The Island Life
2014: The year of the horse
MLK: A day to remember
PAGE 12
PAGE 5
PAGE 4
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, e Dre’s My Field DWU he
>>
Plans to replace old recreational field site move to the new Momentum Campus.
by Christina Boothe sports reporter
L
ike any Division I school, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is growing at a healthy pace. New buildings are being resurrected all around campus to accommodate the increasing student body, and changes are being made to popular hubs like the University Center in order to be bigger and better. Unfortunately, with the recent accommodations, the student body has lost their recreational field. Where Tarpon and Anchor now stand, along with the sites of two more dormitories and a dining hall, there once was an open field available for students to take advantage of at their leisure.
A complaint has risen from the student body, addressing the absence of this field. When will there be another place at which recreational sports can occur? The answer is finally here. Jacqueline Hamilton, the Director of Recreational Sports here at the Island University has been hard at work organizing a new recreational site not far off the island at the new Momentum campus, on the corner of Ennis Joslin and Nile. “We are hopeful that the fields will be completed by mid-March so we can hold intramural softball in the spring,” said Hamilton. “These multipurpose fields will be able to accommodate three flag football fields or two softball fields. One of the fields that holds flag football is wider in order to accommodate a
>> Freshman Spotlight PAGE 6
image courtesy - TAMUCC.EDU
soccer field.” She went on to give details about extra novelties included with the fields. “There is also a small support building adjacent to the fields with restrooms and an equipment checkout station,” said Hamilton. “We are anticipating that the fields will be open from three to seven in the afternoon with some weekend hours.” So hold out until mid-March, recreational athletes. According to sources the new facility is going to be better than ever. Be sure to get a team ready in order to take full advantage of the new fields when they open up. Whether going to the fields to unwind, get fit, or just have fun with some friends, these fields are anticipated to be a hub of social interaction and relaxation.
>> The Harlem Globetrotters
PAGE 11
>> Inside CAB PAGE 8
>> >>Book Review:
2001 Space Odyssey PAGE 7
HAPPY HOUR
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INDEX EDITORIAL 2 | NEWS 3 | FEATURES 5 | ENTERTAINMENT 7 | SPORTS 10
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 02
2
editorial
01.30.2014
ISLAND WAVES
Letter from the editor
a student publication of
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
island waves staff ALEXIS DE LEON editor-in-chief
MARIAM AMAYA
advertising manager
STEPHANIE WALLACE copy editor
SAL VERA AUBREY DANCER layout editors
KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
JUSTIN VU NGUYEN
advertising assistant
CONNER TICHOTA CHRISTINA BOOTHE ANDREW LIGUEZ staff reporters
Dear Island University,
A
s many of us were watching the Grammys and trying to pull ourselves together after the weekend, the Island Waves’ staff was working hard to construct an issue worthy of reading. While nothing could be as epic as watching Stevie Wonder, Pharrell and Daft Punk perform together live, we were putting together an issue capable of starting conversations in the Bell Library, over coffee at Starbucks, on the track in the Dugan, around the UC Commons or throughout the breezeways. Hopefully this issue, you stumble across that girl or guy from class you have been meaning to break the ice with and now have a reason. Perhaps you saw your professor’s name and have been meaning to get to know them a bit better. Just maybe you utter the words “Let’s go see this movie, the folks at Island Waves rated it highly.” An editor can always dream. We are always trying to keep the look of Island Waves so fresh and so clean while still maintaining the classy integrity of newspaper print; constantly on our game to keep Island Waves as diverse, sincere and all around as admirable as our student body here on Ward Island. I personally would like to apologize sincerely for the information swap that occurred in issue one in our flu and cold story. The symptoms pulled a Parent Trap on us and traded places. However, Island Waves fully supports seeing a physician or visiting Health Services if you have not been feeling your best. While many of us on staff are pre-professional, trust us we are not doctors. As you read, skim, peruse this issue, remember Island Waves is interactive and always looking to improve. Sincerely,
NICK THOMSON
distribution manager
RUTH AIPPERSPACH
Alexis De Leon Editor-in-Chief Island Waves
faculty adviser
AMY KOTULSKI staff adviser
contact us 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862
write us a letter The Island Waves accepts letters no longer than 250 words. Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to the editor via email at editor@tamucc.edu.
about island waves The Island Waves is a student-produced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions. Since A&M-Corpus Christi has no journalism department, Island Waves is supported by student fees and advertising sales. Any student or University employee may submit material for publication consideration. To become a contributor, email or call the Island Waves editor.
