02/24/15 Issue

@HSUORACLE www.hsuoracle.com

Henderson State University - Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - Volume 108, Issue 20

LAYUP LET DOWN Lady Reddies win at home, lose on the road P.11

THE ORACLE

THE ORACLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Scott McKinnon FACULTY ADVISER – Mike Taylor COPY EDITOR – Josh James NEWS EDITOR – Moe Skinner SPORTS EDITOR – Kaitlyn Kitchens FEATURES EDITOR – Devin Anderson VIEWS EDITOR – Dax Guilliams PHOTO EDITOR – Chris Sharp PAGE DESIGNER – Houston Fryer GRAPHIC DESIGNER – Megan Snoddy ONLINE EDITOR – Scott McKinnon BUSINESS MANAGER – James T. Allen

PHOTO BY SCOTT MCKINNON

6 Aftermath of the ice storm

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER – Carmin Wills

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Have an opinion on an issue or response to what we said? Just want to rant about something for a while?

Write us at ORACLE@HSU.EDU. We want to hear what you think.

Hell, if it doesn’t suck, we’ll publish it in next week’s issue. Try to keep it between 400 and 600 words. Just like your Tumblr, we ignore anonymous submissions.

COVER: Victoria Stewart attempts to score against Oklahoma Photo by Kristine Moore

5

PHOTO BY MEGAN SNODDY

Houston Fryer’s Senior Exhibition: Liminality

8

IMAGE BY HOUSTON FRYER

Graphic novels: cool or coolest ever?

12

PHOTO BY JEFFERY P. GILMORE

Red Wave dives into second

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

FEATURES

VIEWS

HUMOR

SPORTS

3

NO DECISION FROM COMMITTEE Plans for physical plant workers still up in the air

STORY BY ASHLEY SMITH — IMAGE BY MEGAN SNODDY

Why should students care about the university physical plant possibly being outsourced? This change, if enacted, could have many effects on students, the employees at the physical plant and the university itself.

Henderson is considering outsourcing the physical plant located on campus.

The options for the future of the physical plant include keeping the physical plant running through the university or allowing an outside company to take over control.

“No decision on outsourcing has been made,” Tonya Smith, executive director of marketing and communications, stated via

email. “The university is going through the process of determining whether or not we will outsource.”

A committee was formed in the fall to discuss the decision, and Bobby Jones, vice president for finance and administration, sent an email about the possibility to the university on Sept. 29, 2014. This committee has met on numerous days and has decided on two companies that could possibly take control of the power plant: SSC and Aramark. These two companies were selected out of the five that responded to the Request for Proposal. The committee members this include Bobby Jones,

Kathy Taylor, Calvin Francis, Tammi Wardlaw, Danny Smith, Dan Mabery, Shawn Jones and Brett Serviss.

“Any decision we make has to be cost-effective, meaning it will help us be better stewards of the university’s resources,” Jones stated via email.

If the university decides to outsource the power plant, then employees will have the opportunity to reapply for a position with the new company. They will have to apply regarding that certain company’s policies and requirements instead of the university’s.

The university would not comment on

whether employees who lose their jobs would be provided with a severance plan or package.

Their only option if they want to keep a similar job on campus is to apply again through the company taking over.

A presentation for the interested companies, Aramark and SSC, was scheduled for last week but was cancelled due to bad weather.

“The presenters were not able to get flights into Little Rock yesterday and the day before,” Jones said. Another presentation for those companies has been scheduled. These rescheduled meetings and interviews will be held on March 5.

4

FEATURES

VIEWS

HUMOR

SPORTS

MORE MEGABYTES PLEASE Campus wireless leaves some students searching for service

STORY BY CARMIN WILLS — GRAPHIC BY MEGAN SNODDY

S

tudents all over campus have difficulty connecting their electronic devices through the school’s Wi-Fi. This problem has prompted students to investigate new avenues for better internet performance.

But is there a better solution that would benefit all students?

Some students hooked up private routers in their dorms for the purpose of hijacking campus Wi-Fi signals.

Although Henderson discourages this practice, some students still feel they need faster internet connections.

