Dec. 1, 2011 Edition

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The students’ voice since 1901 • Vol. 111 No. 13 • Thursday, December 1, 2011 • Check us out online.

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Cruz-Uribe focuses on increasing enrollment C harlie H eptas news@esubulletin.com

Presidential candidate Kathryn Cruz-Uribe discusses her desires to open up relations with community and improve fundraising. The Kansas Board of Regents hopes to appoint the next president by Dec. 16. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

The fourth and final Emporia State presidential candidate, Kathryn Cruz-Uribe, spoke at an open forum last week for campus and community members, highlighting her desire to open up communications between the town and the campus and her strengths in collaborating with others.

Cruz-Uribe is currently the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay. She is a member of the American

Association of State Colleges and Universities, which offers a training program for administrators who are interested in becoming college presidents. The program focuses on areas in which the administrator has less experience. “ You look at what the areas are for a president – not necessarily stuff that a provost would do in their everyday life – and you develop your own personal program on how you are going to gain experience in those areas,” Cruz-Uribe said.

C hristian Keisler, junior communications major, said that he also thought Cruz-Uribe was

A Century of Life

very knowledgeable and had plenty of experience to draw from for being a president.

She said she is an active fundraiser, seeing a need and filling it. She helped move the college forward with a dean’s innovation fund to advance college faculty grants as well as starting scholarships herself, for which she did all the fundraising.

She said there were many steps to assessing change at a university, and that the university must set some goals. “ You have to have a relentless focus… you have to stay on

See FOCUSES...Page 3

Alumna to celebrate 100th birthday K enzie T empleton editor@esubulletin.com

At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, ESU alumna Eula May Nunemacher will celebrate her 100th birthday in the auditorium at Larksfield Place, 2828 N. Governeour St., Wichita.

Her family and friends are invited to attend.

One day, a girl asked me to help her find material on “Youth in Asia.”

I was puzzled and asked what they were studying.

“Well, it has something to do with putting people to death—I don’t know what it has to do with Asia.”

A little more questioning and I found out that we were looking for “euthanasia.”

-- From “I Remember When” by Eula May Nunemacher.

Eula May Nunemacher is a 1933 Emporia State graduate who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday. Nunemacher said so far she has lived a happy and full life. Kenzie Templeton/The Bulletin

Reading Rocks at ESU

When she was born, the Titanic had not yet sailed into history. William Howard Taft was president. She never married or had children, but family remains a priority. A lifelong Kansan, she is proud of her heritage and her education.

Now sitting in her wheelchair, she wears a teal jacket that matches her eyes, black slacks and lipstick. She is fresh from the salon – her hair is short and white. She still likes her coffee steaming hot and if asked, she will smile and tell you that sitting outside in the sunshine is one of her favorite things to do.

And on Saturday, Emporia State alumna Eula May Nunemacher will celebrate her 100th birthday.

“She’s the first person in our family ever to reach 100,” said Ken Van Blaricum, Nunemacher’s nephew who lives in Pratt. “She comes from good, sturdy, pioneer stalk, so it’s not entirely surprising that she would live this long.”

Nunemacher, who graduated from ESU, formerly the Kansas

See CENTURY...Page 7

Regents exploring possibility of dental school R ocky R obinson robinson@esubulletin.com

Emporia State graduate Tally Russell high-fives a child after reading from her book “I Like Rocks!” to a group of young students in the Memorial Union Wednesday afternoon. Co-author and Tally’s sister, Carol Russell, is a professor of early childhood development at ESU. The book illustrates Tally’s lifelong enjoyment of rocks and her desire to share this passion with others. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

In reaction to rumors that the Kansas Board of Regents are making plans to establish a new dental school in Kansas, interim President H. Edward Flentje sent a memo to all faculty outlining his support for Emporia State as the designated site for such a program. “ Emporia State, located where it is, I think, would be an appropriate site for this school,” Flentje said. “Most of the responses I have heard from the faculty have been positive and it is something that will definitely be on the agenda for the new president. That new president will be a key in Emporia State’s push to get the school if it goes through.”

So far, the regents have established an Oral Health Task Force to explore the possibility of a dental school in Kansas, which could potentially be located in Emporia.

In Flentje’s memo he explains

Photo Illustration by Julie Thephachan

that the regents are looking to attract and retain dentists in Kansas. Flentje recently met with Sen. Jeff Longbine, who is a member of the task force, to discuss the work they have done and offer support. “ I do not expect to see the work of the Task Force completed during my interim assignment here at Emporia State,” Flentje said in the memo.

“However, if the Task Force does recommend the establishment of a new dental school in Kansas, I believe consideration should be given to Emporia State University as a site for such a school.”

See DENTAL ...Page 7

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Briefs

Search for LAS dean narrows to three finalists The search for a dean of the Liberal Arts and Sciences College has narrowed to three finalists – Marie Miller, interim dean of LAS; Orlando Perez, professor and chair of political science at Central Michigan University; and Mike Knedler, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Miller spoke at an open forum for faculty, staff and students on Monday. Perez will speak at 3:30 p.m. today in Roosevelt Hall room 114, and Knedler will speak at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the same location.

Check The Bulletin’s website for updates as the search progresses.

Police Reports Reports given to The Bulletin from ESU Police and Safety Department Nov. 16 Officer stopped KS VZH299 in 10 W 15 block. Verbal warning was issued for driving with no headlights. Citation was issued for No Proof of Insurance.

Residents of Twin Towers Complex reported two subjects walking around the vehicles parked in the vicinity of Visser Hall. Officer made no contact.

Nov. 17 Breanna Bills reported a non-injury hit-and-run accident involving KS 770BWR in Sector 7.

Officer checked occupant of KS 568DFH in Free Parking. Driver was just taking a break.

Officer stopped KS 273DSW in 800 Commercial block. Verbal warning was issued for an illegal U-turn at 9th and Commercial.

Nov. 18 Officer stopped KS 641DBF at 12th and Merchant.

Verbal warning was issued for running a red light.

Nov. 19 Officer stopped KS 384BNG in 1100 Exchange block.

Citation was issued for speeding in 100 E 12 block.

Officers assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a call in 1300 Center.

Officer contacted two subjects walking in the street in 1300 Merchant block and advised them to walk on sidewalk.

Nov. 20 Student requested to speak with an officer at Twin Towers Complex Reception in reference to his missing cellular telephone. It was found in the laundry room.

Officer was dispatched to provide lock out assistance for KS 869BLT at 1109 East. Service was not provided as registered owner was not present.

Nov. 21 Officer contacted a skate boarder in 1400 Merchant and advised of campus policy.

Erick Lothamer reported theft and burglary from North Twin Towers.

