President’s Mardi Gras Ball Annual President’s Mardi Gras Ball honors donors
Meet Freshman Jessica Mendez
PAGE 5
Students from the theater arts department take on the task of providing authentic New Orleans style entertainment
by CONNER TICHOTA news editor
O
n Feb. 15, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hosted the annual President’s Mardi Gras Ball at the Art Museum of South Texas. The ball was held in honor of the various donors who made significant contributions to the Island University. The program began with a reception in the upper art gallery, where guests were allowed to mingle and enjoy entertainment provided by the A&M-Corpus Christi Theatre Department. The reception was followed by a sit down dinner and
presentation of awards to the honorees. This year’s list of honorees included: the Houston Endowment, Inc., the Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Ruth and Joseph Sheinberg, Dr. Flavius and Kathy Killebrew and many more deserving donors. “Those who we recognize this evening have given generously to improve the lives of our students,” said Dr. Trent Hill, Director of Institutional Advancement at A&M-Corpus Christi, “and provide academic opportunities for generations to come.“ Each of the honorees was inducted to
photo by Alexis De Leon
the Wall of Recognition. The Wall of Recognition is a tribute to those donors who have made contributions to the University. Recognition is divided into six levels including Legacy, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Heritage, based on the cumulative amounts of donation received at the end of each year.
Step into Virtual Reality
PAGE 8
see President’s Ball on pg 4
Students urged to vote on health referendum by CONNER TICHOTA news editor
O
n March 4 and 5 the polls will be open. Students of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum regarding an increase in the Student Health Fee that is built into each student’s tuition.
According to Myra Barrera, a student representative of the University Health Center, the proposed Health Referendum will increase the existing fee to a flat rate of $50.00 per fall/spring semester and a flat rate of $25.00 for summer sessions. The current fee charged to a student’s tuition is $7.70 per credit hour taken, with no more than $24.40 charged for an
entire semester. The proposed fee of $50.00 would increase the health fee by $25.80.
Selfies with Student athletes
PAGE 11
see Health Referendum on pg 3
HAPPY HOUR
•food•free wifi• HALF OFF FROZEN FRAPS | 3-5 PM EVERY DAY •3 local shops•
INDEX EDITORIAL 2 | NEWS 3 | FEATURES 5 | ENTERTAINMENT 7 | SPORTS 10 | VISUALS 12
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 06
2
editorial
02.27.2014
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
STEPHANIE WALLACE managing editor
MARIAM AMAYA
advertising manager
AUBREY DANCER layout editor
KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
CONNER TICHOTA news editor
JUSTIN VU NGUYEN
advertising assistant
CHRISTINA BOOTHE ANDREW LIGUEZ TREY SEAL staff reporters
NICK THOMSON
distribution manager
RUTH AIPPERSPACH faculty adviser
AMY KOTULSKI staff adviser
Dear Island University,
I
have come to learn that life on the Island can be as different from moment to moment as the weather of Corpus Christi. One minute it is hot and humid and you have been looking for parking for 30 minutes, the next minute a cold front blows in and you stumble upon a Quidditch match outside Bay Hall. The mysteries of the Island University are endless. Hopefully by now everyone has voted for their homecoming court and made plans to watch the Islanders dominate the court. Maybe this is the year Islanders pack the stands in such great numbers that everyone in the three, six, one feels the rumble of the crowd cheering on the home team. My sincerest apologies go out to the nominees running for homecoming court who were not named in our last issue. So here are the unnamed nominees for the 2014 homecoming court: KING: Geordan Strain -Student Government Association DUKE: Charles Saunders -Delta Chi QUEEN: Audrey Baldwin –Student Athletes Council Sarah Foley –Delta Delta Delta Cecilia Gonzalez – I-ADAPT Hannah Lockwood- Zeta Tau Alpha Daniliz Marrero- Gamma Phi Beta DUCHESS: Ashley Alvarez- Zeta Tau Alpha Jezzica Dimalanta- Gamma Phi Beta Elizabeth Dombrowski- Delta Delta Delta Nelda Hernandez- Campus Activities Board Mariam Ghanem- Panhellenic Council Maria Rogers- Alpha Gamma Delta Sarah Wright- Islanders Dance Team Senioritis is thoroughly setting in for this editor, however luckily the Island Waves staff is stacked with young guns this semester still energized with the vigor that comes with young reporters. If the influenza known as senioritis is hitting hard here are a few go to moves as prescribed by yours truly. Dance party for one or Zumba at the Dugan to let out pent up rage and frustration. Start a count down to graduation day (78 days from today depending on the college). Challenge yourself (and friends) to try something new be it food, an activity, a location or an event on campus. For some of us life will be changing forever come May, for others summer will only bring with it summer semester. No matter what, the goal of being on this island is to focus on creating a better future for our selves and generations to come. Before this becomes a sappy PSA from the 90s let me quote the great Dave Chappelle, “Life is hard but if you just remember to keep your genitals out of harm’s way, don’t chase money and refrain from littering you’ll be a winner.” Sincerely, Alexis De Leon Editor-in-Chief Island Waves
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.
