Sept. 1, 2011 Edition

Ha Ha Tonka Page 5

The students’ voice since 1901 • Vol. 111 No. 3 • Thursday, September 1, 2011 • Check us out online

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ASG plans for fall semester, swears in new senators L uke B ohannon bohannon@esubulletin.com

Faculty Senate President Kevin Johnson speaks to ASG about his desire to work closely with the organization this year. The first meeting was held last Thursday in Webb Lecture Hall.

Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

The Associated Student Government met last Thursday to begin working on plans for the new semester as well as to swear in new senators. Faculty Senate President Kevin Johnson also spoke at the meeting.

“Unless you take this time to care…nothing is going to get better,” said Ashley Vogts, senior occupational therapy major and ASG president in her remarks to the senators, “so that is why it’s up to us to make sure student voices are heard, actions are taken and that student

life here at ESU is the best that it can be.”

Fifteen new senators were sworn in – seven were elected and eight were appointees who were voted on by the senate. Following the swearing in of the senators and remarks from the president and vice-president of ASG, committee reports were given by various senators.

Johnson spoke after the committee reports were given and expressed his desire to work closely with ASG through shared governance.

“Shared governance is something that is important to me,” Johnson said. “It’s our chance to participate in decisions and discussions and

Roller derby offers hard-hitting sport alternative

debate perhaps…as to what’s happening here on campus.”

Among the topics discussed during the committee reports were fund-raising and public relations.

“Can the Bods” and the ASG homecoming t-shirt sale were two fundraisers that were brought up during junior secondary education major and campus and community relations chair Maria Zuniga’s report.

“Can the Bods” will take place from Oct. 1-Nov. 1. She also said that the ASG homecoming shirts will be sold at football games as well as in the Memorial Union and the William Allen White Library.

See ASG...Page 2

Cafeteria makeover makes dining hall more efficient K haili S carbrough scarbrough@esubulletin.com

Flint Hills Fury derby skater, Kristan Dean, crouches as she speeds across the rink at the roller derby practice. The team trained for several hours on Tuesday night. Jennifer Pendarvis/The Bulletin

B rooke S chultz schultz@esubulletin.com Known as the Flint Hills Fury, Emporia’s first ever women’s roller derby league is currently recruiting for all positions, including skaters and referees. The Fury hit Emporia this summer when Victoria Partridge, president and cofounder of the league, started a Facebook page in June. The response was more than she had ever imagined. “(It) has truly been overwhelming and awesome,” said Kari Crump, co-owner of Studio 11 and team manager.

“There are people coming out everywhere wanting to skate and help… it’s an alternative to traditional sporting events that people go to.”

Although she cannot skate due to previous injury, Crump said she enjoys being involved in the group and being referred to as “Captain Mamma.”

Roller derby was first seen in Chicago in the 1930s, and

Practices

Time: 6:45-8:45 p.m.

Date: Tuesday and Thursday evenings Place: Rollers Skating Rink, 701 Graham St. What you need to skate at practice:

- helmet - wrist guards - elbow guards

-knee guards - mouth guard - proof of insurance

over time these sporting events eventually began televising in the 1940s. After only 20 years the sport included hundreds of teams competing and traveling all over the country.

Participants must be at least 18 years old, according to the Fury’s website.

“What I love about roller derby is it has a place for everybody,” Partridge said. “There’s this ultimate sense of camaraderie.”

After two months of preparation and advertising, the league held their first practice at on Aug. 18, at Rollers Skating Rink, located at 701 Graham St. Currently, 40 women are signed up and around 30 are in attendance at each practice.

“I’m finding that it’s a real sisterhood,” said Michele Boyce, co-owner of Studio 11 and skater. “I’m really loving the two hours of hard skate time with girls that I know and don’t know and am getting to know.”

Along with members, Flint Hills Fury is also quickly gaining sponsors. Crump and Boyce at Studio 11 help sponsor the league, along with Black Heart’s House of Art, Wrecked Skates, Java Cat-5 and Wagoner Photography.

Studio 11 sells merchandise for the team such as T-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons and their own creation, Gemwitches, which are made out of recycled glass and magazines and feature the Flint Hills Fury logo. The store then contributes some of their profit to help with costs for the league.

“I would like to see this league become self-sustaining,” Partridge said. “After I step down from this role I would like to see the league continue on.”

The league’s first bouts, or games, will begin in April.

Partridge said the league will have two teams under it – one home team as well as an away team that will travel and consist of stronger skaters. For now, all skaters are practicing

See DERBY...Page 2

Before the recent renovations on Emporia State’s cafeteria in the Memorial Union, “inefficient” was a prominent word used to describe the dining hall. But The Hornets’ Nest has had a complete makeover.

“We were trying to do a 2010 system in a 1998 space,” said Dave Hendricks, Memorial Union director.

But now students and faculty can move through the cafeteria more quickly. With only 300 available seats and hundreds of hungry students, speed is a necessity.

“We really wanted to separate stations throughout the space to eliminate long lines,” Hendricks said.

The mission seems to be accomplished, Hendricks said. Not only is this new set-up time efficient but it also allows for hungry patrons to see their food being made as well as interact with the staff who make it.

“We have a good and caring production team who love interacting with students,” Hendricks said.

At Wednesday’s grand opening, students seemed to appreciate the cafeteria’s new layout.

“It’s a 1000 times better,” said Rachel Marshall, sophomore secondary education major.

Paige Moeder, sophomore undecided major, said she like the change.

“I think it’s really modern and classy,” Moeder said, “I love the windows.”

Linda Sharples, a cook at the Hornet’s Nest, prepares samples of omelets during the cafeteria’s grand opening Wednesday afternoon. The special event offered free bites of various meals the Hornet’s Nest serves.

Megan Gartner/The Bulletin

See CAFETERIA...Page 7

Page 2

Briefs

Hollywood alum to present annual Pflaum lecture ESU alum and Hollywood actor Katie Keane will speak at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 6, in R.Q. Frederickson Theatre in Roosevelt Hall.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Keane will be a guest instructor in Jim Ryan’s acting class and will teach a master class to theater students while she is on campus.

Originally from Topeka, Keane has been acting since age 11. In Hollywood, Keane’s work includes supporting roles in “Funny People” with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan and the 2010 horror flick “Hysteria.”

The Pflaum Lecture is presented by the department of Communication and Theater and is supported by the Performing Arts Board. It is held annually to honor the memory of Dr. George R.R. Pflaum, who came to Kansas State Teacher’s College in 1923 and served on the faculty for more than 40 years.

Police Reports

Reports given to The Bulletin from ESU Police and Safety Department

news

The Bulletin | September 1, 2011

Students attempt to break Zumba record B rooke S chultz schultz@esubulletin.com Students, faculty and Emporia residents will attempt to break the world record for largest Zumba class, a record currently held by Brownsville, Texas, at 7 p.m. tonight in Welch Stadium.

