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UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Newspaper of Lamar University
Vol. 95, No. 23 April 25, 2019
Lamarite reflect on Notre Dame fire Olivia Malick UP managing editor
On April 15, Notre Dame, the 14th century Roman Catholic cathedral in the center of Paris, caught fire while undergoing repairs. People all across the world watched as the medieval spire fell and Parisian firefighters tried to put out the fire. Completed in 1360, the Gothic cathedral is home to classic architecture, historical artifacts and timeless art. It was referred to as “the poor people’s book” because its various sculptures represented different biblical scenes that the illiterate parishioners could view. “Notre Dame embodies France in a way,” Celine Hodge, a French native and LU assistant director of Cardinal Communities, said in an
email interview. “It is reminiscent of our past — a royalty regime, the spirituality of French people and our revolution. Geographically, it represents Paris, all roads are measured from and to Paris from that focal point.” Hodge’s first master’s degree focused on medieval history and she said she feels connected to Notre Dame through her passion for the era as well as her heritage. “Culturally and aesthetically, this is one of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals of the middle age,” she said. “Personally, I love its location — the breeze you can get from the riverbanks. It is one of my favorite spots for people watching while eating a sorbet from Berthillon.” Hodge said that she is glad
See NOTRE DAME page 2
Photo courtesy of Hannah LeTulle
On April 15, Notre Dame, the 14th century Roman catholic church and center of France caught fire during routine repairs. LeTulle took the above photo at a study abroad trip to Paris in 2017.
Art meets Science
ACQUISITIONS ADD COLOR TO STEM BUILDING Cassandra Jenkins UP editor
In 2010, the Texas State University System initiated the one percent rule, a state mandate that requires universities that construct any buildings over a million dollars to set aside one percent of the cost for the purchase of art — a mandate that Lamar University has taken full advantage of with the opening of the new Science and Technology building. Kim Steinhagen, co-chair of the Public Art Committee, said Lamar started the committee in 2014 with the unveiling of the new Reaud Honors College. After officially forming the committee, Steinhagen said she worked with LU’s First Lady Nancy Evans and other faculty members to formalize and set requirements for purchases. See STEM ART page 12
UP photos by Noah Dawlearn
Kim Steinhagen, co-chair of Lamar’s Public Art Committee, above, stands next to the 25 feet by 12 feet mosaic mural by Dixie Friend Gay, in the Science and Technology building. The sculpture, right, is an oxidized piece of steel carved by Steve Murphy.
Dance team to host showcase, May 3-4 Morgan Collier UP contributor
Eight counts, pointed toes, vibrant lights on a stage and passion for the art all combine to allow audiences and performers to connect with the dance. The dance team will hold their annual showcase, May 3 and 4 at the Jefferson Theatre. “I’m extremely excited for this show,” Brixey Blankenship-Cozad, dance team coordinator, said. “Our first act will take you on a roller coaster in a very intense sort of way, but the new act will take you on a journey through life. It’s about different moments, experiences and memories throughout life. Everyone should relate to something — one moment you will find yourself getting hit in the heart, then the next dance gets you really excited. And for the older generations, it can take them back to when they were younger.” Each act lasts 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission that will include special guest performances. Traditionally, Act 1 is a reprise of last spring’s Act 2, with a new second act, and this year is no exception. “I’m looking forward to seeing the new act really come to life,” See DANCE page 2
LU opera to present ‘La Traviata,’ May 3-4 Vy Nguyen UP contributor
UP photo by Noah Dawlearn
Jason Choi, left, and Summin Cha, right, practice for their upcoming opera show, “La Traviata” in the Rothwell Recital Hall, Thursday.
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Lamar Opera Theatre will present one of opera’s greatest romances, “La Traviata,” May 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall. All performances are free and open to the public. “‘La Traviata’ means ‘the fallen woman’ or ‘the one who goes astray,’ and refers to the main character, Vioaletta Valéry,” Serdar Ilban, associate professor of voice and opera, said in an email interview. “The plot of the opera revolves
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around her love affair with Alfredo Germont, the sacrifice she makes for true love, and ultimately, her death.” The opera was composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave,and premiered in 1853 at La Teatro Fenice in Venice, Italy. “Based upon the 1852 play by Alexandre Dumas fils, ‘La Dame aux camélias,’ the opera marked a large step forward for Verdi in his quest to express dramatic ideas in music,” Ilban said. “La Traviata” is the most
ambitious project the department have taken on so far, Ilban said. “Not only it is musically and vocally challenging, but it is a drama that has many facets, as well as offering easily recognized, beautiful melodies and a history that inspired many adaptations on the big screen and on stage,” he said. “The choice is always based on the idea of providing valuable learning and performing experiences for our students, and ofSee OPERA page 2
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
INSIDE
Thursday, April 25, 2019 University Press
DANCE
OPERA phers, from LA, choreographed the tribal piece and it brings in a new style,� Blankenship-Cozad said. “The same choreographer did a Bollywood number that is in the new act. It is a little bit different take on Bollywood — so we took some of that culture and put it into the piece.� The team has worked hard to prepare for the show, Sumrall said. “This year, I feel like the team and the officers really stepped up to help in every single way possible,� she said. “We’ll have practice at 6:30 p.m. and there will be girls coming in at 3:30 p.m. to help rhinestone costumes and do things we don’t usually do. Everyone just wants to help out and get better, and that is different than any other team I’ve ever experienced.� Blankenship-Cozad said the team allows her to do her job well. “I’ve always felt like a good coach, but I thank them for allowing me to be the best coach yet,� she said. “As hard as I have needed to be, I raised a lot of standards. They have allowed me to set that standard, stay true to it, and have supported it so that we could take it to the next level — and I thank them for that.� Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Jefferson Theatre. All proceeds will go back into the program. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. “Come and watch the magic of our program through this show,� Blankenship-Cozad said. For more information, visit lamar.edu/danceteam, or call 880-7241.
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—Maya Angelou
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Blankenship-Cozad said. “I hope that this act takes the audience on a beautiful journey. I also look forward to watching the girls find their moment, because once you find that moment when you’re out on that stage, it’s a feeling that you will never forget. I can’t wait to watch them up there with the confidence to feel like the most beautiful dancer that they can be.� This year, BlankenshipCozad said she has a smaller team, consolidating from about 24 dancers to 18 dancers. Emily Sumrall, dance team captain and Port Neches senior, has performed for four years on the team. “This has been my favorite team,� she said. “They work their butts off, so it is really rewarding to see how far the team has come. I’m excited about the show in all aspects. Our team works so hard and we’re excited to see where it goes.� Mia Woodruff, Bridge City freshman, said she was aware of the quality expected when she joined the team. “I feel like I was really nervous at first, just because of the high standards and expectations held for the team, and I just wanted to follow up to that,� she said. “We’re just a really big family here and we have a lot of fun while getting to do something we all love and enjoy. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made.� The show will feature a variety of dance styles, including jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, tribal and Bollywood. “One of our choreogra-
NOTICE
“The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.�
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fering musically and dramatically engaging productions for our audience.â€? Ilban said the music itself, and its immediate emotional delivery, enhances the production. “The entire show is one musical piece with no spoken dialogue,â€? he said. “The reason the music is important, is because of Verdi’s masterful portrayal of each character’s traits and circumstances within the vocal lines and the orchestration.â€? The main character, Violetta ValĂŠry, sets this production apart from others, Ilban said. “In no other Verdi operas, or any other opera by any other composer for that matter, the heroine carries the weight of the entire world so squarely on her shoulders as in ‘La Traviata,’â€? he said. “That is unique enough on its own.â€? The characters are modernized for today’s taste making them more relatable to the audience, Ilban said. “Love and sacrifice are universal themes,â€? he said. “Anyone who has seen the movie ‘Pretty Woman’ will see that the famed Hollywood romantic comedy has nuances based on ‘La Traviata.’â€? Ilban said the cast of students showcase a level of quality that is satisfyingly rewarding.