image courtesy of common.wikipedia.ord
Rx for Traffic Pollution: Cleaner Gasoline and Vehicles STAT
An opinion editorial by doctors Patricia Finn and Albert Rizzo on why the EPA and everyone should work together to promote new standards to clean up smog-causing gasoline
A
s pulmonary physicians, we see patients every day who struggle to breathe. Those experiences lead us to not only treat, but to advocate for our patients with lung disease. We also speak up for the millions of infants, children, teenagers and seniors who face threats from the air they breathe. That’s why we are so concerned about the health problems caused by air pollution – and why the organizations we represent, the American Lung Association and the American Thoracic Society, believe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must move forward as quickly as possible with new standards to clean up smog-causing gasoline and motor vehicles. Ground level ozone, or smog, that blankets much of the United States during the summer is a powerful respiratory irritant. When
inhaled, ozone damages the lung tissue much like the summer sun, burns unprotected skin. Ozone air pollution poses health risks for all who are exposed, including infants, children teenagers, adults and seniors, and it is particularly harmful to the nearly 26 million living with asthma, nearly 13 million with COPD and the millions with other lung diseases. Just as importantly, even healthy adults who work or play outdoors are at risk. For those living near highways or other heavily used roads, the problem may be worse. Growing research reports much higher levels of pollution there. Many people who live near roadways have lower incomes, and often are at higher risk of having lung diseases. Tragically, polluted air can shorten life. For hundreds of thousands of
people, polluted air means coughing, wheezing, missed school and missed work, asthma attacks and heart attacks. Far too many end up in the emergency room or the hospital. These are the patients that physicians like us see daily in the hospital and in our practices. If we could simply write a prescription to clean up that pollution and help our patients, we’d give the White House and EPA one each that says: “Adopt Tier 3 STAT.” Tier 3 is the shortened name of new EPA standards to reduce the sulfur in gasoline and reduce emissions from new cars and SUVs. The White House is in the final stages of reviewing these standards. Lower-sulfur gasoline would immediately make every car on the road run cleaner because sulfur poisons the performance of a car’s pollution control system. Less sulfur means
less pollution, and by 2030, we’d have up to 15,000 fewer asthma attacks, more than 3 million fewer missed school and work days, and 2,500 fewer early deaths each year, as the American Lung Association estimated in a report last year. Unlike the cost of taking a child to the ER, the cost to protect their health is pretty low. EPA says that the cleaner gasoline would cost less than one penny more per gallon. As with many treatments, timing is critical. EPA needs to adopt these standards by the end of February to make sure we get all the benefits as soon as possible. If not, our patients and millions more remain exposed to yet another year of dangerous pollution. Remember, that can mean the loss of 2,500 lives. For the sake of our patients and all those who live where the air threatens
their health, we urge President Obama to direct EPA to adopt final standards by the end of this month so that we have cleaner, healthier air to breathe. Patricia W. Finn, MD President, American Thoracic Society Albert A. Rizzo, MD, FCCP, FACP Immediate Past Chair of the National Board of Directors, American Lung Association
3
news
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
Health Referendum The need for a referendum came about with the realization that the UHC does not have the staff or resources to aid the current demands of the student body. “ The University Health Center isn’t generating enough funds from our students,” said Barrera. “With the increase in student population, the expenses are increasing, but the services are remaining the same.” With the continuing expansion of A&M-Corpus Christi, the UHC has accrued additional expenses. These expenses range from facility maintenance, utilities, supplies and staffing costs. Furthermore, these expenses, mixed with the increase of students, have caused the UHC to begin turning away students. “I have to go to the UHC regularly for my medication,” said Barrera. “I’ve been turned away many times when I was sick and I’ve personally had to go to other [clinics]. I can’t tell you how expensive it is to get sick, and all you really need are antibiotics; but, they [the UHC] just can’t because there is such a demand then there are slots for everyone.” Barrera reported that there are approximately six to ten students turned away daily. These students are turned away because there isn’t any room for walkins, no time for an immediate appointment or even, sometimes, a lack of staff. If the UHC doesn’t begin to receive more funds, which are propagated through student fees, then the UHC is left with the ultimatum of cutting services. A loss in services could lead to more students being turned away daily. According to Barrera, the increased fees would go towards helping maintain the UHC
continued from page 1
Health Services Provided by the Health Center of Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi Immunizations Women’s Services Clinical Services Provider Services Physicals STD Testing Allergy Injection Nurse Line
and create some changes in services. The UHC would be able to increase provider time by adding more full time staff. This would allow for an increased volume of appointments scheduled. Furthermore, the pharmacy would be open all day, rather than being operational solely in the afternoons. Next, there are plans to open a “triage” unit, an area that would allow for walk-ins allowing students who need quick evaluations to be seen immediately. The increased fees will help to make the Ask-A-
Nurse hotline a 24 hour service available to students not only during the week days, but during nights and weekends as well. Finally, the UHC hopes to expand their outreach and educational programs. The increased fees created by the UHC referendum are comparable to other university rates within the A&M System. According to figures collected and provided by the UHC, the health center fees for Texas A&M University are $72.50 per semester, while fees for Texas A&MKingsville are $57.00 per semester.
