OPINION
Friday, August 31, 2012
Desiring more than just me Lisa Dees Copy Editor
Page 5
Tips and tricks for school
I dreaded returning to school this semester. I spent a month and a half in Kenya this summer, and when I returned to the states, I collided with culture shock. I thought maybe it would go away, but I realize now that I do not belong here, nor do I want to belong. While in Kenya, two friends and I happened upon a tiny building that houses 20 orphans. Each child has a bed with a reeking mattress, which has lost its foam. The orphanage struggles to provide enough food, and each morning the kids are forced to fetch water a mile away with the help of a donkey. There is no electricity, so they use kerosene. They walk to school each day and to church on Sunday. At 5 a.m. the children awake for a two-hour Bible study. Life is never easy, yet no one complains. In fact, they find joy in their difficulties. They have nothing, but yet, they have everything. The children at this orphanage have not always known love and kindness. Their pasts threaten to destroy them. Some are burdened with HIV. Others remember the horrors of abuse and neglect. Still others wake from nightmares of the day their parents died from malaria or of the dark nights of forced prostitution just to survive. The oldest orphan cannot yet be fourteen. The shame, the oppression, the destruction and poverty are foreign to so many of us. Charles, the founder of this orphanage, shared with us that he struggles to provide food and water for the children and that much construction needs to be done. They need another plot of land to grow their own food and some chickens would be nice, too. He worries how the orphanage will be able to send the children to receive an education. And, of course, there is always a need financially. To care for twenty children each month is roughly $600. How are we spending our money? And at what cost? Another set of clothes, as if we don’t have them in abundance. A set of fake nails that will chip and break in a month’s time. More decorations for the wall because the house looks a bit bare. Rims for the tires. Music that we will hate in a few weeks. A trip to the theater to see what’s usually worthless. A new phone that will break. Are we really so blind, so lost, so corrupt and full of greed that we are willing to throw our money down the drain for selfish and temporary desires? What will
it take to wake this country from its constant slumber and for us to see anyone but ourselves? Regardless of whether I am walking to class or I am surrounded by crowds in big cities, people overwhelm me with their selfishness and their godlessness. I don’t fit in, and I rejoice. However, I am convicted by my own selfish desires and am constantly reminded that I am in no place to point an accusing finger. I do not understand why I am so blessed. I do not understand why I was born in America into a Christian family. I do not understand why I have always had a roof over my head, enough to eat, and enough money to live in luxury. I do not understand why disease has never affected me, why abuse and neglect have never haunted me, or why alcohol and drugs have never controlled my life. But the thing I do not understand the most is this: I do not understand why I am so blessed, but these kids I was surrounded by have endured sorrow, heartache, torture and abuse. Thankfully, the Lord has picked up the oppressed and lifted up the poor. Thankfully, these children are now cherished and loved. But how is it, when I have so much, they are still so generous and kind despite having nothing? I travelled to Africa to minister to others, to bless others. Instead, a poverty and disease-stricken third-world country and its precious people blessed me.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dees
So you got moved in, found your classes, bought your books, got your first assignments, have your first college weekend plans and then you get to do it all over again next week. You are going to go through a lot in college, some good and some bad. Don’t worry though. Good ole Uncle Dillon (no relation) has been there and done all that so let me give you some helpful advice that you may already know, but doesn’t hurt to hear again. Diversify your meal plan options. If you go to the food service center every day for every meal it is going to get old within the first two weeks. You have the UC snack bar, the cafeteria style buffet in the UC, Roscoe’s Den and 50 Ram bucks that are as good as money on campus. Get foreign language over and done with early. This is one of the ones you hear over and over and it is probably the best piece of advice I can give any student needing foreign langue credit to graduate. Now that does not mean taking it here. There are community colleges you can take it from, online classes you can take. Just make sure the credit transfer over. Again it’s about keeping your options open. Take a class that you are interested in for your electives. You have electives for a reason so take the time to ask around about classes. You can also use these elective hours as a fall back if you decide to change your major halfway though. Say you have taken 30 hours in one major and you decide to change. The classes you took will count toward your elective hours and should not set you back too much. If you have not declared a major that is not such a bad thing. Take the first two years and knock out all of your core credit classes, (i.e. Math, science, history, English). You will not be taking many classes pertaining to your major if any in the first year or two so take your time and pick a major you are going to enjoy. My grades were not that great until I picked
Ram Page
Dillon Brollier Managing Editor
a major I enjoyed and my grades skyrocketed. If you get the opportunity to take an internship so it. It may not be paid but the experience will make you so much better at your field of study, especially of you can work with professionals that will help you grow and get better. If you are a minor and you are at a party that has alcohol at it then listen to that gut feeling. If you don’t feel right then get out. A minor in consumption is a pain and something that minors should not get anyway. I know minors drink and it is against the law, but if you do it at least be smart about it. Or just wait until you are 21. It is more fun that way anyway. On the same note you have to pick your people carefully. Now I know your mom has told you to make good friends but really make sure that your friend has your back, or the person your “talking to” is not just trying to take advantage of you. There are a lot of good people here on campus and everyone tends to look out for everyone. Finally college is a place to learn but you will only learn half of your life skills in the classroom. Get out and do something you would not normally do, try new foods, and play an intramural sport that you normally don’t play. Anything you can do to broaden your vision, resume and mind will pay dividends later. I hope this letter reaches you well. Have some fun with your time in college but just know that when it is time to go to work. You show up and put the work in.