NOTRE DAME
“We face challenges with each and every production, from juggling rehearsal schedules to budgetary restrictions, the flu that takes hostage of half of our cast, to time management — each production comes with its built in, and sometimes impromptu challenges,� he said. “You deal with them as they present themselves, and I am lucky to have an extremely dedicated and eager-to-learn cast.� The goal is to have the audience enjoy the beauty of the musical pieces, Ilban said. “I hope people are humming some of the most beautiful tunes when they leave the recital hall, and are moved by the story’s pulse and honesty,� he said. Ilban said every performance presents a new lesson to be learned for the cast and crew. “Each production teaches me, as the director, if I am pushing my students too far, challenging our audience enough or if we need to explore new avenues in presenting future works at the Lamar Opera Theatre,� he said. “Most importantly, I want the students to be proud of the work they put together.� For more information, call 880-7181 or email serdar. ilban@lamar.edu.
April 25
International Film Festival: ‘Tomboy’ Dishman Auditorium 5:30 p.m.
April 26
LU Softball vs. Nicholls LU Softball Complex 5 p.m.
April 27
Jimmy Simmons Jazz Festival University Theatre 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
April 30
Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research Expo Setzer Student Center 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
May 3
LU Baseball vs. Southeastern Louisiana Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.
May 3
Senior Thesis Exhibition Opening Reception Dishman Art Museum 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
May 5
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no one was hurt in the fire, but she disagrees with the rebuilding of Notre Dame being France’s top priority. “I am profoundly cynical,� she said. “It was sad to watch as it was happening but I feel better knowing that it was an accident, not a terrorist act, and that no one was physically hurt. “The political recuperation
CALENDAR
has been hard to deal with. (Emmanuel) Macron, our French president, is now making the rebuilding of the cathedral a priority. I feel that France and French people could utilize these financial resources in better ways.� Hodge said that she does hope that Notre Dame will remain one of France’s gems.
Neches River Boat Tour 2019 Collier’s Ferry Park 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
May 7
LU Baseball vs. Rice Vincent Beck Stadium 6 p.m.
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Symphonic Band concert set for May 7 Cheyenne Ard UP contributor
The Symphonic and University Band will have a concert May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre showcasing a diverse palette of music and composers. The program promises something for every music aficionado, Eric Shannon, Director of Athletic bands said. “The program inspiration was trying to play music from a diverse array of composers with a wide array of purposes for music,” he said. “The music I chose comes from different time periods, are created by composers of different genders, ages, and ethnicities. So I guess the number one word to describe this program would be diversity.” The concert will feature pieces from composers such as John Mackey, Julie GirouxWest, and John Philip Sousa, along with band arrangements of Coldplay hits and a piece which requires musicians to make music using four sheets of paper entitled “Paper Cut,” he said. “Paper Cut,” composed by Alex Shapiro, will involve musi-
cians ripping, crumpling, and stomping on paper along with other choreographed maneuvers intended to make music. A common tie between the music of the two bands is an intriguing take on rhythm, Shannon said. “I was looking for interesting rhythms to tie together,” he said. “The ‘Paper Cut’ piece is an example of electroacoustic music, and we will also be playing ‘Joy Ride’ which is a parody combination of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, ‘Ode to Joy’ mixed with John Adams’ ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’ and it uses a lot of polyrhythms.” The Symphonic Band will also play a piece entitled “Drum Music” by John Mackey, which will feature percussion faculty member, Francisco Perez. Along with all the music, the department invited members from the community to get involved in a clarinet clinic put on by music faculty member, Kim Ellis, and those participants will play John Philip Sousa’s “El Capitan” march with the band, Shannon said. “We invited all community or high school clarinetists to the clinic and that will culminate
with them playing the ‘El Capitan’ march,” he said. “ W e hope to have a big show of clarinets along the front of the band playing the march.” Senior music education students and graduate assistants will have the opportunity to conduct the University Band alongside the directors, Shannon said. “Our grad assistants, Eli Cutler and Morgan Contreras, will conduct pieces for the University Band alongside Meredith De Leon, senior music ed major,” he said. Shannon said he hopes audience members leave the concert feeling refreshed and renewed. “I want audience members to take a personal journey through their thoughts and feelings as they listen to the music throughout the concert,” he said. “I want them to leave feeling refreshed.” This will be the last concert of the semester, following the Wind Ensemble’s concert last Thursday. The concert will be free and open to the public and audience attire is casual. For more information about the concerts and the music program, visit lamar.edu/music.
UP photo by Noah Dawlearn
Lamar student practicing for the Symphonic Band Concert in the Charles A“Pete” Wiley Rehearsal Hall, Tuesday.
REDtalk to address ‘Coping with Anxiety’ Abigail Pennington UP contributor
Many college students struggle with anxiety at some point in their academic careers. Pamela Comer, director of McNair Scholars, will present the REDtalk, “Coping with Anxiety,” at 1 p.m., Tuesday, on the sixth floor of Gray Library. The talk will address coping skills and strategies to navigate anxiety. “It goes a little beyond just your typical steps for like test anxiety, and we’re going to give some ideas for different coping strategies — some really practical things that students can do,” Comer said. “Also, learning to recognize how anxiety exhibits it-
self in everyday life and our response to different things.” Students will be given a questionnaire at the beginning of the workshop to identify if anxiety is an issue for them, Comer said. “The quiz will help identify behavior, and what types of thinking it stems from, whether it’s fear about something, and some strategies to overcome that,” she said. In addition to identifying the source of anxiety, students will also learn the difference between prevention and intervention, Comer said. “There’s some things you can do before you get anxious, and then there’s some things that you can do once you’re feeling anx-
ious — once you’re in that moment,” she said. “Just giving them different coping strategies and coping techniques in a very practical workshop.” Comer said her inspiration came from the course work she did while getting her master’s in clinical mental health counseling, and a student internship with the Samaritan Counseling Centers. “When I was working in the
College of Education, I was working on my second master’s in counseling,” she said. “As part of my coursework, I was studying anxiety and coping strategies already, and I’ve had some experience with that in my life.” Anxiety in college students is more common than one may think, Comer said, and it’s important for students to have the tools to be proactive.
“The numbers show that one in five college students have had suicidal thoughts, and 39 percent of college students report experiencing anxiety or depression in the past year,” she said. “There’s more students that are seeking out mental health services, and we’re trying to remove this stigma that goes along with that.” For more information, visit lamar.edu/redtalks.
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Thursday, April 25, 2019 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
Porch Magic
Film major uses trickery to spread fun, earn his way Jason Hebner UP contributor
You may know him as Alex Others know him as Shane, or “Sideshow Shane.” Whoever he is, he can be found every day at Kampus Korner performing magic tricks for strangers and friends alike. “The look on people’s faces when I pull their card from my wallet, or some other goofy thing, is something special,” he says. “I’ve had customers come up to me thanking me for cheering them up, or helping them have a nice night out, giving them a magical experience. It’s honestly what I live for.” Alex is a one-name guy — or three, technically. “I don’t like to go by my last name, because I’m Batman,” he said, laughing. “It’s because my anonymity as a magician is very important to me.” Alex pulled out his on-the-go magic kit, featuring cards, books, ropes and a wand, among other gadgets. “I bring this with me everywhere, it’s my style of magic,” he said. “You’ve got your Penn and Tellers, who commit to a more comedic stage magic, you’ve got your Criss Angels, who are more of a stunt street magician, and you’ve got me, the off-the-cuff magician.” Alex said he turned to magic when he was 19, following the death of his father. “I needed something to distract myself,” he said. “I was sitting at home one day and I was watching a David Blaine special, and I was like, ‘This is actually pretty cool.’ After the special was over, I flipped through the channels and immediately I ran into ‘Chris Angel’s Mind Freak,’ and I thought to myself, ‘Man, this is actually something really badass. This is something I’d like to learn.’
