Volume 27 Issue 06

TEXAS TEXASA&M A&MUNIVERSITY–CORPUS UNIVERSITY–CORPUS CHRISTI CHRISTI

| ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM || VOLUME VOLUME26 27ISSUE ISSUE20 06 || 08.27.15 02.25.16 |

ISLANDERS IN ACTION

see YMCA on page 11

SMOKE FREE ISLAND LIFE photo by JAMIE FINK

Island University aims for smoke free campus by 2017, first in A&M system

by GERI LEMMONS staff writer

T

here is a movement that has been a long time in the making for students and staff, and that is to make the university a non-smoking university.

There have been town hall meetings, along with different information presented to the president of the university as well as many different opinions.

Delaney Foster, student engagement coordinator, said the town hall meeting went very well and there were lively discussions.

“It was a meeting about making sure that everyone was heard because no one wants to be not heard,” Foster said. “We had a whole hour of discussion.”

This has been an issue that has been building for some time now.

First, it was decide to move smoking out of the buildings, which at the time was a pretty big deal. Then they made it so that a person smoking had to be 25 feet away from the buildings in order to smoke. Now

students are trying to push to make the campus a no smoking campus, like many others around the country.

One of the issues that are facing people who want smoking to be banned is the fact that smoking is a big health issue and because Corpus Christi is such a windy city it is even more of an issue. The same goes for e-cigarettes and the different vapors that are out there. They do not know what is in these things so they do not know if they are harmful or not.

The opposition to this proposal is the fact that people are somehow okay with banning cigarettes but they are more upset about the fact that vapors and e-cigarettes will have to go away as well. Different companies and restaurants feel the same way about any other form of smoking meaning cigarettes, vapors and e-cigarettes are seen as the same thing.

Maverick Martinez a graduate student said this movement is not to say that anyone is bad and that they are not out to get people. He

photo by LEANNE HAAS

Elsy Hernandez shows off a bag of collected cigarette butts during the annual Islander Clean.

said that people’s lives are being put in danger with smoking and this is just made to help.

“We are not the police, we just want people to be careful because the worse thing you can hear is that someone’s life or health was effected and you were one of the reasons,” Martinez said. “Better yourself and better everyone around you.”

Some people talk about or ask what they could ban next, junk food

INDEX OPINION 2,3 | NEWS 4,5,8,10 | CITY 6,7 | ENTERTAINMENT 9 | SPORTS 11,12 |

or fried food. But the goal is not to take away freedoms. The goal is to make the school more health aware and the person with the final decision is the president of the University.

“I smoked for years and I went to graduate school at a campus that was smoke free and I did not know they were smoke free, and I showed see SMOKE FREE on page 4

2

opinion

02.25.2016

Students can beat semester stress ISLAND WAVES

by KACI ALVAREZ staff writer

It is about that time of the year when homework is getting distributed and tests are in full swing. If the majority of the students at the Island University are like me, then stress can creep up out of nowhere and wreak havoc for quite a while.

There are quite a few ways to release stress while in college that are extremely effective. Here are a few.

1. Go To Yoga Yoga is such a great way to release stress. The breathing meditation can calm your heart rate and relax

your body. By relaxing and clearing your mind, the stress hormone in your brain called cortisol decreases.

The Dugan Health Center on campus offers multiple levels of yoga group classes throughout the week for students, ranging from yoga essentials for beginners to power yoga for the more experienced. The best part about these yoga classes is students do not have to worry and stress about paying for membership to attend the class.

2. Take a Bath This is my favorite way to relax and reduce stress. By drawing yourself a warm bath, lighting some candles, dimming the lights and listening to your favorite music, you allow your thoughts to escape your busy mind.

Some Lush Cosmetic bath bombs or bubble bars are a nice way to try and spice up your relaxing haven.

There are scents ranging from fruity to spicy and combinations of both. The aroma from these products can take you into another place, which further releases your mind from the stressful situations you are currently going through.

3. Write in a Journal While writing seems like the last thing anyone wants to do while stressed out with school related work, it can be one of the most effective ways to relive stress.

Writing down what you are feeling, I mean what you are really feeling (no one will read this besides you), lets you get rid of some of the stress and anxiety that is built up inside.

I keep a drawer filled with

journals that have been written in over my many “I can not handle life” episodes. It really does help, especially since I can say whatever you want without the fear of being judged.

These are just a few ways to relive stress during the rough spot or spots in the semester as they arise. Some others include going for a nice walk, reading a book, and, the one that most of us do, taking a nap and pretending like everything is fine. We have all been there so there is no point in lying or pretending.

They really do work. If you do not believe me, then give them a try next time you want to rip your hair out because your professors “just do not understand the struggle of being a student.”

What does it actually mean to be a feminist

by GERI LEMMONS staff writer

When people hear the word feminism, most think of women in the 1970s burning their bras or they think of the MTV Video Music Awards watching Beyoncé on the stage with the words behind her.

Most men think they are not feminists and most women do not even know what the true meaning of the word is.

