The Wichitan

Dec. 2, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | SPECIAL ISSUE

ALEJANDRO OCHOA Chemistry Senior

DAN ZHANG Finance Sophomore

MATT CROCKETT Music Education Sophomore

BRANDON ALLEN Mechanical Engineering Junior

EVERLINA JOHN PHILLIP Accounting Senior

AUSTIN GLENN Music Education Sophomore

YANITZA ALVAREZ Nursing Freshman

SHAWN WHITAKER Business Sophomore

TAMRA WOODS Education Sophomore

MATT ARMSTRONG Criminal Justice Junior

KENNY BONE Music Education Freshman

LEXI MURPHY Early Childhood Education Freshman

KEVIN AVILA Criminal Justice Freshman

LIZCA BASS Painting Senior

AALIYA WOERTENDYKE History and Political Science Freshman

JORGE SANTOS Undecided Freshman

BROOKE WHYRICK HANWEN YAO Music Performance Freshman Management Information Systems Freshman

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

Over the past decade, MSU has evolved. Changes in international enrollment, housing as well as residential and athletic facilities exemplify the evolution.

But over the next 10 years, students can expect to see even more changes.

2 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

MORGAN HUSLEY Criminal Justice Sophomore

“[In 10 years MSU] will be more academically competitive because more students are coming here, so MSU is growing a lot.

We don’t have room for everyone, so we will take the best academically.”

Economic development: The future of Wichita Falls

ROBERT WILLIAMS EDITOR

O

il and gas have been major contributors to the economy of Wichita Falls since 1918, when oil was first found in Burkburnett. There are declines in these industries. Since oil will not be around forever, Wichita Falls will have to rely on other industries as its main source of income. Midwestern State University plays a big role in the midst of all the development by providing students for the work force. Still, the city struggles to keep the students around after graduation. Officials working with the Chamber of Commerce have a new vision for the city, one that shifts ideals from traditional methods.

Henry Florsheim, president and chief executive officer of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, said history plays a part in the shift Wichita Falls is seeing.

“History is hard to overcome and the traditional idea of economic development has solely been focused on chasing smoke stacks, solely been focusing on what’s the next big industry your recruiting and I would say were doing that. We just have to add this quality of life component into that,” Florsheim said. “We got to pay attention to the work force, got to pay attention to the citizens and what they want out of the community.”

There is no longer a push to revive a dying industry that has no future, such as the oil field. Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce has changed its direction to new industries. Aerospace, manufacturing and data centers are at the top of the priority list.

Florsheim said, “We can only target industries that we can provide the work force and so we’ve got a good

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Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room B103 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 - wichitan@mwsu.edu

engineering base here, have a good business school here. We know that healthcare training programs already do a good job of feeding into local healthcare providers and so we just got to figure out what is it that we’re good at. So we look at MSU and we say ‘OK, what are the programs feeding people already in the industry,’ and those are the ones we target.”

Some students who come from areas other than Wichita Falls end up going back home, because there are more job opportunities.

Nick Hamilton, criminal justice senior, said he will be going back to Dallas after graduation because there’s not as many jobs in Wichita Falls.

“I’m definitely moving back home, because I know I can for sure get a job back home,” Hamilton said. “Of course there are jobs here too, but I feel like I would have to work harder in finding one because of the size of the town. There are only so many jobs available. I love MSU, don’t get me wrong, but there’s really not much going on outside of school in this town.”

Bringing new businesses to town is vital for the chamber, as it provides jobs for MSU students and the community. There are plans being put in place to recruit companies to expand to Wichita Falls.

Florsheim said, “I can tell you from my prospective we have to be able to provide work force for industry to be willing to locate here.

Another focus for the Chamber is providing a college atmosphere for MSU students, including rebuilding a once thriving downtown.

Florsheim said, “I’d certainly like us to have more of a college-town feel. A good example is when you go to Fort Worth and there’s TCU banners ev-

erywhere. I’d like to see that and have that feel not just downtown here, but all over the city. There are some great billboards around, but I’d love to see one coming out the main entrance from the airport to have the first thing visitors see is not just Wichita Falls banners but MSU banners as well, saying that ‘hey we’re proud to have this university here and we want to shout that from the rooftops.’”

Florsheim said he has reached out to student organizations at MSU to get the opinions of students.

“I’ve ran into several student groups, specials, and internships that were graduating and I asked ‘what could Wichita falls do better to keep you and students like you here after you graduate and almost all of the things talked about were that there needs to be more to do downtown,” said Florsheim.

The Yard is one of downtown’s newest additions. It is a food truck park that offers a variety of foods, cantina, weekend entertainment and an atmosphere the city hadn’t experienced before.

Marvin Groves, owner of the yard, said he was inspired when his now 33-year-old daughter took him out to eat in Dallas at a similar outdoor park.