These rates are even more comparable than those of various urgent care clinics around Corpus Christi. One of the lowest rates comes from Bay Area Quick Care at $70 per office visit, and the highest being Concentra at $150 per visit. The voting will take place in the University Center commons from 9 a.m. to 7p.m. on March 4 and 5. It requires a majority of student votes for the referendum to pass. However, the change will not go into effect until approved by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents. If the changes do pass, they will go into effect in the Fall 2014 semester. For more information regarding the UHC referendum, please visit healthcenter. tamucc.edu.
news 4
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
President’s Ball The contributions made by each donor are reflected throughout the Island University. Contributions have aided a variety of areas including the expansion of the University, funding programs, and funding scholarships. For instance, Houston Endowment, Inc. contributed to the building of the Early Childhood and Development Center. The CCA funded scholarships, and donated funds to the Harte Research Institute. Joseph Sheinberg, a former graduate of A&M-Corpus Christi, along with his wife, Ruth, also contribute to scholarship funds. President & First Lady Killebrew have created the Dean’s Annual Scholarship Fund, and also the Flavius and Kathy Killebrew Scholarship Fund. This is a small list of achievements compared to the extensive catalog of funds donated by all the donors with in intent of aiding A&M-Corpus Christi. “Tonight, we thank our many friends and the community that have been very generous to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,” said Killebrew. “Many of these gifts provide a lifetime support to the University, including endowed scholarships, which makes it possible for our top students to fulfill their dreams of obtaining a degree.” Many of the donors are native Corpus Christi organizations. According to Philip Skrobarczyk, President and CEO of Fulton* Coastcon General Contractors, donating to A&M-Corpus Christi is a type of community outreach. “I went to college there [A&M-Corpus Christi] when was still CCSU [Corpus Christi State University],” said Skrobarczyk, “When you think about all the contributions of the University to the economy, etc., and even to the students, you can’t help but want to be involved.” Also in attendance for the evening were a few volunteer student organizations. One such organization was Student Foundation Association, an organization that raises scholarship funds through various programs promoting education and campus involvement. “I think this ball shows how well [the University] is ran,” said Carlos Hinojosa, a student volunteer with the SFA. “It shows how good of a program it gives to students.” The night closed with a raffle for a weekend trip to New Orleans. Entertainment was provided by live musicians as guests continued to mingle and say their goodbyes. “We think it’s a great opportunity for the University and for our students,” said Dr. Patty Conard, Professor at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We’re having a great time.” The complete list of honorees for the 2014 President’s Mardi Gras Ball is listed to the right.
continued from page 4 Platinum Circle: Houston Endowment, Inc. Gold Circle: Coastal Conservation Association Texas Dr. Miriam Wagenschein Silver Circle: LaVerne and Thomas Howell Foundation Loris Jane Welhausen Management Trust Ruth and Joseph Sheinberg Shell Oil Company
Bronze Circle: Atlee M. Cunningham Jr. Dr. Flavius and Kathy Killebrew Fulton* Coastcon General Contractors Jessie Frances Neal Foundation
above: Janelle Romo, nursing student and battalion leader, samples the decadent desserts Left: Romo votes for her favorite Mardi Gras mask created by various high school students around the Corpus Christi area
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Researcher Discovers New Species of Marine Worm Important to Ecosystem
PRESS RELEASE
A
researcher at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has discovered a new species of marine worms that is an important part of the marine ecosystem. The species is considered to be an important source of food to sport fish, such as flounder. Michael Reuscher (pictured right), who received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology in December 2013 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, recently discovered the new species of marine worm found in the shallow waters of the northern Chinese coast. “We have only discovered a small fraction of existing marine species,” said Reuscher, who works for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI). “If we can get a comprehensive list of all the species out there, then we can better address meaningful questions on how they affect our ecosystems.” Marine worms, also known as polychaetes, are an important part of the ecosystem because they feed many species of sport fish and crabs. Shallow water species can grow up to five inches in length and congregate in large numbers. Reuscher says that we know very little about most marine species and how they interact with each other and the ecosystem
they live in. “I am fascinated by the appearance and biology of these little, alien creatures,” said Reuscher. “They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors.” Reuscher and his colleague, Dr. Jin Zhou from the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Shanghai, have published the discovery in the latest issue of the “Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington.” While Reuscher was a Graduate Research Assistant at the HRI, he described nearly 20 new species of marine worms from Japan, Alaska, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and the Red Sea. “I feel very honored to discover and describe new species,” said Reuscher. “Being the first person to see animals of a formerly unknown species is very exciting.” A recipient of the Flavius and Kathy Killebrew Dean’s Annual Scholarship Fund, Reuscher says that the University has helped greatly with his research. He has traveled far and wide in search of unknown marine worm species. He has visited the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, Russia; the zoological museums in Hamburg, Germany, and Vienna, Austria; and the National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.; to name a few.