“We wanted to come up with something at the start of a new school year that really got peoples’ attention and promoted a healthy lifestyle,” said Whitney Runer, assistant director of Recreation Services.

On its national website, Zumba is defined as “an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning, dance fitness-party that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.”

The current record was set by the University of Texas School of Public Health. The class consisted of 1,223 people, according to the Guinness World Records website.

Now, ESU is working to set a

new record of 1,500 people. The staff of recreation services is confident that they will reach their goal.

Runer said a lot of preparation had to go into planning such a large event. A space had to be found that was large enough to host the class, a stage was built for the instructor and recreation services had to contact the Guinness Book of World Records.

“The first thing was really getting the word out,” said Runer.

“We had to do a lot of marketing efforts.”

Amy Hayden was chosen to teach the class. Hayden teaches Zumba classes regularly, both at ESU and elsewhere in Emporia.

Another important aspect of the planning process was figuring out how to keep track of all the people participating. When the gates open, each participant will receive a wristband with a number on it. This wristband will then help the staff keep track of how many people are entering the field.

For students who want to get a head start on the action, or just want to take part in a fitness course, the campus recreation center offers Zumba classes Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for students to participate in.

Students all over campus are spreading the word and preparing for the big day.

“I’m pumped,” said Lauren Stearns, freshman elementary education major. “I think it will be really cool if we succeed at it. If we don’t then we can try again next year.”

The event is free to all and everyone is welcome to join. The gates will open at 6:15 p.m. and once everyone is settled the class will begin.

“I’m really excited that were getting this opportunity to put ESU in the record books,” Runer said.

For additional information about the Zumba record, students can find fliers posted around campus. A Facebook page is also available to those who want to participate and get the word out to others.

DERBY... from page 1 August 25 Officer stopped KS 722BYP in 1100 Commercial. A verbal warning was issued for an illegal U-turn at same location.

Mike McRell reported a Burglary Alarm at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in the Memorial Student Union. A door had been breached.

No problem was found.

Breanna Holland reported a suspicious male outside of Morse Hall Complex. Officer contacted subject and advised he would not be allowed back on campus if he did not stop attempting to contact female students.

Officer stopped KS 899CZD in Sector 1. A citation was issued for a one-way violation in 1700 Morse Dr. August 26 Sadie Pile reported criminal damage to KS PSD525 in Sector 7.

Patty Delmott reported theft of items from her bicycle in Cremer Hall bike rack.

Male student reported a suspicious subject in front of Roosevelt Hall.

Subject left the area prior to officer’s arrival.

Officer stopped KS 005DBH in Sector 7. A citation was issued for a one-way violation in 300 E 16 St. Officer stopped KS 813CUY at 18th and Merchant. Suspect was taken into custody for driving without a license, no proof of insurance and driving without headlights and transported to the Lyon Co. jail.

together and teams will be formed in the coming months, Partridge said.

“We are still taking skaters and refs and coaches and anyone who wants to help out with the league in any way, shape or form,” Partridge said. “We’re one big, giant, roller derby, happy family.”

Those who would like to become a part of the league can find more info at www.flinthillsfury.com, or by visiting the league’s Facebook page.

The Flint Hills Fury roller derby team huddles after practice Tuesday night. The team’s first bout will be in April. Jennifer Pendarvis/The Bulletin

ASG... from page 1

activities board,” Keisler said. “It’ll show what’s going on, sporting events, activities on campus. Something to let the public know.”

Social networking, Keisler said, is also something he will focus on, using sites such as Facebook and Twitter in order to better connect with students.

Keisler has also been meeting with city officials including Casey Woods, director of Emporia Main Street, Kevin Nelson, mayor of Emporia, and Jim Kessler, city commissioner, in order to facilitate stronger community ties.

August 27 Officer responded to Trusler Sports Complex for a verbal altercation between two teams. Handled by officer.

Power House Operator reported a steam leak on the north side of the Memorial Student Union.

Officer contacted subjects north of I-35 who were playing with airsoft guns and advised of campus policy.

Officer contacted two subjects north of I-35 and advised them to leave the area.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a suspicious vehicle call at 6 and Washington.

The Big Event, an annual service event hosted by ASG, Community Hornets and the United Way, was also discussed during the senate meeting. For this year’s event, students can sign up to go to Reading to help rebuild the community. Reading was hit by a tornado this summer.

Christian Keisler, junior communications major and public affairs director, also has plans to reach out to students and the community.

“Right now what we’re working on is an electronic

August 28 Ed Franks reported a mark on the Memorial Student Union glass entrance. MSU staff will take care of it.

Mo. judge blocks Facebook limits for teachers

August 29 Officer assisted Lyon Co. Sheriff’s deputy with a traffic accident on north Hwy 99 at Road 195.

Custodial staff reported graffiti in WAW Library 2nd floor men’s restroom. Case pending.

August 22 Custodial staff at WAW Library reported graffiti in the men’s restroom on 2nd floor.

Memorial Student Union staff reported an opossum in the basement area. Officer captured and released it north of I-35.

Parking Enforcement reported damage to KS 748CHT parked in Sector 4.

Officer contacted a skateboarder in Sector 2 and advised of campus policy.

An ambulance was dispatched to North Twin Towers for a female student who had passed out. Subject was transported to Newman Regional Health.

Corrections In the Aug. 25 issue of the Bulletin, Ben Wiebeck’s name was misspelled in the P.R.I.D.E. article.

Also Head Softball Coach Julie Lemaire’s name was misspelled.

The Bulletin regrets these errors.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A new Missouri law prohibiting teachers from having private online conversations with students suffered a double setback Friday. First, a judge blocked it from taking effect because of free speech concerns. Then the governor called for its repeal.

The law limiting teacher-student conversations through social networking sites such as Facebook had been scheduled to take effect Sunday. But Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem issued a preliminary injunction blocking it until at least February, saying the restrictions “would have a chilling effect” on free speech rights.

A couple of hours later, Gov. Jay Nixon said he would ask lawmakers

to repeal the restrictions during a previously scheduled special session that starts Sept. 6. Nixon’s request goes even further than the judge’s order, which was confined to private conversations on non-work-related websites. The governor also wants lawmakers to reverse new restrictions on work-related websites and abolish a requirement for schools to develop written policies by January on teacher-student communications.

Nixon, who signed the legislation last month, said Friday that the provisions about online communication are “causing substantial confusion and concern among teachers, students and families” and thus should be stricken.

“In a digital world, we must recog-

nize that social media can be an important tool for teaching and learning,” said Nixon, a Democrat.

Republican state Sen. Jane Cunningham, who sponsored the measure, said she already has been working with education groups on a potential compromise that would repeal the existing law and replace it with a less-specific requirement for local school districts to develop policies about teacher-student communications. Cunningham said it’s important to make the change as soon as possible.

