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Page
Angelo State University’s student-run newspaper since 1936
Friday, April 28, 2017
www.asurampage.com
Housing adds 160 rooms, no additional amenities planned
Volume 83, Issue 27
New organizations win awards at Rammys Recipients include sports, volunteering groups Rosanna Aguilera Staff Writer
The Rammys was held on April 20 in the CJ Davidson Conference Center and recognized many people and organizations. Grad student Henry Mahome III received the Promising Male Leader of the Year award and his organization IHeartYoSneaks was awarded the Most Spirited Organization and Service Organization of the Year award. “It feels humbling actually because all we did was work hard and try to get involved on campus in everything we can and in our community at San Angelo
Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
and with our communities back home,” Mahome said. He said they are trying to start something good with their organization. “We are active and strong,” Mahome said. “We are passionate about everything we do and we love what we do and we love to help out everyone we can.” Michael Abarca, freshman president of the Rams Ultimate Frisbee organization said they won the Rising Ram award as well as the Special Interest Organization of the Year. “It feels pretty good, we made a big difference on campus and we were able to give a lot of for-
See RAMMYS page 2
Construction continues on the Centennial Village expansion. The expansion will only be adding more rooms for residents and no other amenities.
Students skeptical on new wing Alina Hernandez Contributor The $12.7 million construction on Centennial Village’s new wing began at the start of April. The new “G” wing will run adjacent to Rosemont Street on the west end of campus. It will open in the fall 2018 semester. “We will be able to offer private bedrooms to 160 more students than we could in years past, and that is huge
for us,” Director of Housing and Residential Programs Tracy Wright Baker said. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company is in charge of the project. Housing will have a debt service, similar to a mortgage, to pay for the construction. “Centennial Village is a very popular residence hall,” Baker said. “As the freshmen class continues to grow, the demand for more on-campus beds increases. Students have continued to ask for more private bedroom options such as Centennial and
Texan.” She said Centennial Village’s original design included a “G” wing. Currently, Centennial Village has “B”“F” wings. The addition of a sixth wing will bring Centennial Village’s population to over 670 students. “I think it’s nice that they are building an extra wing because there really isn’t that much space on campus anymore,” Centennial Village resident Sarah DeLorenzo said.
See HOUSING page 2
Photos by Kaitlin Trujillo
Victoria Galvan, junior, presents the Ram Family Scholarship. Galvan was the committee chair for the scholarship.
Josiah Light, freshman, presents an award at the Rammys. Light is the accounting senator for the Student Government Association.
This is the final issue of the Ram Page for the Spring 2017 semester. Thank you readers for making this effort worth it. We will return on Sept. 1 with a new Editor-in-Chief. Stay tuned for more and have a great summer! - From the Ram Page Staff
Community learns how LARP, dance, fight clubs added to turn trash to treasure to registered organization roster Earth Day event teaches students how to convert shirts to bags, more Zelenia Vasquez Staff Writer ASU hosted the annual Earth Day awareness event to show how one can contribute to protecting the Earth on April 20. “It is important to conserve, mainly because this is our earth and we live here,” Selina McSherry from the Nature Center said. “Just like ourselves, if we do not take care of ourselves we get sick, so we need to take care of the Earth so that we
Photo by Brit Raley
can all live and grow happy and have a good earth.” Tri-Beta, national honor society for biology, participated in the Earth Day event by bringing flower seeds in hopes that people will drop the flower seeds wherever they go. The goal behind this is to help keep bees alive. “We try to encourage people to become aware about bees and the fact that they are becoming more endangered,” Tri-Beta member William Johnson said. “Bees are what pollinate our fruit and keep prices down, so
Groups aim to teach, relax students Patrick Fleming Staff Writer
Since the fall of 2016, ASU has seen a multitude of new groups, each with their own goals and sets of activities. This includes the Rams Live Action Role Play, L.A.R.P. Club. President, Isaac Staton, ju-
nior, said the L.A.R.P. Club is meant to supply students with a way of relaxing by roleplaying scenarios which include fighting dragons and sailing the sea among pirates. Another added organization is the Angelo State Ballroom Dance Club, a club where students can learn how to dance. “I felt that San Angelo didn’t have enough to offer
students, so I wanted to try and fix it the best I could,” Andrew Russell, the founder and current president of the club, said. “[My favorite part is] getting to teach new people moves and dances and watching when it clicks for them.” There is also the Medieval Armored Combat Experience Club, or MACE Club,
See CLUBS page 4
See EARTH page 3
Students talk with a representative from the Nature Center about the snake around her neck.
Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
Harry Briggs, co-founder of MACE, fights off Anton Zemlock while Hans Madsen, president of MACE, fights behind them. Briggs and Madsen are former members of the Marines.
NEWS
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RAMMYS page 1
mer athletes a sport to be a part of again.” Abarca said people have tried out ultimate frisbee and loved it. “The community we were able to build is awesome,” Abarca said. Abarca said they have
Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
Emily Franchuk, junior, gets dinner at the Rammys. Franchuk went to the event with Delta Sigma Pi.
4.28.2017 been able to help on and off campus with volunteer projects. “It’s just really neat that we were able to get recognized,” Abarca said. “We look forward to being able to make a difference in the future.” The night began with a buffet of food catered by Chartwells and the tables
were set with salads and desserts and the awards followed. After the awards were presented, people were free to take pictures on stage and on the blue carpet that was laid out that led into the conference center.
