April 25, 2012

Beauty queen

Road warriors

pg. 4

MSU junior Fatisha Imo crowned as Miss World 2010 – now she’s gearing up for Miss United Nation in October.

pg. 7

Team Arrow wins South Central conference for fourth year in a row.

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Sikes House spending tops $875,000 Constant maintenance keeps workers busy CHRIS COLLINS EDITOR IN CHIEF

Upkeep on the Sikes House, the twostory presidential residence across Midwestern from campus, isn’t cheap. Since 2002, costs to maintain it have topped $875,000 as carpenters, electricians and custodians from MSU’s Physical Plant put in at least 2,400 man hours doing everything from manicuring the 43-acre lawn, unclogging sinks and toilets and Sikes House. Photo by PROFESSOR GARY GOLDBERG spiffing it up with paint.

In 2010, the school spent more than $173,000 on the 9,000 gross sq. ft utilities of every building on South CamThe Wichitan obtained a list of expenstructure. In 2008 $152,379 was spent. pus. Services of housekeeper Norma ditures after filing two requests through In 2009, about $200,000 was spent at Fonseca cost about $25,000 annually the state Open Records Act. The univerthe home. The upkeep does not include during this time period. sity initially failed to provide work orders utilities, which are included with the

Making the cut

Photo by HANNNAH HOFMANN

JAHMAL RICKMAN FOR THE WICHITAN

Nick Bourgeouis is a multi-tasking, hands-on type of person.

The 21-year-old junior, a member of the Kappa Alpha Si fraternity, is not only a ceramic art major and linebacker for the Midwestern State Mustangs, but a self-employed entrepreneur as well.

The 6-foot-tall, muscular Bourgeouis, who has been cutting men’s hair since

the summer of 2002 in his hometown of New Orleans, is a barber on campus.

He has no formal training, but he does have a lot of customers.

“The motivation was simple,” Bourgeouis said. “I got sick of waiting in long lines and then paying $12 to $15 for a haircut every two weeks. I must have messed up on cutting my hair about six times, like so bad I had to wear a hat before I got it done right.”

He perfected his skills on himself until he reached high school, where he began to give trims to his close friends and football teammates before big

games and pep rallies.

Bourgeouis confesses that it wasn’t until he graduated from Trinity Cedar Hill High School and enrolled at MSU that a chance encounter convinced him to start charging people for haircuts.

“I was walking to class one morning and this guy told me my hair looked really good. He mentioned he couldn’t find a barber and asked if I knew someone. I told him me.”

“I told him $5 a cut. That’s how it all began,” Bourgeouis said with a grin.

BARBER pg. 3

SIKES pg. 4

Mustangs signed to play Cowboys Stadium in the fall

which game he would like CBS to cover.

“There is a chance we can play on Thursday Sept. 12 at Cowboys Stadium and have it broadcast on T.V.” Carr said.

BRITTNEY COTTINGHAM MANAGING EDITOR “The other side of that coin is if we are going to be featured on that Division Midwestern took a gamble last year II night there is a side of me that would when they were one of the few univerwant to feature Wichita Falls and Midsities selected to compete at Cowboys western State.”

Stadium for the LSC Lone Star Football A home game gets better visibility to Festival. the university than Cowboys Stadium, It paid off.

Carr said.

The MSU Mustangs football team If the university wanted CBS to film bulldozed their way to victory last Sepduring a home game, Carr said he would tember and will be given the same opprefer against Angelo State University portunity to shine in the enormous arena the weekend of Oct. 13. in the fall.

Dr. Howard Farrell, vice president The conference signed a two-year of university advancement, said having contract with the Cowboys and was apa presence in the Metroplex not only proved by all of the universities. works for future recruitment, but it also “The only dollar amount is the rentgives a positive name to Midwestern. al fees that fluctuate with the amount “Playing at Cowboys Stadium will litof usage,” erally be seen said Charlie by millions of Carr, athlet“Playing at Cowboys people who ic director.

Stadium will literally be live in that “The ticket seen by millions of people area,” Farrell revenue said. “It is truwho live in the area. It is goes to the ly a win-win truly a win-win situation.” conference situation.” and divided Farrell said Dr. Howard Farrell among the CBS‘s desire Vice president schools that to feature play.”

MSU football The Lone speaks volumes about the success of the star Conference will now be a two-day university. festival with games on Sept. 14 and 15.

“The game gives people an opportu“Last year we had, between our stunity to go to the stadium and watch their dents, alum and fans, brought more peoalma mater and participate,” he said. ple than anymore,” Carr said. “We sold MSU president Dr. Jesse Rogers will on campus about 4,000 tickets.” make the ultimate decision that would MSU has drawn the Friday afternoon have to be made by May. slot and will be playing at 4:00.

“One up is that it features the Cow“With being as close as it is to our camboy Stadium idea for the conference, but pus and with the number of alumni we then the other side is that if we are going have in the Metroplex and its Cowboys to move a game to Thursday then why Stadium,” Carr said. “How many people not have it here and feature our campus get to say they played in that arena. To and the community,” Carr said. me it wasn’t even a thought. It would The Division II broadcast would be do so much for our university, students, on regionally live on air and syndicated program and for our alumni.” nationally.

Even though Charlie Carr said he isn’t “You don’t get the chance every day happy with the time, he is honored that to show off your university and your MSU has this opportunity. team on a national level,” Carr said. “It Another prospect for the MSU football is a tough decision, but at least we have program was offered by CBS who want a choice. They think enough of our proto air a game next season for their Divigram showcase us on T.V. We just want sion II Game of the Week. to do what’s best for the university.”

Carr has yet to make the decision on

Football game to be broadcast on CBS

Junior Nick Bourgeouis makes his money cutting the hair of friends and clients.

