February 19, 2015

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The Newspaper of Lamar University Vol. 91, No. 16

Thursday, February 19, 2015

LU sets record in spring enrollment, credit hours KRISTEN STUCK UP MANAGING EDITOR @kristenstuck Lamar University released its official Spring 2015 enrollment figures Tuesday.

In spring 2014, Lamar saw recordbreaking credit hours, and the secondhighest head count for a spring semester. This semester, Lamar saw an even greater turnout, with both credit hours and head count reaching spring records with 149,369 credit hours and

14,052 students enrolled.

“Both of these are all-time Lamar spring enrollment records going back to 1923, so we’re really excited about that,” Kevin Smith, LU senior associate provost, said in a phone interview.

Lamar is up 4.58 percent in head count and 2.03 percent in credit hours compared to last spring according to Smith.

“We are up this spring with 14,052 students enrolled compared to last spring’s 13,437 students,” Smith said.

Most of the growth that the

spring semester holds is in the Science Technology Engineering an Mathematics (STEM) fields. Head count growth in the master’s in computer science program was noteworthy, up 95 students, or 170 percent.

Social work and criminal justice was up 67 students, or 10 percent, counseling and special populations was up 206 students, or 17 percent, and the engineering fields grew 380 students, or 23 percent, Smith stated in a press release.

“Most of our growth was in engi-

neering and our online programs in counseling and special populations,” he said.

In the press release, Smith also states that semester credit hour growth was the most dramatic across the engineering departments, primarily in the master’s programs, which was up 42.6 percent.

This spring’s credit hour total is up 2,975, compared to last spring’s 146,394 total.

“That’s a two percent increase from last spring,” Smith said.

UP Photo Elizabeth Grimm

Courtesy image

Boomtown film, music festival to take place Feb. 26-28

FAMILY FRAGILE AS ‘GLASS’ TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ DRAMA TO OPEN FEB. 26 IN STUDIO THEATRE ELIZABETH GRIMM UP STAFF WRITER

ELIZABETH GRIMM UP STAFF WRITER Excitement comes in many forms, but film and music brings out passion in people. The Boomtown Film and Music Festival will bring the community together, Feb. 26-28.

“It encompasses everything,” Christina Trujillo, board member and marketing volunteer, said. “We have panels, we have live bands, we have independent films, (and) we have a film contest. And this year we’re specially screening ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail.’”

The festival will screen a wide variety of movies.

“We’ve got experimental shorts, featurelength films — we have music videos,” Trujillo said. “We even did a 48-hour film contest where people could participate locally, and in two days have to conceptualize scripts, film and edit an entire film. It’s about five minutes and they have to incorporate song from one of our musicians.”

Trujillo said that the festival allows for creativity.

“My favorite thing that we do is that you have to spin a genre,” she said. “In the past, you would have to combine two genres, so it always gets really creative. You’d get things like film noir

UP Photo Elizabeth Grimm

Jim (Thomas Gentry) and Laura (Sydney Haygood), top, get to know each other during a rehearsal of “The Glass menagerie” Feb. 11, in the Studio Theatre. Tom (Chaz Romero), above, reflects as Amanda (Chloe Sullivan) prepares Laura for a date with the gentleman caller.

“The Glass Menagerie” is a play that only consists of four roles — Amanda, Tom, Laura and Jim — but this small cast explores big themes that ultimately reveals their inner turmoil and how they push one another to their breaking points.

Lamar Theatre will present Tennessee Williams’ classic play, Feb. 26March 1, in the Studio Theatre.

“It’s a story of family in depression-era St. Louis, and a lot of it is really based on Williams’ life,” director Joel Grothe, LU assistant professor of theater, said. “The main character is Tom and Tennessee Williams’ real name was Thomas Lanier Williams, and that character is based on him and his upbringing.

“He had a sister who was disabled, who suffered from anxiety and had a lot of problems. His mother was, I think, sort of in the same category. I think there was some similarity. And his father was not around very much.

Tennessee Williams’ father was an alcoholic and a traveling salesman.”

Grothe said the play is a reflection of Williams’ feelings toward his sister, Rose. “(She) ultimately had a lobotomy and was pretty much incapacitated and committed — that’s one part of it,” Grothe said. “The other side of it is Williams writing about the degrada-

tion of the South and the southern ideal. This kind of idea about virtue and chastity, and all these things that southerners imported from the Victorians when they came over to the United States and how it’s not unlike the American dream — is kind of a sham, is what he’s saying.”

The play frequently shows up in high school and college courses, and Grothe believes that the play is still important.

“From an educational standpoint, it resonates still — very strongly,” he said. “I’ve always said ‘Death of a Salesman’ was the greatest American play. Having worked on this, I feel like this one’s just as good.”

The play focuses on the connection one has with one’s family, Grothe said.

“I think you can expect a very interesting, conflicting — familiar in some cases — well-told story,” he said. “Everybody’s got something, some issue of some kind, and how they handle it. And it is a play about mental illness in a time when people didn’t really accept that kind of thing.

But regardless of how you feel about your family, your mother’s still your mother. You have a connection to that person you can’t get away from.”

Tom, played by Chaz Romero, has a passion to get away and fulfill his dreams.

See GLASS, page 4

See BOOMTOWN, page 2

LU Ambassadors seek applicants KARA TIMBERLAKE UP CONTRIBUTOR Application packets for 2015-2016 Lamar University Ambassadors are available through March 6 in the office of alumni affairs, located in 102 Rudy C. Williams Building in the John Gray Center. Ten openings will be available for new Ambassadors for the fall semester.

Lamar Ambassadors are a select group of students who represent the student body at official university events, and perform service at LU and in the community.

“Our ambassadors are integral in fostering positive relations among alumni and community supporters at a sundry of public functions, as well as serving the

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

university in helping recruit qualified, prospective students,” Shannon Copeland, director of alumni affairs, said.

“The group is highly involved on campus and is well informed about the university and what it has to offer.”

Copeland said that the role of an ambassador encompasses a variety of duties.

“Their responsibilities range from greeting guests at events, going to Houston to talk to alumni, and helping the President with the Red Room receptions,” she said. “When the President needs student representatives, he looks to the ambassadors.”

Copeland said that the program provides opportunities to connect accomplished students with important

constituents.