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Write to us. Send letters to Editor@tamucc.edu
3
news
01.30.2014
ISLAND WAVES
Harte Research Institute holds workshop for marine life conservation by CONNER TICHOTA staff reporter
O
n Jan. 6, the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, in conjunction with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), launched their Gulf of Mexico Fishes Red List Assessment Workshop. The workshop was a four day long affair focusing on the assessment of the conservation status of various species of marine life found throughout the Gulf Coast. Scientists and experts from both the HRI and the IUCN’s Gulf Marine Species Assessment branch worked diligently to prepare, collect and assess data regarding a variety of coastal and shallow water species of fish residing in the Gulf Coast. Utilizing this information allows researchers to classify the conservation status of the different species of fish. Levels of classification include specifications such as “Near Threatened,” “Vulnerable,” “Endangered” and even “Extinct.” Dr. Fabio Moretzsohen, an assistant research scientist at HRI, believes these classifications are a key component to aid in the management and conservation of marine life. “This information can be useful in the coming years,” said Moretzsohen. “We are going to have a lot of projects related to restoring the coast as a result of the oil spill in 2010. There are lots of other challenges such as costal development in place as well.” The data gathered at these workshops is collected by the IUCN and, approximately six months later, published for the public to view on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species website. “Once information becomes publically
available, other people can track each species and see whether they are being properly managed, or not,” said Moretzsohen. The conservation status of each species is primarily monitored by the IUCN. Each species is reassessed periodically to track and monitor their recovery or decline. The HRI utilizes the Red List’s publicized data in the institution’s own Biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico. BioGoMex is an online database inventorying over 15,000 species of marine life. The database was created after the 2010 oil spill, and its primary function is to monitor the recovery of various species in the Gulf Coast. According to their official website, the IUCN was established in 1948 as the first international environmental organization. The organization is comprised of over 1,200 various smaller organizations, 11,000 volunteer scientists, and
experts, collaborating data and information. The IUCN’s mission is to conserve biodiversity. Moretzsohen states that this past workshop was the second collaboration between the HRI and the IUCN, with the first workshop held in 2011. The focus of the collaboration is on native fish species to the Gulf of Mexico only. The HRI is expecting to hold their next workshop
sometime later this year, or early on in 2015. The upcoming workshop will focus on the remaining species of fish that have yet to be classified. For more information regarding marine life surrounding the Gulf Coast, please visit the Red List of Threatened Species website at iucnredlist.org.
photo courtesy of TAMUCC.EDU
Distinguished Speaker Series The “Distinguished Speaker Series” has announced that tickets will go on sale March 3 for Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
More Organization A handful of fresh organizations registered for activation by the UCSO for the current spring 2014 semester, demonstrating an active involvement in university participation.
Top Rankings The Masters of Science and Nursing program at our Island University has been ranked in the top 10 for 2014 Best Online Education Programs by U.S. News & World Report. The University received this distinction out of 130 rankings based on student engagement, faculty credentials, student services and admissions selectivity, among other factors.
Weather, Weather and more Weather With weather commonly going from hot to cold within 24 hours, the Island University sees its fair share of bipolar conditions. Students are reminded to check their Islander Email and the University website for updates on forcasted weather. In the past two weeks, weather has changed drastically and although it is cold, classes will still continue. Unless road conditions are impassable, students should check with their professors for potential class related information, and as always, leave a few extra minutes for safe travel. Local Kiii, KRIS-TV and KZTV can also aid in forecast conditions.
Parking Headaches As the spring semester begins, UPD has added signs to areas in Turtle Cove, and other parking lots around campus, take notice that parking in the stripped zones is not allowed. Please pay attention and park in designated spots only. Also, pedestrians have the right of way so please watch out for those on foot.
news 4
01.30.2014
A day to remember ISLAND WAVES
The Island University and Del Mar College host Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration by CONNER TICHOTA staff reporter
O
n Jan 23, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in conjunction with Del Mar College, hosted the second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration as part of the continuing festivities for Black History Month. The program opened with an interpretive dance solo, courtesy of the Westhaven Baptist Church Praise Dance Team. The entertainment was followed by a keynote speech from Donna Brazile, a Democratic political strategist and adjunct professor at Georgetown University. The focus of the celebration was centered on encouraging community participation and taking leadership in the continuing quest for social change. “The theme of today is finding a voice in a whisper,” said Brazile. “I’ve heard...that this generation, your generation, has no voice. There are strong voices. There are voices that haven’t been heard because there is so much noise, so many sound bites. But, read my lips, there are strong voices. Speaking out, warning the community to come together to advocate for change, right here on the local level.” Brazile encouraged the audience to speak out and become leaders within their community, reminding them of Dr. King’s difficult journey as a source of inspiration to undertake their own. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against violence, injustice and inequality in society today. “Especially now you should use your voice,” Brazile said. “We live in a society that is so fragmented, we don’t know who to turn to. So we turn on each other. But I understand that Dr. King would not be sitting on the sideline waiting for somebody else to stand up. Speak up about the injustices of today.” According to her biography provided by the National Democratic Committee, Brazile is a native Louisianian from Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans. She began her work in politics at the age of nine whilst aiding the campaign of a politician who promised the local neighborhood a playground. Brazile continued building her political career working on various political campaigns. From 1976 to 2000, she worked on every presidential campaign until, in 2000, she was the first African American to manage a presidential campaign. Brazile is both the former interim national chair of the Democratic National Covention (DNC) and the former chair of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institution. She is currently the vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the DNC as well as adjunct professor at Georgetown University.
photo by ANDREW LIGUEZ
Donna Brazile speaks to a captivated audience at the MLK Celebration. Brazile’s other notable accomplishments include author of the best-selling book, “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics”, and on-air contributor to CNN and ABC. She is also the founder of Brazile and Associates LLC, a consulting grassroots advocacy and training firm in Washington D.C. During her speech, Brazile admitted that her passion for politics and desire to be an advocate for change was ignited the night of Dr. King’s assassination. “My spirit was alive,” Brazile said. “I wanted to know why. I had so many questions. I was restless. I put [a picture] of Dr. King on my wall because I wanted to talk to him every day [and tell him] ‘I’m just a little girl, but I have a big mouth and I want to help out’.” Brazile’s speech was eagerly received by the mix of students and community members present. Shortly after the keynote speech there was an autograph and picture session with Brazile.
