Oct. 10, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 83 No. 6
DOMINICA TAKES THE CROWN AT Mr. and Ms. Caribfest pageant Social Media Day
ALANA EARLE REPORTER
pg. 5-12
Many students, faculty and staff showed up to learn about the different uses of social media.
Caribfestfest
pg. 13-14
Students and their families get to experience the Caribbean culture through CSO’s annual Caribfest.
Family Day
pg. 11
Students get to spend time with their families by participating in multiple events.
Gold, glitz and glamour coated the night in Akin Auditorium that would make Jay Gatsby envious as the annual Mr. and Ms. Caribfest pageant leaned into “The Great Gatsby” theme. The festivity, part of the Caribfest, allowed students in the Caribbean Student Organization to showcase the vibrant culture and unite the students from the various islands in the Caribbean in just a few days on campus and get dressed up for the elegant evening. “It gives the campus a different feel, we share the event to give MSU a taste of our culture, we want to bring Wichita Falls the same,” Jiselle, accounting, said. “We just want everyone to come out, eat our food and enjoy our culture.” The excitement of Caribfest extends further than just the students on campus, and Wade Courtney, MSU Texas and CSO alumni, said the event is one of the most exciting times for him. “I’ve been here since 2009, and every year it is different in some way and every year it gets better,” Courtney said. Much like the laid-back culture is represented on campus, so is the “island time” as the event was pushed to 7:55 p.m. instead of the 7 p.m. sharp start time initially indicated for the event. Sponsors of the event are from the MSU Texas alumni association and CSO alumni to the various community leaders who help fund it as well, this gives CSO the opportunity to showcase their culture through multiple events that typically span the early evening to late hours of the night. 200 people were estimated to be there. The night began with a Gatsby themed introduction dance, followed by the contestants walking out in their evening wear. Then, the contestants introduced themselves with their platforms. There were four Ms. Caribfest contestants and three Mr. Caribfest contestants, all eager to win the crown for themselves as much as for their country. The emcees, Karla Henry and Darien Roach, then introduced the 11 judges and special guest Keith Lamb, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
TALENT PORTION
The first Ms. Caribfest contestant Breanna
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
Lydie Joseph and Grantley Samuels are crowned the new king and queen of Caribfest 2018. Leary, exercise physiology from the Bahamas, did a contemporary dance routine to Beyonce’s’ “Pretty Hurts” to speak about the struggles of feeling beautiful and accepting yourself in today’s social media crazed society. Eyes wide and a sense of chills were in the air, the audience listened to first Mr. Caribfest contestant Taris Major, architecture and mechanical engineering senior also from the Bahamas, performed a dramatic speech, infused with music about the alleged links between mental health and school shootings. Major acted as if he was walking to class and was
killed in a school shooting and then rose up in dark lighting to give his speech. Grantley Samuels, another Mr. Caribfest contestant number three mechanical engineering senior, originating from Antigua and Barbuda, played steelpan and the audience pumped him up by cheering.
SWIMSUIT PORTION
The swimsuit portion followed the talent portion and Roach joked that “This is my favorite section of the pageant!” Before each contestant strutted out to their
see PAGEANT pg. 2