University Press 09.15.16

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Newspaper of Lamar University

Vol. 93, No. 2 September 15, 2016

SGA hosts forum on SSC McNeil announces renovation timetable Trevier Gonzalez UP Multimedia Editor

After a period of uncertainty concerning the date of the Setzer Student Center’s closure, as well as other questions, students listened intently Tuesday in the Landes Auditorium to an address made by Vicki McNeil, vice president for student engagement, during the Student Government Association’s first open joint session for the semester.

“We talked about renovating Setzer long before I came

to Lamar,” McNeil said.

“What’s exciting about it is that we will start that renovation this semester.”

McNeil said not everyone will be able to see these changes.

“What I can say about this is, some of you will not get to use it because you’re students now,” she said. “Our anticipated opening of this facility will be January of 2018. We are looking to really shut down Setzer and begin this renovation project in late-October.”

The SSC will remain closed until its completion date and

McNeil said there are several new additions that will be included.

“Students have said to us that they’d like more places to meet, so with this new building, we will have 18 different meeting rooms of different sizes that you can hold your meetings and your programs,” she said. “Student Government will have new offices.

“Also, joining the second floor will be a student organization space. We will have several computers up in order to See SGA page 2

UP photo by Trevier Gonzalez

Vicki McNeil, vice president for student engagement, addresses student concerns about the Setzer Student Center renovation in Landes Auditorium, Tuesday, during an SGA session.

Deaf, LUPD, work for effective safety strategies Trevier Gonzalez UP Multimedia Editor

On Aug. 18, Daniel Harris, a 29-year-old deaf man, was shot and killed by police after exiting his car following a seven-mile, high-speed chase in North Carolina.

LU senior Tanasha Slack said the incident resonated with Lamar’s Deaf community.

“Getting pulled over by police can be a scary situation,” she said.

While there is no evidence police knew Harris was deaf, Slack said that any encounter with authorities for the deaf can be complicated by communication issues.

Although she agrees Harris should not have exited his vehicle, Slack said what happened afterwards points to larger questions.

“How do we protect ourselves to make sure that we avoid a situation like that?” she said. “We hold that on the inside, and it touches us — forever. “(The police) should not be in a, ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ mindset if they’re the people with the power. I actually got chills just thinking about it.”

LUPD’s public information officer, Cpl. Jarrod Samford, said every police academy he’s aware of offers a cultural diversity class in which situations like this would be addressed.

“It’s basically the same thing whenever you’re trying to communicate with someone (who speaks) a foreign language that you’re trying to understand,” he said. “It’s the same thing with (American Sign Language).”

Samford said LUPD utilizes the speech and hearing department to help communicate with members of the Deaf community.

See DEAF page 2

‘Climbing Mount Fumi’ Japan study abroad program broadens horizons Tim Collins UP Managing Editor

If there’s one universal truth, it’s that kids do not like to go to bed.

Aric Lange, adjunct instructor of English

at Lamar University, discovered this during a two-week study abroad trip in Japan over the summer, during which LU students tried sushi, wore the traditional Japanese yukata, attended the Hiroshima memorial and ate fish-shaped taiyaki pastries at the

Gion Matsuri festival in Kyoto.

Throughout all of this, Lange said, what kept him grounded was the father of his host family, Fumi, a professor at Yasuda Women’s University. Fumi would make time each night to play with his kids, not only to bond with them, but to also to tire them before bed.

“I nicknamed him ‘Mount Fumi’ because they would try to climb over him, or he would throw them into the air a little bit, and then by the time he exhausted them, he would be really exhausted himself,” Lange said. “One time, he fell asleep right there on the living room floor after they went to go take a shower.”

Lange said the study abroad program worked hard to pair him with a host family that shared his interests — in this case, Fumi and his wife Yuko, also loved tennis.

“I filled out a form of what my interests were, and they sent something back saying that they were both into tennis,” Lange said.

“I could tell Fumi definitely was. Every night I would catch him practicing his swing in the very cramped living room. I know Yuko probably did like it as well, but I think he

Mannequins dressed in traditional Japanese garb, top, are on display at the Edo Museum in Tokyo. Aric Lange, above, poses with Yuki and Shunnosuke Kira, during his study abroad trip to Japan. Courtesy photos.

See JAPAN page 6

Writers, artists shine at Comic Con Mary Hooker UP Contributor

UP Photo by Trevier Gonzalez

A costumed attendee of Houston’s Comic Con wears a jacket bearing the Joker’s face.

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

Geek culture is becoming increasingly popular, as is evident in the widespread success of conventions aimed at movie, science fiction and comic book fans. Actors often headline these conventions to attract thousands of people.

At Houston’s most recent Comic Con, held Friday through Sunday at the George R. Brown Center, it was the writers and artists that pulled in adoring fans.

“I had to make this one,” attendee Laura Lawrence

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

said, wearing a Supergirl mask and tutu. “I actually live out in the Beaumont area, and I just started trying to come to these. I was pretty upset about Comicpalooza because I didn’t get to go, but, oh yeah, it’s going to be a regular thing. I want to get all the autographs, for sure.”

Though this weekend’s convention was much smaller than Comicpalooza, held June 17-19 at the GRBC, the experience was more intimate for fans like Laura and her Joker-clad partner Caleb.

It was a chance to have a more personal interaction

with the talented people behind the comics, versus waiting possibly hours for an expensive exchange with an A-list actor.