Board/ Council Organization of the Year- Multicultural Advisory Council Dr. E. James Hindman Award- Honors Student Association Greek Life Organization of the Year- Tau Kappa Epsilon Quiet Influence Award- Flor Madero Promising Female Leader of the Year- Bonnie Kennedy Academic/ Professional Organization of the Year- Students Professional Development Club Advisor of the Year- Dr. Crosby Jones Club Sports Organization of the Year- Rambelle Rugby Honor Society of the Year- Honor Student Association Multicultural/ International Organization of the Year- Korean Student Association
Greeks join various philanthropic events
tal. the goodie bags before Eas- Mr. Delta Zeta was donated to which provides medical, afPi Kappa Alpha, Delta “I feel that giving donations ter weekend in hopes that it the Starkey Hearing Founda- ter-school and food pantry Zeta raise funds to serve is super important because it would brighten the children’s tion. services to small islands off community, beyond
Zelenia Vasquez Staff Writer Children were the main focus of Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Zeta’s philanthropic acts this year. They gave to the children of Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Shannon Pediatric Unit this year. Pike and Delta Zeta joined to raise money and to create goodie bags to give to the children in the Shannon Pediatric Unit. First, Pike and Delta Zeta came together to create a GoFundMe page to raise donations to give to children at Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospi-
is an easy way to give back to the community and people in need,” Delta Zeta member Lacey Maurice said. After receiving the donations, Pike and Delta Zeta had a joint philanthropy event on campus to teach all their members about what Saint Judes does and how they help children across the country and all around the world. The second time they came together was when Pike President Austin Franco and Maurice created goodie bags to give to the children at Shannon Pediatric Unit. In total, 20 goodie bags containing little toys and candies were made. Franco and Maurice took
spirits. “One of Delta Zeta’s most important values is giving back to others, so donations are a great way to give back to people who need money and treasures,” Maurice said. From April 10-13, six Greek Chapters: Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Kappa and Delta Zeta came together in an event called Mr. Delta Zeta. The fraternities decided on their representative to run for Mr. Delta Zeta and people would walk by and donate to the one they wanted. By the end of the week, Kappa Sigma was the winner. Money collected from
The Starkey Hearing Foundation, Delta Zeta’s national philanthropy, provides hearing aids and support for those who are underprivileged and cannot afford hearing aids. The Starkey Hearing Foundation works internationally to help the world hear. Delta Zeta also had a member donate a pair of shoes to the IHeartYoSneaks organization which is an organization that collects shoes to repair and give to kids who need them. They had eight members donate blood to United Blood Services. In the spring semester, Sigma Kappa raised $70 for the Maine Seacoast Mission
the coast of Maine that become isolated by ice in the winter months. They also raised $1,800 for the Sigma Kappa Foundation which funds leadership, philanthropies and scholarships for the sorority as well as provide for alumnae in times of need. Last semester Sigma Kappa raised over $6 thousand for the Alzheimer's Association. “It is extremely important for Greeks to raise donations because Greek Life is built upon two main aspects - brotherhood or sisterhood and service,” Sigma Kappa President Rachel Lindberg said.
Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
A member of Lambda Chi Alpha offers his dog a treat during the Dog Show. The Dog Show was held by Lambda Chi Alpha and benefitted PAWs, a local pet adoption agency. Any student and their canine friend were able to compete in the show. The event helped multiple animals find homes.
Events Calendar Monday 5/1
LGBTQ+ Training 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. UC Room 201
Laboratory finals, Juries All Day M-F to May 5
Graduating Seniors Arts Exhibit 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (M-F to May 12) Gallery 193 Carr EducationFine Arts Building
HOUSING page 1 The new wing will feature the same design and layout as the rest of Centennial Village. There will be either two or four students per unit, each with his or her own bedroom. Four bedroom units have two bathrooms. The two bedroom units have one bathroom. The rooms include other features such as mini fridges and microwaves. Baker said the expansion will only add new rooms, not any more amenities such as more washers or dryers. Centennial Village currently has one laundry room which students can use free of charge. “Yes, we do have a bigger laundry room, but there are days where it seems like everyone is trying to do laundry,” DeLorenzo, sophomore, said. “If you add that many more people, it’s going to make it worse. I feel like they need to add more washers and dryers.” Baker said there are also no official parking changes to announce for Centennial Village students. Centennial Village students share parking space with Carr Hall. Senior Teah Dollins lives in the wing closest to the construction site. She said the construction is annoying because there are times when her
Friday 4/28
room shakes because of the work, and she cannot sleep. DeLorenzo said she hopes the majority of the construction gets done during the summer, since she will live in Centennial Village next semester. Baker said the cost of housing has not increased over the past several years, despite the raise last year. The 2015-2016 year had an increase of $500 in most residence halls, on average. She said there might be a modest increase in housing rates for fall of 2018, but the increase would be across the board and not related to this project specifically. Baker said there are no restrictions as to who can live in Centennial Village. “As always, returning students get to select their rooms first, so they have the opportunity to select rooms in Centennial, but there is plenty of space for first year students,” she said. She said the expansion enables ASU to provide students with more of the types of rooms they are requesting. “Students really love the private bedroom style rooms and those buildings have continued to be our most popular,” Baker said.
Club Sports Field Day 2017 3-5 p.m. Campus Green Baseball vs UT Permian Basin 6:30-9:30 p.m. Foster Field
Saturday 4/29 Official Ring Ceremony 10-11 a.m. CJ Davidson Pro-Life Rams: Annual Baby Shower 10:30 a.m.- noon Plaza Verde Clubhouse Baseball vs UT Permian Basin 4-9 p.m. Foster Field
Sunday 4/30 Baseball vs UT Permian Basin 1-4 p.m. Foster Field
Tuesday 5/2 San Angelo Gives All Day UCPC: Stress Free Zone 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. UC
Wednesday 5/3 Orientation Leader Training 4 p.m. Weekly to May 10 UC Greek Awards 6:30 p.m. CJ Davidson
Monday 5/8
Final exams for Spring 2017 Semester All day M-F to May 12
Saturday 5/13 Spring 2017 Commencement 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Junell Center
NEWS
4.28.2017 EARTH page 1 if you like fruit, try to save the bees too.” Multicultural Center Activities also set up a booth to teach participants how to repurpose old clothes. One example of this is how to turn old clothes into bags. “We are getting old ASU shirts or any shirts that you do not want anymore and we are just teaching them how to make reusable bags out of them,” Lauren Shankle said. The S.A.F.E. recycling center also went to the Earth Day event to explain the importance of recycling. “I am trying to educate the students on the importance of
recycling,” Director of S.A.F.E Lloyd Pashal said. “We do electronics recycling and all kinds of recycling.” Pashal displayed a variety of items such as koozies made from old tires and hard drives that have been converted to magnets. “We are just trying to keep things from the landfill because there are many things that you do not want in the landfill,” Pashal said. “Like any rechargeable batteries, they have mercury in them, so you do not want them to go in the landfill because you do not want it to get into the water system.”