“Through their experiences, ambassadors are able to make meaningful connections with fellow students, as well as alumni, strengthening critical bonds and opening up future pathways,” she said.

“They are provided opportunities for leadership development and team building, and are privy to events that help them hone etiquette and networking skills that are immeasurable to future successes.”

Ambassadors showcase the diversity of discipline, classification and ethnicity at Lamar, Copeland said, adding that the diversity of ambassadors illustrates an environment of outreach for all See APPLICANTS, page 2

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

Courtesy photo

Lamar University Ambassadors pose with president Kenneth Evans. Application to become an ambassador are open through March 6.

www.twitter.com/UPLamar

INSIDE Thursday, February 19, 2015 University Press

QUOTE OF THE DAY

NOTICE

“Our minds are big enough to contemplate the cosmos but small enough to care about who wins an Oscar” — Dean Cavanagh

The University Press can be read online at www.lamaruniversitypress.com. Advertising rates can be found on the site, along with practically all information that a person might be looking for.

Check out the student handbook at: http://students.lamar.edu/student-handbook.html To download a pdf of the campus safety brochure, visit http://students.lamar.edu/campus-safety/index.html

Page 2

Tasting previews CoFAC fundraiser guest artist is John Alexander, who graduated from Lamar in 1968. Russ Schultz, Dean of the College of Fine The committee of Le Grand Bal, Arts and Communication, is also being Lamar University College of Fine Arts recognized. Schultz is retiring at the end of the school year. and Communication’s fundraiser, held a food tasting, Monday, in Brooks-Shiv“I’m excited to be celebrating 40 ers Dining Hall. years supporting the students, and celThe tasting was a media event to ebrating Dean Schultz and his achieveshowcase the food that will be part of ments on his final year,” committee chairman Garrett Peel said.

Le Grand Bal, to be held March 28.

Le Grand Bal, presented by Lamar Le Grand Bal raises funds for all of University Friends of the Arts, features the art departments within the univera silent art auction and reception in the sity, Lamar’s website states.

“These funds provide opportuniDishman Art Museum, followed by a ties for student travel and development, further community outreach and, of course, significant scholarships that allows the university to attract the best, brightest and most talented people of the region,” according to the website.

The dinner will be prepared under the direction of Chef Stephen Gary as well as the Lamar’s catering services.

Among the sample dishes on display were homemade Petite Gnocchi with chunky tomato basil cream, carved beef tenderloin with cracked pepper corn sauce and cabernet butter, a mini chicken mialnese with arugula and roasted pepper salad. There was even hamburger and fries. Desserts included a mini chocolate chip martini.

UP photo by Jac’Quor Williams The artwork in the auction will be College of Fine Arts and Communications Dean Russ Schultz (center) surrounded by other food on display at the Dishman, March 16tasters raise their glasses during Monday’s ‘Le Grand Bal’ tasting.

28. Bids may be made at any time, with BROOKE STINEBRICKNER UP CONTRIBUTOR

APPLICANTS ••••••••• Continued from page 1 students, regardless of background or area of study.

“Selected based on prestigious criteria, the ambassadors are the best of the best — they are the leaders on campus,” she said.

Copeland encourages students who are looking for a way to enhance classroom knowledge and gain real-world experience to apply

gourmet buffet, live entertainment and a dance in the Montagne Center.

“Fun large events like this gives you a chance to really kind of change things up a lot,” Stephen Gary, Chartwells executive chef, said. “You get to do something very specific, very unique. Nobody else is doing this.”

The tasting gave the Le Grand Bal committee members a chance to decide which dishes they want for the event from the 15 dishes available to sample.

Le Grand Bal is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This year’s honorary

for the program.

“If a student wishes to fortify his or her college experience, build leadership skills that will prove invaluable, and obtain practical knowledge that will prepare them for future professional endeavors, then ambassadors is a great program to look into,” she said.

To apply for membership, an applicant must be a full-time, officially-registered Lamar University student who has completed at least one full semester and will be classified as a sophomore or junior in the fall of 2015.

BOOMTOWN ••••••••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 and sci-fi. Sometimes, you do the same thing all the time and you want that extra spur of energy and creativity that those sort of combinations add.”

Christopher Dombrosky, co-founded the original festival in 2008.

“The reason I, and others, started this festival eight years ago, and have been pouring our time into it ever since, is because we believe Southeast Texas needs an event like this,” Dombrosky said in an email interview. “We’re showing new films made outside the studio system from all over the world — art from independent voices that people in Southeast Texas wouldn’t get a chance to see otherwise.

“I’m a filmmaker myself, so I’m always interested to see what other filmmakers are creating right now. I learn a lot by seeing what makes one film stand out among all the others.”

Boomtown Film and Music Festival grew out of the Spindletop Film Festival, which was put on

by Lamar University. The festival became too big for the faculty to handle. When a group volunteered to continue a festival, they decided to incorporate music as well.

“Every year we add something new,” Trujillo said. “Last year, we added an outdoor stage. The year before that we added a more of a festival-type feel, and vendors. This year, the City of Beaumont has been really big in supporting our festival, more so than previous years.”

Boomtown doesn’t limit itself to one genre of music, Trujillo said.

“We normally have singer songwriters,” she said. “We have a rap band from Lumberton.

They’re amazing — they’re really fun. They’re really young, too, but they have a lot of energy and they’re hilarious. Last year, we even had a singer songwriter who was 13. We don’t require them to be a certain age, just to have good music. We don’t

Prospective ambassadors must have and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.0, submit an official application, including a letter of interest, résumé and faculty recommendation, and have approval from his or her college dean.

Senior Kristeen Reynolds said that being an ambassador has prepared her for future career pursuits.

“Being an ambassador has presented me with endless opportunities to network with distinguished alumni, generous donors and visiting digni-

discriminate.”

Trujillo said that that home-grown events can be exciting.

“It’s one of those things, that people tend to have this idea that if it’s from Beaumont then it’s not very good,” she said. “But this festival is amazing.

“We had almost 1,000 film entries this year alone, from every continent except Antarctica. So, the quality of the films we program are very high.

Every year I see a film that just changes my perception of what independent film is.”

Trujillo said that if you like film, music or parties then Boomtown is where you want to be.

“It’s really something for everyone, we even have family friendly events,” she said. “We only have one venue that is 21 and up. The rest are all ages 18 and up. Even Lamar students can come out and enjoy the festivities without being 21.”