“The characters, and all of these costumes all put together — to meet everybody and look at everything — if you’re a great geek or nerd, this is the place to be,” she said.

Chad Hardin, an artist for DC Comics who is most known for his illustrations of Harley Quinn, said the time away from home is exhaustSee COMIC page 5

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INSIDE

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Thursday, September 15, 2016 University Press Page 2

SGA

NOTICE

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.

“Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose — a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.”

— Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

from page 1

help you do marketing for your programs, for your events.”

McNeil said there will also be a new ballroom.

“We are doing some new construction to the side of Setzer that faces the Quad,” she said. “In that, there’ll be a new — some type of food experience — but it will also be a brand-new ballroom.

Where the current ballroom is will be the new food court, and in that location, what we’re looking at is offering three different branded concepts.”

McNeil said Lamar is investing in a university-wide signage program, which will start in the SSC. “We also are going to have some brand-new electronic signage in the building,” she said. “We will still have some bulletin boards, but we’re really trying to get you all to market your programs, your activities electronically.”

Having considered the lack of cover past the outskirts of the Set, McNeil said part of the renovations are also going to affect the Quad.

“They redesigned it so that there’s more seating out there,” she said.

DEAF

“There’s some more open play-space.

The oaks are remaining, we’ll still have those trees that provide that nice look about the Quad.”

McNeil said the senior parking lot entrance will be changed.

“There will be a new ceiling or entryway designed and put in place on that side, so it will be a new look on both sides, both the Quad side and the senior parking side,” she said.

McNeil said the Quad will also be closed to accommodate construction.

“We need to do some very desperately needed pipe renovation in the Quad,” she said. “Before we even start any type of new landscaping, because we’re upgrading all the HVAC systems — the electrical, the plumbing in Setzer — and so that has to do with the pipes that are underneath.”

However, McNeil said areas will gradually open up.

“Some point, when we get the Quad done, we’re going to reopen parts of it, so you get to use it — at least walk through it, so that you can get to classes, but initially, the Quad will be kept

closed,” she said.

Although McNeil did not provide an exact date for construction to begin, she said it will be near the end of October.

“That’s why you have seen things like sofas and chairs disappear,” she said.

“We moved a lot of that furniture over to Cardinal Village, so that students could use that. We’re trying now to move everything else out of the building so that we get the building completely cleaned out in order for the contractor to take over.”

For the time-being, McNeil said, Setzer Student Center staff, SGA, advisement, student engagement and orientation, and Greek life will be relocated to the Wimberly Building.

“So, for a while, it will be a little uncomfortable to be able to have to walk all around the Quad and get to your classes or get to different spaces on campus,” she said. “We are extremely sorry about that, but we don’t know any other way to do that in order to provide the infrastructure necessary for the Setzer Center.”

For more information, call 880-8458.

mentary signs, things that could pertain to what they would do if they were talking to me, like, ‘Are you OK?’ or just document some basic things that they could do,” she said. “If they don’t know sign, we can actually maybe try to text them on the phone or in some other methodology, we maybe can write, I mean I know some of them have notepads on them, so we can try to communicate that way, but yeah, it’s not a simple solution.”

Slack, who communicates both vocally and with ASL, said she understands culture from both sides of the spectrum.

“I think that mutual understanding and collaboration needs to come into play,” she said. “Deaf people do a lot of gestures. Like for myself, I do a lot of gestures and I have a lot of Black ASL in my signs so sometimes people go, ‘You have an attitude,’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not having an attitude, it’s my everyday speech, it’s my way of talking.’”

Though there is always room for im-

provement, Slack said that at Lamar, the relationship between the police and the Deaf community is great.

“But maybe ‘here’ is not happening everywhere else,” she said. “That’s the thing, we want to make a difference. All of us.”

Samford said that, at the end of the day, LUPD has a good working relationship with the community “We want people to feel safe here, and I think overall, the majority of students do feel safe here on campus,” he said. “The same (goes for) the hearing-impaired community — they can come to us at any time, and we’re going to do everything we can to help.

“There may be incidences where we have communication problems, but you know, we’ll just have to work to get over that.”

A phone number, 241-8002, is available to the Deaf community for those who are unable to call 911. The number texts directly to LUPD dispatch.

from page 1

However, officers try to be flexible in any situation.

“There were some events that actually happened that we actually relied on some of the staff to help us communicate with a student,” he said. “We really don’t have many problems with our hearing impaired community that we have to communicate on that level. As far as regular speaking, we try to go face-to-face —they should be able to read our lips because we enunciate well, and we try not to turn our heads while we’re talking to them, so we are in tune to things.

“It’s always a possibility that we’re not going to have a resource. We’ll just have to figure out some way to adapt to that situation, just like we have to do in every situation. Not everything is just cut-and-dry and easy to fix.”

Vanessa Perry-Tease, who is also a member of LU’s Deaf community, said it would it would be beneficial for police to learn basic ASL signs.

“You know, just learn some rudi-

September 16

French Film Fridays

103 Communication Building 2 p.m.

September 19

Constitution Day Conference

LIT Multipurpose Building 7-8 p.m.

September 21

Office of Undergraduate

Research Panel Discussion

6th Floor

Gray Library 3-4 p.m.

ExxonMobil Executive in

Residence: Helen Sharkey

Landes Auditorium 12:30-1:30 p.m.

September 22

Undergraduate Research Guest Faculty Talk

Landes Auditorium 3-4 p.m.

Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Concert

Landes Auditorium 7:30 -9 p.m.