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Students attending the Earth Day event found out that they can reuse many things within their career field. “I try to recycle as much as I can,” senior Kaye Aguilar said. “Being an art major, I try to reuse canvases and paints. [I] turn bottles into sculptures as well.”
Photo by Brit Raley
Students listen to Lloyd Paschal, S.A.F.E. Recycling, about different ways to recycle. There are several opportunities for students to volunteer with S.A.F.E. Recycling.
New president sworn in
Six new bills passed; senators suggest new projects Rosanna Aguilera Staff Writer On April 24, the Student Government Association inducted multiple senators and swore in the new president and vice president. Former vice president Alfredo Felipe said he will be helping new VP Emily Hecox in her new position so she can know what to expect. “I feel that she is prepared,” Felipe said. “She has been up Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo there and helped me manage Emily Hecox and Tristan Fielder take their oaths for Student Body some of the meetings.” President and Vice President. Fielder and Hecox passed six bills in Felipe said he is hoping for their first meeting as presidents and vice presidents. the best.
“I think she is qualified and will do a very good job,” Felipe said. Former president Peyton Labauve also gave his thoughts about the new president Tristan Fielder. “I think Tristan is extremely prepared and I think he had an excellent campaign,” Labauve said. “I am most proud of him for following through on his campaign promises and passing those six bills that represented the six points of his campaign.” Labauve said he thinks Fielder will do excellent. “We are going to be training him through this next month to make sure he is prepared,” Labauve said.
He is confident with how the senate will do next semester. “I’m moving on in peace,” Labauve said. In Monday’s meeting, they passed six bills. “We passed various resolutions that will set our plans for the scantron distribution program, parking, recycling, a safe ride program, filtered water fountains and living learning communities for Greek Life into motion,” Fielder said. They plan to accomplish many of these initiatives over the summer, and continue to push remaining initiatives throughout the year, as well as new projects that senators bring to the table as well.
UCPC members reflect on year’s events Drag rave, comedy shows among favorites
Patrick Fleming Staff Writer Throughout the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017, the people working on the University Center Program Council, or UCPC, have set a great number of activities for students of ASU to participate in. Students working in UCPC were asked what the 2016-2017 academic year was like for them, including what their favorite project was during this time and what it is like being part of UCPC. “My favorite thing that we’ve done this year is the Drag Rave,” Brooke Elliott, freshman and Nighttime Chair for the UCPC, said. One of the UCPC’s successes this year, the Drag Rave, was something that a lot of people claimed as their favorite event. “My favorite event this year was when
the comedian Adam Grabowski came,” Precious Emeagi, junior and UCPC Club Café Chairperson, said. “I love the fact that he made the audience laugh and he was so sweet and took pictures with everybody.” Grabowski was one of many comedians UCPC brought in. Jessi Campbell, Steve Hofsetter, and more were all free of charge for students to see. Yet, there were moments where UCPC members were challenged in new ways. Because of this, some members were asked what some of the most difficult parts of being in this group were. “The hardest thing was to come up with different ideas to gain a bigger audience for our events,” Justice Medina, junior and UCPC Concert Chair, said. “There is only so much you can do to promote and get people to join UCPC or make it to our programs.” Most of the replies involved how hard it is
to gain publicity for upcoming events. However, some people talked about personal changes they had to make. “The hardest thing for me was getting out of my comfort zone,” Jennifer Sauceda, sophomore UCPC Vice President, said. “I had to talk in front of people and meet new people. I learned to do so proficiently and professionally and it was totally worth it.” Finally, as a group that any student would have the opportunity Photos by Kaitlin Trujillo to join, these members Justice Medina, UCPC Concert Chairperson, warms up the crowd for the band, were asked what they Anthem Lights, at Springfest. would say to anyone who may be interested. “You get to meet amazing people and you get to meet amazing artists,” Sauceda said. “UCPC is just one big family. If you’re searching to find new friends or something fun to do, UCPC is the perfect place for you. We’d love to have you.” People can contact UCPC or go to its events to learn more about the group and sign up.
Ashley Douglas, former president of Rams Plus, and Nick Ellis, UCPC Art & Film Chairperson, introduce the Drag Rave with the help of Roscoe.
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FEATURES
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Water Polo splashes into semester Photos by Brit Raley
Academic achievement among freshmen Patrick Fleming Staff Writer
Cooper Jackson tries to make a point. This was the second year to have water polo.
Kellan Jackson prepares to pass the ball to his teammate. His team was called The Wolfpac.
An entire academic year can mean a lot for new students and old students, as it can provide new challenges for people as well as set them on the path to their future careers. Because of this, several students were asked what their academic achievements for the 2016-2017 academic year were. This was one of the harder Student Minds questions, since they had to think about what they were the most proud of. Many students exclusively associated their achievements with whatever grade they ended up with. “I’ve only had one B,” Chase York, freshman, said. “The rest of my grades were A’s.” Other students shared this accomplishment. Some students even surprised themselves with what they were capable of.
“Mine is definitely my English class,” Laura Espinoza, freshman, said. “[Not] because I didn’t think I would pass it, but I just did tremendous in that class.” She was not the only student to focus on a single class as her major accomplishment, however, some students had different reasons for why these classes were particularly rewarding. “I would think speech,” Alex Melendez, freshman, said. “I’m not really scared to talk. It’s just public speaking and being in a small classroom, you don’t know [the other students].” As a class that focuses on helping people develop better ways of talking to large groups of people, speech would be hard for anyone who is normally socially awkward. Some students focused more on their overall grades and GPA’s, with the focus mainly on not flunking out. “I haven’t failed a class yet,” Kota Prain, freshman, said. “I guess I’m passing all of my classes, so that counts for
something right?” Andrew Granada, freshman, joked. Yet, one student also talked about why it meant so much to her to make it through the year. “I guess passing all of my classes, honestly,” Brook Sommerfeld, freshman, said. “[You] hear about all of these people failing out of their classes and not being able to retake them, and I’m just glad that I didn’t have to retake any.” Most people glossed over the fact that making it through class and earning a passing grade still takes work, especially in some of the more complicated classes throughout the university. “I was on the Dean’s List this fall, so I guess that’d be [my accomplishment],” Keeley McCaln, freshman, said. Having to make at least having a 3.6 GPA, this is no small feat. However, this would be one of the accomplishments that gets harder as the years go by.