Female student requested to speak with an officer in reference to harassment by text message.

Nov. 22 Officer stopped KS 602BWA at 700 E 12th St. Verbal warning was issued for a stop sign violation at 1200 Riley St. Nov. 23 Emporia State University reported the theft of equipment from a campus building.

Officers assisted Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Dept. with a rollover accident North Highway 99 and Road 195.

Officer stopped KS 640CAU in 1200 Merchant block.

Verbal warning was issued for a stop light violation in 1300 Merchant block.

Nov. 24 Officer checked the welfare of the occupants of KS 415DVK at King Lake. No problem was found. Subjects left the area.

Nov. 25 Officer checked welfare of KS 223DBF in Sector 7.

Headlights were left on.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a possible mental subject at 15th and Merchant.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a call at 1333 Merchant.

Nov. 26 Officer issued citation to KS 076ADI for a traffic violation.

Nov. 27 Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a call in 1100 Merchant block.

Officer stopped MO ACOJ5M in Sector 5. Citation was issued for a stop sign violation at 15th and Morse Dr. Officer reported an alarm at 205 E 6th St. ESU PD Dispatch notified Emporia Police Dept.

Nov. 28 Officer stopped KS 010AOS in 100 W 12th block.

Citation was issued for failure to yield during a left turn at 12th and Merchant St. Officer stopped KS 228AWA at 13th and Merchant.

Verbal warning was issued for speeding in 1700 Highland block.

Nov. 29 Suspect was taken into custody for burglary and theft from North Twin Towers Room 518 and transported to Lyon Co. jail.

news

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

Student Engagement survey says students prefer ESU T ianhai J iang jiang@esubulletin.com Regardless of this year’s 4.6 percent enrollment drop, the results of the 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement, released on Nov. 17, indicated that students still prefer Emporia State over other institutions.

Of the seniors who responded to the survey, 85 percent said they would have chosen ESU again if they could start their college career over.

But some say the results are not entirely representative of the entire ESU student population. “(The survey results) are true to a certain point,” said Oladipo Olaonipekun, freshman computer information systems major. “(It’s true) for education majors, but not for my major.”

Olaonipekun said ESU is a good fit for liberal arts majors and perhaps even business majors, but those seeking a degree in science or technology would benefit from attending a different university.

Breston Wesley, senior integrated studies major, said that if given the choice he would not chose to attend ESU again.

“Because this is a teacher’s college, it’s a good school if you want to be a teacher,” Wesley said. “Also, this is a boring place.”

But Wesley said that ESU does have some qualities not found at other colleges in Kansas.

“What I like about ESU is that you can get one-on-one time with your professors, big universities can’t do that,” Wesley said.

“And tuition here is not that expensive, and it has a friendly environment.”

Others pointed out the sense of community that ESU provides.

“That sense of being part of the Hornet Nation is what makes Emporia State University so special and is why so many of our seniors say they would choose ESU again,” said Tes Mehring, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in a news release.

A total of 549 ESU first-year

Photo Illustration by Chris Franklin

and senior students participated in the survey, according to the news release, and 85 percent of the students reported a favorable image of the university.

Both first-year and senior students rated ESU higher than peer institutions in the region in several categories, particularly their classroom and faculty experiences, according to the survey results.

“ESU is a good place to study for those people who want to get As,”

Olaonipekun said. “You have quality time with your teachers.”

According to the survey, 78 percent of first-year students and 87 percent of seniors rated their relationships with faculty positively.

“Unless you’re going to be a teacher, ESU probably is not the best school as far as opportunities,” said Chad Carson, junior marketing major.

“But the staff here are really helpful and the environment is good.”

Motives of foreign student recruiters questioned COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — As American universities welcome evergreater numbers of international students, some professors and admissions counselors are questioning the motives of the very professionals who have helped attract so many foreign scholars to their campuses.

Higher education recruiters are under fire from detractors who say they put profit ahead of students’ best interests.

Critics accuse them of sending thousands of unqualified applicants to the U.S. every year, sometimes allowing students to skip basic English tests and falsify applications to make a quick commission.

“The student is best served by having the widest range of information available about what might be the best fit,” said Peggy Blumenthal, an executive vice president at the not-for-profit Institute of International Education, which monitors and promotes study abroad programs.

Recruiting agents “have a very large incentive to deliver a student who may not be the best fit.”

A leading group of admissions counselors even proposed an outright ban on the use of international recruiters who are paid based on the number of students they lure to the United States.

College administrators who rely on recruiters are quick to defend them, saying they are more familiar with overseas customs and school systems.

By using recruiters, Missouri State University leaders “can focus on developing and delivering curriculum instead of going out and recruiting students and developing individual sponsors,” said David Meinert, associate dean of the university’s business school. Recruiters are “able to deliver as an intermediary something that we would have trouble delivering.”

Those efforts have contributed significantly to a sharp spike in the number of foreign students seeking an American education. A recent report

by Blumenthal’s institute showed a 32 percent increase in the number of international students in the U.S. compared with a decade ago. Nearly a quarter of the students here for the 2010-11 academic year came from China. Many others hailed from India and South Korea.

When Missouri State’s Springfield campus decided in 2007 to create an executive M.B.A. program for visiting Chinese students, the school realized it needed a recruiter steeped in that country’s language, culture and educational practices.

The university hired the International Management Education Center in Hong Kong under a deal that paid recruiters $10,000 to $12,000 for each graduate student. The school kept the balance of student payments ranging from $15,000 to $22,000.

But some professors question the program’s academic rigor, noting participants do not take the English proficiency tests usually required of international students and frequently show up unprepared.

When the same doubts that arose in Missouri spread to China, some student sponsors — a term that refers to local governments, schools corporations and other Chinese institutions — said they wanted to withdraw from the program.

Earlier this year, the National Association for College Admission Counseling proposed the ban on the use of some international recruiters out of concern that unscrupulous agents were exaggerating students’ English skills and submitting falsified applications in search of a fast financial reward.

Those practices introduce “an incen-

tive for recruiters to ignore the student interest” and invite “complications involving misrepresentation, conflict of interest and fraud,” the organization’s board said in a May statement.

By July, the group had backed away from the ban, acknowledging a “lack of alternatives” for dispensing information about American higher education in many parts of the world. It plans to study the issue for up to two years.

Serving international students has become big business on campuses struggling with budget cuts. At public schools, foreign students pay pricey out-of-state tuition, and many who attend private institutions receive little to no financial aid.

The report by Blumenthal’s group and the U.S. State Department says international students inject $21 billion into the American economy, including money spent on tuition, living expenses and accompanying family members.