Student barber becomes dorm room entrepreneur

from the Physical Plant – the bulk of the expenditures. Materials and labor are included in each work order but records show most expenses were for labor.

In 2008, workers spent 884 hours there. The Physical Plant charged MSU $27,239. In 2009, 1,006 hours were tabulated along with $33,189 in Physical Plant expenses. In 2010, Physical Plant employees spent 432 hours there.

Billing came to $27,120.

Additional expenses by year were: • 2008: $15,551 in “routine expenses” which included $1,335 for house phone charges; $901 for cell phones for Dr. Karen Rogers and housekeeper Norma Fonseca; $4,053 for utility and bathroom wallpaper and the services of interior decorator Lynn Moran; $338 carpet cleaning; $16 for a silk table runner; $1,702 in general supplies; $986 for decorations; $150 for a steel dragonfly sculpture; $2,331 to repair of Sikes family silver; $3,704 to restore two oil

campus voice

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April 25, 2012

A Pretty Penny our view

Take a deep breath. Smell that?

It’s wasted donor money.

The university, specifically President Dr. Jesse Rogers, has spent $84,000 in funds from the MSU Foundation over the last 10 years on flowers.

About $75,000 of that went to Lola Pitzer, a florist in Caddo.

Pitzer’s relationship with Rogers began to bud when he became president in 2001. Since then, Pitzer has been appointed to the museum advisory board and has received the lion’s share of MSU’s flower business.

Last week, The Wichitan ran a story detailing spending on floral arrangements by Pitzer. It pointed out that she was paid from of the University Activity Fund, a discretionary account controlled solely

by Rogers. It also noted that Pitzer does a substantial amount of decorating work at the museum.

Anyone remember Lynn Moran?

She’s a board member who was also paid to do decorating work at the museum.

Rogers denies any conflict of interest in the situation.

The story was met with some criticism from the MSU community, particularly on thewichitan. com. Some commenters said something to the point of, “Oh, The Wichitan is up to its old tricks again – lambasting the university for its financial choices. When will those staff members just leave poor Jesse alone?”

Well, folks, the money paid to Pitzer was at the sole discretion of Rogers. And no bids were taken on the work. She and Rogers are friends, according to him.

So whom would you say is to blame?

It is not this publication’s mission to crucify the president. But he is necessarily responsible for the financial choices of the university. And this choice, to award a conflicted, distant florist with $75,000 in repeat business, was irresponsible.

Donors may be curious how much of their money is being poured into Pitzer’s pockets, too.

The florist’s charges weren’t

outrageous, to be honest. Local florists contacted by Wichitan reporters said they would have charged comparable rates for the work. But that’s not the issue at hand – the issue is whether we needed so many damn flowers in the first place.

It seems reasonable to pay $50 for flowers at a nice dinner. Maybe even $100 if it’s super ritzy.

But one of Pitzer’s charges was for $3,908 at one event.

Only in some elitist, aristocratic world would this expense seem reasonable. That could have paid for so many scholarships for so many needy students.

Instead it was spent on the reproductive organs of plants.

It’s absurd.

As we speak, the university is looking for ways to save money.

This is a time of austerity for most, but a time of prosperity for Pitzer.

It’s time to wake up and smell the roses – while it may be bright and sunny for Rogers now, choices like this could cast a cloud over his presidency.

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editorial board

Editor in Chief: Chris Collins Managing Editor: Brittney Cottingham A&E Editor: Anastasia Reed Op-Ed Editor: Kaja Salsman Sports Editor: Damian Atamenwan Web/ Photo Editor: Hannah Hofmann PRINT Advertising manager: Rachel Bingham ONLINE ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brandi Stroud Copy CHIEF: Kristina Davidson COPY EDITOR: Mollie Collins adviser: Randy Pruitt INSIDE LAYOUT: Cora Kuykendall contributors: Orlando Flores Jr., Josh Hayter, Tolu Agunbiade, Andre Gonzalez, Stefan Attanassov DELIVERY: Stefan Attanassov INTERN: Kassie Bruton

Copyright © 2012. 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.

The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (350 words or less) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

George Zimmerman: bigot or victim of the media?

ERIC ARTHUR BLAIR FOR THE WICHITAN

On February 26, 2012, we know that Trayvon Martin died from a gunshot wound from a gun fired by George Zimmerman.

We know Zimmerman had called 9-1-1 to report a suspicious person walking around the neighborhood.

We know Zimmerman disregarded the dispatcher’s pleas to stay in his vehicle and to stop following Trayvon.

We know that Zimmerman and Martin had a physical altercation just before Trayvon was shot.

That’s about all anyone knows for certain.

Either way, it was a tragedy.

What has taken place since then is another tragedy.

Initially, the media seemed disinterested in this case.

Sure, the local media ran with it, as they should have.

Only as people began discussing the incident and Trayvon’s family requested the FBI’s involvement, and the mishandling of the case by local authorities became known, did the media and race hustlers circle their wagons and create the so-called racial incident.

Once it reached this phase, the images of a young Trayvon Martin and a surly George Zimmerman next to him quickly made the rounds and the racial imagery was born.

No media investigation was needed to complete their template.

They just needed a young black man gunned down by a white man to fit the profile of a hate crime.

So nearly two weeks after the incident, the media created another racist incident to rival James Byrd being dragged by a pickup truck.

Of course, what good is a racism story without the presence of hate hustler Al Sharpton?

Sharpton arrived on the scene energized at the opportunity to stir things up.

Sharpton spoke to a protesting crowd that had gathered and asked them to join him in his perverted quest for justice.

He asked the crowd if they “were ready for violence,” ironically, stoking the crowd into a frenzy that would resemble a lynch mob.