5
features
01.30.2014
ISLAND WAVES
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
L
ast month, the bunnies received their lateChristmas present: a very stylish, extra large doghouse that has since been coined “The New and Improved Bunny Shack.” Their old bunny shack was made out of cardboard boxes, but had to be thrown out after it started to fall apart. For three little bun buns that don’t even weigh a combined total of more than 12 pounds, the doghouse looks
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
A
ccording to Chinese legend, in ancient times the Jade Emperor decreed that there should be a way to measure the passing of time, and so on the emperor’s birthday, he decided to hold a swimming race amongst all the animals. The first 12 animals to finish would be the winners, and would each have a year named after them in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese New Year begins on Jan. 31, with this year marking the year of the horse, the seventh-placed winner in the swimming race. In honor of the “Year of the Horse,” two students from the Chinese Student Association at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi provide a glimpse into the Chinese New Year, and explain some of the more popular holiday traditions. “If you want to have a deep insight into Chinese culture, you should start from learning how to celebrate the Chinese New Year,” Peng Jiang, CSA fundraising chair and psychology major said. “Chinese New Year emphasizes more on family reunion, which is like the Thanksgiving here in America.” The Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival as it’s also known, is the longest holiday in the Chinese calendar, lasting from Chinese New Year’s Eve, until the Lantern Festival on day 15 of the first month in the Chinese calendar. This year, the Lantern Festival will take place on Feb. 14. “The Chinese New Year involves more tradition; the importance of the New Year is much grander since it is the most important holiday in Chinese culture,” Caesar Falcon, CSA vice president and
more like a bunny condo than a bunny shack. Rather than being excited about his new playhouse, Jojo, the oldest bunny, was more excited about the packing paper that the doghouse was packed in. Needless to say, in addition to the four cardboard boxes, one basket, various wicker balls and three blocks of wood I have laying around my living room floor, I now have added a pile of packing paper to the bunnies’ playthings. It wasn’t until I added a blanket, a basket, some hay and Jojo’s stuffed rabbit that Jojo
finance major said. “The whole family usually gets together to celebrate.” In celebration of the Chinese New Year, families typically bring in the New Year by getting together the night before to make Chinese dumplings called jiaozi, watch the fireworks displays and China Central Television’s annual Spring Festival Gala, which features popular Chinese singers and performers. “People usually stay up late to welcome in the New Year, and play games like mahjong, as well as having a variety of foods, and traditional candies and treats for the children,” Falcon said. The festivities continue on New Year’s Day, with people handing out red envelopes filled with money, which are known as hongbao in Chinese, to young people and children. In Chinese culture, red is a symbol of good luck and fortune, and is used to ward off evil spirits. Every year, the CSA hosts a festival on campus to celebrate the Chinese New Year. As of now, no official date has been selected, but a celebration is planned for sometime after Jan. 31. “I attend the CSA’s Chinese New Year Festival every year, and it’s pretty good. The performances really reflect the Chinese-style and the food is also delicious,” Jiang said. Visit the CSA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/tamucc.csa for more information on the Chinese New Year, and to stay up-to-date on when the festival will take place. “I encourage everyone to attend the festival, and I hope the Year of the Horse will bring everyone much luck, success and happiness,” Falcon said.
started showing more interest in “The Bunny Shack.” He has recently taken to hanging around near the opening to the doghouse where he plays with the basket, while occasionally sticking his little bunny head out the entrance to look around. So all in all, I would call the new bunny shack a success. The only downside to it is that it takes up a lot of room. The bunnies like to binky, which is when they run around and jump around my apartment whenever they’re excited about something, like receiving treats
or getting out after being penned up all day. Jojo especially has a little trail that he likes to run whenever he’s binkying around the apartment. Unfortunately for him though, “The Bunny Shack” is currently taking up some of his running room. As of now, Jojo has bumped into “The Bunny Shack” at least three times already. But does that stop him? Not a chance. Doesn’t even slow him down, he just keeps on zooming past the doghouse before circling around the coffee table and couch for another lap.
