UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Newspaper of Lamar University
Vol. 93, No. 19 March 23, 2017
Second annual Women’s Symposium to be held Saturday Trevier Gonzalez UP multimedia editor
Lamar University’s office of Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Women’s History Planning Committee, will host its second annual Women’s Symposium, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday. A free continental breakfast will be provided. There will be three $100 drawings following the conference for recognized student organizations with five or more members present. Registration is open to stu-
dents, faculty and members of the community. This year’s theme is “Honoring Trailblazers and Mavericks.” Lamar alumnae from var-
SGA elections set for Tuesday, Wednesday
ious backgrounds will share their stories. John Bello-Ogunu Sr., vice president of diversity and inclu-
sion, said it’s easy to take advancements made by women for granted. Women’s History Month and
the symposium, consisting of a panel of local, accomplished women, celebrates the achievements of women not just Lamar University, but around the globe. “It’s (an opportunity) to take a step back and recognize the immeasurable contributions that women have made, and continue to make, to the overall growth, development and success of this great nation,” Bello-Ogunu said. “There are many, many women through all of the history of the United States of America See SYMPOSIUM page 5
Fair fun for all
Tim Collins UP managing editor
LU’s Student Government Association will hold elections, Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will vote through their Self-Serv Banner accounts on Lamar.edu. “They’ve started campaigning,” Aaron Lavergne, SGA president, said. “There’s two groups that are running as full tickets. They’re all running together on the same ticket. President, vice president, secretary treasurer. There’s one person running as vice president, independently.” Each candidate is running as an independent, so students will need to vote for president, vice president, secretary/treasurer and senator. SGA elections occur at the end of March and the incoming student government takes office in June. Lavergne said the SGA acts as representatives of the student body, working on legislation, referendums — such as the one resulting in the renovation of the Setzer Student Center — and various student concerns. See SGA page 2
SGACandidates President
•Dylan Nicholson •Ce’nese Wooten
Vice President •Victoria LeFleur •Teven Miles •Madison Mareno
Secretary/Treasurer •Jessica Hoskins •Joshua Washington •Marly Smith
Junior Senator •Breana Covington •Shaina Escobedo
Sophomore Senator •Jaylon Gregory •Kaily Garcia •Tamera Thigpen
Damian Buhler paints a young boy’s face at his booth during the 2016 South Texas State Fair. UP file photos by Trevier Gonzalez
South Texas State Fair whirls back to Beaumont Brendan Satran UP contributor
Visitors to Ford Park in the past few weeks might be excused for thinking the facility had been converted to an RV park. However, it is just the temporary home of the volunteers who set up the South Texas State Fair. Up to 15 members of the Young Men’s Business League move onto the fairgrounds for a few weeks each year to ensure things get set up correctly. “Oh, some of us guys move down there about three weeks before the event all the way until two days after the event,” former fair chairman Andy Foote said, chuckling. The fair is YMBL’s biggest fundraiser. However, this year’s is special as YMBL celebrates its 100th birthday. The organization was started in 1917 by Ed Paggi. He invited 100 influential businessmen to a meeting and promised them steak dinners to make sure they’d show up. The organization has impacted the Golden Triangle in many ways from building a library to operating the state fair. Foote said the YMBL will kick start a year-long celebration at the fair’s opening ceremony with a speech and will give away free 100-
year-celebration T-shirts. The YMBL took over operation of the fair from the City of Beaumont in 1943, with the goal of raising morale for the war effort. “After all these years, we have it down to a science,” Foote said. “Planning starts the day after the fair ends and goes all year up until a few weeks before opening day.” The fair is the largest volunteer run fair in the United States, Foote said, and YMBL members attend conventions as well as other fairs to draw inspiration. “People tell me, if they had to put this on they’d think it was impossible,” he said. “It really is ex-
traordinary that we can have all these people volunteering their time to put on such a great event.” More than 300 people volunteer work year-round to ensure the fair’s success. “The League is a humble organization and wants the focus to be on the community and the children,” Foote said. “The capstone events at the fair will be the ‘Paul Bunyun Lumberjack Show,’ which is a family event that includes all sorts of lumberjack antics and comedy, as well as the PRCA Rodeo.” See FAIR page 2
Visitors ride the “OMG” attraction at the 2016 South Texas State Fair
Cardinal Village increasing security Eric Mittal UP contributor
UP photo by Eric Mittal
A Lamar maintenance employee applies the finishing touches to the upgraded security fence around Morris Hall, March 8.