September 29

LU Theater presents “Silent Sky”

LU Studio Theater 7:30 -9 p.m.

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OPINION

3 UNIVERSITY PRESS September 15, 2016

Children of loss never fully move on Fifteen years ago saw a catastrophic attack on American soil. More than 3,000 fatalities were the result of Al Qaida terrorism — more than 3,000 parents, sons and sisters. That Tuesday was the day when simply leaving for work and errands turned into leaving forever. These people were never coming back home, but life for everyone else moved on, right?

Perhaps, but perhaps not.

According to dosomething. org, the remains of the Twin Tower attack were in place for the next nine months until it had all been cleaned up, and 1.8 million tons of wreckage was fi-

Commentary

Danielle Sonnier UP staff writer

nally hauled off. That’s 3.6 billion pounds of steel, sheetrock and office rubble. That all got cleared up in less than a year.

What didn’t get cleared up is the pain, anguish and anger felt by the survivors of those coworkers and loved ones.

Other kids across America still had Mom to cook dinner that Tuesday night. Other brothers still met up for poker that evening. Other dads and husbands across the nation were still there Wednesday morning to go out and continue to provide for the family.

But I know, for the children of parents killed, their lives would never be the same.

My time of despair came four years later. A heart attack took my dad’s life in 2005. I was 10-years old. Though a heart attack and a terrorist attack are not the same, the emotional trauma and life-changing experienced by losing a parent is comparable.

For those who survive the death of a parent, the thoughts and

feelings still weigh heavier than that 1.8 million tons of wreckage 10 and 15 years later.

Why? Because losing a loved one sucks.

There will never be any more milestones to share. In my case, there was no dad to ask for relationship or parenting advice.

No dad to teach me about cars or carpentry. No dad to take pictures with on graduation day. No daddy-daughter dance at my wedding — and I will never see him hold my children.

For survivors, there is nothing to take their places but disbelief and despair. Nothing but, “Why me?”

Eventually, fatalities are accepted, but the thoughts and

feelings will never be resolved.

Put yourself in their shoes — in my shoes — in the shoes of those whose last memories with their loved ones were made that September Monday night.

There are so many things I would have done differently with my dad, but I thought I had more time. We all think we have more time.

Put yourself in the place of the survivors when you reflect on 9/11. Take the situation and learn from it. Apply it to your own life.

What would you do if you knew you were seeing someone for the last time? Whatever you would do, do it now.

I would take more pictures. I would have spent Father’s Day with him instead of going to a friend’s house after lunch. I would have ridden on the lawn mower with him way more.

I would have “cut and styled” his hair with my plastic scissors and barrettes every night he was home. I would have never asked to be put

down from his shoulders when we were at sporting events and carnivals. I would have smiled bigger and laughed harder when he sang to me in the truck. I would have thrown more cigarette cartons into the water behind our house. It’s a little too late for all that.

If I had done these things, maybe I would not be jealous every time I see a young girl laughing with her father. Maybe I would not covet hugging my mom and dad at the same time just once more.

If I could bring him back, I would soak up every bit of advice and information he gave me. I would call home every single day. I would do everything I could to make him proud. All the “what-if” questions would be a reality, and all the regrets would be gone, but that is just a dream.

When I think of situations like 9/11, I think of the children who lost their parents. I hope they were able to spend quality time with the people who meant the most to them. But I am sure, like me, there will always be a hole — not just at ground zero, but in their hearts.

UP photo illustration

by Haley Bruyn

UPeditorial Student resources at fingertips

With the fall semester comes the turning of the leaves, pumpkin patches and hayrides, and a lot of new faces on the Lamar University campus.

The semester will be over before we know it, so the time shouldn’t be wasted procrastinating and putting assignments off until the last minute. This can sometimes be a daunting task.

Students new to Lamar may not be aware of the various facilities they can take advantage of on campus. Students could go their entire academic careers without ever stepping foot in the computer lab, for instance.

We should change that.

There are many resources on campus students can use, such as the Gray Library, the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Center and the Setzer Student Center.

Perhaps a student needs a biography on Mark Twain or an article from a 1914 issue of Vanity Fair.

The entire Gray Library is at students’ disposal.

Maybe a student needs help with outlining a writing assignment or a lab report, or even just brushing up a resume. In that case, the Writing Center has writing consultants available, and there are comparable services all over campus.

We as students need to take advantage of these tools while we can. After all, we’re paying for them with our tuition. The gym offers weight training equipment, two tracks, racquetball courts and competitive Pokémon Go — so there’s something for everyone.

Like the semester itself, we should not let these resources go to waste. So, let’s get out there and use every bit of this campus we can.

Editor....................................................Haley Bruyn Managing Editor..................................Tim Collins Multimedia Editor......................Trevier Gonzalez Staff ..................Danielle Sonnier, Jackie Benavides ........................Caylin Poulter, Kyle Swearingen, ....................Stephanie DeMeyer, Mary Hooker, ...............................Jackie Hoskins, Cade Smith, .....................Andre Woodard, Elisabeth Tatum, ...................................Matt Beadle, Arun Kumar Advertising Assistant ..................Mario Carmona Advisors Andy Coughlan and Stephan Malick Member of Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Time to exercise voting rights We, young voters, have the right granted from the Constitution of the United States to register, participate and, most importantly, vote in the upcoming general election for the next President of the United States, or for any election of public officials that best represents our interests.