THE YEAR
OF THE
HORSE
image courtesy - GETTYIMAGES.COM
features 6 ISLAND WAVES
01.30.2014
FRESHMAN SPOTLIGHT
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
M
photo by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ
aking the switch from high school to college can be daunting for some students. In between attending classes, studying and doing homework, students also have to learn how to manage a social life and, sometimes, work. Cassidy Walden, one Island University freshman, has already learned how to manage her time both in and outside of school. “I picked Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi because it seemed like a good school, and the campus is really beautiful,” Walden said. “The campus is what really drew me in.” A Corpus Christi native, Walden is majoring in kinesiology at the Island University, and hopes to one day work as either an athletic trainer or a physical therapist. “I chose kinesiology because I’ve been in sports all my life, and it just seems right to be involved in sports for my career,” Walden said. “Whether it be helping student athletes or helping to heal injuries.” In between classes, Walden says she enjoys sitting at the tables located outside the Center for Academic Student Achievement, where she gets to take in the scenery. “I’m a very free-spirited girl, I like to go with the flow and be as outgoing as possible. My favorite hangout spot on campus would be the cat alley since I’m a total cat lady,” the kinesiology major said. Aside from taking a full load of classes, Walden is also a part of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, where she currently holds a position as social chair. As the focus of Alpha Gamma Delta’s philanthropy, raising awareness for
diabetes is something Walden said she takes pride in doing. “Being a part of a sorority, you also earn sisters for life, not just for four years,” Walden said. “As part of my sorority, we raise money for the research for diabetes. It’s important to me because we can make a difference in someone else’s life.” Last semester, Walden participated in Alpha Gamma Delta’s Annual Diabetes Walk, and is busy planning for this semester’s Annual Teeter-Totter-a-thon to further help raise money for diabetes research and awareness. When she’s not in class or hanging out with her sorority sisters, Walden spends her time working as a server at Texas Roadhouse. “[Working] takes up most of my free time, but if I do have some free time I like to hangout with my [sorority] sisters or friends.” Walden said. “Balancing my school work with my sorority and job takes time to get use to but is manageable, just needs a lot of coffee.” Walden attributes her ability to manage her time to what she learned last semester, and says that since the fall, she has now developed a routine to help keep her from becoming overwhelmed or stressed. This semester, the kinesiology major is most looking forward to Spring Break, but says she’s also hopeful about her classes. Walden also encourages other freshmen to enjoy their semester, but to also find a balance between school, work and fun. “My advice is that going out and having fun is not as important as school. Yes, go out and have fun, but remember you still have school work that needs to be done, so just have a healthy balance,” Walden said.
7
entertainment
01.30.2014
images courtesy of FLICKR.COM
ISLAND WAVES
T
his spring semester I embarked on a new route: English Literature courses. Coming from a Microbiology and Psychology degree plan, but working as a copy editor for the paper, most people ask me why on Earth I am taking literature classes in my last and final semester as an undergrad. The simple answer: I love reading and writing. Regardless of my background, the English department here at the Island University is a force to be reckoned with. I had to take Themes and Genre’s, as many students here at the University have had to, in order to meet my core literature requirement. This is where I fell in love with analyzing and writing about literature. And not just in the standard ‘write something to get a grade to pass the class and get the requirement checked off’ kind of way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories that stretch the imagination and force me to analyze and interpret relationships and concepts outside of the box. That is why I have been itching to take more literature classes, and why, this spring, I am taking two. Of those two classes, both of which I am extremely excited about, (and not just for the reading material, but because the professors truly seem to enjoy teaching them), my Kubrick Film and Literature class is one that I decided to begin tackling while on my winter break trip back home to Camas, Washington. Of the books assigned to this class, Arthur C. Clarke’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” got me on my mental thinking toes. Clarke’s “2001” is a story that begins with an evolutionary oddity: our ancient ancestors, the Ape people. Not to give a spoiler alert, but a mysterious rock appears and thus begins the eventual evolution of the
Ape people. The story flashes to a time in the “future” (which to us reading in 2013, is the past) and space travel to the moon is as easy as hopping on a plane. With that introduction, the story flashes to a revolutionary space mission where the astronauts are sent to places beyond what we, in 2013, can even comprehend. Without giving anything away, “2001” is a novel that revolutionizes not just the book world, but also the film world. Stanley Kubrick worked with Clarke to write the screenplay for the movie version of “2001.” This film, not something I have critiqued yet, is also worth checking out but for now, as I always think, ‘the book is always better.’ Clarke’s take on “2001” draws enough images to really play into the imagination. It also tests the boundaries of how far artificial technology and intelligence should go and how far the human spirit and imagination can reach. This novel is part of a series, in addition to “2010: Odyssey Two,” “2061: Odyssey Three,” and “3001: The Final Odyssey,” but it truly sets the standard for science fiction writing and imagination that anyone, not just English majors, will get into. I ended up reading the book in one day because the struggles unfolding between the pages were so fast and attention capturing, that I could not put the book down. Next week I will review the movie “2001” but for now, I recommend getting a copy of this classic and snuggling into a chair, in front of a fire or space heater, and lose yourself in the story that unfolds that is not just interesting from an evolutionary biology standpoint, but for anyone who thinks ‘what else is out there?’ Although we do not know that answer yet, and I do not read many science fiction stories, “2001” paints an alluring image of greater forces than ourselves and manmade technology that makes the reader truly question the reality of the environment around them.