UP photo by Jason Hebner
Alex Others, aka “Sideshow Shane,” regularly performs magic tricks on the porch at Kampus Korner. Others has been performing for 12 years. “I learned a couple of card tricks, went on YouTube, and practiced diligently for a couple months.” The first time Alex performed in public was at a Starbucks. “There were some kids playing some card game, so I went up to them and told them that I had just learned a new card trick,” he said. “I did the card trick I had been practicing for a few months, and just their reaction alone, getting them to laugh and smile, that was like
a drug. “Immediately after I got done with the magic trick, this girl gave me $2. I said, ‘No, don’t worry about it. She said, ‘No, you earned it.’” Alex has been performing for 12 years. “I’ve learned a wide variety or tricks from different magicians and books,” he said. “I’ve met some interesting people along the way and have always enjoyed putting on a show.” The Lamar University film major earns a living performing
on the streets in Austin and across Texas every weekend. “I like people to stop for a minute and open up to their inner eight-year old, when the world didn’t really matter,” he said. Alex also works as a waiter from time to time. “I had this one customer I was serving and performing for, after she left, she gave me a tip and a note her on receipt saying, ‘Thank you,’” he said. Whenever he returns from his travels, Alex heads back to
his friends on the back porch of Kampus Korner. “At the end of the day, they’re my biggest supporters,” he said. “Lamar is why I come here every day, but, honestly, the porch are my friends — they’re my best friends. They’re the friends I wish I had in high school, but I never had a chance to get.” People always ask how the trick is done, but Alex won’t say. “Magicians never tell their secrets,” he said.
OPINION
5 UNIVERSITY PRESS Thursday, April 25, 2019
-30-
Outgoing editor reflects on LU, UP experiences It is traditional for graduating UP management staff to pen a column as their Lamar story ends (dubbed a “-30-” column in recognition of the symbol to end stories in the old days of typesetting0. Almost four years ago, I remember flipping through many college brochures, reading several emails, and talking to numerous advisors as I got ready to make the biggest decision of my young life. I was a going to be a first generation college student and
Commentary
Cassandra Jenkins UP editor
the prospects were scary. But one school, or, rather, one newspaper, stood out to me — The University Press at Lamar. I read posts about the newspaper, went through the college brochure, attended preview day and checked out the UP website. It wasn’t long before I made my decision — I was going to be editor of that newspaper one day. And here I am, writing my final piece before I graduate in May. Working at the UP has been an invaluable experience and hands down the best part of my four years in college. I knew I wanted to be the editor one day. I wanted to be a part of the amazing staff, win awards and learn something new every day. But, as I think back on the last four years and the first time I walked into the office to this very moment, I see all the faces of everyone who has helped get me to this point. There were days when I doubted my writing capabilities, and other days when I was just plain exhausted and didn’t think I was going to make it through the day. But I wouldn’t trade those days for the world, because it was all just a part of the process.
My advisors have been invaluable in helping shape me into the writer and confident person I am today. The editors before me were a shining example of why I was working so hard. My friends, family and staff believed in me on some of the roughest days of my life. Writing a -30- for your favorite job in the whole world is tough, but it’s time to move on. I will always remember staying up until 11 p.m. on a Tuesday doing layout and singing Disney songs at the top of my lungs with my managing editor. I might forget the bad jokes, well most of them I hope, bad accents and printing errors, but I’ll never forget all the people I got to meet in my time here, the places I got to travel to, and the crews I got to work beside. Although it might be cliché, the University Press has been like a family to me — and that is something I couldn’t have predicted four years ago. So, thank you Lamar for allowing me to attend this university. Thank you to all the people I met along the way and thank you to the UP for preparing me for the future and giving me unforgettable memories.
UPeditorial Congratulations graduates College is not easy. Between classes, jobs, a social life and getting enough sleep, it can often times seem impossible to get through each semester. But for hundreds of students, that struggle has come to an end. It doesn’t matter if it took four years or 40 years to graduate college — leaving Lamar with a degree is an accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. Pat yourself on the back, you earned it. The next chapter awaits. Lamar has a 32.9 percent graduation rate — to be one of those students is to beat a statistic. Now, it’s time to utilize all the information that’s been pored over for the past however many semesters for the “real” world. Use the degree that thousands of dollars was spent on and earn that money back. The time of being a Lamar student may be over, but once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal. So whether the next step is a graduate degree or a doctorate, a new job in your field, or a gap year to explore and figure everything out, good luck. Congratulations on reaching this milestone — cherish every moment of it.
Marvel Mania
UP graphic by Olivia Malick
Every movie ranked before ‘Endgame’
On April 26 one of the most anticipated films of the year hits the box office, “Avengers: Endgame.” But before anyone sees this epic series conclusion, I think that people should prepare by watching all the films leading up to this monumental event in cinema history. Since the series humble beginnings with “Iron Man” premiering in 2008 to present day, Marvel has released a whopping 44.7 hours worth of superhero movies all leading up to one epic showdown. If you were to watch all films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuously, you would sit and stare at your TV for approximately 1.87 days. Some people may see this as a daunting challenge, not for
Commentary
Dallas Rector UP contributor
the faint of heart, and those people would be correct. Viewing 21 films is a daunting task but I think it is necessary to fully appreciate what happens in the series ending. However, if watching 21 films in a row for nearly two days straight doesn’t seem fun there may be a way to slim down the challenge. For those who want just the gist of the storyline there are five key films to watch, these include (and must be watched in this order) “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Doctor Strange” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” The laziest of superhero fans should watch these films as they discuss the biggest key factors and figures to the storyline and how they affect each other. For those who want a little bit more backstory you should watch (including aforementioned films) “Captain America: Civil War,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” and “Black Panther.” These films will fill in a few gaps in the storyline including relationships between characters and location settings. In all 21 of the films I do believe some of the films are better than others. Of the entire franchise my top picks would
Editor..........................................Cassandra Jenkins Managing Editor...............................Olivia Malick Photo Editor...................................Noah Dawlearn Staff....................................Cade Smith, Vy Nguyen, ................... Eleanor Skelton, Abigail Pennington, ...... Tiana Johnson, Hailey Brown, Jason Hebner, ......Cheyenne Ard, Claire Robertson, Caden Moran, ....... Rachel Hellums, Lakota Jaton, Dallas Rector, ....................................April Marble, Morgan Collier Advisors Andy Coughlan and Stephan Malick Member of Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
be “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” both directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and “Thor: Ragnarok” directed by Taika Waititi. I think that these directors created something visually and emotionally compelling throughout the respective films and I think that gives them the top spots. My honorable mentions would include “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Spiderman: Homecoming,” “Ant-Man,” “Doctor Strange,” and “Iron Man.” These films to me have either great stories, incredible action sequences, or they are just plain fun to watch and immerse yourself and pretend you are the superhero for a while. I recommend watching all of them because this is such an expansive universe full of incredible characters and details that deserve your time and attention. Maybe don’t watch them all in one sitting, but there is still plenty of time to watch them all. Regardless if you’ve seen every film the day they came out or you’ve only seen a hand full of the films, I think we should all prepare for this stunning conclusion to an incredible series of films.
Letters Policy
THE COMPLETE LISTING
1. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) dir. Anthony & Joe Russo 2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) dir. Anthony & Joe Russo 3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) dir. Taika Waititi
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) dir. James Gunn 5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) dir. Jon Watts
12. Captain: Civil War (2016) dir. Anthony & Joe Russo 13. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) dir. Peyton Reed
14. Captain Marvel (2019) dir. Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck 15. Iron Man 2 (2010) dir. Jon Favreau
16. Thor: The Dark World (2013) Alan Taylor
6. Ant-Man (2015) dir. Peyton Reed
17. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017) dir. James Gunn
8. Iron Man (2008) dir. Jon Favreau
19. Thor (2011) dir. Kenneth Branagh
7. Doctor Strange (2016) dir. Scott Derrickson
9. Black Panther (2018) dir. Ryan Coogler
10. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) dir. Joe Johnston 11. The Avengers (2012) dir. Joss Whedon
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.