photo courtesy of TAMUCC.EDU
02.27.2014
FRESHMAN by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
J
essica Mendez, the Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi freshman from Corpus Christi, spent her high school years playing for the Moody Trojans. Today, Mendez bats for another team, the A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders. “Corpus Christi is my hometown. I picked TAMUCC because it is a beautiful campus, and I am also close to home,” Mendez said. “My family is my everything so I wanted to be close to them.” During high school, Mendez won several awards and lettered all four years while playing for the Trojan’s varsity softball team. Additionally, Mendez and her team were named district champions for four straight
SPOTLIGHT
years. “What I miss from high school are the football games and getting to hang out with my friends. I’m having fun at college though, and I like meeting new people around campus and showing them my crazy side,” the freshman said. “The biggest difference between high school and college is that you can’t depend on anyone, you have to be your own motivation to get things done correctly and on time.” A jack-of-all-trades, Mendez currently serves as a utility player for the Island’s softball team, meaning she can play several different positions. Due to a fractured hand though, Mendez is currently sitting out games, but says she is looking forward to getting her cast taken off. “For now, my role is to support my team and cheer them on while I’m out,” Mendez said. “But I can’t wait until I’m able to play the
sport I love the most, softball.” Mendez is currently majoring in kinesiology, and hopes to one day obtain a job as a softball coach for children. “I chose this major because I love softball, and I have a lot to give to younger children that will soon want to achieve their own goals of playing softball,” the kinesiology major said. During her free time, Mendez enjoys hanging out in the University Center where she likes to meet people and grab a bite to eat. “My favorite hangout spot on campus would have to be the University Center because I love to eat and I see new faces everyday,” she said. “In fact, my favorite meal to eat is two Chickfil-A sandwiches with a large fry and buffalo sauce.” After a rocky last semester, Mendez said she learned more about managing her time, and is now maintaining a healthy lifestyle by
5
features ISLAND WAVES
knowing when and where she should spend her time. “Last semester I procrastinated and did poorly on my assignments, so now I’m on top of things because I want to better myself,” the kinesiology major said. “The way I balance school work and my softball schedule now is by doing parts and pieces everyday so I won’t get so overwhelmed. You just have to be very disciplined and know how to manage your free time.” Mendez offers this piece of advice for future students, and encourages other freshmen to stay focused on school. “Do not get sidetracked by things around you, and keep your head in the books because this is your future. Also, don’t waste your time and money if you’re not going to push yourself to success,” Mendez said.
Corpus Christi IDOL
by ANDREW LIGUEZ entertainment reporter
A
uditions were held Feb. 14, 15 and 16, for the talent competition Corpus Christi Idol. This event holds both an adult version and a junior version. Here the community competes against each other for a cash prize and bragging rights. The event was hosted at a staging area in the Food Court at the La Palmera Mall and the finals were held at our own Performing Arts Center. The event was hosted by Professor Don Luna and sponsored by La Palmera mall. “Some of the performers were really good, while others shouldn’t have been there,” Andrea Rodriguez said when asked about the auditions. In the end, 20 people were selected, split evenly for girls and boys. The finals for Corpus Christi idol were held Feb 22 and were wildly attended by the community and friends of family of the completers. During the finals each contestant had to perform a song of their choosing.
The judges table consisted of Ms. Heidi Hovda, Mr. John Thomas, and Ms. Lydia Blanco Garza. The first performer for the evening was Denise Armadillo followed by Jose Acevedo. After each performance one of the judges would give their input on how the performance was and how they could improve their performances. After the first ten minutes of the performances a quick ten minute intermission was given. After the intermission there was a quick performance by last years Corpus Christi Idol winner Lucy Rodriguez. right:Winners of CC Idol pose together after each receiving their awards. (from left to right) second place Cezar Martinez, first place Jose Acevedo, and third place Devin Sutton bottom left: Daniel Jaramillo playing guitar bottom right: Celeste Soliz sings solo
photos courtesy of ANDREW LIGUEZ
features 6
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ features editor
I
t’s the bunny way or no way for my three boys. Recently, Jojo, who is normally a very well behaved bunny, has taken to chewing my stuff. I thought this was a habit he had outgrown
seeing as how he hasn’t chewed anything since he was just a baby, but apparently I was wrong. Lately, Jojo has chewed though various wires and rubber items, including, but not limited to, one iPhone charger, two laptop chargers, one Nintendo 64 cord and a TV remote. He has also recently tried scratching and pulling at the carpet in my living room, but that quickly ended after being placed in timeout for a few hours. For the most part, I’ve been able to stop him before he did too much damage. He did however manage to completely destroy my iPhone charger beyond repair, but that was my
fault for not giving his royal self the attention he felt he so rightly deserved. Apparently, ignoring your bunny for homework is not a good enough excuse in their eyes, and is grounds for destruction of your property. Additionally, Jojo has taken to jumping on top of me and waking me up whenever I nap on the living room couch, his way of demanding my undivided attention. Needless to say, my afternoon nap was cut short Friday after his fluffy little body woke me up three times in the span of 20 minutes. It was only after I gave him a, I kid you not, 30-minute long face massage, that Jojo
decided I was forgiven for ignoring him. He then proceed to demonstrate his forgiveness by licking and grooming my entire hand before hopping away. Since then, Mr. Jojo has returned to his normal, well-behaved self, and has even taken to following me around my apartment like a puppy whenever he wants something. He has also demanded more face massages and will nudge my hand if I so much as remove my hand from his face. The moral of the story, don’t ever ignore your bunny.