tered Student Organizations list this academic year. One of these organizations is the ASU Student Chapter of Active Minds, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the realities of mental health. Those in it are also dedicated to giving students a support group for any mental illnesses they may have. “I know so many people who suffer from mental health issues, yet feel embarrassed to talk about it or reach out for help,” Rosalyn Hollingsworth, founder, president and junior, said. “I hoped that creating an organization like Active Minds would help more students realize that they are not alone.” Due to its recent approval
the Active Minds group has not had many activities yet, but Hollingsworth intends for there to be many projects that the group will work on in the fall. There is also the ASU Chapter of Give More HUGS, an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged students receive love for reading and learning by hosting fundraisers and engaging in several projects each semester. All of these organizations are all open for new members to join. Students can look them up on the ASU site and find them under Student Organizations.
CLUBS page 1 which is dedicated to the sport of old fighting styles as well as studying how armor and equipment was made. Basically giving the students an idea of what it is like to be a knight, the MACE Club is both recreational and educational. “The sport is very new to the U.S., despite being seven centuries old, and I wanted to share my passion for Medieval fighting with students who may also get something unique and wonderful out of it,” Hans Madsen, freshman and club president, said. “Students seem interested, but the challenge for us is making it stand apart from other Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo groups.” Harry Briggs, co-founder of MACE, and Hans Madsen, Volunteer organizations president of MACE, demonstrate how to use some of their also stepped up to the Regis-
hand crafted weapons.
University, students aim to boost equality Title IX, HeForShe host events to raise awareness Patrick Fleming Staff Writer ASU is providing a state mandated program, Title IX, which aims to help the campus community. “The Title IX Office is responsible for providing prevention and awareness education for students, faculty and staff, receiving reports of conduct that allegedly violates our Title IX policy, and for investigating and adjudicating formal complaints alleging violations of our Title IX policy,” Title IX Director Michelle Boone said. Title IX is a federal law, part of the Educational Amendments of 1972. “The law states that ‘No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,’”
Boone said. Before school starts in the fall, upcoming freshman are required to take two online courses, each an hour long, called AlcoholEDU and Haven. “These courses are considered the introduction to Title IX and our policies and expectations at ASU,” Boone said. The office of Title IX hosts multiple events for the students. “Our office also provides trainings to incoming students at NSO, Rambunctious Weekend and we work with the Laura Bush Foundation to provide education at Girls and Guys Night Out,” Boone said. “We also provide awareness through events like #RAMSPROTECT, which is an online pledge that students can take to be an active bystander, encourage and participate in healthy relationships and always get consent for sexual activities.” Another group on campus is the HeForShe Club, which also tries to combat similar topics.
“HeForShe is a student or- Youth Assembly. safe and secure knowing there ganization in official partner“We lead the delegation are programs on campus that ship with HeForShe in the of our officers to represent provide them with informaUnited Nations, and we work their countries in the United tion over how to stay safe. to promote gender equality,” Nations Youth Assembly to “It is reassuring that the Sazza Dahal said. expose them with opportuni- school has someone we can This club was founded in ties around the world to work go to in case of an emergency 2015. on what they are passionate or need,” Sarah Adams, fresh“I founded this organi- about,” Dahal said. man, said. zation in 2015 after coming Students on campus feel back from the UN Youth Assembly,” Dahal said. “The core message of the organization is that gender inequality isn’t just women’s issues, it’s a humanitarian issue. Therefore, all humans, no matter what gender, should be a part of it.” Just like Title IX, the HeForShe Club provides information to students on issues Photos by Kaitlin Trujillo and Brit Raley Members of the Ram Fam sign the Rams Protect pledge and how to learn from them. “We addressed the presi- to end sexual assaults. dential election, human sexuality, psychological issues, healthy relationships and so on,” Dahal said. “In addition, we like to partner with other organizations to further our agenda and promote theirs, as long as they pertain to social justice.” One of their major events Jisoo Lim, Martina Van Burger, Alysabeth Steele and Sarthey do is over the summer, ah Droegemeir enjoy tea and biscuits from Title IX’s Tea called the United Nations Party.
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Alana Edgin Editor- in-Chief Welcome to the end, everyone. This is the final issue of the semester, if you couldn’t tell from the previous pages. It also means that this is my last issue as the Editor-in-Chief, and I have some stuff to say. It’s been hard. This job is a constant battle of time management and personal life. Often, I would do my homework
OPINION during the weekend, the only time I didn’t work. And there is no way on Earth I could have done this job without my awesome coworkers. Kaitlin, thanks for not getting too angry when a story was changed or added, and thanks for sticking through this year. You are part of the backbone of the Ram Page’s success this year. You didn’t just do photos, you did editing, cutlines and all sorts of stuff a normal photo editor didn’t need to do. Honestly, you are an inspiration. Mikera, you are one of only three current members that started with me. You may not be a writing major, but I think you could totally write. We are friends, and I’m sure we will be friends for years to come. In and out of the office,
we had fun and did our jobs together. Patrick, you are a madman. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much before I met you. Please, keep writing and drawing. You are crazy and fantastic, which is an awesome combination. Rosanna, you are so calm and consistent in your work. Those times when you speak up shine with cleverness. I believe in you. Go do everything you set your mind to. Hilario and Josh Horton, both of you guys were hired late in the game, but you do great work. I never worry about you doing your jobs. And, you are fun to talk to. Brit, Zelenia, you were late hires too, but awesome additions to the team. Brit, you have so much talent. If I don’t
see you taking over an art exhibition, I would be shocked. Zelenia, your way with words is art. Keep writing. To the many staff members, who left early, thank you for your work. Even though you didn’t stay the whole year/semester, you still contributed to the Ram Page’s success. I haven’t forgotten you, the readers, the entire reason we publish this. Thank you for reading us, and please keep doing so. Alina and her crew next semester are bound to do just as great, if not better, than we have this year. Personally, I would like to thank Dr. Johnson for entrusting me with this job and believing in me. We may not have always seen eye to eye, but I know you had our backs. Every person who took
4.28.2017
their time to talk to us, thank you for branching out and letting us use you for information/photos/quotes, etc. I hope we did well by you. A huge thank you goes to the Ram Rugby team for always giving us quick responses and making us laugh. Please have more games next semester so I can come watch a game. Same goes for all the sports teams. I want ASU athletes, intramural and official, to continue being the best. Finally, thank you to my family, boyfriend and friends for giving me ideas, cheering me up and being there for me. This is my farewell to all of you Ram Page readers. My team and I did our best to bring you the best. Keep reading and keep winning at all you do.