18. Iron Man 3 (2013) dir. Shane Black
20. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) dir. Joss Whedon
21. The Incredible Hulk (2008) dir. Louis Leterrier
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 2018
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Thursday, April 25, 2019 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
Living with Fibromyalgia Hailey Brown UP contributor
Hair stylist Natalie Hale was good at her job. She was fast and highly skilled. But one day, she realized she was slowing down. Instead of doing five men’s cuts in an hour, she was struggling to do two. “I started hurting and needing a break,” she said. “Doing a full foil highlight, haircut, styleout all in less than two hours would take me two and a half to three and a half hours, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything else for hours at all.” Hale went to the doctor and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a genetic disorder that attacks the nerves and muscles. Fibromyalgia affects 6-12 million people in the US according to the American Chronic Pain Association. According to the ACPA approximately 90 percent of fibromyalgia sufferers are female, anybody can be affected by this disorder. There currently is no cure as every case is drastically different. “It’s an invisible disease that effects the nerves, making you ache and hurt in ways you could never imagine,” she said. “You always feel like you have the flu on a good day — on a bad day, it’s a hundred times worse.” Since being diagnosed six years ago, Hale has struggled to
Did you know?
• 6 to 12 million people in the United States are living with Fibromyalgia. • 90 percent of those diagnosed with Fibromyalgia are female.
maintain a normal lifestyle. The disorder makes it highly difficult for her to hang out with friends or do normal everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, because afterwards she is in extreme pain. “How does it affect my dayto-day life? — I don’t have a life,” she said. “The moment I was diagnosed my life ceased to exist, at least the one I knew. I have more bad days than good, where I stay on my heating pad all day and all I can do is feed and take my dogs outside. (There are) days where I literally curl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep because the pain’s too hard.” On Sundays, Hale likes to go bowling. This, however, can cause her to be in severe pain for the next couple of days. “If I have a day where I’m out doing something fun like bowling, I lay in bed all the next to recuperate,” she said. “I have to push myself to do things like go to dinner with my husband. There’s a lot of anxiety, selfdoubt and hate — no clue if I’ll be able to hug someone or if even a simple little touch will make me cringe because it hurts so much to be touched. “My husband’s family talks badly about me and my illness when I’m not around. They’ve even tried to convince him to leave me because, ‘I’m just using him.’ The same goes for his friends. My friends have disappeared because you can’t count on me when plans are made, because I usually cancel or I’m sick. Or don’t want to go out (or) want them to come over where I’m comfortable.” As well as depression and anxiety, other disorders that are caused by fibromyalgia. Insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis and chronic fatigue syndrome are just a few issues linked to fibromyalgia. “I personally suffer from
•
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Pain & tender points • Fatigue • Sleep problems • Concentration and memory problems, known as “fibro fog” • Anxiety or depression • Morning stiffness • Swelling • Numbness, and tingling in the hands, arms, feet and legs • Headaches • Irritable bowel syndrome • Problems with urination • Painful menstrual cramps • Restless legs syndrome
chronic vertigo and migraines, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, IBS, detreating vertebrae, MS,” Hale said. “Lately, I have also been waking up from my sleep screaming because I’m in so much pain.” There is no cure for fibromyalgia, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a workout regimen can alleviate some symptoms. Fibromyalgia pa-
tients may also find different treatments through medications, therapy, alternative medicines and home remedies. The disorder has become more high profile as celebrities such as Morgan Freeman, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez have come out as having fibromyalgia. However, Hale said that a cure is unlikely because of the individuality of the symptoms. “Unless it puts me back be-
hind a chair doing what I love doing, it wouldn’t matter,” she said. Hale said she hopes people will take the time to learn about the disorder. “Respect that person enough to ask and learn about their disease, don’t assume you know how it affects them even if you have the same thing,” she said. “Remember, we are all different.”
Reserve your ad in the Orientation Special Edition now! Call 880-8102 or advertising@lamaruniversitypress.com
UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, April 25, 2019
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UPcampus briefs Port Arthur to host National Prescription Drug Take Back, Saturday
The Port Arthur Health Department is participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at 4615 9th Ave. The program, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency, allows people to turn in their old, outdated medication. Partnering with the Recovery Council of Southeast Texas Coalition, the Port Arthur Health Department is aiming to prevent opioid addiction and keep the city clean. For more information, visit takebackday.dea.gov, or call 840-2001.
College of Engineering to host Senior Design Symposium tomorrow
The College of Engineering is hosting its Fourth Annual Senior Design Symposium from 3 to 5 p.m., tomorrow, in the Live Oak Ballroom in the Setzer Student Center. Senior engineering students will present more than 40 projects, marking the culmination of a year’s work in their chosen disciplines. The symposium will feature projects from chemical, civil and environmental, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering students. Their work on subjects such as eco-car design, programs to detect water on other planets and the manipulation of hamster cells to produce cancer-fighting antibodies will be showcased at the symposium. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.lamar.edu/engineering/s ymposium/.
Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology and Legacy Community Health are partnering to sponsor Kite Fest, from 12 to 3 p.m., Saturday, at the LU football practice field, south of Provost Umphrey Stadium. The event will include food, prizes, games, family fun, nutrition and health information. For more information, call Legacy Community Health at 242-2577.
OUR to host Sixth Annual Creative Activities Expo, Tuesday
The Office of Undergraduate Research is hosting the Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Expo beginning at 8 a.m., Tuesday, in the Setzer Student Center. The expo will comprise of two venues — a symposium for oral presentations and a poster presentation fair. For more information, visit www.lamar.edu/undergraduate-research/events/expo/.
LU Dance team to present ‘This is Life,’ May 3-4
The Lamar University dance team will present their annual show that offers a wide variety of dance styles beginning at 7 p.m., May 3 and 4, at the Jefferson Theatre, located at 345 Fannin St. For more information, visit www.lamar.edu/students/student-engagement/spirit-andtraditions/dance/annual-show.
UP photo by Lakota Jaton
Members of Lamar University’s football team work together to plant a tree during Lamar’s Earth Day celebration on the Dining Hall lawn, Monday. from 2 to 4 p.m., May 5, at Collier’s Ferry Park. The tour will be narrated by authors and historians Ellen Rienstra and Judith Linsley on the Ivory Bill. Tickets are $35 per person — food and drinks included. Cash payments accepted in 200 Archer or make checks payable to Lamar University and mail to: Center for History and Culture P.O. Box 10048 Beaumont, Texas 77710. Limited seating available. Payments made by Tuesday are appreciated. For more information, call Judith Linsley at 880-8518.
ALA has schedules another set of outreach meetings on May 7 in 113 CICE building for members of the university community, including alumni, staff, students and faculty who wish to attend. The open meeting for staff will take place from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. The open meeting for students will take place from 1 to 2:15 p.m. The open meeting for faculty will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Each meeting can accommodate up to 96 attendees. For more information, call Dean Terrebonne at 880-2374.
in the 2019 Strategic Planning Process for the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.
used Dining Dollars will expire at the end of the current semester term.
