Feb 7, 2018

Feb. 7, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 82 No. 18

‘Cookies and Condoms’ event to raise sexual awareness TASIA FLOISSAC REPORTER

Kenda North

pg. 4

Kenda North, photographer, came to the campus for her opening art gallery reception and was able to speak with students about their work.

Slavery in Libya

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Members from the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs taught students the truth of slavery still present today in Libya.

Track beats records pg. 8

The track team competed at Texas Tech on Feb. 2 where two athletes beat previous records.

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o raise awareness and emphasize the importance of strong sexual health, members of the organization People Respecting the Identity and Diversity of Everyone will host the second annual “Free HIV testing with Cookies and Condoms,” event on Feb. 7 in the Clark Student Center as a part of activities to commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day for Black History Month.

According to organizers, the aim is to target the entire student body, and not just the black community, in a way that will allow students to be comfortable and engage in casual discussion about sexual health, attain resources and still have some fun and a small treat.

“Black History Month is not just rehashing history, but also about education awareness, addressing contemporary issues and making people aware of what those issues are,” Syreeta Greene, director of Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs, said.

Greene said it will be a way to make sure the issues are highlighted as well as a way to ensure and help students practice healthy sexual relations.

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, coordinated by the Strategic Leadership Council, promotes HIV education, testing, community involvement and treatment among black communities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses, those living with HIV and those ever receiving a diagnosis of AIDS than other races and ethnicities. “[Last year’s event] was received very well.

We had probably a couple hundred bags of cookies and condoms and passed out all of them,” Greene said. “Some students were a little reluctant to grab a bag, but we distributed all which also contained information packets.”

According to Greene, it is important, particularly within a university context, to steer the conversation in the right direction.

“Part of the challenge that you have is that

50%

of the 20 million new STD’s diagnosed each year are among people the age of 15 and 24.

2016 FILE PHOTO BY RUTTH MERCADO | THE WICHITAN

Jessie Velasquez, Wichita Falls Health Department technician holding up a button that reads “Let’s bring HIV out of the closet” outside of Shawnee Theater on Feb. 10, 2016. you have young people who were just at home two seconds ago, now at college and you are exploring, figuring out things and you are transitioning. But what sort of missed is the conversation of now with this new found freedom, what is it that you do with it and how do we prepare young people to have conversations about sex,” Greene said.

PRIDE members have hosted free HIV testing booths in the past with hopes of eliminating the stigma against HIV/AIDS, which include free HIV testing in honor of the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day 2017 and a 5K run/ walk on World AIDS Day 2016.

Because of the ambiguity surrounding HIV and AIDS, Christopher Cruz, former PRIDE president and theater junior, said people should create an awareness month for HIV and AIDS. “Why do we have Breast Cancer Awareness Month or pancreatic awareness? It’s the same thing. Let’s create awareness for HIV/AIDS,”

26%

of new HIV infections is among youth ages 13 to 24.

Cruz said.

According to Cruz, it’s important to encourage people to care about their personal health and he is urging students to turn out in large numbers wearing the color red.

Kerdell Cuffy, finance freshman, said, “It’s a good initiative and something youth should practice, especially sexually active youth.”

Cuffy said some people don’t like relationships and just want to have sex, so it is better to be safe, and that the event promotes awareness as well as offers a sweet treat to incentivize and de-stigmatize the discussion. Although the sweets can be seen as a distraction for some.

Okan La Fleur, mechanical engineer senior, said while he is in support of the event, he fears the desire to make it a “happy” event doesn’t make it any better.

La Fleur said, “[Students] should just hold the discussion without sugar coating things with cookies.”

4 out of 5

of these infections occur in males. https://www.cdc.gov/family/college/

2 | Feb. 7, 2018 | STAF F E DI T O R I A L

Get educated, talk about serious topics OUR VIEW: Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections and diseases should be second nature to sexually active people.

