Volume 26 Issue 2 by Island Waves

Housing project gains momentum

Apartments at Momentum campus near completion #DeflateGate page 10

UC grand opening delayed by JAMIE FINK news editor

One of the four buildings that will make up Momentum Village which will open Fall 2015.

by STERLEN KEMP news reporter

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi students and faculty are shaking with anticipation and excitement for the new addition to the campus. The Islander University is in the works of building a brand new student housing facility that will be named, Momentum Village. The housing addition will be completed sometime in July of this year in preparation for the 2015 fall semester in August. Over the past few years, A&M University-Corpus Christ has seen a tremendous influx of new students on campus. In fact, last fall semester, the Island University welcomed 11,240

students, a record-breaking enrollment count. Enrollment is estimated to continue to increase over coming years, making it nearly inevitable for new construction, particularly, in student housing. “The entire university will benefit from Momentum Village,” said Dr. Amanda Drum, Executive Director of the Department of Student Affairs. “Every year, we have had to turn away students who wanted to attend the university and live on-campus. With Momentum Village, we will have an additional 482 spaces to accommodate those students who will be staying on campus.” Momentum Village is truly a stateof-the-art facility. The building will offer upperclassmen and graduate

photo by STERLEN KEMP

Islanders, three-buildings of fully furnished rooms with mostly four bedroom-four bath combinations but also two bedrooms, two bath apartments. The complex will also have four bedroom, four and a half bathroom student town homes, individual liability leases with cable and Internet included into the rent. Students will be able enjoy four-story housing on seven acres, which will include study areas, a swimming pool and a fitness center. All of these amenities will be available to student residence that stay at Momentum Village, which is only minutes away from campus. see MOMENTUM VILLAGE on page 3

Rec Sports seeks to ‘build healthier Islanders’ Referendum for increased fees put to student vote

by CONNER TICHOTA editor in chief

n Feb. 16-17, students at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi will be able to vote on a referendum regarding the Recreational Sports fee for the upcoming Fall 2015 semester. The referendum calls for a fee increase from $10 per student credit hour to $18 with a capped fee of $175 for the fall and spring semesters. If passed, the changes would take place in Fall 2015, and would only affect incoming students currently not enrolled in a guaranteed tuition plan. The A&M System Board of Regents

has already approved the referendum. The funds gathered from the increased fee would be used to create multiple improvements to Rec Sports. These include: artificial turf and lighting for the Momentum fields, adding nutritionist services to the Dugan Wellness Center’s list of services, a new multipurpose Aquatic Center, increased intramural/club sport programs and increased student wages. Director of Rec Sports Jacqueline Hamilton said these projects would be started in a strategic three-year plan. “In the first year one of the first

services we want to provide is the nutritionist. That one would start in the Fall,” Hamilton said. “We also want to raise student wages.” Hamilton said the first year would be dedicated to introducing the nutritionist program, raising student wages, and beginning the designs of the larger projects such as the Aquatic Center. Years two and three would be dedicated to completing these projects. Each of these projects will be beneficial to students. The inclusion of artificial turf and lighting at the Momentum fields will allow intermural sports to play later games. see REFERENDUM on page 3

he estimated opening date for the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s University Center has been pushed back from the original deadline. In a previous Island Waves article about the UC, senior executive director Lisa Perez and staff said they were aiming to have some student and faculty moved back into the UC by the beginning of the spring 2015 semester. However, due to some delays over winter break and the space being unsafe at the moment for faculty and students, the University Center is still closed. “Well construction has progressed a lot over the break,” Perez said. “However there were some things that the construction company ran into that they were not able to complete in the time that was set. Partially this has been because of crew. We have had to work with the crew we’ve had and it was not much.” Weather has been another setback for the construction crew over winter break. The crew is pushing forward now to try and catch back up on the outside landscaping because of the inclement weather during the break. Weather not only affected the outside crews such as landscaping, but it also effected crews inside the building as well, such as the painting and molding crews. Construction in the University Center also hit a bump in the road, as an inspection was done to check current fire and life safety systems within the building and the inspection was not passed. see UC UPDATES on page 4

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www.facebook/IslandWaves VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2

editorial 2 ISLAND WAVES

a student publication of

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

island waves staﬀ CONNER TICHOTA editor-in-chief

JUSTIN VU NGUYEN

advertising assistant

LUIS GOMEZ

advertising assistant

THI NGUYEN

layout assistant

KARA HERARA

layout assistant

JAMIE FINK news editor

01.29.2015

Marijuana: Is it really that bad?