“We need participation,” said Groves. “I would like for people to be more involved.”

Groves said he likes the idea of a downtown revival and hopes that this town can grow and be a more fun place to live.

“Wichita just isn’t there yet, not like Oklahoma City or Fort Worth. We are 25 years behind on the development,” said Groves.

Florsheim has a big vision for downtown Wichita Falls that could be

EDITOR: Robert Williams and Emmi Wilson PHOTO EDITORS: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez DESIGNERS: Brianna Sheen and Justin Marquart REPORTERS: Yvette Ordonez, Amy Portillo, Jacklyn York, Sabrina Rodriguez, Amy Clifton, Taylor Warren and Kharmyn Lewis ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

compared to Fort Worth or Oklahoma City’s brick town.

“If you go to Oklahoma City, if you go to Fort Worth for example, you always know there’s going to be something to do,” said Florsheim. Clubs, restaurants, shops, people, there’s no reason we can’t have that here. But that message had been lost and now you got an entire community starting to realize that so businesses are starting to come back. The city is investing and we’re going to be finding a location downtown that is more visible.”

Florsheim said he and University President Suzanne Shipley have been working hand in hand to improve the town of Wichita Falls and its way of life, by constantly reaching out and making connections.

“We talked a lot about the potential of this community and the different connections that both of us could make,” said Florsheim. She agrees just like I do that there are some great things we can do here. We just need to continue to pull all the people in the room who need to be in the room together and talk about how we do this better. There are always better ways of doing things no matter how good you were last year.”

Wichita Falls is continuing to expand and improving connections outside the community to provide more jobs and more of a college atmosphere. The road is long ahead, but one day Wichita Falls could be similar to Fort Worth. Florsheim said his vision of this town in the future is one of success.

“In 10 years we’ll have a booming downtown and we’re going to feel more like a college town,” said Florsheim.

Additional reporting by Yvette Ordonez

Copyright © 2015. 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 telephone number and address.

The editor retains the right to edit letters.

E NR O L L ME NT Even over the last seven years, the face of MSU has changed. All of the future plans for the university hinge on enrollment growth, the priority of the office of enrollment management.

COMMENTS BELOW FROM KEITH LAMB VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT 1%

American Indian

1%

1% Unknown 1% 0% 4% 7%

Pacific Islander Asian

0% 3%

Non-Resident Alien 10%

9% Hispanic 17% 13% Black 14%

2008

66% White 55%

2015

RACE Over the last seven years, MSU has seen an increase in racial diversity particularly showing

an increase in Hispanic students. Of the COPLAC schools, MSU was one of the most racially diverse. “As we go forward in time were going to look more like Dallas and more like throughout the state of Texas. Within the next 10 to 15 years, we have a chance to be classified as a Hispanic-serving institution which would open up Title V federal funds. That’s a pretty good goal. We need to serve the population of Texas.” SOURCE: MSU Office of Institutional Research

PROJECTED

RETENTION “There is a lot of room for improveENROLLMENT HEAD COUNT “The biggest growth area is going to be in state.

That’s where most of our students are at if you look at us geographically speaking we’re sitting right on top of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country and one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. That’s where most of our future students are going to be from. One thing that has led to flat enrollment over the past 10 years is the changing criteria for admission standards.”

ment in this area because if I keep you it’s less expensive than recruiting a new student. There’s a lot that we can do in the next coming years that can drive that number up a little. So if we can keep at least 10 percent of our newly students enrolled the next year enrollment increases.”

SOURCE: Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

CREDIT HOURS “This is more important than head

count because this is how were funded. The fees that you pay are per semester credit hours. The way the state funds us is per semester credit hours. So, if you look at how many semester credit hours we are producing, it’s gone down and gone up. What’s important here is that our semester credit hours are up.”

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 3

Enrollment growth key While universities across Texas have seen unprecedented growth over the last decade, MSU peaked in 2010, a result, officials say, of a combination of factors including enrollment standards and the economy.

Over the next few years — decades — all of the changes at the university from students services to faculty/staff salaries to new buildings are dependent on enrollment growth.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of business affairs and finance, said, “If you grow enrollment then you have more money. You’ve got more students paying the same amount but you’ve got more of them so that’s our strategy for now, is to grow enrollment. You’ve got all of these costs that are the same no matter if you have 2,000 students or 6,000 students. Obviously it’s better to have the 6,000 students and cover those costs.”

The composition of the students attending MSU for the first time is also changing with more students taking advanced classes in high school.

“In time we will get more of those students because students in high school are starting to take more and more of these classes. Now were getting more and more freshmen every year who are sophomores,” he said.

The growth also means changes on campus as fewer students commute to campus and more live on campus.