Some schools eschew hiring recruiters in favor of building close relationships with international schools in targeted countries.

At Missouri State, Meinert said, the school’s partner does not work directly with students or their families. Instead, it seeks deals with sponsors who then steer groups of students toward the program — and continue to offer support after enrollment.

“We’re not looking to find an individual, to go hunting for one student at a time,” Meinert said. “An agent’s relationship with a student ends when they get a check.”

Cheating on American college applications is rampant in China, according to Tom Melcher, chairman of Zinch China, a Beijing-based consulting company that works with U.S. universities.

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

news

Page 3

Stress-Less helps students unwind before finals S usan W elte welte@esubulletin.com The holidays are just around the corner, but before students can sit around the fire drinking hot cocoa or ring in the New Year, they must first conquer finals.

From 6-8 p.m. next Thursday the Student Wellness Center will host “Stress-Less Finals Week,” a free event where students can engage in activities to help them unwind before taking exams.

This is the sixth year that the Student Wellness Center has sponsored Stress Less. In previous years, the event was held in the dorms, but now it will take place in the Recreation Center.

“Once you get down to dead week, its crunch time for everything, so you’re kind of limited to what you can do with your resources,” said Matt Kochenower, senior marketing major and Student Health Services intern.

“We recently did the combining of three departments. This was another opportunity to show students that counseling, disability and health are all encompassed into the Student Wellness Center now.”

Activities will include massages, biofeedback such as breathing exercises, yoga, demonstrations of workout equipment by trainers, crafts and other stress relieving activities.

“It’s a great opportunity to get away from all the studying and give your brain an opportunity to come back refreshed and have a different outlook,” Kochenower said. “If you take some time away from (studying) and do the stress relief exercises then you could approach it in a more effective manner.”

Physical activity, eating healthy, getting adequate sleep and interacting with other people are necessary to be able to focus on the positive things and avoid stress,

FOCUSES... from page 1 track and stay focused (when working on change),” Cruz-Uribe said.

She said that increasing retention requires looking into classes, which have high failure or withdraw rates and figuring out ways to combat those issues in the classes. She also said that raising expectations of students while supporting them would help students succeed in the classroom.

Involvement in recruitment efforts by talking with prospective students and their parents is something that Cruz-Uribe said a university president should strive to accomplish in order to increase retention and recruitment. She also said that a president should be accessible to the community to bring in students and that universities need to tout all of their programs and put its best foot forward to get students in the door.

While curb appeal is critical in getting students in the door, Cruz-Uribe said the members of a university are also of the utmost importance to the university. She said there needed to be balance between infrastructure and people.

“I think the community and campus involvement in the search process has been really good,” said Shelby Schellenger, graduate student in the SLIM program. He also said he thought Cruz-Uribe was very competent.

The Kansas Board of Regents hopes to announce the new president before their final meeting of the semester on Dec. 16.

Kansas City a drug trafficking hub KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City has become an important hub for U.S. drug trafficking because it’s situated in the middle of the country and has major highways that can be used to easily transport drugs in all directions, a federal agency concluded.

Traffickers are bringing cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine from Mexico to the Midwest and are using Kansas City as a hub, the National Drug Intelligence Center states in its annual analysis of trafficking trends.

said Bonnie Starr, counselor at the Wellness Center and head of biofeedback.

“I just stocked up on my snack drawer,” said AJ Howell, freshman chemistry major. “When I’m studying I can take a break and have a snack.”

Anxiety is the number one reason that students come to counseling, Starr said. Students have a fear of not doing well or making the grades they need to be satisfied.

“Any time we have to prove something or show what we’ve learned, that automatically makes us stress out,” Starr said. “Stress actually make the body feel like (it’s) in a dangerous situation. The reason is because when your body is in a physically dangerous situation, it goes into fight or flight, and you get that adrenaline pumping. When that happens we all feel fearful.”

Starr said part of the reason students get stressed is because they

Photo Illustration by Jenny Pendarvis

do not address physical symptoms as well as emotional, and do not do activities to release stress.

“Most people don’t address the physical problems,” Starr said.

“They think, ‘I just need to calm down.’ We also recommend people do a physical activity because

without those natural endorphins, you are more likely to become depressed.”

Counselors are available to help students cope with stress at the Student Wellness Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday.

Colleges defend humanities amid tight budgets HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Like many humanities advocates, Abbey Drane was disheartened but not surprised when Florida’s governor recently said its tax dollars should bolster science and high-tech studies, not “educate more people who can’t get jobs in anthropology.”

Drane, a 21-year-old anthropology major at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, has spent years defending her choice to pursue that liberal arts field.

And now, as states tighten their allocations to public universities, many administrators say they’re feeling pressure to defend the worth of humanities, too, and shield the genre from budget cuts. One university president has gone as far as donating $100,000 of her own money to offer humanities scholarships at her school.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s comments last month cut to the heart of the quandary: whether emphasizing science, math and medical fields gives students the best career prospects and a high-tech payback to society, and whether humanities fields are viewed as more of an indulgence than a necessity amid tight budget times.

“You can definitely feel the emphasis on campus, even just based on where the newest buildings go, that there is a drive toward the

sciences, engineering and (the) business school,” said Drane, a senior from Plymouth, Mass. “I’m constantly asked what job opportunities I’ll have in anthropology or what I’m going to do with my degree, and I tell people that it’s giving me a skill set and critical thinking you can apply to anything.”

Humanities studies peaked in U.S. colleges in the 1960s and started dwindling in the 1970s as more students pursued business and technology and related fields. Today, more than 20 percent of each year’s bachelor’s degrees are granted in business; in humanities, it’s about 8 percent.

Liberal arts colleges, too, have declined. A study published in 2009

by Inside Higher Ed said that of 212 liberal arts colleges identified in 1990, only 137 were still operating by 2009.

At Amherst College in western Massachusetts, a healthy endowment makes closing the doors a remote possibility at best. But its president, Carolyn “Biddy” Martin, experienced the same concerns about the humanities in her previous job as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was tapped this year to serve on a commission for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences to review the issue.

Martin said many universities struggle with declining enrollment in those fields, making the classes an easy budget target if their worth is not defended.

“There are more and more people in higher education — and I hope political leaders — who are understanding that an over-leaning emphasis on the sciences to the expense of the humanities is not a good thing for the country,” she said.

Therein lays the debate for many, though, including Gov. Scott in Florida, who is unapologetic about his push to direct tax dollars toward rapidly growing science, technology, engineering and math fields, known collectively as STEM. And since state governments control nearly two-thirds of all higher education funding, according to the National Governors Association, their embrace or disregard for humanities can affect the study paths of hundreds of thousands of students.