www.facebook.com/UPLamar
Cardinal Village is increasing security at the Lamar University residence halls. This change has been prompted by unauthorized individuals jumping the fences to enter the residence halls without proper documentation. “If anybody wants to visit a residence hall in Cardinal Village, there are steps they can take,” Kyle Smith, director of Residence Life, said. “Guests are more than welcome, but they need to be
signed in properly. If they are jumping the fence, then they are probably not supposed to be here.” Smith said that faulty design of the original gates are the root of the issue. “The changes that we made were to the front ends of Morris and Gentry halls,” he said. “The other three residence halls are completely gated up to the third floor. The gates that were replaced had cross bars going along them that made it really easy to climb the fence without even exerting yourself. This led to a problem of non-resi-
www.lamaruniversitypress.com
dents jumping the gates to get in. “As a security measure, we replaced them with new gates that do not have the cross bar. In addition to removing the cross bars, the new gates will have a slight curvature on the top that will make it significantly more difficult to scale, which is our goal.” Smith said Cardinal Village has not just a moral responsibility to the students, but also a legal responsibility. See SECURITY page 2
www.twitter.com/UPLamar
INSIDE
Thursday, March 23, 2017 University Press
FAIR
Page 2
“A mistake is simply another way of doing things” — Katharine Graham
from page 1
The rodeo is expected to be the big ticket event, Foote said. “The rodeo is a sanctioned event, so we’ll get all the big name riders down here to compete,” he said. The rodeo runs Friday and Saturday of the fair. This morning, special needs children will brought to the rodeo grounds and given a special show by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association-sanctioned riders. “It’s a great event and the kids love it,” Foote said. “It’s just another example of the YMBL’s commitment to the kids.” Foote, who has been involved with YMBL for more than 30 years, said the days leading up to the fair is like the calm before the storm. Once the fair begins, the members who have spent the entire year planning the event take a few days off to enjoy the fruits of their labor, he said. This year, there will be 194 food ven-
SGA
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
dors on the midway with an additional 205 vendors at the Ford Park Event Center selling goods. “(Vendors) come from all across the U.S. and there’s a sizable waiting list,” Foote said. “If a vendor drops out we always have people ready to fill that spot.” Carnival Americana is the fair’s oldest vendor. The Dallas-based company, which provides carnival rides and attractions, has been with the fair for almost 40 years. “It feels like they have been with us longer since they used to have an attraction called the Bill Hames show in the fair’s first years,” Foote said. “Now Bill Hames’ daughter runs the carnival.” When it comes to logistics, Foote said the hardest part is making sure all the vendors and equipment show up on schedule. “It would be a nightmare if they all showed up at the same time to get set up, but luckily that has never hap-
pened,” he said. “It’s why we move out here a few weeks before the fair to coordinate all this stuff” In 2009, the fair moved from October to the end of March to avoid Hurricane season. “We were hurricane alley down here for a while in the late ’90s and early 2000s, so we decided to move it to try and avoid the season,” Foote said. “We haven’t had (a hurricane) since. I think it makes people believe we have more power than we really do.” The South Texas State Fair runs through April 9. Attendees at today’s opening ceremony will be admitted to the fair for free. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, and children under two are free. Carnival wristband packages, which allow for unlimited rides, are $35. For more information, visit www.ymbl.org.
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.
CALENDAR March 23
REDtalks: Graduation... Now What? How to
Launch Your Graduate School Career
Gray Library, 6th floor 1 p.m - 1:30 p.m.
March 25
2nd Annual Women’s Symposium
McDonald Gyn
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
March 25
from page 1
“As president you’re pretty much the liaison between what our students say, what our students really want, and the administration,” he said. “I’m the one who’s sitting in meetings with the administration really voicing the opin-
NOTICE
ions of students.” The SGA often has to work within the administrative gears of the university to represent student wants and needs, Lavergne said. “A lot of times students want things,
but this is what hoops we have to jump through in order to make this happen,” he said. “Then we compromise and come together.” For more information, call 8807775.
Le Grand Bal
Dishman Museum 6 p.m. - midnight
March 27
Undergraduate Research Workshop
SECURITY
Landes Auditorium
from page 1
“When the university knows about it, they need to do something about it,” he said. “Universities in the past have been found guilty of negligence because they knew there was a security issue and did not fix the problem. Often times, people will compare our security to this campus or that campus, but every campus has different protocols according to how they see fit with the location of their school. We have security measures in place here that are directly proportionate to the amount of security that we feel is needed.” Elizabeth Cooley, residence director
of Morris Hall, said that the upgrades are not just to protect the residents, but also to protect the individuals who are climbing the gates. “The changes were made due to individuals climbing and jumping over the fences to avoid the proper procedures of signing in as a guest,” she said. “This not only poses a safety issue for those that live in the residence hall, but this could lead to a problem where, if there was a fire (and) the person was seriously injured or they were to go missing, then we would not know to look for them inside. The new gates are very significant
because helping ensure the safety of our residents is one of the most important roles as a member of the residence life staff.” Resident assistant Brittany Middleton said the upgrades will benefit students. “This change will help stop the problem of non-residents coming in, making a safer environment for not just our current residents, but future residents as well,” she said. For more information, call 8808550, or visit www.lamar.edu/residence-life.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30
March 30
Undergraduate Research Faculty Talk: Dr. Natalie Tindall
Landes Auditorium
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Lam mar University t recognizzees these stud udents fo or th hei er outtstanding m meerit and accco omplishment n as studen ntts.