“We’re becoming a residential campus. Residential population is exploding,” Lamb said. And he said this means providing more campus services from dining to counseling.

Lamb said when he looked at where these students were coming from, clearly more were coming from outside the Wichita Falls area. To pursue even more students from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, the admissions office hired Adam Pitts to work full-time recruiting students in that area.

Most of the students that aren’t from the Wichita Falls area are coming from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Reporting by Amy Portillo

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

ZACHARY SPICER Vocal Music Education Freshman “There will be a bigger band hall and more people in band.

There will be a bigger music program because I feel like we are going places, well I’m hopeful at least. We got a lot of new professors this year and I more money is coming in to the program, plus we are getting new uniforms next year. I’ve been told that the band has also been the best it’s been in years.”

4 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

SHANICE ROBERTS Biology Sophomore

“I hope that the MSU name will be known as one of the biggest Texas state schools. I hope it will be more recognized and compared with UT or A&M.”

B U D GET

Tuition drives university budget When tuition and fees make up 42 percent of the university’s income, enrollment is key. However the university’s budget is more complicated than that. Income is primary derived from tuition and fees and state funding. The single largest expenditure is for payroll.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of business affairs and finance,said, “There is an allocation method to see how much the legislature will appropriate out of the pie depending on enrollment and other factors.

Our chunk has shrunk because our size has stayed the same while others in the state have grown. Next year though, FY17, I was on the committee to make a recommendation for an increase and it was approved.”

Fowlé said this year the school’s chunk of the state’s pie was $3.3 million but next fiscal year it will be more than $5 million.

While state appropriations, like the Higher Education Assistance Fund, make up 26 percent of funds to the university, the funds are much like borrowing money from dad. Appreciative, nonetheless, but $20 in gas and gas only won’t fill an empty belly throughout the week. The portion of the budget that has the most leverage is from benefactors and donations.

Valarie Maxwell, director of budget and management, said, “We have a lot of local family support and benefactors,” Fowlé said MSU depends on donations from families such as the Dillards and foundations such as the Priddy Foundation “which have been good as gold.”

Reporting by Jacklyn York

INCOME in millions

$7.4 Auxiliaries $10.2 $3.8 HEAF $3.4 $3.2

Other E&G

$3.4

$15.7 Restricted $18.2

2010

$25.3 General Revenue

$24.1

$34.9

$43.1

Tuition and Fees

2016

EXPENDITURES in millions

$1.2 Travel $1.1 $2.2 Wages $2.6 $3.6 Utilities $3.2

2010

$8.4

Debt Service

$8.1

$15.9

Financial Aid

$21.4

$16.2 Staff $17.7

2016

$17.2 Faculty $19.5 $25.6 Operations $29.8 SOURCE: Office of Business Affairs and Finance

DONORS Howard Farrell,

vice president of advancement and public affairs, said, “Look at the Dillard Building. Dillard at this point has probably contributed about $10 -$11 million.” He added, the McCoy family has contributed about $8-$10 million. “I’m just mentioning a few,” Farrell said.

There are all of the buildings that have people’s names on them.

TUITION AND FEES Keith Lamb, vice

president of student affairs and enrollment management, said, “Student fees have gone up over the years. We’re still about middle in Texas. We don’t want to go up too high and get too expensive, because I think that we lose our edge at that point. We have a very thin margin with our budget every year.”

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 5

PHOTO BY FRANCISO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

In their second semester, nursing students in the class, Basics, taught by Ronald Crone in the J.S. Bridwell Regional Simulation Center, learn how to put an IV in their patient and control the fluid amount that goes through the tube.

FILE PHOTO BY EDDIE MILLER | THE WICHITAN

Alejandro Hernandez, senior in mechanical engineering, works on his senior design project using a hydraulic peck-drill in the McCoy training lab in the spring of 2014.

Nursing program: university’s largest SABRINA RODRIQUEZ REPORTER

W

hen walking around the campus, students can be seen eating, heading to class or enjoying the day. Those students wearing maroon scrubs with an MSU patch on the sleeve and textbooks in their hands are members of the nursing program.

The nursing program is one of the leading programs offered by the school.

Kathleen Williamson, chair and associate professor of nursing, said, “Nursing has always been a valued profession and an ethical profession.”

The nursing program has a high retention rate for graduating, according to Williamson.

Amanda Irby, nursing sophomore, said, “When applying for colleges I looked for the ones with the best nursing program, and Midwestern State always showed up.”

The nursing program accounted for 11.2 percent of MSU graduates in 2014.

Irby said, “I picked the school specifically for the nursing program, because if a school puts in so much effort to keep such a high ranking for the program, then I am sure it will give me the best education in that area that I can get.”

Williamson said, “Our program’s platform is a bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse, but there are so many opportunities for nurses after that.”