These personal routers in dorms, however, may be causing interference for others students on campus.

“It’s like getting two radio stations on one radio channel,” David Epperhart, director of computer and communications services, said.

Epperhart said that over the holiday break, he instructed a tech to go into every room on one floor of Newberry Hall to measure the routers for clean and clear signals.

He said that the tech received a good signal in every room. Currently Henderson has 290 access points in the buildings on campus, 155 in academic buildings, 135 in dorms and plans to include 160 more with the opening of the new dorms.

Theoretically, each access point is designed to recognize 255 devices.

But Epperhart would like to see only 20-30 devices on any given access point.

Among some of the frustrated students trying to connect across campus was Taylor Daniels, junior mass media major. Like many students Daniels is aggravated at the wireless capabilities. She finds it even more irritating when trying to communicate with her family using a sketchy connection.

“I’m so far away from home and when I try to FaceTime with my loved ones the connection only lasts so long,” Dainels, said.

Daniels said it is more of a problem for her in her dorm. Trying to stay connected long enough to visit family online in California rarely happens.

Epperhart’s solution is to try connecting in the hallways since that is where the access

points are usually located.

Having people, walls and stair wells between access points and the device you are trying to use will weaken any service.

He says any device that has a network port will get a better connection if they use the wired network cable.

If students on cell phones get irritated trying to connect they can move to a different location where the signal is stronger. Some students have found places on campus that are easier for them to connect.

Caplinger Airway Science Building is the easiest place for Maverick Rudd, junior business information systems major, to connect with the best speeds.

“The library and Mooney Hall doesn’t work to well for me,” Rudd said.

Some students have a small data plan on their devices but they prefer to use the wireless and depend on the service to be consistent, but students don’t always get what they want.

Jordan Rigdon, senior business management major, has many complaints about the wireless service.

He is constantly using his data plan because he is unable to connect to the Wi-Fi. “When I do it is really slow,” Rigdon said.

Zachary Burnett, junior mass media major, said “it’s really irritating because it seems to work only when it wants to.”

“I mean it keeps me from burning through data like a brush fire but it is still unreliable at best,” Burnett said.

Eppperhart said increasing and improving wireless coverage is a prime objective for Henderson. He intends to take several steps toward accomplishing this goal: invite a wireless company to do a coverage walk of the whole campus to identify weak areas of coverage and recommend locations for additional access points, install a system that will identify and turn off rouge routers so they will not interfere with the network, and add external access points for outside coverage.

When the new wireless system is upgraded and becomes common on all wireless devices, the current access points will have to be replaced with ones that are compatible with the new service.

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

NEWS

VIEWS

HUMOR

SPORTS

5

HARD IN THE PAINT A preview of Houston Fryer’s senior exhibition “Liminality”

STORY BY KATIE SMITH — PHOTO BY MEGAN SNODDY

Large scale open body cavities, three isosceles triangles depicting the wrath of gods, and other works from the hands of Houston Fryer, senior studio art major, will be on display this week. His senior art exhibition will begin Feb. 25 on the second floor of Huie Library. There will be a reception on opening day from 2-4 p.m.

Fryer’s work focuses on liminal space, the threshold or space where two places meet.

“When something is known and understood, any changes to that fact creates a rift and it is in that liminal space where Houston’s work explores,” according to his website, www.houstonfryer.com. His exhibition is appropriately named “Liminality.”

His cynicism is well displayed throughout his pieces. He says he is not a “typical douchebag artist.” He isn’t into nature scenes and that

“woe-is-me crap.” He also doesn’t believe in the messy and horribly misunderstood stereotype. In fact, he says he is irritated by mess and “can’t make a thing out of nothing when focused on cleaning.”

Fryer describes his own art journey as “nothing to everything.” He has always enjoyed art, but it was just more of a hobby. In high school, he preferred filling his geometry papers with doodles instead of equations. He said he never found art in an academic setting, and he struggled to find interest in school.

He didn’t think that art was an option for a career, because it was never taken seriously by anyone around him. But he realized he was actually interested in a class for the first time when he took art history at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He was working on a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, after

spending two years at National Park getting his associate’s degree.