STERLEN KEMP news reporter

TREY SEAL

entertainment reporter

JEREMY PAPE

sports reporter

ELI T. BERKE

photographer

MARK MARTINEZ

distribution manager

WENDY MOORE faculty adviser

AMY KOTULSKI

by STERLEN KEMP news reporter

JESSE DE LEON

staﬀ adviser

graduate adviser

contact us 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862 write us a letter The Island Waves accepts letters no longer than 250 words. Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to the editor via email at editor@tamucc.edu. about island waves The Island Waves is a student-produced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions. Since A&M-Corpus Christi has no journalism department, Island Waves is supported by student fees and advertising sales. Any student or University employee may submit material for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor.

t seems like nowadays everyone has his or her own opinions about the legalization and consumption of cannabis. Some say it is simply a medicinal herb used to treat a variety of illnesses and diseases. Others, on the contrary, say marijuana is a gateway drug to more harmful and lethal forms of narcotic substances. And then there are those who believe marijuana use should be allowed recreationally and should be held on the same pedestal as alcoholic beverages. Most recently, the hip-hop rapper 2Chainz, known by songs such as “Birthday Song” and “I’m Different,” battled against the outspoken talk show host Nancy Grace of “The Nancy Grace Show” during the show on Headline News. The two argued about the legalization and consumption of the controversial plantmarijuana. The conversation mostly centered on a story involving an Ohio mother who gave her 2-year-old daughter a blunt filled with cannabis and recorded it. Grace brought the video up to point out how have “evil” marijuana can be. Her position was that if you legalize marijuana, across the board, it would cause people and parents, in particular, to act irresponsibly. 2Chainz, on the other hand, gave the rebuttal that it is not marijuana that causes an individual to choose

irresponsible acts but rather that individual’s own moral values and standards. He said just because marijuana would be more accessible does not mean that people would be more inclined to commit absurd acts. I agree with 2Chainz. The problem we face with the “right or wrong” answer to the legalization of marijuana is not whether or not cannabis is a euphoric substance that can alter ones mind, emotions and feelings, because it indeed is. But the problem lies in the inconsistencies in public policy. No one is saying marijuana is this “angelic” plant that has no faults or wrongs, but those who choose to partake in the use of pot should do so responsibly, as is done with alcohol. According to a report that was published in 2011 by the World Health Organization, approximately 2.5 million deaths each year are directly caused by the consumption of alcohol. However, there has been no report of deaths that are directly linked to cannabis plants. Most of the deaths that do involve “marijuana” are not really marijuana related at all. Those deaths have been caused by a synthetic form of weed that is commercially known as K2, which is created to mimic the effects of marijuana. But yet, with all of this statistical data, marijuana remains to be illegal in some parts of our country, while the consumption of alcohol is accepted and allowed. At least marijuana can offer people

medicinal while alcohol

benefits has none.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has even approved cannabis medication, in states that have legislation that allow it, to be given to patients who are suffering from cancer and other autoimmune diseases due to its ability to relieve nausea/ vomiting, increase appetite and ease neuropathic pain. There have also been studies done on mice and rats that suggest chemical compounds found in cannabis can have a “protective effects against the development of certain types of tumors,” according to the National Cancer Institute. The medicinal use for marijuana is not definitely conclusive but there are endless studies and reports that support its case. But why has marijuana gained such a bad reputation? Well, thanks to the “antiweed czar,” Harry J. Anslinger, who was the commissioner in charge of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics during the 1930s, said America has been scared and manipulated into believing false and untrue things regarding marijuana. In fact, there was a film during those times entitled, “Reefer Madness” that dramatically depicted what would become of society if weed was free to roam the land. The film showed people “spazzing out,” committing suicide, attempting murder,

rape and all kinds of other completely ridiculous statements of propaganda. Progressive marijuanarelated legislation is inevitable. According to Governing magazine, which strives to provide non-partisan local and state government news, 23 states and the District of Columbia have some form of marijuana legalization law. Four of those states have made it legal for the consumption of cannabis for recreational use. People are becoming more educated and less afraid of cannabis or what Rastafarians refer to as “the tree of wisdom.” Public policies regarding the illegalization of marijuana is outdated, much like the 50-year-old embargo put on Cuba. Marijuana legalization is less about giving liberal hippies the freedom to smoke their “dubbies” without fear of law enforcement and more about America living out her principles of freedom and choice. People should be allowed to use and consume cannabis responsibly in the privacy of their own homes or property if they so choose. The era in which our government spends millions of taxpayer’s dollars to imprison cannabis users must end.