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ith Feb. 7 being National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day, students should take advantage of the opportunities to screen themselves for any sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

If it takes fun little titles like “Cookies and Condoms” to get students to pay attention to the necessity for safe sex, then so be it. However, munching on a cookie while being handed a bag of condoms isn’t going to create a sex positive atmosphere on campus without students getting educated. Campus organization members, administration and students hold events and seminars on safety, yet we continue to see students laugh whenever sex is brought up.

University personnel want students to stay safe and healthy, so the Vinson Health Center offers STD screening and treatments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 4 of all new HIV infections in the United States is among youth ages 13 to 24 years, and to combat this issue, events and screenings are held throughout the year so that students have the opportunity to get the information and help necessary for a healthy life.

More has to be done to ensure health and well-being are guaranteed to all students, and events like “Cookies and Condoms” allow for an environment that welcomes more students to engage in positive sexually activity.

CORRECTIONS • In a tweet, we referred to Kenda North, photographer and guest artist, by the wrong name. In an article titled “‘Sense of pride,’ found through Black History Month Kick-off,” Syreeta Greene’s, director of Equity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs, name was misspelled. The Wichitan regrets these errors.

Pursue liberal arts outside the classroom

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uch has been said about Midwestern State University being the only public liberal arts institution in Texas, and you may have heard rumblings of the internal efforts to enhance that experience.

Arguably, most students will experience the liberal arts in the classroom through the quality and rigor of their academic programs. HowMartin ever, limiting your liberal arts education to the Camacho classroom can be shortsighted. Several publications have cited how students are learning and spending much of their time outside the classroom. Taking advantage of a full liberal arts education that includes off classroom options needs to be emphasized. Thus, the options that are offered and the choices that students make with their time outside the classroom are important.

MSU offers a good number of outside-the-classroom opportunities for students to continue developing numerous interests. I would like; however, to make the case to consider attending artistic events as a relevant option.

Each year, the Fain College of Fine Arts offers more than 80 individual events in music, art, theater and mass communication. If you have not attended one or have limited your attendance to just a few, you are missing out.

In today’s world, our commercial-driven society has led us to believe that concerts, art exhibitions, theater plays and documentaries are primarily entertainment. Indeed, artistic events can be entertaining, but our purpose is very different from just that. MSU fine arts events are in the business of communicating some of the greatest ideas created by human kind, conveying expression of the deepest feelings from the human spirit, delivering alternative views of traditional and contemporary issues and changing the world. The threshold that we aim to reach with the arts is much higher. The words Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote in 1776 seem to be as valid now as they were then: “We live in this world in order to learn industriously and, by exchanging our ideas, to enlighten one another and thus endeavor to promote the sciences and the fine arts.”

Universities provide a safe space for students to be challenged with ideas, and artistic events are no different. I invite all students to take advantage of this unique opportunity in your life. This is part of your liberal arts education 2.0, without the pressure of working for a grade; just for the pleasure of discovering more. Did I mention that most of these events are free to MSU students? Well, that just sweetened the offer, I hope.

Martin Camacho is the dean of Fain College of Fine Arts.

Become involved on campus

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t was the autumn of 1979 and I found myself in my freshman year, one of over 56,000 students at The Ohio State University. As a first-generation college student from a small town with a population less than half of that of my freshman class, I felt a bit out of place.

I knew I needed to find my niche and the first step was to run for my academic unit’s student Anthony council representative. I remember vividly getVidmar ting the call from dean John T. Mount’s office notifying me that I won. It did not even matter that I ran unopposed. It was a great first step.

Dean Mount was not only the advisor to the student council, but also on the board of the alumni association. Through him, I met other alumni and leaders who encouraged, challenged and mentored me during my four years in Columbus.

As a team of students, faculty, staff and alumni we had a shared vision: to increase the awareness of, engagement in and giving to our university. As students, we learned we did not have to wait until we graduated to share our time, talent and treasure to advance our university.

We also learned by being involved not only in academic coursework, but in student leadership organizations which

the

wichitan Vol. 82 | No. 18

Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd.

Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@mwsu.edu thewichitan.com @wichitanonline

enhanced our student experience. Our mentors modeled to us that success in life often comes as a result of not only what you know, but who you know.

It has been nearly four decades since I “won” that student council election my freshman year. But, I will never forget how being involved in that first student organization became a catalyst for me and put me on a path to success as I was blessed to interact with others who built into my life. Four years later, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors Distinction and was also chosen as one of eight Outstanding Senior Award winners from a graduating class of over 10,000 students.

To help foster the mutually beneficial connection between students and alumni and enrich campus traditions, many universities in Texas and across the nation have established a student alumni council. We at MSU Texas are doing so this spring as we will induct our inaugural cohort of student leaders in the university’s first SAC. Come help make MSU history.

For additional information on SAC contact Jesse Brown, coordinator of Student Organizations & Leadership Programming.

Anthony Vidmar is the vice president of University Advancement and Public Affairs.

EDITOR: Tyler Manning MANAGING EDITOR: Cortney Wood VISUALS EDITOR: Justin Marquart PHOTO EDITOR: Francisco Martinez ISSUE STAFF: Tasia Floissac, Martin Camacho, Anthony Vidmar, Brian Lang, Herbert McCullough, Andrea Pedon, Kristin Silva

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Rutth Mercado, Rachel Johnson, Bridget Reilly

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

Copyright ©2018.

The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. 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 (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.

| Feb. 7, 2018 | 3

▲ Dunkirk

These are the eight movies nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year.

OSCARS LEAD-UP ‘Get Out’, a chilling look at racism

‘Dunkirk’ a thrilling war flick, falls flat

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▲ Get Out

here comes a time in every serious director’s career to produce a war movie. Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film “Dunkirk” is an ode to the heroism and bravery of soldiers throughout some of the darkest days in Britain’s history. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, and Harry Styles, “Dunkirk” is a tense film that leaves audiences dazed by the terror of World War II. “Dunkirk” is set in the aftermath of a devastating German blitz along the French-Belgian border, which forced British, French, and Belgian troops to evacuate to the French port of Dunkirk.

However, this stretch of beach was too shallow for ships to pick up troops, ultimately stranding more than 300,000 soldiers on an open beach. With the help of around 850 British civilian boats, called “little ships,” the shell-shocked soldiers were successfully evacuated.

Nolan tells this epic in three simultaneous timelines. He spends a week on the beach, a day with a rescue boat, and an hour in the air with a fighter pilot. These stories are woven separately through the fabric of the narrative but align at the end, retelling the awe-inspiring allied victory.

“Dunkirk” is a cinematographic masterpiece. It is a gargantuan piece of

work. Nolan’s choice to throw the audience into the midst of a defeated and terrified crowd of soldiers instead of a more traditional approach, such as last year’s “Hacksaw Ridge,” leads to a more meaningful look at the horrors of war.

No specific actor stands out in Dunkirk. Instead, this faceless mass becomes a character itself as thousands of soldiers simultaneously duck for cover waiting for hundreds of civilians to rescue them.

While “Dunkirk” has received lots of praise, it does have its flaws. Nolan’s triple storyline is a great idea, but poorly executed. I was left confused about the timing of different scenes and would have to rewatch this film to put them in their place. Whenever the immediate tension wears off, this film becomes boring, and the muted color palette and a dearth of distinguishable characters certainly don’t help.

While it has amazing qualities, Dunkirk doesn’t hold a candle to some of the other Oscar contenders this year.

Still, if you’re interested in World War II, or you just want to figure out what they’re talking about in “Darkest Hour,” there are worse things you can watch than “Dunkirk.”

Rating: 7/10

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Brian Lang wrote both reviews for the Oscar ceremony on March 4, 2018.

ossibly the biggest breakout hit of 2017 was Jordan Peele’s horror film “Get Out,”a timely film that succeeds in the horror genre while starting a dialogue about racism in our country. Never before has an enjoyable horror film also conquered racial issues head-on.