In an article in U.S. News & World Report, Alan Solomont of Tufts University writes, “Young people have the power to shape elections. They represent a major potential political force.”

Voting is the greatest right we have. So why do so many young voters not exercise it?

The state of Texas is a relevant example of many young voters not turning out at the ballot box.

Texas had one of the lowest voter turnouts in the 2016 primary elections, with only 21.5 percent of voters 18 to 29 years of age casting

Commentary

Jackie Hoskins UP contributor

Letters Policy

their ballots. In the 2012 Presidential election, only 43.73 percent of the demographic voted in Texas, according to www.sos.gov.

There are many reasons why young voters are not turning out to the polls.

It’s common knowledge that many young voters are preoccupied with other things. Life can be overwhelming for students who are trying to find a balance between maintaining good grades, good attendance and working long hours on a job to pay for school.

With these schedules, it is hard to keep up with current events.

In the age of Internet-enabled mobile technology, like smartphones with social media apps, we have easy access to information about current events and politics.

It takes time to fact check what politicians say in debates, press conferences and in town hall meetings, but it is important to take that time.

Many young people feel that they have a big disadvantage in politics because it costs money to get politicians to take action on our needs and wants. Aaron Blake, writing in the Washington Post, states, “American politics is dominated by the wealthy, the old and the educated — because they’re the ones playing the game.” The elite has the upper hand because they

Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 200 Setzer Student Center. The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel.

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

will spend huge amounts of money on political campaigns to elect into public offices politicians who will support the elite class’ special interest over our needs as young people.

Many young voters are not registered to vote and do not registered in time — Oct. 11 in Texas.

However, it takes little time to register online at www.votetexas. gov. Postage-paid applications may be submitted by mail to the Voter Registrar, or people can register in-person at post offices, libraries and the offices of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Health & Human Services Commission.

Many young voters express their dissatisfaction with the electoral process. Hanan Esaili, in the Huffington Post, writes, “Many collegiates think that their vote doesn’t count and politics isn’t relevant in their lives.” But how can we change the systems if we do not take part in the process? Maybe young people feel there are no candidates currently that speak to their issues. But without the fear of being voted out, what incentive is there for politicians to listen to our wants and needs?

Voting is our most important right. But without exercising that right, we will never be able to affect meaningful change.

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 2016

Page 4

Thursday, September 15, 2016 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

Tattoo convention draws artists, canvases Jackie Benavides UP Contributor

“In tattooing, you’ve got to be an artist. There’s that love, you know what I mean, like that love for putting something permanent on somebody.”

So said artist “Chicago” as he added another tattoo to a loyal customer, on one of the few areas not already inked.

Chicago was one of 120 artists from 29 states who gathered for the Ink Masters Tattoo Expo, Friday through Sunday, at the MCM Eleganté in Beaumont.

Ray Hernandez, event coordinator, said the expo features some of the best tattooists in the industry.

“So many people submit their portfolios, and then some of them we deny because they are not ready for the show,” he said.

“I try to pick certain bests from certain areas. I can only invite so many local shops. Why would you want to invite all the local shops when you can go to those shops?”

There are different genres of tattoo art — including American traditional, color fusion, regular traditional, bio-mechanic, organic mechanic, black and gray realism, and color realism — and each artist has a specialty.

Portfolios of work are proudly displayed in each booth.

“I like to do anything black and gray,” Chicago, who is based in El Paso, said. “I like to do a lot of faces because not too many

people can mess with faces, so I take pride in mastering portraits.”

Stixx said his strength is American traditional.

“The possibilities are endless, there are so many different styles you could do,” he said.

Elvis Ramos’ work showcases female faces, flowers and Dia de Los Muertos designs. He was working on a “Beauty and the Beast” piece on Brittany from Lake Charles, La. “I have been wanting this tattoo for about four years now,” she said. “The tattoo artist who did all eight of my other tattoos passed away three years ago, so that is why I have waited so long.

I have been doing my research and found Elvis. Luckily he was coming here. I sent him the image and he sized it and did all the line work for it.”

Located on her right thigh, this is Brittany’s biggest tattoo.

The artwork features “Beast” enveloping a woman in his cloak.

“The piece really spoke to me and my husband on a relationship level,” she said. “The cloak represents him protecting me.”

A recurring theme among the tattoo artists in attendance is that they were introduced to the trade by friends or family.

“A friend of mine in the neighborhood I grew up in actually made a little homemade tattoo machine,” Chicago said. “I swear to you, we were 12-years old and he was like, ‘Tattoo me’ and he was like, ‘Just follow the

UP photos by Matt Beadle

Tattoo artist Chicago, above, gives a customer a new tattoo during the Ink Master Tattoo Expo, Sept. 9, at the MCM Eleganté in Beaumont. Elvis Ramos, below, works on a “Beauty and the Beast” tattoo. lines, Bro.’ “I didn’t pick it up again until I was like 25. I have been poking people for 10 years with four of those being professionally in a studio.”

Robert, a California artist, said he specializes in lettering, realism, and black and gray.

“I’ve been tattooing since 2001,” he said. “I had always liked drawing and I had friends and family that were tattooing.

My medium is human skin, I like to concentrate more on the tattooing.”

Markavius Mayea, an artist from Bridge City, has been tattooing for 19 years.

“I am known for portraits and realism,” he said. “I used to do graffiti work and other artwork, and one day I was asked to apprentice, so I did it.”

Hernandez said the Ink Masters Tattoo Show can be a great opportunity for artists from all over the world to network.