EDITORIAL
3 UNIVERSITY PRESS March 23, 2017
Representation in media can inspire Viewers who tune in to Sesame Street this season may notice the addition of a new Muppet, the precocious, four-year-old Julia. Julia is different from other Muppet children in that she sometimes responds to inquires with shouts of, “Play?” and sometimes seems more absorbed with playing with her doll than with experiencing her surroundings. That’s because Julia has autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 68 children are diagnosed with autism, but there are few representations in the media for those in the autism spectrum. Representation can be important, if only for the fact that it may make one child stand up, point to the TV and say, “That kid’s just like me!” That’s not to say that entertainment companies need to “cater” to particular groups by cramming representational characters into every bit of media targeted to them. This can lead to embarrassing moments of cultural appropriation or trying too hard, such as when TV shows or novels feature “magic” Native American characters or characters with OCD who suffer from compulsive actions — washing their hands hun-
dreds of times — but no obsessive thoughts, which can result in the romanticization of a debilitating mental illness. Characters like Marvel’s Riri Williams — a geeky black female teenager who temporarily took up Tony Stark’s Iron Man mantle last year and who has recently taken up her own superhero moniker, Ironheart — can inspire groups who aren’t used to seeing themselves in roles like that. Seeing Riri Williams soar through the sky in a metal exosuit she built herself could inspire the next black female Bill Gates or Elon Musk. There’s a tendency to treat one group of people or one person as “other,” or to dehumanize what we don’t understand. After all, it’s
easy to pick somebody and label them as the enemy. Every school had that one “weird” kid that everyone made fun of, embodied by Screech from “Saved by the Bell” or Steve Urkel from “Family Matters.” But that “weird” kid in school didn’t ask for the attention. LGTBQIA characters in media like LeFou in Disney’s live-action adaption of “Beauty and the Beast” or the act-
ing career of Laverne Cox can also show LGBTQIA youth that their sexual preference or gender identity are the new societal norm. JAMA Pediatrics, a child and adolescent health journal, recently reported that there is a link between the adoption of same sex marriage and a decrease in high school LGTB youth suicide. Clearly, representation and acceptance can save lives. Native Americans, Hawaiian tribesmen, black youths, Muslim Americans, LGTBQIA individuals — all have been
demonized at one point in history or another. Instead of stripping people of their humanity we should instead celebrate what we all have in common and give children of these groups characters to look up to. For children like Julia, places like Sesame Street where they can see representation may be places where “every door will open wide to people like you,” to quote the theme song.
Commentary
UP illustration by Haley Bruyn
Tim Collins UP managing editor
Cuts threaten everyone’s favorite ‘Street’
I’m not going to act like a ’90s kid and say that “Sesame Street” was my childhood, but I’d being lying if I said it didn’t have a connection to the educational show which premiered on Nov. 10, 1969, according to the Muppet Wiki (Yes, that is definitely a
Commentary
Trevier Gonzalez UP multimedia editor
thing), at a young age. Apart from “The Magic School Bus,” PBS was basically just something on TV when there was nothing else. “Sesame Street” was just there. Eventually the characters came to hold a spot close to my heart. I can’t recall whether I had a favorite character or not, but if I made an educated guess I’d probably go with Cookie Monster (probably because he’s blue, or maybe the cookies.) At their core, they’re all characters that have good values and teach basic learning concepts. While, I wasn’t a visual learner, the colorful Muppets still drew me in, even getting me to count along with them. Now, educational institution which has been around for al-
most 50 years is facing the cut. Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposes cuts for nearly 20 independent agencies, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — home of the “Street.” There has been much commentary as to the negative effects that would go along with actually going through with these cuts. One specific commentary features #ParodyElmo in the video, “Elmo Gets FIRED.” Only, I didn’t know it was a parody at the time. It starts out innocently enough. It shows Elmo in an office talking to someone who has an authoritative, yet sympathetic voice. I don’t want to hurt anyone
“right in the childhood,” but it takes a dark turn. The end of the video shows the reality of what life would be like without the CPB, and without “Sesame Street.” The realization is, life would be pretty dull. Once again, the video itself has nothing to do with the actual “Sesame Street,” but it visualizes just how easy it can be to take away the magic from a child. The sad thing is, these independent agencies are underfunded already. As someone who’s worked within public radio, at 91.3 KVLU, Lamar’s public radio station, I can testify that they’re definitely not getting much. But, focusing just on PBS,
“Sesame Street” to be specific, I’m 21 years old, and still see how it has impacted me today, but how it still continues to effect young, developing children today. While “Sesame Street” is 48 years old, it is not like a bad comedy series who long ago jumped the shark — it is as vibrant and as relevant to today’s children as it was for me . It’s educational, topical, and just good-hearted. And, just like life, it’s everchanging. The introduction of Julia, the first Muppet with autism, proves that the show is continually being more and more progressive. “Sesame Street” isn’t the core of my childhood, but, really, isn’t it a part of everyone’s? And I hope it stays that way.