When the familiar story of a boyfriend meeting his girlfriend’s family is retold, terrifying events ensue.

In its first half, “Get Out” examines how “non-racist” white people and black people interact. Small remarks may seem innocuous, yet carry deep implications and the use of slang to put others at ease or seem more relatable becomes uncomfortable for all involved. I could feel the tense awkwardness as this “progressive” family tries to show Chris just how accepting they were when it really would have been much easier to treat him like they would anyone else.

While normal life for a person of color is clearly not a horror film, some aspects of life seem that way. The scene when Chris is pulled over by the police is fraught with tension as the conversation toes the line of aggressiveness. And the fear of meeting a white girlfriend’s family is common and sadly, sometimes

justified. In its first half, the horror of “Get Out” comes directly from the lives of countless normal black people.

The exceptional acting in this film is also something to note. Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams are fantastic and the ensemble of supporting characters are perfectly cast. The portrayal of the black housekeeper and gardener (Betty Gabriel and Marcus Henderson) are unsettling and convey clear clues that something is not right at the Armitage’s.

This movie stayed with me long after the credits rolled, and new symbols kept coming to mind.

The only thing I wish this movie had changed was the denouement, when the film explained what was really going on. It seemed rushed and didn’t clear everything up. I think there would have been great material to be used if Peele had stretched this sequence more.

In conclusion, “Get Out” could not come at a better time. It emphasizes the fact that both extreme racism and faux progressiveness are equally harmful.

While the horror aspect of “Get Out” makes for a thrilling movie-going experience, it acts as a vehicle to open up an honest dialogue about race today.

Rating: 8/10

4 | Feb. 7, 2018 | PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Anna Leimer, associate professor, and Anna Richardson, studio arts sophomore, discuss about the art work during the opening reception at the Juanita Harvey Art Gallery on Feb. 2.

Kenda North, Juanita Harvey Art Gallery guest artist, speaks about her work and the process for individual pieces in her gallery.

Photographer engages with students about their artwork JUSTIN MARQUART VISUALS EDITOR

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hotographer Kenda North discussed her artwork with students in and outside of the classroom before the opening reception for her Retrospective Exhibition: “Seeing is a Nervous Habit.” Her reception showed a 40-year history of her photography.

“Kenda has been a very prominent figure in photography in the Dallas Fort Worth area for the last 30 years,” Gary Goldberg, gallery director and professor of photography, said.

While North was here on campus, she had the opportunity to visit with students and talk about their artwork. One class she visited was the photography class where she had Goldberg assign a project in which she critiqued with the students and challenged them with their own photography.

“She said you can’t be afraid to go out and take photos. You can’t be afraid to get close to people,” Sara Keeling, art senior, said.

Goldberg said it is good to have an artist as accomplished as North come and visit campus and get to talk to students.

“She has been very active as a pho-

tographer,” Goldberg said. “Her work has been shown all over the world in over 30 public collections.”

Goldberg also stated that it is a good thing for students to come see her exhibition because of the history it shows in color photography.

“If you look at the exhibition there’s also a small history of the evolution of color photography,” Goldberg said.

Ann Leimer, associate professor and chair of the art department, said when a student is in the presence of an experienced art maker it gives that student an opportunity to reflect upon how they make their own work and broadens their understanding of the art world. “[It is] really important for a student to be exposed to a broad range of makers of art because it can provide inspiration, role models and deepen the students understanding of the possibilities of art,” Leimer said.

North said it is beneficial for an outside artist to come to a school and give feedback on an art student’s work. It helps them become better.

North has even admitted that she will still send her photos off to people to have them critiqued.

“I don’t know them. I don’t know

their backgrounds. I don’t know their issues. I’m just looking at the work and can respond to it and that can be really beneficial,” North said about visiting art students.

North also gave a lecture to 38 people infighting them of who she is as an artist and the meaning behind some of her photos.

Kenda has worked in color her whole career as a photographer. At the beginning of her photography career, color was not a well accepted means to produce art, but she did it anyway.