Richie Castro traveled from Puerto Rico for the event. He uses a tablet to design his tattoos.

“I do all the lines and every-

thing for the sketch, and then I print the sketch and put it on the skin,” he said. “I have been using this method for two years and find that it is much better because it makes it easier.”

Peng is originally from China and now has a studio in Houston.

“I prefer Asian style like Chinese painting because it is my culture,” he said. “I have been tattooing about 16 years and I go to a lot of tattoo conventions all around the world. I favor the beautiful things.”

Ten years ago, he wrote his first book about tattoos, and he now has 10 books to his name.

Peng himself has no tattoos, but compares the sensation to something relaxing, not painful.

“You would enjoy the pain,” he said. “This kind of pain is just like a massage. If somebody does your muscle, you feel a little bit of pain, but after you feel good. Relaxed.”

Self-described “Tattoo Whore” Mike doesn’t necessarily agree with Peng.

“You know what hurts the most? — on the skin,” he said,

laughing. “Typically, it’s more intense anywhere you have less flesh.”

Mike goes by the convention stage name “G-Man.” He has tattoos all over his body in every place that can be covered by a watch, shoes or clothing, and he travels the country showing off his ink at various events.

“I have a very strong need to be tattooed,” he said. “The longest I have ever sat for one session was 14-and-a-half hours.

I haven’t kept track of how much money I have spent on my tattoos. It would be like somebody knowing exactly how much they have spent on toilet paper.”

There is an unmistakable passion for the art — not only for the person being tattooed but also the artists themselves.

Whether the tattoo machine was in Chicago’s hands or on Brittany’s thigh, the artwork being created at this weekend’s tattoo expo was not only permanent but also meaningful.

For more information, go to www.inkmasterstattooexpo.com.

For more photos, visit www.lamaruniversitypress.com.

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COMIC

Page 5

from page 1

ing, but worth it.

“It’s a chance to connect with the fans a little more,” Hardin said, although he has plenty of work keeping him busy back home. “I’m working on Harley #8, and I’m also teaching illustration at The University of Utah.”

British-born American comic book writer Chris Claremont, whose efforts on works like “Uncanny X-Men” date back to the 1970s, took his time engaging with each fan.

“I meet a lot of cool people,” he said. “Every convention you get a chance to meet new artists and colleagues — and it’s always fun to be told you’re brilliant.”

Claremont writes more than just comic books, and has several projects he’s currently working on.

“Mostly these days I’m working on prose, screenplays, that sort of thing,” he said. “It’s an evolving passion. I’m still contractually obligated to Marvel, but it’s at their discretion. We’ll see what happens next.”

Claremont is considered a legend in the industry, but he said he is certainly “not done yet.”

Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, said being present for this event is all about making dreams come true.

“When I was growing up I wanted to be Jack Kirby, of the Marvel universe,” he said. “I remember telling my parents, ‘I’m going to be a cartoonist when I grow up,’ and they had this mortified look like, ‘Oh my god, he’s never going to move out of the basement.’ I remember later telling that to Jack Kirby. It was a dream, to do that. So I’m here to thank my fans for making my dream come true.”

Eastman said he owes his profession to the people who come to these conventions.

“You know, to me, it’s all about the fans, because I always say that I would not have the coolest job on the planet if I didn’t have fans who supported all the stuff that I do. I mean it, sincerely,” he said.

Among the sea of booths offering autographs from comic

contributors, selling memorabilia and even teaching cosplay, were several budding artists eager to show their work and dedication to the craft.

“I’m doing about 30 (conventions) a year right now,” Shelby Robertson, an up-and-coming artist from Arizona, said. “It’s hit and miss. Some are better than others. (Comic Con) is always a pretty decent one for me, so I’ve been here all three years.”

Robertson works on commissioned art for those who request it, but attends the conventions to advertise his passion for the comic book industry.

“I’m a 20-plus year published artist and writer — primarily art,” he said. “I’ve been doing colors and stuff for people recently as well, but what I do is multifaceted comic creating.”

With both aspiring and seasoned talent, Comic Con brought a surprising array of artistry to the Bayou City.

From stormtroopers to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and everything character in between, Houston’s Comic Con was ful of sights to satusfy even the most hardcore comic book nerd.

2016 20 2016 06

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UP photos by Mary Hooker and Trevier Gonzalez

Page 6

JAPAN

Thursday, September 15, 2016 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

from page 1

was the more enthusiastic about it.”

Lange was especially fond of Shunnosuke, Fumi’s one-year-old son, who Fumi nicknamed ‘The Gorilla’ because of his destructive tendencies.

“This kid would just wreck things left and right,” he said. “He would intentionally look at you, and then wreck it, and scream out loud — basically like Godzilla.”

Although Lange initially would have preferred to rush around in a mad dash to see all that Hiroshima had to offer, the daily routine of the Kira family grounded him in ways that, as a stranger in a strange land, he said he needed.

“I thought we should be pushing our boundaries, but I was really appreciative of the stability, especially for that first week,” he said. “I was exhausted, I was homesick and a little jet lag had been kicking in.

I think I really loved that family because you got a sense of the home life of the Japanese.”

The closeness of the family surprised him, Lange said, as Americans tend to see the Japanese as standoffish.

“Nowadays, we see everybody working their butts off, and home life has been kind of sacrificed,” he said. “That’s how it was for me in Southeast Texas. You might watch some TV together, maybe have a talk over dinner, and I think that’s gone by the wayside. I think watching other families — watching my own family — it was slowly being eroded. But here it was in your face. TV was not that big of a thing. It was a lot of conversation. A lot of playing with each other, especially the kids. Japan has a huge communal spirit and mentality.”