The festival takes place at a multitude of venues around Beaumont, including McFaddin Ward House, Barlocal, The Art Studio, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Jefferson Theater, and the LogOn Café.

Trujillo said she would like to see a diverse crowd of people.

“Honestly, I’d like to see more from outside the artistic community,” she said. “We have a pretty core following that come every year. We’re hoping to see somewhere between 600 to 800 people attend the festival this year. I really think more families should come, more young couples. It’s a great date night.”

Trujillo said that volunteering is a great way to meet people.

“I moved here four years ago and that’s how I met people,” she said.

Trujillo said that people should take a step out of their comfort zone and enjoy the festival.

Tickets are $5 for ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail,’ $7 for the film and music venues or $20 for an all access three-day pass.

For more information, visit www.boomtownfestival.com.

CALENDAR February 20 Baseball vs. Manhattan Vincent-Beck Stadium 6 p.m.

February 21 Women’s Basketball vs. McNeese Montagne Center 4 p.m.

Basketball vs. McNeese Montagne Center 7 p.m.

UP photo by Jac’Quor Williams

The Le Grand Bal committee previews the food for the event, Monday, at Brooks-Shivers dining hall. the final bids on the day of the event.

The art show will feature more than 200 works and will be divided into two parts. Upstairs will house Lamar alumni and faculty, while the downstairs gallery will feature local and student art.

Art submissions are being accepted. Contributing artists receive a percentage of all works sold with the rest going to the fundraiser. Artists interested in submitting should contact Christopher Troutman or Xenia Fedorchenko at 880-8499 or 880-8914.

Tickets for Le Grand Bal are $150 and are available at lamar.edu/arts.

For more information, call 8808137 or visit the website. taries,” she said. “I have been privileged to learn from the wisdom of those who have built successful careers and those who I aspire to be like. As an ambassador, I have been afforded invaluable experiences, made long-lasting friendships, gained mentors and obtained professional networking skills that will continue to impact and inspire me after I graduate.”

For more information, visit http://advancement.lamar.edu/ambassadors, call 880-8921, or email alumni@Lamar.edu.

Baseball vs. Manhattan Vincent-Beck Stadium 1 p.m.

Empty Bowl Marathon Dishman Art Museum 1-4 p.m.

TALH Preview Day Gray Library, 8th floor 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

February 22 Baseball vs. Manhattan Vincent-Beck Stadium 11 a.m.

February 23 Sigma Xi lecture: Dr. Robert Clarke Gray Library, 8th floor 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

February 24 Credit Score management seminar Galloway Business Building, 114 3-5 p.m.

A Night at the Museum - Portrait of Kings Setzer Student Center Ballroom 7-9 p.m.

February 25 Motown Live!

Setzer Student Center Ballroom 7-9 p.m.

To submit a listing, click on the calendar link at lamaruniversitypress.com

3

EDITORIAL Editor Lauren Van Gerven The opinions that appear in editorials are the official views of the University Press student management as determined by the UP Student Editorial Board. Opinions expressed elsewhere on this page are the views of the writers only and are not necessarily those of the University Press student management. Student opinions are not necessarily those of the university administration.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

No ‘shots’ in the dark

UP EDITORIAL SPRING WEATHER CALLS FOR SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS It’s only mid-February, but it seems like winter is already behind us.

We’ve been lucky enough to experience many sunny days the past month, and even some warm enough to break out the shorts and T-shirts.

While people up North battle one blizzard after the other, we lucky people down South are planning barbecues and beach days.

We should appreciate how lucky we are and make sure to spend time outside before the humidity and 100 degree weather comes rolling in.

With the semester kicking into full gear, and many students combining school with part-time, or even full-time jobs, it might seem hard to find the time to enjoy the outdoors, but it is important to make time for it.

Spending time outside will increase vitamin D intake, which is an important vitamin for one’s health as it reduces risk of cancer, obesity, hormonal problems, and also supports a strong immune system.

Being outside can also help increase your quality of sleep, a valuable asset for all students.

Even if one doesn’t have a lot of time to spend outdoors, it is worth venturing outside even for a short amount of time. Recent research has shown that spending as little as five minutes a day in the open air benefits one’s mental health. All natural environments, including those in urban settings, are beneficial, but environments with water have been proven to be especially beneficial.

So, try not to crash on the couch and turn on the TV after a busy day, but go outside instead.

Take a walk, go for a run or even have a picnic with friends.

Or combine spending time outdoors with productivity by studying outside.

On campus, Lamar offers a variety of outdoor activities in which students can participate.

Recreational Sports has Outdoor Pursuits — an entire department devoted to organizing camping and adventure trips. They also organize campus events for students.

For those not interested in physical activity, students can still enjoy time in the great outdoors simply by chilling at Mirabeau’s outside patio, strolling around campus, or soaking up some sun at a baseball game.

So soak up some vitamin D, catch a few rays and get a little rest. It will pay off in the long run.

UNIVERSITY PRESS A THIRTEEN-TIME ASSOCIATED PRESS MANAGING EDITORS AWARD WINNER

The Newspaper of Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology ©University Press 2014

Editor ................................Lauren Van Gerven Managing Editor .......................Kristen Stuck Sports Editor ..........................Grant Crawford Web Editor ..............................Melissa Conley Staff .............Desmond Pickens, Lainie Harris, .....................Mason Malmay, Molly Porter, ....................Coty Davis, Elizabeth Grimm, ............. Caitlin Duerler, Lane Fortenberry, .......................................Michelle Burdett Advertising .............................Melissa Conley Office Manager ..................Jac’Quor Williams

www.lamaruniversitypress.com Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 200 Setzer Student Center.

The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the UP student management. Letters by the same writer on the same subject will not be published. Poetry and religious debates will not be published.

UP infographic by Desmond Pickens

Anti-vaxxer movement ignores scientific evidence Diphtheria, pertussis, polio, rubella, smallpox, chickenpox — most people have no idea what any of these diseases are — that’s because all of these are preventable diseases that are rarely seen any more because of vaccinations.

But, with the new “crunchy” parenting techniques being highly publicized by the media and celebrity endorsers, these diseases are being given a second chance at life.

“Crunchy” parenting alone is fairly insane. This parenting style promotes childled learning, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, home births, home schooling, holistic medicine and alternative health practices.