“I have worked in color all of my career,” North said. “I started working in color when color was really not accepted within photography.”

The graduating art seniors got the opportunity to speak with her about their work.

“Having a flesh and blood artist in front of you helps make art come alive for students,” Leimer said.

Students said they enjoyed coming to the opening gallery reception to see her photos and talking with her.

“With the water edition it’s really interesting how she combines her like of swimming and being in water and the tranquility effect you get,” Rachel

Ross, art junior, said. “Her photos are truly unapologetically beautiful.”

For the students that were able to speak with North, they learned that in her early photography, when color was not widely accepted for art photography, she hand-created the colors that are in the photographs.

“I could invent the color. I mean I could invent the color of those blue jeans. I could think, ‘What do blue jeans look like?’ and create that.”

North said. “That has always been an overriding interest.”

North said when she was creating the color for the early photographs, she would make the color for what she saw, not what was necessarily true.

“I could create, could make things look whatever I wanted to make them,” North said. “I mean I didn’t know if that woman had white hair, but she did for me.”

Students said they left either her lecture, her one-on-one critique or her gallery opening with a sense of accomplishment and encouragement.

“It shows me that there are a lot of different things I can do whenever I graduate and I shouldn’t limit myself to ‘I’m just going to be an artist,’” Ross said.

| Feb. 7, 2018 | 5

Students learn about ‘Slavery in Libya, Beyond’

CULT U R E K I C K OF F S H O W

HERBERT MCCULLOUGH REPORTER

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n Feb. 5, staff from the Office of Equity, Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs hosted a presentation called “Slavery in Libya & Beyond.” This presentation was about the recent discovery of a slave trade that was reported in Libya by the IOM. Syreeta Greene, director of Equity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs said the purpose of this presentation was to inform the students what is going on as it relates to Libya in the slave trade.

“I also wanted to introduce them to the concept and the idea of modern-day slavery,” Greene said. “And that it has been happening due to our consumer choices support it in various ways.”

Kelsey Purcell, mass communication senior, said that she was saddened by the fact that slavery is still an issue in our world.

“Every person should have a right to freedom and to life,” Purcell said “And to know some people are still being treated as property is sickening.”

Greene said that this slave trade in Libya is caused by the migrant crisis where many migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees from Sub-Sharia Africa go through Libya and the Mediterranean Sea to settle in Europe.

“Libya is a country in Northern Africa that borders the Mediterranean Sea, which is a route to Europe,” Greene said. “There is a number of migrants and refugees from many African countries that travel through Libya to get to Europe for opportunities and for safety.”

Greene also said the European Union trying to deny entry to Europe is leaving many of these migrants stuck in Libya where they become more vulnerable to exploitation and modern-day slavery.

“The Italian government and other European countries are trying to cure the number of migrants and refugees that are trying to enter their countries,” Greene said. “There’s been a blockade and people are being stuck and are being held in detention centers. You have smugglers and traffickers who are taking advantage of individuals and families who are trying to make a better life for themselves.”

According to Greene, the mainstream media is not focusing enough on international affairs, especially in Africa, which is one of the main reasons why people are unaware of what is happening in Libya.

“I don’t really follow mainstream media,” Greene said. “There has been a trend in our popular media to not cover international issues, particularly those in Africa.”

Purcell said that the lack of awareness is due to people not being able to empathize with those in modern-day slavery.

“Sometimes people are in denial of the

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Kari Bell, management junior, is one of the models for the Black History Month Kick-Off Culture show, and her attire was representing date night attire on Feb. 2.

Preston Busby, criminal justice senior, sings the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” at the beginning of the Black History Month Kick-Off Culture show in Akin Auditorium, in front of an audience of about 150 people, who were encouraged to sing along with Busby.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Dierrica Smith, mass communication senior, is one of the first students to attend Syreeta Greene, director of Equity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs, discussion “Slavery in Libya and Beyond,” on how slavery has taken a twist from your average textbook definition at Kiowa suite in the Clark Student Center on Feb. 5. cruelty of this world,” Purcell said. “We saw this during World War II when millions of Jews were treated like animals and executed in mass, and so many stood by and ignored the horrors.”