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Staff
2012-2013 Angelo State University Editor: Sawyer Ricard Managing Editor: Dillon Brollier Copy editor: Lisa Dees Staff Writer: Stephen Cogan Staff Writer Alison Price Photographer: Rio Velasquez Advertising Manager: Kaitlynn Glendinning Adviser: Dr. Cathy Johnson Title photo courtesy of :Tim Peevy Ram Page ASU Station #10895 San Angelo, Texas76909-0895 Editor: rampage@angelo.edu Managing Editor: rampagenews@angelo.edu Features Editor: rampagefeatures@angelo.edu Advertising: rampageads@angelo.edu Editor: (325) 942-2323 Newsroom: (325) 942-2134 Advertising: (325) 942-2040 Fax: (325) 942-2551
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Letter from the editor Sawyer Ricard Editor-in-Chief To all, whether you are returning to ASU or entering this campus for the first time, welcome! For me, it is my sophomore year at Angelo. The first year was a whirlwind for me, filled with moments that range from happy to depressing to enlightening. I started out a scared freshman who was venturing into a world that, until last fall, I had only heard about from those who had conquered the daunting experience of college. Suddenly I had the power and ability to break free of the mold that had been my identity from high school. I was on the edge of my new life, ready to do whatever I could to find out who I was meant to be. So focused on “finding me” that some of the moments that I now look back on with a smile I tried to rush through. Whether good or bad, each was importance and built me into the person I would eventually realize I was. Everything, even significant, had meaning and had a right to be valued. So to those who are trying to get to the point past college where you can “start real life”, take a few steps back and enjoy where you are today. These are years that some never get to experience and a place where you might discover what you’re meant to be. Enjoy these times and get to know the people around you. For all
you know, they may end up being your best friend or someone you stay in contact with the rest of your life. If you’re one of the students who is indecisive of what you want to do with life, don’t stress out too much over it. You have plenty of time to figure out where your true passion lies. Don’t get so caught up in your worry about the future that you forget to focus on the moment. The future will take care of itself, but the present needs you to make it as memorable as you can. All in all, I hope everyone has a great year and is able to accomplish everything they want. Remember, you don’t get a second chance. This is your time to shine. Make it count.