Now, I’m not saying all of these things are horrible, but in total things can get pretty crazy — and even worse, dangerous.

Alternative health practices and holistic medicine are leading parents to not vaccinate their children. According to ProCon.org, some of the arguments behind not vaccinating children include that vaccines cause serious side effects, they contain harmful ingredients, they are unnatural and natural immunity is more effective, some of the diseases prevented by vaccines are relatively harmless, and that most of the diseases that vaccines target have essentially disappeared.

Of course, vaccines, like any other medical treatment, do come with a risk — but the risk is exponentially smaller than the risk involved in letting a child contract a disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, all vaccines carry a risk that for every million children vaccinated, one will have a life-threatening reaction. Depending on the vaccine, there could be other risks involved, but none have been proven scientifically. Take, for example, the “vaccines cause autism” fallacy. According to autismspeaks.org, over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research is clear — vaccines do not cause autism.

Now, can we move on from that myth?

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most childhood vaccines are 90 to 99 percent effective in preventing disease. The CDC estimates that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014.

The measles vaccine alone has decreased childhood deaths from measles by 74 percent.

Vaccines have many ingredients. Depending on which vaccine one is looking at,

COMMENTARY

by

Kristen Stuck

they may contain things that are considered dangerous. Thimerosal, an organic mercury compound, is found in trace amounts in one flu vaccine for children and other vaccines for adults. Aluminum is used in some vaccines. Some vaccines even have formaldehyde.

Here’s the catch though — none of these potentially dangerous ingredients are harmful in the quantities used in the vaccines.

Children are exposed to more aluminum in breast milk and infant formula than they are exposed to in vaccines.

Thimerosal has been removed or reduced to trace amounts in vaccines for children under six years old.

The FDA requires up to 10 or more years of testing for all vaccines before they are licensed, and even then, they are monitored by the CDC and the FDA to make sure that the vaccines and the ingredients continue to be safe.

Immunity from disease often follows a single natural infection, whereas immunity from vaccines generally occurs only after several doses. The Mayo clinic says that a natural infection often provides a more complete immunity than a series of vaccinations.

But this means that you have to put a child’s life at risk for the sake of a natural immunity.

Vaccines cost less in time and money to obtain than an infectious disease will cost in time off of work to care for the sick child, the potential long-term disability care, and the medical costs.

Children under five years old with the flu are contagious for about eight days. According to a 2012 CDC study, this will cost their parents an average of 11 to 73 hours of wages and $300 to $4,000 in medical expenses. In a 2008 outbreak of the measles in San Diego, Calif., 11 unvaccinated children caught the measles. This outbreak resulted in a net public-sector cost of $10,376 a case — $123,512 total — due to emergency vaccination and outbreak response.

Yes, some diseases we are vaccinated for are mild. Chickenpox is often just a rash

with blisters. The measles is a rash accompanied by a fever and runny nose. Rubella is often just a virus with a rash and low fever. Rotavirus can normally be treated with hydration.

Most people in college now have probably had one of these. I still remember the Christmas that I had chickenpox. I remember the Calamine lotion and the oatmeal bath at my grandma’s house. I was only five or six, but I remember that being one of the worst holidays I ever had. I would have much rather have had the vaccine than deal with the itching. And now, because I did have the chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in my nerve tissue near my spinal cord and brain, and one day could reactivate as shingles, a rash whose pain can last for months, years, or even the rest of my life.

I would much rather have been vaccinated than face the chance of never-ending nerve pain.

Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, and nearly eradicated other diseases such as polio. Children no longer have to be vaccinated against smallpox because the disease no longer exists due to vaccinations.

This fact alone should show how important vaccines are.

There were only 500 cases of polio in 2014 worldwide, which appeared in only three countries. That number is down from 350,000 in 1988, thanks to vaccination programs. In the 20th century, Diptheria killed 21,053 people yearly, measles killed 530,217 people yearly, mumps killed 162,344 people yearly, rubella killed 47,745 people yearly, and Hib killed 20,000 people yearly, in the United States alone. By 2012, each of these diseases had decreased by 99 percent because of vaccinations.

It’s clear to see that vaccinations are an important part of society. Choosing to not vaccinate a child just because the parent doesn’t want to or doesn’t feel like it’s necessary is simply dangerous. By not vaccinating a child — who is able to be vaccinated — it puts not only that child at risk, but other children and individuals around them who can not be vaccinated because of medical reasons.

Is a simple principle really worth risking lives for?

The ones that are affected by those who are not vaccinated aren’t the ones who are actually making these decisions — it’s the ones who don’t have a choice, the ones who don’t even have a voice to fight with.

We must fight for them to protect them.

We must vaccinate.

Kristen Stuck is UP Managing Editor

Page 4 Thursday, February 19, 2015

University Press

GLASS •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 “Tom is a very poetic person — he has really, really big dreams,” Romero, Orange junior, said. “He feels like he’s stuck in this house, working for his family — taking care of his sister and his mom — and it becomes too much of a burden for him.

He feels like he can’t escape.”

Tennessee Williams’ poetic abilities are evident throughout the play.

“In my monologues, the poetic trait in me comes out — it’s ver y fluid, ver y artistic,” Romero said.

“That’s one thing you can expect from Tom, just the struggle of looking back and seeing how everything played out, and where he is and where he’s going. Everybody has big dreams. I think a lot of people can relate to him, because they would like to go out and achieve those dreams — do great things. But sometimes, there’s something holding us back that we can’t escape from.”

Laura, played by Sydney Haygood, Friendswood freshman, is an introvert.

“Laura is a ver y shy girl,” Haygood said. “She doesn’t really do much in her life. She stays inside and plays with her glass menagerie, which is little glass animals or dolls, and she plays on the Victrola, which is like a record player. She stays inside all day and she’s just really shy.

“When you first see her, you think ‘Pity.’ But as the play goes on, you realize that there’s more than

feeling sorry for her. Throughout the play, she progressively gets more and more happy and starts to come out of her shell a little bit, especially in Act 2. I think people expect a different side from Laura than just shyness.”

Haygood said the members of the family cover all facets of family dynamic.

“Laura is completely different from her mother and her brother,” she said. “The stor y centers around her and her shyness, and her wanting to go out, but she’d rather stay inside and play with her glass menagerie.”