“There’s no reason for us to punt on this thing and let it continue to simmer and draw attention from all over the world,” said Cunningham, who represents a suburban St. Louis district.

news Lanter brings new energy to ceramics

The Bulletin | September 1, 2011

Page 3

C harlie H eptas news@esubulletin.com Fellow art professors believe their new colleague, Stephanie Lanter, instructor of ceramics, will bring renewed energy and a fresh view to the ceramics program.

“I think she brings a new perspective and she has a sense of energy that has been missing for a while,” said Larry Schwarm, professor of photography. “I think that’s going to show up in the program and get more students interested in ceramics.”

Lanter said that she was excited about the size of the ESU because she likes being able to have a more intimate studio experience, which she is accustomed to at her previous job as an instructor at Washburn University. She is also excited for her first opportunity to be the main ceramics instructor, a chance she has not previously had.

“I feel like there is kind of a legacy here,” Lanter said.

She said she also enjoys the friendliness and laid back nature of the town, which she noticed almost immediately.

“Everybody is just very kind,” Lanter said. “It’s very safe here. If I need anything I know whoever I ask will do what they can for me, that hit me right off the bat.”

Patrick Martin, interim chair of art, said that Lanter was what the department was looking for in an instructor.

“She came highly recommended – she fit,” Martin said. “She had the right qualifications, the right talents and characteristics that we wanted for that position.”

Both Martin and Larry Schwarm, professor of photography, said that as a new professor Lanter would bring some new energy to the ceramics program. Martin said her new ideas and approach will be a refreshing take and will help energize the department.

“We feel that she has a really thorough website, she’s very contemporary with her work as far as the type of ceramics she’s making,” Martin said. “It’s much more mixed media, which is what we’re looking for.”

Schwarm said that she had been a guest speaker in the art department in the spring and that once the position was available, she was one of the first people he called.

“We really loved her talk and loved her work,” Schwarm said.

Lanter has worked in clay for around 15 years.

“I think that clay is the most versatile media there is,” Lanter said. “It’s just a never-ending expansion of possibilities

Stephani Lanter stands in the ceramics studio on Wednesday. This was the start of her first year at Emporia State University as a ceramics instructor. Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin

and also learning. In an academic setting, I really like it because it requires the whole person, you can’t just sit there and be passive.”

Lanter’s personal website, www.

stephanielanter.com, shows some of her work and is also currently collaborating on a project called ‘The Waiting Room: Lost and Found’, which can be viewed at www.thewaitingroomlostandfound.com.

TOPS provides support for healthy weightloss K haili S carbrough scarbrough@esubulletin.com When a student decides they want to be healthy but does not know how, turning to a campus organization can be a wise choice. TOPS, or Take Off Pounds Sensibly, is a low-cost support group on campus for anyone who wants to lose weight safely.

“Our mission is to support people in their weight loss and keep pounds off,” said TOPS leader, Belinda Schlesener.

But TOPS promotes healthy life-style changes – not “quick fixes.”

“I need to be held accountable,” said Sarah Johns, art therapy and mental health counseling graduate student, when asked why she participates in the program.

TOPS not only holds its members accountable, it also provides informational programs and presentations, given by health and fitness majors, on subjects anywhere from stress to nutrition to exercise.

“We don’t just follow one system,” Schlesener said. “TOPS tries to educate people to realize it’s a life change. In other words, weight loss is not a one size fits all, so TOPS provides its members with a va-

riety of tips and techniques to implement into their daily lives.”

Two of the biggest challenges students face when trying to lose weight is time and vending machine snacks, Schlesener said.

Jones offered some healthy tips. To combat time issues, she suggested a short walk for a study break. Also, instead of eating vending machines snacks, packs a snack with granola bars, nuts, or dried fruits, and carry water instead of pop.

TOPS’ website, www.tops.org, offers insight to eating habits. One is over-eating.

The size of a plate is a factor in how much food is consumed. If a plate is large, the mind is tricked into thinking it needs to eat more, according to the website. TOPS suggests eating off of smaller plates.

The site also offers different snack ideas, such as eating pistachios, which are a source of protein and fiber, they fill people up without racking up calories and unhealthy fats.

What do members do once the weight is gone? They continue to support each other and a healthy lifestyle, Schlesener said.

TOPS meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays in Visser Hall 243.

Lawrence group aims to end to street harassment LAWRENCE (AP) — A group of Lawrence residents is trying to end street harassment and make the university town safer by launching a Hollaback! chapter.

The chapter, known as Hollaback! Lawrence, is part of the global Hollaback! movement dedicated to ending street harassment through the use of social networking and mobile technology. Street harassment is verbal or physical sexual harassment that occurs in public places.

Hollaback! Lawrence was initiated a few months ago by co-founders Ailecia Ruscin and Jaimie Oller. The group has grown to include eight members and several volunteers.

“We’re hoping to raise awareness of the effects street harassment can have in a long-term way,” Oller said, adding perpetrators often think their actions have no consequences.

Using Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, Hollaback! allows victims of street harassment, as well as stranger-on-stranger violence, to share their experiences and gain support from each other.

Sarah Johns, art therapy counseling and mental health Counseling graduate student, organizes pamphlets for TOPS’ meeting. TOPS is held every Monday at 10 am for weigh-ins and group discussions.

Julie Thephachan/The Bulletin.

One-child policy a surprising boon for China girls BEIJING (AP) — Tsinghua University freshman Mia Wang has confidence to spare.

Asked what her home city of Benxi in China’s far northeastern tip is famous for, she flashes a cool smile and says: “Producing excellence. Like me.”

A Communist Youth League member at one of China’s top science universities, she boasts enviable skills in calligraphy, piano, flute and ping pong.

Such gifted young women are increasingly common in China’s cities and make up the most educated generation of women in Chinese history. Never have so many been in college or graduate school, and never has their ratio to male students been more balanced.

To thank for this, experts say, is three decades of steady Chinese economic growth, heavy government spending on education and a third, surprising, factor: the one-child policy.

In 1978, women made up only 24.2 percent of the student population at Chinese colleges and universities. By 2009, nearly half of China’s full-time undergraduates were women and 47 percent of graduate students were female, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In India, by comparison, women make up 37.6 percent of those enrolled at institutes of higher education, according to government statistics.

Since 1979, China’s family planning rules have barred nearly all urban families from having a second child in a bid to stem population growth. With no male heir competing for resources, parents have spent more on their daughters’ education and wellbeing, a groundbreaking shift after centuries of discrimination.

“They’ve basically gotten everything that used to only go to the boys,” said Vanessa Fong, a Harvard University professor and expert on China’s family planning policy.

Wang and many of her female classmates grew up

with tutors and allowances, after-school classes and laptop computers. Though she is just one generation off the farm, she carries an iPad and a debit card, and shops for the latest fashions online.

Her purchases arrive at Tsinghua, where Wang’s all-girls dorm used to be jokingly called a “Panda House,” because women were so rarely seen on campus. They now make up a third of the student body, up from one-fifth a decade ago.