Feminism is the belief that men and women should be equal when it comes to all aspects of life. In other words it means that men and women have equal rights in various parts of life such as in politics, education, the work force and equal pay.

When the question, “Is anyone in here a feminist?” was posed in

my freshman history class, most students either did not answer or did not think they were a feminist. My history teacher stood there with her hand up along with maybe two other students looking around at the amount of hands that were not up.

My history professor then smiled and told us the true meaning of the word and that men and women can be feminists and that all of the stereotypes that were in our head about feminism were wrong. After my professor said this she asked the question again and a lot more students raised their hand this time, even I raised my hand.

When we are young we are not taught what the true striped down meaning of feminism means. We look at TV and we see stereotypes of women picketing and shouting things at people as they walk by and we think that is not who I want to be. Or we think “I am not

that passionate about something so I am not a feminist” or “I do not fit with them.”

But when someone really takes a look at the world they will find that this word has so much power and that it is more than just a type of high-strung person. Feminism is a belief, an idea, a movement and a word that reaches over race and gender. It does not matter who you are, male or female, anyone can share that same view.

In my opinion everyone needs to know about what a true feminist is. They need to know that this is not some passing trend or some out dated thing that should not be talked about. It should be in discussion especially because there are so many things going on in the world that have to do with women being equal to men.

For example, there is still a wage gap between men and women.

Women do not get paid as much as men do even though they could

be doing the same job. Or people could talk about the treatment of women in other countries and what they could do about it.

Even if someone does not believe in the views of feminism they still should know about what the word means and what the movement is about. They should know about the fact that this is an issue that faces women of all shapes, sizes and colors. It is important to get the true definition of something before deciding whether or not someone is or is not a feminist.

Everyone has the right to have their own opinion but they need to know what they are talking about before they decide to express what they have to say. Feminism is one of those things I think everyone needs to become more educated about so as to make more informed decisions.

Send letters to the Editor: Editor@tamucc.edu JAMIE FINK Editor-in-chief

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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.

Any student or University employee may submit material for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor.

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ALEICHIA WILLIAMS Features reporter

GERI LEMMONS

KELSEY FLORES Features reporter

KACI ALVAREZ

ELI T. BERKE

Photographer/cartoonist IZZY SNEED Layout assistant MIKAYLA GONZALEZ Layout assistant

WENDY MOORE Faculty Adviser

KARA HERRERA

News reporter Sports reporter

LEANNE HAAS ABBEY WEAVER

News reporter JONATHAN FORNEY Entertainment reporter SAMANTHA MAHLER

3 Snack like a college kid-the smart way opinion

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

by ABBEY WEAVER staff writer

It happens too often. That moment when you find yourself eating a family size bag of Doritos and an entire sleeve of Oreos. All college kids fall into the habit of over snacking.

Or maybe you find yourself doing the opposite. Opening the fridge and pantry over and over hoping something magically appears for you do eat. You are starving but you have nothing to eat nor the money to go grocery shopping for a bunch of snacks.

Either situation is a bad habit.

Over snacking is often unhealthy and going a long time without eating is bad for your mental and physical health. Controlling what snacks you store in your home, using a budget and keeping your health in mind is a good way to avoid both these scenarios.

Here are a few tips to stay on budget and stay healthy with your snack choices.

1. Buy non-perishable foods.

There is nothing worse than throwing out an entire bag of grapes because they have gone bad and you did not have time to eat them all. Getting foods with a long life span will ensure you get the best use out of them. So instead of risking wasting money on foods that good bad quickly, add things

like granola bars and nuts to your grocery list. If you need to buy things such as fruit and veggies, buy ones that have multiple uses.

Bananas are great options because they can be eaten alone, cut up and thrown in your oatmeal, or mashed up and made into banana bread after they have turned brown.

Multi purpose foods have a higher chance of getting eaten and not wasted.

2. Be more creative with your snack choices. Constantly eating the same thing in between meals is not good for your health, not to mention it can get extremely boring. Having variety in your diet is the best way to get wellrounded nutrients. Make sure you are switching up what you eat on a daily or weekly basis. Another good way to stay creative with your snacks is to add extra foods to make it less plain. Instead of just eating an apple, cut it up and throw it in a bowl with some other left over fruit for a fruit salad. Add hummus with your cheese and crackers to give it some flavor and nutrients.

My favorite combination is a waffle with peanut butter and banana on top. So yummy.

3. Substitute your guilty pleasures with healthier options. Those latenight cravings that are irresistible almost always not healthy.

Whether it is a tub of ice cream when you are feeling stressed or a late-night burger when you cannot sleep, there is a better way to satisfy the cravings. Figure out what you

FEMINISM

photo by ABBEY WEAVER

Waffles with bananas and a drizzle of chocolate syrup is a unique spin on getting a little bit of sweetness with a healthy breakfast.

crave and when you most often crave it, then figure out a healthier option that would taste just as good without the carbs and sodium. I always crave chips, so instead I eat a handful of nuts. I am still getting the salt and crunch, but its healthy protein instead of processed fats.