image courtesy of BOOKWORMBURROW.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM
by STEPHANIE WALLACE copy editor
Film In Review August: Osage County
by ALEXIS DELEON editor in chief
image courtesy of BROADWAY.COM
The screen opens to a scene of country roads and overgrown fields as far as the eye can see. The soothing voice of exhausted father and husband Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard) says, “Life is very long- T.S. Eliot, you have to say his name after it because he was the first to have it printed.” The audience then meets Weston as he continues his monologue of his life gone by to a young Native American woman (Misty Upham). Enter Violet Weston (Meryl Streep) a noisy, ragged mess of a woman who has already been introduced as being addicted to prescription pills. It becomes clear to the audience that Violet is still madly in love with Beverly but she has grown to find comfort in the numbing affects that the pills have and as for Beverly, while he still loves his wife the numbing affects of his alcoholic endeavors have ceased to comfort him. Immediately after this opening scene we learn that Beverly has left the house, without any word as to why or where according to Violet. Enter Karen Weston (Juliette Lewis) as ever-supportive daughter and care taker of Violet. Karen’s mother Violet ruthlessly harasses her on how to do her hair, how to dress and how to grab a man’s attention. However, Karen plays polite and brushes off her mother’s unabashed comments. Only moments later we meet aunt Mattie Fae Aiken (Margo Martindale) who is equally as harsh as her sister Violet. The only way these women know how to love is through
their harsh criticisms. The audience is finally introduced to Barbara Weston (Julia Roberts) and her family Jean Fordham (Abigail Breslin) and Bill Fordham (Ewan McGregor) as they drive across the country side sharing in banter as to why anyone would live in the northwestern heat of Oklahoma. Not long after all two generations of sisters are under the same roof do they discover that their father has committed suicide. This is when all civil conversation is thrown out the metaphorical window. The next hour and a half is a jumble of close up face shots and bare-knuckle boxing style conversations. Fingers are pointed, insults are dealt out and dishes are broken. “August: Osage County” is a beautifully written and performed piece. The dialogue feels natural and at times only too familiar. As far as dark-humor is concerned Tracy Letts certainly hits the nail on the head and kills it. Director John Wells likewise makes superb use of landscape scenes and furthering the motif of cruel weather and cruel women through visual aid. With very little help from any musical scores the movie is carried wholly by solid acting, neither of which comes from McGregor or Benedict Cumberbatch who plays Little Charlie, and supreme scenic visuals. “August: Osage County” is sure to leave the viewer questioning the dynamics of dysfunctional families and whether or not they themselves have been stuck in managing one of their own. Further more are we all doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents or can we break the cycle.
entertainment 8
01.30.2014
ISLAND WAVES
by ANDREW LIGUEZ entertainment reporter
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he Campus Activities Board, best known for the events they put on around campus, is one of the longest running organizations at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. With events ranging from movie nights to an exotic petting zoo, they are most known for their annual CAB fest, which brings the best up-and -coming musicians to the Island University. I recently meet up with President Nelda Hernandez, Marketing Committee Chair Cameron Cardenas, and Vice President of Marketing David Miranda, to get the spill on future events of CAB and what students can look forward to for the spring semester. Upcoming events include: Jan 24- Space Jam movie night in the UC ballrooms with popcorn. Feb 4- An exotic petting zoo from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. with wallabies, hedgehogs and chinchillas. Feb 13- “Find Your Valentine” in the UC ballrooms. A speed dating style setup to find a valentine. Also, a flash flower give away where different flowers around campus, and even bacon flowers for guys, will be given away. April 25- “Battle of the Bands” held on the East Lawn.
Another event, “Islanderino”, is one of the bigger events held during homecoming week. A more traditional event, held every year, “Islanderino” is a casino themed night where students will be playing games and “gambling.” It is an event designed to bring good luck to students. An acapella group named “Six Appeal,” and other entertainers “Wild ‘N’ Wacky” will also be present. Currently for CAB, future goals include retaining current members and growing the membership. Last year, CAB fest did not draw in the numbers organizers were anticipating. Partly due to the fact that construction caused a lot of issues with the UC ballrooms, and the event had to be moved inside. Another pitfall was due to the bands being largely unknown making it difficult to keep the attention span of the student body for four hours. However learning from the past has its advantages. CAB fest is set to revamp itself with new entertainment and marketing. For the Island University, CAB gives students a chance to do something and get involved with their campus through concerts, events, and prizes, ranging from groceries to iPads. CAB meets every Wednesday at 5 PM in the UC’s Oso Room.
photo by ANDREW LIGUEZ
President Nelda Hernandez, Marketing Committee Chair Cameron Cardenas and Vice President of Marketing David Miranda planning future events together for the students of Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi to enjoy themselves.
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Q & A with head baseball coach Scott Malone by Christina Boothe sports reporter
Q: Do you think the competitiveness of the team is stronger from last year’s players versus this year’s?
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Malone: I love this year’s team. The number of talented players in the locker room has grown. However, last year, our three-, four-, and five-hole hitters were seniors. Our number one pitching starter was a senior. Seasoned veterans played key spots on the field. Now, we have newer guys. I’m not worried about it, I’m just not as sure about what I’m going to get this year.
pring has sprung, summoning baseball with it. Before, arguably, the most exciting season of the year, Coach Malone, head coach of Islander Baseball, sat down to answer some questions about the team’s star players, goals, and superstitions. Q: What is the primary goal for this season, and, based on what you saw during preseason practice, is that goal attainable? Malone: My goals are two-fold. One, I want to run a great program. My players should be great ambassadors of the school. Performancewise, I want to put a good product on the field. I want our wins and losses to represent us well. One pre-season poll ranks us at number two in the Southland Conference. In my seven years as head coach, we’ve been ranked anywhere from six to eleven, but never number two. That’s exciting, but it’s also pressure for us to perform.