The governors’ organization published recommendations for states this year on how to align their higher education priorities with their labor markets and economic development, citing Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington for “bold, comprehensive strategies” in those efforts.

opinion

Page 4

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

STAFF EDITORIAL

Of Tweets and Twits Apparently, Gov. Sam Brownback sucks, at least in the opinion of Emma Sullivan, a high school senior at Shawnee Mission East, who posted to Twitter her views on Brownback after hearing him speak at the capitol last week.

Though the members of The Bulletin have our own individual opinions of the governor, we were united in outrage at the response his office had to her words.

Instead of taking the more mature “sticks and stones” route, his office decided on the “tattle-tale” option, which entailed contacting her principal and angrily informing them of the student’s words. Sullivan was then ordered by her principal to write an apology to the governor, which she refused to do.

This stirred up an enormous controversy.

Sullivan was reprimanded for exercising her first amendment rights, and this should never be so. No one should ever be intimidated by the government or scared away from taking advantage of our rights as American citizens. It goes against everything for which our country stands.

Beyond the civil rights issue, it is further disturbing that the high school principal

did not stand up for the student. Instead, the principal was either too afraid not to punish Sullivan, or was just as irrational as Brownback’s staff in their overreaction to the situation.

Though Sullivan’s words may have hurt Brownback’s feelings, it was her opinion.

She wasn’t disrupting class or spray-painting “Brownback Suckz” on the side of the building. She has a legitimate first-amendment to her opinion. Just because she’s a student doesn’t mean she should have to hang up her constitutional rights at the schoolhouse door.

But Brownback has since apologized to Sullivan, recognizing that the first amendment is among the most “treasured freedoms” of Americans. Kudos to him.

Unfortunately, this incident has shown that Brownback was not keeping a close eye on the actions of his office – actions that have embarrassed him and our state.

And though we respect his apology, we would also like to hear an expression of regret from the communications manager who found the Twitter post and reacted so severely, or even from the principal, who should have seen the situation for what it truly was.

Illustration by Ellen Weiss

The Final Forum The final ESU presidential candidate visited campus last week, and for the last time this year I attended the forum.

Kathryn Cruz-Uribe had many answers that were similar to the past candidates, had a relaxed and pleasant disposition, and responded well to the questions.

As with some of the other candidates, I had to nitpick and dissect each answer to glean pros and cons. That being said, only a few of her answers stood out from the rest.

I was glad to hear that she had participated in a course that prepared her for a presidency. It was good to know that she had enough interest in an administrative position that she wanted to make sure she was prepared, but she wasn’t actively seeking a presidency, which indicated she wasn’t looking for the power or the pay.

I was also glad when she didn’t deliver the “we can’t be all things to all people” line that was so popular the last couple weeks. Rather, when asked about how ESU should market itself, she suggested that we give time to each of ESU’s features by rotation. I much preferred this response.

While the theme of Hugh’s forum was community and experience, the theme of Cruz-Uribe’s forum was paying attention and staying focused. For example, she mentioned staying focused when talking about promoting ESU’s various programs and assessing and implementing change. Though it is absolutely true that a good leader will have clear and focused goals, it seemed rather vague.

Once again, I had to nit-pick to find things I didn’t like.

That being said, she hesitated a few times before she

E llen W eiss opinion@esubulletin.com spoke, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. Though she may not have been as immaculately-spoken as some of the other candidates, she still had good answers and knew what she was talking about.

Cruz-Uribe was definitely less intense than Shonrock and Hughes, which was both good and bad. Though I can appreciate a laid back person, I couldn’t seem to put my finger on her personality, and I left feeling less than inspired.

One thing is for sure, the presidential search committee did an excellent job of selecting candidates. Each had their own strengths and weaknesses, and each has the potential to be a good president.

It’s Called a Dictionary Automatons. That is the word I was told to edit out of a previous article. Why? Apparently, not everyone knows what it means.

I thought this was nonsense. I was sure that most people would know that the word “automaton” essentially means a robot. The same goes for the concept of a litmus test, which is essentially a test that proves or disproves something.

I was still told, however, by my editors at The Bulletin that my vocabulary may be beyond that of our normal readers. This forced me to rethink a lot of things, from whether the words I use truly are esoteric, or whether we as a people have fallen out of love with that great book that should grace our shelves – the dictionary.

Please do not read this as an attack on the good people of Emporia, nor on the students. Rather, this is an attack against the notion that we, as a people, have become apathetic, or perfunctory if you will, when it comes to increasing our vocabulary. We believe it better to drift from conversation to conversation, class to class, paper to paper, using words that consist of, at most, three syllables to represent our thoughts and feelings.

Does this help anyone? No. It creates an atmosphere that would better suit a sloth. It presents the idea that we only open dictionaries when we scribble down bits of faux or unimagined poetry, or even have the dictionary application open as we write papers on our computer are wasting our time.

I enjoy writing words that may need to be sounded out as they contain five or six syllables. Why? Because it better defines my point, and being an opinion writer, the more defined my point or position on a subject, the easier it becomes for people to see my rationale and to agree with it or to challenge it.

Letter to the Editor Dec. 12 marks the end of a very exciting fall semester for the Union Activities Council. As our Late Night event nears, so to does the spring 2012 semester, which is packed with a lot of new and exciting activities and performances.

From the Stars Go Dim performance to participation in the HUGE Activities Fair and various campus events, UAC has managed to bring a variety of entertainment already, but we have also been able to gather information about what excites the students here at ESU. We look forward to making next semester even better.

Students can look for information concerning the Union Activities Council through our website at Emporia.edu/csi/uac, or through Facebook and Twitter.

Applications are also being taken for a number of chair and vice chair positions that are open. Visit the Center for Student Involvement in the Memorial Union for more details.

Enjoy the break and come back ready to be blown away by all the excitement!

Micheal Torres Chair of Public Relations Union Activities Council

The Bulletin

Phone: 620-341-5201 Fax: 620-341-5865 Email: editor@esubulletin.com or advertising@esubulletin.com

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EDITORIAL STAFF

A ndrew P otter potter@esubulletin.com Would you rather me say, “I dislike this,” or “I abhor the decision to the very fabric of its core?” We should all be using the vocabulary of the latter, with ample usage of our dictionaries or thesauri, to state our extremely specific and complicated emotions and feelings. This is especially important as we begin to discover more challenging concepts in our higher-level classes.

I know that most people will tell me that the message always trumps the idea of what vocabulary is being used, “simplicity is key.” To this I agree, and for that reason I try and limit my speech, but still some people tell me that I continue to use words that not everyone can understand.

What do I have to say to that? Automatons. I can’t help it.