Almost every registered nurse is employed upon

TOP 10

The top undergraduate programs by enrollment SOURCE: Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

graduating from the program, Williamson said.

Elam Lazo, a sophomore in nursing, said, “I picked this school because of everything it offers to nursing, not just stopping at a bachelor’s degree.”

The school offers multiple undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees.

Irby said, “I don’t plan to stop at my bachelor’s degree, so having the choice and opportunity here to further my education really helped in my selection process for schools.”

Williamson said, “What makes our program unique is the longevity of it. The professors here have been here for a long time and are truly vested in student learning.”

A majority of the professors in the nursing program have been teaching at the school for many years and had work experience before teaching. Many of the professors have their own practice or clinic and still work while teaching.

Irby said, “During orientation and visitation to the school, I was able to talk to some of the professors here, and I was amazed at how much experience they have in the field, and how much they enjoyed explaining their work to us. That moved me, and ensured that I wanted to stay in the healthcare field.”

A simulation center was created off campus in Jan. 2005, with a full-time staff of nursing educators to help teach students in real-life scenarios.

Williamson said, “Our simulation center has man-

nequins that can breathe and talk to you. You can stick and put everything in them, and they are meant to give you scenarios that you will see in the real world.”

Students are tested individually and in groups. The center tests in respiratory, child bearing, mother care and more to provide students with a wide range of scenarios.

Lazo said, “I was very interested in the simulation center. Testing like that rather than just sitting in a classroom all day is much more beneficial and intriguing to me. The school teaching us hands on is much different than hearing about it, and that will prepare me for the real world and how to handle the situations better.”

Nursing was offered at the school as an associate’s degree until the 1960s, when it was changed to a bachelor’s degree and then built as a program.

Williamson said, “The legacy and history of the program is what creates the buzz for it. We have been here and the longevity of it is what makes this program unique.”

According to Williamson, the long time dream and passion of wanting to become a nurse, and get through the rigorous courses keeps the program alive. The pride of graduating after so much hard work creates this feeling that she hopes to provide to the students.

Williamson said, “I don’t see the trend changing in any way. The opportunity for growth is much greater for graduate and undergraduate students."

Nursing

Undecided

Management

Radiological Sciences

Accounting

Early Childhood Education

Mechanical Engineering

Criminal Justice

Pre-Psychology

Biology

6 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

“If we were to add another sport, it would only be a women’s sport. We’ve had some interest in sand volleyball.

It would be an easy carry over from volleyball.”

“We have no money right now to expand. The money they would need to expand would have to come from outside donors and supporters who are interested in investing in a new sport.”

CHARLIE CARR Athletic Director

CHARLIE CARR Athletic Director

Indians’ first recorded pictures published in the ’47 Wai-Kun yearbook. Delma Lee Ligon coached the team.

Wichita Falls Junior College founded

1922

NOTABLE ATH wide receiver Football Leag (USL)) | Danie professional s — profession Panthers | Ra

The Coliseum, originally named MSU Coliseum, was built for $3 million, making it the most expensive building project in Wichita Falls history. The 3,640-seat arena is air-conditioned and has a hardwood-playing surface.

Ricky Randall 1989 and cycl by the Wichit

Soccer field built. Men’s soccer added as club sport. BELOW: Christian Okeke, undecided junior, dribbles the ball past a Colorado Mesa opponent in attempt to shoot a goal, during the NCAA II Round Two play off game held at the MSU Soccer Field, Nov. 15, 2015. Also in 2015, Doug Elder became the became the winningest men’s soccer coach.

MSU starts using football is resume

Midwestern’s original gym (now the Hardin building) built

1924

1937

1947 After a mid-season car accident injured eight starters, the baseball season was put on hold and eventually discontinued.

1960

1969

1972 Official name changed to Midwestern State University

1975 1982: MSU becomes NAIA division 1998: Move from NAIA to NCAA Division II

PHOTO REPRINTED FROM MANY BEGINNINGS

The 1925 tennis team formed one of the first sports at what became MSU. Basketball and football begin as intercollegiate sports

D

FR O M TH E M ASTER PLAN

HLETES WHO ATTENDED MSU | Bryan Gilmore — National Football League r | Tony Pesznecker — professional soccer player | Dominic Rhodes — National gue running back | Chad Smith — professional soccer player (Charlotte Eagles el Woolard — professional soccer player D.C. United | Craig Sutherland — soccer player | Andy Tanner — professional football player | Eric Dawson nal basketball player | Amini Silatolu — professional football player Carolina ay Gene Smith — NFL player | Bryce Taylor — professional soccer player

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 7 The Texas Legislature already appropriated more than $58 million, a portion of which could be used to build a new science building.

