UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Newspaper of Lamar University
Vol. 92, No. 10 November 12, 2015
SOGGY, BUT SPIRITED
Paricipants on the Homecoming Royalty float throw out swag to spectators during the parade prior to Saturday’s game against Nicholls State.
UP Josh Aych
Rain fails to dampen Homecoming Kara Timberlake UP staff writer
UP Kyle Swearingen
The bad weather didn’t stop President Kenneth Evans and his wife Nancy from showing their school spirit.
Despite rainy conditions Saturday, and a 30-28 loss to Nicholls State at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Cardinal fans celebrated the conclusion of Homecoming week. The final day of the week-long festivities started with tailgating and the Homecoming parade. “Turnout and participation went really well,” Kiet Le, associate director of student activities and civic engagement, said. “I was really excited to see that people weren’t scared away by the weather. There were a lot of people excited about the game, and alumni excited to be back home on campus.” Spirit and Traditions Council president William Hill said he was impressed by the Homecoming parade turnout.
“There was rain and there was horrible weather, but people still went out there,” he said. “The Homecoming parade was way bigger than last year. We noticed that the floats looked even more extravagant. They had that extra push and that extra bit of creativity that we saw all around. They built their floats and weathered the storms.” Parade entries were judged in two categories. In the float category, the first place Grand Champion, winning $500, went to the biology department. The second place President’s Award went to Kappa Delta Pi, international honor society in education. The third place Cardinal Spirit Award went to the Honors Student Association. In the Recognition Category, the most creative award went to the LU Police Department. The best use of theme award went to the National Student
Speech Language and Hearing Association. The most spirited group award went to the College of Education and Human Development. Drum major John Ellis said the Homecoming parade was “a blast.” “We got to meet with five or six different bands from local high schools and even from far away,” he said. “They marched in the parade with us, and we had a massed halftime performance with them as well. It was so much fun.” After the Homecoming parade concluded, tailgating activities followed. “Tailgating went really well,” Le said. “A lot of students were out there. The students really enjoyed themselves, and there was a lot of interaction between the student groups. That was really exciting to see.” Hill said he enjoyed tailgating with See HOMECOMING page 2
Speech and Hearing International Education Week assists aphasia patients to begin, Monday Trevier Gonzalez UP staff writer
Kyle Swearingen UP contributor Starting Monday and lasting through Nov. 20, Lamar University will host an International Education Week to celebrate the benefits of international travel. The IEW will feature events all over campus over the course of the week focusing on the theme, “Access for All.” “International Education Week helps LU promote international understanding, specifically by recognizing the contributions of students from other countries who are studying on our campus, and by building support for programs that prepare Americans to live and work in a global environment,” Jeffrey Palis, Global Studies and Study Abroad director, said. “IEW gives us the opportunity to celebrate our unity through diversity.” Palis said the IEW has two main goals — to recognize Lamar’s international population and support programs that allow our domestic students to engage with their world. “We have designed our calendar of events to achieve both of those noble missions,” he said. One of these many events is the International Culture Festival which will take place in the Montagne Cen-
ter, Monday, at 5 p.m. “The festival is a showcase of the vibrant global Lamar community,” Palis said. “Attendees get to sample food from around the world while enjoying performances from the many cultures represented at LU. “The best thing is, all the food and performances are prepared by our very own students.” Palis said the festival will also feature a guest speaker from Lamar’s partner university in Mexico — Universidad Veracruzana — to give a talk about food culture in Mexico. “His visit is a part of the One Hundred Thousand Strong in the Americas grant project housed in our department of health and kinesiology,” he said. As well as the festival, the week’s events include workshops for future and former study abroad students on scholarships and on resume building strategies. “Those are a few examples among several events of interest to the entire campus,” Palis said. Palis hopes the week-long event will educate students on various cultures and said he believes in its importance.
www.facebook.com/UPLamar
See IEW page 2
Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage to areas of the brain that contain language. In most cases, aphasia is caused by a stroke, and is causes difficulty in the production and comprehension of language, as well the ability to read and write. Lamar’s Speech and Hearing department has launched a project to assist those who experience the ongoing battle with aphasia. Most people who have aphasia are in their middle to late years, according to www.nidcd.nih.gov. “Most of the elderly population don’t have that support,” Jessica Mancha, a grad-
uate clinician, said. “They live their life one way — this traumatic event happens — and then suddenly, they have to overcome it. A lot of families will put them into nursing homes, but in nursing homes, they don’t get that support. For what we offer here, (the patients are) able to relate to people.” Graduate clinician Taylor Miguez said the strategy used in the project is called “facilitating authentic conversation.” “We, basically, are having a conversation, but we’re shaping their conversation through strategies that we are embedding in the conversation,” she said. “So, if somebody were to be watching us, they may not realize what exactly we’re doing, because it See APHASIA page 8
Courtesy of LUTV
Graduate clinician Taylor Miguez, third from left, talks with the aphasia support group in the Speech and Hearing Building, Nov. 4.