4. Do not eat fast food. Making a habit of eating out a lot is draining for your bank account and often means eating way too much even

after you are full. A trip to the grocery store every two weeks is much cheaper and allows you to choose healthier options.

Incorporating these tips in your every-day diet will make a world of difference when it comes to health, and your wallet.

Eating better choices will make you feel overall better and choosing them wisely will ensure you are getting a bang for your buck.

Watch out for Island Waves’ new look both in print and online.

IslandWavesNews.com

Izzy Sneed

In the meantime, pick up some free coffee and a paper on Thursdays in the Subway alcove.

4 Island University offers Speed Friending news

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

by DARLENE SRINUAL contributing writer

T

he Island University hosted the first annual Speed Friending event on Feb. 9, in the University Center.

Speed Friending is an alternative to the annual Speed Dating event that the school has hosted in the past years and is organized by the Campus Activities Board and the University Counseling Center.

Patrons of the event gave input on wanting a more open forum for socializing that doesn’t conform to the structure of heterosexual endeavors for romantically inclined encounters.

University counselor Shanice Armstrong spearheaded the event and oversaw the proceedings.

“This is the first year that we changed it from Speed Dating to

Speed Friending, so that we can be more inclusive to everyone on campus,” Shanice Armstrong said. “This way, more students can come regardless of gender and sexual preference.”

The event started with having students don nametags and grab a cup full of different colored M&Ms with a slip of paper. The slips of paper coordinated different questions with the different colors of candy. After everyone found seats, they were able to grab the complimentary pizza and drinks. Student Kevin Armstrong said that’s what pulled him into the event in the first place.

“I came to the event because my friend told me about it,” Kevin Armstrong said. “He said there was free food, so I thought it sounded like fun.”

Before students had a chance to mingle with the other attend-

ees, a slide show presentation with how the event was going to proceed, along with advice on how to communicate with others, played with Shanice Armstrong commentating.

“We really want the students to be able to meet some new people and talk in a low stress environment,” Shanice Armstrong said. “There is a lot of anxiety in meeting new friends so we wanted to take some of that stress away. Having a community on campus increases retention.”

The students rotated on one side of a large table at threeminute intervals. They were encouraged to strike up a friendly conversation to get to know one another and refer back to the candy questions if they needed help with conversation topics. A strict “no electronics” rule was in effect for the duration of the

event.

“I liked that it pretty much forced you to engage because a lot of time people just look down at their phones and don’t pay attention to what you’re talking to them about,” Kevin Armstrong said.

The event appeared to be beneficial to the students, with many students leaving with smiles on their faces and exchanging contact information.

“I had fun and I would absolutely do it again, I would love to do it once a week,” Kevin Armstrong said.

Students interested in furthering their interaction and socializing skills can contact the University Counseling Center at 361-825-2703 or visit them in the Driftwood building.

Islander veteran sounds off on military experience J

SMOKE FREE continued from page 1

up as a heavy smoker and had to quit in about two days and it was horrible,” Foster said. “I fully empathize with people who are going to have to quit, I did it and it was extremely difficult.”

The people who attend the Island University will not have to quit all of a sudden and in a short period of time. Instead, they will have an

entire year in order to quit and get with the school program.

This is an ongoing type of discussion that will still be taking place and might have a big impact on the school in the future. If this proposal gets passed students are not going to get in trouble for having tobacco products on them, but the will get in trouble if they are caught using it.

group work and overcoming obstacles. Although her experience is full of positive and enriching aspects, Shackleford said there is a significant difference between the obstacles females face while serving in the military from those of males.

According to a 2013 Demographics Report by Military OnceSource, females only make up 16.4 percent of the Department of Defense’s active duty forces. However, Shackleford believes women have the strength and perseverance to accomplish whatever goals they set no matter what obstacles they need to overcome.

“You can be fierce and feminine,” she said.

Shackleford said women who

4360 Alameda

DINE IN

enlist need to be ready to put their money where their mouths are and put in the efforts to work their way up the chain of command.

“There is a significant double standard [for women] in the military,” she said. “[You] have to work twice as hard as your counterpart to gain respect and recognition as a female.”

Shackleford’s advice to any Islander considering joining the military is to “know what your goals are.”

She said it is important to be honest about setting realistic life goals in order to determine if serving in the military will help meet an individual’s personal goals.

IE RINI’S

GYR

asmine Shackleford begins her typical day waking up long before the sun rises and completes a full day of uniformed duty at Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi.

Still in her uniform, she makes her way to Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi to attend classes.

Finally, after the sun has set, and her classes are dismissed, she heads home to study, sleep and do it all over again the next day.

From an outside perspective, her life seems unrealistically routine, with no room for error. One may wonder how she prepared to lead such a demanding life.

Petty Officer 1st Class Shackelford is a senior communication major and public relations minor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and has served in the United States’ Navy for 16 years. Some Islanders may recognize her on campus going to class in her uniform after working a long day as an

Aviator Ordnanceman, 1st Class.