SPORTS
Page 6
Friday, August 31, 2012
Athletic director eager to start Return to ASU 17 years in the making For Sean Johnson, 17 years away from ASU was enough. The longtime administrator has been employed by nine different universities over 28 years in athletics, but ASU is the only one he’s ever come back to. Sean Johnson started his career in athletics after earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and then bounced around from university to university until going from the University of North Dakota to ASU. Johnson was the sports information director at ASU from 1993-1995 and now will come back as the athletic director in charge of ASU’s sports after former athletic director and coach Kathleen Brasfield retired last semester. The new director took some time out of his busy schedule to meet with the Ram Page and answer a few questions. Stephen Cogan: What was your reaction when you heard you had been accepted at ASU as the athletic director? Sean Johnson: I was thrilled for a lot of different reasons. I know what a great town this is. I know what a great university it is. I was here 20 years, so a lot of reasons to be excited. To come back to a place that’s had a lot of great success, a lot of great history and we have a great coaching staff in place, which is really a credit to Brasfield. To be able to come into a situation that’s in such great shape and also come into a situation where we’re in a big enough town where we can accomplish some things externally; it’s very exciting. I’m thrilled to be here. SC: You have a legend’s shoes to fill since Kathleen Brasfield left this place, so does that add any extra pressure in your mind at all because you’re not replacing a run of the mill di
Stephen Cogan Staff Writer
rector; you are replacing someone who should be in the hall of fame for athletic directors? SJ: I agree, I’m sure Coach Brasfield will be in our hall of fame pretty quickly. The sooner the better, but I see it as a privilege. I’d rather come into a situation where the expectations are very high because I have very high expectations. Somebody said to me the first week I was here that they want us to be competitive. I’m not interested in being competitive; I’m interested in winning championships, national championships. That’s what we should aspire to do in all of our sports, so we’re going to set the bar very high. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to put undue pressure on our coaches; that’s just what our expectation ought to be. I don’t see it at all as a burden; I see it as a blessing. SC: What’s your biggest plan going forward as you start your career here at ASU? SJ: I think we have to build our fan base. We have a good core group of fans here and we appreciate those people very much, but we’ve got to grow that group. We need to increase our attendance; we need to increase the number of people that belong to the athletic foundation and we have the ability to do that. We just need to reach out and really make people understand we need their help if we’re going to make this thing as successful as everyone wants it to be. SC: What do you think the best thing about ASU is that you can use to make your dream for ASU come true? SJ: I think the biggest thing going for us is we live in a community with almost a 100,000 people. There’s great potential there. Now the worst thing about potenial is
New Athletic Director Sean Johnson Photo courtesy of Athletic Communications
unrealized potential, but if you’re located in a town of only 15 or 20,000 like a lot of Division II schools are, you’re pretty limited with what you can do in that area. So, we’re fortunate we live in an area where we have a pretty good population base where there’s already great things to do in San Angelo and we have people coming in from smaller communities. We need to encourage them to go to a game.
The Sean Johnson era began Thursday when Rambelle soccer opened at Texas Permian Permian Basin and will continue when ASU opens its football and volleyball seasons.
ASU football kicks off this weekend Big tests early in season from Rams
Dillon Brollier Managing Editor
The ASU Rams football team starts their season Sept. 1 and will have the advantage of not playing an outright road game until week five against Eastern New Mexico University. They will play on a neutral field at Cowboys Stadium in week four against Valdosta State. No. 10 Abilene Christian will provide the first test for a Rams’ football program that looks to make the playoffs for the first time under second year head coach Will Wagner. All rankings are preseason ranks as of the Aug. 13 AFCA Coaches Poll. Opponnet
Date
Location
Week 1 - Western State College of Colorado 9-1-12 San Angelo The Rams will open up the season against WSCC where they will look to win their season opener for the fourth year in a row. The last time the Rams lost a season opener was in 2008 against Texas State. Week 2 - Chadron State College
9-8-12
San Angelo
Week 3 - Valdosta State University 9-15-12 Cowboys Stadium The Rams will travel to Jerryworld also known as the Cowboys stadium to face two time Division II national Champion Valdosta State University. The Blazers were ranked as high as No. 4 in the American Football Coaches Association last year. However, they finished just 6-4 last year. Week 4 - No. 10 Abilene Christian University 9-22-12 San Angelo (Family Day) Lonestar Conference rival ACU will open the Rams conference schedule and will try to spoil Family day for the Rams. Last year the Rams kept the game close, taking an early 7-0 lead before ACU would assert themselves and win 31-17. The Rams have lost six straight against ACU. Week 5 - Eastern New Mexico University
9-29-12
Portales, New Mexico
Week 6 - #24 West Texas A&M
10-6-12
San Angelo
Week 7- #4 Midwestern State University 10-13-12 Wichita Falls, TX The Rams will travel to Wichita Falls to take on perennial power Midwestern State. This will be the second test for the Rams and would be a statement win to knock off a top District 2 power. Week 8 - Texas A&M Commerce 10-20-12 San Angelo (Homecoming) The Rams will welcome Texas A&M Commerce on homecoming Saturday after facing MSU. The Rams will look to make it four in a row against Commerce and this will no doubt be a boon to the Rams’ playoff hopes. Week 9 - Texas A&M Kingsville
10-27-12
Kingsville, TX
Week 10- Incarnate Word
11-3-12
San Angelo
Week 11- Tarleton State 11-10-12 Stephenville The Rams will look to wrap up the regular season with a W against arch rival Tarleton State. A win here would break a six year slide against Tarleton state and could be a confidence builder heading into the playoffs.