LIFE OF A STUDENT MUSICIAN:SABRINA VANDERBURG by ANDREW LIGUEZ entertainment reporter
W
hat is your classification and major? “I am a senior and my major is music education. For my major I basically go through the education classes and have an emphasis on music. My major will be EC through 12, which means I can teach all levels. At the begging we go through the music classes for two years and at the end of our [ME majors] sophomore year we have a sophomore barrier. At this point we determine whenever we want to do education or performances. Then they ask us why and we continue with our education.” How did you get into music? “I wanted to be a veterinarian for the longest time, when I went to moody high school where I was a part of the health science academy. Whenever I go into their band program I realized that’s what I wanted. So after that year my mom talked to me and asked me if I wanted to go to Carroll instead to continue music, and I ended up transferring. I joined the band there and I excelled from there. My education interest came from my mom who was teacher was a teacher for 39 years, education runs in the family.” What instrument do you play? “My primary is saxophone, and my secondary is clarinet. I’ve been playing for ten years now.” How is it being president of the music fraternity? “Its hard [laughing], it’s a bunch of girls making sure to delegate and get
information from our advisor. But also making sure that everybody is doing their job and getting things done. I have been involved for three years, this being my third year. I didn’t hold an office my first year, but my second year I became Vice-President of membership. That was trying to recruit people into the fraternity. This year I am president and it’s difficult, dealing with music and what I like, it’s good to be in. Does the fraternity do a lot of music or is it just getting students together? “Our focus is music, but if you don’t play an instrument we also have people that join for music appreciation. We have a bio-med major in our group, and she used to play flute. But we do require a music performance per semester, but if they don’t do a performance then can also do a presentation instead. One of members for example did a presentation about how you listen to music and how it works in the mind. We’ve also gone out in the community and help with events like Relay for Life.” What do you daily and what do you want to do in the future? “As a student musician I make sure that I am prepared for any ensemble. I also have to spend my time with other things like the fraternity and practice. I plan to graduate in dec and from there I hope to become a teacher in the local area. I want to stay in Corpus and assist with the music dept.” “If people want to pursue music, we have a lot of resources and organizations that people can join and pursue their music interest,” Vanderburg said.
photo courtesy of Sabrina Vanderburg
7
entertainment
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
by TREY SEAL entertainment reporter
I
AUBREY DANCER layout editor
want to take a jog through Wonderland, the mushrooms and flowers would be as tall as trees, the forest would sing a peaceful tune as I passed them by under a marmalade colored sky. The crazy thing about my dream is that it is possible. As a matter of fact, with the access to proper equipment, I could do it right now. When you think of virtual reality, what comes to your mind? The possibilities are endless for such a development and this year it will all be possible thanks to tech startup Oculus VR® with their Oculus Rift headset. The Oculus Rift was revealed to the world through crowd funding (investing in production of an item in exchange for a copy) website Kickstarter.com. Internet users funded its $250,000 production budget 975% for a total of nearly 2.5 million dollars in capital. However, the potential for Oculus Rift goes far beyond video games. Imagine a couple’s therapy session where a husband and wife would wear a more refined Google glass-like device for a few days. The couple would then return to their therapist where they would use the headset to see their life through each other’s perspective. You could quite literally take a walk through somebody’s day-to-day life. Seeing is one thing but what if I told you could that you could realistically walk and run as well. My dream will indeed be a reality due to a device known as the Virtuix Omni, a multidirection treadmill-like device that encloses the user in a ring to prevent falling. The user slips on a special pair of shoes that are made to glide across the devices surface while keeping you balanced. Movement is mapped to any keyboard layout, so a massive back catalog of software will support the device from launch. The product creator’s tout the Omni combined with the Oculus could be used for virtual tourism, conventions, and work places. You could explore another time. Imagine walking through a rendered colonial Boston or attending Woodstock and seeing Jimi Hendrix play with your naked eyes. You could even walk up on stage and see the performance up close. Amazon could have a virtual store where customers could view their products in a mall-like environment from the comfort of their living room. For better and for worse, the infamous chat room would be revolutionized. Imagine having an internet speed dating event where users walk around a virtual room and mapping actual body language and lip syncing to a realistic three dimensional model of yourself. Movies can be changed forever, you could be the protagonist in a linear story, a life simulator of sorts where you take on a reputation, social status, race, or gender and experience the feeling of being that person in a realistic or fantastical world. The Oculus Rift and the Virtuix Omni are glamorous but at the same time I see a dangerous side to them. I imagine a potential for addiction due to the potential of someone beginning to prefer fantasy to reality. It’s a scary thought but it’s completely believable due to rising levels of video game addiction in the past few years. I for one look forward to this new technology due to the opportunities for learning that it brings in addition to the immersiveness of virtual and recreated places. Imagine yourself running through central park (in New York City) and seeing the pigeons fly away as you run towards them. Now excuse me while I go stand in on Abraham Lincoln’s induction.
