THURSDAY, AUG. 24, 2023 VOLUME 98 ISSUE 1
LA VIDA
OPINIONS
SPORTS
NEWS
Steeley Smith, student regent, prepares for the responsibilities and challenges of serving the Tech System.
Student Body President Joel Rivero introduces himself to Tech students.
Texas Tech volleyball sees biggest class of incoming first-years to the program since 2018.
Texas Tech offers Raider Ride, TTUPD services to ensure its students are safe and protected.
INDEX
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PG 8
LA VIDA OPINIONS SPORTS NEWS
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MARIANNA SOURIALL/The Daily Toreador
Members of Clement Hall (from left to right) Aiden Haydu, Luke Hamaker, Quinn Edgar, Tyler Cush and center, Gus Olivera gather in their practice garage for their first practice since returning to Lubbock. An upcoming event for the band is the SGA’s Music Monday 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Urbanovsky Ampitheatre.
MUSIC
Clement Hall creates Clement Hall Dorm opens door to alternative sound at SGA’s Music Monday event
By MARIANNA SOURIALL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Started by a group of future architects, Luke Hamaker, Tyler Cush and Aidan Haydu found themselves in Clement Hall designing the blueprints of a band that would eventually leave an unwavering mark through music. House parties and small gigs led the three friends to aspiring musicians Quinn Edgar and Gus Olivera. Together, the five artist now form the band, Clement Hall. Clement Hall, a dorm space on campus, housed Hamaker, Cush and Haydu their first year at Texas Tech. Lead singer Hamaker said in the dorms the three would cover songs and make music. “Our first show was on Halloween. It was at another house that does house shows pretty oftenly,” Hamaker said. “What was cool about it was that me and Aiden went to a show there probably a
couple months before we got it, and we were sitting there like in front, watching the band and we were like ‘that would be super cool if we could somehow get up there and play together.’ Sure enough, that was our first show. ” It also was at the band’s first show where they met eventual drummer Olivera. Olivera started playing the drums at church and said playing live is something he has always wanted to do in general. “I had been looking for people to start a band with or like play music together with and they just kind of like fell on my lap,” Oliver said. “I was just chilling one day doing nothing, and then Luke [texted] me, ‘Hey, you wanna come play with us?’ and I said ‘Oh yes, yes I would.’” Lead guitarist Edgar followed the same calling as he stumbled across the band at an event and made conversation. A few months later, Hamaker reached out and
Edgar said yes. Including their first album “Songs from Lamesa,” the upand-coming band has released two singles and continues to play live in the Lubbock music scene. Keyboardist Cush said it is the friendship that helps the most when practicing together since it doesn’t feel like a chore. “It’s kind of a fun dynamic, like me, Luke and Aiden have been friends for three years now, and we kind of just clicked really easily,” Cush said. “Gus and Quinn basically clicked instantly, so it’s like we’ve been friends forever.” With friendship as their driving force, collectively the band simply enjoys playing music and interacting with the crowd. For Edgar specifically, playing live is the reason he enjoys playing in general as it is something most people will never get to do in their lifetime. “Musicians will always talk about the flow state, artists will
talk about it, athletes will talk about it. The flow state is just like when you’re really genuinely in the moment and like you’re just so focused on what you’re doing, and that feeling is just so enhanced when you’re playing live,” Edgar said. “I think all of these guys are backing me up when I say magic things just happen when you play live. It’s just different. Playing live is just a magical feeling, and there’s literally nothing like it.”
Playing live is just a magical feeling, and there’s literally nothing like it. QUINN EDGAR LEAD GUITARIST
While the opportunities for Clement Hall are just beginning,
the integrity of the band is still rooted in group chats and the GarageBand app. “Usually I’ll make the like very rough idea on my phone on GarageBand with just like program drums. I’ll play like one guitar and sing the melody,” Hamaker said. “We’ll send it around the group chat and if we like it, we’ll bring it into the studio, pull it into Logic, which is what we use to mix, and then come up with a full song structure.” Overall the band simply enjoys playing music and the company of each other. For bass guitarist Haydu, some of his favorite memories with the guys come from events where the band dressed up in fun outfits such as astronaut helmets or the Arctic Monkeys. To take part in the memories being made, Clement Hall will be perform at the SGA’s first Music Monday from 6-8 p.m. hosted at Urbanovsky Park Monday, Aug 28. @MariannaS_DT
THE BRAND
Ramirez returns, embraces the Number Three By JAMAR BROOKS SPORTS WRITER
On Sept. 2, Texas Tech senior linebacker Bryce Ramirez will step back onto the field as not only a testament to perseverance, but also as a torchbearer of the No. 3, brandishing the coveted jersey and serving as an inspiration to those around him. The No. 3 jersey is awarded to the player that best represents ‘The Brand’ of Texas Tech
football. The tradition honors Luke Siegel, the late son of former Tech tennis coach Tim Siegel, standing for courage, determination and unity, characteristics that were embodied by Luke Siegel during his fight against a brain injury. In his wake, Luke Siegel’s legacy remains, and was honored by Ramirez during his own battle to recovery. Ramirez suffered a compound fracture of his lower left leg Sept.17, 2022, against North
Carolina State in his first ever start for Tech. Ramirez was announced as the recipient of the jersey by Tech’s head football coach Joey McGuire on May 30. After the team’s first fall camp practice in early August, McGuire elaborated on why he felt Ramirez deserved the honor of representing ‘The Brand.’ “One of the coolest stories that I’ve been part of,” McGuire said. “His work ethic and his leadership is probably as strong
as anybody that I’ve ever been around.” After one of the team’s practices, Ramirez opened up about the initial moment when he got hurt and his thought process while lying injured on the field. “Off the rip, I knew it was broken. I felt the impact. I didn’t realize how bad it was but I knew it was broken,” Ramirez said. “I knew I wasn’t gonna get up and then I heard the NC (North Carolina) State sideline,
they were like ‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’ When I took my helmet off to look, that’s why I started to freak out a little bit.” For some, having a precious milestone (such as a first career start) in their life be stripped away and tainted in such a manner would be too much to overcome. For Ramirez, that would prove to not be the case. Despite the gruesome nature of his injury, Ramirez said SEE LEGACY, PG. 7
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