Amanda, played by Chloe Sullivan, Kountze junior, is a demanding individual who pushes her son and daughter to their limits, but she believes she has their best interests in mind.

“Amanda is the mother of Tom and Laura,” Sullivan said. “I guess the best way to describe Amanda is that she generally wants the best for her children, but she’s a pusher. She pushes her children. She really pushes Tom to stay home and help with bills and such. He has dreams of being in the merchant marines and she’s very focused on, ‘No, you have to stay here and take care of your sister.’ Really, she just doesn’t want to be alone and without him.

“Laura is a ver y shy young girl.

She’s just not quite normal. I don’t think Amanda really grasps or understands her children, and so she’s tr ying to mother them the way she thinks is right, the Southern way. In her mind, there is a certain way that young women and young men are

UP Photo Elizabeth Grimm

Chloe Sullivan, Kountze junior, Chaz Romero, Orange junior and Sydney Haygood, Friendswood freshman, rehearse a scene for “The Glass Menagerie” in the Studio Theatre, Feb. 11.

supposed to be. Since her children don’t necessarily fit that, she tries to push them into that mold.”

Sullivan said that Amanda is loud and wants to be heard.

“She talks a lot and she demands the attention of a room — when she’s done talking, she leaves,” Sullivan said. “So, it’s, ‘You are going to do what I say and I’m going to leave before you can say anything against what I say is right.’”

Sullivan said that she feels a connection with Amanda.

“She reminds me exactly of my grandmother — not in a bad way,” Sullivan said. “Everything she does, she comes from a very honest place.

Even when it’s not necessarily what others would consider the right way to do it — the right way to explain things or to help people — she still is coming from a ver y honest and sincere place. She really wants the best for others.”

The problem with Amanda is that she lives in the past and it’s hard to distinguish between truth and halftruth, Sullivan said.

“She speaks about all these gentleman callers and how all these men wanted her — yet she lives in a little studio apartment because her husband left and she married a telephone man instead of a man who was a planter and lived on a huge piece of land,” Sullivan said. “So how truthful can it really be?”

Jim, played by Thomas Gentr y Jr., Friendswood junior, plays the gentleman caller, whose extrovert personality contrasts sharply with Laura’s introversion.

“Jim is that one person in high school who was cool for everything,” Gentr y said. “(It’s) like, ‘This guy’s going places,’ but he really doesn’t.”

Gentry said that Jim is really the person who peaked in high school and accomplished nothing more.

“He thinks he’s doing well, Gentr y said. “He thinks that he’s really smart, but he really isn’t. He doesn’t notice things as easily as the normal person would. He’s ver y upbeat, always happy. Happy about everything — you can’t catch him in a bad mood.

When he’s talking about something, he gets really excited. It can be the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard.”

Jim’s personality never seems to dim.

“Right when he comes in, it’s just a ball of sunshine,” he said. “Jim

UP Photo Elizabeth Grimm

Chloe Sullivan, Kountze junior and Chaz Romero, Orange junior, yell at each other while Sydney Haygood, Friendswood freshman, looks on as they rehearse for their parts in “The Glass Menagerie” in the Studio Theatre, Feb. 11. comes in and he’s a public speaking man. His life revolves around everything he’s learned and what he’s trying to get.

“He opens (the audience) up to thinking new things — and to go for things. If I want to be president, (he’d say), ‘Go do that! You can do that!’ It may not work out in your favor, but he brings that drive to go do something.”

Will Laura’s fragile psyche survive Amanda’s domineering ways or will she prove to be as fragile as the animals in her “Glass Menagerie”?

The only way to find out is to visit the production.

Tickets are $7 for Lamar students with ID, $10 for faculty, staff and students, $15 for general admission, and are available at the box office, or by calling 880-8250.

5

OSCARS

Thursday, February 19, 2014

UNIVERSITY PRESS

‘BIRDMAN’ TO FLY OVER ‘BOYHOOD’ OSCAR PREVIEW BY LANE FORTENBERRY

Best Picture The Best Picture race is between two movies — “Birdman” and “Boyhood.”

The Screen Actors Guild, which many consider to be a reliable indicator for Oscar glory, got it right this year with their Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble award. “Birdman” is indeed outstanding on so many levels.

It is fascinating to see the whole movie appear to be one continuous scene, which indicates the brilliant editing.

I’ve never seen such punchy writing that flowed like a normal conversation between the characters. The two stories kept me glued to the screen; an actor trying to make a new name for himself, and the hardships of Broadway actors. I haven’t walked out of a theater and thought about what the ending of a movie could mean, quite like I did with the ending of “Birdman.”

“Boyhood” is a top pick for many people. It is crazy that it took 12 years to make and the original cast stayed throughout the process. For me, that’s it though. I’ve seen this story before, where a person, who isn’t quite like the others, grows up and we see what

Michael Keaton Birdman

87TH ACADEMY AWARDS FAVOR INDIE APPEAL, MORE THAN BOX OFFICE BLOCKBUSTERS The film award season is almost complete. The 87th Academy Awards will wrap up another incredible year of films, Sunday.

One of the most interesting things about the big nominees is that none of them were near the top in box office receipts. For example, the only Best Picture nominee in the top 10 box office movie gross list was “American Sniper,” with a total of $213,423,957.

Compare that to top earner “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1,” which pulled in $335,704,905, or “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which earned $333,176,600.

The next highest earning nominee on the list, “The Intimidation Game,” comes in at number 51 on the list with $62,239,555. As a matter of fact, two of the Best Picture nominees weren’t even in the top 100 earners. Action, superhero and children’s movies always seem to dominate the box office, which is understandable because they attract a bigger audience and a more diverse age group. Most Oscar nominees fall in the drama category, which attract adults, and are rated “R” most of the time.

However, it’s been a great year for regular moviegoers like myself. Many personal favorites didn’t even make the list, such as “Nightcrawler.” With so many nominees being worthy this year, it’s hard to

say any movie was snubbed. It’s more of a near-miss kind of thing, with only a limited number of spots available.

When the Oscar nominations were announced, the public and media were in a bit of an uproar, arguing that the nominees lacked diversity. The actor and actress categories are made up of white males and females. However, the blame is being thrown on the wrong people. This isn’t the Academy’s fault — this is a problem with producers. It is up to them to cast a diverse crowd of actors and actresses to fill the roles. David Oyelowo, who portrays Martin Luther King in “Selma,” comes to mind as someone who definitely gave an Oscar-wor thy performance.