entertainment 8
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
ThePrincessFables by TREY SEAL entertainment reporter
W
hen thinking of children’s books the first thing that comes to mind is a simplistic plot with a hidden message. They just never seem to reflect the tender love and care placed into the fairy tales of old. “The Princess Fables,” however, is a book that brings back the nostalgia of the classic fairytales from our youth (and many youths before that.) It’s a collection of fairytales that author Marc Clark would tell to his young daughter as a ploy to get her ready for school. “The Princess who always said ‘I don’t wanna’” is about a little princess who says “I don’t wanna” to everything that is spoken to her. Eventually this horrible habit almost leads to her kingdoms decimation due to her refusal to leave castle grounds when an incoming flood threatens the area. Another is “The Princess who always said ‘not today’”, the story of a young girl who would constantly say “not today” in order to reflect the bad habit of procrastination. As you can guess, the habits in question always lead to some sort of catastrophe or event that forces the little girls to change the behavior once and for all. Fortunately, the stories all have happy endings. The stories are written very well too, choosing to forego the dumbed down language of children’s books in order to be both entertaining for the child and the parent. I didn’t have a young relative around to read too but after reading them myself, I can vouch for their entertainment factor. Each fable is great at breaking down the reasoning for these bad habits rather than just shunning their existence, which is great for leading your child (or yourself) to a great epiphany. I interviewed author Marc Clark about the book, his background, and what led him to write fairytales for the 21st century. Clark hails from a background in screenwriting for promotional ads, which he has done for many years. His first job was putting together a promo for classic HBO horror series “Tales From The Crypt.” He has also written in his words “about a half dozen screenplays and a half dozen stage plays.” He estimates that he has written close to a couple of thousand promos, review, and entertainment news pieces since the founding of his production company “Seven C’s productions” in 1995. When asked where he got his writing style
from, he responded, “I stick to narrative, I feel that storytelling is one of the most important things. Occasionally I’ll break format but I always ensure that I bring people back to the narrative. They say that one of the first things you have to do in writing is kill your favorite parts and those are usually the monologues: the elaborate, beautifully written, and character driven passages that don’t help to drive the plot.” In terms of film, he said nobody is more guilty of this practice than Quentin Tarantino who has the memorable “Royale with Cheese” dialogue in addition to the drawn out German dialogues of Inglorious Basterds (title spelled as so). “I was never avidly into fairytales but if I had to cite a traditional story that I love it would have to be Walt Disney’s Pinocchio. I believe it was the best written, it has the wonderful use of darker colors which are rarely seen in children’s media. The sayings that the characters have about life are great too; I think we can all learn a lot from the sayings of Jiminy Cricket especially. So what inspired him to write a book predominantly focused towards a female audience. “The Princess Fables are based on the stories that I would tell to my daughter when she was about six. We had a very close relationship due to my work as a freelance writer/producer (which let me work from home a lot.) I would tell these stories to my daughter in the morning when I was getting her ready for school or when putting her to bed. “When she was older, her mother and I went through a painful divorce. To cope with the separation, I wrote these stories down so she could always stay with me. Every time I read them, I still can’t help but shed a tear.” When asked about what audience he feels the book is for, he said: “They’re great for any parent to read to their children but I wrote the book with the intention of it being something that a father can read to his daughter. The overarching theme among the stories is one of discipline; each story contains a lesson about responsibility and growing as a person.” With more kids becoming entrenched in technology at such a young age, the world needs more books like “The Princess Fables” to teach us about responsibility and interacting with the world at large. Its high quality writing and relatable morals will ensure that anybody who reads it will be sucked into its story as well as its life lessons. The Princess Fables can be purchased on Amazon.com at the price of $2.99 for an e-book or $5.39 for paperback.
image courtesy of AMAZON.COM
9
ads
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
Island Waves
Te x a s A & M Un i ve r s i t y - C o r p u s C h r i s t i
student newspaper
Now Hiring Copy Editor Layout Assistant News Reporter Sports Reporter applications now being accepted career-services.tamucc.edu contact us in the newsroom (361) 825-5862 • editor@tamucc.edu
sports 10
02.27.2014
ISLAND WAVES
The superstitious game: Part 2
The second installment of examining the ins and outs of superstitions in the world of sports by CHRISTINA BOOTHE sports reporter
S
uperstitions aren’t just a team thing, nor are they just fun facts on the history of baseball. They are still alive, and doing very well, in the individual techniques of professional players. A rather amusing example of this is Jason Giambi’s “slump thong.” When Giambi, a current first baseman for the Colorado Rockies, is in a “hitting slump,” the batting average decreases as a result of the inability to hit the ball and unfortunate frequent strikeouts, he dons a golden thong to aid him in his endeavors to reverse the slump. While it is unknown if this mystical underwear actually brings Giambi much aid, some players have seen positive results to their quirky tendencies. Moises Alou, an excellent player whose five-tool capabilities and lifetime statistics have deemed him one of the best outfielders of his time, urinated on his hands in an attempt to make the callouses more
predominant so his physical control of the bat was more extreme. Alou’s statistics suggest that his fetish may have been constructive: the outfielder put up a career batting average of .303 and hit 332 homeruns during his eighteen year Major League career. It isn’t just the players that believe in these superstitions. Detroit Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland was known in 2011 for wearing an unwashed pair of boxers to maintain his team’s winning streak. It must have paid off, because the Tigers saw two winning streaks – one that lasted eleven games, and another that lasted nine – in that season alone. Even those who don’t play on the field believe that their paranoia somehow contributes to the game. Take, for instance, Mark Dornfield, a Minnesota Twins fan who supposedly played a large role in the team’s 1987 season. Dornfield created a banner that read, “FRANKIE SWEET MUSIC VIOLA” in honor of Frank Viola, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. Viola became attached to the banner when he noticed that he always seemed to pitch great games and lead his team to victory when it was on display. The
Twins made it to the World Series that 1987 season, and Viola’s wife gave Dornfield tickets to the first and seventh game in an attempt to entice her husband’s pitching skills. It worked; the Twins won both of those games and Viola was named “Series MVP.” In fact, some fans even pull their significant others into their beliefs. A Cardinals fan who goes by the screen name of azcardsfan1616 claimed that while he and his girlfriend listened to the games, the Cardinals went 4-2. When they broke up, the St. Louis baseball team proceeded to lose eight of their last nine games. “I was trying to get her back,” azcardsfan1616 claims to his fellow fans, “Just to finish the season.” That sounds awfully irrational: to get back together with an ex-girlfriend just so a baseball team can have a better season. And yet, it’s surprisingly common to see those who “keep the baseball faith” do all that is in their power to see their team achieve success (Steve Rushin, 2003). Major League Baseball has long placated to superstitions, since the “Curse of Bambino.” But how do other sports view these tricky fantasies? Next time, we’ll be researching the
history of superstition as it pertains to other popular sports, like basketball, football, and soccer.