Not to be outdone, the kings of hate, Louis Farrakhan and the New Black Panther Party, would eventually place a

$10,000 bounty on the head of George Zimmerman, acting as the judge, jury, and executioner that would violate Zimmerman’s civil rights in the process.

Of course, Sharpton leading this charade should come as no surprise to those that have seen him in the public eye for the last few decades.

How is Tawana Brawley anyway?

How is the Duke Lacrosse team doing after Sharpton and company ruined their lives?

How are the families of those murdered by a Sharpton-inspired protestor at Freddy’s Fashion Mart getting by in these tough times?

Online petitions demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman were started, some reaching nearly one million signatures.

Students at over 50 high schools in the Miami area staged walkouts.

Marches were planned. Rallies held.

Professional sports teams took team photos with their hoodies on, in support of the slain teenager who was wearing a hoodie at the time of the shooting.

Director Spike Lee published Zimmerman’s home address to his Twitter feed, which resulted in his followers urging others to “turn up the heat on his bitch ass,” and “let’s go smash this ni**a.”

T-shirts were printed with Zimmerman’s face on the front with the caption, “P***y Ass Cracker.”

We find out that the address Lee posted was incorrect, forcing the innocent habitants of the home to flee for their safety.

Justice!

Photos of Zimmerman remained the same. But the pictures of Trayvon kept showing him at a younger and younger age while Zimmerman’s surly picture continued to provoke the appropriate responses that fueled the media template of racism.

We also learn that Trayvon was a 6’2” athletically built football player, not some 5-foot skinny kid simply carrying Skittles.

You could smell the blood in the water.

Forget that 41 people were shot and killed in our President’s home city of Chicago in one weekend in the midst of the Trayvon uproar, we got us an epidemic of hate crimes in Florida to tend to!

The media template of racist whites gunning down black kids in hoodies had been set.

The guilty verdict of Zimmerman had been handed down by the jury on television and Facebook.

The professional race hucksters had made an appearance, threatened George Zimmerman and stoked the flames of injustice implying that a return to Jim Crow was just around the corner if America didn’t act now!

Then we get the news that George Zimmerman, like our president, is half white.

We also learn that Zimmerman has mostly Latino and Black family members.

We learn that Zimmerman and his wife mentor young black children.

We learn that Zimmerman simply didn’t exit his car and immediately start shooting.

We learn that Zimmerman and Trayvon scuffled, resulting in a broken nose and wounds to the back of Zimmer-

man’s head.

We learn that a 13-year-old witnessed the fight and identified Zimmerman as the person they saw laying on the ground screaming for help while Trayvon beat on him.

We learn that this is exactly what Zimmerman told police immediately after the incident.

But the media didn’t ask the question of how a 13-year-old and an apparent murderer would have the exact story to tell the police.

Why bother? They already knew the story they wanted and facts be damned.

We then learn that NBC doctored the 9-1-1 transcript, making it appear that Zimmerman wasn’t asked by the dispatcher to identify the race of Trayvon.

Instead, they just played the audio of Zimmerman stating, “He looks black.”

We learn that NBC had to fire the

producer for this blatant falsification.

We learn that the footage showing Zimmerman at the police station was distorted as to not show the actual wounds on Zimmerman’s head.

We also, on April 20, see a picture taken of Zimmerman minutes after police arrived on the scene, a picture that shows him still bleeding from the wounds on the back of his head.

We also learned that Trayvon had been recently suspended for having drugs at his high school and by possessing stolen jewelry in his backpack.

While Zimmerman may or may not have acted inappropriately, did he commit a hate crime because he was out hunting for young, black kids in hoodies?

Or, did he simply overstep his role as a neighborhood watch volunteer, resulting in the death of a fellow human being?

JOHNNY BLEVINS

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Low enrollment cuts student allocations BRITTNEY COTTINGHAM MANAGING EDITOR

With enrollment declining, less revenue is being generated for the Student Service Fees account.

This year, $2,180,196 came from fees, a decrease of $235,569 from last year. The Student Service Fee is $15.50 per credit hour, capped at $250 per semester.

The revenue shortage forced the Student Allocations Committee to make some touch choices. No department or organization was allocated more than what they requested.

The Vinson Health Center suffered one of the biggest hits, asking for $504,524 and getting $359,224.

Counseling Center director Pam Midgett said she requested $303,296 for next year in order to purchase new ma-

Photo by HANNAH HOFMANN

terial for the center including a bar code reader.

The Center got $299,996.

“We were going to use that for events so it could keep a record of attendance,” Midgett said. “That way we would know which events were more popular.”

The bar code reader would also identify the classification of the student.

“We were going to use that to plan our programming for next year.”

Disability Support Services requested $197,716 but got $170,976, a loss of $26,740. The amount, however, was $7,865 more than it received last year.

Debra Higginbotham, director of Disability Support Services, said the department is in need for more interpreters for deaf students.

“Interpreter can command $30 to $90

an hour,” she said.

“It is also very high in demand. We do not have a lot of interpreters in Wichita Falls and when you have a student that is deaf the university must provide that.”

Higginbotham said one deaf student is currently registered through the program.

“Using the average of $35 per hour cost to provide one interpreter for one full-time student, summer included, would be approximately $24,500 per year,” she said.

The Artist-Lecture series got $81,700, Career Management Center was allocated $150,000, Clark Student Center received $432,992 and Student Government got $34,000, the amounts they requested. MSU cheerleaders were also granted the $57,783 it asked for this

year. Last year it received $1,702 more.

Homecoming got its requested $30,000. The Honors Banquet was given its requested $6,000. Voices asked and received $11,000, Music requested $43,000 but got $39,000.

Mustang Maniacs received $3,500, $1,000 less than it asked for. Family Day got $18,000, $1,000 less than requested.

New Student Orientation was given $13,500, also $1,000 less.

Student Success Series got $10,000, $4,000 less than it asked for.