Move soccer stadium and re-orient existing Building parking garage. Build 12-court field. Thomas Parides, business management tennis facility and additional turf field. sophomore, said, “I am a bit disappointed that Provide free-play area. they are taking down our grass stadium when it’s been there for years.”

The football team now plays in the school district’s stadium. Carr said, “It costs $3,500 per game to lease Memorial Stadium plus a variable amount for equipment.”

FILE PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS

l rides in the 2014 Hotter ‘N Hell men’s crit races. The cycling team was formed in lists now compete in dozens of events internationally and cyclists are supported ta Falls Hotter ‘N Hell 100 organization.

Build softball stadium on South Campus.

Complete Mustang Walk.

PHOTO BY BRIANDA MORALES

g Memorial Stadium as ed Football team reaches NCAA Regional Semifinals

1982

Expand Wellness Center and add football stadium. Carr said, “Having the stadium on campus would encourage students to attend more home football games

1989

Dallas Cowboys training camp at MSU

1999

2006

Track and field added; softball advances to semifinal round of the NCAA Division II championship.

BELOW: Freshman Kat Batey pitches against Central Oklahoma.

2011

Brenna Moore, nursing senior, and Jeff Ray, golf coach, speak at a press conference with Moore discussing her national championship in golf, MSU’s NCAA first national championship.

2012

2015 Men’s basketball advances to third straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight quarterfinals

Mascot changed from Indians to Mustangs

BEYOND

8 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

LINDSEY ODOM Music Education Sophomore

“I guess I want to see more people participating around the college and in college events, people that not only live on campus but also commuters like me.”

New residence hall only beginning of housing expansion AMY CLIFTON REPORTER

A

s part of an effort to provide on-campus housing for an increasing number of residential students, a new residence hall is under construction for next fall but remains slightly behind schedule.

Angie Reay, interim director of residence life, said, “The residence hall that is under construction is definitely going to help for the present. It will provide more on-campus housing, with 450 beds, which is what we want.”

Having 450 beds available will allow students to have the option of living on campus.

Keith Lamb, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, said, “Most of our students are coming from DFW and increasing, which is why most of our residential halls are just going crazy now. If you look overall, I think it’s 72 or 73 percent of our students are not from Wichita Falls, so it’s really become this residential campus.”

MSU is becoming more and more of a residential campus with the increase of students living on campus.

Reay said, “Our aim is to have more students living on campus.

The college experience is much more rewarding when living in the heart of campus and provides better opportunities for students to engage with campus activities.”

The residence hall is set to open in August 2016, but is about three weeks behind schedule.

Kyle Owen, associate vice president facility services, said, “While you always hope the construction is further along than it should be, the due date of August 2016 is still doable.”

The construction is part of a five-year plan for facilities at MSU that also includes another residence hall depending on demand for on-campus housing.

Owen said, “We hope that it fills up and creates a backlog. We plan to build another one in five years, depending on enrollment

•

PHASE 1 According to the master plan, the new residence hall landscape is to include connection to east/west “Sunwatcher Path” from Sunwatcher Village to Moffett Library and Bolin Hall

PHASE 2 According to the master plan, new residence halls are to be located on both sides of parking garage.

PHASES 3-4 According to the master plan, Phases 3 and 4 will add 760 beds and additional open space for informal recreation.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Construction of the new residence hall, located between three existing residence halls and the Fain Fine Arts building. The new hall is scheduled to open in 2016 and is substantially on schedule with electricity scheduled to be turned on during the winter break.

rates and housing needs in the future.”

Owen added, our only fear is that we build another $30 million building and no one moves into it.

However, the current construction is only part of the recent changes in housing.

Reay said, “I have been at MSU since 2004 and have seen huge improvements in our residential facilities. All our housing facilities have been renovated since opening, except Sundance,

which only opened in 2009. We are due for another housing facility.”

Aside from residential facilities being built, there are also plans to improve academic facilities, such as a new College of Health Sciences and Human Services building and another expansion to McCoy Engineering.

Football coaches’ offices moved to the West Campus Annex this past summer and the Sunwatcher Plaza/Mustangs Walk opened this fall.

Goal: 30 percent residential The master plan calls for housing to have at least 30 percent of the student population living on campus a substantial increase from past years.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of business affairs and finance, said, “The more residential you become, the more auxiliary money you have because more kids are living on campus. The problem we’re going to have is our facilities aren’t built for residential campus, so we’re going to have this whole transition to go from limited amounts of housing and food service to taking care of a bigger population.”

The board has plans to renovate the student center in the near future.

“They are also going to go in and renovate the student center this summer, because now we’re going to have 500 more kids on board and the cafeteria isn’t going to make it,” she said.