photo illustration by CONNER TICHOTA

news

01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

MOMENTUM VILLAGE

continued from page 1

The land that Momentum Village sits on was given to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi by the city of Corpus Christi in anticipation for the increase of students at A&M University-Corpus Christi. The complex is located on Ennis Joslin Road and is the latest addition to the University’s Momentum campus, which includes the Dugan Family Soccer and Track field, the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center and recreational sports fields. “We’re excited to be turning dirt for the student housing on our Momentum campus,” said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of A&M University-Corpus Christ in an interview. “The city gave us this land in 2008 in anticipation for our growth. This is one of the many construction projects going on here on campus to enrich the learning experience of our students.” If you haven’t noticed, our campus is in the process of remodeling. Apart of the expansion construction projects, include the University

The future site of Momentum Village is located on Ennis Joslin Road.

REFERENDUM The Aquatics Center would not only benefit students, Hamilton said, but will also benefits other programs such as the Harte Research Institute and the College of Engineering. “We do have the existing swimming pool which is not heated and has a very limited season, so while the pool is available it gets very, very high use,” Hamilton said. “Some of those are summer camps, but we’ve also had conversations with others across campus… several different groups that would want to use a pool if it had a longer season and had more flexibility in addressing different types of use.” Furthermore, Hamilton confirmed that the additional space would provide for additional student worker positions. Juan Ramos, a current student employee at the Dugan, agreed. “I think it would be good to get more positions available for other people to apply, because with more opening up, we’re going to need more people at the pool [etc.],” Ramos said. “That just means more positions open which means more money.” This referendum is the first for Rec Sports since 2007 when the proposal was made for the Dugan Wellness Center to be constructed and it is one Hamilton said is needed. “We had intramural fields in the past we lost those with the construction of the additional housing and the dining hall so there was a very high demand and high use for those services prior to when we lost them,” Hamilton said. “We also employed students in those areas and so we have heard directly from students in that respect.” Ramos echoed similar sentiments.

photo by STERLEN KEMP

continued from page 1 “I know a lot of people have been waiting for the fields to open up, and I’ve been here since the fields were open,” Ramos said. “I use to go play every now and then, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen that.” Rec Sports even released a survey on their website regarding student usage of Rec Sports facilities such as the Dugan. “The survey went out to 5,000 students this past spring semester,” Hamilton said. “We get about a 16 to 17 percent response rates, and among those about 70 percent of them used the facility.” This new fee would keep the total cost of membership economically feasible for students. According to the Rec Sport’s website, the average monthly cost of an outside gym membership ranges from $45 to $70 per month. The capped fee of $175 for Rec Sports evens out to approximately $43 per month. “We pulled those figures so we would have some information to share with students to help them value judge: is it worth it to me?” Hamilton said. “So if we didn’t have these services where would students go? In order to have this variety of activities we are more than competitive with Gold’s Gym. The Athletic Club has some things we don’t have, but then again we have things they don’t have.” Voting will begin at 9 a.m. on Feb. 16 and end at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17. Currently enrolled students may vote online through the Student Government Association webpage. Students may also vote in person at the Dugan. A table will be available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days.

Center, Islander Way and the Anchor Ballroom. Improvements continue to progress at the University Center site. Many openings are set to begin throughout this year. With additional housing, the Island University will have more than 2,000 units of on-campus housings for students. These additions will make the on-campus university experience more accessible and more enjoyable for future students. Momentum Village will be a home away from home. It will offer students privacy, security and a college student community experience. Momentum Village and American Campus communities are hosting an open house event at the Dugan Wellness Center Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be free food, prizes and giveaways for attendees. For more information regarding Momentum Village or for a virtual tour of the campus, visit livemomentumvillage.com. Students may apply online.

African-American History Month Kickoff A Century of Black Life, History and Culture

February 2nd, 2015 11:30 am UC Anchor Ballroom

news 4

01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

UC UPDATES

Island Waves

has lots in store this semester!