Students must use remaining Dining ALA strategic meeting Dollars by May 14 Center for History, for students set for Students that are currently Culture to host May 7 on meal plans and still have Neches River Boat Lamar University contracted Dining Dollars on their account Tour, May 5, RSVP by the services of Academic Lead- need to use their remaining balTuesday ership Associates as consultants ance before May 14. Any un-
LU, LIT, Legacy Health The Lamar University Center to sponsor ‘Kite Fest,’ for History and Culture is hosting the Neches River Boat Tour Saturday
Things to do in May & June May 2 - First Thursdays on Calder takes places in downtown Beaumont on the first Thursday of every month. With free live music along with shopping and dining discounts. 1495 Calder Ave. 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. May 4 - The Mediterranean Festival has built a reputation as one of the best foodie events in the area sharing Middle Eastern & Hellenic culture with guests of all ages are treated to a friendly environment, featuring delicious Greek & Middle Eastern foods, pastries, church tours, a shopping bazaar, dance performances, live music, and children’s activities. St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 680 N. 15 St., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. FREE May 10 - Classic Movie Night at the Jefferson Theater “Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone See the first of J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter. The historic Jefferson Theatre, built in 1927, is home to the Classic Movie Night series with movies every Saturday in May. Sip your favorite craft beer or wine in a beautiful theatre while enjoying the movie. 345 Fannin St., downtown Beaumont, 7:30 p.m. $5 May 10 - Moonlight Madness Bicycle Ride Beginner Level community bicycle ride. Fully Police Protected Route. Thoughtfully prepared rest stop. Pre-Ride 7:30 p.m. -9:50 p.m. Music, live DJ, dancing, swag, fellowship, snack truck. Helmets and lights are strongly recommended. Pedaling begins @ 10 p.m. 7+7 Mile Route = 7 miles + Rest Stop + 7 miles, Rogers Park, 1455 Dowlen Road, 7:30 p.m. - midnight. FREE May 11 - Spindletop Roller Girls are the original flat-track women’s roller derby league based in Beaumont, Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St., 7 p.m. $5-$15 May 19 - 20 Southeast Texas Freedom Flight 1st Annual Air Fest airshow weekend will deliver an electrifying mix of aircraft both in the air and on the ground that with erobatic display teams, wing walkers, fast jets, military giants, civil aircraft and historic aircraft will grace the skies over Jack Brooks Regional Airport to celebrate the Pioneers of the Sky. Jack Brooks Regional Airport, 4000 Airline Dr., Times and tickets available soon. June 1 - 12th Annual Jazz and Blues Festival Performances include headliner, Allman Anthology featuring Mike Zito, Nils Lofgren, Paul Childers and the Black Tie Affair, Rocio Jazz Project, and the Flying Buffaloes. Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St., starts 5 p.m. $20 tickets on sale now at ticketmaster.com, and the Civic Center box office.
For more information, visit DineOnCampus.com/BigRed.
Former UP photo editor recognized nationally by SPJ
Hannah LeTulle, UP photo editor from 20172018, received a National Mark of Excellence award in the Feature Photo category from the Society of Professional Journalists. “I’ve never had any of my photography go that far,” LeTulle said. “It was really rewarding to see all of my efforts to grow myself as a photographer be recognized. “I’ve continued using what I’ve learned in college photojournalism and applied it to my current career and actually find myself shooting events daily.” Compiled by Olivia Malick
Exam Schedule
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Thursday, April 25, 2019 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
ExxonMobil to increase air quality by 2020 Cassandra Jenkins UP editor
The air quality in Beaumont hasn’t always been the city’s finest feature. As an oil and gas town, harmful emissions can cause health concerns, a problem that ExxonMobil has been working hard on solving. “Air monitoring in the Beaumont area has demonstrated an 85 percent reduction in benzene concentrations since 1990,” Cindy Holloway, ExxonMobil’s public and government affairs coordinator, said in an email interview. “ExxonMobil has reduced sulfur dioxide emissions from its operations by more than 80 percent since 2004. The ExxonMobil Beaumont complex has reduced ozone precursors such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by more than 50 percent since 2004.” Benzene is an air toxic emitted from gasoline service stations, motor vehicle exhaust, fuel evaporation, and the burning of coal and oil, while sulfur dioxide is a byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels. Large exposures to either Benzene or sulfur dioxide can cause dizziness, vom-
iting and loss of consciousness. Holloway said the ExxonMobil plant in Beaumont has been working to reduce the harmful dispersant of both emissions, and in 2016 Beaumont was removed from TCEQ’s air pollution watch list for sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Holloway said ExxonMobil’s has installed monitors around the Beaumont refinery to make sure that benzene levels stayed at the right level. “ExxonMobil has installed 27 benzene monitors along the perimeter of its Beaumont refinery and chemical complex,” she said. “The resulted data will be published every two weeks in accordance with the EPA’s Refinery Sector Rule, beginning June 2019. Monitors in close proximity to the UP photo by Lakota Jaton community fence-line consisExxonMobil workers present their sustainability goals and their work toward Beaumont’s air quality during Lamar University’s Earth tently register near zero.” Day celebration, on the Dining Hall lawn, Monday. The ExxonMobil Refinery in Beaumont has reduced benzene emissions, sulHolloway said that by 2020, fur dioxide and volatile organic compounds significantly since 2004. ExxonMobil will have invested nearly $2 billion on various environmental performance communities where we oper“When we make decisions For additional information measures at its Beaumont re- ate,” she said. “ExxonMobil about products, production contact the ExxonMobil Refinery and chemical complex remains committed to miti- processes and facility modifi- finery at 240-4809 or email over a 20-year period. gating emissions from its op- cations, the impact they will Holloway at cindy.j.hol“We are committed to con- erations and helping have on the environment is loway@exxonmobil.com. ducting our business in a consumers reduce their emis- one of our first priorities. We manner that is compatible sions, including through effi- work to minimize impact on This story was produced in with the balanced environ- cient fuels, lubricants and the environment while manag- partnership with ExxonMomental and economic needs of lightweight plastics. ing our operations efficiently.” bil.
Summer film gears up for production, seeks extras Rachel Hellums UP contributor
Lamar’s student-led production company, F. Lux Production, is gearing up for their upcoming summer film project, “The Writings’ on the Wall,” an anti-romantic comedy about the struggles of online dating. “This script is based off of my own personal experiences,” Denise Cassaday, writer and producer, said. “This particular
time in my life occurred about 10 years ago or so. It’s always just cracked me up and I’ve told these stories to friends over the years and everybody’s just always gotten a real kick out of it. When I was writing, I knew that they wanted a comedy for the summer film project and I really wanted to write something awesome.” Cassaday said she felt like this was the kind of story that people will be able to connect
with because there isn’t necessarily romance in the dating world and films tend to ignore that, so she thought this was her opportunity to write something that was relatable. “The main character is a woman,” she said. “Michelle is just a happy, confident, funny woman who just wants to find a meaningful relationship. She has her sassy best friend named Sam that pushes her outside of her comfort zone.
That’s where the story starts and then after a few bad dates she meets somebody that she thinks there might be a chance with and then we kind of follow them and see how that goes.” Cassaday and director, Hannah Hudgins, held auditions at the Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts, April 14, where they auditioned 26 actors for the 11 parts, plus extras. “We are still accepting extras
of all ages and ethnicities,” Cassaday said, “If you would like to be a part of a real film production and gain some set experience by participating as a featured extra, please send a photo with your contact information to extras.thewritingsonthewall2019@gmail.com.” For more information, check out www.facebook.com/SummerFilm2019 or email thewrit ingsonthewall2019@gmail. com.
CHASING OLYMPIC DREAMS UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, April 25, 2019
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Courtesy photo
LU track and field star, Webster Slaughter,r hopes to run in the 400-meter dash in the Olympics. His current running time is 47 seconds, only two seconds off from the qualifying mark for the Olympic trials.