Q: Are there any players whose skills you’re looking forward to seeing in actual games? Malone: We’ve got Trevor Belicek on the mound. He’s our number one starter. In a preseason poll, he was anticipated to be the pitcher of the year in the Southland Conference. That is really exciting, but it also puts pressure on his back. Ideally, he’ll be leading off the season on the mound against UT Pan Am. That’s additional stress. But, he’s as great an athlete as I’ve ever seen come onto our field. Another
player is Cody Stephens, our senior second baseman. He was voted team captain by his teammates. He leads the hitters. It’s going to be exciting to see these two play. Q: Based on this year’s team, how do you expect the SLC championships to go? Malone: We want to be one of the top three teams in the league. We want a chance to win the Conference. We’re coming closer to the champions we want to be but I can’t say ‘number one or bust.’ Q: Are there any team goals or competitions that your players set for themselves and each other? Malone: The fall is more competitive. We have a Fall World Series where we select captains and let them draft their players. But the spring is more about work and progress than end result. I want my practices to escalate. I want our skills to be polished, and that’s what we’re going to focus on during spring preseason.
Q: On a final note, are there any traditions or superstitions that you and your players uphold? Malone: I don’t want to jinx a good season by talking about it too much. I also try to keep a buffer between being ‘Coach Malone in the office’ and ‘Coach Malone in the dugout.’ A nervous habit I have during games is cleaning up the dugout. Any tape, bottles, or trash of any sort gets picked up in the process. My players joke around with me by gathering all of their trash and putting it in a pile, waiting to see how long it will take for me to clean it up. The season starts up on Feb. 14 at UT Pan American. The team comes back to Corpus Christi for the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field against Brigham Young, UTSA, and TCU, on Feb. 22. Islanders are encouraged to take advantage of the suitable Corpus Christi weather and head outdoors to catch the action on the field as the Islanders baseball season gets underway for spring.
Women’s Basketball Runs Away with 29-Point Win Against Southeastern Louisiana Lions GoIslanders
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ORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi women’s basketball team secured an impressive 83-54 victory against Southeastern Louisiana in the Dugan Wellness Center on Thursday. The 29-point win was the biggest margin of victory for the Islanders (9-9, 2-5 in Southland Conference play) so far this season. For only the second time this year A&M – Corpus Christi shot above 50 percent, going 37-of-73 from the field. Several Islanders contributed to this team win, as four different players notched doubledigit scoring performances on the night, including 34 bench points. Brandi Huff, who came off the bench, was the leading scorer with 18 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field along with six rebounds. Freshman Kassie Jones, who has gotten the nod at starting point guard the last three games, had the best night of her young career with 16 points along with four assists and three steals. Fellow freshman Camesha Davis earned the first start of her career and played at a high level to score her most points in a game with 13 to go along with three huge blocks. The final Islander to score more than 10 was Jasmine Shaw, as the team’s leading scorer not only scored 12 points, but also had eight rebounds, six assists and three steals to go along with those points. Despite the high field goal percentage, the Islanders, who average nearly 21 points a game from behind the arc, only went 3-of-15 from downtown. However, after opponents knocked down seemingly triple after triple against the Islanders to start Southland play, Southeastern only went 1-of-14 from deep. The Islanders won the tip and scored just four seconds after with a layup by Shaw. The home team then kept the good start going with a steal by Shaw, turning into a layup by Jones to get the crowd energized and put the team up 4-0. Both teams then scored six each points to make it a 10-6 game, before Davis hit another layup to give her six points and put her team up by as many with 15:20 left in the half.
After the Lady Lions pulled within three at 14-11, the Islanders went on a huge 10-0 run to give them a commanding 24-11 lead. Most of the damage was done by Huff, who came off the bench to score six during that span. An old-fashioned three-point play for Southeastern cut the lead back down to 10, but Huff added yet another layup with 9:04 left on the clock to put her team up 26-14. The teams both went on 4-0 runs to make it 30-18 before Brittany Mbamalu picked one off in her defensive end, and Alissa Campanero dished it off to Jones for the finish to put the Islanders up 14 — their biggest lead so far — with 4:40 to play in the half. After Davis notched her fourth basket of the game, preseason first-teamer Aja Gibson pushed her first half total up to 15, scoring the next four points to pull her team back within nine with 2:26 left in the half. With only 51 seconds left in the first, the Islanders, who make an average of nearly seven threes a game, picked up their first triple with Shaw drilling one from deep to put A&M – Corpus Christi up 37-25. Following a bucket by Southeastern, Huff ran her point total up to 12 in the first half with a layup to put the Islanders up 39-27 heading into the locker room. Coming into the second half the Lions were fierce with their first three but the Islanders came right back to score the next seven points to slow down the Lady Lions comeback attempt, pushing the lead up to 46-31 with 16:10 left to go. The home team did not take its foot off the gas pedal either, as it continued to push the ball and opened up a 20-point lead with 11:45 left to play. It was a slight edge for the Lady Lions, scoring the next seven of 11 points to trim the Islanders’ lead down to 63-45 with 8:20 left to play. However, the Islanders continued to play aggressive basketball, and ran the court extremely well to outscore Southeastern 20-9 during the final eight minutes to come away with their biggest win of the season. The run included a pair of layups by Doshi Davis for her first career buckets.
photo by Alexis De Leon
Junior, John Jordan (10) looks to pass the ball to an open player as two Southeastern Louisiana players, put two-man defense on Jordan.