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INSIDE
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Thursday, November 12, 2015 University Press Page 2
NOTICE
“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility of our future.� — George Bernard Shaw
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.
Bonfire rescheduled for Nov. 20 Kara Timberlake UP staff writer After the threat of inclement weather, the Homecoming bonfire has been rescheduled from last Friday to Nov. 20. LamarAlive! will end the night with a showing of “Ant-Man.� The rescheduled event will precede the next day’s football game with McNeese State University. “McNeese is our rivalry game, so it’s another big game, and this works out just fine,� William Hill, LamarAlive! senior student director, said. On Nov. 6, unknown perpetrators ignited the Homecoming bonfire setup, located in a field between Jimmy Simmons Boulevard and Cardinal Drive near the Spindletop Museum. “It was supposedly lit at midnight, and they didn’t see it till 5 or 6, and the fire department didn’t get there until 7,� Hill said. “The backside was caught on fire. They used diesel. Someone could have easily gotten hurt.� Hill said Lamar will work together with Pi Kappa Alpha to separate the
burned wood from the wood that is salvageable. The fraternity is traditionally in charge of building the Homecoming bonfire. “The back half of the bonfire is burnt and the front half is just charred,� he said. “We will take more donations for pallets because we have plenty of donations that we could get. We’ll just call people that we had to turn away when we had enough.� Without the rain, the situation could have been much worse, Hill said. “We’re very lucky,� he said. “Because that area was so watered down and the bonfire was so damp, it took such a long time for it to catch fire and that saved our necks.� Kiet Le, associate director of student activities and civic engagement, said the arson would not deter plans. “Us as LamarAlive! and Pikes are not taking it as a hit,� he said. “We’re just taking it as an opportunity to showcase that we are going to come back stronger and not let it hinder us from traditions on campus.�
IEW from page 1
HOMECOMING
“Lamar University is committed to providing a high-quality internationalized education to all students,� Palis said. “IEW helps LU promote international understanding, specifically by recognizing the contributions of students from other countries who are studying on our campus.� Palis said he stresses the importance of unity among the diverse cultures, and that Lamar has a unique opportunity. “We might come from more than 60 different countries, but while we are here at LU we’re all Cards,� Palis said. “We’re lucky to live, work, and study at such an international place. “In truth, we need more than a week to showcase it.� For more information, call 8807013
students and alumni. “They had really good music, good food and just good fun,� he said. “All of the alumni that I ran into were having a grand time. I know in my fraternity, I think we had 30 or 40 alumni show up.� The Homecoming Royalty was crowned at halftime of the game. Michael Lester was crowned Homecoming King and Tre’Chele Dukes was crowned Homecoming Queen. “This year we had record numbers of people applying for court,� Le said. “We had 33 people run for court.� Hill said he encourages students to provide Homecoming feedback. “If anyone has ideas for events that are safe and include everyone, come up to the LamarAlive! office in
CALENDER November 12
Volleyball vs. Houston Baptist
McDonald Gym 7 p.m.
An Evening of Musical Theatre and Operetta
Rothwell Recital Hall 7:30-9 p.m.
Registration Begins for Winter Mini/Spring 2016 special populations
November 13
Fall & Recovery: Fall Dance Concert
University Theatre 7:30-9 p.m. UP Josh Aych
Water from fire hoses surrounds the burned section of LU’s bonfire. Arsonists set fire to the pile, Nov. 5. Due to weather, the bonfire, orginally scheduled for Nov. 6, has been rescheduled for Nov. 20.
An Evening of Musical Theatre and Operetta
Rothwell Recital Hall 7:30-9 p.m.
Men Basketball vs. Austin College
Montagne Center 7 p.m.
November 14
from page 1 208 Setzer Student Center, and we will be sure to try and get some of that stuff in here,� he said. “We’re going to use all the feedback and use it for Big Red Mania, which is basically homecoming in the spring. “The school year isn’t over. We’re an improving entity. We expect to grow in size and capability, and the amount of events we throw.� The weather couldn’t deter the Homecoming energy, Ellis said. “This is only the second Homecoming game I’ve been a part of while a student at Lamar, but this definitely tops any Homecoming experience I’ve ever had,� he said. “This year, Homecoming set a standard. It bested last year, and it keeps getting better every year. I fully expect next year to be truly through the ceiling.�
An Evening of Musical Theatre and Operetta
Rothwell Recital Hall 7:30-9 p.m. Fall & Recovery: Fall Dance Concert
University Theatre 7:30-9 p.m.
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences Conference
Lucas Engineering Building 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Corpus Christi
McDonald Gym 1 p.m.