Stay tuned for

IslandWaves.com

“We [University Administration] wanted to make sure that we were not putting anyone, whether student, faculty or staff in danger or putting them in an unsafe place,” said Perez. Perez said that as of right now the UC is still just an unsafe environment for anyone to be in. She also understand how anxious everyone is to get back into the UC, but she wants to remind everyone that safety always comes first and that should always be remembered. There is however, one part of the UC that is open and can be available to student clubs or organizations. The new multi-purpose Anchor Ballroom is open, but it has limited access. It is currently operating as an events center as to a regular university center. “We have opened up the new Anchor Ballroom, because it is complete, though it will only be open with a reservation,” Perez said. “Clubs, organizations, and student

continued from page 1 programs can reserve to use the space for events, but only with a reservation.” Since construction will still be going on around and in the UC for those who do reserve a spot to use the new ballroom, staff and workers will only open the ballroom up around an hour before the reserved time spot. People can come to the event if the event is happening, when the event is over the area will be locked and closed off to students until another reserved event or the re-opening of the University Center. “The UC is an important place on any universities campus and having this building back up is definitely going to help students succeed,” Perez said. Reservations for the new Anchor Ballroom can be made on studentactivities.tamucc.edu or by contacting UC Scheduling at 361825-5281.

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01.29.2015

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01.29.2014

ISLAND WAVES

I HAVE A DREAM

African American History Month “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

by JAMIE FINK news editor

any of us know these famous words, “I have a dream…” from the famous “I Have A Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Since this speech, our country has changed, thanks to the efforts of individuals such as Dr. King Jr., Rosa Parks and many more. February has since become the month when Americans acknowledge and celebrate both the triumph and the tribulation of those who helped fight for racial equality, and those who to this day continue to change our country and become a part of African American history. To kick off the month, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will host a Martin Luther King March on Jan. 29 starting at the Dugan Wellness

Center. This is a time to honor the contributions that African Americans have made to our country. This year is the 50 Anniversary of the famous march at Selma, so what better way to begin AAHM than to march? The theme for this year’s African American History Month observance at A&M- Corpus Christi is “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.” The month will include a series of events, to allow students, faculty, and the public to be a part of the celebration. “The African American History Month Kickoff will be hosted by Islander Cultural Alliance,” said Kathleen Ramirez. “The kickoff will take place on Monday, Feb. 2 from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. in the UC Anchor Ballroom.” The event will feature musical performances and complimentary food, available to everyone who

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

KICKOFF

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Martin Luther King Jr. August 28, 1963 attends. The event will be free and open to the Corpus Christi community as well as students. The kickoff event isn’t the only event that will be held to honor the contributions of African Americans throughout the month. There will also be more events that will be held on the Island University campus, ICA and University Center Student Activities have teamed up to bring these events to students. Join ICA Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in the UC Anchor Ballroom for a night of spoken word poetry in honor of AAHM. The event will feature the works of well-known spoken word poet and civil rights activist Suzi Q. On Feb. 10, from 6-7:30 p.m., there will be an Open Mic Night. The event will be sponsored by the English department and will have students, faculty and anyone else who would like to read poetry from their favorite African American authors. “Along with Open Mic Night, I am also help coordinating the

Community Discussion Panel with Angela Walker,” said Andrea Montalvo. “This event will occur on Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. and will also be free and open to the public. The event will feature education and law experts discussing the intersection of education and race in the community and the nation as a whole.” On Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. in the UC Anchor Ballroom, there will be food, a jazz band, a photo booth and other games and activities for students. This event, unfortunately, will not be open to the public. “These events allow us to get together and celebrate AAHM in a great way,” Ramirez said. “At these events we will be providing brochures and pamphlets that contain fun facts and talk about the history of black life and culture.” For more information regarding African American History Month or the events that will be taking place, visit aahm.tamucc.edu.

entertainments

01.29.2015

movie review

ISLAND WAVES

SPARE PARTS From the left: Jose Julian as Lorenzo Santillan, Carlos Penevega as Oscar Vazques, David Del Rio as Cristian Arcega and Oscar Gutierrrez as Luis Aranda.