However, before she joined the Navy, she was working and going to school just like many Islanders.

“I was a broke college kid 16 years ago,” Shackleford said. “I was working several jobs like many of these [college] kids.”

Shackleford said she realized one day that her life was not taking off as she had hoped it would, and joined the military in hopes of gaining a solid foundation of experience, direction and a means to afford college. Her experience in the Navy gave her the life skills, such as discipline, time management and integrity. She said these things make her successful in the Navy and in school.

Briana Corley, a recent graduate from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, remembers Shacklford as being a very organized student.

“She was great and very supportive,” Corley said.

Outside of school, Shackleford’s military career has helped with

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5 I-Team holds first ever Recruitment Week news

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

by BRITTANY HOLLAND contributing writer

I

-Team, a student organization at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, held their first ever recruitment week from Feb. 8-12. The week included several themed events across the Island University campus, which students could attend.

I-Team’s adviser, Delaney Foster, described the group as peer educators whose focus is to educate students about alcohol and drug use. Some of the events included a brunch with the current members, cart-pull trivia and a movie night.

The turnout to the events weren’t big but Foster mentioned it was a learning experience for herself and I-Team as a whole.

“It’s hard to get people there when what we’re doing isn’t exactly popular,” said Kimberly

CAREER CORNER

Smoots senior psychology major and chair for I-Team.

The week was the first time I-Team had held a recruitment week in hopes to gain new members. The organization is looking for individuals who want to be a part of something that can make a difference in people’s lives and someone that is motivated to educate and help others.

The events were focused around I-Teams main purpose of educating others about alcohol and drugs. When talking to them, they said they don’t want to be the buzz kill, they’re not here to stop people from having a good time, but to encourage and teach them to have a good time safely.

“We have to create a culture where we care about one another,” Smoots said. “I have experienced things that I don’t ever want others to have to experience.”

Stacey Ogunrinade is also a

Student hacks for great jobs

How many times have you sat down to take a test, read an open-ended question, and wondered “What does my professor want in this answer”?

Many times professors place questions on exams just to see how you will respond, not to get a “cookie-cutter” answer. The same seems to apply with questioning in interviews. Most employers know what they are seeking in a candidate and have conducted a multitude of interviews before yours.

Many interviewers use certain strategies to get a candidate to go beyond a surface answer. Alison Green (2015) is a former Chief of Staff for a national non-profit lobbying organization (responsible for hiring, firing and promoting). She wrote about the top 10 methods interviewers use and how to navigate through each one. Here is a summary of 5 thorny questions that are commonly asked: 1 What do you know about us so far? Simple enough. Employers want to know if you are really interested in the job by finding out if you did your research. So be prepared!

2 Why are you thinking about leaving your current job (or why you left your last job)? Are you a “gossip” or are you leaving on bad terms? This question lets them see how professional you remain.

3 How soon can you start? Showing eagerness is great; however, letting them know that you need to give or have given appropriate notice to your current employer shows respect.

4 Describe your dream job. Explain that the position for which you applied is a part of the dream and why you are there.

5 What questions do you have? Stay away from money/benefits questions. Instead ask questions that show your interest in the position and company.

Now that Green has unveiled some tricks of her trade to help you interview, it may be time to practice. As the popular adage goes, practice makes perfect (or at least near perfect). At Career Services (open Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), you can set up a mock interview to practice these new “tricks” of the trade and get feedback on your skills.

Call or come by (University Center 304) and make an appointment with your career counselor.

Career Corner is a biweekly column submitted by employees of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Career Services office.

member of I-Team, she also is a senior psychology major. She too thinks being a part of I-Team is something great and has the potential to be great for her peers.

“Being a part of I-Team means making a difference in someone’s life,” Ogunrinade said. “A lot of these things we overlook, so we present these statistics and activities to educate people in a healthy way.”

The next item on I-Team’s agenda is to take their education into the classrooms and spend that time talking to professors and students, and encouraging them to get involved with I-Team.

If you would like to keep up with I-Team or be a part of I-Team, you can find their events on orgsync. tamucc.edu or their website tamucc/engagementactivities. edu.

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WANTS YOU to Attend our Focus Groups We are looking for

Full & Part-Time Commuter Undergrads (not living on campus)

Commuter Graduate Students (not living on campus)

As a token of our appreciation, participants will be given $20 Dining Dollars

Current on-Campus sTUDENTS that are planning to move off-campus next year

MARCH 1st

HURRY, SPACE IS LIMITED!

3PM - 4PM PART-tIME cOMMUTER uNDERGRAd 4PM - 5PM fULL-tIME cOMMUTER uNDERGRAD

If you would like to attend, email islanderdining@tamucc.edu with the session that best fits your role on campus.