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OPINION
UNIVERSITY PRESS November 12, 2015
Big bad Wolfe blown out of town Missouri president steps down after racism accusations Recent news out of Columbia, MO, has continued this year’s widespread conversation of racial tension that plagues our country, when at least 30 black, and white athletes of the University of Missouri’s football team vowed not to participate in any team related activities until the University’s system president, Tim Wolfe, resigned or was removed. Wolfe soon announced his resignation Monday morning. This comes after Wolfe garnered massive scrutiny when he failed to address the latest discriminatory incidents that have occurred around the Missouri campus, including when a swastika drawn in feces was found in a dorm bathroom. The controversy has been going on for weeks, and only recently came to a head when the players decided to step in. One graduate student even went on an eight-day hunger strike, swearing not to eat until Wolfe’s dismissal. Besides the blatant racism that’s been going on in Missouri, there’s something else
Commentary
Grant Crawford UPsports editor
that’s troubling with this situation. There have been students protesting for weeks, yet Wolfe never once hinted at stepping down until the team made their promise. Maybe, it’s due to the fact that Missouri would’ve had to spend over $1 million had the team forfeited their game against BYU, Saturday. It’s good to see that the players know their own power, but it’s unfortunate to see how little the students have. What’s even more troubling, is that the systematic discrimination engulfing the state of Missouri continues to flourish. Even after all the chaos in Ferguson, which is about 120 miles from Columbia, there’s still a terrible cloud of hate covering the state. Obviously, there hasn’t been much change. There are people that have said what the players have done is wrong, because of their responsibilities to the school, and that it’s a privilege to play Division I football. Well, even though some might think otherwise, whiteprivilege is very much a thing — and I’m white. So, if it’s such a privilege for the black athletes at Missouri to play football, then they, and the students should have the privilege to attend such a university without being harassed and discriminated against. People say that removing one man from a position of power won’t change anything. I’ve already heard it since the news has come out, but it’s simply untrue. No, it won’t
UPeditorial Finding a balance to achieve success Our generation is often referred to as having a “right now” mind set, meaning, we want to find the quickest route in a given situation to reach the end game. A prime example is earning a college education. We all struggle at one point during our college career, whether it is from working a full-time job and being enrolled as a full-time college student, or financially struggling to survive with part-time income and taking a high amount of credit hours. Whatever the cause, we all become overwhelmed at times. With finals beginning in less than a month, right now is the time to begin finding the balance in one’s daily life. This could mean to sacrificing something one loves doing to do what one needs to do. Try avoiding social media on the days that could be spent studying for an upcoming test — logout of Twitter, Facebook or whatever social media site that may distract one from a current priority. This sounds minor, but every moment counts when one’s time is limited during an academic year. Although it isn’t an ideal choice as a college student, reducing one’s course load can be helpful too. Because we have the mind set to choose the fastest route to success, we may take on more than we can handle. Sometimes we have to take a step back and realize that we can only do so much. We must focus on what is important right now in order to succeed. “All good things come to those who wait.” Sometimes, the truth of that old saying is clear.
Editor .........................Lauren Van Gerven Sports Editor..................Grant Crawford Web Editor.......................Melissa Conley Staff ......Desmond Pickens, Lainie Harris, .....................Haley Bruyn, Coty Davis, ....Lane Fortenberry, Trevier Gonzalez, .............Josh Aych, , Cassandra Jenkin Tyler Hargraves, Brooke Stinebrickner Advertising..........................Melissa Conley Office Manager..............Jac’Quor Williams
UP cartoon by Lauren Van Gerven turn every racist in Missouri into Gandhi, but for change to occur, it starts at the top. And the fact is, Wolfe did nothing to even address the situation. It’s also been said that he laughed at a group of protesters that tried to voice their concerns to him during Missouri’s homecoming parade. He may not have drawn the swastika of excrement on the bathroom wall, but by doing nothing after continued requests by students for action, he essentially left the laxatives in a place easy to find. There may be a fight against racial discrimination, but the fight also needs to come from those who are not oppressed on a regular basis — to set an example of how people should be treated. To give you an idea of the culture at Mizzou, only eight percent of undergraduate students are black. Meanwhile, there’s
only about a 12 percent black population in the state. It’s easy to see how the black students at Missouri could feel, well, alone. With teachers canceling classes and students gathering on campus in protest, hopefully they won’t feel so alone. What the Missouri players did was admirable. It’s unclear if they would have gone through with the strike if the team wasn’t in a 4-5 rebuilding season, but these are Division I players with a chance to go pro, and to waive their chance to compete, is truly commendable. This may not have been the largest victory against dis-
crimination in the nation’s history, but the rest of us in higher education should take note. If we want to improve our society, a good start would be with us. In a year most would love to forget, this is a year we can’t forget. The social injustice that has occurred throughout this country in 2015, cannot be forgotten. The struggles that so many people of color have had to deal with, will mean nothing if we do. Grant Crawford is UP sports editor
Get involved Individual students can affect action Before I ever stepped foot on the Lamar University campus, people had already stressed to me the importance of being involved. From high school teachers to recent graduates, one piece of information was constant — get and stay involved. Campus life has always been prevalent in my time at Lamar. When I first came to Beaumont in the summer of 2011, I was a kid far from home. Not really, I’m from the north side of Houston, but it seemed a long way. I came in already a sophomore because I took college classes in high school, which means I missed things that freshmen were required to participate in. Also, coming in the summer left few opportunities to meet anyone.