by TREY SEAL entertainment reporter

n 2004, four Arizona high school students achieved the unthinkable when they took on MIT in a robotics competition and won. The four teens Lorenzo Santillian, Cristian Arcega, Oscar Vasquez, and Luis Arranda had the odds stacked against them. Carl Hayden Community High School, where the boys attended, was a low income school with a new computer science program. As undocumented immigrants, life wasn’t easy for the young men who suffered under the strict nature of the states’ Antiimmigration laws. Their story was spread to the world by Wired Magazines’ Joshua Davis in an article titled “La Vida Robot.” That article was followed by a book by Joshua Davis entitled “Spare Parts” which is now a theatrical movie starring George Lopez as Fredi

Cameron, a single character that represents the two assisting teachers Alan Cameron and Fredi Lajvardi In addition to taking on the story of how these four teens overcame adversity to become champion engineers, the movie also takes on the theme of life as an illegal immigrant. Living in a society that has so many laws aiming to repress them and their families leaves them in constant fear of deportation or being held back from attending college. As with any story that Hollywood touches, “Spare Parts” takes liberties with the real story. The movie focuses on the four students’ desire to attend college and prosper in the modern world while facing the pitfalls of Arizonas’ harsh immigration policy. The viewer is initially introduced to this world through Oscar Vasquez who is attempting to join the US Army. Due to his status, he is turned away in addition to catching the attention of immigration enforcement.

Carlos Penevega as Oscar Vazques

Vasquez finally sees hope when he learns of the aforementioned Underwater Robotics competition which has a grand prize of scholarship money and an internship. In order to stand a chance, Vasquez enlists the help of Cameron (George Lopez), a former engineer who had to take on a substitute teacher position out of necessity. The other three boys who join the team combine to form a generic team that consists of brains, brawn and a mechanic. Each of the young men has his home life is put on exposition in order to show the daily struggles that they face in order to add more credence to just how much turmoil the group faced on a daily basis. The boys are all played by newcomers which helps solidify the characters as being real people rather than actors playing a part. As the group grows closer together, Cameron begins to grow as a father figure to the boys. Lopez not known

IT TAKES A TEAM TO BUILD A DREAM

Lorenzo, Cristian, Oscar and Luis Celebratig the greatness of life proving the message “It takes a team to buid a dream”.

Photos courtesy of URSULA COYOTE/PANTELIONFILMS

for performing in drama gives a strong performance, proving that his acting skills go far beyond comedy. Even though the movie has heart, it’s downfall comes in the form of its desire to never break away from the standard tropes of the underdog story. Though it’s based on a true story, the movie aims its focus on the many obstacles standing in their path. By doing this, character growth is limited between the four boys who seemingly become friends out of nowhere. This ultimately prevents the audience from experiencing the journey of development that is integral to the source material the movie is based from. Ultimately “Spare Parts” has the heart of a great story but its execution falters. If you must hear this story, you’re better off reading the original article or resulting book.

entertainment 8

01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

THE

OSCARS Some of the movies nominated in best picture category.

by TREY SEAL entertainment reporter

ver since it debuted in 1929, “The Oscars” (rebranded from The Academy Awards in 2013) have

Neil Patrick Harris wil be the host of the 87th Oscar Award Ceremony.

honored the greatest achievements in filmmaking from the previous year. In 2015, “The Oscars” is holding its 87th ceremony to honor a year of fantastic movies including Richard Linklaters’ (director of Dazed and Confused)

12-year endeavor “Boyhood” and the Martin Luther King based historical drama “Selma”. The ceremony will be hosted by none other than Neil Patrick Harris of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Harold and Kumar” fame. “It is truly an honor and a thrill to be asked to host this year’s Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show,” Harris said in a statement to the press. As in previous years, the nominees drew plenty of controversy as this was most notable with the lack of diversity in the final contenders list. One could argue that maybe there were not many great actors, filmmakers, etc. who were extraordinary enough to make the cut for 2014’s slate of films. Critics argue though that “Selma” director Ava DuVernay deserved a nomination, which would have made her the first African-American woman in history to contend for the award. In addition, David Oyelowo who stars as King in the aforementioned film was snubbed for a best actor nominee for a performance that many moviegoers say was nothing short of incredible. The exception to this was “Birdman” director Alejandro González Iñárritu who is of Mexican descent. In addition to the lack of racial diversity, the academy once again snubbed female directors with many critics praising Angelina Jolie’s work on “Unbroken” in addition to “Citizenfour” by Laura Poitras (which was nominated for best documentary.) A lot of this can be attributed to the “Academy of Arts and Sciences” membership, revealed by “The Los Angeles Times” in 2012 to be 94 percent white and 77 percent male with only 14 percent of its members being under the age of 50. This is nothing new for the classic awards ceremony that faces criticism for many of its nominating decisions. For instance, only eight sciencefiction movies have been nominated