Ultimate Frisbee Club got the $2,000 it asked for as did the Student I.D. Handbook, $4,500.

Wai-Kun asked for and received $10,500.

The Wichitan was allocated $25,000 for the 2012-2013 school year. It had requested $28,490.

These numbers are not final and have to be approved by MSU President Dr. Jesse Rogers.

“The student committee did an excellent job managing the cuts and they were most concerned about the student experience,” said Dr. Keith Lamb, vice president of enrollment and student affairs.

“This was a very difficult problem for them to solve, and they are to be commended for their thoughtfulness and hard work.”

Every year the Student Allocations Committee considers requests by certain departments and organizations and allocates funds based upon the demands.

to four people a day, at 45 minutes a trim, six days a week.

“At times I do wonder how I’m even awake right now. Sometimes I feel as if I could just sleep anywhere that’s quiet,” said Bouregouis.

With a time-consuming day-to-day schedule that seems daunting to even the most determined of students, finding a job that can fit into his daily routine is highly unlikely.

Bouregouis says his clients are aware of his busy schedule and posts a sign-up sheet where clients can pencil in their names and numbers to schedule an appointment.

The flexibility his business affords him is only one of the reasons Bouregouis has chosen this path. It has also given him independence.

“I use this as a way to keep money in my pockets and a way for me to not ask Mom and Pops for things that I can take care of,” Bouregouis said.

Cutting three to four heads a day, six days a week, Bouregouis makes anywhere between $500-$670 gross income a month. When you deduct

the cost of maintaining a functional operation year-round (clippers: $30-$45, replaced once a year; edgers: $30, replaced every 6 months; disinfectant: $4, replaced once a month; oil: $3, replaced once a month; blades $3, replaced every six months; guards: $2, replaced every six months), Bouregouis can easily bring home $5,712 in net income a year.

What about life after college?

Bouregouis admits that he doesn’t know exactly what he plans to do after he graduates with his Bachelor’s of Art degree from MSU, but said he’s considered several options.

“I enjoy working with my hands, drawing, creating art – and cutting hair is my hobby… along with catching a few naps here and there,” Bourgeouis said with a sly smile.

“I’ve considered enrolling in a barber college or cosmetology school from time to time. Expanding my knowledge means expanding my clients and gives me a second option in the working world, but for now, I’m just enjoying life.”

BARBER from pg. 1 From the fall of 2008 until the spring of 2009, Bourgeouis charged $5 a haircut in his on-campus apartment in Sunwatcher Village. But, since the beginning of the fall semester, the price of haircuts has increased to $7.

“The week of homecoming and the week of any major party is when the number of clients skyrocket. This was one reason I raised my prices to $7,” said Bourgeouis.

Being an entrepreneur on top of both a football player and student comes with difficulty as well as rewards. Bourgeouis wakes up four days out of the week at 6:30 a.m. to the annoying sound of his alarm clock.

He heads to the gym to lift weights for football at 7 a.m., then sprints back home to prepare for a three-hour ceramic class that begins at 9:30. He gets a small break in the afternoon from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., and then it’s off to his football film session at 2, followed promptly by football practice from 3 – 6 p.m.

He then has two hours of free time before his 9 p.m. film session. And yet, somehow he finds the time to cut three

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April 25, 2012

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Engineering program gets $3.8M in donations CHRIS COLLINS EDITOR IN CHIEF

MSU secured $3.8 million in donations two weeks ago for the Engineering program.

James McCoy gave the university $3.3 million for construction, two extra faculty members, and equipment. Fred Stephens and Payton Carnes together gave approximately $500,000 for more equipment.

“I was very grateful,” MSU President

Dr. Jesse Rogers said.

At present, there’s a lot happening in the engineering department. Administrators are in the process of dropping the manufacturing technology degree in an attempt to replace it with a general engineering degree.

The physics department is slated to move from the McCoy building to Bolin within a year to make room for the bulging engineering program, which already claims 200 students.

“Physics needs more space. They need their own laboratory,” Rogers said.

Also, one of the computer labs in McCoy is too cramped – not enough computers are available for all the students.

Right now the lab holds 13 computers.

The department needs 50.

“I thought these were excellent ideas,” Rogers said. “Our engineers do so much now sitting in front of a computer. The computer lab we have now just isn’t large enough. We can’t push people through

footsteps of her godmother Haley Cassius in 1988.

“Footsteps,” however, is a down-toearth, grounded and inaccurate description of Imo’s performance. She danced Moko Jumbie, a unique West African dance, on 12-feet-long stilts to place top 20 in the World Talent section.

For Imo, this was the climax of a threeyear development as a pageant with care-

ful attention to every singe detail of her personality and appearance.

“You have to find a way to stand out among 114 beautiful women,” she said. “You know, the walk, the look, the eyes.”

Imo’s first beauty contest was in 2007 at the National Carnival Queen Pageant where she ended up 2nd .

A series of contests followed, culminating with Miss Caribbean World Pageant 2010 where Imo won the Best Performing Talent section, standing out among contestants from Puerto Rico, Guyana and other countries.

“This experience molded me,” said Imo, who sees pageantry as a matter of careful training and preparation rather than one-night event.

In June 2010, as part of her preparation for Miss World, Imo went to New York to train with Lu Sierra—a supermodel, official coach from Miss Universe and Miss USA and one of the most renown models in the world.

“Lu Sierra taught me everything I needed to know,” Imo said. “From how to maintain confidence and have high self esteem to wardrobe tips, charming tips, modeling tips, hair tips and even smiling tips.”

Miss World, however, is not only about smiling. Imo had to run, jump and swim as part of the competition for the Miss World Fitness/Sportswoman section.

Overall, she ended up 2nd in running and qualified among the top 20 sportswomen.