Commentary
Josh Aych UPcontributor
Letters Policy
In the summer the campus seems empty, and there are hardly any events. Being far enough away from home and not having a car to get back when I want to, I was left without any way to pass the time. That first summer could’ve been the most boring summer I’ve ever had. I didn’t even have a TV. In order to pass the time, one day I decided to attend an SGA meeting. It wasn’t an official meeting, they were just looking for volunteers for different committees for events throughout the year. I volunteered for the Homecoming committee. I had no experience and I went in without any knowledge of how things would go. Luckily for me, the learning curve wasn’t steep. The first meeting was introduction and brain storming. I didn’t have any ideas, so I just wanted to observe. But there was no such thing as just observing. If you were there you had to contribute. I found myself called on more than once to voice my opinion. After a while I was more confident in the conversations and discussions. I helped plan out several events and volunteered to work them. This wouldn’t be the first time I
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.
would get involved on campus. After some time, a friend of mine brought me up to the University Press. I had been interested in photography, and he said that was one of the best ways to learn it and do things on campus. My first day on the job, I had to photograph an event in the Setzer Student Center. I got a chance to interact and meet with new people. Since joining the UP, I have covered a multitude of events that I wouldn’t have otherwise known about or gone to. The planning of school-wide events are left up to the students. Any student can join in and tell the committees what they would like to see. Even with the opportunities, some students feel as though they don’t have a say as in what happens. I say, join something. Let the committees know what you want. If events do not include what you want, speak up and help organize them yourself. There’s a lot to do on campus, but you won’t find it by sitting in the dorm room staring at the walls and whining. Josh Aych is a UP Contributor
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 2015
H IN PICTURES O M E C O M I N G 2 0 1 5 Page 4
Thursday, November 12, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
UNIVERSITY PRESS • Thursday, November 12, 2015
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The University Press photographers were out and about during Homecoming week to capture the images of the festivities. The weather was sunny on Thursday as students played bubble soccer and rolled around in giant hamster balls. Friday’s bonfire was canceled due to the weather, but the persistent rain didn’t wash away the spirit on display at Saturday’s Homecoming parade and tailgating. For a wrap up of the day’s events, see the story on page 1. Do you think you were captured by our photographers? The University Press website contains many more pictures than there is space for here. Feel free to click on the slide show and share the images with your social media friends.
Photos by UP photographers Josh Aych, Kyle Swearingen, Grant Crawford, Tim Collins, Kara Timberlake, Mitchell Junious, Natalie Avery and Megan White.
FOR MORE, VISIT LAMARUNIVERSITYPRESS.COM
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Thursday, November 12, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
Clueing students into mystery Lamar to host interactive ‘Heist,’ Nov. 19-20 Tim Collins UP contributor The curator of the Dishman Art Museum has been murdered, a priceless work of art has been stolen, and it’s up to members of the public to track the culprits down and bring them to justice. This is the premise of the “Heist,” an interactive mystery which spans the LU campus and runs from Nov. 19-20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning in the University Theatre foyer. The event is open to the public, and participants will need a QR reader app on their smartphone or tablet to receive clues in the form of YouTube videos. The first participant to solve the mystery will win a gift card. “There’s going to be one crime scene at the University Theatre for people to explore and look at,” Erin Lanier, who planned the event, said. “But I’m also going to have the crew hideout, which is what you’re trying to find. It’s in an undisclosed location, and I’m going to have that dressed up to look like criminals have been there. You know who the perpetrators are. You’re just trying to track them down.” The “Heist” is an independent study project by Lanier as part of her theater minor coursework, and is studying how to plan and run an interactive mystery for production purposes. “Generally, I’m looking at different ways to tell a narrative,” she said. “You’re going from place to place to find the next piece of information or the next bit of the story. The initial idea was Indiana Jones-y, or Indiana Jones still on campus, because he’s a college professor, and I thought it interesting if the artifact-hunting world found him at his university. So, I was thinking of ways we could use the campus as a place to tell a story.” Her professor is Joel Grothe, assistant professor in the department of Theatre & Dance, and is advising her on this project. “I think it’s an interesting way to engage students through their cell phones, which is something we’ve discussed in Faculty Senate and Faculty Senate Executive Committee at length,” Grothe said. The project was a challenge at first, Lanier said. “My professor was like, you can do whatever you want,” she said. “That was a little daunting. The initial idea was just to plan this whole thing out and then present that to him as my final project, but I figured I might as well get started if I were actually going to try it. That would include scriptwriting and storytelling and set-dressing and prop-making/gathering and directing, and I pitched it to him. He said it all sounded very ambitious.” The “Heist” was partially inspired by “Murder at RTX,” an interactive murder mystery by Austin-based production company, Rooster Teeth, held at their convention. “They utilized an app and Bluetooth beacons in order to have people figure out clues and go around and solve the mystery,” Lanier said. “I immensely enjoyed it because you kind of get into that world for a few hours, like you’re actually the detective tracking down the criminals. It’s just really cool to have a little slice of that in your own life, to kind of enter a fantasy world for a few hours and be someone you’re not. I really enjoyed it and thought, ‘Hey, why not try one of