Never grow up Oddball students unite
Kaitlin Trujillo Photo Editor Growing up is something I never planned on doing, but time does not seem to care about my plans. The future is rapidly approaching and I am trying to avoid it with every fiber of my being. People keep asking me what I want to do with my life and I honestly have no idea. I know I want to see the world and I know I want to make a difference in it, but that’s where my ambitions get foggy. I am so jealous of people that have a clear career path lined out that they’re passionate about; you know, the kind of people who knew what they
wanted to be since they were young? Even when I was a kid, I didn’t know what I wanted to be. I thought about being a vet because I love dogs, but then we had to put our family dog down and a vet did that. I was NOT going to be that person. No way. Then I thought about becoming a teacher, but you kind of have to like kids to do that and I do not like kids, so that job was out. There wasn’t an opening in the Cheetah Girls and you can’t make a career out of movie trivia. As I get older, I have come to see that I am not alone. Many of the adults I’ve talked to still don’t know what they want to do with their futures; and that’s okay. I’m starting to like the idea of a future that’s wide open. After all, who likes a predictable story? The future will come regardless of my plans and I am confident in the plans of the One who holds my future.
Brit Raley Photographer I’m a transfer student and a 22-year-old sophomore. Almost everyone my age went straight to a four year university, and has graduated or is about to graduate. This can make a girl feel like a failure. In 2015, I started my college career at Howard College here in San Angelo. I was not fresh out of high school like most of my friends. I was fresh out of two gap years. Talk about having to do some serious adjusting; I had to learn how to be a student again.
I was at Howard for three semesters, and I loved it. There is not much of a social aspect there, but academically, Howard is fantastic. They have three buildings, small class sizes and great professors who truly care about you. The professors are probably my favorite part about Howard. They made me feel welcome, they encouraged me and they wanted to see me succeed (and continue to do so). When I go back to Howard, I’m always greeted by the professors, and they ask me how I’m doing in school and in life. They can make a girl feel special. I transferred here this spring. The classes are bigger, and there are a lot more than three buildings to keep track of. However, there is a huge social environment here. I have definitely had to come out of my introvert shell. It’s been great so far, but I probably wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t gone to Howard first. I have struggled with the
fact that I am two years behind in my college career. However, this semester is the worst because if I had gone straight to college, I would be graduating now. But you know what, this doesn’t matter in the real world. What matters is that college degree, and I’m on track to get mine. Sure, I might get mine with people two years younger than me, but who cares? I’m probably the only person who cares. I’m pretty sure employers don’t look at the age you graduated, or that you transferred from a community college. They look at the degree, which shouts committed. So, for those of you who are a 22-year-old sophomore, a transfer student, or not a typical college student, it’s OK! You get a diverse college experience, which, to be honest, will probably help you in the long run. Let’s do this “oddball” students!
Level complete Senior year is quickly
Zelenia Vasquez Staff Writer Incoming freshman think they know how to survive college and how to pass every class without a challenge. Please! I can promise you that no one knows what stress is waiting for you. Yes, at freshman orientation they tell you that you have to set aside like 30 hours to study and you are just thinking ARE THEY CRAZY? Yes, I remember thinking that and thinking of how I would balance my time. Of course, I came up this genius plan. I would study the week before the test and start brainstorming the day the essay was assigned. I thought this was enough and I had already mastered the challenge of college. Man was
I wrong. Finding time to study for exams was crazy, especially when all your professors decided to have their exams on the same day! Also, trying to brainstorm for essays was not that easy when I had up to three essays that all had to be three pages long, sometimes even longer! My freshman year, I spent most of my time trying to motivate myself just trying to get the first page done and writing them a couple of hours before they were due. As for exams, let’s just say for the spring semester, I had no sleep at all. But, I survived. I learned that college is a whole different world than high school, but it is a world that I would not change. One thing that they are right about at orientation is that in college, you find where you belong. I found my own little perfect place behind a screen writing about new clubs, student issues and just ranting about crazy drivers. Also it is okay to procrastinate, watch Netflix and ignore all responsibilities because that is what keeps us sane!
approaching Robyn Simkins Volunteer
As the end of the semester and May quickly arrive, I believe there are two types of students we need to discuss. Not that the rest of the student body isn’t important, but the graduating class and incoming seniors deserve some attention and encouragement. Dear graduating class, you’re only a few short weeks away from your final set of grades, classroom visits, professors, peers and the stress of striving for academic accomplishment here at ASU. The stroll across the grand stage and a tassle at your ear is merely days away and you’ve earned that victory lap. Congratulations class of 2017! I envy you, which brings up the second type of student we need to discuss. Incoming seniors, you’ve worked your butts off and here you stand, close enough to see the stage and envy the feel of that rolled diploma in your grasp. Yet, you are still far enough
away to be banned from the steps of freedom, victory and true adulthood. For those of you such as myself, the closing door of the spring semester will only open to another year of chasing the dream of receiving your degree. On one hand, we want to be the graduates, finally rewarded for four (or more) years of tirelessly clinging to every grade, every late night of studying, every paper, every tear, every delusional laugh that will bring us one step closer to the end. But on the other, there’s still so much more to do and to learn. Although we’ve accomplished much, the ache for greatness requires just a little more of you. There will be more of the same old routine of classes, studying, tests and advising. What makes this year different than the rest is the preparation for the future that goes beyond the classroom. Now our to do list includes meetings with Career Devel-
opment, revisions of resumes, practicing for interviews, checking Indeed for job postings and questioning every decision we’ve made in the last few years. Now we’re tasked with what can’t be taught...how to take on the world with the knowledge they’ve crammed into us for so long. Were you paying attention? Are you ready? Because in exactly one year my fellow Rams, those walking across the stage, donned in cap and gown to the overwhelming sound of friends and family cheering from the crowd will be you and I. Those of you graduating this May have earned it more quickly than the rest of us, and we urge you to pass on your knowledge and your advice to those of us still fighting for our turn. For those of you with me, we’ve come so far, yet still have a ways to go. But make no mistake; we’ve earned our time just as well. Keep your head and spirits up, the future is ours.