UPeditorial Time to make a post-break push to finish strong
After spring break, the semester comes to a screeching halt much faster than most students realize. With midterms behind us, end-of-term projects and paper due dates are looming, and students need to prioritize and manage their time more than
ever. A good sleep schedule, healthy eating, and regular physical activity need to be incorporated as well to maintain mental and physical well-being. Don’t procrastinate. Too often, students are up until the early hours of the
Editor....................................................Haley Bruyn Managing Editor..................................Tim Collins Multimedia Editor......................Trevier Gonzalez Staff ......................Noah Dawlearn, Caitlin McAlister ........................Stephanie DeMeyer, Cade Smith .........Cassie Jenkins, Rachael Acosta, Matt Beadle ..........Erika Leggett, Baylee Billiot, Karisa Norfleet ............................Hannah LeTulle, Andre Woodard .......................................................Shelby Strickland Advertising Assistant ....................Taylor Phillips Advisors Andy Coughlan and Stephan Malick Member of Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
morning on those final class days, ingesting much too much caffeine and churning out subpar work that doesn’t reflect their intelligence or dedication to the class. Starting early ensures time to revise and even talk to teachers if a problem arises. If a class
Letters Policy
has a cumulative final, now is the time to make flashcards — not the night before the test. Maybe a midterm grade was less than optimal. Use these last few weeks to improve daily grades and find out what problems need work. Professors appreciate initiative, so
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 202 Carl Parker Building. 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.
making an effort to communicate and improve work can only work in your With just over a month left, now is the time to push until the end of the semester. Due dates and final grades are less daunting when you’ve prepared in advance.
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. ©University Press 2017
Page 4
Thursday, March 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
Office of Sustainability to hold ‘green’ film contest Devin Spell UP contributor
Going green could reward you with upwards of $750 with the upcoming Earth Week running from April 17 - 28, bringing with it the second annual video contest sponsored by Lamar’s office of sustainability. “We were looking for ways to involve students in different disciplines. We thought this would be a good way to get communication students involved, as well as other creative students on campus who are in different majors,” Alicen Flosi, director of sustainability said. Participants can submit anything from a documentary, a short film, even a music video. “I’m primarily looking for the content, the theme, because it needs to fit the Earth Week theme, be it sustainability, population, clean energy, something related to that theme. I’m really looking for that message,” C l i n t o n Rawls, Broadcasting Director for Channel 7 and contest judge said. Last year’s contest brought about 10 submissions, includ-
ing Travis Myer’s rap video entitled “Going Green Rap.” Following Myers’ winning the contest, his video had caught the attention of the City of Beaumont who presented him an opportunity to use his love for making videos to spread greater awareness for the green cause. “The city of Beaumont contacted Gordon Williams with LUTV about creating the PSA and he contacted me because
he saw my video from the contest,” Myers said. “We are actually going to a recording studio in Port Arthur to record the rap for the commercial this Saturday and we should be on TV in a month or so.” Myers advice for entering the contest advice is straightforward. “Go for it! Be creative and make a video that you think will get people talking about going green,” he said. “It’s a
great cause for a great organization, so have fun with it! You never know, it might get you on TV one day.” The first place winner of the contest will receive $750 to their student account, the second place winner receiving $500, and finally is the third place winner getting $250. Those wishing to participate must upload their video to the LU Green Squad Facebook page by April 20. Winners will
be chosen by noon of April 21. Rules are as follows: Videos cannot exceed five minutes, participant must be a LU student, and the video cannot contain any blood, violence, or obscene language. Winners of the contest will have the money transferred into their student accounts. For more information, email Alicen Flosi at Alicen.flosi@lamar.edu or call 880-8612. Courtesy Photo
Travis Myers, creator of “Going Green Rap,” a music video which won the the ‘green’ film contest in 2016.
Residence life talks DUI awareness Creseda Robinson UP contributor
Lamar University’s residence life will host a DUI Awareness program, Wednesday, in Morris Hall media room. The program will feature LUPD corporal Jarrod Samford and LU health educator Marie Culik. The event is open to all students residing in the residence halls. Samford shared statistics that show 51 drivers aged 16-20 were involved in fatal or incapacitating injuries between 2010 and 2015
as result of alcohol or drugs. Of those, 82 percent were male. Ivan Garcia, resident assistant in Morris Hall, said the program is designed to raise awareness of DUI and to prevent Lamar students becoming part of the statistics. “I suggest an Uber, a taxi, or have a sober friend drive,” Garcia said. Culik will provide “drunk goggles” for participants, who will then play a driving game. “The drunk goggles affect vision, and it’s a blur,” she said,
adding that participants get a sense of how driving while intoxicated may feel. When a person is arrested a breathalyzer or blood test is normally administered, Culik said. The test measures the amount of alcohol in someone’s body and the peak content is about one hour after the alcohol is consumed. “The way alcohol can affect a person’s behavior, decisions and body is it slows down body responses,” she said. “Too much consumption can damage the
central nervous system, impair judgement, cause dehydration, and lead to cardiovascular disease and liver disease.” Samford said there are certain things officers look for that may indicate intoxication. “(We look for) people who make erratic lane changes and cross over to another lane without signaling — not standard driving, something that stands out,” he said. Samford said a DUI may be given for other drug impairment as well as alcohol.