LU track and field star aims to qualify for Olympics April Marble UP contributor
Webster Slaughter, Missouri City sophomore, is taking his passion for track and field to chase Olympic dreams. Growing up with athleticism in his DNA, his father Webster Slaughter II played in the NFL for 12 seasons, five with the Cleveland Browns, but also played two seasons for the Houston Oilers from 1992-94, and his mother competed in track as well as his three sisters. “My parents never pressured me into doing athletics, but my siblings and I definitely grew up being competitive against one another and always wanting to perform and do our best,” Slaughter said. Although he is a short-distance runner, Slaughter’s track career started with long-distance events but later transitioned short-distance races during his
senior year of high school. “I was getting first in my longdistance races in high school, but then I had coaches come up to me and say that I wasn’t a long distance runner,” he said. “During my senior year, they put me in the 400 for the first time and I won and that was the end of my long-distance career.” Slaughter now runs the 400meter race and the 4x4. The sophomore sprinter aims to qualify for the Olympic trials for the 400-meter race. In order to qualify for the Olympic trials, Slaughter must run a 45.90 race. The qualifying mark must be made on a USATF certified course, in an event sanctioned by USA Track & Field or a member federation of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). “Since my freshman year, every race I have run I have gotten faster,” Slaughter said. “Coaches are saying that I’m still
learning how to run and that’s why I keep getting faster. They also tell me that I don’t know my own speed. It’s extremely rare that a sprinter continues to get faster, and that’s what makes me believe that I can make it to the Olympics.” During this year’s prelims, Slaughter ran the best race in the men’s 400-meter dash with a time of 47.92, just his third time reaching a sub-48-second race and just about a second and a half off the Southland conference record. Slaughter won his first career individual title in February at the indoor conference with a race of 47.76, his best race of the year. “Coach Clark said I was going to get first at the beginning of the season, and I didn’t believe it,” Slaughter said. “I was 10th last season, but I was getting faster. However, I didn’t expect to go to the conference and win.” Although two seconds seems
like a small difference, he ran 49.08 in the same race last year for 10th place. “In track, two seconds is the equivalent of being across a large room from each other,” Slaughter said. “Even though it’s such a small number, it’s the difference between first place and tenth place.” Slaughter sees his improvement in the indoor races as a sign that his outdoor race will push him closer to the qualifying time. “You run slower indoors than outdoors,” Slaughter said. “The indoor track is smaller so you have to run two laps which makes you turn more and it slows you down. Last year, in the outdoor meet, I did the 400 meters in 47 seconds. I should be way faster than that in this year’s outdoor meet since I did the indoor in that time.” The outdoor conference begins on May 3 in Natchitoches, LA at the Walter P. Ledet Track
Complex. In order to prepare for the conference to reach the qualifying time, Slaughter added more training to his regime. “Practice might be from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then we do weights from about 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., but I also stayed over spring break and I’m planning on staying on campus over the summer in order to train,” Slaughter said. For Slaughter, making the Olympics would be the ultimate payoff for his hard work. “It’s my dream and what I’ve been working for since I started track, and I don’t think I’d be able to describe how I feel if I made it,” he said. “All the hard practice and meets to not only to make the trial but to represent my country would be a huge accomplishment and would almost be like paying back all the coaches and my family who believe in me.”
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SPORTS Intramural Sports
UNIVERSITY PRESS Thursday, April 25, 2019
CARDINAL TO STAMPEDER
All Scores and Standings as updated on April 23.
7-on-7 Flag Football Men’s Division Men’s Champions — 409
InDoor Soccer All games are played in the Rec Center’s Indoor Arena. Co-Rec Championship — tonight at 5 p.m. Juventus (5-0) vs. Swag Dragons (4-1) Men’s Championship — tonight at 6 p.m. Alpha Tau Omega (Greek Champ) vs. Wanheda (Independent Champ). InDoor crIcket All matches are played in the Rec Center’s Main Gym. Semi final round one — noon The Kraken (4-0) vs. Telegu Titans (0-3-1) Semi final round two — 1 p.m. BJP (3-1) vs. Lamar Sharks (2-2) Men’s Playoffs — Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
4-on-4 Volleyball Resident Halls Champs — Campbell Hall Men, Women and Corec Leagues play Mondays through Thursdays in the Rec Center’s Multi-Purpose Courts.
Sport clubS Sport Clubs are student ran registered student organizations that have an interest in sport competitions. Sport Clubs hosts and travel for matches and tournaments. If you are interested in a particular club, please email sportclubs@lamar.edu and let us know how we can help you get involved. WoMen’S Soccer Lamar’s club will compete at the University of Texas’ invitational Longhorn7-on-7 tournament, Saturday. After coming off a great tournament at Stephen F. Austin, coming in 2nd place, the club looks for more success at tournament. ultIMate The club competed at Sectionals in Austin, April 13-14. This tournament had them compete against the best universities in Texas. Lamar was seeded 10 out of 11 teams. They ended up in 4th place overall. With a four match win streak against UTSA: 9-7, vs UT-El Paso 7-2, vs UTPB 9-3, vs UH 11-0, they finally lost to powerhouse Texas A&M 2-11, then to Texas State 3-11. They bounced back to beat UT Rio Grande Valley 11-1, before losing again to Texas A&M 0-11. The top three teams made it to regionals, and unfortunately they fell just one place short, but they fought hard against the big school teams. baSeball Baseball club hosted Texas A&M Corp of Cadets for a home game series at Vincent Beck Stadium this past Friday and Saturday. They lost a tough first game in the series by 15-4, but bounced back to win the second game in the bottom of the 10th inning with a walkoff homer. Unfortunately, lost the third game 14-10. This season they had an overall record of 11-9 and 8-7 in conference play. archery The Archery club will compete at the UT Outdoor Regionals April 26-27. Competing in this competition will prepare them for Nationals, which takes place in Ohio, mid May. UPCOMING GAMES LINE-UP April 26 LU Softball vs. Nicholls LU Softball Complex, 5 p.m. April 27 LU Softball vs. Nicholls (Doubleheader) LU Softball Complex, 12 p.m. May 3 LU Baseball vs. Southeastern Louisiana Vincent Beck Stadium, 6 p.m. May 4 LU Baseball vs. Southeastern Louisiana Vincent Beck Stadium, 2 p.m. May 5 LU Baseball vs. Southeastern Louisiana Vincent Beck Stadium, 1 p.m. May 7 LU Baseball vs. Rice Vincent Beck Stadium, 6 p.m. May 16 LU Baseball vs. Central Arkansas Vincent Beck Stadium, 6 p.m. May 17 LU Baseball vs. Central Arkansas Vincent Beck Stadium, 6 p.m. May 18 LU Baseball vs. Central Arkansas Vincent Beck Stadium, 2 p.m.
Lamar alumnus shares football story from FCS level to CFL Cade Smith UP staff writer
Reggie Begelton takes mark in the endzones of Provost Umphrey Stadium. A timer sounds and Begelton takes off at lightning speed. The Lamar University alumnus is on offseason from the Canadian Football League and is working to make this year with the Calgary Stampeders a memorable one. A Beaumont native, Begelton said he was mesmerized by football as a child, although he was more into books than sports. “First thing I ever did psychically was Taekwondo,” he said. “I believe that is what helped me develop self-discipline and everything before I started organized sports. I used to play football in the neighborhood with the older kids, that is also a testament into why my development was a little bit above par.” Begelton said his father didn’t push football on him when he was young. “He didn’t know I liked it,” he said. “We were watching football on TV one day and I said to him, ‘Dad I want to play this,’ and he said, ‘You do?’ That was when I told him that I played all the time in the neighborhood with the older kids. My dad didn’t think anything of it at the time. Eventually, he put me into organized sports. The first team I was on was the Salvation Army Mighty Mites. My dad didn’t actually come to my first game because he had to work. “Eventually, word got out and everyone told him how good I was. He then came to the second game and he saw a future in me after that. It just took off after that and football became my passion.” After youth football, Begelton played for West Brook High School and graduated in 2011. He said he really wanted to go to college. “Really and truly, football was not my number one,” he said. “I had a partial scholarship to Abilene Christian, which is a private school, Division II athletics. The thing about Division II is that they
UP photo by Abigail Pennington
LU alumnus, Reggie Begelton, stands with his old Lamar University uniform and his new Calgary Stampeders jersey at Provost Umphrey Stadium, April 12.