“In the past, girls were raised to be good wives and mothers,” Fong said. “They were going to marry out anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal if they didn’t want to study.”

Not so anymore. Fong says today’s urban Chinese parents “perceive their daughters as the family’s sole hope for the future,” and try to help them to outperform their classmates, regardless of gender.

Some demographers argue that China’s fertility rate would have fallen sharply even without the one-child policy because economic growth tends to reduce family size. In that scenario, Chinese girls may have gotten more access to education anyway, though the gains may have been more gradual.

Crediting the one-child policy with improving the lives of women is jarring, given its history and how it’s harmed women in other ways. Facing pressure to stay under population quotas, overzealous family planning officials have resorted to forced sterilizations and late-term abortions, sometimes within weeks of delivery, although such practices are illegal.

The birth limits are also often criticized for encouraging sex-selective abortions in a son-favoring society. Chinese traditionally prefer boys because they carry on the family name and are considered better earners.

With the arrival of sonogram technology in the 1980’s, some families no longer merely hoped for a boy, they were able to engineer a male heir by terminating pregnancies when the fetus was a girl.

opinion

Page 4

The Bulletin | September 1, 2011

STAFF EDITORIAL

Private Pigskin Party The Bulletin relies on many different sources for gathering story ideas and news tips to keep students up-to-date on campus and area events.

Local establishments, as well as Emporia State, provide calendars of events, which we utilize on a daily basis. Via ESU’s events calendar on BuzzIn, The Bulletin learned of the football team’s talent show last Friday night, which was held in Albert Taylor Hall. Under the impression that it was like any other campus event we have covered, we sent a reporter and photographer.

Following normal protocol, the reporter called at 3 p.m. on the day of the show to let the football staff know she would be in attendance and to schedule an interview with some participants.

Upon arrival at the event the reporter conducted an interview before the show began. Once the interview was completed, the reporter and photographer took seats at the back of the auditorium and waited for the show to begin. A member of the coaching staff then approached them and was uncertain whether or not they were allowed to stay and said he would speak with the head coach when he arrived. When Garin Higgins, head coach, arrived, he said that the event was private and only for football players and that the reporter and photographer were not allowed to be there.

He suggested that he wanted the football players to be able to make fools of themselves and the coaches without others’ knowledge. He then, in a voice that the reporter described as “rude,” said there was “no story.” They were asked to leave.

This is preposterous. First of all, our reporter called ahead of time to “okay” The Bulletin’s

presence at the event, which was held in a public venue, and therefore, there was no reason for Higgin’s offensive reaction. The situation was, in its entirety, silly.

To clarify, the staff of The Bulletin is not angry over the situation – we simply feel miffed. This is ESU’s football team. It is our own. One would think that these two campus organizations, the football team and The Bulletin, would work together in order to have a unified campus. But The Bulletin was rejected.

Obviously, the football team was worried about being portrayed in a negative light, however The Bulletin is a professional collective. It is our goal to cover news objectively – anything that was done during this talent show would have been represented in a fair and informative manner.

If the coaching staff felt that the event needed to be private, they could have made it so by not allowing it to appear on a publicly accessible website as a public event.

People want to know what fun things there are to do on campus, and they want to stay in touch with people that represent them abroad (see: the football team). There are many sides to all students here at ESU, and seeing the football team off the field and on-stage may have given students an opportunity to expand their view of the players as people.

The Bulletin exists to serve as the paper of record for all enrolled students at ESU and as an opportunity for students to gain experience in the newspaper field – not to make students or faculty look like idiots.

,

Breaking the Silence The timid ones are obvious to spot. They sit in the back or near windows. Their bodies are made as small as possible and sink deep into their desks. Despite their projected invisibility, they have much to say. I’m convinced of it.

What about tomorrow’s Composition II class? Say, for example, your teacher is blatantly ignorant of the subject.

Or maybe she’s near retirement and has mentally checkedout months ago. Or there is some first-year graduate student who was shoved into this position as a last resort.

How scrutinizing would you be? In my experience, not very. People feel pressure not to speak. A society-wide social blackmail exists, wherein the inquisitive are seen as an inconvenience andor ignorant.

The truth is that students do have opinions about everything – politics, literature, pop-culture, religion, whatever. It is only a matter of decorum and risk that prevents people from spouting off at every off-color remark. Don’t get me wrong, the so-called “grammar-nazi” adds little productive or meaningful insight. But the honesty most people portray on the internet is the counter-existence to their voiceless academic life. A balance must exist.

Take Steven for example. Steven loves the internet. He spends countless hours reading his message boards. One is for Stargate fan-fiction, another is for online poker strategy. When he gets home from work, he kicks off his shoes, sits on his couch and turns on the TV, which is just a pleasant background noise like rain or the chop of a ceiling fan.

And after an eight-hour shift stocking shelves for $8 an hour, it is laptop or bust. Steven’s left pinky is comfortably perched on the ‘ctrl’ button predicting a link that would justify a new tab. He rationalizes that “there are so many ignoramuses posing as authority on these blogs, on Facebook, and Twitter. Someone has to keep them straight. I can’t just bow to stupidity.”

Steven teaches us that people feel entitled when using the internet. It makes sense. No one is around to threaten you physically. You can formulate as articulate of a re-

M att C ook , cook@esubulletin.com sponse as possible. Your intelligence can seem magnified

by Google’s reinforcement. So when Steven posts some anti-Semitic nonsense as his status update, it only follows that we must correct him, not only the substance of his message, but his Romanized spelling of the word ‘Hanukkah.’ How dare he!

But seriously now, don’t hide! There’s nothing to be afraid of, Emporia State. If you aren’t sure of something, speak up. Demand more from your professors than you demand of yourself. After all, they are in a position of authority over your academic career, but ultimately they work for you. You pay to be taught by experts, and pedagogy is not a one-way depository.

You might find that your student-teacher relationship and experience at Emporia State are strengthened by the dialogue you create. Message boards and social media may not be the best example for meaningful rhetoric, but they are certainly proof that you have something to say.

Cartoon by Ellen Weiss

Letter to the Editor: Behind the Rainbow P.R.I.D.E. is a campus student organization whose goals are frequently obscured by stereotypes. The organization itself exists to provide support and promote equality for all members of the campus community, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This support is not limited to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community but is offered to QA (Questioning and Allied) students as well.

We understand that students may be curious about identities other than their own, not be certain of their identity, or want to support diversity. To that end we offer educational events to provide our campus community with the tools they need to make ESU a more welcoming place for everyone.

Our next event is on Sept. 7 at 7pm in Plumb Hall 303.

It will introduce the H.A.V.E.N. program which examines bias and teaches techniques to create a bias-free environment. The next event we host will be on Oct. 5 at 7:30p.m. in Plumb Hall 303. Titled “LGBTTQQAAIIFOP…What?” it will use games to provide an introduction to terminology that is frequently used to describe sexual orientation and gender identity along with defining those terms.

