1. Evan Ray
Opinions
9/7
Texas Techs Reputation, In the Red?
Texas Tech social media has been blazing as of the last couple of days, mostly stemming from a
notorious video containing a student who claimed to “have COVID” and that everyone at the
party had it as well. Tech says they are looking into it, in attempt to commence damage control
for the Universities image. This has brought a worthwhile question to mind for many, what is
Techs current reputation? What do other universities and people outside think about us?
While it was important to keep an open mind while obtaining the information for this article,
there were at least a few expectations. For those who were in college in a couple of years ago
might remember the infamous Final Four Riot, where drunken Tech students created a bonfire
full of Lime, and flipped over a car. We definitely have a past of being really enthusiastic at
football games to say the least. Finally, our location in Lubbock likely also factors into people’s
opinions, perhaps thinking us to be call cowboys or ranch hands. The following interviewees
were asked a series of 5 questions, including topics of rumors about Tech in general, how they
have been handling COVID-19 in comparison to their own university, and if they thought that
Tech was a viable University to attend.
These expectations seemed to be met, upon speaking to Michael Byrd, a Sophomore Theatre
Major from Houston, currently attending Louisiana State University. Upon the mention of Texas
Tech University, rural countryside was the first thing that he said came to mind. We proceeded to
talk about rumors heard, he mentioned hearing that Tech had a lack of diversity when it came to
Black and Hispanic/Latino students, leading to possibly being discriminated, however also
hearing that Tech was accepting and welcoming of LGBT+ students (again saying that LGBT
2. Evan Ray
Opinions
9/7
people of color may not be as accepted). Byrd retained sentiment that despite how the campus
might be with these groups, he was very dubious that the surrounding area of Lubbock may show
and acceptance or warm behavior for these groups. When the subject turned to University
handling of COVID-19, Byrd told this columnist, without any mention beforehand, that he had
viewed the infamous “COVID party” video, and while he expressed that it irresponsible, he also
said his own University, LSU, has had similar controversy. Last month, a rather large student
party was broken up and gave LSU a rather inappropriate image. When asked if he thought Tech
was a viable University for rising Freshmen, he said he did. However, only with the caveat of
pondering whether Tech should be even taking in any new Freshmen, given the current COVID
situation.
Next, the same set of questions were asked to two students from The University of Texas. The
first of which, was Ryan Bethke, a Computer Science and Spanish Junior from Houston. The
other was a student named Andrew Mathews, a Biomedical Engineering Junior from Sugar
Land. After mentioning his friends that go to Tech currently, Bethke said Tech always mystified
him that such a large university was in Lubbock, the middle of nowhere, and not in Dallas,
Austin or Houston. Mathews said something similar saying that while he respected the academic
nature of the university, he had always heard the location was a little less than ideal. And
speaking of things less then ideal, Bethke mentioned knowledge of the infamous “Raider Rash”
(a term used for STDs spread by us Raiders), and both students had knowledge of the Final Four
riots listed above. After they were asked about comparison of COVID handling with Tech and
their own Universities, they both said it was fairly similar, the main difference being that UT is
ending their semester after Thanksgiving Break. Overall, they both seemed to share a lot of
respect for Tech as a University and a gateway to the professional world.
3. Evan Ray
Opinions
9/7
Obviously, several of the sentiments expressed here aren’t exactly things we want to be known
for, or are things that we think are true. We as Red Raiders know how things are really going on
here on campus. If we wish to change our image, it will have to be a collaborative effort, either
make the necessary, or to prove that the statements are incorrect and that we are better than what
is said about us.
SuggestedTweet:
Is Texas Techs reputation something to be proud of? Check out @EvanRayDTs latest article for
an analysis over the entire topic!
