April 9, 2008

Page 1

Sweepstakes Winner 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Viewpoints

Finalist 2004 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award

The Wichitan

Staff Editorial

Reaching Out

Instead of collecting fines in the usual dollars

and cents, the Moffett Library will allow students to exchange canned goods to pay off their debts owed on overdue books.

Not only does a plan like this benefit the com-

munity, but it also allows students to help out in a well-publicized, easy way.

Library fines add up every year, and many stu-

dents wait until the end of the semester to pay off the amount accrued for overdue books checked out for

Life’s turmoil calls faith to question

midterm research projects. This program, which will run from April 15 until May 1, not only reaches out

I went to church one Sunday, and I have to say I was rather displeased and have Haley Cunningham b e c o m e For The Wichitan very cynical. The lesson of the sermon was called “Lost,” how to find yourself in a time of confusion. If you have been distracted or otherwise lost your way. I figured this was definitely something I needed to hear, and looked forward to a very enlightening message. However, what I heard was far from what I had expected. The praise and worship went on as usual, and ended in a very energetic song called “You Hold

to the community but draws in different groups from Midwestern.

This weekend will also bring another opportu-

nity for the campus to make a difference. Jeff Williams’ Sports Saturday will give students an opportunity to help raise money for a fellow student injured in a drunk driving accident.

These types of events, which give the MSU

community an accessible, fairly easy way to make a positive impact on other’s lives, reflect positively on

The trick will be getting students to partici-

pate, despite the relative ease. Attendance at most campus functions is low, and it isn’t for a lack of trying by groups such as the University Programming Board.

Service opportunities like this make it difficult

for even the most overscheduled students to find an excuse.

Don’t you wish they did that with parking

tickets!

The Wichitan

That is where the song comes into play. “You Hold Everything Together.” If “you” hold everything together, what if everything is falling apart? Are you alone? He is out helping other people lead their condescending lives while they buy Gucci purses, have their babies, drive their shiny new cars, live in good health and state of mind. Sure, I’m financially lost. I’m morally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically lost. If “you” hold everything together, where can I find you when I am in desperate need of some super-mega-awesome strength glue? I’m not saying I don’t try to find help in faith. I pray every night. I try to lead a moral and ethical life the best I can. I am a Christian. I believe in God and I believe he gave His only begotten son for me to live a life and be forgiven. I hope that I am for-

given for my sins, but what is the point of living a life like I do if “God” has abandoned me? I suppose things could be worse. I guess I still have all my limbs and appendages, I have my job, but those seem to be the only things I really have going for me. All in all, I lead a good life. I try to follow God and not stray from what He wants me to do. But if He wants me to live, he will give me a life and the ability to live, the capacity to live, the want to live. Until then, God forgive me for being cynical and rebellious. I have to base my faith on something. Right now, I have nothing to prove any sort of higher power intervening in my life. Until I do, I will remain undoubtably and incur-

you tell them you’re a student here at Midwestern. It’s a look that clearly says; “Why; could you not get in anywhere else?” My answer is simple. I could have gotten into any number of other universities, including the big state schools like University of Texas at Austin that people love to brag about. I could have had a longhorn sticker on my car along with 50,000 other students. I chose not to. I chose to go to a university that doesn’t cram freshmen into lecture halls with 500 other students while a graduate assistant lectures about American government. I chose to go to a university where my professors would know my name; where I could drop into offices without an appointment. I like walking across campus and recognizing actual people

instead of seeing a horde of strangers. So we don’t have a Pizza Hut in our dining hall, but our football games don’t sell out months in advance for $50 per ticket. When it comes time to register for classes, even freshmen can get into the time slots and courses they need. And sure, there are things the big schools have that MSU doesn’t. We don’t have an enormous football stadium on campus; we don’t have a lacrosse or gymnastics team, and our list of availible courses tends to be a little more narrow than the schools that cater to 20,000 students or more per semester. But while we can’t sign up for Russian 101, our professors will take freshmen seriously. We may be a little short on parking, but at least there aren’t 10-level parking garages

to lose track of your car in for days at a time. Campus might be small, but it’s possible to get from one end to the other in five minutes instead of hiking 30 minutes to class at 8 a.m. Also, it was nice sitting at our table at the awards banquet for the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and having MSU students walk up repeatedly for awards, sometimes beating out the “powerhouse” schools like University of North Texas and Texas Christian University. We may not have a state-ofthe-art multimedia newsroom with the ability to podcast, and we might not have a staff of 100 students that can crank out a paper every day of the week, but that doesn’t make us inferior to schools that do. For not being a “real” school, Midwestern seems to be doing a pretty good job.

Reporters Richard Carter Josh Mujica

Copy Editor Marissa Millender

Entertainment Editor Courtney Foreman

Photographers Loren Eggenschwiler

Adviser Randy Pruitt

Sports Editor Bobby Morris

Advertising Manager Correlle Ferlance

MSU is a “real school,”not a last resort

the university.

Everything Together.” Keep this piece of information in mind, it comes into play later. Then the pastor comes out and begins his sermon on being lost... financially. Instead of giving out light and hope to those he singled out, he seemed to harp upon one point. If you have money problems, you cannot wholeheartedly follow Christ. What? I can understand the frivolous spenders, but he did not clarify this point. Instead, he continued to say Jesus talks about money management in the Bible, and if you don’t straighten up, you can’t follow Christ the way He wants you to. Sure, Jesus talks about managing your finances, but doesn’t he also help the needy and the poor and befriend the thieves and the sick? If he wants me to follow him with my whole heart and soul, why doesn’t He help me?

Brittany Norman Editor In Chief

“Why don’t you go to a real school?’ Since starting my first semester at MSU this fall, I’ve heard that question a couple of times. I’ve also seen people turn up their noses at the mention of a “local” school, while they go on and on glowingly about Texas Tech or A&M. My relatively high GPA has been bellittled because, apparently, Midwestern is an “easy” school. Honestly, I don’t understand where the disregard for all things MSU comes from. Many of the people here in town graduated from the university, and many others send their children here. Still, there’s this look that comes over people’s faces when

3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk (940) 397-4704 • Advertising Desk (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 • E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu Web site: http://www.mwsu.edu/~wichitan Copyright © 2007. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. First copy of the paper is free of charge; additional copies are $1. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brittany Norman

Managing Editor Chris Collins Op-Ed Editor Position Open

Photo Editor Patrick Johnston


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.