But after his year at the U of A, he decided that career path wasn’t for him.

He took a year off of school to work. It was during that time he says he gained the self-discipline it takes to be an artist. Fryer said to be successful, an artist has to create a consistent time and space to work. “It is not enough to just care about it or be good at it.”

After that year, he came to Henderson to pursue a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree. He now works on six days a week: Monday-Thursday for eight hours, working in two four hour shifts, and a one four hour shift on Friday and Saturday. He is serious and dedicated to the actual practice of art.

His seriousness may be what makes his actions look so effortless.

“Correct color and proper design seems to fall onto any canvas Houston comes in contact with,” fellow artist, Joshua Emery stated via email. “He makes it seem easy. Watching him work could make anyone think he could do what Houston does. I guess that’s why I think he’s good, because in truth it’s really difficult.”

Fryer is hoping to continue his education with a Masters of Fine Arts, the terminal fine art degree.

He has applied to five programs so far for their fall admissions.

He explained how difficult it is to get into one of the masters programs, because typically only two or three spots are available in each one per year.

His art will be exhibited anytime during library hours until March 2.

6

NEWS

VIEWS

SPA CITY

HUMOR

SPORTS

HENDERSON FROZEN: CAN’T LET IT GO

Classes cancelled, power lines down, roads wrecked, and other damage done as a result of the storm STORY BY CALEB WILLIAMS — PHOTOS BY SCOTT MCKINNON

O

n Feb. 15 the campus went black.

What began as a beautiful weekend with temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit transformed into a winter storm that pushed its way through, leaving ice almost an inch thick and caused temperatures to plummet below 30.

The campus power lines and trees are just a couple of the things that couldn’t handle the weight of the chilly bite. Ice caked the roads and made travelling treacherous.

The power in most of Arkadelphia was out. The town practically shut down for a couple of days.

“Henderson experienced intermittent power outages Monday in several buildings on campus, including the Nursing Building and Arkansas Hall,” Tonya Smith, executive director of marketing and communications, said.

“Power to the Whispering Oaks Apartment Complex was out for a portion of Tuesday.”

While the local electric company worked their hardest to restore power, they continually found more problems.

“Two lines have been found that were completely burned through,” Smith said. “And that damage has impacted power supply to the Duke Wells Center, the Formby Athletic Center, and the Art Annex. These facilities remain without power, pending repairs by the South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative.”

The damage to the power lines was tremendous.

“In addition to the power outages, the storm has caused damage to campus trees, knocking down limbs as the ice melts and falls.” Smith said. “We are also working to repair water lines to the Whispering Oaks Apartment Complex that were frozen during Monday night’s low temperatures.”

“The main boiler on campus that provides heat to many campus buildings was damaged

by power surges.” Smith said, “However, the boiler was repaired Wednesday.”

Students are assured that everything will be or has been fixed.

“Everything that was damaged on campus has either been repaired or is in the process of being fixed or cleaned up,” Smith said.

In spite of the inconveniences the storm caused, many students found ways to enjoy themselves. Some students celebrated by plowing each other with snow balls, while others took advantage of the two no-class days by catching up on assignments.

“I enjoyed the break. It was well needed and allowed me to catch up on some work I had procrastinated on,” Michael Gehrke, sophomore vocal music education major, said.

Some even spent time as snowball fight spectators.

“I never participated in the snow ball fight, but I watched.” Megan Hearn, sophomore

music major, said, “I had never seen the campus so alive.”

The break may have been unexpected, but Smith said there are many things students can do to prepare for a storm.

Whether preparing for a winter storm or power outages, be assured these steps will help in the long run.

“Individuals can make sure they have battery flashlights or other alternative light sources,” Smith said. “Also, having a small supply of nonperishable food, like peanut butter and crackers, is also a good way to prepare for a winter storm. You should make sure you have several extra blankets or wear extra layers of clothes.”

As long as everyone follows such sound advice, as long as students have a warm, wellstocked dorm to return to, then there will be few casualties from snow ball fights and winter storms.