MARCH 2ND

8AM - 9AM cOMMUTER gRADUATES 9AM -10Am cURRENT ON-CAMPUS sTUDENTS

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6

city

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

Rodeo Corpus Christi: located at 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Bring out your country roots April 14-17 for the Corpus Christi rodeo. At the Corpus Christi rodeo there will be dancing, bull riding, and BBQ, it is a weekend of great atmosphere and fun entertainment.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ACHIEVE PARTNER

Buc Days Festival: located at 304 N. Shoreline Blvd. One can come out and enjoy carnival rides, petting zoos, live music and good food at this local festival on April 21- May 1. Do not forget to attend the Illuminated Night Parade on the April 30 and enjoy the pirate theme fun and the largest illuminated parade in the coastal bend.

Science on Tap – Sharks: is another upcoming events located at 1900 N. Chaparral St. Do you look forward to Shark week every year? Then you would probably enjoy Dr. Greg Stunz’s discussion on sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and the role they play in our ecosystems.

The Firebird concert: located at 6300 Ocean Drive. On March 12 join CCSO as they perform Stravinsky’s thrilling firebird Suite in its entirety under the conductor of John Giordano.

To learn more or become an Achieve Partner please visit achievepartnership.tamucc.edu

02.25.2016

Frosty Friday with the Ice Rays: located at 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. Join the Corpus Christi Ice Rays as they take on the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday night, Feb. 26. If you are more of the sports fan then this event is perfect for you. Grab your buddies and make some fun of your Friday night. Do not forget the $1 beer and soda!

A La Mano Food Truck Fridays: located at 1590 N. Shoreline Blvd. Take a break from the Islander food truck and try out the amazing food A La Mano has to offer. Corpus Christi does not disappoint when it comes to local food and it does not get any more local than this.

7

city

City Events

ISLAND WAVES

by ABBEY WEAVER staff writer

Part of the joy of going to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is living right on the beach in a gorgeous and growing city. And while there is an abundant amount of events on campus, in order to take ones experience to the next level, it is important to explore the city of Corpus Christi. Getting off campus and enjoying what Corpus has to offer is a great way to shake off some school stress and make fun memories with friends.

Here are a few of upcoming events to consider exploring in the next few months.

Mikel May’s Live Music on the Beach: located at 15820 Park Road.

Enjoy good food and good music all on the beach. Every Friday night at 6 p.m. Mikel May’s Bar & Grill hosts live music on the beach. If one needs Friday night plans, Mikel May’s Live Music on the Beach is one of many possibilities. photo provided by CACTUS AND VINE FACEBOOK PAGE

Free Yoga Friday’s at Cactus and Vine: located at 2115 Ayers St. So if the beach is not your scene. Take your Friday night to the Cactus and Vine Sangria Bar to join in on FREE yoga Fridays. This is a great way to get in some exercise while also getting out on the town. Kill some stress and grab your friends for some free yoga.

8

news

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

Professor teaches students through sign

by GERI LEMMONS staff writer

G

enelle Sanders is a professor at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and at Del Mar College. She teaches in the communication and media department and she teaches American Sign Language as well.

She takes pride in opening up students’ minds and letting them look at the world in a way that they might not have thought about before. She wants them to question everything and not take things the way the world says it is, while at the same time learning new things.

“As a profoundly deaf individual, so much depends on being able to communicate clearly and effectively,” Sanders said.

She feels that the reason why she chooses to teach at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is because the faculty of the communication and media department were so welcoming and supportive. When they offered her the opportunity to tech she took that chance.

With her being profoundly deaf she uses two hearing aids and one of the challenging things for her is the fact that American Sign

Language is her primary language.

When it comes to using spoken word English, Sanders said it can be challenging.

However Sanders takes that challenge and faces it head on by making sure that her class is accessible to everyone and she even utilizes an ASL interpreter during some discussions. She utilizes everything she can for her students.

“We do not just discuss communication, we dive into the nitty-gritty bits,” Sanders said.

“It’s tough because to understand communication is to experience it.”

Sanders said in order to experience communication it requires experiencing emotions that sometimes one wishes to avoid.

“Through my class, I hope to share the concept of perspective and the understanding that we communicate differently because we are different,” Sanders said.

“There is never only one way to communicate with everyone.”

Being a professor and teaching every day, she think it is important to never accept something as it is.

Her advice is when someone gets information, to really take a look at

it and to take it apart. Ask a lot of questions, because it is only when a person does this that they can truly learn something.

“Wisdom is tangible; we must wrestle with knowledge in order to grow,” Sanders said.

As a professor Sanders said she has had good moments and crazy moments when it comes to things that happen in the classroom. One incident happened in one of her American Sign Language classes and interpreting classes at Del Mar College.

“During a class covering American Sign Language vocabulary, one student’s daycare fell through and she brought her 5-year-old daughter to class,” Sanders said.

At first Sanders had some reservations about having the daughter there, but she soon realized that this child being there was the best thing after all.

“That little girl ended up owning

READING CORNER

photo courtesy of TAMUCC.EDU

the other students during the class, even her own mother,” Sanders said.