“Whether legal or illegal, a person shouldn’t risk driving on their own if they are intoxicated,” he said, adding that the consequences for a DUI are severe. “Depending on the offense, misdemeanor B is the first charge. However, after all the fees, DUI’s are financially expensive. Each time a person gets a DUI charge, their record can go to the next misdemeanor class or up to a felony.” For more information, call the Morris Hall front desk at 8807760.
Enjoy thhe summer while studying sessions cost $59 per credit hour and are 100% transfeerable back to your institution. Choose from o 325
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Page 5
Thursday, February 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
LU alumnus creates ‘Profit’ clothing line Rashamir Sims UP contributor
In 2015, Michael Hargis had no sense of direction with regard to a career. He was a member of Lamar’s football team but knew that it would only take him oh so far. “An athlete is only one play away from a career ending injury, and I knew that my football career can be taken away from me at any moment,� he said. With that in mind, Hargis, who graduated with business degree in 2015 and is currently working on a master’s in business administration, started “PROFIT,� a clothing line. “PROFIT means more than its dictionary definition of making a financial gain,� he said. “PROFIT is an acronym which stands for Promote, Recognize, Flexibility, Integrity and Transformation.
SYMPOSIUM
“PROFIT for me is a way of life. I realized that to be successful you have to promote whatever it is that inspires you. I didn’t want to go the street route of drug dealing, as those I grew up with in Austin. I wanted to make a legitimate ‘PROFIT.’� Hargis said sometimes, in life, one has to recognize an opportunity. “For me, that was clothing,� he said. “I have always had a passion for fashion. I have spent thousands of dollars in buying designer clothing, until one day I thought to myself, ‘Why not wear on your own clothing?’ I recognized (it) could be a gateway out of my inner city neighborhood.� Hargis said that one must be flexible when starting a company. “You never know what may come your way in life, which is why you have to be flexible when obstacles appear,� he
said. “I can’t tell you how many times I had to be flexible when creating PROFIT, especially managing school and football.� Hargis said he maintains it all by being a man of integrity. “It doesn’t matter what it is you go through in life or experience,� he said “As long as you maintain being honest and have strong moral principles, you will be successful in life.� The T stands for transformation, and Hargis said that is what PROFIT is all about. “I want the everyday person to have sense of transformation with my clothing line,� he said. “It’s bigger than just fashion. When one wears my hats or shirts, I want them to feel and think differently. I want them to think globally. If a guy from the inner city of Austin can make nothing into something, so can you.� In addition to the clothing
line, Hargis hosts PROFIT night, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., every Wednesday at Kampus Korner, where like-minded individuals can get together to network and relax after a long day of school or work, he said.
tween men and women? “We’ve got to demonstrate that we really believe in it by doing those things that reflect our belief,� he said. “We’re not there yet. Even when Mrs. Clinton first ran for the presidency against former president Barrack Obama, even the most recent one, we still have people in America who were still arguing that the country was not ready for a female president, and yet every year, we celebrate Women’s History Month?� Still, Bello-Ogunu said he remains hopeful for the next generation. “As we struggle to recognize the overwhelming benefits of inclusion and diversity, sooner than later, we as a society — we as a nation, will come to recognize that the world will be much, much bet-
ter off,� he said. “Maybe not in this generation, but I know that a time will come when women all over the world will be recognized, appreciated, respected and recorded at the high level of positions that they very much deserve. Bello-Ogunu said he hopes students attending the symposium will hear real-life experience from the panelists. “My hope is that each of them, based on their stories, based on their presentations and their life experiences, will use this symposium as an opportunity to help us understand and ultimately, appreciate the critical role, the indispensable role that women play in human life,� he said. “What matters most, is for those who choose to attend the workshops (to get) a new perspective — a new un-
While Hargis is working hard and looking forward to graduating in December. “I am just enjoying the process,� he said. For more information, visit profitglobal2.com.
UP photo by Rashamir Sims
Michael Hargis talks to visitors during PROFIT night at Kampus Korner.
from page 1
of the United States of America that have worked very hard. In some cases, (they) gave up their lives to ensure that we have the kind of country that we have today.� Bello-Ogunu said women also play a significant role in the development of children. “The very first teachers are our mothers,� he said. “Without their sleepless nights, without the headaches nonstop — without the heartaches that our mothers went through, the sacrifices that they made — you and I would have not been here today.� Bello-Ogunu said he owes much of who he’s become to his mother. “We don’t acknowledge the centrality of our mother to our being,� he said. “Not because we don’t love our mother, but because we take
things for granted.� Bello-Ogunu said he ponders who he would be like without a mother. “Can you imagine what the world would be like?� he said. “Can you imagine what life would be like for each one of us, in each of those situations? Terrible. I think the world would come to a standstill. We truly don’t appreciate. We don’t.� Bello-Ogunu said that just paying attention to the issues one month each year isn’t enough. “Every March, ‘OK, Women’s History Month’ — you know, the news, 6 o’clock news, world news and the wind blows — and we’re back to square one,� he said. If we appreciate the role of women, Bello-Ogunu said, why do wage gaps remain be-
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derstanding — (of) the centrality, the indispensable role of women in the everyday life as individuals, as a society, and as a nation.� Bello-Ogunu said he hopes the end of Woman’s History Month won’t mark the end of celebrating the contributions made by women. “Long after the month of March is over, (I hope) that we, as a campus community, we as an institution, will continue to seize every opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the endless and immeasurable contributions that women have made to the success of this great university,� he said. To register, visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s OrgSync page. For more information, call 880-8216.