FEBRUARY 24, 2015 Left: Entergy crew members attempt to repair downed power lines at the intersection of Henderson and 11th Street.

Right: Fallen tree limb shrapnel litters the walkway between Garrison and RFA parking lot.

Bottom Left: A tree lays tipped against the porch of a home across the street from Arkansas Hall.

Bottom Right: Ice covers the pine trees along the Quad surrounded by broken branches.

NEWS

VIEWS

HUMOR

SPORTS

7

8

NEWS

FEATURES

HUMOR

SPORTS

COMIC CHAMELEON

OPINION BY DAX GUILLIAMS — IMAGE BY HOUSTON FRYER

O

ne of the saddest truths of this school is that our Huie Library has the largest public collection of graphic novels in the country, but many people either don’t know it or they don’t take advantage of it.

It’s not like the room they’re in — The Greene Room — is hidden, not by any means.

It’s literally next to the front door.

Graphic novels are amazing, and I don’t care what anyone thinks. Whether they involve Superman punching an alien in the face, a detective solving crimes committed by mobsters or real world events, graphic novels are pure entertainment.

I think graphic novels are better than regular novels. If a writer and artist work together flawlessly, they can create something that no novelist can do by his or herself.

Superhero comics are easily my favorite. If you want to start a conversation with me, the best way to do it is to start talking about a man or woman who wears spandex and spends the majority of his or her free time throwing criminals through windows.

And who among us doesn’t love the “X-Men?” I’ll answer that question for you: There is not a single person who doesn’t love the “X-Men” comics.

And if you’re a person who doesn’t love the “X-Men,” don’t talk to me because the last time I talked to someone who didn’t exist, they labeled me insane.

Even if superhero graphic novels aren’t you’re thing, graphic novels feature plenty of stories that don’t involve them.

In fact, quite a few graphic novels in the library are non-fiction. To go along with these graphic novels are books analyzing and criticizing graphic novels, most of them written by people who are involved in comics or similar media.

Most of these books are located on the left side of the room, but there are others

all around the room. Many of Alan Moore’s works are in a section of their own, whether they be graphic novels or other types of books he’s written.

One of his most famous works, “Watchmen,” has a small section by itself.

Batman probably has the biggest section.

If there’s a graphic novel that focuses on Batman that isn’t in that room, it either doesn’t exist or it’s in the process of being ordered.

There’s also plenty of “X-Men,” “Avengers” and works by Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of “Scott Pilgrim vs The World,” in there.

Plus, they have the new “Ms. Marvel.” No one can hate the Kamala Khan “Ms. Marvel.”

She’s an teenage Pakistani-American with the ability to shapeshift and she loves superheroes so much that she decides to become one.

Not only is the Huie Library’s collection the biggest public collection, but it’s constantly growing in size.

My roomate and I are always ordering new graphic novels, and I know that we’re not the only ones helping the collection become even bigger. While it’s not in yet, I’m working to get “All-Star Superman” and more graphic novels

featuring lesser known heroes into the collection. I’d also like to get more Spider-Man and Wonder Woman book because there are disturbingly few works they are the focus of.

Although it isn’t a large collection, there is a section of manga in the room.

If you decide to read any of the graphic novels, you should know that not everyone is allowed to check any of the books out.

Students in comic book based classes or members of the comic book club are the only ones allowed to check them out. If you want to join the comic book club, they meet on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of Arkansas Hall.

Even if you’ve never read a graphic novel in your life, I would strongly suggest that you check the room out anyway.

A lot of people don’t give graphic novels a chance because they assume they’re all like comic books, but that’s just not the case.

Some graphic novels focus on real life events like wars or natural disasters that have actually happened.

They’re just like other books. Well, not exactly. Like I said before, I think they’re better and I think that not enough people read them.

So please check out the room and determine for yourself if there is anything in the collection that interests you.

Honestly, you should just check out the room. Compared to many of the other places on campus or even in the library, it stands out as one of the best rooms to study in. With plenty of chairs, two desks and a relaxing atmosphere, the Greene Room is just a nice room to hang out in.

Every now and then, I find people in there asleep. That’s as relaxing as it gets.