Men’s Basketball Rallies Past Lions to Improve to 6-1 GoIslanders
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ORPUS CHRISTI – JaMichael Hawkins’ three-pointer at the buzzer came up short, as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men’s basketball team played stellar second-half defense to knock off Southeastern Louisiana 74-71 on Thursday at the Dugan Wellness Center. The Islanders came through with a critical 13-1 run midway through the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into a lead they would not relinquish. The Islanders improved to 6-1 in conference play with the victory, while Southeastern is now 3-4. A&M-Corpus Christi placed five players in double figures, led by Jake Kocher’s 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Zane Knowles added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while John Jordan came up an assist short of a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. Hameed Ali and Rashawn Thomas each had 10 points as well. Antonnio Benton led the Lions with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Hawkins added 14 points and Jeffrey Ricard and Dre Evans posted 11 each. The Islanders dominated the boards with a 39-23 advantage, including 18 on the offensive glass. A&M-Corpus Christi limited Southeastern to 7-for-20 from the field (.350) with just three offensive boards in the second half. The Lions came out blazing hot, shooting .615 in the opening stanza to take a seven-point lead into the break. Southeastern jumped out to a 10-2 lead on the strength of a pair of threes as the Islanders went just 1-for-4 on their first four possessions. But the home squad trimmed it back to three with a Thomas three-point play at the 15:06 mark. From there, the two teams traded points back and forth, but five straight – the final three on a triple by Ali – put the Islanders up two at 18-16. But Southeastern’s hot shooting gave them an immediate answer on Julian Chiera’s threeball, and that was followed by trifectas from JHawkins and Chiera again for a 9-0 run and a seven-point Lions lead. The advantage fluctuated between four and nine points the rest of the way into the break, with the Islanders
finishing off the half on a Knowles dunk that made it 40-33. Out of the half, the Lions embarked on a 7-2 run to stretch the lead to game-high 12. The home squad chipped away, cutting it to six on a pair of occasions, but Joshua Fillmore’s triple pushed the lead back to nine, 52-43, at the 14:28 mark. That’s when the Islanders made the crucial run, turning a nine-point deficit into a threepoint lead. Kocher and Jordan were the key architects, with Kocher burying a three and getting a steal-and-layup to cap off the rally. Jordan added four points during the run. The Lions were 0-for-4 from the field in the process, and more importantly, the Islanders snared the defensive rebound on each occasion. After two Lions’ free throws, the Islanders pushed the lead to five on buckets by Knowles and Jordan. But Southeastern came right back with four consecutive points once again to trim it to 1. Kocher again lifted the home team after two Jordan free throws, as he came up with a steal, a layup and turned it into a three-point play at the 5:34 mark to make it 65-59. After the Lions cut it back to three, Kocher came through once again, burying a triple from the left corner with 4:20 remaining to make it 7064. Southeastern kept rallying, getting the deficit to a single possession time and time again. But the Islanders kept up their strong play on the boards, limiting the Lions to single shots on the offensive end. Jordan hit 1-of-2 at the line with less than 30 seconds to play, making it a three-point game. After the Lions called a timeout, Kocher delivered lockdown defense, and Hawkins’ three-point attempt came up short as the Islanders claimed the victory. The Islanders are back in action on Thursday night, when they take on Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. Game time is slated for 7:45 p.m.
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Harlem Globetrotters visit Corpus Christi ISLAND WAVES
by Christina Boothe sports reporter
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he first half of this year is full of fantastic sporting events. The Winter Olympics start up in February and the FIFA World Cup comes back in June. But perhaps a more local, yet still exciting, attraction coming to the very court Islanders basketball graces is the Harlem Globetrotters. Bringing their 2014 “Fans Rule” world tour with them, the Globetrotters will be at the American Bank Center on Jan. 29 at 7:00 PM. The Globetrotters were once true basketball players, and even won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940, but the rise of the National Basketball Association outshone their skills as a basketball team. The Globetrotters began adding comedy to their routines, increasing their popularity and shifting their entertainment from purely athletic achievement to something more for the whole family. Despite this, many talented professional athletes have toured with the Harlem Globetrotters and played on their team, including basketball stars Jerome James and Marques Haynes. Even baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Ferguson Jenkins once played for the team. And, in 1985, the Globetrotters brought two female players to their roster: Joyce Walker and Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard. In 1993, the Globetrotters gained a new owner, former player Mannie Jackson. Under his ownership, he brought the Globetrotters back into competitive basketball, playing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s All Star Team in 1995. They lost the game, 91-85, which ended a supposed
photo courtesy wikimedia.org
Photo of Soupy Sales and the Harlem Globetrotters from a 1969 television special in which Sales manages the team
8,829-win streak that the Globetrotters had maintained since 1971. They continued to play against collegiate teams, many of them national champions, until 2003. But today, their specialty is combining athletics, theater,
and comedy in exhibition shows that they play around the world. Having the Harlem Globetrotters in Corpus Christi makes for an event that is great not just for families, but for Islanders as well. Those
looking to take advantage of this local event are encouraged to buy tickets online at the American Bank center, through Ticketmaster, or at select HEB’s in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas.