With all that in mind, this year’s Academy Awards should be a pretty wide open affair, with the trophies spread around.

happens in their life. It just hasn’t been documented literally for 12 years. I can’t get over the house scene with the “boys just being boys” vibe.

I can’t believe such a horrible few minutes made it into an Oscar-nominated movie. The philosophical writing towards the end just wasn’t fitting and felt forced.

Even though it is a box office monster and very powerful, “American Sniper” doesn’t have a chance to win. You can put a little blame on the fakest baby in the history of film, which completely took away the intensity of the moment.

Even though I really enjoyed “Selma,” it didn’t seem powerful enough for what the movie is portraying. “The Theory of Everything” had great moments between Hawking and his wife, but is quite boring most of the time. “The Imitation Game” is wonderful but the pacing is difficult to deal with.

Outside of the two front runners, the best of the rest are “Whiplash” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” The former is one of my favorite movies and is electrifying, but lacks some story components to compete for the big prize. When it comes to the latter, Wes Anderson brilliantly directs a smart comedy but it lacks the final piece to push it to the front.

The one movie that can claim to be snubbed is “Gone Girl,” a great adaptation from the book that is smart and deeply dark.

Best Choice: “Birdman” Best Bet: “Birdman” Hedge: “Boyhood”

Ellar Coltrane Boyhood

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Director is yet another race between Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Birdman” and Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” although, this might be a dif ferent outcome.

Linklater is probably going to win this award, and it’s because of how long it took to make the film. There have been movies before that took years and years Richard Linklater to make, but not quite like this one. Linklater spent 12 years filming people who aged in real time, capturing their lives and the way they change.

That’s quite an accomplishment.

Bennett Miller, for “Foxcatcher,” made an incredible movie, but it’s extremely slow at times. Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is just absolutely brilliant. Anderson has long had a reputation for being too artsy to be recognized, so it is nice to see him on this list. He won’t win, but still. Morten Tyldum’s “The Intimidation Game” is an enjoyable, powerful stor y that doesn’t quite have the goods to pick up the hardware.

Smart voters will be all in on Iñárritu. “Birdman” is just all around excellent. The Broadway scenes, the following ever yone around for one continuous scene, the acting – ever ything is incredible. Iñárritu put together one hell of a film. If Linklater wins, there will be few complaints.

The Screen Actors Guild got this one wrong. Michael Keaton should have taken that award home. He is incredible in “Birdman.” Instead SAG chose Eddie Redmayne, who plays Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.” He is dead on playing the great scientist, his struggles with ALS and the emotion he exhibited. But Keaton’s performance is just too Michael Keaton strong. He is on the brink of imploding the entire time until his breakthrough on Broadway. He attacks his hardships through emotion and comedy.

I was happy to see Steve Carell nominated for his work in “Foxcatcher.” The makeup work is daunting and added greatly to his ghoulish portrayal of John du Pont. It was unique to see Carell play such a different character, rather than just his comedy roles.

Benedict Cumberbatch, for “The Imitation Game,” and Bradley Cooper, for “American Sniper,” round out the nominees.

It’s too bad only five can be nominated for Best Actor. Jake Gyllenhaal should have been nominated for “Nightcrawler.” He lost 30 pounds for the role to have a creepier, psychotic physique.

It is chilling to hear him say, “What if my problem wasn’t that I don’t understand people, but that I don’t like them?” It is his best work to date. Another actor that should have been nominated is David Oyelowo for his portrayal of MLK in “Selma.” Bradley Cooper was lucky to beat this pair to a nomination.

Best Choice: Alejandro G. Iñárritu Best Bet: Richard Linklater Hedge: Wes Anderson

Best Actress The Best Actress category brings about the most conflict. Julianne Moore is the clear front runner, but Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl” is a favorite among the box office crowd. Pike might be one of the best “villains” ever. Her dialogue reminds one of Robin Wright’s in “House of Cards.” Pike is softspoken, but punchy. She uses her looks to dissect the minds of men to get what she wants. She is smart and charming, yet frightening. “Gone Girl” should have garnered a Best Picture nod and Pike Julianne Moore is the main reason why.

Felicity Jones, in “The Theory of Everything,” is a delight to watch. Reese Witherspoon, in “Wild,” gives an emotional performance. Marion Cotillard, in “Two Days, One Night,” seems great, but I really couldn’t tell, because my copy doesn’t include subtitles and it is all in French. Ah, well, c’est la vie.

So Moore is the clear favorite to win. She won the SAG and Golden Globe award for for her role in “Still Alice” as a college professor battling early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her performance is far better than the movie itself. She allows us to experience the symptoms of the horrendous disease and see how other family members and friends react to it.

Best Choice: Rosamund Pike Best Bet: Julianne Moore Hedge: Marion Cotillard

Best Choice: Michael Keaton Best Bet: Michael Keaton Hedge: Eddie Redmayne

Supporting Actor

Supporting Actress

Original Screenplay

Adapted Screenplay

Best Actor in a Supporting role is an absolute lock. There isn’t even a moment’s hesitation about who’s winning this.

J.K. Simmons is electrifying in “Whiplash.” He seems kind and friendly, but with his band in jeopardy, he turns into a raging maniac. His character, Terrence Fletcher, might be one of J.K. Simmons the most intimidating people ever seen on the big screen.

The ferocity with which he terrifies his musicians, justifying it as pushing them to be the best they can be, leaves the viewer’s heart pounding. Fletcher says the worst thing anyone can say is “Good job.” Sorry J.K., but that was a damn good job.

Edward Norton is enjoyable with his cool-guy presence in “Birdman,” then ends up being a little nutty. Mark Ruffalo is a great actor and Robert Duvall is a legend but that’s not enough, and even though it is Supporting Actor, we didn’t see enough of Ethan Hawke in “Boyhood” to garner the award.

While it’s a great list of actors, no one is as deserving to win this award as Simmons.

Patricia Arquette is a lock to take home Best Supporting Actress. Just sticking around for 12 years to make “Boyhood” is enough to warrant the award, but she actually deserves it as well. Arquette did extremely well playing a divorced mom. She Patricia Arquette grows up, just like her kids do, and she’s there every step of the way guiding them the best she can. She’s the most deserving to win the award out of this group.