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Page 6
Thursday, March 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
UPcampus briefs
Original 1892 Gladys City map donated to LU
A piece of history came home this week when Kit Herrington of Corsicana delivered an original map of Gladys City as envisioned by entrepreneur Pattillo Higgins to Lamar University, home of the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum. The map, printed in 1892, was used by Higgins to sell lots that helped finance the first drilling effort at Spindletop Hill. That effort, and several subsequent efforts, failed. While Higgins’ vision as presented in the map was never realized, he is credited with recognizing the potential for oil and starting the process that changed history on Jan. 10, 1901 when the Lucas Gusher came in. “It’s a treasure, it really is,” historian Ellen Rienstra, who accepted the map on the university’s behalf, said. With ancestral ties to Beaumont, Herrington has always had a keen interest in the area’s his-
tory. His parents were Tommy Herrington and Ann (Williford) Herrington of Beaumont, and his grandparents were Lois Williford and Dr. H.B. Williford, a pathologist in Beaumont from the 1930s to the 1980s. Several years ago, he invited Rienstra to speak at to the Corsicana Rotary Club about her research into the history of the Lutcher and Stark family. Lutcher Stark presented the charter to the Corsicana Rotary Club in 1921. In 1901, the Hamill brothers of Corsicana used their drilling skills to bring in the Lucas Gusher on Spindletop Hill. Lamar University is home to the Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast, and the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, a recreation of what Gladys City would have looked like during the first oil boom.
The map, given by Herrington in honor of the late Judge James D. McNicholas, former mayor of Beaumont, and Dr. Thomas A. Lombardo, Beaumont cardiovascular specialist, is in remarkably good condition. The Pattillo Higgins story is “endlessly fascinating,” Rienstra said. “Higgins grew up in Beaumont, then a rough sawmill town, and he was a real ruffian.” Higgins killed a Marshall in a gunfight in which he was seriously injured. Although tried and acquitted by a local jury, he forever carried a reminder of that conflict — he had lost an arm to amputation. “Later Higgins experienced a religious conversion and became as militant a born-again Christian as he had been a ruffian,” Rienstra said. “His character was one of fractiousness and bellicosity all of his life. He was a contrarian. His
great nephew wrote ‘there was a great cultural and technological gap between the world as conceived by Pattillo Higgins and the world in which most people of the area thought they lived.’ “He was also very smart.” Higgins was in the brick manufacturing business and, on visit to the East Coast in search of a new kind of fuel, when he recognized the same geological signs in the eastern oil regions as he had seen at Spindletop Hill. “So, he thought there was bound to be oil there,” Rienstra said. His plan was to use this abundant fuel to power a well-planned industrial city. Pattillo Higgins envisioned Gladys City before drilling ever started at Spindletop. The town was named after Gladys Bingham, a girl in Higgins' Sunday School class. On the map donated by Her-
rington, one of the original copies that Higgins had made for the mythical Gladys City, are depicted locations for churches, schools, hospitals as well as industrial areas and active oil fields. “Those things only existed in Higgins’ mind,” Rienstra said. The Gladys City that actually came to be was far different, Rienstra said. After the Lucas Gusher blew in, the area that was designated for Gladys City grew up quickly. It was not the model town that Higgins had planned but it was one of the tamer parts of the oil field. “It was the cleanest and most respectable part of the hill, which says little,” she said. “Still, it was a rough place and nothing like the industrial utopia he conceived.” Today’s Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum is, in effect “the third incarnation of Gladys City,” Rienstra said.