Sanders said the little girl was picking up the different signs very well and very quick. She even corrected some of the other students that were in that particular class.

She also mentioned the fact that after that day most of her students if not all of them came very prepared for the class from then on.

How to build vocab

Ahh, vocabulary.

The harbinger of comprehension… the more complex the text, the more vocabulary holds meaning.

Because much of the text in college does not use context clues that help the reader, the more struggles the student will have in reading. If a reader uses an electronic reader, the struggle is alleviated, because definitions are available at the touch of a button. Armed with the meaning, readers get relief – the vocab lesson is just in time for the reader to put them into the context of the reading. When first entering a new discourse community, readers struggle with specialized vocabulary that opens the concept and ideas of the major.

The question becomes what will work to unlock the meaning while not interrupting the reader?

One strategy for attacking unknown vocabulary is to pull the word into parts. For some words like ideology the meaning is concealed in the word. Ideology has the smaller word idea inside, so the reader can extrapolate that the word ideology has some connection to the word idea. Knowing the meaning of the smaller word can

help place the word categorically, so that the reader can use the category to help comprehend the text. The reading strategy of using the word parts for the gist of the meaning can be a useful means of uninterrupted reading. Another way to use parts of words to unlock meaning is the use of the affixes of a word. These word parts or morphemes can also unlock the meaning of a part of a word as in re meaning again, or pre meaning before which in turn could help your uninterrupted reading. Learning roots and affixes helps with unlocking unfamiliar vocabulary.

While nothing replaces you using the glossary or the dictionary, these strategies can be used while reading to help with comprehension.

It may be beneficial to realize that the vocabulary of a discourse community is static. What becomes confusing is a word can be used in one discourse community in one way and another discourse community in another.

By discourse community, I mean the community of people within the subject area, i.e., mathematicians, teachers, statisticians, biologists, nurses, etc.. Once you are taking classes within your major, you will also be using the vocabulary that once baffled you.

Dr. Deb Culbertson, PhD, is a professional assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development, and specializes in effective reading techniques. She will share reading tips in alternating weeks of Island Waves during the Spring 2016 semester.

9

entertainment

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

‘Single’ movie not so light-hearted

photos courtesy of YOUTUBE.COM and COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

by LEANNE HAAS staff writer

H

ow to Be Single’ debuted in theaters Feb. 12 just in time for Valentine’s Day, but this romantic comedy failed to meet expectations as its message ironically contradicted the movie title’s premise.

Despite the light-hearted previews, the film takes a more serious route, focusing not on the crazy adventures of two best friends enjoying the single life, but on the emotionally-draining aspects of relationships and dating. While the previews heralded Rebel Wilson as a driving force of comedy throughout the film, the “Pitch Perfect” star is more of a side attraction acting as a foil character and best friend to protagonist Alice (Dakota Johnson).

Johnson’s character is timid with a vaguely boring personality eerily similar to the shy protagonist she portrays in “Fifty Shades of Grey”. The film’s overdone female stereotype of the naïve girl in a big city is disappointing.

Tragically, the funniest jokes were in the trailer. Rebel Wilson’s character, Robin, exudes hilarious confidence that overshadows that of any other character. And speaking of characters, there were entirely too many. The film tried to weave the stories of too many individuals at once, and it just did not work.

Because so many characters were introduced there was not enough time for much character development. The film could have done without all of the pointless side stories and perhaps invested more time into the development of Wilson’s character, instead of the

MOVIE REVIEW one the trailers promised.

One of the most contradictory aspects in “How to Be Single” comes from its portrayal of Alice’s older, successful sister named Meg. Leslie Mann plays headstrong older sister Meg, who is first introduced in a scene where she is an OBGYN doctor in a hospital. Her character development is quickly established early in the movie as a workaholic and ultra-independent, placing her passion for her career over her dating life.

However, in one of the most cringe-worthy scenes in the whole film, Meg is left to babysit a patient’s baby in a hospital room. She freaks out, saying she is not good with babies and begins to make small talk with the baby as if it is an adult.

She spirals into insanity as she tries to entertain the child all the while rationalizing her reasons for never wanting children herself.

“I don’t need you,” she repeatedly tells the clueless baby, until she breaks down and admits “you win” indicating she feels she really does need a baby after all because it is cute, despite being dead-set against having children just five minutes ago.

Mann’s character is portrayed as stubborn for not wanting a relationship and supports the harmful idea that women do not know what is good for them.

While the whole premise of the movie aims to sell the message that one does not need to be dependent

on another person for happiness, this message apparently does not apply to the stereotype that women need to have children to lead fulfilling lives. And while the end

of the movie attempts to wrap up the story line with a perfect bow on top with a pseudo-inspirational message and a “deep” metaphor, it is tainted by its actual content.

10 Twitter timeline swap disrupts users interaction news

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

by LEANNE HAAS staff writer

T

witter is following in the footsteps of Facebook and mixing up their timeline feed so that certain posts will start showing up out of order instead of chronologically. This new feed is an algorithm that predicts what each user would be interested in seeing based on past interactions on Twitter.