Of course, Meryl Streep was nominated – for the 19th time — for “Into the Woods,” but the nomination is recognition enough. Keira Knightly, in “The Intimidation Game,” and Laura Dern, for “Wild,” will just have to lean on “It’s an honor to be nominated.” The darkest of dark horses may be Emma Stone in “Birdman.” Apart from “The Help” her work doesn’t usually stand out, but she nails her part as Michael Keaton’s daughter. It probably won’t be enough, but it’s a good sign for the future.

This is one category that Linklater’s “Boyhood” doesn’t have a shot to win. The winner is between Iñárritu’s “Birdman” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a very smart comedy. That’s why it is in the Best Picture Birdman and Original Screenplay categories. It isn’t your everyday comedy. The audience never quite knows what is coming next. It won’t win best picture (although it surely must have a chance with cinematography), and Anderson deserves an award for his continuing excellence.

E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman’s “Foxcatcher” is a very likeable movie, but it’s only suited for a selected audience because of the pace. Dan Gilroy’s “Nightcrawler” is one of the most underrated movies of 2014.

It’s going to be “Birdman,” yet again. The writing is so in-your-face all the time. Iñárritu brings out the best in every cast member. There’s never been a movie quite like it.

Even though “Whiplash” is on a fine line between adapted and original, it’s in this category and deserves to win. Since it was adapted from director Damien Chazelle’s own short film, it was basically written from scratch. J.K. Simmons’ strong and intimiThe Imitation dating dialogue alone is Game worth the statue. It’s a close one, though.

Graham Moore’s “The Intimidation Game” has a really strong chance to pull ahead. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if it takes home the award. These two movies have no shot to win Best Picture so this would be a great consolidation prize.

Jason Hall’s “American Sniper,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice” and Anthony McCarten’s “The Theory of Everything” round out the category.

It is frustrating not to see Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” in this category. It is an excellent movie and very well written.

Best Choice: J.K. Simmons Best Bet: J.K. Simmons Hedge: Why bother, it’s going to J.K. Simmons.

Best Choice: “Birdman” Best Bet: “Birdman” Hedge: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

Best Choice: Patricia Arquette Best Bet: Patricia Arquette Hedge: Emma Stone

LAYOUT

BY

LAUREN VAN GERVEN

Best Choice: “Whiplash” Best Bet: “The Intimidation Game” Hedge: “Whiplash”

Page 6 Thursday, February 19, 2015

University Press

SPORTS

7 Thursday, February 19, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

UP SPORTS BRIEFS Track and Field Verity Ockenden and Sam Stabler were the high point scorers on the women’s and men’s sides, respectively, to lead the Lamar track and field teams to third-place finishes at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, Tuesday, in Birmingham, Ala. Combined, both teams ended the meet with eight first places (six individual, two relay), five second places and five third-place finishes.

The Cards or Lady Cards swept the medal stand three times (women’s 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters, men’s 3,000 meters).

The NCAA Championships are slated to begin March 13 in Fayetteville, Ark. Stabler is in line to represent LU in the 3,000 meters. The NCAA selects the top-16 times nationally and Stabler currently has the 10th-best time.

The Cardinals open their outdoor season in Lafayette, La. March 21 at the Louisiana Classic.

Women’s Basketball The Lamar Lady Cardinals play their biggest game of the season to date when they travel to Stephen F. Austin for a first-place showdown with the Ladyjacks, today.

Lamar (14-10 overall, 11-2 Southland Conference) holds a halfgame lead over SFA (17-6, 10-2) for the top spot in the standings.

“Thursday is our biggest game so far, but it is not the end of the season,” Harmony said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we meet them again in the conference tournament.”

Lamar has four games remaining after today’s encounter. The Lady Cards host McNeese State at 4 p.m., Saturday, pay a return visit to McNeese Feb. 26, and welcome Incarnate Word, Feb. 28, before closing out the regular season by entertaining Sam Houston State March 5.

GILLIGAN SOAKS IN 1,300TH WIN , ,

LAMAR SPLITS CARDINAL CLASSIC DEFEATS NEW MEXICO STATE FALLS TO ILLINOIS TYLER LINDER UP CONTRIBUTOR The Lamar University baseball team opened its 2015 campaign with a bang, smashing four home runs at pitcher-friendly Vincent-Beck Stadium in the Cardinal Classic.

The Cardinals hosted New Mexico State University, out of the Western Athletic Conference, and the University of Illinois, out of the Big 10, going 2-2 on the weekend.

Coming off of a 31-25 2014 season with an appearance in the Southland Tournament, the senior-laden ball club is looking to improve and compete for a Southland title.

They took a step in the right direction by splitting the four games.

The team beat NMSU 7-6 to open the tournament, Friday. Saturday was a doubleheader day. The Cards lost to Illinois 8-1, followed by a 9-2 victory over New Mexico State in the nightcap. They closed the tournament with a 9-3 reverse to the Illini.

“We learned some things this Photo courtesy of LUmedia relations week — some good, some bad,” LU The Lamar baseball team dumps gatorade on head coach Jim Gilligan after a 7-6 win against New Mexico State, in Vincent Beck Stadium. head coach Jim Gilligan said.

Gilligan entered Friday night’s opener sitting on 1,299 career victories 3-5 with a three-run home run, a dou- day,” Gilligan said.

Lamar’s power returned in Satas a head coach. The Cardinals did not ble and a single. Moore was drafted Cardinal starter Chase Angelle urday’s nightcap, as leftfielder Sandisappoint the 764 fans in the stands as out of high school by the Arizona Di- held Illinois in check early, at one tana hit the second of his two bombs they won a tight, hard-fought slugfest amond backs in the 13th round but point sending back 10-consecutive on the day, and Cutter McDowell to bring win number 1,300. chose to come to Lamar. batters. added another in a dominant 9-2 vicAfter the game, Gilligan credited In the first game of Saturday’s “We had a good ball game going tory over the NMSU Aggies. his milestone victory to his players. twin bill, the Cards’ offense was shut — Chase did a phenomenal job,” GilliThe Cardinals will be back in ac“These things simply represent down by Illinois pitcher John Kravetz, gan said. “Chase hung in the ball tion at Vincent-Beck Stadium next teams and players,” he said. “You who held the LU offense hitless going game until one breaking ball, left up, weekend as they host Manhattan Coldon’t win 1,300 games unless you into the eighth inning, before Kevin that opened the ball game up.” lege-Jaspers out of New York City in a have really good players.”