Islanders tennis breezes past UMBC in home opener GoIslanders
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V above: Islanders men and women’s tennis team come together to celebrate a solid match performance right: senior Stefania Nicolae gears up for a return below: sophomore Celia Rodriguez makes an underhanded return
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photos courtesy of GoIslanders
ORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi men’s and women’s tennis teams both picked up sweeping victories over Maryland Baltimore County today in the home opener. The men’s team cruised to a 5-0 victory while the women’s team clinched all six singles matches to win 6-0 in front of a strong crowd at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. “We have been waiting a long time for our first home match and I think the team showed tremendous spirit in the way they competed,” Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. “To see that many people out Sunday on a match that we had to move so early really validates the hard work these players have put in. I love the Corpus Christi Tennis Community and I know this team loves competing in front of them. “Our captains did a great job of leading. I thought Stefania Nicolae and Sandra Burges really came out and set the tone for the team. I’m also incredibly impressed with our freshmen, Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos. They showed a lot of courage and toughness in their first match and really played with a lot of heart. I thought Peter Nagy and Matt Westmoreland also did a great job of making a statement at the beginning of the match with their footwork and energy.” The women’s team (1-0) tallied their first win of the season, breezing past the Retrievers (1-1) 6-0. A&M - Corpus Christi jumped out early with a 2-0 lead after Nicolae downed Olga Baikulova 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot. Galhos followed suit with a straight-set victory in her first match as an Islander. The freshman edged Madlena Kurasz 6-4 in the first set before capturing a 6-2 win in the second on court five. The Islanders kept things rolling with Burges sealing 6-1, 6-4 victory in the No. 3 slot over Isabel Aldunate, and Vives clinching the match in the No. 6 position. The freshman overcame nerves and excitement in the first set to squeeze out a 7-5 win before defeating Josefin Stange-Jonsson 6-1 in the final set. Celia Rodriguez padded the Islanders lead to 5-0 with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Mariami Dolashvili in the No. 4 spot. Maider Martin posted the Islanders sixth point of the day in the No. 2 spot. The sophomore topped Kim Berghaus in the first set 6-3, before falling 6-1 in the second set. In the final set, Martin held
off Berghaus with a 10-5 victory. After opening its first eight matches on the road, the men’s team (6-3) returned to the Thomas J. Henry Center for its home opener against UMBC (1-1). After falling in the last meeting to the Retrievers, the Islanders came out with spirit and energy to power their way to their fifth-straight win including their sixth victory of the season. Much like the women, the men’s team built an early lead 2-0 after Westmoreland and Guillaume Rauseo tallied straight-set victories. Westmoreland breezed past Daniel Gray 6-0 in the first set, before cruising to a 6-2 win in the second set in the No. 5 position. Rauseo battled Alex Drean in the No. 3 slot and edged out a 7-5 win in the first set. In the second, the sophomore answered with a 6-3 win to post the second Islanders point of the day. Ricardo Mayagoitia won his third singles match of the year with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Melker Svard in No. 2 singles before Javier Pujol clinched the match for the Islanders in the No. 4 spot. Pujol propelled his way to a 6-3 victory in the first set before notching the Islanders fourth point of the match 6-3 in the second set. Freshman Philipp Kuehnen and Kamal Patel were in the middle of the second set in the No. 6 slot when the match was clinched. Kuehnen garnered the first set 6-2 and was leading the second set 2-1 when Pujol won. In No. 1 singles, Peter Nagy and Justin Carter were deadlocked at 5-5 in the second set when the match was clinched so they played it out. Nagy downed Carter 6-1 in the first set before forcing a second-set tiebreaker. The two stayed even in the tiebreaker until Nagy responded with back-to-back points at 8-8 to win 10-8. With the singles win, the junior improves to 6-1 in the No. 1 spot and has won five straight. “We have a lot we have to improve on, but I thought we did a good job today with the things we could control,” Moore added. “I like the character and toughness that our team is choosing to be about right now.” The women’s team will now embark on a four-match road swing. First up is a pair of matches in Houston against Southern Mississippi (Feb. 1) and Houston (Feb. 2). The men’s team will return to action along with the women on Feb. 4 at Prairie View A&M.
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photos by ALEXIS DE LEON
above: Junior John Jordan (10) shoots a free throw and gets nothing but net below: Senior Joy Williamson (31) decides whether to shoot from the three or pass to freshman Rashawn Thomas (25)
above: Junior Shola Adebayo (2) takes the ball down court below: Islanders women’s basketball team congratulate themselves over their 83-54 victory against the Lions