don’t typically give incoming freshman full ride scholarships, and with it being a private school, I would have had to pay almost $20,000 out of pocket a semester.” Begelton decided that going to ACU was not in his best interest and decided to attend Lamar. “I came here to get a degree in chemical engineering, as this school is very good for engineering,” he said. “I played football just to play it. As far as playing, it was tough. It started off rough at first because I didn’t get any scholarships coming out of high school, so I had to walk-on my first year. “I was a walk-on for two years, and at that point my dad was paying out of pocket for me to go here because I couldn’t get financial aid. I had to make a choice whether to quit football or at least ask the coach for a partial scholarship — if I couldn’t get that I was going to have to quit football or a few classes.” Begelton said that if it hadn’t been for former head coach Ray Woodard, and former wide receiver’s coach Kevin Barbay, he wouldn’t have a career in football. “They saw something in me and gave me a half scholarship,” he said. “I can easily say after that I took off. That was a blessing all in itself, because I wouldn’t be here
today without that half scholarship. I graduated in fall 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business.” Begelton said that he didn’t go to the NFL combine, instead he participated in a Pro Day at Lamar. “Only three NFL teams showed up,” he said. “I got the opportunity to go the three-day minicamp with the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and after that stint I went into a little slump.” Begelton quit football and started working for Universal Coin and Bullion in Beaumont. “I did that for four and a half months,” he said. “I took about a semester off, but I constantly had people in my ear telling me, ‘What are you doing?’ and saying I was too young (to quit). I was 22 at the time and took that into consideration, and I decided to give it one more try, so I tried out for the CFL. I am thankful and blessed that I did.” Begelton said Universal Coin and Bullion pushed him into the CFL. “The people in that company were one of the biggest influences on me to move forward in my future with football,” he said. “They taught me how to battle adversity mentally and, honestly, it was the stepping
stone I needed to get out of my comfort zone.” Begelton decided try out for the Calgary Stampeders. “I did really well at that tryout and they ended up offering me (a contract),” he said. “I did go to the Saskatchewan Roughrider’s tryout before I went to Calgary’s, but they didn’t offer me anything until after I signed with Calgary. After I passed the first tryout, I had to go to the next one which was in Florida. After the Florida tryout, I had to go to the veteran or main camp, where I would be competing for a spot with the veterans.” Begelton said that the process for entering the CFL different from the NFL. “For the CFL process, Americans don’t get drafted — you have to go to local tryouts,” he said. “Each of the nine teams in the CFL holds their own regional combine.” Begelton said CFL contracts are also different from the NFL. “As far as the contracts go, it can be whatever they negotiate with you,” he said. “I ended up signing a two-inone, which is a two-year deal with an option year. After your two years are up, they can either keep you if they want to, if you are doing well enough, or they can release you.” See BEGELTON page 11
HARMONY STEPS DOWN AS WOMEN’S HEAD COACH
UP file photo
LU women’s head coach Robin Harmony has resigned her position after six seasons at Lamar.
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Robin Harmony has resigned her position at Lamar University to be the next head coach at the College of Charleston announced university officials Friday. Harmony's departure comes following six seasons at the helm in Beaumont. "I would like to thank Robin for everything she has done for Lamar University," said LU Director of Athletics Marco Born. "She has elevated our women's program to new heights during her time here. We wish
her all the best as she moves forward in her career. We have already begun the process of searching for our next head coach and will have no further comment on the process until a hire is made." Harmony recorded 115-68 (.685) overall mark with the Cardinals, which includes an 83-25 (.769) record in the Southland Conference. Her overall win total was the second most by a women's coach at LU. During her time in Beaumont, Harmony guided the Cardinals to three Southland Conference regular
season championships and finished either first or second in the league in five of her six seasons. The 2018 SLC Coach of the Year turned the Montagne Center into one of the toughest venues for opponents to play in the state of Texas. The Cardinals posted a 70-13 (.843) record at home, a mark which included a 42-game win streak that came to an end against South Alabama in the opening round of the 2019 WNIT. A national search for the Cardinals' next head coach has begun.
Thursday, April 25, 2019 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
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BEGELTON from page 10 A month after signing with the Stampeders, Begelton was released due to an injury. “It was a partial knee injury,” he said. “Because I was a rookie and got injured during pre-season, they had to release me. I still had made the team and I recovered at home. The injury wasn’t too serious, I just need to recover back home and come back. They then had me back on the team to play.” During his first two years with Calgary, Begelton said he had to get used to the training. “I was a little raw, with basically pure talent, and then I learned the game,” he said. “It was a big jump from that first year to that second year and you can obviously see it. I am just trying to grow every year after that and that is the biggest thing. If you can improve from every year you will become a great football player.” On Sept. 28, 2018, during a game against the Toronto Argonauts, Begelton broke his arm and was out for the season. “I had a spiral fracture on my humorous while I was blocking on special teams,” he said. You commonly see this injury in arm
wrestling, and I was instantly depressed. Professional football players have a small window of opportunity, and every year that you sit out due to injury or simply on the bench, your window gets that much smaller. I believe that God got me through it, though.” The Stampeders beat the Ottawa Redblacks to win the CFL’s 106th Grey Cup in November. “Man, it felt really good,” Begelton said. “It was the first time that I have ever been on a championship winning team. The atmosphere of that team, in particular, I have never been around that either. Everyone was together — I have never felt a team that was together like that before and it was a cool experience.” Begelton said that he is ready for next season as it will be his contract year. His goals are simple — to stay healthy and help the team be consistent. “That has always been my MO,” he said. “Coaches feel that they can always count on a guy that shows up every day, and I want to be that guy. I’m going into this season with a chip on my shoulder and, basically, I am going to give it my all.” The CFL regular season starts
a few months before the NFL, with training camp starting May 19 and the first preseason game on May 26. When Begelton is not playing football or training, he said he enjoys fishing and bowling. “I love fishing, that is my main hobby,” he said. “My grandfather actually got me into fishing and my dad did it a lot, too. I always went fishing with my grandfather and he was a very stern business man. However, because I was his grandson, he was more lenient towards me as opposed to his own children. As I grew up, he knew I loved fishing and it was a great way to keep me out of trouble.” Begelton said that he has advice for anyone wanting to be successful. “One thing I can say is, if you are going to do something, don’t half-ass it,” he said. “Do the things that you can, to the best of your ability, and find the joy in it. Find resources that will help you achieve your goal as much as possible.” Begelton makes it to the other side of the field, he is satisfied with the progress that he has made since his injury and hopes to show it on the field this season.
Comparing CFL to NFL rules
• The CFL season consists of 18 regular-season games and the playoffs. An NFL season consists of 16 games not including the playoffs.
• Three downs instead of four with a 20 second play clock
• There are 12 people on the field instead of 11.
• There are bigger fields that are 110 yards and they are as big as a soccer field width wise. • The endzones are 20 yards versus 10 yards with goalposts in the front.
• Punting for a return you have to give the receiver a 5yard halo.
• You can get one point from kicking the ball out the back of the endzone or the sides of the endzone called a ‘rouge’.
• A rouge can also count if a
receiver knees the ball inside
• Player salaries in the NFL are 10x higher than the CFL
• Players have 40 seconds to snap the ball in NFL versus the 20 seconds in the CFL
• In American football, each team has three timeouts per a half. In Canadian football each team only has one per a half.
• In overtime, a coin is tossed in the NFL and the winning team has a choice to receive or kick off, while in the CFL the winner will have possession of the football.
• NFL regular season begins in September and ends in late December/early January ending with the Super Bowl in February. The CFL season begins in June and ends in early November ending with the Grey Cup played the last Sunday in November.