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 9

A global village

MSU reaches 9.8 percent international enrollment TAYLOR WARREN REPORTER

I

n the next 10 years, international enrollment is expected to surpass the projected goal of ten percent. Bringing different nationalities to the university has already taken place, but striving for global approach is the objective.

“The percentage we are at right now is 9.8 percent,” Randy Glean, director of international services, said. “Most universities reach for the global village approach of trying to get as many nationalities and as many students on campus as possible. Once we reach the 10 percent goal, we will raise that goal to 12 percent.”

On campus, one in eight students are international students and one in nine are foreign-born, said Glean.

“We are thinking it will eventually be that one in eight students will be a foreign-born,” Glean said.

Outreach is a primary source in drawing students to the university.

“We go where they are to sell the virtues of Midwestern State University and Wichita Falls,” Glean said. “We also work to put parents at ease to show them that the community is calm and safe.”

Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment, said higher education in the United States remains the gold standard for the world.

“There are a number of students around the world who want to come here to study,” Lamb said.

The university is positioned internationally similarly to domestically leading to a value proposition.

“We offer a very good education for an inexpensive price and that extends to our international students,” Lamb said.

The university has a special tuition category that enables an extension to international students, which most institutions do not.

44 Antigua

36 Bahamas

45 China

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Students gather together to take a group photo with a Bahamas flag in the Killingsworth Green Space for the 2015 Caribfest Parade on Sept. 25.

“Most institutions will charge a student a non-resident rate,” Lamb said. “Most state tuitions have three category rates: in-state, out-of-state, and non-residency.”

Lamb said the university is unique in a way that it can offer a fourth category of tuition rate for international students.

“It falls in-between out-of-state and non-resident,” Lamb said. “It is called TIER II and essentially allows us to offer international students tuition that is less than the non-resident fee that most universities charge.”

Sachithra Weerasooriya, international student from Sri Lanka and sophomore in math and physics, said the university’s low tuition rate is one of the reasons she chose to study here.

63 Dominica

41 Grenada

“I searched for universities in the U.S. and MSU came up as one of them,” Weerasooriya said. “I thought it was one of my best options because the tuition was so cheap compared to the other universities. I plan to stay to get my higher studies in the U.S.” Students enrolled in an international program are taken care of when they first arrive to the States.

“We pick them up at the airport and bring them here to Wichita Falls,” Glean said. “We make sure they have housing, that they are registered for classes, and those who are academically eligible, we try to help them with scholarships.”

India, China and the Caribbean are the top three countries represented at MSU.

81 India

SOURCE: Office of Institutional Research

30 Nigeria

29

Saudi Arabia

“We meet with universities there who are interested in students studying abroad,” Lamb said. “We are starting to see benefit of that work. We have about 45 students from China and we expect that to grow.”

Jiaming Zhang, international student from China and accounting junior, said the programs offered by the university are what brought him to study here.

“I want to go into the banking industry and MSU offers a platform to allow me to get my master’s degree,” Zhang said. “I transferred here from the study program at my university in China.”

As international enrollment rates increase, specific departments will also look to increase. Engineering, computer science and business departments are already beginning to do so.

“I feel we are going to create more engineering programs to meet the interests of students internationally,” Glean said. “Also, I feel like we are going to grow 15 percent as an international program and will see greater representation of South Africa, China and Asian countries.”

Computer science programs have become popular to students from India.

“Students we are receiving from India are largely interested in the computer science majors,” Lamb said. “There is an interest in business with students from China as well as the engineering program. Health sciences are popular with students from the Caribbean.”

Caribbean nations will still be the base of the international program, but the university is working to seek more additional diversity.

“I still believe the Caribbean culture will have a huge part on the university,” Lamb said. “We are starting to look at outreach to students in Central and South America as well as maintaining communication with students in China and India.” ­­

29 Sri Lanka

38 St. Kitts

24

Zimbabwe

10 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

Marijuana violations on campus KHARMYN LEWIS REPORTER

THE CHANGING FACE of @midwesternstate

TIM TORRES Biology Sophomore

I hope that we can get more school spirit from our students. MSU will be a rising university. Maybe MSU will be a Division I school and more well known.

W

hen parents imagine their child going off to college, they may have some fears.

Aside from alcohol, marijuana is another major substance abused on college campuses. Parents fear that once they kiss their freshmen goodbye, they will be swept off to a party with a funnel of beer shoved down their throat, or a student will shove a bong in their face and hand them a gallon-sized bag of weed.

With the legalization of marijuana happening in nearby states, finding a joint dangling from the lips of a student seems increasingly likely. And the musty-stale smell of marijuana isn’t all that rare.

Compared to neighboring universities, MSU had almost twice as many drug law violation referrals as Tarleton State and 11 times more than Cameron in 2014. However, both Tarleton and Cameron University had more drug law arrests than MSU last year. As of this year there have been 20 cases of marijuana possession to date.