But you shouldn’t sleep in there, you should be reading the books in the room.

People may think that graphic novels aren’t for them, but they’re so diverse that those people are sure find something in them to like.

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

NEWS

FEATURES

HUMOR

SPORTS

9

10

NEWS

FEATURES

VIEWS

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 24, 2014

NEWS

FEATURES

VIEWS

HUMOR

11

LAYUP LET DOWN Lady Reddies take over Northwestern Oklahoma with a 87-59 win but fall to Southwestern Oklahoma in a record breaking game

STORY BY ALVIN STUCKEY— PHOTO BY KRISTINE MOORE Fresh off of their 81-71 victory against Southern Nazarene University on Thursday night, the Lady Reddies took the court against Northwestern Oklahoma University Saturday Feb. 14.

HSU showed no love for their opponent on a day where love filled the air. The Lady Reddies (9-14 overall, 7-10 Great American Conference) routed the Lady Rangers 87-59 at the Duke Wells Center.

The Lady Reddies jumped out the gate on a 11-2 run headed by Aungelique Sledge’s 6 straight points.

Sledge and Jasmine Settles both hit 3-pointers to increase the lead to 17-6. Haleigh Henson also drained a 3-pointer to make the score 24-8.

Throughout the first half HSU’s defense on the Lady Rangers was stifling. The Lady Rangers scored 19 points.

Kamera Bozeman, who averages 8.3 points per game, scored two points through the first half in the game.

“We knew Bozeman was a big factor to our loss against them in the beginning of the year,” Henson said. “We worked on a lot of help side from the guards when she was in the game and ball pressure when she wasn’t.”

The Lady Reddies offense turned in a strong first half with leading by 29 points.

As the second half got underway, the Lady Reddies picked up right where they left off.

The offensive and defensive levels turned up a few notches.

Sledge got the first field goal for HSU in the second half to make the score 52-23.

HSU increased the lead to their biggest

PLAYMAKER— Haleigh Henson in the lane during the game against Northwestern Oklahoma, where the Lady Reddies came out with the win.

at 31 points at the 12:55 mark with a pair of foul shots by Dulincia Keener which made the score 64-33.

The Lady Reddies never looked back, eventually winning the game by 28 points.

HSU’s bench played a huge role in the win.

Makyndra Simmons scored 10 points.

“Our bench came out with 18 points which is something we’ve lacked in the past few games,” Henson said. “That was huge for us.”

The Lady Reddies have a positive outlook on the rest of the season.

“We play as a team and win as a team most definitely,” Henson said. “When we don’t it shows and when we do it turns out exactly how we want it.”

HSU shot 31 of 63 from the floor (49.2 percent). Northwestern Oklahoma State shot 23 of 65 from the floor (35.4 percent).

The Lady Reddies have since travelled to Weatherford, Okla. to face off with Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Feb. 21, where they made Great American Conference women’s basketball history.

The game was the highest scoring game ever recorded In the GAC with the ending result being 116-108, unfortunately Henderson falling to SWOSU. Keener and Settles had 21 points each with Vanesse Pieper scoring 15, Victoria Stewart adding 13 and Sledge with 12.

The Lady Reddies will take the floor against Ouachita Baptist University in the Battle of the Ravine Thursday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena, before closing out the season at home against Southern Arkansas University on Saturday, Feb. 28.

12

NEWS

FEATURES

VIEWS

HUMOR

EAT MY WAKE— Freshman Max Pohl competes in the swim meet against Delta State last year on Nov. 14.

RED WAVE DIVES INTO SECOND

Swim teams compete in the NSISC Championship where the men placed second and the women finished in sixth

STORY BY MEGAN NEWBERRY — PHOTO BY JEFFERY P. GILMORE From Feb. 18 through Feb. 21 the Henderson men’s and women’s swim team participated in the New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference Championship in Clevland. Miss.

The red wave left their mark on the event with Jeanne Miller bringing home the 100 and 200 butterfly title and the men placing second overall in the meet.

On the first day of competition, the men placed third with 108 points and the women placed sixth with 154 points.