On Feb. 10, Twitter’s Senior Engineering Manager Mike Jahr posted to blog.twitter.com to explain the new feature.

“Here’s how it works,” Jahr said. “You flip on the feature in

your settings; then when you open Twitter after being away for a while, the Tweets you’re most likely to care about will appear at the top of your timeline – still recent and in reverse chronological order.”

The Twitter feed change encourages its users to become more active on the social media site as users are brought content they are interested to the top of the feed.

“We’ve already seen that people who use this new feature tend to Retweet and Tweet more, creating more live commentary and conversations, which is great for everyone,” Jahr said.

Twitter users have conflicted opinions about the change as the social network is known for its simplicity.

Twitter user @philosopop tweeted “dear @twitter : don’t change my timeline… make it more like tweetdeck and let me

have more timelines…let ME curate”.

There is good news, however, for those who do not like the idea of Twitter picking what they can or cannot see on their timeline.

The feature will only be present for the first few tweets, much like the “What you missed” feature that shows tweets that may interest a user while they were gone.

“At any point, just pull-toThe change may then not seem refresh to see all new Tweets at the so drastic to users who do not mind top in the live, up-to-the-second this feature. experience you already know and Twitter user @dzuelke tweeted love,” Jahr said.

“Honestly, that timeline change announced by @twitter sounds totally reasonable, since it keeps the original order intact right underneath.”

For now the new Twitter feed is optional and can be turned on and off from a user’s settings. However the timeline change will become permanent for every Twitter user over time perhaps changing the way Twitter is used for good.

Largest cross to be built in western hemisphere

by LEANNE HAAS staff writer

C

orpus Christi is set to be the home of the nation’s largest cross, as well as the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere and second largest in the world. The groundbreaking ceremony took place Jan. 31 at the Abundant Life Fellowship campus, located off of Interstate 37.

The Corpus Christi cross project plans to build the 210-foot cross to be “visible up to five miles away by land, and 10 miles away by air,” according to the project’s website.

Pastor Richard Milby first conceived of the idea to build the massive cross while on a road trip to Galveston. There, he and his family witnessed a 170-foot cross built on the grounds of Sagemont Church.

“As we drew closer to the cross we were amazed at its enormous size,” Milby said. He contacted the church and set up an appointment to discuss details and how he might do the same for his own church.

“The entire time of our retreat, the image of that Cross consumed me,” he said.

At first, the plan was to build a 150-foot cross, only slightly smaller than the one Milby had been inspired by. Those plans quickly changed however, as the concept grew to 160 feet, then 175 feet until the final height was engineered to reach a towering 210 feet.

“The cross is so massive and so tall it will have a two-foot deflection

at the top,” Milby told Corpus Christi News Outlet KRIS-TV. “It will actually sway in the wind two feet back and forth.”

While the height of the cross is massive, it will also be considerably wide at 95 feet and 12 feet in diameter.

“It’ll be made of 5/8-inch cold rolled steel, be welded, and put together in sections,” Milby said.

The cross will be “mounted to a massive steel and concrete foundation which extends 48 feet below grade,” according to the project’s website.

According to Chron.com, over $142,000 in donation money has already been collected to begin the project. Altogether, the cross will cost about $1 million to build.

One way the project is being funded is through the selling of commemorative paving bricks.

According to the project’s website, “You can make a continuing pledge per month for one year, or you can give a onetime gift of whatever amount you choose to contribute.”

Corpus Christi natives took to the Corpus Christi Cross Project’s Facebook page to express their opinions on this landmark now in construction.

One commenter expressed their support for the landmark.

“I love this project,” they said. “It’s not about lifting up a church, an organization, or an individual, it’s all about Jesus.”

Another commenter expressed

their conflicted opinion, “I appreciate that this endeavor appears to be utilizing private funds and private land,” they said. “However I can’t rightfully support this project as I don’t agree with the message or purpose of the structure.”

The commenter also suggested, “If you feel moved to donate to

this project, may you also consider making an equal donation to a local charity doing good works right in your own backyard.”

This landmark in construction will be second only to the world’s tallest cross belonging to a Catholic basilica located near Madrid, Spain, which reaches 500 feet in length.

11

sports

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

Local YMCA works with Mircale League

by JONATHAN FORNEY staff writer

A

ll across the country and for its fourth year in Corpus Christi, a wonderful event has been occurring. The event is the Miracle League of the Young Men’s Christian Association, or YMCA. The multisport league offers special needs kids of all ages the chance to have fun and be active.

The Miracle League at the YMCA of the Coastal Bend, specifically, has begun registration for its baseball league. The league is open to all special needs children ages five to 17 and is geared towards participation rather than competition. Games will be played Saturday mornings starting April 9 at either Whataburger Field or the YMCA’s own rubberized, wheelchair accessible, and inclusive field.