Dail Neely, director of student affairs, said, “It has definitely increased from when I first started here. We had maybe two to three a year. I’ve also been here for 18 years.”

Neely went on to add marijuana is more prevalent, or at least caught more often with the only more prevalent occurrence being alcohol.

In 2014, there were three arrests for alcohol and marijuana. According to the MSU crime log there have only been eight cases in 2015. The nature of these cases includes: public intoxication, consumption by minor, minor in possession and the purchase/furnishing of alcohol to a minor.

Albert Jimenes, campus police sergeant, said, "We receive anywhere from five - 10 cases on average [per year]."

That average has already doubled and the year isn't over yet.

"It's always been the paraphernalia,” said Jimenes.

Out of the 20 cases of possession, only three listed that paraphernalia was found with the drug.

24

Reported hit-and-run accidents in 2015, up from 13 in 2014

DRUGS 44%

2012

2013

2014

20%

ALCOHOL 35%

60%

25%

60%

BURGLARY: 21%

20%

15%

CRIMES AND REFERRALS Dan Williams, chief of police said, “The drug numbers have been down the last year or two and the alcohol numbers are up. In my experience these tend to be cyclical. We will have a few years where one is up and the other is down and then it seems to just flip. Several years ago we also took a petty hard stance on the use of drugs due to our increased numbers and now we have seen that decline over the past two years.”

SOURCE: 2014 Crime Statistics

Angie Reay, interim director for resident life, said, "We are seeing more these last couple of years. Especially now that they are legalizing it in other states, many are starting to see it now as not a big deal."

Reay said, "What we see here on campus are mostly after the fact, remains of marijuana."

Reay thinks this is not a major problem on college campuses.

“It has more impact on the individual person. We find that they are using as a coping skill,” Reay said.

Officials working with residence life said they help students learn from their mistakes, each with a different approach. Rather than simply handing students off to the police, they prefer to handle the cases themselves. Reay said “We use it more as an educational purpose, than a one-strike-you're-out sort of case.”

For a first offense there is a one-year housing probation and a three-page reflection essay on the incident. On top of that there is an online drug course.

That doesn't mean the police do not get involved. They are notified, but Reay and the Office of Residence Life try to

6

Reported cases of stalking since 2014

handle the consequences themselves.

Reay said, “Our staff responds and we also call the MSU police. The police take possession of the paraphernalia. If it is a large incident, where it is going to be a criminal case, the police can handle it.”

There are additional sanctions if the case is considered criminal.

“When they get here they have two options: wave their right before the Student Conduct Committee and agree to have a hearing with a judicial officer, or I can send them over to Dail Neely,” Reay said. “If they choose us, they read us the report. After that we talk about it and they determine if they want to take responsibility or not.”

Reay described taking responsibility by saying that in a bust where there are multiple students some may or may not have been involved. When the students come in for their hearing they try to make sure everyone's stories match so the responsibility can be given to the responsible person.

Once that is established the police handle the case and legalities.

According to Jimenes, "There are two things that can happen: They can

9

Reports of sexual assaults since 2011

SOURCE: MSU Crime and Fire Log

be cited a court sanction where they have to see the justice of the peace if found with paraphernalia. They could be referred to the director of conduct.

If found in possession they go to the Wichita County jail, where they usually stay overnight and the judge will set bond on them."

Reay said, "Even though it is legalized in certain states it is still not legalized on campuses. It will be interesting to see how that plays out if it ever gets legalized."

Students across campus view marijuana as little to no issue at all.

Ashley Robinson, a sophomore in business said, “I don’t see it as a problem but I see a lot people do it [on this campus].”

Taylor Bicknell, a junior business major, said, “Personally I don’t smoke but I don’t think it is a problem. I mean I know it’s illegal, but as long as they’re not driving it’s not bad. I think it should be legalized. If it’s legal for people who are sick, why cant people who aren’t use it.”

LEGISLATURE States have been legalizing the medical use of marijuana and revising laws for minor possession charges. Texas House Bill 2165 was intended for those with first-time convictions, but was not approved. If approved, those with firsttime convictions would have their sentence suspended and be placed on community supervision. The consumption of marijuana by minors without parental supervision would remain illegal.

In reality, the legalization of marijuana in Texas remains unlikely.

Robinson said, “No [marijuana will not be legalized in Texas] because it is a conservative state. I think there are a lot of people who are against it.”

Bicknell said, “I feel like Texas is very strict, I’m going to go with no [to it being legalized].”

Neely said, “It depends what Texas chooses to do, either way we will still be dealing with it. Even if it was legalized, if they are underage, it’s still going to be a violation.”