KenzieTempleton Editor-in-Chief Charlie Heptas Managing Editor Katelin Gibson Video Editor Jon Coffey Photo Editor Ellen Weiss Opinion Editor Marcus Hix Sports Editor Matt Cook Copy Editor Kimber Mitchell Graphic Designer

BUSINESS

Sisi Huang Business Manager Catherine Wethington Office & Advertising Manager

Adviser Max McCoy Assistant Professor of Journalism

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

news

Page 5

Production transports audience to underworld S imone C osper cosper@esubulletin.com

Elise Blann, senior theater major and Andrew Walker, junior theatre major, perform during dress rehearsal for “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl Tuesday evening in Bruder Theater. The play opened last night and will run through Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the theater department.

Take a vast journey from pens, pencils, papers, tests, libraries and offices and into Emporia State’s production of “Eurydice,” Sarah Ruhl’s play that takes place in the underworld.

The show opened last night in Bruder Theater and will run through Saturday. Each performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

“The production of ‘Eurydice’ is not an average night of theater,” said John Henningsen, director, communications major and photographer for The Bulletin. “It is a dark, fantastical journey through life, death, love and innocence.”

Henningsen said the play is set in the 1950s and is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

“We meet Eurydice as she finds love and moments later loses it,” Henningsen said. “It follows her journey in the underworld and the struggles she goes through to find her way back to the land of the living. The rest of the evening is her journey to discover the meaning of love, love of life, love of family, love of self and love of knowledge.”

At first glance the play is a dark comedy, but the drama is philosophically provoking, allowing audience members to reflect on personal relationships, Henningsen said.

“The play asks questions such as what is love, what is important

in life, do you love something enough to let it die, do you love something enough to let it live and what are you willing to sacrifice to allow that love to flourish,” Henningsen said.

The play, set in the mythological underworld, emphasizes its message with unique lighting, and stage setup.

“The lighting in the performance includes a lot of blues to go along with the mood of the play and browns because we took a very earthy approach to our design,” said Sertrice Grice, freshman psychology major and prop master for the show. “The backdrop is a tree and the floor is brown. All of this feeds into the setting – the underworld.”

Henningsen said the setting also assists in tackling the ideas of death, life and discovering what is important for survival under the human condition.

“The staff ’s idea of the underworld is a dark drippy place that bursts to life when it is met with Eurydice’s love for her father, for her husband, for books and for life,” Henningsen said.

Andrew VonSeggern, junior secondary education theater and speech major and curtain director, said he recommends attending the play.

“The play is better than a movie,” VonSeggern said. “During each performance, the actors feed off of the crowd and the audience gets a feel of the theater culture.”

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission.

JA Sakura helps family prepare for life in Japan T ianhai J iang jiang@esubulletin.com For Evan and Audrey Eusey, Emporia State alumni, the assistance they got from the Japanese Association Sakura organization helped them learn the Japanese language and culture and readied them for their new life in Japan.

“We wanted to be prepared,” Audrey Eusey said. “So we became friends with some Japanese ESU students to learn about the Japanese language and culture.”

The Euseys and their 9-month-old son, Atticus, moved to Sapporo, Japan just this week to be missionaries.

“I met Audrey at the international food festival in 2009,” said Aki Notomi, sophomore athletic training major and former president of J.A. Sakura. “I was wearing Japanese traditional clothing.

Audrey was looking for someone who was Japanese and a girl. She found me first because of the clothes.”

Then Notomi became Eusey’s Japanese tutor. Eusey took lessons on the Japanese language and culture once a week until last September.

“She is more than just a conversation partner,” Eusey said.

“She is a good friend, and I’m so thankful for her patience and gentle help.”

Eusey studied a chapter in a book on Japanese and wrote out homework assignments. Then Notomi would fix her mistakes and help her practice the language.

“One week she kept circling the same word on my homework

over and over,” Eusey said. “I asked her what was wrong, and she said, ‘You really like ‘kosoputa.’ I had mixed up the Japanese symbols for “N” and “SO,” so instead of writing ‘konputa’ (computer), I wrote ‘kosoputa’ every time.”

Eusey said she was at her Japanese language “peak” last fall when she attended a JA Sakura party at Notomi’s house.

“I was able to have a simple conversation with some of the students about what their plans were for the upcoming winter break,” Eusey said.

Just this week Eusey said she emailed Notomi to talk about Japanese culture. She told Notomi that she could tell salespeople that she was looking for diapers and she was able to find them.

“I think even though I am not with her, I can help her as her friend,” Notomi said. “I am the one who can share Japanese culture with her.”

Audrey grew up in Shawnee and Evan is an Emporia native.

While Audrey was having a oneon-one Japanese tutor, Evan went to a weekly Japanese class offered

by J.A. Sakura in spring 2010.

“It is an excellent opportunity to start having a relationship with Japanese students,” said Masatoshi Takami, junior music major and Evan’s Japanese conversation partner. “Since language is deep rooted in its culture, you can also get to know Japanese culture through the class.”

Takami said the Euseys would likely face difficulties in achieving their missionaries goals in Japan.

“They have to launch a new

The Eusey family moved to Sapporo, Japan this week. With the help of JA Sakura, the family prepared for their new life as missionaries. Photo courtesy of the Eusey family.

life with few connections and a huge language barrier,” Takami said. “Also, I assume it needs the utmost perseverance to tell a religious message to the Japanese because most people in Japan tend to stay away from getting deeply into religion. I’m sure

they will get over those hardships with their passion.”

JA Sakura offers Japanese lessons on Wednesday nights in Plumb Hall room 409. The beginners level class starts at 5 p.m. and the intermediate class starts at 6 p.m.

Gill offers thanks as Kansas begins coach search LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The search is on for a replacement for Turner Gill at Kansas, who has popular with his players yet couldn’t manage to win enough games to make it to a third season with the Jayhawks.

Consistent with his charming demeanor, Gill took the opportunity to thank his players, coaches and even the Jayhawks fans who called for his job so often this season in a statement released Monday, one day after he was fired by athletic director Sheahon Zenger.

“I would like to thank the University of Kansas for the opportunity to be its head football coach,” Gill said. “On behalf of our staff, I want to thank the players for putting their heart and soul into this football program the past two years. I hope nothing but the best for all their future endeavors, both on and off the field.”

Gill was just 5-19 after arriving from Buffalo, where he had one

winning season. He was hired by former athletic director Lew Perkins and given a five-year, $10 million contract, which Zenger has said the school will honor — he’ll essentially be paid about $6 million to not coach the Jayhawks.

Zenger will turn his attention to finding Gill’s successor.