Santana whacked a solo home run, Illinois jumped on Angelle for four-game set.

But Gilligan’s landmark win was breaking up the no-hitter in the three quick runs to break the game The series opens Friday with a not the only story of the night as true process. It was the lone earned run open. Reliever Ryan Cawthon then doubleheader at 2 p.m., and continues freshman centerfielder C. J. Moore given up by Illinois in the game. gave up four more runs in three in- Saturday, with a doubleheader at 2 kickstarted his Cardinal career going “Their pitcher just ate us up all nings. p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tyran leads LU to ‘promised land’ in 72-64 win

INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAMS

GRANT CRAWFORD UP SPORTS EDITOR @GrantLamarUP Lamar’s men’s basketball team hosted Houston Baptist University in the Montagne Center Monday, earning a decisive 72-64 win. The victory brings the Cards to 10-1 at home (13-12, 7-6 Southland Conference).

Head coach Tic Price said he chalked the home record up to a magical leprechaun that sits on top of the rim, but Tyran de Lattibeaudiere said he thought differently.

“We’re not supposed to lose at home,” Tyran said. “It’s embarrassing to lose at home and in front of your fans. We’re not going to continue like in the past years, where we lose at home all the time.”

Tyran recorded a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds. He also had a seasonhigh six blocks.

“Coach told me to stay aggressive, so that’s what I basically did,” Tyran said. “My teammates were playing good defense. They were setting them up for me to come over the top and block them.

They did a good job moving their

INTRAMURALS

CODY EVANS UP CONTRIBUTOR

UP Grant Crawford

Tyran de Lattibeaudiere attempts a shot in the midst of Houston Baptist defenders during LU’s 72-64 win, Monday.

legs and staying in front of them.”

Price said Tyran’s play was huge for the team, referring to his performance as a monster game.

“Tyran has got long arms and good timing,” he said. “He got a little tired going down the stretch, and coach said for me to give him a rest. ‘We’ll rest when we get the timeout’, I said, because I just feel like we lose a lot inside when we take him out. As long as he’s on the floor, he’s a threat.”

Even Marcus Owens, who led the team in scoring, praised his teammate.

“We just put the ball in (Tyran’s) hands, and let him take us to promised land,” he said.

Owens scored a career-high 20 points, shooting 7-10 from the field.

“Every night we have a different guy who steps up and scores,” Owens said. “Tonight just was my night. We just have a lot of guys that can score.”

Price said their ability to spread the ball around was key.

“With Marcus making shots, Marcus Owens fights for a rebound during that really spreads the defense,” the victory of HBU.

he said. “Anthony, of course, can then get to the rim when we spread our offense a little bit. I just think it was a total team effort.”

Senior Anthony Holliday finished with 18 points and four assists.

“I don’t know what you can say about (Holliday),” Price said.

He ran the team for us, and did a very good job of it.”

Lamar shot for nearly 52 percent in the first half, going into the locker room with a 38-25 lead at halftime.

“Games are made with runs,” Price said. “I thought we did a good job in the first half, but we didn’t expect them to quit because we were up 13. We knew they would battle back.”

In the second half, HBU was able to cut the deficit to two after a Tyler Russell three-pointer with 5:06 remaining. LU responded with seven unanswered points to close out the game, including free throws from freshman Quan Jones, who ended at 9-10 from behind the foul line.

“I just like the way we grinded

and closed the game out in the second half,” Price said. “I thought Quan Jones hit some big free throws going down the stretch, and that enabled us to get the win.”

The Cards will prepare for their next game against rival McNeese State, Saturday.

Price said the team must stay very balanced when approaching any team this season.

“Each team is different,” he said. “We don’t look ahead. Every game is one game at a time. From a coaching standpoint, that’s how we have to approach it.”

Tyran said the team’s postseason penalties has not affected their will to win.

“We’ve got to stay hungry,” he said. “Even though we can’t go to the post-season, we can’t just sit there and lose. It’s a bragging rights thing. We have to compete every game, no matter who we play.”

The matchup against McNeese will be in the Montagne Center, Saturday. The game is slated to tipoff at 6 p.m.

Each semester brings another season of Intramural and Recreational sports to the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center. This semester sees the return of a few fall sports, such as indoor soccer and volleyball, but also sees the addition of a few new competitions.

“Basketball is huge down here,” Jason Harrington, coordinator of intramurals and sport clubs, said.

“It’s definitely one of our more popular intramural sports. So this semester we’ve added a new free-throw competition and a three-point competition.”

The contests will take place at halftime of intramural basketball games. Registration will be made at each game. The finals will take place during halftime of the intramural basketball final in March.

There will also be a 2-on-2, 52-basketball tournament, where the first team to reach 52 points wins.

“We have 20 intramural basketball teams, so that’s three teams each,” Harrington said. “With basketball as popular as it is, we hope that this will become a popular event.”

This semester also sees the return of the 5K run/walk, which has not been held for more than a decade.

“It’s been about 13 years since the last time that we’ve done it, and we’d like to get the faculty/staff involved as well as the high school students that attend Lamar for dual credit,” Harrington said. “It’s $10 per runner and it will take place in May.” Cricket will return this semester. With 16 teams participating in the fall, Harrington said it was a success and he hopes to see the number of teams increase to 20.

Among the new sports scheduled for spring are 6on-6 dodge ball, 4-on-4 volleyball, and a challenge ladder for racquet sports such as badminton, table tennis, tennis and 8-ball pool.

“The challenge ladder makes it easier for students who have class in the afternoon and evening to schedule their own matches and report them to IMLeagues.com, which is the website we use for all of our intramural sports and clubs,” Harrington said.

Harrington said club sports are a great way for students who are not at the collegiate level to represent Lamar.

“Our women’s basketball club has gone to the national tournament three times, so even though you aren’t a college athlete you can still participate in the club teams that could get just as much exposure as our actual collegiate teams,” he said.

For information on intramural sports and club sports, visit the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center, or call 880-2306.

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Good Luck Cards $ Lady Cards on your 2014-2015 Season