5

Cases of family and domestic violence since 2010

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 11

65%

294

Total increase in Greek life population from spring of 2011.

Number of Greek life community members in spring 2011.

15%

495

Increase in Greek life population from fall of 2014.

Number of Greek life community members in fall 2015.

SOURCE: Office of Greek Life PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Members of Chi Omega take a picture with the winning team, Fab 5, of the Swishes for Wishes basketball tournament championship game.

Greek life, enrollment increase pave way for change

KARA MCINTYRE REPORTER

I

n the 1960’s, Pinto and Flounder, characters from the movie animal house epitomized what it meant to be a fraternity man: drinking beer, hazing pledges, hooking up with handfuls of girls, and stealing the answers to upcoming tests.

College deans, like Vernon Wormer, dean from animal house for example, wanted Greeks removed from campuses across the nation due to poor conduct and low grade point averages.

Gamma Tau chapter of Sigma Kappa sorority and ThetaGamma chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity were the first Greek organizations on campus, followed by three more Panhellenic sororities and five more Interfraternity Council fraternities.

Today, seven percent of undergraduates are Greek.

Since Kevin Bazner, assistant director of student development and orientation, was hired in Jan 2010, MSU has seen an increase in the number of students participating in the Greek community.

“We’ve seen growth that is a little ahead of what we’re seeing in regards to an increase in enrollment. I think a lot of that has to do with us as an institution recruiting more first time, full-time students and also to more students that Midwestern is their first four-year experience,” Bazner said. “The likelihood of those students actually participating in a fraternity or sorority chapter or organization goes up.”

Student enrollment increased by 169 students this fall,something he said was related to the increase in involvement “Recruitment is heavily dependent on enrollment numbers,” Bazner said. “As long as admissions and enrollment numbers increase, particularly in the realm of first-time, fulltime students or the traditional age students, the likelihood of seeing increased chapter sizes will continue to go up.”

This fall, the number of first-time, full-time students at MSU was 794 students.

Bazner said the sororities have reached maximum member capacities for their chapter room fire codes, leading to the inability for them to use their rooms in Fain Hall for full meetings.

“There were some recommendations that came out of the

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Team Alpha, who won every round of Tug-of-War, pull the flag towards them during Greek Olympics 2015 on April 17. study we did regarding Greek housing for different locations and things of that nature,” Bazner said, “But moving forward as an institution, we are certainly looking at organizational space, renovating existing space, or looking at what can be done with new space that may come online.”

This led to talk of replacing Fain Hall, the campus building where Greek members hold their meetings and activities.

“The study came back with an overwhelming response of ‘We need meeting space,’ not so much on the bed space side,” Bazner said. “It was more of ‘We need space to hold meetings and hold functions of our organization.’”

Anne McGaha, Chi Omega’s forms and recreation adviser and MSU graduate student, has been involved in Greek life for more than 15 years.

“Greek housing would help us exponentially because when people come to visit campus, they’ll see those houses and say ‘I want to join that,’” McGaha said. “Midwestern State has so much to offer, but there’s a hole, and we’re trying to fill that hole.”

Not having enough space for the four sororities limits the opportunities to add additional chapters on campus. The current sororities would have to approve an extension. The

26 national sororities could then investigate whether or not they have alumni that would support the chapter and decide if they want to open a chapter.

“Last year, we voted down the opportunity for extension,” Chi Omega’s personnel adviser, Joellen Tritton, said, “There’s not any place for us now, and we desperately need a change.

None of the sororities can hold meetings in our chapter rooms anymore because of our growth, which is not a bad problem to have.”

The fraternities used to have houses off campus, but there were lots of problems with that, according to Tritton. Senior administrators encouraged them not to keep those houses, so now all of the Greeks have to find spaces on campus for chapter meetings.

“The number of spaces that can be used by student organizations outside of the classroom space is limited, so we also want to be mindful of what rooms can be reserved for organizations to take advantage of meeting space and function space for different events,” Bazner said. “All of those things need to be considered for the overall health of both the fraternity and sorority communities and the other student organizations.”

Bazner said the possibilities for this kind of change regarding Greek housing are technically endless. From the institution’s perspective, it is just a question of financing.

“Greek housing creates more of a sense of community within an individual chapter or within a fraternity or sorority community in general, which can lead to increased production and increased visibility,” Bazner said. “It comes down to ‘Who bears the cost and at what amount?’ But nothing is really on the table for sure; anything is possible.”

After 20 years of watching Greek life at MSU grow into what it is today, Tritton smiled and clapped her hands together when she explained why it is important to student life.

“It’s especially important on MSU’s campus to have a group of friends you can be associated with and be proud to be associated with,” Tritton said. “The Greeks portray something that other young men and women would like to emulate and makes them interested in having that group of friends.”