photos courtesy of OSCAR.GO.COM

for the best picture award in its 86year history. Of those eight, classics such as “A Clockwork Orange,” “E.T.,” and “Star Wars” have been nominated in addition to “Gravity” in 2013. Animated Films have faced the same treatment with rare exceptions. Before the creation of the best animated feature film category in 2001, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” was the only animated movie to ever be nominated for Best Picture which it lost to “Silence of the Lambs.” In the year’s since, only two have followed Pixar’s “Up” in 2009, which lost to “The Hurt Locker,” and “Toy Story 3” in 2010 which it lost to “The King’s Speech”. In this year’s show, “The Lego Movie” was controversially snubbed for both categories even though its song “Everything is Awesome” was nominated for Best Song. Even though the Oscars have such a major place in today’s’ modern filmmaking culture, the Academy of Arts and Sciences does not appear to have matured along with the industry it represents. Movies are no longer an imitation of Broadway as they began, the modern movie market caters to various audiences with a wide variety of genres. Even though, the modern movie market is filled with countless franchises and sequels (Thirty two superhero films between DC and Marvel have been announced for between now and 2020.) Great storytelling will always remain the primary reason that the world loves movies and great stories come in many different coats of paint and styles from hand-drawn films, to space epics, to the denizens of a child’s toy box going on an adventure. Though these awards will forever be remembered in the annals of film history for years to come: in the end those golden statuettes are nothing more than symbolism. The 87th Annual Academy Awards (The Oscars) will air Feb. 22, 2015 on ABC at 7:30 p.m. (CST).

01.29.2015

ENTERTAINMENT calender TRAVEL MEET UP

January 29

Are you ready to start the New Year right by traveling, having fun, and saving money doing it. YOU SHOULD BE THERE if you are ready to meet new people that have the same interest as you, learn how to travel at wholesale prices, and create new memories. Who: ages 18 and over Where: Party Ventures 1257 Nile Dr, Corpus Christi, Texas When: 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information, contact (361) 815-3595

January 30

Free Friday night Scarecrow style When: Jan. 30, 2015 at 9 p.m. Where: The Executive Surf Club 309 N. Water Street Corpus Christi, Texas

CONCERT FOR A CURE

Classic Rock 104.5, Jake FM, & Planet 102.3 present: Concert for a Cure! To benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Featuring Clarissa Serna with special guests Splendiferous & Lady Katherine Tickets. No ticket required Sponsored by: U.S. Army & Sheinberg Tools Sponsored in part by

Competition Sound See more at: http://www.brewsterstreet.net/ or contact: (361)884-2739 Where: Brewster Street Ice House 1724 N. Tancahua Corpus Christi, Texas When: 8 p.m.

PORT ARANSAS TOUR OF HOME

January 31

Enjoy a “Glimpse of Island Life” during the 27th Port Aransas Home Tour Saturday Jan. 31, 2015 presented by the Port Aransas Garden Club. The Port Aransas Home Tour offers bus tours at 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. departing from the Community Center located at 408 North Alister or a self-guided tour from 1 – 5 p.m. The bus ticket also permits you to view those homes not included in the morning tour during the afternoon. All tours begin at the Community Center. Tickets are $25.00 p/p for the bus tour and $20 p/p for the self-guided tour. Both can be purchased via our website www.PortAransasGardenClub.org using PayPal after Thanksgiving, at both Gratitude and Mustang Island Art Gallery starting Dec. 15 and on tour day at the Community Center. For ticket information call the PAGC ticket hotline 361-876-4375 or email portagardenclub@hotmail.com. PAGC

ISLAND WAVES

Photos courtesy of WHATSUPCC.ORG

DINE DOWNTOWN CORPUS CHRISTI

SCAREROW AT SURF CLUB

January 30

entertainment

is a 501©3 non-profit organization. When: 8:30 am - 5pm Where: Port Aransas Community Center. 408 N. AlisterPort Aransas, Texas For more information, contact (361) 876-4375