Involvement is a huge part of what makes the Miracle League successful year after year. The support and involvement of the corporate sponsors such as Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Citgo, Whataburger, the Corpus Christi Hooks and others keep

everything running smoothly.

Whataburger specifically allows customers to buy ornaments whose proceeds go back to the Miracle League. This year is setting up to be even bigger.

“Last year, was our biggest year to date. We doubled our registration from the years prior,” Jiselle Perez, Miracle League coordinator said.

While the program is growing, it is still always in need of additional individuals who want to help the kids out. These volunteers are called buddies and they are paired with each child participating to ensure they have the best time possible.

The YMCA is especially looking for community involvement to further the success of the league.

“We need bodies, anyone else who wants to help,” said Joe Guzman, adult sports coordinator.

“The university is our biggest asset.”

The YMCA is very interested in the involvement of student groups such as Greek Life, church groups, Islander players and students.

Internships for individuals and recognition for programs are available to those who choose to

help special needs children get the most out of their time in the league.

Some Islanders have already gotten involved in the Miracle League. Ralph McFarland, who serves as the assistant director of Disability Services on campus, is a member of the Miracle League’s board of directors. Other university programs such as men’s basketball, baseball, golf and track and field teams volunteered to help in years past.

In addition to baseball, the Miracle League also offers swimming lessons, summer camps, kickball, indoor soccer, and basketball programs for the children to participate in. According to Guzman, the program’s next goal is building a playground for special needs children. Due to the nonprofit nature of the YMCA, community involvement is critical in achieving their goals.

Another big opportunity for the league is their upcoming Clint Black fundraiser concert at Whataburger Field on May 31.

The Miracle League of the YMCA of the Coastal Bend is putting on this concert and proceeds will go

towards its programs and expenses.

All in all, the Miracle League is a great opportunity for students, faculty and alumni alike to get involved in helping kids have a great time.

For those interested, information on how to get involved can be found at the Miracle League’s website: http:// www.miracleleagueofcorpuschristi. com.

photo courtesy of TAMUCC.EDU

Men’s basketball player Jelani Currie rounds first base with one of his buddies during an event last year.

12

sports

02.25.2016

ISLAND WAVES

BLUE AND GREENE

New women’s volleyball coach makes big plans for Islanders’ future

by SAMANTHA MAHLER staff writer

T

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi volleyball program announced the hiring of new head coach Steve Greene on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Greene was officially welcomed to the Island on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m. during a press conference in the Dugan Wellness Center.

“Our women’s volleyball program has been very successful over the past few years with this past year being the most memorable with our very first ever Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships,” Director of Athletics Scott Lazenby said during the press conference.

“With the arrival of Coach Green, we hope to continue that success with many more Southland Conference Championships,” Lazenby said.

Lazenby is not the only one confident in Greene’s coaching skills.

Although Greene has large shoes to fill, he is certain that he can push

the Islanders Volleyball team even further than it has gone.

“I’m really ready to bring my family down here to Corpus Christi and continue what coach Graystone had done,” Greene said. “He did an excellent job here and I want to continue his success and bring it to the next level.”

Greene will also serve as the head coach for beach volleyball this spring. The 2016 season will hold the inaugural NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship.

“I grew up playing beach and coaching beach a little bit and it’s a huge draw for me,” Green said.

“I think Corpus is waiting to just explode with the beach volleyball program. It’s a new program in NCAA and it’s an emerging sport.”

Greene is the fourth head coach in the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi volleyball program history.

Prior to his new position at Island University, Greene served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University for six seasons, where

photos by SAMANTHA MAHLER

Steve Greene poses for a quick photo with members of his new indoor and outdoor volleyball teams.

he worked with the setters in addition to being recruiting coordinator.

“I’d been following the program very closely the last few years, seeing how it’s been growing and getting better and better,” Greene said.

“We had Corpus Christi scouted pretty well when I was up there at A&M.” During the hiring process, Greene had the opportunity to watch the volleyball team practice and interact with the players on a personal level. He credits this meeting with the team to his strong interest in coaching for the Islanders.

“They were so eager to do well and it was a huge draw for me.

It made my decision so simple,” Greene said. “They had tremendous success this year, and I think we can continue that and do even better on the national stage.”

With Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi Women’s Volleyball’s recent win in the 2015 Southland Conference Championship the pressure is on to continue having a winning season in 2016.

However Greene has big plans for the Islander Volleyball team and will not stop until he reaches those goals.

“My goal is to continue doing the Southland Conference Championships year after year, and I really want to bring the program into national providence,” Greene said. “This group is ready to start that process and I think this year coming up we’re going to do some really amazing things.”

For more information on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Women’s Volleyball and Beach Volleyball team, as well as other Islander Athletic teams, please visit www.goislanders.com.

Islanders new head volleyball coach, Steve Greene is welcomed to the Island University by Athletic Director Scott Lazenby. Greene is the fourth head coach in Islanders volleyball history. Greene is set to replace head coach Tony Graystone, who was hired as the new head volleyball coach of Texas Tech University.