Greene said that one way students can fight modern-day slavery is by raising awareness. She also endorsed different organizations and websites, such as antislavery.org.

“If students want to know how they are contributing to modern-day slavery, there’s a website called slaveryfootprint.org,” Greene said. “Under this website, students can access how their consumerism is contributing to modern-day slavery around the world.”

Conney Vargas, mass communication senior, said hearing about the slave trade in Libya reminded her of the times where slavery was legal in the United States.

“It took me back to memories about the time when we had slavery here in the States,” Vargas said. “It made me think that instead of progressing, the world has stepped back.”

Contrary to popular belief, Greene said that the slavery is still legal in the United States. Those incarcerated are exempt from the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution.

“Our prison system is a form of slavery,” Greene said. “You can’t have involuntary servitude except for if you are convicted of a crime and are sent to prison. Technically slavery still exist in the United States.”

Vargas said that her buying habits are a contribution to labor exploitation and modern-day slavery. She also said that making drastic changes can be very hard for many people.

“I own an iPhone and I know a lot of the companies that create iPhones are in China,” Vargas said. “I know that the phones aren’t made under the best circumstances, but at the end of the day, I still need a phone.”

Read more online at thewichitan.com.

Syreeta Greene, director of Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs, hosts Black HIstory Month Kick-Off Culture Show.

Latoya Fondren, mass communication junior, is one of the models for the Black History Month Kick-Off Culture Show.

6 | Feb. 7, 2018 | “The best skill a journalist can possess is a foreign language.”

(Caroline Mortimer)

Why not…

Add a double major in Spanish, a “Spanish for the Professions” or French minor, or German classes?

only 20% of the world speaks English as a native or non-native language







34.6% of Texas and 14.9% of Wichita Falls inhabitants speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau)

Credit is available, through proficiency exams, for language ability that you may already have in German, French, or Spanish.

82% of alumni received a competitive edge from their foreign language abilities (American School of International Management)



College graduates who speak a second language earn, on average, wages that are 2 percent higher (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

World Languages and Cultures, Midwestern State University Bea Wood 116 jeffrey.oxford@mwsu.edu

| Feb. 7, 2018 | 7

New council to ‘build deep connection’ for students, alumni ANDREA PEDON REPORTER

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ew student led program, the student alumni council, introduced on campus by Tony Vidmar, the vice president for university advancement and public affairs, will focus on starting new traditions and truly deepen the connection students have for the university.

“The SAC should be the engagement engine of the university,” Vidmar said. “No one can drive traditions more effectively than the student body.”

Applications for students who are interested in being involved with this new program opened Feb. 1. According to Vidmar, they hope to have an induction class in April.

However, the competitive program will likely request an interview and call to people willing to be leaders on the campus and strive to provide other students with the experiences and memories that will deepen their devotion for the university.

Jesse Brown, student involvement coordinator, said, “We are trying to cap the organization to about twenty students. We want to have student leaders on there who are passionate about Midwestern where we can develop new traditions and new ways to connect students with MSU.” In the past few years, the university had

to undergo several changes which has lost a lot of alumni support. The university was compelled to make a change to the mascot in 2006 transitioning from the Indians to the Mustangs enabling the campus to host events for the NCAA. Brown said, “We lost a lot of alumni support due to that although the decision was out of our hands. SAC and the students involved will be tasked with creating relations and events for the students that build a deep connection and love for the university.”

As a result, SAC is meant to build new traditions for Mustangs. James Johnston, provost and vice president for academic affairs, along with Suzanne Shipley, university president, have already tried setting off this cycle by attempting to invoke a senior walk around campus.

Johnston said that graduation is “one of the biggest achievements” for the senior undergraduates. By implementing a walk around campus, Johnston believes that it will serve as closure to the students who are graduating and give them a last farewell to the university.