The Kleberg Bank Classic not a total loss for Islanders by CHRISTINA BOOTHE sports reporter
A
beautiful Thursday afternoon hailed from Whataburger Field as the Islanders geared up to face off against Brigham Young University. The Islanders, 2-3 in the season so far, placed newcomer junior Gavin Williamson on the mound to start game one of the Kleberg Bank Classic. The game progressed quickly, with an eight run scoring session in the top of the fifth by BYU to take the former tie to a 9-1 lead. The Islanders valiantly attempted a comeback with a one run rally in the eighth inning, but BYU ultimately emerged victorious, with a 10-2 win. The next game started later that evening, and featured junior Matt Danton on the mound. The Islanders, decked out in their pristine blue and white jerseys, fought hard to gain back their dignity. Under Danton’s strong leadership, the Islanders defense kept BYU at one point, coming back to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth and take the lead. With another run for the Islanders in the bottom of the seventh, BYU rotated their bullpen, desperate for a doubly victorious night. They did not prevail, and Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi took the victory in the second game. Day two of the Kleberg Classic featured a game between rivals. The University of Texas – San Antonio
ventured into Corpus Christi to challenge the Islanders. With freshman pitcher Devin Skapura on the mound, who threw an outstanding game against UTPA in his first start of the season, the Islanders were looking for their second victory of the classic. When UTSA represented early, scoring three runs in the top of the first, the Islanders found themselves in a game of catch-up that they would not win. After fighting back and scoring one run in the second, fifth, and sixth innings for a total of three points, the Islanders were unable to catch up to the Roadrunners, who scored a total of eight runs in the nine inning game. On Saturday, day three of the Classic, the Islanders faced the most menacing team in the mix: Texas Christian University. Talk of four draft picks on the team gave TCU a leering presence over the entire Classic. The Islanders brought out their number one pitcher, junior Trevor Belicek, to provide an equally intimidating presence on the field. Though juniors Kyle Danford, Jordan Lee, senior Cody Stephens, and redshirt freshman Zacharias Hardy battled hard to lift the offense into a lead, the Islanders defense couldn’t hold back the three run field day that TCU had in the top of the ninth to take the game from a tie to a victory. Though the Islanders were only 1-4 in the series, they were still rewarded with two members of the team making the Kleberg Bank College Classic All-
Tournament Team: Danton and Danford. Danton led the Islanders to their solo victory of the series against BYU on Thursday night, making himself a defensive powerhouse. In contrast, outfielder Danford, with a batting average of .294 in the series and five RBIs, had massive contributions to the Islanders offense throughout the series. Both players were key components of a team who worked hard over the weekend and represented their school well, regardless of the losses. Catch the Islanders baseball team at their first game at Chapman field on March 7 against Valparaiso. Students are granted free admission, and are encouraged to take advantage of the beautiful weather and root for the boys in blue and white.
photo courtesy of Islander Athletics
above: Junior, pitcher Trevor Belicek (5) takes the mound against TCU during the final game of the Kleberg Bank Classic
photo by Alexis De Leon
11
sports
02.27.2014
Selfies with student athletes
ISLAND WAVES
Get to know Islanders student athletes one self-taken portrait at a time by CHRISTINA BOOTHE sports reporter
R
ing in a warm welcome for the newest athlete to be featured on selfies with student athletes: Shola Adebayo, a junior who transferred to Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi last year. Though Adebayo is an exciting player to watch on the court, she’s also a fascinating person in real life – so if given the chance, sit down with her and have a conversation sometime.