Imo competed on even teams with women who had spent more than a year for their preparation for Miss World.

She did not have the chance to start her preparation until June 2010 when the official competition started on the 30th October the same year.

Imo did not qualify for top 25 overall, but she showcased her abilities in two of the five different sections—Miss World Fitness/Sportswoman and Miss World

it. It even slows their graduation down if they can’t get through courses.”

This will also allow faculty to teach larger classes, making the program more efficient.

He discussed these issues with Wichita Falls benefactor James McCoy, whose donations helped to create the program.

In the end, McCoy gave MSU more money than Rogers initially asked for.

“He wanted to make sure we had enough.”

Rogers also expressed gratitude to Fred Stephens, of Stephens Engineering, and Payton Carnes, for their contributions.

The university will begin to make changes in the department within the year. The Board of Regents will be charged with approving an architect in May for the McCoy renovations. Rogers said he hopes the construction will begin early next fall.

Miss World Pageant boosts student’s esteem STEFAN ATTANASSOV FOR THE WICHITAN

When MSU Junior Fatisha Imo competed at Miss World Pageant 2010, she literally reached 12 feet closer to the sky.

Imo, 25, rose beyond the history of her country to become the second person ever to represent St. Kitts and Nevis at the beauty competition, following the

COURTESY

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Talent—ranking in both top 20 from all 115 competitors.

Imo came to MSU in September 2009 to pursue a degree in general business.

After she graduates, she plans to get masters in accounting and then go back to St. Kitts and Nevis.

“I want to open a dance school and a pageantry consultancy,” said Imo, who is also a jazz dancer and a chaperone for young beauties from St. Kitts and Nevis.

She said that despite the glamour of pageantry world, however, it is all just fleeting.

“After you reach 27, that’s it. You’re off the map.”

For Imo, however, pageantry is also a way to relate to people all over the world.

“Pageantry helps me in terms of socializing with the youth,” she said. “The

youth in St. Kitts and all over the world look up to the people who are in the media. As a pageant person, I had to visit schools and talk to the youth. Some of them added me on Facebook and shared some really sad stories about life. I used my experience to help them cope with it. Pageantry helps you motivate other people.”

Next step for Imo comes in October— Miss United Nation 2012 in Tanzania.

She has already started her preparation.

“My biggest problem with pageantry is to learn how to speak slowly on stage,” Imo said. “I would do good in all sections and then lose the crown because of the interview.”

Such a statement, however, sounds like a pageant modesty.

There’s nothing but a smooth confidence in her voice.

And though sometimes projects only require one worker, others may require four or five.

Each time an electrician, carpenter or custodian performs work at the Sikes House or any building on campus, the university is billed even though the workers are on the payroll.

“We pay those people a fixed salary that does not depend on what they do,” Rogers said.

Rogers said the home is state property, and that the Texas High Education Coordinating Board looks at the home’s deferred maintenance needs the same as it would for any other campus building.

“We have to remember that it’s state property,” he said. “Karen and I have definitely made an attempt to get it in good condition.”

In 2008, 884 manhours and $27,239 were billed to the Sikes House. $5,835 for lights $8,260 for painting. $1,315 for window cleaning. $1,150 for grounds. $550 for pest control.

In 2009, 1,006 manhours and $33,189 were billed to the Sikes House. $2,173 for lights $881 for the pool $8,513 for painting $2,522 for security cameras $1,880 for window cleaning $899 for pest control $1,489 for plumbing In 2010, 432 manhours and $27,120

were spent to the Sikes House. $1,800 for plumbing $1,907 for Christmas decorations $4,307 for cabinets $670 for window cleaning $2,082 for lights $5,408 for paint $9,170 for the pool The swimming pool topped the list of expenses in 2010 because it required paint and a conduit, according to records. A new skimmer line installed in November, 2010 cost $1,829. The pool is cleaned and filled regularly during the spring and summer months, which comes at a cost ranging from $30 to $110.

Rogers had voiced concern to MSU police that people sometimes wandered onto the property. Wichitan sources provided documentation that showed $24,912 was spent to install six light poles installed in April 2007. Of this amount, $20,160 was labor.

An invoice showed a $14,975 security camera system was installed in 2008.

Electricals for cameras and gate controller cost an additional $15,702.

In June, two additional light poles were installed on the west side eparking area to the guest house at a cost of $8,850. of this amount, $4,000 was labor.

Physical Plant administrators said they didn’t know how manhours spent at the mansion compared to time spent at other campus buildings.

SIKES from pg. 1 paintings original to Sikes House and $36 for cabinet pulls.

“Non-routine expenses” of $27,860 included custom cabinets, $303; mirror for utility/bathroom and services of Lynn Moran, $1,381; plants from Harris Nursery, $13,420; and Trinity Air-conditioning, $6,685.

• 2009: $11,601 in “routine expenses” included $1,338 for house phone charges; $942 in cell phone charges for Dr. Karen Rogers and housekeeper Norma Fonseca; $2,450 for additional dining room table leaves; $2,050 for a picture frame for the “Elegant Lady” Sikes family painting; $315 for restoration of mural in basement; $65 carpet cleaning; $199 freight or delivery services; $548 set up and take down holiday decorations; $368 temporary decorations for Colony Club luncheon; $500 photo CD; $1,636 general supplies; $135 for plants; $197 fabrics and linens; $400 to repair stained glass windows; $458 furniture.

“Non-routine expenses” of $24,457 included installation of a security system, $18,725; custom cabinets, $60; replace air-conditioning unit, $2,700; replace roof tiles, $316; brickwork, $2,031; exterminating, $625.