The past four months, both Vidmar and Brown have been working on the SAC program, along with the student assistant Mitch Kipp, criminal justice freshman, to bring about new traditions such as a senior walk.

“It is important for students to get involved in organizations, such as this, because it helps

them learn skills they can’t learn in the classroom,” Kipp said. “Skills like leadership, and other hands on experiences. It’s a way to give back to the campus and it also offers students the opportunity to unwind from the stress of school and have some fun.”

According to Brown, administration in the Office of Student Involvement see through national, regional and local data, the more involved a students is on campus, the more likely they are to graduate on-time with a higher GPA and have long lasting connections compared to the students who don’t get involved.

Through SAC, Brown said the organization is “specifically designed to help people have connections with Midwestern.”

Before being appointed to work on campus in 2016, Vidmar served in various preferments at other universities including Purdue University, Ohio State, as well as Virginia Tech. He has seen first-hand the effects that a student led organization can have on the university as well as the members themselves.

“There was a connection that is mutually beneficial with alumni and the students. As a student, I got to see alumni leaders and they mentored me, so I think for students the connection that you have with your alumni can help you both indirectly and directly,” Vidmar said. “They can provide things such as career advice since they have already made that step in life. And I think a student too, who’s

not involved in some kind of activity really misses out on fun and relationships. Midwestern is such a relational campus it should be a natural thing to foster relationships. Ultimately it’s fun for the purpose.”

Because young alumni don’t usually get involved on campus until their late 40s or 50s, often times there is a 10 to 15 year time lapse between the young alumni and their involvement on campus, and Vidmar said he hopes SAC will connect graduates of all ages.

“We need to hear from out young alumni because they represent the next generation of leadership for the university,” Vidmar said.

“It’s a shame because we are missing the voice of a younger alumni base.”

More than just getting involved at a younger age, giving back to the university can have an impact for the future of the students who attend, and Leslee Ponder, alumni engagement liaison said donations to an alum’s college can provide opportunities for current students on campus.

“A large majority of the students that are enrolled are on a scholarship,” Ponder said.

“We don’t expect all of our alumni to give big bucks but $5 can go a long way. It helps to give another student the same opportunity that you’ve been given.”

Read the rest of the story online at thewichitan.com.

Samantha Carter balances on, off campus training jobs KRISTIN SILVA REPORTER

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ot only has she been an assistant athletic trainer on campus working with the softball and volleyball teams for two years, but Samantha Carter, instructor of Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology, has been performing athletic training duties for the USA softball team for the past three years.

Her career takes her all across the United States and out of the country. Carter has been to Buenos Aires, Argentina with the MSU volleyball team and has been to Tokyo, Japan with the USA softball team.

Carter said she has always wanted to travel and being an athletic trainer has helped her accomplish that dream. She said the experience of working in other countries was different from anything and everything she had ever seen, especially in her field of work.

According to Carter, resources are not as readily available in other countries as they are here in America and she is grateful for what she has. The experience of working in countries outside of the U.S. has helped her grow in her career because with less resources she has learned to think on the go. “[My favorite placed I’ve traveled to is] probably Tokyo,” Carter said. “That’s the biggest trip I’ve gotten to take with them [USA softball team]. I never thought I would be in Tokyo, Japan and whenever they asked me if I could go I was like ‘Of course. Yes, I can’.”

The lack of resources is her least favorite part about traveling in other countries because everything she has is carried in her medical kit which is no larger than a standard size duffel bag.

“Here [at MSU] we have an entire athletic training room with everything I need,” Carter said. “I have to make sure that I have every single thing [for any problem] that I could think of that may come up. I don’t have machinery that I would use normally in my everyday job.”

When Carter started her career at MSU she said she was nervous because she came late into the volleyball season, but on the first day she was welcomed with open arms and everyone made her feel like she was part of their family.

Though she was overwhelmed with all the information she was being told, the coaches accepted her and trusted that she knew what she was doing with their athletes.