Name/Nickname: Shola Adebayo/ Showtimee Age/Year: 21/Junior Sport/Position/Number: Basketball/ Shooting Guard/#2 Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Major: Communications/English Favorite Song: No Matter What – Future Favorite Movie: The Blind Side Favorite Book: Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom Favorite Hobby (aside from the sport you play): Shop, watch TV, and travel. If I’m not on the field/court/track or at class, I’m usually: in my bed. If you sit next to me in class and want to strike conversation, a sure bet is to talk to me about: Shoes, clothes, or animals! Favorite Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky The person I look up to most is: My Mom My athletic inspiration is: My uncle My celebrity crush is: Future right: Women’s basketball player Shola Adebayo and sports reporter Christina Boothe show off their best “duck” faces
photo by Shola Adebayo
Islanders Grind Out 4-3 Win over UT Arlington GoIslanders
C
Ricardo Mayagoitia then answered with a three-set ORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Freshman Paul Cook Tennis Match Results victory over Arbiza in No. 2 singles to put the Islanders in squeezed out a 7-4 tiebreaker in the second set UT Arlington vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi front 3-2. The sophomore dropped the first set 6-3, but to lift the Texas A&M – Corpus Christi men’s tennis 2/24/2014 at Corpus Christi, Texas recovered to edge Arbiza in the second set 7-5 to force a team to a 4-3 victory over UT Arlington today at the third set. In the third, Mayagoitia fell behind 3-2 before Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. winning the next four games to win, 6-3. “Great courage and resiliency from our team Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 4, UT Arlington 3 The Mavericks battled back to even the match at 3-3 today,” Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. “This last Singles competition: after a three-set win in No. 4 singles. Westmoreland week has been a tough journey being on the road came out and dominated the first set 6-4 before falling a lot. We dug a hole for ourselves with some bad 1. Peter Nagy (AMCC) def. Marek Pesicka (UTA) 6-1, 6-0 7-6 (5) in a tough tiebreaker to Erimicioiu. In the third, choices, but we really showed a lot of courage to dig 2. Ricardo Mayagoitia (AMCC) def. Carlos Arbiza (UTA) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 the senior led early at 3-2 but Erimicioiu won four out. UT Arlington is a very, very good young team and straight games to win the set 6-3. they deserved to win today just as much as we did. 3. Danie, Armengol (UTA) def. Guillaume Rauseo (AMCC) 6-2, 7-5 With the match tied at 3-3, it all came down to This was simply a great college tennis match between 4. Sebastian Erimicioiu (UTA) def. Matt Westmoreland (AMCC) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 Cook in No. 6 singles. The freshman topped Francesco two teams that fought very, very hard. I can’t speak 5. Javier Pujol (AMCC) def. Mario Muniesa (UTA) 7-5, 6-4 Migliano 6-4 in the first, and built a 5-4 lead in the highly enough of this Corpus Christi crowd and the second set, before Migliano won the next two games to heart and soul that they bring to our team. Simply 6. Paul Cook (AMCC) def. Francesco Migliano (UTA) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) move ahead 6-5. Cook then garnered the next game to love our fans.” force the tiebreaker. With his teammates and the Corpus The Islanders (9-5) fell behind early 1-0 after the Doubles competition: Christi community cheering him on, the Petts Wood, Mavericks (3-6) secured the doubles point with wins England native grabbed the 7-4 tiebreaker win to clinch on courts one and two. Matt Westmoreland and Paul 1. Javier Perez/Carlos Arbiza (UTA) def. Peter Nagy/Guillaume Rauseo (AMCC) 8-4 the match for the Islanders. Cook dropped just their second match of the year in 2. Marek Pesicka/Sebastian Erimicioiu (UTA) def. Matt Westmoreland/Paul Cook “Paul Cook and Ricardo Mayagoitia showed incredible No. 2 doubles with an 8-3 loss to Marek Pesicka and (AMCC) 8-3 grit today,” Moore added. “Those guys are maturing so Sebastian Erimicioiu. In No. 1 doubles, the UTA duo 3. Pietro Jordao/Philip Kuehnen (AMCC) vs. Austin Robles/Danie, Armengol (UTA) fast. They listen and they really compete hard. Along of Javier Perez and Carlos Arbiza topped Peter Nagy 6-4, unfinished with Javier, these guys’ best tennis is ahead of them.” and Guillaume Rauseo 8-4. The freshman-junior duo The Islanders will next be in action when they host of Pietro Jordao and Philip Kuehnen teamed up for UTA answered back with a win in No. 3 singles to push ahead the prestigious HEB Tournament of Championships on the first time this season in No. 3 doubles and were 2-1. Armengol topped Rauseo 6-2, 7-5 for the Mavericks second Feb. 28 and March 1 at the HEB Tennis Center and the Thomas J. up 6-4 on Austin Robles and Danie Armengol when play was point of the day. However, sophomore Javier Pujol showed a lot Henry Tennis Center. SMU, Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette, DePaul, stopped. of fight to capture the Islanders’ second point of the day over Western Michigan, South Alabama and UTSA are all scheduled Nagy answered with a straight-set victory in No. 1 singles Mario Muniesa in the No. 5 position. Pujol fell behind 3-5 in to compete. Last season, the Islanders clinched their first ever to get the Islanders on the board and even the match at 1-1. The junior and co-captain downed Pesicka 6-1, 6-0, to improve the first set before climbing back to win four straight games to HEB Tournament of Champions title. The team won a gutsy 4-3 notch the 7-5 win. In the second, the two stayed even early on match over then No. 34 Middle Tennessee in the finals, taking to 10-2 in the No. 1 spot. He has now won nine of his last 10 until Pujol took the next two games to win 6-4 and record his home the first title in the event. matches in singles play. For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on “Peter Nagy was a great leader today,” Moore said. “He came first win in No. 5 singles and knot the match at 2-2. “I thought Javier showed a lot of courage today,” Moore said. Facebook (IslandersTennis) and follow them on Twitter and out and did what great leaders do. He set the tone of intensity “That’s another young player who is really learning.” Instagram (@IslandersTennis). by his example.”
visuals 12
ISLAND WAVES
02.27.2014