Aside from bonding with his host family, Lange found the Edo Museum in Tokyo most interesting. The museum was holding a special exhibit on the Japanese ghost or demon — the “yōkai.”

The yōkai began as trickster spirits, a way to explain phenomena that, during the Edo period, could only be attributed to the supernatural, Lange said, such as why chipping a plate could be unlucky, or why a river may be difficult to find. Over the years, however, the place for yōkai in Japanese society changed.

“As you progressed through the exhibit, you saw the original environmental and cultural yōkai transitioning into more useful purposes, such as boogeymen, saying, ‘OK, be careful!’” Lange said. “There’s a particular yōkai that likes to lick filth, so clean your toilets, or you’ll get scared late at night when you walk in there. And then, of course, the exhibit wraps up with anime, because there’s ‘Yokai Watch.’”

The study abroad trip was a joint effort between Lamar University’s Amy Smith, assistant professor of English, and Yasuko Sato, of Yasuda Women’s University in Hiroshima. Smith said that she plans to return to Yasuda next year for a longer trip, and that study abroad programs such as this one are a good way for students to broaden their horizons.

“Reading about something is different from experiencing it, from talking to people and from seeing things, and that’s why I think President (Kenneth) Evans is so much in favor of study abroad, why he’s advocating it so much,” Smith said. “I think (the program) can give students the opportunity to think about things that they never have been exposed to before, and to think about our place in the world.”

Lange said one of the most powerful moments of the trip was when he and the other students visited the Peace Park Memorial and the Atomic Bombing Dome in Hiroshima.

“We visited the Children’s Peace Monument, where thou-

sands upon thousands of paper origami cranes honor Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who survived the bombing only to succumb later on because of her exposure to radiation,” he said.

“Sadako’s story is equally saddening and inspiring because she followed the traditional belief that making one thousand cranes would grant a wish.

Sadako wished for an end to nuclear weapons.”

After visiting the memorial, the students went home and talked to their host families about their experience, Smith said.

“The question that a lot of the students asked was, ‘How could you forgive us for that? We couldn’t forgive you if you did that,’” she said. “There are different cultural attitudes about forgiveness and vengeance and anger. What you think of as natural reactions or inevitable perspectives are culturally bound.

They’re not universal. There are different ways of relating to things that happen to you in life, and I think that being able to have conversations about that issue in particular, which is so sensitive and painful, I think it opens you to think about other people’s experiences.”

Smith said she hopes the students who attended Japan study abroad take it as an opportunity for independence.

“Having to navigate public transportation in a language you don’t understand — ‘My luggage broke,’ or, ‘I got sick’ — it forces you into adulthood,” she said.

“When you’re (home) and your parents are so easily accessible to take care of you, it can be hard to develop that independence, that confidence that you’re capable, that the world is not a frightening place. (Abroad) you can go out and try new things. I think that’s wonderful.”

Though he bonded with his host family and got to see many different exciting exhibitions and taste exotic foods, one thing

Amy Smith, associate professor of English, and Richard Saucedo, instructor of philosophy, wear traditional Japanese clothing.

Courtesy photo by Aric Lange that Lange said he missed during his stay in Japan was public seating.

“We would sit in front of a store and, oh wow, they’d get mad at us,” he said. “There was a police officer that came by while we were sitting on the steps. This was like a wide-ranging set of steps that wrapped around, so you’d think there was no way to cover all those steps or you’d get a bottleneck at the top. It was more for looks than to serve a real purpose. We were so tired.

Just lazy Americans, I guess.”

Lange said the hardest part of the trip was saying goodbye.

“I cherished every second of playtime before dinner, the car rides to the university and especially the late night talks with Fumi and Yuko,” he said. “I only

7 Coas stal Carolina University

Christian

C ntact Co t t Us lu

regret not having more time to say goodbye to everyone that last day. I waved goodbye all of three seconds as I ran with Fumi to catch a train to meet the Lamar group on time. I became uncharacteristically emotional and quiet with Fumi when we had to part ways.”

Lange said that the trip was the adventure of a lifetime, and that visiting Japan, was something he’d wanted to do for 32 years.

“While there were hardships before and during the trip, I gained more than I imagined and can express,” he said. “I made many new friends not only from Yasuda, but also from Lamar, and my connection to the Kira family is a treasure I will always keep.”

7

SPORTS

UNIVERSITY PRESS September 15, 2016

UP photos by Halle Jackson

LU punter Juan Carranco kicks the ball in the second half of the Cardinals' 42-0 loss to the University of Houston Cougars, Saturday, in TDECU Stadium. The crowd is sparse after returning from a 3 hour 36 minute lightning delay.

Cards mauled by Cougars 42-0 Cassandra Jenkins UP contributor

A lightning delay stretched the Lamar’s game against the University of Houston to more than six hours, Saturday, but that was as exciting as things would get for the Cards, as they fell 42-0 at TDECU Stadium.

Following Houston’s 33-23 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma, Sept. 3, the newly ranked No. 6 team shut down the Cardinals’ offense, holding vaunted running back Kade Harrington and the rest of the team to only 15 yards total rushing.

“That was discouraging, obviously,” head coach Ray Woodard said. “I thought defensively we did a number of things we could build on and point to. We didn’t do hardly anything right offensively. I thought, by this time, we would have been a better offensive team.”