Candidates could include Mike Leach, the former Texas Tech coach who was fired after allegations that he mistreated some of his players. Leach and Zenger have been friends for several years, dating to the days in the early 1990s when Zenger helped to found a magazine called American Football Quarterly.

The two have kept in touch over the years and, considering the success Leach had at a program that was similar to the Jayhawks, it’s likely that he’ll be given a chance to interview. Leach’s name has also been mentioned in connection with several other jobs.

Off the Reel

L uke B ohannon

bohannon@esubulletin.com

The Muppets are back and better than ever!

The last few years have seen so many different revival projects for old franchises that it gets easy to just brush them aside and ignore them, but that would be a mistake when it comes to “The Muppets.”

Proving that the old crew can be fresh and entertaining even today, the film manages to bring in a healthy dose of nostalgia for older fans and an even bigger dose of comedy for everyone.

T he Muppets have been forgotten, and it seems the only people who miss them are Gary (Jason Segel) and his brother Walter (A Muppet). When Gary takes his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for their anniversary, he brings Walter along to see the Muppet Studios.

During the tour, Walter manages to overhear a dastardly plot by Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to bulldoze the studio to drill for oil unless the Muppets can raise $10 million to buy it back. Walter and Gary set out to reunite the scattered Muppets to put on one last show to save the studio.

One of the great things about the Muppets formula is that while it may not be the most original, it’s still entertaining. Really, saving the old theater by raising money with a last minute show? It’s been done to death, but with the classic Muppets formula incorporating huge numbers of guest stars, witty laughs and heartwarming moments, it’s easy to forget the unoriginality. Plus it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Muppets themselves are remarkably self-aware and poke fun at their own slightly tired storyline.

W hile there are plenty of jabs at old school humor, “The Muppets” takes aim at modern entertainment too. The number one show in the universe is called “Punch Teacher” and is hosted by Ken Jeong (The Hangover). The show consists of, well, punching teachers.

Even Tex Richman provides a tongue in cheek joke when he brings in his own team of Muppets called the Moopets, who he calls a “hard cynical act for a hard cynical world.”

The film is also chock-full of cameos. From old timers like Mickey Rooney to newer stars like Selena Gomez, “The Muppets” brings in more celebrities than you can shake a stick at. My personal favorite cameo was from Jim Parsons.

A ll in all, “The Muppets” is a heart-warming movie that’s great for viewers of all ages and perfect for the holiday season, even if it’s not a Christmas movie.

4 out of 5 reels

Page 6

news

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

Star lighting tradition kicks off holiday season S imone C osper

cosper@esubulletin.com

Observers from all corners of Emporia and the campus gathered to gaze at the twinkling beauty of the annuallylit Holiday star atop of Plumb Hall. The lighting was followed by the Community Christmas Parade Tuesday night.

“President Flentje, shortly before 7 p.m., (flipped) on the star that is on top of Plumb Hall,” said Gwen Larson, assistant director of marketing and media relations. “The Parade featured a float competition, including the beef feast float, floats made by churches, a Newman Regional Health float that is drawing attention to their new campaign to raise money for their breast cancer center, ESU’s band, Emporia high school’s band and things like that.”

Larson said ESU’s location in relation to town makes the university a desirable beacon for the start of the Community Christmas Parade.

“Plumb hall sits at the end of 12th Ave. and Emporia always runs their parades starting at 4th Ave. and ending on 12th,” Larson said.

“Basically, as each float is finishing up the parade, they see the star.”

Larson said the star can also be seen in town from all directions.

“I remember when I came to ESU for a campus visit when I was a senior in high school,” said Rachal Davidson, freshman psychology major. “As my dad was driving toward the highway to go home to Leavenworth, I saw the star and it was my final impression of the campus.”

But the star lighting is not just for aesthetic purposes – it symbolizes the relationship between ESU and the surrounding community.

“The star lighting is a way that ESU can continue to support the community of Emporia and become a part of the community instead of holding ourselves apart,” Larson said. “The nice thing about the star is it is a universal symbol of the holidays without singling out any one type of observance.”

Larson said the star is set on a timer and will stay lit daily from dusk to dawn. It was designed to stay atop of Plumb Hall throughout the year and is easily elevated during the holiday season.

The star lighting is an ESU tradition while the Community Christmas Parade is a local tradition that has been going on for over 30 years.

“I was on the phone with my aunt the other night, who graduated from ESU in the stone ages,” said Haley Louthan, freshman elementary education major. “She was the one who told me about these two events, so it definitely must have been going on for a quite some time.”

Louthan said that the star serves as a quirky decorative piece that shines with charm and elegance throughout campus.

The Emporia State star on top of Plumb Hall is a beacon for this holiday season. Interim President Ed Flentje flipped the switch on the star Tuesday evening and marked the start of Emporia’s annual Christmas Parade. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

The 34th annual Community Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season in Emporia Tuesday night. Holiday cheer was in the air as people crowded Commercial Street in downtown Emporia. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Participants in the parade were able to pass candy or food along the parade route. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Dozens of floats weave through downtown Emporia during the annual Community Christmas Parade. Emporia veterinarian Duane Henrikson was the parade marshal. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Emporia residents ride in a covered wagon in the Christmas Parade. The theme was “Spirit of a Kansas Christmas.”

Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

The Bulletin | December 1, 2011

news

Page 7

Students pay off library debt through charity K haili S carbrough scarbrough@esubulletin.com When students have library fines they are given two options – pay or donate food for the needy. For the past five years the William Allen White Library has offered students this alternative option to pay off their fines.

Students may donate nonperishable food items such as canned fruit and vegetables to charities around Emporia. Each item is worth $1 in fines, and up to $30 in fines will be forgiven per student. The program ends Dec. 21.

“In the past, we have donated all of the food we have received to the Salvation Army to help fill their food bank,” said Terri Summey, head of Access and Children’s Services at WAW Library.

Summey said that depending on what food they get, some of the donations will go to the Emporia Gazette’s Food for Students program.

“It’s where they are filling bags of food to send home with kids that may not have food over the weekend,” Summey said. “There are some kids that the meals they eat at school are the only meals that they might get. They may

not have a meal at night or meals over the weekend.”

Ashely Walker, editor of the Gazette, said that Food for Students is a community initiative involving many different organizations and businesses in the area.

“We are looking for items that are light weight and kid friendly, so kids can prepare it for themselves, as well as nutritious and non-perishable items,” Walker said. “It needs to be stuff that can fit in a kid’s backpack.”

According to their website, the program prefers foods like granola and breakfast bars, fruit cups, ramen noodles, instant oatmeal and small jars of peanut butter.

Summey estimated that the library receives an average of 1500-2000 items and that around 150 students donate during the Food for Fines programs.

