By Kayla Chandler Thanksgiving is three weeks away, and with it comes that unfortunate time when many college couples break up. Dubbed “Turkey Dump” or “Turkey Drop,” the experience is said to affect mostly first-year students. In spite of new technology, like Skype and texting, long-distance couples often break up right before the holidays. Why? […]
The Sphere of Fear
October 29, 2015 by
By Julie Gomez and Karla Rodriguez Some people fear spiders, others—darkness. And some fears become so unbearable that they turn into phobias. Everybody has fears, but phobias are different, said Kelly Cukrowicz, a clinical psychology associate professor at Texas Tech. Not only are phobias intense and irrational, but they also potentially interfere with one’s day-to-day activities and ability […]
‘Let’s Put A Smile on That Face’: Clown-Fearers Reflect
October 29, 2015 by
By Kylie Smith Face paint, funny clothes and big shoes are here. This Halloween, welcome to Lubbock’s newest attraction: Clowntown 3D. Nightmare on 19th Street has people with coulrophobia—a medical term for fear of clowns—terrified. For sufferers, a masquerade supposed to elicit joy and laughter is an actual panic-inducing occurrence. The condition reflects—and possibly results from—the use of clowns […]
Defying The Odds: Breast Cancer Survivors Speak Out
October 28, 2015 by
By Abby Aldrich Terri Woods remembers the day she went in to have both her breasts removed. It was on her mother’s birthday, Oct. 28. Her husband, sister, mother and minister came into her room to pray before the surgery. Woods was feeling calm until the prayer started. “Then all of us just broke down […]
Lubbock, Region See Infectious Disease Outbreak
October 23, 2015 by
By Julie Gomez Doctors and school nurses across West Texas have a friendly suggestion for you: Wash your hands. This is not just a routine reminder. An infectious disease known as shigellosis is causing concern across West Texas. There have been 71 confirmed cases in Lubbock since Sept. 1, according to a public health advisory issued by the city’s […]
Life as an Emergency Nurse
October 21, 2015 by
By Karla Rodriguez Evyn Box, an emergency nurse at the University Medical Center in Lubbock, remembers the first time a case hit close to home. She watched as an Iraq veteran experiencing an active flashback was taken to a psych room. “My husband is an Iraq veteran,” Box said. “He has PTSD, so hearing this man talking—and […]
Is Texas Tech Child-Friendly? Take Two
October 15, 2015 by
By Audra Coffman, Justin Gonzales, Vanessa Ledesma, Anna Johnson, Halima Fasasi A 2000 report described Texas Tech University as “desperately” needing a childcare facility. Fifteen years and an 11,000-student enrollment increase later, no such facility exists. The document, prepared by the Child Care Exploratory Committee, recommended the construction of a 34,000-square-foot center to accommodate 200 children, with […]
Surviving a Week on Free Food
October 14, 2015 by
A favorite phrase among college students is “free food.” This is not surprising. The Washington Post reported last year that the phenomenon of “food insecurity” is on the rise on college campuses. As of 2014, 121 campuses had their own food banks. What would it be like to try to survive with no food budget for a […]
Dangerous Thoughts? There’s an App for That
October 12, 2015 by
By RaShayla Daniels and Everett Corder Depressed? Suicidal? Call 911, 211—-or at least seek help online! Although nothing can replace face-to-face contact with a therapist, Tech’s Student Counseling Center offers resources immediately accessible through its website, including an online mental health screening, virtual self-help library and online educational workshops. The center’s website also debunks suicide myths and […]
Bee Allergy-Free (and Pesticide-Wary)
October 10, 2015 by
Brooke Carson was once so sick with recurring infections that she had to take time off of school. Now a graduate student studying media and communication at Texas Tech, she attributes her illness to extreme allergies and her recovery to increased consumption of local honey. “My system just, like, crashed because of allergies, and I developed asthma,” the […]