Houston was without its starting quarterback, Greg Ward Jr., who was out with a shoulder injury, and junior Kyle Postma filled in. Three minutes into the ball game, Postma took a rush option keeper for 39 yards for Houston’s first touchdown. A completed field goal by junior

kicker Ty Cummings brought the opening score to 7-0.

The Cardinals attempt to advance into Cougar territory was quickly denied by Houston’s defensive line. LU senior quarterback, Carson Earp, was sacked for a loss of six yards, and senior running back, Kade Harrington, was only able to gain six rushing yards.

After a 30-yard punt by junior Juan Carranco, the Cougars came close to another touchdown. A few incomplete and overthrown passes by Postma, a 31-yard missed field goal by Cummings, and well placed defensive tackles

by Lamar’s front line stopped the Cougars from adding to the score.

The game was halted with 3:13 left in the first quarter for a lightening delay which lasted three hours and 36 minutes. The restart was pushed back several times, and when the game finally restarted, at 3:12 p.m., it seemed like half the crowd had left.

In the rest of the quarter, the Cougars scored another touchdown and PAT to lead 14-0.

The Cardinals finished the quarter with only one first down and 10 rushing attempts for 17 yards. The Cougars ended the quarter with four first downs and

17 rushing attempts for 149 yards.

The Cardinals started the second half with four rushes by Harrington and a pass to sophomore wide receiver DeWan Thompson, but would gain only 25 yards before being forced to punt.

After several rushes by freshman running back Mulbah Car and complete passes to Postma’s wide receivers, the Cougars progressed into the end zone for an- UH QB Kyle Postma steps back to throw during the first half of Saturday’s game. The other touchdown with 7:33 on crowd thinned out after lightning delayed the game more than three hours. the clock. A 47-yard on-side kick

by Cummings was fumbled by pass to sophomore wide receiver football team — its turning out the Cardinals and recovered by Trenton Swinton, who took off the other way,” he said. “We have UH junior safety Khalil Williams running before being blind-sided a few issues we got to get straight on the LU 18-yard line. Houston by junior defensive back Dillon on offense. Were just not getting turned the fumble into another Birden and stripped of the ball. enough productivity from the rushing touchdown to lead 28-0 UH running back Josh Burrell quarterback position.” scored the final touchdown for Harrington said he has put the at the half. game is behind him, and is now Unfortunately for the Cardi- the Cougars.

Overall, Lamar was held to focused on the first conference nals, the Cougars did not let up after halftime. Freshman running only 15 rushing yards, four first game of the season against Sam back Kevrin Justice ran for 19 downs and no touchdowns or Houston at home, Saturday.

“We’ll approach it as if we’re yards in four plays, before field goals. The Cardinals did not Postma took the ball the remain- have possession in Houston’s half playing the best team on our schedule,” he said. “Especially ing five yards for the touchdown. during the entire game.

Lamar finished pre-Southland with Sam Houston coming into Harrington and junior Andrew our back yard. It’s a big game.

Allen, who replaced Earp at QB, Conference at 0-2.

Woodard said his goal is to get We’re just looking forward to made an effort to gain yardage down the field but were stopped the offense and defense working playing a really good football team.” by the Cougar defense. The third together for future games.

“I thought going into this seaThe game against Sam Housperiod ended 35-0..

Lamar took a shot at their first son, if our defense could catch up ton will kick off at 7 p.m. in touchdown when Allen threw a with our offense we’d be a good Provost Umphrey Stadium.

UPsports briefs FOOTBALL Lamar University senior running back Kade Harrington was named ASN National Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in week one versus No. 16 Coastal Carolina.

The reigning ASN National Player of the Year, Harrington appeared to be in midseason form picking up right where he leftofflastseasonpostingtheseventh 200-yard rushing effort of his career. Harrington carried the ball 28 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns as Big Red stormed out to a 14-3 lead over a Chanticleer squad that is in its

Kade Harrington

first season of the transition to NCAA FBS status. Harrington is LU’s all-time leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards, he moved into fifth all-time among Southland Conference rushing leaders. Harrington entered the week needing only 81 rushing yardstobecomejustthefifthback inleaguehistorytorushfor4,000 inacareer.LUwillfaceSouthland rivalSamHoustonStateUniversitySaturday,at7p.m.,inProvost UmphreyStadium. _______

CROSS COUNTRY Two Cardinals from women’s team finished in the top five, but it was the men that took a fourth place finish at the Justin Cooper Rice Invitational in the second meet of the season for the Lamar University cross country teams on Friday. Senior Jannika John and junior Evelyn Chavez finished third and fourth, respectively.

They led the Cardinal women to a fifth place finish with 123 points. The Men finished with 112 points with senior Sean Chalmers leading the team in 14th, 12th scored, on a time of 19:32.48. He finished with a pack of league runners from

McNeese, SFA, Incarnate Word and Corpus. Lamar will take a week off before traveling back to Texas A&M to compete in their second meet at the Dale Watts Course in College Station. _______

SOCCER The injury-depleted Lamar University women’s soccer team couldn’t overcome a slow start in a 3-0 loss at Southern Mississippi in a non-conference game, Friday. The Cardinals (16-0), who are down to 14 healthy field players, fell behind 2-0 in the first half to the Golden Eagles (4-1-0).

“We know we’re limited, but we need some players who can play a full 90 minutes,” LU coach Steve Holeman said. “It was disappointing being down by two goals at halftime.”