“We are trying to do something nice for the students so that (fines are) not such a punishment, so they can give something back and help somebody in need,” Summey said.

Hope Burris, a captain at the Salvation Army, said the WAW Library helps the community in a

Biology major Gilseung Park donates canned food items to the circulation desk at the WAW Library Wednesday afternoon. Joel Arnold, library assistant, reduced Park’s accumulated library fines. Yohan Kim/The Bulletin

significant way.

“They help us support our food program we have here at the Salvation Army,” Burris said.

The Salvation Army in Emporia helps around 150 families a month. Burris said that they need to keep a minimum of 20,000 items in their pantry

DENTAL... from page 1

The Oral Health Task Force held their first meeting Nov. 15, to which Longbine was assigned to the committee to study “the feasibility of a dental school” in Kansas. “ We currently don’t have a true dental school in Kansas,” Longbine said. “Our overall goal is to see if we can improve access to dental care. Kansas has a severe shortage of dentists, particularly in rural Kansas. If we have more trained dentists in the state, the hope is that would help all communities, not just the rural communities.”

Comprised of some regents members, dental work experts and legislators, the Oral Health Task Force is hoping to have a recommendation to KBOR by next summer. Longbine said he would like to see Emporia be in the running for a location if KBOR goes through with it.

Flentje said having a dental school in Emporia would also raise the declining enrollment. “ We could also keep some students on campus,” said Gwen Larson assistant director of marketing and media relations. “We have a pre-dental program, but students cannot finish it here because we do not have a dental school. These students end up doing course work here and finishing somewhere else.”

The Oral Health Task Force is expected to make their decision on the feasibility of a school in Kansas by June. If approved, locations for the school will start being evaluated.

ARTISTS BRING HOLIDAY CHEER

The Active Artists Society set up its Christmas sale booth in Memorial Union Wednesday afternoon. The sale will run through this Friday. Artists included glass, prints, necklaces, and many more unique gifts to choose from. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin

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Call 620-481-6169.

CLASSIFIED Houses for rent. Available now - totally remodeled. Four bed, two bath. Walk to ESU. $800.

Petless. References required. To view call Helen at 913-205-0800 or Barbara from Farm and Home Real Estate at 620-342-0022.

to keep themselves afloat, and they go through that much about every four months. “(Food for Fines) is a wonderful idea,” Burris said.

“Not only does it help the people who have library fines, but it also helps the community feed the needy families in the area.”

The library is also accepting donations from students who just want to participate in the food drive. It is open until 11 p.m.

Sunday though Thursday and until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The program will also be in effect again at the end of May next semester.

CENTURY... from page 1

I went to Emporia ready to move into my room. The lady of the house was glad to see me, and said, ‘Oh, good, your roommate is here, too.’ We were introduced, ‘Eula May Nunemacher, this is your roommate, Eula Mae Peters.’ What a surprise, I had not ever known a person with any part of my name.”

The next summer, Nunemacher and her roommate encountered another Eula Maye in Oklahoma at an allergy clinic.

Travel was also a large part of Nunemacher’s life. The summer after she graduated from ESU, she and a friend drove to Portland, Oregon, and from there they drove to Alaska.

Nunemacher said she also took several trips to Europe, including a trip to Berlin, Germany.

Elena Gill, activities assistant at Sunflower Lane, said Nunemacher’s age is uncommon, but the other resident’s at the retirement community are excited to help her celebrate her 100th birthday.

“She’s a kind lady,” Gill said.

Nunemacher’s personality earned her many friendships over the years, Van Blaricum said.

“She never climbed Mount Everest or anything like that, (but) she just made a lot of friends and was easy and fun to talk to,” Van Blaricum said.

“Even to this day there will be an elderly man or woman calling to look her up because they remember her and want to talk to her.”

Although Nunemacher says she is “not particularly” looking forward to the next 100 years, she still smiles and says she has lived a full and satisfying life.

“I lived in a happy home and had fine parents.”

State Teacher’s College, with an English degree in 1933, said turning 100 just feels “natural” and that the secret to her longevity is simply a lifetime of good health. She advises college students to “stay active.”

After graduating from ESU, Nunemacher spent several years as an English teacher in areas around Kansas, including Syracuse and Coldwater, before settling as a librarian, first in Dodge City then in Wichita. She currently resides at the Sunflower Lane wing of Larksfield Place, a retirement community in Wichita.

But Nunemacher said there are some disadvantages to her age. “ When you get to be 100, you’re sort of limited in what you can do,” Nunemacher said.

As a girl, she spent a lot of time outside roller skating, and today she still enjoys being outdoors. Nunemacher also partakes in a weekly Bible study, and embroidery remains a hobby.

Nunemacher attended college right out of high school, at the beginning of the Great Depression. She found an apartment that was close enough to campus that she could walk to class. She described the campus as “pretty” and “well-kept.” She even worked at the library on campus, and for fun she played tennis.

In 2000 she published a short memoir called “I Remember When,” in which she detailed some of her fondest memories of her long life. One story recounts her first impression of her roommate at ESU. She wrote, “Come September,

December 1, 2011

Page 8

Transfer senior aims to end on high note C helsie S laughter slaughter@esubulletin.com

Senior guard Heather Robben shoots a lay-up during practice Tuesday afternoon in Gym C of the HPER building. The transfer student from Wichita State has already proven a worthy asset to the team with a total of 46 points in the four games since the season began. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

In her first season at Emporia State, senior transfer guard Heather Robben is making her presence known on the hardwood. She brings leadership and toughness to the Hornets, and her teammates have taken notice of her aggressive style and passion.

“She is a great leader and always motivates us,” said freshman forward Merissa Quick.

“She expects the best out of all of us, and helps us to make sure we are always doing our best.”

Although this is her first season, Robben said the team is unified and shows support for each other, and this unity is noticeable both on and off the court.

“My favorite thing about basketball is the teammates,” Robben said. “I love having 12 girls that you hang out with all the time, have fun with and are always there for you.”

Robben has played basketball since she was 5 years old when she would take on her brother.

Growing up she played both volleyball and softball, but she said she enjoyed basketball the most. Robben said she has always played the guard position and enjoys shooting the ball from the perimeter.

Her collegiate basketball career started at Hutchinson Community College for two seasons. She was then recruited by the likes of Texas Christian University and Valparaiso University along with others before accepting a scholarship at Wichita State University, where she would play her junior season.

She said she decided to transfer to ESU for her senior season because she did not enjoy her time at WSU. “I really liked the coaches here at Emporia,” Robben said. “I just did not enjoy last year, and I wanted a new start to my senior season. Plus the girls were really cool.”