OPINION Learn from the past
4.28.2017
Page 6
Mikera Walker Managing Editor
The spring semester is coming to an end and for my final column for the Ram Page; I would like to tell you what I’ve learned. Being an adult is hard; I’m a sophomore in college and 20.5. I don’t exactly count my first year here because I lived on campus and had very little responsibility. I’ve been living in an apartment since August and I have two roommates with no RA in sight to referee any disagreements. This has taught me that being passive isn’t going to get what I want. Even a simple text about a problem works more than ignoring the problem ‘til it doesn’t go away. I was blessed and didn’t
have to work in high school, which looking back kind of put me behind now. I’m learning how to hold down a job and get along with other people. I may not always agree with what is going on or have the ability to change it, but I can make the best of the situation and work with what I’ve got. Keep the friends you have when making new friends. This is especially hard for me because I tend to be a one friend at a time person. Find people who understand you’re weird and accept it, because not everyone is the same and that’s ok. Be your own person and find people who love you for you or at the very least like you. Don’t forget that life is ever changing and the people you surround yourself with can either build you up or tear you down. Probably the most important thing I have learned this year is that I don’t know everything and every day is an opportunity to discover something new, even if it’s just something small. Never pretend you know it all, because it takes away the ability to grow as a person.
A small thank you to those who have aided me in my endeavors
Rosanna Aguilera Staff Writer
My first full year of college is now slowly coming to an end, as well as my last story for the Ram Page for the semester. I couldn’t have done anything I accomplished this year without the people in my life that have pushed me. First, my family. My mom has provided for me my whole life and leaving her this year was not easy but she made it doable with her
support. My brothers encouraged me and helped me with whatever I needed and taught me the ropes on how to “college”. My dad isn’t with us, but he has been the most encouraging. Talking to him make everything better; he always supports my decisions and gives me bible verses and that’s all I could ever want. Secondly, I would like to thank, my church. They are the strongest group of people I know and helped my family through thick and thin. They supported me in getting started with tuition as well as mental support and preparing me for the real world and what it beholds. Because reality is not church camp where everyone believes the same thing, although I wish it was. They have made my faith
stronger for that. Third, my boyfriend. Most of you don’t know my boyfriend Devan Griffin, but take my word for it, he’s an amazing man. He has been pushing me since day one to reach for the stars and be the journalist I want to be. This year would have been rough if I didn’t have him by my side. And lastly, Tom and Marian Sue Bryd. I realize y’all don’t know who I am talking about, but these two people are the whole reason I am at ASU. They are the most generous, loving, Godly people. I want to thank them for taking the time and money to invest in me. I can’t tell them thank you enough, but this is a start. Everything was possible because of these two.
Coherent Insanity: Finding a job 101
Patrick Fleming Staff Writer Hey everyone, it is good ol’ Patrick again. This is going to be the last time that I will be writing to you at least until summer is over. Before you start crying and demanding more work every week, I just have to say, Dude, no.
Stuff happens, like the fact that the Ram Page does not run through the summer and the fact that my dark past is starting to catch up to me, and I might have to hide out for a while. However, I realize that a lot of people will be needing a job over the summer, so I thought that instead of trashtalking everyone else at work like I planned, I would instead use this column to give you all some tips on how to get hired. 1.) Find a good job: First off, you cannot have a job if you cannot even find one. You can find them in many places including online, posters around campus/the city, and in the deep underground of a criminal organization.
Ram Page Member of The Texas Tech University System Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Editor-in-Chief: Alana Edgin Managing Editor: Mikera Walker Staff Writers: Rosanna Aguilera Patrick Fleming Zelenia Vasquez Photography Photo Editor: Kaitlin Trujillo Photographer: Brit Raley Cartoonist: Patrick Fleming Online Manager: Rosanna Aguilera Faculty Adviser: Dr. Cathy Johnson Advertising Manager:
Josh Horton Circulation Manager: Hilario Armendariz Contributors: Story: Alina Hernandez Robyn Simkins Photo: Handball Club Rebekah Wortham Rambelle Rugby Ram Page ASU Station #10895 San Angelo, Texas 76909-0895 Newsroom:(325) 942-2323 Advertising: (325) 942-2040 Editor: rampage@angelo.edu Advertising: rampageads@angelo.edu Fax: (325) 942-2551
PUBLISHING POLICY
Published every Friday and available to students, one copy per student, the student newspaper of Angelo State University is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board. Ram Page welcomes all letters. Please include your name, classification/ position and a phone number and/or e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters must be signed and be no more than 350 words. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel and privacy. Deadline is 5 p.m., Monday. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters may be mailed, e-mailed or submitted at the newspaper’s office, Room 324 on the third floor of the Porter Henderson Library. Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should any opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.