January 19 - February 1

Enjoy Downtown restaurants’ three course individual and 2-for-1 value-prices menus. No tickets or coupon necessary, simply visit the restaurant you want to go and select from the Dine Downtown menu. The restaurants include Brewster Street Icehouse, Bleu Bistro, Citrus Bistro, Executive Surf Club, Harrison’s Landing, House of Rock, Landry’s Seafood, Mesquite St. Pasta and Pizza Company, Republic of Texas Bar&Grill, Thai Spice, Water Street Seafood Company and Water Street Oyster Bar. Participants also receive discount at certain retail shops and galleries when they have Dine Downtown restaurant receipt. Black Tie Roses, K Space Contemporary gallery, Texas Surf Museum, SegCity Surf Club Records and Treehouse Art Collective offer 10 percent, Brewter Steet offers $5 off admission to any show with the same dinner receipt. At Harrison’s Landing, buy three Japonica Bay tour ticket, get one free and buy three two-hour sail ticket, get fourth ticket free.

sports opinion 10

01.22.2015 01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

College Football Controversy: Defending the Playoff system by JEREMY PAPE sports reporter

he college football season recently came to an end, as the Ohio State Buckeyes won the first College Football Playoff championship by a score of 42-20 over the Oregon Ducks. The road to the championship game was paved with many polls throughout the season, which were conducted by a 13-person committee. The first poll was released in the middle of the season. College sports are unique in the way they decide what teams belong in championship games. In most professional sports, wins and losses decide who goes to postseason play. With so many teams in Division I of the NCAA (currently 128), the method of selecting schools for the playoff rounds was interesting, and somewhat controversial. Factors such as strength of

schedule, strength of conference, and many other concepts were vital in giving Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State the nod. Although the teams were selected Dec. 7, there is still plenty of controversy from fans of Baylor and Texas Christian University. The two teams, ranked 5th and 6th respectively, had outstanding seasons, but played each other so close that they were crowned co-champions of the Big 12 conference, which some suspect hurt their chances to go to the playoff. Coincidentally, people pushed for a playoff system that they felt would outshine the former BCS system of determining two teams to play a winner-takes-all game. It seems that due to the complexity of the statistics used by the committee, as well as doubts that some members of the committee could be unbiased, the new College Football Playoff system is off to a rocky start. Although the scrutiny from the Big 12 loomed large over the playoff

games, the actual games were very entertaining. The 4th seeded Ohio State Buckeyes, led by a third string quarterback named Cardale Jones, upset the top seed Alabama, winning 42-35. The Oregon Ducks reached the title game by upending the Florida State Seminoles, who were the defending champions and were riding a 29-game winning streak before collapsing against the Marcus Mariota led Ducks, 59-20. The playoff system, despite some of the kinks that must be worked out, did exactly what it needed to. Under the BCS formula, the championship game would have pitted Alabama against Florida State. Since both of those teams lost in the semifinals, it is apparent that they were not the two best teams, making the end result of the playoff perfect. Even though the excitement of the lowest seeded team, with their third string quarterback, winning the championship hasn’t quite left yet, some are already calling for an

expansion of the playoff, from 4 teams to 8 or even more. This seems like a poor move. It is true that, as everyone saw, any team can get hot and win the championship. However, having only four teams keeps the players from having to play more games, during one more week, and therefore keeping star athletes with NFL draft potential from messing it up by getting injured. Additionally, expanding the amount of teams in the playoff would not cure controversy. Just as the 5th and 6th ranked teams argued their case to be included, so would the 9th and 10th teams in an 8-team format. College football fans, and even those who cover college football, had been asking for a playoff for some time. Now that it is a reality, they must live with what it is now. With the exciting playoffs that just concluded in the back of a college football fan’s mind, they should just enjoy the wild ride that is the College Football Playoff.