• 2010: $13,900 in “routine expenses” included $1,284 phone charges; $809 cell phones for Dr. Karen Rogers and housekeeper Norma Fonseca; $82 building maintenance repair; $1,588 grounds maintenance; $115 stair cleaning; $234 extra cleaning services; $185

extra help for holiday decorating; $4,133 general supplies; $3,487 pool repairs; $57 various maintenance items; $32 for plants; $1,769 in furniture; $125 to repair Sikes House crystal.

A “non-routine” expense of $42,490 went for pool decking in 2010.

MSU said it could provide records no further back because of “record retention policy and system upgrades.” Wichitan sources, however, furnished additional documents for earlier years. In 2002, The Physical Plant billed the university for $16,198; $29,527 in 2003, $10,221 in 2004, $74,445 in 2005, $33,959 in 2006 and $16,117 in 2007. Detailed work orders were not available for these years.

The spike in costs in 2005 can be mostly attributed to large painting projects.

“The home’s in good condition and it definitely looks good,” said President Dr. Jesse Rogers, who lives there free as part of his compensation package.“But it does need paint and that’s very expensive.”

More projects like this are on the horizon, primarily one to paint new wooden windows at the home. Rogers said he has been told by painters that the home needs new wooden windows when they switched out the windows in 2010.

“I don’t know why the wooden frames weren’t put in when they switched out the windows, but they weren’t.”

The brick also needs to be painted, he said.

“Every summer, part of the paint pops off of it. The brick needs to be cleaned off and painted if the paint is going to stick to it. We’ve basically just been patching it up.”

But it takes a lot of paint to patch up the home – more than $22,000 has been spent on painting projects since 2008.

“Painting is a constant problem with any home in Wichita Falls,” Rogers said.

Work done by Physical Plants employees at the home has ranged from screwing in light bulbs to repairing the air conditoning system to trapping squirells and other varmints.

In the past three years, workers have been at the home virtually every day, clocking 2,322 man hours from 2008 to 2010.

“They tell me not to be a handyman,” Rogers said. “If we need something simple to be done, like the commode to be worked on or the drain to be unstopped or something, we ask for it to be done.

That’s all I know about it.”

But he admitted that the cost and manhours associated with work done at the home seems excessive.

“I don’t know how they come up with a number like that,” he said. “They’re not over there 1,000 hours a year. I don’t understand how they’re costing that out.”

According to documents, carpentry, painting and plumbing projects usually take the most man hours to complete.

news

e thwichitan Wednesday

5

April 25, 2012

thewichitan.com

your campus/ your news

The week in PHOTOS Relay for Life On Friday Midwestern held the 4th annual Relay for Life celebration. 17 teams totaling 182 registered participates came out to support the American Cancer Society. The event, along with a year’s worth of fundraising collected more than $11,108 this year. The top raising team went to the Student Nursing Association, and the top fundraiser was nursing student, Nolan Gann. Gann personally raised $1,040.

Photo by HANNAH HOFMANN

Kony 2012 Last Friday, approximately 20 students in an art class did their part in getting the word out about Kony around campus.

“It was a fun and creative way for us to bond as classmates and do our part in shaping history,” Tarrah Jones said.

“Having the opportunity to play even the slightest part in bringing attention to a cause as important as that of the children in Ghana was an absolute gift,” Jason Collins said.

Photo COURTESY

Photo COURTESY

Greek Week Last week, MSU Greeks came together and competed for the title of Greek Week Champions.

The chapters raised over $2,000 through Humane Society of Wichita County donations, ticket sales to the Sing Song and Step shows and through Penny Wars. The money raised went to Humane Society and Seek Camp.

Team Gamma, which consisted of Gamma Phi Beta, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Omega Delta Phi were this year’s champions.

Photo by HANNAH HOFMANN

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6 Wednesday

April 25, 2012

thewichitan.com

e thwichitan

your campus/ your news

Romantic comedy dominates box office

PHOTO COURTESY

‘Think Like A Man’ beats out ‘Hunger Games’ and scores big CHRISTOPHER CARTER FOR THE WICHITAN

Just as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Melark were planning to celebrate a fourth week as the number one movie in America, Tim Story’s Think Like A Man interrupted and took home the crown with a $33 million opening weekend beating out The Hunger games.

Think Like A Man is a film adaptation of comedian Steve Harvey’s bestselling book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. The film helms an all-star cast of actors.

Comedian Kevin Hart, blue-eyed ladies man Michael Ealy, and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson are amongst the cast.

While some movie goers may be tired of the cliché romantic comedies, Think Like A Man proves to be a pretty wellrounded film.

The men of the film consist of TV

personality, Terrance J as “The Mama’s Boy,” actor Michael Ealy as “The Dreamer,” actor Romany Malco as “The Player,” actor Jerry Ferrara a.k.a. Turtle from the hit show Entourage as “The Non-Committer”, actor Gary Owen as “The Happily Married Man”, and superstar comedian Kevin Hart as “The Divorced Guy”.

The ladies of the film consist of actress Meagan Good as the “90 Day Rule Girl,” Scary Movie favorite Regina Hall as “The Single Mother,” Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson as the “The Woman Who Is Her Own Man,” and actress

Gabrielle Union as “The Woman Who Wants The Ring.”

Think Like A Man is full of clichés that most romantic comedies have.

Boy meets girl, they date, he messes up, and he wins her back at the end.

With that said, the film is full of eye candy that makes the movie easy to look at.

Kevin Hart keeps the movie flowing with his quick wit and hilarious actions.

Steve Harvey makes a few appearances in the movie.

His appearances are neither entertaining nor boring.

Peace, Love & Lipgloss

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS

D.I.Y. beauty ideas

There are so many cosmetic brands and products out there, it’s hard to know sometimes what to buy, what certain things do and how to use them properly. But many products that we Photo decades

by CORA of KUYKENDALL spend minutes deciding on can actually be created with a few household items!