LU hosts second Computer Science Career Forum Lamar University’s second Computer Science Career Forum, held recently, continued the series organized by the Center for Professional Development and the department of computer science. A record number of companies and government agencies were represented: Best Buy, Inc. of Beaumont, DuGood Federal Credit Union of Beaumont, ExtremeTix, Inc. of Houston, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of Houston, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Symphony, On Center Software of The Woodlands, SoftNice, Inc., of
Houston, Texperts, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, and Verizon Wireless, Inc. of Beaumont. In addition, LU undergraduate and graduate students had seven poster presentations of their research or projects. James Marquart, provost and vice president for academic affairs, thanked the company and government agency representatives for attending, and congratulated the event organizers on the event attended by the overwhelming majority of computer science students. “This year's event saw an increase in both employer and stu-
dent attendance,” said Jocelyn L. Robbins, director of the Center for Career & Professional Development. “Ten employers from various industries provided information on the impact computer science has on their organizations. Students were able to network with not only employers in the tech industry, but also financial institutions, online event sales, government entities and even the Houston Symphony.” “Lamar University's computer science department continues to garner attention for the quality
work of its students and faculty,” she said. “As the event prepared to kick-off, students had the opportunity to showcase many of the projects they have completed, highlighting their accomplishments while also sharing their capabilities with future employers. We are looking forward to continuing this event and are excited for the opportunities it provides students and employers.” “I enjoyed attending, meeting so many students and seeing the types of projects and research they are engaging in,” said Chad Cook, director of Information
Technology at ExtremeTix. “I reached out to around a dozen students to have follow-up conversations about internships and full-time jobs.” Computer Science Department Chair Stefan Andrei said, “I am very pleased that we were able to fulfill the Computer Science students wish to organize such an event. The studentposter presentations from the morning session demonstrated to the industry our students’ potential for innovative ideas leading to many benefits of our society.”
Speech and Hearing to host Pierre Ratinaud, Friday
The Lamar University Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, will host Pierre Ratinaud from the University of Toulous in the Gruber Seminar Series, Friday, from 11 a.m. to noon in 170 Speech and Hearing Sciences Building.
Ratinaud is associate professor in the Laboratory of Applied Studies and Research in Social Sciences, University of Toulous, France. As the speaker for the seminar, Ratinaud will present the use of multidimensional analy-
sis to study social representations. The objective of this seminar is to present multidimensional analysis implemented in the free software IRaMuTeQ. These methods will be applied to examples within the field of social
representations. Ratinaud will describe in particular similarity analysis and the merge of graphs in order to study the representational systems dynamic from evolution of three objects of representations during a professional training.
A second example illustrates lexical analysis with Reinert’s method. This technique will be used to study and compare tweets in French and English issued during the terrorist attacks of Charlie Hebdo that took place in Paris in January 2015.
UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, March 23, 2017
Spring 2017 Intramural Sports Scores and Standings as of March 5.
5 on 5 Basketball League Co Rec Champs NSBE 5Deep Men Champs — Team Flight Outdoor Soccer League CoRec Schedule TBA soon. Check IMLeagues for schedules All games on April 2 7 on 7 Outdoor Soccer Men’s Swagdragons FC (2-1-0 Home) vs. CVEN SPORT TEAM (3-0-0 Away) 2 p.m. Soccer/Rugby - Field 1 Sigma Nu (1-1-0 Home) vs. Alpha Tau Omega (1-0-1 Away) 3 p.m. Soccer/Rugby - Field 1 Independent Champ (Home) vs. Greek Champ (Away) 5 p.m. Soccer/Rugby - Field 1 SpOrt CLuBS Club Basketball Both women’s and men’s basketball clubs competed in the Collegiate Championship Series Regional Basketball Tournament hosted by The University of Houston March 3-5. Women’s basketball club lost a close match by 1 point to Prairie View A&M in the QuarterďŹ nals. Men’s basketball club lost in the ďŹ rst round of playoffs to the eventual runner ups, LSC Kingwood. Houston Club Sport Basketball Conference Lamar Women lost to University of Houston Downtown 42-31. Lamar Men beat LSC Montgomery 83-57, March 10. Archery The archery club competed at the Golden Triangle Bowhunters archery range competition and four members compete. Colin Burgason won ďŹ rst place in men’s recurve wood class, Cody Sahualla won second place in men’s selfbow class and fourth place in men’s recurve open class.
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UPsports briefs TENNIS
Lamar University seniors Nikita Lis and Katya Lapayeva were named Southland Conference Male and Female Players of the Week, Tuesday. It marks the third time this season the LU men have received the honor, while it’s the first for the women’s team. Lis led Big Red to a 2-1 (.667) record on its most recent trip to Los Angeles. Lis posted a 4-1 (.800) record in his five matches, including wins in all three of his matches at No. 1 doubles with teammate Jeandre Hoogenboezem. Lis’ singles win was his fifth of the season. He is currently among the Southland leaders with a 9-2 (.818) record in doubles play, with seven of those eight matches coming at No. 1 doubles. The Cardinals are 10-6 (.625) on the season and have won three of their last four matches as they enter their Southland opener Friday against Incarnate Word. Lapayeva is 9-2 (.818) on the season, all having come at the No. 1 singles position. Lapayeva has won eight consecutive as she guided the Cardinals to a 3-1 (.750) record last week. The Belarus native recorded a 6-1 record last week, including a perfect 3-0 record in singles play. The LU women return to action Friday against Laredo College at 10 a.m. from the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Lamar University women’s golf team dominated the Cardinal Challenge that wrapped up Sunday at the Beaumont Country Club. The Cardinals won the team title by 25 strokes over runner-up Bradley, while taking the top three spots in the individual medalist chase. “It was a tremendous weekend,� LU coach Jessica Steward said. “You always hope you can have a weekend like this. I am so proud of the way our team played this weekend.� LU freshman Elodie Chapelet earned medalist honors for the fourth time this season, finishing at 7-over-par 220 for 54 holes on the 6,008, par-71 layout. Chapelet fired a 75 on Sunday. Teammate Wenny Chang was second at 222 after a final-round 76, finishing one stroke ahead of LU’s Olivia Le Roux, who posted a 76 in the final round to finish at 10-over-par 223. The Cardinals posted a team total of 305 on Sunday, marking the third straight day LU had the best team score as they finished with a three-day total of 897. Bradley, which entered the day tied with Southern Illinois for second place, posted a team total of 307
on Sunday, to edge out the Salukis for second place, as the Braves had a three-day total of 922.  “It’s always nice to have a tournament on your home course,� Steward said. “I think there was a great atmosphere this weekend. We heard a lot of good things from the other schools about the event. We’d like to make it even better in the future. We had great support from so any people, that made it so much easier to conduct a first-class event.� The Cardinals return to action when they compete at the HBU Husky Invitational, set for March 27-28 in Sugar Land.