UP Tim Collins
Erin Lanier, Beaumont senior, preps to run the Heist, which runs Nov. 19-20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the University Theatre foyer. my own?’“ Rooster Teeth created the video game website “Achievement Hunter” in 2008, and the “Heist” will include numerous references to the site. “’Murder at RTX’ was very reference heavy, so I thought I would keep that aspect,” Lanier said. “Basically, you’re chasing the fake ‘Achievement Hunter’ crew, so people who know about it will probably find it funny. Like the mask is one. This is Ryan Haywood‘s mask (from AH’s Let’s Play Grand Theft Auto series) that I recreated, but you don’t absolutely have to know it in order to enjoy it. It’ll just be kind of an extra little thing that if you know about it, you’ll probably enjoy it.” The project required directing actors, which Lanier said she had little experience in before directing the “Heist.” “The last time I directed someone, they weren’t actors,” she said. “It was a bunch of us trying to work on a project together. This time I was working with actual actors and they were asking me questions like, ‘So, what’s motivated this character? How old do you think this character is? How did you want me to say this?’ I was kind of not sure if I wanted to nail them down to one thing but then you realize, you’re the director. It’s your vision. And this is the first time I’ve written a script for something that’s actually been produced. Hopefully it sounds somewhat natural.” Some clues will take the form of short videos starring LU actors Thomas Gentry, Tracie VanLaw, Nathan Crump, and Eyenkebi Itima, who will tell the story of the “Heist” and direct participants to different locations around campus. “This is the first time to do something interactive,” Gentry, who plays Chief Detective Flynt Cole, said. “Having me telling you something to do and you going and doing it, like a game setting, I’ve never done anything like that before. The dialogue Erin gave us to work with, it was like I was watching those old cartoons or those old crime shows.
It had that old crime show feel to it. I thought the script was fantastic.” Gentry also performed in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” while filming for the “Heist,” and said that juggling both working in a play and on film can be tricky. “I had a British accent (on ‘Mrs. Warren’s Profession’), and every now and then we would be filming and she’d be like ‘Thomas, it slipped out.’ ‘It did? I didn’t notice. I’m sorry!’” he said. Eyenkebi Itima, Beaumont sophomore, also helped on the project. “Erin just asked me if I was willing to help out,” she said. “I only had a small part, but I thought it was nice. I’m actually interested in seeing the whole thing. I think it’s interesting. I can’t wait to see it when she’s finished.” The stolen piece of artwork is a piece by Avril Falgout, a TALH student known for her life-size paper mâché sculptures. “I had been to the art department a few times and I ran into her at Steven Zani’s ‘Monsters in Literature and Philosophy: Vampires, Zombies, and Bears, Oh My!’ lecture,” Lanier said. “I asked if she was willing to donate a piece. She was more than willing to help out, so I’m very happy I ran into her. She was like, ‘Yeah! Publicity!’ I don’t know that she actually said that, but that was my pitch.” Creating an interactive mystery requires not just directing, but planning as well, and also requires looking at the mystery from a different perspective, Lanier said. “I actually started with the locations first,” she said. “Then I realized I couldn’t solve the crime until I had the crime in place. So, I thought if I were a criminal, what would I do? I asked a bunch of people what they would do if they were trying to rob the art museum, and they gave me quite a few interesting ideas. I planned out the criminals’ route first and where they would go and what they would do and went back and figured
out what clues they dropped. Or what they left behind that students could follow behind and pick up.” To those planning similar events, Lanier offers the following advice. “Get help,” she said, and laughed. “I’m partially the sort of person who likes to do things myself so it’s done the way I want it, but it is a lot to do for just one person so get a friend or a team to help out and maybe divide up the labor a bit, because right now I have to edit, I have to Photoshop, I have to post posters and print posters and gather props, and I‘m doing all this by myself, so it’s somewhat overwhelming.” Though it can be overwhelming, Lanier said she would like to do more mystery events like this in the future. “I have a vague idea of one I might do in the future which would incorporate puzzles in a way that’s more believable,” she
said. “I’m hoping to garner some people who are more experts in the mystery field than I am to maybe create a timeline that may stump more people. I looked at people who had done something like this before. There’s the ‘MIT Mystery Hunt,’ and their hunts involve ciphers you have to sit down with a pen and paper and figure it out.” Lanier said she wants it to be a fun experience for all involved. “I’m not really sure what to expect,” Lanier said. “Like the number of who might show up. I hope people show up. I don’t think it’ll be that many, but I’m hoping if I get the word out and if I find people who are interested enough to participate. It’s just for a fun experience, you know? To play the detective and catch the bad guys and just step out of real life for a while.“ For more information, call the department of Theatre & Dance at 880-8037.
UP Tim Collins
Erin Lanier, Beaumont senior, prepares for ‘Heist,’ an interactive mystery which spans the LU campus.