EYE MAKEUP REMOVER

Did your favorite eye makeup remover just run out? No need to run to the store! A mixture of (less than ½ cup) extra-virgin olive oil and (2 cups) Aloe Vera water creates the perfect combination to remove all makeup – including waterproof products. Regular water may be substituted, but Aloe Vera water contains many vitamins and it naturally cools your skin.

LIP PLUMPER

Don’t run out and purchase various colors of lip plumpers! Simply rub moistened cinnamon or cinnamon oil over your lips before applying lip color.

This will “wake up” your lips and give you that same tingly feeling that plumpers create.

HAIR MASK

Hair masks can get quite pricey, and while I can name off a few that work wonders for all hair types, college students are typically tight on money. A much more inexpensive way of drenching damaged hair is with a yogurt and egg hair mask. It may sound gross,

WEDNESDAY April 25 The Jazz Ensemble will showcase their talents in Akin Auditorium for their spring concert at 7:30 p.m.

DRY SHAMPOO

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but it works!

Beat one egg until it is foamy. Add ¼ cup plain yogurt and ¼ cup mayonnaise and mix well. Apply to your hair, cover with a plastic cap or saran wrap, and leave it alone for one hour. Wash it out using a mild shampoo.

YOGURT FACE MASK

Yogurt can be used to moisturize your face as well! Simply mix 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1-2 tablespoons of oatmeal, cooked and cooled. Apply to your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off with a warm, wet washcloth.

BLUEBERRY FACE MASK

Another facial mask that you can create at home is made with ¼ cup fresh blueberries, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix the ingredients in a blender, apply to your face and leave it on for five minutes.

Remove it with a damp washcloth.

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We all have those mornings that we don’t have time to get completely ready, and skipping the full hair treatment can definitely get us out the door more quickly. Dry shampoo has become very popular for such mornings, but it can be so expensive! Something that all of those hair companies don’t want the consumers to know is that there is a home remedy to greasy hair that works almost as well – baby powder. It’s inexpensive, and running a small amount through your hair absorbs all of that nasty oil.

HAND SOFTENER

Hand lotion doesn’t always do the trick when it comes to softening dry, ashy hands. So go to your kitchen and pull out a mixing bowl. Blend ¼ cup vodka, one teaspoon lemon juice, and ½ cup water. After these are completely mixed, add one tablespoon of sea salt and one tablespoon of crunched up dried flower petals. Spread the concoction over your hands and let it set for two minutes. Rinse it off, and enjoy your silky smooth hands and fingernails!

vye

What beauty topics would you like to read about?

E-mail ideas: wichitan@mwsu. edu

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Although, they are necessary to the understanding of his book and what the characters of the book are going through.

Think Like A Man portrays a variety of characteristics and personalities of every race and sex.

IF you love romantic comedies, you’ll love Think Like A Man. There are great moments and the film is very funny.

It isn’t a must see, but If you’re not doing anything, take a date to the movies and check it out.

THURSDAY March 26 Steve Martin’s The Underpants is being performed at Backdoor Theatre.

FRIDAY March 30 Senior design and directing students will collaborate to put their theatrical creativity on the line for audiences to experience. Senior One-Act Plays will run April 27 and 28, as well as May 4 and 5. For ticket information, call: 397-4399 or 397-4393. General admission is $3 for all faculty, staff, students and guests.

SUNDAY May 1 The combined choirs will showcase their vocal abilities in a concert in Akin Auditorium at 3 p.m.

MONDAY May 2 The As One Gospel Choir presents MSU Has Talent in Akin Auditorium at 7 p.m. Come and support the talented students at MSU. FedEx Ground is Hiring!

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e thwichitan

sports

7

Wednesday April 25, 2012

thewichitan.com

your campus/ your news

Team Arrow wins conference LOREN EGGENSCHWILER FOR THE WICHITAN

The MSU Cycling Team headed South to Baton Rouge for the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference Championships.

The team left Friday morning for an 11-hour drive with two vans and a trailer full of bikes. Races began on a cold Saturday morning with the road race in a beautiful slowly rolling area. It was a very successful morning with Caden Burross taking 9th for the men’s C and Bailey Hess taking 6th for the women’s B. The men’s B did well with Fidel Goytia taking 3rd and brother Erick taking 8th.

The women’s A were able to get two off the front with Jessi Prinner taking 1st and Claire Routledge in 2nd. Teammates Loren Eggenschwiler and Ashley Weaver came in 4th and 5th. The men’s A finished off with Jason Short taking 1st followed by Tony Baca in 4th. Danny Robertson, Alexi Martinez and Sean Brown took 7th, 8th and 9th, respectively.

After a nice break for lunch and some relaxation, the team headed out to the levy for Team Time Trials. The men’s B Team, Fidel Goytia, Erick Goytia, Aldo Curiel and Burross took 4th. The women’s A team, Prinner, Routledge, Weaver and Eggenschwiler, took 1st. The men’s A team, Short, Martinez, Ricky Randall and Evan Bybee, came in 2nd.

Sunday the team headed to the Louisiana State Capitol building for the cri-

The cycling team proudly lifts its fourth consecutive conference trophy.

Photo by LOREN EGGENSCHWILER

terium. The morning started with Roy Richeson taking 10th for the men’s D category. Then Burross took 3rd for the men’s C category. The women’s A were able to have a tactically sound race, getting all four riders off the front taking the top four spots with Eggenschwiler, 1st, Weaver, 2nd, Prinner, 3rd and Routledge 4th. Routledge and Eggenschwiler also joined the men’s B race to try and help Fidel Goytia take conference champ. At the start of the race he was tied with a member of the TCU Cycling Team, making it a challenging race. With the help of his teammates, Fidel Goytia was able to take 6th just behind Erick Goytia in 5th.