MEN’S GOLF
The back nine at the TPC Four Seasons Golf Club got the best of the Lamar University men’s golf team Thursday, as the Cardinals finished fifth at the Bob Sitton Invitational in Las Colinas. The Cardinals were 2-under-par on the front nine, but finished the day at 9-over-par 293, ending the tournament at 25-over-par, just three strokes behind third-place TCU in the 24-team field. Zander Gous was LU’s top finisher, ending in a tie for 17th at 5-over-par 218 for 54 holes on the 6,697-yard, par-71 course. The Cardinals were tops among six Southland Conference schools in the field, finishing three strokes ahead of Stephen F. Austin. LU returns to action when it competes at the Little Rock First Tee Classic, set for March 27-28 in Little Rock, Ark.
BASEBALL
A four-run seventh inning, capped by a two-run blast from Reid Russell, surged the Cardinals to a comeback Southland Conference victory over Southeastern Louisiana, 135, at Pat Kenelly Diamond in Hammond, La. The Cardinals (11-10, 1-5 Southland) poured on with seven more runs in the eighth inning, four runs on Robin Adames' grand slam after a pitching change, that finished the LU's highest scoring inning this season. Three of the four in the seventh inning and all seven of the eighth frame were scored with two outs. The Cardinals return to SLC play Friday at 6 p.m. against Incarnate Word at VincentBeck Stadium. The three-game set will finish with a 2 p.m. game Saturday and 1 p.m. finale Sunday.
SOFTBALL
Brynn Baca extended her streak of reaching base safely to 19 games, but the Lamar University Cardinals saw their seven-game
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winning streak come to an end as the UTSA Roadrunners rallied for a 6-5 win at the LU Softball Complex, Tuesday. Baca went 1-3 with a triple, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored, but the Cardinals (1314) couldn’t hold on to a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh inning. “It’s disappointing,� LU coach Holly Bruder said. “When you have a lead going into the seventh inning with your ace pitching, you expect to win. We knew their top of the order was going to challenge us in the seventh inning. I thought we were going to be up to that challenge; unfortunately, we weren’t.� The Cardinals are at Stephen F. Austin for a three-game Southland Conference series this weekend.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Freshman Tyrin “T.J.� Atwood came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, but he was the only player in double figures as Lamar University lost at Texas State, 70-60, in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at Strahan Coliseum, March 16. The loss ends the Cardinals season at 1915 (.559), and eight-win improvement from last season. The Cardinals berth in the CIT marked its first postseason appearance since 2012, when LU advanced to the NCAA Championships. The team was picked 12th in the preseason Southland Conference polls.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Kiandra Bowers recorded her 17th double-double of the season, but the Lamar University Cardinals saw their comeback bid fall just short as they dropped a 73-72 decision to the Rice Owls in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational, March 16. Bowers had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinals (22-8), who were making their fifth appearance in a national postseason tournament in the past eight years. Chastadie Barrs had 16 points and three steals, extending her steals streak to all 61 games in her career. “This was a good experience for us,� coach Robin Harmony said. “Our young players gained a lot of experience this season. Playing in a game like this is definitely something they can learn from.� The Cardinals had a 10-win improvement over last season. The Cardinals return two second-team All-Southland Conference selections (Barrs and Kinard), and four starters (Barrs, Kinard, Kiara Desamours and Ashlan Miles).
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Student Government Association
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Thursday, March 23, 2017 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
Elections March 28-29 Polls open at midnight March 28 & close at 5 p.m. March 29
Students will vote using the Self-Serve Banner How to access the ballot:
• Go to Self-Serve Banner on myLamar • Log in with your LU Identification number & PIN • Click “Personal Information” • Clink “Answer a Survey” Positions & candidates:
President: Ce'nese Wooten Dillon Nicholson
Vice President: Victoria LaFleur Madison Moreno Teven Miles
Secretary/ Treasurer: Jessica Hoskins Joshua Washington Marly Smith Sophomore Senator: Tamera Thigpen Kaily Garcia Jaylon Gregory
Junior Senator: Breana Covington Shaina Escobedo