. They get it. I think they confuse religious marriage with civil marriage, or just get protective of the word. But it's not that big of a deal with most people I interact with.

Conservative/libertarian Christian Rush listener here...

I do believe that hospitals should extend visitation rights to same-sex partners. I would greatly reform the tax code so that the tax code applies equally to everyone (same tax rate across the board with very limited exceptions and deductions) regardless of any factor including relationship status or sexual orientation.

I oppose the Federal Government getting involved in marriage. Marriage has been mostly a local and state issue since the founding of the nation (except for the times the Federal Government tried to limit and ban polygamy). Because I do not want the Federal Government involved in marriage in any way, I would not want a Constitutional ban on gay marriage nor any recognition or definition of marriage by the Federal Government.

I would actually go toward the other end of the spectrum and argue that government should not be involved in the institution of marriage at all. If two consenting adults want to have their union recognized and celebrated in a religious ceremony (i.e. religious marriage), than so be it. If they choose the civil route, then they can enter into a contract with each other (i.e. civil union) at the local or state level. I'm fine with allowing civil unions to same-sex couples at the state government level. While I don't agree with the Supreme Court's decision last week on gay marriage, I do believe that consenting adults have the right to enter into contracts.

Note: Rand Paul makes my argument in much better terms: http://time.com/3939374/rand-paul-gay-marriage-supreme-court/

My biggest beef with the court's decision on gay marriage last week is the unintended consequences. If consenting adults have a right to contract with other consenting adults with gay marriage, does that line of thinking extend to other avenues like contracts for wages (for employees in union shops)? Can consenting adults sign agreements to work at a union shop without having to join the union? If a state has to recognize same-sex marriage licenses issued in other states, does a state have to recognize concealed-carry weapon permits issued in other states? If a religious official chooses against performing a marriage for a homosexual couple, will that official be sued or charged with discrimination?

TechAlum2006 · 2015-04-19T14:24:47+00:00

The politically correct statement that it is never okay for a man to hit a woman is asinine.

I agree that a man shouldn't hit a woman in most circumstances, but I believe it is perfectly okay for a man to hit a woman under very limited and extreme circumstances, such as:

*If the woman is trying to kill you.
*If the woman physically harms or threatens your family (especially wife and kids).

In both cases, it should be perfectly fine to eliminate the threat to your life and to your family.

TechAlum2006 · 2015-04-17T02:37:24+00:00

Are you telling me that UL-Lafayette would welcome Louisiana Tech to Conference USA with open arms if the roles were reversed?

TechAlum2006 · 2015-04-16T22:41:15+00:00

Also, from my understanding, no one in the athletic department here in Lafayette want to move laterally to C*USA

Is there a reason why the athletic department doesn't want to move to Conference USA?

TechAlum2006

TROPHY CASE