“I just feel like I have the best teams and the best coaches,” Carter said. “And I may be biased because every athletic trainer says that about their [teams], but my favorite part is getting to know my team and my coaches and having that strong relationship [so] that we can work well together.”

Carter said when she came into this program she thought teaching would be her least favorite part of her job; however, after going into her second year in the program, she said teaching is helping her grow as a young professional, and she has acquired a new level of respect for college professors.

“It takes a lot of work,” Carter said. “It takes away from my normal day. I have to make hours for what I’m going to do in class, then I have hours for seeing my athletes. I definitely [prefer] teaching more of a one-on-one style, but teaching in a class is also rewarding because everyone sees things differently and I enjoy hearing how [students] feel about different topics.”

Carter said working with the USA Softball team and being an athletic trainer at MSU gives her the best of both worlds.

Working with the USA team in the summer helps her keep her skills well practiced and keeps her research up to date so when

she returns to MSU in August, she can easily jump back into her routine.

“This is a really good experience [working with USA softball],” Carter said. “Not only is it beneficial to me in my career, but it is another job. I have a 10 month contract [with MSU], so it is another source of income in the summer when I am not working [at MSU].”

Her short term goal is to get the opportunity to go to the upcoming 2020 Olympic games with the USA softball team and her ultimate goal within her career is to work at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

“I’m trying to gain as much experience in the collegiate setting and with USA [softball] so that hopefully I can get a job out there [at the Olympic Training Center] and live in Colorado,” Carter said.

Carter decided to be an athletic trainer her senior year in college after suffering a back injury her junior basketball season. Going through surgery, rehab and therapy made her realize what athletic trainers do and though she could no longer play sports, she said it was a way she could remain involved.

“I was still technically a part of the team just in a different aspect,” Carter said. “My senior year I finished my bachelor’s in kinesiology and applied to an entry level master’s program of athletic training.”

Her advice to students in the athletic training program is to pay attention in the anatomy class because it is the most important class since it deals with the entire human body.

“Listen to as much as you can. If you see someone [an athletic trainer] doing an evaluation [on an athlete], go up and listen, ask questions, figure out what they’re doing, why they’re doing it,” Carter said. “The more questions you ask, the better you are going to be as a professional.”

8 | Feb. 7, 2018 | LOOK I N G F O R WARD TO TENNIS SEASON

T R AC K

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Alex Martinez Roca, mechanical engineering freshman, and Denney Norrie, business sophomore, win their doubles tennis match 8-6 against Semiole State. “We have been practicing really hard as a team and I am really thankful that coach has been pushing us really hard, because of that I think our team is going to be really successful over the weekend,” Joshua Sundaram, mechanical engineering sophomore said.

Vasudev Vijayaraman, computer science senior, serves the ball. “We are young on both teams, so we just need to work on experience,” head coach Scott Linn said.

Alex Martinez Roca, mechanical engineering freshman, trips while attempting to hit a low ball.

“For us as a team, our energy, finish and focus will help us really get far and help us win nationals which will be great for this program,” Sundaram said.

PHOTOS BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Nursing freshman Delaney Locke, respiratory junior Michelle Rieves and criminal justice senior Sabrina DeSantiago compete head to head in the 3,000 meters Rieves finished 14th with 11:23.72, Locke finished 15th with a new PR of 11:25.78, and DeSantiago finished 17th with 11:31.26.

Nursing senior Nicole Coetzer and respiratory junior Michelle Rieves start their 3,000 meter run.

Criminal justice freshman Michelle Estrada runs the 800 meter leg of the distance medly relay at the Texas Tech indoor track and field meet. MSU placed 10th with a time of 13:45.47. Estrada also competed in the mile, finishing 18th in a time of 5:43.11. on Feb 2.

Jean Muniz, undecided freshman, attempts to reach for the ball with his racket during the Seminole State vs MSU duobles tennis matches at MSU on Feb. 2.

Undecided freshman Hannah Ponder finished 26th in the weight throw, with a distance of 11.52 meters, Ponder achieved a new PR as well as breaking her own school record.