#DeflateGate: Decoding the Big Game controversy by JAMIE FINK news editor

he 2015 NFL season is coming to a close, and that means there is only one game remaining on everyone’s schedules –the NFL Championship. However, this year’s championship game is once again surrounded by both suspicion and investigation. The New England Patriots, the lone remaining team from the NFL’s AFC division, is under fire and investigation by the NFL offices for cheating. In my opinon, if the facts add up, there needs to be some serious repercussions against the Patriots. This isn’t the first time that the Patriots have been accused and caught cheating in an important NFL playoff game, in fact, it’s the second time dealing with a championship game. Some of you may not know what exactly I am talking about or what has happened, but I’m going to lay it all out for you to decide. According to ESPN, the NFL found after suspicions had been raised about deflated footballs, that indeed 11 of the 12 game balls used in the AFC Championship game were inflated below the NFL’s requirements. The investigation found the footballs were inflated 2 pounds per square inch below requirement. The Patriots won the AFC Championship game in a landslide

margin against the Indianapolis Colts 45-7. The footballs had been approved by referee Walt Anderson two hours and 15 minutes before the kickoff, before they were returned to each team. As I said before this isn’t the first time that the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick have been caught cheating. According to Guardian.com, the 2007 New England Patriots were the only team since the NFL’s expansion from 14 games to 16 games during the regular season. That season the Patriots opened up against rival opponent New York Jets in a landslide victory 38-14. Former Patriots assistant Eric Mangini contacted the NFL, informing them that the Patriots appeared to have been videotaping the Jets’ defensive coaches from the sidelines, which is against a clear rule stated within the NFL guidelines. The NFL followed through with an investigation of the event, which turned out to be true. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined Belichick $500,000, the team $250,000 and took away the Patriots 2008 first-round draft picks. Additional tapes were found dating back throughout Belichick’s reign, including tapes of a St. Louis Rams’ practice the night before their “Super Bowl XXXVI” matchup, in which the Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 to win the NFL championship.

Personally I think ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, who works closely around sports teams in the northeast and the Boston area said it best. “If the NFL finds the Patriots culpable [and that is still a big ‘if’ at this point], it should lay the hammer down. If Belichick turns out to be a repeat offender in the skirting of the league rules, he should be suspended from the Super Bowl. It’s not about the deflated balls. It’s not about how much of an advantage (if any) it provided the Patriots or Tom Brady. It’s about the integrity of the sport and the arrogance of a football coach

who, if guilty, will have once again shown that he thinks he is bigger than the game.” Coming from someone who works closely to the Patriots, MacMullan’s statement is the anchor of how true NFL fans should feel toward this kind of pompous action. Island Waves would love to hear your opinion, whether the same or maybe you feel differently about the entire “Deflate Gate.” Let us know, e-mail your opinion to our Island Waves inbox at editor.tamucc.edu for a chance to be published in an upcoming issue.

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01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

February Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Baseball And Softball

Softball: Wichita St. @Waco, TX10:00a.m.

7 Softball: TBA@ Waco, TX 12:30p.m.

Stephen F. Austin @Waco, Texas 12:30 p.m.

Softball: TBA@ Waco, TX

Baseball: Saint Peter’s @Chapman Field 7:00p.m.

Baseball: Saint Peter’s @Chapman Field 7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Softball: @UAB, Islanders Invitational (Chapman Field) 3:00 p.m.

Softball: @South Dakota Islanders Invitational (Chapman Field) 3:00p.m.

Baseball: MisBaseball: Purdue souri @ Whata- @ Whataburger ﬁeld 7:00p.m. burger ﬁeld 6:00 p.m. Softball: New Mexico @Houston, TX 11:30a.m.

Softball: @South Dakota Islanders Invitational (Chapman Field) 11:30 a.m.

Baseball: Sam Houston @ Whataburger ﬁeld 3:00 p.m.

Baseball: Saint Peter’s @Chapman Field 7:00p.m.

18 Softball: San Antonio @UTSA 6:00 p.m.

Softball: @Wisconsin, Islanders Invitational (Chapman Field)

25 Softball: Texas A&M Int’l @ Chapman Field 1:00p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

27 Baseball: UT Arlington@ Chapman ﬁeld 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Baseball: Missouri @ Whataburger ﬁeld 6:00 p.m. Softball: Illinois @Houston, TX 4:30PM and 7:00p.m.

28 Baseball: UT Arlington@ Chapman ﬁeld 2:00 p.m.

Softball: New Mexico @Houston TX 9:00a.m.

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01.29.2015

ISLAND WAVES

Before Construction

Current Progress

photos by KARA HERRERA

A sketch of what the UC should look like once construction is complete.

The University Center Expansion