2.) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have: This is especially true during the interview because you want the interviewer to see the best version of you. You want them to believe that you can be both professional and easy to approach. I highly recommend dressing up in knight’s armor because it lets everyone know that not only are you able to file paperwork, but you are also willing to slay a dragon if it is needed. And who does not want to be a knight? In fact, if you are not willing to wear heavy armor during the hot summers around here, I don’t think you deserve a job. 3.) Touch up on your re-
sume: Yes, this is common knowledge, but people often forget how important it actually is. A resume is a great way to stand out among other applicants as the most qualified person for a job. Or it would be if you were not an inexperienced college student. A great way around this problem is lying. Make yourself out to be one of the most qualified people for this job ever, or, failing that, just pretend you actually know what you’re talking about. Trying to get a mechanic job? Just keep talking about carbonators. Trying to get a waiter/waitress job? Just keep
talking about carrying stuff to people. 4.) Destroy the competition: After making sure your resume is up to date, I would say, find a way to steal all of the other applications that your company of choice is going to receive. That way, they will only receive yours and they can’t hire anyone else if there is no one else to hire. It also does not hurt, find out where they live and throw a live, furious octopus through their window as a warning. In fact, throw an octopus through the window of the person who gave you an interview also. That should send the message that you’re not taking no for an answer.
Short on Everything End of the semester!
Patrick Fleming Cartoonist
Student Spotlight
ADVICE TO FRESHMEN
Ryan Leyba Junior “Don’t be an idiot, make good decisions. It’s time for you to be responsible. Partying all night is not a good idea. I hit that wall and it just doesn’t work out.”
Haley Rogers Senior “Go to class, don’t skip, live in the dorms if you can, and actually try to study. There is a library.”
Madison Burtch Junior “Make memories, not grades. Not all the time, but don’t make grades your life.”
Carson Collins Junior “Don’t procrastinate. Play intramural sports, because those are fun.”
CLUB SPORTS Club presidents discuss seasons, what’s next for teams
4.28.2017
Page 7
Ram Rugby talks about family environment Rosanna Aguilera Staff Writer Troy Knudsen, president of the Ram Rugby, discussed the club and his thoughts about the team and the season. He can only think of one word to describe this club, and that is family. “All of these guys have come together to share a bond that is pretty special over the last few years,” Knudsen said. “We’ve built a fraternity like stature at this club through sports.” According to Knudsen, the goal of the club isn’t just winning; it’s to have fun while doing it and winning “just comes extra.” “Since I joined back in 2013, this has been my second family away from home,” Knudsen said.
Rugby loves doing things for this community and having fun with the guys while doing it. “This club is probably the most tight knit group you’ll meet around campus,” Knudsen said. This year was really special to the seniors, who hadn’t reached this level of play before. Winning the regional tournament and being the first ASU rugby team to make it to the Elite Eight is something they will cherish for a long time. “Myself and some of the guys that have been here for four years tried every single year to make it to the national championship and we stopped at the same level every year, which was very frustrating,” Knudsen said. Knudsen has always been a football guy and didn’t put much thought into the club
when he first heard about it. “I gave it a try, thanks to my roommate Beau Waskom, and I was hooked from day one,” Knudsen said. To Knudsen, the best part is most of the guys that he met aren’t just in it for the social aspect. They really cared about the sport. “Most of the time, we didn’t have a coach and it was self-taught,” Knudsen said. “It takes a different level of commitment, especially with the teams that we play being able to have paid coaches and staff.” The level of dedication in this team and in the roots it came from is evident with the guys using their free time to learn more about the game. “That’s my favorite part of it all, watching the young guys get hooked and wanting to better themselves,” Knudsen said.
Handball discusses ease of sport for new people President of the Handball Club Angela Snow encourages students to join as she discusses the year’s accomplishments. She became president after last spring, but will not be the president after this year, due to graduating. Snow said her first introduction to the sport was the handball physical activity class. “I immediately fell in love with how unique and challenging the game is and began practicing outside of class with some friends I made in class,” Snow said. During her first year in the club, Snow was able to travel with the team to Austin, Missouri and Oregon. “We compete at each tournament as an individual representative of Angelo State, and have the opportunity to win our individual division or bracket, unless we are competing in doubles, where two people can win a title,” Snow said. In the past year, they have had multiple consolation championships at the Austin tournament and a runner-up title for
the Women’s Team in Division A at the 65th USHA National Collegiate Championships. At the collegiate tournament, Corinna Mendez was awarded an All-American title and finished in the top 16 at the tournament. “My favorite thing about being part of the Handball Club is having the opportunity to travel as a representative of ASU and compete in such a unique sport,” Snow said. “The handball community is like a family, where each school tends to keep in touch throughout the year to stay current on tournament opportunities and team updates.” By joining the club, she made friendships that will surpass her time here and learned a sport that she can take with her wherever she goes. “We are always looking for new members of the club, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve never played or never even heard of the sport,” Snow said. “Almost every single member of the club, since the time of the club’s formation, began with zero knowledge of the game before stepping foot on the court.”
Photo by Kaitlin Trujillo
Ram Rugby celebrates their Cowboy Cup Championship. This year’s rugby team was the most successful in ASU history.
Photos contributed by Handball Club
Frisbee earns awards, gains friends
Photo by Rebekah Wortham
Members of the award winning Ultimate Frisbee Club prepare for practice. The club won two awards at the Rammys after their first year.