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SPORTS
UNIVERSITY PRESS November 12, 2015
Rushing D washes out Defensive coordinator retires after Homecoming loss to Nicholls State Grant Crawford UP sports editor @GrantLamarUP The Lamar football team will have to finish the rest of their season without defensive coordinator Craig McGallion who has decided to retire, head coach Ray Woodard announced Monday, following the Cardinals’ 30-28 Homecoming loss to Nicholls State, Saturday, at Provost Umphrey Stadium. McGallion helped restore the program since 2009, and took over as defensive coordinator in 2014. Woodard said the decision was a surprise. “I wasn’t prepared for this,” he said. “It was completely his decision. The conspiracy theorists out there are going to say that I fired coach McGallion. Nothing could be further from the truth. “Right now, if he picked up the phone and said he changed his mind, I would take him back in a heartbeat. I really appreciate everything he’s done for the program and for me personally.” Second-year linebackers’ coach Mark Criner will serve as the interim defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. “He’ll call the defense, but I will work with him over the course of the next two weeks,” Woodard said. “He’s coordinated before. He’s just the best person for this. This is a tryout for him.” The Cards have lost four of their last six games. Their most recent loss ended when sophomore Alex Ball missed a 23-yard field goal to win the game. Ball also missed a 46-yard field goal going into halftime. Woodard said that his confidence in Ball has not diminished. “He’s a good kicker that had a bad kick,” he said. “I promise you, if we’re two points down, I’ll trot him right back out there and I’ll have just as much confidence in
Junior Carson Earp runs for a touchdown during Lamar’s 30-28 rain-soaked loss to Nicholls State University at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Saturday. him the next time. He’s going to work hard and he’s going to be better this week.” Although the team lost by only a field goal, Woodard said that they had multiple opportunities to finish the game, but poor offensive, and defensive production prevented that. “This is a gut wrenching kind of loss — one that stays with me,” he said. “We have some of the same problems — that’s coaching and that’s on me.” Both teams struggled to pass the ball due to the heavy rain. The Cards had a chance to add to their 21-14 lead in the second quarter, but senior quarterback Joe Min-
den’s pass was intercepted at Colonels’ 20-yard line. “I think we were going to have a much better plan throwing the ball Saturday night,” Woodard said. “The weather dictated that we couldn’t, more than anything else.” Woodard said that the team was too one-dimensional, and that it was hard for the quarterbacks to get a rhythm going. Both Minden and junior Carson Earp saw playing time at quarterback, but the team was only able to throw for 143 yards. “We’d really like to combine the two, but they’re both still playing with some injuries,” Woodard
said. “It’s led to some inconsistency at the position.” Lamar will look to change their luck when they face Southland Conference rivals Incarnate Word, Saturday, in San Antonio, and will have to improve their rushing defense if they want to better their chances. LU allowed 415 yards on the ground to Nicholls, and Woodard said he expects Incarnate to try the same this week. “They don’t have the stats, but they’ll run it more on us — everybody does,” he said. “I think the best defense against Kade (Harrington), is keeping him on the bench and running the football. If
UP Josh Aych
I was playing us, I guarantee that would be my plan.” Harrington finished the game against Nicholls with 255 rushing yards, and became the SLC’s single-season record holder. Woodard said he expects Incarnate Word to stack the defensive box in order to stop Harrington. “It won’t be the first team that’s tried to stack it against Kade,” he said. “They’ll continue to stack it until we can throw it and get them off of us.” The game will start at 2 p.m. at Benson Stadium. For ticket info visit www. lamarcardinals.com.
Lady Cards to open season against Oklahoma State Caleb Adams UP contributor Lamar’s women’s basketball team will look to start their season off strong when they face Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., Friday. “We have four freshman, who are really just babies right now, so this will be a great experience for them, especially it being against a strong team of this caliber like Oklahoma State,” head coach Robin Harmony said. Oklahoma State ended last season with a record of 22-12, while Lamar ended the season 17-13. Harmony said she is looking for the freshman to stand out.
“Kiara Desamours and Chastadie Barrs really stood out for me in our Red vs. White scrimmage this past week, and I look for them to help us as the season goes on,” she said. Harmony said she wants to use this game as a steppingstone into Southland Conference play to help replicate last season and go far in the SLC tournament. “I’m not really sure if we have a clear advantage, we just want to play the full four quarters and grow as a team — this game will help us get ready for conference games in December,” she said. Oklahoma State plays AP ranked teams in the Big 12 Conference, such as No. 18-ranked
Oklahoma University, No. 12ranked University of Texas, and, most notably, No. 5-ranked Baylor University. Oklahoma State is not known for keeping the game low scoring. They outscored their opponents last season 2,059 to 1,810, and averaging 10 points more a game than their opponents. Lamar resembles the style that Oklahoma State plays. They outscored their opponents 2,151 to 1,995 last season, while averaging 71.7 points a game to the opponents 66.5. “(Oklahoma State) doesn’t have too many weak points,” Harmony said. “They are ranked nationally in the top 20 normally, which is what we as-
pire to be.” Harmony said the games against bigger schools, will give the younger players a feeling of big game situations and pressures, which will improve their mindset and their overall play.” The Lady Cards played Oklahoma State in 2013 and lost 8356. In that year, Oklahoma State went 27-9 overall, and Lamar was one of the few teams to have a final score within 30 points. The team will look to improve on that mark in this week’s game. The game will tip off at 11 a.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. For the full women’s schedule, visit www.lamar cardinals.com.