P.R.I.D.E. is not limited to education. Our social events provide a place where any member of ESU is welcome to come and be themselves without fear of bias, harassment or bullying due to any aspect of their identity. Additionally we provide a chance for students and faculty to network and make the personal and professional connections they need to enhance their experience at ESU. We also look beyond ESU by keeping aware of the political climate surrounding the LGBTQA community at all levels. We stay involved in the Emporia community through service events such as Trick-or-Treat So Kids Can Eat and Helium for Hope.

Should you have any questions about P.R.I.D.E. please feel free to contact our President, Austin Schopper at aschoppe@ emporia.edu. If you have any questions about the LGBTQA community or our upcoming educational events please contact our Educational Chair, Andrew Leigh at abullard@emporia. edu.

Thou Shalt Learn About a week ago, a professor divided my class up into groups to discuss a piece of literature that we were supposed to have read for class. As my group discussed the piece, a religious text, it was said, and seconded, that the religions of Christianity and Islam are very similar in their messages.

I believe this statement to be blatantly false, but instead of just stating the differences between the two religions, I would argue for our campus to become more knowledgeable of different religions in general. In this case we will look at Christianity. I argue that having a general knowledge of this religion will have many benefits.

The first benefit of a broad understanding of Christianity is that it forces you to read the Bible objectively. Knowing what’s in the Bible has its own advantages. The simple fact that the Bible is the most printed and read book of all time should be enough. Along with this, I believe it is also the most scrutinized piece of literature as well as the most glorified.

I would further contend that knowing the Bible increases our understanding of literature in general. Being an English major, I have found that a thorough knowledge of the Bible has really helped my understanding of some of my favorite authors. There are so many allusions to Biblical parables, that reading it would make you a more informed reader.

Theodore Roosevelt once stated, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”

Whether you agree with his claim or not, it is difficult to

B randon S chneeberger , schee@esubulletin.com

deny that the Bible has been the most influential piece of literature our world has ever seen. I believe that a well-rounded knowledge of the Bible, in the traditional sense, gives you knowledge that all have craved for centuries.

The second benefit would be the knowledge gained about traditional Christianity and why Christians believe the things they do. It gives you a better understanding of where they are coming from in some of society’s

biggest issues. Even if you are firmly adamant that Christians are nothing but bigoted homophobes, knowing the reasons why Christians believe what they believe – why many are opposed to abortion and gay marriage – will at the very least cause you to understand their motives better.

If anything, knowing about the Bible and about Christianity will greatly benefit you in understanding its original intentions. The idea of rampant religious hypocrisy is one of the biggest arguments against the church. A comprehensive understanding of what the Bible teaches will enable you to notice true hypocrisy, and allow you to better distinguish between random zealots and the goals of true Christianity.

This is not an argument to believe what the religion claims, but simply to be more knowledgeable about it in an objective sense. And, of course, this logic should be applied to all religions. I have presented one argument for one particular case with which I happen to have familiarity.

In any case, students at ESU should be wellrounded in regards to knowledge concerning religions and beliefs of all kinds. Knowledge about beliefs and philosophy is a lost art in our generation, and though it is not required, should be part of the process of becoming an educated individual.

news Ha Ha Tonka kicks off tour at Beer:30

The Bulletin | September 1, 2011

C harlie H eptas news@esubulletin.com Ha Ha Tonka, an indie-rock band from Springfield, Mo., helped Beer:30 celebrate its fifth birthday by kicking off their largest headlining tour at the bar last Friday night. “(Ha Ha Tonka) has been coming here, beginning or ending their tours in Emporia, for years now,” said Josh Olsen, owner of Beer:30.

“We just lucked out – we had them booked for October but they had a conflict so we switched the day.”

Olsen said Ha Ha Tonka is popular because they put on a high energy shows and always interact well with the crowd, which makes them easy to watch and enjoy.

“We started playing here a while ago, and we met a lot of good people who enjoy music and it was just rowdy from the get-go and it’s always been that way,” said Lennon Bone, drummer. “(Emporia) has been notorious from day one to be a really rowdy crowd, and we’ve always enjoyed coming here for that reason.”

Band members said that towns like Empo-

Page 5

ria are fun places to play.

“It’s towns like Emporia that have their own university that aren’t in a major metropolitan area that are more fun to play because not every band on tour comes through the market,” said Brian Roberts, guitarist and lead singer of the group, “so when you come to Emporia, it has that extra energy,” Bone said the most flattering way he had heard their music described was “indie rock meets the ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’ soundtrack.” He said they are still striving for that type of sound.

The band is excited that their sound is continuing to grow and feel that they are still improving as a whole.

“If we come back to a (place we have played before) more people will be there or more people will know the words to our songs,” Roberts said, “and we see that (in) a lot of places around the country and it’s really exciting.”

The band said that once they all could afford motorcycles, that they would feel they had made it as musicians, even though guitarist and mandolin player Brett Anderson said he could afford one, but just didn’t want one.

Ha Ha Tonka kicks off their tour at Beer:30 on Friday night. The 4 man Indie-rock band from Springfield promoted their new album “Death of a Decade.”

Jennifer Pendarvis/The Bulletin

Ha Ha Tonka is touring in support of their new album “Death of a Decade” and was re-

cently featured on Anthony Bourdain’s TVelevision show “No Reservations.”

Gamers Guild elects officers, offers stress outlet S imone C osper cosper@esubulletin.com

Andrew Leigh-Bullard, a first year graduate student of Library Science watches as Jon Leach, graduate teaching assistant for TESOL, signs in for the meeting. The Gamers Guild’s first meeting was held last Wednesday.

Julie Thephacha/The Bulletin

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

The Gamers Guild hosted its first meeting last Thursday night in the Phi Kappa Phi room of the Memorial Union. Participants voted for officers, including re-elected Matthew Wilkins as president, Jade Querner as vice president, Kylish Parrent as secretary, Michal Renner as treasurer and Carson Moor as sergeant at arms.

“This meeting included special elections and setting up the board,” said Andrew Leigh, graduate library science major. “We reviewed the constitution and we set up an immediate to-do list to get us through to the next week.

Today was business so we can play later.”

A total of 23 people participated in the meeting, including Ashley Vogts, ASG president, and Jennifer Cheray, vice president.

But Gamers Guild does not only promote games, the organization provides participants an opportunity to connect with diverse members of the community with common interests.

“It’s not just important to gamers, it’s important to the entire community,” Leigh said.

“The one thing that every student from every culture brings in is the games they play. Gamers Guild provides a chance to bring in the games

they played before and learn new games.”

Gamers Guild is also recognized by the ASG for promoting diversity.

“The RSO caters to a very unique group of students,” Cheray said. “It shows how many organizations that we have on campus that can fit a large variety of students.”

Gamers Guild also focuses on stress management and provides a social outlet for participants.

“It promotes gaming on campus as a method of relieving stress, encouraging better grades through stress management and to provide a safe and happy place to play games,” Wilkins said.