Max Pohl, Guy Buls, Hunter Arnold and Matthew Gribble had a time of 1:33.00 in the 200 medley relay which secured them the runner-up spot.

The lady Reddies began the meet with Jeanne Miller, Sarah Medellin, Jessica Miller and Lauren Sutton taking a time of 7:41.37 in the 800 freestyle relay. This landed the team a fourth place finish.

Day two proved to be just as exciting. On Feb. 19 the Red Wave swam for the right to make it in the NCAA “B” cut times.

Buls had an impressive third place finish in the 200 individual medley with a NCAA “B” cut time of 1:51.97.

Pohl and Arnold both earned the exact same times of 21.08 in the 50 freestyle to get fifth place.

The Red Wave men held tightly to their

third place rank with a total point score of 307 while the host, Delta State led the meet with 432 points.

Just as competitive, the Red Wave women made sure to make their mark on the meet.

Miller took fourth in the 200 Individual medley with a “B” cut time of 2:06.93.

Sutton, Maddie Samples and Medellin all placed in the 50 freestyle. Sutton led the way in ninth-place finishing with a time of 24.16.

Henderson State earned themselves the sixth spot with 329 points.

On the third day of competition, Miller secured the 100 butterfly championship finishing the event in a time of 55.64.

Miller’s time advanced her to the NCAA National Championships in March.

Sutton clinched runner-up in the 200 freestyle of scoring a time of 1:51.67.

The 400 freestyle relay consisted of Samples, Camille Leary, Miller and Sutton placing fourth in a NCAA “B” cut time of 3:50.65.

The Red Wave men held their third-place ranking out of five teams with a total of 563 points during the third day.

Colton Laramore was the men’s top competitor of the third day by ranking second in the 200 freestyle having a “B” cut time of 1:38.84.

Pohls’ NCAA “B” cut time of 49.47

proved to be the best of the Red Waves in the 100 butterfly placing third.

The top performer in the 100 breaststroke was Gribble taking fourth in 56.29 and Austin Bryant clinched eighth with a time of 58.78.

In a fantastic second-place performance in the 400 freestyle relay, Buls, Gribble, Pohl and Laramore finished with a time of 3:21.86.

On the final day of the meet on Feb. 21, Miller claimed another individual title, while the Red Wave men took home a second place finish during the championship.

While defending her title in the 200 butterfly, Miller also won her second individual event of this year’s championship in a time of 2:02.65 which is a NCAA “B” cut qualifying time. The Red Wave women finished in sixthplace out of nine teams.

“We had a fantastic meet, I could not be more proud of this team,” swim coach Coak Matthews said.

The men were behind St. Cloud all week until the next to last event where they took an eight point lead and held on to get runner-up.

Sutton earned a time of 52.04 and placed third in the 100 freestyle. Sutton’s time was a NCAA “B” cut qualifying mark.

In the final women’s event, the Red Wave women 400 freestyle relay team of Medellin, Miller, Samples and Sutton finished with a “B”

cut time of 3:30.96.

The Red Wave men finished as team runners-up of the championship overtaking St. Cloud State in the final two events.

Delta State won the team title with 1066 points, while Henderson finished with 811 and St. Cloud State ending with 771.

It all came down to the 400 freestyle relay team of Arnold, Laramore, Pohl and Aaron Villemez who placed second in a time of 3:03.69 which is a “B” cut qualifying time.

Pohl turned in the top performance for the Red Wave men on the final day by placing second in the 200 butterfly with a NCAA “B” cut time of 1:50.44.

Buls scored a NCAA “B” cut time in the 200 backstroke finishing third in 1:50.76.

Arnolds efforts in the 100 freestyle earned him third place with a time of 46.58. Villemez placed fourth in 48.59, while Austin Bryant was seventh in a time of 47.39. Colton Holland swam in for a time of 46.98 In the 200 breaststroke Dylan Anderson placed sixth with a time of 2:06.16.

Garrett Duncan was right behind him in seventh-place in a time of 2:06.69, while Gribble took eighth in 2:06.87 and Alex Tytarenko placed 10th in 2:10.22 to score seven points.

The NCAA DII swimming and diving championships will be held March 10-14.