UP Grant Crawford
Junior Kiandra Bowers passes the ball during practice at the McDonald Gym, Oct. 22.
Cardinals to start campaign against Austin College Cassandra Jenkins UP contributor The Lamar Men’s basketball team will kick off the 2015-16 season, Friday, with their first home game against Austin Col-
lege in the Montagne Center at 7 p.m. For head coach Tic Price, the first game is all about preparation and execution. “We need to go out and execute what we have been taught every day,” Price said. “Defensively, I’m looking for guys who are
UP Grant Crawford
Sophomore Kevin Booze passes the ball to senior LeMon Gregory during LU’s Red vs. White scrimmage at the Montagne Center, Nov. 3.
going to be defensive stoppers. “I want to play stop defense, not match buckets with other teams. Offensively, I want to see us play unselfish. We need to make that extra pass to get it to an open teammate.” Price said his biggest job is keeping the pressure on his teams and making sure, they are always prepared for every game. “All I know is I got a job to do,” he said. “My job is to help this team win and so I can’t let it rest until that happens. I have to keep the pressure on my players and keep them focused. Then they will understand that when we step between the lines we have a game to play and we are going to prepare accordingly.” Early in the season, Price’s theory of preparation is going to be tested. He said he believes his biggest issue against Austin will be going into the game blind. However, he said he is eager to see how well the team will adjust going up against an opponent without any insight into the team or its strategies. “Having to adjust to the situation, we will be able to tell a lot about our guys focus and discipline in our first game, the only thing we have been taught to do,” he said.
“We will find out if we carry that over into the game. Many times in the first game, guys are so excited about playing, they forget about what they are supposed to be running offensively and start thinking about me and not us. Going into the unknown — making an adjustment as the game goes on, is going to be our biggest obstacle.” Tic said he not only expects them to show effort, passion and teamwork on the court, but off as well. “I want to see our bench really get into it and encourage the guys on the floor,” Price said. “I want to see a total team effort with a collective will.” For junior transfer, Lincoln Davis working as a team starts outside of practice and games. “We definitely get along well,” Davis said. “I think it all starts off the court. We all get along off the court and we do things together and hang out. So when we get on the court, we mesh well. It’s a good group all together.” On the other hand, Price said he would use the first game to help determine his See MEN’S BASKETBALL page 8
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Thursday, November 12, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS
MEN’S BASKETBALL from page 7
UP Neil Das
Members of The Texas Nationalist Movement talk to a student about Texas independence in fron of Student Setzer Center.
TNM supporters solicit independence petition Neil Das UP contributor Students walking around campus probably have seen signs by The Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) for their petition drive and might wonder what it’s all about. “We want Texas to become an independent nation with all the benefits of self-government we don’t have now. The federal system is terminally broken and cannot be fixed,” TNM President Daniel Miller said. The group’s website, www.texasnationalist.com states its current mission is to get 75,000 petition signatures before December 1st to use Texas Election Code 172.088 in order to place a referendum on the Republican Party primary ballot for March 2016. Miller said it has roots in the Republic of Texas movement and he has supported independence since 1996. “Texas is on a very different path from the rest of the union and Texas tax money could be better used to improve infrastructure here and our quality of life,” he said. “Border and immigration issues are the number on concern for Texas and the federal government has done nothing to solve them.”
The organization has 250,000 members, according to Miller’s statements on Fox News videos posted to YouTube. The process that Miller and TNM states as the means for independence is Article 1, Section 2 of the Texas constitution, that reads, “All political power is inherent in the people and all free governments are founded on their authority have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.” Stuart Wright, professor of sociology and social movements said the legal constraints set against the group are significant. “If the state of Texas wanted to break off, it would have to get the permission of the other 49 states and of Congress. That’s not going to happen and so it would amount to insurgency,” he said. Miller said the group’s aims are to use non-violence and the political system to make this process happen. “The only thing standing between Texas and independence right now are Texans,” Miller said. “It’s a matter of political will. It can take anywhere 2 years to another 20 years. We will never quit.”
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starting lineup for the rest of the year. “Our first game is going to determine what guys will be our best combination in a game like setting,” he said. “The lights will be on. We will have people in the stands. They have yet to play in front of people, so we’ll see what guys have jitters, what guys will approach this with bravado. We will use this as a gauge of what guys we feel will be our best five — what guys will be our best guys coming off the bench.” For Marcus Owens, a junior returning player, he said his main goal in the first game is to improve. “I’m hoping to get better from the first game on,” Owens said. “Every game we make sure we get better. It’s another game, no matter who we play. It’s just about getting better.” Overall, Coach Price hopes his team will make a statement against Austin and set the standards for the continuation of the season “I just want to make sure we have good balance, form, and that we dominate the glass,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned our guys need to play with some killer instinct. Kill a flower with a sledgehammer.