Stephanie Garcia put Southern Miss on the board 23:16 when she took a pass from Katie Richmond and fired a shot past LU goalkeeper Rachel Gries for her first goal of the season. Beth Coleman made it 2-0 at the 32:57 mark as she converted a pass from Garcia. The Cardinals had their share of chances in

the opening period, but Southern Miss goalkeeper Brittany Taylor made two saves, including a solid stop on LU’s Jennifer Yacuta to preserve the two-goal advantage.

LU junior goalkeeper Lauren Lovejoy came in to start the second half for the Cardinals, seeing her first action of the season. Lovejoy was credited with four saves, at least two of the spectacular variety, and had no chance on Bri Schubeck’s goal that made it 3-0. The Cardinals have a pair of contests next weekend to wrap up their five-game road swing. LU opens Southland Conference play at Nicholls at 4 p.m., Friday before facing LSU at 1 p.m. Sunday in the final non-conference game of the season. The Cardinals’ next home game is 7 p.m. Sept.

23, when Northwestern State comes to the LU Soccer Complex for a Southland Conference match. _______

SOFTBALL TheLamarUniversitysoftball team will play a seven-game schedule this fall, in preparation for the 2017 spring season. The Cardinals,whoopenedfallcamp

Monday, will play five home games this semester. The home scheduleishighlightedbytheannual Strike Out Cancer Game againstLamarStateCollege-Port Arthur at 2 p.m., Oct. 23, with funds being raised for breastcancer research. The home slate opens at 1 p.m., Oct. 8, when San Jacinto visits the LU Softball Complex.Otherhomegamesare 1p.m.,Oct.14,vs.GalvestonCollege, 1 p.m., Oct. 29, vs. LSUAlexandria and the fall finale against Bossier Parish College at 1p.m.,Nov.6.

LUopensthefallseasonwitha pair of games on Oct. 2 at LSU. The Cardinals meet national power LSU at 1:30 p.m. before squaringoffagainstChipolaCollegeat4p.m.

“We’re playing some new teams this fall, which should be fun,”LUcoachHollyBrudersaid.

“It’s good to mix it up and see some new faces. We’re also excited to have so many home games this fall. We have a facility that we’re proud of, and a lot of teamswanttocomehere.It’snice nottohavetogoontheroadalotin thefall.” _______ Compiled by Cade Smith

Page 8

Thursday, September 15, 2016 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

UPcampus news briefs LAMAR TO COMPETE FOR SCIENCE GRANT

Lamar University has been selected by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to apply for grants through HHMI’s $60 million Inclusive Excellence initiative to encourage colleges and universities to broaden access to science excellence for all students.

“This is a great opportunity for Lamar University to affect science, technology, engineering and math education at all levels in Southeast Texas,” Jennifer Daniel stated in a press release. “Lamar has a diverse student population and consists of many students that are traditionally underserved in the STEM fields.”

Lamar will compete with 91 schools for 60 grants that will be awarded in two rounds of competition. The first 30 will be awarded in September 2017.

For more information, visit hhmi.org/InclusiveExcellence. _______ SCHOLARSHIP IN HUMAN RESOURCES OR ACCOUNTING

Lamar University recently finalized the new Jean L. Spitznagle Scholarship in Human Resources or Accounting, to first be awarded in fall 2017.

The scholarship was established as a tribute to Spitznagle on her 80th birthday for her years of service to the Beaumont community, a release states.

The scholarship recipient must be a full time student studying for a BBA in Human Resource Management or Accounting, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. The opportunity is open to all undergrad students with a special preference for those with genuine financial need.

Students interested in applying for the Jean L. Spitznagle or other scholarships can find more information at beacardinal.lamar.edu _______ DEPARTMENT OF NURSING TO BE RENAMED AS SCHOOL

Lamar University’s JoAnne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing has announced that it will change its title

to JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing. A press release states that the change was to better reflect the additions and development of educational opportunities over time that have elevated it to school status.

“When you think of a department, you think one program, one dimension. We’ve grown so much and we have so many programs now, both graduate and undergraduate,” said Cynthia Stinson, interim chair of the department.

The university’s accessible and affordable master of nursing online program has been ranked 19th in the nation for excellence by the 2014 U.S. News & World, surpassing national universities like Johns Hopkins University, Yale University and Duke University.

For more information about the Joanne Gay Dishman Department of nursing, visit artssciences.lamar.edu/ nursing _______

LU ESTABLISHES PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY IN MEXICO

Lamar University has finalized a new international partnership in Mexico with the Universidad Veracruzana.

The agreement will allow for the exchange of students on semester programs and will also encourage collaborative academic and research programs between faculty members.

“Being that Mexico shares a common border with Texas and the U.S., our understanding of Mexico and its people is extremely important in creating an opportunity to share and learn from one another and to build relationships that will span time,” professor Rick Carter said in a release.

Lamar University hosted a delegation of Universidad Veracruzana students and faculty to conduct research in 2015 and will continue to host UV students and faculty on both short-term and semester exchange programs. The next UV exchange students will arrive on campus in January.

For more information, contact the Office of Study Abroad at 880-7516 or studyabroad@lamar.edu. _______

Sorority ‘Bid’ness

UP photos by Andre Woodard

Students from Alpha Delta Pi, above, and Zeta Tau Alpha ran through the Setzer Student Center and gathered in the Quad to celebrate “Bid Day,” Monday.