“Gamers Guild lets me be social with people who share similar interests,” said Eric Lloyd, freshman computer science major.

The Gamers Guild plans to hold community events to raise funds for Gen Con, a gaming convention held in Indianapolis on Aug. 4-7. Gen Con allows members to create professional networks in the gaming industry and sample lesser-known games.

The Gamers Guild meets every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Phi Kappa Phi room of the Memorial Union.

Monster College Advantage

Published weekly on Thursdays by the staff of The Bulletin. Offices are located on the third floor of the Memorial Union on the campus of Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. One free copy per ESU student.

Additional copies are $1.50 per issue or $30 for a yearly subscription.

EDITORIAL STAFF KenzieTempleton Editor-in-Chief Charlie Heptas Managing Editor Katelin Gibson Video Editor Jon Coffey Photo Editor Ellen Weiss Opinion Editor Marcus Hix Sports Editor Jetta Barbar Copy editor Kimber Mitchell Graphic Designer Abdul Maassarani Graphic Designer

BUSINESS

Vincent Hamilton Advertising Manager Sisi Huang Business Manager Latanya Maassarani Office Manager

Adviser

Max McCoy Assistant Professor of Journalism

Sheila Shaw of Wichita speaks at the Monster College Advantage Monday night in the MU Ballroom. Shaw said maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher is important in finding a job after college. About 110 students attended the Monster College Advantage. Students enrolled in associate director Carmen Leeds HL143 G.O.A.L.S class were required to attend. G.O.A.L.S. stands for Generating Opportunities Through Academics and Life Skills. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Slain grad’s roommates named professor on 911 BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In the immediate aftermath of a brutal killing on their back porch, the roommates of a slain Idaho graduate student told a 911 operator that they could think of only one person who could have fired the fatal shots — a university professor whom their friend had recently dated.

Meghan Walker-Smith and Emma Gregory were heard on the 911 recording released Thursday telling a dispatcher that Katy

Benoit had been involved with a University of Idaho professor named Ernesto Bustamante, who police say alternately referred to himself as a “psychopathic killer” and “the beast.”

Benoit’s roommates told the dispatcher Bustamante had just been asked to leave the school. The operator asked the two, who could both be heard speaking on the call, whether Bustamante’s departure was because of Benoit, one roommate replied, “Yeah.”

entertainment

Across 1. List of choices 5. Capri, for one 9. Ultimate winner 14. Rising locale?

15. Kadett maker 16. ‘’The Magnificent Seven,’’e.g.

17. Like an unwelcome diplomat 20. Close with 21. Manilow song site 22. WWII turning pt.

23. Pear-shaped instrument 25. Actor Jannings 27. Attractive New Jersey skater?

32. Start of a Vladimir Nabokov novel 33. Certain pro hoopster, for short 34. Freeway trouble 37. Speech impediment 39. Shortens with scissors 42. Focus group?

43. Hokkaido city 45. It’s put before the carte?

46. Genteel affair 47. Captain Marvel symbol 52. It may pound the pavement 53. Repast 54. Diplomacy 57. Breathtaking action?

59. Word with lips or change 63. Added conditions 66. Kind of bar or wire 67. Harrow rival

Crossword

68. Fixture at a pottery 69. Hemmed without hawing?

70. Minimal progress, so to speak 71. Family room piece Down 1. Brood 2. All knotted up 3. Computer geek, e.g.

4. Not convinced 5. Confess at the end?

6. Buzz Lightyear, for one 7. Late-night host 8. Departed without ceremony?

9. Gear tooth 10. Uncompromising position 11. Somewhat 12. Physical starter 13. Entreat 18. Burden of proof 19. Reputation 24. ___ River, N.J. 26. ICU hookups 27. Saintly symbol 28. Mine entrance 29. Twangy 30. Perrier competitor 31. Stop a ship in open water 35. Film spool 36. Future atty.’s exam 38. In immaculate condition 40. ‘’Out of My League’’author

Gossip has been going around. If you feel the desire to participate, restrain yourself. Your self-control will help save your face from getting punched in.

Taurus The grass is always greener on the other side, which means someone thinks you have some pretty fresh grass. Don’t let the Cow of Insecurity eat you or poop in your blessings.

Gemini Don’t compare yourself to people you see on TV and in the magazines.

It’s like comparing real apples to fake oranges (literally, their tans are all orange).

Cancer Make sure you have your friends’ backs. They are probably in need of massages.

Too True

Off the Reel

bohannon@esubulletin.com

A feel good comedy that’s smarter than it sounds

41. All there 44. ‘’That’s gross!’’

48. Boss of Hazzard County 49. Ribbed 50. Big bash 51. Protects the quarter-

back 54. Recipe amts.

55. If two silkworms raced they’d end in ___ 56. Sticking point 58. Glut 60. Home to Columbus

61. Egotist’s concern 62. ‘’Show Boat’’author Ferber 64. Show approval 65. Atlanta-based cable channel

Sudoku

Aries

The Bulletin | September 1, 2011

L uke B ohannon

www.onlinecrosswords.net

Page 6

Horoscopes Leo Consciously change something for the better this week. It might be time to get a new perspective on life… or a fresh toothbrush.

Virgo Don’t run from your problems. Running is just as bad for your psyche as it is good for your body.

libra If you have an opportunity for a big purchase, make sure that it is an investment and not something that is giant, inflatable or made out of cheap plastic.

Scorpio Be careful not to spew words from spite or hate. Word vomit can leave nasty stains.

Sagittarius At work this week, make sure to bond with your coworkers. If you don’t work, go bond with your free time.

capricorn When you go to your next social gathering, make sure you have memorized some jokes to impress people.

aquarius The world is a beautiful place this week. You are a beautiful person.

Almost as beautiful as this plastic bag (American Beauty- check it out.).

pisces Load up on shredded wheat, prunes and vegetables this week. I need not explain why.

“Our Idiot Brother” tells the story of lovable Ned (Paul Rudd) and his three sisters.

Ned is a happy-go-lucky hippie who believes in always telling the truth and trusting your fellow man. This gets Ned into a spot of trouble when he gets “tricked” into selling a uniformed cop some weed (yes, you read that right). Upon his release, Ned finds himself without a home after his equally hippie-ish girlfriend dumps him, kicks him off of their organic farm and claims ownership of Ned’s dog, Willie Nelson. Ned ends up crashing at the homes of his three sisters, causing trouble wherever he goes when his honesty interferes with the deception and lies that help hold their lives together.

This feel-good movie offers equal parts comedy and genuine drama, which are portrayed well by the dynamic cast. Ned’s three sisters are cast and played perfectly. Liz (Emily Mortimer) is a loving mother who has been turned into a doormat by her husband (Steve Coogan) who insists that their child be the best of the best in order to get into a private school.

Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) is a magazine reporter who will stop at nothing to advance her career. Finally, there’s Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), a lesbian stand-up comedian who can’t quite seem to stay faithful to her girlfriend (Rashida Jones).While the idea behind “Our Idiot Brother” is nothing truly original, it still manages to stay entertaining. The jokes are smartly written and well-delivered without resorting to low-brow comedy. It was refreshing to see a comedy where intelligent writing and genuine comedy were not replaced by excessive cursing and fart jokes.

The dramatic moments are spot on, lending this seemingly shallow comedy a surprising amount of depth and feeling. Ned’s naiveté and constant good mood mask the character’s wisdom at times. His sisters view him as an idiot for not following their example of using deceit and misdirection to get ahead. Similarly, Ned finds his sisters to be odd as their lies only serve to make their lives more difficult. This clash of ideals lends a great amount of material for both the funny and serious aspects of the film. The one issue I had with this movie was the fact that it simply seemed flat. Aside from one instance the tone of the movie stays very much the same the whole way through, which makes it seem almost boring at times.

The main charm of “Our Idiot Brother” comes from Ned’s unabashed honesty. While Ned seems to cause mayhem in whomever’s life he happens to stumble into, it usually turns out that whether or not he intended to, he manages to do good.

The film is one of those rare movies that will leave you feeling truly good after leaving the theater. Normally I’m not a huge fan of the convenient happy ending, but any other conclusion to this movie would have been a disservice to the audience. It’s actually somewhat pleasant to see a movie that doesn’t sell its soul just to have a “realistic” ending for once. The verdict? Check this one out in theaters, especially if you’re having a bad day.

By Ellen Weiss

news HALO promotes Hispanic heritage

The Bulletin | September, 2011

S imone C osper cosper@esubulletin.com The Hispanic American Leadership Organization several events this week to recruit new members and the provide information on the group’s mission.

“Recruitment week is used to promote HALO and let the ESU community know what HALO does,” said Maria Zuniga, junior spanish secondary education major and vice president of HALO. Throughout the week, HALO hosted a piñata scavenger hunt, a soccer tournament, a meet and greet reception and a luau barbeque.

But HALO does not only cater to students of Hispanic decent, the organization allows ESU students of all nationalities to join.

“HALO caters to those individuals who are interested in enriching the ESU community and those who enjoy community work,” Zuniga said. “You don’t have to be Latino (or) Hispanic to join HALO. You also don’t have to

speak Spanish. Anyone is welcome to join.”

Non-members taking part in recruitment activities expressed interest in the organization.

“HALO could be important to me because it encourages students to work hard for their education as Hispanic Latinos,” said Yasmine Rios, freshman history major.

Rios said some Hispanics often drop out of school or do not go to college, but HALO is support group for students.

“HALO does a lot of work with organizations within the community and I am not from here so it would let me get to know the city,” said Carrie Warren, freshman, nursing major.

After recruitment , HALO plans to continue student and community involvement during the fall, spring and summer semesters.

“The board is working with admissions to organize Hispanic Leadership Day, where Emporia High students get a taste of what it is to be a Hornet,”

5 years later, the Jena 6 move on JENA, La. (AP) — One wants to be a lawyer. One, a soldier. Another, a sports agent. Some don’t care to talk about their future or that part of their past, five years ago, when they faced up to 40 years in prison in the beating of a white classmate, an episode that sparked the biggest civil rights demonstration the nation had seen in years.

The “Jena Six” are ready to move on.

So is the young man who was beaten.

So is the town of Jena.

“This is a nice little town, it’s re-

ally like Mayberry,” said Jena mayor Murphy McMillin. “We were never portrayed accurately during all that.

But now we’re past it and focused on the future.”

It was on Aug. 30, 2006, that a black student asked if he could sit under a tree on campus or if it was for white students only. The next morning there were three nooses hanging in the tree. The tension culminated Dec. 4, when Justin Barker was beaten. Six of his black classmates were arrested.

Three days later, five of them were charged with attempted murder.

Sophomore pre-pharmacy major, Manny Requenes, explains what HALO is to prospective new members Wednesday evening in the PDK room in the Memorial Union. The meet and greet was one of several events for HALO Week. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Zuniga said. Interested students can attend HALO’s next general meeting at 7

AND AN ENTIRE TEAM TO HELP YOU SUCCEED. Serving part-time in the Air National Guard, you’ll have an entire team of likeminded individuals who want to help you get ahead. You can choose from nearly 200 career specialties, and develop the high-tech skills you need to compete in today’s world. You also train close to home, all while receiving a steady paycheck, benefits and tuition assistance. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Kansas Air National Guard can help you succeed.

p.m., Sept. 14 in the Flint Hills room of the Memorial Union.

CAFETERIA... from page 1 Another difference is the menu. Executive Chef Saiket “Johny” Patwary wanted the new menu to be healthier than before.

“I’m trying to educate students on what they are eating,” Patwary said.

He is also trying to help students with allergens by creating meals that are safe for them to consume. The stations consist of the grill, pizza and pasta, classics, breakfast, salad and sandwiches, as well as old favorites like rice and omelets.

The grand opening on Wednesday not only offered students and faculty a taste of the new food, but also a chance to win prizes donated by businesses around Emporia, including an iPod nano, a 21-speed mountain bike and smaller door prizes from the Memorial Union Bookstore, Genesis Health Club, Midas Touch Golden Tans and Caribbean Sun Tanning Salon.

The renovations on the lower level of the Union are expected to be finished as early as Thanksgiving. These renovations include the new offices for Career Services and International Education as well as an entrance to the Hornets’ Nest for the residents of The Towers complex. Hendricks said that the entire Union is scheduled to be completed by April 2012.

US fines WSU for campus safety SEATTLE (AP) — Federal education officials have fined Washington State University $82,500 for violations in 2007 of a campus crime reporting law, including not properly reporting two sexual assaults, the university said Friday.

WSU will appeal the fine, spokesman Darin Watkins told The Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Education detailed the fine in a letter to WSU President Elson Floyd on Friday, more than five months after federal education officials completed an investigation of WSU’s campus crime statistics.

The government acknowledged in a report sent to Floyd in March the university has made

CAREER TRAINING. MONEY FOR COLLEGE.

Page 7

improvements to its crime reporting since the incidents, but the report says those corrective measures do not diminish the seriousness of the violations.

WSU was one of several universities found in violation of the Clery Act this year. The federal law requires campus notification of potential threats to students and employees.

Earlier this year, Virginia Tech was fined $55,000 for failing to quickly alert the campus during the 2007 mass shooting that killed 32 students and faculty members. Virginia Tech is appealing. Virginia’s attorney general called the fine “absolutely appalling,” but the federal officials said it should have been higher.

September 1, 2011

Page 8

Football coach has long history as Hornet M arcus H ix sports@esubulletin.com Although this year marks Garin Higgins’ fifth season as head football coach, he has been a Hornet for more than 20 years, and he was a four-year letterman under former Emporia State football coach Larry Kramer. “(Kramer) taught me about being tough and how to handle adversity,” Higgins said. “I always thought that if you could play for Coach Kramer and make it through four years, I could handle any obstacle in life.”