I want our guys to be hungry, yet excited about playing their first game.” However, excitement and confidence for the first game seems to be no problem among the Lamar players. “I am very confident,” Owens said. “We have been working hard since summer with this group of guys. We are young, but we are getting it in every day and getting better every day.” Davis also agreed he is confident going into the first game with the Lamar team. “We have been working hard as a team and we want to get extra work in outside of practice,” Davis said. “We’re all collectively confident as a group.” Coach Price, as well as his players, hopes that all their hard work, excitement, confidence and most importantly teamwork will lead them to a victory. With the team’s motto, “Strong Together,” they will begin their season. “Everything we do is as a family,” Owens said. “And that is how we are going to win games, coming in and playing together as a family.”
UP Grant Crawford
Freshman Boaz Williams passes the ball during the Red vs. White scrimmage, Nov. 3.
APHASIA
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just looks like we’re just having a natural conversation of turn-taking. However, we are embedding either corrections or contingencies that allow them to go, ‘Oh, I was successful in that. I’m going to use that strategy because it worked.’ Then our hopes are that they carry that over in everyday life, and with unfamiliar communication partners.” Miguez said that the project was introduced earlier this semester by Jamie Hartwell, new assistant professor in applied language and speech sciences. “She’s really brought this facilitating authentic conversation here,” Miguez said. “It was a study done at University of Louisiana, where she was a mentee on the research. They’re moving in this direction to conversation where, if you’re in a hospital and you just had a stroke, you’re going to receive therapy that’s informational processing. “So Dr. Hartwell, with this approach, it’s working in a more collaborative way and it’s allowing them to shape their conversation, shape their behaviors that they have to become successful.” An estimated one-third of stroke patients develop aphasia, according to aphasia.org. Hartwell calls the project the Aphasia Conversation Lab, which is an affiliate of the National Aphasia Association. An aphasia conversation group meets Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the Speech and Hearing Building. “Once a month, we have the support group, which is not a therapy session, it’s more just sharing,” she said. “It’s therapy, but not in the same direct fashion. We just kind of let it go and let them run the show, and we’re just there to listen.” Hartwell said the department is still “trying to get its feet wet.” “It is a relatively new phenomenon, where we’re moving away from targeting language as segments like words or sentences,” she said. “We’re moving into more functional types of communication atmospheres like conversation. There’s a specific objective that we’re trying to meet. We’re trying to make them better communicators; we’re trying to get them to use better strategies and things like that.” Miguez said lack of treatment for aphasia can have emotional effects. “It withdraws them from society, because they face difficulty communicating with people — and people in society don’t give them a chance,” she said. “You know, we’re all in a rush, and we all have things to do. They don’t stop, slow down, and listen and give somebody a chance to communicate. So, they basically withdraw themselves and it basically feels like they’re alone, because they aren‘t successful at communicating — so they isolate themselves.” Mancha referenced a patient she’s had since the beginning of the semester, Miss Julia, noting the paitent’s improvement.
“Overall, we’re noticing that her comprehension is becoming a little bit better, based off the amount of time she requests for clarification,” Mancha said. “That’s one of our goals, where we want to improve that.” Miguez said the program has made her rethink her future. “I want to now pursue a career with adults and neurological disorders, because I see that they’ve gone all this time living their lives and some event changed their life completely, and now they have to regain what we call a ‘new normal’ — and I want to be a part of that.” Hartwell said the program allows individuals who normally wouldn’t speak, to have a voice. “One of the persons with aphasia said, ‘I get out of my house to come here,‘” Hartwell said. “Other than this, she doesn’t have an outlet. We give her the floor and the support that she needs so that she can be successful in those interactions.” Hartwell said the program serves multiple purposes. “It helps the community because we’re able to give services to people,” she said. “It helps the students, because it teaches them how to deliver effective aphasia intervention, because we’re training them to be clinicians, and then it helps for research. “It allows us to understand how these patterns are occurring in people and what strategies we can use, or what interventions we can use to help them have that optimal communication exchange. That’s the big part about the project; it serves three really separate purposes that are all equally as important.” Mancha said the therapy offered by the program helps in patients’ everyday lives. “When they go into the real world or everyday life, there’s not incidents where they’re using ‘yes or no’ techniques, so, we use this facilitating authentic conversation for communication to better their skills.” People with aphasia benefit from sharing their experiences with others who have the same condition. “There’s an affiliation there that they get to have this special thing — we don’t have aphasia, we can’t be a part of their group. It’s a club. That’s also very powerful,” she said. Miguez said that the program allows the community to better understand the disorder. “When people with aphasia go to a grocery store, they want to be able to communicate with the clerk or with the pharmacist,” she said. “I think it’s important that everybody knows what it is. Not (just) the people who have aphasia who needs resources, but also for the community to understand, so patients can better communicate with the society.” For more information, call 880-8338, or visit www.aphasia.org.