Belle Rugby hopes for even better season next fall semester Aspen Escamilla, president of Rambelle Rugby, talked about their year and her views on the team. “We’ve had girls who never played a sport in high school to girls who played rugby, swam competitively, played soccer, softball, tennis, did CrossFit, powerlifted, wrestled collegiately, were involved in ROTC and the list goes on and on,” Escamilla said. Escamilla said they encourage people of all backgrounds and body types to come out onto the rugby pitch with them. “Last semester, there was a time when we had about 2025 rookies on the team, and
most of those girls stuck it out and were on the field with us when we beat UNT to win the State Championship,” Escamilla said. Escamilla said they practice Monday/Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. on the Intramural Fields and Tuesday/Thursday from 5-6 p.m. at the CHP, and will resume when the fall semester starts. Escamilla said the first big accomplishment was having about 30 people on the roster at their first tournament. “This is our second year to be a RSO, and we were so pumped to have increased our numbers from the 15-20 we had last year to the 30 we had at the beginning of this year,” Escamilla said. Escamilla said their second highlight was beating UTSA
Michael Abarca, president of the Ultimate Frisbee Club, talked about the purpose of the group and awards they received. “The whole purpose of the organization is to provide a fun and welcoming environment for ASU students to come and be a part of while obtaining good physical exercise,” Abarca said. Abarca said they welcome everyone to come be a part of the community. This year, they successfully beat five over Universities (Sul Ross State, Midwestern State, Southern Methodist, New Mexico Tech and Abilene Christian). “At Abilene Christian University’s Ultimate Frisbee Tournament we came in 2nd place and
to start off their conference games. “In all my years on the team, we had never beat them, and to come out that first conference game and put it on them at our home field, was awesome,” Escamilla said. The third thing that Escamilla would consider a highlight was beating UNT to finish up their conference. “That game completed our conference and put us as the undefeated conference champs,” Escamilla said. Lastly, and without a doubt their biggest highlight, was the state tournament. “We ended up going against UNT again and we knew that they weren’t going to lie down without a fight,” Escamilla said. “At the end of that game, we had girls screaming,
hugging, running around and crying. It was an amazing feeling to be in that position with all of the girls.” Escamilla said her favorite part about being on the team is the comradery and how so many different backgrounds can come together collectively and be successful. “My mom always calls us a band of misfits because she
won the Most Spirited Team Award,” Abarca said. At the Rammy’s, they won the Rising Ram Organization of the year award and the Special Interest Organization of the Year award. “We have served the community on and off campus as a team and will continue serving,” Abarca said. “Being a part of the Rams Ultimate Frisbee Student Organization is very fun and you will make lots of new friends,” he said His favorite part was seeing all the great friendships being made because of this sport. “Everyone is invited to come be a part of our welcoming community,” Abarca said.
truly believes that anyone can find a place on the rugby team,” Escamilla said. “With that said, I really hope that if someone is reading this article and has even the slightest bit of interest in playing, that they will shoot me an email and come give us a chance.” People can contact Escamilla at aescamilla6@angelo. edu or at rambellerugby on
Photo contributed by Rambelle Rugby Instagram.
SPORTS
Page 8
4.28.2017
Athletics year review: Fall/Spring sports Volleyball
Belle Basketball
Football
Point leader: 633 - senior outside hitter Mallory Blauser
Point leader: 757 - senior guard Taylor Dorsey Overall points: 2,574
Touchdown leader: three way tie at 6 between juniors Jake Faber, Josh Stevens and senior Trey Green. Overall points: 285
Soccer
Ram Basketball
Cross Country
Point leader: 13 - senior forward/ midfielder Demi Tsambasis
Point leader: 532 - senior guard Quay King
Results: Two members placed top five in conference runners, top 50 overall.
Final Overall Record: 34-4 Overall points: 2,262
End: NCAA Division II Elite Eight quarterfinals against Alaska Anchorage, 3-1 loss. Belles won regular season, LSC, and South Central Regional championships. Final Overall Record: 11-7-2
End: Lone Star Conference tournament semifinal against Texas A&M Commerce, 1-0 loss.
Photos by Brit Raley
Baseball Seniors Infielders: Jay Gonzales Nathan Ruane Shortstop: Tyler Coolbaugh Ptichers: Dustin Angiel Jhonatan Del Rosario Joe Hauser Jake Matthys Kenton Schroter Ryan Smith Catchers: Matt Waller Zach Fleet Outfielder: Steven Pinales Utility: Omar Martinez
End: South Central Regional tournament championship game against West Texas A&M, 86-64 loss. This is the farthest the Belles program has gone.
Final Overall Record: 17-12
Overall points: 29
Jackson Calvert, freshman, jumps over a hurdle. Calvert is from Sachse, Texas.
Final Overall Record: 26-6
Overall points: 2,312
End: Lone Star Conference tournament final against UT Permian Basin, 93-85 loss.
Ashley Dendy, junior, throws the javelin. Dendy is from Littlefield, Texas.
Softball Seniors Catcher/Infielder: Katlyn Herzog Pitcher: Kenedy Urbany Catcher/Outfielder: Kelly Johnson Infielder: Alexis Evans
Ram Track Seniors Throws: Ryan Burge Jumps: Aaron Dixon Axel Jacquesson Multis: Joe Owens Sprints: Luis Perez Edward Simmons
Final Overall Record: 5-6
End: Final regular season home game against UT Permian Basin, 70-21 win. This broke the 1993 record for most points in a single game for program history. End: South Central Regional meet
Belles: junior Kelsey Warren - 44th overall, 4th LSC
Rams: sophomore Devitt Smetana - 48th overall, 5th LSC
Brandy Marlett, junior pitcher, dives to get the player out on third. Marlett was named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Belle Track Seniors Throws: Amber Graham Emma Thompson Jumps/Sprints: Shadonna Hunter Multis: Adrine Monagi Pole Vault: Celsey Randolph Sprints: Jasmine Sillemon Hurdles/Sprints: Gabriela Solis Distance: Claudia Ramirez
Elias Aguirre, junior outfielder, makes the catch to end the inning. Aguirre had his season high of nine putouts against Texas A&M International.
Stat Leaders: Baseball/Softball Ram Baseball
Belle Softball
Next home game: Friday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. against the University of Texas - Permian Basin Falcons. Record as of April 21: 10-5 conference, 35-10 overall
Next home game: Friday, May 5 TBA for the Lone Star Conference championships.
Stat leaders as of April 24:
Batting average: .372 – Jacob Boston, junior infielder, and Matt Waller, senior catcher Home run: 7 – Boston Runners Brought In (RBIs): 38 – Waller Slugging percentage: .612 – Boston and Waller Strikeouts: 60 – Matt Shannon, junior pitcher Win/Loss: 9-0 – Ryan Smith, senior pitcher
Assists: 109 – Jonathan Soberanes, junior infielder Putouts: 247 – Jay Gonzales, senior infielder
Record as of April 24: 24-3 conference, 49-4 overall Stat leaders as of April 24:
Batting average: .403 – Courtney Barnhill, freshman outfielder Home run: 12 – Barnhill RBIs: 46 – Barnhill Slugging percentage: .718 – Barnhill Strikeouts: 253 – Brandy Marlett, junior pitcher Win/Loss: 7-0 – Morgan Hill, junior pitcher Assists: 99 – Danae Bina, junior infielder Putouts: 302 – Taegan Kirk, sophomore catcher