Ultimate Frisbee placed fourth in intramural season Dallas Rector UP contributor
On Sunday April 14, the Lamar ultimate frisbee team concluded their season placing fourth out of 12 teams at the South Texas D-1 College Men’s tournament in Austin. Originally seated tenth for pool play, Lamar dominated the first three games of the tournament on Saturday. Battling weather delays and mph winds, Lamar came out with three wins against University of Texas San Antonio (9-7), University of Texas El Paso (7-2), and University of Texas B- team (9-3). “UTSA was a strong opponent to compete against on day
one but the high winds and strong defense tipped the scales in our favor,” League City junior, Shalin Patel said. Lamar used the high wind speeds to their advantage and used a high-pressure “cup” defense to starve the other teams of any ability to make deep passes to score and focused more on forcing a large quantity of short throws. This tactic is used to ensure that more throws means more chances forces drops and defensive turnovers. “The wind was close to mph and a frisbee can’t be thrown more than five feet in those conditions without it flying away, but we somehow managed to
come out with a win,” Patel said. What seemed an endless game of offensive turnovers between UTB and Lamar, a constant back and forth battle against the wind made for an almost comedic game to witness. The raging winds caused massive light poles to sway at the UT athletic complex, whisking frisbees away over the fence or simply forcing throws straight into the ground. This normally fast paced back and forth game struggled on slowly for every point. “On Sunday we started out 4 - 1 in our bracket which put us up against some incredibly tough schools that are much bigger than Lamar,” Bridge City
senior and club president, Daniel Oliphint said. Sunday was a very different story compared to Saturday. Fairer weather and an opening “bagelling” win — where the opponent doesn’t score, against the University of Houston (110) gave Lamar hope to move on to regionals, but a much tougher set of matchups proved otherwise. Lamar suffered their first loss to Texas A&M (2-11), a loss to Texas State (3-11), a much-needed win against University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (11-1) and the final bagelling loss of the season against Texas A&M again (0-11). “It was a long day and Lamar fought hard against
these teams, but we came up short and were one spot away from advancing to regionals,” Oliphint said. Lamar’s strong defense and quick offense made incredibly quick work on Saturday and partially Sunday, however Texas A&M and Texas State were two entirely different monsters. The lack of high wind speeds forced Lamar to change defensive tactics, but Texas A&M and Texas State’s superior offenses blew through Lamar’s defenses, leaving Lamar one spot shy of advancing. For more information about the ultimate frisbee team email lamarultimate11@gmail.com.
Page 12
STEM ART
Thursday, April 25, 2019 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
from page 1
“We look for art that would be accessible to everybody,” she said. “We want things that are diverse and done in a lot of different media. We want art made by artists who are exhibiting nationally, are in regional art museums and galleries, and have work in art museums.” The committee had a $500,000 budget to purchase art for the Science and Technology building. “The first artist that we selected for that building was Dixie Friend Gay, who did the mosaic mural,” Steinhagen said. “She was somebody we knew about and somebody we were excited about. Mrs. Evans, Donna Meeks, Dennis Kiel and I went to Houston to tour Dixie’s studio and visit with her. After about four or five hours, we all knew we wanted her in the building. That meeting was back in 2015, so it took that long to do the process.” Steinhagen said it was almost a year after the initial meeting before the crew could work on the project in the building, a concept that took more than two years to complete. “The tiles are all hand made in Montreal, Canada,” she said. “(Friend Gay) sends her concept painting to Montreal and then they match all the colors, blow the concept up into a full-scale model, lay it out in panels on sticky plastic and cut those tiles
into little tiny pieces, put them in shapes, cover them and ship them down to Beaumont in a crate. It took the team almost five days to install.” The mosaic mural, a 25-feet by 12-feet wide replication of a swamp filled with flowers and lily pads, now rests along the wall to the right in the lobby of the STEM building and is one of the first things viewers see when entering the space. Steinhagen said the next piece they bought was by sculptor Steve Murphy. “Mrs. Evans and I had toured Steve Murphy’s studio before and really liked his work,” she said. “He had a show at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas about two years ago and that’s how we connected with him. The piece we ended up buying from him was actually in that show, so it has that Beaumont connection. We picked a piece that was large and heavy but couldn’t easily be toppled over or damaged. It’s called ‘Willful Suspension of Disbelief,’ and is an oxidized piece of steel with a geometric form to it.” The sculpture is located in the north lobby. Next, Steinhagen said they wanted an outdoor piece for which they chose New Orleans artist Lin Emery. “We bought Lin’s piece in New Orleans last May,” she said. “President Evans and Mrs. Evans wanted a kinetic sculpture for a long time, and we needed an artist that was in museum collections — Emery fit that profile. She’s not a Texas artist, but we aren’t limited to Texas artists if we find someone we really love. Her sculpture sits outside the front of the building and moves with the wind. She’s a little selftaught and uses trial and error to find ways to make her sculptures move the way they do. They move naturally and are organic, in the sense that they look like leaves that spin.” Another purchased piece includes a painting of egrets by John Alexander, a Lamar alumni who now lives in New York. Steinhagen said when she and Nancy Evans went to New Orleans for Emery’s piece, they also bought Alexander’s painting. “When we went to New Or-
UP photos by Noah Dawlearn
Kim Steinhagen, co-chair of the Public Art Committee, above, describes the image by Dornith Doherty which is a microscopic image of plant seeds that hangs in the public area of the STEM building on the second floor. The kinetic sculpture by New Orleans artist Lin Emery, bottom left, spins and moves with the wind out in the courtyard. leans, he was having an exhibition in a gallery there during our trip, and we thought it would really make sense to buy a piece after all he’s done for Lamar.” Alexander has donated several pieces to Lamar’s campus and convinced other donors to do the same. “His work fits the theme of the building, because biology is one of the main classes taught there,” Steinhagen said. “We wanted to try and acquire works that fit that environment, and that painting does because it’s about outdoors.” A photographic triptych by Dornith Doherty is displayed on the second-floor open area against the back wall. “(Doherty) is also a really big deal,” Steinhagen said. “She received a Guggenheim fellowship grant for this project, called ‘Archiving Eden.’ For that project she went around the world to different seed banks and photographed these seeds with an electronic microscope. Then she blows those images up into a large-scale format. The three pieces we bought, she’s taken not just the single seed, but she’s collaged these images together, so
they are multiple images on a single sheet. They are put on plexiglass panels and they have dimension on them. As you walk across, they change colors — so that is a really nice effect.” Joan Winter’s ‘Deep Series’ hangs in the first hallway to the left of the swamp mural. “They are images of clouds and it’s all about light — light at different times of the day,” Steinhagen said. “We have them in a different order, but they still reflect first light, morning, noon and night. Although they are all in blue tones, they are all made with a single copper plate and it’s the ink color that is changed. The inks are all hand mixed, so the colors come out a little differently each time.” Steinhagen said she hopes the various types of art in the building will inspire innovation in the students who will be taking classes and walking the halls where these photos, mosaics, sculptures and paintings hang, sit or stand. “I hope it sparks creativity,” she said. “It makes you appreciate your surroundings that you’re looking at something that has been created. The whole point of
that building is that it’s a ‘makers space,’ where students will have projects and problems they will have to solve. They are going to have to be creative in there, and with science you have to be able to step out of the box. “For me, art gives you that different venue and a different way of looking at things. Whether it’s abstract or realistic, it’s a creative way of looking at life. We need creativity in everything we do. I hope the art will put the students in a beautiful setting and help them to be creative in what they are doing.” Members of the Public Art Committee include Steinhagen who is co-chair with photography professor Carter, art department chair Donna Meeks, Dishman art director Dennis Kiel, and Katherine Fouts who is a community member. Steinhagen said students should be careful and vigilant around the art pieces, as they are all originals that cannot be replicated and cost the university a lot of time, money and effort. For more information contact Kim Steinhagen at 656-5675 or email ksteinhagen@lamar.edu.