The men’s A category had a challenging race as well, but were able to take 2nd, Bybee, 4th, Short, and 5th, Brown.

Conference Champions and awards were presented on the steps to the capital. Burross took 3rd for the men’s C category. Fidel Goytia was able to earn enough points in the days race to take 1st for the men’s B. MSU A women swept the podium with Routledge taking the leaders jersey, followed by Eggenschwiler, Prinner, and Weaver. Short took 1st for his 3rd year in the mens A. Teammate Bybee took 2nd.

The MSU Cycling team took the overall Conference Championship as a team.

MSU will be able to send a full men’s and women’s team to Nationals in Utah May 3-5 to compete against the nation’s top collegiate athletes.

Mustangs lose at Southlake DAMIAN ATAMENWAN SPORTS EDITOR

The Midwestern State tennis team saw its season demise after losing 5-1 to the University of Incarnate Word at the Lone Star Conference Championship Friday.

Luke Joyce teamed up with Kacper Boborykin at No.3 doubles to defeat Brandon Davis and Chris Lawson 8-3 as the Mustangs claimed their only point of DAMIAN ATAMENWAN SPORTS EDITOR

The Midwestern State women’s tennis team suffered a disappointing 5-1 loss against Tarleton State University in the Lone Star Conference Championship Friday.

MSU, who had lost 6-1 to Tarleton State earlier this season, was determined to avenge the defeat but the TexAnns fought harder for clear victory.

Leah Roberts and Taylor Coffman registered the Lady Mustangs’ only point

the tournament. However, the Cardinals already had a two point advantage from previous matches.

Aiden DeLeon and Carlos Olvera took the liberty of thrashing Jarrod Liston and Tomas Grejtak 8-4 at No.1 singles while David Ballenger combined forces with Luke Trautmann to take down Mario Urban and Colby Meeks at No.2 doubles.

The Mustangs proceeded to the singles competitions with the intention to

make a comeback but UIW wanted the win more. Olvera defeated Joyce at No.1 singles to double his team’s lead before Leury Arias extended the Cardinal’s lead with a victory over Meeks at No.2 singles. Incarnate Word could finally call themselves winners after Liston fell to Ballenger 6-2, 6-4 at No.4 singles.

Midwestern State ended its season with a 9-11 record.

when they defeated the combination of Silvia Nieva-Garcia and Kayla Deatherage 8-0 at No.3 doubles. The duo have been playing remarkably all season and were significant in the Midwestern State senior day matches at the Mustangs Courts.

However, Tarleton dominated the other doubles competitions with Melanie Barnes and Karla Martinez defeating Rozike van Rensburg and Lindsey Holcomb 9-7 and Makenzie Mitchel and Alicia Perez securing 9-8 victory over Sarita

Adhikary and Lindsey Buenger.

The singles competition wasn’t impressive at all for the Lady Mustangs who lost every set of every match. Perez was delighted as she beat Van Rensburg 6-3, 6-1 at No.1 singles to give Tarleton a great advantage. Martinez met and defeated Holcomb for the second time with scores of 6-0 and 6-1 while Barnes finished up the fixture with a 6-2,6-2 win over Adhikary.

Midwestern State ended the season with a 8 -13 record.

Junior Colby Meeks partakes in a practice drill Thursday afternoon.

Photo by DAMIAN ATAMENWAN

MSU outplays ACU DAMIAN ATAMENWAN SPORTS EDITOR

Brenna Henna makes a toss to Chrstina Roosmalen as she throws a runner out.

Photo by HANNAH HOFMANN

The Lady Mustangs outplayed Abilene Christian University in two out of three games to conclude the regular season and advance to the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament last weekend at the Mustangs Park.

MSU beat the Wildcats 5-2 in the first game with the hosts scoring the first five points of the match. Courtney Bingham and Kim Jerrick each scored a run in the first inning to give the Lady Mustangs an early advantage. Elena Bennett then increased her team’s lead in the third inning right before Bingham ran another to make it 4-0. Christina Roosmalen was credited for the fifth run to give Midwestern State a commanding lead in the third inning.

Finally in the fifth inning, the Wildcats were able to muster two points on the scoreboard. Keanna Winkfield and Madison Buckley took responsibility for the visitor’s consolatory runs.

The Lady Mustangs went ahead to treat the Wildcats to another woeful loss that ended 7-0.

Mallory Mooney and Jerrick scored in the first inning to give MSU the initial lead before Kallie Noble’s third inning run and Megan Chartier’s fourth inning run made it 4-0. Mooney also became the all-time runs batted in record holder at MSU. “I was glad to know that I helped contibute to the teams’ past success,” said

Mooney.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Roosmalen brought cheer from the crowd with a fifth-inning run that stretched the lead to 5-0. At last, Bingham and Bennett scored a run at the bottom of the sixth to conclude the Mustangs’ scoring and eventually, the game.

However, the Wildcats were determined to make a positive impression at the Mustangs Park. The third game ended 8-3 in favor of Abilene State University.

MSU got on the scoreboard first with a remarkable run by Jerrick in the first inning but ACU stunned the Lady Mustangs by scoring up to five runs in the second courtesy of Lyndi Smith, Erin Gilliland, Sara Vaughn, Winkfield and Buckley.

But the Wildcats wanted more and Buckley granted their wish in the fourth inning while Brianna Fowlkes made it eight in the fifth.

The Lady Mustangs tried to make a comeback but Noble’s sixth-inning run and Jerrick’s seventh-inning homerun weren’t gallant enough to respond to the Wildcats’ dominance.

MSU is placed at No.6 seed as it advances to the postseason tournament.

“My plans for preparing for the post season is to practice like its my last practice because I know I only have a few weeks left in my career,” said Mooney.

The Mustangs will battle Tarleton State University Friday in Denton. The game is set to start at 11:30 a.m.