During her freshman and sophomore years playing for the Blue Dragons of HCC, Robben became the all-time leading scorer and lead her team to conference and league titles. Robben said she is extremely proud of the accomplishment of attending the National Tournament in her freshman year.

This season, Robben said she does not feel a lot of pressure to carry the team on her shoulders.

Although she shows her leadership both on and off the court, she said she feels that it is a team effort and the pressure is not on one single player.

“She really helps lead our team and drives us to work better,” said freshman forward Sarah Wood.

Robben said she thinks the Hornets will do well this year as they shoot to win the national championship. The team is meshing together well as they prepare themselves for a victorious season. “ The coaches here are really encouraging,” Robben said.

“They are upbeat and always trying to make every player better. I really want to enjoy this year and just have fun while I can…and win.”

The Hornets will take on Missouri Western at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo.

Hornet reunited with high school teammate B randon S chneeberger

schneeberger@esubulletin.com

The men’s basketball team features almost an entirely different roster from last year’s team, but one name remains constant – Taylor Euler. The junior communications major and guard has distinguished himself as a team leader.

“Taylor, at times, is another coach on the floor,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach. “He has great feel, great understanding of the game. When get out of sorts, he’s calm…he’s a natural coach himself.

He has natural leadership abilities.”

Euler began playing basketball at an early age along with football and running track. Growing up he looked to former ESU stars such as Wes Book, current assistant coach, as basketball role models.

“He (Book) played when I was in middle school,” Euler said.

“Watching him, he had a really good team too, so that always got me excited to get to the high school level and try to accomplish things that he accomplished.”

Euler, a 2009 graduate of Emporia High, averaged 19.5 points and 3.9 assists in his final year. However, his junior year was the final year he was able to play

with senior Troy Pierce, a current transfer to the team and former Spartan.

“That’s been really cool,” Euler said of reuniting with Pierce. “We played together growing up, and then we took about three years off from playing with each other. Now that we’re back, I thought it would be a little different, some things would change over the years apart, but nothing’s changed. I think we’re right where we left off from high school.”

Though Euler said nothing has changed, Pierce recognized the improvement in Euler since they last played together.

“We both came up in the same system,” Pierce said. “He brings everything you need for a basketball team… he’s matured a lot over the years since he was in high school, and since high school his game has developed a lot.”

When he first came to ESU, Euler made an immediate impact in starting six games and playing in all 29 his freshman season. His career high of 19 points came during his freshman year against Ottawa, a year in which he scored in the double figures nine times.

Known for his sharp shooting, three times in his career Euler has made four three-point shots

Courtesy Photo of Euler

in a single game. This season, Euler is shooting over 47 percent from behind the arc and grabbing nearly four rebounds a game for the Hornets. In their game against Bethany, Euler put up 16 points, making three of six from behind the arc in the game. “(His three point shooting) helps tremendously,” Vandiver said.

“Especially when we go small, and he’s on the court with (Chris) Sights and (Derrell) Conner who are able to penetrate and kick it and he’s able to knock down shots. He’s a good counterpart to Derrell Conner.”

The Hornets will need that deep threat as they face Missouri Western at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo.

Sport Shorts

Balcom wins MIAA Player of the Week

Women roll to third straight victory

Kelsey Balcom started the week by scoring a career high of 26 points while shooting 71 percent in Emporia State’s 88-61 victory over Alabama-Huntsville. The game took place during UWF Thanksgiving Classic in Pensacola, Fla. The sophomore from Olathe, Kan., was six of seven from the field in the second half as the Lady Hornets overcame a four-point halftime deficit with a 57-point half.

Balcom had 13 points and four assists in ESU’s 84-49 win over host West Florida. She was four of six from behind the three-point line and was the leading scorer on the season for the Hornets.

Rachel Hanf scored 15 points to lead five Hornets in double figures as Emporia State posted an 84-49 victory at West Florida in the UWF Thanksgiving Classic in Pensacola, Fla. The Hornets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they rolled to their third straight victory. Their record now stands at 3-1.

Rachel Hanf was joined in double figures by Kelsey Balcom and Heather Robben with 13 points each, Merissa Quick with 11 points and Jocelyn Cummings with 10 points.

Quick had a game high seven rebounds while Cummings dished five assists.

Big 12

has pseudo championship game with Bedlam

The way Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops sees it, there will be only one Big 12 champion no matter how many teams might end up with same record.

“We all played each other, it isn’t like we’re in different divisions,” Stoops said Monday. “You can determine who the champion is if there are two people or three people tied for it. Who beat who.”

There is no longer a Big 12 championship game since there are only 10 teams with no divisions and a round-robin schedule. But the annual Bedlam game will be a pseudo title game, with the winner of Saturday night’s showdown between third-ranked Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) and No. 13 Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2) getting the league’s automatic BCS berth.

“I just hope I can get home to watch it,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.

Oklahoma State, which had its national championship hopes hurt by a loss at Iowa State in its last game, can win its first conference title outright. They have to beat the Sooners for the first time since 2002, when Les Miles was coaching the Cowboys before going to LSU. “With the BCS, starting in the middle of October becomes somewhat like March Madness, they’re all really big games,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “But we get to this point, it’s cut and dry for our team to have a chance to do something that’s never been done.”

If Oklahoma wins, and No. 16 Kansas State (9-2, 6-2) also wins its regular season finale, there would be a three-way tie atop the Big 12 standings. According to league policy, the Sooners would get the BCS berth based on head-to-head matchups though all three teams would be declared co-champions.

“Well, I don’t really understand that,” Stoops said, reiterating how the round-robin schedule was touted during the league’s media days before the season. “The entire theme of the two days is, we’ve got one true champion since everybody’s playing each other. ... So in our eyes, there will be one, and so that’s just how I see it.”

Without a championship game that would usually be played the first weekend of December, the Big 12 extended the regular season with three games for the extra week.

Baylor (8-3, 5-3), already with eight wins for the first time in 20 years after a clean sweep in November, finishes its regular season at home against Texas (7-4, 4-4). It is a last chance for Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III to influence Heisman Trophy voters a week after he was limited to playing one half because of concussion-like symptoms.

Men defeat Central Oklahoma Troy Pierce hit two free throws with 5.2 seconds left to give Emporia State a 71-70 win over 11th-ranked Central Oklahoma at the SBU Thanksgiving Classic in Bolivar, Mo. The teams swapped the lead several times during the game before the eventual upset by ESU.

Chris Sights led ESU with 16 points while Antonio DiMaria added 15 points. Troy Pierce had 11 points and a team high of six rebounds, and Derrell Conner rounded out the double figure scorers for ESU with 10 points. Taylor Euler had eight points with a team high of four assists and three steals.