In his first four seasons as the Hornet’s head coach, Higgins compiled a record of 14-30. He is confident that the team is in the process of reversing the trend.

“It’s truly a blessing to come back home,” Higgins said. “It is a big challenge because expectations are high. We are doing everything in our power, the things we can control, to get the program headed in the right direction.”

When Higgins played football for ESU, he helped lead the 1989 Hornets to a national runner-up finish. He has been a part of four teams that have played for or won national championships as a player, head coach or as a coordinator.

“He is a player’s coach,” said junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode.

“He cares about us as more than just players and helps us to succeed in not only football but life as well.”

His first head coaching position was at Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he amassed a record of 51-9 over five seasons.

All five of those seasons, he coached his team to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics playoffs, with two national runner-up finishes.

“I have known all of my life that I wanted to coach football,” Higgins said. “Some people grow up wanting to be firemen or police officers, but I always knew I wanted to coach football.”

Higgins said he grew up in what he calls a “coaching family.”

“My dad coached for 30 years and I was a field rat,” Higgins said. “I followed him around everywhere just trying to be around football.”

The rest of the coaching staff said they are confident in Higgins’

M arcus H ix sports@esubulletin.com

Courtesy photo from ESU athletic department.

ability to bring back the “winning tradition” of ESU football.

“Coach brings composure,” said defensive line assistant coach and former MIAA all-conference linebacker Nathan Linsey. “He gets the most out of his players (and) he is a hard worker… the players know that if they listen to Coach Higgins that the desired results will come.”

The Hornets will face the Fort Hays State Tigers in the first game of the season at 7 p.m. tonight in Hays.

Q&A with women’s head soccer Coach Sailer Did ESU’s past record have any effect on your decision?

I would rather be in that situation than be in a situation where they were in the national championship (and) then be here. That’s kind of a no win situation. In a sense there’s only one way to go and that’s up. I’m very impatient when it comes to being good. I don’t want it to take too much time, so in that sense, I felt like we could do it quickly. If I thought it was going to take a long time then I wouldn’t have done it. But I didn’t feel that because it’s a good school. It’s well known academically. It’s a good recruiting area, so I felt that with all those things on our side that it wouldn’t take so long – it would be relatively quick.

Soccer coach Bryan Sailer practices with the women’s soccer team Wednesday afternoon at the practice field. Wednesday’s practice was the last one before they go on the road to Ada, Okla.

Chris Franklin/The Bulletin.

B randon S chneeberger schneeberger@esubulletin.com Where were you before ESU and what brought you here?

I was at Barton Community College in Great Bend. We were a member of the Kansas Jayhawk community conference. I was there for four years. I came from Colorado to there. I coached high school before that, but I wanted to step up to the college ranks. (Barton) was a struggling program, but I worked my tail off recruiting and coached them up, and we got better. We won the conference in my second year, and it was the first time the school has done anything like that. I wanted to coach at a higher level, and the opportunity came up at Emporia State. I felt like it could be a real good situation to come in to and try to rebuild and do good things here.

Eckenrode brings experience, leadership to team The Hornets football team will see many familiar faces this season, including junior quarterback and team captain, Tyler Eckenrode.

Eckenrode said his passion came from his first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and his love for the game has evolved ever since.

“I played my first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and have been involved ever since,” Eckenrode said. “I grew up watching my uncle play football for Southwest Baptist, and since then I knew I wanted to play football.”

Eckenrode is originally from Houston, Texas, where he began playing football. He competed in both football and baseball in high school and achieved success in earning honorable mention, academic all-state honors while leading his team to the thirteenth consecutive Texas 5A playoffs. He threw 1,580 yards and had 11 touchdowns his senior year.

“We finally have a guy who is steady,” said head coach Garin Higgins. “He knows how to prepare for the game and does everything we ask of him. I can trust him.”

Last season, Eckenrode had an impressive year in which he threw for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a solid outing against Northwest Missouri State. He totaled 207 yards passing with two touchdown passes, while he added another touchdown on the ground.

“He’s a smart, calm and composed quarterback,” said senior offensive lineman Ben McKaig. “He is such a good decision maker and is really good at getting the ball to our playmakers.”

Eckenrode believes this season will have many successes due to the camaraderie of the football team, and said the team is clicking on all cylinders.

“We have a good solid group of returning players this season,” Eckenrode said. “Both the offense and defense are playing well together. We have some talent and can’t wait to get out there and compete this season.”

Last year’s team struggled with ties – what’s the plan on turning those ties into wins?

It’s finishing games. It’s not settling for ties. It’s as much mental as it is physical. I mean the physical aspects of late game failures or struggles a lot of times have to do with fitness, so fitness has to be very high because it is a long grind. You’re talking about 90 minutes plus another 20 or 30 minutes. So physically you have to get stronger as the game goes later. Tactically, a lot of times in those types of games it’s the team that wins, but it’s the individual that scores. I think we’ve been lacking that type of factor – somebody that just steps up, takes the ball and ends the game.

What are some realistic goals for this season?

I always try to set a realistic goal. This year is the first year there’s going to be a conference tournament. There are six teams that are going to make it – I want to make that.

Is it too lofty a goal? If people look at our history, it is. But I think we’re good enough and close enough to make that – even if it’s sixth. I really intend to improve on last year, that’s for sure.

Courtesy photo from ESU athletic department.

2011 Soccer Schedule Date Sept. 2-4 Sept. 2 Sept. 4 Sept. 8 Sept. 13 Sept. 15

Opponent

Location

Time

at MIAA/GAC Challenge Ada, Okla. vs.S.W. Okla. Statea Ada, Okla. 2:30p.m. vs. East Central (Okla.) Ada, Okla. 2:30p.m.

N.E. Oklahoma State Emporia 4:00p.m. at Wayne State (Neb.) Wayne, Neb.4:00p.m. at *Ft. Hays State Hays,Kan. 6:00p.m.

Date Sept. 18 Sept. 22 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Oct. 6

Opponent

Location

Time

*Missouri Western Emporia 1:00p.m. *Washburn Emporia 4:00p.m.

Lindenwood Emporia 1:00p.m. *Missouri Southern Emporia 2:00p.m. at*Northwet Missour Maryville, Mo .4:00p.m. *Ft. Hays State Emporia 4:00p.m.

Date Oct. 9 Oct. 13 Oct. 16 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Oct. 29 Nov. 3-6

Opponent

Location Time

*Central Missouri Emporia 1:00 p.m. at *Southwest Baptist Bolivar, Mo. 4:00p.m. *Truman Emporia 12:00noon at *Washburn Topeka,K.S. 6:00p.m. at *Truman Kirksville, Mo. 2:00p.m. at *M.O. Wester Joseph, Mo 2:00p.m.

MIAATournament Kansas City,Mo. TBA